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 44 Attack Aftermath
The Minister of Magic entered his office very early then next morning to find a parchment rolled up with a purple seal on his desk. He'd seen these off and on over the years and realized it was another confidential briefing memo from the unspeakables. As with all previous parchments the breaking of the seal cast several spells on his office that would only go away after he'd destroyed the parchment. The first few he'd tried to save but found himself unable to leave his office until the parchment was destroyed and any copying spell failed to work. To top it off he couldn't even retrieve a memory of it to put in a pensive.
Briefing memo on Gringotts break in,
1. This was an attempt by he-who-must-not-be-named to destabilize the wizarding economy. We feel the attacking forces considered Gringotts a target that would bring the wizarding world to its knees.
2. There was considerable loss of life in the defense of Gringotts. It is believed Ambassador Narnok was either killed or is incapacitated for unknown reasons as Ambassador Dager Hermione Granger is making all announcements for the Goblin Nation. As a side note you should send a memo out to insure all official correspondence from the ministry uses her new title of "Ambassador Dager"
The following is best guess: Dager translates as Warrior and is the goblin equivalent of the Order of Merlin. Unlike the Order of Merlin the honorific Dager must be earned in battle most likely by killing multiple enemies. Failure to use this honorific in an official title could be seen as a direct insult not only to the individual but the Goblin nation if it is felt its absence was intentionally.
3. It is believed an additional Witch and Wizard were also honored with this title, William Weasley, son of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department head Arthur Weasley. The witch is Fleur Delacour a graduate of Beauxbatons. We also have an unverified report that one goblin addressed William Weasley as Billnok Should this prove to be correct it would imply that William Weasley has been adopted by a Goblin family, possible even Ragnok himself but this is doubted by several of our members.
4. There are no known survivors of the attacking force. If Gringotts managed to take any alive they are keeping them hidden and their life expectancy is short.
5. It is highly likely that Gringotts will take additional precautions as a result of this attack.
As was normal the memo was unsigned. The method of delivery to a secure office assured the recipient of it's validity. He sat back in his seat he'd all ready heard from various individuals that Gringotts was operating with far less open access than they had previous. There were only a set number of individuals allowing in the small portion that was open and several prominent families were reporting members being escorted at all times while they where in the bank by several armed goblins. According to the reports when the confronted to goblins about why they were singled out the only reply was procedure.
Dobby had traveled back and forth since the attack keeping the Grangers up to date with the goings on of the Potters. It was Christmas Eve however before things were back to normal enough for Harry and Hermione to travel to her parents for the Christmas Holiday. Harhook However was staying at Gringotts as she now had a number of suitors vying for her hand. Hermione's lessons would now occur only when deemed necessary. "What do you have planned for the 27th Harry?" Jane Granger asked him once she'd managed to corner him alone.
"Nothing, we were planning on relaxing with you until it was time to go back to school."
"Good The afternoon of the 27th I am throwing my daughter a baby shower and it would be best if you and Alan found something to do that day."
"Right Baby shower husband get lost. I understand." Harry said with a smile on his face.
"Don't worry just don't plan anything for that day and when Alan comes up with something for you two to do agree."
"Yes mum, or should I say Grandmamma?" Harry asked teasingly.
Jane looked at him in shock for a moment it was the first time Harry had referred to her that way taking a teasing swipe at him she said, "Get out of here. Why don't you go see what my daughter is up to it's not like she can get anymore pregnant."
When Harry found Hermione he started to wish he hadn't. She was standing in her closet throwing clothes out left and right. "What's the matter love?" He asked trying to sound as sympatric as possible.
"I came up here to pick out an outfit for tomorrow seeing as how we'll be at church and having guests. I just realized I don't have a thing to wear. Everyone of these outfits is for a young girl not a pregnant cow!" Hermione wailed as her frustration overwhelmed her and combined with her swinging hormones.
Hearing her daughter's cry and suspecting the reason Jane decided to take pity on her son-in-law heading upstairs to address the problem. Arriving at the open door to their bedroom and seeing the devastation she'd caused in her closet Jane spoke up, "Hermione I've got a few things put away in my room from when I was carrying you. Why don't we go take a look at them perhaps there's something in there that will work for you," While Harry put clothes shopping on his list of things to do.
The next morning Hermione got ready for church putting on a pair of her mother's old maternity stretch slacks that were in reasonable shape along with a nice dress shirt of Harry's. While Sigtug, the head of her guard detail, huddled with Mr. Lumba going over the best way to insure her safety. "I notice her guards are a little different." Mr. Lumba observed.
"Things have changed," Sigtug admitted wondering how much to disclose deciding to go with, "several of the prior guards were given leave to spend with their families." Choosing not to say The Ambassador has earned the title Dager with it the prestige of serving in her guard went up and the younger guards were bumped out.
Mr. Lumba stayed extra close to Hermione as they walked in the church prompting her to ask, "Covering for Sigtug?"
"Actually you are correct. I've asked someone else to take care of my normal duties. You should be aware there are several disillusioned goblins outside the church should I need help. It seems your protector doesn't trust me completely."
After the service The Vickers's eyes widened before he quickly schooled his expression back to a benign happy one when he took in Hermione's condition but Jane saved the day by introducing Harry as her new son-in-law. Hermione was sure the word about her condition would be all around the parish by sundown. She remembered last summer when Harry had been introduced as her betrothed at the Hospital Ball and decided it wasn't too bad most everyone would know she was married and to be honest she really didn't care what they thought.
Christmas dinner was a full blown feast with plenty of conversation as the Lumbas joined them "I'm sorry to say Harry and I didn't get a chance to go shopping for everyone." Hermione said looking around hoping they wouldn't judge her too badly for failing to insure they had presents for everyone her first Christmas as Mrs. Potter.
"Don't worry about it from the message's Dobby brought us it sounded like you were rather busy." Her mother re-assured her.
"That she was." Harry agreed stopping at a look from his wife.
"What bothers me slightly is the need to keep your side job a secret. Alan and I have always been able to brag that you are doing well in school, but we can't say 'My daughter is the ambassador for a race that you think exists only in fairy tales.'"
"Sorry Mum, I know you're going to get a lot of static about me being pregnant. I probably shouldn't have gone to church today." Hermione said hanging her head knowing the reason her mother wanted to brag about her was to offset the pregnancy comments.
"You are right but my answer will be, 'My daughter is married to a very nice young man and was married before the pregnancy. They are both continuing with their education and she still has high grades.' That should shut most of them up especially Mrs. What's her name whose daughter dropped out and ran off after they tried to put her in a home for getting pregnant. I do not want you holding your head down or not going to things because of what you think people will say." Jane Granger stated firmly.
Harry looked his mother-in-law and when Hermione didn't respond he said, "Thanks Mum." Putting an arm around his wife who was overcome with emotion and held her for a second releasing her when her mother stood and came over to wrap her up in a mother's hug.
Later Jane cornered Harry and he hugged her saying, "Thanks, I think Hermione was releasing a lot of the stuff she had bottled up inside over the last week."
"I think you are right. I didn't want to ask with her around but how was the battle you had? Dobby was quite evasive when Alan tried to pin him down."
"It was rough; People on both sides died and both of us have blood on our hands from that. Then before she had a chance to recover she had to shift gears and become their Ambassador, stepping out in front of a potentially hostile crowd to officially acknowledge the attack and announce actions being taken. Jane you and Alan would have been so proud of her. I don't know how she manages being an ambassador to be honest. I've seen her don her Ambassador robes and suddenly there's this individual with a backbone of steel standing there. She faced down a pushy reporter without a problem, heck she even faced down our headmaster once when she was wearing the robes."
"Now Hermione tells it slightly different, weren't you the first one to face the crowd?"
"I wasn't going to let my wife go out there alone. A goblin guard would have incited the crowd, me the crowd saw a school boy, not a threat."
"Hermione said you were still wearing your robes that were covered in blood."
"Yea, forgot to clean them." Harry said sheepishly.
Jane thought about the sight of Harry standing there in bloody robes looking over the crowd. He might think they saw a school boy but she was pretty sure they say someone who had taken on the worst the death eaters could throw at him and won standing there radiating power. She'd felt his power slightly when he was upset once and Hermione had informed her that magical people were more sensitive to an individuals power. Her son in law was right but for the wrong reason. The crowd might have thought they could take the goblins, they knew they couldn't take Harry. "Well thanks for looking out for my daughter." Jane said finally.
"She's the most precious thing in the world to me." Harry replied and Jane heard the truth ring hard in that simple declaration.
Christmas Day dawned clear and crisp. Inside Malfoy Manor it was normally celebrated quietly and dignified. This year however the festivities were none existent. Draco looking at his presents under the tree realizing there were the last presents he would ever receive from his father. His mother was in her room doing just what Draco was unsure of as that was obviously women's business and until he was married it was knowledge barred from him.
His father had left four days ago in a self important rush to answer their Lord's call announcing he would return covered in their Lord's glory in time for the celebration.
The last few days issues of the Daily Prophet did little to convey the glory Lucius was expecting to receive. His name appearing near the top of todays list from Gringotts of wizarding causalities just confirmed what Draco expected. The appearance of his Godfather Severus Snape's name on that same listing caused Draco to realize the time for a serious contemplation of the wisdom of returning to Hogwarts after the Yule break
Dumbledore looked over the Daily Prophet's list of Wizards killed in the attack on Gringotts recalling at least a face in all but a few cases. Most times however he'd either taught or had as students during his tenure as Headmaster. There was one name however that stopped his jaunt down memory lane dead in it's tracks, Tom Riddle. Dumbledore sat behind his ornate desk looking at that name for a minute or two before rushing to his fireplace and flooing to Diagon Alley were his long stride took him to Gringotts night entrance, the main one still being out of commission from the attack. Seeing a line of wizards and witches waiting for entrance he debated the best way to approach the situation. He decided to just get in line and wait his turn more for a public relations perspective than any other, The great Dumbledore queuing up just like he was a normal wizard.
The witch in front of him turned to see who was behind her, more from a safety point that any other reason. Recognizing Dumbledore she offered him the opportunity to move in front of her. He refused at the first offering as was polite before graciously accepting on the second offering. Naturally the wizard in front of her turned at the commotion before repeating her gesture. With in a minute Albus found himself at the front of the queue and with a number of witches and wizards thinking they'd helped him. Smiling at the thought he'd won on both counts today Dumbledore awaited the summons to enter Gringotts.
Once inside the alcove Dumbledore approached the lone desk situated in a recess facing both the door and two teller stations that comprised the after hours portion of Gringotts. The Goblin asked no question just looked up at the person standing in front of his desk waiting a moment for them to speak before returning his attention back to the papers on his desk. Albus stifled his frustration at the apparent dismissal saying, "I've come to inquire about a name in the Daily Prophet's roster of dead wizards."
"Are you a family member of the individual?"
"No but it is essential I be allowed to view his body." Dumbledore stated in his head of the Wizengamot tone.
"At this time no viewing is permitted. Once identification and collection of all parts is completed your government will be notified the body is ready to be collected. Should you wish at that time we will dispose of any bodies requested for a reasonable charge. Please bear in mind identification and correlation of all body parts may take a while.
"I am the head of the Wizengamot and I wish to view just one body. Surely accommodations can be made." Dumbledore stated officiously.
"Ah, you failed to initially identify your self as a representative of the wizarding government. Your ambassador will need to contact our ambassador and suitable arrangements will be negotiated. Have a good day. Next!" The goblin stated then called out for his next client effectively dismissing Dumbledore who left the bank quietly fuming in indignation at being dismissed so abruptly.
Dumbledore was heading to the ministry before he realized he could contact the Goblin ambassador directly and he knew just where she was. Suppressing a scream of frustration he changed course heading for an apparition point to return to Hogwarts where he would await the return of Hermione Potter.
Having decided to have a quiet New Years at home the Grangers and Potters were sitting around when the phone rang. Answering it Alan heard a reporter on the other end asking, "Mr. Granger do you have any comment about being named on the Queen's Honours List."
"I beg you pardon?"
"The palace has just released the New Year's Honours List and You are inline for a Order of the Garter."
"I have noting to say other than I believe you will find you have the wrong person. I am a simple dentist." Alan said hanging up the phone before turning to see curious gazes from the others in the room. "That was a reporter from the local gossip sheet. He claims I'm listed on the Queen's New Year Honours List. There was obviously a mistake."
"Alan." Jane said cautioning.
"No Jane I don't believe that has a bearing." He replied nodding towards his daughter and her husband who were watching the discussion closely.
"Dad, what do you not want to discuss in front of us." Hermione asked looking at her father.
"Alan she's married and I believe both her and Harry have a right to know the truth." Jane said squeezing her comment in before Alan could reply.
When Alan's gaze fell on Harry inviting his comment Harry added, "I'll leave if you want but it is obvious to me you've been hiding something and now that Hermione knows I give it about a month at the outside before she knows all about it without a word from you or Jane."
"I'd be surprised if she managed to get at this information." Alan replied.
Hermione raised her eyebrow looking at her father wondering if his comment was a challenge.
Seeing the look on his daughter's face Alan replied, "Alright, I might have done some work for the government over the years."
"And?" Hermione asked.
"I'm a dentist, there were some individuals from time to time that needed extremely specialized dentistry. My family has always held rather high clearances with the government so I was the easiest dentist to clear for the work. And that is all I can say about it. I will now have to inform certain individuals that you are both in the know. Expect a visit from someone in the next few weeks."
"We'll be at Hogwarts I doubt they will find us." Hermione replied.
"I don't. I called to inform them when you received your Hogwarts letter and the voice at the other end said, 'Congratulations on your daughter's invitation to Hogwarts,' before I said anything."
"You called the muggle government to inform them of my going to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Dear all I can hope is someday you might understand."
"Mr. Granger, thank you for trusting me. After I explain it to Hermione I will do my best to bury it along with a few other things I have in the back of my mind." Harry said looking at his father-in-law in a new light.