Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Harry jerked awake, and for a moment couldn't identify where he was. He drew in a deep breath, with a tempus charm showing 5:30 AM. His expression went from the soft bluriness of sleep to alert and determined in the space of two heartbeats. He threw back the covers that he didn't remember crawling under. A quick trip to the bathroom, with a shower to render him fully awake, and he was back to his trunk with the clothes he'd pulled out set on top. Dressing without much thought, his brain was already focused on the day ahead. He reentered the main room, looking first to the countdown clock. Bit over 33 hours left, if we get the full 48, he thought. He was starting to lean towards thinking they just might get the hoped for 72, but warned himself to exercise caution.
Several of the elves were already present, and Remus closed his door behind him as he too, came back to the task at hand.
Both he and Remus sat on their sofas. Harry asked the room if they could switch to desks and chairs until evening, and the room produced a partner's desk with two very comfortable looking swivel chairs. He next asked the elves what they would like for their work space, and a long table with stools on both sides appeared at their request.
Remus started them off. "First thing we all need is breakfast. I don't think any of us remembered dinner, yesterday, and we won't get far without fuel. I'm not comfortable using the castle's supply of food when we know it needs to go towards keeping the refugees fed. If nobody had other plans, I can floo to the Leaky and grab us something from the muggle side. Anybody have any preferences?" Harry had no preferences except that it be something that'd keep them going in case they missed another meal. The elves asked for two pieces of fruit each. Remus asked for the handy front door shortcut, he'd come back in and take the floo from the first floor, saving several sets of stairs. "See you in 30 minutes," he said on his way out.
Harry looked at the elves, remembering there were a few still out on tasks when they retired last night. He saw Deesy, Linmy and Moppy had returned, and Somley was gone. He asked if Somley had joined Dean last night, and was assured he had. He looked at Deesy who handed him back the parchment note she’d been sent out with. It had an arrow punched through it. “I’m gonna guess they mean no and go away,” he said out loud, and mentally crossed them off the list.
“Deesy is agreeing with Harry Potter. Centaursies were being very rude to Deesy,“ the elf affirmed.
"Linmy, did the goblins send a response back with you?" Harry asked. "And Moppy, did they give you a message or send a response?"
"A message, Harry Potter sir. Here's you go, sir," Linmy and Moppy both answered, with Linmy handing him a folded parchment. Moppy spoke again, "Her Majesties Queen Eltiebs laughed and laughed when Moppy asked about the gnomes. She said to tell Mister Harry Potter sir that the gnomes don't exist. They's really good banking humans, but wizardy humans isn’t trusting human humans so's Gringotts invented the Gnomes of Switzerland and kept using banking humans. She told Moppy she is a good elf for making sure we's caring for everybody."
Well, that was unexpected, and yet considering wizarding society, somehow not. All right then, no gnomes. The list was now a few humans, a few elves, and maybe some goblins. And didn’t that feel odd, going from several thousand to less than two dozen.
Oh, speaking of elves, "Patronus message to Neville Longbottom: hope you got some sleep. No changes from yesterday, except we definitely have 13 elves joining us, and four of them would like to bond to you. When you have time, it’s not a rush. They like fruit, can you add fruit trees to your list? Try to get enough to establish an orchard, everything from northern climes to tropical, we can put all those new greenhouses to good use."
He suddenly realized he'd taken it for granted Hedwig was going with him, and it would be more than his ears could take if he didn't rectify that. "Vabry, could you please pop to the owlery and ask Hedwig to join us. She’s my owl, a white snowy. Room, could you please open an owl window, and keep it open for the time being?" Vabry popped out as an open window shimmered into view.
A few moments later, Hedwig swooped in, cuffing him on the head before settling on his shoulder and preening his hair. "No Hedwig, it's messy enough," he laughed, tilting his head away. "Hedwig, we're leaving this place for good. Dumbledore is taking pretty much everybody magical, but Neville, Remus, Sirius and I are going somewhere else.” Sirius was included in the list because to not include him meant he was giving up on him. He wasn’t, and wouldn’t. “We don't know where we’re going yet, but I have to ask, do you want to come with us? Magic is going to die here, so you have to leave, but I want you to have your choice." She nibbled at his ear, and settled more firmly on his shoulder, gripping tightly.
Harry gratefully reached up to scratch her on the chest, and she chrrr'd in response. Okay, minor task that could be dealt with now, "Vabry, if Magical Menagerie is still open, could you please take some gold from my trunk and get a three month supply of mice in stasis for Hedwig? If they're already shut down, let me know, and I'll find a muggle pet shop to see if they have any frozen mice." Vabry popped out. "Hedwig, it's going to be a crazy few days, so please remind me if you’d rather grab a mouse from here instead of hunting on your own. We have maybe a day left, so please don’t head out too far. Room, can we add a perch for Hedwig?" A stand of twisted branches appeared beside the owl window. He turned to Dobby, "Dobby, what do you and the elves need, as far as supplies go? Will wizarding supplies do, or is there something particular we need to add to our list?"
"Dobby is thanking you, Harry Potter sir, but elvses is eating wizarding food, too. We is liking fruits most, though." Harry then asked about first aid and potions for elves, was anything different required? "Elvses don't use potions, we heals with magic. If we don't heals, elvses think it be their time for the long sleep." Harry gave a solemn nod at that, but did move over to board # 4 and added the first item for their outline:
#1 – must support magic
- must be able to supply healing magic for the elves.
He moved on to his next immediate item, the message from Gringotts.
It read, "From the Desk of Her Majesty, Queen Eltiebs: Greetings to Harry Potter from Gringotts. We thank you, once, twice, and again for your concern regarding our goblins. It has been many years since our nation was of first consideration for wizards, and you have our gratitude. Our bards will be tasked to include you in a place of prominence in the saga they will tell regarding the currant Trial, and we will remember you. We are sure your alternate group will find a world you will be proud to be a part of. Although perhaps not the answer you wish for, we are choosing to accompany the primary group, the reasons for which differ from what I would prefer to do, if I were to speak personally and not for my nation. The goblins are a proud race of ancient birth and have long been subjugated to the wizards through ill-made treaties. Those treaties one and all say "while on English soil", and the royal family has never been permitted the right to travel. During the evacuation, the wizards will not be in a position to stop us and once in the new land they would be most assuredly outside their jurisdiction. Any remaining constraints can be easily dealt with, once our freedom is assured. We gave your offer careful and thorough thought, and we have decided that we are currently too wedded to our banking expertise, that we require large numbers of wizards and other sentient beings to continue our trade until such time as we can branch out into our more ancient crafts. This is a power we can wield to enable negotiations on more equal footing once we arrive in the new land. We've no wish for revenge, however neither will we forget the treachery that caused our servitude in this world. We hereby vow we will never be subjugated again. “We are grateful for your latest warning and will enact several measures to ensure there are no "accidents" during the evacuation.”
“In thanks for the trust and honor you have placed in us, we are placing some large measure of trust in you, as well. A reward, if you will. Gringotts is not, by both treaty and honor, permitted to remove funds from the bank that were not fairly earned. We have previously advised vault owners they had thirty five hours to collect their property, at which time vault agreements will be terminated, and Gringotts staff would no longer be able to serve them, although the bank building floos will remain open, with directions to proceed to Hogwarts or the Three Broomsticks. We have added Wizard Harry Potter to the Gringotts roster, designating you as Gringotts personnel, favored status. You have further been keyed into the Gringotts wards via your magical signature. We of Gringotts are deeding the property in full to Harry Potter, such to be enacted once the last goblin has left Britain. Use it well, Harry Potter, and remember the goblins of Gringotts as we will remember you. -Her Majesty, Queen Eltiebs"
"Holy shit," was the only thing Harry was capable of saying for quite some time. "Holy shit."
Remus entered the room carrying an armful of bags that the elves eagerly took from him. They quickly had the small breakfast spread out on the desk and tables, the elves savoring the fruit.
Remus took in Harry's poleaxed look and was immediately concerned. "What happened?" Harry mutely handed him the note, then muttered "Holy shit," one more time.
Remus read it, read it again, and then sank back into his chair with the most dumbfounded look Harry thought he'd ever seen on another human being. "Morganna's left butt cheek, Harry. I think you own a bank. I think you own THE bank."
A faint "Yeah," was all that Harry could muster up.