Chapter 1
The first thing Morgan noticed when she opened her eyes was just how grey and muted the world had become. The second thing she noticed was the silence. There were loud moving objects near her, and tall buildings billowing with smoke, and people. So many people.
But the hum of Magik in the air was gone. Out of habit, she moved her hand slowly trying to feel Lady Magik in the air and bend it to her will. Instead there was nothing. This will make magic difficult to cast I suppose, she thought to herself.
She looked around more, unsure of where she was but sure that the spell had gone correctly and this was the 1st of June, 1991. Whoever this Dark Lord was, the prophesied child would be turning 11 and going to Hogwarts soon. She needed to be there then as well. She was never one to go into a situation unprepared and what better preparation than spending 7 years at Hogwarts watching this final war.
“Excuse me, ma’am?”
She turned slowly to face the voice. Looking down slightly she was faced with a rather short, portly man in drab robes that were certainly too large.
“Yes?” She arched an eyebrow at the man, while trying to emulate the accents she was hearing around her. After all, she doubted Old English was still spoken. She was eternally grateful that the sisters had long ago performed a blood ritual which allowed them to speak and understand any language.
The man’s eyes widened and suddenly she remembered that the spell wouldn’t have changed her appearance. She glanced down at herself and scolded herself. Muggles were no longer wearing flowing gowns like this one. She drew her green velvet cloak around her body. At least she had had the good sense to leave her crown in a safe spot, which she should head to now.
“Um, I’m sorry to bother you ma’am, but I saw you arrive. Luckily the muggles don’t seem to have noticed but we should probably head into Diagon Alley to avoid any attention...” He trailed off, edging closer to a brick wall and looking more and more like a scared rat. At least he’s a useful rat, she mused.
“Thank you for the offered assistance,” She paused and looked at the man waiting for him to offer a name.
“Oh! Tiberius Ogden, ma’am.” His name seemed to remind the man of his own perceived importance. He straightened up and tugged on a piece of cloth around his neck that seemed like a noose. Interesting fashion choices in these times.
“Well I would thank you, Tiberius, if you would show me to the Goblins. I have business to complete with them.”
She pushed her black curls over her shoulders, a shame that she didn’t have a ribbon to tie them back. Perhaps the Goblins would help... for a price of course. Always a price.
If Tiberius was curious why she didn’t share her own name, he didn’t show it. Perhaps his confidence has dwindled once again. Such a shame how weak Wizards have become. She waited for him to offer an arm out to her, but none came. Maybe chivalry is dead I suppose. She sniffed and raised her chin before moving towards him and the brick wall behind him, her cloak and gown billowing some behind her.
Morgan watched as he methodically tapped a set of bricks in a pattern before the wall folded in on itself brick by brick. So they hide from muggles. Merlin’s master plan of living together in harmony must not have worked. The thought made her both smug and a small part of her sad. That small part had held out hope that somehow she was wrong. She should’ve known better.
Stepping lightly, she followed him through a busy marketplace. While she saw a couple cloaks similar to her own, although not equal, she saw far more outfits on men and women alike that were closer to the outfits muggle servants wore in her own time. Pathetic.
Then finally she saw grandeur like she was used to, Gringots. She smiled at the golden statues of wizards at the entrance. I wonder if the Wizards know that these precious statues were alive at one time. Not bothering to look at Tiberius next to her, she addressed the man one last time.
“Thank you for the escort, I have it from here.” It was less than natural like it had been before, but she was able to infuse enough magic into her words that the man quickly left muttering about his own errands. He would not remember meeting her.
She pushed the doors of the bank open and strolled in like the Queen she was.
The goblins didn’t look up at first, continuing their duties quietly.
“I do hope that in my absence, your delightful blood lust hasn’t been tamed by lesser beings.”
Her words, spoken in the Goblin’s own language, settled over the goblins slowly and then all at once as she watched their heads snap to her. The oldest one at the front slowly stepped down from his seat and stood to face her. Confusion disappeared from his face and a fang filled smile filled it instead.
“After all this time, the Lady has returned.” His voice was the first thing in this world to fully remind her of home.
“Ragnog. It’s only been a few days for me but the last time I saw you, a new war was brewing. Were you successful?” She tilted her head in respect at first and then watched, curious to know what she had missed. In her time, she had been wise where others were not and respected the Goblin nation. TShe knew the answer though when his smile disappeared.
“I see, well perhaps together we can once again set the world right.” She moved forward through the room to join him. His head bowed towards her slightly, something she knew would never happen for another witch.
“Our kind has slumbered too long, Lady, waiting for a chance to rise. Does our deal still stand?”
“I am always a lady of my word and I won’t rest until I succeed this time. If I do, you will profit alongside me once more. Speaking of profits, I have been separated from mine for too long.”
Ragnog’s smile returned and together they walked to the carts. Down they went, until bricks and stones became the caves she remembered. Is it possible my pet has survived all these years? She prayed to Lady Magik that it was possible.
Once the cart came to a stop, she stepped gracefully out and listened as her steps echoed around her.
“With you here, perhaps she will allow me close without using the awful enchanted keys you left me. They make such a racket.” He continued muttering but stayed by the cart as she ventured forward.
Morgan watched with bated breath as a large being moved out of the shadows towards her.
“Mistress?”
Her heart swelled as her familiar moved out of the shadows fully. Her beautiful basilisk.
“Oh my beautiful Naga, how I had hoped we would grow old together. But I am here now.” She stroked her beast’s face.
“It’s alright, Ragnog. You can approach now. I’ll refresh the enchantments on the vault, but take Naga with me. One never knows when a Basilisk might come in handy.” Ragnog scoffed but nodded in reply to her words before proceeding to the large golden doors behind Naga.
It was easier to feel the Magik around her down there. She focused on drawing it to her before carefully using it to resize Naga to the size of a young Ball Python. Morgan bent down to her familiar and reached out her arm.
“Come Naga, let’s continue our journey together.” She waited until Naga was safely draped across her shoulders and then stood back up to join Ragnog.
“After you, Lady.” He bowed his head once more and stepped aside. She inclined her head in return before placing both hands on the doors and infusing her magic into them. They groaned with age and then slowly opened into the large vault.
She strode in, past the piles of gold and spoils of wars she had already won. In the center of the room was her real focus: The Crown and Tome of Avalon.
With reverence she still felt in every bone in her body, she placed the ivy circlet of silver on her head. Morgan’s back straightened and a calm fell over her. She would wear this crown in front of her people once more in the near future.
“All bow to the once and future Queen.” Ragnog swept his arms out in front of him as he dramatically bowed before her with a knife filled grin. A quick laugh escaped her as she placed the crown back on its pedestal.
“Thank you, my friend. One day we will return here together. I will leave Queen once more, and you will leave the True Goblin King once more.” And then my vow to you will be fulfilled. She finished in her thoughts.
The tome she shrunk down and placed in the bottomless bag she kept looped around her waist. Its knowledge would serve her well still and she could add to it in the near future.
“How much gold would you say an 11 year old going to Hogwarts would need?” She fingered the stacks closest to her, wondering how their value has grown since she acquired them.
“If your taste is still as fine as it was, I would say 500 hundred galleons would do for the first year. Do you plan to adopt a child so soon after returning?” Morgan could hear the disgust and confusion in his voice. Goblins were self sufficient, even in childhood. She understood their aversion to wizard children as a result. Which made the next part of her plan that much better to ask for Goblin help completing.
“Adoption? Yes, but for myself not another child. If memory serves, the goblins are the creators and keepers of a deaging potion that will take the user’s mind, body, and magic back to the age of their choice. Only backwards, and only once per being.”
“Everything is possible for a price, Lady. But what will you do as an orphaned 11 year old?”
“From what I’ve seen, the Goblins control the money in this new world. I assume that means you know more about the Wizard’s who store said money here than anyone else. Surely there’s a couple struggling for more children who would love a model daughter to show off to their friends?”
Ragnog grimaced but nodded.
“The future you feared to come, has already begun. Most old families can only have 1 child, 2 if they’re very lucky. Magik has forsaken them.”
“No,” she growled, “They have forsaken Magik and she does not forgive those who do not repent.
“Well regardless, many would do whatever it took for a model child to flaunt before the others. Do you have any particular requests in mind when it comes to a family?”
That was a tough question for Morgan. Her own family was... complicated. A muggle father murdered by her muggle step-father in order to marry her dear Witch mother. A squib half brother who fell in love with her school nemesis and then proceeded to ruin everything. Family was not something she trusted or desired anymore.
“Family is not the word I would use, nor home. A place to stay on holiday is all I require. A strong female who could assist me with assimilating would also be preferred.”
Ragnog smirked at her request.
“Then who you want is Narcissa Malfoy. How do you feel about being a twin?”