The Rightful Heir of Slytherin (Year 6 - Book 1)

Ch2: Keepers of the Vault

Now on the inside, I take a quick glance around and find things exactly as I'd left them those many years ago. It's not long before a major problem is brought to my attention, however.

Girphook: Miss Sarea, this gold isn't-

Me: I know, which is why you are here, no?

Griphook: I'm not following.

Me: To change it into modern currency of course.

Griphook: I-

Me: The gold in and of itself is tradeable no? I mean, it is pure gold.

He looks over the stacks of gold bars leading off into the distance and for a flicker, I see a smile spread across his lips. A goblin will always be a goblin and there's no way they'll turn down this much gold. However, I won't offer it all to them...not like they have a large enough establishment to process it all. My father may have given me some here and there but all it really took was him teaching me how to make gold from anything found in nature. At the time I never understood the value of gold but it was shiny and I was bored so I spent an entire year doing pretty much nothing but practising how to make gold bars and then using them to build all manner of monuments. 

Bagnold: Dumbledore, she's definitely going to your school.

Me: Hey!

Bagnold: Imagine the chaos she'd cause just leaving her to roam free.

Me: I'm right here you, know.

Completely ignoring me, she continues going off and off about how much of a burden I am going to become on both the Ministry and the wizarding world at large. The fact that I'm a pureblooded Slytherin only makes matters worse following the actions of that distant relative of mine whom they still refuse to give me many details about.

Sighing, I turn away from the group and for the first time notice that I haven't spotted any of my little helpers since I arrived. The fact that everything is so neatly put together suggests that they survived much like I did but I don't remember them being shy. I mean, if anything they'd flaunt their appearance to anyone with eyes to see. I know it's been a long time but I'd hoped they were affected by the spell the same way I was.

Me: Beryl!

No one responds audibly, as expected, but I do earn some looks from Bagnold and the others.

Bagnold: Are you expecting someone to be here or was that another one of your spells?

Me: It's just...here she comes.

True to my words, the fairy soon appears above one of the nearby piles of gold and quickly makes her way toward me. Beryl, one of the two fairies I caught when I was younger and made mine, are mainly here because I found them pretty as a child but I did eventually get around to training them to be useful at finding things in my storeroom. I also convinced them that keeping the surroundings tidy was just as important as keeping themselves pretty but...well, a matter for another time.

Me: Where's Luna?

Beryl, coming to a halt before me, points in the direction she'd just come from before smiling at me as though she expects heaps of praise. Seriously, the vanity of these two...

Me: Where's Valentina?

This time, she frowns but when I raise an eyebrow she hastily points off into the distance along the main pathway. After thanking her and taking the time to pat her gently on the head with a finger, I begin making my way down the path. The others move to follow but I quickly recommend against it. They are sceptical but don't protest much.