Raised with Magic

Chapter 6.5: Goblins

The world is a place of balance, a book I once read, the book I had found behind the couch that first day in my new home, explained this to me. Therefore, having met the two boys the other day, the ones I talked to about flying. The boys that didn't look and treat me like and outsider. Meeting them was why today wasn't going to be good at all. I still think meeting them was worth it. Even knowing that it was worth it, didn't make me want to be here at all.

Mr. Newlhouse, a man that I am beginning to not like more and more, floo called my Mum to set up a meeting. Turns out that I need to be present at the bank for this. Why? I have no idea.

I don't want to be here. I didn't want to be there when they put my parents in those awful holes and I did not want to be here when they talked about the money I got only because they died.

I don't like money. Sure I like getting new books and stuff but I would gladly give up every book I would ever read to get my Daddy and Mother back. Who in their right mind wouldn't? I miss them and I really did not want to be here today.

Mum is carrying me on her hip. I'm small, so I didn't feel too bad about her having to lug me around on her hip. I need the comfort and I was willing to be greedy enough to take it.

On another day, I know I would be madly impressed with the Gringotts bank. Not today, today everything was in a negative light. Starting straight with the inscription on the door,

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

What a brilliant start, a reminder that the only reason I am here is because my parents are dead. And the only reason my parents are dead are because of greed and thievery. Today was just going to be a bad day.

We passed through two sets of doors in different colors. I wondered why they needed two doors but decided that today, I didn't care. Inside the bank is just a lot of white marble. The floors, the long counters, and even some pillars, all made of that same shade of white marble.

Dozens and dozens of Goblins were busy working. I wasn't surprised, Mum had told me a lot about Gringotts. I think she didn't want me scared when I encountered the goblins. I think that I would have very much been interested in meeting them had the reasons been widely different.

I had thought that they would be green. I had been wrong. I think a lot of what I might assume of the Wizarding world is most likely going to be wrong. I have a lot of reading to do and I dearly wish that I would have had enough notice to track down some books on Goblins before we came here.

As it is, Goblins are a peachy pink color. They also have black eyes and most have light mostly white hair. I wonder if only the older Goblins actually work on the floor and or interact with customers.

Mum walked us towards one of the Goblins stationed at the counter. As we got closer, I could see the Goblin had long fingers and that he wrote in another language but with pretty penmanship.

He looked up when we got right to the counter. I didn't doubt at least six other goblins had been watching our every move since we entered the bank. Mum had explained that they are very protective of anything valuable.

"Hello." Mum spoke nicely. "We're here for a meeting set up by Mr. Newlhouse."

He looked through some papers but I have a feeling he already knew where we would be heading. "Fibgore will escort you to the office of Ragnok." The goblin mentioned by the first, appeared beside us and with a smile from Mum we followed the other goblin.

The hallways were long and Mum adjusted where I sat on her hip twice. A few minutes passed, but we were led into a sparsely decorated office that had an even older looking goblin stationed behind a large desk. Mr. Newlhouse was there too, I don't like Mr. Newlhouse.

"Good day, Mrs. Lovegood, Miss Granger." He nodded at both of us as he stood and motioned to the two available chairs. Mum sat, adjusting my in her lap as she did. I was glad that Mr. Ragnok didn't seem to mind. I don't care what Mr. Newlhouse thinks.

Mr. Ragnok got straight to business, handing the floor to Mr. Newlhouse to explain why we are here. "As you are aware I have spent the past few weeks corresponding with the late Granger's muggle lawyers."

I hadn't known. I didn't want to be here and I didn't like the way he was speaking. "That would be Drs Granger, Mr. Newlhouse." Mum hugged me a bit closer to her. I don't know if she was trying to comfort me or was trying to get me to play nice.

He coughed, nervous I think when neither Mr. Ragnok nor my Mum said anything. "Right, well, as you are all aware, I have spent the past weeks working with the Drs Granger's Muggle lawyers." Was the term Muggle really needed there?

I sighed heavily. I don't like Mr. Newlhouse and now I knew another reason why.

"Please continue Mr. Newlhouse." Mr. Ragnok prompted when Mr. Newlhouse had made a lengthy pause.

Mr. Newlhouse cleared his throat. "On top of the sizable sum of money that has been left to you from your parent's accounts and their insurance policies, their Muggle lawyers" I really did not like him even more, "also had opened a law suit against the company which has supplied the gun. As it would happen, the owner of the store that sold them the gun had been told their intensions prior to selling them the-"

"James! Is this really something which must be discussed in front of my daughter!"

Mr. Ragnok also seemed upset, which was odd because this is the first time I had seen even a little emotion on any of the Goblins we had seen. "I think that Mrs. Lovegood is correct. I can take the meeting from here. Thank you Mr. Newlhouse."

The man was upset but he was escorted out by the same Goblin that had lead us to the office.

"Thank you Mr. Ragnok." He nodded in a really small accepting nod. I hope I wasn't disrespecting him with the mister address. Either way, I'm okay with continuing this way until someone tells me otherwise.

"The fact remains that a sizable amount of money was left to Miss Granger. Increasing that number is that money from the law suit. The parties managed to reach and agreement and the company in question agreed on a settlement." I like Mr. Ragnok. He is just as blunt as Mr. Newlhouse but he does so business like and it at least seems a lot less personal.

A paper was passed over and on it were a bunch of numbers. I didn't care to look. Mr. Ragnok continued, "I have been told that the property in question has been rented out. That income will automatically be deposited into Miss Granger's account which she will gain compete access to upon reaching the age of maturity. Each week, ten galleons will be added to an account that Miss Granger will have complete access to. Such an account has already been opened as of 7am this morning and currently holds the allowance accumulated over the past three weeks."

I nodded, to show I was listening and that I had followed the conversation even if I don't know much of anything about a galleons. Mr. Ragnok continued, "Mrs. Lovegood, your husband and yourself will also be given the sum of one hundred and twenty galleons per month."

"That wont be necessary, neither my husband nor myself are willing to accept money for raising Hermione. That money is to remain in her account."

Mr. Ragnok nodded, knowing the small amount that I do about goblins I imagine he thinks my Mum a bit foolish. I was grateful to Mum. Not because I want that money when I turn seventeen but because it means that they really aren't raising me just for the money. Not that I ever thought that they were but knowing so was nice.

"Understood." He spoke writing something down in that same language the first goblin we had met had written in. "Due to the sizable size of your vault, your account with us will be handled by one of our senior employees."

I thought about this. I didn't need to think for long. After we watched a movie once my parents had explained to me how they had become friends with Carl Jenkins.

Carl Jenkins was their banker. He had been fresh out of collage when my parents had asked him to manage their accounts. They figured that giving him a chance would gain a loyalty that would last even as Jenkins gained new clients.

Knowing what I know from my stay in the hospital, I think that loyalty in the Wizarding world banking system is probably more important then in the Muggle world.

"Mr. Ragnok," I was speaking a bit unsurely. I knew what I wanted to ask but I didn't want to do so by offending anyone. I also never cared much about money, so I didn't know how a bank system works, much less a magical one. "Please forgive me if I in some way offend yourself, your staff or the way you do things." My Mum smiled encouragingly and Mr. Ragnok was listening intently. "I think that I would be more interested in having my account be managed by someone who currently has no other clients, if that is possible."

He studied me, I tried my best to seem sure of myself and to not fidget. It's like the first day of a new school year, never show them your fear. Not that I feared Mr. Ragnok. I just didn't want to disappoint him or my Mum.

"You are speaking of a freshly trained employee." He spoke, not in a way that made me think that he now believes I am unintelligent, which was a relief. "I have to advise against this. When all of the banks staff are fully qualified, given the size of your vault and what future needs you may have of our establishment, I would recommend a more experienced manager."

"I understand how that would be a good thing." I spoke in the way I do to my teachers when in a discussion. "I also understand that I am not the usual case." I was aware that my voice betrayed a sadness and I really need to work on controlling my voice. "From what I do know, it is not known for a muggleborn to enter into the Wizarding community before the age of attending Hogwarts. I have also gathered that the fact that we are currently meeting with yourself, Gringott's president, that the money my parents left to me is quite a bit and that the Goblins you would consider for my account would most likely be accustomed to dealing with old money." I meant what I have heard of purebloods. I knew Mum was looking at me strangely, I couldn't look back at her. I also knew that Mr. Ragnok was regarding both my Mum and I and had gathered that it was not from my family that I had gained this information. "I really believe that no matter who you assign to my account that I will have no problems. However, the names you are thinking to assign are names that already have their loyalties elsewhere and to people that most likely wont want me in their world." I took two deep breaths and was glad no one had spoken. "I'm not sure how the system works. I don't know if client information is allowed to be given out. I also don't think that any of your employees would break whatever rules are in place." They let me have some time to think. To gather what I am trying to say and I am grateful for that. I am also sorry that my Mum now seems so concerned.

I continued, "I don't like money." He rose a white eyebrow and I dearly hoped I had not said something to offend him. "I know that money is important to the world. I get how it is useful. Thing is, I don't want to be known for having money. I've seen movies and read books where people are only befriended because they have money and I have a hard enough time finding friends without worrying if they are fake. What it comes down to is I think I would feel more comfortable interacting with someone who is loyal to the bank first and myself second, someone who does not already have accounts important to the bank that might make that loyalty more trying to maintain."

I was finished and he stared me down. Judging me for what I have said and think, not for my age or my past. This was what I had wanted, still want, but it still make me feel terribly small.

The only reason I had even come up with what I had is because I overheard Mum and Dad talking about bankers the other night. They had been talking about the transfer of the money to Gringotts and when I hadn't known about the Goblins or how different it would be from another bank, I had known I would be dealing with a bank at some point. So I had sat up that entire night. I thought hard about everything I could recall that my Mother and Daddy ever mentioned on the subject. I had thought about that and what I knew of this new world and I knew that I needed to make my parents proud. They had left me their life's work and I couldn't screw that up. Especially this soon.

"I take it you have give this a good amount of thought, and I can certainly see the reason behind your request. When I can not say that it is a typical request it is not a request without substantial benefits. You are a very intelligent young lady Miss Granger and I do look forward to a life long relationship between yourself and this institution. We currently have a handful of newly trained vault managers. One which shows promise far above his peers. I will be sure to inform him of his first account and set up a meeting between yourself and Penseer if Mrs. Lovegood would supply an available time."

Mum was shaken out of her shock with grace, "This Thursday would work best for us."

"Excellent, Thursday at noon it is."

I walked out of the bank on my own feet. I didn't want to go home as badly as I had wanted to when we were heading here. Because I know when we get home, Mum is going to make me talk about everything I overheard in that hospital. I didn't want that to happen. It's not a good thing to ease drop. I hope she isn't too disappointed in me.