"Yes, yes, Richard," Madam Marchbanks said patiently. "Wizards send one another mail by owl. By the way, you can buy a postal bird at the shop we passed at the entrance to Diagon Alley."
"Tutor, I've just realized something. I need a postal owl. Do we have time to buy one?"
"I suppose we can spare a little time for that. But first, Richard, we must visit Gringotts Bank. Unless I'm mistaken, you don't have any wizarding currency on you?"
"That's right, ma'am. And how will the bank help us? I have pounds with me. Can I exchange them there?"
"You can, or you may withdraw money from the vault the Ministry of Magic opened for you to deposit your land revenues."
***
Gringotts… the tallest and most imposing building in Diagon Alley. It was impossible to miss. A gleaming white structure with polished bronze doors and white stone steps.
A goblin in a red livery greeted visitors at the entrance.
The goblin's appearance was rather distinctive. He stood a head shorter than Richard, with a sharp, intelligent swarthy face, a pointed beard, and a prominent nose. His fingers, moreover, were longer than those of humans. Yet overall, the goblin could easily be mistaken for a dwarf with slight irregularities in his looks, a touch of ugliness.
Inside the spacious operating hall there turned out to be even more of these short folk. They sat behind tall counters, gazing down at the visitors from above. Apparently, this was how they satisfied their sense of self importance.
Beyond the bronze doors, the visitors passed through silver gates, where they were greeted with bows by two goblins.
Madam Marchbanks headed toward the nearest unoccupied clerk. The others were busy—writing in great ledgers, examining gold coins through magnifying glasses, weighing and inspecting precious stones.
Richard immediately grasped that the goblins purchased jewelry and gemstones. Which meant there might be a way to convert more pounds into galleons than the official limit allowed. No doubt they bought gems at reduced prices, but when no other loopholes presented themselves, even that would suffice.
"Good morning," Madam Marchbanks addressed the goblin clerk. "Mr. Richard Grosvenor wishes to withdraw funds from his vault."
"Madam, do you have Mr. Grosvenor's key?"
"The vault was opened for Mr. Grosvenor by Ministry officials on the Minister's orders a month and a half ago," the old witch explained. "Today is Richard's first visit to Gringotts, and he is prepared to receive his key."
The goblin studied Richard carefully.
"He resembles him," the goblin said at last. "Who can confirm that this young man is indeed Richard Grosvenor, ma'am?"
"Myself and Milli— that is, the Minister," Madam Marchbanks corrected herself.
"Sir, Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom and Prince Charles would be delighted to confirm that I am indeed Richard Grosvenor," the boy declared with composure. "I can ring Prince Charles this very moment and hand you the telephone."
Richie unclipped a bulky radiotelephone from his belt and displayed it to the clerk.
The goblin at the neighboring counter, who had been inspecting a galleon through a magnifying glass, dropped the coin. It struck the marble floor with a sharp clang. His eyes bulged, and he stared at Richard with immense astonishment, as though he had just seen a pony begin to speak.
The clerk who had posed the question choked on air and began coughing. A moment later, he recovered and managed to arrange his features into something resembling dignified disdain.
"Er… I do not believe we should trouble such important individuals. Besides, the word of a senior member of the Wizengamot is quite sufficient. I shall issue Mr. Grosvenor his key at once and escort him to his vault."
"Sir, there's no need to escort me," Richard replied evenly. "Simply provide the key and exchange my pounds for galleons. Two hundred galleons is the maximum, correct?"
"Yes, sir. You wish to exchange one thousand pounds?"
"I would prefer to exchange a few dozen million pounds," Richard answered calmly. "But rules are rules. So yes—one thousand."
"We can always devise something… more flexible for a client of such standing," the goblin said suggestively, his tone turning obsequious.
"I'll keep that in mind, Mr…?"
"Rikbet, sir. Please feel free to approach me with any matter. I would be honored to serve as your personal account manager."
"Delighted to hear it, Mr. Rikbet. We'll discuss business at our next meeting. For now—the key and the exchange."
"Yes, yes, of course. One moment…"
While Richard received his key and newly exchanged coins, the goblin at the neighboring desk leaned toward Madam Marchbanks and asked quietly:
"Madam… can that young man truly contact the Queen?"
The elderly witch offered the goblin a crooked smile.
"Considering that Prince Charles personally escorted the Minister and me to the home of Duke Grosvenor—and that he spoke most warmly with Richard—I would say that yes, he can."
"Kh-hem—" the goblin coughed, staring at the boy in astonishment. "A Duke?! A lord?"
"What is so surprising about that?" Madam Marchbanks asked coolly.
"No, no, nothing at all, ma'am," the neighboring clerk replied quickly. "It's simply that I cannot recall the last time Gringotts was honored by visitors of such distinction."
Soon Richard and his mentor left the bank and made their way to the owl emporium, where the boy purchased a tawny barn owl for post.
Afterward, the elderly witch conjured a one-use Portkey and transported herself and her charge home. For Richard, the remainder of the day became an ordinary Saturday—spent practicing levitation charms until he nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
(End of Chapter)
P@treon: /SadRaven
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