Gringotts Wizarding Bank

Professor McGonagall seeing the embarrassed man felt the need to rectify the situation- "I think I should apologize, maybe that was a bit much for you, I'm not the one who usually brings people here, usually we send someone who would meet you at your home and drive you here, showing you the way, but I felt so warm with you guys last time I thought I would be the one to do it, the only problem is I don't know the muggle ways having spent most my time in magical society so I had you use the Floo Powder."

The parent's feeling bad about having her apologize began to wave her off saying everything was fine and that the kids were happy.

Professor McGonagall grinned at seeing the kids happy faces- "Well I'm thankful you didn't take it badly, and I'm glad you enjoyed it, here let me clean you all up and then we can look to finding you a map and instructions on how to get here the muggle way before we go shopping." she said waving her wand, making them good as new.

After stepping out of the public fireplace transportation hub, they finally entered the magical world. Diagon Alley was basically an outdoor mall with a mix of old and new buildings filled with all things having to do with magic.

The Alley was bustling with activity with many small acts of magic being done alongside magical demonstrations promoting stores. The children's eyes sparkled at all the new and interesting things, none more so then Trenton who wished to partake in everything and had to be pulled along by his parents so he wouldn't go wandering around on his own and get lost.

The parents though were also distracted from time to time as the Professor being understanding, patiently waited, and took her time showing them around making sure they understood the basics of what they needed to know and do.

Then they arrived in front of an imposing snow-white multistoried marble building located partway down Diagon Alley, near its intersection with Knockturn Alley, that towers over the neighboring shops.

Professor McGonagall put her hand out towards the rather impressive looking building- "This is Gringotts, the bank of the wizarding world, this is where you can exchange muggle money for wizard currency."

She then grew more serious as she drew the attention of the children- "Due note off to the side, (she pointed) over there is Knockturn Alley, where you should never go, that's where the more dangerous things of the magical world are traded, so it's best not to go there until you're efficiently well learned and a master of magic, don't take unnecessary risks with your life, there is no cure for regret." she solemnly said.

They all gulped before the Professor once again changed her tune- "Now, enough of that dreary talk, let's go in and settle your finances, so you can go back and do some shopping."

"Yes and thank you, we'll make sure our kids understand." Mrs. Epperson said as the rest of the parents nodded along in agreement.

Professor McGonagall- "It's good that you do, now follow closely now, try not to anger the goblins, they can be a grouchy bunch if you take to much of their time."

"Goblins!?" they all asked close to the same time.

Professor McGonagall paused to explain before moving forward- "Yes one of the many magical creatures, Goblins are a highly intelligent race of small magical humanoid beings that coexist with the wizarding world. Due to their skills with money and finances, they run the wizarding bank."

(Goblins are short and fair-skinned, as they spend very little time outside. They have very long fingers and feet, dome-shaped heads and are slightly larger than house-elves.)

The centuries-old bank is run by goblins, and they alone know the secrets of the twisting underground passages and the enchantments (and creatures) in place to defend against intruders. The goblins have a code that forbids them to speak of the bank's secrets and would consider it "base treachery" to break any part of that code. Dragons guard the bank's high-security vaults.

Following along they went up a set of white stairs leads up to a set of burnished bronze doors. The doors are flanked by a goblin in a uniform of scarlet and gold. Trenton couldn't help but point it out which swiftly received a swat from his mother.- "What did I tell you about pointing, don't do it, it's rude."

Trenton complained- "Come on mom, I didn't mean anything by it, when's the last time you've seen a goblin."

The bronze doors lead into a small entrance hall and another set of doors. Engraved on these silver doors are the words:

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.

Hermione read it out loud causing the Professor to explain how to never steal from a goblin- "Yes this is a warning to any thieves who wish to steal will likely die to their tight security measures, not to mention a goblin will often hunt you down to the death to get what's rightfully his."

Through these doors, also flanked with goblins, is a vast marble hall long counters stretching along its length with doors leading off to the vault passageways with around a hundred goblins sitting at them. The vaults extend for miles under the city and are accessible through rough stone, complex and interconnected passageways by means of magic carts that are operated by goblins. Dragons and other mysterious beasts lurk in the depths as additional security devices.

In contrast to the grand marble of the entryway and the main hall, the passageways to the vaults are stone and dimly lit with flaming torches. They slope down to a track, upon which run little carts controlled by the goblins. These carts take visitors deep beneath the surface of the earth, through a "maze of twisting passages," to the vaults. The carts go very quickly, which makes some passengers a little queasy and prevents its occupants from getting a good look at their surroundings, and seem to run on a vast, complex, interconnected series of tracks that allow them to move to and between any vaults.

The vaults themselves vary in size and security. The largest, most well-protected vaults belong to the oldest and richest wizarding families and lie deepest beneath the surface. Those vaults closer to the surface seem to be smaller and have fewer security precautions surrounding them — they use keys, for example, rather than requiring the touch of a goblin to gain access.