Harry Potter and Lord of House Black

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"Why… why does it have to be this way…?!" Andromeda exclaimed, scared stiff, gripping the cart's handrail as tightly as she could as her long brown curls whipped wildly in the wind, the cart hurtling down the track at breakneck speed.

"Aaaahhhh…" Nymphadora screamed, her mouth wide open as her shoulder-length mousse hair whipped about wildly. Strands even flew into her face and into her mouth, forcing her to pause mid-scream to spit them out and tuck them behind her ear, before letting out another wild scream as the cart rattled over the rocks on the rails.

Although, unlike Andromeda's case, it was hard to tell whether Nymphadora was scared stiff or just whooping with excitement, enjoying the wild ride down to the deepest parts of London.

Rigel, though, was certainly feeling very excited, "Woooo-hoooo!"

'This is the best roller coaster ride in the world…!'

It was certainly the most exciting and wildest ride he had ever experienced… and was most certainly enjoying it… even if he had difficulty keeping his eyes opened because of all the wind and had tears come out of them, he still kept them wide opened and watched the cart race along a twisting track, sharply weaving left and right through narrow tunnels as it plunged down steep drops, then shot up tight inclines, whipping their hair in gusts of wind as the rails twisted like a serpent, throwing the cart side to side with sudden S-curves and them along with it before it spiralled upwards three times, then immediately plunged back into darkness.

As the cart plunged deeper than Nymphadora had ever been before, each twist and turn grew sharper and quicker than the last. Every now and then, Rigel and the others caught glimpses of fire-breathing, scaly beasts in the distance. Nymphadora's eyes widened as she gasped, "Look… look at that… what's that…?"

She had a fair idea what they were, but wasn't quite certain.

Ragwurt, sitting up front alongside Griphook, answered proudly, "That one's a Ukrainian Ironbelly… A dragon… if I put it more clearly."

"A… Ukrainian Ironbelly? Dragons? Really?" Nymphadora gasped, shocked.

She'd heard the rumours about Gringotts' high-security vaults being guarded by dragons, but always thought they were just that, rumours. After all, you'd have to be mad to keep dragons underground. Even chained, they're the strongest magical beasts!

But now, catching glimpses of them here and there, she had no choice but to accept it wasn't mere tales… but the truth.

Watching her, Rigel, already clued up from novels and films, knew full well that Gringotts did indeed house dragons, so he wasn't all that surprised.

Though Rigel wasn't exactly shocked to see dragons at Gringotts, that didn't mean he wasn't awestruck by those magnificent beasts, even from afar. After all, when had he ever laid eyes on a real dragon before?

As a die-hard fan of A Song of Ice and Fire, Rigel had always had a soft spot for dragons. Seeing one in the flesh made him think, 'I've got to get me one of these!'

Just imagine how wicked it'd be to ride on its back and command in High Valyrian to burn your enemies to a crisp!

Dracarys!

Rigel could almost see himself doing just that.

'I've gotta get me one of those…' he thought to himself.

As for dragons being illegal to own these days? Well, what's that got to do with him?

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Nymphadora spotted a particular breed of dragon guarding a vault and exclaimed, "Merlin's beard… is that a Hungarian Horntail!?" She didn't even need anyone to confirm it, she knew it all too well, and called out to Andromeda, "Mum… mum, look… there's even a Hungarian Horntail here!"

"No… not now, Dora… my head's spinning…" Andromeda groaned with difficulty, feeling queasy from the motion.

Seeing Andromeda like that, Rigel looked a bit concerned and asked gently, "You alright, Aunty?"

Andromeda gave a light nod, but didn't say anything… because she feared that if she said anything, she might just puke out her breakfast.

It was Nymphadora who spoke in her place, flashing Rigel a reassuring smile over the rattling noise of the cart and the tearing winds, "It's alright, cousin. Mum's never been great with these carts… even on flying brooms, she gets queasy… but she usually perks up after a bit."

"Is that so…?" Rigel murmured, chalking it up to motion sickness as he glanced at Andromeda's face, wondering to himself, 'Are you a Dragon Slayer or something?' Their eyes met briefly, but the witch quickly looked away, focusing on holding steady in the cart.

"Yeah, no need to fret, dear cousin," Nymphadora nodded before turning her attention back to the twisting track ahead.

"Right…" Rigel replied.

Meanwhile, Nymphadora had already started quizzing the two goblins at the front, "Aren't you worried those dragons might lash out and cause a proper mess?"

After all, dragons are counted among the most dangerous magical beasts — impossible to tame or domesticate — so she was a bit worried these ones might cause a right old mess.

Ragwurt chuckled, shaking his head. "We've trained 'em proper since they hatched. They won't go off the rails or cause chaos… well, not unless we tell 'em to."

"Really?" she asked, still a bit doubtful, and asked, "Is it really possible to control the Dragons to such an extent?"

"It's not easy… and even now there are risks, but since they have been trained to understand commands by the Dragon Trainers from the moment of their birth, they are indeed tame…" nodded Ragwurt.

"I see…" murmured Nymphadora thoughtfully.

Such discussions continued for the next few minutes until they went deeper and deeper before coming to a sudden stop in front of a dark cave as Griphook said, "Everyone, please disembark…"

"Have we reached there?" asked Rigel, looking at the dark cave.

Getting off the cart, Ragwurt said, "Not yet… a quarter of the distance still remains to be covered…"

"If that's the case, then why have we stopped?" asked Rigel suspiciously.

"This cart can only take us so far… for the next leg of the journey, we'll need another one. But that cart can't come out of the cave, so we'll have to cross on foot before carrying on," Ragwurt explained, pulling a lamp from the cart. "Now then… please, Mr. Black…"

Since Andromeda wasn't quite herself, Nymphadora looked to Rigel, who gave a slight nod. "Let's switch carts, just like Mr. Ragwurt said…"

One by one, Rigel and Nymphadora climbed down, then helped Andromeda off the cart. They didn't rush to cross the cave right away, instead waiting a while to give Andromeda time to recover.

After a brief rest, Rigel asked, "How're you feeling now, Aunty?"

"Much better," Andromeda sighed, drawing her wand and casting, "Lumos!" to brighten their path.

Nymphadora did the same, while Ragwurt, carrying a sling bag and holding the light, said, "Let's get moving…"

"Right," the three nodded and carefully picked their way through the rough terrain.

On the way, Rigel noticed Griphook hadn't followed and asked Ragwurt, "Won't he be coming with us?"

Ragwurt replied as he cautiously lit their way, "He's still a youngling, not high enough in rank to enter the regions housing the most important vaults…"

"I see…" Rigel nodded lightly as they approached the cave.

As they neared, a low growl reached their ears.

"That's no wind, is it?" Rigel asked, looking towards the cave.

"It's not," Ragwurt replied, coming to a stop before the dark entrance.

"It's a dragon, isn't it?" Nymphadora said, both excited and nervous.

"Spot on, Miss Tonks," Ragwurt said. "At the end of the cave lies a great hall where an ancient dragon sleeps, brought here when Gringotts was first established."

He unzipped his sling bag, pulling out several Clankers which he handed to Rigel, Nymphadora, and Andromeda. "All we have to do is cross that hall, then through the next cave where the next cart awaits."

Eyeing the Clankers nervously, Andromeda muttered, "This… this might not be such a cracking idea…" Clearly uneasy at the thought of getting so close to a dragon.

"There's no need to fret, Mrs. Tonks," Ragwurt reassured her. "The dragon'll expect pain when it hears the clankers, and it'll shrink back in fright. All you need to do is seize that moment, run with me, and cross the hall to the other side of the cave."

Still hesitant, Andromeda said, "Do we really have to go all the way to the Black Family Vault? It's not as if Dora and I are Blacks anymore…" She hoped that excuse would keep her away from the dragon.

Rigel glanced around and asked, "So, you're just going to stay here then?"

Andromeda looked about and realised that being thousands of feet underground wasn't exactly the safest spot to hang about.

Rigel gazed at the woman in the eyes, and spoke as though commanding her in a firm voice, "You will be coming with me, Aunty…"

Andromeda felt a bit odd being ordered about by a child, but she didn't dwell on it and simply nodded, "Alright then…" Going with them seemed the smarter choice, and besides, she wasn't about to let the kid face a proper dragon alone with just a goblin for company.

"Since everyone's agreed… let's get a move on," said Ragwurt, stepping into the cave and leading them inside.

No sooner had he entered than a loud rumble echoed from the far end, like a beast suddenly roused from slumber. Flames of orange flickered at the cave's mouth, as though it was not a cave's mouth, but a dragon's, which it was!

Ragwurt quickly shouted, "Clankers, everyone!" and began shaking his own.

Rigel, Andromeda, and Nymphadora followed suit, the sharp clatter echoing off the cave walls, growing louder as they neared the other side.

The effect was instant, the dragon's fiery breath was stifled as its massive jaws snapped shut, retreating back from the cave's mouth, giving way to the Blue fluorescent light that began glowing from within the cavernous hall.

With the dragon backing off, Ragwurt ordered, "Follow me, and keep those clankers going!"

They filed in behind him, Rigel following Ragwurt, Nymphadora after him, and Andromeda bringing up the rear.

Soon, they reached a grand hall bathed in blue light, the glow emanating from the stones embedded in the walls.

Rigel glanced around, clanking his clanker, and asked, "These stones… what are they?"

Ragwurt shook his head and replied vaguely, "Nothing of importance…"

"Nothing of importance, you say?" Rigel raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the goblin's dismissal. Even a muppet could see these glowing blue stones were something special, probably worth a fortune. It was obvious Ragwurt didn't want him poking around too much. Therefore, he dismissed the matter.

"Anyway, mind the dragon," Ragwurt said, trying to steer Rigel's attention away, knowing the lad wasn't convinced.

"Right…" Rigel murmured, his eyes flicking back to the massive, chained dragon with dark, rough scales, ridges along its back, and a tail tipped with an arrow-shaped spike.

"It's a Hebridean Black," murmured Nymphadora, noting its brilliant purple eyes and large, bat-like wings.

Rigel glanced at her and asked, "You really into dragons, then?" She'd already nailed the species of every dragon they'd seen, which made him wonder if she had a proper interest in the beasts, something that wasn't obvious from the canon.

Nymphadora replied with an embarrassing blush, "A mate of mine at Hogwarts is a proper dragon nerd… all day it's dragon this, dragon that, dragon whatnot… His obsession kinda rubbed off on me."

"I see…" murmured Rigel.

'Probably Charles Weasley,' he thought. 'They're about the same age… can't think of anyone else in her year who's that into dragons.'

Seeing a dragon up close was a rare treat, especially one that had guarded Gringotts since its very founding.

Just being in its presence gave them goosebumps and drenched their backs in cold sweat, as if they were standing before a creature with the power to kill them outright, which, in truth, it did.

But, as expected, it wasn't a proper dragon, just a shadow of one out in the wild. Years of being chained deep beneath London had clearly taken their toll. Even the clanking noise from the clankers rattled it, stirring a deep, instinctive fear that made it back away, uneasy from the racket, and let out a low, trembling growl.

"It's covered in scars," Nymphadora whispered, her heart going out to the dragon as she noticed the scorch marks marring its black scales.

Rigel replied quietly, "That's what training does." More like abuse, centuries of it, from the moment of its birth, but it was all a matter of perspective. It was only that harsh treatment that kept the dragon in check and Gringotts' vaults safe.

So, it's really a matter of perspective… Sure, the dragons are abused, but it's for the good of wizardkind, so no one bats an eye. And it's not like the beast is some gentle soul who'd leave you be if you just minded your own business, no, it'd hunt down any human, goblin, or whatever it fancies for dinner without a hint of mercy.

Not many cared about the abuse the dragons endured. But Nymphadora, being a bit too kind-hearted and not quite grasping the reality yet, stepped closer to the beast as if wanting to heal it.

Andromeda's face twisted in horror. She grabbed her daughter by the arm and scolded, "Dora, what do you think you're doing?"

"I was just… thinking I might be able to heal its wounds," Nymphadora replied. "Dad taught me a bit about healing cuts… so, I was just…"

Andromeda pursed her lips and warned sharply, "Don't be daft. Healing a few scratches on yourself is one thing, but centuries-old wounds on a dragon? That's beyond you. It's reckless, too. The beast doesn't know friend from foe, and it certainly doesn't understand mercy. If you try to get close, you'll be dead the moment it lays its eyes on you. Look at it now, it's jumpy from all the clankers' noise. If it sees an opening, I bet it won't hesitate to strike."

Ragwurt said from the side, "Don't fret, this one's blind, it can't see us, only hears the clanking. So the risk's lower… unless, of course, it's commanded otherwise."

"How do they give orders then?" Nymphadora asked, curious.

Ragwurt chuckled darkly, "Can't tell you that, little lady, wouldn't want us all dead now, would we? But do take heed, many a wizard's thought dragons were no bother once chained like this. All of 'em ended up losing their heads."

Nymphadora went pale at that.

Rigel reckoned the way to command the dragon must be tied to the Dragon Tongue, but kept his thoughts to himself. Instead, he asked Ragwurt, "Shall we carry on, then?"

"Ah… yes," Ragwurt replied. "Follow me…" and led the way toward the far end of the cave.

Arriving outside the other cave, Ragwurt let out a slow whistle as an old cart slid quietly out from a crack in the rocks.

"Everyone, take a seat," Ragwurt instructed, settling up front.

Rigel, Andromeda, and Nymphadora quietly took their places behind him, and the cart started moving again, this time much slower, a relief for Andromeda, who was prone to motion sickness.

They travelled at this gentle pace for another ten minutes before reaching a noticeably hotter area, making everyone sweat—a clear sign they were deep underground.

"Aunt Andromeda… have you ever been this deep before?" Rigel asked, glancing at the woman beside him.

Andromeda shook her head. "Never."

"I see… so this'll be your first time seeing the Black Family's vault, then?" Rigel smiled.

Andromeda nodded. "Yes."

"Are you looking forward to seeing the family vault?" Rigel asked.

Andromeda said nothing, just looked at him. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious, but at the same time, she knew it wasn't hers anymore, so…

As if reading her thoughts, Rigel leaned in and whispered, "Best keep that in mind when you're making your decision. I'm the head of House Black now, so without a doubt, this vault belongs to me. And if you make the right choice… well, I reckon I don't need to spell it out, you're smart enough to figure it."

Still, she remained silent as the journey continued.

Before long, the cart came to a stop beside what looked like a small rocky mountain. "Here we are… Vault 22. The family vault of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, commissioned back in 1475."

They all stepped down and approached the vault's humongous gates, black as night, with 'Toujours Pur' carved across it in Italics.

Nymphadora peered at the inscription and asked, "What does 'Toujours Pur' mean?"

Rigel smiled and replied, "It means 'always pure.' That's the family motto of House Black."

Only the family motto was carved on the black door, not the sigil, which made perfect sense, as they wouldn't want to show that this vault belonged to House Black blatantly.

"The key?" asked Ragwurt, holding out his hand.

"Here it is," replied Rigel, pulling out an old, black metal key, its surface carved with the sigil of the House.

Ragwurt examined the key carefully. Satisfied it was in good nick, he approached the vault door and gently slid the key into the lock. With a soft turn, a metallic clanking echoed as the locks disengaged, and dust puffed from the edges before it slowly creaked open, revealing the treasures within to everyone.

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