"No." Grumbled Grimjaw. "No, I don't blame them. We lost close to ten thousand members of our race in less than a month and two entire clans were wiped out. Anybody, even humans, would feel a bit shocked in these circumstances."
Both goblins exchanged amused looks. Humans did not value the lives of their own species, that was a fact the bankers of Gringotts had learnt centuries ago.
"And the girl?"
"Has still not given any sign of life." Sighed Grimjaw. "She's still alive, I'm certain of it; otherwise her ancestral vault's blood protections would have been deactivated and the Ministry would be camping in my office to take the money of her family. But I have no idea where she is, and the ten times-damned treaties with the Ministry forbid me to send owls or hire any mercenary help to search her."
"At least she's alive." Said Toughclaw. "I have heard enough rumours about Ironrage being on the warpath and passing his wrath on a dozen of his subordinates. He didn't take the loss of so many curse-breakers in one expedition very well."
Grimjaw found himself nodding despite himself. He did not like Ironrage very much, the Senior Manager responsible to recruit and assign the human Curse-breakers had a very nasty temper and crossing him had resulted too often in the loss of a limb for the unfortunate who had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. But even him had to recognise losing an entire curse-breaking team, through it had been only a poor one, tended to generate an amount of paperwork close to a small mountain. Not to mention he would have to hire the replacements.
"I would not have expected him to act so concerned." Remarked Grimjaw. "We suspected these humans to be thieves and to pass critical information on the Ministry and other parties, remember? With them dead, the problem has been buried. Permanently."
"But them dead, we will never know who the other parties and their contacts in the Ministry were, "remarked Toughclaw."Ah, well. Nothing to do but wait they try again to place their spies in the bank."
"And hope we catch them in the act." Approved Grimjaw. "Still, I doubt you invited me in your office just to share the latest news of what happened in France."
"Indeed not. There have been some discrete inquiries about House Potter's status on marriage contracts."
"Interesting." Said Grimjaw. "Do you know which families made the demand?"
"I do not." Admitted bitterly Toughclaw. "You know as well as I how weakened the Rosier family is. In fact, if I did not have sources of mine in the Inheritance Department, I would have never learnt of it!"
This was a particular sore point for both of them, thought Grimjaw. After the humans had finished to slaughter themselves in 1981, the aftermath had been terrible in Gringotts. About three dozen major pure-blood families had been completely annihilated, and major Houses which had been around since the sixteenth century had been declared extinct. The possessions of several Houses had been seized or joined with other minor Houses, and several prominent Senior Accountants had been challenged by ambitious youngsters for their jobs. Many of the old generation had perished under the blades of the young.
Grimjaw and Toughclaw had both survived, but it had been a very near thing, especially in Toughclaw's case. In fact, if not for the fact Alexandra Potter and William Rosier were still alive to take the mantle of their respective families lordships in time, it was highly likely the duels would have been much more numerous to fight... and the survival chances of the Senior Accountants much slimmer.
That was not to say their influence and position had not suffered over the years. Alexandra Potter had been unreachable until her arrival at the entrance of Gringotts last year, and she was the last of her line. William Rosier, a boy who would enter Hogwarts on September, was the last male descendant of the main line, living with an old and half-insane aunt. There were a few cousins in the Malfoy, Lestrange and other pure-blood families, but they didn't carry the name. Thus no way to regain any prestige.
"I will try to make a bit of inquiry on my own. Not that I would worry much. Dumbledore has not advertised it, but everyone in the Wizengamot knows he's the magical guardian of the Heiress. And he has constantly tried to pass laws in order to break the custom of marriage contracts this last decade, so I do not think he will give any agreement for the foreseeable future.
As for the Heiress herself, my impression of her is not one who will tolerate being melded in the character these pure-blood fools expect of their women."
A large grimace on Toughclaw's face indicated Grimjaw had touched a sensitive subject.
"Don't tell me..."
"The boy came three days ago." Grumbled Toughclaw. "You know, I had so much hope for the last of the Rosier line! But his aunt has trained him well. The perfect little monster, seeing anybody but his and his relatives as beasts. No skill in finance, I could see that when I opened him the ledgers. Only interested in the point he will never lack any money no matter what he does. He withdrew two thousand galleons for his shopping in Diagon Alley! Two thousand galleons!" Toughclaw shook his head. "Knowing I survived because of this pathetic and miserable imbecile makes be grateful none of my children chose to follow my path. When I die, I do not want them to be at the mercy of this human's survival!"
"Assuming he lives that long." Remarked Grimjaw.
"Yes." Acknowledged Toughclaw. "And what are the chances of that?"
16 July 1992, Oxford, England
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