Harry tossed and turned as the sun started peeking above the horizon before he got up to pace again. The last day or so hadn't been so pleasant for him. It had basically been waiting for the hammer to fall and filling the time however he could.
He quickly found he couldn't keep his mind on studying without subjecting what he was looking at to the 'would this be any good against Dumbledore' test, which nothing seemed able to pass. Quidditch and chess had been victims of it too, though he made sure his broom never left the side of his open bedroom window, just in case he had to make a mad dash for freedom.
Even writing to Hermione had been short-changed. When she wrote to inquire why she hadn't heard anything from him that day and ask if anything was wrong he had sent back a response which probably did more harm than good. Now that he thought about it, how exactly was she supposed to handle a letter that said, 'Whatever's going to happen will happen soon. I may be able to tell you everything this weekend. I hope I can see you again ' and not be worried? Though Hermione had said she understood she did close with: 'And don't you think for one minute I'm not going mad with worry over here and won't demand every minute detail when you're able to explain .'
After his sudden departure from supper the night before, a breakfast he'd hardly picked at, and an hour spent staring off into the distance rather than watching Fred and George put Ron through some Keeper drills, Mrs. Weasley had finally stopped by to make sure everything was alright. That almost had him spilling the beans about everything. The only reason he didn't was because it would've been a really sorry way to repay the hospitality he had already felt bad for imposing upon.
The only person who looked gloomier than he did was Ginny. Harry didn't really know what was going on with the girl and he had given up even trying to care. While he could sympathize with not having any friends, since both he and Hermione had gone through something similar, this was something else and whatever it was it was starting to creep him out a bit.
He hoped once school started they could disappear into their own little groups and not have to deal with each other until Christmas at least. Maybe by then she'd have made friends of her own and snapped out of it.
When he thought back on his week at the Burrow, he didn't particularly like what he saw. While he loved spending time getting to know Hermione, he had spent way too much time away from the family who had welcomed him in and really hadn't done anything to show he appreciated it. Helping de-gnome the garden didn't really count in his mind since the little potato-headed creatures seemed to love it so much.
If this was going to be his last day at the Burrow, Harry didn't want to be remembered as this sullen little kid who had shown up unannounced, imposed on them from the first minute he was there, and didn't show any gratitude for being invited in the first place. He should do something for them, Harry decided. Having been unable to sleep at all last night may have had him see the sun rise, but it also had him up before anyone else, even Mrs. Weasley.
Harry smiled. He knew exactly what he was going to do.
...
Albus looked curiously at a handle that refused to move. The large bronze door would not budge, even trying his keys didn't work. He wondered what could possibly be going on. This was most inhospitable, even for goblins.
"Is there something I can do for you, sir?" came a goblin voice from behind him.
The kindly old grandfather of the wizarding world turned to see a courteous goblin in a finely cut suit. Though it was somewhat odd to see any goblin aside from the occasional guard with a shaven head, the wizard in swirling purple robes with silver moons cast the eccentricity aside, goblins were an odd people.
"I seem to have found my way barred," Albus said sadly. "Perhaps you could help me through? I have business to attend to."
"Of course, there are additional security concerns to take care of first, however," the goblin said, gesturing to a nearby desk. "I take it you haven't been here since the first of the month?"
"I've been away," Albus said nebulously as he followed the goblin and took the proffered seat near the desk. "I trust this will not take too much time? I have other business to be about as well."
"No, no," the goblin said pulling out a set of writing implements. "It should take no time at all. We just need to do a simple account and identity verification."
"Verification?" Albus asked curiously; surely everyone knew who he was. "Is all that really necessary?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"Unfortunately, yes," the goblin explained. "There was a regrettable incident which left one of our most prestigious Financial Managers permanently unable to return to work and his accounts have had to be reassigned accordingly. These new measures are here for your protection and ensure account holder security. It wouldn't do to for someone to access an account unlawfully during this rather sensitive time."
"Ah," Albus said jovially, "of course, of course. I can respect your commitment to your legal obligations, mister-?"
"Barchoke," the goblin smiled.
"-Mister Barchoke," Albus continued, "having written quite a few of our bylaws myself."
"It's really quite simple, Mr. Dumbledore," Mr. Barchoke said as he pointed to the quills. "This is a Blood Quill and this one's a Truth Quill. All we require is a quick scratch from one, a statement outlining where your authority to access the account in question comes from with the other, and your magical signature added at the end."
The kindly old man tried to hide his distaste at having to surrender his blood. He had never liked trafficking in blood, most unclean, if not bordering on Dark, no matter what anyone said. Indeed, many years ago he'd had to outline the acceptable uses of dragon's blood, lest the child-like masses be led astray by the power such substances contained.
All that accomplished for his two accounts, Albus moved to stand.
"Just a moment, Mr. Dumbledore," Mr. Barchoke said, reviewing the vellum slips in front of him. "I'll need the Keys for the accounts for our verification process as well. And you have the Ministerial document that backs up this claim?" the goblin asked pointing to one part in particular.
"Ah, yes. I have them just here," Albus said as he reached into his robes.
The goblin seemed to tense for a moment and out of the corner of his eye he saw a set of scarlet and gold Gringotts guards begin to move.
.....
Want to read ahead. Then Join my Pa*treon 60+ exclusive chapters that are waiting for you.
Even Free members can enjoy 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.
Link: pa*treon.com/Lotus_Lover (Remove the *)
Join Right Now