Gringotts and the dark treasure room
The friends left 12 Grimmauld Place and headed to Gringotts.
Diagon Alley was crowded, as usual, and the group slowly made their way to Gringotts talking about nothing - and looking at nothing - in particular.
If either one of them had paid any attention they would have known that they were being followed.
Draco and his two goons followed close behind the friends, Draco intently watching Hazel. To him she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. He would not allow George Weasley to sully her. He frowned with the thought and slowed as he realized that they were going into Gringotts.
The group arrived at Gringotts and a stern goblin sitting behind the receiving desk gazed down at them silently. Hazel returned the stern look and pulled out a bronze skeleton key set with a deep brilliant sapphire. The Gobblin straightened and gave an odd smile as he took the key from her.
"Ah. Ms. Potter, uhh McGonagall. You have not been to see us in quite some time. You usually use you dimensional route to deposit." He looked at the rest of the group." Will your friends accompany you?"
Hazel looked to Harry. "Where is your key? We can put half in your vault." The goblin perked up when her heard this and decided to patiently wait, but Harry would disappoint him, when he shook his head no, the goblin frowned in confusion.
"You got that because you are the Fatetress.."
The goblin dropped Hazel's key with a loud clang – 'the Fatetress has been named? But wasn't her mother a muggle?' The goblin's thoughts made him fumble Hazel's key.
".. It should all go in your vault Hazel. I have enough money."
Hazel shrugged. It didn't matter, unknown to Harry, she could make deposits into his vault whenever she wanted. Her vault, vault number 601 was opened by the McGonagalls, but she also had a key, left to her by her natural parents, for Harry's vault – hers and Harry's, vault number 687.
The Goblin cleared his throat. "You are the Potter twins correct?" He looked down at them authoritatively.
The both frowned and looked to each other. Harry answered.
"We are. Can't we all go?"
"Of course you can all go. Your vault is for you to do with as you will. But since the two of you are here together I can give you the key to your other vault.
"Know that both of you are required to be there together to open it. It can not be opened by just one of you."
He handed Harry an emerald with a smile. Harry looked at it oddly and before he could ask what it was Hazel spoke.
"What is the vault number?"
The goblin smiled again. "2008, we have all been rather curious to see what was left there. No one has been inside since your parents opened it."
Everyone – with the exception of Harry – frowned.
The ride to vault 601 was uneventful.
"I thought Gringotts would be more. The Goblins of Tan seem to be more advanced than they are here."
The goblin that brought them to the vault scoffed and Evervine shrugged.
"Wake up Lan. I want to enter."
Shylah jumped lightly on her shoulder.
"Why are you always sleeping! Wake up! Wake up!"
Hazel smiled, Shylah acted as if she were upset, but Hazel heard the joy in her friends voice.
"Lan?"
Before Hazel could respond to Harry the vault door shifted and fell to their feet as if it were water. It revealed a different stone door carved in fine intricate runes. Hazel stepped up to it to use her key and press push magic into the lock.
As she did this the "water" rose into the form of a tall women. Shylah landed on her shoulder and watched Hazel at the door.
The woman of water spoke and it was like a cool breeze sliding along the surface of a babbling brook – and none of the friends understood her as Hazel shook her head and looked to the woman.
"That's not true Lan. I come as much as is required." She looked to Harry. "Lan wants to meet you. After you have met you will be able to understand her. She was mother's friend. Half fae, half water sprite."
Harry frowned and looked to the woman of water. She looked to him and he could tell she was smiling but he couldn't see it. The woman spoke and Hazel pursed her lips.
"He knows I mean our mother. We have an agreement between us."
Harry couldn't move. A magical being who said it was his mother's friend. He went up to her with his hand outstretched and the water along her body rippled rapidly - Harry knew she was laughing.
She looked into his eyes and he saw water, light, joy, life, trees, understanding, breath, it was all so confusing and so concise and plain at the same time. She broke the trance and spoke.
"It is good to finally meet you Harry." He looked to Hazel as if asking permission to respond. She scoffed and went to enter her vault.
"You are too old for me to teach you how to engage in conversation. Lan did you know we had a second vault."
"Yes. Lily wanted to make sure you two met."
"Met? She knew we would be separated?"
Lan looked to Harry and he knew she was sad. The water of her body turned a deep blue and it seemed to flow slower. Shylah sang urgently – and maybe a bit angrily.
"Calm Shylah it is an honest question. Hazel give him the ring of finding."
"Okay."
Everyone frowned and looked to the vault door as one. Hazel had answered but sounded as if she was far away. Evervine and Hermione walked to the door together.
When they looked in they both gasped. Hazel's vault was not huge is was cavernous. It had piles of gold, jewels, and valubles. It had doors in odd places all over and waterfalls that flowed both up and down scattered throughout the space.
She came from behind a waterfall at a far side of the cavern – completely dry – walked to steps and was beside them at the door.
She passed him a wide band of braided silver, gold, and a dark blue metal. It warmed in his hand, disappeared and reappeared on his right pinky, then it slowly sank into his skin.
Lan nodded. "Make sure to come more often. I want to see both of you more."
"You're not going to explain the ring to Harry."
"You can do Little Star Sprite." Hazel frowned and pursed her lips.
She closed her vault door and Evervine sucked her teeth. "We aren't going in?"
"I really want to see this other vault." Hazel moved back to the cart, pulling Harry with her as he continued to stare at his pinky and the others reluctantly followed.
As the cart sped deeper into the bank Hazel looked to Harry. "The ring of finding is a fake item. It helps you find anything, but it also can bring you what you need. Not what you want, what you need. Remember that."
They passed a large purple dragon, its huge red eyes opening as the cart neared. It yawned wide, its huge maw looking extremely intimidating. Ron's eyes went wide as he gulped loudly.
Evervine looked at the dragon closely. "that's a Time dragon right?!"
Marcel looked back at it as just as its eye closed. "Here in En?"
"Don't say it like that. En still has magic."
"You and I both know that En's magic is on the decline."
The goblin fidgeting with the cart controls while Ron and Hermione looked at each other.
Hazel said nothing.
"The waterfall of trust is coming up next. Everyone going down to this level must pass.
"if you are being dishonest to Gringotts in anyway the falls will first burn you then expel you from Gringott and will not be able to return."
The cart had slowed and the Goblin looked at all of them for a long moment. When no one spoke up he nodded and the cart jerked forward.
The all stopped talking when the waterfall came into view. It was a massive think of white foaming water. The all sat straighter and when they went under they didn't feel water, they felt a hot wind move through them as if inspecting them. They all turned back to the falls to see wisps of black smoke moving back into the water.
"If any of you were being dishonest to Gringotts the slay wisps would have tasted your soul and evicted you from Gringotts.
They reached vault 2008 and the goblin actually left them.
"The owner of this vault can come and go without a cart. I don't need to wait for you."
"He ran like he was scares of something."
Hazel frowned, think she agreed with Ron.
They turned to see black smog covering the path to the vault entrance.
"A portal?"
"Maybe. I think it is a last security measure. Maybe Harry and I should go first and see what happens."
Harry nodded and they both walked I to the dense smog. After a few moments there was a hissing sound and the smog dissipated.
In front of them was an old wooden door with 2008 crudely scratched into it.
Hazel and Harry looked to each other just as the wooden door opened inward.