Light flittered into our eyes as we awoke to the sound of hummingbirds and countless other birds. We both felt the urge to groan at the interruption to our sleep, the lethargy of waking biting heavily into our shared consciousness like a hot knife through cool butter. Lunaris loved the morning birdsong, while I, Solaris, despised the infernal bickering of the little flying rodents. It was a common point of contention between us.
~Solaris, you should cheer up a little...~
My brother's voice resounded within our skull as I let out an annoyed sigh. He was always like this in the mornings... Happy, without a reason to be...
"Stupid brother. Mornings suck socks!"
~You're just a party pooper... Go wash your face and while you're at it, wash your mouth too... Dad would be disappointed.~
Tears slipped to the edges of our eyes, my control over the body at the current moment making them my own. Thinking of father in such a way, when I knew that he was probably long dead, hurt.
~...I'm sorry Sol... I-i miss him too. B-but, maybe we can find him or find out how to talk to him!~
"Mmm, maybe..."
We both fell silent as we rose, our eyes wandering the room until Lun noticed the clothes draped neatly over the back of a chair. The chamber itself was spacious, the queen-sized bed dominating the centre while a modest desk lingered off to the side. Its old English, almost Victorian style stood apart from the sleeker furniture of Father and Mother, lending the space a strange, antiquated character.
I dressed us while Lun hummed a tune under his breath, a soft, lilting thing that gnawed at my patience. He always sang in the mornings. I always hated mornings. With that annoyance spurring me on, we were finished getting dressed in stellar speed and began walking down the hallway connecting this wing of the Rosier manor to the main family area. The hallways were quiet for a manor, a lack of other children making me feel lonely whilst the silence and lack of social contact made Lun feel utterly at home, his anti-social behaviour making it easy for him to feel comfortable.
"Can you stop humming brother...?" I couldn't help the exasperation leaking into my voice as Lun constantly blithered away with his incessant, happy, tune.
~Hmmm, Hmmm, hmmm... Nope! This is the first time we've been by ourselves, really, so I am too happy to not express it.~
"Ugh... Can you at least keep it to yourself?"
~Nuh uh, our mind doesn't work like that sis!~
Another groan, born of my frustration, slipped from our mouth as we descended the staircase. The steps complained beneath us, old wood groaning, their grains scarred by the long-faded mischief of Rosier children.
At the bottom, we pressed against the door. It yielded with a drawn-out creak, sunlight spilling through the widening gap until it flared across our eyes. The kitchen emerged in that brilliance, polished and severe, every surface touched by gold.
At its heart sat Lady Galatea. Regal as ever, her emerald gown caught the light in sharp glimmers, and her Victorian scarf framed her pale throat like a symbol of her station. She did not rise; she didn't need to. Her very stillness commanded the room. I couldn't help but envy the power she and my mother effortlessly wielded sometimes... If mother was still alive, that was...
"Good morning Solaris, Lunaris."
"Morning. Lunaris said it too."
Lady Rosier nodded whilst attempting not to grimace, a splotchy smile taking place of a full grimace. She was really trying to be nice, I could tell and so could Lunaris... It just felt really weird and awkward seeing her react to us like that.
"Ahem, well, sit down and have some breakfast. We have a busy day today, considering the need to visit Gringotts and of course getting enrolled to Hogwarts." She poked at her food with a fork, not actually eating any of it whilst giving the illusion that she wasn't interested in our combined reaction.
'How should I respond Lun?'
~Eh... speaking with people is your thing, I'm just happy sitting here learning stuff.~
I didn't huff… okay, maybe I did! He was so frustrating sometimes with his shyness, always saying, '"You do it, it's your thing."' Stupid brother of mine!
"A-um, well, sure."
~Pffft!~
'SHUT UP!'
Lady Rosier nodded whilst finally beginning her meal, Bippy the house elf eyeing us all with a nervousness that contradicted the ease with which he cleaned each plate in the sink. We started our meal as well, the food rather yummy despite the presence of salad, though Lun didn't mind the disgusting green stuff.
Eventually we finished eating. The two of us had squabbled over which food to eat first, causing a few complications along the way, but we made it through. Now we stood alongside Lady Rosier outside the house, past the apparition wards Father had taught us about.
"Okay Solaris and Lunaris, hold my arm, alright? This is going to be a little bumpy for you." I practically felt Lunaris's mental eyeroll as I stifled a snicker… Father had done this with us so often that he claimed we were better than most adults at recovering from apparition.
"Mmm'kay, we both understand." Lady Rosier frowned for a moment before shrugging slightly. Her magic spooled out like a tangled yarn ball, wrapping around us and herself in a haphazard swirl. It was nowhere near as seamless as Father's apparition. Perhaps this would be a bumpy broom ride after all.
...
Diagon Alley 1990, 8th of August, 9 AM
We swirled with a gut-wrenching tug on our organs. Lady Rosier's lack of finesse in this mode of transport made me pity her ignorance. Seriously, how could someone go through life never understanding that you were supposed to softly wrap yourself in the magic, instead of letting it shred into hundreds of little strings!?
~Mum was better and dad still called her horrible at magical teleportation...~
'Lady Rosier is… perhaps a bit special?' Lunaris snickered inside our soul as I scanned the alley around us. It was a quaint magical district, smaller and less populated than those of Paris or Berlin. But though it lacked scale and variety, it more than made up for it in sheer wonder. Toys of all descriptions floated through the air, and children flew brooms gently overhead. Chatter and jovial banter filled the streets; everyone seemed in high spirits.
"You did exceedingly well for your first time…" Galatea sounded almost astounded.
"Mmm, Daddy used to take us with him on trips around Europe. He called it our adventure time." Lunaris and I smiled, replaying the memory together.
"T-that… is adorable. A-anyway, let us go to Gringotts first so you can gain access to your trust vault." She briskly strode forwards, her refined elegance muscling into her previous emotive state. She was now, truly, the matriarch of her family in everything she did.
We followed behind her, Lunaris's eyes lighting up at the bookstore with a greed rivalling that of the devil himself, while I tried to temper his enthusiasm. Even on Father's excursions, he would become absorbed in new knowledge, feeding my own understanding in turn.
Lunaris did the same when I pointed out an apothecary and a magical mirror shop. I had always been fascinated by charms, runes and enchantments, the idea that one could craft their own magical items and weapons, either to defend against foes or to help others, held an irresistible allure.
Our little tour of the alley was stifled quickly however as we reached the stark white edifice of Gringotts Bank. People were moving in and out, wizards, witches and demi-humans alike. Goblins guarded the entrance and further inside, dressed in medieval plate mail and covered in goblin clan colours of different hues.
~Hmm, you have to remember to greet them properly Sol~
'I know brother... Perhaps you'd like to do something?'
~If they offer books or knowledge, then i'll do something.~
The conversation froze as we passed by the goblin guards into the main foyer, the numerous goblin tellers nattering away at the wizards and witches in front of them. Many had the tone of an adult speaking down to a child, it was really funny considering some of the people were younger than father was when he made a treaty with the goblin king in Germany.
"Solaris, Lunaris, do you want me to speak for you?" Galatea looked really sincere in her wish to help as she said this.
~Even I know that would be a bad idea.~
"Uhm, I'll try to speak." The lady nodded resolutely, some small fragments of doubt sparking through her expression before fading away into the background. She really needed to understand that we weren't to be underestimated.
~Mhm! Dad always said we need to show the sheep our capabilities or they'll constantly try to grind us under heel.~
'Well said, now would you like to do something?'
~Nein~
A sigh escaped my lips as we reached the end most counter, an elderly goblin with white whiskers for a moustache and equally silvered hair done in a bowl-cut style.
"Name..."
I coughed.
"Greetings Mr. Teller, may your enemies fall before your blade and your coffers forever be filled."
The teller went completely quiet as his once tired and exhausted expression rotated a full 180 degrees. His eyes were wide and a smile graced his lips as the other tellers that were within range watched on in befuddlement. Lun told me that even Lady Rosier was flabbergasted by my words.
"G-Greetings patron, may your enemies cry at your feet and your gold flow forever more... How may I, Teller Gartooth, assist you today?"
I smirked slightly, both of us remembering how dad used to speak to the Goblins.
"I, Solaris Grindelwald, require your assistance Gartooth, in gaining access to my vaults."
Shocked gasps echoed through the foyer of the most powerful bank in Magical Britain, many purebloods and half-bloods covering their disbelief and shock behind thinly veiled masks. Muggleborn and squibs that were around simply shrugged off the commotion and continued on with their day, an interesting byplay that Lunaris tracked whilst I simply grinned at the gleaming goblin before us.
"Indeed? Then we shall be happy to provide such a service for the heir of the House of Grindelwald." He turned to a smaller goblin assistant and spoke briefly before the little runt darted off.
"Please follow me, young mistress. I shall guide you to your account manager here in England." He swept his hands toward a side door, offering me the privilege of leading the group, something Lun and I had only seen with Father.
"Many thanks to you teller, also, to the other noble tellers in the room, I wish you all successful business and a swift kill in your next combat." We bowed before sweeping away to the door Gartooth gestured to, opening it and leaving behind a stunned foyer.
Our attention quickly switched to the task ahead, which was rather clear to me and therefor Lun... We needed to assess the status of the Grindelwald vaults and also our mother's vaults. I was fairly certain that they were intact, the previous meetings with Gringotts along with father had been for this exact type of scenario. It had been odd back when father was doing it, now I could see why he did... And that only brought forth more questions.
~We were 9 when that happened Sol...~
'Shhhh! Everything'll be fine, right...?'
~Sure, whatever you say little sis~
'Don't you dare act older than me! We are exactly the same age!'
This argument continued for another minute or so as the stark grey corridors of Gringotts faded into a malaise of plain, functional architecture. There was no need for showmanship or fanciness in the backrooms of the bank... Only a stone-cold utility. Gradually, after many similar pathways and turns, we turned into a circular waiting room with a singular marble and gold door sitting at the end of the chamber.
"Account manager Griphook will see you now, Heir Grindelwald. May your gold flow eternally."
It felt almost like a contest to see who could find more unique ways of saying the same things...
"Many thanks teller Gartooth, I wish your gold never ends and you viciously wound your next adversary." He grinned toothily whilst laughing, his gait taking him further away as Lun and I softly observed Lady Rosier; who was still with us, and the rather intimidating doorway.
We took a deep breath, Lun humming nervously much to my chagrin, before strutting up to the door. The air was cool and stagnant against the brass knocker of the marble door, the cold nature of the wards washing over us as it confirmed the existence of noble bloodline within us. It felt just like the time in Berlin where we followed father.
"Do you need me in there?" Lady Rosier paused after the question and just sighed. "What am I saying, you just parlayed with goblins and didn't get the wicked edge of their tongue at all..."
"I'll be fine, lady Rosier. Hopefully everything is swell with regards to my accounts and then we can go purchase my Hogwarts items." She merely nodded at us, her countenance switching to mild tiredness. It seemed our antics were exhausting her emotionally.
I forced us through the door, our arm pushing forwards upon the surprisingly light marble with slight resistance. What met us was a room unlike any other I had seen. The office was a shrine to opulence and wealth. Gold lined every single furnishing in the room whilst diamonds glittered harmlessly upon the polished mahogany desk of the account manager. Display cases filled with weapons of war and even rare training weapons arrayed themselves around the room. Paintings of numerous conflicts and historical battles actively played via enchantments in their frames whilst a singular opal, the size of an egg, was placed upon a pedestal behind the desk... Encased in magically fortified glass and enchanted against almost all forms of harm, it was the shining jewel amidst the crown that was this room. And this was just an account manager.
"So I hear someone has come to inquire as to the status of their accounts... Tell me... Are you truly 'his' spawn?"
A flash of anger passed through Lun and me. It was considered the worst insult to question someone's heritage, a lesson taught to us by father.
"If we were not, and you were not our allies, then we would have gutted you for even insinuating that our lineage is beneath your notice." Father would have approved my words, for sure!
~He would and I do!~
"..." There was a pregnant pause and then, "PAHAHAHAHAHA!" His laughter echoed through the room with a level of indecency that it almost brought into question his possession of this position. Fortunately it quickly ended, the small but muscular form of the account manager grinning like a madman.
"That proved your lineage more than any blood test ever could! Your father said the very same thing when he first stepped into my office."
Lun smiled as I huffed in frustration. Father always liked doing these little tests as well... It always annoyed mother, and me at that.
"Let's just get to the blood test." He shook his head at my antics, Lun chiding me as well despite my lack of care.
"Fine, fine... Come up here a stab your palm. Bleed into this cup three times and then we'll see the account you'll have access to." He waved us over towards him as he placed the knife and chalice on the desk, eerily awaiting our blood. We followed each instruction and waited for the result, the sting of a fresh wound gnawing at my concentration whilst Lun payed attention for us.
The procedure was rather standard, the blood dripping onto a special parchment that had some form of runes; as father explain before. We waited for half a minute as it settled before Griphook pushed the bloodline document over the desk to us.
"It, would seem that you are much more than just a Grindelwald, your highness."
[Bloodline Inquiry for Solaris/Lunaris]
Noble Bloodlines-LeFay, Emyrs, Grindelwald, Nightingale
Muggle Bloodlines-Windsor, Hohenzollern
Magical Bloodlines-LeFay, Emyrs, Grindelwald, Nightingale
---
[Ability Inquiry for Solaris/Lunaris]
Magical Traits- Natural Occlumens, Natural Legilimancer, Shapeshifter/Metamorphmagus, Seer Sight (Limited), All Speech (Unclassified/Unknown Ability)
Known Potential Abilities- Animagus Transformation? Mage Sight? Photographic Memory?
---
The document ended right then, the contents staggering in their political ramifications. Already we had revealed our family name... That in itself was a move that I'd made so that we could start building bridges between some of the British pureblood houses. Now, well, I could technically claim rulership of Britain in the future with the family name of LeFay, let alone Windsor and the Emyrs.
~We are absolutely loaded...~
'That's what you got from this? That we're rich!? What we are is a prime target politically... All of the houses will be out there trying to marry us to one of their sprogs. Our connection to the LeFay line could have us painted as full-blown dark mage and yet all you are concerned about is if you can get more books!'
~Makes life simpler~
I could feel him shrug in our soul...
"Highness? If you would be willing to wait for ten minutes whilst we retrieve the rings for all of these families?"
We nodded despite our inner argument, the goblin grinning from ear to ear as he scuttled away to go get his biggest client; us, our Lord Rings.
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