Diagon Alley.
Under the veil of night, the streets were no longer bustling with daylight activity.
Thanks to the British inclination toward leisure, most shops had shut their doors, save for Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, which also doubled as an inn. Only a few scattered shops along the street still twinkled with candlelight.
Elena adjusted her clothes, ensuring her little owl, Provisions, didn't slip from her chest where she'd stored her supplies. Her steps quickened involuntarily.
"It's not business hours now, please leave."
Beside the gleaming bronze doors of Gringotts, a goblin in crimson and gold uniform waved her off, mistaking Elena for a child idling about.
"I suppose there must be other goblins at Gringotts who can handle business, right?"
Elena glanced at the light peeking through the bronze door crack, unfazed, strolling up to the dark-faced goblin. He stood a tad shorter than her with a sharp, intelligent visage framed by a pointed beard.
"Young girl, this is no playground. Go home and sleep."
The uniformed goblin frowned, blocking Elena's path, speaking with impatience.
"Ding~"
"But this Galleon here told me it's not interested in sleeping. What do you think?"
Elena smiled faintly, flicking a Galleon into the air from her pouch.
"Tell Andy Serkins and Galwicks there's a major deal from Hogwarts looking to negotiate. It's yours if you help."
"Ah, of course. You're right; Galleons never sleep."
A hint of a smile appeared on the goblin's dark face as he deftly caught the spinning coin, bowing to Elena and stepping aside, granting her passage.
"Please, come in. I'll inform them..."
Gringotts, a lavishly decorated VIP chamber.
Seated on a plush sofa, Elena flipped through "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" while her owl sat quietly on her shoulder, eyes closed, seemingly dozing off.
"Apologies, Miss Kaslana. I hope I haven't kept you waiting."
The door to the VIP room suddenly swung open, and a goblin hurried in, his sharp voice slightly hoarse. It was Galwicks, the same goblin who had attended Dumbledore and Elena earlier in the day.
"Well, Elena Kaslana, now that we're all here, could you please explain this significant deal you mentioned?"
Andy Serkins, who had already been in the room, fidgeted nervously, breaking the silence.
If not for the charm of the Galleon and Dumbledore's presence earlier, it might have thought this was a crude joke.
Snap.
Elena gently closed the book, setting it aside, cradling her provisions on her lap, softly stroking its smooth feathers, all the while speaking leisurely.
"Earlier today, you mentioned Gringotts could provide loan services similar to Muggle banks, correct?"
"Similar to Muggle banks?"
Andy Serkins scoffed, a disdainful expression on his face. "Gringotts predates Muggle banks by far. Even Merlin had dealings with us."
Assessing the silver-haired young girl before him, Andy Serkins displayed a hint of disappointment. He should have known an ordinary young wizard couldn't have a significant deal. Shaking his long, sharp fingers, he said disdainfully:
"But I must remind you, Gringotts isn't some cheap, dirty black market pawnshop. We only accept items of high value as collateral. If you're planning to pawn some rare silverware or magical objects from home, you'd better try Knockturn Alley and test your luck."
Elena nodded contentedly, disregarding the condescending tone, and continued, "So, if I wanted a loan in Muggle currency, then exchanged it for Galleons or other Muggle currencies, could Gringotts manage that?"
"Of course. The goblin bank doesn't solely exist in London; we have a presence in every wizarding nation. Whatever you need, we can find a way to get it for you. However..."
Andy Serkins smirked, changing the subject slyly, rubbing his fingers. "Our fees and interest rates aren't cheap."
"To be honest, fees and rates have never been within my consideration."
Elena shrugged lightly, leaning back on the soft couch, her gaze sweeping over the two goblins. "One last question, what's the extent of your authority to decide? This is a considerable deal."
Since entering the room, Galwicks hadn't found an opportunity to interject. Proudly, he tapped his chest, saying, "Miss Kaslana, rest assured, no matter how significant the deal, we can handle it. Even if Mr. Dumbledore were to mortgage all his assets, it wouldn't be an issue."
"What if I were to offer Hogwarts as collateral?"
Elena smiled faintly, speaking softly.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"
The two goblins exchanged a glance, a comical expression appearing simultaneously before bursting into a series of sharp laughter.
"Hahaha, what a joke! But you're right; that's indeed beyond our decision."
"While such a significant deal would need discussion by the Goblin Elder Council. Of course, provided you have..."
The goblin's words abruptly stopped midway, as if an old vinyl record had skipped, emitting a choked rooster-like sound.
"Are you referring to this Hogwarts land deed?"
Elena withdrew a yellowed parchment from her chest, unfolding it methodically in front of the goblins, speaking casually, "I did mention it's a substantial deal."
"But!"
Before the goblins could shift from shock to greed, Elena's expression turned stern, coldly stating, "I suggest you refrain from any shrewd thoughts. Otherwise, you'll simultaneously anger the two most powerful wizards in the wizarding world."
While saying this, the silver-haired girl raised her left hand, clenching her fist forcefully.
On the delicate back of her hand, three dazzling traces of vows suddenly lit up, two emanating strong magical auras quickly spreading through the VIP chamber. The radiant light reflected on Elena's delicate face, showcasing an untouchable Valkyrie-like demeanor.
One of those magical auras was naturally recognizable to the goblins—Dumbledore's magic.
As for the other force, which was almost on par and seemed to subdue—Andy Serkins and Galwicks exchanged a glance, finding the answer in each other's fearful eyes—Grindelwald!
So, was everything during the day just a smokescreen? Galwicks gasped for breath, glancing at the scroll shimmering with magical imprints, stumbling as he pushed open the door, letting out a piercing scream into the hallway.
"Summon the Elder Council immediately! Wake those old geezers up! A deal like never before!"
Unlock exclusive early access to 100s of Chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.
As a cherished member of our Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For just $5, you'll receive:
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public. (You can find all the novels I'm translating HERE.)
- Your name will be prominently featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
If you decide to pledge $10, you'll get all the perks from the $5 tier, plus:
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
And if you're feeling generous with a $20 pledge, you'll unlock all the perks above:
- You get to recommend an abandoned Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
