Clan Warhammer

2nd of August, 1996.

Kato hoisted his bag up on his shoulder before heading downstairs. Hermione was talking to Remus in the living room. "Ready to head out?" Kato asked.

"As ready as I'll get," Hermione said.

"Nervous?" Remus asked.

"I haven't seen Viktor in over a year," Hermione said. "We write to each other all the time, but this will be different."

"Are the two of you still a couple?" Remus asked.

"As far as I know, but I could be wrong. It's one of the reasons that I'm glad Harry is coming with me," Hermione said. "We can have a good time even if things don't work out with Viktor."

Remus smiled but it quickly turned to a frown as Leoline hit him with a wooden block. "No Leo, don't do that," he said sternly. "It isn't nice to hit people."

"We'll see you when we get back, Remus," Kato said.

"Be nice to your daddy Leoline," Hermione said before they exchanged goodbyes.

Kato and Hermione apparated to Gringotts and headed down a long corridor. A younger Dwemer showed up and handed Kato a file. Kato opened it and looked through it before signing a few papers. "Thank you. Please take it back to Dumac," he said.

"Business arrangements?" Hermione asked.

"Something like that," Kato said. "There was no one living in the village when we raised the wards."

"Well that is good," Hermione said.

"I signed documents to have the village restored in case mer of some kind need a safe-haven. I also signed both of us up to learn Mermish."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Normally one asked someone if they wanted to get signed up for an extracurricular class before signing them up. She wasn't going to argue with him though. She certainly wanted to learn.

"Ah, Kato Peverell and Hermione Granger headed for Bulgaria I presume," the travel agent said as they walked up to the desk.

"That would be us, yes," Kato said.

"Are you planning on travelling in the non-magical world?" the agent asked.

"Yes," Kato answered as he brought his passport out. He had gotten one made at Gringotts earlier that summer in case he would need it.

Hermione's passport was legitimately made in the non-magical world and the two documents looked like they could be from the same place. The agent stamped the passports. "And sign here please, miss," they said as they placed a document down in front of Hermione.

Hermione read through the legal jargon easily enough. There was nothing overly strange in there. If she committed a crime she was to be tried in Bulgaria. If something happened to her, Gringotts wasn't responsible. She signed and was about to hand the paper back to the agent when Kato grabbed it. He looked through it and signed as her guardian. The text quickly changed right before Hermione's eyes. "What did you do?" she asked.

"I signed as your guardian. It effectively made you a daughter of Clan Alfknif while we are in Bulgaria. That means my Clan will help me if something were to happen to you. It also means that we answer to Dwemer law, but knowing you, you aren't planning on committing any crimes so we should be fine."

Hermione closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. She shook her head. "You couldn't have done that earlier?" she asked.

"No, you had to sign it first. It only works because you are still considered a minor anyway," Kato said. "Does it bother you?" he asked.

"You could have said something earlier," Hermione pointed out.

"I had forgotten that you would need to sign that," Kato said sheepishly. He accepted the portkey and they walked into the centre of the room.

Hermione sighed and shook her head. At least he was human. That was good to know. Sometimes Kato was just a little too good at a whole bunch of things. She didn't get scared when it happened but it felt disturbing. She grabbed the portkey.

"Take off in three, two, one," the agent said.

The familiar sensation of a hook behind their navels set in and the room started spinning.

"Arriving from Great Britain."

"Paper's please," the agent said once they had caught their bearings.

Kato handed over the necessary papers and the agent looked through them. "Everything seems to be in order," they said. "Kelag will show you to the tellers' hall. Have a nice stay."

Kato took Hermione's hand as they walked. He knew she was a little nervous. He could understand her. She hadn't seen Viktor in quite a while. He knew that some girls had cornered her during the party and told her that Viktor was probably banging some new girl every other week. He was famous after all. Kato didn't care one way or another, but he hadn't minded Rhavaniel seeing other people. That wasn't the norm here and he knew that so he would look after Hermione and keep his ears open. He was not going to tolerate anyone playing with her heart.

They walked out of the bank and headed down the basalt steps. The Bulgarian magical district was both beautiful and intimidating. The buildings were made out of shining black stone with beautiful silver filigree.

Kato felt Hermione squeeze his hand. He followed her gaze to a group of people. He could see Viktor among them. "Looks like he gathered quite the entourage," he said. "I'd say they are his friends though just based on how relaxed he is. They probably came along to keep people off him.

Hermione nodded. "Do you see any reporters?" she asked.

"Two so far," Kato said. "I've already dealt with their cameras. They'll work as long as they aren't pointed at us."

"Thanks," Hermione said. She took a deep breath and started walking towards Viktor.

"Hermione!" Viktor said happily. He walked out of his group and headed straight for her.

Flashes went off and he stopped and glared at a photographer.

"Don't worry about them," Kato said. "They will come to find that their photos are quite useless."

Viktor looked at Kato as he took Hermione's hands. "I don't think I know you," he said. He wasn't hostile though some may think he was because of his accent.

"Kato Peverell at your service," Kato said as he offered them a flowing bow.

One of Viktor's friends gasped and said something excitedly to Viktor. He looked thoughtful as he turned back to Kato. "Bisera says you made a cure for lycanthropy," he said. "She says her brother paid a lot of money to go to Britain to get it."

Kato looked concerned. The Cure was supposed to be free.

"Right away, Kato," Hermione said.

Kato nodded. "I'll find you. Don't wait for me," he said before heading back to the bank.

Viktor looked after Kato. "What happened?" he asked.

"The Cure is supposed to be free," Hermione said. "Kato doesn't like that someone is profiting off his late finance's lifework. That isn't what she would have wanted."

"Brother only got cure because he paid," Bisera said in broken English.

"It isn't supposed to be that way. The goblins are supposed to offer the Cure to anyone who needs it free of charge anywhere in the world," Hermione said.

"The goblins will not change because your friend says so," another of Viktor's friends said.

"I'm not so sure," Hermione said. "Kato is a member of Clan Alfknif. By not following the Clan directive Clan Warhammer is insulting his Clan."

"Either way, Hermione. These are my friends. Bisera, Alex, Nayden and Galya," Viktor said. "I've written about them."

Hermione nodded. She knew who these people were and looked forward to getting to know them. "Hi everyone," she said in Bulgarian.

Two goblins armed with long pikes came walking out of the bank. They marched up to Hermione. "Your presence is required," one of them said.

"What is going on?'' Hermione asked as she walked with the two guards.

"Kato of Clan Alfknif has challenged our Chieftain to a duel based on trust and greed."

"You will bear witness to this duel as a representative of Clan Alfknif," the other guard said.

"I… I see," Hermione said. "May my friends come with me?" she asked.

"The duel has to be public by nature. It is rare for humans to watch but no one can question your presence there," the first guard answered.

"Please head for the left side of the room."

Hermione led Viktor and his friends down rows of seats until they were as close to Kato as they could get.

"I don't know about you, but your friend must be suicidal. No one in their right mind fights a goblin of Clan Warhammer and lives," Bisera said.

"Kato can do it," Hermione said.

"I certainly hope you are right, human."

Hermione turned slightly. A small group of goblins sat behind them. They must have come in right after their group did.

"Our lives depended on it."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Why?" she asked.

"We are outcasts. Just showing our faces here is a death sentence. Unless your friend there kills his opponent."

"One of them has to die?" Hermione said, alarmed.

"Yes," the leader of the outcasts said. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"Not for Kato, no," Hermione said. "He can kill if he has to."

"Oh, good the Overseer," one of the goblins said. "He is as impartial as they come."

"It bodes well for your friend, human," the outcast leader said. "Overseer is a stickler for the rules, but he is also a good fighter. If someone challenges the human after victory, the Overseer will defend him."

The Clan Chief and Kato stood facing each other on the podium.

"You have fifteen minutes to prepare," the Overseer said.

Kato motioned to catch his attention.

"Yes Master Kato?" the Overseer said.

"May I call for my personal equipment?" Kato asked.

"How do you plan on doing that?" the Overseer asked.

"I plan on calling my house-elf here and ask her to bring it," Kato said.

"Can someone else do this for you?" the Overseer asked.

"My sister sits in the stands," Kato said. "She can do it."

"Then she may," the Overseer said.

Hermione didn't miss a beat. She called Winky and asked for Kato's Nirn bag. Winky was back within seconds with the requested bag and Hermione hurried down to Kato.

The clock was still ticking so everything had to be as quick as possible. "Please don't die, Harry," Hermione whispered.

"I'll do my best," Kato responded as he pulled his armour on. He grabbed his sword and straightened up.

Hermione ran back to her seat as the two warriors faced each other in the ring. She sat down and clasped her hands together nervously. Next to her Viktor was unsure if he should be trying to comfort her or if that was a really bad idea.

Kato looked up at the Overseer. "Kato of Clan Alfknif is ready to fight," he stated.

The Overseer nodded slowly and looked at the Chief of Clan Warhammer.

"Chieftain Marg of Clan Warhammer is ready to win this fight," he said boastfully.

"The rules of the duel are set. No wizarding wand waving may occur. Any other means of magic may. Any weapon is cleared and the fight is to the death. You may begin at the ringing of the bell," the Overseer stated. He slammed a bell next to him with a hammer and a clear ringing sounded through the room.

"You face me with that needle, human," the Chief mocked Kato as he brandished his heavy waraxe.

Kato didn't speak. He summoned a fireball in his left hand and then he rushed forward. He ducked under the heavy swing of the axe and sliced at the Chieftains right arm. He raised his sword and caught the next blow.

"I'll cut that puny needle in half," the Chief shouted. He raised his axe and slammed it down on Kato.

"I highly doubt it," Kato said. "Katla, Queen of Skyrim forged this blade in the Skyforge. There is no other blade quite like it." He pushed back and sent the Chief off balance. He darted forward and stabbed through the chief's heavy armour plate. He pulled back and hissed as something pierced his neck. He blocked another strike and moved back. His vision was swimming.

"What is going on?" Viktor said. "He was doing well."

"I don't know," Hermione said.

Kato was touching his neck and she could see the golden glow of healing magic. "Something pierced his neck," she said.

"The Chief didn't do that," the leader of the outcasts said. "Someone else attacked him; that is highly irregular."

"Kato can heal so he should be fine," Hermione said.

"Let's find the one who tried to win this for the Chief," the leader of the outcasts said.

"Wait," Hermione said. "Kato will keep fighting and that should make them nervous. Look for anyone who is trying to leave."

"You speak wisely, human," the leader said before heading off.

"So they tried to poison him," Viktor said. "That has to be against the rules."

"Since someone who wasn't competing did it, yes," Hermione said.

Kato shook his head to clear it. He moved aside as the massive war axe cut a hole in the floor. "Vey," he breathed. He met the Chief's next blow with the edge of his sword. The blade of the axe fell in two.

"Foolish worm," the Chieftain roared. He drew a heavy maze from his side and grabbed a shield. "I will end you, human," he said. "I will prove to Clan Alfknif what fools they are." He swung his maze and Kato dodged. They traded blows until suddenly Kato moved so fast that the people in the stands couldn't keep up.

The Chieftain collapsed to the ground. His head rolled to the side as Kato cleaned his sword off. "For insulting Clan Alfknif and taking advantage of those that require aid you shall meet your maker," he said.

There was a bit of a commotion in the stands as two goblins grabbed onto a third.

"The poisoner I presume," Kato said calmly. "Could you call a healer here, Overseer? This man shot me with a poisoned dart. I would like to have it extracted."

There was a flurry of motion. Hermione lost track of Kato. She stood up.

"He should be fine now," Bisera said. "He won. As insane as that is."

"The late chieftain cheated though," Viktor said.

"Would have started a war if Kato's clan found out after he had been killed," Nayden said. "Good thing he wasn't."

"I don't think anyone expected him to win," Bisera said.

A goblin walked up to them and asked them to leave. The things that would happen now weren't for human eyes.

"Well, he did say that he would find us," Nayden said.

"Are you okay with that?" Viktor asked Hermione.

Hermione nodded. "I know he is alive. That's what matters, she said.

"You don't think they will try to kill him now?" Bisera asked. "They could."

"Only if they want to be eliminated," Hermione said. She took Viktor's hand and followed him outside.

Kato looked at the leader of the outcasts as their healer pulled a dart out of his neck right in front of everyone. He healed the wound and looked around. "We seem to have a bit of a problem here, Overseer," he said. "Do you need me for the rest of it?"

"I believe that we have what we need from you. This is a Clan matter now. Things that have long been kept hidden will have to be brought forth, but you are not privy to Clan secrets. Just know that you have done our clan a great favour by exposing the treachery in its midst," the Overseer said.

"Then I will take my leave and hope that my issues with the clan will be dealt with," Kato said. He bowed and left.

If things didn't change during his stay he would be back to talk to them, but he had a decent amount of trust that things would work out.