Chapter 83 - Winning the peace

Ron Weasley comfortably held Romilda's hand in his own where it belonged as the pair strolled along Diagon Alley towards Knockturn Alley. He'd heard a lot about the changes to the formerly dirty and seedy place since the fires. Merlin, his Dad carried on about the new Knockturn Alley almost as much as about his Muggle plug collection but Ron himself had never been there. He'd heeded his mother's threats about how she'd tan his hide if he ever set foot in there. Those threats had never been withdrawn but she'd allowed her husband to talk about how improved it was.

Nevertheless, he'd agreed when his girlfriend had asked if they could check it out for themselves. All the time, Ron had been worried, keeping his hand near his wand at all times and trying to watch in all directions at once. He'd been equally surprised and relieved to see his former Quidditch teammate Katie Bell coming the other way when they got near the other end of the alley.

"Katie? What are you doing here?" Ron asked loudly. An elbow to his side reminded him to keep his voice down. "Sorry, honey."

"Oh, I'm just checking all the shops." Katie replied easily. "There are a couple new ones since I was last here."

"Does your boyfriend know what you get up to without him?" Romilda put in teasingly to cover her shock at seeing Katie there by herself. Improved or not, the Alley still had a bad reputation.

"Yep, I was helping out my parents at their new shop this morning and finished up a half-hour ago. We're going to meet for our date-"

"- Right about now." Harry interrupted as he came up to them with a brilliant smile for the normally shy girl. "We were going to start by visiting Florean Fortescue's if you want to finish your conversation?" He was mostly asking Katie, of course, since he knew she had been missing the team but he was a little curious what they had been talking about.

"Er, you sure?" Ron asked.

"We wouldn't want to impose on your date." Romilda added, translating his response.

Katie looked searchingly at Harry wondering if he was serious about allowing them along if she wanted that. He nodded slightly. She mouthed a silent "thanks" to him then smiled at her former housemates. "You wouldn't be imposing. Come on, Harry's treat. I haven't seen either of you in weeks."

With Romilda more reluctant than Ron to accept free food, the group of four walked back towards Diagon Alley.

"So what have you been up to? I don't think I've spoken more than a hundred words with you in over a month." Romilda asked the older girl, burning with her curiosity.

"I've been busy!" Katie replied instantly. "Since our last Quidditch match, I've been as busy as a bee trying to study for my NEWTs."

"Is that all?" The younger witch asked with a grin.

"It's all I'm going to say while we're outside, Romilda."

"What? No stories about how good your new boyfriend is?" She giggled.

"Spare me." Ron groaned. "Hey Harry, do a bloke a favour and kill me now. Please?"

Harry laughed. "Sorry, Ron. No can do. Ginny would be upset with me and you know you don't want to get her mad. However, I do hope that the girls will leave off talking about that where their sensitive boyfriends can hear them."

Romilda laughed loudest at that but nodded along. "Ok, Mr Potter. We'll spare you… this time."

"I'll take what victories I can get. Now, who wants what?" Harry asked seeing as the shop was already in sight.

Once they'd gotten their orders and exchanged the usual small talk, Harry asked a question that had been on his mind a lot. "So what do you both think about the changes around here?"

Ron swallowed before answering, getting an automatic smile from his girl. "I'm not sure, really. I mean, even a crup could see those Death Eaters needed to go down but the rest of it makes me uneasy."

Harry nodded calmly and looked to Romilda. "How about your thoughts?"

Romilda looked reluctant to answer before giving in. "I like the new array of styles but there is an awful lot of change going on. Can our world stand it all?"

Ron nodded. "I'm glad V- Riddle lost but- Look, Harry, I know I was a bit of a berk when we started in First Year but I've done some thinking since then. I know I'm not the fastest when it comes to dealing with new things. All this coming at me from every angle, yeah?"

"I understand. It can be a bit overwhelming but I hope that you don't let that stop you from seeing all the good, too." Harry reassured his classmate.

"We'll see." Ron replied cautiously. "I'm not completely against the changes, I mean I was thinking of doing some summer work for the Foundation. I've heard they'll hire anyone with OWLs."

"That's right." Harry smiled. "There are better rates for people who've got their NEWTs, of course, but not everyone can wait that long. That's why there's a work-study program to help older wizards and witches get their qualifications while still making enough to live on."

"I'm still waiting to hear back about my marks, Harry." Katie told him.

"I'm sure you did fine, Katie. There's been a holdup at the Ministry end, I hear. The WEA was one of the departments affected by the recent troubles and they're having to recheck everyone's results."

"So can you get me mine? I don't think I passed my Herbology final." Katie worried.

"Maybe but they wouldn't be official just yet." Harry warned before trying to soothe her again. "And I know you did well, Katie. Really, you'll see."

"I just want to see what they were."

"Why don't you ask the Headmistress? I've heard that she's often visiting." Romilda put in.

"Huh, where'd you hear that?" Harry wondered who had been gossiping out of turn.

"Oh, I heard it from Fay who had it from one of the Claws who said she heard it from her Seventh Year brother that Professor Flitwick said that Professor McGonagall visits twice a week for dinner." Romilda rattled off the links in the chain easily.

Ron rolled his eyes and changed the subject back to the Foundation. "As long as they'll pay me good Galleons for my work, I don't care about my marks."

Katie shook her head, giggling. "Pray your parents don't hear you said that, Ron."

"Nah, I'm safe!" Ron grinned. "I'll just change the topic to Ginny or the twins and Mum'll go off about them and forget all about me."

"You're all heart." Harry deadpanned. "Besides, how does that make you safe from Ginny or the twins?"

"The twins have moved out already ahead of Mum's personally delivered Howler at three feet. Last year's failed exams were bad enough and they'd already had reports sent home about their punishment from the Headmistress herself, so they cleared out as soon as they got their room packed up. Last I heard, they couldn't get their owl order business off the ground and were thinking of hiring on elsewhere if anyone would have them. Not sure where they're staying, either, but they implied the rent was cheap. I think they'd hear about me using them to distract our Mum and if they do, I'll tell them it was a prank. That'll excuse anything with the twins."

Katie laughed. "Sure but they'll still try to get you back."

"Yeah," Ron agreed, "but they won't be vicious about it. I think they're trying to hold out as long as they can before they work for the Foundation, too. And if I'm already working for them, they won't be allowed to pick on me cos I'll be another employee. With Bill marrying that Egyptian bird and Charlie going for some foreign girl he met at the dragon reserve, neither of them will be back in the country any time soon. Percy, the git, hasn't visited or written home in months though Dad did hear he made it through the trouble okay and is some kind of clerk in the DMLE now. I kind of wish he would visit, if only to get Mum off my back."

Harry was mildly impressed. The Ron he had known the last time they had really spoken, which was back during the Triwizard Tournament, had not paid that much attention to his family. He also hadn't been thinking about business at all. Something of his thoughts must have showed, or Ron must have guessed their direction, because the redheaded wizard grinned.

"You're not the only one growing up, Mr Man Who Won." Ron boasted with a proud grin of his own.

"So I see!" Harry laughed.

"Yep, you can blame my lovely girl for that. She does her best to make me make something of myself." Ron smiled over at Romilda. "I don't know what I'd do without her help."

"And how does this cunning plan of yours keep you safe from Ginny?" Katie asked playfully. "I noticed you hadn't mentioned her in all of this."

"Er.. I hadn't quite worked that out. Shite, she knows more curses than I do, too. Hey, think if you tell her that I said she's scarier than the Twins, she'd take it as the praise I mean and leave me alone?"

"May-be. How do you feel about her clothes?"

"What? I'd never wear them, if that's what you're asking, but as long as she doesn't flash the boys in school, she can wear what she likes. The way Romilda explained it, she's not Mum's pr- I mean not Mum's business after the stuff in the Chamber, she's yours. Least til she's seventeen when she becomes her own witch. Well, she's Harry's, I mean, but Merlin knows I wouldn't want to be the one to tell her she can't do something she's set on."

Katie laughed at his first answer and smiled at the second one. "Good. I like this new, mature Ron Weasley. For your information, I think you can relax about Ginny. As long as you remember that she's got a mind of her own, I find it's easy to talk to her."

"Yeah, but it's different for you. You're easy to like!" Ron protested.

"Ronald Weasley," Romilda interrupted with a repressive tone and a smile on her face. "You are lucky I know better than to think you'd be flirting with another girl right in front of me. Just for that, however, you can buy me a second helping."

Harry laughed. "Let me, Romilda. Anyone else want anything?" When their orders had been taken, he turned back to Ron. "Do you think you'll have any problems from your parents about joining the Foundation?

"Maybe. Depends if Mum thinks I'm trying to escape doing my chores." Ron added nervously.

"So, are you?" Katie teased the redhead.

"'Course, I am!" Ron chuckled. "But I don't mind chipping in and paying my parents a bit of my pay, instead."

"I'm a little surprised, Ron." Katie said cautiously. "You're being more open about money than I had expected."

Ron grimaced and waited until the waiter finished serving them. "Yeah, I'm still not comfortable with taking charity, mind, but me and my lady've had a few rows over the years when she's wanted to buy me some nice present. She's helped me accept that it's ok to want money, long as I don't go crazy over it, and that I'll have to work for it. Not to say the help you gave our family wasn't appreciated, Harry, it was, but I want more than just handouts. If that means working for your company despite the rumours, then that's the way it is."

"Which rumours are those?" Harry asked casually. "There are so many flying around these days, it's a pain trying to keep up," he explained while he thought quickly. He didn't think anyone had given away anything vital but it was always best to be sure.

"The ones about the Muggles taking over the Wizarding World and the Foundation helping them to destroy everything we have."

"Well, that won't be happening!" Harry shook his head. "Ron, the Foundation is a number of things, it's new and it's growing and that scares some people, but it's saved lives and created new jobs, good honest work that people can be proud of."

"But then why does M- why do people hate it?" Ron asked, catching himself.

"We're changing the world. Change scares some people and that fear leads to hatred. It's just the same crap about Muggleborns that Draco's always going on about but it's been given a new target now that Riddle and his minions are gone." Harry explained simply.

"We're trying to save our world, not destroy it!" Katie added emphatically.

"How can you save the world by making a profit?" Romilda was confused.

"The profit is mostly a way to let us do what we need to do. Buying land, building new housing, expanding the business to create new jobs and the thousand and one things everyone needs to buy, it all takes money and lots of it. For example, dragonhide clothing and armour isn't cheap but it keeps people alive and healthy when they're dealing with cursed items or working on dangerous potions." Harry explained.

"And it looks good." Katie laughed.

"There's also some social effects from it that help reduce friction. People respect success and a big profit is a way to show it."

"Says the wizard who defeated You- Riddle." Romilda giggled and leaned into Ron. She rubbed his arm to reassure him that she wasn't going anywhere and Ron moved his arm around her without thought.

Harry laughed. "Exactly. Of course, it helps that the Death Eaters are all gone, too. People are free to move forward rather than stuck looking back at the past."

"We used to advance, to make new things and think new thoughts but somewhere along the way we stopped. Harry and the people in the Foundation are working to change that." Katie added passionately.

"But why?" Ron was confused. "I mean, I like the pay on offer and that but why do we have to change?"

"Life is change. If you don't change with it and keep up, you get left behind." Seeing Ron didn't get it, Katie explained more. "At school, we keep studying new magic and practising, right? What would've happened if you'd stopped at the end of fifth year with just your OWLs and didn't bother with sixth year?"

"I'd've failed and Mum would've sent me a Howler." Ron answered immediately. "That and Romilda would probably have left me."

"It's the same for groups of people, too, like Quidditch teams. If the Harpies stopped working on their strengths and weaknesses and didn't study their opponents, they'd soon be losing all their matches." Katie explained, womanfully resisting the urge to use Ron's team, the Chudley Cannons, as her example instead.

"You're right!" Ron agreed.

"So why should societies be any different? We don't want the French to look down on us, not any more than they already do, so we work hard, showing them why they shouldn't dismiss British witches and wizards."

"This is just more of the same, then?" Romilda asked, though her tone showed she understood already.

"Yep!" Katie giggled then decided that was enough of that. "Who's up for another ice cream?"

"Me!" Ron answered immediately, prompting the others to laugh while Harry signalled for Mr Fortescue to come over and get their order.

Ron blushed as red as his hair, realising he'd been set up, but managed to place his order calmly.

"You know, I reckon you're right." He told the others after finishing a double scoop of rocky road and peppermint ice cream. "Harry, you think you could get me into the Foundation? Just a chance to prove myself is all I'm asking."

Harry nodded. Such chances were standard Foundation practice but he knew some people didn't believe it. "Sure. I'll send you a letter with the details tonight."

Romilda beamed. "Thank you! Oh, look at the time! We really must be going."

Before Ron could put his foot in it and screw up things for himself, she dragged her boyfriend off with hurried goodbyes and left the other pair to their date.

Katie kissed his cheek when they'd left. "Thanks, Harry. I've been meaning to catch up with the team but it's been so hectic with everything going on."

"Any time. Did you want to see anything else while we're here?"

"Not particularly."

"Good because I have a surprise for you."

"Is it my results?" Katie grinned.

"No, though you can pester the Headmistress later if you want."

"You know she'll just tell me to be patient and give me that look that says she's disappointed in me."

"She never does that to me." Harry grinned cheekily.

"Oh, you!" Katie glared at him. "You're just trying to distract me, aren't you? Is there even a surprise or was that another trick?"

"You wound me!" Harry declared dramatically with a hand over his heart.

"Not yet, I don't. Now hurry up and tell me." Katie mimed going for her wand.

Harry laughed. "I was thinking that we could go for a broom race, actually."

"And will you promise to keep it fair?"

"Of course! We'll both be using these brooms." Harry got out two tiny brooms from his pocket.

Katie picked up one of them and had a look. "Are those Cirrus brooms?"

"Yeah, they're the Nimbus' new line of brooms, named after the cloud type which is higher flying than nimbus clouds and they're hoping that kind of symbolism appeals to their customers."

"What are they like?"

"The brooms are supposed to have better climbing rates and top speed than the Firebolt but they lose out on cornering and braking. Great for racing or long-distance flights but not as good for Quidditch. They've loaned a few out to get reviews from celebrities, you know, so they can advertise them as 'approved by such-and-such.'"

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's give them a ride!"

Harry had idly hoped before the fall of Riddle and his followers that his life would become a little less crazy. Instead, it was getting more so by the week. His visit to Gringotts was par for the course, really. He found out about the appointment when Amelia Bones called in Harry for reasons that were quickly made clear. He made his way directly to the Minister's office, having been waved through by the Lifeguards on duty after they confirmed his identity.

"Hello, Harry."

"Hello, Amelia. So what's the crisis of the day?" Harry smiled as he joked with her.

"Unfortunately, Harry, that may be more accurate than either of us would prefer. This letter came from Gringotts last night. Just why the letter, which was addressed to the Goblin Liaison Office, was delivered to me was a mystery at first. It turns out that the office is entirely empty."

Harry's smile had disappeared by the time she finished. "What happened to them all?"

"A single Muggleborn employed as a junior clerk was the last staffer still working after the clean-out. She 'saw the writing on the wall' supposedly and left to join the Foundation. The witch had sent off her resignation as best she could, marking it for the Head of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures out of habit since her own superiors had all been fired or locked up pending trial. The GLO was transferred to Magical Cooperation as part of the reforms but apparently, she never got the memo."

"I see. While I'm sure you'd like to disagree, you can see why she thought she had to leave." Harry replied with some sympathy in his voice.

Amelia nodded curtly. "The department head didn't see the resignation notice for a while since he was dealing with his own department's woes. The Dark families are proving to be every bit as defiant with the required licences and notifications for the creatures they own as for the various Dark artefacts and other laws they routinely broke."

"That makes far too much sense." Harry agreed. "Back to the letter?"

"Ah, yes. Correspondence from the goblins was ignored for long enough that one of the most surly goblins was sent after normal Ministry hours to get a response, exactly according to the last treaty. He couldn't find anyone so he wandered unsupervised, which I am not happy about. Eventually, he threatened his way into the department that controlled the Goblin Liaison Office and expressed his superiors' displeasure with the cock-up to the lone employee still in the place. That's also when he told the wizard, barely out of Hogwarts, about his 'horrible' experience and how dare the Ministry do such a thing, et cetera."

Harry snorted.

"The department head found out about it the next morning and brought the letter along with his complaints about the goblins, the staffing problem in his own department and the accidental depopulation of the department under him to me. And now, I'm giving the letter to you."

Opening the letter, Harry found that it was officially from the head of Gringotts who also held the title of Chieftain of the Tribes. In practice, that meant it was actually from the half-dozen most senior goblins in their society, goblins with the title of advisors who had little to do with the bank or with any humans day to day. Instead, they were the true rulers of the goblins.

The contents of the letter were not reassuring.

Officially, it was congratulations on her Ministry's defeat of the Dark Lord and offered condolences for the losses taken by the Ministry's fighters along with inviting her to send a single representative to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between their peoples. The subtext said that the goblins felt that the wizards were weakened by their recent civil war and that this was the best time to push for more concessions under the guise of seeking equality and other flowery phrases. The representative they were demanding to see on threat of war was Harry, himself.

"The goblins aren't interested in peaceful coexistence." Harry had said on reading the letter.

Amelia nodded grimly.

As biased as Binns' lessons were, he did teach how goblins as a rule hated wizards and witches, many of whom hated the goblins right back, perpetuating the cycle. Binns didn't cover the current state of goblin society. Harry had to learn that from other sources.

Over recent generations, while chieftains still fought and died for the right to reign over their race, the position of advisor had grown in power and influence to the point that they ruled the goblins. The advisors were not tied to one chieftain or another which made them more permanent and allowed them to accumulate favours and power that the chieftains used to wield.

While policies changed from time to time, what didn't was the underlying hostility, only how they displayed it. When the Ministry was strong, they pushed for smaller changes to relations or to keep the gains they had made. When there was a Dark Lord in power, they kept their heads down and tried to avoid notice, rightfully expecting that the Dark Lords would attack on the slightest provocation. And when the Ministry appeared weak, they pushed hard for concessions or prepared for war if they liked their chances.

They had gained control of wizarding banking in Britain over a century ago, betting that the wizards would not want another fight after putting down a Dark Lord. They had been right. To their credit, they had done a better job than the wizards they replaced but the reason they wanted it was to control the wizard economy. They already controlled their own.

"No, they're not. They're confident they can use the Ministry's losses to grab more power."

"Any idea what exactly they're after this time?"

"No but whatever it is, it will be something that improves the advisors' position at the expense of someone else. Best guess, it will put more control in their hands by making us request audiences with them on their home ground whenever we have to discuss issues rather than having to come to the Ministry each time. That's important because the only laws that apply are those belonging to the host."

"So why do we have to go to them this time?"

"They have the right to request a meeting on their ground if we fail to respond to their requests for a set period to have one on ours. It's one of those things in the last treaty that was supposed to put the goblins in their place while supposedly preserving lines of communication."

"Ah, I was wondering." Harry chuckled.

"Harry, the goblin messenger mentioned he was hoping to see combat." Amelia told him sharply.

Harry understood what she was implying. "Is that possible? Would they try to have matters decided in that way?" Harry asked. "I mean, it seems barbaric to invite a representative only to kill them. Not that they'd succeed."

"Sadly, yes. In the past, it wasn't a concern since the Ministry always had precedence on hosting meetings but in this case, the goblins took advantage of the Ministry's distraction. That means they can challenge you for satisfaction if they can manage to take enough offence. I'm sure they won't find it hard."

"I suppose I shouldn't expect anything better given that both parties hated each other's guts when the treaty was written. What are the chances of them outright breaking the treaty by ambushing me or trying other means to kill me?"

"Greater than I'd like but less than they would be with the average Minister. The goblins like to think themselves above us in matters of honour. Even so, their combat is without wands. At first, it was a matter of the ban on wand use but they've kept it up, seeing their proficiency with blades as a sign of superiority. They don't need a wand to kill a wizard while a wizard needs a wand to kill a goblin."

"Somehow, I doubt they use normal blades." Harry replied dryly. "As lazy as most wizards are, I can't see them losing to the goblins without some sort of enhancements. A dozen wizards on brooms could rain down spells on their enemy pretty easily and the goblins would know that."

"Of course not. Goblin weapons are enchanted to be faster, to aid the skill of the wielder and to add everything they can get to make the weapon better. Likewise, goblin armour and everything else they wear in combat is designed to make the wearer better."

"Sensible of them." Harry pronounced with amusement. "I can only be glad that Riddle and his followers didn't think of that."

"You and me, both." Amelia told him with feeling.

"What I'm wondering is why they're trying this."

"What do you mean?"

"By now, I was pretty sure that most wizards have heard or read how I headbutted Riddle. Wouldn't the goblins know that I'm better at their style of combat than most wizards if I could do that? Sure, the Ministry might be weaker but that doesn't mean that British wizards are weaker."

"Possibly. They're just as vulnerable to dismissing unwelcome evidence as anyone else. Not as bad as Fudge."

"That is a pretty high bar to clear." Harry grinned. "On the other hand, rumours travel fast."

"This sounds like a job for someone trained to get information. Sadly, all we've got is you." Amelia grinned.

Harry laughed. "So what are the details for this meeting?"

"It will be held in three days' time at noon. I'm sure they would hold it sooner if they could get away with it but for now, they're sticking within the letter of the treaty."

"Do we know where the meeting will be held?"

Amelia shook her head. "Only that it will be in goblin territory so presumably somewhere underground in the bank. They'll have someone escort you. Now, I trust you can fight your way out of there if you have to but I'd prefer not to have a war. That doesn't mean I want you to give them everything they want, either."

"The usual tightrope walk, then?"

"I'm sorry to do this to you but yes. The goblins' timing is excellent from their perspective. The Ministry's barely holding on and most of the wizards who would be the greatest threat to them are gone, including both Riddle and Dumbledore. Add in the other changes and we look ripe for the taking. From our perspective, we're gearing up for integration and don't need another war muddying things there. It makes us look incompetent or overly aggressive."

"I suppose you're right. I know I haven't been involved with the high-level negotiations as much as you have."

"If it comes down to it, I would rather have you alive and the goblins angry than the alternative." Amelia told him firmly. "Even if that does mean a war. But do try to avoid letting it get that far."

Recognising the end of their meeting, Harry had nodded before leaving. Always busy, especially now, Amelia needed some time to herself before getting on with the job.

The next day, the real Harry was spending time with James and Lily Potter again. The Jewels understood and encouraged him to do so, feeling that this was something all three Potters needed.

James finished up a tale of the time he and Remus had to bail Sirius out of the Seventh Year Ravenclaw Girls' dorms, exchanging quips and covering fire as the white sheep of the Black family made his escape. "You should have heard the rollicking that Lily gave him when we got him back to the Head Boy's suite! If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have dared do anything to get her mad again."

"But Sirius has always been s- dedicated to his hobbies." Lily explained. "I knew even then that he'd be back, trying to get in some witch's bed, and despite the witch in question already having a boyfriend, before the week was out. That's part of what made me so mad at him, really."

James nodded as he laughed at the memory. "Sirius would gloat back then that Snape's little accident meant he didn't have to worry about getting some witch pregnant so why should he worry about any of it?"

"Yes, and just look at him now. Sirius Black settled down and married!" Lily laughed. "Of course, he had to turn even that into a prank on his parents, falling in love with a Muggle. She's good for him, and it's clear he's besotted with her, but I think he gets a kick out of it, too."

"He does," James nodded. "He wouldn't be Sirius if he was entirely serious about things." He ducked a slow swat from an annoyed Lily without looking. "Sorry, dear." Just like his dodging, the apology was also made automatically with no need for thought.

Lily's lips quirked in a smile before turning back to Harry. "Your father is correct and I think we'd all be shocked if Sirius behaved any differently. I wanted to talk about you, though."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.

"We wanted to talk about your future, Harry."

"Ah." Harry felt more curious than confused now. "What did you want to know?"

"Well, what plans do you have?" Lily asked. "What do you see yourself doing in ten years? Twenty years?"

"Isn't that a little premature?" Harry asked. "I'm still in school."

"You're also managing much of the Lily Potter Foundation." James grinned and put an arm around Lily as he reminded her of the wonderful name given to the business. "And attending two schools, not just one, along with helping Sandra start up her engineering consultancy and advising the Minister and Headmistress on policy matters. And that's not even the end of it."

"What James and I are wondering is why are you doing all of that? You have a lot on your plate and even with clones, we worry that you're spreading yourself too thin. We were thinking it could be better for you to cut back on unnecessary things to let you focus more on the remainder."

"Harry, you have the entire Hogwarts Library copied and organised-" James explained.

"At last!" Lily muttered.

"-and you could get all O's on your NEWTs with your eyes closed. Literally. Your mother doesn't like the idea of her son becoming a school drop out but we both agree that you don't actually need to go to Hogwarts for your final year. What would you get out of it?"

Harry was shocked. "You don't want me to go back to Hogwarts?"

Lily replied for them both. "That's not what we are saying. We don't want you wasting your time, Harry. You don't need it for your education. We've spoken to your teachers and they all agree on that. You don't even need it to make connections or keep in touch with your friends. We have spoken to Professor McGonagall who said that she wouldn't try to stop you visiting." Lily's lips twitched in mirth. "Something about it being impossible to keep you away so why waste the effort, I believe?"

James saluted his son before becoming serious again. "To get back to the question, what point is there in going back to Hogwarts?"

"No, the original question was what are your goals?" Lily corrected him.

"You know I want Integration." Harry began, receiving impatient nods from his parents. "And to marry and have children eventually."

"Good." Lily told him. "You know you shouldn't keep them waiting too long, don't you?" She grinned at her son's embarrassment.

Harry reddened as he nodded. "But I want to go to the stars. And I think the LPF, and magic, will help me get there."

"That is a lofty goal, to be sure," Lily began, ignoring James' grin at her pun, "but why do you want it?"

"There are a few reasons. There are a lot of resources on the Moon and in the asteroid belt which would take pressure off mines on Earth, as well as making a lot of money for whoever does it. It's also something no one else has done. And I guess this last is probably due to Naruto and the others but we're safer if we have colonies out among the stars and planets. Disasters would have a harder time getting everyone then." Harry blushed and added. "Plus, it'd be really cool."

James laughed and Lily smiled at him, continuing. "No need to be embarrassed by your dreams, honey. Without our dreams, we would forget to live, only existing day to day."

"Remember, Harry, the sky isn't the limit. As Lily has reminded me once or twice, the Muggles proved that back in '69."

"1961, dear." Lily smiled fondly at him. "As I'm sure you already knew."

"You're right, dear." James smiled back, remembering with her those times of Lily educating him back at Hogwarts. "I'm not sure what is up there, the only interest in the Astronomy Tower I ever had was for more down to earth reasons even before Lily convinced me that the Muggles were finding out things we wizards never had, but if you say there are things worth mining up there, I'll believe you. And those girls of yours have showed me some pictures of the Earth from space. Amazing views, I wouldn't be surprised if you could sell tickets to watch it from up there!"

Harry nodded. "Space tourism is another possible money maker along with terraforming, making the planets and asteroids liveable. Magic would be a great help in that, too."

James laughed. "Ah, I was beginning to wonder if you saw any use for magic!"

"Oh, I do! Just not in juvenile pranks…" Harry trailed off, a little embarrassed by his slip of the tongue.

"Hey, I resemble that remark!" James shot back, laughing harder. "Oh, relax, Harry. I know we were berks at times and went too far with our pranks sometimes but they were a good way to get people to have fun." He winked at his son. "No one had brought in the telly to Hogwarts so we had to make our own entertainment."

Harry laughed. "Let me guess, you thought it was a great prank when you first heard about it?"

"Merlin, yes, he did!" Lily nodded. "I thought this overgrown juvenile here would pass out from celebrating it. Kept going on about how young you were and how you managed to surpass the Marauders and fooling all the teachers including Dumbledore! I bet he wished he was a metamorphmagus right then so he could pat himself on the back properly!"

James grinned. "Guilty as charged, dear, though I've had that wish ever since I was fourteen."

Harry almost slapped himself. "I didn't need that image, Dad."

Lily agreed, shaking her head at her husband. "I liked the way you fixed the walls and floors better. That had some practical use to it."

"The shows had a few uses." Harry protested. "It got the wizard-raised to start questioning and thinking more about the regular world, seeing some of the things they were missing out on, as well as reducing boredom. M- Headmistress McGonagall even thanked me for the way it cut down on dungbombs and other 'funny' incidents that she had to sort out." Harry grinned. "Once or twice, she gave me points as one of her Gryffindors before she remembered."

James laughed harder at that. "We always tried to get her but she was too crafty for us to get her the same way twice with any of our pranks. Even still, we didn't try anything nasty on her. Always too scared, really, plus she did try to help us out even when she was already busy, which was all the time."

"She was my favourite teacher, too, Harry." Lily added with an impish smile. "Who was yours?"

Harry shook his head. "You can't get me with that trick, you know. If I answer it was one teacher, the others will be offended I didn't pick them instead. It's almost as bad if you ask me what my favourite subject is."

"You can get away from all of that if you don't return to Hogwarts." James told him.

"Such a subtle way to change the subject." Harry teased him.

"Still, you haven't answered the question." His father pointed out. "What point is there to go back for another year as a student?"

Harry paused before he admitted quietly. "I don't know."

"Then I think you should find out."

Looking at the building, Harry was pleased to note that Gringotts no longer stuck out as much as it had when he first saw it. The gleaming white building had been one of the few clean ones in Diagon Alley back then. Now, most of the shops and businesses kept themselves clean, taking advantage of the cleaning charms that had been around for centuries. They took pride in their appearance.

Entering the bank an hour early, Harry made sure to take in his surroundings. If Amelia was right, he might be called upon to fight today and he wanted to be sure he started off in the right mindset. After five minutes, an older goblin came up to Harry, looking him over skeptically.

"Are you the wizard then?" He asked contemptuously.

"I came here to see the Chieftain."

The goblin snorted then turned away. "Follow me."

Harry was calculating as he headed after the unnamed goblin. On the one hand, he had a certain dignity that he was supposed to maintain as a Ministry representative and was due a particular degree of respect, neither of which was happening here. He also knew that the goblin wasn't all that important to his own society or he would have been told his name. It was doubtful that the goblins would go to war over some low-ranked idiot who couldn't control his tongue.

On the other hand, killing the goblin for this, and any challenge Harry made over the insults would lead to the goblin's death as sure as sunrise, was too likely to cause problems down the road even beyond his own strong preference to avoid killing where practical. It would definitely upset his Jewels if he killed someone without a damned good reason, and that was reason enough to Harry to hold his tongue.

'You're not even worth killing, are you?' Harry decided about the goblin version of Snape. A minor burst of killing intent aimed at the being got it to turn its head and peer fearfully at Harry then hurry up, leading Harry as quick as it could. Anything to get away from this suddenly scary wizard.

The separation gave Harry time to purge the last of his irritation and concentrate on his lessons on goblin culture and laws. Professor Flitwick had turned up when he had found out, offering to tutor Harry which was immediately accepted. The short Charms teacher and Deputy Headmaster had proved to be an able teacher in this field, too.

The lessons included how to read goblins and goblin worldviews. While his guide wasn't carrying any weapon openly, he was clearly a supporter of the Chieftain rather than the advisors. Instead of meeting the Chieftain early, the pair arrived at a room where Harry saw not one but all of the small council.

They were also looking pleased. Never a good sign.

"Wizard Harry Potter to meet with the Council of Brodrig the Boss-Eyed, Chieftain of all the Goblins." The announcement complete, the goblin quickly made his exit before he was associated more with a wizard or the Council.

Harry looked around the room. Another insult. While the advisors each had appropriate chairs, only a goblin-sized one was provided for Harry.

"Sit, Mr Potter. We have much to discuss."

Harry grinned, deliberately showing his teeth and looming over the goblins. "I will stand, thank you."

A signal from the far end of the table had a pair of goblins arriving seconds later with a more appropriate chair. Although it was clearly uncomfortable, that did not bother Harry who took his seat after quickly checking it for spells. He would rather remain awake and alert than be lulled into complacency by comfort.

Neither side chose to acknowledge the change of seating.

"Now, what is it that this Council wishes to discuss with the Ministry?"

"As per our letter, Chieftain Brodrig the Boss-Eyed values strength in all things including the relationship between goblins and wizards. Accordingly, he intends to forge new agreements for the betterment of the people. After you sign on behalf of the Ministry, this glorious new age can begin."

Harry smiled coldly. "Such an enchanting prospect, to be sure. However, there are some issues that need to be resolved such as the minor matter of securing agreement on these changes. An oversight I am sure you will be quick to remedy but you have failed to propose any details for your Chieftain's desired changes. Without that, I'm afraid…" Harry shrugged, appearing contrite. "My hands are tied. Such an unreasonable requirement, I know, but you wouldn't wish me to neglect my duties, I am sure."

The goblin's left ear twitched at being called on the blatant ploy. "Not at all, Mr Potter. As you say, an oversight."

A wave of his long-fingered hand and a box appeared before Harry which opened on its own. Inside, he saw a number of documents with the top one helpfully labelled as a summary. Harry scanned it quickly.

"As you can see, there are two main proposals. The first is a simple matter to clarify existing definitions pertaining to certain somewhat problematic areas that have been noted as a source of misunderstandings and unnecessary tensions. Once the definitions have been made clear, a number of potential points of conflict of interest can be resolved with complete satisfaction."

"I see." Harry replied blandly. 'I see that you're wanting to impose goblin definitions of property rights again. That's never going to happen.' Goblins had been demanding for centuries that wizards hand over goblin-made items that had been bought by wizards. To the wizards, they were bought and paid for and therefore wizard property to dispose as they wished. To the goblins, they were merely rented and should be 'returned to their makers'.

Harry considered it a ridiculous position. For a start, they knew that wizards would sell to each other or leave the items to their inheritors rather than return them on death yet they still continued to trade with wizards. For another, the artefacts that caused the most anger were all so old that the goblins who were involved in their creation were all dead and so were their immediate heirs. Besides, no one else traded that way so if there was going to be change and agreement, the change would have to be on the goblins' side.

"And the second of these proposals of yours?" Harry asked without emotion.

"We, that is, on behalf of our Chieftain, we are conveying his concerns that the gaps in the criminal codes are allowing more crimes to occur since criminals may claim that one or another law does not apply to them. They may also use the differences in our legal codes to escape proper punishment by appealing to be tried under whichever system will dole out the least punishment."

Again, this was loaded with hidden meanings. For a start, what it meant was the goblins wanted to try everyone under their law. That was pure goblin supremacy. For another, it was an insult to the Ministry which the goblins viewed as not just corrupt but soft on crime. As bad as the use of Dementors in Azkaban had been by modern Western standards, the goblins managed to be just as bad in their own ways, sentencing even petty criminals to lengthy sentences of hard and dangerous labour.

"I can see how that would be a problem and on behalf of the Ministry, I would welcome further discussions in how to solve it."

"We already have found the solution as part of our loyal service to the honourable Chieftain Brodrig." The goblin's satisfied superiority was clear even across the borders between their kinds.

"Then you have nothing to fear from open discussions." Harry smiled and then continued. "On this or the other matters."

The goblin merely smiled back before resuming his serious mien. "Indeed. However, we are surprised at the distrust shown here today. We had expected you to be above the blind hatred of our kind that so many wizards show towards good goblins."

"If we can get back to the purpose of this meeting? I do have better things to do than listen to thinly veiled accusations." Harry appeared almost as bored as he felt regarding their tactics.

Instead of replying to him, the goblins erected sound barriers and discussed things between themselves. They would have done better to block sight as well. Harry read their lips to keep up with their supposedly private conversation.

"I thought you said he was a young fool! Only good with his wand, my hairy arse!" The spokesgoblin Andruk demanded of his fellows.

"No, I told you his good sense was only exceeded by his prowess on the battlefield. Despite being heavily outnumbered, he led his forces to victory. He took down their returned Dark Lord with a headbutt! This is not your typical wizard, oh honoured head advisor." Baldrig snarled back.

"Yes, a headbutt! Only some idiotic heir of Gryffindor would do that. No one with any sense would take such a risk. The fact he has a harem only confirms that he's a fool." Andruk laughed.

"All wizards want harems." Craftig sneered.

"Exactly!" Andruk responded.

"And when was the last time one kept a harem happy without enslaving his witches, something this budding young conqueror has done according to every source we've got?" Baldrig inquired silkily.

"Hah! So he's got a little trick up his sleeve. So what?" Andruk was dismissive.

"So you should be wondering what other tricks he has." Danrog drawled. "Obviously."

"You haven't already?" Craftig snarked. "If you are having trouble keeping up with your responsibilities, maybe it's time you relinquished some of them."

"This particular wizard would have come to our attention without his involvement in any of that."

"This 'charity' of his?" Andruk sneered.

"You really are behind the times!" Craftig laughed.

"Explain!" Andruk barked at Baldrig.

Baldrig was likewise amused and could already see ways to turn this weakness to his advantage but his requirements were clear and he had to answer the question. "The wizard in the room is richer than all goblinkind. While the organisation he set up does engage in charity, it is primarily a business that has expanded its scope far beyond its original focus on reclamation of cursed lands here in Britain. It now owns shares worldwide, even in Muggle businesses, and has a large Muggle front itself."

"When did all of this happen? There had been no sign of any such changes a few years ago, just the same stagnating wizards polluting the surface. And who wants to look at them any more than that?" Andruk laughed at his own joke.

"Exactly, a few years ago. Potter and his adoptive parents conned that corrupt fool Fudge into allowing them to set up this so-called charity with no restrictions. It was even granted an exemption to train up troops. The same troops that took down Voldemort with Potter at their head while the Ministry's fighters were devastated. Since then, his company has taken over much of the Ministry's duties. Any agreement we reached with the Ministry would be worth less than nothing if it didn't have the agreement of Potter."

Craftig nodded. "That's why we all demanded that he be the wizard representative. Get him to agree and we get everything we want but we knew he wouldn't fall for the usual tricks and threats."

Andruk wanted to kill the bastards for their cheek and they knew it, just as they knew he couldn't carry through on that. He'd die the same day if he tried to kill any of the others and while he had the most influence of any of them, he didn't have more than all of them combined.

Baldrig oozed sympathy. "Why don't you take a break, Andruk? We can handle it from here."

Andruk bared his teeth but managed to keep from attacking the goblin who was thirty years younger and also the spymaster on the Council. "Very well. I am sure such a minor matter doesn't need the full Council's attention anyway. He's only a wizard." he growled and left with the dignity of his years.

"Now the old fart's gone," Petruk announced, "what did you really have in mind, Baldrig?"

Baldrig was cheerful as he confessed to something that would have the traditionalists baying for his blood. "I have a cunning plan. Actual cooperation with the wizards." After letting the others get over their initial skeptical reactions, he went on. "This Potter youth has the wealth and power to get things done and through him, we can gain access to muggle markets and all their wealth. We work with him and let him do the work of convincing both the wizards and the Muggles while we reap the profits."

Craftig shook his head. "I know what you are really thinking. It won't be as easy as you think." Craftig warned. "The Chieftain will never agree to such a plan."

"That's why my plan is a cunning one." Baldrig replied, showing the other something out of Harry's sight.

Whatever it was, it was enough to convince the others. They nodded and brought down the silencing magic.

"We apologise for the delay, Mr Potter." Baldrig told him. "An urgent matter arose which has called away Councillor Andruk."

"Finally!" Danrog muttered.

"While the documents you have been provided outline the initial position, we welcome further talks with our counterparts among your kind on these and other matters." Baldrig had continued as if he had never been interrupted.

Harry's polite mask didn't falter. "This is a welcome change from the positions held by both sides in times past. Why wait until now to make such a sensible offer?"

"Both our societies have undergone shifts of opinion at times and the undermining of once-solid positions is something we goblins understand very well. Entrenched opinions and institutions can cause problems no matter who you are."

Harry nodded politely. "Thank you for that enlightening explanation. What else should I expect from Chieftain Brodrig's Council in the course of these discussions? Are there perhaps other matters or initiatives this Council would like to bring to light?"

Baldrig gave what would be a nasty grin on a human and still might be on him as he led the remainder of the Council in sounding out the wizard on various topics. While it was clear the wizard could be as stubborn as any goblin on some issues, he displayed some interesting views on business opportunities and the use of information to best exploit them as they arose. He could work with that and he could see the others would come around in time.

If they didn't, they would lose their seats, like Andruk would soon, to those who proved themselves more able to adapt by the size of their fortunes. Fortunes that Baldrig expected would come from expanded trade with the humans. If they had to give up their supposed monopoly on wizard banking to get a foothold into the greater human market, Baldrig didn't care. The day was coming when that legally-mandated monopoly was completely unenforceable, if it wasn't there already.

In the end, Harry found that Brodrig the Boss-Eyed was as useless as he was fearless. Unfortunately, it was also far less pleasant a meeting than he'd expected. Standing all of four feet five inches and wearing full armour, a heavily-enchanted axe at his side the entire time, the chieftain's outfit shouted out his allegiance to traditional goblin ideals of the warrior. As such, Brodrig was contemptuous and dismissive of anything of wizard origin, his black eyes narrowed at Harry in contempt.

Even displaying (but not drawing) the swords that had killed Salazar's basilisk did nothing to change that attitude since all of it came from the same 'tainted' source of information: wizards. The Chieftain continued to make Harry wish he could display in action the hard-won combat skills that were so busily and rudely dismissed by the petty fighter in front of him for over half an hour.

"You may have fooled some of the accursed Council I'm stuck with but you won't bewitch me into thinking you're worth anything more than food for the dragons, Potter." Brodrig sneered at him from his throne which put his head above all others present. "Goblins will never bend the knee to you or your kind. We won our independence and will never give it up!"

"With all due respect, Chieftain Brodrig," Harry returned firmly when the old curmudgeon finally shut up, "the proposals you brought today have nothing to do with your independence. They are an obvious attempt to force unreasonable concessions to untenable positions at a time when the Ministry has just put down a rebellion.

"You think us to be too weak, in forces or in will, to resist the ridiculous demands. Turn over all our criminals to you? Let you seize our property? You might as well shout to the world that you know you can only beat us when we're weakened."

"Are you implying I am a coward?" Brodrig demanded, jumping to his feet.

"No. Your actions do that all on their own." Harry glared back, knowing that one way or another, this confrontation had been the goblin's plan from the start. "If you are not a coward, you will work with the Ministry towards greater legal and financial cooperation with the wider world. That is the path of true bravery and vision."

"Your words insult my honour and my intelligence, wizard! Face me in the arena or go to the cells to await true justice!" He sneered.

Around them, the chieftain's hand-picked warriors raised their spears, aiming them at Harry but only threatening him as they waited for him to choose anything to delay facing his death.

"Fine. Let's go to the arena. Your insults demanded a meeting on the field of honour anyway." It had been obvious since the start that the chieftain was trying for exactly this outcome. His response surprised but pleased the chieftain and their audience. Unfortunately for the goblin, the fight wouldn't be what he expected.

When the match started, Harry having set aside his wands and wielding sword and knife, Brodrig charged forward, trusting to his multiply-enchanted armour to deflect any lucky blow and raising his axe for a showy and powerful but slow overhead blow. He would have been better off going to hamstring the wizard in a more traditional goblin attack against a wizard, quicker and debilitating.

Harry blocked the blow with his sword firmly just below the head, back into Brodrig. Legend had it that goblin-forged blades could grow stronger from substances they encountered and he didn't want to risk making that axe take on the properties of basilisk venom! It was also for this reason that he used the sword for its longer reach and for the unexpected choice over the knife he carried.

The goblin looked surprised at the block but not as much as when his own axe was forced out of his hands and up into the air by the strength of it. That axe had been enchanted to be as close to perfect as goblin smiths and enchanters could make it. Unfortunately for the chieftain, his armour was not up to the challenge of stopping the supernaturally sharpened and strengthened blade.

In that one move, Brodrig had managed to get himself killed by his own weapon, the axe burying itself in his skull on its way back down. Sheathing his sword first, Harry pulled the axe out and gave it a swing, cleaning off his opponent's blood then raised it aloft as per goblin custom.

Seeing the goblins around him falling one by one to one knee, Harry recalled another of their customs. To the victor go the spoils. By their own laws, the goblins now had a wizard king.

While it might solve one of his problems, overall, there was only one word to summarise the coming weeks.

'Shit.'

Thank you for reading and for the kind words I've received from people (it would be rude to call it nagging!) asking when the next chapter would come out. Please thank ShivErs for his suggestion on where to end this chapter. And most of all, I'd like to thank CloudZen and 39 for their hard work on this chapter!