The Girl who Vanished

Chapter 14

The Three Broomsticks

Lara finds Sirona tending the bar, it seems like the Three Broomsticks is currently in the middle of a lull in activity.

Lara: "Hello, Miss Ryan. I wanted to thank you again for your help with Rookwood and Harlow the day of the troll attack."

Sirona Ryan: "Sirona, please. And I was happy to help. Those two are nothing but trouble. Glad you and your friend were here when they found you."

Lara: "I am too. You were speaking to a goblin here that day."

Sirona Ryan: "Yes, Lodgok. He's a friend."

Flitwick raises an eyebrow, very few people would call a goblin their friend, he wonders what the history is between them.

Lara: "It seemed as though you were on good terms with him."

Sirona Ryan: "I've known him for years. We met when I was waiting tables here as a student - well before I bought the place. He was cordial enough, but we weren't friends then. His mistrust of wizardkind ran deep."

"I wonder what changed his mind?"

Lara: "But you're friends now?"

Sirona Ryan: "We are. Hadn't seen him in years when he came in a few months ago. But, he recognised me instantly. Which is more than I can say for some of my own classmates. Took them a second to realise I was actually a witch, not a wizard. Not all goblins are like Ranrok and his Loyalists. Lodgok is as worried as the rest of us about what's been going on." 

(A/N: I was on the Wiki recently and wanted to see if my assumption about Sirona was right and it was.  The person who voiced Sirona Ryan is transgender and Sirona's comment about her classmates mistaking her for a wizard is likely a reference to that. Now I'm not sure if that means that Sirona herself is transgender, the wiki is unclear but I am going to continue to refer her as 100% naturally female)   

"Wait, Sirona is a witch!?!" Ronald 'Clueless' Weasley exclaims.

"Really Ron, what gave it away? Was it the skirt or the boobs?" Ginny sarcastically asks, people burst out laughing as Ron blushes in embarrassment.

"Ginerva Weasley!!!" Molly shouts, scandalized by her daughter's language.

Lara: "In that case, I'd like to talk with him - about Ranrok in particular. Where might I find him?"

Sirona Ryan: "I assume your interest is to do with the rumours I've heard about Ranrok working with our friend Rookwood."

Lara: "It is."

Sirona Ryan: "If he's not here, you might find him doing business at the Hog's Head. He's a trusted metal trader. You should mention that we spoke. He can, understandably, be wary of witches and wizards. Even ones as young as you. That said, if you're looking for information on Ranrok to help rein him in, you'll find an ally in Lodgok."

Lara: "Thank you, Sirona."

Sirona Ryan: "If you find Lodgok, please give him my best."

The Hog's Head

As Lara enters the bar she has to hold back her anxiety, the Hog's Head certainly isn't as friendly looking as the Three Broomsticks. The small pub has only three tiny booths and a small fireplace, but the most unsettling thing was the large boar head mounted on the wall, drool and slobber dripping from its mouth.  

"Ew!!" 

Dumbledore sighs, he has tried asking his brother Aberforth to clean up the pub as it was filthy and unsanitary, but his brother would just ignore him.