A/N I have invented the goblin Tarnuk entirely for my own purposes, as I thought Griphook wasn't quite what I needed. Griphook also betrayed the goblins, but before that he was only a teller and took the customers to their vaults. I needed someone who was higher up within the Gringotts hierarchy, but who wasn't overall governor of the bank. Tarnuk will now be in a position to deal with the administration of the Potter Vaults (Lyra's trust vault, the family vault, James and Lily's vault, and the sort of heirloom vault - where the ring is) as well as other vaults of the same size.
Tarnuk stared at the three wizards in front of him. The looks on their faces countered out the absurdity of their request, but even so their request had been so bizarre that the goblin had to clarify that he had understood.
"You want me" he asked, "to allow you to get into a vault that isn't the property of any of you, to withdraw an item that doesn't belong to any of you, without notifying the vault owner of an intrusion and withdrawal?"
"Yes" replied Sirius, "exactly."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do that" the goblin countered, "that is thievery and betrayal and we do not allow that in these halls."
"I am Lyra's godfather, Tarnuk, please could you allow me into the vault."
"No" the goblin sneered, "the owner of the vaults that you want to steal from is an adult and as such, godfather or nay, you have no longer got access to her vaults."
Remus sighed, "Tarnuk, I was the one who placed the ring within the vault along with all the other possessions from Godric's Hollow, and all we are asking is to remove this one object from the vault."
"I will not abide thievery Mr Lupin, the Bank doesn't care who placed what in which vault, that doesn't give you the right to take it out of the vault again! The only person who can remove items from the vault is Lyra Potter!" Tarnuk snapped.
"Tarnuk.." Charlie sighed, "at least let me explain to you why I want the ring."
Tarnuk's wizened face turned to the last man. "I would imagine, Mr Weasley, that as you are not godfather or the person who placed the items in to the vault, you have even less of a claim to anything within then your 'friends' do" he sneered, "and your attempt at stealing any items belonging to a witch who has put her trust in Gringotts and the goblins to care for her wealth may lose your brother his job!"
Charlie reared back as if struck, and looked at the goblin with panic in his eyes, "please, Tarnuk, don't let this affect Bill!"
"So you admit that perhaps your actions are wrong?" The goblin slyly asked.
"No." Replied Charlie, "please let me just explain my request."
His tone was so polite, and his request so sincere that the goblin conceded, and inclined his head. Sirius and Remus both stood on either side of Charlie, allowing him to complete the request with their support if he needed it.
Charlie swallowed.
"I am Lyra Potter's boyfriend. The ring that I am requesting be withdrawn from her vaults is a family ring, an engagement ring, worn not only by her mother, but also by her grandmother and her great grandmother. I am going to propose to Lyra. Lyra does not yet know of the existence of this ring, she didn't mention it to me, I learnt of it's existence from Sirius and Remus. I would like Lyra to wear the engagement ring of her ancestors, as I know how much she wants to feel closer to them. The reason I am asking for this transaction to be done in secret is that she doesn't know I am going to propose. It's a surprise.."
Charlie trailed off, and looked at the goblin in front of him with hope in his eyes. Tarnuk sighed.
"Your request is still unreasonable at best, and thievery at worst." He turned, and left the room. Charlie looked at his companions in shock, only to find them both grinning.
"Well done Charlie!" Sirius laughed, "trust you to appeal successfully to the one goblin with a romantic side!" Charlie looked at him incredulously.
"What?" He asked. Remus grinned.
"You've never met Tarnuk before, but we have. Tarnuk does have a romantic side, and you didn't know that and even so you've managed to convince him to let you in to the vault."
"But he didn't let me in! He's just disappeared!" Charlie cried, looking at the two older men in confusion.
"You don't know Tarnuk" stated Sirius, "he's gone to try and find a way around the rules. He's on our side now, anyway."
"Really?" Asked Charlie, doubt colouring his voice.
"Yes" chuckled Remus, "but I'm not sure how he will help us now.."
The questions were soon answered when Tarnuk returned, accompanied by another goblin, with feathery white hair lining his scalp.
"Ragnok" Sirius breathed, and Charlie stopped breathing. He stood up, and the three men bowed to the small goblin. For here in front of them was Ragnok, one of the most respected, elusive goblins in the Bank. He was one of a trio of goblins that governed the Goblin Nation, and for a human to encounter him was rare.
Ragnok observed the three wizards bowing. He acknowledged their respect with an incline of his head, but otherwise didn't move. Although he commanded respect, all people present in the room knew that most humans weren't quite so respectful to goblins as they could be.
"Tarnuk has discussed the issue with me. Due to the.." He paused, trying to find the right words, "circumstances.. I find that it is acceptable to withdraw the one item that you have requested to withdraw. But only this one!" His gaze was piercing as he levelled each of the men with his stare. "You will only withdraw the one item from this vault, and I hope that you accept that withdrawing items or wealth from vaults that are the property of others is not acceptable behaviour for any of our customers. We do not allow every witch or wizard this service, or" and the goblins voice became menacing, "any thief could steal items very easily."
Tarnuk stepped forward.
"We need proof that you are all that you say you are. It would not be good for the Bank if you are imposters that are given free access to Miss Potter's vaults."
"Of course" the three men agreed respectfully, "what can we do to prove who we are to you?"
Ragnok indicated the desk, upon which were three pieces of parchment, three daggers, and a spear.
Although the uses of the parchment and daggers were obvious, Charlie didn't dare ask the reasoning of the spear.
Sirius, Remus and Charlie each lined up and gently lifted a dagger off the table, made a small cut on their palms and dripped a few drops of blood onto a piece of parchment.
Charlie's read,
Charles Septimus Weasley
Twelfth day of December, the year nineteen hundred and seventy two
Twenty six years of age
As he handed the parchment to Tarnuk, the casual way that Sirius and Remus were also delivering the parchments proved that they, too, had nothing to hide, emphasised by the decisive nod given by Tarnuk.
Tarnuk then turned, and indicated to the three men should follow him. They did so, bowing to Ragnok as they passed him, who followed them out before disappearing into a small dark corridor.
Tarnuk led them to a large cart which Charlie, Sirius and Remus all hopped into, and they were off, delving deeper and deeper into the realms of Gringotts, deeper than Charlie had ever been before.
A/N I'm quite fond of Tarnuk! Might use him again. I made up Charlie's middle name because jo hasn't given him one, but I took it off the Weasley family tree. I took his birthday off the Harry Potter wiki.