The Golden Gates

3rd of December, 1994.

"Ready to go?"

"Qui, give me just a moment."

Fleur and Harry headed off the Hogwarts grounds. Harry removed his glamour and put his earrings on. "This is Kato. A glamour I use when I don't want people to recognise me," he said.

"You look different. It is not bad different," Fleur said. "This will make things easier I guess."

"Easier than you walking around with a fourteen-year-old that wants to buy clothes for an adult certainly," Harry said.

Fleur laughed. She took Kato's hand and the two of them disapparated. They landed on an apparition point and headed into Diagon Alley. They needed to head to the bank first so Kato could get a hold of some money. They were talking merrily as they walked towards the big marble building. Then they reached the stairs and Kato looked up.

"No," Kato breathed.

"What is it 'Arry?" Fleur asked.

"Those doors… they look just like doors in a Dwemer ruin," Kato said.

"Coincidence?" Fleur asked.

"Maybe," Kato said. He led them inside and he tried to look at everything at once. He felt almost like the first time he had entered the bank. He was looking at the stonework through Nirn-coloured glasses this time. It felt like the cut of the pillars and the way that the metalwork was done looked familiar. He could be utterly wrong. It could just look similar.

Kato and Fleur reached a teller. "Good morning sir, I would like to speak to the Dwemer in charge of the Potter vault, please," he said in Tamrielic. He knew it was a long shot, but he had to try.

The goblin teller looked him up and down a few times. If he was surprised, he didn't show it. He quite obviously had understood Kato though as he turned around and spoke to another goblin. "You can wait over there, sir," he said in English and pointed towards a set of benches to his right.

"Thank you," Kato said. He led Fleur over and they sat down.

"What was that language?" Fleur said.

"The common language in Tamriel," Kato said.

"He understood you," Fleur said.

"That he did," Kato said.

"If you would come with me, Mister."

Kato and Fleur looked over at the goblin. Kato thought there was something familiar about him. They stood up and followed the goblin through a series of halls and up a set of stairs. He stopped in front of a door and opened it for them. "Just inside, sir," he said.

"Thank you Griphook," Kato said realising why he recognised the goblin. It was the same one that had led him to his vault the first time he had been to Gringotts.

Griphook's eyes widened momentarily, but he gave no other sign of recognition.

Kato and Fleur walked into the room and the door closed behind them. There was a white-haired goblin sitting by a desk in the office. He was looking through a stack of papers.

Kato lifted a hand and took his earrings out so the glamour fell. He had no wish to create any kind of subterfuge around the goblins at the bank.

The goblin looked up. "Ah, well now a Potter," he said. "It has been a long time." His eyes narrowed. "You are older than you should be," he said. He placed a piece of parchment out and handed Harry a quill. "Sign this; it will handle any oddities connected to your case," he said.

Harry reached out and grabbed the quill. He wrote his name down in a swirly script developed after years of writing in Skyrim. The back of his left hand stung and the ink or rather blood on the parchment glowed for a second. He placed the quill down and the page was snatched up by the goblin.

"Everything seems to be in order, Mister Potter. I am Dumac the Potter account manager. I could swear that you are too old, but well, this doesn't lie," the goblin said.

"Dumac, like the creator of the first council of Chimer and Dwemer," Harry said.

"This is the second time this morning that you show knowledge that should not be possible for you to know," Dumac said.

"Not probable you mean," Harry said. "If your people can come here, then it is certainly possible for another to go to Nirn. I have seen the glory of Fal'Zhardum Din deep beneath the earth of Skyrim."

Dumac looked at him somewhat disbelievingly, but he was not about to call this human a liar. He seemed to know far too much, and goblins tried not to judge before having more information,

"My circumstances are a bit strange. It is a long story," Harry said. "Right now I would like to make sure that I am the only one with access to my vault. When I first entered the Wizarding World my key was handled by Rubeus Hagrid. It was never given to me. I'm pretty certain that Molly Weasley used my key to access my vault this previous summer. I do not mind this happening though I would prefer that it did not happen again."

"Of course Mister Potter," Dumac said. "Now that you have officially been declared as an adult by Gringotts. We will recall any other keys and have a new one forged for you right away." he made a note and it seemed to glow for a moment.

"Ah, that is perfect," Harry said.

"You know many things," Dumac said. "We have an interest in knowing how you have come across this knowledge. The name of our people is seldom used for humans to hear. Either one of the people told you things or you have come across this information by other means."

"I was taken to Skyrim by Kyne to learn many things. One of the things I studied was Dwemer technology," Harry said. He brought out one of his mini spiders and placed it on Dumec's desk.

"These are power by souls and therefore forbidden," Dumac said.

"This one is not. I found the use of souls horrifying so I found another way," Harry said. He brought out one of his charged gems and placed it on the desk. "This is what is powering the spider."

Dumac grabbed the stone and rolled it around in his hands. He didn't know this type of magic that well. "Can I send this to one of our scholars to check it?" he asked.

"Certainly," Harry said. "I have more."

"I would ask that you do not leave the bank for now," Dumac said. "That could be considered running."

"Do you mind if I go down to my vault?" Harry asked.

"That is perfectly fine," Dumac said. "Griphook will show you the way. He will have your new key."

"Thank you Master Dumac," Harry said. He stood up and took Fleur's hand. His hair turned brown again and his eyes changed to amber as he put the earrings back in. "The ride down is rather rough," Kato pointed out to Fleur. "Do you want to come along?"

"Oui, I'll come with you," Fleur said. "Unless that is a problem?" She looked at Griphook.

"If the client is fine with it we do not argue," Griphook said as they entered the teller hall again to cross over to the mine carts and down to the vaults.

Kato appreciated the none use of his name. He would have to figure something out. They entered a minecart and headed down.

Fleur started giggling as they shot down the rails. She clutched onto Kato and he wasn't quite sure what to do. He hadn't gone down to the vault that many times. He wasn't sure if this was a common reaction.

The cart slowed down to a stop.

"Here is your new key Mister Potter," Griphook said as he handed Kato a key.

Kato bowed slightly as he accepted the key. He placed his hand against the emblem and put the key in the lock. The door clicked and opened up. "Nice," Kato said. He brought out a money pouch and filled it up with galleons.

"This shows that you are from an older family," Fleur pointed out. "This is not just new money."

"Considering mother and father couldn't have had much chance of making money to leave me," Kato said, "It would have to be older money."

"Thank you for your aid, Griphook," Kato said. "Knowledge of Numidium be with you."

Griphook's eyes widened slightly. Despite knowing that something was up with this human, he was still surprised when he seemed to know so much.

They went back up to the teller's room. A goblin walked up to them and spoke quietly with Griphook. "Master Dumac wishes to speak with you," Griphook told Kato.

"Show the way," Kato said.

They were not brought to Dumec's office this time. Instead, they headed all the way to the end of the corridor. The door was slightly more ornate than the others. Griphook knocked and a goblin let them inside.

Kato pulled out his earrings again.

"Harry Potter here to see Clan Alfknif," Griphook introduced him. "And his companion Miss Delacour of the Lyulyak Clan."

Harry bowed deeply. The way he had been introduced most likely meant that the man before him was important. "You wished to speak to me," he said.

"Dumac has brought your case before me. We have verified that you have not broken our laws by using souls in magic. You have created another way to power our constructs of old. He hinted at the idea that you may know how to create them."

"I have a copy of the Lexicon from Avanchnzel," Harry said. "I have studied it, and I was one of the creators of the spider that Master Dumac borrowed from me."

"I see… I am Radac Chief of Clan Alfknif. We will accept that you went to Nirn and returned. Too many things add up to support your claim. You have brought many things back with you. Clan Alfknif wishes to propose a partnership."

Harry nodded slowly. "And what do you hope to gain from such a thing?" he asked.

"Firstly, access to the knowledge you possess," Radac said.

"That can be arranged I'm sure," Harry said. "We just have to figure out a way to make the copy of the lexicon available to you without me losing control of it."

"That knowledge is ours, you thief!"

Harry turned to one of the younger Dwemer guarding the door. "That knowledge would never have become available to you if it wasn't for me," he said calmly. "You can claim it as yours as much as you would like. The tome belongs to me. It was created by my Master."

"Either way this young man is the one who invented an alternative power source to the constructs and he owns that," Radac said. He glared at the young guard.

"I do have a fair amount of gold with me that I don't quite know what to do with," Harry said. He brought out a small pouch and walked up to Radac's desk. He opened it and brought a couple of coins out. He placed them on the desk in front of Radac.

Radac picked the coins up and studied them for a moment. "How many coins do you have?" he asked.

"I don't quite know to be honest. I didn't pack the money bags, and I know they are bigger on the inside than the outside," Harry said.

"I shall be honest with you," Radac said. "This gold is very valuable to us. Unlike gold mined here which is quite soft, gold from Nirn is quite sturdy and takes on magic very well."

Harry nodded slowly. "If I was to for example give you twenty per cent of all the coins, could you then help me sell the rest of them for a reasonable profit," he suggested.

"Twenty per cent you say," Radac said.

"That gold is ours."

The same goblin as earlier interrupted them again. Griphook grabbed him by the ear and led him outside under great protest. He wasn't going to allow one of the young to ruin what could be one of the most profitable deals their Clan had done in the last century if not more. Gold from Nirn was rare.

"My apologies," Radac said.

"No worries," Harry said. "I will return at a later date with the gold,"

"Let us write up a contract before you go," Radac said. He picked up a quill.

"Unless your written language has changed a lot since you left Nirn I can read it just fine," Harry said.

"That is good," Radac said. "Any proper contract among Dwemer is written in Dwemeris."

"Do you wish for me to refer to you as such?" Harry asked.

"Not among those that do not know," Radac said. "Miss Delacour is fine of course and yes between the two of you, we do prefer Dwemer when you speak to us about us. We prefer that you think of us that way, but do not use Dwemer when speaking to other humans." he was writing for a moment and then he waved Harry forward so he could read what it said.

The contract was pretty straight forward and Harry had nothing to add or deduct so he signed it, but not with his human name. The first few times that dragons had called him Krinahkro he had not understood just how important the name was. It was his name though. His real name and that was the name he signed the contract with.

Once the contract was signed Harry and Fleur took their leave.

Dumac accompanied them on the way to his own office. "That was a good choice, Mr Potter. Now Clan Alfknif can protect you should anyone else try to interfere with you. There are those among our people who would claim you are a thief and nothing more. They would demand the return of the gold that is rightfully yours. Now Chief Radac can handle that for you rather than you having to prove anything to them. Our internal politics can get a bit messy," he said with a grin.

"Power of Fal'Zhardum Din be with you," Harry said as they walked their separate ways.

"Blessing of Kyne be with you," Dumac said.

Kato and Fleur headed outside the bank. It was nice to breathe fresh air again. It was getting colder. Fleur led him to Twilfitt and Tattings. It looked like an expensive store. Fleur walked in and Kato followed.

"Welcome to Twilfitt and Tattings," the clerk said. He smiled brightly at Fleur. The look he gave Kato could only be called distaste. "Excuse me, sir, would you please not come in here."

Kato gave him a flat look. "Is my money not good enough for you?" he asked. "I can certainly take my business elsewhere."

"Monsieur, would you stop? I'm not interested."

Kato's eyes narrowed. He got held up for a minute and someone was accosting Fleur. This was just unbelievable. "Fleur sweetheart," he said. He headed in between the racks of clothes and found her. She was standing with a lovely dark blue robe in her hands while some rich guy was holding onto her upper arm tightly.

"Sir, I suggest you let go of her," he said. He reached out and placed a hand on Fleur's shoulder. "Are you alright my dear?" he asked.

Fleur looked up at him. "I would be much better if this idiot was not 'arassing me," she said.

"Sir, step away please," Kato said. He reached out and loosened the man's grip on Fleur's arm.

"How dare you touch me?" he said. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

"None whatsoever and I somehow doubt it matters, sir," Kato said. He wrapped an arm around Fleur. "I do not find this store to my liking," he said. "Could we please go elsewhere?"

"Oui, let's leave," Fleur agreed.

They headed back out and walked over to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. It was maybe not as flashy of a store but at least Madam Malkin and her assistants were nice and helpful.

They were set up with one of Madam Malkin's assistants. Her name was Lana and she was happy and bubbly. She had attended Hogwarts as a Hufflepuff. When she realised that neither of them attended or had attended Hogwarts. She was off talking about all kinds of things as the fitting commenced.

Kato wore a soft smile and responded accordingly.

"And this Tournament with poor Mister Potter forced to compete and that while Skeeter dragging his past out in the open the way she does," Lana said. "That woman needs to stop." She wrapped up their order of everyday robes, pants and shirts before heading with them to the back so they could look at fabrics for dress robes. Fleur had picked a modern pattern out for Kato and they had tried it out on him. Fleur had liked it and Kato didn't think it looked bad. He didn't know anything about wizarding fashion. If she said the clothes looked good he would go with her on that.

They ate lunch in a private room at the Leaky Cauldron before heading back to Hogwarts. Harry and Fleur sat down in her room to relax and talk when they got back.

4th of December, 1994.

"Harry!"

"Hey, Hermione, what is going on?" Harry asked as Hermione stumbled to a stop next to him. They had been doing homework, but she had disappeared after lunch.

"I've been looking for you, Harry!" Hermione said excitedly.

"I've been here. We said we'd head back to the library after lunch to work on defence," Harry said. He had a smile on his face. Hermione's hair was as bushy as ever and she seemed quite happy about something.

"You've got to come, the most amazing thing happened," Hermione said. "You have to come…" She started dragging him down the corridor.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked. He moved up so they were walking side by side. He didn't like being dragged.

"I'll show you when we get there," Hermione said.

They made their way down to the Entrance Hall and turned down another set of stairs. Hermione dragged him over to a painting of a bowl filled with pears. Harry caught on. The Weasley twins had said that the entrance to the kitchen was behind the painting with the pears. His gaze moved over the rest of the hall. It was lit up in golden hues and filled with paintings of food. It was quite cosy.

Hermione reached out and tickled one of the pears.

Harry waited quietly next to her as the painting opened up. He looked into a huge room with four long tables. It hit him that it looked almost identical to the Great Hall above. The only difference was that the walls lining the tables were filled with brass pots and pans.

"Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!"

Harry looked down and smiled. "Dobby!" he exclaimed. He looked down at the little elf hugging his midriff.

"It is Dobby, sir, it is!" Dobby squeaked. "Dobby has been hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!" The little elf let go of him and stepped back a few steps. His tennis-ball-sized eyes looked up at him, brimming with tears of happiness.

Harry hadn't seen the little guy since the end of his second year. Dobby hadn't changed. His bat-like ears were flapping as he moved his big head. His body was thin in comparison making his green eyes seem huge. Harry knelt and placed a hand on the elf's bony shoulder. His clothes looked ridiculous though. Bright coloured and mismatching. "Dobby, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" the elf squealed excitedly. "Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir!"

"That's really nice," Harry said. "So, Winky is here too." The name sounded familiar, but he wasn't sure who it was.

"Yes, sir, yes!" Dobby said. He grabbed Harry by the hand. His long spindly fingers were small in Harry's hand. He led the teen through the kitchen over to a small stool in the opposite corner. A small droopy elf was sitting on the stool. It was the elf he had seen at the Quidditch World Cup. "Winky, sir!" Dobby said.

Harry moved down next to her. "Hello Winky," he said softly. He reached out and hugged her as she started crying. "Hush, hush little one," he said quietly.

"Oh, dear," Hermione said. She knelt next to Harry. "Winky, don't cry, please don't…"

"Don't Hermione, it's not going to help," Harry said gently. He pulled the little elf closer and rocked her. He sat down with her. "It will get better Winky," he said softly.

"Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?" Dobby asked.

"That would be nice Dobby," Harry said with a smile.

"Harry!" Hermione hissed.

"He offered Hermione," Harry said. He didn't understand her idea about house-elves and slavery. "If someone offers you tea it is very rude to say no. Think about it. If you visit someone's house and they offer you a cup of tea you don't say no. Saying no would be very rude."

Hermione opened her mouth, and then she closed it again. What was she supposed to say to that? He was right. Still, she wanted elves to have a chance at a better life.

Harry reached up and accepted the cup from Dobby. "Thank you," he said. He placed it down on the floor so he could lift the cup from the saucer. He took a sip and rubbed Winky's back soothingly. "How long have you been here, Dobby?" he asked.

"Only a week, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby said. "Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir. You see, sir, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed…"

Harry looked down at Winky as she started crying harder. He started rocking her again.

Dobby told them about his life. He had travelled around for two years looking for work. But he hadn't gotten any because he wanted to get paid now. Harry could see his point of view. The other elves in the kitchen didn't seem to like it much, though. They turned away and left when he started talking about money. Then they left completely as Dobby exclaimed that he liked being free. It obviously wasn't something they agreed with.

As Dobby told them about meeting Winky, the elf in question was wailing in Harry's arms. He told them about how they had decided to go to Hogwarts to find work. Then the conversation turned to money and Harry moved away with Winky. "Hey Winky," he said. He moved her so he could look at her properly. "I have a question."

Big brown eyes looked up at him. "What does Mr Potter want to ask?" Winky said.

"I know that you miss Mr Crouch," Harry said and that's alright. "But …"

"What are you being paid Winky?" Hermione asked.

Winky turned to Hermione. "Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid!" she said. "Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!"

"Ashamed?" Hermione said blankly.

"Don't Hermione," Harry said calmly. "She's upset. We don't need to make it worse." He looked down at Winky. "Why don't we go over here?" he said. "I still want to ask you something?"

"Winky will go with Mr Potter," she said.

Harry led the little elf over to the other side of the back wall of the kitchen. He threw up an illusion that would keep Hermione from noticing what he was about to do. He knelt. "Winky," he said. "You don't seem very happy working here at Hogwarts."

Winky looked down at the floor. "Winky misses Master Crouch. Master Crouch needs his Winky, but he doesn't want his Winky," she said. "Winky has been looking after the Crouches all my life, and my mother is doing it before me, and my grandmother is doing it before her."

Harry sighed. "When an elf has been freed does it ever happen that the Master takes them back?" he asked.

Winky looked up at him. "No, Winky was bad elf. Winky deserved being freed," she said. It looked like she was about to start crying again.

"Now I asked you over here to ask you if you would like to be my elf," Harry said. He deactivated his glamour. "Winky?"

"Mister Potter would like to have Winky as his elf?" Winky said. Her big ears rose. "Even though Mister Potter knows Winky is a bad elf."

Harry nodded slowly. "And you know what Winky? I respect your dedication to Mr Crouch. I don't want to know anything about him or his family. I would hope that you could be just as dedicated to me. You have kept the Crouches' secrets very well and I respect that. I hope that you can keep my secrets just as well." He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Would you like that?"

Winky's eyes were extra big. She could have a Master, and he was not going to be mean to Master Crouch. She looked over at Dobby. Would Dobby be angry with her? He really liked Harry Potter. She looked back up at the wizard in front of her. She could get a Master. He looked older not like a child at all. Winky figured that was one of his secrets.

"If you want to think about it, that's alright," Harry said.

Winky looked up at him. She took a deep breath. Mr Potter had been right. Master Crouch would never take her back. She wanted a family. Mr Potter had many secrets and would need help. He did not have a home though. "Will Harry Potter get his own home?" Winky asked.

Harry smiled. "If you want me to then certainly," he said. "I would obviously have done it eventually, but if you want it now then I'll get started on that."

"Winky would like to be Mister Potter's elf," Winky said. "And Winky would like a house if that is alright."

Harry smiled. "I want you to tell me if there is something you want. Like with the house now. I want to know," he said. He tapped his chin and summoned a gold bracelet from his bag. He spun the bracelet around. It had a small plate attached to it. "Mir Fahdon Mid do Krinahkro Hofkah," he whispered. 'Allegiance friend loyal of my steading,' was written on the bracelet and Harry gave it to Winky. "This is proof that you belong to me. Should I wish to fire you I will take this not give you clothes. I want you to wear proper clothes, but maybe something a bit more fitting than what you wear now. That is up to you. I'll get you some magazines and you can make up your own mind on what is fitting."

Winky's eyes widened. She could feel the magic rolling off the bracelet binding her to her new Master in a way she had never experienced before. It was like coming home after a cold day and wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa. It was amazing. She felt so happy. "Master Potter," she said, her eyes sparkling.

"Could you use Harry please Winky," Harry said.

"Master Harry," Winky said.

"Thank you Winky," Harry said. "I would appreciate it if you took over care of me while I'm here for now. Will that be a problem with the other elves?"

Winky shook her head so her ears flopped wildly. "Will not be a problem," she said. "Winky will have very little to do though."

"Can you read?"

Winky nodded happily.

"Is there anything you would like to learn?"

"What will Master Harry's house and grounds look like?" Winky asked.

"Big grounds with fruit gardens I think," Harry said.

"Then Winky needs to learn how to take care of trees and bushes and other things that grow berries and fruits," Winky said.

"I'll see what I can get you," Harry said.

Harry smiled at Winky as he stood up. He walked over to Hermione. "She's a little happier now," he told her. "We should probably get back to the common room though."

Hermione nodded. She was surprised Harry had managed to talk to the little elf. She waited until they had left the kitchen before she said, "I think that Dobby is the best thing that ever happened to those elves, you know," Hermione said. "They will see how happy Dobby is being free and all. It will slowly dawn on them that they want that too!"

Harry just nodded. He wasn't sure she was right but he doubted little Dobby would hurt the other elves. It would probably be good for them in the long run.

That evening after Harry had gone to bed he called for Winky.

The little elf showed up. "Is there anything Master Harry wants from his Winky?" Winky asked as she showed up.

"Could you sit down? I want to tell you how come I'm older than I should be," Harry said. "And I want to introduce you to someone. Or well it will be someone one day." He placed the dragon egg between them and he explained to Winky as much as he could without going overboard.

Winky sat there and listened to her Master. He was quite impressive. He had done so much so young yet he was happy and positive still. She was glad he was willing to share his past very quickly with her. It would make it easier for her to serve him.

Harry started telling her about his adventures in Skyrim. He needed her to understand him. It would be something he'd do for the following couple of evenings. It brought them closer together.