Chapter 4
Viktor, “You ladies look beautiful.”
Cedric looks at Hari grinning, “Ever the Gryffindor.”
Hari grins and holds up her hand with the Gryffindor lordship or in her case ladyship ring on her finger, “Gryffindor is my birthright.”
Cedric coughs and chokes on his water, “You own a fourth of the school?”
Hari, “Cedric I own half of the school, I have the Slytherin ladyship as well through birthright and conquest,” the Gryffindor ring shifts and reveals the Slytherin ring.
Cedric, “Those aren’t the heir rings. Why haven’t you told anyone about it.”
Hari voice dripping with sarcasm, “Our esteemed headmaster knew and never revealed it too me. Also, I know nothing as far as what to do with them, I’ve not had the training to even begin to know what to do. He didn’t factor in one thing though, by forcing me into the competition magic has recognized me as an adult and allowed me to claim my inheritance. Letters from Gringotts finally started coming to me and I was able to get a very loyal house elf to take me to Gringotts. That’s where I found out about my father’s family.”
Cedric, “What about your mother’s?”
Hari’s hands bunch into a fist, “It shows the Evans family, but there is magic blocking the truth, and the Goblins are studying it to see why it isn’t working right.”
Dwalin, “Ye trust those nasty evil creatures they just tried to kill us?!’
Hari looks at him, “We are from another world, what makes you think that our Goblins are the same as yours? I trust the Goblins from our world more than I trust adults. They have been the most truthful with me concerning my inheritance and my place in our world.”
Dwalin, “My apologies lass, I should have considered that they would be different than what we deal with.”
Hari grabs a book and stands heading to her and Fleur’s room, “Yes well adults always assume the worst,” opens the door and walks in shutting it.
Viktor looks at Cedric, “I usually never disrespect someone that is as esteemed as Dumbledore, but in this case I will, he is a fool and should be stripped of his Order of Merlin before being thrown into Azkaban. At one time he may have been a great hero but now he is a scoundrel.”
Cedric gulps, “I understand, and I am beginning to see him in a new light.”
Fleur, “I will go speak to her,” grabs a book and heads to their room.
Viktor grabs one and picks it up, “May as well read up on this world we could be here for a while, and we need to keep busy until dinner time.”
Cedric picked up a book to read as well, but before he could get started Ori walked over with parchment and quill, “Excuse me I’m a scribe, could you tell me some about your world?”
Cedric puts the book down, “Sure, let me see,” taps his chin, “let’s start with the Goblins from our world. I’ll start with physical appearance, they are no taller than four feet tall, they have long fingers and feet, black is the dominate eye color and white is the dominate hair color, long pointed ears, crocked noses, and domed shaped heads. They are very clever, so smart in fact that when the Goblin Rebellions ended, it was agreed that they would run our banks and manage our gold, no one thought about it at the time, but they control a huge part of our economy. They are also very excellent silversmiths, Hadriana has a family heirloom that they created, the Sword of Gryffindor, it is pure silver and fashioned with rubies. They are also excellent duelists and warriors. We have a professor that is half Goblin and half Wizard, he is a very good instructor, and he is a champion duelist. They don’t like Wizards and Witches very much but there are a few exceptions, one of those is children, they don’t like it when children are abused and when they find it happens, they report it and if nothing gets done, they take justice into their own hands, and the second is for people that they consider friends like the Potter family.”
As Cedric continues to give information Fleur finds Hari on the balcony reading in the sun and fresh air. She walks up to the younger girl and sits down to join her. They both read in silence Fleur patiently waiting for Hari to open up. They continue to sit for half an hour.
Hari sighs, “All my clothes once belonged to my cousin, and he is big. The one they call Bombur is smaller than Dudley. So, they never fit right, and are usually stained. I have to hold the pants up with rope. My shoes are full of holes. The first nice clothes I ever remember having are my school clothes. My relatives won’t even buy me cheap clothes at thrift stores, “stands and starts pacing, “and the only reason I have good clothes this year is because the Goblins were appalled by my state of dress. Why couldn’t the other adults see it?” Hari continues to pace getting agitated and her magic is reacting to it causing the wind to blow through the room, “It’s not right, even the Weasley’s get Ginny new clothing. All the other students have well-fitting clothing.” The wind picks up more, blowing cloth and parchment around.
Fleur intercepts her hugging the smaller girl to her, “You did have adults that noticed, Sirius and Remus noticed, they may not have been able to do anything, but they noticed.”
Hari sobs out, “It’s not fair. Why was it okay for me to be treated as if I’m worthless,” sobs louder, “It’s not fair and I sound so selfish don’t I?”
Fleur shakes her head, “No not at all, you are stressed, and you have a huge responsibility that has been placed on your shoulders. Why don’t you take a nap before dinner, you will feel better.”
Hari nods and lays on her bed sleep quickly claiming her. Fleur sighs and walks out joining the others in the main room.
Viktor looks up, “Is she okay?”
Fleur, “No, but she is asleep for now.”
Viktor, “That is a good thing then.”
Fleur nods, “Yes.”
Cedric, “How was she before taking a nap?”
Fleur glares at Dwalin before looking at Cedric, “How would you feel if the first adults that noticed how you’ve been treated and actually do something about it are vilified just because of a name they share with a creature from another realm?”
Cedric looks down at his lap, “She never said anything even to us.”
Fleur, “Think about it Cedric, think back to the first time you seen her, about everything she has gone through since coming back to the Wizarding World, think about what we have seen her do what we’ve heard her say since she’s been here, and then ask yourself why she never said anything to anyone.”
Cedric thinks about what Fleur told him to think about. The Dwarrow even think about what they’ve observed in the short time that they have known the children.
Balin, “Because she wasn’t believed, or they showed her that it wasn’t important.”
Fleur nods, “Exactly and it has more than likely been going on for some time.”
Cedric, “Maybe before Hogwarts I believe, but I can’t say because I never really saw her interact with adults.”
Viktor nods, “We do not know everything, but we have time, eventually she will open up to the three of us more and we can help her work through her mistrust.”
Fleur nods, “That is the best approach we can take, and it would be best if she doesn’t know what we know unless it is something she shared with us.”
Cedric, “I believe she is the reason we are here then.”
Fleur and Viktor nod in agreement and the three go back to reading the history of the place they are in. The Dwarrow are on their own talking amongst themselves. Bilbo is busy throwing together an afternoon tea spread. A couple hours later Hadriana wakes rested and relaxed. She goes into the shared common room of the suite.
Bilbo looks up and smiles, “Just in time for afternoon tea.”
Cedric looks up and smiles, “Have a nice nap.”
Hari smiles and nods, “Yeah.”
Fleur looks at Bilbo, “Tea would be wonderful.”
Bilbo nods and returns to the kitchenette, Bombur joins him in bringing out what Bilbo prepared. The other three champions fill her in on what they have learned so far about the world they are in. During their discussions Cedric, Viktor and Fleur slowly give her tea and some of the treats that Bilbo made for all of them. The afternoon slowly goes by and soon Bombur goes to make dinner. As he starts to head to the kitchenette the door opens revealing Gandalf. Hadriana stiffens as he informs them that Lord Elrond has invited the company and the young ones to dinner. Thorin nods and accepts for his company and Viktor accepts for the champions.