Harry slid to his feet at the lip of the chute.
The grin on Tish's face spoke volumes of her enjoyment.
Rhal was chirping and squeaking as she rummaged through the bone pit, digging out this femur, that skull, a humorous from there.
"Are these really that impressive?"
"Most are just common bones… but there are a few…" her tail tip twitched.
He reached over his shoulder, gripped the Battle-staff, closed his eyes and… it started small, but was enough for the living to get the hint that Harry was doing his more magic than brains thing. The individual bones rose up and cleaned themselves off as they began to swirl about him. As the swirling storm gathered power and speed, the slime and grime started to be thrown about the cavern.
Hermione, seeing what was going on, raised a physical barrier between the War Mage and the rest of them.
Barchoke facepalmed as Ashraq sneered and held out his palm. Barchoke placed a galleon in it.
"Is this a common occurrence for them?" The Harvester asked Gripsaq.
"The Managers, yes. 'Boy' is a source of entertainment. 'Boy' doing this…" Gripsaq opened his coat and stroked the knife's hilt. "Since I have known him." The old Goblin grinned.
When the swirling storm of bones finished dunking into the back pouch of the boys pack, he opened his eyes, and tugged on the shaft… and it refused to move.
"That could be a problem."
Hermione tapped the Blackthorn shillelagh and the wall of slime washed back into the pit as Harry stepped on to the ledge. "I know that it is called a bottomless bag, Harry, but it does have a limit."
Harry smirked at the Witch as he led the way past the group and into the tunnel. An orb of blue flames, the size of a bocce ball, bloomed over Harry's Head.
After about thirty metres, they came to the rock slide.
"Well that's a waste of my day." The Harvester snorted. "Well it was nice to get out of the Shop."
Three gold coins were brandished.
"Easiest gold I made." The Harvester sneered.
Without looking away from the rock slide… Harry pointed at something hidden by the wall that they had just come around.
Everyone else turned to look… and the Harvester paid.
Harry took back Maggie, and waved the eye at the earth fall wall, and it blurred into a solid mass before it flowed into a dead end. It looked almost just like the rest of the walls of the tunnel.
"Great. The Boy has turned a little rock tumble into a perfect copy of the Walls." The odd Goblin sneered again… only to be faced with six gold coins.
The four goblins looked at the hands holding the fourth, fifth, and sixth coins.
"Well, if you insist on just handing out Galleons." Hermione smiled at the leather wearing Master. Susan and Daphne just smirked.
"Okay, but you open it."
Hermione smiled, as she handed her coin to Barchoke. "Hold this please." She traced a design on the wall with her finger before pushing on a brick, almost exactly like the rest...
It clicked, and the wall split as the twin doors swung away to show the tunnel disappearing into the darkness.
"Shit!" Six more gold were dug out and passed around.
Into the darkness they walked, the stone doors swinging silently closed behind them.
SPRB
Hogwarts was Old… older than the School. First she was a Holy Ground for the Celtic tribes. Then a focus site for the local Covens and Circles of Witches and Druids. Then a Wizard-Mage built a Tower… and never stopped building. When she was 'Found' by the Founders she already had her three separate Heartstones, but as they had no idea what they truly had found, they just tied their Wards into the stone anchor points around the Vale of what would become Hogsmead and Hogwarts.
Then They marched adolescent mages, wizards, and witches through the halls… for centuries…
So when two of her children jumped into the chute behind her latest Lord… she called on her Champion and sent Her to retrieve the wayward children.
Both Malfoy and Nott exited the chute covered in chute
Schmutz… just as Harry started gathering the bone fragments. If they weren't covered in grime before they were showered in a tidal wave of Yuck. They were now.
Fawkes trilled unhappily as she grabbed the two grime covered wizards… and fire-flashed them into the Great Hall… where half of the school was still sitting about.
Luna Lovegood scrunched her nose, drew her wand, and with a twist of her wand… started to hose the two wizards off. Ginny and a few Gryffindor students were quick to help.
"Okay, they're clean." Professor Sprout called out. "Now the floor is a mess. Half of you dry them off, the rest clean up the water." She sat back in her comfy chair. "Oh, three points each for helping a fellow student."
SPRB
The next surprise was the silver circle door in the wall, which opened up before as Harry hissed at it.
"So … were you the Heir?" Susan asked.
"At the beginning of second year … no." Harry Potter smiled sadly. "By the time we boarded the Train to go home, yes. Then Last Year, Dumbledore made a mistake, and by allowing the Contract to take hold, I became Lord of all my Open Houses. I was only Heir Black until my Birthday because That Son of a Bitch was still a possible Breeder… his time in Azkaban dropped the possibility to single digits, he was a possible Breeder."
"So… that makes you…" Daphne glared at the young Lord.
Harry James Potter." Barchoke sneered his enjoyment of the boy's discomfort. "Lord Potter, Lord Black, Lord Gryffindor, Lord Slytherin, and Duke Peverel."
"Duke?" Hermione turned to look at the Goblin. "Why not Lord Peverel?"
"Because House Peverel is retired. They might have a seat here and a vault there, but they are considered a Dead House until they have three generations solely dedicated to House Peverel." Gripsaq snarled.
By this time, the door had swung open enough for Susan to see inside… and scream like Draco… I mean Ron… I mean…
This brought Harry Around, Maggie pointing into the room, Hermione having drawn her battle-wand.
This caused Daphne to snort. "Something scared the Hufflepuff, and the Gryffindors get ready to attack it." Daphne peered around Hermione, "Okay. Bones screaming I can understand, but my comment stands."
"Why do I think that was not a good thing?" Harry asked over his shoulder.
"She was throwing shade." Susan glared at the Slytherin Witch.
"Okay, good." Harry nodded. "Three years hanging with Hermione is paying off."
"But it's been over Four…" Susan walked right into the Straight line.
"You are forgetting the deficit of Ron." Hermione smiled at Harry. The other two witches snickered at the joke.
"Not getting the joke." The Harvester grunted as he passed the lawyer and two bankers… only to scream and throw himself to the side.
Ashraq smirked as Gripsaq snarled before digging out two Galleons out of his pockets, handing one to each Manager. "I knew I should not have taken the bet." The old lawyer shouldered past… and froze. "And why did you insist that I join you for this excursion?"
"We needed legal clout in case the old fool tried to block the Boy claiming the carcass." Ashraq smirked as he entered the cavern and froze. He took his specs off, polished them with a cotton cloth, replaced them, looked again, before he turned and kicked Barchoke in the shin. "I blame you."
Barchoke sneered as he limped to Harry. "So…"
Harry twirled Maggie and holstered her, before looking down at the grinning Goblin. "There she is." He waved at the dead snake. "What's got you in such a good mood?"
"My sole client has made me rich, I have three Clan Daughters publicly eyeing me, I am getting drunk tonight and Ashraq is paying." Barchoke rubbed his shin.
"How long has it been dead?" The Harvester asked from Harry's other side.
"June of Ninety three." Harry tucked his thumbs into his sash belt.
"Good. Good." The leather clad Goblin nodded. "And now how to get it to the Floor…
"I was thinking of asking Fawkes… Tish, Before we leave, I need to know what She likes as a treat." Harry Approached the snake's pointed snout. "I'm just glad I didn't have to drag her in through the front doors." Harry chuckled. "Picture her dropping out of the sky just short of the Steps…"
Four Goblins and a Kyree grinned evilly.
Three Witches and a Hertasi facepalmed.
Fawkes ripped into the Chamber and landed on Harry's shoulder. Fawkes locked eyes Tish, cocked her head, chirped, before nodding and trilling.
: [Vermilion Dawn] has agreed to carry the Serpent to the Bank with everyone here, Price is a [Rock Fruit] each person and five for the Snake.: Half of the words included pictures. 'Rock Fruit' showed him a picture of a pomegranate.
"Done…" Harry scratched the bird's chest plate. "Does she want them all at once… will she be running a tab?"
Tish cocked her head the other direction. :She says two tonight, and she will let you know when she wants another from storage.:
"Okay. But she has to take Us to Rio enroute to Snow Point… and she has the option to roost there when not working. I will take her shopping at Tesco after we get finished with the Bank."
Fawkes trilled happily and bobbed her red head.
: She will take us first.: Tish lunged at Harry's chest… only to burrow into the Pouch on his chest… : Ah… I think I might have gotten over excited. Can I get a hand?"
Hermione gave Harry a look, as she reached into the pouch, fished around to find the harness on the Kyree, and pulled her head out. "You are just like him." She stepped around as Harry took a knee, so she could put the little lizard female into the pouch on his back. "Okay, Ladies, cuddle with him, Everyone, grab onto the Blackthorn and… away we go!"
Fawkes grabbed the Blackthorn Shaft, as four Goblins, three Witches, and a Wizard, with a lizard in his pocket, held onto the Staff… and vanished into a ball of fire.
SPRB
Just short of the Steps of the Bank, a ball of Fire ignited, driving all who were wandering about to Dive to the side.
Four Goblins scrambled up the steps, to reassure the Guards… and for them to call for reinforcements.
Harry allowed Maggie to revert to 'cane' size, and thrust her into the air. "Cover your ears." A cannon blast charm. He then pressed the eye to his throat. "Ladies and those who scream like little girls! Get clear! I am Bringing a living Dragon for Butchering. You have been warned."
The Sheeple scrambled clear…
Just as the carcass landed on the ground with a thund-ish splat.
No less than six wizards screamed like little girls. The rest looked at them and giggled.
"Hold it right there!" A tweed dressed Auror swaggered up. "Where is your paperwork for this corpse?" He sneered. "I will have to confiscate it… for the safety of the public."
"Hey Hermione!" Harry grinned. "Look at this. Malfoy in tweed!"
The banty blond drew himself up. "What was that? Looks like I am going to have to add a charge of Assaulting and Officer of the DMLE."
"Harry. No!" The brunette witch commanded.
"But Hermione… his Face is right there and it's just so punchable." Harry actually whined.
"I know." She stepped in front of him and patted his right shoulder. "That's why I want to do it."
"Say What?" The Tweed Malfoy blinked at the witch, before her fist slammed into his fist.
"Wow." Harry Stepped forward, "You have improved."
"Lefa has been teaching me." Hermione smirked.
Any further conversation was interrupted by the thudding of many small hard booted feet. Six columns of Twenty Goblin Troopers exited the bank, and froze at the sight of the snake before them.
A scarred brute of a Goblin exited the Bank… blinked at the large snake, looked at the smirking Managers and Lawyer, spit, and nodded. "Prefects, get that work down to the Harvest Floor." He turned and stomped into the Bank.
Commanders of the Lines started barking orders, and the troopers moved to comply.
Harry and the Witches moved to stand with the Managers. "Would it be insulting to help with the move?" Harry asked Barchoke.
"Insulting… no, but as you are not an employee of the Bank, it can be argued that it is not in our possession…" Barchoke chuckled. "Your Witch has a … What's your phrase… a wicked punch."
"She would have gotten a better power if she used her hips too." Gripsaq sneered.
"Potter…" Daphne frowned at the Wizard. "While I am enjoying the sight, what are you wearing?"
"Dragonhide Yoga togs. Freedom of movement, protection of Hide… the only complaint is the lack of pockets."
"I notice that both of you are wearing them… but hers are…"
"The vest is the male version… most guys just go bare chested. The sports bra…" Harry turned to Hermione. "You wanted to owl for more togs?"
Hermione perked up. "Well… If we can get to Paris, it would be better to visit the shop."
"You have to barter with the Pretty Bird for that service." Harry sighed. "But if you can get her to flash us there before we leave for Rio… I am willing to buy each of you two or three…"
Almost as one, three Witches turned to look at the Preening Phoenix on his shoulder.
:A Favour each… includes the Dumb Male.: Tish smirked.
"First…OI!" Harry grinned as he scratched behind the Kyree's ears. "Second, agreed within reason."
"Aye, within reason." The three chorused.
The Harvester appeared at the lad's side. "So… how are we doing this?"
"Would twenty percent of the meat be enough to pay for the rendering?" Daphne asked.
The Goblin sneered but grunted an affirmative.
"Take your twenty. Choice cuts. The Skull is to be scraped clean and delivered to Ragnok." Harry hooked his thumbs into his sash. "Barchoke will handle the details. The rest of the meat is to be sold to the nation. In two kilo lots. The bones scraped clean and sent to the Potter Vaults. Half of the Heart is to be sold as heartstrings to the Wand Crafters. Olivander gets the first chance at them. The Organs are to be sealed and sent to Greengrass for auction, House Greengrass gets twenty percent commission, the Rest is to be dropped into a Vault under House Potter labeled Knight-Storm. Beware, there might still be venom in the sacs and fangs. The hide is to be cured, and sent to the Black Vaults."
"Very good, Sir." the Goblin scratched his notes, as he walked away.
"Barchoke." Harry smiled at the oxblood silk suited Goblin. "Twenty percent of the sale is to be delivered to the Director of the DMLE… to fund the investigation into the innocence of Sirius Black."
"Are you aware of the amount of gold…" Barchoke sneered. "Of course you don't. I will be deducting it from your taxes. And you said to the Director not the Department…"
"By sending it to Director Bones, It will bypass the Ministry's accounts and Fudge can't touch it." Hermione was looking longingly at Flourish and Blotts
"No… you have yet to open a whole trunk of books." Harry bumped shoulders with the witch.
"Wait, you have books that she has yet to see?" Daphne scowled at Harry.
"Well, one out of three trunks…plus her course books…" Harry sighed. "I will concede the need for training manuals for unarmed combat. Even if we don't keep them, the instructors might like them."
"All right." The girl pouted.
"Anything else?" Harry asked the three Goblins.
"Your Will." Gripsaq snarled. "I will send you the parchment work. I need you to fill it out and send it back." He turned and tottered off.
"Why did you send the skin to Black and everything else to Potter?" Ashraq adjusted his specs.
"So that you could write off the Day as a business expense. Besides you are clearly an accessory to my Feud with Ragnok. You needed to see exactly what I was sending him… to be completely honest, the only reason I am having the skull scraped clean is I don't know enough to send him the whole skull without it rotting."
Ashraq nodded. As he turned to walk away, Harry called out. "Lord Black will need to find out about Options for Armour for Basilisk Hide!" The Lad's voice carried across the Alley. "I also will need the Chief's Measurements!"
Barchoke cackled. "You know that everyone who knows someone who can work Hide Armour is now going to be owling him, and everyone else is going to be seeing about buying some of it?"
"Yes, Senior Account Manager Barchoke." Harry smiled as he continued to pitch his voice to carry. "I know you and Senior Account Manager Ashraq will do everything you can for the Houses you Serve." He dropped his voice so that it didn't carry. "I am also going to need the size of vests for my senior managers."
"Oh?" Barchoke sneered.
"I have put too much work into building the bonds of business with my account managers. I need to protect my investments. Not saying that you will have Basilisk Armour… but something more than the silk threads covering your back right now." He spun the cane to a staff. "I have some shopping to do." He nodded and walked away.
He stopped at Milken's Robes and entered.
"Yes?" The Matron ran her eyes over his dress.
"Heading into the Muggle World." Harry began.
"And you want something muggle." She nodded.
"Not really. The Muggles have something called cosplay." Harry grinned. "Looking for something in Professor Snape's cut in Dumbledore's colours…"
"Got just the thing… and you ladies …"
"You're going with 'the only wizards and witches are in fiction' defense?" Hermione smiled at him as her ears popped up. "Looks like I am your Familiar then."
"No… You're Daphne's. The only thing we have in common is kicking Malfoy when he is down." Harry turned back to the Shop-witch. "Now, I have always loved McGonagall's hat…"
The shop witch ran to fetch a set of pale blue robes, three dark cloaks and four hats similar to McGonagall's Deerstalker conical hats.
Hermione grabbed one that looked like a cross between the conical hat and the three musketeer's cavalier hat. "It even adds to your Pirate style." she set it on his head, as the other two witches were quick to grab the hat and cloak they preferred. Hermione sighed and took the last cloak and hat
Harry set Maggie to stand alone, dropped the Hat over the eye, before he knelt and removed the harness and pack, without disturbing the three passengers. He burrowed into the robes, before reversing the whole thing.
"You would think that he practiced that." Rhal grinned at Susan. It was bad enough that a three foot tall lizard with twice the body mass of a First-year was speaking, but she was wearing what she had identified as a Wrysa Skull, shaped and sanded by hand. The six inch fangs, honed to flesh cutting sharpness took it too far… she was so scary that she was spooky… even kooky.
"That thing's alive?" Madam Milken drew back.
Harry finished with the receipt, and slammed his fist down on the counter. "Is that an issue?"
"No… just thought you were Albus then Rubeus… the Phoenix."
"You have no idea." Hermione muttered low enough for only the two younger Witches.
Shortly, the Four of them were outside the London side of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Pomegranates first." Harry grinned at Hermione.
"Fine!" She huffed and strode off into the swirling mass of the London Pedestrian Traffic.
TBC