Hogwarts: Era of Darkness

Getting into London was easier than I expected because of how the muggles traveled, skipping by any magical measures without being noticed. Maybe we are just too spoiled by teleporting to anywhere in the world to not even think about it, ignoring their world whenever possible. Oh well, I didn't really have any time to think further because when we arrived at Diagon Alley, we were stopped by two men, shrouded in black, wearing death masks. They were just as gloomy looking as the cloudy sky above us. Haah... Autumn in England does suck.

"Death Eaters... Out in the open like this? Huh." I thought, standing a step behind Volgonid and Eleonora, acting as a servant should, with my head slightly bowed.

"Stop! Identify yourselves!"

"Wherefore should I?" Volgonid asked, his air of authority already pressing down on the two idiots so firmly that I saw their legs trembling, wanting to buckle under its weight. "I waited with patience to tread upon thy land, yet after repeated denials, I am wearied. Step aside, or face death. The choice is thine!"

"Do you know... who we are?" One of the masked figures asked, making Volgonid chuckle, asking back in a cold tone, flashing his sharp teeth.

"Dost thou know who I am?"

"They don't." Echoed a new voice as a third Death Eater appeared, removing his mask and revealing a middle-aged face with black hair and a shadow of a growing beard, a look that I did not recognize. Not that I expected to, but he was clearly a higher-ranking member of Voldemort's group. "Our apologies, Count Volgonid, but it is rare to have a vampire visit us, especially when the sun is out."

"Your country is mostly cloudy anyway. Coming here, day or night, it does not really matter, does it?" Eleonora giggled while answering, making the man crack a smile and signaling the two to leave.

"That is also true. Let me introduce myself. My name is Antonin Dolohov. Are you here to visit Gringotts, Count Volgonid?" He asked politely, showing that he did know who they were.

"Wherefore doth it matter?" The Count asked back, although his aura was much more mellow and less confrontational than before.

"So that I can make my report, and we all can go on our way. You must know that our country is in a bloody civil war, and times like these are... dangerous. We are on the lookout for any suspicious, foreign, or unusual figures."

"A civilized way to call us freaks." Eleanora chortled, making Dolohov's face wince, but he kept up the cordial tone and look.

"I'm just doing my job and explaining the reasons behind my questions to you." He sighed softly, "We have to know why you are here and how long you plan to stay."

"None of your-"

"Enough said, my dear." Volgonid interrupted his wife before she could continue, "We are present to recover an item left within Gringotts. That, and naught else, is our intent. The vexations of thy kind are of little import to us. With my consort, I have come to reclaim what is rightfully mine. That is the extent of our mission."

"What about them?" He asked, pointing towards us.

"Would thy sovereign depart without attendants? Or must we indulge in the feasting upon thy people, providing thee with sufficient cause to trouble us?"

"I'm just asking." Dolohov answered promptly, finally stepping to the side after taking a good look at us. "This way. Let me guide you towards the bank. However, you may need to wait inside more than you think. The goblins nowadays are a pain to deal with."

"We are well aware." Eleonora nodded, walking past him, not letting their 'escort' do as he wished, even if he did follow us, keeping an eye on our group. I wanted to laugh as I could feel and see the fear within him, having to face two beings like these two. Heh... Good riddance!

Entering Gringotts, it was surprisingly empty. The raised stands and platforms where goblins would sit and... well, do banking things... I don't really know... Anyway, those spots were mostly empty. Only maybe half of them were filled, and if a wizard walked in, they were forced to pull a number. Yeah, just looking at the one sticking out of it, and the one on the display was multiple hundreds apart from each other. No thanks.

Once again, I almost laughed because we walked past the machine without stopping, heading straight in. It surprised not just Dolohov, who was still following along, but the few goblin guards standing there, joining our entourage, expecting trouble.

"That is sufficient. I have exercised patience in enduring thy pursuit, but shouldst thou presume to meddle in our private affairs, thou art sorely mistaken. Convey to thy king... convey to Voldemort that I, Volgonid, do not cower in fear of him. He is not the premier sorcerer with whom I have crossed paths, nor shall he be the last."

"As... you wish." Dolohov finally nodded, backing off, but he kept watching us from the entrance.

After that, dealing with the goblins was much easier, as the Count pulled out the contract I signed with Old Gold. It was like a master key, making them back off and granting us immediate access to everything. One of the goblins waddled off from his post, taking one look at us before reading it, rolling it up, and waving us in. He led our group deep into the underground caverns without asking further questions.

Riding that little train down the rails, like being in an amusement park, was surprisingly fun, even if we were accompanied by four goblins in weird, silvery armor. I knew they were guards, but looking at their clothes, they had to be something special.

"Harken closely, Young Conrad, and be not troubled." It was Volgonid's voice, appearing straight inside my mind... Damn. A neat trick. Can he also read thoughts? I hope not. "The armours donned by our attendants are fashioned to thwart a vampire's abilities, notably our mind-manipulating powers. Initially, thou must compel them to divest of such protections. And take heed! They are also fortified against magic to a considerable degree."

"Cool... How am I supposed to do that?" I asked, but he did not answer. "Thanks... Old bastard." Again, no answers. Well, at least I know he can't read minds.

I was racking my brain all the way down, but no matter what I thought up, it would require spells to work. If their metal shell also gives protection against spells... How the hell will we...? Wait.

"Yes." Herpo said as he emerged from sleep or something because he had been really introverted until now. "I wanted to suggest exactly that thought you just had."

"Why are you silent in the past day or so?"

"I am protecting your thoughts from the vampires if you haven't noticed yet."

"So they CAN read minds!"

"They are just really good with legilimency. It is a natural gift of theirs. Our version came from them after studying how vampires use their ability, but I am not sure about it." He mumbled, making me shrug.

"It doesn't matter. So... It will be that strategy then."

"Yes. Just don't forget to tell them to close their eyes."

"Roger. And to not kill them goblins, yes?" I asked with a smile, to which he replied with a shrug.

"Would be preferable."

Well, now, with a plan behind me, I was less stressed, getting off the train cart and watching the goblins dismount. They were probably trained for something, staying in formation, or I don't know, because they remained as a group, looking at us. Good. Makes it easier for me!

"Close your eyes!" I declared firmly and didn't wait for them to question anything. I knew that my side was aware of why, at least most of them... Still, Professor Lockhart wasn't stupid; he did as I asked, even turning his head away. By that time, I was already transforming, whipping my snake tail at the goblins, flinging them towards the cave wall, their surprised faces crashing against it, resulting in an instant knockout. "Huh. That was quick!" I hissed, and at that moment, only Quincy could understand me, making her giggle. "Okay, I'm done!"

"R-really?" Lockhart asked, his voice sounding worried, squinting, "What... happened...?" He gawked, looking at the unconscious goblins.

"I knocked them out." I answered, looking at the two vampires who were watching me. I couldn't tell what expressions they really had, but it wasn't something I would call calm. I think even they were surprised. For real, this time... Haaah... oh well. This was the quickest and surest method. "Let's hurry and get the armor off them; it blocks the Count's powers and would resist our spells, too. Then, we can force them to open the vault while making them witness what we want them to remember! That way, even if they are being examined, their memories won't show the tampering."

"At least, not until a specialist looks into it." Lockhart mumbled, helping me strip the goblins.

"A goblin would die before he let a wizard examine him." Grindelwald said plainly, already using magic on his goblin to wake him and make him experience something completely different from reality. "Oh?"

"Permit me to handle this." Volgonid interjected, his eyes glowing in a strange light, piercing the goblin's gaze, which looked like he was about to break free of Grindelwald's control.

"They seem to be fed something... They have an innate resistance to mind-controlling magic." Eleonora hummed. She was once a witch, realizing the slight problem we were having surprisingly quickly. "By the change in their heartbeat, if we keep them under control for too long, they will die."

"Not good!" Lockhart grunted, managing to control his goblin just right, showing that he was indeed a master when it came to memory-influencing magic, even better than Grindelwald.

"Young Conrad." Volgonid told me as we all took over the remaining goblins, Eleonora bewitching my target and helping me out. "Go forth, compel them to unlock the vault. Let us expedite this heist and depart with all haste. The longer we linger, the more suspicions Dolohov shall harbor."

"Right!" I nodded, ordering my goblin and heading towards the door where Quincy was already waiting, the fake ring in her hands. "Let's do this!"