Back into it. This time we have Merlot again. As we cover the pre Hogwarts chapters things will be a lot shorter. Number one because coming up with non repetitive events without destroying the chapter arrangement and book pacing is a bit difficult, and two, because I only have so much time to write and I want to get chapters out to all of you.

So again, Merlot.

—0—

"Everything seems to be well within working order."

Spearmint withdrew a clawed finger from Merlots temple. With a gentle smile, she held up a tiny box of dry cured venison for the young witch, who politely took a small piece and began nibbling.

"Why the meat?" Scortwit blinked.

"We're carnivorous creatures Halfwit. Spearmint is allowed to take care of her daughters goblin blood." Grandscalpel spoke as he waddled around behind the wizard, opening a cupboard and running a hand through his supplies, picking out a few things here and there.

"My little love needs to be nurtured in every way." Spearmint pinched Merlots cheek. "Oh me… your ears are getting a bit tapered."

Scortwit leaned in and observed that the goblin was correct. The girls ears were a bit more angular along the ridge, their curve smoothing out to a soft point.

"You need to make sure to eat plenty of meats." Spearmint nodded. "Or else the goblin blood in you might rebel!"

Merlot finished off her bit of Venison politely, nodding at Spearmint's words. "Yes goblin mother."

"Is there anything that can be done?" Scortwit asked. "About the nightmares, I mean. Not the goblin features."

Spearmint sighed. "Unfortunately, there is no medicine that can safely prevent night terrors. There are mind healers, but they are pricey and it also runs the risk of someone learning every single one of your secrets."

Merlot paled a bit as Scortwit sighed. "Yeah… that's something we could do without…"

"There is another way." Grandscalpel returned to the side of his examinations table. "We goblins typically have no problems with such things as magic protects and arranges our minds, but then again Miss Scortwit is not a true born goblin."

Scortwit watched as the healer placed a bowl upon the counter and tossed in a few ingredients, mashing them around with his gnarled hands before adding a few more. Spearmint brushed a lock of hair behind Merlots ear and sighed.

"You are speaking of mind magics, aren't you."

"Like Occlumency?"

"I am surprised you know so little." Grandscalpel let out a grating chuckle. "Yes, the three branches of wizardkinds mind arts. Legilimency, Occlumency, and Delemency."

"I have heard a little of the first two." Merlot nodded. "And I think… I remember something about learning them…"

Grandscalpel nodded. "It is well known that Voldemort was- is a master Legilimens. Legilimency is derived from the term 'legere', which means 'to read'. A Legilimens can do just that, read through the mind of whoever they wish. Talented practitioners can go beyond this, and read the soul of a creature, living through whichever memories they wish."

Merlots mouth went dry as she remembered Quirrell jumping into her mind. If Voldemort had such a power… she couldn't begin to imagine.

"It is one of the reasons he is still feared. Those who the dark lord tore apart mentally are still vegetables in the wards of saint mungos." Scortwit said quietly.

The room was silent for a moment as the air hung heavily upon everyone present. It was clear that Voldemorts influence extended to many in the chamber.

"He took my sister." Spearmint smiled sadly. "One of the only goblins targeted… she hasn't ever been the same…"

"It is for that reason that the beast has no accounts. He is an enemy of the nation."

"What if his followers?" Merlot blinked.

"That is more complicated." Spearmint sighed. "Most are from noble families… and tensions between our nations have been high for eons."

Merlot nodded. "Okay… so what is Occlumency?"

Grandscalpel took the bowl and the mashed up mixture within and began gently smudging it down Merlot's scar.

"Occlumency, derived from the term 'occlude'. Occlemency is the practice of protecting the mind from external influences. A master Occlumens can throw a Legilimens from their mind without batting an eye. Many of the children of noble wizard families learn the art at a young age."

"And Delemency?" Merlot wrinkled her nose. The mixture that Grandscalpel was putting on her face smelled.

"Derived from 'delegate'. It is the art of arranging the mind, making it easier to process information and remember lessons that one has learned." Grandscalpel nodded. "Many are under the impression that Occlumency covers this area of practice. However, they are incorrect. Delemency can improve the pace at which one learns Occlumency, simply because one is used to arranging and exploring their mind at large. They already know the ins and outs, their most sensitive mental areas, and those that can be used as weapons."

"I don't want to hurt anyone-"

Spearmint gave Merlot another bit of venison as Grandscalpel began washing away the poultice for the scar. "You won't hurt anyone my dear. All you will be doing is getting your thoughts in order."

Merlot nibbled on the meat as the last of the poultice washed away, leaving the scar a little lighter and less defined. "Are you sure?"

Spearmint cradled Merlot's cheek lovingly in her hand. "I'm more than sure."

Grandscalpel walked over and washed his hands in a basin of water. "Now, it isn't something that we can teach you… however, in the past, it is said that your ancestors were practitioners of the mind arts. Perhaps you may find something within your vaults?"

Merlot nodded. "Would you be able to accompany me? Goblin Mother?"

Spearmint nodded. "Of course dear. Let us clean up hear. Grandscalpel, would you join our troop as well?"

The old medicus grunted as he flicked the water from his hands. "It will give me time to talk over the things I have heard in regards to the arts… and we don't have an appointment for another seven clacks... Very well, let us all go together."

After cleaning up the chamber and getting Merlot herself all situated from her appointment, the group made their way down to the vault caverns.

"Is it wrong that I am excited to see the vaults?" Merlot asked softly.

"It is your inheritance. Your whole history." Spearmint nodded. "I don't see why you shouldn't be excited."

Meanwhile, Grandscalpel was having a quiet conversation with Scortwit. "From what I have heard from a few wizards in the past, Delemency is much easier to learn while doing something one likes. It can help you focus your attention into one point."

"So… how should i go about that? Merlot certainly has many things she enjoys doing…"

Grandscalpel nodded. "She is a talented young lady. Remember, learning delemency is easier on your own. Ideally, she should be doing something that she likes to do on her own."

Scortwit nodded. "Runes… although, she is certain to be drawing attention soon…"

"Perhaps introducing her to artifice?" Grandscalpel suggested. "It is in a goblins nature to craft and to enchant. Perhaps learning the art would also invoke the protections of the goblin magic that surrounds her."

Scortwit sighed. "She's already doing so much with runes… and adding onto that, alchemy. Do you think she would get overworked?"

Grandscalpel looked up at the man with a twinkle in his eye. "One must learn runes and alchemy to properly forge. And exhaustion is just what she needs to start the first steps. Lucid dreaming is a powerful tool for the mind magics."

Scortwit nodded in understanding. "I see."

"We're here. Did you bring your key?"

Merlot's hand drifted over to her left wrist, which was adorned by a silver serpentine bracelet that definitely hadn't been there a moment before. Scortwit raised an eyebrow as Merlot procured a silver key from the bracelets surface.

"You've learned how to use the Gaunts treasure well, I see." Spearmint nodded.

"It is a shame they weren't intelligent enough to make it more than it is." Merlot rubbed the silvery scales of the bracelet with her right thumb.

"And what exactly is it?" Scortwit raised an eyebrow.

"A glorified key ring." Grandscalpel smirked. "The Gaunts once tried to make an artifact that would pull directly from their vaults. Only goblin magic can do such a thing, as it has to do with Goblin wards. But it does work to conceal the owners vault keys. Frusturatingly, we have not managed to replicate its magic. Else we would provide these rings to many of our customers."

Spearmint nodded as her partner medicus inserted the key into a large black door. Merlot found herself gasping as the doors slowly swung inward, revealing piles of coins and gemstones, and along with them, stacks of books, shelves holding various tools and artifacts.

"All of this… is mine?"

"Well surely you don't think all of your income from the dragonlodge has gone to your school expenses?" Scortwit chuckled.

"No, but surely it isn't this much!"

Grandscalpel chuckled. "We can get a listing of how much your vaults are valued. As I understand, this is the Gaunt Vault. What you see here is the smallest of the three that are in your possession."

"THE SMALLEST?"

Grandscalpel nodded. "There of course, are many things to take into consideration. Properties that have fallen into disrepair, investments. The Gaunt family vault had roughly a quarter of this within its walls before you came into its possession. We have since, been using it as your main vault, placing your earnings from your guardian within, and migrating the wealth of your subject account from the Potter family over into this one. The books and artifacts are from old crumbling vaults from the Peverell accounts. Some of those vaults are quite old and well… Our ancestors shouldn't have carved them out of limestone."

Spearmint laughed, the sound warming Merlots heart as the sound rumbled through the walls of the vault. To any others, it probably would have sounded grating. It seemed so, as Scortwit was wincing at the sound. But the rumble of the goblins laughter seemed to lift her up a bit and banish any of the bad thoughts within her mind. Merlot truly felt that in this situation, she would be okay. Spearmint and Grandscalpel were taking care of her. She couldn't ask for better care.

"Let us see if there are any books on what you need, my dear." Spearmint smiled, leading Merlot into the depths of the vault.

Grandscalpel stood outside the doorway with Scortwit, waiting for their return. "We may be here for some minutes. Mint likes her tomes."

"Like goblinmother, like daughter, I suppose." Scortwit nodded, his voice quiet.

"I noted your discomfort at her laugh, do not be embarrassed." Grandscalpel spoke, watching as the two within the vault picked up a book and flipped through its pages.

"It is improper for one to cringe at a laugh." Scortwit shook his head.

"Goblins don't laugh often around wizards and witches. Our range of octaves makes it shred the eardrums. I am surprised you would not know."

"I study dragons, not Goblins." Scortwit nodded. "And for what it is worth, Coppy never laughed around me."

"Don't take it to heart. Just take a look at your charge's face when ever Spearmint laughs again. I'm certain you won't forget it."

Scortwit nodded, watching as Spearmint and Merlot climbed a pile of galleons to get to a wall mounted shelf. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

"None of us do." Grandscalpel shook his head. "A child is a complicated thing, and she is much more complicated than the ordinary."

"She's happy when she's with you, or Charlie."

"And I think you'll find that she's just as happy with her father." Grandscalpel smiled. "Just wait, the time will come."

The two were drawn back to the vault as Spearmint and Merlot walked out, a few books in hand.

"Were you successful?"

Spearmint smiled. "It was good that we began with the Gaunt Vaults. Apparently they have quite a talent for the mind arts, with several books being written by some of them. I think this one in particular will be exactly what she needs."

Scortwit took the offered tome and looked it over. "The arte of the minde, by Rufus Gaunt."

"What is it with wizards adding extra 'E's to their terms." Grandscalpel shook his head. "How meaningless, just to seem intelligent or refined."

Merlot smiled. "I also found a book on Parselrune! It's so interesting that there's a way to codify the language…"

Grandscalpel nodded. "Is that all for now?"

"I believe so. We will walk you up to the teller room." Spearmint smiled. "You wanted an accounting of your vaults, correct?"

Merlot looked at Scortwit. "It would probably be good to look at that…"

The vault door swung closed as the group walked back through the winding tunnels of the goblin nation. Eventually, they emerged in the teller room, which was bustling with quite the amount of noise.

"It looks like something got them in a tizzy. We'll get you a teller and then be on our way. Appointments appointments appointments!"

Merlot nodded and soon they were face to face with a kindly dressed goblin who had a softer face than others.

"My name is Flint, what can I do for you today?"

"Flint? Odd name for a goblin." Scortwit blinked.

"I am one of the last of my kind with Dwarvish ancestry." the goblin spoke smoothly. "When I am not aiding the tellers, you can find me in the goblin forges. However, today has seen quite a bit of a buzz in the teller room. Something about cursebreakers finding something particularly bad. That is besides the point of course, what can I do for you?"

Scortwit gestured for Merlot to step forward, and she did.

"I was hoping to get a listing of my vaults and their contents."

"Name?"

"Merlot Scortwit."

The goblin nodded, looking over a few scrolls of paper before coming to one that seemed a bit thick. "I see. My apologies Darling Scortwit, my manners do not do justice to your status."

Merlot blushed. "You can ignore the darling thing. I don't need special attention…"

The goblin shook his head. "Nonsense. You are an honorary citizen, and should be treated as such. Now… let us see here. You have four vaults to your name. Gaunt, Potter, Peverell, and of course, your allotted tuition vault as a member of the goblin nation attending a wizarding school."

"The goblins pay me?"

Flint snorted. "We take care of our own here, Darling Scortwit. Your tuition vault currently sits at an amount of twelve thousand galleons, as the yearly tuition for students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is two thousand galleons a year for those who reside outside of Britain."

Scortwit let out a low whistle. "That's more than I thought…"

"Indeed." Flint nodded. "However, we are more than willing to cover the cost. The Gaunt account currently holds several books and relics that are from both it, and your trust account from the Potter family. Along with your salary from your guardians dragon preserve, and the amount of galleons that was there to begin with, it sits at around ninety three thousand galleons. Not a lot for an old family, and your work with dragons does turn quite the galleon. Roughly three quarters of the vaults contents are from the treasure yields that have been deposited by your current guardian."

Scortwit chuckled. "Just wait until I have you learn all the checkbooks. You'll see how much really goes into the big lizards back at home."

Flint nodded. "Tending to dragons can be quite pricey… Now, as for the Potter and Peverell family vaults. You cannot access them until you come of age. The Potter Vault took quite the hit after the two wizarding wars. Before the times of Grindelwald, it was sitting at a few million galleons strong. The first war depleted it greatly, whittling the fortune down to one million galleons. The provisions needed for Voldemorts war took more funds, and so the family fortune now sits at a total of four hundred thousand galleons."

"Ouch." Scortwit cringed. "I remember the Potters used to be quite high on the social ladder too."

"Monetary value matters little in the case of the Potters. If votes and seats were stacked from achievements, the "Familia de Potter" would hold sixty three votes total due to the orders of Merlin awarded to members of the family, as well as their hereditary minor house seats. Of course, wizarding politics do not work in such a way, but the Potter family is the most noble you will come across."

Merlot nodded. "And the last vault?"

"Yes, the Peverell Vault. It has remained largely untouched for the better part of the last three hundred years. Investments have had their ups and downs. It currently sits at two million galleons, three sickles, and a knut. The Peverells were a very ancient family of course… but again, you won't have access to the last two vaults until you come of age."

Merlot nodded. "I understand. That is… a lot of money."

"That's putting it lightly." Scortwit shook his head. "Is that all then?"

"There are several relics and properties." The goblin shrugged. "Of course, the cottage of Godrics Hollow remains irreparable, and is now a war memorial… why is that- hang on for a moment."

Flint turned and walked to another teller, speaking in a different language as fast as he could. The other teller looked at the paper in Flints hands and frowned be fore responding. Flint growled and gave his reply back, louder and definitely more agitated.

After several minutes of this, Flint returned, his face stone cold. "My apologies, it seems that there was some issues with the property listings."

"What kind of issues?"

"The memorial in Godrics hollow was listed as under the power of the Ministry. Such a claim should have been made public, and as the property is your families, the government owes you restitutions. The house isn't irreparable because ff how it was destroyed, but simply because the ministry has cast the preservation wards over it as a war memorial. They should have checked with the nation first at the very least."

"So what does this mean?" Merlot blinked.

Flint smiled. "It means that some big headed wizards owe you, and us, a lot of money. Enough to bring the Potter accounts back up to a million galleons."

"But that's over five hundred thousand!"

Flint nodded. "The cottage at Godrics hollow was a heavily warded vacation home, built upon ancestral land. The Potters hold a connection to Godric Gryffindor himself, and because of that, they have always had a claim to that land. However, the Potter lords never filed their claim, as they believed the land should be preserved as a memory of Godric Gryffindors achievements, and shared with the people, as Hogwarts is. Instead, the Potters erected the vacation home there, to visit every so often, and to keep the land guarded from greedy politicians."

"So the house was valuable."

"Extremely valuable. It was a three bedroom cottage, with a kitchen, living room, study, and two full bathrooms. It was over five hundred years old, meaning it can be counted as an ancestral home, and on top of that, it was protected by Gringotts wards, as well as a Fidelus. Doing what the ministry did means that they must pay the full cost of the property, the cost for disabling the wards. The interest for it going unpaid for the last ten years, and the cost for putting up unapproved wards on a property that they had not purchased. We will gut their vaults for this, fear not."

"I don't want to make anyone upset-"

"My dear, this is a crime against not just you, but your parents memory! Yes it is now a memorial to them, but it was made without your permission and is a violation of your securities. No, we will get to the bottom of this."

Merlot nodded, as she figured she couldn't really argue with the goblin. "And other properties?"

"There are a few for the Potter Family. They are incredibly old, of course. Some still have old vassals watching over them. Ottery St. Catchpole and the surrounding fields, also known as Modron's Gate. It seems as though the vassal family there has been using most of the funds to block all purchase attempts… There's also the old Potter Manor hidden just on the edge of london, however that seems to have been purchased and torn down by a Lucius Malfoy… Interesting, his payments don't match up either. I will be booking into that. Then of course, the more minore properties. A few fields in Scotland. A beach cottage on the coast, and a small little house in the Cotswalds."

"All mine?"

"They will be yours some day, yes. We will do our best to restore what has been ruined."

"Thank you." Merlot bowed.

"It is our pleasure. That is all that is listed. There are a few properties that i have to look into for the Peverell accounts as well, but the time is wearing thin, ad I believe you had planned to do some shopping prior to your departure?"

Merlot nodded. "Yes. Thank you so much for your help, Flint."

"Of course Darling Scortwit. It has been an honor." The goblin twisted his hand over his heart and gave a deep bow. "If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask for me by name. I would be honored to serve again."

"Aren't you a forge goblin?" Merlot blinked.

"Indeed, though there is no greater honor than serving a favored citizen of the goblins. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"You as well." Merlot smiled. As she took Scortwits hand, she found herself smiling at the well mannered goblin. "He was nice."

"He certainly was. Now… I have some potion ingredients to purchase, and you wanted to find some more books for your self studies, correct?"

Merlot's eyes lit up. "I have a new theory on layered rune systems! But I need a specific book to learn something else first."

"I see. We'll do our best to find it then." Scortwit smiled. The two bowed to the guard at the bank door, and stepped out into the bustling rush of Diagon Alley.

—0—

Okay, there we go. I thought I'd be able to get the shopping part, but I think that it will be better suited to include as the second part in another Hermione chapter.

As always, leave a review. If you'd like to have access to some of the dnd stuff, let me know. I can publish and srop the reddit links.

And of course, until next time,

Adios.