Sneaking into Hogwarts & Hypotheses

"We should head to Hogwarts and lock down the Galegold house dorm rooms. All the equipment we'll need is in the Galegold forge at Hogwarts. I already know all the spells to apply to the accessories. So, we can get started right away." I told my mothers.

I call a Hogwarts house-elf, Sammy, and have him apparate us back into the Galegold common room with my permission to let my mothers and Nagini come with me and keep us hidden from Dumbledore.

"Hey Sammy, can you rustle up an early supper I normally eat for dinner? Place it all on my extended table in my room. And do not inform Dumbledore of our presence." I said to the house elf

"Certainly, young master, Sammy will get onto it straight away." Said the excited house elf.

"Tilly," I called.

"Yes, young master Tilly is ready to help." Said the excited elf.

"Nagini, please take Tilly and my mothers to our home and have them packed for the time we will be staying here."

"On the case," said my totem guardian.

They all leave and come back fifteen minutes later.

"Tilly, thank you for your time. Feel free to return to your other duties," I said.

"Thank you, and you're always welcome to call Tilly." Said the house elf.

"Nagini, please guide my mothers to their accommodations, and if you wish to merge your rooms, you merely need to place your hands on each other and say "merge." The castle will do the rest. I will inform my mothers of the details after you're finished and we've eaten." I told my totem guardian.

"That works for us." Said my mothers in unison.

They leave and set their things aside.

They come back, and I bring them to my room with me, turning off the opposite sex on the same-side restriction. And we begin to eat our small feast of tossed salad of greens and berries, tenderloin seared and seasoned to perfection, parboiled carrots and broccoli, and goblets filled with what could be mistaken for wine.

"Aurelius, why is there wine here?" said Martha.

I chuckled. "Don't worry, it's pomegranate juice, at least mine is. They might have given you guys a wine version since you're old enough to drink."

"That sounds lovely; it has been an exciting day but just as tiresome. A nice glass or two of wine sounds like just the ticket." Said a tired Ann who could use a drink.

"Sammy," I said.

"Yes, young master," asked the anxious house elf.

"First off, excellent job on the food. As for drinks for my mothers, are they wine or soft drinks?" I asked the nervous elf.

"They're wine, sir. The mistresses seemed rather stressed, so I opted for wine instead of a soft pomegranate juice." Said the happy house elf for receiving praise but was also wondering if he overstepped his bounds.

"You made the right call. For future reference, inform us if they're drinks. It is not always a good idea for them to be merry even if it was a trying day." I said in a gentle tone.

"Yes sir," said the house elf

"And we will be staying here for the next ten days. So inform the other house elves in the kitchen that they will likely be called whenever we decide to eat." Aurelius said.

"Understood, sir. Sammy will do that straight away. Is there anything else you need, young master?" said the house elf, Sammy.

I look at everyone else for their thoughts, and all of them shake their heads, but just before I speak, my mothers and Nagini thank Sammy for cooking the meal.

The house elf blushed, and I just smiled.

"Not at the moment. Please return to your duties," said Aurelius.

The house elf disappears.

We tucked into the food while mother health nut of a mother, Martha, evaluated the food's quality and health value.

While eating, we briefly discussed what would happen over our time here.

"By the way, why would it take a whole week to do all of this? Don't you just melt a bunch of metal and then pour it into a mold, clean it up, and put the enchantments on?" asked a curious Ann.

"Well, the metal alloy I'll be forging comprises two metals, tungsten and rhenium. These metals get stronger the hotter they get, which will take time. I want to do this over at least 30 minutes of being repeatedly exposed to raw lightning magic. Luckily, I won't have to supply the raw magic, just the intent, since I can draw on the castle's reserves, but I digress. As for the whole process, you are correct in the basic principle. The troublesome part is that while this metal alloy is virtually indestructible to most conventional means, it is also just as stubborn. So, the limitation of the metal is that all of these enchantments must be done within an hour of the object's creation. Simply put, Nagini, and I aren't skilled enough to do more than a pair within an hour for the mildly complex accessories. So, I'll have to prepare the metal alloy to be the size of the accessories they'll be turned into." I said, simplifying the details while trying to give enough context.

"I see, so while we only need twelve accessories to be made, your enchanting level dictates how many accessories you can make at any time. Naturally, some elements are involved, adding complexity and prep work. Your defense bracelet will be connected to your 'mirrors,' which I can only assume would be these indestructible plates that will need to be created before making the defense bracelet. And these mirrors themselves will also be enchanted. Won't you need to make and enchant the mirrors and enchant the ring so that they are connected?" saying something that I may have missed.

"Yes, they will have to have that final enchantment that will link them to the ring," I said.

"However, the enchantments are fairly simplistic, so I can enchant them. I will just need to use the stone in conjunction to make the effects permanent." Said Nagini without thinking.

I look at her incredulously as to why she let something that important slip out.

She has a deer-in-the-headlights look.

"Stone? And why do you look so startled?" said a worried Martha.

"Okay, Aurelius, what the hell do you have in your possession that you neglected to inform us of?" my mother Ann, who was starting to get merrier.

I activate a silencing barrier, which only worries my mother more.

"For Merlin's sake, how many bloody secrets are you going to hit us with?" says my mother, incredulously, realizing what just likely happened.

"Would you be worried that I have a chunk of the philosopher stone in my possession and have figured out why it functions the way it does?" I said with a forced smile while I was sweating profusely.

"Bugger me, why do you have that? How do you have that? We had seen the papers that the thing was destroyed." Said Martha.

"Well, that piece was," I said jokingly.

"Okay, do I even want to know why it somehow breaks a fundamental rule of transmutation? Should I know? Is it worth knowing?" my mother Ann asked, not sure if her mental health could take it.

"I'd advise against it. It should arguably be known only to a master occlumens and a perfectly mentally shielded totem guardian." I said, trying to placate her.

She sighs incredulously and asks me to put a silencing barrier over her. She starts screaming and flailing, no doubt screaming out obscenities.

 "I think you might actually have broken your mother, Aurelius." Said Nagini, somewhat worried.

"Probably, but if she doesn't snap and let out some steam every once in a while, it wouldn't end well," I said, somewhat fearful of my life while trying to justify my mother's actions.

"Okay, while your mother calms down, you still haven't answered my questions." Said Martha, who's starting to come back.

"Well, the stone was housed in Hogwarts, and I knew it. I thought it would be prudent to get a piece of it for study and potentially use it if the situation ever called for it. It just happened that I figured out that it could be used to potentially increase the lifetime of the enchantments that last our entire lifetimes. Since the accessories will be keyed to us, it won't matter if the enchantments don't last forever since no one else can ever use them." I said.

"Okay, so it isn't permanent, just incredibly long-lasting that it might as well be." She said.

"Correct," I said, glad she didn't ask for details.

"Okay, well, let's wait a few more minutes for your mother to calm down." My Mother Martha said with a sigh, thinking that ignorance might be bliss regarding my shenanigans.

Ten minutes later

Ann finally calms down and sits, waiting for me to turn off the barrier.

I turn off hers, and we continue.

"Okay, what did I miss?" said a calmer Ann.

"Basically, the effects are just ridiculously long lasting that they might as well be permanent, and Aurelius took a chunk to study the stone." Said Martha.

"Of course he did," Ann said with a sigh. "Okay, dear, now that I'm calmed down and caught up, let's continue. So, you're saying there will be no issues and that you and Nagini can handle the process. Technically speaking, you could finish all of them in a few days, but you likely want to test each to ensure their efficacy. And to fix any mistakes should they occur?" asked my mother, summing it up.

"That sums it up pretty well," I said.

"Won't we need someone capable of legilimency to an expert level?" said Martha

"…..um"

"You forgot. Didn't you? Well, who knows, you might be a natural legilimens considering your bloodline potentially awakening multiple abilities thanks to Nagini; however, that would be a bad idea if you actually are, since you might do mental harm to your targets who don't have occlumency" said Ann.

"I agree. Even though we were taught it at a young age, we were never taught more than what it was and that it was important, but we had no real means or need to learn the art since we couldn't use magic," said Martha.

"Okay, so we will need to contact a legilimency master to test the effectiveness of the ring," said Martha

"Aren't those who are masters of the art typically law enforcement or criminals," asked Ann.

"I'm sure we can find a professional. After all, forced legilimency is a crime, but if you allow them to attempt it, there is no penalty. So, it shouldn't be a problem. And we don't need to actually inform them that the ring is doing the job. We need to know if the occlumency can keep out an expert-level professional." I said, dissuading their worries.

"Well, I think it's best to make an enchanted ring using everything, but just don't make the enchantments permanent. Then melt it down later." Said Martha.

"I agree," said Nagini and Ann.

"All right, I'll contact Gringotts and have them apparated to Hogwarts. We will meet them, verify their effectiveness, and then send the appraiser on their way. Quick and simple," I said.

"And if it were to fail?" asked Nagini.

"Naturally, we will have them enter a contract that we will only obliviate his memory of what he has obtained due to legilimency. Nothing more, nothing less." I said, placating everyone.

"Okay, now that we have that squared away, what about that thing your mother said about something the goblins shouldn't be made aware of? Are we just going to enter the home and obtain the item or info before we meet them?" asked Ann.

"That's what I assumed was gonna happen," I said in response.

"And did you think of where you would store it? Something so important that it could anger an entire nation of goblins despite the fact your mother had become their savior, so to speak." Said Ann, pointing out things I may have overlooked.

"Well, I'd think that we'd store it temporarily in our home or in Hogwarts. After all, there are places where I can remove any access to with my authority that can't be overwritten. Brute forced, maybe, but the castle itself doesn't take kindly to those who'd attack it. Then we can have it removed to the newly updated or new Galegold manor once we take a look at it." I said, unworried.

"Seems simple enough. As long as we do it on schedule, there is really no issue. Then again, they didn't explain what or where it was within the manor, so it might be prudent to think of what it could be," said Martha with a shrug.

"Hmm, perhaps it houses Godrick Gryffindor's sword?" said Nagini.

"What gave you that idea?" asked Aurelius.

"Well, the sword had been lost to time, and from what I know, Goblin culture, their creations are their property and are merely being loaned to those who commissioned the tool or weapon. It could definitely be considered a slight against the goblins since it's considered something akin to stealing and then rubbing it in their face, and that it is unobtainable?" Said Nagini.

"That could be it. I was thinking of specific information known to the Galegold that could be harmful to Goblins. Still, that kind of thing wouldn't be incriminating unless they read a particular book or letter. They'd likely be worried about the house's defense to attempt to snoop around." I said, contemplating.

"Oooh, oooh, I think I got it." Said an excited Martha.

"Hmm, what are your thoughts?" asked Ann, surprised.

"I think it might be a mix of what both Aureilus and Nagini said?" asked Ann.

"So it's possibly an item, and how to make it?" asked Ann, trying to consolidate the more scatterbrained Martha.

"Yeah, Goblins are known for a few things, but those things are considered trade secrets and sacred to them. And those are?" she said with a grin, pretty confident in her idea.

"Goblin steel, money, and information," said Ann.

"Hmm…." Aurelius thought, and then the idea hit him like a ton of bricks. "Wait, you don't think that one of my ancestors figured out how to make goblin steel?" I said incredulously, thinking it was possible but just as large of a stretch.

"I can see a bit of a flaw in your theory, dear, is that if that were true, wouldn't his family been known far and wide that they could create goblin steel or at least something akin to it?" asked Ann to her wife.

We all looked skeptically at my mom while trading glances, noting each other's disbelief.

"Okay, let's say you are right; what do you think would be the reason?" Aurelius asked.

"Well, I can only think that it was too costly to make, was limited in quantity, or was of inferior quality," said Martha, defending her point.

"I can see that, but I can also see that they would bring the ire of the entire Goblin nation during a time of turmoil. Remember, this was when the world of wizards was still young. Doing something like publicizing that you can make goblin steel will make great allies, but you ensure that goblins will hate you and your line for generations. Another possible thing is that perhaps they stole Goblin steel and reverse-engineered it. If I were to find out that my work was stolen to have my competitor sell an improved or copied version, it would surely upset me." Said Nagini.

"That might very well be the case. It could be stolen materials and perhaps even stolen notebooks," Ann said while in thought.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that regarding smiths, especially those who keep it within their forge. The teachings are only taught orally to preserve the knowledge from getting stolen. The only issue is that should the person die, the information is lost as well." I said in response.

"Well, let's turn in for the day. We have gotten our fill, and we've more or less gotten our timeline set." Said Martha.

Then a house elf, Billy, popped in.

"Hello, young master, a letter addressed to you was residing nearby with an owl that Billy put in the owlery." He says while handing me the letter.

"Thank you, Billy. Please wait a few minutes, and I will get back to you," I said while opening the letter.

<Hello, 9490 from Lock's chests and briefcases, this is James Locksmith. The contacted people have gotten back accepted your proposal, granted that you supply them with 30% of their order 70% amount. It sums up to be about galleons. If accept, place the money in weightless envelope return it owl. Cheers.>

"What is it, Aurelius? And why are you pouring a senior aurors salary inside that envelope?" asks my mother, Martha, as I start filling the envelope with an obscene amount of coins.

"I'm paying for people's spot in line for the hidden expansion charm briefcases," I said casually while handing it back to Billy. "Billy, return this to the owl you have placed in the owlery and let it fly back to its master," I said calmly.

"Right away, sir." The elf says before immediately teleporting away.

"I'm going to bed," my mother, Ann, says before leaving.

They do and leave to get ready for bed.

We all follow her cue and head to bed.