Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter in anyway shape or form
A/N: Oh my its been so long sense I had the drive and time to do a chapter of anything... that and plot bunnies and such keep on coming up for new stories that are only a few chapters if that long before dying or just going back to sleep... some of which I am not even sure where they came from, minds wired like that.
Anyway I hope all of the fans of this fic well enjoy this chapter and know that its not dead just being a pain to write as I do know how its going to end but the lead up to that ending is proving hard to work out so enjoy!
Chapter 31: Goblin Training Exercise.
A few days after the New Year found Amelia Bones looked over the report she had just been handed by Harry and Tonks, Andromeda standing off to one side finishing up the people within her office at the moment the report being put down after a few minutes of careful reading.
Looking at the three within her office Amelia gave a small sigh before saying bringing a hand up to rub the bridge of her nose, "You do realise that its going to be nearly impossible to get into Gringotts and get this damn goblet? Or at lest not without ending up in another war with the Goblins because we took something from a high security vault."
"We know madam but what choose do we have, if we don't take down Voldemort for good this time around its not going to matter what happens with the Goblins as his going to wipe out the magical world after all the Muggles are only going to turn the other cheek for so long before they decide that magic isn't worth the lost of life they are suffering." Harry states turning his head a little to look out the window that was showing an image of a rose garden at the moment.
"You don't paint a very pleasant picture Auror Potter but you are right..." Amelia sighed as she leaned back in her seat waving a hand to the others to take a seat themselves while she thought on the problem.
"Why don't you make it a challenge to the goblins? Or even just ask them first and then offer a challenge and a prize they wouldn't be able to say no to?" Tonks asks after a few minutes of thought by the group Harry have even turned into Shadow Fang to think on the problem Zarra also flying in lazy circles above the group as she thought on the problem pausing like everyone else to look at Tonks on her suggestion.
"That might be an idea but lets see what else we can come up with as if anything Goblins can't resist a challenge and possible reward that is worth the risk to them." Andromeda states writing down the idea before turning back to her own thoughts using the quill to draw random lines on another pieces of parchment while she thought on the problem.
It was the sense of the group still throwing around ideas that greeted Kingsley when he entered the office with a large tray of sandwiches and a number of cups of tea, having realised that the group hadn't come out for a drink or something to eat sense the meeting having taken place the start of the day he had taken it onto himself to bring them something to eat.
"Maybe a break and something to drink well help you solve this problem you all have been working on, also Madam Bones Minister Greengrass told me to tell you that some of Voldemort's forces had been caught trying to probe the wards around Saint Margo and the ministry building,"
"That sounds good, got anything other then tea though?" Harry asks getting up to take one of the sandwiches and a single tea cup only adding a single sugar to it as well as a small dash of milk after seeing that only tea was being offered for a drink.
Once everyone was settled with a cup of tea Kingsley looked over the lists of ideas the group had been able to come up with in dealing with the Goblins a nod of the head ever now and then being all everyone needed to see from the large man to know what he thought of some of the ideas.
"Of all of your ideas you all have thought up I can really only see this first one working the best, approach the Goblins and ask them for access to the vault and just take the goblet or offer a challenge that basely says that if they can hold the goblet within the vault after we try to steal it we'll state for the whole Wizarding World that Gringotts is the safest place in the world as well as offer a large amount of money as that hasn't been a problem sense we gained Fudges hidden coffers."
"Which I was hoping to use most of that money on our own forces as I hope to bring back a number of other lade off Auror's from the last war." Amelia states leaning back in her seat her face showing a look of deep thought while sipping her own cup of tea.
"Do you have so little faith in any team you could make that you aren't welling to risk the money to get this goblet and end Voldemort for good?" Andromeda asks with a small challenging look entering her eyes.
"I have lots of faith in the team I would put together its the Goblins agreeing to such a challenging and sticking to the rules set for it that I don't have faith in." Amelia states back putting her cup down and just leaned forward to look over the list of ideas again eyes narrowing as she tried to think of some way to get the Goblins to play ball.
"You may have to take that chance Director but you can work that out later, I say first we just go up and ask them if we can enter the vault and take the goblet if that fails offer the challenge but don't agree to any of the terms of the challenge just say you have a challenge for them and that you'll get back to them in a day or so time is about all I could recommended." Kingsley says before moving to leave the office muttering about the new third year under his wing needing to be watched more closely then Harry or Tonks had been.
Amelia just watched Kingsley leave the office before giving a sigh and nod the head turning to face the others still seating around waiting to see what she was going to do, "I'll head down to Gringotts tomorrow morning after gathering a team of six first or second class Aurors as an escort and show that this isn't a joke and that I really wish to speak with one of the high-ranking members of their race."
"Understood Madam we'll go and finish up some work then while you plan out that meeting." Tonks says calmly leaving the room with the others not fare behind her.
Amelia watched the small group leave before turning to the small pile of paperwork that needed doing before the end of the day as well as choose who she was going to take with her to this meeting in the morning that she just know was going to end badly in same shape or from.
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The next morning Diagon Ally woke to the sight of six Aurors with Amelia Bones in the lead marching towards Gringotts all of them in full battle robes which now looked a lot like Muggle leather trench-coats with dragon hide vests and boots under that the pants holding many pockets that help potions and other general useful things for battle being the finial thing to round out the new Auror Battle Robes.
Amelia Bones walked in lead of the six Aurors with her eyes set on Gringotts her eyes locking with the two Goblins on guard out side of the large bronze doors their eyes locking with her own for a moment before they both slammed their spear butts on the ground bringing the weapons around to rest in a guard stance instead of the normal relaxed stance they normal rested at.
"State you business here woman as shouldn't you be within your home watching the young like all good women should be? Also why you have approached our territory armed and ready for war?" The older of the two goblins on the door demand before Amelia could even open her mouth the younger goblin looked like he wanted to skip the talk however and just on with the battle.
"I well only talk with your War Chief and the Bank Commander and only those two as stated by the treaty of sixteen seventy three between our two nations." Amelia stated back not making a comment or even raising to the bait on the slight ageist her gender as she know it was the Goblin way to do such a thing as to them women were meant to remain home and have babies nothing else as such they saw a lot of Wizards as weak for allowing their females to have any form of power, although they only had the attached to those few women who took up jobs within the Ministry and such outside of the home.
"You also need to give a reason for that request woman now give it or begone." the same Goblin stated back taking a step foreword as he does his spear coming up and the point now pointed right at Amelia's face the look in his eyes clearly saying that yes he would do her harm but also respected her for not taking the bait he had tried to get her to take on his attack of her gender.
"We have reason to believe that a dark wizard who has risen again has hidden a item within your bank that is the key to defeating him and I wish to talk with your War Chief and Bank Commander to try and confirm if this item is located within the bank and what would be need to retrieve it now summon him Veteran." Amelia stated back not even flinching at the spear pointed at her, only the slightly raising of her eyebrow being all she gave in response to the weapon pointed at her.
The Goblin gave a toothy smile at Amelia's addressing of his status as for a Goblin to gain the title of Veteran in peace times, he had to fight and win ageist five to one odds in a battle to the death within the arena deep under Gringotts some times these fight weren't just between goblins as they had to do something with some of those thieves who thought they could steal from them, in war times it was a case of bringing five sets of ears from your enemies still warm bodies.
"That is enough for me to lead you to the War Chief and Bank Commander woman but you may only bring two of your escorts with you the other four well have to wait in the main lobby." The Goblin didn't even wait for Amelia to make a comment or anything as he just turned sharply and marched into the bank only holding the door long enough to allow the seven humans to move into the main lobby giving a nod of approval when Amelia had two of the male Auror's fall into step with her as they were escorted deep within the bank.
Amelia tried not to pay any mind to the mounted heads of both creatures and even a few wizards mounted on the walls of the hallway leading to the head office within the bank the human heads being that of those dumb enough to try and steal from Gringotts and got taken out by the traps.
Arriving at the large silver doors that were covered in runes Amelia watched carefully as there escort instead of reaching for the door handle to open the door he reached out and tapped a single rune on about midway across the left hand side of the double doors.
A glow of the rune being the only signal to show that what ever was warding the door close was now down as the door swing open out into the hallway, this meaning that anyone who was attacking the bank and tried to get into the room would have to force the door inwards yet if the goblins counter attacked from this office it would give them a few meters of free space on the other side as the doors would force attacker to back up or be crushed under the heavy silver doors.
After the display within the hallway the office itself was surprisingly empty a large hardwood desk and a number of hard unconformable looking chairs all around the single desk the only thing that looked like it shouldn't be there and that was a large scale of some large unknown beast looked to be a little over a foot wide and half that high mounted within a glass-case just behind the desk.
What was odd about this single scale was the fact that despite the three ever burning crimson flames floating on both sides and backing it no light seemed to be escaping from it in fact the case it was in as well as the wall and the air itself around the case was cloaked in shadows.
'The way the shadows are so thick around that scale marks it as an item from the Shadow Plain so I wonder how the Goblins managed to get it and what kind of animal did it come from for it to be that size?' Amelia thought to herself as she walked over to the desk and without waiting for a signal from either of the Goblins currently seating on the other side of said desk she took one of the three seats the two Aurors with her taking the others without comment.
The pair of goblins couldn't be more defiant from each other given there stile of dress, the goblin on the left looked like he had been in Muggle London and was dressed in a black suit with everything neatly ironed and in place, his partner however was dressed in full silvery plate-mail armour that had a number of black markings all over the breastplate and shoulder guards, a large axe was resting ageist the armoured goblins chair while the suit wearing one only had a very intimidating dagger in hand using the tip to clean under one of his nails as he watched Amelia and her group take there seats.
"What can we at Gringotts do for the Ministry of Magic this day?" The goblin in the suit asks calmly putting his dagger down as he leans forward in his seat and lock eyes with Amelia a small up turning of the lips being all Amelia needed to see to know that the Goblin was going to respect her for not backing down from either of them or the treatment she was going to get for being female.
"My department has recently come into some information that within one of the vaults of your bank a item that is the key to finishing the current dark lords once and for all is here and wish to confirm it as well as find out if it would be at all possible to retrieve said item."
"We can happily confirm for you if this item is within the vault you think it is but no matter who's vault or what crimes and such the owner has done we can not nor will we allow anyone to access the vault who isn't on the approved list." The Suit as Amelia took to thinking for a name for the Goblin in his expensive suit stated back to her a small down turning of the lips being all she needed to know that she couldn't push any further on the subject of getting access to the vault and taking the cup out of it.
"I had a feeling that would be the case but first let us see if the item is even in there before we try and work on the problem of getting it out and destroyed, the item we are after is the goblet of Helga Hufflepuff and is should be within the LeStrange vault under Bellatrix's name." Amelia states not backing down at the information that the Goblin's wouldn't just hand over the goblet, watching as one of the goblins who had gone unnoticed until now ran off to check to see if the goblet was within the named vault.
'They couldn't do this the easy way could they... oh well guess I'll be offering that challenge after all glade I spent most of the night thinking on something they might accept as a reward should they win... I might even be able to sweeten the deal for them if that scale is from the Shadow Plain, if Harry is welling to go get some more that is.' Was some of the thoughts running through Amelia's head as she waited for return of the aide who had gone to check her calms.
The two groups just watched each other for the next few minutes the warrior of the two seated Goblins seemed to have found something wrong with his axe as he had it now laid across his lap with a whetstone in hand getting some unseen nick out of the blade, his banking counterpart going back to cleaning under his nails with that wicked looking knife again.
When the Goblin came back into the room he only paused at the door long enough to state that yes the goblet was within the vault and that it had a number of illegal wards cast on the continence within and that he had already sent a team to take them down as well as remove half the Galleons within as repayment.
"Well it appears we do have said item within our care now how do you plan on getting it as we can't hand it over or trade for it after all." Suit states with a smile putting his knife away again while leaning forward in his seat locking eyes with Amelia.
"A challenge is my plan, we all know that Gringotts is the only bank in the world that hold the record for lest break-ins and the highest capture rate of any bank within both the Wizarding world and the Non-magical world as such I wish to challenge your current system with a team of unknown size and skill who will try to break-in and steal the goblet." Amelia sates locking her gaze on both Goblins before her, the one in the suit looking interested at the challenge while the armoured one looked insulted a the thought of wasting his time on taking on a team of wizards that wouldn't make it past the first intersection of the tunnels to get to the vault.
"And what is to stop this group from making off with more then this goblet you seem so set on getting witch? And even better question is what is in it for the Goblin clans?" The armoured goblin says the scrapping sound of the whetstone still sounding out even though his eyes were now locked with Amelia's.
"For starters I well pay five thousand Galleon for each agent caught in the break-in for there safe release as well as details of how they managed to get by any of your system, should they all be caught then the contents of all convicted criminal vaults that have been in locked down because of treaties with our government well become yours to do with you as wish instead of just seating there doing nothing."
"Double the amount for the release of the caught agents and we don't care about those vaults so offer something else." Suit states back his armoured partner looking at him in surprise for even thinking of accepting this stupid challenge in his eyes.
"Seven thousand and how would you like another one of those scales or something else from the Shadow Plain?" Amelia asks with slight upturn of his lips being all the signal the goblins got for the amusement she was getting at the look on the War Chief's face at his partner and by goblin's ranking system his lesser but also his equal when it come to how the bank was run.
"The head of the creature that scale is from would be good oh and nine thousand." Was the comeback but not from the suit but the War Chief who was once again locked on Amelia's face his teeth showing a little with his smile.
"Can't help with the head as I happen to know that the dragon that scale more then likely came from is on the level of a god in power but how about a couple of scales and we both know I wont go above eight thousand as well as the information on how they managed to break-in and got out if successful."
"Ha nothing is immortal but for every two agent you send in how does one scale sound? Plus of cause the eight thousand Galleon for each caught agent and should you managed to get in and out without anyone being caught which isn't likely to happen we get the notes on the break-in and we well give your government the same Galleon value for each agent that was on the team." The Bank manager says with a full on toothy smile now his body leaning forwards in his chair being all to show his enjoyment at the negations.
Amelia gave a nod before saying leaning back in her seat. "Just to make sure it is understood should my whole team be caught then my government needs to provide eight thousand Galleon and a single Shadow Dragon scale for every four agents safe and uninjured return but should say only one be caught it is just the money, deal?" Amelia says with a little smile at doubling the offer of scales for agents
"For every three agents we get one scale that way if only one of you managed to get out we still get some of those scales, deal?" was the return offer the manager almost bouncing out of his seat at the fun of negation with Amelia as it had been over a centenary sense someone had made such a challenge and even then they had failed.
"Deal." Amelia says with a smile giving a nod of her head and holding out a hand for a quill to sign what was needed to settle the deal the until now unnoticed parchment lade out on the table between the two parties showing the details of the deal.
After signing the parchment Amelia didn't waste any time in leaving the bank with her escort the contract held in hand as she thought over everything that would be need done now that they had the details of were the Goblet was and even cut a deal with the Goblins on trying to get it, the main thing she thought on was who to put into the team and make the heist without getting caught.
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Within the Ministry of Magic found both Harry and Tonks seating within there small office off to one side of the main office the pair going over paperwork and general reports as well as what information had been pumped from Mr. Malfoy and former Minister Fudge over the time they had been away on leave.
"That little bastard was getting ready to push though laws that would have seen anyone not a Pureblood being unable to get any work beyond a clerk or some other low paid job... can't we just kill him and be done with it." Tonks snapped after readying what Lucius Malfoy had planed for the upcoming Wizengamot meeting as well as what he had paid to have happened to some of their co-workers on up coming patrols namely reinforcements not showing up because of delays in the message being passed on from communications.
"Could be worse dear, he could have tried to make it legal to hunt and kill them rather then just deny them basic rights and work." Harry comments calmly giving snort all of a sudden when he read how much Fudge had been given to see to it that the laws went through. "Wasn't even worth quad figure on the bribe to get those laws through."
"Okay that just makes me want to kill the little shit even more." Tonks muttered to herself throwing another file to one side after reading it making a note that they needed to have the floo office looked over and all personal questioned as Lucius had been in there a number of times in the last few months making 'donations' as he termed it.
The pair continued to work though old and even a few new files that started to come in both of them really only commenting when something caught their eye, whenever someone brought a new file or piece of information from the interrogations still being done to some of the newly caught or brought in Death Eaters or there supporters the pair would just give the person a look as if to ask 'why!', said person would just shrug and move on.
It was close to noon before either got a break from the overwhelming paperwork that hadn't seem to change in size despite the couples best effect.
"Potter's! The boss wants the both of you in her office now and she also said to hand that on to one of the other newbies so get a move on." One of the other first class Auror's says poking his head in the door long enough to give the orders using Tonks' married name like many of the others in the office did when it come to giving orders but talking to her personally they normally used her old last name.
The pair just looked at each other for a moment before getting up calling out to one of the other junior Auror's that they could take over the cries of this wasn't what they signed up for echoing to the married couple as they headed down the hall.
Entering the office the pair paused at the sight of Amelia seating behind her desk head leaned back as far as her chair would allowed as without saying a word she throw a roll of parchment at the pair.
As they started to read over the challenge that Amelia had set up ageist the goblins she says leaning back forward in her chair, one hand coming up to rub her forehead. "The rest of your base team is on the way now, but you two can add other people to the team as long as team lead which well be Kingsley as he knows you two the best as well as knowing how and when to let others give suggestion and ideas that are better then his own."
"Understood Madam, ah who else is going to be in this team?" Tonks says looking over the scroll for a moment before wincing at the terms for releasing any of the people caught 'Harry is going to have to do a lot of fast talking to get those scales... sucks to be him.' She thought to herself with a internal evil laugh as she felt Harry close his eyes and sag in defeat as he read the part she just had.
"Your mother is going to be the team medic anyone else brought in is up to you four but do remember that the more people involved the more likely we are going to need to pay the release fee should you fail." Amelia states giving a nod of the head to both Kingsley and Andromeda as they entered the office Andromeda being in the normal Auror robes but had a patch on one shoulder showing the snake carolling around a staff on one shoulder marking her as a medic under the defence department.
"Okay people this is going to be a simple information dump, you four plus anyone else you can think of that Auror Kingsley approves of are going to do what is thought to be impossible, break into Gringotts and steal a goblet that is located in the LeStrange vault, then you have to get out with minimal if not no losses at all, any questions?"
Andromeda could only shake her head at Amelia's words before saying that she was going to have to get some things to start prep work for the coming mission, Kingsley's however took the contact from Harry's hands as the younger man started to pace to one side muttering to himself.
"If you are sure that this is the only way boss I'll go with it but I do hope you are putting forwards anything we need should we ask for it." He says softly giving a nod when Amelia only nodded to his request.
"If I can get it you'll have it, just try to make it none lethal as if any goblin dies they get to do the same to your team so be careful and get that cup." Amelia states seating up and pulling some paperwork forward a clean sign that they were now dismissed and were to follow there orders.
Once the group was out of the office all of them moving at the silent signal to leave Kingsley's says softly taking the contract to read it over himself, "I want all of you to go and clear everything from your calendars for the few months minimum as well as start to think on how we are going to do this as well as anyone else you can think of who might be of help but I only want to add two to three people to this team no more... also Harry go and see if Szotfrin is welling to part with some scales or point you to were some might be found without a fight."
"I'll see you all later then... hopefully his feeling charitable." Harry muttered before changing form and then vanishing from sight Zarra following a moment later diving into Tonks' shadow.
"I'll go and see if I can get some information from Fleur as she works in the French branch of Gringotts and we all know that the two groups of goblins don't get along so hopefully they know something that can help or maybe even planing something we can use to our advantage." Tonks says moving to make a few calls waving good-bye to her mother and Kingsley as she goes.
"I'll start going over my books and see what we need for antidotes for poisons acids and other things there might have as traps within there vaults." Andromeda says moving away herself Kingsley only nodded and heading to his own disk to look up what he could lean about past break-ins.
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The next week pasted with little progress for the team they did lean a few things namely that no one had broken into Gringotts and gotten away with it sense what should have been Harry's first yea nor had they gotten anything anyway.
Harry had gotten the scales to act as a payment should anyone be taken and it hadn't cost him anything as Szotfrin had simply pointed him to were two of his fellow dragons were having one of there spats, slash lovers fights as the pair were mated at times.
Harry was just thankful that the pair weren't feeling amorous at the time as well as not being in the area.
Zarra had surprised them all by reporting that she know roughly were the vault was within the bank thanks to some scouting but hadn't been able to get into it thanks to some of the wards, she also admitted that she had only been able to get in thanks to a hold in there wards that a being of her size could slip through the shadows into the tunnels.
Tonks had been able to get a hold of Fleur who was more than happy to help the team get into and out of the London branch of Gringotts and had even put out a few feelers with the French goblins who unlike there English kin didn't mind working with other races, although no information had been found out yet but they lived in hope as a lot of movement was happening within the French branch as of late according to Fleur.
She did however state that the moment she know anything she would let them know as well as offer to join the team to steal the item they were after, Tonks had thanked her with another girls night out just the two of them as well as the promise of more such nights.
Both Andromeda and Kingsley had been able to start researching what potions and other items they might need including climbing equipment and even a few muggle gas-masks.
It was a Sunday evening when Harry and Tonks were walking down the street both of them just holding each other close after leaving a movie theatre within London the pair joking and just having a good time.
Harry pausing at one of the cross-walks giving Tonks a kiss on the forehead when his eyes caught a flash of light from a headlight hitting a sign the word UNDERGROUND being visible a little better for a moment and just seemed to flash in his mind.
"What's got your attention that isn't me Harry?" Tonks asks softly while looking at what had caught Harry's eye only seeing a sign saying underground and nothing else.
"Dear would you say that there is a lot of underground tunnels and such under this city wouldn't you?" Harry asks as he lead the pair towards the sign one hand coming to lightly tap the wall under the sign.
"Yes, I would say there is, some of them are even used by some families as storage areas for goods brought in by magic, why?"
" Wouldn't that mean that the banks vaults are also under the city as well... a little deeper I'm sure but..." Harry trailed off before feeling Tonks grab his shoulder and turn him to look her in the eye rather then at the sign.
"Are you thinking that one of the old tunnels or even the underground stations might run near or even right next to some of the bank vaults... but the chances of the one we need being that easy to get to..." Tonks trailed off herself as she looked Harry in the eyes before looking at the sign again.
"Not the one we need but... a back door in." Harry says with a smile as he gave a small whistle saying softly while looking at the darkness near his feet. "Zarra go down the tube stations and see if you can sense any of the Gringotts tunnels near them, take as long as you need for I have a feeling we have found our way in that doesn't mean the front door."
Tonks couldn't help but smile and give a small laugh as the pair walked on not paying the sight of a small female figure leaving Harry's shadow any mind as it darted down the stairs to the tube tunnels to carry out her masters order hoping like him that they had found a way in that wasn't the front door.