Harry and Hermione arrived outside Gringotts, accompanied by Dobby and Winky, with Griphook leading the way through the massive doors.
The time and temperature difference made it's presence felt immediately upon arrival, when they had left, the sun was just beginning to set but it was still warm enough for shorts and tee shirt. In London it was well after midnight and below freezing to boot.
It was an enraged Ragnok that met them in the lobby, leading the group straight to his office. After they were all seated he decided to fill them in with the information they had available.
"As best we can deduce, something portkeyed into his cell just after midnight and portkeyed out with him as a passenger." Griphook looked towards his guests, "we suspect it was a Potter elf."
Harry brought Ragnok up to speed, "we just received a report that two elves were abducted from a party. Aurors are interviewing the organisers and guests as we speak. Our suspicion is that someone has discovered the ancient curse that bound the elves in the first place. The missing elves are also a couple, allowing one to be held hostage to the other's good behaviour."
Hermione continued, "Dobby was bound to the Malfoy's but still managed to contact Harry, trying to warn him of the Basilisk plot at Hogwarts."
"I know these two elves, they will fight this with everything that they have!" declared Winky.
"What I don't understand is how they were able to portkey in?" said Dobby, "Winky and I are probably powerful enough to do it, but would pull down every ward in the bank. Harry and Hermione could literally pull down the bank, but no one else could come close."
The two goblins looked shocked, they had seen Hermione's power and knew Harry would be at least the same, but the thought of the two elves being so powerful had never occurred to them.
"Have we any idea how it was done?" asked Hermione.
"The only thing we can think of is the 'Pendant of Kahan,' while we understand this would work, its been 'lost' for almost fifty years." Answered Ragnok.
Before anyone could ask, Griphook gave an explanation, "during the building and fitting of Hogwarts manager Kahan spent a lot of time travelling between Gringotts and the school. Rowena Ravenclaw made him a pendant that would cut through any wards. The pendant allowed him to travel from his office straight into the main hall at Hogwarts."
Ragnok continued the story, "as a gift from Rowena to a goblin, you can imagine that we were very careful with the item. Unfortunately, just after defeating his dark lord, Dumbledore showed an interest in it. He seemed to think we should all bow down and give him anything he wanted. Not long after this the pendant 'disappeared,' much like your two elves, and though he was, and still is our prime suspect, we had no proof. It was hard enough convincing the right people that he was rotten this time, but just after he defeated Grindelwald? Let's just say a goblin calling him a thief would not have went down to well. "
"Does that give him access to the vaults?" Hermione enquired.
"Oh I wish he would try," grinned Griphook, "every vault contains a ward that would kill any living thing entering via means other than the door. We never considered using a lethal ward on a cell as no one has ever escaped before."
"We had a major influx of elves from the people we would consider most likely to be involved, but there has been no information regarding a kidnapping at all." Offered Winky.
"Until we find out how these elves were captured I don't want any others involved in the search." Dobby and Winky were ready to protest Harry's statement but he was adamant, "they could be walking right into a trap. I know this is hard but we don't want to give whoever is involved more weapons or hostages."
Hermione tried to soften the blow, "Stag Industries have a lot of resources that will be brought to bear on this, the Ministry is also searching and our goblin friends aren't about to take this lying down either. We are not abandoning Dylan and Freda, as far as we're concerned, rescuing them is more important than caching that lying old coot."
"I think we need to try and anticipate their next move. Abduction has been used very effectively so the questions we need to ask are, whom will they go after next? And why?" asked Griphook
Ragnok gave his thoughts, "he's obsessed with controlling Harry, and the key to that is sitting right next to him."
The temperature in the room dropped until it felt colder that outside, but when Harry spoke it definitely became sub-zero. "If he touches my wife and babies he will die less than a minute later. His death will be as painful as I can make it. No one touches my family!"
"But what if she is abducted?" asked Ragnok
Harry gave a smile that was even colder; "Dobby, Winky and I could find her within seconds, regardless of location, wards or whether she was conscious. We are bonded couples but share a bond of friendship between us that would allow the other three to find the one taken. Merlin help the people responsible when we did!"
Dobby was nodding in agreement, "I think they would go for easier targets, and that means Ginny or the Granger's."
Harry reached over to take Hermione's hand, "I'm sorry love but I think Dobby may be right."
Hermione squeezed his hand before replying, "I'm afraid to say it but so do I, but we have a couple of resources that should give us the edge. We have Rowena's journal and access to Godric through his portrait."
This brought a look of disbelief from the goblins.
"We need to research the pendant and, hopefully, the curse that enslaves elves. If we can produce portkeys to match the pendant or a counter curse we would really swing this in our direction." Hermione's jaw was set and determination burned in her eyes.
"Is that possible?" asked a stunned Griphook.
"The one thing I've learned is that when my wife sets her mind to something, nothing is imposable."
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