Harry Potter and The Artemis Fowl

Chapter Eleven

After an unsteady journey on the sidecar of Hagrid's motorcycle, they got off at a particularly dingy little town filled with shops and little witches scuffling out with potion ingredients like leech juice and pond slime.

"Sir! Sir-I... um... didn't bring any money..."

"That's okay. We'll first make a stop at Gringotts anyway," he said with a kind smile that was visible through his thick moustache.

"I... uh... Sir, I'm pretty sure my parents have never been to Gringotts either," Lily said, embarrassed as she squeezed between two drums of firewhiskey.

Hagrid glanced briefly back at her, with something like pity in his expression. It wasn't that she was poor, she wanted to tell him. After couple of more turns, they arrived at a magnificent, white, towering building and Hagrid boldly pushed open the silver doors and they were inside.

She stared around it in wonder, this was wonderful-

The teacher she had seen at her sorting- the impatient one with the permanently sour face, stopped up to Hagrid and they had started talking intently in hushed tones.

The plaque seemed oddly like a warning

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

"I'm sorry miss but I'm afraid you are underage. You must have a parent or guardian to accompany you to access your vaults said the bespecled goblin before her as he scribbled away on a desk as if she was not worthy of a moment's attention.

Lily looked at Hagrid. The greasy haired teacher stepped forward, hesitantly. "Excellent," he murmured, "and your name sir?"

"Snape. Severus Snape."

Upon being asked for identification, Snape handed over his wand reluctantly and they were led to a vault.

The plump little goblin pressed his hand onto the wall and it magically opened for them. Lying before her feet were mounds and mounds of gold she took a moment too admire the colourful, brilliant gems and the mountains of gold glittering before her eyes.

"And I will be waiting outside sir..." murmured the goblin before the door shut behind them and Lily was dragged inside by the scruff of her collar by the professor.

"I am not familiar with the supplies needed Hagrid I think it better-"

"Sir I can't take this- I-"

He whipped around to face her with an almost frightening speed.

Meanwhile, Hagrid's large frame was crouched in a corner scooping up large handfuls of gold into a leather pouch.

"I think that will do Hagrid," the professor spoke with an intensity that scared even a grown- hell, maybe even an overgrown man. This was evident as Hagrid stood up, flushing a deep shade of crimson.

"I can't take that. I have money. My parents-"

"Are dead," he said resolutely, "its time you stop acting like an insolent little child."

"I'm not-"

"I will not tolerate being spoken back to. And regardless of whether we are, or not at Hogwarts, you will learn to treat your father with respect. Or to face the dire consequences."

"What?"

It was almost evening and as they made their way out the building, the professor was had disappeared behind a crack of thunder and Lily turned to face Hagrid. The crowd had died down to two homeless people wandering the streets aimlessly and the clouds were bathed in colours of golden red and pink. Owls hooted in the twilight as they scoured the village in search of prey.

With every step, Lily felt her heart break. It was an insurmountable sadness; it seemed to graze her very core, making it tremble and shudder.

Her parents were those who kissed her scraped knees and held her when the storm outside raged on. She drew her strength and courage from them. They were the only two people she'd ever loved.

They were gone.

And the pain of the hole in her chest was unbearable.