Story: Moira
Chapter Twenty Two: The Gringotts Visit

The weather was cold for it was the month of February. Eleventh to be precise. It was the day of the fake 'photo shoot' and Harry's nerves were growing increasingly. Ginny, on the other hand, looked cool and collected.

Dumbledore led the three champions to his office where a white screen was set up. After doing a real photo shoot, the cameramen left and Dumbledore looked at the three champions.

"I think the next task will feature using magic immensely, so I therefore," Dumbledore winked at Ginny who smiled back. "ask you to prepare well."

Ginny sent a non verbal stunning charm at Alarie and she collapsed onto the floor with a confused expression. Dumbledore looked at her with a sad smile.

"We will back soon, Miss Beaumont. Now, let's start a twinkling and thrilling adventure, shall we?"

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The chill breeze pinched their concealed faces as they Apparated into a dark alleyway in Diagon Alley. The tallest man nodded to follow him and the other two figures obliged. After a few minutes' walk, the trio were facing a marble building. They walked through the golden doors and entered the wizarding bank – Gringotts. The tall man nodded to a crooked nosed goblin and followed the same inside a rather dark cavern. A lone little cart stood on the railing.

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Several minutes after a thrilling ride, the hooded trio stood facing two huge golden doors. Decorative patterns were carved intricately onto the golden plates which emnated a shiny glow.

The tallest of the three nodded to the other two as the goblin stepped back into the cart. The two figures walked to the door, then placed their right hands and their wands on the surface of the golden plating. The glow suddenly became blinding to everyone but them.

"Aren't you coming in?" a deep, magically modified voice of the two asked. The tallest shook his head.

"Only those capable can go through."

The hooded duo walked in and the door shut behind them. Removing their hoods, the only dark objects in the marble vault, they looked at each other.

"This is . . ." Ginny started.

"Stunning, given the fact that it was constructed centuries ago? I know," Harry completed for the awestruck girl. The marble vault rose high, its ceiling carved with more flowery patterns. Pillars erupted on all the four corners, towering magnificently above them and casting long shadows. The vault, if it could not be addressed as a hall, was beautifully built with the edge of artistic minds. Harry and Ginny walked further to find three golden doors.

"Which one do you reckon we go through, first?" Ginny asked, her eyes moving rapidly between the three doors.

Harry assessed the doors before speaking. "I say the left. Right is always more preferred, so it might contain dangerous artifacts. The middle is a common, vulnerable choice."

"Your thinking is far beyond me," Ginny complimented and they took the left door. It clicked open with a light creak to reveal a cozy looking room which unsurprisingly looked similar to the Gryffindor common room. However, there was a master sized bed in the middle of it.

"Er – did they sleep in the vaults?" Harry asked looking perplexed. Ginny shrugged.

"Maybe it was their house before it became a bank?" Ginny questioned as an answer.

"Who's – oh!" a deep voice spoke. "So thou both art finally here after years! I was beginning to worry thou would never come."

Harry and Ginny looked up to see a golden framed portrait housing a bubbly yet courageous looking man with brown eyes and beard. He looked at them with a warm smile. He was wearing a scarlet red robe which was lined with gold at the helm. His choice of colours revealed his identity.

"Lord Gryffindor?" Ginny asked timidly. The man laughed, then nodded.

"The one and the only. Although I think there is another Lord Gryffindor now," Godric spoke humorously as he looked at a narrow-eyed Harry.

"Stop braggin', love," this time, a feminine and soft voice spoke. Harry and Ginny turned around to face yet another gold framed portrait housing a golden haired lady with stunning green eyes. She looked absolutely beautiful as she smiled warmly at the pair. "Hello dears. I am Lady Giselle Gryffindor."

"Now who's braggin'?" Godric teased to which Giselle snorted.

"Methinks thou both are here for learning the secrets of thine powers?" Giselle asked, addressing the slightly alarmed pair. Harry was the one who snapped out of it and answered.

"Yes, Madam. Can you please tell us about how we can –"

"Control it? Thine answers are in a small glass orb, nothing more than the size of a fist, hidden behind the golden doors of the mid," Godric answered.

"So, we can find everything there? You won't tell us anything?"

"I am 'fraid, dear girl, that portraits know no more than simple English which, suffice to say, has changed significantly by the way thine accent is," Godric replied merrily. Harry gave out a nervous laugh. "But in lieu, thine body will remain zwodder as we occupy it for a little."

Ginny looked startled. "Occupy?!"

"Fear not, dear. Our souls will replace thine when thou shatter the glass orb to obtain answers. After thou learneth the secrets, thou will be back to thine bodies," Giselle answered. Ginny was about to retort but Harry took her hand.

"Thank you, Lord and Lady Gryffindor. We are really pleased to have conversed with you," Harry said and bowed lightly, forcing Ginny to bow as well. The two people in their portraits returned the respectful gesture.

"Do visit the room to the right, as well. May the force be with thou, young sirrah, mistress," Godric addressed each of them with a bow. They bowed back again. "Fare you well."

"Sweet Adieu," Giselle called after them as they left the room after another round of thank you's and farewells.

"Phew! That was tough to make out," Ginny said when the left door close behind them. Harry nodded slightly then opened the middle door.

They were met with a much simpler scene. A golden table was standing in the middle of the marble hall, two pillars by its side.

They walked towards it and spotted a golden box on a velvet cushion. Harry gingerly reached out and took the box in his hands and offered it to Ginny. She opened it with a tap of her wand and a glass orb, swirling with white wisps, presented itself to them. She took it out of the box and Harry placed the box back on the cushion.

They looked at each other with a determined glint in their eyes before Harry gripped her hand and they smashed the orb together by throwing it onto the ground.

A red and gold fog blinded them and, that was all Harry saw before he felt his feet leave the ground.

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Brown met green and automatic smiles spread on their faces.

"Has been years, hasn't it, m'lady?" Godric, in Harry's body asked, bowing and kissing Ginny's hand.

"May it be so, husband mine," a voice unlike her own said. She stared into the brown orbs of the person in front of her. They seemed to have changed from green to brown, the vice versa happening to her.

"Let's merry away in the cozy room," Godric suggested. Giselle, now in the body of Ginny nodded and with entwined hands, they left the middle room and walked into the left one.

"Time has passed, hasn't it, m'lady?"

"Centuries, methinks, good sire."

"Yet we stand here, as good as we did when we ought to be as young as blossoming buds." He gripped her hand affectionately. "'Tis would be the last time we'd be seeing each other in flesh, love."

"Thou art worried?"

"Nay. Not so with thou by my side when I die."

She smiled tenderly. "That goes for me too, husband mine."

Cliffhanger there. The secrets chapter exceeded 2.5k words and dear 'ol wattpad gets clumsy with that word count (at least for me). So I had to divide the chapters.

Writing in old English is tough but fun lol. If you have any suggestions, do drop them in the comments! Also, if you want me to translate their sentences into our slang, do let me know. I'm a bit worried about that so please tell me if it's fine.

I hope you enjoyed!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x