chapter 82

Sharpclaw looked back at him with shrewd respect. "So, you will come in here, fill out the emancipation acknowledgement documentation... which I will, of course, have prepared for such an eventuality... and have me immediately submit them to the Ministry through our normal channel of communication."

"Precisely," Harry replied, glad the old goblin understood. "Plus, I am in the process of securing the services of a law firm. I have a meeting with one such individual this afternoon. That man, or woman or another, will be providing legal counsel that can be used to assist."

For his part, Harry had both Daphne and Hermione 'keyed' in to accessing his accounts, and asked for a recommendation for a jeweller who was discreet. He told the goblin he had every intention of placing betrothal rings on the fingers of both his bondmates the next Friday.

And, finally, he donned the Head of House ring for House Potter; and immediately disillusioned it.

"This doesn't make me a Lord or anything, does it?" asked Harry, a little worried.

With a very human-like snort, Sharpclaw replied, "Of course not. From wherever would you get such an idea?"

With a shrug and wry smile, Harry replied, "Just a suspicion."

"No, Mister Potter," the goblin said. "Lordships and the like are something the muggles do; not witches and wizards."

Harry nodded back in acknowledgement before he continued, "Now, there is one final matter I wish to raise with you concerning what I suspect is a dark magic item of the highest calibre being stored in one of Gringotts's vaults. It is not in one of mine – and I had neither control over its creation, or over it ever being placed within your vaults; nor any control over it even now. However, I'm aware that Gringotts, in general, will be most distressed to learn of its existence - even more so that it is within goblin holdings."

With a wary look back at Harry, Sharpclaw asked, "And what and where would this dark magic item be?"

"The item is the personal potion chalice of Helga Hufflepuff. It is known as Hufflepuff's Cup," Harry further explained. "However, a wizard by the name of Tom Riddle... and also known by the pseudonym of 'Lord Voldemort'... used it to convert it into a horcrux; or, soul container.

"As for where it is; I'm led to believe it's currently in the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange... here, at Gringotts."

"It's what?!" roared the old goblin.

Harry just cocked an eyebrow back, unflinching.

Sharpclaw jabbed a finger down on what appeared to be a rune on his desk and barked at it in the 'Tongue' of the goblins. Momentarily, there rapidly entered a couple of minor level younger goblins.

Sharpclaw rapid-fire barked at them in the Tongue for a few moments before they both looked quite angry and shot back out the door. The old goblin then swivelled his head to stare hard back at Harry. Harry sat with his eyebrow still cocked and the barest hint of a smirk on his face, calm as can be.

With a wary glare back, Sharpclaw asked, "And how did you come to learn of this... abomination, Mister Potter? Or, that it resides in one of our vaults, contrary to Treaty?"

"Alas, I cannot... not will not... cannot say, Senior Sharpclaw," Harry calmly replied. "I am bound not to. Nevertheless, I know my information is accurate, as we both shall soon learn."

A few minutes later, one of the two younger goblins from earlier burst in through the doors. He ignored Harry and, with a growl in his voice, said something to Sharpclaw. Clearly, it was information confirming Harry's 'bombshell'.

The two spoke for a few moments before the younger goblin again departed and Sharpclaw, once more, turned his attention to Harry.

"Your... information has been confirmed, Mister Potter," stated Sharpclaw with disgust. "As punishment for the witch who did this, the entirety of the vaults will be confiscated. You will be awarded a ten percent cut of the value of the contents as 'finder's fee' for the information."

"Once the Cup has been 'cleansed' of the foul taint upon it, I want possession of it," Harry quickly stated. "As it belonged to one of the founders of Hogwarts, I want to be able to return it to the school, so it may be placed on display, at a later time."

Sharpclaw nodded back and said, "That can be done. The value of it will, however, be deducted from the finder's fee."

"Ninety percent of its value, you mean," mused Harry. "After all, ten percent of its value is rightfully mine as part of the finder's fee."

Sharpclaw stared back shrewdly for a moment before he gave a firm nod of recognition of Harry's reasoning. "As you state," he replied. "However, you will also be charged the cost of removing the horcrux from the object, in return."

Harry smiled and replied, "As you state, Senior Sharpclaw." Harry then rose and said, "Time is money, Senior; and I've taken enough of yours."

Not even moving from his desk, Sharpclaw replied, "That it is, Mister Potter. I shall have the parchmentwork ready for you by the 1st of November. I also expect the Cup to be cleansed and ready for you to pick up, by then."

With a slight bow, Harry said, "Well-met, Senior Sharpclaw."

With the return acknowledgement in his ears, Harry turned and left the office, heading back to the main lobby.

Leaving the bank, Harry redonned his glamour in the lobby and made his way directly to the address of the jeweller Sharpclaw recommended. Entering, he approached the storekeeper and informed her of his needs.

"Three matching betrothal...?" the witch asked before her eyes widened in understanding. "You're Harry Potter!"

"This purchase is on behalf of Mister Potter," Harry firmly stated. While he didn't lie, he knew the storekeeper would jump to the wrong conclusion.

"Oh!" the storekeeper said. "And I may call you...?"

"Mister Evans," Harry muttered. Again, not another lie as she never asked for his name; just a name to call him. Harry now felt like he was 'channelling' Dumbledore.

"Of course, Mister Evans," she half-gushed. "This way, please."

She led him over to one of her secured glass-fronted displays and pulled out a long tray of rings similar to how they were presented in the muggle way. She then carried that, plus a second tray, to a counter top.

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