章節 29: Gringotts and Revelations
Aurelius Galegold stepped into the imposing marble halls of Gringotts for the first time since starting at Hogwarts. The grandeur of the wizarding bank, with its high ceilings and opulent decor, seemed almost designed to intimidate. Aurelius, however, felt only a sense of calm purpose as he approached the grand counter with his family behind him.
A goblin, sharp-eyed and stern, immediately noticed him. Aurelius, with a formal Goblin greeting, surprised the goblin who was used to disrespectful wizards or more naïve children. With a curt nod, the goblin responded, 'And may your enemies cower in your wake, and your vaults flow with riches.' The goblin ushered him towards a side passage. 'This way, Mr. Galegold,' he said, his tone unusually respectful. 'Will your entourage be joining you or remaining in the lobby?'
"They will be continuing with me," I said in response. The goblin gives a curt nod and continues.
The goblin's voice turned sharp as he addressed Aurelius's family. "Refrain from speaking unless necessary. While it is accepted that they will be joining, meetings are important and are done strictly for heirs and lords. You are a special case, so it is allowed, but do not abuse our leniency." His words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the goblin's authority and the gravity of the situation.
"I can't promise that this won't occur in the future and that they won't be speaking as they are both my advisors and confidante, so please take no offense when they seem to talk out of turn," Aurelius said, being polite but firm. The goblin, his sharp eyes softening slightly, looks him in the eyes and nods in understanding. Aurelius followed, curiosity piqued by all the extra treatment and respect the goblin had shown. He had never been to Gringotts before, but according to the movies and books of his past life, they weren't particularly fond of wizardkind. They navigated through winding corridors until they reached a grand office, the plaque on the door reading 'Head Teller.' The goblin spoke gobbledegook after knocking on the door.
The head teller, a goblin named Grashnak, looked up as they entered. His demeanor was unexpectedly warm. "Ah, Mr. Galegold and guests. Welcome. Please, have a seat."
Aurelius and his family sat down, maintaining their composure. Grashnak's eyes gleamed with a mix of respect and curiosity. "Your arrival has been anticipated, heir Galegold," he began.
"Hello, Head Teller Grashnak. May your enemies kneel before you, and your riches grow evermore."
The goblin responds in a surprisingly casual tone. "While it is much appreciated that you respect our customs, you may speak more informally with me. Your station warrants at least that much."
"I apologize for my ignorance, but I am unfamiliar as to the particular reason why," I said, trying to understand the situation.
"Your mother, Cyprah Galegold, was instrumental in the goblin nation's rise to prominence within the financial sector of the wizarding world. She devised the system that allowed us to integrate our services into the very fabric of wizarding society. Because of her contributions, the Galegold vault was the first ever constructed here at Gringotts. As her descendant, especially as her child, you will always be considered a friend of the goblin nation unless you give us reason to think otherwise." Told the head teller.
Aurelius nodded, absorbing the information. "I understand. And I thank you for your kind wishes. May we begin our business?"
"Indeed. We have prepared your family's financial statements. Please read over them. Would you care for a summary, or would you like to read them and come to your own conclusions?" asked the head teller.
"We shall read over them, but I would like your telling of these documents' story. After all, as a merchant, I must be cautious of those I work with; however, I must also be willing to trust those I work with." I said, extending an olive branch to the goblin.
"Well said, Mr. Galegold. While I am not privy to the details of the whole situation, it is clear that you have inherited your family's spirit." Said the appreciative goblin.
Grashnak gestured to a set of ledgers and documents on the desk. We all took some of the papers. My mother, Ann, is more familiar with these statements, but even she is beyond shocked that the number seemed to be nearly smudged together, with the number being so large that the writing is tiny to fit on the page.
"We have been safeguarding your family's financial statements. You have roughly about 92,738,309,500,900,832 galleons. It appears you hold the debts of every major house in the wizarding world except the Malfoys, who arrived in Britain after your mother's time. The compounded interest over generations has resulted in a staggering amount of debt owed to you. That, quite frankly, I don't think could ever be paid even if the entire world attempted to pay you." Said an amazed but professional Grashnak.
Aurelius perused the documents, his expression remaining unchanged.
Grashnak raised an eyebrow. "You seem... unsurprised."
"The Galegold were well versed in financial formulas. I calculated the value of the multiplier of the interest with a standard interest rate of 8% since that was the standard amount of my house. While the number is staggering, the value is within the expected range." I said while continuing to scan my bank statements.
Grashnak's eyes gleamed with newfound respect. "Impressive. You have a keen mind for finance, Mr. Galegold. Since you seem familiar with the functions of finance. Is there anything particular that catches your eye?"
"Not particularly, but the number of places is correct. The calculations are accurate. Quite frankly, I'm amazed at the accuracy considering the tools of the time." I said in response.
"We are nothing if not diligent, young Galegold, but I must say that from what I observe, you can do much of the calculations at a glance." Said a proud Grashnak.
"It's a gift," said Aurelius. I didn't tell him that it was, so to speak, a gift. 'I guess being able to calculate things quickly with some practice and confidence is almost instinctive of my family line.'
They continued to review the documents, discovering marriage contracts with the houses of Greengrass, Bones, Longbottom, and Black. These contracts skewed heavily toward the Galegold family and hinted at old alliances and obligations.
"Hmm, what prompted these marriage contracts, head teller," asked my mother, Ann.
"The Greengrass family's curse prompted the alliance," Grashnak explained. "The contract was meant to be cemented by marriage, likely with the hope that your family's innovative nature could find a cure."
Aurelius nodded thoughtfully. "And the others?"
"Pure speculation, as there is no explicit context. However, these contracts bind the families to you in ways that give you considerable leverage. Additionally, you also have properties. More specifically, two shops in Diagon Alley have been unenterable since your mother, Cyprah Galegold. The ancestral Galegold manor is on the Irish Sea island, dubbed the Isle of Man.
Aurelius's mind raced. With all the debts owed, he had a perfect excuse to seek out the Hufflepuff Cup Horcrux, hidden within the Lestrange vault. He then moved on to the situation with the debts and how they'd be paid annually to not cripple the economy but spur it forward. "Excellent, I want all of those repaired and renovated. Send surveyors to each location two weeks later. I will go to the shops to gain official authority over the locations. I will give my guardian here the authority to the shops." Aurelius points using his whole hand to Nagini wanting to avoid saying her name since, in magic, her name is Nagini Galegold, but her public name is Lintang. "I will have house elves apparate us to the manor to survey the home and have a surveyor ready so that we can make plans for renovations. I want this done by the end of this summer. I will pay double the standard commission if it is to my liking. Once the manor is reviewed, I will give the details of what I desire. Make sure the wards of the place will make the Black manor look like a comforting home, but no use of dark magic." I told him.
"Those are acceptable terms." Says the goblin.
Nagini spoke up. "Considering what we discussed, Aurelius, what do you think about the marriage contracts?"
"The Black and Longbottom have no women to become my wives or concubines, so that is a moot point. As for the family of Greengrass and Bones, I'm not sure. I'll have to look into the heirs. Susan is a nice, friendly girl with connections with her aunt, the head of the DMLE, so that might be worth investing in. As a person, I don't know enough to make a final decision. While Greengrass has one of the best distribution networks in Britain, I might not like Daphne. Therefore, it is entirely possible that we should attempt to cure her little sister to have her emotionally indebted to us to ensure friendly ties even if I decide not to marry her, as it could be seen as an insult to the Greengrass house. At the same time, we have an axe over their head. It is better to have friendly relations whenever possible. The axe is only there should they cross the line."
"I guess it is to be expected. Just be aware that they will be aware of the situation since they are the heirs of their families." Said Nagini in thought.
"Yeah, that came to mind before coming to Gringotts, but if they cannot handle the pressure of this magnitude, they would be poor choices to have by my side in the long run," I told her.
Martha tapped Aurelius's shoulder and requested that he cast a silencing spell barrier so his mothers could talk privately. He expected his mothers would be put off by his behavior and needed some time to collect themselves. After all, it really sunk in that Aurelius was the most influential person in Britain who had more financial and political power than any collective group. He could cripple the wizarding government of Britain with a few words. The goblins would happily do it if they could have even the tiniest fraction of the debts of the other families. They began to talk.
"Has our little boy always been this practical? He's always been a kind boy and a tad too logical for his own good, but he can be scary at times," says Martha, whispering to her wife.
"He has always been like this when he gets serious. He just rarely had a reason to be. Do you remember when that friend he had over was disrespectful to him and apparently us? And was adamant that Aurelius was being mean despite him simply standing his ground?" she responded.
"Yeah, I remember he ran away crying. Something about our boy being a monster or something." Said Martha, trying to remember that event.
"Yeah, apparently, from what I glanced at and understood was that he cut him off without remorse and told the boy that he'd destroy the boy if he hurt us in any way. And I believed him. He had this tone that ran chills down my spine. I worried he'd do something dangerous, but he never pushed further. I think he would've made good on his promise though should the kid have escalated the situation." she remembered that memory.
"Shouldn't you have stopped him then?" asked an incredulous Martha.
"I did and didn't. In a way, I didn't have to. When I asked him about it, he told me that people who seek others to submit to them, be it through belittling or more forceful means, often make enemies of the very allies they try to rally behind them. As such, they are the most vulnerable, exposing their back to their "allies." And that cutting him off was the best option. And he's always been fiercely defensive about us, so it isn't exactly a surprise that he'd be very aggressive in that situation." Said Ann, who could see the reasoning but felt a bit put off that their son was so mature and knowledgeable in relationships that are reminiscent of those who are very manipulative.
"That's true. And I can't say that I disagree with his reasoning. Still, it feels odd that he treats the marriages more like alliances than marriage, but at least he's considering that marriage is also about liking your partner." Said an optimistic Martha.
"I agree. And to be fair, our families are exactly the same. If it weren't for us being squibs, I do not doubt that we would've been married off to create alliances with the other noble houses. The only difference is that they wouldn't have cared whether or not our partner was good for us." Said a somewhat saddened Ann.
"Hey, it's alright. That's not the case for us, and our boy is thinking about the future with having friends. Not just political alliances or financial gains. Granted, the emotional debt is a bit much, but I can't exactly say that isn't a common tactic for the light side of the Wizengamot. They make you feel warm and fuzzy, but it's to endear you to their side while making you more docile to align with their decisions." Said Martha, who is well-versed in noble politics and human behavior.
Ann taps on his shoulder, prompting him to snap the barrier away.
"Have you collected yourselves?" Aurelius asked.
"Yeah, just a word of advice. I listened to what you said and discussed the situation with your mother. You're right to avoid using the stick as little as possible and only when the line has been crossed. Just try to make the line not too harsh; otherwise, you could alienate yourself if others discover it. Even if it's to protect us, not everyone will see it that way. As for your political maneuvering, while we can respect your knowledge and logical thinking as a noble, it is also important to live as a person. So don't go playing god with everyone's lives. Is that understood?" said a serious Ann.
"Yeah, I'm not trying to get everyone under my boot. I will utilize all the tools and methods appropriate to the situation without shame. While some may seem cold-hearted, I don't mind being a monster when necessary." I told her with resolve clear in my eyes.
Grashnak watched the interaction, nodding in agreement. "Your resolve is commendable, and I must agree with the sentiments. Respect diminishes when one doesn't punish those who step out of line, but those subject to the rules will only truly listen to reasonable demands. Be conscientious when it comes to weighing your decisions."
Aurelius stood resolute. "I will. Thank you."
"Now, on to the details; I believe that the best option is after my manor is rebuilt to annually have a fixed amount released into our banks at a steady amount for the financially weaker nobles that wouldn't outright cripple them but would limit their influence. The stronger nobles will give us 15% of their vaults annually. I will request wards be made for my home hidden under fidelius. As for the marriage debts, notify the families of Bones and Greengrass about them, but no decision has been made yet. As for compensation, I wish to have a certain cup that the Lestrange should own. I believe it to be a goblet; if I understand correctly, it should be Aunt Helga's. If what I know is correct, it should be tainted with some very dark magic, so please cleanse it. If the cup is destroyed, it is an acceptable sacrifice, but there will be a monetary bonus should the cup be fully intact. As for compensation, I believe that each person involved with the house of Galegold should be compensated with a lump sum of five years' worth of pay. If I understand, it should be about six thousand galleons per person. If the person has died, give the money to those most worthy of their descendants. I will leave that up to your discretion."
The goblin writes down the essential pieces on a piece of parchment. "It shall be done. As for the cup, it will have to be discussed as its inherent value financially must be determined. As for the dark magic on the cup, we shall have a shaman look into that. If it is indeed, as you said, we will notify you of the situation. And if the cup can be salvaged or if it must be destroyed. As for the compensation, it is quite generous, and I thank you. And I thank you for your trust in my ability to gauge the worthiness of individuals."
"Also, please give me a bottomless pouch with the most extreme anti-theft enchantments allowable. I'd also like to go to my family vault to retrieve particular items. And give everyone goblin working here 200 galleons to keep quiet about the debts. As a bonus to you, Grashnak, feel free to take an extra 1500 galleons for the extra workload."
In a more cheery tone, "Okay, now that has all been done. I think it is time to leave for the vault," I say excitedly after being handed an overpowered super pouch.
Everyone nods in agreement.
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