As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 34 Confrontations
"No Jimhook no wands, you need to learn how to do this the Goblin way." Griphook said as he saw Harry pull out his wand.
Harry put his wand back into the cloak and with his hands empty looked at Griphook. The other goblins in the group that formed the second series sat around the edges of the tunnel waiting their turn while Griphook was instructing Harry on the spells used in drilling tunnels.
"First you need to gather your magic. Then with one finger on your casting hand draw the shape of the tunnel you want while visualizing it in your mind. You need to see in your mind the shape and the precise size of the tunnel you are trying to create. It is important that you concentrate on removing the rock. If you do not it is possible to remove the feet of anyone including yourself as the magic will see them as something to be removed. Then when your magic tells you punch in the direction you want the hole to go. You do not want to hit the stone but your punch must be true. If you punch at an angle the spell will create the tunnel at that angle. If you curve your swing the tunnel will curve in response. Now without gathering magic or using the words I want you to practice punching straight down." Griphook instructed then watched as Harry did his best to punch toward the floor of the tunnel. After several attempts he interrupted Harry saying, "Good you have that down. Now thinking or saying "Ghalaan Dokaach" calls the spell
"I just have to think it?" Harry asked astonished that he didn't need to say the spell.
"The need wizards have to shout out the spell we goblins have always found interesting. You are using the magic within you why do you need to let anything outside your body know what spell you want to cast. Once you become more familiar with your magic and how it feels it will become possible for you to just flick a finger and the magic will know your mind and do as your wish. I realize you are still learning to control magic so we will take it slow."
Soon the half hour was up and it was time for the second series crew to take their turn. Harry followed Griphook down into the vertical tunnel taking note that it was about ten meters in diameter and all ready about 50 meters deep. Once they arrived at the base of the shaft Harry noted they were alone. "Where is everyone?" he asked.
"They are at the top. This is your first time casting the spell and they wish to insure they are safe." Griphook replied with a grin.
"What about you."
"I trust you to do this right, and if you fail it is better that I'm down here with you."
Harry raised an eyebrow at that statement but at Griphook's urging he concentrated on the steps Griphook told him. After a moment of standing with his eyes closed he opened them and drew a round circle with the index finger on his right hand. He then drew up his fist and locking his wrist like he'd seen Dudley show one of his gang he punched towards the rock he was standing on. There was a loud boom then he felt himself fall a short distance to land on his feet and hands. As he stood he realized he'd driven the tunnel downwards another meter.
Griphook was busy casting several spells to clear the dust that was clouding the area and then the same one several times as he turned to face each wall section. Once he was done he called out something in Gobbledegook that was obviously an all clear. As the rest of his crew climbed down to join them. "Are you ready to go again Jimhook?" Griphook asked.
Harry was only a little tired and nodded his readiness. Again he went through the ritual while the others observed Feeling the pressure of everyone's eyes on him and not wanting to appear weak Harry waited a little longer allowing his magic to build beyond the point of being ready before he drove his fist downward. The drop this time was slightly longer but the effort drained him harder than casting the first one twice. As he stood he noticed the other goblins were clearing the air and sealing the walls while Griphook concentrated on him.
"You pushed too much magic on that try Jimhook. You need to rest allow us to show you how we do it." Griphook said.
Harry watched surprised that the twelve other goblins spread out in twos, one of each pair drawing a pie slice before driving a fist downward. No one yelled out the spell but everyone dropped just shy of a meter. While the first goblin recovered the second one cleared the air and sealed the walls. Then about eight minutes later they repeated the sequence. At the end of their half hour the series team relieved them nodding in satisfaction at the amount of work they had accomplished. Once back in the entrance tunnel the other goblins had a conversation with Griphook who looked at Harry saying, "Jimhook, they are suggesting that at our next segment you go first and drive the tunnel down. The rest will charm the walls and when you tire they will continue on as before but with you doing the hard part we can get more done during our series than the first group."
Harry nodded his agreement knowing that if exercise strengthened magical cores his would be well exercised this weekend.
Meanwhile Hermione watched as Harhook left to notify the goblins making her robe that she was available for a fitting leaving her alone with Deklhook. "Janehook you need to understand and train Jimhook to respond to any slight a goblin may make towards you or him. As you are adopted they may try and slight either of you hoping that one of us will stand up for you. If we do that it will diminish your standings with goblins. Jimhook needs to be strong and firm. I hope he is doing well at the construction site. It was dangerous for Griphook to take him there without insuring Jimhook's power level was sufficient to avoid embarrassment." Deklhook said intending to caution her.
"It sounds like you are expecting trouble."
"I am. There is a faction that opposes the action being taken by Ragnok. I believe they will use you to force his removal from power."
"How will that affect your family?" Hermione asked realizing there was a lot going on behind the scenes.
"Not well. It depends on how well Maalhook can play one side against the other. Don't worry my mate is very skilled at these games."
"Mine is not. We are both still young but he is magically powerful."
"That is good." Deklhook said just as the door opened allowing Harhook to enter followed by a group of hooded goblin females. "I met them on the way. They were coming to fit the robes." Harhook replied while the group was removing their hoods and pulling robes from bags as they approached Hermione.
Harry and Griphook were returning from their work when an older goblin stepped in front of them baring their path just before they reached their house. "What is the Hook clan doing associating with wizards?" He asked Griphook in Gobbledegook.
"My family has adopted this one and his mate. Jimhook has been helping with the new tunnel." Griphook replied.
"So did the stick waver manage to move any stone." The goblin baring their way continued in a derisive tone.
"He was helpful." Griphook allowed. The goblin in front of him was an old opponent of his father's. Griphook wondered what had prompted him to confront them. The last time the goblin had confronted a member of his family his father had done enough damage that the healer had to be called.
"So Maalhook is enjoying a wizarding female now?" the goblin asked switching to English.
Griphook realized the intent was to draw Jimhook into a fight and humiliate him. That would lower both Maalhook and Ragnok's standing in the community.
Harry looked stunned at the goblin's pronouncement. But luckily for everyone Hermione was close enough for her to hear Harry and for him to hear her. 'Harry you need to confront him. Don't draw your wand. Punch him, slap him, wandless magic would be really good right now if you can do some.' She thought to him.
"You insult my mate to my face?" Harry asked looking down at the goblin in front of him.
"I had to switch to English so you would understand it stick waver."
"I give you one chance to retract your statement." Harry said glad he'd spent time listening to Griphook's stories as they worked.
"What I said stands. What are you going to do?" the goblin said shrugging his shoulders to free his robes from his hands. Enjoying the fact a small crowd had gathered to watch him humiliate this wizard.
Harry was in a quandary he did not what to exhibit the extent of his wandless magic in front of this crowd. He was sure there was at least one in the crowd who would report to Voldemort what they observed. As he reviewed his options he could tell the goblin confronting him was becoming anxious. Hoping he would react correctly Harry quickly raised a hand to point at him.
The goblin response couldn't have been better when he saw Harry's hand come up he fired off a spell. Harry made a show of waiving his off hand like a wand while silently casting his shield. Doing his best he used the rebound of the spell to hide his silent casting of the Stupefy spell overpowering it slightly. The spell worked just as he'd hoped. It struck the goblin just at the time he was moving to avoid his spell and to most observers it appeared he'd failed to doge his own spell. The humiliation he would bear for falling to his own spell far exceeded the level he would have been subject to had Harry beaten him outright.
Maalhook chose that moment to walk up to Jimhook and Griphook asking, "Is there a problem here?"
"No father, Draldeck took exception to our adoption of Jimhook and Janehook making extremely rude suggestions concerning Janehook. Her mate confronted Draldeck and resolved the situation."
Maalhook looked down at where Draldeck was still stunned apparently the victim of his own stupefy spell. He removed the spell before confronting the goblin saying, "Draldeck you are luck it was Jimhook that confronted you. If you speak out of turn again about any member of my clan you will answer to me. You can be assured I will use more than a shield charm to hit you with your own spell."
"Come young one's Deklhook gets upset if we are late at meal time." Maalhook said leading Jimhook and Griphook through the crowd that had gathered. They parted before the senior goblin acknowledging his status was higher than theirs.
That evening was spent with the elders of the Hook clan telling stories of previous members, educating the two newest members about the proud history of the clan. The recitation was interrupted when Hermione suddenly nudged Harry thinking, 'I know where I've seen Maalhook before."
'Where?'
'He was in the pictures the Daily Prophet ran when Voldemort broke in before our first year.'
'And you remembered this?' Harry thought astonished anyone could remember a detail like that.
'Yes my memory is semi-photographic.'
"Perhaps you two would care to tell us what you are obviously discussing?" Maalhook asked looking between the two of them.
Hermione started to open her mouth before quickly shutting it and nudging Harry who said, "My mate informed me that she recognized you from a picture that was in the Daily Prophet."
The other family members turned to stare at Hermione who fought the urge to speak. Instead she was urging Harry with her eyes to complete the story and get their eyes off her.
"That picture was taken over six years ago. You two must have been what 11 at the time." Deklhook said looking at Hermione.
Seeing that her adoptive mother had spoken Hermione felt comfortable when she replied, "Actually I was almost 12, my memory is quite good for certain things."
"Obviously." Harhook replied.
"Harhook," Deklhook said cautioning her daughter before turning again to Maalhook saying, "Perhaps you should tell them how you came to be in that picture."
"The story is not as exciting as our ancestors but if you wish I will tell it. At the time of the supposed break in I was working in security in our branch in Paris. The instant the problem was detected I was dispatched to London to assist in the investigation. Without revealing Gringotts secrets my contribution will seem small but I was the one who was able to determine what had tripped the alarm spells and with some others create a defense against it happening again." Maalhook explained.
"That does sound like a lot was left out. If I may what is your current position." Harry asked.
"Titles mean nothing without understanding, What I do is whatever Ragnok wishes I… what is the word Deklhook?"
"Harhook what word would you suggest?" Deklhook asked looking to her daughter.
Harhook hated being put on the spot like this. She thought for a moment before replying, "Freelancer, trouble shooter, consultant, are the three I would suggest."
"I believe trouble shooter is the more correct description." Maalhook said nodding his thanks to his daughter.
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances they both realized that whatever his position he was placing his reputation on the line with them.
A short while later Maalhook stood saying, "It is time for rest. Tomorrow you will meet up with the curse breaker and journey back to school. I will be gone when you wake so I will see you both on Wednesday."
The next morning Griphook guided them through the maze of passages back to the side door where Bill Weasley was waiting just inside. "Hey you two Dumbledore's in a right state. He's been after me to bring you back so expect him to be full of questions." Bill said seeing them approach.
"We'll be ready. I don't think he will like being told it is none of his business." Harry answered.
After a quick port key trip to the Hogsmeade gate they started to walk to the school Bill was surprised to see both had their wands out and ready. Bill watched the two of them as they walked in front of him noting they were appearing more mature every day. Not just in actions it seemed like they were in a physical growth spurt. Hermione's was a little more obvious due to her pregnancy but Harry was going through one also increasing in height and girth. If he kept going at this rate Bill wasn't sure if he wanted to find Harry's bad side.
"When you see Fleur ask her about Dumbledore flooing the house looking for me Saturday morning." Bill said in to the quiet once they were inside Hogwarts wards.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder asking, "I take it she was upset."
"I think if Dumbledore thought he could have found another Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor I'd been fired. He got pushy with her and she hexed him."
"Fleur hexed Dumbledore?" Harry asked between the laughter bubbling up from deep within him.
"Quite well, it seems that he did not understand it when she told him several different ways that his call was at an end. When I said it wasn't good to hex the headmaster. She replied, "I am not his student. Madam Maxine would have understood to leave me alone when I dismissed her the first time. Besides I treated with respect there were not fireballs flying in his direction." Bill said smiling at the thought of his wife throwing fireballs at the headmaster.
Approaching the front steps Hermione noticed a robed individual standing on them waiting for someone. "Want to bet that's Dumbledore?" she asked.
"It's a sucker's bet." Harry replied taking a deep breath and steeling himself to face his mentor. He didn't want this confrontation but he wasn't going to back down. The short time he'd spent with Griphook had instilled in him how important respect was between individuals.
"Harry, Hermione, I can't tell you how worried I was. Why didn't you send word where you were so I could arrange for the order to guard you." Dumbledore said with his eyes on full twinkle.
"On our way back Friday night we were attacked just before entering Hogwarts' wards. I took action to protect and safeguard my family. If you couldn't find me I felt comfortable that Voldemort couldn't either."
"But Harry I could have insured your safety."
"No, I am sure one of your first acts would have been to notify Severus where we were. You may trust the man I do not and I will not risk my family."
"That is Professor Snape." Dumbledore replied trying to bring Harry back to the more easily controlled level of a student.
"When he addresses me as Professor Potter, I will address him as Professor Snape. Now if you don't mind my wife and I need to go to our rooms and rest. We also have homework that we need to insure is ready to turn in tomorrow." Harry said walking past the headmaster.
"Harry I have more to talk about." Dumbledore said sharply stopping Harry in his tracks.
Hermione turned and looked at Dumbledore asking, "School Business?"
Dumbledore found himself shifting from side to side He hadn't been subject to a gaze like that since Nicolas Flamel's wife Perenelle had questioned him concerning a young lady of mutual acquaintance. "No actually I wish to discuss your continuing trips." He found himself replying though it was only with considerable effort he was able to replace question with discuss.
"In that case I believe we can hold that conversation at a later date. My husband and I are tired and have several hours of school work awaiting us that must be completed before class tomorrow." Hermione replied before turning and with her husband beside her she left the headmaster of Hogwarts standing on his own front steps wondering how the two had managed to get the better of him.