Harry Potter and the Ties that Bind

Chapter 13

Ragnok was not just the personal banker for some of the most affluent citizens of the wizarding world. He was also a warrior of incredible skill. Having lived for many long years, he'd taken part in the very last goblin rebellion. Although they had lost that war, it was during this rebellion that he had distinguished himself, and it was thanks, in part, to his skills that goblins were granted the right of handling the wizards money.

Sitting behind his desk, Ragnok worked diligently on his reports. He didn't understand why humans hated paperwork. It might take up a good chunk of time to complete, but filing these papers meant putting more cash in one's pockets, which was never a bad thing.

A knock at the door interrupted his task. Ragnok cast it an irritated glare, but quickly calmed himself. No one would be foolish enough to intrude on him while he was working, not unless they had a good reason.

"Enter."

The door creaked open and Griphook entered the room.

"Director Ragnok, there is... someone here to see you."

The way Griphook spoke, the odd inflection in his voice, made Ragnok pause. There was something about this guest that unsettled Griphook--a rare feat indeed. While the young goblin had never been tested in combat, he had a stout heart. For something to bother him... well, it was unusual.

"Send them in," Ragnok ordered. He would see what made this person disquiet Griphook for himself.

Griphook nodded and left. Not even a minute later, someone else entered the room. Cloaked from head to toe in black, the figure's clothing seemed to soak in all the light around them, leaving the areas they tread gray and dull. The cowl they wore covered their face in shadows, but Ragnok could see vivid green eyes pierce that veil.

"Take off your cloak," Ragnok demanded. "I won't deal with someone who hides themselves."

The figure paused, then, with glacial slowness, raised their hands, grabbed the hood of their cloak, and pulled it off, revealing a head of raven hair and a lightning bolt scar.

"Director Ragnok," Harry's voice was sharp, cold even.

"Heir Apparent, Lord Harry Potter."

Ragnok studied the young man. Much had changed about him. Where once there had been a vibrancy, a life, now there was only darkness. Intelligent green eyes contained a glacial coldness they had lacked the last time they'd conversed, and a face that once seemed excited and enthusiastic appeared to have become hewn in stone.

However, Ragnarok did not care for such things. He was a businessman, and though Harry Potter impressed him, he did not care about the boys personal problems.

"To what do I owe the honor of your visit? I have already sent you your bi-monthly report. All of your holdings are doing well. We've managed to turn a thirty percent profit."

"I am aware," Harry said, coming to stand in front of his desk. "I am here for another reason. Information."

"Ah."

So that's what this was about. This wasn't unexpected. The goblins were a font of knowledge about certain... black market activities. If someone wanted something found, or they were looking for something that couldn't be obtained through legal means, then the smart ones came to the goblins. However...

"And what is it you are searching for?"

"A pensieve."

Pensieves were magical devices used to store and relive memories. They were quite useful, especially when you wanted to see your own memory from an outsider's perspective, or view the memory of someone else. They were also quite rare. Being a ministry regulated item, and something that only a few people in the entire world could make, finding one for personal use was difficult.