Chapter 58

Albus smiled, reading the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. It had been a few weeks since Skeeter had been fired from the Prophet, and most of the initial outrage had subsided. He smirked, knowing it was only a matter of time before things returned to normal.

The wizarding public had a notoriously short memory for this kind of thing, and soon they would move on to the next scandal, leaving Skeeter all but forgotten.

In truth, he blamed himself for allowing things to go this far with Skeeter in the first place. He knew she would be a problem after she wrote the article about James Potter, and that was when he should have dealt with her, but he had been focused on too many other things to nip this one in the bud when he should have.

After his conversation with Harry, he knew it was something he couldn't put off any longer. For the greater good, Rita needed to be swept from the board. She had become a wild card of late, and upset too many of his long-term plans.

He had briefly considered eliminating her more permanently, but didn't want to waste the golden opportunity that fell into his lap.

The long standing order he had for the editor of the Prophet ensured that anyone mentioning Evergreen would be fired immediately. He had of course taken it a step further when he found out it was Skeeter, and applied some pressure to the other reputable publishers in the country to make sure she didn't find another job in Britain, and from what his contacts had told him Skeeter already had a few offers from Italy and France, and it wouldn't be long until she accepted one of them, and was out of his hair, and the country permanently.

'It's a much better solution all around,' he thought, congratulating himself as he stroking his beard. 'Killing has the unfortunate side effect of turning people into martyrs, and adding legitimacy to their claims.'

'In another few weeks I'll have the prophet print another article,' Albus thought to himself. "The Life & Lies of Rita Skeeter has a nice ring to it," he chuckled, thinking about how the article would paint Skeeter as a fraud who made up her articles, and passed them off as fact.

Along with it, the Prophet would print a statement making it clear they had no choice but to fire her or risk the integrity of the newspaper.

***

Hermione looked up from her exercises at Harry as she wiped the sweat from her brow. He was reading another letter from his barrister. She sighed, seeing the tiredness in his eyes, knowing the last few weeks hadn't been easy on him.

Now that everything was out in the open with the study group, it felt like they could end up exchanging spells every time they saw each other, and Harry had been running himself ragged keeping them at bay.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, stopping her training early. "Can we talk?"

"Sure Hermione," Harry said, rubbing his face tiredly. The strain of constantly sensing for the study group was beginning to take its toll on him, and the only respite he got now was the time he spent in the room of requirement. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I think maybe we should consider talking to the headmaster again," Hermione suggested. "Maybe you just caught him at a bad time?"

"No," Harry shook his head bitterly. "You didn't see the look on his face when I brought it up to him," he explained. "He shut me down and got out of there as quickly as he could. We aren't going to get any help from him."

"Maybe he's one of them," Draco suggested. "From what my father said about Dumbledore, his interests aren't too far off from Celestia's rhetoric."

"…I don't know," Ron said, weighing in as well. "If he was with them, wouldn't he have done something by now? Besides that, he didn't seem to like Lord Niven very much either."

Harry sighed, having gone back and forth on those same points with Merlin as well. "I don't know," he admitted. In truth, the Headmaster was involved in so many things it was almost impossible to know where his true interests lay.

"What about the other teachers, then?" Hermione pressed. "Professor Green might be able to help, probably Professor Flitwick too."

"No," Harry shook his head. "None of the professors are any match for them. The only thing telling them would accomplish is putting a target on their backs as well, and that's if they believe us in the first place," he added, thinking about Tonks's reaction when he told her.

"And there's nothing new from the Minister?" Draco asked.

"Not much," Harry shook his head, holding up the letter he received from Ted. "Ted said he's going to meet with the Minister in a couple of days, but we would need every single Auror, and then some to stand a chance."

Ron nodded, seeing the scope of the problem. "We need a lot more help, but we don't know who we can trust."

"Yeah," Harry replied. "We also don't know how many Aurors are in the pockets of the Alumni either, so even going to the Minister could end up blowing up in our faces."

"They could turn on us before the battle even starts," Draco concluded. "Never mind waiting until the ritual."

"…Wait," Ron said, an idea suddenly coming to him. "What about the Goblins?" He asked excitedly. "I was inside Gringott's. They have an entire army just sitting there, doing nothing, and I doubt the Alumni are working with them."

"Goblins," Merlin snorted, offering his own opinion. "It's a waste of time. The only thing they care about is their treasure. They won't raise a finger to help us."

'Maybe it's still worth a shot,' Harry thought back. 'I'm on fairly good terms with them already. It couldn't hurt to ask.'

"Trust me, Harry, making deals with Goblins never work out in the long run. They'll always demand more than you're willing to give, and they always have an angle to play," Merlin replied.

'Considering what's at stake, we don't have much of a choice,' Harry thought back, wondering where Merlin's animosity for the goblins came from.

"It's a good idea, Ron," Harry agreed. "I'll send them a letter."

***

Harry stood outside the steps of Gringott's bank, still surprised the goblins had responded so quickly. It had only been a day since he sent the letter with Dermott.

"They're up to something," Merlin reiterated. "Keep your guard up," he warned.

Harry nodded, walking past the guards as he stepped inside the bank.

"Harry Potter, please come this way," Griphook said as soon as he caught sight of Harry. "The Chairman is waiting for you upstairs."

"Thank you," Harry replied, following the Goblin to the elevator, remembering the last time he had been here. "Is it normal for the Chairman to grant meetings this quickly?" He asked curiously.

"No, it is not," Griphook replied. "But you are one of our most important clients, so allowances have to be made," he explained.

Griphook's comment gave Harry pause as he looked at the Goblin shrewdly. "Why is that? I'm nowhere near your richest client. Why has the Chairman taken such an interest in me?"

"I'm not certain," Griphook replied. "The Chairman is wise, beyond his years… but if I were to hazard a guess, your potential impressed him."

"My potential?" Harry asked, curiously.

"Yes," Griphook nodded. "As you said, there are clients we have that have several times your wealth, but for the most part, those accounts are stagnant. Most of them haven't grown meaningfully in the past two hundred years."

"And you think mine has?" Harry asked. "All my money came from solving Merlin's vault, and I haven't done very much with it."

"You're too modest Harry Potter," Griphook replied. "We've followed your dealings closely. Your ownership stake in the Nimbus Broom Company, your scholarship program, even your failed bid to buy the Leaky Cauldron. You are willing to take risks, make long-term investments, and as we Goblins say, fortune favors the bold," he finished with a toothy grin of razor sharp teeth as they stepped off the elevator.

Griphook quickly made his way to the door of the meeting room and pushed it open, revealing a long wooden table dominating the center of the room, each chair taken by an important-looking goblin, along with the Chairman, sitting at the head of the table.

Griphook moved forward, pulling back the chair reserved for Harry.

Harry sat down, using his occlumency to hide his nervousness. When he asked for this meeting with the Chairman, he hadn't really known what to expect, but a full meeting with his entire board hadn't crossed his mind.

"It is good to see you again, Harry Potter," the Chairman said from across the length of the table.

"You as well, Chairman Gringott," Harry replied with a nod of his head.

"In your letter, you said there was something you needed to discuss with me," Gringott said. "Something urgent."

"Yes," Harry replied. "Although I wasn't expecting this many Goblins to attend. Is this something we can speak privately about?" He asked, not expecting to reveal everything about the Order to so many goblins.

"You said in your letter this matter was urgent, did you not?" Gringott asked sternly.

"I did," Harry replied, knowing that he had to tread carefully, and not inadvertently insult the head of the goblin nation. "But it's also a sensitive matter."

"These are my most trusted Goblins," Gringott explained. "Anything you tell me will be discussed with each of them, so unless this matter is not as urgent as you said it was, I suggest you get started."

"It's urgent," Harry replied. "But it's also going to be hard to believe," he warned.

"Speak," Gringott replied, his face impassive. "And I will judge for myself."

Harry nodded, thinking about where to begin. "While at Hogwarts, I witnessed a group of students doing something dangerous," Harry explained, only to be interrupted by a goblin he didn't recognize.

"Then tell your headmaster about it, and be done with it," the Goblin jumped in flippantly. "We have no time for such trivial matters."

Before Harry could reply, the Chairman sent a withering glare at the goblin. "Be silent," he hissed, causing the boisterous goblin to shrink into his seat, suddenly finding the table very interesting as he bowed his head.

"Continue," The Chairman said, turning his gaze to Harry. From what he knew about this human, he doubted very much it was a schoolyard squabble he was talking about.

Harry nodded, explaining as clearly as he could how he had discovered the study group performing the ritual with the acromantula, and their subsequent run-ins with them.

"You had a friend I treated," Narglug said, interrupting Harry's story. "He arrived late in the night and said he was attacked."

"Yes," Harry nodded. "We broke into their dormitory that night, looking for proof of what they were up to, but they found us before we could leave."

"I spoke with him as well," the Chairman replied. "Continue."

"We know where the chamber is that they're storing the magic in," Harry explained. "But it's too well guarded for us to attack on our own."

"Your plan is to disperse the magic before they can use it to open the portal," the Chairman surmised.

"Yes," Harry nodded. "And we need help to do it, your help."

"Do you have any proof of this?" Gringott asked.

"Yes," Harry replied, taking the tome he stole from the study group and placed it on the desk. "This is the ritual they performed?"

"May I?" Gringott asked, gesturing to the book.

Harry nodded as Griphook retrieved the book and brought it to the chairman.

Gringott looked at the cover before opening the book and flipping through the pages, his eyes widening as his skepticism disappeared, physically recoiling at the last few pages. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the tome was genuine. Such things couldn't be easily faked.

It also bore a striking resemblance to a few of the rituals his predecessors had described. "It's genuine," he said, putting the book down, setting off a few whispered conversations amongst the other goblins.

"That's only the start to what I found," Harry went on. "They have another tome. It's far more dangerous. That's what they're going to use to open the portal."

Gringott nodded. "And your plans for this tome?" he asked, gesturing to the one sitting on the desk.

"To destroy it," Harry answered immediately. "And if I can't do that, there's a place I have to lock it away."

"That is something we can help with now," Gringott offered. "We have a method of destroying such vile things," he added, looking at the tome distastefully.

"There are protections on it," Harry replied. "I've studied them myself. Normal methods won't work."

"Bring it," Griphook said, turning to one of the guards at the door.

A few moments later, the guard returned, holding a cast-iron box. He placed it on the desk with a loud bang as the smell of sulfur filled the room.

Harry looked at the box curiously. He could detect magic from it, but couldn't figure out how it was supposed to work.

"The box creates a fire hot enough to melt just about anything," Gringott said, placing the tome inside.

Harry nodded, watching as the box began to glow and hiss. He extended his senses, feeling the magic of the tome breakdown as the box grew brighter, and brighter, until he couldn't detect anything else from the box.

"It's done," Gringott said as the box noticeably dimmed.

"Thank you," Harry replied, glad to no longer worry about the tome falling into the wrong hands.

"Why not go to your own people with this?" a goblin asked.

"The Alumni," Harry explained. "They've infiltrated our government, and the ones we can trust to be on our side aren't enough to stop them."

"Then you want us to risk goblin lives to solve a human problem?" The Goblin continued.

"This isn't just our problem," Harry replied. "It's everyone's," he said, revealing what he could. "Whatever comes out of that portal is going to be the most powerful magical being on the planet. It poses a threat to all of us."

"And what is it you are asking for, specifically?" Gringott pressed.

"Your army," Harry replied bluntly.

"You ask a great deal Harry Potter," Gringott said, leaning back in his chair. "Have you considered what would happen if you were wrong about all this?"

Harry looking at Gringott resolutely. "No, I'm not wrong about this. I've spoken to the one they want to bring here, and she's dangerous on a scale we've never seen before."

"…. We'll need more before we can commit ourselves to this action," Gringott said, weighing his options carefully.

"What more do you need?" Harry asked in disbelief. "I stole that tome from them. They've used the empowerment ritual multiple times already."

"It's not the simple," Gringott replied. "We have a treaty with your kind, and the terms are clear. To bring an army to the surface would be an act of war, and should you be wrong, should this be some kind of trick, it is my people that will pay the price. My answer is no."

Harry sighed in frustration. It felt like everywhere he turned for help; he was denied. "If she escapes," he tried again. "It will be bad for all of us. She will rule with an iron first, and there will be no one that can stop her."

"And how would that be any different to how things are for our kind now?" A nameless goblin asked.

"Our meeting is concluded," Gringott said, bringing the discussion to a close. "I wish you luck Harry Potter, but this is not something the goblin nation can assist you with. Griphook will see you out."

Harry stood up from his chair and followed Griphook out of the meeting room, knowing there was no point in arguing any further. Gringott had made up his mind, and they were on their own.

"Your thoughts," Gringott said, looking around the room as the door closed behind Harry.

"You made the right decision, Chairman," the same faceless goblin said. "The human asks for too much, while offering nothing in return."

"He seems trustworthy, for a human," Narglug offered.

"Hmm," Gringott agreed, nodding his head. "I don't doubt his words either. Prepare our defenses," he said, looking at another goblin.

"This could all be a trick," another goblin offered. "The treaty is as good as dead if we bring our army to the surface. Maybe that's what the humans want, a chance to wipe us out for good."

Gringott nodded, considering the possibility as well. Just because Harry Potter believed what he said was true didn't mean it was.

"We've lived under the heel of the humans for long enough," another goblin added. "Whatever comes out of the portal doesn't have to be our enemy. Perhaps we will get more favorable terms with a new player in the game."

Gringott stroked his chin, deep in thought. As always, his advisers gave him much to consider, and this was perhaps the most important decision of his rule. He just couldn't shake the truth of Harry Potter's words, but the risks were great, and the rewards were nebulous at best.

***

Cornelius looked out over the countryside, waiting for Amelia to arrive. He knew they were still at odds over the disappearance of Black, but within the Ministry there were few he could truly count on, and Amelia was one of them.

"Alright Cornelius, I'm here," Amelia said, casting a warming charm on herself to fend off the cold. "What was so important that we couldn't discuss it in your office?"

"I need your help," Cornelius said, turning to face her.

Amelia paused, seeing the serious expression on Fudge's face, sensing something was seriously wrong. 'He's rarely ever this direct.' "What's going on? What's happened?" She asked, now worried.

"I have credible information about a threat," Cornelius replied. "But I don't have any proof."

"And how trustworthy is this source of yours?" Amelia questioned.

"I trust him. He wouldn't lie about something like this," Cornelius replied with no hesitation.

"Alright, tell me what you know," Amelia replied.

"There's been a cult operating for at least a few hundred years," Cornelius explained. "I know for a fact they've infiltrated the Wizengamot, and I have to assume the same for the Ministry, and the Aurors."

"These are serious accusation Cornelius," Amelia said. "And you're making them against the most power people in the country."

"I know," Cornelius sighed, knowing that he was putting both their careers on the line by even having this conversation.

"Alright," Amelia nodded. "Tell me about this cult. What do they want?"

"That's the part you're going to have trouble believing," Cornelius explained. "They're planning to open a portal to another world, to bring someone from that place to here. We can't, under any circumstance, allow that to happen."

"Cornelius - I, what?" She said, looking at him in confusion, not even sure where to being with something like that.

"I know, I know," Cornelius shook his head. "It sounds crazy. You don't have to say it."

"It sounds crazy because it is crazy!" Amelia replied. "When was the last time you got your head examined?"

"Damn it, Amelia!" Cornelius said, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I know it's crazy, but it's the truth!"

"Where are you getting this from, Cornelius?" Amelia demanded.

"…Harry Potter," Cornelius admitted, knowing that he was losing Amelia. "He found them performing a ritual to steal magic."

"Steal magic?" Amelia asked, bewildered. "Cornelius, do you hear yourself? This is crazy!"

"Tell her," Cornelius said with a sigh, hoping Amelia would believe him if he heard it from one of her own recruits.

"It's true ma'am," Tonks said, appearing from beneath an invisibility cloak.

Amelia scrambled back, drawing her wand in a panic before she recognized who it was. "Cadet Tonks? Is that you?" She demanded, her eyes narrowing.

"Yes ma'am," Tonks replied, knowing that she was likely to get an ear full later.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Amelia demanded, now furious. "You are supposed to be in the academy! Not running around on some wild goose chase!"

"It's not her fault," Cornelius jumped in. "I recruited her into my security detail."

"You did what?!" Amelia demanded, rounding on Fudge now. "She hasn't even finished training yet! What do you mean she's on your protection detail?!"

"Calm down, Amelia," Cornelius said, seeing how things were flying out of control. "I told you before. I didn't know who to trust. The only place I can recruit from without the risk of them already being compromised is the academy. There's also a lot more we have to tell you."

"Fine," Amelia said, still glaring at the two of them. "But we are NOT finished with this conversation," she said, directing a glare at Tonks.

"I went with Harry to the school," Tonks said. "He showed me the entrance to a secret chamber they built underneath the school grounds. It's heavily forfeited. The students that went through the ritual chased us out. And I can tell you now, they were tougher than any opponent I have ever faced before, and by a wide margin as well."

"That isn't saying much," Amelia dismissed. "You didn't fight in the war. You don't know how bad it gets."

"No ma'am," Tonks shook her head. "You don't understand. The amount of magic they were throwing around. It wasn't natural. It would have taken at least twenty fully trained witches and wizards to put out the amount of magic they were, and they weren't even winded afterwards."

"If they're as powerful as you say they are, how are you standing here?" Amelia asked.

Tonks looked to Fudge, not sure how much about Harry he wanted her to reveal.

"Tell her," Fudge replied, knowing what Tonks was asking him.

"Harry," Tonks replied. "He took down the guards we faced and got us away from the students that did the ritual."

"Harry Potter, the first-year student saved you?" Amelia asked skeptically.

"Come of it Amelia, I know you see it too," Fudge replied. "Harry's strong, and not just for his age."

"All of this still sounds crazy," Amelia said flatly, not sure where to even begin picking apart the crazy things she had just been told in the span of a few minutes.

Amelia stared at Fudge for a long moment. She knew him well enough to know that he at least believed what he was saying, then looked at Tonks. She was the best recruit in the academy and gained absolutely nothing by lying to her.

"Alright, let's say I believe you," Amelia said, holding up her hand before either of them could speak. "I'm not saying that I do," she clarified. "But I'm willing to at least hear you out. What do you want me to do?"

"We need to know who we can trust," Fudge replied. "How many Aurors can you personally vouch for?"

Amelia sighed, considering the question. "Maybe twenty."

Cornelius sighed. He had hoped the number would have been higher, considering there were roughly one hundred Aurors employed by the Ministry. "That isn't anywhere near enough."

"Enough for what?" Amelia pressed.

"To stop the cult," Cornelius replied.

"Cornelius," Amelia said. "You're talking about mobilizing the Aurors for war. That isn't something I can just authorize, the Wizengamot needs to sign off on this too."

"Damn it Amelia," Cornelius sighed. Amelia had always been a stickler for the rules, and on any other occasion he would be grateful for it, but not this time, when everything was on the line. "I need you to do this," he said. "And before you start, I know. I don't have the authority to make you do this, but the Wizengamot is compromised, and there's too much at stake to risk tipping them off."

"Cornelius…" Amelia started. ".. Look, I know you believe this is true, but we have rules in place for a reason. What if you're wrong? This could cause a panic and think about the message this sends. We have three branches of government for a reason. The Ministry proposes the laws, the Wizengamot votes on and ratifies the laws, and the DMLE enforces them. If we circumvent these branches, it just breeds corruptions."

"Corruption?" Cornelius asked, disbelievingly. "You've got to be kidding me. Everyone knows the Wizengamot does whatever it likes, and it falls to people like you and me to pick up the pieces and keep the government running."

"Cornelius, I know the Wizengamot doesn't always get it right," she said, thinking about the travesty that occurred when he brought Potter in front of the Wizengamot. "But it's still the best system we have."

"Amelia, you have to wake up and see the forest for the trees," Cornelius sighed. "It isn't just my wife that was denied justice, it was a lot of people, or have you forgotten about Black?"

"…Black?" Amelia asked, hoping that issue had been put to rest.

"You and I both know that Black didn't suddenly become a recluse. He's been imprisoned, and it wasn't done by the DMLE. He didn't even receive a trial. That has the Wizengamot written all over it. Look me in the eye, and tell me there isn't something going on."

"Alright," Amelia relented. "I'll reach out to the Aurors I can trust. Tell me when, and I'll tell them to 'investigate' a disturbance in the Forbidden Forrest. That's the best I can do."

"Thank you Amelia," Cornelius said gratefully.

"Cornelius. It goes without saying, but I hope you know what you're doing, because neither one of our careers is likely to survive this if you're wrong."

***

"Well?" Saul asked as Tonks walked into his office.

"The Minister had a meeting with Amelia Bones," Tonks replied. "She's on board."

"Good, good," Saul said, leaning back in his chair.

"Are we going to join them?" Tonks asked. "They'll need all the help they can get."

"That remains to be seen," Saul replied. "Despite the rumors, the Unspeakables aren't trained fighters, we're mainly just researchers."

"Come on," Tonks said, rolling her eyes. "You can't fool me with that line."

Saul raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"The way they move gives them away," Tonks replied. "Their silent, even when they don't need to be, and every time they enter a room they scan it for escape routes, and always put themselves in the most defensible part of the room."

"I'm impressed," Saul said with a smirk. "New recruits almost never pick up on that."

"You're deflecting," Tonks pointed out. "And you didn't answer my question."

"No, I suppose I didn't," Saul said with a light chuckle. "Force of habit, but our involvement will be a last resort."

"What? Why?" Tonks asked in surprise.

"We don't like to get involved with the politicking, or the back room deals the Wizengamot is so fond of," Saul explained.

".. Then what should I do?" Tonks asked.

"Keep doing what you're doing," Saul ordered. "Keep us appraised of the situation and let us know when things get out of hand."

"That's it?" Tonks asked, surprised. "Shouldn't we prepare as well? These people are dangerous."

"Who says we're not?" Saul asked.

"What's the plan, then?" Tonks asked.

"We're preparing a team to assist Mr. Potter," Saul explained. "And we have eyes within Hogwarts. We'll know when they start the ritual, although there is one thing," He said, tapping his chin. "You said that Mr. Potter had a tome, a ritual to take magic?"

"Yes," Tonks nodded. "He took it from them."

"And you've seen it?" Saul pressed.

"Yes," Tonks replied. "Harry had it with him."

"I see," Saul replied. "Can you get it from him?" He asked, leaning forward. "I don't like the idea of something so dangerous being guarded by an eleven-year-old."

"I- I mean I can ask him," Tonks replied. "But I don't think he's going to go for it. He doesn't want to risk it falling in to the wrong hands."

"See what you can do," Saul replied. "But do not, under any circumstance, tell him you're an unspeakable."

"Yes sir," Tonks replied as she got up to leave.

***

Hi! Thanks for reading. Harry is gearing up for the final confrontation with the study group and the Alumni. What do you think of his meeting with the Goblins, and Dumbledore's plan?

If you can, please take the time to review, let me know what's working, what's not. It helps a lot with figuring out what I need to adjust or change to improve the story.

If you would like to support me and my writing, please consider visiting https://taplink.cc/jumpin for all the stories I'm currently working on and early access to chapters 59, 60, 61 and 62 of Legacy of Merlin, along with some character portraits for Merlin, Morgan and Nimue, and an audio versions of the chapters.

Thank you to all my supporters, and for everyone that reviewed. I really appreciate it.

Jumpin