The Unseen Inheritance

Chapter 8: Unveiling the Puppeteer

The gilded halls of Gringotts gleamed as Harry and Hermione followed Greknor through the labyrinthine corridors of the bank. Each step echoed, a reminder of the weight of their mission. Greknor's demeanor was unusually grim, his sharp eyes darting toward the pair as they reached a private meeting chamber.

Once inside, Greknor locked the door with a series of intricate charms. A low hum of magic filled the room as he gestured for them to sit. A stack of parchment rested on the table, illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted lanterns.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Greknor began, his voice heavy with foreboding, "the investigation into Albus Dumbledore's financial activities has yielded significant results. What I am about to share with you may change the way you view not only your inheritance but the war itself."

Hermione leaned forward, her quill poised over a notebook. Harry nodded for Greknor to continue.

"First," Greknor said, unfurling a parchment, "there are the financial discrepancies. As you know, Dumbledore has been redirecting substantial sums from your accounts, Mr. Potter. Much of this gold has been used to fund the Order of the Phoenix—an organization, I might add, that has no formal financial oversight."

"That part isn't surprising," Hermione said, her brow furrowing. "But surely there's more."

Greknor's lips curled into a grim smile. "Indeed. While some funds went to Order operations, a significant portion has been diverted into accounts tied to the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement and… less traceable entities."

Harry frowned. "Less traceable? Like what?"

"The funds have been funneled through intermediary accounts into private vaults held under pseudonyms," Greknor explained. "These accounts are connected to individuals with considerable political influence—and not all of them are allies of the light."

Hermione's hand froze mid-note. "You're saying Dumbledore might be funding people aligned with Voldemort?"

Greknor raised a clawed hand. "I am saying he is building a network. Whether these individuals are knowingly complicit or merely pawns, we cannot yet say. But Dumbledore's reach extends far beyond the Order."

Harry's fists clenched on the table. "Why would he do that? What could he possibly gain?"

Hermione interjected, her voice measured. "Power. If he's influencing both sides, he might be positioning himself to control the outcome of the war, no matter who wins."

Greknor nodded approvingly. "An astute observation, Miss Granger. But there is more. During the testing of your wards, we detected an unusual resonance. The dark magic utilized in the test—while expertly contained—produced echoes that traveled beyond the property's boundaries."

Harry's stomach sank. "How far beyond?"

Greknor's expression turned grave. "Far enough to be felt by someone attuned to such magic. It is highly probable that Albus Dumbledore himself detected the disturbance."

Hermione's eyes widened. "If he knows we're testing the wards, he'll start watching us more closely."

Greknor inclined his head. "Precisely. This brings me to a more pressing concern. Our intelligence suggests that Dumbledore may already be taking steps to undermine your efforts. Whispers have begun circulating among certain Death Eater circles… whispers that Severus Snape's loyalties are not as steadfast as they appear."

Harry exchanged a sharp glance with Hermione. "Dumbledore's spreading rumors about Snape?"

"It is likely," Greknor said, his tone measured. "Whether to isolate him or provoke Voldemort's ire, I cannot say. But if these rumors gain traction, Professor Snape's position will become untenable."

Hermione bit her lip. "If Voldemort doubts Snape, he'll kill him. And if Dumbledore is behind this, it means he's willing to sacrifice Snape for his own goals."

Harry's jaw tightened. "Snape might not trust us, but if he's in danger because of Dumbledore… we have to do something."

Greknor folded his hands on the table. "You may need to tread carefully. Severus Snape is not one to admit vulnerability. However, his recent involvement with your warding efforts may already have placed him in a precarious position. Dumbledore may suspect his alliance with you, even if it is not yet fully formed."

Hermione nodded, her mind clearly racing. "We'll need to approach Snape carefully. If he feels cornered, he'll shut us out."

"Or worse," Harry added. "He'll turn us over to Dumbledore to protect himself."

Harry hesitated before asking, "Greknor, do you know anything about Snape's finances? How well is he taken care of?"

Greknor's sharp eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Professor Snape's financial records are not part of my current investigation, Mr. Potter. However," he added, his voice lowering, "I have heard whispers that Dumbledore keeps him on a very short leash. It is not uncommon for those who serve the greater good, as Dumbledore might put it, to be left with minimal resources. A means of ensuring loyalty, perhaps."

Hermione frowned. "That's awful. He does so much for the Order—and to keep his cover with the Death Eaters. He should at least be properly compensated."

Harry nodded, anger flickering across his face. "We need him to trust us, and he put himself at risk to help us test the wards. Greknor, can you arrange for a deposit into his account? Something substantial. Say it's payment for his work with the wards."

Greknor's grin was sharp. "A generous gesture, Mr. Potter. I will ensure it is handled discreetly. Professor Snape may not appreciate charity, but payment for services rendered may be more acceptable to his sensibilities."

Greknor rose, signaling the end of their meeting. "I will continue to investigate and keep you informed. But know this: Dumbledore is not a foe to be underestimated. He plays a long game, one in which every piece is expendable."

Later that evening, Harry and Hermione returned to the cottage, the weight of the day's revelations pressing heavily on their minds. The wards shimmered faintly in the moonlight, a comforting reminder of their efforts to carve out a space of safety in an increasingly uncertain world.

Hermione settled at the kitchen table, her notebook open to a fresh page. "We need to prioritize. First, we compile everything Greknor's uncovered about Dumbledore. Then, we figure out how to warn Snape without tipping our hand."

Harry nodded, pacing near the window. "Snape's smart. He probably already suspects Dumbledore's up to something. But if we approach him wrong, he'll think we're just trying to manipulate him."

Hermione tapped her quill against the table, her expression thoughtful. "What if we let him come to us? If Dumbledore's already making moves against him, it's only a matter of time before Snape needs help."

Harry stopped pacing, turning to face her. "And when he does, we make it clear we're not on Dumbledore's side. But we have to be ready. If Dumbledore's watching, one wrong move could ruin everything."

Hermione looked up at him, her eyes filled with determination. "Then we'll make sure there are no wrong moves. We've come too far to let Dumbledore control us now."

Harry pulled up a chair next to her, resting his elbows on the table. "There's one thing we haven't talked about yet. The Weasleys. What are we going to do about them?"

Hermione's expression turned pained. "I don't know, Harry. Ron and Ginny… they're not just people we trusted. They were family."

"Family that betrayed us," Harry said, his voice harder than he intended. "We can't just ignore that, Hermione. But I don't want to let anger control what we do next."

"We still don't know the full story," Hermione said quietly. "Maybe some of what they did was because of Dumbledore's influence."

Harry sighed, rubbing his temples. "Maybe. But they still went along with it. We have to be careful with them, at least until we know where they stand."

Hermione nodded, jotting down a quick note in her book. "I'll make a list of things we still need to do before we head back to school. That way we can stay organized."

"Good idea," Harry said, watching her write. "And we need a plan for how we're going to handle Hogwarts. We can't act like everything's fine when we get back."

Hermione set her quill down and looked at him, her voice firm. "We'll stick together, Harry. No matter what. At school, at the cottage, wherever this takes us. We'll get through it together."

As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, the two fell into a determined silence. The shadows of their plans loomed large, but so did the promise of uncovering the truth. For the first time, they felt the full weight of their rebellion—and the fragile alliances they would need to survive it. The shadows of their plans loomed large, but so did the promise of uncovering the truth. For the first time, they felt the full weight of their rebellion—and the fragile alliances they would need to survive it.