The Great Goblin Rebellion October 1991

What triggered a goblin rebellion in October 1991? Harry Potter's introduction to magical Britain goes differently, and Hagrid's trip to the secret vault…well, the cart gets tipped off the track completely.

(Author's Note: Apologies about titles reading 'August 1991'. The rebellion will begin in October. There aren't enough days in August to plan and launch the rebellion before the school year begins. There has to be an event at Halloween anyway.)

Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, the creative lady who shared her wizard and his life with the world. She's kind enough to allow others to play on her beach for a while.

&& FROM LAST CHAPTER &&

At twenty minutes before one, Harry put the owl stand and bowls into the trunk, closed the lid and shrank it down. He slipped it into his pocket while Hedwig sat on the back of a chair at the table and shifted into a brown Barn Owl, an Eagle Owl, and a Great Horned Owl. He kept one slender book out to read (Etiquette for Good Mannered Wizards and Witches). Andrew appeared fifteen minutes before one o'clock and motioned for Harry to come along. Hedwig invited herself to go with the pair of wizards, but she rode on Andrew's shoulder this time.

"Harry, why is Hedwig on my shoulder?"

"She doesn't want everyone to know she's my owl," the boy explained. "We talked about disguises, and she's gonna play with my metamorphic magic."

"Metamorphic? Where did you hear…"

"She told me," Harry replied, and the Cursebreaker was surprised to find an Eagle Owl on his shoulder where a Great Snowy Owl had set before they left the room. "She's practising not changing for five minutes at a time."

The trio arrived at the door of Sowsbreath's office and knocked on the door.

&& CHANGE && Meeting Andromeda Tonks

Stepping into Sowsbreath's office, Harry immediately saw the woman – witch – who waited with the goblin. He stepped up to the desk and greeted his vault manager with what he thought was an appropriate greeting, "May your gold grow and your enemies bleed, Sowsbreath."

The goblin grinned, displayed his teeth (wearing several gold caps this morning), and replied, "Good morning, Mr Potter. I hope your vaults grow without too much blood being spilt."

"Good morning, Cursebreaker Poppins," Sowsbreath added. When she heard Andrew's title and name, Harry noticed the witch's eyes grow wider.

"Good morning, Sowsbreath," Andrew replied. "I hope your day brings profits to Gringotts."

His grin shrinking, Sowsbreath replied, "That remains to be seen. Gringotts has many difficulties ahead of us this summer. But this morning begins with good news."

Turning to Harry, the goblin explained, "Mr Potter, this is Mrs Andromeda Tonks. She is your third cousin; I believe that is how humans track the relationship. Her mother was your father's first cousin. You both are descendants of Phineas Black, Lord of the Black family, a few years ago."

Andrew leaned over and whispered, "About eighty years ago…goblins count time differently than humans do."

The goblin ignored Andrew and continued, "When your parents were killed on 31 October 1981, I believe their wills stipulated that you were to be in the custody of several friends or relatives. The first was your godfather, Sirius Black, then your godmother, Alice Longbottom, and the third, Andromeda Tonks, again a distant cousin."

"What happened to them?" asked Harry, lost in wishes for things that didn't occur.

Sowsbreath explained, "Sirius Black was arrested and accused of being the wizard who betrayed your parents. He was thrown into prison without a trial and has been kept there for almost ten years. Alice Longbottom tried for four days to find you, but your kidnappers prevented her from finding you, and then she was a victim of a Death Eater attack that left her a vegetable."

Motioning toward Andromeda, Sowsbreath continued, "Mrs Tonks petitioned the ministry, Wizarding Children's Services, and the Black Family vault manager for help, but no one would hear her petition to be awarded your custody. The wills of your parents were sealed by the Grand Warlock of the Wizengamot."

"But today, you're eleven years old and in the office of your vault manager at Gringotts Bank. You can ask the goblins to open the will and discover your parents' wishes and directions," Andromeda said. "Mr Potter – Harry – your parents loved you very much. Their testaments will tell you what they wanted."

This time it was Hedwig, still in her disguise as a Brown Barn Owl, who hooted a suggestion. Harry glanced at his owl before turning back to the goblin and Mrs Tonks. "Sowsbreath, would you open my parents' wills, please?"

"Gringotts Bank finds that Mr Harry James Potter, eleven years old and heir of Mr James Fleamont Potter and Mrs Lily Marie Potter, has asked for his parents' last will and testaments to be opened and enacted today, 2 August 1991," Sowsbreath replied formally and waved his knife over the sealed documents. The wax seals cracked, and the scrolls unrolled.

Once the documents had been read aloud by Sowsbreath, Harry was angry. The wizard named Albus Dumbledore knew what his parents wanted; their son was to be cared for and raised by wizards – not muggles. Either Sirius, Alice, or Andromeda was to be his guardian. Worse, in his mother's will, Lily specified that her son was not to be introduced to Petunia and Vernon Dursley until he was an adult.

Andromeda's face hardened as she heard the requirements and information shared in the wills. 'Sirius wasn't the secret keeper…Peter Pettigrew…who is he? Remus Lupin hasn't been around…Dumbledore! That meddling old coot ruins everything for everyone claiming his greater good all the time.'

"Mrs Tonks…Mrs Tonks, we need your attention," Sowsbreath said to bring Andromeda out of her thoughts.

"Forgive me, Vault Manager Sowsbreath," she replied after taking a deep breath. "The revelations are overwhelming."

"What do you want to do?" Andrew asked the witch.

She snorted, "What I want and what will be are two diametrically opposed points on the compass. We can't touch Albus Dumbledore with any accusations despite having proof that he knew what James and Lily stated in their testaments. The man's robes and reputation blind everyone to his nature and machinations."

"But Dumbledore has made mistakes this week," Sowsbreath revealed. "First, he sent the groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, to bring Mr Potter to Diagon Alley to purchase his school supplies and provide the muggle-raised child with an orientation to Magical Britain."

Sitting forward, Andromeda commented, "The keeper of the keys? Hagrid isn't authorised to use magic, let alone provide the orientation for new students from the muggle world. It has to be one of the heads of the four houses."

Nodding, Sowsbreath continued, "The half-giant broke into the housing where the muggles and Mr Potter were spending the night and assaulted the uncle. In the morning, Hagrid fought with the muggles and transfigured them into farm animals. Then he left the crime scene, took the underaged child without permission, again used magic, and transported Harry across the kingdom to London. Once they were in Gringotts Bank, a foreign nation that associates with Magical Britain, Hagrid abandoned the child. The groundskeeper deserted Mr Potter in the lobby."

Andromeda looked closely at Harry and said, "May I ask Mr Potter a few questions? As a law witch, I want to be…must be very careful here."

"Certainly, Mrs Tonks, you may ask your questions, but Mr Potter can choose not to answer them."

Nodding her head, Andromeda began, "Mr Potter, many things have been said here this morning already. I need to gather some more information.

Glancing at Andrew and Hedwig, who both nodded, Harry said, "Okay."

"Where were you when Hagrid appeared?" was the first question. This led to Harry telling the tale of thousands of letters appearing at No.4 Privet Drive, the mad dash across England, and the door of the lighthouse busting down in the middle of the night.

"Were your aunt and uncle afraid?" the lawyer asked before Harry replied with detail. (Hedwig encouraged her boy to give all the details.)

"Did the Dursleys ever give Hagrid permission to take you anywhere?" Mrs Tonks asked, and Harry reluctantly stated that his relatives did not. He continued stating that his uncle refused permission for Harry to go to Hogwarts.

After hearing the description of the argument between Hagrid, Vernon, and Petunia, the transfigurations of the three muggles, and the return to the mainland, Andrew interjected, "Harry, what did Hagrid talk to you about on the boat ride and the trip on the knight bus?"

"Hagrid was rough but nice…I guess," Harry explained. "No one has ever been nice before, so I don't know. He talked about Hogwarts, told me my father's name was James, and said what great people my mum and dad were. And he talked about how great Dumbledore is. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore this and Dumbledore that…and Gryffindor. I remember Hagrid talking about Gryffindor being a great house and how the Slytherins were all evil, all the time."

"The half-giant has some very strong, personal opinions," Sowsbreath commented, and Harry noted the grimace on the face of Mrs Tonks after that comment.

She asked, "Vault Manager Sowsbreath, what is Mr Potter's status this afternoon while he remains within Gringotts?"

"Every goblin always treats an abandoned child gently," the vault manager replied. "And we strive to return the child to his rightful guardians as swiftly as possible.

Harry frowned when he heard that statement, fearful of being delivered back to the Dursleys. Andrew and Andromeda noticed the boy turn pale when he heard the goblin say those words. Sowsbreath continued, "However, in Mr Harry Potter's case, Gringotts believes his guardians are abusive and have not properly raised the young magical child. Additionally, the location and condition of these guardians remain unknown. The DMLE has not contacted the bank about a missing child."

Motioning toward Andrew, Sowsbreath said, "We assigned a Cursebreaker to guard Mr Potter when he stepped out into Diagon Alley and into the muggle world."

"The muggle world?"

The vault manager produced a set of receipts and explained, "Mr Potter had nothing suitable to wear when he arrived at Gringotts Bank. His shoes…the muggles made him wear shoes four sizes too large and held together by string. Can you imagine such? I am certain that the boy doesn't know how to dance either!"

Andrew explained, "We spent a couple hours in Harrods and got him a wardrobe and then at the shop in Diagon Alley for school robes."

"Men shopping for clothing?" Andromeda commented. "I hope he's got at least one suitable outfit."

Harry glanced at Andrew, who grinned and said, "She's teasing us…probably."

We were fortunate in our assignment later in the afternoon," Sowsbreath continued. "The pair were approaching the bank when the burglary was discovered. Poppins provided shields that protected Mr Potter from any injury as the guards drove the criminal wizard from the bank."

Harry exchanged a glance with Andrew, who winked and smiled when Harry remained silent about the knife that had been thrown at the wizard.

"What did you see, Harry?" asked Andromeda.

Again, Hedwig and Andrew nodded their consent to the reply. Harry said, "Andrew and I were walking back to the bank when the alarm started sounding. Andrew told me to squat down and make the smallest possible target I could be. He stood in front of me with a shield that kept the pieces of cobblestones from hitting me. The guy – a wizard in a strange purple turban – ran out of the bank with goblins following him and throwing spears at him."

The boy paused momentarily and added, "The guy spun around and vanished. Some of the people who'd been watching said his name was Quieten Squirrel or something like that."

"Quintus Quirrell," Sowsbreath commented. "Past muggle studies teacher and scheduled to be the DADA professor at Hogwarts beginning 1 September."

Andromeda frowned and said, "When will this become common knowledge? My daughter is to return for her seventh year at Hogwarts on 1 September…and Harry. They shouldn't attend if a criminal is working in the castle."

Andrew Poppins didn't attempt to hide his comment, "Severus Snape."

This statement confused Harry, but the boy noticed Mrs Tonks and Sowsbreath both frown.

"Gringotts expects a bruhaha to occur this afternoon at 3:00 PM here in the bank," Sowsbreath continued. "After two days of polite but insistent requests, DMLE Director Amelia Bones finally convinced Minister Cornelius Fudge and Grand Warlock Albus Dumbledore to visit Gringotts to hear our complaints about the bank robbery that occurred on 1 August."

"Fudge and Dumbledore will come and speak with Ragnock?"

"And see the recorded events in the lobby, hear the testimony of injured goblins, and we'll reveal several uncomfortable truths to the two blind wizards," the vault manager concluded. He turned to Harry and said, "We believe that for the rest of this week at least, Mr Potter should remain in our custody. And he will remain under our protection after he leaves the bank."

"Excellent!" replied Andromeda with a grin. She continued, "Harry, I hope you'll come live with me and my family. I want to share your family history with you, teach you about the wonders of magic, and help you navigate your legacy here in Magical Britain. But I don't want to push you too hard, too fast."

Andrew spoke up, "There's only one month…less than a month before he must leave for Hogwarts."

"Yes, I'm aware of the calendar," Andromeda replied. "But a great many protections can be put in place in a month's time."

Sowsbreath nodded and glanced at Harry, Andrew, and Hedwig. He asked, "Mr Potter, I thought you bought a Great Snowy Owl. This fellow is beautiful, but I expected…"

The owl dropped her metamorphic change and returned to her white and black feathers. Andrew chortled as he watched the expressions on the faces of the goblin and the witch. Harry simply said, "Hedwig's brilliant!"

&& CHANGE && Bruhaha Begins

The conference room was crowded with important officials from the government of the Magical Britain. Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge sat at the front with three undersecretaries and department directors around him, including Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Crouch never missed the opportunity to step on a goblin's toe. Goblin Liaison Dirk Creswell stood up front, waiting for the arrival of the goblin leaders to perform the introductions.

DMLE Director Amelia Bones stood away from the doors, with her back to a wall with a large tapestry depicting the day the goblins and wizards signed the last peace treaty under the watchful gaze of King Charles II. The director stood away from the tapestry with her security team around her. She asked herself, 'Who do I trust here today?'

Alastor Moody was present as a consultant for her on security, Madison Proudfoot was a pureblood and fairly bigoted against muggleborn, but he was honest and believed in maintaining the Statute of Secrecy, Auror Shacklebolt was honest but too interested in whatever drivel Albus Dumbledore was selling each day.

'Creswell is honest and works hard to keep us out of trouble with the goblins,' she decided. 'But he's making too much of this burglary.'

Promptly at three o'clock, the door at the back of the room opened, and four goblins entered the room, followed by a troop of armed goblin and human guards. The first four goblins were dressed in fine suits of clothes that would have been appropriate among the richest bankers in London. Their guards were armed for battle.

'I don't see Poppins in this group,' Bones thought with some relief. 'That wizard might be the bane of dark lords, but he's insufferable.'

Looking around one more time, Amelia noticed that Ted Tonks was seated at the back of the room. Tonks and his wife were known in magical Britain as knowledgeable lawyers who could twist any judge or case into an unrecognizable tale.

'At least it's only one of them,' she thought. 'Wonder who invited him?'

Amelia sorted through the principals present today, beginning at the bottom. 'Fudge? No, Cornelius is petrified of the pair of them. Dumbledore?'

The director of the DMLE actually lost her composure for a single moment, and her lips twisted about. 'Dumbledore crossing swords with Ted Tonks…I'd pay ten galleons to witness that confrontation.'

Her pureblood face in place once again, Amelia decided, 'The goblins! The goblins wanted Ted here for some reason. Yes! This will be very interesting today.'

Dirk Creswell was making the introductions of the goblins, and Amelia listened closely. She knew the first goblin, Ragnock, Chief of the Gringotts Vault Managers. The second one was a new name, Steelcrusher, Head of Security, and she wondered at the promotion over the previous goblin. The last two were introduced as Ironstream, Black Vault Manager, and Sowsbreath, Potter Vault Manager, both unknown goblins, but their presence concerned her for some reason.

Now, Creswell motioned toward the minister who rose and introduced himself, motioned toward his cronies and other officials who represented the Ministry for Magic, and said, "Well, we're here like you 'asked'. What is the purpose behind this meeting at the end of my busy day."

Steelcrusher took one step forward and said, "On the afternoon of 1 August, a wizard named…"

"Wait," called out Bartemius Crouch. "We can't start without Dumbledore."

&& SMALL CHANGE &&

In a meeting room located on a different level of Gringotts Bank, Harry Potter sat in a comfortable chair with Hedwig on her perch beside him, Andrew seated on the other side, and Mrs Andromeda Tonks seated on the far side of the owl.

Separated on either side of the four were groups of goblins at tables with muggle paper, biros, and magical knives they used to cast spells. Everyone watched two simultaneous displays of the meeting occurring in the conference room. One view was from the tapestry with Amelia Bones standing with her back to the viewers. The other view was from the opposite wall, where Harry noticed the DMLE Director's face seemed to twitch just once.

Andrew leaned close and whispered, "That lady in front of the tapestry was looking everyone over just before her mouth did that funny thing. Wonder what she was thinking about?"

Harry grinned and checked on Andromeda, who kept watching both views, moving back and forth between the different views to focus on the goblins and then the ministry officials.

Andrew asked, "Mrs Tonks, do you want to watch the goblins? I can watch the humans, and we can share information afterwards."

"Which group do you think you know best, Mr Poppins?"

Without hesitation, Andrew replied, "The goblins."

"Then you watch them, and I shall concentrate on the fools…the government officials."

Clearing his throat, Harry added, "Hedwig can watch both groups at the same time. Her eyes can work independently.

"But how will we know what she knows?" asked Andrew.

"She'll tell me, and I will tell you," Harry replied.

&& SMALL CHANGE &&

Steelcrusher took one step forward and said, "On the afternoon of 1 August, a wizard named…"

"Wait," called out Bartemius Crouch. "We can't start without Dumbledore."

Ragnock stood forward, "Mr Dumbledore knows the time minute this meeting was scheduled to begin – three o'clock. Are you content to waste your precious lives waiting on that wizard?"

"But he's Albus Dumbledore!" Crouch insisted. "Nothing is decided in Magical Britain without his input."

Steelcrusher replied, "And this is Ragnock, Chief of the Gringotts Vault Managers, who can close your vault permanently if you continue to insult him!"

Turning to Creswell, the head of Gringotts security snarled, "Creswell, did you tell these…these wizards that the bank is unhappy with Magical Britain?"

"I did, sir, but I don't think anyone listened to me."

Amelia frowned and realized that the man – Dirk Creswell – had tried to impress upon her the anger and fear felt within Gringotts Bank following the robbery the previous day. However, like the other wizards and witches in the Ministry for Magic, they had not listened to his words.

Steelcrusher continued, "Yesterday, a wizard named Quintus Quirrell broke away from his cart driver, assaulted another cart driver, Griphook, and caused that goblin to fall several thousand feet to his death. The thief assaulted Rubeus Hagrid as the half-giant exited Vault 713 and stole whatever highly secret and valuable item was hidden there by Albus Dumbledore. The half-giant was sliced from the left shoulder to the right hip. Our healers stabilized him, but Saint Mungos refused to share their supply of blood-replenishing potions. Hagrid remains in poor condition without enough blood in his veins."

Amelia frowned. She'd spent the whole of yesterday evening and this morning reviewing the after-action report by Auror Proudfoot about the violation of the Statute of Secrecy and Muggle Baiting incident perpetrated by Rubeus Hagrid. The half-giant would spend at least a year in minimum security at Azkaban for his crimes. If she remembered to tack on the fact that Hagrid didn't have wand rights, the snooty members of the Wizengamot might even order the man to be given the Dementor's Kiss.

Glancing over at Cornelius Fudge, who looked bored, Amelia stated, "Head of Security Steelcrusher, we came today to hear your complaint against the thief. He will be turned over to Gringotts for trial when we take him into custody."

Now listen here, Bones. We're not going to turn over a wizard to the goblins!" Crouch shouted. "If they couldn't catch him, that's their problem."

Turning to the minister, Steelcrusher asked, "Minister Fudge, is that the position your government is going to assume? Wizards and goblins must deal with outlaws separately. Without cooperation and following each other's laws?"

Amelia thought to look at Ted Tonks, who looked extremely concerned by the question. When Fudge responded, "Of course, the goblins can't hurt wizards – they're no more dangerous than muggles to a wizard with his wand."

At that moment, the door opened again to permit Albus Dumbledore to walk into the room.

End of Chapter