Elsewhere, far away from Hogwarts, Ragnok is escorted through Gringotts by burly guards in scarlet and gold uniforms wielding sharpened spears. These guards are not only well trained by experienced having fought and survived the attack on Gringotts by the Death Eaters. They escort Ragnok through underground tunnels older than even Gringotts Bank.
They come to a halt before a pair of great doors carved with ancient goblin runes. The runes in question are an ancient archaic dialect no longer spoken except in traditional ceremonies and rituals. The escort parts in half and bows deeply with great solemnity to Ragnok, for they knew that Ragnok carried the news of success or failure.
The massive doors opened with a loud groan to reveal the assembled goblin elders and clan leaders inside. The assembled goblins sit upon countless stone benches in a large circular chamber. There are massive, intricately carved stone columns that rise from the floor to the ceiling.
At the forefront of the chamber are 12 smaller stone seats representing the goblin council. The 12 seated council members wear silver embroidered robes. Among them is Wulm, who sits at the right hand of the King. The council seats are divided into six seats on either side of a great silver goblin-forged throne. The silver goblin crafted throne has delicate leaves and trees carved into the silver with tiny gems that seem to sparkle as brightly as the twinkling stars in the heavens.
Seated upon the throne is Grok Gringotts, majestic and imposing in the regalia of the Goblin King with crown and all. The doors to the hall loudly closed, and the guards in the hall raised their spears to guard the closed doors. The guards in the chamber raise their spears at the signal of the Goblin King and clang their spears against the ground. The clanging of the spears echoed through the chamber before falling silent.
"The Stone Throne sees the stone heir," Grok Gringotts greeted his grandson and heir in Gobbledegook.
"The stone heir greets the Stone Throne," Ragnok returned the greeting in Gobbledegook.
Korrok, a wispy clan head with a long white beard playfully tugged his beard. He and the rest of the goblins eagerly awaited the news of whether the ploy of Reginald Prince succeeded or failed.
The sound of impatient goblins shuffling is heard in the chamber. They gaze up at their king, Grok Gringotts, along with the Council, who expectantly wait for the Goblin King to speak. "What news do you bear, stone heir?"
A wide grin appears on the face of Ragnok as impossible hope begins to fill the chests of those present. Was it possible? Had their plan succeeded?'
Seated upon the council seats, the goblin council members share excited, dubious, and speculative glances. The goblin council was much more cautious but leaned forward to better listen to the words of Ragnok.
Purtang, a goblin councilmember with a pointed little hat and a crooked nose, narrowed his eyes into a slit in concerned thought. Success wouldn't have come easily, if true. There was always a price to pay; the question was what.
With a frown, the elder Wulm glanced at Kostilb, an ancient goblin who delighted in telling anyone within hearing that he had been promoted to the 3rd oldest goblin in the world. He was going up the ranks! Kostilb seemed quite calm and even seemed to have a sparkle in his eyes. Hiding a scowl, Wulm returns her attention to the front.
"It was just as Reginald Prince expected the wizard ban could not be revoked," Ragnok slowly said, causing the hope to fade from the faces of those present. It was just as they had expected.
A heavy sigh of disappointment escaped from Grok Gringotts. "I feared as much." He jadedly shook his head and switched to English. "I warned Prince that the International Council of Wizardry would never revoke the wand ban, no matter what argument was presented before them.
"You were correct, grandfather," Ragnok answered in English.
"But what else, young one?" Kostilb eagerly interrupted, to the surprise of many of those present. "It was not a complete loss; I can see it in your eyes!"
Holding their breaths, the goblins intently turn toward Ragnok with specks of renewed hope in their fervent gazes.
"The plan of Reginald Prince was not to revoke the ban, but rather alter it," Ragnok pensively said. "I was full of speculation at first when the old Prince proposed it, but he was far more visionary than I."
"With clever maneuvering and the use of Nadira, the guardian of Hogwarts, any child of age, race, creed, or descent residing within the Isles can attend Hogwarts as is their magical birthright. Along with any child classified as Magical They in the world may attend a Magical Institution if an invitation is received," Ragnok declared with open delight.
There is a lapse of silence as the goblins can't seem to comprehend the words just spoken out loud. No one knows who cried out first, but all the goblins rose up in joy, wildly laughing and hugging each other. They would never wield wands in their lifetime, but their children and grandchildren would.
A rueful smile appears on Grok Gringotts, who shakes his head in disbelief. The old Prince had done it! He had granted the use of wands to all future generations of goblins to come.
"At long last," Kostilb sighed and leaned back with tears in his gaze. It had been his dream to see goblins at last receive their birthright. His descendants would have that privilege, and for that he was utterly grateful. The entire goblin nation owed Reginald Prince a debt.
Turning to his side, Kostilb offers a dry hankie to Wulm, who is loudly sobbing. "I'm not crying!" Wulm loudly blew into the offered hankie. "I just have something in my eye!"
"Of course, dear, we all do," Kostilb sagely said as he patted Wulm on the back.
Without further ado, Grok Gringotts dismissed his people, who rushed out to send word to their kinfolk. He knew that the goblin nation would not sleep that night and had every right to celebrate. In his office, he penned out an official missive announcing that Gringotts Bank would be closed tomorrow for the day. He wrote a vague but plausible excuse about maintenance being done on the tracks and apologized for any inconvenience caused. It would be the first time in living memory that Gringotts Bank would be closed!
Seated at his desk, Grok Gringotts found his gaze upon the portrait of his ancestor, Ragnuk, the First Goblin King. He had wondered many times since learning that Helga Hufflepuff was kin, if goblins would have had the right to wands that much sooner if not for the obsession of Ragnuk for the sword of Godric Gryffindor. He could lament and wonder about all the what-ifs, but the past had already been written.
A slow, lopsided grin spread across the face of Grok Gringotts. He had truly underestimated Reginald Prince, and for once, he was truly glad that he had. Reginald Prince was an honorable wizard and true to his word. The old Prince's actions had done more for them than any wizard or witch ever had. In doing so, he had ensured that goblins for all generations to come would honor the treatise between wizardkind and goblins out of gratitude and respect.
Reginald Prince would have the rarest of honors bestowed upon one not of their kind. The old Prince would have the honor of being written into the goblin chronicles. Reginald Prince would live on in their memory forever honored. His legacy would resound for all centuries to come.
A knock at the door brings Grok Gringotts out of his thoughts. "Enter," he cried out.
The door opened to reveal the figure of his grandson, Ragnok. "Grandfather," he greeted his grandfather seated at his desk, "are you not going to join in the celebrations?"
"I was merely writing a missive that Gringotts will be closed tomorrow for maintenance," Grok Gringotts impishly grinned.
A good-natured chuckle escaped from Ragnok. "Grandfather that is quite sly of you."
"I do think so myself," Grok cheerfully jested.
The smile fades from the lips of Ragnok, before turmoil is plainly visible on his face. "Are you disappointed, grandfather?" He hesitantly asked.
Grok blinks in surprise and shakes his head. "No, you and Reginald Prince fared far better than I could have ever possibly hoped."
"But the wand ban continues to remain in effect, we ultimately failed to revoke it in its entirety."
Grok rises to his feet and walks over to his grandson. He reaches over to firmly grip the shoulder of his grandson. "Ragnok, when you have lived as long as I have, you will see that what occurred today was a miracle. Your children, the children of our people will wield wands. It is far more than I could have ever hoped for even in my wildest dreams."
"I do not say this often enough," Grok awkwardly said, "but I am proud of you. Even if you had not succeeded today, I would still have been. You are far wiser than I and have proven so when you refused to accept the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. On that day, Ragnok, you ensured that the greed and mistakes of the past would not continue to write the future of our people. That is the mark of a true King, and what a brilliant King, you will make."
A sheen of moisture flashed through the dark, slanted eyes of Ragnok. "Thank you, grandfather," he said with emotion in his voice. He didn't dare speak more lest his voice break.
Clapping his grandson once on the back, Grok releases him and gruffly says, "Well, we best head down to celebrate. I saw Wulm and Kostilb getting started on the ale, when we left. They'll be nothing left for us," he darkly added.
Ragnok blinks in surprise and says, "I knew that Wulm could drink a man under the table, but Kostilb? He's so old!"
A loud snort escapes from Grok. "Kostilb could drink the entire council under the table and still be able to leave the room without any aid on his own two feet."
"Surely, you jest grandfather!" Ragnok murmured in vast disbelief.
"One can only wish," Grok huffed in embarrassment haven been out drunk by Kostilb on more than one occasion. He simply no longer drank with the old goblin as a matter of pride.
The two headed down into the familial quarters where there was a full party in swing. There was one thing the muggles had gotten right about goblins. Goblins can be quite rowdy at times.