Harry and Hermione's Unexpected Family Ties
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A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
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Chapter 6: Discoveries & Backlash
Black Villa, Cairo
Harry was setting up his very own bedroom, filling the brilliant built-in bookcase. The Potter lad was surprised by just how many books he'd accumulated in such a short time. Sirius stood in the open door, watching his face of wonder.
Hadn't his face shown the same gratitude, the same wonder at the feeling of safety upon arriving in his new room at the Potter home after all his time under Walberga's wand; his father's indifference? How his mother came to blame Sirius for Orion's death in a raid when he was a teen, he never knew.
He had fled before she could kill him, and found parents he had called Mum and Dad for the first time ever.
He was just glad to make his escape from Britain, and facilitated Harry's own escape from his past life.
Daisy popped with glasses of lemonade and a plate of warm biscuits Dobby had made for them both, and put them in the little breakfast nook at the window overlooking the pool. The wizards sat, and Sirius admired Harry's work so far.
"Nice start. Be sure to list any books you want us to get for the library here. I wish that old Rascal was still around…Uh…" Sirius looked up in confusion. Where had that name come from? He continued, bewildered, "Or L..Ivy? Silly? No. Great library elves, those two. Whoever the other one was."
He suddenly remembered about Harry's trip down to his vault in London, "Hey, when are you going to put on your ring? Which reminds me, we need to pick something up when we next go to the bank."
Harry went to his desk. He had put the little box reverently on the desk when unpacking. Him, the little street urchin everyone on Privet Drive thought was a criminal! He had a fortune, and was Heir to a noble House?
Obediently, the near-teen got up and retrieved the box from his desk and returned to the table. And opened it.
Harry looked at this ring that had a griffin grasping a sword in its front talons, yet somehow resting on a steaming cauldron with its hind feet. This was his family's sigil? Brilliant, just brilliant.
Harry put on the ring as an expectant Sirius watched. He knew by law that Harry was Heir, but a less scrupulous individual might have tried to take it up, since he had been blood adopted by Charlus Potter when just a teen.
Sirius expected to maybe see a flash of light as the ring resized; accepting Harry as heir. Maybe a small test, but what did happen surprised him.
Harry looked around. Where was he?
He had run there, up the stone corridor out into the sun, wand in hand. Invaders had breached the wards to this stone tomb hidden in a hill. He prepared to fight. Goblins? Why were goblins attacking here? This was a private dig, funded with his own gold; this did not belong to the goblins!
The keystone wasn't far; he could seal this tomb back up if he had to; where were his guards?
Wind whipped around them, sand pelting him. Arrows rained down nearby, his shield holding for now, but he had not been directly attacked. At least not yet.
The sounds of the attackers screaming, "Slaughter all the mongrels! Leave the Potters alone!"
Why was the creche targeted? There were babies in there! His workers! Some of them were squibs! Oh no!
His wife was slapping emergency blood-portkeys on several people quickly. One man had a head injury that looked fatal.
Heir Potter shouted over the din, "We have to stand or they'll kill all of the children!"
The dying mother goblin, crossbow bolts protruding from her back, reached her hand towards the witch. "Please, take my baby to his father. Seal this place with our blood. Deny them this treasure. My mate…tell him…love…"
Hermione had not escaped unscathed, her lower arm had been struck, and the blood had trickled down her arm from where she'd pulled the missile. Her red hand reached for the mortally wounded mother.
The woman's green blood mingled with her own, and Harry watched as she smeared it quickly on the keystone.
The goblin child wasn't as dead as the attackers thought. Fortunately.
"Now, love! We'll all die if we don't leave right this minute!" Harry shouted.
"We can save this one!" Hermione spelled into her husband's ears alone.
She pointed to a child; it mattered not to her that he had long ears and a snout and was greenish rather than pink. He was someone's child, and his mother had just died. He was clinging to her, but she would never wake.
Hiding the child quickly in his magical pack, Harry swore. Why kill these children?
"Come, Dorea! Now!" He raised his voice high to friends and foe alike, "Flee if you want to live, traitors! Monsters! Kinslayers! Or else this will become your tomb!"
Harry's adult male hand, strong with dark, hairy knuckles jammed the family ring in a hidden recess of stone smeared with goblin and human blood. A loud grinding noise started.
Death, pain, terror filled the scene, but all Harry wanted to do was stand and fight.
He had retreated with his wife and one small child, that was all. Only one.
And this dig site, researched and found and claimed by the Heir to the House of Potter would remain hidden to attackers and friends alike until the Heir returned to claim it with the blood of the child's parents or the child himself.
The world grew dark as Harry fainted, hitting the marble floor much too hard. The experiences of the previous heir, Charlus Potter, had felt so very real.
"Harry!"
**OO**
Gringotts Cairo
Harry awoke being treated by Healer Brightblade. He didn't want to talk about what happened. It was much too intense. And why did his grandmother look so much like Hermione? Her being in danger had him retreating, rescuing a single goblin child. But he should go back and fight!
No, that was his grandfather who felt that, wanted to do those things. His thoughts a jumbled morass.
But it had felt so very real.
One of the books he read said that memories of family magic could be impressed into those rings. So this sig-net sigil was meant for more than just sealing letters.
He had no idea where this tomb really was, but suspected that the family vaults might hold the key. Whoever this child was would be needed to open the place. But he couldn't even begin to look until he had access to the family vault, or Sirius did. And without reading the Potter Will, that couldn't happen. And there were reasons that wasn't happening yet.
Four years wasn't that long when you were an adult. For someone not yet thirteen? It was nearly a third again of his life to wait.
Or they could just ask Dumbledore for early access. Ha!
The healer released him, telling him not to do any more stupid things this day. Gee, was she always this friendly and kind, or was it just for the Boy-who-Lived-to-Cause-Others-Headaches?
She had scanned his forehead yet again, but refused to tell him anything new.
Typical, typical.
Whatever happened was not from Moldy. Not this time.
**OO**
Sirius and Harry had a short visit with Account Manager Spurnik to discuss the legality of the reading of the Potter parents' Wills; that had been sealed by the Supreme Mugwump.
Harry got the feeling that Sirius wanted to send him home while he traded goblin swears with Spurnik over the situation.
For some reason, Harry was not allowed to even see his parents Wills. Not yet, and there was a good reason. The main reason was a man who had five names.
Both Spurnik and Sirius were suggesting to wait until Harry's majority or until after a certain stone went dark.
That little thing cost that much gold? Woah. The Potter lad hoped it was worth it.
They had made it here undiscovered, bought a house, and hopefully, would soon be registered at a magical school. Sirius didn't care about the waste of gold if Harry changed his mind and went to a different school later.
Being registered with a local address by a legal guardian meant a lot.
The Gryffindor wizard knew he was being cautious in not opening the Wills right now, but what would he really gain? James' permission? He had that with his godfather's oaths. More gold? He had enough to see them get by, and Harry's trust vault alone would let them live like kings for decades if either of them were so cavalier; which they were not.
Other than the home and food, their main expenditures for the next few years would be education.
(Harry hadn't shared his adventure, so Sirius had no idea that Harry wanted Charlus' adventuring and curse-breaking records. If Padfoot had known, he would want Harry to wait until he knew more than just 'lumos' before venturing out to look for a hidden tomb somewhere in the desert.)
No, he'd be putting a huge target on himself and Harry. Dumbledore would get a two month head start on finding them. Sirius was put into prison due to this man and others, and he had no doubt that King Albus was ruthless enough to do it again to get Harry back.
Harry wasn't a pawn, or even a knight to the old man. But the whole game.
Sirius needed to concentrate on getting a Mastery just as soon as practicable, as that added to a person's respectability factor.
And try to stay out of Dumbledore's sight just as long as possible.
They had no idea that fate or the Potter bad luck would be bringing them together again, far too soon.
**OO**
Spurnik himself was happy that the Heir rings were in the Potter and Black trust vaults respectively, and was surprised that Harry found his.
Harry was looking dubiously at the Black Heir ring. He really didn't want to put it on right now. Especially not with Healer Brightblade somewhere in the building.
Sirius shared, "I wasn't wearing that when on auror duty. Too afraid of Bella killing me for it, I think. I don't know how it got back to the vault, but it did. I wonder when the Ministry will stop putting my auror salary in there."
That reassured Harry that Padfoot had the ring last. And clearly was innocent, as a convicted man's wealth was often confiscated by the ministry. A conviction would have prevented Sirius from having his lordship ring, his vaults, and even his Bahamian citizenship. They would have rejected his application.
The diaries from James and Lily had entries that detailed just who their secret keeper was. Yes, it started out as Sirius. But Lily was working on her Charms Mastery and developed a spell to switch roles.
She had started to mistrust Dumbledore after Marlene's death, and Albus kept pushing for Remus to be the secret keeper, since he was a werewolf, and no one could read his mind.
Sirius was concerned that Dumbledore thought that Moony was the secret spy that everyone seemed to be worried about. His showing such overboard support of the werewolf had put everyone on edge.
Including Moony!
The healer came into the nicely appointed conference room. They were at a stone table with comfortable chairs around it. At the back wall was a leather sofa in an 'L' shape with a loveseat. A metal charcoal brazier was on the floor in front of the furniture, convenient for the roasting of traditional meats for certain meetings. The healer put a folder on the table and folded long delicate fingers.
"So, Mr Potter. You have a parasite in your scar. This is unprecedented. With any other horcrux, it would be destroyed. However, you are a living being, a minor, and an innocent. And it's such a tiny piece, and fully encapsulated away from your mind. Interesting problem. I've asked advice from a curse-breaker. He claims to know you, and offered to help us here."
She left the men alone to gather the curse-breaker. Goblins! They didn't beat around the bush or waffle about, did they? Woah.
Sirius paled. Did Dumbledore know? What was he saying? Of course the man knew. Well, he hadn't immediately killed Harry. Point for Dumbledore. Sirius pictured himself doing the slow, sarcastic clap for the man.
The goblin healer was looking grim and unhappy with the man bouncing with excitement next to her.
"Harry! You look just like your pictures! Are you in Egypt to sneak in and visit Ron? You know that most of the family is down South in Luxor, right? Oops. I see nothing, I hear nothing. I'm Bill. Bill Weasley, obviously, and you sir are the key to my family's salvation…oops, I need to back up."
"What nonsense is this, Curse-breaker? Did Spurnik let you try grog again? If so, my mate can enjoy comfortably slumbering in the tub for the next few nights. I've enchanted the controls for maximum discomfort for sleeping!"
Sirius had taken his feet, as did Harry when the man came in. But Harry recognized the wizard from family photos. This was indeed Bill Weasley.
"No, Healer. I have sworn off that potable. Besides, the locals get upset when I bring mild beer into the enclave." He bowed to the goblin lady, and turned to the adult wizard, "Lord Black I presume? I am so grateful to you and to young Harry here. Truly. May I explain?"
"No one's been introduced properly, Curse-breaker! You are Bill 'Foot-in-Mouth' Weasley, this is Lord Black and Harry Potter. And I am your worst nightmare if you don't calm down!"
Bill had indeed been brought in on the Horcrux team. He insisted on at least one healer. Despite her being a goblin, Bill got permission to swear Healer Brightblade to the project. In addition to being a healer, she had been a curse-breaker in her youth.
Bill explained the plan: Track down the unknown horcruxes and destroy them. He pulled out a device.
"That's an animeter! How do you have one?" Sirius demanded. In a softer tone he explained to Harry that it was a 'soul detector' basically. Well, that's what he thought it was.
Sirius double checked that he had all of the books he wanted from the Black library before giving Kreacher and Grimmauld Place to Narcissa. This detector was in an old book. He'd made this device - or one that looked like it, based on the instructions, and never used it, before his mother had confiscated and hid it from him.
"One of the members of the team found it. I can reveal the names to you after you two join. But this is already too big of a group. And Harry, I mean it. You are old enough to take this vow, but you can't tell anyone."
Harry didn't like keeping secrets from Hermione, but if it had to do with Voldemort? Innocence was bliss and all.
They took simple oaths, and Padfoot was told what he suspected about the device.
"This is Sirius Black's work as a student. What genius! He followed the instructions perfectly, but got caught by his mother. She hid this and the book from him afterwards. I think she knew what Voldy was up to, and didn't want him thwarted."
"That sounds about right for Walberga." Sirius muttered, hiding his name for now.
"His cousin found it and brought it to the group to aid in our quest." Bill shared.
"Cousin? Andromeda is helping?" Sirius hoped, but would wait for confirmation.
Bill shook his head. Well, it couldn't be Bella unless she had repeated his stunt, so that left…yes!. Narcissa! Good. It would be great fighting the good fight with this clever, ambitious, so very Slytherin light witch.
Bill explicitly stated who was on the team. The potions master was a surprise, but Harry was nodding. They both had past…unpleasantness with the man, but at least Sirius had been age-mates. But Severus and Narcissa had always gotten on well in school, and Sirius had heard Orion more than once complain about the half-blood sniffing after witches that were far above him. And seemed particularly vindicated when he learned that the Snape boy had a long-term friendship with a mudblood as he termed Lily Evans.
Sirius knew that Dobby implied that she hated her husband. He'd never seen Narcissa kill anyone. He had suspicions of who might really have taken Lucius out, but would never say anything as a known Death Eater met a proper fate in being convicted of the crime.
This was a wonderful opportunity to build bridges, bury hatchets, and help the world. Would Snivel…he needed to banish that name from his vocabulary and thoughts. Would Snape agree to try and get along for the sake of his cousin's happiness?
After taking the readings from Harry's scar with the device, Bill explained the plan. Find horcruxes, destroy them, rinse and repeat, until all were gone but the one inside of Harry.
"Dumbledore knows about your friend living in your head but didn't want to 'disturb your sweet dreams' by telling you. What if others weren't around to stop a more ruthless goblin from killing Harry? Would he just go like a lamb to the slaughter, thinking he had to die in order to save the world?"
Harry stood and paced. That was a familiar story, an innocent sent to save the world. A man of Peace who taught others to love one another. And was killed for it.
But Death cannot conquer Life, and dark could not defeat Light. He lived again.
The young wizard shook his head. He was no magical prophet and wouldn't pretend to be one. Percy had shared his ideas with Bill, and Harry too in his dreams. Would it be possible? Could it work, and let him live and still get rid of Voldy for good?
"There's only one problem so far. Dumbledore doesn't seem to believe that we can get this last bit out of you without some crazy scheme to bring Voldy all the way back. Say what you will, but the man has strong opinions.
"And I strongly disagree with him. I think we can save you. Truly." Bill stated.
Harry got the feeling that Bill wasn't telling them the entire plan, just enough to go on with.
Bill explained that Percy had been a huge help in tracking down some of these soul-containers already.
"It would be nice to be able to meet at Hogwarts and include Percy in this discussion." Harry claimed.
"Or make some more mirrors and give them to your friends so we could talk to him. Privacy might be an issue though. We have to be careful about oaths." Sirius advised.
"He might have unique insights. Knowledge." Brightblade offered.
Harry moved over to the conference room's leather sofa and sat, head in his hands. Silent tears started to drip off his face, and Sirius wanted to change into a dog to comfort him.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Sirius asked gently.
"Dumbledore never protected me, because once Voldemort killed me, he could be killed. The Dursleys! All the time I was ready to boil my shoes sometimes, just to have something to eat! Last year's dangers, this year's threats. Poor Percy! He got caught up with the 'let's kill Harry this year plan'.
"I believe Bill. I also believe that we have to be very careful around Dumbledore. Is he evil? No, I don't think so. Is he mistaken? I don't know. I do know that I told him about the Dursleys. Directly. If any of you want to see the scars, I'll share. And he was okay with sending me back. Does he do that with all abused children, or am I a special case? Did Dumbledore really want me to be so unhappy, that I'd 'gladly' walk to my death?
"I am not inclined to trust the headmaster anymore." Harry stated firmly. "And while I understand the necessity of including him in this, especially working inside Hogwarts, I don't feel safe around him."
Bill came over and sat on the other side, next to Harry and talked to him in a somber voice. "Two things Harry. Dumbledore is old. Very old. His chocolate frog card claims he was born in 1881. But there are some older papers floating around about an apprentice of Flamels that successfully de-aged himself too far in an experiment, but it had some unnamed consequences. Dumbledore is praised as a prodigy, but what if he was just attending a second time under an assumed name? In that article, he was raised by his great-nephew Percival Dumbledore as his son. Is that the truth? Either way, you shouldn't be afraid of him tracking you down and killing you.
"The second thing is this. There is no rush to get that thing out of you, as all of the rest have to be found first. We know how many. We even know what some of them are. Dumbledore is trying to research Tom Riddle to find out more about him.
"There are seven horcruxes total. I know this because Moldy attacked you just after killing your, and I am sorry about this, he attacked you after killing your parents. Murder is the first requirement of making a horcrux. Not killing someone in the line of duty or anything like that. These can't just accidentally spring up. Your soul isn't really a horcrux, in the classical sense. And that makes all the difference."
"So, since you know by the animeter reading of the one in my head, and it has to be the last one made…"
"Basic maths. Well, algebra. We can know exactly how many he made because we know how much is in your head." Bill was happy to believe his brother, but would rather rely on science.
Harry looked at the equations. He was lost. This was foreign to him.
"And we have been able to measure the rest of the destroyed ones, as there is a 'lingering' essence that can be read for a time. Most helpful."
"Destroyed some?" Sirius put his arm around the back of the couch and was gratified that the boy didn't flinch away. In fact, he moved towards the man's side.
"There have been two destroyed: a diadem and you, Mr Potter, took out the biggest piece when you stabbed the diary. There are some who think once we have a certain percentage, we can go forward. I think we should do that only if it's been years without success of finding all the bits." Bill opined.
"You should check under the floorboards of his bed of his house when he was young. Anything valuable would have been hidden there." Harry suggested thinking of the articles comparing him and Tommy boy. "You should also check the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Snape can get you in. The basilisk is there. We didn't hang about. Who knows what else is down there?"
"Ginny is so angry that you didn't claim credit for killing it. And you really did it, didn't you?" Bill asked.
Harry stood and bared his arm as his healer hissed. "I did, and nearly died for it."
"I don't look at naked male humans! You should have shown me this, youngling!" the goblin stalked over, and snatched at his arm and scanned it, muttering.
"Sorry ma'am. I told Ron and Ginny that telling the truth never works for me. I showed our beloved Headmaster my fresh wound, and he still kept asking me questions over and over telling me that I was fine, but it was urgent to know what happened. What a berk! And Bumblesmore wouldn't let me keep the sword. What proof did I have besides a new scar? They tried to force the issue. Everyone believes bad things about me all the time. I'm done with that!"
Bill patted his back. "I'll mail you letters from time to time and let you know our progress. In code of course."
"Like the Cannons made three fouls if you were talking about our current progress?" Harry guessed.
"Good! Just like that. With only seven total to find, we're doing well. Two down, four to go. The last one is ridding you of your famous scar." Bill smiled, stood and pulled the standing Harry into a hug. "When we get down to the end, going to Hogwarts is a must. But this is going to take time. The first ones were all known. Now, we hunt. And the animeter has a very short range."
"And I'll be of more help if I know a bit more than second year charms." Harry returned the hug. He liked this wizard. Clearly a Weasley through and through.
"Thank you, for all you've done for my family. For saving Ginny when no one else would. Or could." Bill and he shared a look of future hopes, unshared with the others. They bowed at one another, and Bill took his leave of the others.
Sirius and Harry were left alone with Brightblade.
"What do you think of his ideas for transference of the horcrux?" Sirius asked the goblin. She was the one that pointed out destruction was the normal course for this sort of thing.
"Difficult. We are dealing with unknown magics in play. At least Curse-Breaker Weasley has that animeter. What a useful device! I don't need to tell my mate secrets, but I will tell him we are working together on getting Mr Potter's health up to snuff.
"May I ask a personal question?" the goblin asked. "Are you going to kill Dumbledore when you next see him?"
She was looking at the lad, not the adult. Clearly Lord Black would try if the powerful wizard came after his charge.
Harry shook his head, "No. If he can't accept there's hope for me to live, and get this thing removed from my scar, well. I guess then he'll get left behind."
Healer Brightblade shook her head. She had clearly had some knowledge of these awful things from her previous career.
"Hear me. I am not advocating cold blooded murder. Never. But be warned. Dumbledore wears many faces. Disappointed, sad, proud. All to manipulate. He's a powerful wizard who likes meeting the young people, shaping their lives, making an impression on them. But some of the things the clan has heard about?
"Before your parents were murdered, my lad, do you know what happened at your school? We hear things here. Things like giving Marked students detention when their actions should have had aurors called? Yes, that was before your time, and hopefully will not happen again, but Sirius Black and James Potter pranked these monsters to high heaven, as it was a way to fight back and follow Dumbledore's rules. It made the man laugh!
"It never made me laugh.
"He is not your friend, Harry Potter. It is very good that you are away from him. But until he is safely dead, you should keep your distance from him. Look at his actions, and how they have affected you both."
The healer got up, "I wish we did not have to work with him on this project, but he did make a vow to end this latest dark lord. My mate will likely be asking to see you soon. Use the box to send mail if at all. It is secure. Good day."
The men stood and the lady goblin left.
**OO**
Harry and Sirius talked as they walked home. They stopped by a shop, and Sirius ordered Harry a staff. He remembered a picture of a young Charlus Potter with a lion headed staff, and even found the right shop.
They had been in business when wizards were secretly helping build things like the pyramids.
"Lion head? Very nice, now to the wood." The wandmaker was happy helping Harry, not at all creepy like Ollivander.
Harry was given samples of several strong woods to hold, and Sirius was watching his reactions, as was the shop owner.
"Elder, very common in Wales." Sirius pointed out. The yew had a slight pull but not as strong as the elder wood. Harry handed that choice over to the craftsman.
It was so easy. Select cores, wood, decoration, and order it. No creepy mystery guy wasting an hour or more and having you afraid of coming back.
Sirius was trying to get him thinking of other things, but Harry was preoccupied.
He was glad they were going home after this, he really was. A home of his own, for the first time ever that he could remember.
**OO**
"How are you dealing with this pup?" Sirius was concerned. It wasn't everyday that someone found out about horcruxes. Or that he was one.
Talking about Dumbledore brought it all up again. And Lord Black thought Harry had suffered the most from Albus' mismanagement. Sirius was discounting his own troubles as self-inflicted, quite unfairly.
"Having a Dark Lord in my head? I think I've known that since Quirrell attacked me. I knew something wasn't right that first night, at the welcoming feast. Him staring at me? Or maybe doing legilimency? It hurt. Him getting close really hurt."
And his ongoing headaches in DADA? Harry had blamed it on the garlic and whatever else the man wore. Supposedly to fend off vampires. As if! Wait, could vampires even get into the school?
Well, if a troll could. Likely so. What was he thinking about? POSSESSED QUIRRELL got into the castle! Duh!
Harry remembered bits and pieces of dreams though. How could he feel so hopeful? Four hidden horcruxes that could be anything, hidden anywhere. At least Harry wasn't looking for them alone. Or worse, with just Ron and Hermione, escaping Death Eaters, fleeing, always hungry. So stupid!
Harry felt peace in his heart, "And you know what? I think it's going to be alright. I really do."
Sirius wished he felt the same. But he wasn't the one Percy was visiting in his dreams.
They got on a city bus, something like the Knight Bus but for tourists. At one point, they saw a gaggle of redheads, and Harry waved, but no one had seen him, thankfully.
"When are the contacts going to be ready?" Harry asked.
"A week or so. Goblins value quality over speed."
Harry nodded. The whole culture here was like that! Everything moved slower, even the bus! But, in their opinion; it was so much better than the Knight bus.
**OO**
The next morning, Alexandria Magical Académie
Harry and Sirius were very excited to be attending a tour of the school where Sirius was planning on studying and might be Harry's educational choice in his own future.
Sirius looked like a local in his getup. Harry blended in well. Except for his glasses, but they had ordered contacts to replace those. They were greeted at the door; Early by several minutes, and were the first to arrive.
The walk had been short. Only a few blocks to what appeared to be the entrance to a private residence. From the outside of the school, the place appeared to be a palace with extensive grounds. The cries 'hee-elp, hee-elp' of peacocks could be heard. High walls hid the inner buildings. The only way in was this guarded gate. Armed guards checked their credentials, wands, and scanned them for contraband. Most intimidating.
Once inside the arched entryway, a cool marble hallway led to a much larger building. Arched windows on the sides showed dancing fountains and a pretty walled area outside. It was a place where students could relax on one of the benches, or grab a snack at one of the tables. Little menus but no obvious cafeteria. Harry wondered about that.
Domed buildings could be seen in the distance; football field, was that a pitch? The facility was much larger on the inside than outside.
They followed the signs (in four languages with times for each of their lectures) to the door that had a paper sign 'Wizard's entrance', and were greeted by a waiting young man in light-colored local robes sporting a pointed beard wearing a Prefect badge.
"Welcome to the Alexandria Magical Académie. I understand that you speak English well. This is indeed the time for the English tour. Classes are taught in English and French for the most part, though there are some advanced classes held in the language of the professor. Arabic is also a common language here. Language potions or medallions are part of the tuition, so have no fear of a language barrier." The Prefect looked at the young wizard, "I am informed that Mr Black here is interested in perhaps taking 'Application of Parselrunes' at some point. Not enough snake-speakers continue their higher education. With their demand in all sorts of fields, they tend to leave school in pursuit of young wealth: To the detriment of Education." Sniff. Was this Percy, re-embodied in an Arab-looking young man? Clearly, the Prefect preferred all such talented people to stay and learn.
In an aside, he added, "Perhaps you can help perfect the parseltongue language potion if you continue your education."
The group so far, consisting of Sirius and Harry, were joined by several other men and boys, also wearing local robes. Suddenly, Harry recognized one of the men, and made his way up to him.
"Mr Granger? Is it really you? I just sent a letter this morning to Hermione, knowing that you were here somewhere. This is so cool!"
The Grangers had let Harry know they would be in Cairo today. Hehehe.
Dan winked at Sirius. "Nice to see you too, Harry."
Sirius handed Dan a badge behind the lad's back, and they shared a laugh.
The Prefect hit a small bell, and everyone turned their attention to him.
"I am sure that you will have many questions as we go along. As classes are in session, we are allowed to visit up to three. Does anyone have something they would like to see?"
Sirius raised his hand, and asked for Enchanting, Dan asked for Arithmancy, and another gentleman asked if they had archery at this school.
"Ah, you have heard of our mounted warrior competitors. Yes, during the school year, archery is available as both a class and a sport, on foot and on beasts." His previous demeanor quite at odds with the enthusiasm of his words.
This led to a discussion of school sports. Carpet racing was available for the older students, as were different mounted flying competitions. Football was a popular choice, but quidditch was not. Brooms tended to be used for practical matters if at all, like roof repair. Harry heard bitterness when he asked that question, and realized that brooms must be a bit of a sore point for the Prefect. Well, that really wasn't as important as learning new things.
They briefly visited several classes, met some professors, including a goblin who taught charms who sounded like grumpy-Snape, and learned how to order food when on campus. Even parents could come and share a snack if they wished; they could keep money on account.
Then the tour ended, and everyone was brought into the main hall for a presentation. Families were reunited, and what Harry hoped for happened.
There she was! She was here, in person!
After yesterday's scare, when he thought she was in mortal peril, Harry had needed to hold this young woman. Even if the danger wasn't real. But Sirius had been over this several times already with him.
They kept their greetings to a simple squeeze of hands, unsure of acceptable behavior here. In Gringotts, the cultural differences meant that public hugs were simply 'not done' between boyfriends and girlfriends. Bill hugging him was as a brother, and just fine - and he had even seen men kissing each other's cheeks in friendship here. Not a romantic gesture.
But Sirius was saying yes to inviting the Grangers for lunch after this. Yes! There were hugs as warm as the desert in Hermione's future.
"Did you see the runes room? Not just the Norse and Celtic runes that Hogwarts offers, but everything! Including some strange snake ones! Did you see those? And…"
"Hermione, as a medical professional, I advise you to breathe at least once every five minutes, or you'll pass out, my friend." Harry intoned, in a deepened tone.
"Medical professional?"
"Well, Madame Promfrey said I had learned enough to be a healer after all my trips to her domain!" the young wizard quipped.
"Ha, ha."
But she did stop talking, and took a seat next to Harry for the next part.
With Hermione being signed up for classes already, it was not a difficult choice to choose to go to school here. Especially after seeing all of the classes on offer. Harry referred to Hermione's sheet to coordinate classes for himself.
He had no interest in Divination, for example, but did want to take Charms and Mathematics and other classes with his girlfriend.
Mamelukes in their traditional garb strolled in and around the campus. Harry guffawed silently a bit at the thought of anyone asking the Headmaster of Hogwarts if he would allow deadly professionals in his school to keep the students safe.
Harry couldn't resist, and walked up to one of the guards and bowed.
Once Harry was acknowledged, he asked, "Sir, if you knew that there was a basilisk about to attack the school, would you know what to do?"
The man talked into his bracelet, and a small blue being poofed in between them handing him a cage of roosters.
He calmly but with a sense of urgency addressed Harry, "Where? And do you know the source?"
"I apologize, sir. Clearly you are ready. I was referring to an attack that was thwarted at Hogwarts by students. The adults in the school were…well? Pointless? Useless? They did not even get a chicken to help."
The man visibly relaxed. "I presume that you were somehow involved. I am glad to see you alive and whole. And this is why you are here?"
"Partially, sir. That, and since I can talk to snakes, everyone hates me. Well, not my friend, Hermione, but she's different. She thinks it's a useful skill."
The guard nodded, and returned the roosters to the helpful cobalt being. "It truly is, young master. But I have duties. I am Aufrer." The man bowed slightly.
His white loose shirt opened a bit, and Harry gulped. This man's muscles had muscles! Whoa! He was six and a half feet tall of stalking death if you were up to something nefarious.
"Harry, sir. Of House Black. May I ask…well, you said you had to get to work."
His helper. Not an elf, clearly. Would it be rude to ask?
"This is Mimi, she is a genie of the school. The students are assigned one to each of their cohorts. You'll learn more at orientation. Good day to you, Harry Black."
They exchanged bows. Harry was impressed with this man's strength of magic, and knowledge.
Where was Aufrer when he was needed? Harry and Ron had the choices of McGonagall - she would have said there was nothing to worry about, or Flitwick, who would have stunned them, and gotten them out of danger. Or Snape. Who likely would have chopped them all up for potions ingredients and then gotten them out of school.
There was no good help to be found when it was needed. Well, except Fawkes, and the Sorting Hat. And the sword. Where was that now? On Dumbledore's wall, four thousand kilometres away! What if he needed it here?
Harry held out his hand, imagining a basilisk attacking the school and suddenly it was in his hand. The Sword of Gryffindor!
Aufrer returned on silent and swift feet.
"How? Did you just conjure a sword?" There were no alarms; wards were not broken or breached.
"Um. This is embarrassing. I was worried if I needed the sword again. You know. In case of another attack. And it kinda, I don't know. Appeared? Sorry."
Why hadn't it come to him at Hogwarts, and he could almost hear a laughing Godric tell him, 'did you ask?'
The giant man started to chuckle. "You killed a basilisk, at your tender years? You killed one with a sword? How are you not dead?"
To the guard's amusement, Harry took the sword, and tucked it under one arm to allow him to roll up his sleeve.
Harry showed him the fresh scar on his arm. "I nearly died. Fawkes, a phoenix, healed me when I was bitten. He's a wonderful friend. I'm going to miss him."
"A magical sword, friends with a phoenix, and you killed a basilisk? Great songs should have been written about you if they haven't. But I can see in your look that you come here to disappear, not boast. I will keep your secrets. Perhaps, in time, we too can become friends." Aufrer gave a respectful bow of his head, as if to an equal.
The man was clearly a warrior, and saw in Harry the potential to become a great protector if that was his path.
Harry offered his hand, and the tall, dark skinned warrior took it. His hand was almost as big as Hagrid's! The wizard shook it twice before releasing it.
"Harry of House Black, it was an honor to meet you. Here. You need a scabbard for your sword."
The man took his khopesh out of his sheath, and concentrated. The sheath grew, and straightened, until it was the right size, and the man strapped it around the youth.
Without prompting, Harry saluted Aufrer as he had been taught by Godric, and sheathed the sword. It was a perfect fit.
"You are being called," the Mameluke pointed out.
"See you later, Aufrer. Thank you!"
Getting a new scabbard would not be a problem for the guard. However, he now had a way of tracking that boy through school.
His adventures thus far, and he was still alive? Aufrer's duties were to protect all, and it seemed that the Great Ones above were calling him to watch over their Chosen here below.
For only a Chosen could have faced such a beast so young and lived to tell the tale.
**OO**
Harry returned to his godfather and the rest of the group. Harry smiled at the new badges Dan and Emma were proudly sporting.
"Harry? Where did you get that sword?" Hermione asked. "Is that? How?"
"Hermione? You have proved your status as a Marauder by successfully sneaking out of school and not losing points or getting detention. Me? I just summoned a sword from how far? Twenty five hundred miles or so? Don't I get a badge too?"
Sirius started laughing and Dan and Emma could only look on, stunned, at their daughter's friend.
"I do believe that the sword you gained from your ancestor has been returned." Dan stated as though in a documentary. "And now, you will hang it on your wall? Perhaps with the fang that you kept?"
A popping sound, and an upset elf had joined them. Hermione turned to find Dobby, right there, in a panic.
"Master Headwhiskers being able to track that. But Dobby has an idea."
The elf popped away, and the others looked at each other with questions. But after resting, the elf made it home safely.
A fine replica of the sword now hung in its place, and fortunately for them all, the unloved Headmaster was not in his office, so all was well.
Harry and Hermione had no idea that Dobby had gotten Percy to get the poltergeist's help in distracting the old whiskered meddler.
**OO**
Lunch at the new Black home was quite jovial. Harry kept Hermione in touching distance the entire time. Hugs when they got back were long and meaningful. But Hermione had a puzzle, and she was trying to solve it.
Harry had not shared his upset in putting on the ring with anyone yet. It was too raw; too personal.
"So your name is Padfoot, but the name on your passport is Alphard?" Hermione asked.
"A man with many names, and yet known by few." Sirius stated mysteriously.
"So, you helped make the map?" The witch insisted.
"Map? Oh, yes. I heard how Fred and George rescued the vital tool from durance vile from Filch. Truly, Harry. Your father would be so proud for you sponsoring those two." Sirius ruffled Harry's mangled hair.
"Harry's father?" Hermione asked.
"Prongs. I'll explain." Padfoot talked for a time, sharing a few tales from their Hogwarts years. But he felt like he was leaving out the Granger parents.
"Sorry about that. How was your tour?" Sirius asked Emma.
"We split up so they could show us all the extras for witches at the school like the 'napping' rooms, the spa and pool facilities for ladies, and places for both study and prayer. Egypt as a country is ninety percent Muslim, but in the wizarding world there is a vast diversity of faiths. Since this isn't a boarding school, they provide private areas for such devotion, but no staff." Emma explained.
"Naps? Seriously?" Harry asked.
"Wait until you're pregnant." Emma stated.
Harry looked at Padfoot then Mrs Granger in horror. "Is the wizarding world different when it comes to babies?!"
Ever so tempted to prank his godson, Dan rescued the lad, earning a special place in Harry's heart that day. "No, not at all. I'm sure that your guardian will be glad to tell you all about it, in detail, later."
"Thank you Dan. I'll be sure to invite you." Sirius whispered under his breath.
After the levity of the men, Emma continued her thought, "There are many pursuing higher degrees, and children are just a part of life here. Refreshing, really, considering how some places treat pregnant women as though they should just be able to keep up and go on as though nothing was different. And other places treat them as though they've somehow personally offended them, for daring to bear a child! Ridiculous!"
Dan added, "This is more like uni than secondary, Harry. I saw very few young people here. I presume that will change come September first."
Hermione and Harry both noticed that there were many older people as students. Because the tours were split, Harry was worried that the classes would also be split by gender. But they weren't.
It was just to be able to enter the men's areas of the school and the ladies' areas of the school that the initial tour was segregated.
"Did you see the mounted warriors?" Harry asked Hermione excitedly. "Those Arabians! And the Abraxan-looking winged horses - smaller, but not Pegasi. I need better books! Ones that include the local magical animals."
"Did you see the archery? And they play football here. Believe it or not, I'm rather good at footie, and my Dad is a huge West Ham fan. We have a tele at our house! I can watch the games with my family again." Hermione gushed.
Harry squeezed her hand. "There's only two problems so far that I've seen. One, no quidditch. The other? Well, did you see how far apart some of the buildings were on campus?"
"Oh yes, but they said that they had a magical transportation method so we wouldn't be late for class."
"Yep. Magical carpets. Flying magic carpets." Harry smirked.
"No!" Hermione gasped.
"Yes! It's going to be fun Hermione!"
"I'm a pretty fast runner, Harry. I'll get by." Hermione stated.
Dan wanted to go and get one right away so that she could get used to it slowly. Unlike the school who introduced her to flying by having her watch a friend go splat against a high wall and fall without anyone helping the lad.
What the school called good brooms, Dan called death traps.
"Did you tell Harry about your appointment with Gringotts? She wanted you to go with her, you know." Emma winked at the Boy-who-Lived.
He in turn turned to his girlfriend. Oh no! Had Hogwarts left her cursed?
Hermione blushed with all of the adults staring at her. "My great-great-grandfather was a wizard! One who was skilled in one of the basics, Transfiguration maybe? Papa wasn't too clear. If only I hadn't been petrified! My parents just found out because he was as careful about the Statute as we were."
"Gringotts?" Harry interrupted.
"Right, right. Sorry, I do ramble a bit. He put some family magical items here, as he was living here. I think his father was killed fighting Grindelwald. But I am very curious about what might be in the vault."
She pulled off her necklace to show Harry the small vault key. It was different as instead of a number, it had an Egyptian hieroglyph on it.
"And you're inviting me?" Harry asked.
"Well, Mum wants to come too. She loves roller coasters. And we've never been to a Gringotts vault before." Hermione shared.
"Dad wants to come too." Mr Granger added. "I think that we tried Hermione too young on roller coasters. She's not a big fan."
"I love the Gringotts carts! But I've never been to a theme park or ridden a thrill ride like that." Harry shared.
The adults all looked at one another. "That is a crime! One that will be addressed this summer. While I am glad that you are signed up and registered for classes here, we need to find more Blacks, Evans, Potters and such at other schools to give scholarships to." Sirius rubbed his hands.
He really was a good person, and providing a scholarship, especially to a muggleborn, was something that made him happy.
Particularly using his family's likely ill-gotten gains, imagining his mother's screeching at learning about it. This was the best kind of prank, and it helped keep Harry's location secret without a bunch of spells.
While the young couple made plans to meet at the bank, all of the family strolled together to escort the Grangers home.
Along the way, they saw people walking and biking, and one family even flying above them, all on a carpet. They were not going very fast either - about the speed of a bicycle.
The Grangers house was just on the next street - a short five minute stroll away. Harry could have flown his broom there in less time if he hadn't given it away. But the honest lad felt that McGonagall had purchased it for the position, not for him personally.
"We need bikes!" Hermione declared.
And so they made a detour to the muggle section of the city. The bicycle shop was happy with such a large purchase, as Padfoot bought bikes for everyone, and even a few extra in case they had visitors. They took some of them now, with Daisy and Dobby in human disguise to get the rest.
And so it came to pass that Harry received his first bicycle, and learned to ride it with helpful guidance from Dan, too much information from Hermione, and Padfoot not helping at all besides casting cushioning charms and taking lots of pictures.
**OO**
The Granger parents, Harry, and Hermione went at the appointed time to meet a goblin in charge of family vaults. Sirius was meeting with Spurnik elsewhere about something financial. After seeing Hermione's vault, the Granger's had an appointment to get an estimate for wards for their home beyond the basics that Sirius had put up for them.
Sirius started talking investment portfolios, like Lady Finch-Fletchley had started for Harry. The young mage knew Sirius had done it on purpose to confuse him.
It had gone over Harry's head.
It was time to head to Gringotts and see what was in this secret vault.
**OO**
The Grangers and Harry were seated in a small, uncomfortable conference room. No water, no tea, nothing offered. That was odd.
Upon seeing the key that Hermione had been asked to remove from the necklace, the goblin disappeared. The young witch was left bewildered, sharing looks with Harry and her parents. She clearly thought something was wrong. At least she still held the key in question.
Proving her right that something was wrong, armed guards bustled in, holding both Dan and Harry at halberd point. Emma had a guard next to her with an axe out, but it wasn't directly pointed at her.
The fiercest goblin was threatening Hermione! Harry was trying to think, but seeing her in danger, so suddenly by armed guards was not something he knew how to deal with. He felt his magic building.
"Where did you get this? Did you steal it, hu-mon?" The goblin demanded.
"No! Of course not! I was given it by Papa, my great-grandfather!" Hermione honestly claimed.
"We have truth serum that will make you spill every last secret!" A different goblin barked.
Why had Harry left his sword at home? In thinking that, it appeared in his hand. Where the scabbard was, didn't matter now. But before he could move, others arrived to intervene.
Help had arrived in the form of Dobby walking in with Goldrub.
"Why do you have the Heir of an honored client under threat! Stand Down! Now! I will vouch for these people myself. Harry here is of House Black. I do not know the adults, but this young lady is being courted by my client. Lord Black is here, in the building. Do you wish to see Gringotts suffer from your ill-considered hostile actions?"
The goblins did bring their weapons away from the humons, but no one left. The goblin guard who had threatened Hermione spat at Goldrub's feet, but Harry pointed his sword at him.
"Honorable Account Manager Goldrub." the goblin sneered, "You know nothing of this! You should be backing me up, demanding justice. She holds a clan vault key; it rightfully belongs to one of us!"
"There is no reason to threaten a child! Or a female! Can you not think? Look at her parents? A spark of magic yes, but this is no wizard, no witch. Let us sit down, and talk about any issues. Or are we goblins so brutal that we slaughter innocents just because there is a difficult situation?" Goldrub was suddenly joined by several guards bearing his clan's sigil, and the first guards already there took a further step back away from the humans.
Harry lowered his sword.
"You are of course right. This is a sensitive matter to us, as this is a goblin-held vault." The goblin next to Hermione dismissed the original guards, leaving only himself, Goldrub and his team inside.
"You obviously know that I am Goldrub, the Black Account Manager. May I know your names, gentlemen?"
"I am Dan Granger. And I am grateful for your help." Dan held out his hand, which Goldrub shook, and then Dan greeted Dobby as well.
"I am Frex. I am the Account Manager for several goblins. This key belongs to one of those clans."
Harry finally got the problem, "So, we showed up with this key, and you were worried that somehow we stole it from a goblin? Who would be stupid enough to even try that? You guys are wicked fast, and scary, and, and, brilliant!"
Harry then realized another aspect of that. "Stole and then had the audacity to bring it here? To try and steal stuff right under your nose? That's insane!"
Frex visibly calmed "You find goblin warriors scary?"
"Terrifyingly so." Emma added. "I'm Emma…"
"We do not introduce our females. True names have been used to enchant them. Even our public names are not our true names. Something that others call nest names. But let us talk of this key. And how it came to be in your possession, young witch."
Hermione nodded, and explained that she had been given it by her beloved great-grandfather who had worked with curse-breakers and such in the early part of the century. A time of great archaeological finds.
Goldrub turned to Frex. "It might have been that someone dropped theirs and he used it to store family heirlooms."
"But what if there are goblin made items in it! These humons will keep them!" Frex objected.
"Are you saying it's illegal to own things made by goblins? We aren't allowed to trade with you folks?" Dan asked.
"No, no! You don't understand us at all!" Frex was clearly frustrated. "And there are others who could lay legal claim to this vault!"
Hermione shared a look with Harry before speaking up, "Sir. I was not given a list of things in the vault. I think it might have a family grimoire, and a bit of gold earned by my great-grandfather. He said he'd had to leave precipitously. Why don't we just go look? I am not here to steal from anyone. I just wanted to learn more about my family. I know there isn't a great treasure in terms of family gold. Please? I'm extremely curious, but I'm no thief!"
"Ravenclaw are you?" Goldrub asked. "Frex? Isn't one of your clan the head of that House at Hogwarts?"
Frex crossed his arms but gave a short nod, clearly unwilling to divulge more about his clients. Hermione felt like there was something more he wasn't saying, but had no idea what.
Emma then had a cogent question and a very practical suggestion. "May I ask, can goblins use wizarding grimoires and the like?"
"Perhaps. It depends." Frex stated.
"Well, if we are talking about books, books can be shared. Copied. This doesn't have to be just for Hermione. If this vault was used by humans in error, couldn't we all share?"
Frex visibly relaxed. Possession of a key gave them full rights of ownership. But Goldrub was riding a thin edged blade. He could tell his clients that, but then earn the full ire of whatever clan Frex was protecting.
This witch's, well, female's suggestion was a way forward. Open it with all present who might have a claim.
"You'll get in touch with the proper clansmen?" Goldrub asked.
"Yes, but they no longer live in these caverns. It may take time to arrange." Frex stated firmly.
Hermione was disappointed that she couldn't have the books or whatever it was today, but after being threatened by goblin weapons, she really wasn't in the mood to complain either.
She'd rather wait and get them later when she could safely walk out of Gringotts, and not have to try and steal a dragon or something to fly out.
Now just where did that thought come from? She hated flying.
**OO**
Dan, after seeing Hermione and his wife in danger, had no desire to sit at a conference table and hire these people to do his warding work.
"I'm permanently canceling our scheduled warding. If you want to know why, ask Frex. He's the one who had a dagger at my daughter's throat. We have never been treated well in Gringotts before, and I thought it was due to English wizards being rude or English witches being demanding.
"I will not do but the minimal business here. And I am a wealthy man. Think of the lost profit."
Dan knew full well the dagger he'd just thrown had hit its target. And with that, he escorted his family out of the building.
**OO**
Wardings were very profitable, and that manager was incensed over a needless loss, and was worried that Black might back out of his scheduled warding when he heard what happened to his heir!
He was not slow to send a note of complaint to Frex' manager.
After the humons left the bank, Goldrub and Frex were called to a meeting with the bank's director.
They gave him a full and truthful breakdown of the events.
"How were you notified of this confrontation?" Ragnok demanded of Goldrub.
"Dobby, the house-elf of House Black came and got me. He has been with the family since his birth."
"Protective of their people, and dangerous. Frex! That was most unwise. You could have found you and your guards snapped to a dragon's pit if you had tried to actually attack the boy or his intended." Ragnok shouted.
"A house-elf? They are worthless!" The local goblin was completely dismissive of the British creatures. To him, genies and imps were far more valuable. And powerful.
"So worthless that the latest dark lord added them to the list of creatures most important to eliminate. People overlook house-elves as they are so busy, so happy to help. So industrious. I saw the memory of one using a Death Eater like a bowling ball. Do not underestimate them, and they can be invisible inside any bank. They do not steal, thank goodness. It's difficult enough to keep them out." Ragnok counseled before continuing.
"As for Harry of House Black? That boy is no longer a British citizen. I expect political repercussions soon. Be careful."
He then turned to Frex and stood, very angry. "You charged in when a child found a key. She could have found it at a dig site with her parents. I don't know what they do for work; what if they are archeologists? You didn't ask questions, you threatened them. Well guess what? They are wealthy, and own a magical house that needs wards. Now, instead of feeding goblings with those profits, that family is going to hire someone else. Someone not us. If you had only talked, they would have explained, and we would not be here.
"I want an oath that you are not a part of that terrorist organization that seems to be building up yet again. Swear or Die, Frex!"
"Sire!" The goblin knelt. "I swear that I would never, have never joined such. I don't know who is involved in it, and would tell you if I did! I was misled into thinking that a witch, no age given, had somehow stolen a goblin key. I reacted, and did not check before acting. I cannot make up the loss of profits for a warding appointment lost, and I admit my fault."
"Who told you the key was stolen?" The king demanded.
"I don't know sire. One of the new people who started this summer." He bewilderedly stated.
The king was concerned but chose not to voice them yet, "Frex, don't threaten a child again, especially a female child. The bank wards felt a build up of power. If you had attacked her, you would have gained the negative attention of a furious mage as well as a cranky house-elf. Not a safe combination.
"Be more cautious. You are not fined, this time, but remember this day. Dismissed."
**OO**
Wrerx, the leader of a clan he started, the Gitsz clan, watched the memory again. He didn't honor the traditions of his parents, and refused to believe that his great-grandmother had humon blood.
He believed in blood purity. Goblin blood purity. And was willing to act to preserve it.
All of his clan were made from members who had been born to other clans the world over. Joined him, joined the cause. After a ruling from the Council, they were more…circumspect about their actions. But their true goals had never stopped. Never.
Never truly gone, they had merely become more clandestine; operating and recruiting from the shadows. Challenging and changing Egyptian Gringotts culture slowly, and didn't kill as often.
No new part goblins had been born in Egypt since 1951. And that child had been sterilized unbeknownst to the mother, father, healer attending, or even the child himself. The culture had changed, and no female goblins went out to dig sites by Egyptian law.
Female curse-breakers employed by Gringotts were under a no-fraternization rule, not that there were many female humons that had relations with goblins. Most goblins held themselves sacred until they found their mate.
Protecting male goblins from witches wasn't hard, and Wrerx had eyes in many places in the caverns.
Seeing this memory was a slap in the face to the leader. A reminder of his failings. Failings as a father, husband, and clan leader.
Those beads! His mate had chided their daughter, saying it was a waste of gold, but as the prices rose and rose over the years, far outstripping any other investments, she desisted and let the girl be. Others in the community would wear their wealth in gold and silver necklaces; this was different as only the experts would know just how much those beads were really worth.
Each one was unique. "Do you see this? I know exactly where she obtained that one! Twenty five hundred years old and still beautiful. Such work!" the uncle of the original owner breathed.
This was Wrerx' daughter's necklace. Had been his daughter's necklace. And the vault key had been hers as well. Lost and unused all these years.
Only one there knew how his daughter had died. The other knew just that she had been killed. This trinket should have been his the day she was slaughtered, but it couldn't be found on her body. Now her vault key and wealth strung together for prayers had been brought in. And they couldn't gut the witch who had it. The child was too young to have stolen it herself. The compromise in opening the vault was just so 'reasonable'.
So hu-mon.
And he couldn't just take it, as Ragnok himself offered to be the witch's champion if needed. Why? Why would the goblin king protect one of them? Wrerx wanted the necklace back! He wanted the key back! The vault and that bauble belonged to the clan, to their new clan.
At least whoever she was who had it was fully human, even if she did have near powerless parents.
Well, Wrerx had friends at the school. They had field trips and such away from there. He wasn't willing to face down a squad of Mamelukes himself. But there were those interested in a bit of gold for an errand.
And they could even keep the witch once they had the necklace back.
He had a letter to write. It was imperative to delay the meeting at the vault for just as long as possible.
Wrerx had letters to write, and plans to make.
Who could he trust to kidnap a witch and make sure she was never seen again?
**OO**
A/N: Story recommend: Your story recommendation here -
A/N: Story recommendation: kind reader Busymom75 recommends: s/13950431/1/Harry-Potter-and-A-Sirius-Matter
A/N: Story recommendation: kind reader (unless he doesn't like us calling him kind?) DragonicFireLord recommendsTrolling the Toad By: Akela Victoire: a story where Harry does NOT take any of Umbridge's B*** and fights back.
**OO**
ƺ parseltongue
₲ galleons
₰ sickles
ķ knuts
Ɠ Goblin language
﷼Arabic language