DMLE and Gringotts
Chapter 8: The Magical Side of Things II: DMLE and Gringotts
Ministry Atrium, December 2001
Meeting Dumbledore in the Ministry Atrium, Alastor waved his hand at the headmaster and left directly to the Ministry Holding Cells, carrying a freezed Peter Pettigrew behind him. Meanwhile, Sirius met with Albus to explain what had happened in Peter’s flat.
“Hello Albus, I hope you contacted Remus, as Minerva told you to?” Sirius was tired, and the last thing he wanted to deal with was that weird “mysterious Albus” persona the headmaster had created.
“Yes Sirius, Fawkes sent the message to him, and if everything goes well he will be back to Hogwarts in a few days.” drawled Albus, still upset with Sirius because of how he had spoken to him.
“He better be, or else…” threatened Sirius. The Black Lord had had it with Albus’s machinations, and would deal with him on a need to be basis.
“Please, Sirius, trust me on this” asked Albus, eyes twinkling.
“I don’t have any trust in me, Albus, only regret. And save that damn twinkling of the eyes for someone who will fall for it.” shot back Sirius. He only wanted to get this over with and go see Harry.
While they were talking, Alastor had gotten to the Ministry Holding Cells, and with Crouch began the interrogation.
Ministry Holding Cells, DMLE, Ministry of Magic
Flinging the petrified and stunned Pettigrew onto an interrogation chair, activating the magic suppressing charms and chains. At the same time, trainee Shackelbolt and DMLE Head Crouch entered the room. Alastor saw, with his magical eye, Sirius and Albus on the other side of the mirror, and shouted “Sirius, Albus! Get inside here!”.
De-stunning the traitor, Alastor held his mouth open and dropped 3 drops of Veritaserum on his tongue, forcing him to swallow.
Becoming glassy-eyed, Peter stayed still.
“Here, in Holding Cell One, we begin the interrogation of Mr Peter Pettigrew. Present in the room are Chief Warlock Dumbledore, Lord Sirius Black, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Bartemius Crouch Senior ,Senior Auror Moody and Auror Trainee Kingsley Shackelbolt.” said Alastor to the magical quill that Kingsley had brought with him.
“What is your name” began Alastor
“Peter Ignatius Pettigrew” said in a monotone Pettigrew
“You were a Ravenclaw, correct?” asked Alastor, to check if the Veritaserum worked.
“No, I was a Gryffindor.” stated Peter.
“The serum works” announced Mad-Eye
Sirius took his chance and said the question that had been eating him up since Halloween.
“Why did you betray James and Lily?!” screamed Sirius at the stony faced Peter.
“The Dark Lord came to my house months ago. He breached the wards we erected as if they were butter and he, a hot knife. Then he threatened me and forced me to become his back-up spy, as he said, inside the Order of the Phoenix. I took the Dark Mark and began to feed him information” said Peter.
“Apart from the murder of the Potters, and the attempted one of Baby Harry, what else has your spying caused?” asked Dumbledore, dreading the worse.
“The McKinnon’s and the Bones’s death, McDogual’s disappearance, and many others from the Order.” answered Peter, unemotionally.
“Go to fucking hell Peter!” shouted Sirius, face red from the turmoil of emotions going through him.
“Black! Relax yourself, this is an interrogation!” said Crouch Senior.
“Last question, Sirius” proclaimed Mad-Eye.
“Peter Pettigrew,” he began “If you had to repeat your actions these past months, would you do so again?”
“Yes,” answered Pettigrew “The Dark Lord had become too powerful, he was going to win any day now”
“Okay, that settles it! Crouch, either you send him to Azkaban, or I will!” screamed Moody.
“Yes, yes, I agree with Alastor. By order of the Wizengamot, and under the current War Laws, I sentence Peter Michael Pettigrew to life in Azkaban, in the Maximum Security Wing.” enounced Bartemius.
“Crouch, remember to ward against Animaguses. He is one, changing into a rat.” told Sirius to the DMLE head.
“I will go to Gringotts at once to ensure there are extra wards put up in his cell.” said Crouch, getting out of the room.
Suddenly, a screech was heard and Fawkes flashed into the interrogation room.
“Gentlemen” began Albus “I believe we are no longer needed here. Alastor, please make sure Peter gets to Azkaban safe and sound. Sirius, I believe a certain special person is waiting for us in my office.
Headmaster’s Office, Hogwarts
Albus stepped out of the floo first, and found an anxious Remus waiting for him.
“Albus! I got your note, and here I am. Can you explain to me why you could not explain to me anything else?! Minerva came in looking for you, took one look at me and left crying! What in Merlin’s name has happened!” Remus had begun ranting from the other corner of his office, and had ended up in front of him, screaming with a worried face.
“My dear Remus, if you could please let me move away from the floo and take a seat, we will explain everything to you shortly.
“We?” asked Remus.
“Hi Moony” said Sirius, sporting a very tired face.
“Padfoot! What happened! Wait, why are you here? Where’s James?! And Peter?! Why are we just us here?” asked Remus.
Sirius began to choke up, and Dumbledore took over.
“Remus, I believe you should sit down.” began Dumbledore
An hour later, Dumbledore had summoned for tea from the kitchens and was comforting the crying 21-year-olds in front of him.
“Wait,” said Remus, sobering up “Harry is living with THE Iron-Man?”
“Yes! He is nice! Minerva and Hagrid met him as well as his girlfriend, the incredible Miss Potts!” Sirius was amazed by how Tony and Pepper behaved and lived.
“Can we go see him again?” asked Remus, hoping for a positive answer.
“Yes, in fact I was going to begin looking for properties there, now that I have taken up the Black Lordship.” announced Sirius, moving his pinkie finger where the ring was located. The Black ring was composed of a silver band engraved with runes crowned by an obsidian stone with the Black Family Motto engraved inside “Toujours Pour” .
“I was actually planning to visit Gringotts, because my grandfather told me the American Black Family was extinct, and that I would inherit both sides of the family. I will need to activate the accounts…” finished Sirius.
“That’s good to know, can I go with you?” Remus was itching to see his cub. Moony had gone haywire since he was told about James’s death, and had to be reassured that Harry was okay.
“Well gentlemen, if you do not mind, I need to speak with my staff.” Albus was very tired, and only had to get through this staff meeting before going to bed.
“Yes, Albus. Thank you for your hospitality.” finished Remus.
Both Marauders headed for the Floo in order to reach Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley, December 2001
After greeting Tom in the Leaky Cauldron, they crossed the magic barrier and walked down the Alley to Gringotts. Reaching the pristine white marble stairs, they identified themselves with the goblin guards stationed there.
Getting inside, they headed for a teller. Luckily, Gringotts was empty at the moment and so they were attended immediately
“Hello wizards, what is the purpose of your visit today?” asked the goblin.
“I need to visit my account manager, Blackclaw” answered Sirius.
“Proof of Identity, Lord Black?” demanded the goblin, following the war-time protocols created by Gringotts and the Ministry.
Sirius manifested his Lordship Ring, satisfying the goblin.
“Clawfang, take Lord Black and his companion to see Blackclaw” ordered the goblin at the teller.
“If the wizards could follow me.” said Clawfang.
Together with Clawfang they reached Blackclaw’s office.
“Lord Black and Mr…?” asked Clawfang.
“Lupin, Mr. Remus Lupin” answered Remus.
“And Mr. Remus Lupin” finished the goblin.
“Lord Black! Welcome, come in. I heard about Lord and Lady Potter, my condolences, I know how very close you were.” said Blackclaw.
“Thank you, the condolences are greatly appreciated.” thanked Sirius
“So, what brings you here today? I have been looking forward to getting the gold in the Black vaults moving, seeing as your late grandfather had stopped all investing since the beginning of your wizard war."The goblin had been terribly angry when Arcturus had decided that all the money had to go back to the Family Vaults, for safekeeping.
“Yes, in a way. I want to reactivate all the American accounts, and invest them in several companies. I will be spending a considerable amount of time in New York, for at least the next 10 years. Therefore, I would also like to have the manor house reopened and brought up to snuff.” explained Sirius.
“Well, Lord Black, you really do not bore anyone do you? I will look into opening up the Black Family Manor in New York and reactivating the accounts there. I assume you will transfer most of the business with you to New York. Do you want me to transfer as well?” Goblins normally lived and worked in the branch that they were born in, but for families such as the Blacks, who had been clients since the founding, exceptions could be made.
“If you could manage it, Blackclaw, you would be taking a load off my mind. I don’t think I could get used to another goblin. Plus, you are someone trusted by my friends, especially by Remus, and that gives you a lot of credit with me.” Sirius was really fond of the goblin, having known him since he was first made heir by his grandfather all those years ago.
“Another thing, Blackclaw” began the young Lord “I would like to make Remus here my seneschal. Please make it so he receives a salary of 5.000 galleons a month.”
“NO Sirius! Are you crazy?! And what do you mean “seneschal” ?” Remus was not going to allow his best friend spending his money on him on a frivolous job position, just so he could still keep Sirius company.
“Well Moony, as my seneschal, you would be my face here in Britain. You would supervise the remodelling of Grimmauld Place, cast my votes in the Wizengamot… Basically be the go-to person for the Black Family on this side of the pond. This would allow you to keep in contact with myself and Harry, while at the same time earn a living.” Sirius explained. He had thought this plan out months ago, when he first became Lord Black. At least the senechal part, he did not take into account back then that his godson would end up living in New York.
“Okay Sirius, then I accept” Remus conceded. He saw a way to make good for both Sirius and James, albeit this last one through Harry.
“Perfect!. Blackclaw, could you please draw up a contract stipulating the previous stated conditions?”asked Sirius.
“Yes, I will have it done in a few days. Now that we are on the subject of contracts, I must encourage you to draw up a will. Seeing as you are neither married nor father to a Black Child, the Lordship and state would go to young Draco Malfoy. This would signify the end of the Black Family, as the state would be incorporated into the Malfoy Family.” The goblin had heard from the Malfoy’s account manager, Aurefang, how it was to deal with that particular family, and he would do his best to prevent the same fate happening to him.
“Okay, in case of my death, I nominate Harry James Potter as my Heir, through both my oath as godfather and his paternal grandmother Dorea Black. Remus Lupin and Anthony Stark are to share the guardianship of Harry, with my cousin Andromeda Tonks put in charge to educate Harry to become a proper Lord Black according to the family's traditions.” enunciated Sirius.
“Well, that will make my job harder, that's for sure. Really Siirus, now I am sure I am not letting you die. Saddle me with Tony Stark of all people? Nothing against him, but he can go a little crazy, or so I have heard in the news…” said Remus.
Meanwhile, Blackclaw had finished annotating all the legalese for the contract and the will. “Gentlemen, if there is nothing more I can help you with, I will contact you in the coming days concerning the contract.” the goblin had a passionate face, he was determined to see the House of Black restored to its former glory.
“We will see you when we hear from you, Blackclaw” said Sirius.
Both men left the office and walked out of the bank.Seeing that midday had passed, Sirius asked “Fancy a butterbeer moony?” to which Remus answered “Yes m’lord”.
“MOONY! Don’t you dare call me that, it makes me feel as if I am my grandfather”said Sirius pouting.