The Search Is Over,
Chapter 165, Brownies And Elves
The next day, Kreacher and Regulus arrived a bit early for the meeting. Both preferred to be early rather than late, so headed directly to the bank after drinking their evening meal of Muggle. Said meeting was being held on the lowest floor of Gringotts and felt properly hush-hush. A young goblin girl with an excited expression met them at the door and took them down in a cart to the lower level. This took nearly ten minutes. Gringotts ran extremely deep, after all. On the way down, the goblin girl introduced herself to them as Galia. She was rather interesting for a goblin, as she dressed in bright colors and wore her long black hair in cute pigtails. The pink and gold dress she wore reached her knees and had lots of bows and ribbons on. It was certainly a unique look for a goblin. On the way down in the cart, she'd grilled Regulus excitedly about Hogwarts. He'd always assumed goblins weren't interested in a human school as their power was far greater, but he'd answered all of her questions while Kreacher looked on in open bemusement.
"I found something," Millicent said excitedly as soon as Kreacher and Regulus joined the meeting. There were already several people present. Gellert and Blaise were there talking to a silver haired young woman who Kreacher and Regulus did not know. Mag and Severus were there with Mag's seer friend Parvati and her twin sister. Several goblins were present, which was only natural considering they were in Gringotts, but there were even a few elves, which was a surprise. Millicent and Wolfgang were sitting with one of them, in fact.
Aside from Kreacher, he was the most distinctive looking elf that Regulus had ever seen. He was young, perhaps the age Kreacher had been when he and Regulus had first gotten together. His right eye drooped and was heavy with scarring. This was a clear indication of an injury that had not been properly attended too at the time of its infliction. Certainly no healer had been called. When the elf rose to refill his, Millicent and Wolfgang's cups of tea from a pot on a low table in the corner, Regulus noticed that he limped due to his right leg dragging. Regulus had a feeling it was from the same injury
"What did Millicent find," Kreacher asked, clearly intrigued.
"I found it on the Muggle net, actually," Millicent said, excitedly waving a piece of paper. "Just like that weird bit on faeries ages back, you know? It's about what Muggles call Brownies. They describe them in several different ways. In other words, accounts differ. These little creatures are called house spirits, though. Sound familiar?"
Kreacher's eyes narrowed as he nodded. "Go on."
"Yeah, so house spirits or fairies that enjoy helping humans aka Muggles with household tasks," Millicent went on eagerly. "They are often said to leave when given clothes, but the bit that caught my attention was that they appear to be forced by some external factor to depart when given clothing. These brownies are physically described in many different ways as I already said, but they were compared to goblins as well as elves. Muggles have a bit of a different idea of elves, but still."
"Yes, like Lord Of The Rings," Regulus said, thinking fondly of Dora. "Elves in that Muggle fantasy series all about magical races and such are tall, willowy, very human looking only perhaps more graceful, and the only commonality with real elves are their slightly pointed ears. Their magic may be a bit similar as well, though they certainly don't clean for humans." As he was mostly regarding Millicent as he spoke, Regulus nearly missed the fleeting look of rage on the face of the scarred elf at his mention of the Lord Of The Rings elves certainly not cleaning for humans.
"It's interesting that any true facts were left, considering how well we've hidden from Muggles," a goblin who looked old enough to be Griphook's young grandfather spoke up.
"That or lucky guesses on their part," young Galia speculated brightly.
"There are no lucky guesses, girl," the older goblin replied peevishly.
"So it seems something external made the elves which Muggles call Brownies depart once they got clothing," Millicent said, returning to her original point of interest. "I know you two are trying to figure out why the elves are forced to serve wizarding kind, so I thought you'd find the information of interest," she said, looking to Kreacher and Regulus. "It's Muggle lore so not sure how much is actually valid, but any tidbit could lead to something useful. The legends of Muggles seem to indicate that Brownies were originally interested in serving humans, as in very willing to do so, but why? Who the fuck could be so bored that they want to do house work and shit for lesser beings," she scoffed.
"Indeed," the scarred elf growled. "Doesn't seem logical to me." To Regulus's surprise, the elf's accent was German. He knew of Kobolds, but Wolfgang had never mentioned elves living in Germany as well.
"Pardon my question, but I have never met a German elf. Do elves commonly live in Germany," Regulus asked the elf. "I'm Regulus Black, by the way, and this is Kreacher."
The elf regarded them with studied interest. "Wolfgang has told me of the both of you," he said. "I am Ballan. My (Master) was from Germany but his wife was from Scotland. I came from her family's elves. My mother served her and came with her to Germany upon her marriage. My mother was carrying me at the time so I was born in Germany. When I was ten years of age, my mother fell ill and died, leaving me to serve the family alone. The family was never particularly warm, but the true hell began when the wife died in child birth and I was left with the master. He did drugs, drank, and took his rage out on me."" Each time he'd said the word Master, Ballan hadn't bothered to keep the disgust and hatred from his face.
"Being aware of the plan to free as many elves as possible soon, I decided to get an early start," Wolfgang said. "While at his master's home on business, I saw how Ballan was being treated and offered to buy him. Of course the man was not interested, so I raised the price." Ballan is now free. His life is his to do with as he chooses, and I am proud to say he chooses to help us in any way he can."
Ballan nodded. "I am more grateful to Wolfgang than I can say for freeing me from that man. I am eager to see the world that allows such men to hold my people to change and I am eager to play my part in helping that change to come to be."
"Would you like to have even more power to help in the cause," Griphook asked the German elf. The goblin had an eager glint in his eyes. Regulus had a feeling he knew what was coming next. He was correct. "You could become a vampire like Kreacher and not only be able to spy on the minds of our enemies, but control said minds as well. It would certainly help us to prevent anything unforeseen from happening to what we are trying to achieve. Even more important to you personally, no one would ever be able to hurt you again."
"He's already powerful enough that no one can ever hurt him again regardless," Regulus pointed out. He wouldn't like to see the young elf be pushed into anything out of some misguided sense of obligation, after all.
"True, but I like the idea," Ballan said. A dark smile curved the elf's mouth. "I think I would enjoy being a vampire. I could turn anyone I wish to kill into food, which is at least productive. That and I can be even more of an asset to those who have helped me." Regulus regarded Ballan thoughtfully, then smiled. "I wasn't so sure I'd make a great vampire, but something tells me that if that's what you truly want, you'll do fine."
Ballan smiled back before glancing to Kreacher. "You certainly set a good example for any elf who may have an interest, because it suits you well."
Kreacher smiled modestly. "Kreacher thanks Ballan."
"Is it you who would turn me," he asked and Kreacher shook his head. "If Ballan truly wishes to be strong, he should consider Master Regulus's own maker, Miss Dora. She is thousands of years old and her blood is strong. Kreacher was turned by Master Regulus, who was turned by Miss Dora, so his blood is strong enough, but if Ballan goes directly to the source, Kreacher feels he would find that advantage more beneficial."
A brief look of disappointment flickered over Ballan's face, but he nodded. "So it looks like it'll be the two of us unless any of you other elves or goblins plan to stand up and take one for the team." The goblin who spoke strolled up to stand beside Ballan. He was young with short, neatly cut black hair. He wore a Gringotts uniform, and looked the least likely person to have chosen to become a vampire. Regulus glanced away, hoping the surprise didn't show on his face. "See, no one else dares," the young goblin told Ballan scathingly when none of the elves or goblins gathered spoke up. "We are heroes for our people, and for the cause, while everyone else is only willing to give up so much."
"So are all you elves free now or what?" Millicent asked the question Regulus had been wondering about from the time they arrived.
"Most of us were born free, and some of us were freed by our masters, often by accident. That was my case." The goblin who spoke wore a Gringotts suit like many of the gathered goblins. "I am Styx. Griphook has kindly given me a job at the bank along with the rest of the elves."
"Styx is the new head of rare gemstone imports," Griphook said. "No one Apparates fragile items better than elves! We're fortunate to have him and his friends on board here. It shall hopefully set a new precedent for the soon to be freed elves all over the United Kingdom. They will see that there is more to life than sweeping kitchens."
"Bloody right," Ballan said, licking his lips. "No cooking for me, just lots of eating... Or drinking."
The goblin at his side grinned. "Hopefully we shall fancy the taste of blood. I'm Greok, by the by. It's grand to make your acquaintance, Mr. Ballan."
"Just Ballan," Ballan insisted gruffly.
"Well fine then," Greok said with a cheerful smile. "You and me shall be best mates. We've got to stick together is what."
Ballan gave him a bemused smile, then shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
Griphook bit back a smile of amusement as he moved to the front of the room. "Well now that that's settled, we'll leave it to Kreacher and Regulus to contact these two when the... vampiric change or whatever you call it can be arranged. At that, Regulus glanced to Kreacher, blinking as he processed that they were suddenly in charge of this. This business of two people becoming immortals. Suddenly he understood what a vast responsibility that was and why Dora shunned it as a rule. Kreacher was regarding Ballan and Greok with a nearly blank expression before he felt Regulus's gaze on him and turned to meet his eyes. After a second, Kreacher seemed to decide something and gave a small shrug as his face relaxed the slightest bit from blank to more tranquil.
"The next task of the goblins is to get the Stripper potion into the wizarding water supply. The Muggle one as well, for there are plenty of Half and Mud-Blood wizards still living among the Muggles. Yes the task sounds like a big one, but water is a flexible thing on which to work magic, and my nephew does not believe it shall be a difficult feat at all. With that said, I would like to present the creator of the Magic-Stripper potion, my nephew Grimlock." The goblin who shyly stood forward looked even younger than Ballan and Greok.
Goblins must age even slower than elves. Grimlock had been working on this potion for nearly a decade and to Regulus's eyes, he hardly looked twenty! He wore stained green robes rather than a neatly pressed Gringotts suit, and Regulus could easily picture him puttering about in a greenhouse full of active magical plants. His gleaming black hair was neatly combed and brushed his shoulders much like Regulus's own. His face was thin, and his sharp green gaze darted about, taking everyone in the room in with avid interest.
"Thank you, Uncle," he said quietly before turning to the group at large. As he did, his face lit, and he became animated, excited words pouring forth as if from an eager babbling brook. "The creation of my Stripper potion has been a fun puzzle of which I must admit to being proud. It shall keep humans... Those who would do so, from ever abusing goblin kind again. They can't forbid us wands or treat us as though we're less when we can take their bloody magic! Of course we can't let them know that we've taken their magic, else we could be killed... or worse for it, but the principle still holds. And of course to all you humans gathered here, I realize that you stand with us, and my comments are in no way directed to you," he assured hastily.
"I realize that humans muck one another about just as much as they do goblins, elves or other beings and creatures. I am well aware that we have the best of the best from all races helping in this and I look forward to working with each and every one of you to make the world a better place. Oh and I did make the potion to reverse the Stripper if and when necessary," he added nearly as an afterthought. "Doing so at the right time and for certain wizards shall serve to make all of us even more heroic. I was thinking the antidote can be presented by healers as a cure for the magical plague that we shall be pretending this is."
Grimlock's youth showed itself even more apparently in his avid chattiness, Regulus thought with an inner smile. When the goblin Potioneer finished speaking, he gave a shy smile and a slight bow before fading back into the crowd. Griphook began to clap, and everyone joined in.
"That's brilliant potions work, young man," Severus told Grimlock.
The young goblin flushed. "That means a great deal coming from you, Sir. Uncle Griphook has spoken highly of your skills and even suggested that you and I work together on future projects... If you're interested that is."
"I am very interested," Severus assured firmly. Regulus smiled. He just bet he was. Severus's mum, Eileen, was the closest he had to an equal in the potions craft, and he'd surpassed her years ago.
"Good then," Griphook said. "So once the Stripper potion has been introduced into the water, which should be in a few days, you lot at the Ministry shall have to be ready to move fast." As he spoke, the goblin turned his focus to Kereston, who had come in while Greok and Ballan were talking. The little blonde wore her Ministry robes and looked frazzled, though she kept her gaze attentively on Griphook. She sat beside Gellert, who watched the proceedings with calm interest.
"We'll be ready to step up and into our new roles," Kereston replied. "Where is my Senior Undersecretary, by the way? I was hoping to meet him tonight... You know before we both step into office."
Griphook gave a slight smile. "Yes. Kereston and I feel that having goblins represented in the Ministry right away would be helpful, so there shall be a goblin Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. I have spoken with the bank Elders and they have agreed with my choice for the position. He has risen quickly at Gringotts for his sound thinking and quick reasoning under pressure. He also deals with humans well. Goriandor, please step up and say a few words and meet your future Minister for Magic."
Another young goblin in a Gringotts suit stepped forward, a frank look of terror on his face. His neat short black hair and sharply featured thin face were nearly unassuming. He had an intelligent look, terror aside. "I don't know why anyone thinks I can do this," he said and Griphook smiled.
"Very good. You shall do fine."
"Did you not just hear me," Goriandor demanded incredulously.
Kereston stood and extended a slender hand, giving him a reassuring smile. "Change can be frightening, but together we can all make the wizarding world a better place."
"That's great, but this particular job is something that I know nothing what so ever about, therefore I have no idea why I'm qualified."
Gellert laughed, speaking up for the first time. "Don't worry. You're already sounding like a perfect politician."