K9Leo

You yelp-grunted, and instead, focused on your breath as your old teachers taught you. The very first time you used a Portkey was for a field trip to The Meadows in Upstate New York back in 6th grade to learn how to harvest plants in the wild. Needless to say, your reaction to Portkey travel hasn’t changed since then, but you were getting better at recovering from it. Now, those feelings would only last for a minute or two after you regained your bearings and breath.

Or so you thought as you tried to get up only to fall back down with a yelp. Maybe you didn’t escape as unharmed from the dragon as you thought with the ache your leg gave.

I don’t think it’s broken; it doesn’t have the same feel of a broken bone. More like it was stuck hard by a number of soccer balls while playing goalie. You thought as you rubbed you leg. I did get hit there when I was free falling though.

“You’re hurt.” Prof. Fig said as he got up and looked at you with concern.

“Perhaps a tiny bit.” You smiled, though you were certain it was more of a wince.

“Take this.” Prof. Fig said as he handed you a vial of a grass-green liquid. You looked up at him.

“What is this Doc?” You frowned. That wasn’t the color you were used to for healing potions.

“It’s Wiggenweld Potion. It what we use in Europe instead of the blue healing potions you’re accustomed to in the States.” Prof. Fig smiled. “That stuff’ll right you in a second.”

You took it before wincing again at the pain. You looked at the vial, uncorked it before bringing it up in the air like you were going to toast.

“Bottoms up!” You chuckled to Prof. Fig. who chuckled back.

“Cheers to that. Now drink.” He said.

You took a sip and grimaced before deciding to gulp the entire thing down.

“Gahhh, that thing taste worse than that old school cough medicine I got when visiting my family abroad.” You grunted as Professor Fig chuckled.

“I know but it does the job.”

You could definitely feel the pain wavering away as the healing potion magic worked its way down to your legs, repairing whatever damage you got. It felt like an internal dip in cool waters, taking away the warmth of pain. You sighed in relief and looked around your new surroundings.

“What happened?” You frowned.

“Poor George – I can’t believe he –” Professor Fig said as he glared at the ground in front of him and started pacing. “What the hell got into that DAMNED thing? Attacking a carriage mid-air? A typical dragon would never–”

“Hey Doc?” You said, hoping to break him from his thoughts as a bigger question filled your mind.

Prof. Fig sighed as he looked at you, not in annoyance but with worry.

“Doc – where are we?” You frowned.

“I’m not sure. But that key you discovered was clearly a Portkey.” Prof. Fig sighed as he looked around and back at you. “How does your legs feel?”

“I’m feeling better,” You said as you slowly got up, testing your strength in each of your legs before. Everything seems to be back in working order. You thought before you looked back at Prof. Fig. “We can look around if you like. Maybe we can even figure out where we are.”

“We should.” Prof. Fig nodded. “But stay close. We’ve no idea who created this Portkey – or why.” He frowned. He then took the lead out of the cave the two of you found yourselves and into the outside world.

Your jaw dropped at the view.

A ruined castle stood on top of a rock pillar formation by the sea’s edge. Waves crashed against its bottom as the cold wind swept that familiar salty tang into your nostrils.

“How far did that Portkey take us?” You asked Prof. Fig as he stood at the edge of the cliff. At this point, you had no idea where you were. You could be in Ireland for all you knew!

Although maybe that wouldn’t be so bad seeing how I have Jazmin’s family there. You thought as you continued staring at the castle-ruins cliff. From what Jaz told me, if I ever needed to, the ring would Portkey me to her family manor, not inside of course, but still on their estate manor…I wonder…if worse come, if I can Portkey Doc with me?

“Farther from London than the carriage traveled. We’re somewhere in the Scottish Highlands.” He stated with awe as he looked at you.

“Doc,” You said. “those ruins over there, do you think–”

“ –the Portkey was meant to lead us there? I do.” He stated. “This has not been the day either of us expected.” He then looked at you. “But Miriam sent that Portkey to George for a reason. And I believe that she – and now George – died in pursuit of whatever it was meant to lead to.” He frowned as he looked at the castle and back at you. “If you’re sure you’re all right, and wouldn’t mind indulging me– I’d like to have a look around.”

“I’m game.” You smirked. “What’s the plan Doc?” You couldn’t help but use that nickname. Prof. Fig’s enthusiasm reminded you greatly of Dr. Emmet Brown. Prof Fig couldn’t help but agree when you introduced him to the movie, Back to the Future.

It was the first movie he had ever seen.

“Good.” He smiled like a child in a candy shop. “Let’s see if we can find a path – however faded it may be. Just mind your step.”

The next few moments were spent walking down the rugged cliff side path as the two of you conversed a bit about the origin of the Portkey. Turned out his wife, Miriam, was looking for proof of the existence of a long-forgotten magic; ancient magic to be exact. Apparently, it was a force wielded by a rare few to the point that information on it was lost to time. It was also used to build the magical castle know as Hogwarts – your new school. Prof. Fig didn’t know where she got the Portkey but was certain it had to do with her search in understanding ancient magic. She wanted to understand why such strong magic had vanished from the magical world and spoke of the good it can do.

“But magic is no different than any power. What really matters is the one who wields it.” Prof. Fig said, looking back at you before he looked forward and jumped down from the cliff edge. You followed him. Then the two of you came to an obstacle.

“Is that ice?” You frowned, looking at the glacier-like structure in front of you, covering the large doorway.

“It’s not cold enough here. It appears to be a sort of enchantment.” Prof. Fig hummed.

You were certain the path had to continue here. No way someone would build and leave an obvious doorway like that.

“Someone wanted to block this path.” Prof. Fig said, agreeing with your thought process. Then he looked at you with a smile. “Let’s see some of that wand work you were practicing. Focus on the center”

You nodded with a smile.

It took a few hits before the enchantment had shattered, leaving behind the pathway the two of you were looking for.

“Excellent!” Prof. Fig cheered.

The two of you ended up sliding down the pathway before you spent the rest walking before making your way to the broken bridge where the wind howled and threatened to throw you off.

“Steady yourself!” Prof. Fig stated before he used a spell to repair the old bridge structure, connecting the castle cliff and your cliff together. The two of you then made your way to the castle.

In the center of what you imagined the main hall of the ruined castle, a question popped up.

“Why would someone build this castle here on a cliff. Seems a bit dangerous Doc.” You frowned.

“Maybe for muggles, but not as much for wizards. I mainly suspect that they valued their privacy. The Portkey took us here for a reason.” Prof. Fig said as he looked around and then met your eyes. “Let’s have a look around for anything that seems – out of place. Just be careful where you step.”

You put one earbud on and quickly picked a song to listen to on your iPod Touch - "Time of the Season" by The Zombies. More than anytime, hearing the 70s music helped calmed you down as you looked through the ruined castle and studied the ancient statues that still remained. One statue you figured was probably the long dead owner of the place before two of you stumbled upon a ruined mural.

The ruins here gave you the creeps.

“Hmm – perhaps our host was a noted Seer. Interesting.” Doc hummed to himself. The two of you explored together and took a pathway that looped around the ruined castle until you came upon what you imagined was another ruined hall. But there was something interesting about one of the walls that stood.

“There’s that enchanted crystallized stone again…but what is it blocking this time?” You frowned as you ran up to it and saw the familiar fire-spiral logo that was on the metal canister in the carriage. The closer you got to the image, the more the stones had their image changed until you saw another hallway behind it as you ran to the magicked wall. And unlike the ruins, it was actually well-kept there.

You took your earbud off and pocketed it with your iPod Touch.

“Hey Doc, there something you should see here!”

Prof. Fig walked up next to you, staring at the image with wonderment.

“How odd, why would someone have conjured that enchanted stone here?” He said.

“And how is there a room behind it?” You said with your arms crossed, studying the marble floors and ceilings. It looked like it was the center of some room.

“What room?” Prof. Fig said as he looked you oddly before looking back to the enchanted wall with a hand laid upon it. “I don’t see anything.”

“There’s that glow again – like the glow on the Portkey container!” You said as you pointed to where you saw the fire swirl symbol.” You said as you touched it.

A cool tingle ran through your body as your felt your magic interact with it.

Suddenly the hallway wasn’t there anymore and instead stood a complete stone wall like the rest of the castle ruins.

“What in Merlin’s name-?” Prof Fig gasped as he turned around. “Godric’s heart.”

You turned as well and felt your jaw drop.

You were in the image that you just saw earlier of the marbled hallway that could rival the Vatican.

“Where are we Doc?” You frowned.

“I don’t believe it.” Prof. Fig gasp as you looked at the booth in front of you and walked towards it.

“Hello?” You said to the snoring creature.

Nothing.

Prof. Fig cleared his throat a few times before the creature, a goblin, woke up.

“It can’t be.” He, the goblin, said when he got a look of the two of you before he walked down the booth and stepped in front of you with a bow.

“Welcome To Gringotts Wizarding Bank.” He rose with a smile. “Vault number 12, I presume?”

Prof. Fig cleared his throat before saying, “Precisely.”

“The key?” The goblin said, holding out his hand.

“Hmm?” Prof. Fig froze.

“Your wife’s Portkey sir.” You looked at him.

“Oh. Yes. Of course.” Prof. Fig said as he took it out and handed it to the goblin.

“This way then.” The goblin said, walking away down a hallway.

“Stay close.” Prof. Fig said before following him.

“Got it.” You said, following the two men.

The goblin led you to a track. He whistled and an odd cart came by and stopped in front of you. It reminded you of a miner’s cart, but as if it was made for a roller-coaster ride.

“After you.” The goblin said.

You and Prof. Fig got on, before the goblin finally joined the two of you.

“Keep your hands inside the cart if you don’t wish to lose them.” The goblin chuckled.

“Just like Disney.” You mumbled before the cart took off.

During the trip, you couldn’t help but ask questions. Nor could Prof. Fig. Like how many vaults were there – hundreds. If private entrance were common – they weren’t unless you had money or power or both to have such service. Not surprising.

“You might want to take a breath!” The goblin yelled.

“A what?” Prof. Fig shouted as you did as told. Water rushed over you as the cart went under a waterfall. Thankfully it seemed of the magical sort as you weren’t soaking wet after leaving the falls, but you felt how the magic of that water interacted with yours, as if cheerfully inspecting you for any lies.

What was that?!? You thought.

“That waterfall washes away all enchantments. It’s a security measure.” The goblin yelled, answering a question you had in your mind.

"Oh." It took you a moment to realize you actually said it out loud. You smiled sheepishly as you felt your cheeks heat up despite the cold that had lingered from the falls.

Prof. Fig and the goblin continued with their conversation about the vaults. As you felt your ears popped, you began to wonder and said out loud on purpose this time.

“How deep are we going?”

“Vault number twelve was commissioned shortly after Gringotts was founded over four centuries ago. It resides in the deepest part of the bank.” The goblin said. “Settle in, we have quite a distance to go.”

So, you figured it wouldn't do any harm to close your eyes and rest for a bit.

…

“Wake up MC.” Prof. Fig said as he shook your shoulders. You opened your eyes just as the cart had stop by some station with another goblin. Only this one was a guard if his Victorian police-like uniform had anything to say about him.

“Vault number?” The goblin stated.

While his glare and tone should have scared you off, there was something different about this goblin compared to the other.

And then there was that red magical glow.

The same one you saw earlier on the dragon. Except, this time it was on his arm band. It felt corrupted to your own odd magic. As if someone had made magic CRACKLE instead of flow like a shimmering river.

“Vault 12. Momentous day!” The goblin on your cart yelled.

“On your way.” The guard goblin grunted.

The cart started moving once more.

But you couldn’t help but stare back at the guard who walked away on another cart. You stared until the cart went to a different tunnel. But your own magic still felt it.

“Hey Doc?” You leaned towards Prof. Fig.

“Hmm?” He said as he leaned over.

“The arm band that guard was wearing; it was glowing.”

“Like the glow you saw on the Portkey container?” You could hear the frown in his voice.

“No, darker. Like that same glow I saw on the dragon’s collar.” You mumbled.

“What was that?” The banker goblins said.

“We were wondering about that goblin back there.” Prof. Fig said.

“He watches over the oldest section of the bank. Rare anyone goes there anymore.” The banker goblin said.

A little while afterwards, the cart slowed to a stop in front of another station.

“Here we are.” The goblin said. The three of you got off and walked onto the iron station.

“When was the last time this vault was accessed?” Prof. Fig said in front of you as you followed behind the two men.

“A goblin has been station at my desk for hundreds of years. In that time, no one has visited vault twelve – unti today.” The goblin said as the three of you stopped in front of an iron vault door. The door itself was beautifully designed; so where the mechanisms when the key unlocked it. Soon the door was opened.

“Vault 12.” The goblin cheerfully said.

“Thank you for your help.” Prof. Fig said to the goblin before he entered the vault. You followed after him.

“What do you think we should be looking for Doc?” You asked as you looked over the new room. You were surprised that candles inside the vault had automatically lit up, making the place bright with an warm orange glow. To you, the vault looked more like a storage room to you than one that held great treasure.

“I’m not sure.” Prof. Fig said as he looked back to the door where the goblin stood. “Sir, I wonder if you might –”

“The instructions for vault 12 indicate that I am to grant access to the holder of the key – and then close the door.” He said with a smile.

“WAIT!” Prof. Fig said, but it was too late; with a flick of his finger, the goblin magically sealed the door shut if the clanking within the door had anything to say about it.

“Best of luck!” The goblin said from the other side.

“Thanks.” You deadpan as Prof. Fig sighed.

“What was certainly unexpected.” He said.

“So, what now Doc?” You said as you looked at him. Prof. Fig looked towards the back of the room with a frown.

“Let me think. There must be something here…Hmm. Revelio perhaps.” He said, “though I have a feeling you’ll have better success since it was your magic that brought us here.” Prof. Fig said with a proud smile.

“I’ll try.” You grinned.

A quick Revelio later, you saw something shimmer at the back wall.

“There! I saw something.” You pointed towards said wall. “Let me try again, I’ll get a bit closer!” You cheerfully said. Another Revelio later, you saw that same symbol; the swirled blue flame. And it was on…

“A door.” You smirked.

“Well, that’s a start. There’s that symbol again.” Prof. Fig stated.

“You can see it?” You gasped as you looked back at him. He nodded as he stared at the door.

“I can, but the edges are slowly disappearing. I assume it has to do with your magic wearing off. Do you still see the edges of the door there?”

“Yeah.” You nodded.

“I see. I’m guessing that whenever your magic interacts with anything that has to do with this under Revelio makes it possible for others to see it too.” He said as he walked towards the door. “I don’t suppose you see a way to –”

“I do Prof. It has that same glow as that metal container earlier.” You crossed your arms with a frown as you stared at the fire spiral symbol.

“If what you can see reveals the way forward, then I daresay we are about to discover the secret of this vault!” Prof. Fig cheered as he looked at you with a smile. “Lead the way.”