A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next FIVE chapters are up on my for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
Fleur has definitely had better days. Or… has she?
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It takes every fiber in Fleur being to not try and run. She knows she wouldn't get very far anyways, not in her heels. And in this situation, the best thing she can possibly do is stay as still as possible and make herself as small and unassuming as she can.
Plus, there's the fact that Banker Rotgut is still alive. The wizard, this apparent Lord Potter-Black, wouldn't have let him live if he didn't have plans of some sort. Of course, Rotgut looks torn between pissing himself and trying to make a run for the mine cart that brought them all down here.
Alas, they're so deep in the bottom layers of Gringotts' Vaults that just walking here from the track had taken several minutes. The goblin will never make it in time and Fleur can tell that he knows it too.
Finally, the robed man breaks the silence.
"Shall we negotiate, Banker Rotgut?"
Fleur watches as Rotgut blinks, looking quite surprised at first. And then there's a glimmer of interest that appears in his eyes as he glances from the corpses of his guard to the open vault door behind the wizard, to the wizard himself. Fleur almost wants to speak up, to tell the mysterious figure that they definitely don't want to negotiate with Rotgut… it's always a trap in some way when it comes to the goblins.
But at the same time, she holds her tongue. She can't risk it. She can't risk everything on some hope that this unknown wizard who just killed six fully trained goblin soldiers as easy as breathing will even appreciate her interjection. Instead she stays quiet and lets Rotgut do the talking, just as the goblin would expect of her.
"What did you have in mind, Lord Potter-Black?"
There's a notable deference in the Banker's voice that wasn't there before. Though Fleur suspects it's grudging at best and deceptive at worst. Rotgut definitely has a healthy respect for the wizard's power now, but that doesn't mean he actually respects the wizard himself.
Still, there's no denying that they're in a bad position. Everything she'd thought she'd known about Gringotts and the power of the goblins down here in the depths had just been thrown out the window. And if Fleur felt that way, she could only imagine how Rotgut was feeling. He must know that he's completely and utterly fucked. So does the robed figure from the look of things.
"Well to start with, we both know you didn't have permission from the Head Banker to try and pull this shit."
Rotgut stiffens, his lips curling into a twisted grimace that makes Fleur cringe and the wizard chuckle.
"Or rather… you didn't have official permission, did you?"
Plausible deniability. There was no way Gringotts would or even could officially sanction the killing of a wizard within their halls. Especially one who had done nothing wrong and committed no crime against their bank. Oh sure, if it had worked out Rotgut would have probably received a huge bonus along with a promotion in rank. All he'd had to do was succeed.
But he hadn't of course… and now he knew he couldn't. The wizard's display of power made sure of that.
By all rights, Fleur knew that the mysterious wizard could march right back up to the top floor of the bank, report Rotgut, and make the Head Banker begrudgingly apologize for his subordinate's actions. But that didn't seem to be his plan…
"You're alive right now for one reason and one reason only, Rotgut. You've managed to entertain me."
What? Was he talking about the attempt on his life? What did he mean by entertaining him?
"I'm not talking about your pitiful attempt at stealing what belongs to me, to be clear. No, that was just plain irritating. But you have made one correct decision in this whole mess. You brought Ms. Delacour along with you."
Fleur freezes as both Rotgut and the robed wizard look to her again, her eyes widening as she suddenly has their focus.
"I'm sure you hoped that her presence would distract and pacify me until you could deal with me but clearly that didn't work out. However… she IS the only reason I'm showing you any mercy in this moment."
She doesn't understand. Is this someone she knows after all? But no, that's not possible. She doesn't know any living members of House Potter or House Black. She barely knows any wizards at all, frankly. So who the fuck was this, how did he know her, and why… why was SHE somehow responsible for him showing Rotgut mercy?!
"I can feel the goblin magic binding her to the bank. A contract, yes?"
"… Yes."
"Then that will be your punishment, Banker. You will give her to me. Her contract will be handed over with the understanding that the rest of her term of service will be under me instead of Gringotts."
Give her… to him?! Fleur feels a shiver of fear go down her spine. Not hope, not even if she wants to get away from Gringotts more than anything. Because… she doesn't know this man. She has no idea what this wizard is truly like. He's a killer with extremely powerful magic and that's all she has on him so far. And… he wants her.
"That would be… acceptable."
And Rotgut was going along with it?!
"However, we would have to go back up top. I am Intern Five-Nine-Seven's direct superior, but that does not mean I hold her contract personally so-!"
But the wizard has held up a raised hand and Rotgut wisely cuts himself off as the robed figure shakes his head.
"Do not lie to me, Rotgut. In fact, I strongly suggest that you tell no more lies for the rest of this conversation, as well as every conversation we have going forward into the future."
Fleur's eyes widen as she both watches and feels the wizard's magic wash over the Goblin Banker and force him to only tell the truth. Then, the wizard leans forward, looming over Rotgut menacingly.
"I know how Gringotts Internships work, Rotgut. More than that, I already told you that I can feel the goblin magic binding her. You aren't just her direct superior, you're her handler. Which means you carry Ms. Delacour's contract on you at all times. You have to in order to be ready to use it in the event that she proves… unruly. Produce it. Now."
Fleur can feel her heartbeat pounding away in her ears as Rotgut squirms and grimaces for a long moment. But finally, the Goblin Banker reaches under his shirt and pulls out a pendant with a tube on the end of it. From within the tube, he pulls forth a very small roll of parchment… only for that then to expand to a far more realistic scroll size.
She can only stare, mouth agape, at the contract. Was it really right there all this time? Right next to her every time Rotgut came and made her do something for him? She could have… she could have…
Fleur couldn't have done anything. She feels it in the moment when Rotgut hands the contract over to the robed figure. She feels the passing of the binding from Gringotts to this mystery wizard and she recognizes that there was nothing she could have done while Rotgut still held her contract.
Of course, she's just as powerless now because even though he's no longer her 'owner', Fleur is still smart enough to realize attacking the bastard goblin in the heart of Gringotts wouldn't go nearly as well for her as it is for the wizard. Her new owner.
Swallowing thickly, Fleur finds that she can't hold her tongue any longer. Even though it seems like it's already much too late to stop the transfer from happening.
"Don't… don't I get any say in this?"
Rotgut half-sneers, half-leers at her, but before he can speak, the wizard cuts him off with a question.
"Tell me Banker. If I had not taken Ms. Delacour here off your hands just now, would she have survived till the end of this week?"
Fleur whips her head towards her new 'master' at those words, only to whip her head back around to Rotgut when she remembers that he can't lie to the wizard.
"… No."
"What?!"
Turning towards her at Fleur's outburst, Rotgut sneers, no longer fighting the truth spell.
"You have borne witness to goblin humiliation, Intern Five-Nine-Seven! Silencing you would have been standard operating procedure!"
Fleur gapes, outraged but also stunned into silence. Meanwhile, the wizard clears his throat, drawing both of their attention back to him.
"She is not your intern anymore, Banker Rotgut. She is mine now and you will address her with the same respect you will show me from this moment onward."
Fleur blinks rapidly at having someone leap to her defense. Why is there a lump in her throat? Why are her eyes burning from such… such a simple thing? Of course, it doesn't help when Rotgut, failing to hide his fear, simply bows stiffly to her.
"… Apologies, Ms. Delacour."
After a long, awkward moment, Fleur finally just… does it. She shuffles over to the side of the tunnel where her new owner stands, taking up position behind and slightly to his left. She has no clue what to make of him and she still doesn't know who he is… but it's obvious he's the lesser of two evils here, especially when one of those evils wants to fucking KILL HER.
The wizard hums in response, tucking her contract away into the sleeves of his robes where it disappears without visibly shrinking down.
"Very good. Then with that settled, this indiscretion shall be overlooked. I think it's safe to say that Gringotts recognizes me as the current Lord of both House Potter and House Black, yes?"
"… Yes Lord Potter-Black."
"Excellent. Then with that authority, I'll be naming you, Rotgut, as the personal banker of the Potter and Black Vaults going forward."
Silence falls again, so thick you could hear a pin drop. Fleur's jaw is on the floor as she's once again stunned by the wizard's insane actions. Fortunately, Rotgut is just as shocked and asks the question that she so desperately wants to.
"Why… why me? I just tried to have you killed, wizard!"
The robed figure just chuckles, shaking his head.
"You did. And you failed. You want to know why you're my personal banker now? Because you and you alone in the entire Goblin Nation know what I'm capable of. Try and cross me again and you know I can come back here, find you, and kill you. No matter where you are. No matter what goblin wards you hide behind. You know I can't be stopped."
F-Fuck. Fleur tries not to let the heat rise to her face at the wizard's low, rumbling tone. She's not sure whether that was the hottest thing she'd ever heard, or the scariest. Maybe… both? Though for Rotgut, it was only scary really. The Goblin Banker is positively shaking in his boots at this point.
"Do we have an understanding, Rotgut?"
"… Yes, Lord Potter-Black."
"Good. Then you won't mind consolidating my vaults for me so I can make a hefty withdrawal and then opening another vault under a new name where the rest can reside until I come back for it."
That causes the goblin to twitch, the truth magic taking ahold of him.
"… I would mind that. I would mind it very much."
He looks fearful as the words are dragged out of him, causing the wizard to laugh in response.
"Well, that's fine. I don't actually care if you mind it… so long as you get the job done."
Another moment of silence hangs in the air before Rotgut finally musters the courage to speak again.
"What shall be the name this new vault is created under, Lord Potter-Black?"
"Hallows. The account shall be put under 'Harry Hallows'."
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Fleur has no idea what to make of this change in circumstances. She's still not convinced on whether she's been saved… or whether she's gone from the frying pan into the fire. Sure, Lord Potter-Black or… or 'Harry Hallows' as he called himself, had saved her life… but at the same time, she had no idea what to expect from him.
"My… my Lord?"
The 'withdrawal' that the Wizard Lord had offhandedly mentioned had damn near emptied both the Potter and Black Vaults, much to Rotgut's horror and Fleur's fascination. She had no idea where he'd gotten magical storage big enough for so much coin, treasure, and artifacts, but he'd taken more than half of both vaults and left the rest to be moved to the new Hallows Vault.
Only a single knut remained in the Potter and Black Vaults, forcing them to remain open thanks to wizarding law that Gringotts had to abide by. The only salve on the situation for 'poor' Rotgut was that Harry had him running the Hallows Vault as well and that was still nothing to scoff at, even if it was a mere fraction of what had previously been on the wizard's account.
Then, after all was said and done, they'd come here. Truthfully, Fleur didn't even fully know where here even was, though she assumed from the architecture that it was either a Potter or Black property. The place had been incredibly dusty when they'd first arrived but Harry had waved his wand and clean up the whole room in a single moment.
Now… well, now Fleur didn't know what to expect next.
"You can call me Harry Ms. Delacour."
Him taking off his hood and revealing a surprisingly young man with incredibly handsome features and vibrant green eyes definitely wasn't within her expectations, that's for sure. Swallowing thickly, Fleur twitches under his gaze.
"That… wouldn't be appropriate your lordship. You hold my contract now…"
Humming, Harry pulls the scroll out of his robes and tilts his head to the side as he holds it up.
"This old thing?"
And then… Fleur sees perhaps the most shocking thing she's seen all day… and that's saying something. Her eyes widen as fiendfyre climbs up from Harry's fingers, crawling along the enchanted, magically reinforced parchment of the contract.
In mere moments, the contract is burnt to ash, the fiendfyre doing what normal flames never would have been able to. In fact, the number of things that could have destroyed a goblin contract of all things could probably be counted on one hand. Fiendfyre, Basilisk Venom… and frankly, Fleur didn't actually know what else might be able to do it.
She feels it though. Even as Harry somehow easily sends the fiendfyre away, having perfect control over the incredibly dangerous and notoriously unruly magic, Fleur feels the contract's hold over her breaking. It's like a literal ton of weight has suddenly been removed from her chest. She collapses to her knees with a gasp… and then falls backwards, fainting on the spot.
Her last thoughts before it all goes black are about how embarrassing it is to be fainting at a time like this.
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The Vote:
[X] Fleur wakes up in a bed - 82%
[ ] Fleur wakes up on a couch - 18%
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