Snakes at Hogwarts

"goblin"

"goblin"

"Professor McGonagall, are there really goblins? I thought such creatures only appeared in fairy tale books." Hermione still looked a little unbelievable.

Obviously, the girl has not yet fully adapted to the fact that she has stepped into a world called magic.

"Of course Miss Granger, goblins have existed as a special kind of creature many centuries ago, and have formed a relatively equal relationship with wizards. Look at the one standing outside the door, that is a goblin .”

Hearing this, Andros also looked in the direction of Professor McGonagall's finger. He had actually noticed two short figures wearing gold-red uniforms next to the bronze door.

Is that a goblin?

It looks real, how should I put it, the little thing is quite unique.

Andros stared at the two goblins from a distance. They were both very short in stature. Not only that, their skin color was sallow, and their black eyes revealed a kind of goblin-like wisdom, cunning and malicious wisdom.

Not only that, their hands and feet are very long, but their legs are very short, so they walk like a penguin, which makes them look full of joy.

What's even more interesting is that most of the goblins have pointed beards, which look even more funny when paired with a round head that is much larger than a human head.

"Just take a look at them from a distance. Don't stare at them directly when you walk in. Goblins don't like to be stared at by wizards for a long time." Professor McGonagall reminded him quietly, and then took the lead. He followed them towards the gate of Gringotts.

"Welcome to Gringotts." When they passed the gate, the two goblins standing by the door bowed slightly to them. Their voices were very high-pitched, making them sound malicious.

The goblin pushed open the bronze door at the entrance for them, and they were greeted by the second door. The door was silver, and there were several rows of more eye-catching words engraved on the two doors.

"Come in, stranger, but beware,

What is the end of insatiable greed,

Blindly ask for, get for nothing,

will be severely punished,

So if you want to take from our underground vaults a fortune that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned

Be careful not to attract treasure, but evil retribution. "Andros muttered softly the words engraved on the door. He was deeply impressed by this text that appeared in the original book.

"For centuries, countless witches and wizards have stored their property and valuables in the underground vaults of Gringotts. So far, there has never been any theft."

Soon, Professor McGonagall, you really have a bright mouth.

If memory serves me, there will be an intruder here soon.

"Underground Vault" Hermione seemed to have discovered a new world.

"Yes, hundreds of miles underground in London are the vaults built by goblins. Only goblins know how to deal with those security measures, but let me tell you, those intricate roads alone are enough to stun any intruder. Entered."

Several goblins were also standing next to this door. They bowed slightly and then opened the door and introduced the group into the hall of Gringotts.

This was a spacious and bright marble hall. Andros looked around and saw that there were at least hundreds of counters, and at each counter there were one or two goblins busy with their heads down.

Either checking the quality of gems, or checking the account books, or revealing the cunning wisdom unique to businessmen, whispering something with a few wizards, it seems that they are doing some dirty transactions. .

Judging from the depressed looks on the faces of the wizards, it was obvious that the goblins had the upper hand in the conversation.

These little guys seem to be born knowing how to make money and how to deal with others.

The hall is surrounded by spotless white marble walls and beautifully carved reliefs, which seem to tell the story of the goblin's past glory.

If Andros studied the history of magic, he would know that these little guys once established a kingdom of goblins, and Gryffindor's great sword was forged by an goblin king himself.

Under the relief are countless doors, leading to different locations. Many goblins are standing beside the doors to guide or lead the wizards coming and going in and out of these doors.

Andros raised his head. On the vaulted ceiling, a large and somewhat exaggerated chandelier studded with colorful gems was hanging quietly there, emitting the dazzling light of pounds, no, gold galleons.

They are really rich.

"Follow me." Professor McGonagall led a few people towards a counter not far away, where a seat had just been vacated.

"How can I help you, ma'am?" The goblin behind the counter bowed slightly to Professor McGonagall.

"I need to exchange some coins for the new students at Hogwarts, and I also need to apply for a Hogwarts scholarship for one of the new students." Professor McGonagall turned back and pointed at Andros behind him.

"Okay, please show me the admission notices of the two freshmen."

"Professor McGonagall, my admission letter has been damaged."

"Don't worry, Andros, I have reported your situation to the principal." Professor McGonagall took out a letter from her arms and handed it in along with Hermione's admission letter.

"Generally, to apply for a scholarship, you need to have a Hogwarts admission letter, but since your situation is special, Principal Dumbledore wrote a letter to Gringotts to help you apply for the scholarship."

"That's it, thank you."

"It's nothing." Professor McGonagall waved her hand gently, "By the way, I haven't asked you yet, what's going on? Owl messengers rarely get hurt."

"Ah, that's it." Andros wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He can't say that his pet snake treated the owl as dessert, right?

You know, in order to prevent Professor McGonagall from discovering Ivar, he had already told the python to stay away from the hut, and he has been staying in the orphanage these days and has not returned.

"I don't know. When I found it, it had already passed out outside my hut. The letter was also torn into tatters. Maybe it was attacked by some creature, so I haven't been there for the past few days. Go to that room.”

Fortunately, Andros had already prepared his words, so there would be no lag when answering Professor McGonagall's question.

"You did the right thing. I hope you can always maintain such caution. This is an essential quality for becoming a good wizard."

The goblin's inspection took a particularly long time. It picked up a pair of glasses from the table, and then slowly touched the words on the letter with its slender fingers.

It shouldn't be a letter-by-letter check. Just when Andros couldn't wait any longer, the goblin behind the counter finally took off the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"There's no problem." After returning the letter and admission letter to Professor McGonagall, the goblin continued to ask. I don't know why, but its voice always sounded sinister and malicious.

"Hogwarts' poverty allowance for Muggle wizards per semester is ten gold galleons. Today's ratio of gold galleons to pounds is 1:5. The maximum exchange rate per semester is forty gold galleons. How much do you want to exchange?"

"Is there a limit to the exchange of pounds for gold galleons?" Andros seems to have discovered the New World. In the original work, there seems to be no mention of the fact that there is a limit to the exchange of pounds for gold galleons.

"Of course, what do you think we need such coins for?" Before Professor McGonagall could speak, the goblin behind said with disdain, as if Andros had asked a stupid question.

"If it weren't for taking care of the Muggle wizards who go to Hogwarts, we wouldn't have opened the exchange of pounds and gold galleons at all."

"If there was unlimited exchange, the economic system of the wizarding world would be in chaos. For wizards, it is not difficult to get some pounds from the Muggle world." Professor McGonagall also added.

"Forty gold galleons are enough to buy your school supplies for this semester. As for you, Andros, don't worry, ten gold galleons can also buy what you need, but it may be a little shabby."

It turns out that's the case. No wonder no wizards in the original books would steal Muggle banks. If Gringotts didn't provide exchange, all they would steal would be a piece of waste paper.

However, the subsidy is only ten gold galleons, which is really small enough.

"Then can I exchange some gold galleons, Professor McGonagall?" Andros took out a small bag from his arms.

"I still have some pounds that I want to exchange for gold galleons."

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Conflicts often broke out between goblins and wizards in history, but in fact, they have formed a dependent relationship in the magical world. Although most wizards are still unwilling to admit it, wizards' lives are actually inseparable. Open the leprechaun.This group of greedy, cunning and philistine little guys manage Gringotts, the only wizarding bank in the European wizarding world, so in a sense, they have controlled the wizarding world's economy.

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Goblins also generally possess excellent forging talents. An adult goblin often only needs a few years of training to become an excellent forging master. Historically, there have been countless treasures forged by goblins.

The most famous among them is Gryffindor's sword.Historically, it was cast by the famous goblin king Legnarc I as a gift to Gryffindor.

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According to some early agreement, goblins are responsible for casting the currency of the magical world. This contractual relationship can even be traced back to the thirteenth century.

Galleons, Sikos and even bronze Nats cast by goblins, each coin has a different number on the edge, which represents the goblin who made the coin. Likewise, only goblins know how to distinguish these numbers. This is one of the reasons why there are so few fakes circulating in the market.

They can easily tell whether these metal products are cast by goblins.

It is said that some experienced goblins can even determine the work made by the master and the time when it was made.

Autobiography of Philius: Me and My Race

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