The Search Is Over,
Chapter 164, Plague In A Bottle
When an excited pounding came on the stately front door of #12 Grimmauld Place, Kreacher and Regulus expected it to be the Lestranges. They were the sorts to pound on the door, after all, being at times rather excitable. When instead it was Griphook, it was a surprise indeed, for the Goblin was far more reserved as a rule.
"Is everything alright," Regulus asked, clearly concerned. It was he and Kreacher who'd opened the door, being about to head out to find dinner when the goblin arrived. Griphook pushed inside without waiting to be invited. His black eyes were sparkling and a bit wild. His cheeks were flushed with excitement and his black hair was rather mussed.
"Oh everything is more than alright," he assured breathlessly after pushing the front door shut. "Everything is more than alright, and about to get even better for many of us."
"Very well, Kreacher supposes that he and Master Regulus can put off dinner for a few minutes while Griphook shares whatever has him so gleeful," the elf decided. Regulus couldn't help a grin of silent amusement as he nodded his agreement. The black phoenix on his shoulder even regarded Griphook with interest rather than preening his feathers or going to sleep as he often did when Kreacher and Regulus entertained guests.
"Shall we go into the library, then," Regulus asked Griphook. Then remembering his manners he added, "Would you like some tea?"
"Perhaps something stronger," Griphook said expansively, smile widening. "For this news is certainly something to drink to if anything bloody is!"
Regulus nodded agreeably as he and Kreacher led the way down the hall into the library. Once inside, Kreacher rang a small bell that stood on a low table beside the over-large armchair in which he and Regulus tended to enjoy curling up together with a good book.
The sound that came from the bell was a light soft chime, but it was spelled to ring throughout the manor so that the elves who worked for them could hear it wherever they were. Stormy Apparated in, giving Kreacher a cursory bow, expression politely neutral. It was clear that Stormy disliked Kreacher, though he did his best to hide it as did the other three elves who worked at #12 Grimmauld Place. "A glass of Fire Whisky for Griphook, please, Stormy," Kreacher said. He gave Stormy a bright smile as though the two were the best of friends. Regulus didn't quite understand the dynamic between Kreacher and the other elves, but he was wise enough to let it alone, wisely chalking it up to one of those cultural things that he would never understand. Privately he wondered if the elves did either.
"Of course," Stormy said. "Will there be anything else," he asked Griphook.
The goblin shook his head. "No thank you."
When the elf departed, Kreacher waved Griphook to a seat. "Well," he asked.
"It's finally done! Everything is finally ready. After all this time and hard work, it is all finally going to happen. And do you know, I wondered more than once if it ever would happen. I kept it to myself, but I wondered more than once if all of this was just going to end up being a pipe dream. I wondered if all we would get out of it was a parcel of good ideas that we did not have the knowledge to put into practical practice.
I hated the thought and felt myself a quitter for even thinking it, but I am a practical goblin by nature, and my fears were practical if nothing else. We were aiming high. Yes because we had to aim high, but we were aiming high nonetheless. A potion to remove magic, then another to restore it later were tall orders for my nephew even if he is a genius. When he said he thought he could do it, though, well we had to try. We spent more gold than I like to think on tracking down and then buying the supplies he needed, and there were so many failed attempts. So many! But we kept at it, because the idea was too good. We had to try."
As the goblin spoke, he practically danced a jig in place in the center of the room. While his words sank in, Stormy entered with Griphook's drink. The presentation was impeccable as could be expected. Stormy had poured the whisky into a golden goblet and served it on a small matching round golden tray with a wide pattern of ornate scroll work around the edge. Though his expression did not change, Regulus could tell by the straightening of Kreacher's shoulders that he was pleased. Kreacher always liked to show Griphook that they were equals, and that the Black family's wealth was suitable for goblin company even if goblins did sleep on gold or so the rumors had it.
"Thank you," Griphook told Stormy. Lifting the goblet from the tray, he raised it high. "A drink to freedom for all and to the birth of a new magical society!" He tossed back half of the whisky.
"It's truly done," Regulus asked, hearing the awe in his own voice. Perhaps he'd had more faith in goblin wiles than Griphook, because he'd always believed the endeavor was entirely possible. He only expected it to take some time. It had nearly been ten years, but he wouldn't have been shocked if it had taken thirty. Potions geniuses should never be underestimated, though.
"So what now," he asked. Kreacher leaned forward in evident interest, just as curious as Regulus about what Griphook would say next.
"Now we get ready," Griphook said. "That's the first step, and the most important at this point. We need to have the new Ministry line up ready to step into place when the old Regime loses its magic. Kereston has chosen a new Head Auror, and is requesting that Gellert Grindelwald be her Head of Defense, at least until things settle down. There are certainly likely to be uprisings from those wizards and witches who no longer have magic."
He chuckled, seeming to savor the words he spoke next with open if quiet glee. "Especially those who have lost their house elves. I was thinking a great deal about that bit recently, and I've had an idea. What if a few willing elves became vampires like you, Kreacher? They could compel wizarding families with elves to free them then make them forget. Yes human vampires can do the same thing, but elves have stronger magic, and that could also be useful if things become generally ugly. Such elves could do a lot to fight crime if they were Aurors." He chuckled. "As in people would be too frightened of having their throats torn out to commit crimes. Unfortunately fear is a powerful motivator, and this current Ministry is too soft on crime. I have asked for goblin volunteers if you can't find any elves for the vampire force I would very much like to see in place, and thus far one is willing. It isn't a lot, but it could be enough, especially if you can find a few elves willing as well."
Kreacher blinked. "Griphook wants Kreacher to turn elves into vampires? Kreacher does not want that responsibility. Kreacher has enough on his plate, and a family to look after," Kreacher objected.
"I don't care who turns them," Griphook said with a slight shake of his head. "Ask another vampire for all I care. An elf didn't turn you, and you seem a fine vampire to me."
"Kreacher is so happy that Griphook thinks so," the elf muttered darkly as he made a sour face. "Kreacher doubts other elves shall want to become vampires. Our own were terrified of us at first as Kreacher recalls," he added after a moment of consideration.
"Yours perhaps, but yours have been treated well from the look of them," Griphook said. "There are many elves, Kreacher, who have not been treated so well, and I just bet at least three of them would love the chance to tear out some human throats for all they went through." The hard look in the goblin's eye said plainly that he could relate at least a little. Being a human, even if not one who would've forbade goblins a wand, did make Regulus shift uncomfortably in the large armchair at Kreacher's side.
He'd done nothing, though, he silently reminded himself. That thought caused him to straighten his shoulders and sit as proud as any respectable wizard had the right to do in his own home. Griphook didn't seem to notice as he downed the rest of his drink and placed the goblet on a nearby table.
"And how does Griphook suggest Kreacher find such elves," Kreacher asked resentfully. It was clear that he didn't have much interest in the entire business.
"I was hoping you had some ideas on that, being an elf yourself," Griphook snarked back.
"We can put it out to the others who have agreed to join in this, and see if they have any suggestions," Regulus offered.
Griphook nodded. "Good. We'll do that. Some of us are meeting tomorrow night at Gringotts. That's the other reason I came. To let you know that."
"Kreacher supposes we'll be there," Kreacher said resentfully.
"I should hope so, as you shall be the elf that others are looking to. You've accomplished so much in your life that you shall be a huge inspiration."
"So how long after the meeting tomorrow night will it be until everything happens," Regulus asked. "I assume it shall be sudden?"
Griphook nodded. "I'm thinking sooner is better. We just need to get it done. Sitting on it and thinking and planning for too long now that we're ready won't do any good. We've had years to plan, and as long as everyone who has agreed to be a part of this is still on board, everything is ready."
Regulus nodded. That made sense.
"And if it goes wrong," Kreacher murmured, looking fearful for the first time during the conversation.
"We had nothing to do with it," Griphook said with a careless shrug. "We didn't cause anyone to lose their magic. Those of us who still had it just stepped in to do the best we could for the wizarding world." His tone dripped with sweet innocence, causing Regulus and Kreacher to burst into laughter. The fact that the goblin could produce that tone in the first place was just too much.
"Just means anything is possible," Regulus murmured to Kreacher around a chuckle.
Kreacher snorted with laughter, but it faded as the large heavy green velvet curtains at the window billowed. Orion and Walburga floated into view from behind their folds, not at all ashamed to have been blatantly eavesdropping. "I think you should consider utilizing ghost spies, Griphook," Walburga said haughtily.
Griphook blinked. "But you can't leave this manor. Aren't most ghosts bound to a place, then?"
"Most, yes, but some are not. Ariana Dumbledore could find those... unbound Muggle spirits who can drift unseen around the world as they choose. She can rope them into spying for you. Muggle ghosts, having no magic, are largely unseen by most. Unless they have a talent for seeing spirits, no one can see Muggle ghosts. This means they make fantastic spies." She made a face. "The filthy things aught to be useful for bloody something."
Griphook, Orion, Regulus and Kreacher all nodded in firm agreement to that. "Has Ariana agreed to work with us, though," Regulus asked.
Griphook nodded. "She's willing, mainly because that man of hers is interested."
"What man," Regulus asked. Griphook smirked. "The gaunt one with the white blond hair that lives with her at the Hog's Head. He speaks in a strange accent... An old accent you know."
"Not exactly," Regulus murmured, but the wheels in his mind were turning. There wasn't time to think on Ariana's man at present, though, for Walburga continued to speak. "Such unseen ghosts could spy on those wizarding families who own elves to find the ones who are most unhappy and mistreated if those are the sort you feel could be interested in becoming vampires for your cause.
These Muggle spirits could also keep you up to date on how things are unfolding once most everyone loses their magic. You would know in advance of any plans magicless wizards and witches are making against you. With them simply being able to float through walls, there is nothing such ghosts can't see. Ariana only has to give them the orders and have them report back to her. Muggles serving us in death is still a service. It's the least they owe us," she concluded grimly.
Griphook stared at Walburga, an expression of growing excitement on his face. "Mrs. Black, you are a genius!" To that, Walburga only gave a slight nod.