Hi Everyone I am so sorry for the long wait, I was in the process of buying a house and doing a lot of DIY renovations. All mostly done now so I am hoping to get a chance to write a whole lot more. Thank you so much to everyone who commented and left kudos that what what inspired me to get back into it. I hope you all enjoy this Chapter-Dayin
"O-Okay, so what do I do now?" Hermione stuttered out already extremely overwhelmed with the happenings of the day. "Can I get a lawyer or a legal representative to talk me through this, I don't know much about life debts and I don't really believe that all of those people owe me anything anyway."
The Goblin looked at her shocked at her willingness to disregard such a valuable asset taking in her overwhelmed state as the powerful witch stood there weakly .
"Dame Granger, May I be frank?"
"Yes of course Griphook"
"A lot has happened today, more than any one person is able to bear. Your immediate signing of your award was necessary as it allowed us at Gringotts to assume responsibility over your accounts and negotiations." He took a deep breath and did his best to give a comforting smile which on a goblin ended up just making him look all the more menacing.
"Now that we are responsible for your wealth and able to help you in your financial negotiations may I suggest taking some time to handle your other affairs? Life debts are serious things and resolving them should not be taken lightly" He advised warningly "Magic herself has measured the worth of your action as deserving of debts, oftentimes debts are given in the case of people who may wish you harm as a way of securing your long term safety."
"But if the account managers of the people who owe life debts are lined up to talk to me outside, doesn't it need to be handled now?"
Griphook barked out a laugh" Good gracious no Dame Granger they are here to submit the beginnings of negotiations as your account manager I am more then happy to screen through their initial offers and compile a list for you. The decisions and timeline rest with you on this and no one, especially not individuals who owe you a life debt would dream of trying to rush you." he chuckled further at the very idea.
"Okay that makes a bit more sense, I am glad I will have more time as I would like to read up on life debts and gain a better understanding of what is appropriate for negotiations" She explained with a sense of relief. At her heart she was still Hermione and she didn't like being rushed into decisions without a chance to research her options first. The thought of someone owing her a life debt also unsettled her greatly.
"That is perfectly understandable so with your permission we can complete the life debt and inheritance diagnostic spells. I will then compile a list of the assets and funds you have immediate access to along with a list of all the life debts owed to you and any negotiations that have been proposed to clear them, I can also include my notes on the offers and what I think would be appropriate counter offers'' as he explained he began removing a small scroll from a drawer in the meeting room table, he delicately dusted it off and placed it down in the space between Hermione and himself.
"That sounds perfect thank you Griphook" she said, releasing a long breath and feeling a bit more relaxed. She was just so tired and everything hurt, she was ready for the day to just be over already and a nice long list with fascinating legal perspectives would make rather pleasant reading for her in a few days.
"Alright, I have a blood quill here I know it is unlikely you would have encountered one before as they are only used for rituals that require blood like inheritance rituals, it is perfectly safe however if you have any fears I can help with I am more than happy to answer your questions" He explained gently as he removed the quill from its box below and handed it to her.
"I have actually used one before at Hogwarts in detention." she informed the goblin while examining the beautiful quills ornate designs.
The Goblin's eyebrows shot up, almost reaching the top of his bald head at her words. "What would a blood quill be needed for in a detention?!" He shouted alarmed, "They couldn't possibly have been forcing underage wizards to sign behaviour contracts in blood at school?"
"No, not at all, it was just for writing lines" she assured him.
"Writing… lines?" the words not quite fitting in his mouth as he struggled to understand just what she was explaining.
"Yes, I received detention for reading ahead of the coursework in class and practising some of the spells. Professor Umbridge had me write lines as punishment.
"What did she make you write and how many times?" the goblin said, voice shaking as he rushed the words out urgently.
"I must respect my betters, see" she moved her right arm in front of him to display the curly cursive of her written lines, thankfully not the one that Bellatrix had written her own special message upon. "I must have written it about a hundred or so times before she got bored."
Griphook opened his mouth as a string of unfamiliar sounds streamed out. With shaking hands he reached his fingertips out to gently brush against the raised skin that formed the sentence, recoiling back at the confirmation it really was there his face beginning to resemble a tomato.
"Are you alright?" she alarmingly exclaimed at the goblins' sudden outburst of rage.
"Using a blood quill for anything other than its legally intended purposes is a crime that could be met with a lifetime in Azkaban per each usage, Dame Granger. This Umbridge as you call her broke countless laws by simply bringing it into a school. It is inconceivable she would force children to write with it." He bit out, struggling through each word as if it were an offense in itself to say.
"I know corporal punishment is illegal Griphook but is it really as severe as that? Could I get in trouble for having written with one?" Hermione said worriedly, imagining being thrown into Azkaban after finally gaining her freedom .
"Of course not even if you were not forced to do so, you were underage and didn't understand the quill uses and ultimately your safety was the duty of the school." He dismissed her concerns offhandedly, "But this truly is serious, blood quills are a form of blood magic and they will ensure that the signer complies with their written word. That is why we take such matters so seriously. In your case, one line like that would be enough to change your ability to make sound decisions if your brain or magic registered someone as your better, for example an authority figure or even friend or a classmate who had better grades then you. A hundred times is despicable and comparable to an imperious curse. Did she do this to any other children that you knew of?"
"Well yes, anyone who had a detention with Umbridge wrote lines, she made Harry sign that he would not tell lies a hundred times a day for weeks." At those words Griphook released another string of curses.
"That woman is truly evil, I will need to speak to Sir Potter after this meeting so we can attempt to rectify the effects of the quill." He said, jotting down a note on a spare piece of parchment.
"For now let us leave this matter and focus on your inheritance. If you would be so kind as to sign your name on the top of this parchment, I will then complete the spell that will show us your full magical inheritance line and all life debts owed to you." He lifted the pen over to her and waited as she took her time to grasp it.
She leant down and signed her name quickly wincing in the expectation of pain with each stroke of the quill but she was met with none.
Griphook waved his hand above the parchment and the blood ink of her name seemed to melt downwards onto the page forming looping letters as it went before it eventually completed a list of names. However the paper continued to write continuing a while longer and still showing no sign of stopping anytime soon, Amazingly the paper itself began to grow along with the list so the space never seemed to run out.
The goblin picked up the list of names and read the top as the bottom kept scribbling, eyes widening the longer the paper took to write.
"Alright dame Granger there is as I thought so far a great many inheritance titles and life debts in your name as a result of your conquest of Voldemort. If you would like, you do not need to wait for the list to finish today. Instead I will include them in a summary list I am compiling of your life debts, inheritances and assets. "
"Thank you Griphook I think that would be wise, I am eager to head away soon I think"
"Of course Dame Granger, I will send through the list before the end of the week, but before you and Sir Potter leave I would like you both to see one of our curse breakers concerning your blood quill usage, I will signal one of my co-workers to retrieve him and we will hopefully be able to have you both healed today."
"Alright Griphook that sounds good to me" she gave her agreement and the Goblin did as he was bid, calling over one of the guards at the door who quickly disappeared.
He returned quickly with a slightly confused Harry trailing behind him.
"Hey Mione, are you okay?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I think so Harry, apparently the blood quill Umbridge used can have some very severe long term effects so Griphook has offered to have the effects of ours reversed."
"What, how serious can the effects be?"
"Yes please Griphook ! If its so serious how could it be legal for her to do that to us?"
"Oh it's not legal at all Sir Potter, If you allow us to remove the curse we will be obligated to report this to the ministry, as she attached the heir of an ancient and noble house you would also have the opportunity to pursue a civil suit." the goblin said with a vindictive grin practically salivating over the idea.
"I knew there was a reason I liked you, Griphook! In that case let the curse be removed and get that Toad in jail!" Harry crowded in absolute delight causing the Goblin to let out a dark chuckle
"I was hoping you would say that Sir Potter I have already called for our legal assistance team and one of our top curse breakers to assist you both they shall be down momentarily."
No sooner than the words had left his mouth another Goblin and two wizards entered the room. A flash of red hair on one of the wizards quickly caught Hermione's attention.
"Bill!" She called out happily as she recognised the elder Weasley child.
"Hermione, Harry?" He replied back in surprise "What are you doing here?"
"We got called here after the whole ceremony with Fudge to do some paperwork stuff, are you the curse breaker that they called for us?" Harry asked
"I don't think so? I was called here to reverse the effects of blood quill over usage. But if you guys need help I am happy to help with that too."
"The blood quill over usage is for us Bill, its from Umbridge same as your brothers"
"WHAT?!" He screamed out in shock "That bitch used a blood quill on you and what do you mean as my brothers, what did she make you all write?" his voice shook with rage at the end of his sentence.
"Yeah Bill, any students that served detention with her wrote lines, we all wrote different things though, I thought the twins or Ron would have told you all ?"
"No they definitely did not otherwise I would have reported her myself, that is if I didn't find her and throttle her first" he said his voice dark with retribution
Griphook cleared his throat loudly beside them in a sound more akin to a cat hacking up a hairball. "Mister Weasley I apologise that you had to find out something so upsetting regarding your younger siblings like this we will of course allow you to bring them in to have the effects reversed here free of charge as a gesture of goodwill" Bills face looked very surprised at this and Hermione had to wonder if this was abnormal for Griphook to be offering.
Griphook's demeanour straightened as he continued "however please can we continue on with the breakage now so Sir Potter and Dame Granger may conclude their business for today."
"Yes of course my apologies Sir" Bill quickly apologised while rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"That's alright, may I also introduce Mister Adam Levant and my colleague Fangtooth who will be here to witness the breakage and assist with any other legal matters" They both gave a solemn nod as Griphook introduced them.
"All right guys let's get this curse broken" Bill said sounding cheerful now.
"First I am going to place this amulet around your necks this is a goblin made amulet and the metal is very good at absorbing curses, then I am going to need you to both show me the scars caused by the blood quill and I will say the spell to remove its effects. This can be very draining so don't be alarmed if you start feeling tired" He explained seriously as Fangtooth handed him the two amulets carefully, he then gently placed an amulet on each of their necks.
Hermione rolled up her sleeve and presented it seeing Harry following her lead beside her.
Bill looked down on her arm, his eyes filled with fury as he took out his wand and began to cast the spell "relinquere maledictum, benedicat salutem" he repeated until the scar had lightened significantly and became far less pink.
"That's as far as it is letting me heal it you will always have a scar and there may still be light effects but nothing nearly as bad" He assured before moving on to do the same for Harry.
With both of them now being healed of the worst of Umbridge's punishment they realised how truly drained they were.
"I believe that is all we should do for today. I will send further correspondence in the coming days as we sort out where we go from here. Good day for now ." Griphook said bidding them farewell.
"Thank you very much for all your help Griphook, Bill, Adam and Fangtooth" Hermione said with her thanks being echoed by Harry who was looking a bit pale and worse for wear.
"Anytime guys I am going to go and see to the boys and Ginny now to make sure they are okay, you are welcome to come to the burrow if you want just floo through." Bill said as he walked away.
That left Hermione and Harry alone at last and standing in the main lobby of Gringotts , now they were faced with the question of where they should go.
As friendly as the Weasleys were and Bill's tempting offer of them staying, they didn't have it in them to deal with Ron or Ginny. Hermione's family was in America and arrangements for international travel would take time regardless of if they used muggle or magical means now that their names had been magically changed.
"I think we should just head over to the Leaky for now and get a room for the night" Hermione suggested tiredly
"Yeah that works but I think we should put a glamour up so we don't have to talk to anyone else please for the love of Merlin." Harry whined
"Agreed let's do that" Hermione readily agreed with a small laugh.
And with that they cast their glamours and headed out towards the leaky cauldron.
I am hoping the next update will be done in the next 2 weeks. Please let me know what you thought, comments and Kudos never fail to make me smile and inspire me to write more! Thank you again for reading-Dayout