Today was the day the Adam had been looking forward to apart from his shopping spree in diagon alley—his long-awaited first visit to Gringotts, the wizarding bank famed for its grandeur, security, and mysterious depths. Walking alongside his father, he couldn’t help but marvel at the imposing, slightly crooked building, which seemed larger and more intimidating than he had expected. Even the way it leaned at odd angles, towering over Diagon Alley, made it look like something straight out of a fantasy novel.

But the moment he crossed the entrance, his attention shifted from the architecture to the goblins themselves. He’d seen depictions of goblins in the few fantasy novels he had managed to read, and though he imagined they’d be similar to the movie portrayals, the reality was… different. The goblins were, in his opinion, far from appealing. Their skin was pallid, their features sharp and rather unpleasant to look at, but they were undeniably refined in their dress and mannerisms. It was fascinating to see goblins functioning in a high-order society, bustling about as they attended to piles of parchment and dealt with wizard patrons.

As they walked through the main hall, Adam kept his opinions to himself. He did, after all, have a deep appreciation for magical creatures, yet something about goblins made him uneasy. He caught glimpses of multiple goblins stationed across the bank, some counting coins with impressive speed, others scribbling furiously, and a few guarding doors with sharp, almost predatory gazes. He noted the strong security presence—Gringotts took no chances. Every corner seemed to be watched, and powerful spells surely guarded even the most mundane parts of the building.

Since this trip was strictly business, they had left Wimble, the family’s house-elf, behind. House-elves, despite their loyalty and ability to Apparate without restriction, had little business here in the goblin-dominated bank, where magic was handled differently. As they approached the goblin who appeared to be the manager, his father leaned in to speak in a hushed tone, negotiating something he kept private from the Adam.

While his father and the goblin conversed, Adam took in his surroundings, trying to memorize every detail. He’d been curious for a while about whether he had a personal vault like his family members, so he took the opportunity to ask his father directly.

“Do I have my own vault here, Father?” he inquired, keeping his voice low to avoid attracting attention.

His father smiled slightly and nodded. “You do. Nearly every member of our family has a personal vault. But we also maintain a separate, larger family vault deep within the bank.”

The prospect of seeing his vault excited him, and when he asked if they could visit it, his father agreed. After finalizing their conversation with the goblin manager, they moved toward the narrow passageways that led to the bank’s subterranean vaults. A goblin approached, motioning them toward a small cart, perched on a miniature train track that wound its way down into the depths of the bank.

Climbing into the cart, Adam realized that this journey was not going to be a short one. The cart jerked forward, and as they descended, he felt the wind whip past, carrying the cool, musty scent of earth and stone. They were plunging deeper and deeper, and he wondered where his vault would be. He had assumed it would be on one of the upper levels, but as they continued to wind downward, it was clear his assumption was wrong. They must have been several hundred feet underground by now.

Suddenly, a huge shadow loomed in the dim light. Adam’s breath caught when he saw it—a massive dragon, shackled to the walls with thick iron chains, its scales a metallic gray that gleamed faintly. He recognized it as a Ukrainian Ironbelly. He had read about this breed, the largest of the dragon species, known for its formidable strength. His heart sank as he took in the chains and the dragon’s weary eyes. It was both magnificent and tragic.

“Why is it chained here, Father?” he asked, feeling a pang of sadness for the creature.

His father glanced at him. “Some particularly powerful wizards requested that their vaults be secured with additional protection. Gringotts uses this dragon as a deterrent to would-be thieves.”

Then he absorbed this, feeling torn. He would have loved to free the creature, but he understood that such an act would endanger his family and disrupt the banking system. He kept his thoughts to himself; perhaps far into the future, he might see the creature free. For now, he would have to wait for Harry Potter and his friends, but if the plot diverged from its original path, he might intervene.

The cart continued on its winding path until they finally arrived at a smaller, but heavily reinforced vault door. The goblin guiding them checked several security measures before granting access. His father stepped forward to provide the necessary authorizations, and with a creak, the door swung open.

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Adam stared, eyes wide, as he took in the sight. His vault wasn’t the largest in the bank, but to his young eyes, it was overwhelming. Coins were piled high, glinting in the dim light. Treasures and valuables lay in orderly rows, with various ancient-looking artifacts scattered throughout. This was the first time he had seen so much wealth in one place, and he was stunned.

“This is… mine?” he asked, looking up at his father in disbelief.

His father nodded. “Yes, though, by our family’s standards, it’s quite modest. You’ll find that most of your family members have much larger vaults.”

Still processing the vast wealth before him, Adam carefully picked out a few coins to keep as souvenirs. His father allowed it, watching him with a small, proud smile before they moved on.

After leaving his vault, they boarded the cart once again. But this time, their descent continued even deeper, far below where the private vaults were located. The air grew colder, and a sense of foreboding washed over Adam as they neared the family vault. This section of Gringotts felt distinctly more secure, and even the goblin seemed cautious as he led them forward.

As they approached the vault, his gaze fixed on a shadowy corner where he spotted dark shapes moving. His breath caught—there, lurking in the shadows, were multiple Lethifolds, spectral creatures with an aura of death surrounding them. A Dementor glided nearby, its skeletal form covered in tattered black robes. These creatures were notorious for guarding only the most secure and dangerous vaults, and their presence sent a chill down his spine.

Instinctively, he moved closer to his father. The Dementors and Lethifolds were restrained by a magical barrier, but their menacing presence was enough to unsettle anyone, even his father, who maintained a stoic face but kept a watchful eye on the creatures.

His father gave him a stern look. “Our family vault has always been guarded by creatures like these. This isn’t something Gringotts would question, and it’s best that you don’t, either.”

Adam nodded, swallowing his fear as the goblin used a series of complex spells to unlock the enchanted barriers. The Dementors and Lethifolds retreated, allowing them to move forward. When the massive door to the family vault finally creaked open, Adam’s jaw dropped.

The inside of the family vault was larger than any room he had ever seen, stretching endlessly into the shadows, its space expanded with magic. Coins and artifacts glittered everywhere, piled high in seemingly endless stacks. There were sections devoted to various treasures, some bearing ancient magical enchantments, while others were locked behind additional layers of protection.

His father guided him toward a side chamber, filled with artifacts and wizarding items. Many looked ancient, with symbols he couldn’t recognize, and some emitted a faint glow. His father scanned the shelves with practiced eyes, reaching for a small, unremarkable-looking artifact, which he tucked into his robes.

Curious, Adam wanted to ask what it was, but his father waved him off, reminding him that some matters were too complex for a child. Still, he couldn’t shake his curiosity, and he made a mental note to try and learn more about his family’s business when he was older.

After leaving the family vault, they retraced their steps to the upper levels of Gringotts, passing the dragon once again. The sight of the chained creature stayed with him, and he felt a silent resolve form within him—to someday find a way to help creatures like it, if he could.

As they returned to the main hall, Adam’s mind was buzzing with everything he had seen. Their family’s wealth, the dangerous creatures guarding their secrets, and the mystery of the artifact his father had taken—it was all so much to take in. After finishing up in their family office, they made their way to the Portkey room with Kimble, signaling the end of his day’s adventure.

When they finally arrived back home, he excitedly shared his shopping haul with his mother and Elara, showing off the few trinkets he had picked up in Diagon Alley. He dutifully distributed gifts to each family member, who appreciated his thoughtfulness. His grandparents, especially, were delighted, rewarding him with fond smiles and warm embraces.

He made his way to the family garden. The garden was a peaceful haven he loved exploring, filled with vibrant magical plants and creatures. Nestled in a specially designed enclosure was his fire crab, its shell gleaming with ruby-like jewels in the soft twilight. The fire crab perked up as he approached, sensing his presence. Gently, he set down the special treats he’d picked out from Diagon Alley and placed the enchanted toy—a trinket that glowed faintly—near his friend, knowing it would delight his crab companion. Watching his fire crab nibble with a strange, cautious delight, he felt a quiet satisfaction—this small creature was in a world of its own, and he was glad to be able to bring a bit of joy to it.

Once he returned inside, he headed straight for his father’s study. There, he placed the gift he’d chosen for his father on the desk, where his father would surely see it, and left a smaller item next to the family’s trusted owl, perched quietly nearby. He didn’t spot the artifact his father had retrieved from Gringotts, but he was certain his father had secured it somewhere. Leaving the study, he felt a thrill of mystery lingering in the air. Whatever his father was up to, it seemed to be well beyond his reach for now, but the thought of it filled him with curiosity.

After a quick dinner, he retreated to the library for some light reading, reflecting on his day. There was so much to explore, so much he didn’t understand yet. But one thing was clear: his family wielded incredible power and wealth, and he was now part of it. He would definitely use it for good.

Later in his room, he carefully laid out the coins he had taken from his vault, arranging them on his desk. They gleamed under the faint moonlight streaming through his window, reminders of the powerful world now within his reach. As he drifted to sleep, he dreamed of dragons, vaults, and hidden treasures waiting to be explored—for someday, if not now.