Cored

Chapter 13: Tempering

After Katherine explored every nook and cranny of the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, the family wandered through some of the other stores. Katherine loved Eeylops Owl Emporium the most. "Mom always had owls everywhere," she told George, who was admiring a handsome dark red bird in the corner. "They were always our favorite animal."

"Would you like one?" he asked, smiling down at her before glancing all around.

"Where would I keep an owl?" Katherine asked. "I don't think Kevin would love it flying around the pub."

"You can leave it at the Burrow," Arthur said. "It's felt kind of empty since the kids have all taken theirs."

Katherine thought about it, but there were too many to choose from.

"I don't even know where I would start," she said, "but they are beautiful."

They went into Madam Malkins, where Katherine assured them that she didn't need witch's robes—"I can barely keep myself upright in pants. A floor length robe seems like asking for trouble."—and then to the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts. Katherine found a book called Hogwarts, A History, which she thought sounded very informative, but it made Ron and George laugh for ages when she showed it to them. George bought it for her with an odd assortment of coins but made her promise she would show it to Hermione when they met for lunch.

Katherine felt reassured by each store. There was no way that all of this could be fabricated. With each potion ingredient in Slugs and Jiggers Apothecary she felt more grounded in this world. And, compared to some of the characters walking past her, the Weasleys looked almost normal.

They made their way to Gringotts about half past eleven. Katherine didn't know what she expected it to be, but she didn't see Bill as a banker. Maybe it was the scars that just didn't scream loan officer. But, once she walked inside, it made a bit more sense.

It was an imposing building from the outside, of course. But the inside was grand and echoey, and the seats surrounding the main floor were filled with creatures she had never seen before.

"Goblins," George whispered in her direction. "Wicked smart, and tricky. Wouldn't want to get on their bad side. But it makes them perfect for running a bank."

"What does Bill do here?" Katherine asked, spinning in a circle and looking up at the ceiling.

"He's a curse breaker," George said. When she looked back at her eye level, she was dizzy, and he caught her before she toppled over. "You never know what you will find down in these vaults, and nasty things can make their way in."

Bill walked out from a back chamber, giving his mother a sweeping hug.

"Have time for lunch?" Arthur asked, clapping his eldest son on the back.

"Can't today," he said. "We've got a nasty . . . well, something nasty downstairs. We're swamped."

"How does this place even work?" Katherine asked. "Do you just walk up like an ATM? Do you have a debit card?"

None of them seemed to know what an ATM or a debit card was, but Bill explained anyways. "You have a key to a vault. The vaults are all downstairs, and a goblin takes you by cart. Bit of a bumpy ride depending on who takes you."

Katherine looked around at the goblins, but they didn't seem too keen on her attention. After enough of them scowled at her, she looked down at her boots and examined the floor.

"I hate to run, but I've really got to get back downstairs," Bill said, rubbing his hands together.

"Of course, dear, you go ahead. Be careful," Molly said, giving him a parting hug. He nodded awkwardly at Katherine and turned quickly, departing. George must have also sensed the tension, putting his hand on her arm and turning her back towards the door.