The Empress of Magic

Chapter 124 : Dumbledore's Secrets

,, Ho ho.... A common foe you say?" repeated Ragnok, leaning slightly forward on his throne as his beady eyes remained focused on the ornament decorating her silver hair. ,, And who might that be, young Veela?"

,, You wouldn't happen to recognize the name HYDRA, would you ?" asked the silver-haired witch, unfazed as several guards scattered across the throne room drew their weapons and pointed them directly at the two legacies, expressions firmly set into scowls and threatening snarls.

Ragnok, whose false expression of sheer amusement was quickly replaced by one of the more commonly fashioned stern ones Goblins were recognized for, wordlessly motioned for them to stand down and for the first time since the two teens entered lifted his gaze to stare directly into Celestia's golden eyes, suspicion and intrigue similarly present in his own.

,, ..... I am indeed familiar with the organization." replied the elder being. ,, Have been for some decades now..... What I'd like to know is why you'd think I'd offer my help in retrieving your lot from their clutches."

It was no secret that Goblins despised Wixen for their less than peaceful shared history, and would have happily continued going to war against them if it hadn't been for the centuries of negotiations and losses on both sides that made it unwise to further pursue bloodshed. Especially once the Muggles started to become too aware of their existence.....

,, 'Domovoy'...." Celestia suppressed the urge to smirk in satisfaction as the King visibly reacted, if only by a twitch of the hand. ,, That is the name your kind has been referred to since the establishment of said organization, has it not? Forgive me if I'm making quick assumptions, but if you've already been noticed by them and been under their radar long enough to be given a new classification, then it's not entirely impossible that some of your people were captured and imprisoned by them as well, no?"

The slight glower sent to her in return was answering enough for her.

,, And if your assumptions were true? What could you possibly have for me to entertain offering my assistance?" he asked once more, this time more firmly, his right hand itching for the axe strapped on his back.

,, I know the location of two of their facilities, where not only Wixen but Veela and Goblins are being kept as we speak." answered the half-Veela, handing Regulus Dawn's Edge before rolling up the sleeve of her right arm to show him the numbers still boldly sticking out against her skin, even with Apollo's mark. ,, And I know how to get them out without HYDRA's immediate notice."

Ragnok's sharp gaze snapped to her forearm, stepping down from his throne and walking up to her to grasp her limb and carefully inspect it.

,, Ink?" asked the Goblin, thumb tracing the black numbers on the Ravenclaw's wrist.

,, In combination with a hot branding." she confirmed, to which his frown deepened.

,, You were imprisoned by them." he questioned, though it sounded more like a statement.

,, Sold to them via Dumbledore's mistake." easily replied the witch, to which he raised an eyebrow in intrigue but otherwise decided against voicing any questions those words might have brought.

,, And you managed to escape before re-entering the Magical World." he stated as he finally let go of her arm, craning his neck to look directly at her.

,, I didn't escape." denied the half-Veela, golden eyes swirling with blue and ruby. ,, I killed them all and made sure the others believed me to be dead as well before packing all my possessions and leaving."

'Killed' was an innocent term compared to what she had actually done to the small group of scientists and guards stationed at St. Peter's that were left after the number of imprisoned individuals decreased to single digits until finally all but she had died. Her younger self had locked them inside the bunker with her, without leaving a single route for possible escape, before hunting them down one by one and forcing them to ingest her blood after hours of mental and physical torture......