Apologies for the late update but I was soft of preoccupied with so many other things that it kind of delayed my writing. Anyways all's well that ends well I suppose. So here goes Chapter 4. Please keep the reviews coming both positives and negatives. It all helps me improve as a writer.
z.k
Chapter 4 – The Icy Glare
It had been three weeks since the battle of Hogwarts had been fought and won. However, the cost of the victory had been steep. Despite the defeat of the Dark Lord the defenders of Hogwarts had suffered numerous losses among their ranks.
The first week post battle had seen an uncommonly large number of funerals. The deaths of Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Lupin and Fred Weasley were the cause of great regret and mourning for a particular individual currently residing in 12 Grimauld Place by the name of Harry Potter.
Harry had been back to his Godfathers house one week ago after reviewing and renewing the privacy wards and enchantments around the old house with the help of Bill Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The new protection spells had been cast by Harry using the Elder wand. The strength of the spell could be felt by the other two as it enveloped the whole building in a warm spherical bubble before completely disappearing.
As Harry sat in the kitchen of the now very different looking house, thanks to the numerous transformation and changes he had done with the help of Hermione and Bill, he couldn't help but think about his Godson who would have to lead his life without the care of his parents.
Harry was glad that Teddy at least had Andromeda who adored her grandson and cherished him as a final reminder of her beloved daughter. Also, Harry had made a sacred promise to himself that he will always be there for Teddy and fulfil his duties as a Godfather to the best of his abilities.
After a few hours of silent and mournful recollections of his the time with family and friends he had lost, Harry stood up abruptly, unable to take any more of the mental torture he was subjecting himself to.
The last three weeks had been somewhat easier to deal with maybe because he had been preoccupied with other things which fended off the possibility to ponder upon stray thoughts. The first week was covered by funerals, recovery of the injured and repair works carried out at Hogwarts.
A particular moment that stood out during the repair works was when Harry had silently cast a reparo ultimus with his phoenix wand and the damages to the Great Hall were fixed to the very last speck of dust finding its way to its original place. The reception of that particular display was so immense that from then on, Harry hung back to assisting only with small things to avoid the unnecessary attention that he hated.
After the funerals and rehabilitations works were covered, Harry had insisted upon accompanying Hermione to Australia to see her parents. Since the Weasleys were still grieving for Fred, Hermione did not want to ask Ron to accompany her. Ron's initial insistence had turned to relief when Harry volunteered to accompany her.
Pivotal in that decision was the fact that it would not take them much time to find the Grangers since Hermione, being the amazingly intelligent witch that she was, had left a tracking spell on her parents. Leave it to Hermione to think everything through, the thought got Harry to chuckle.
Finding the Grangers had been the easier part. However, Giving them back their memories and facing them on Hermione's part was the difficult bit. It was an emotional affair which Harry observed from afar wanting to give the family some privacy to come in terms with the changes. After spending a few days in Australia, the two friends returned to England with Hermione's parents' due to return in a month after settling their affairs right before relocating to England themselves.
The final of the last three weeks was spent with Harry, Hermione, Bill and occasionally Ron, doing their bit to transform Grimauld Place into a liveable place. Kreacher assisted wherever he could and was jubilant when Harry gave him an old room in the basement where he could store his Mistress' old trinkets that they removed after subjecting it through several detection spells to ensure that they weren't cursed.
Coming back to the present, Harry contemplated that the change in his mood was due to the fact that he was lying idle. Ron and Hermione were back at the Burrow preparing for a dinner the Weasley's were hosting in Fred's memory. He would of course be attending but he felt that going there now would just bring in more memories that he for the moment was trying to avoid.
Harry could always go to visit Teddy but he remembered Andromeda telling him that she will be taking Teddy down to St Mungos for his periodic check-up. Apparently Remus had insisted that Teddy have regular check-ups just to ensure that he did not inherit any particular traits from a more beastly side of his paternal heritage. So far nothing out of order had turned up and the Healers had been optimistic that there was very high chance that nothing would.
This left Harry with only one option. He glanced at the letter lying at the table with the distinct broken seal of Gringotts. The Goblins had 'requested' his presence to discuss his accounts and holdings. Requested was a mild way to put it, as the letter had been very direct and demanding in nature. At the back of his mind Harry vaguely played out his last visit to the wizarding bank. Letting out a sigh, Harry made up his mind that he would rather get it over with
-/-/-
Daphne Greengrass sat comfortably in the plush sofa in the splendid hall of Greengrass Manor lost in her own thoughts.
"Daph? Are you there?", Astoria called out which brought Daphne out of her musings as she heard the slight tapping of approaching feet on the vast marble floor.
"Mum was asking if you would like to go out for shopping." Astoria continued as she plonked on the couch next to her sister.
"What is it?" Astoria asked with a raised eyebrow after not getting any reaction from her sister.
"Umm. What?.. No its nothing. What were you saying?" Daphne replied hastily after realising she was caught zoned out for a bit.
"Daph! Are you sure you are okay? I mean I am here for you if you want to talk about it okay." Astoria stated taking hold of Daphne's hand and giving it a slight squeeze.
The concern on Astoria's face was not lost on Daphne and she couldn't feel anything but grateful for having her sister in her life. And not just her sister, her whole family had been so supportive throughout her life that she couldn't comprehend her luck.
And yet despite all that, she was feeling empty. She should be happy now that the war was over and they were all safe. The whole wizarding world was celebrating and yet here she was feeling the emptiness inside her being. It was so frustrating, like she was whole but at the same time a part of her was missing.
Putting aside her thoughts she turned to Astoria who was looking at her with a mixture of warmth and concern.
"I am okay Tori. I just… I just need some time to speculate on everything that has happened." Daphne stated with enough conviction to ease her sisters concern, for the moment.
"Okay so are you up for some shopping with me and mum?" Astoria asked her eyes dancing with delight at the prospect.
Daphne smiled knowing very well how excited her sister could get regarding shopping.
"How about I meet you guys in the lounge in an hour so we could rage storm over the stores?" She asked playfully.
"I'll just inform mum." Astoria stated, her face brightening up even further as she left bouncing out of the Hall.
Daphne pulled herself up from the comfort of the sofa and set out towards her room upstairs, her earlier thoughts coming back to her.
'God, how I wish Tracey was here', she thought.
She was sure her best friend would have some answers to her dilemma. After all Tracey knew her more than she knew herself. But Tracey was away with her parents somewhere in Italy having being on the run since right before the final battle.
It was only a matter of time before they returned. However, gathering from Tracey's letter that she had received last week, it was evident that it might take some time as her family had to sort out some personal affairs before returning to Britain.
Well she just had to wait a bit more before she could share her feelings with her best friend. A sudden thought stopped her in her tracks. What will she tell Tracey? She herself didn't know how and what she felt so what would she tell Tracey.
Her feelings were in turmoil. The situation before Professor Lupin had joined in the fight ultimately saving her, still haunted her dreams. Forever grateful she would remain to him for that intervention.
Her father had pulled up some strings and found out that Professor Lupin, who had been married to an Auror, had a son who was alive and staying with his grandmother. Daphne had made a decision to take out time for young Edward Lupin and get to know him. She owed his father that much.
Her parents had happily supported her decision and her father was already in process of trying to approach the kid's guardian. Apparently, the child's grandmother, Andromeda Tonks nee Black had been best friends with Daphne's Aunt Ophelia during their Hogwarts days.
And then there was him. She didn't even know him to begin with and yet she felt as if she knew him. Why she was even thinking about him was a mystery to her. She wanted nothing to do with him and hoped that they never crossed paths again.
She never wanted to be held by him the way he had held her nor did she want to gaze into the depths of his green eyes which had been so captivating. She never wanted to feel his presence which had filled her with so much warmth.
Damn she hated him. Hated him for making her feel this way. Hated him for her current turmoil. Daphne hated that she owed the boy for saving her life. She resolved to repay him in some way and just close the Harry Potter chapter for good. Then only she would find the peace she was looking for.
-/-/-
Harry apparated right outside Gringotts to avoid any unwanted attention from the public which he knew would be in full stride at Diagon Alley at this particular time.
Harry walked up the set of white stairs leading up to the large bronze doors. At each side of the door a Goblin in scarlet and gold uniform stood looking threatening with steel spears.
As Harry approached the door the Goblins tensed momentarily before letting him pass. Upon entering the hall, Harry's eyes went up to the words engraved on the interior silver doors;
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
Harry tensed a bit remembering his last visit to the Wizarding Bank and all that had transpired. Keeping up his composure he entered the vast entrance hall and went up to the closest counter upon which sat a young Goblin. As the goblin's gaze trailed over him, he could clearly see the contempt and disgust in the goblin's eyes. As if Harry's mere presence was revolting to him.
Doing his best to look unaffected by the goblin's murderous glare, Harry handed him the slip. After taking a look the goblin gestured for Harry to follow him through a smaller set of silver doors which led to a long passageway. Walking in silence for a while they came up to a very intricately designed golden doorway. The goblin raised the golden knocker and banged it slowly on the door which generated a dull reverberating gong.
A few seconds later the golden doors were opened by a goblin guard garbed in a similar fashion as the two Harry had encountered at the front doors. Harry entered a large lavish office with the goblin in tow. A very well-dressed goblin was seated on an ornate chair behind a large desk of finest ebony. Looking up from a parchment the authoritative goblin rasped something sharply in gobbledegook to the goblin who accompanied Harry. After receiving a reply, of which Harry could just make out his name, the well-dressed goblin gave him an appraising look.
"Mignol here tells me that Harry Potter has answered our summons with his presence," He stated sharply with his eyes lingering upon Harry's scar.
"Mr Potter, this is Lord Borgrod; Leader of the Goblin Nation and Director of Gringotts," the goblin who had accompanied Harry and whose name Harry now knew to be Mignol stated in an unconvincing attempt at being civil while gesturing towards the goblin seated behind the ebony desk.
"It is my pleasure to be in your presence Director Borgrod. You honour me beyond my worth," Harry stated confidently. He had utilized the Black family library to be acquainted with the Goblin ways and had found out the proper ways of addressing goblin leaders.
Somewhat surprised by Harry's statement Borgrod gave a slight contemplative look before switching back to his steely glaring.
"You do realise that the reason you have been summoned here today is to answer for your actions and involvement in breaking into Gringotts and stealing an ancient goblin-made relic." Borgrod ranted with an accusatory tone before ending in a slight pause and glaring daggers at Harry.
"Despite the intervention made on your behalf by the Ministry of Magic and irrespective of your newfound status as the saviour of the Wizarding World, we seek recompense for your actions against the Goblin Nation." He continued in a slightly composed tone.
Harry knew it would come to this. All his research into Goblins prior to this meeting has taught him one thing very clearly. Goblins tend to hold grudges. He was prepared for this or so he thought.
"Director, your kind places honour above everything else and I respect you greatly for that. For what is life without honour? And to continue doing what you have been since the inception of this great institution requires immense amount of honour and morals. People say that they don't trust goblins and yet they entrust their most precious worldly possessions to Goblins. Why?" Harry gave a contemplative look towards Borgrod who was listening intently to Harry's little monologue with quite interest.
"Because of Honour. Because people, no matter how shallow they may be in the perception of unique magical beings, know one thing very well and that is the value of a goblins honour bound pledge to protect what is entrusted to them." Harry added after a slight pause.
Harry then proceeded to take out a shrunken pouch from within his robes and placed it on the table. Unshrinking it he poured the contents of the pouch on the table. With a soft clink, out fell Ravenclaw's Diadem, Slytherin's Locket, Peverell's Ring and Hufflepuff's Cup.
Borgrod's eyes grew wide with amazement. Although his eyes quickly lost its glow when he noticed that all the relics were damaged beyond repair. However, he could not contemplate on that any further as he felt something which made his insides turn in disgust. Residual magic of the most abhorrent type oozed from the objects. He eyes grew wide yet this time it was in recognition instead of amazement.
The mere contents on the tables answered nearly all of his questions and contemplations that he had on young Harry Potter's reasons for breaking into their sacred haven. His gaze found a confused looking Mignol whom he dismissed with a gesture.
As Mignol left closing the door behind him, Borgrod gave a sigh. He looked at Harry Potter and for the first time really understood the circumstances the young man had gone through. The proof of his extreme struggle against darkness was lying on his table right now. He was brought out of his thoughts when Harry started speaking again.
"Director! What would you call a man who violates the principals of nature and magic by conducting such an abomination? And then having the apparent lack of morals to house his abominations into relics made from magic itself." Harry paused to give Borgrod some time to take in his words.
"A man without honour." Harry continued answering his own question.
"Director. I understand very well that my actions were in the very least against the principles of Gringotts, however my reasons were well within the principles of humanity and as far as I know also of the Goblin Nation."
"If I remember correctly the Goblin King Almorak decreed that the inhumane piece of magic that these relics were subjected to would never be used by any of the magical beings and those found in violation would be declared enemies of the Goblin Nation. And yet the irony of the situation is that such an abomination was housed under the protections of Gringotts itself." Harry added with a sorrowful look.
Borgrod was lost for words at the revelation and shock he felt was shared by 12 other Goblin leaders gathered in the next room. With a turn of triangular knob on his table Borgrod leaned back as the adjoining wall retracted and the Goblin leaders marched in the room taking seat around a mechanically retracted circular table. The whole affair was quite surprising for Harry who wasn't expecting this.
"Mr Potter! The council of 13 of the Goblin Nation have availed themselves for our discussions but not even in our wildest dreams were we expecting the details that was revealed today," Borgrod said directing a look full of loathing towards where the damaged trinkets lay.
The other Goblins nodded in agreement and still looked shell shocked at what they had heard.
"Director and esteemed council members! I do not have the right nor do I question the integrity of the Goblin Nation. The blame of the abomination lies with just one person and it is the man without honour. I understand that the goblins at Gringotts had no way of knowing that the relic was blemished with foul magic as the relic itself was handled by the vault owner." Harry paused before continuing.
"However, I, Harry James Potter, take full responsibility of violating the principles of Gringotts Wizarding Bank by breaching it with the intention of thievery even if it was not for a personal gain. I take sole responsibility and will face the consequences deemed appropriate by the council. I just request the council that my friends who were with me during the incident are not held accountable for my actions." Harry finished while placing his phoenix wand on the table.
There were gasps and chatter broke among the council members who started having a serious discussion in gobbledegook. Harry stood there patiently waiting for the impromptu meeting to end. He had been thinking about this confrontation for the better part of a week now and that is what had led him to read a bit on goblin culture.
The Black library had some really interesting information and he was surprised to find out the ritual to create a horcrux was developed by a goblin using an ancient evil technique from stolen goblin scriptures. The Goblin nation had found this violation of their sacred laws and the then King had decreed that any magical being found conducting this devilish act would be declared an enemy of the Goblin Nation.
However, the secret of the ritual was not lost in the pages of time as King Almorak and his council had hoped. Wizards had somehow discovered the lost ritual and the most vile and evil among them had utilised it in a bid to gain immortality but each time the sacred protectors of the goblin nation had found the horcrux and destroyed it.
Yet the ages had made the goblins complacent and the ancient ways of the old were lost but not forgotten. At least that's what Harry hoped.
"Mr Potter!" The sudden address brought Harry out of his recollections.
"The Goblin Nation is in shock that we were housing one of the vilest pieces of magic into our sacred vaults. And that too encased in one of our most prized relics." Borgrod paused taking time to contemplate his next words.
"Despite breaching our walls to attempt thievery, which is a crime we don't take lightly, you have the honour to stand before us and take full responsibility of your actions. An honour that we seldom witness in wizards. And yet your actions while supposedly against our law was in fact in accordance to one of our greatest laws above all." Borgrod gave a disgusted look towards the former horcruxes before continuing.
"The council has come to a unanimous agreement that your actions and participation in the break-in at Gringotts is forgiven, considering that those actions ultimately led to the carrying out of a sacred decree. In addition, the council and I feel honoured to call you a friend of the Goblin Nation. May your gold forever flow and your enemies' heads fall on your feet." Borgrod finished with a slight bow of his head.
To say that Harry was astonished was an understatement. He may have expected to be let off the hook with slight penalties but never had he expected to be let off without any repercussions and absolutely not to be labelled a friend of the Goblin nation. From his research he knew that the highest level of respect a goblin can give wizards is to bestow them with that title.
Remembering his learnings Harry quickly bowed and in a composed tone responded in a fitting manner, "Director and members of the Goblin council. It is indeed an honour to be considered worthy enough to be called a friend of the goblin nation and I ensure that I would do my best to do justice to the title bestowed upon me. May your gold forever flow and your enemies' head fall on your feet."
Director Borgrod pressed a protruding square on his desk which turned out to be some sort of summoning device as Mignol entered shortly afterwards.
"Assist Mr Potter with the affairs of his accounts including the handover of his family vaults, his holdings and his inheritance." Borgrod stated looking directly at Mignol.
"Also ensure that Mr Potter is given the best service owed to a friend of the Goblin nation." He added.
At this statement Mignol turned towards Harry with a look which had many things but none of the disgust and contempt that they earlier held.
With a polite gesture of his arms Mignol let Harry out of the room after he had picked up his wand from the table.
-/-/-
Harry worked out of Gringotts feeling calmer than he had in over a week. He was glad to have the Gringotts problem solved more so for his friends then for himself. Fortunately, the meeting with the goblins had solved those problems for good.
It was also not a bad thing to know that he inherited quite a lot of money and established holdings from the Potter and Black families. He had always thought that his vault, which was apparently just his trust fund, was more than enough for him.
Harry Potter was among the elite in terms of wealth if what Mignol said was anything to go by, however, he strictly decided against flaunting his wealth to the world. He was a simple person with a simple life and he wanted to keep it that way.
Harry had taken out some money from his vault to do some much-needed shopping for clothes and other necessities. Mignol had also provided him with a Gringotts token which was equivalent to a muggle credit card so that he won't have to visit the bank for money all the time.
Coming back to the world of the well fed after being on the run for nearly a year had done wonders on Harry and the once scrawny looking kid had gained some much-needed weight. The constant exercises and magical training ensure that the gain was mostly muscle, hence the need for a new wardrobe.
Harry made his way towards Madam Malkin's so that he could just get the shopping done and get out of there as quickly as possible. However, upon reaching the clothing store Harry at once noticed it bustling with more people than he really wanted to encounter.
Making a spur of the moment decision Harry started walking in the opposite direction towards Twilfitt and Tatting. He had himself never been there but saw no harm in trying something new. Plus, from what he had heard of the prices of outfits in this particular shop he was positive it would not have many customers.
An hour later Harry was making final payments for his purchases after shrinking and keeping the said purchases in his pocket to a very delighted looking witch. Harry felt his money pouch get relatively lighter after the paying up but he was glad that he had got whatever he had wanted without much fuss.
Giving the woman a courteous smile Harry turned towards the door and started walking. He was just about to reach the door when three witches who Harry immediately recognised entered. The older lady immediately gave Harry a warm smile and exchanged greetings with him as the two girls came up behind her. The younger of the two girls also gave him a genuine smile but it was the reaction of the other girl that caught Harry by surprise.
The lack of smile on the face was not shocking as he had rarely seen her smile. It was her eyes that caught him off guard. Harry could only wonder what he had done to receive her icy cold glare. The more important question was why it made him feel so hurt. He was used to glares and looks of contempt so why now was he experiencing a heart wrenching feeling as he was on the receiving end of the Ice Queens frosty glare.
-/-/-