From 8e2e24ad3c76c07c037485173bceec8577230ed9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Julian Blake Kongslie Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 22:29:58 -0700 Subject: Reflow text. --- novellas/a-little-greed/01-pragmatism.mdwn | 272 +++++++++++++++-------------- 1 file changed, 139 insertions(+), 133 deletions(-) (limited to 'novellas/a-little-greed') diff --git a/novellas/a-little-greed/01-pragmatism.mdwn b/novellas/a-little-greed/01-pragmatism.mdwn index 65f9f06..260ec21 100644 --- a/novellas/a-little-greed/01-pragmatism.mdwn +++ b/novellas/a-little-greed/01-pragmatism.mdwn @@ -23,30 +23,33 @@ in such a stupid culture. Petunia set about preparing breakfast for herself and her family. The baby was set aside for the time in the living room; it had waited outside in the cold, -and as far as Petunia was concerned she was already doing it a favor by allowing -it indoors. As the eggs cooked, she absently read the letter which had -accompanied this morning's unwelcome guest. +and as far as Petunia was concerned she was already doing it a favor by +allowing it indoors. As the eggs cooked, she absently read the letter which +had accompanied this morning's unwelcome guest. Well, now there's something. Her freak of a sister had gotten herself killed, and the child was her nephew, Harry. Of course Lily's son would get dumped on her in such a manner. It was just like her. -But then, it *wasn't* just like her. As much as Petunia loathed her sister, she -knew Lily would never abandon her child like this. Lily was always a responsible -girl; if there was even a chance Petunia would be named as guardian of the -child, she'd have been told. And no money to help raise the child? Lily's -husband was rich! Sure, it was freak money, but Vernon's paycheck was going to -stretch just to cover the expense of their own child. With two children to care -for, they would simply never afford that vacation home in Majorca! - -No, this wasn't right at all. Something was missing. There must, she thought, be -an upcoming will reading, or perhaps the freaks thought they could get away with -shortchanging her. Unacceptable! No-one takes advantage of Petunia Dursley! - -And with that, Petunia made up her mind. Breakfast set aside to cool, she jotted -down a quick note to Vernon (fortunately, they were already planning on taking -Dudley to his first zoo trip today; Vernon could handle that on his own) and set -out towards downtown London, basket in one hand and letter in the other. +But then, it *wasn't* just like her. As much as Petunia loathed her sister, +she knew Lily would never abandon her child like this. Lily was always a +responsible girl; if there was even a chance Petunia would be named as +guardian of the child, she'd have been told. And no money to help raise the +child? Lily's husband was rich! Sure, it was freak money, but Vernon's +paycheck was going to stretch just to cover the expense of their own child. +With two children to care for, they would simply never afford that vacation +home in Majorca! + +No, this wasn't right at all. Something was missing. There must, she thought, +be an upcoming will reading, or perhaps the freaks thought they could get away +with shortchanging her. Unacceptable! No-one takes advantage of Petunia +Dursley! + +And with that, Petunia made up her mind. Breakfast set aside to cool, she +jotted down a quick note to Vernon (fortunately, they were already planning on +taking Dudley to his first zoo trip today; Vernon could handle that on his +own) and set out towards downtown London, basket in one hand and letter in the +other. There was no way she would let that freakishness infect her family without some compensation. @@ -68,14 +71,14 @@ for freaks. It took Petunia less than five minutes to identify someone who clearly had no business walking around normal London, and a 30 second conversation about her sister who just died and "I'm to meet with the Goblins but need help to reach their bank" to determine that this particular freak was -not a magic user. The second freak she identified was, and Petunia found herself -with an escort into the Leaky Cauldron. +not a magic user. The second freak she identified was, and Petunia found +herself with an escort into the Leaky Cauldron. Dark, dank, and straight out of the middle ages. Oh, she remembered this place well. How anyone could possibly think that magic was anything but trouble when -this was the first introduction to the magical world, she would never know. Even -so early in the morning, the bar was packed with uncouth cretins congratulating -each other and celebrating some lord's death; simply disgusting. +this was the first introduction to the magical world, she would never know. +Even so early in the morning, the bar was packed with uncouth cretins +congratulating each other and celebrating some lord's death; simply disgusting. There were some glances at the basket, but Harry was covered by his blanket and amazingly still asleep, and Petunia's brisk manner saw her quickly out the back @@ -85,12 +88,13 @@ which didn't sound at all impressive an accomplishment to Petunia, but at least they weren't trying to talk to her. Cauldrons! Brooms! Owls! Petunia was disgusted by such a blatant display of -freakishness. Somehow, it was even more loud and colorful than she'd remembered -from her sister's shopping trips. There had better be a lot of money waiting for -her if she was to put up with this nonsense for some child. Perhaps, with the -right upbringing, he might never need to learn about magic. Petunia smiled -inwardly at that thought; it would be just perfect if Lily's son grew up to be -normal. Steps would have to be taken early on to cur any freakish tendencies. +freakishness. Somehow, it was even more loud and colorful than she'd +remembered from her sister's shopping trips. There had better be a lot of +money waiting for her if she was to put up with this nonsense for some child. +Perhaps, with the right upbringing, he might never need to learn about magic. +Petunia smiled inwardly at that thought; it would be just perfect if Lily's +son grew up to be normal. Steps would have to be taken early on to cur any +freakish tendencies. She marched down the alley with her nose held high, exuding such an air of aloofness that most who saw her assumed she was an oddly-dressed pureblood and @@ -113,45 +117,47 @@ away, he relented slightly and began his interrogation of this pest. "What do you want, muggle?" Petunia had never dealt with the Goblins in person before, but really, bankers -were bankers, weren't they? And she was the one stuck with an extra child, here! -Calling upon her deeply-ingrained sense of betterness and the pure knowledge -that these freaks owed her something for the atrocious invasion of her life, she -looked down her nose at the teller and made her demands. +were bankers, weren't they? And she was the one stuck with an extra child, +here! Calling upon her deeply-ingrained sense of betterness and the pure +knowledge that these freaks owed her something for the atrocious invasion of +her life, she looked down her nose at the teller and made her demands. -"This," and here Petunia deposited the basket and letter in front of the teller, -"was deposited on my door this morning. If my sister left me her child, she -would've left money to care for him. I know she had lawyers here. I demand... -compensation for this atrocity. I want this taken care of! Immediately!" +"This," and here Petunia deposited the basket and letter in front of the +teller, "was deposited on my door this morning. If my sister left me her +child, she would've left money to care for him. I know she had lawyers here. I +demand... compensation for this atrocity. I want this taken care of! +Immediately!" Axeblock was not completely prepared for this situation. His first customer of the day was a muggle. A very rude muggle, who for some reason had decided to walk up to the Foreign Tax-Related Disbursements desk. Bringing with her what -appeared to be *the* Harry Potter, the same Boy-Who-Lived which all the foolish -wand-wavers were carrying-on about. From what he could tell, she either wished -to dispute her own guardianship of said child, or she was attempting to exchange -it for currency. In either case, the solution was the same. +appeared to be *the* Harry Potter, the same Boy-Who-Lived which all the +foolish wand-wavers were carrying-on about. From what he could tell, she +either wished to dispute her own guardianship of said child, or she was +attempting to exchange it for currency. In either case, the solution was the +same. "I shall have to summon a superior. You may accompany me to a private room and await resolution there." Petunia was quickly and quietly shuffled off to a waiting room with some less-than-comfortable chairs and horrible magazines about something freakish -called "Quidditch". Reluctantly, she settled in and proceeded to stare at a wall -while the Goblins got on with getting her some money. Harry was resting in his -basket, unceremoniously placed against a wall. +called "Quidditch". Reluctantly, she settled in and proceeded to stare at a +wall while the Goblins got on with getting her some money. Harry was resting +in his basket, unceremoniously placed against a wall.
Meanwhile, the Goblins were in something of a panic. Axeblock had called his immediate superior Bloodrock, who had brought in Throwhook from Wills and Inheritances and Beltlock from Unusual Currency Exchanges. After a very brief -interview with the muggle woman, Beltlock was dismissed and Throwhook ran off to -summon Sharpaxe, the current Head of the Potter Accounts. The active foreman -noticed all this activity and called Steelgash from Potential Difficulties, who -upon hearing the situation summoned Urgnok from Wizarding Relations to assist. -Urgnok understood exactly who the Boy-Who-Lived was, and sent an urgent request -for advice to Warlord Ragnok, supreme branch manager and effective head of -Goblin government in Britain. +interview with the muggle woman, Beltlock was dismissed and Throwhook ran off +to summon Sharpaxe, the current Head of the Potter Accounts. The active +foreman noticed all this activity and called Steelgash from Potential +Difficulties, who upon hearing the situation summoned Urgnok from Wizarding +Relations to assist. Urgnok understood exactly who the Boy-Who-Lived was, and +sent an urgent request for advice to Warlord Ragnok, supreme branch manager +and effective head of Goblin government in Britain. Ragnok found himself faced with a plainly unacceptable situation. Less than a day after Dumbledore had strode into his bank and outright demanded that they @@ -166,52 +172,52 @@ the Dursley was absolutely and completely unwilling to accept the boy without monetary compensation, an admirable if somewhat troublesome trait. Ragnok was also somewhat endeared to her by her rampant hatred of Wizard kind, which he shared. Still, without a will reading, no such compensation was possible; the -only funds available were the boy's own trust fund, which would not unseal until -his eleventh birthday. All Potter Family assets were locked away until the -heir's majority, barring a will that stated otherwise. Without any way to +only funds available were the boy's own trust fund, which would not unseal +until his eleventh birthday. All Potter Family assets were locked away until +the heir's majority, barring a will that stated otherwise. Without any way to acquiesce to the Dursley's demands for compensation, there was no other alternative; the guardianship of the boy must be changed. -The contents of the will could not, by the agreement with Dumbledore, be read to -determine a replacement guardian. Still, the existence of the will was not in -doubt; nor that it had been trusted to the Goblins of Gringotts to execute. This -implied that the Potters trusted in the judgment of Goblins to see to the care -of their child. Ragnok acknowledged that Gringotts had already failed the +The contents of the will could not, by the agreement with Dumbledore, be read +to determine a replacement guardian. Still, the existence of the will was not +in doubt; nor that it had been trusted to the Goblins of Gringotts to execute. +This implied that the Potters trusted in the judgment of Goblins to see to the +care of their child. Ragnok acknowledged that Gringotts had already failed the Potters by bowing to political pressure from Dumbledore, but he would still -accept the implied responsibility to find a proper guardian for the boy. And in -any case, no-one else could be trusted with the task; Dumbledore had already -proven that the Ministry of Magic was incapable of placing the child; as its -representative, he had chosen a guardian who lasted not even 12 hours before -demanding to be removed! +accept the implied responsibility to find a proper guardian for the boy. And +in any case, no-one else could be trusted with the task; Dumbledore had +already proven that the Ministry of Magic was incapable of placing the child; +as its representative, he had chosen a guardian who lasted not even 12 hours +before demanding to be removed! So, Ragnok ruled that guardianship of the boy was now a Goblin matter. They would, in good faith, find the best possible guardian for Harry Potter. As a matter of simple formalities, Beltlock was once again summoned. Negotiations commenced, and less than two hours after entering Gringotts, -Petunia left much happier than she had expected to, having officially sold Harry -to the Goblins for £2500 and a prepaid taxi home. She was given a receipt in -exchange, marked with her own blood, the blood of Beltlock, and the blood of -Harry Potter. She viewed the experience as a triumph over freakishness, and -planned to have the receipt framed as soon as possible. Obviously, it would not -be displayed anywhere prominent, where someone might see it, but she would -treasure it nonetheless. Perhaps she could hang it in the supply cupboard, under -the stairs. +Petunia left much happier than she had expected to, having officially sold +Harry to the Goblins for £2500 and a prepaid taxi home. She was given a +receipt in exchange, marked with her own blood, the blood of Beltlock, and the +blood of Harry Potter. She viewed the experience as a triumph over +freakishness, and planned to have the receipt framed as soon as possible. +Obviously, it would not be displayed anywhere prominent, where someone might +see it, but she would treasure it nonetheless. Perhaps she could hang it in +the supply cupboard, under the stairs.
A tinkling sound attracted Dumbledore's attention once more to his silver instruments. He was pleased to see that the blood wards were again active; the -blood of Harry Potter was in the home of the Dursleys, and that blood was loved. -Dumbledore smiled, and returned to his paperwork. Later this evening he would -tell Minerva her worries had been for naught. Another plan managed flawlessly. -This deserved another lemon drop. +blood of Harry Potter was in the home of the Dursleys, and that blood was +loved. Dumbledore smiled, and returned to his paperwork. Later this evening he +would tell Minerva her worries had been for naught. Another plan managed +flawlessly. This deserved a lemon drop.
And now, Ragnok considered the problem of where to place the boy. He could not -be placed carelessly; already, Harry had acquired scores of potential enemies in -the followers of Lord Voldemort. In any case, a Wizarding family was not a +be placed carelessly; already, Harry had acquired scores of potential enemies +in the followers of Lord Voldemort. In any case, a Wizarding family was not a healthy place to raise any child; every Goblin knew that Wizards were without exception rude, incompetent, and downright useless. No, he would have to go somewhere he could have a real childhood, with all the opportunity he deserved @@ -225,15 +231,15 @@ caves of Gringotts; any Goblin you asked would agree without hesitation. There were other advantages as well. The boy would grow to be The Potter of Potter, heir to an Ancient and Noble house and its corresponding seat on the -Wizengamot. Having a Goblin-raised Human on the Wizengamot would be a tremendous -leap forward for Goblin rights. And as the Boy-Who-Lived, he was already being -canonized by the Wizarding public; he was clearly an asset to the Goblin nation -if used properly. +Wizengamot. Having a Goblin-raised Human on the Wizengamot would be a +tremendous leap forward for Goblin rights. And as the Boy-Who-Lived, he was +already being canonized by the Wizarding public; he was clearly an asset to +the Goblin nation if used properly. -Yes, this could work well for the Goblins. Harry would be raised as one of them, -trained both in the arts of war and the arts of politics. He would be a force -for change in the backwards society of the Wizards, and greatly assist in the -long-term plan of equal rights for Goblinkind. +Yes, this could work well for the Goblins. Harry would be raised as one of +them, trained both in the arts of war and the arts of politics. He would be a +force for change in the backwards society of the Wizards, and greatly assist +in the long-term plan of equal rights for Goblinkind. If nothing else, the Wizarding public was sure to send him gifts. Already the mail wards Dumbledore had instructed them to setup on behalf of Harry Potter @@ -241,27 +247,27 @@ were forwarding hundreds of letters to a vault dedicated for that purpose. Some of those letters had money! Money which, by virtue of being money, rightfully belonged in the hands of Goblins! -And if Harry Potter was recognized as a member of Goblinkind by Gringotts, then -he could access those funds for his own purposes, and the consequent betterment -of the Goblin economy. And the Potter accounts! The vaults were officially -sealed until his majority, but as a Goblin he could enter them for security -audits. And once Harry was inside the vault, the possessions and gold within -were unarguably his, so he could not be accused of stealing if he brought -anything out when he left. It was disgusting to just leave all that gold sitting -around for decades; really, this was better for everyone. +And if Harry Potter was recognized as a member of Goblinkind by Gringotts, +then he could access those funds for his own purposes, and the consequent +betterment of the Goblin economy. And the Potter accounts! The vaults were +officially sealed until his majority, but as a Goblin he could enter them for +security audits. And once Harry was inside the vault, the possessions and gold +within were unarguably his, so he could not be accused of stealing if he +brought anything out when he left. It was disgusting to just leave all that +gold sitting around for decades; really, this was better for everyone. A grisly smile crept across Ragnok's face. Without any further hesitation, he promoted Sharpaxe from Head of Potter Accounts to Head of Harry Potter Affairs. The child was placed in Sharpaxe's hands, and with the briefest of ceremony adopted into his clan. -Harry looked up at his new father and gurgled happily. «Well,» thought Sharpaxe, -«I'll have plenty of time to work on fixing that.» +Harry looked up at his new father and gurgled happily. «Well,» thought +Sharpaxe, «I'll have plenty of time to work on fixing that.» -The child was whisked off to a Healer so the bank could be assured its asset was -in prime condition, and Sharpaxe was dispatched back to his apartment to prepare -an appropriate living space and acquire whatever food, clothing, and any other -essentials that were likely to be required in the immediate future. +The child was whisked off to a Healer so the bank could be assured its asset +was in prime condition, and Sharpaxe was dispatched back to his apartment to +prepare an appropriate living space and acquire whatever food, clothing, and +any other essentials that were likely to be required in the immediate future. As Sharpaxe set off to notify his wife, one thought repeated in his mind: «Humans grow fast and tall. He will outgrow his swords quickly. I must @@ -294,10 +300,10 @@ made. Steelgash of Potential Difficulties was again brought forth, and was able to verify that the signature on the horcrux matched that of a Human already known to the bank, one Tom Riddle. This was fortunate, as Riddle had no active -contract with the Goblins for the protection of any horcruxes. Even if he could -press such a claim, Harry was determined to be a legal owner of any such horcrux -left on his person, as there was no record of Riddle ever having been his -guardian. Legally, the horcrux was a gift, and could be destroyed. +contract with the Goblins for the protection of any horcruxes. Even if he +could press such a claim, Harry was determined to be a legal owner of any such +horcrux left on his person, as there was no record of Riddle ever having been +his guardian. Legally, the horcrux was a gift, and could be destroyed. Still, the process had very serious complications. With such a risk to the patient, the final decision must lie with the Head of Harry Potter Affairs. A @@ -313,15 +319,15 @@ against his soul, his own magic will heal over the scar quickly.» «But the scar is a mark of honor! Surely he will wear it as a badge of his glorious victory!» -«He is too young to understand. When he is older, he will be able to embrace his -scars. Now, they will heal.» +«He is too young to understand. When he is older, he will be able to cause his +magic to embrace scars of victory. Now, they will heal.» «Then, we leave the horcrux until he is properly educated. Then his magic will recognize the scar as his own, and the horcrux can be removed.» «Unacceptable,» Steelgash interrupted, «Harry Potter is to be trained as a -Goblin. Tom Riddle is not. The horcrux is a security risk, and cannot be present -during his training.» +Goblin. Tom Riddle is not. The horcrux is a security risk, and cannot be +present during his training.» Sharpaxe scowled for a time, before presenting a compromise, «Harry deserves recognition of his victory. You propose to deny him natural recognition as a @@ -335,26 +341,26 @@ areas of Gringotts, and scar glamours especially were heavily restricted to Harry had earned a scar which he already wore, and the bank forcing the removal of a genuine scar won in battle was a unique event. -«Agreed. An enchanted device will be constructed to hold the glamour. I will see -to the details.» +«Agreed. An enchanted device will be constructed to hold the glamour. I will +see to the details.» Sharpaxe hoped this would be enough. He promised himself that he would do everything in his power to see Harry raised in a proper and honorable manner, and that Harry would enter adulthood with many glorious scars. With any luck, -that would help satisfy the terrible loss Harry would surely feel for having his -first trophy stolen so unfairly. +that would help satisfy the terrible loss Harry would surely feel for having +his first trophy stolen so unfairly. A contract was hastily prepared and signed in blood between the two, and -detailed images of the scar drawn for the construction of the glamour. Goldknife -prepared a simple runic array for the removal process, and summoned several -underlings to assist. Within a few moments, the Goblins had donated enough love -of money to overpower the inherent hatred of the soul fragment, dispersing it -forever. +detailed images of the scar drawn for the construction of the glamour. +Goldknife prepared a simple runic array for the removal process, and summoned +several underlings to assist. Within a few moments, the Goblins had donated +enough love of money to overpower the inherent hatred of the soul fragment, +dispersing it forever. As she wiped some leftover black residue off Harry's forehead, Goldknife saw -that his beautifully violent scar was already starting to fade and smooth over. -With a grimace, she vowed silently to herself that someday she would make amends -to the boy for the harm she had just caused him. +that his beautifully violent scar was already starting to fade and smooth +over. With a grimace, she vowed silently to herself that someday she would +make amends to the boy for the harm she had just caused him. Sharpaxe removed Harry from the Healer's presence and took him to be fitted for his first set of armor. At such a young age it was doubtful that he would be @@ -366,9 +372,9 @@ feel of the equipment as early as possible. Harry's last stop for the day was an examination by the Matriarch for any prophecies that entangled his fate. She was an ancient and hideous Goblin, blinded at an early age when she first showed signs of divinatory talent and -locked away in a dark cave to improve her focus. After many years of rituals and -practice, she could feel the influence of the future on any brought before her -within moments. +locked away in a dark cave to improve her focus. After many years of rituals +and practice, she could feel the influence of the future on any brought before +her within moments. The blind Oracle passed her hand over Harry, her face locked in a growl of concentration. Long minutes passed, with the uneven smoke of torches coiling @@ -380,13 +386,13 @@ smile. Staring eyelessly into the darkness, she delivered her reading. «This boy is four-score-times marked by prophecy. His life shall be rife with conflict and war. Enemies great and small await him.» -Sharpaxe let out a relieved breath. He had worried that, as a Human, Harry might -not be destined to be a true warrior, and that he would have to contract out for -enemies to challenge his new ward. This way was better; with natural adversaries -selected by fate, Harry was sure to have the best opportunity possible to become -a mighty warrior. Not to mention, this way cost less. +Sharpaxe let out a relieved breath. He had worried that, as a Human, Harry +might not be destined to be a true warrior, and that he would have to contract +out for enemies to challenge his new ward. This way was better; with natural +adversaries selected by fate, Harry was sure to have the best opportunity +possible to become a mighty warrior. Not to mention, this way cost less. -Knowing everything he needed to know about Harry's future, Sharpaxe carried him -off to his apartment. It was nearing evening, and Harry would need to be fed -soon. Most likely he was still too young to strangle his own rat, but, there was -no point in denying him the opportunity to try. +Knowing everything he needed to know about Harry's future, Sharpaxe carried +him off to his apartment. It was nearing evening, and Harry would need to be +fed soon. Most likely he was still too young to strangle his own rat, but +there was no point in denying him the opportunity to try. -- cgit v1.2.3