"Did you at least consult with your brother and parents?" Minerva demanded.
Bill shook his head, his features now completely serious. "You said the fewer people who know about this, the better, so I pledged my Wizard's Oath to Gringotts. My folks will likely disown me if this doesn't work out, but I'm pretty sure Percy will live up to the bargain I've made тАУ even if he won't be speaking to me."
"Mr Weasley!" McGonagall's expression was severe. "You have done an extremely foolish thing!"
"If you're wrong about this and You-Know-Who is able to return, I think upsetting my family will be the least of any of our concerns, Professor," Bill replied flatly. "I've seen a lot of Dark things over the past few years, and I have no illusions of what a risen Dark Lord will do."
"Stop acting like an idealistic Gryffindor, Minerva," Snape snapped. "Weasley's right. It was a reasonable gamble."
Flashing a grateful тАУ if startled тАУ smile at the Slytherin, Bill continued, "On a brighter note, if you do find something of You Know Who's in the vault, then there's no indenture, just a job offer for Percy after his graduation. The goblins agreed with me that under those circumstances, they'd be sufficiently grateful to us for helping prevent the rise of You Know Who that they'd exact no price from us for the right to enter the vault."
"So the goblins will only penalize you if a horcrux isn't found in the vault? But I thought the goblins were neutral in wizarding affairs," Flitwick objected. "Why should they care if their allowing us access makes it harder for You Know Who to return?"
"There's 'neutral' and there's 'goblin-neutral'," Bill explained. "Goblins may not care enough about our affairs to side with one group of wizards over another over most things, but they're very aware that war is bad for bank business, and so they're more than willing to give a little nudge here or there to protect their interests and to earn some gratitude from the winning side. It's no secret that You Know Who hates other magical creatures, and the goblins aren't na├пve enough to think they'll maintain their monopoly on British wizarding banking if he returns and installs his own regime.
"In this particular case, it wasn't even that hard to make an argument to let us into the vault, since the owner is a convicted criminal who's got no legal standing to object. What's more, since all the living members of the LeStrange family are in Azkaban, the vault can technically be considered as the property of their next of kin. The LeStrange brothers have no close ties, but Bellatrix was, of course, a Black before her marriage." He winked at Sirius. "In addition, the LeStrange and Black families are related through multiple other family connections, so to the goblins' view, they are justified in notifying the current Head of the Noble and Ancient House of Black, rather than any of the incarcerated LeStranges, about the proposed entry. When they said that, I told them that we actually had the permission of the Head of the House of Black to proceed, and that sealed the deal by giving them complete deniability.
"Even if worst comes to worst and You Know Who does return to power and releases Bellatrix from Azkaban, and she complains about the entry, the goblins are still able to claim they were unable to oppose a request made jointly by the Head of the Wizengamot and the Head of the House of Black. That's goblin-neutral. It's not that complicated, actually: you just have to know how to phrase something so that they see it's in their own best interest to help, then show them how you can make sure they can't get into trouble for helping."
"We owe you a very great debt, Mr Weasley," Dumbledore said, patting the younger wizard's shoulder. "I don't know if we can ever repay you."
Bill's answering smile was a bit weak. "Just find what you're looking for in the vault, Professor. I like being the goblins' employee. I don't think I'd like being their servant."
"We will go at once. Perhaps you would accompany us, Sirius?" Dumbledore suggested. "If the goblins consider you the current owner of the vault, it might simplify matters."
Sirius eagerly leapt to his feet. "Let's go! I've always wanted to break into a Gringotts vault, though I admit it's not as exciting with the goblins helping us do it."
Minerva gave him a quelling look. "You will behave yourself, Mr Black."
"Of course, Professor," Sirius said politely, but behind her back he rolled his eyes at Lupin and Snape.
"I saw that, Mr Black," the witch reproved without turning around, and Sirius jumped.
"Erm, sorry," he said meekly, following Dumbledore and Bill through the floo.
A contingent of goblins met them at the door to the bank and escorted them to the LeStrange vault. The presence of armed goblin warriors managed to squelch even Sirius' insouciance, and for once he had no difficulty playing the role of the somber Head of a pureblood House.
"Well?" the lead goblin gestured invitingly, and тАУ a bit nervously тАУ the wizards stepped inside the LeStrange vault.
"Shite!" Sirius gulped, looking around at all the gold, Dark objects, potions, armor, and other curios. "And I thought the Black vaults were cluttered!"
"You should see the Dumbledore vault," the Headmaster murmured distractedly as he peered around the large cavern.
Sirius reached out a curious finger towards an evil-looking grimoire, but the head goblin snatched his hand. "Ah ah ah!" he scolded, showing his pointed fangs.
Sirius gulped and tucked his hands into his pockets.
"Ragnok," Bill asked politely, "since we are here with the proxy owner, should we not lift the curses in the vault, at least temporarily?"
Ragnok eyed the wizards suspiciously. "Very well," he finally agreed. "Go ahead."
Bill ducked his head in a quick bow and promply did so. Sirius shuddered. "Thanks for warning me," he hissed quietly.
Bill grinned at him. "I thought the dragon outside might have tipped you off to be on your guard."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "And I thought my family was paranoid. The LeStranges are certifiable."
"If they weren't before, they certainly are now," Ragnok interjected, grinning evilly.
"Over here, gentlemen!" Dumbledore called, then nodded politely to Ragnok. "And goblins, of course." He indicated a golden object, half-hidden behind some Dark creatures' skins. Sirius tried hard not to look too closely. He had a strong suspicion that at least some of the items were werewolf pelts.
"I believe this is Helga Hufflepuff's cup," the elderly wizard said gravely. "May I touch it?"
Ragnok gestured his permission and Dumbledore picked it up. Almost immediately he frowned and drew his wand. The goblin warriors immediately drew their long knives, and the wizards froze. "With your consent?" Dumbledore asked Ragnok cautiously. "I will need to test the object to prove conclusively its Dark nature."
Ragnok considered for a long moment, then nodded curtly, gesturing to his staff to sheathe their weapons.
To Bill's eternal relief, Dumbledore quickly determined that the cup of Helga Hufflepuff stashed in the vault was indeed a horcrux. Ragnok shivered in disgust when it was shown to him and immediately agreed that the men had proven their need to enter the vault. "That is blasphemous and disgusting!" Ragnok snarled, spitting into a corner of the vault. "Typical Wizardly attempt to cheat! Your kind are always trying to cheat тАУ us, each other, even Death!"