Moon Blessed

His limbs screamed. His eyes drooped. His consciousness wavered.

But he kept on, shaking himself awake and battling the cold waves. His muddled thoughts did little to his disorientation. Still, he was determined to get away.

He had to get away.

He failed them once. He would not do it again. Even if he had to die this time round.

He pushed forward once more, hope reigniting within him as he gained sight of the shore ahead.

He would get away.

And this time round he would succeed in what he failed before.

"He's at Hogwarts."

The thought repeated in his head like a mantra as he crawled onto the dry, cracked shore. Shaking his drenched fur, he took a moment to catch his breath. He wanted to howl his joy despite the hunger gnawing at his gut and the sheer exhaustion in his body.

He had gotten away!

Now to find his pup before he went after that traitorous rat…

Harry yawned as he woke from the best sleep he had had in a while. He opened his eyes and came face to face with a goblin he had come to know and like over the past month.

"Good morning, Griphook," he greeted, his sleep clouded mind not yet registering the unusual situation he woke up in, "Did you sleep well? I had the best sleep ever in –"

Harry blinked, registering the cave-like surrounding behind Griphook for the first time.

"No, not cave," he thought as he looked around to spot an opening above him that allowed sunlight to stream in onto the beautiful pool that stirred something within his memories. "I'm in a volcanic crater of some sort."

His first time at the moon pool returned to the forefront of his mind. "I'm at the moon pool's crater!" he realised.

Harry turned back to his account manager, finally noticing the other four goblins also in the crater with him but he was too disorientated to acknowledge them yet.

"Um – Griphook, what am I doing here?" The snarl forming on the goblin's face coupled with the deadpan expressions of the other goblins made Harry feel strangely guilty, as though he had done something wrong.

"Which you very well might have," his inner voice supplied cheerfully as he slowly became more alert, "You can't seem to remember anything from the night before."

Harry hid a wince at the truth in the statement. Now that he was more awake, the first thing he realised was that he could not remember much on how and why he was where he currently was.

He looked at the five goblins still giving him the unimpressed look.

"I take it something happened?" he asked sheepishly, hoping he did not do anything stupid.

"So, you are telling me," Harry started, seated comfortably on the edge of the moon pool, "That I went loopy when I saw the full moon, somehow managed to find the goblin nation's homes that were warded from intruders for centuries with highly protective magic just to get to the water, thwarted the wards again and went inside the cave of the goblin Queen herself, couldn't be transformed back into my human self despite being dried, refused to cooperate to come with you and about an hour from midnight dove back into the water to swim miles away to come here to the moon pool instead because I claimed 'the water called'?"

Griphook, who was seated opposite to him nodded.

"How did you find me then?"

"Our Queen was sharp enough to place a tracking charm upon you when she realised we were not going to convince you to follow us back to Jadeclaw's office."

"Oh."

Harry fell silent afterwards, contemplating. It was slightly disconcerting that he could not remember any of this. And he felt bad at having caused the goblins so much trouble. They had to close down their bank, for Merlin's sake!

"I'm sorry, Griphook."

The goblin raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For all the trouble I caused your nation last night," Harry answered sheepishly.

Griphook sneered at him. "You should be fish. I missed hours' worth of paperwork, thanks to you."

Harry grinned guiltily before asking the question that was burning him.

"But why can't I remember anything from before?"

Jadeclaw, who had abandoned checking the walls of the crater, answered him instead of Griphook.

"It has been noted in other creatures that are affected by certain factors, such as the moon, to temporarily forget these kinds of incidents. There are no definitive answers but only theories as to why since creature heritage and abilities are not researched much due to bigoted beliefs on them being dark or unimportant lesser beings. One such theory is that since the person fully gives up control to their creature side in compensation to having control for the rest of the month, only the creature side remembers the incidents and not the human side. But there are some who do not believe in this theory entirely and state that while the creature side remembers, it is possible for the human to remember as well if they dig deep enough – or in other words, use Occlumency to remember. The reason for this is that some believe that the creature side, no matter how different, is still ultimately a part of the person with creature abilities and as such would share the same core and mind of the person who has inherited the creature ability. But the second theory still does not explain why people forget such incidents." Jadeclaw paused.

Harry blinked at the informative, almost-textbook-like answer.

"Well, I'm rather inclined to believe in the second theory despite it not answering my query. I'm quite sure I am one with my mer self. And from what you've told me, I just acted silly, not like another person or being. Just silly with a sudden over the top devotion to the water and the moon."

Jadeclaw nodded. "Well, you'll have to delve into your memories to prove or disprove it -," Spotting Harry's look, however, the goblin continued hurriedly, "When you are in your class or your home, Lord Potter. NOT in the middle of a volcanic crater. None of us here are willing to drag you home as you go trance-like on us again."

Harry blushed, embarrassed.

"Alright, alright. I'll wait till I'm back at home. I promise." He glanced at the other goblins still observing the crater walls. "Have you found anything here?"

"Not yet, but we hope to. The place is soaked in magic but we have yet to figure out where the source is – if there even is one. And we will be taking samples of the place just to check if anything here is contributory to having bestowed your mer abilities. It may even help us figure a way to delay your transformation time upon contact with water if we are lucky."

"Are you sure it's possible?" Harry took a cursory glance around the crater, his eyes resting on the pool for a moment longer.

"You don't believe it can be done?"

Harry looked at his goblin healer. "Well, I'm no expert but I believe the main contributor to my transformation was the full moon itself and maybe even the water. Maybe the place is simply a platform for the magic to work its thing while the water and the moon perform the magic? If that is the case, no matter how many samples you take right now, you may not find anything useful."

Jadeclaw stared at him, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Well, the idea does have its merits. We'll test the other aspects of the place, just to be sure and maybe we could take a sample of the place during the next full moon."

"Well if that's all settled," Griphook interrupted, "Let's get back home. You – " The goblin looked at Harry, " Need to answer to our King, and maybe even our Queen, and we'll have to work out what to do with you knowing about our homes…"

"Is it alright for me to ask why you keep it a secret?" Harry enquired, looking between the two goblins.

Both his companions sighed.

"You'll get the explanation at Gringotts. While nobody is likely to be here, we'd rather not discuss the matter in a place not warded by our own privacy charms," Griphook answered.

Harry nodded. That was an acceptable response.

"Well then. Let's get moving."

"Severus, where – Oh, there you are! Have you read the Prophet yet?"

The potions master, who had been bent over his cauldron, raised an eyebrow at his colleague's flustered appearance.

"Well, just barge into my potions lab, why don't you," he sneered, "No need to worry that I may be adding a highly explosive ingredient that could take both our lives if my concentration was to slip."

McGonagall rolled her eyes, well used to the Slytherin Head of House's dour personality.

"Answer me."

"No, Minerva. I have not yet read that rag this morning."

"Well, read it then!" McGonagall shoved said "rag" under his nose and Severus, in turn, got a good reading of the title.

A title in bold that screamed, "Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban!"

He frowned at it, overcome with concern and anger. Looking up to meet McGonagall's eyes, he uttered the thought on both their minds.

"Potter's in danger."

Harrison James Potter fidgeted in his seat as he waited for the arrival of the Goblin King. He was unsure of what to expect. The goblins he had encountered had always been sour and curt but they had never wished him ill. Despite their surly behaviours, they had all been good companions – and in Griphook and Jadeclaw's case, they had so far been good friends even.

But he was currently about to meet the King of the Goblin Nation, a King who probably was not impressed that he – a thirteen-year-old wizard child – had somehow thwarted his Nation's wards and entered their homes.

Homes where the Goblin Nation's women were hidden away in.

While he was still quite unsure about what was going on, Harry had a strong inkling that it had something to do with the women of the goblins for this – whatever this was – to be treated as such a serious issue. He had never seen the female counterparts of the goblins at any time he had been at Gringotts. While logically he knew there were likely female goblins – goblettes, was that not what Griphook called them – he had not really thought about the matter.

In fact, Harry blinked, he had never thought on the matter at all. Not until he supposedly met one of the goblettes – the Queen herself for the matter. Harry frowned. That was odd. He had not even thought of Griphook's and Jadeclaw's families and such before now. He often wondered about such things when it came to his friends. If he never thought about such things when it came to the goblins, it meant he was either extremely unthoughtful or there had been something preventing him from thinking about it.

Harry frowned. Now that was an unsettling train of thought.

"Well, they are hidden away deep underground under the protection of wards that are centuries old with no one of non-goblin decent being permitted to visit," his inner voice murmured. "You can't say you're wrong or very far from the truth with your 'something kept me from thinking about it' idea."

Merlin. This really was a serious matter if the goblins hid their women away with so much protection that people could not even think on the matter.

Harry sighed. Trust his luck to get tangled in these matters. Why could he not have gone water-hunting in the muggle world if he had been looking for a place to swim?

Well, Griphook said that King Kargus was a reasonable goblin despite his temper. Harry hoped it was true.

The sound of a door opening reached his ears. He looked up.

There, flanked by two guards stood King Kargus of the Goblin Nation, dressed in robes of the deepest black and bearing a jet encrusted gold ring that had the Gringotts symbol engraved on it.

Harry stood and gave a deep bow, holding his hand over his heart as he was taught by the goblins during his lessons.

"It is an honour to meet you, Your Highness. I am Harrison James Potter of the wizarding race. I hope this meeting brings forth goodwill and strong alliances among yours and mine."

The goblin inclined his head, returning the gesture of keeping his hand over his heart. "Pleasure to meet you too, Lord Potter. And I share your hope that our meeting brings us both better fortunes."

The King settled down in the chair situated across Harry, leaving his guards to guard by the office's entrance. "Well Lord Potter, pleasantries aside, shall we get to the point?"

Harry, who had settled down after the King, nodded.

"I assume you want a vow from me, Your Highness. To safeguard the knowledge I have about your homes and women leaking out?"

The Goblin King regarded him with a thoughtful look. "You catch on quick, young Lord. And yes. You would be correct. I require you to give an oath to never mention or speak of the matter in the presence of any other being without the Goblin Crown's express permission. And by Goblin Crown, that currently refers to only me and my spouse – Queen Akigla whom you have met last night."

The image of a pale green goblette with deep earth brown hair tumbling down to her waist flashed across Harry's mind briefly at the mention of the Goblin Queen's name.

"Hello there, youngling. I am Queen Akigla of Gringotts. Would you like to come out and explore?"

Harry shook his head slightly to focus back on the present.

"Maybe I can remember everything if there is a trigger or if I try Occlumency later," thought Harry.

He looked at the King who was watching him closely.

"My apologies for my lapse, Your Highness. I do not remember the incidents of last night well but your mentioning of the Queen's name brought back a memory."

The King nodded. "Griphook and Jadeclaw warned me about your temporary lack of memory. I suppose you will be trying to regain your memories through Occlumency?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

"Good luck then. But let's get back to the matter at hand. You may be wondering why there is so much secrecy when it comes to our race's females?"

"I do. But I can understand if you are not willing to share it."

King Kargus raised an eyebrow. "You are willing to give the vow to keep the secret without even knowing about why you are expected to do so?"

Harry shrugged. "I was not meant to know about it in the first place. While it was unintentional, I did break your nation's privacy. I hardly think it is my right to demand answers considering the circumstances through which I found out."

"How…thoughtful of you."

Harry shrugged once again. "Would you want to get the oath over with first before you decide whether you want to let me in on the secret?"

The Goblin King nodded. "That would put my mind at ease, Lord Potter."

Harry raised his right hand, palm downwards and placed it upon the clawed hand of the Goblin King.

"I, Harrison James Potter, hereby vow to King Kargus of the Goblin Nation that I will never speak of or share the knowledge about the Goblin Nation's homes and its women to any of non-goblin descent without the express permission of the Goblin Crown from this moment onwards. So I vow upon my magic and life, so it shall be by Mother Magic's creed."

A golden glow surrounded their clasped hands and grew until it encompassed both the goblin and the wizard before fading away.

Harry let go of the Goblin King's hand, slightly shaken by the experience.

"Never given a vow before, Lord Potter?"

"Nope. That was slightly taxing. Why was that?"

"A vow is not a light matter, Lord Potter. Magic herself verifies your words and if found untrue the consequences are fatal. You do not lie on magic and get away with it."

"Merlin," Harry breathed, "Remind someone of that before they give the vow!"

King Kargus smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"

Harry groaned, muttering darkly about evil little goblins.

"Well, since you generously gave that vow so freely and did not hold it on my Nation in return for any favours like a selfish person, I think I will tell you about the reason behind my nation's secrecy when it comes to our females."

Harry glanced up, interested.

"What do you know about creatures, Lord Potter?"

"Despite the fear and bigotry that certain people have when it comes to creatures, many are aware that creature inheritances are valuable. Ask almost anybody within the magical world and they can list at least one useful aspect that the blood, fur or some other body parts of magical creatures such as centaurs, phoenixes, hippogriffs, unicorns, werewolves, vampires, veelas and such.

But none will say anything of the like for goblins. And you won't find any such properties within the goblins working in Gringotts banks. But goblin blood does have valuable properties."

Harry caught on quick.

"It's within the blood of female goblins – the goblettes."

King Kargus nodded.

"Centuries ago, when this knowledge was common among Magicals, our kind's females were often hunted for their blood. A goblette's blood, Harry Potter, is capable of healing almost any ailment. It is only second to unicorn blood. But unlike the unicorns, whose purity and innocence leaves a curse on any who take their blood without consent, a goblette's blood – willingly or unwillingly taken – leaves no ill effect on the taker. This made our goblettes quite sought after."

Harry frowned. That was terrible. Beyond atrocious, if one were to think of it morally.

"But if you had a loved one who was on the brink of death due to disease, would you truly not be selfish?" his inner voice asked.

Harry's frown deepened. Yes, he would have been selfish. Disgust reared its ugly head within Harry at his own realization.

"Was there no way to compromise?" At the Goblin King's raised eyebrow and unimpressed expression, Harry continued, "I'm sorry for asking such a question. I don't mean to be insensitive or offensive but while I will never agree that taking a goblette's life for her blood is correct, I can see why it happens. If one of yours were on the brink of death before they have lived much, would you not at the very least consider such a selfish measure?"

King Kargus sighed.

"You are honest in your intentions, young one. A good and bad trait depending on circumstances." The King looked Harry in the eye. "If that were all a goblette's blood offered, young wizard, perhaps the goblin nation could have come to a truce with wizards if only to stop the bloodshed. But, there is one more use for a goblette's blood.

When used in a particular ritual, it can grant the user partial power over one magical ability that is thought to be rare and lost today. An ability that most goblettes possess."

Harry leaned in close, unintentionally, drawn to the tale.

"A goblette is capable of controlling the earth element of nature. It is an ancient ability that goblettes were known for aeons ago when they did not hide their existence. Some constantly stole their blood to possess the ability. Unfortunately, such an ability such as element control cannot be obtained forever unless you were blessed with it – just like your ability over water, Lord Potter." Harry drew in a sharp breath at the implications. "Yes. While not proven yet, your blood could potentially let someone else obtain control over the element of water if used accurately in a ritual. If it is possible, just like what happens with goblette blood, the power obtained artificially through rituals would, however, be temporary. It may last for at most half a year if the ritual is done well before one would have to redo the ritual with new blood."

"Merlin! So people kept hunting them over and over again for power?"

King Kargus nodded.

"Yes. I'll admit, many of your people did not take part in the deed. But they did nothing about it. When we went to your ancestors who ruled the magical world, nothing was done to protect our kind's women. They did not believe in taking blood for power – they did believe for healing, mind – but they never tried to find and punish the greedy ones who hunted our kind. As for the truce, we demanded oaths from any who claimed they wanted a goblettes blood for healing – and only healing. They refused to give it to 'lowly creatures'."

Harry winced. "Oh, wow. That's – well, that's just terrible. So you ended up hiding the existence of your female counterparts and where you lived."

"Yes."

"Well, can't blame you one bit for your decisions."

King Kargus smiled, showing his pointy teeth in a feral grin.

"You wouldn't be alive to blame if we wished it, Lord Potter."

Harry shuddered slightly. "Noted, Your Highness." The King's smile widened.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, how did you manage to make people forget so much information that was already common knowledge?"

The King glared at him lightly. "I was hoping you would not ask. But then again, Master Griphook did warn me that your thirst for knowledge would show its ugly head, fish."

"Not you too," Harry groaned, "How many times do I have to say it? It's half-fish!"

King Kargus smirked, enjoying riling up the young wizard. He supposed he could see why his subjects had taken to tolerating the little wizard's presence.

"Well, to answer your question, you need to know about the Fidelius Charm, Lord Potter. Are you aware of it?"

Harry nodded, his mood turning slightly solemn.

"Yes, Griphook mentioned it was what my parents used to keep themselves hidden during the war." Understanding dawned on Harry. "You used the Fidelius to hide the knowledge about your homes and women! Wait – but, the Fidelius only hides locations," Harry muttered, "Unless you modified it to be capable of hiding more than just location!" Harry exclaimed, looking up to see the smirking face of the Goblin King.

"Not bad for a youngling who had not much good knowledge of magic a few weeks ago."

Harry turned red in embarrassment.

"And you are correct. Our ancestors worked on modifying the charm to suit our needs. We needed to make it such that only our Goblin Nation was aware of the existence and abilities of our goblettes. And where they lived. Took a few years but they managed it and the knowledge has been passed on for years, with every generation working to update and strengthen the wards ad protections. That is," King Kargus glared at Harry, "Until you came along and ruined it."

Harry squeaked out a sheepish and slightly guilty "Sorry, Your Highness!"

King Kargus sighed. "Well, I suppose it was alright in the end. My wife did find your presence particularly entertaining." The Goblin King found the red that crept along the neck of the young Potter Lord deeply amusing. "And since you had already made good friends with her, what with how many flowers Mother Magic knows you decorated her hair with last night –," Oh yes, the deepening red on the wizard child was highly amusing, "I suppose you may be the one exception I will allow to visit our homes from time to time."

Harry looked up, shocked.

"Really? Your people would not mind, Your Highness?"

"I have conversed with them. They find you particularly amusing and tolerable. Furthermore, my Queen has grown fond over your presence last night, and I am not ready to be facing her wrath if she were to hear you gave the oath to keep our Nation's secret but were not allowed to visit.

Besides, it will be better to have you someplace we can monitor you if you were to go – loopy, as I was informed you mentioned – the next time a full moon happens."

Harry stared at the Goblin King, shocked.

King Kargus rolled his eyes. "We goblins are capable of nice deeds once in a while, human. Close your mouth."

Harry closed his mouth, embarrassed yet again but still unable to believe what he heard.

"But, I'm sure you have met many wizards and witches over the years who are not terrible and prejudiced about creatures and such. You've never revealed this to anybody else. Why me, Your Highness?"

King Kargus stared at the youngling before him, wondering if he should tell – if he was even allowed to tell. He decided to try anyway.

"You are a special case, Harry Potter. One reason is yes, you are not prejudiced and have a relatively good heart. Another reason that we found out later on from you telling us your secret is that you are in a position to relate and understand. But the main reason is that you have given us your trust very freely and willingly – a deed that has made us fond of you for your pure faith in us. It makes us willing to trust you in return. And a fourth reason, well –"

A tingle shot through Harry suddenly, filling him with warmth and reminding him of the times he called upon his magic. He looked around, startled by the sudden acting up of his magic.

"What was that?"

King Kargus, who had stopped speaking when he felt the Gringotts wards sing, looked back at the young wizard he was speaking to.

"That was the message to me that I'm not meant to reveal the fourth reason yet or maybe it was that this is not the time to reveal it yet. I'm not sure, Lord Potter. Magic is unpredictable in her desires."

"Magic? What –"

"Another time, Lord Potter. I am not able to tell you the fourth reason yet. But to be truthful, it is not as important a reason to us Goblins in our decision to trust you so far. So maybe another day." Seeing the young one's frown, the Goblin King sighed. "I'm sorry, Lord Potter. If I really were allowed, I would tell you. But for now, it is probably best to forget about it. Magic will let you know when you need to know. Trust it. It does not let down one it has marked worthy."

Another tingle shot through Harry. King Kargus looked up to the ceiling. "Alright, alright, I'll keep quiet." He turned back to the little wizard.

"Well, I believe we have come to the end of this meeting, Lord Potter. A very successful meeting, I might say."

Harry gave a small smile. "Thanks for allowing me to come to your home."

"You're welcome. Now, how about you go and disrupt Master Griphook's time alone? I suspect he is getting too used to having a peaceful time."

Harry smirked. "I think you and I will get along really well, Your Highness," Harry replied before standing to give a short bow, with his hand over his heart. "May your enemies fall at your sword and your gold increase with Magic's blessing, King Kargus."

"May your enemies die before you and your wealth increase sky high, Lord Potter," the Goblin King replied before both goblin and wizard parted to go about their own businesses.

"HELLOO GRIPHOOK!" Harry yelled mentally, bursting into his account manager's office without so much as a knock to be polite.

Griphook jumped from his seat, left arm already releasing the blade that had previously rested at his hip. He watched as his target stepped away and let the blade soar into the closed door behind him, before fixing the young one with a deadly glare. His blade reappeared at his hip.

"I am going to be activating my Occlumency shields around you."

The little lord pouted. "You're no fun. You know I can't talk to you telepathically if you block me."

"That is the point, fish."

"Oh, now that was just plain offensive. I'm half-fish Griphook. Get it right." Harry sniffed in mock hurt.

"Alright, I was going to be nice to you and let you know about it gently but you ruined your chance," Griphook sneered in mock annoyance. The goblin slammed the morning's Daily Prophet onto the desk.

Curious, Harry walked forward to take a look.

A picture of a man with haunted eyes and a painfully thin body looked back at him. The words 'BLACK ESCAPES FROM AZKABAN!' flashed above his head.

Harry paled, looking up to meet Griphook who looked solemn.

"Well, we have lots to do, fish. Lots to do."

Harry appraised the man in front of him as they both settled down into their respective chairs, set opposite each other with a desk separating them and Griphook seated beside Harry.

The man was dressed in deep midnight blue robes made out of pure acromantula silk that indicated his wealth. His dark brown hair was styled in a fade cut and his face set in a neutral mask, none of his emotions out on display. Harry could clearly see where his fellow schoolmate had inherited her ice-cold looks from by staring at the man's chiselled features and chilling sapphire-blue eyes. With that closed off expression and the aura of power he exuded, the message of "not-to-be-messed-with" could not have been made any clearer.

"Thank you for taking the time to attend the meeting, Lord Greengrass, despite its suddenness."

The man nodded. "I will admit, Lord Potter," a brief glance was given to Harry's right hand that rested on the tabletop, where the Potter Lordship ring was displayed on his ring finger, "Your request to meet had me very curious."

Harry stared at the Head of House before him. The man's voice, while gruff, had a softness to it that belied his aloofness.

The lessons from the goblins resurfaced in his mind. He recalled all the hours he had spent over the past few weeks, catching up on the years of etiquette, customs and heritage lessons he had missed with the help of memory-boosting potions and the goblins' slave-driving work styles. He knew, logically, that it would be a long way before he could utilise most of those lessons fully. While a sharp mind and silver tongue were the most essential tools in successful political games, it also needed the experience time and opportunities presented. And Harry lacked the latter. He was well aware of that.

"But here is an opportunity and while you cannot be slick, you can be blunt. The aim here is to win the man's trust over after all, not keep him as an ambiguous acquaintance." His inner voice murmured.

Steeling his courage, Harry looked at the Head of the Greengrass family in the eye.

"I shall just dive into the crux of the matter, Lord Greengrass. You were once the ally to House Potter before the night my parents were murdered and the House of Potter declined its activities politically. I am here to propose the re-establishment of that alliance."

There was a beat of silence as the sapphire-eyed man stared at the child before him.

"You do realise Lord Potter, that the House of Greengrass has no allegiance to the Light."

"You seem to be under the impression that the House of Potter has allegiance to the Light, Lord Greengrass."

Another bout of silence ensued.

"You have changed your guardian then, Lord Potter."

Harry's eyes narrowed at the statement. Not many knew who his magical guardian had been and for the man in front of him to know…

"You have corresponded to Albus Dumbledore regarding House matters before."

Blue eyes glinted. "You're quick, child. Yes, I have indeed corresponded with that old guardian of yours. I'm curious you are not aware of the matter. I am concluding he did not tell you much about your status if you're surprised at the news and your past behaviours in Hogwarts from my eldest daughter's observations is true. Our Houses' alliances had not died due to any resistance to renewing it from my end, Lord Potter but merely due to the reservations your previous magical guardian held for my family."

Harry sighed internally. Trust the old man to mess things up for him even more. He shuddered to think of how many Houses he had already given a bad impression about if what Lord Greengrass said indicated anything.

"I apologise on behalf of House Potter for any offence my old guardian may have caused the House of Greengrass, sir. You would be accurate in your conclusion that Albus Dumbledore had left me ignorant of my heritage and true status. But let us get back to the main matter of discussion. Are you still open to an alliance now that we have made it clear my House is no longer under the unauthorised jurisdiction of Dumbledore?"

"Well, Lord Potter we can get to that after you clear a doubt of mine. Why are you interested in House Greengrass' alliance?"

"Simple. You are a powerful political ally and one who is well situated away from falling under the Light and Dark sections' conflict. I will need that neutrality for certain moves I will be making in the future, especially since I require the fickle public from labelling me as biased in any way."

The sapphire-eyed man's eyebrows rose. "Well aren't you a blunt little man."

"I have been taught as a child that honesty is the best policy, Lord Greengrass," Harry replied, offering an extremely innocent expression.

The man's lips quirked upwards slightly.

"Well then, Lord Potter. Shall we discuss the finer details of this alliance?"

Harry simply smiled. "It will be a pleasure."

"We spend weeks teaching you and this is what you do."

Harry glanced at the goblin, absently playing with the sleeves of his dark-emerald robes. From the way he was bent over his paperwork and not shooting a glare that could rival a basilisk at Harry, the little wizard was sure his account manager was not truly displeased.

"Well, it worked, Griphook. Besides half your lessons are for when I am surrounded by political sharks eager to manipulate me for fame, money and power. The other half on etiquette, customs and control of emotions I had executed beautifully during the meeting, even if I say so myself. Lord Greengrass was to be a long term ally and from records, the Greengrass family had been pretty good allies with House Potter for centuries. It would be shameful to rebuild that alliance simply for political gain."

"It was originally built for that."

"But it had obviously flourished to more than that over the years if what the Potter Grimoire from my family vaults says is true."

"Trust you Potters to write more than just spells and inventions in such a thing."

Harry gave a cheeky grin. "Well, it was for the best now, wasn't it? Stop sulking Griphook, you will see your lessons in action through me sooner or later."

"I do not sulk, fish."

"It's half-fish, honestly!" Harry huffed.

"Mhh-hmm"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Well, since we are talking about meetings, have you managed to organise one with her?"

"Who?"

"You know who, Griphook."

"I'm afraid I do not correspond with the Dark Lord, fish. Besides, that's a him, not a her."

Harry blinked for a moment confused before the words' meaning registered in his mind.

"Oh very funny, Griphook. I'm dying of laughter," he deadpanned. "Just answer me already."

"Well then, no." Griphook looked up from his paperwork. "Honestly Harrison, I just owled her an hour ago. The reply has yet to come. How would I know if she accepted?"

Harry bit his lip. "Ok, sorry. Just a little nervous I suppose."

Griphook titled his head, regarding the young wizard for a moment before looking back down.

"You worry too much. One thing about your race's so-called purebloods is that they always make time for family, even if they do not like them one bit. You'll get a chance to talk at the very least. Now go back home, Harrison. And get something productive done instead of annoying me, would you?"

Harry smirked, inwardly reassured by the goblin's answer. He stood up, heading to the Floo.

"Honestly Griphook, one would think you are eager to be rid of my company."

"I am."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Stone-hearted git."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Harry rolled his eyes again, grabbing the Floo powder and bracing himself for the slightly sooty transport.

"See you tomorrow."

"I'll enjoy my small period of peace till then" was the reply he received.

He vanished in a burst of green flame.