Order Only: Gringotts and the 'Protector's' Collection

[alt_sirius]

Draco went to see his father again, over a week ago. They talked quite a bit about the protections on the older vaults like the Malfoys', the Blacks' and the Lestranges', and so we at Grimmauld have been discussing it on and off. I gather Hermione and Draco also tried to talk to the goblins at Moddey about it, but haven't got very far.

Charlie, did you know they've got a dragon in the bowels of the bank? Hermione said she tried to tell Ragnik how inhumane it was to keep a dragon underground but he didn't seem too fussed about it. I should say, they're highly reticent about letting us in to the vaults, and well, one can easily understand why.

But we had a thought, and Charlie, Bill, Rachel, perhaps it might be worth exploring. Ragnik informed them that the scepter of the isle was originally fashioned by goblins. I believe we were hoping for a replica of it anyway, to swap out with the real one, the horcrux. If we explained what Voldemort's done to it, and gave it back to them, do you think they would be willing to destroy it? And would that help them help us get into Bella's vault at the bank? If not, then what other measures could we employ to gain their cooperation - I have faith in Draco and Hermione, but it's Gringott's. They can use all the help they can get.

Comments

[alt_draco]

I don't know if we told the rest of you lot but Hermione and I have decided that I'll be the one to polyjuice into Bellatrix. Not that I relish the idea, but I've observed her enough times to know her mannerisms and way of speaking.

But Hermione needs someone to polyjuice into, as well. Hydra, we were thinking perhaps she could go in disguise as you? You could send us some of your hair through the colocation box. Oh, and if you still have them, those robes by Kosette that your mother bought you some years back. It shouldn't be too difficult to transfigure them to fit your mother's build. If you don't mind, that is.

[alt_hydra]

Kosette robes? I suppose they're at the bottom of one of my trunks, somewhere. I'll certainly never wear them so they're all yours, along with the hair.

Hermione, do you know how to imitate me? If you're with my mother, or supposed to be, just don't speak. That sounds about right.

[alt_hermione]

After years of living in Buckingham, I'm fairly certain I can manage it.

[alt_hydra]

Yeah, that sounds about right.

Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hermione]

I know it's none of my business, but...are you and Justin--are you okay? Or do you think you're going to be? I don't mean to pry. But no one's said anything recently and I'm not sure if that means you've worked out whatever was wrong or if we should still be worried for you.

Because...well, it would be a shame if you weren't able to get past this. Whatever it is.

I mean, not that I know what's going on--and I'm not asking you to tell me. I just want you to know that I've been thinking about you, and how things might be going for you.

And if you do want to talk to someone...well, Draco talked through loads of things with me, and so did Harry, back when we were at school. We still do talk, though not as much as we used to. But what I'm saying is, I might be able to help, or at least listen. And I can promise I won't turn round and tell anyone else whatever you tell me.

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

We're working on it. I don't think anyone should worry because it's not as if there's anything they can do. This is between the two of us.

And thank you for the offer, but when I talk to people it doesn't seem to go so well, most of the time. I guess it's something I never learned to do.

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hermione]

That just means you need practice.

But seriously, did they get all judgemental on you? Boys do that--especially boys, I find. I mean, not that I have many girls to talk to but it's different with Tonks or some of the others at Moddey. Rachel, even, the few times I've had occasion.

Of course, you don't have to if you absolutely detest the very idea. Only think about it. I just know that I wish there had been people I could have talked to, back before I knew about the Order. And sometimes, not often, but sometimes I'm not sure why I still don't talk more, even though I know they're around to listen.

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

They? No. I mean, perhaps somewhat. Sally Anne was pushy about offering me all kinds of health advice, even though I didn't ask her for any. And Justin said some truly horrid things to me. I know he was in some kind of terrible emotional state, but he still said them and now I can't seem to forget about it. And apparently he thought I was saying horrid things, even though I wasn't - that was just what he was hearing. But now I'm afraid to really talk to him because I worry he'll just hear the worst in everything I say. So mostly we've just been sitting together.

And, there are other reasons why I find it difficult to open up to people, but they're hard to explain. And when I try to I feel like an awful person.

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hermione]

It's hard to imagine Justin saying anything horrid about anyone. He must have been beyond upset. But don't you think mar people who love each other should be able to get upset and let things out? I mean, maybe you haven't had the best examples, but every couple rows now and then, sometimes about things that don't even matter in the slightest. It doesn't mean they've stopped caring. Did he apologise, at least?

But besides that, you're not an awful person, so whatever it is that makes sharing difficult for you, it's not that. If you were Harry or Draco, I'd tell you that whatever it is that makes you feel awful, has to be better shared than kept a secret. Secrets are like that. They seem bigger and darker and more frightening the harder you try to keep them secret.

I should stop pressuring you. Maybe you just don't want to talk to me, and honestly, that's all right. I'm not offended. But I think you should think of someone you can talk to, and whether that person--whoever it is--can help you figure out how to not feel so awful for thinking or feeling whatever makes you feel that way.

And--I know it's hard to believe it, but you can trust any of us, in the Order. The Juniors or the adults. That was the strangest thing for me, anyway, to get used to. The fact that even if I had a daft sort of idea, I could say it to Sirius or Mr Lupin or Mr Snape or Draco or Tonks and maybe as soon as I said it we'd all have a laugh about how ridiculous it was, but it didn't mean they thought I was out of my tree, or anything. Even if it's a horrible thing, they're not going to lock you away or--or be afraid of you. And neither am I, if it comes to that.

[alt_alice]

It's a gamble, but I believe it would ultimately pay off. It's unlikely they'd share their knowledge beyond their circles, not willingly at least, and if we keep it limited to a few elders...

Charlie? What are your thoughts? How would they respond to the notion of a horcrux, let alone using their handiwork for such a thing? Would they see it as an abomination?

And what else is needed to move forward with obtaining the scepter?

[alt_charlie]

I think they'd be horrified by the idea of Horcruxes, yeah. It changes the "thing that was made, as it was made, the way the maker intended" (which is only one word in Gobbledygook, so if you ever need to talk about it, use the word 'kekelochyarg').

Whether that's enough to let us destroy it without there being a problem about things ... I don't know. Let me talk to Griphook and see what he thinks. We might be able to negotiate a copy, then we replace it, then the goblins destroy the Horcruxed original, or are present at the destruction, but they might know a better way of handling it.

Getting into Bella's vault ... I'm not sure about that, either. On the one hand, if we could present it as a strong enough need, we might be able to get them to help just enough. On the other hand, the idea of helping with a breakin to their own vaults might be just a step too far for them.

The biggest problem is that there are two schools of thought inside Gringotts about the Protectorate: the elders feel that the best thing to do is to just hunker down and wait it out, that human affairs are not goblin affairs, while a small but vocal minority, usually the younger cohort, wants to help us do what we can to overthrow it. (It's a lot more complicated than that, of course, but that's the summary. And it's not entirely an age division. The Second-Eldest, for instance, was here for a year's honour-exchange from the goblin-clans of Japan back when the wards went up -- she hasn't seen her family in fifteen years or so, and there's nothing she wouldn't do to get back to them, so she's been in favour of throwing in with us since the start.)

So it depends. We have a few options. If we can take a few weeks before we want to go after the cup and the sceptre, I can try bringing it as a formal proposal to the Elders and argue my case -- although for something this serious, we might need to have me make the initial negotiating, then have you or Professor Dumbledore make the formal proposal to the Elders. (It's a pity Professor Dumbledore doesn't look as old as he is anymore, aside from the few I've really clicked with the goblins are still having a hard time taking me seriously because I'm so young. Although it got a lot easier once they found out I was a father.) Or, I could talk to Griphook a bit, and see if he can think of a way that he could help give us just enough information to help us get through without disaster while not actually taking any action that would, you know, be the goblins conspiring with us to rob their own bank.

I didn't know there was a dragon down there, no. That's disturbing. Draco, Hermione, do you know what breed it is? Some breeds prefer caves and small spaces if they're old or if their wings were injured -- it makes them feel more secure if they know no other dragon is going to sneak up on them -- but if it's healthy or if it's young, or if it's one of the breeds that hates small spaces, that's just not right. But even if it is not right, I don't know that we can afford to make a fuss about it yet, not when we're asking for such a huge favour, dammit.

[alt_hermione]

Ragnik didn't know, or wouldn't say, what kind of dragon. They just have to see how keeping the poor thing is just as bad as wizards keeping muggles and muggleborns, though!

I was thinking...even if we're incredibly lucky, and no one sees through our Polyjuice disguises, eventually, someone's probably going to mention seeing Bellatrix and Hydra where she knows they weren't. And someone like her might realise that means a breach of security. Wouldn't it make a perfect story for the goblins if their dragon managed to escape? Then they couldn't be held at fault for any loss of property that resulted.

I know, you'll say that it attracts too much attention. But they can't just leave the creature there, not if it's not meant to be underground!

[alt_luna]

I feel the same way you do, Hermione, that it's incredibly cruel to leave a dragon down there. Why, dragons need sunlight to be healthy.

Finding a way to let the dragon go without losing an arm...well. Perhaps you should talk with Charlie about details like that.

[alt_lupin]

Am I the most suitably old and grizzled-looking Order member these days? It's a shame I don't have a bit more grey in my hair.

[alt_alice]

Flatterer.

[alt_sirius]

Frank's far more grizzled. But you're older today than you were!

Do goblins award points for crankiness? We should send you in two weeks, then.


Happy birthday, Moony.

[alt_lupin]

My understanding is that you might get extra points for crankiness provided that you're cranky while still scrupulously following all the rules of goblin etiquette.

I might be able to pull that off but I'd need to spend the next fortnight in intensive coaching on goblin etiquette, and I think our expert is Charlie, who has other things he'd rather be doing when he visits than lecturing me on the precise proper forms of goblin address.

[alt_sirius]

Well, that works out, then, because as it happens, I have better things for you to do as well.

[alt_bill]

My gut agrees with yours, Charlie, on how the goblins would likely react to the information about Horcruxes. Immense distaste, but after that, as to how they would want to handle it--no predicting.

I'll be very interested to hear what Griphook says.