Chapter 5: Gold is just a shiny rock

Waking up the next morning wasn't as bad this time. Minor aches were impossible to avoid from the drain of magic. At least there were none from the sleeping arrangement. Making a bowl of cereal to eat, I pondered on what to do for the day. I'd already covered the basics. The clothes had arrived last night. They needed to be put away but that would barely cover an hour. So I needed something to keep me busy.

Rinsing my bowl I started to move. I began to put away my things when inspiration hit. Diagon Alley. I could go there and get some books. Stopping myself from playing the fool when the school year starts. Destination decided I got dressed and headed out. According to the map, the tube would cover the most ground before I'd have to walk the last bit to the entrance. Making my way through the city was fairly easy and painless with the automated ticket machines. Exiting the tunnel I found the leaky cauldron. With that out of the way, another problem presented itself fairly quickly. Even if I knew the combination to enter the Alley I couldn't get in, I didn't have a wand. I needed to ask someone to open the alley to get inside.

Grabbing the handle I took a calming breath before I stepped into the tavern. The light change was blinding. My eyes found it hard to adjust to the loss of brightness. It was very dark inside. When my eyes adjusted I walked into the movie screen. Everything I'd ever dreamed the Leaky Cauldron was, sat in front of me. From the shabby bar with the cheery patrons to the wooden tables crowded with chairs. It was almost perfect, the fact that I had to talk to someone was not.

A cunning thought possessed me. I didn't have to talk to anyone, I just had to wait for someone else to enter and go in behind them. Being as unnoteworthy as possible, I calmly strolled across the room. The back door within my sights, when I got called out by a great booming voice. "Well, and who might you be?" It was a man's warm and cheerful voice behind me. Turning around to see who it was and all I saw was a red sweater and a very large coat with too many pockets.

Whoever they were they blocked my sight of the rest of the room. Finding just their stomach, my gaze kept going up. Titling my neck back to see their face proved difficult. I saw tufts of an unruly beard and long brown curly hair. His face was a rosy shade with kind eyes looking down on me. This man is a giant, I thought in my head, who else could it possibly be other than Hagrid.

Upon closer inspection, he seemed slightly off-kilter. He might have been here a while and that could work in my favor. My thoughts quickly turned to how I could convince Hagrid to let me into Diagon Alley. "Hey Little Miss, what are you doing in the Leaky cauldron?" Those words gave me the idea I needed. "I got separated from my nanny. They went into Diagon Alley and I don't know how to get to them. I'm worried they'll leave me behind if I take too long. I was supposed to be right behind them." In Hagrid's semi-inebriated state, it took him a few seconds to process that statement before he replied to me. "Well, I can open the wall for you Miss. If that's what you need."

I had finally scored with someone who would be willing to open the stupid wall. In joy I exclaimed "Thank you, thank you so much. I really didn't know what to do." Taking a risk I tried to wrap my arms around the big man in a hug. Letting go just as quickly I glance up to gauge his expression. Upsetting him was the last thing I wanted to do. Seeing the goofy smile. I knew I had made the right decision to befriend the man. "Let's Go" he bellowed as he lead the way across the last stretch room and out the back. In front of us stood the magical wall that opened into the alley. "Let me show you how to get it open, for when you're older. Just follow where I tap and when you get your wand you can open it yourself." Following the pattern, I did as he said and memorized it. Watching the bricks rotate and disappear into each other was mesmerizing.

The hole left in the wake of this was big enough to fit two Hagrids and still have room left over. Walking behind him I crossed from one world into the other. The bricks closed seamlessly behind. Turning back to Hagrid I began to wish him to have a good day before running off "Where do you think you're going, little missy?" In my sweetest voice, I replied: " To go find my nanny." Hagrid was far too kind and serious about making sure I was safe. " Well just let me come with you so you don't get lost again." Panicking at the failed attempt to ditch him I stall. How was I supposed to get away without being mean or rude? "It's okay, I can find them on my own I don't want to take you away from your friends for too long. Besides, even if my nanny and I are separated I don't live very far from here. I was just going to get some money and a few books. I've walked there and back on my own before." a nervous lilt highlighted my voice. I hoped it would go unnoticed. Shifting from foot to foot I waited for him to go back to the pub.

" I guess that's okay here, but just in case, how 'bout you stop and say goodbye when you're heading out of the alley so that I know you end up okay." Pondering about all the difficulties his request made, I realized that I could probably get around him asking about my nanny this way. Agreeing to meet later, we parted ways. On my own, I headed toward Gringotts. Admiring the style of the buildings, I noticed the alleyway which all the witches and wizards poured out from. Dirt piled up around the edges of the road. Magic was everywhere her. Why did no one clean up? Just a simple flick of the wand and everything would be done. With great abilities comes great laziness, I guess.

Finding the goblin bank was as simple as following the path until I came across the crooked white pillars and the doors with a plaque above it reading GRINGOTTS. Piquing my interest was the bank itself. Standing there was the tallest of all the surrounding buildings but also the cleanest. Unlike the other shops, Gringotts shined. Getting closer I noticed the finer details. The guards standing at attention flanking the door. The glowing marble steps led me to the doors. At the top of them, I could finally read the warning that held its place on the inner doors.

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

Chills traveled down my spine. Continuing onward, I walked timidly into the grand hall where most transactions took place. Tall marble counters stretched along the length of the hall with small gaps in between. They lead into different hallways that boasted imposing archways carved into the stone. Gold moldings and elegant chandeliers decorated the ceiling.

Sitting at all the desks were goblins. Busy sorting and measuring all the different currencies that passed through here. Comparing them to what I saw in the movies and other fan drawings, I couldn't see any differences between the two. Bald headed, pointy noses, and long knobbly fingers described the majority of goblins. They were all impeccably dressed, as bankers should be. According to the basics about goblins, they value money and loyalty to each other above all else. Picking up one of the brochures on a counter meant for new accounts, I began to read. Details including how their system worked and where everything was placed in the hall were inside. Lucky me, I didn't need to ask for instructions.

Following the instructions, I headed to the desk for personal vaults. Getting in line, I continued to read the brochure. According to it, the goblins had figured out how to connect with the muggle banks. This helped them avoid having a huge stockpile of muggle currency. It also helped the security of the bank since they didn't want Muggle-borns walking in with several hundreds of Euros just to exchange. They had a separate system to transfer from the muggle accounts to the wizarding bank and conversion of funds that connected through debit cards. Surprisingly the most forward-thinking people in the wizarding world were the banks. Unsurprisingly, they didn't accept credit cards. Banks will still be banks and nobody likes debt.

Vaguely I wondered how they got around the magic and technology not blending well issue. Ten minutes passed before I was at the front of the line. Putting the brochure away, I took a deep breath and stepped up to the counter. The rumors about goblins being straightforward and holding a partial disdain to humans seemed to be true. "What do you want?" Asked the goblin in a gravelly voice. Smiling at the bluntness I replied bluntly " I would like access to vault 666 and a way to access my money without coming back here." the forthcoming statement was just as blunt though accompanied by a slight smile. "Key" Holding up the key a hand reached and grabbed it from me. Stepping down from the desk he continued talking. " I can take you to the vault now and the pouch will cost you 10 galleons. It comes with a direct link to your vault and depending on how much you pay more protections and securities. Follow me."Trailing close behind, to avoid getting lost, we walked down one of the hallways. Before we could get any farther he motioned me into one of the legendary carts.

Hopping into the cart I hoped that it would be like those roller coaster rides that had full security measures with the arm-bar bolted into the seats. Instead, it looked like one of those pop-up roller coasters that makes you terrified of falling out at every turn and drop. I did not like those. They were the reason, that even now as an adult, I had a fear of falling. It only takes one little bump or sway to knock it off the tracks. Sending everyone concerned flying.

When the cart finally started moving I figured out that the bank had the permanent kind but with magic instead. No real measures to keep me in the cart could be seen but I was still firmly locked in. Even though there were magic protections the rocks still got a little too close for comfort. Abruptly we came to a stop. We had reached my vault and the goblin motioned me out. Looking at the large door I was confused. The size of the door was far too large. I thought that only the lower numbered or family vaults had these ornate and gargantuan doors.

" Blood." Barked out the goblin. At my confused expression, the goblin continued. " You need to verify your blood connection before the vault security will allow me to insert the key. Prick your finger on the door handle then I will be able to insert the key." Doing as he instructed I grabbed the handle of the ornate door. Pricking my finger sounded an awful lot like Aurora. If this was a trick for me to become sleeping beauty, this was going to suck. Feeling the needle prick my index finger, I reflexively tried to take my hand back, but the knob wouldn't let me. It felt as if something was holding it there. The pain started to ebb when the goblin turned the key.

Almost immediately the magic released me as the lock clicked into place. I moved back just in time for the doors to swing out towards. Revealing the inside of the vault and a single light shining down upon a pedestal. Displayed on the pedestal was a single black bracelet and nothing else. Once again seeing my confusion the goblin explained. "The vault is magiced. Those possessing the first key, blood, have the right to access the vault. The secondary key, which is the bracelet acts as a replacement for the blood and binds ownership of the vault to that person. Generally, the bracelet acts as the sole key upon re-entry to the vault. Only those in possession of the key, or with the owner's permission may enter" he said growing more irritated as the explanation went on.

Picking up on what he was saying I walked inside. Reaching the pedestal and I extended my hand to touch the bracelet. I don't know what I was expecting. Perhaps an explosion or some deep connection like with the ring. Moments passed and when nothing else happened but me feeling like an idiot, I relaxed. Holding it in my hand I could tell it was made out of some kind of thin black stones strung together. Slipping it onto my wrist the room came alive around me.

Bright lights shone done on piles and piles of coins. In a room larger than the main hall of the bank I was surrounded by the glimmer of silver copper and gold. There was too much money in here, more than I could possibly spend in four lifetimes. Why would I need this much money at all? I bet that the amount could be equal to the amount of one of the old families. Trying to take my mind off the money, I looked elsewhere in the room. Whatever else it might be, it was still a cavern. Carved stones with small patterns graced the walls. Distance between me and those etchings was far too great for me to make any sense of them. Hearing a noise broke my concentration. Coming from behind me, the goblin seemed infinitely more irritated with my lack of movement.

Quickly I walked over to the nearest pile. Sweeping more than enough galleons to buy a bank pouch into my bag I exited the vault. The closing of the doors was swift and silent. Once more locked tightly when I cleared the space. Looking back at the ornate door, I decided to take a picture before getting back into the cart. Riding back up to the main hall the goblin took my money and handed me the most expensive type of pouch available to connect to my vault.