The Lackluster Hunt
Harry did get to bed early, much to the protest of his friends who wanted him to stay and play or do homework. He, however, wanted to sleep after such a long day. So, he went to bed, and he was up at eleven that evening.
He swiftly and quietly got dressed and moved to leave, however he had to go stealthily. His roommates were all asleep, but two of them were light sleepers. Neville and Dean woke to any noise that wasn’t snoring. He had to time his way across the room to Ron’s snores. It was easy, Ron snored like a chainsaw.
It took a few minutes, but he made it without disturbing anyone. Making sure he had everything he needed, he descended the stairs quietly. There wasn’t anyone in the common room, thank Merlin. So he left the dorms, armed and ready. The map tucked in his pocket. He left his cloak in the room, not thinking that he would need it, since he was only going across the seventh floor.
On the way he met a girl who seemed to be drifting the halls. She was idly looking at portraits and talking to them.
“Hello,” he said, not sure why she was wandering about this late at night. She didn’t look old enough to be a prefect.
“Hello, Harry Potter,” she said, almost floating towards him.
“Can I ask why you’re out so late?” he inquired, looking her over and seeing that she wasn’t dressed properly. She seemed to be wearing a sundress, no shoes, and radishes for earrings. There was a cork bottle necklace on her neck. “Where are your shoes?” he asked the most obvious thing.
“They wandered away this evening,” she said like that was completely normal. “As to why I am out and about, I knew you needed someone to hold the room. Your doxies are not people, and you need a human person to hold it,” she explained, her eyes a bit misty.
“Uh, okay. How do you know all that?” Harry asked, wary of spies and such. Then he remembered his Divination class and knew that, unlike Trelawney, she was a true seer. “Can I ask your name?” he asked, hoping he was right.
“I am Luna Lovegood, though most call me Looney,” she said, not a bit of hurt in her voice. It was like she knew her oppressors would one day have karma hit them in the head.
“That is horrible,” he quietly exclaimed, only for her to brush it off.
“It’s alright, they just don’t understand me,” she said, taking his arm like they were going to walk in the gardens.
“Okay, Luna, let’s go,” he said, turning in the direction he had been heading. He consulted the map, which he should have been doing from the beginning. Following his earlier footsteps, he got to the RoR and called up a room that would hold many people.
He moved off to the side, where Luna couldn’t hear him and called the queen. “Queenie,” he said to the bag. Not that Luna didn’t already know, but she might not know how smart they were. That was something he’d like to keep to himself for a while longer.
The queen came out and this time she said, “Yes?” in a friendly voice. She didn’t look put out like she had in the past.
“Do you want to be a part of tonight’s activities?” he asked, hoping she’d say yes. He could use an extra pair of eyes. She might see things that he couldn’t, since her eyes were different.
“I don’t know,” she said, hating to be away from her nest for long. “Will it be dangerous?” she asked, thinking that some of her men would suffice.
“It might be,” Harry confessed, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m not sure what they will be doing to get the horcrux, but your affinity to finding evil magic might help.”
“I will join you then,” she said, “Call me when they are ready to search.”
“Will do,” he said as she dove back into the bag.
“Are you done talking to the queen?” the misty girl asked as she drifted towards him.
“Can you tell me how you know about them and tonight’s escapade?” he asked instead of answering the obvious question.
“I hear things,” she stated, not a bit afraid of telling him anything. “The nargles tell me things,” she explained further.
“What are nargles?” he inquired, not sure what she was talking about. Then again, he never knew about the Thestrals, so there were many animals and creatures he didn’t know.
“They are invisible creatures that get into your brain and muddle it up. They can’t get into mine, so they tell me things instead,” she said in that airy voice of hers. “My daddy did a whole article on them. Do you read the Quibbler?” she asked, there was a bit of hope in her voice.
“Did they tell you who stole your shoes?” he asked, then answered her other question. “I’ve never heard of the Quibbler, but I’d love to read it.” It wouldn’t hurt to subscribe, even if he didn’t’ understand what was being talked about. He might learn something for all he knew.
“Yes, but I’m not worried about them, they will come back,” she said, in that airy voice of hers. “I’ll set you up with a subscription, it’s a galleon a month,” she added, quite happy that her daddy’s paper would get a new subscriber. Then she skipped to the other side of the room, looking at the wall with great interest.
He watched her for a moment and decided that she would make a great friend. He thought that maybe he could help with her missing clothing issue. If nothing else, he could help her find them. He’d ask Dobby to look.
“Dobby,” he called, still watching Luna. He had no idea what she was looking at, but it did seem to interest her.
“Yes, Harry Potter, sir?” the elf asked when he appeared. He was wearing one of his children’s outfits, with his many hats in all sorts of colors and designs. He looked like a five-year-old that was allowed to dress himself.
“See that girl over there?” Harry asked, pointing to Luna. “She seems to have misplaced her shoes, by no fault of her own. Can you find them?” He was really hoping that the elf could. He’d have to think hard on this situation, but if getting her shoes back was a good start, he’d take it.
Dobby looked at Luna and squinted. “Dobby can,” he said after a few minutes of scrutiny.
“Great,” the teenage boy said, clapping his diminutive friend on the back.
Dobby popped away and returned seconds later. He gave Harry the shoes and left.
“Luna,” Harry called to her, lifting the shoes to show her why he wanted her to come over.
“Oh goodie,” she said as she skipped to him.
“My friend Dobby found them for you,” he said, not wanting to take the credit.
“Tell him thank you for me,” she said, putting the shoes on her feet sans socks. But it was better than nothing. They would keep her feet warm, which is all she cared about for the moment.
With that they talked of nonconsequential things. Just getting to know each other better. Harry learned that Luna was smart as any Ravenclaw. He also got the impression that they didn’t think so and bullied her something fierce. He was going to have to do something about that. He wasn’t sure what to do yet, but he would be doing something. Maybe he’d ask Padfoot.
They waited until five minutes to midnight, then Harry called up the tunnel. This time it was more brightly lit. Like it knew that more light was needed. He made his way down to the Shrieking Shack in good time. There at the end of the tunnel was his godfather, Remus, Bill, and a contingent of goblins.
“Come on then,” Harry said, stepping out of the tunnel, trusting Luna’s word that it wouldn’t close. He hugged Sirius and shook hands with Bill and Remus. The goblins declined the greeting and were just ready to be done with the night.
“Where did this tunnel come from?” both Sirius and Remus asked, moving to the entrance. “In all my years here, I’ve never seen the like,” Remus finished, admiring the smoothness of the walls.
“I’ll explain when we get to the room,” Harry said, waving them to follow. He didn’t want to leave Luna alone too long. She might wander off.
They lined up and marched up the tunnel. Soon they were in the RoR.
“Where are we?” Remus asked, knowing he had never seen this room. It looked like a smaller version of the Gryffindor common room. There were red and gold chairs near a fireplace, and red and gold tapestries hanging on the walls. In one of the chairs sat a white-blonde girl who was just staring into space.
“We’re in the Room of Requirements,” Harry answered, watching the last goblin come through the tunnel, which closed as he set foot in the room. The goblins looked grumpy.
“You found it?” Sirius exclaimed, looking around in wonder.
“Oh, you know about it?” Harry asked, then added, “Dobby showed me where it was.” Again, not taking credit for something he didn’t do.
“We looked for it for ages,” Remus answered, he too gazing around in awe. “It was merely rumors when we were in school. Something whispered about when anyone wanted an adventure. ‘Go find the Room of Requirements’, they’d say. Sometimes it was the teachers that said it. So, we figured it was real,” he finished, still looking around in admiration.
“Did you ask the house elves?” was the smug question.
“No, and I’ll not make that mistake again,” Sirius answered, coming up to Harry and clapping him on the shoulder. “Well done,” he said, proud as a father whose child had done something brilliant.
“Like I said, Dobby found it,” Harry said, sitting on one of the chairs.
“So, who’s this,” his godfather asked, seeing the slight blonde girl wandering around looking at the walls. He took a seat next to his godson, while everyone else examined the room.
“That’s Luna Lovegood, she said she’d hold the room while I went and got you,” Harry said, glancing in her direction and then he leaned over a bit to not be heard by anyone but Padfoot. “I think she’s a real seer,” he whispered, his eyes darting around to make sure they weren’t interrupted.
“Truly,” Sirius said, his eyes widening further. “A true seer hasn’t been seen in years,” he whispered back. “Or they stay hidden,” he added as an afterthought.
“I’d like to help her keep it a secret,” Harry said, not knowing why he was thinking this. “I told you in case something happens to me,” he stated, glancing around again.
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” his godfather said sternly.
“Just in case. Drop it for now, we’re about to have company,” Harry said, seeing a goblin walk their way.
“Do you think this room can find us the horcrux?” the goblin asked, coming up to them. He didn’t care what they were whispering about, time was money. He wanted this done as fast as possible.
“I can ask,” Harry said, getting queer looks from his godfather and Remus. Bill seemed to understand, he too was examining the rooms walls. It was a curse-breaker thing. “Room, do you know of anything evil that needs taken care of?” Harry asked the air.
There was a small gust of wind that everyone felt. Then ten objects appeared in front of Harry, who scooted back as quickly as he could. The feeling of pure evil radiated off all of them. There was a diadem, a rock, a broken cauldron, an old and ancient broom, a small necklace, three books, some men’s shoes, and a woman’s brooch.
“Don’t touch anything,” one goblin barked when Sirius and Remus moved in to get a better look.
“Wait,” Harry said, from his place by Luna who was also across the room. “Queenie,” he called, knowing everyone here was in the know, and the goblins wouldn’t care.
The little female doxy came out and buzzed near Harry’s head. “There’s evil here,” she said unnecessarily. She flew to the pile of items. “This one is like the one from before,” she said, pointing to the diadem.
“That’s Rowena Ravenclaw’s lost diadem,” Luna exclaimed and went to pick it up, only to be held back by Harry and impeded by the goblins.
“It’s cursed,” Harry said, holding her around the waist. “A very evil curse. It’s best you do not touch it,” he said, not letting her go just yet.
“Alright, Harry Potter, you can let me go now. I won’t go near it, yet,” she said softly, already knowing that it would be her death if she did. She had just been caught up in the moment.
“We’ll take care of these,” Bill said, getting his wand at the ready to destroy every item there. “Why don’t you take everyone else to the basilisk,” he suggested, waving to the goblins that weren’t ready for battle, Sirius, Remus, Queenie and Luna.
“Okay,” Harry agreed, just wanting to get out of the room that stank of evil. “Room, a door to the Chamber of Secrets,” he requested, moving to the wall it appeared on last time.
To the shock of everyone over fifteen a door appeared. Harry opened it and started down the tunnel. Luna skipped in after him. The rest followed slowly. This tunnel was much shorter. They made it in five minutes.
Everyone, bar Harry, stopped in amazement at the size of the basilisk. They knew it was there but thought it a young one. This one was sixty feet long and at least five feet around.
“You are about to be a very wealthy young man,” a goblin said, going up to the dead beast. He took out a magical measuring tape and started at the head. “Yes, a very rich young man indeed,” he said when he was done.
“How do you mean?” Sirius asked, him being in charge of Harry’s finances until the boy was seventeen.
“This basilisk is at least a thousand years old. We will buy it for top dollar,” the goblin said, coming up to Sirius and Harry. Remus and Luna having wandered off to watch the goblins butcher the snake.
“How much is top dollar?” Harry wanted to know. Not that he was greedy but having more money would help with a lot of things. Like the war, if it festered into something greater.
“The Potter accounts are in the millions, this will add at least five more million to them,” the goblin stated, writing on a piece of parchment.
“Make it six,” Sirius said, shocking Harry, who was overcome by how much he was worth.
“What are you doing?” Harry hissed, not wanting the goblin to back out.
“Trust me,” Sirius said, turning back to the goblin. “Six,” he said again.
“Five and a quarter,” was the rebuttal.
“Five and three quarters,” his godfather said, folding his arms over his chest.
“Five and a half,” the goblin said, he too folding his arms, the parchment still in his hand. “That’s my final offer,” he stated as fact.
Sirius knew the negotiations were over and smiled. He shook the goblin’s hand and sealed the deal.
The goblin, who still hadn’t given his name, took the parchment and wrote on it once more. “Sign here,” he told Sirius, who took the document and read it carefully.
He seemed to agree to the terms and conditions, so he signed. “Harry,” he said, turning to his shocked and confused godson, “they will pay you five and a half million galleons for this beast, but they are taking ten thousand for rendering it.”
“That… sounds fair, I guess,” the boy said, looking over the document that Sirius handed him. “Do I need to sign it?” he asked.
“Probably a good idea,” the goblin said, and made a line on it for him to sign.
Harry signed the parchment and it glowed bright and made a copy of itself. One went with Sirius the other with the still unnamed goblin.
“What is your name?” Harry finally asked, hating to continue to call him goblin in his head.
“Ragnuk,” the now named goblin said, smirking at Sirius’s surprise.
“It’s nice to meet you Ragnuk,” Harry said, holding out his hand, which Ragnuk took.
“Harry, do you know who this is?” his godfather asked in an astonished tone. He never thought this particular goblin ever left the bank. He had heard rumors of Ragnuk’s daring and bravery, but to see him here, in this damp drafty chamber, well, it was shocking.
“It’s Ragnuk, didn’t you hear him,” Harry said, worried that Padfoot looked like he was going to faint.
“Yes, but… he’s the King of the Goblins,” was the almost whispered response.
“Oh, do you want to meet one of the queens of the doxies?” Harry asked, not the least bit put out on who the goblin was. Now, if it was the Queen of England, that would be different. However, this goblin wasn’t his king. He’d respect him, as he would any royalty, but he would not defer to him.
“I’d be honored,” Ragnuk said, waiting to see this sentient doxy. He saw her briefly upstairs but didn’t get a good look. To have a common household pest become a thinking creature was unheard of.
“Queenie,” Harry called her from the bag, where she had disappeared to, once she identified the horcrux. She flew out and landed on his shoulder. “This is Ragnuk, the King of the Goblins. Is that all goblins or just the United Kingdom ones?” he asked, just to make sure.
“The UK,” was the answer.
“Ragnuk, this is the queen of my army, Queenie,” Harry finished the introductions.
“It is a pleasure to meet one such as yourself,” Ragnuk stated, peering closely at the tiny queen.
“The same,” she said in her aloof way. She wasn’t sure she should be doing or saying something else, so she kept quiet.
“How did you come about your sentience?” the goblin king wanted to know.
So, she told him the same story she had told Harry. Harry jumped in with how they met and she and hers became his friends. Ragnuk was impressed that a human would befriend a doxy. It was a new experience for him. He had no doubt that Harry Potter was meant for great things.
“Perhaps I have a few items that can go into your bag,” he suggested, thinking of some of the things that had been upstairs. There was no need to keep them all.
“That would be helpful,” she said, also thinking on the same items.
“Then perhaps, when you are done fighting for Mr. Potter, you can come to the bank,” he offered, wanting to know more about her new thought processes.
“I would be delighted,” she said, then added, “However, my first priority is my family. My second is Harry Potter.” She wanted to make sure he understood that.
“Of that I have no issue,” Ragnuk stated, bowing slightly to her.
She returned the bow, and they came to an agreement.
“Great,” Harry said, just glad they liked each other.
The rest of the night was spent exploring the Chamber, which held no more secrets. Harry even had the doxies look in places they couldn’t. If there were any secrets here, they had either been removed, or were well hidden.
Harry left everyone but Luna around three in the morning. They had classes today. He told Sirius how to use the room to get out of the castle, and he and Luna went to their dorms. She was a lovely girl that he was now glad to call friend. He went to sleep, happy to know that everything was fine. For now.