Katrin closed her small connection Aboveground after the email went through. I cannot believe I just did that. But he did ask me to let him know I got here... Although she could run any electrical appliances, such as her laptop, on battery, the only way she could connect to the Internet was to open a hole from the Underground to Aboveground and then pick up the connection with the airport card and hub. It was similar to the connection made when she would 'call' home using one of the crystals, except it was digital waves going through rather than magical ones. As she kicked off her shoes and searched under the bed for her slippers, she wondered what, if anything, her father would say to her about doing that before she went down for lunch with the family. He would know, of course. As ruler of this kingdom, he was perfectly attuned to everything that went on magically within its borders, including the opening of any 'holes'. And anything non-magical was as close as a glance in a crystal. After sliding into the slippers, she pulled off her sweater and tied it around her waist as she left her room.

"Mum, I'll find something to eat when I get back. I'm really not hungry now, honest." Bill was pulling on his wizard robe as he tried to stop his mother from cooking him a full meal.

"Well, if you are sure you don't want anything now." She leaned over and brushed some non-existent lint off his robe. "Are you sure that is what you should be wearing underneath? It seems a bit casual."

Bill sighed. "Yes, I'm sure. And they really don't care what I wear as long as I do my job. If they wanted me in something different, I'm sure I would have been told. It isn't as though they would have any qualms about it."

"Well, alright then. But--"

"Molly, let the boy go. He is going to be late if he doesn't get out of here soon." Arthur gestured toward the clock.

"Goodness, yes. Get along with you, Bill. I'll have something is ready for you to eat when you get back."

"Thanks, Mum." He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, then took his bag that was being held by his sister and ruffled her hair. "Later, Ginny. I'll see you tonight, Dad." With that, he Apparated out of the house.

"Nice of you to join us, Katrin," Jareth said with a wry grin. "Have some difficulties finding the dining room?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Mother said there was no hurry. Besides, the boys aren't here yet. And before you ask, I did remind Andreas to go get them." She went over to the sideboard and filled a plate before joining her parents at the table. Just before she sat down, the door burst open.

"Kati!!" Six-year-old Lewis latched himself to her waist. "You're home! When did you get here? Do you want to play with me later?"

"We'll see, ok? First, let's have lunch." Turning around, she saw the rest of her family coming in the door. "Hi, boys." Andreas and Justin waved as they made a beeline for the food.

"You know, considering I am almost three years older than you, it really irks that you group me with our younger siblings, little sister." Christoph came over and gave her a hug, transferring the baby of the family, Michael, into her arms.

Katrin grinned. "Oh, wah. You know you like it."

"Yeah, sure." He tried, and failed, to hide his grin as he went over to the sideboard. "Come on, Lewis, what do you want to eat?"

"Lots! So I can grow big!"

"Big like whom?" Christoph asked him.

"Um... like Ludo." Everyone chuckled. "Well, he is the biggest person I know!"

As they ate, Katrin entertained them all with tales of the antics of a juggler who played almost the same Faire circuit as she. When they finished, Jareth gave the unspoken command and three goblins came in and cleared the table and sideboard. A fourth and fifth brought in trays with tea, coffee, juice, and milk. It didn't take long before they were alone again and settling with their various drinks. Katrin leaned back in her chair and looked around at her family. Andreas was animatedly describing something to Christoph and their father, Justin was helping Lewis pour himself a glass of milk, and her mother had Michael on her lap and seemed to be doing at least five things at once. She smiled, getting the feeling of love and security that only comes with being at home. However, she couldn't prevent the thoughts of her lunch of the previous day, and with those thoughts came this slight feeling of longing. Not really sure what it meant, she tried to push it away until she was in a better place to contemplate it.

Jareth looked at his daughter, noticing how she absentmindedly stirred her tea as she gazed intently at the teapot. The wistful smile in her eyes seemed to be playing tag with a light cloud of confusion, each chasing the other away in turn. He had a feeling that he knew what, or who, was on her mind, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and regret. Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't dwell on it at the moment, for tomorrow was creeping up on them. He looked around the table at the rest of his children, his gaze finally settling on Sarah where she sat across from him with their youngest on her lap. She was watching him with a mysterious smile on her face. He raised an eyebrow. Her smile deepened. He sighed, not quite sure how to disturb this picture of 'domestic bliss' that he wanted to hang on to forever, but feeling that things would never be quite the same after tomorrow.

"Love," Sarah's soft voice pulled him out of his reverie. "We should explain to the children what is going to happen tomorrow," she said gently. "I need to put some people down for their naps soon."

Jareth sighed again. "Yes, of course. You all know the basics. There is a delegation of goblins arriving tomorrow from Aboveground with a request for advice, possibly even to petition for assistance. As I've said before, I don't know what all the details are, but I do know something of the situation that has been happening over the past few years. I also need to explain about the other Realm within the Mortal World."

Christoph choked on his coffee. "Other Realm?"

Jareth held up one hand. "In answer to your question, no, you have not been told of this before. It is a very testy subject among the Fae who know about it. Among other reasons, certain members of our kind might be tempted to take advantage of... some of the more powerful inhabitants of this Realm should that power become common knowledge." He paused.

"But why didn't you tell us?" Christoph asked, bewildered. Exactly what I've been wondering since you mentioned this last night, Dad, thought Katrin.

"To be honest, it never occurred to me that I should. Most of the Underground has not had to deal with it for hundreds of years. With a few exceptions, of course. One of those being the goblins and their bank."

Katrin interrupted him. "Dad, you're not making much sense. I don't understand how goblins could possibly run a bank. I know you said they are a different breed, but still. Goblins? Running a bank?"

He blinked. "Perhaps I had best start at the beginning." The simultaneous nods from his wife and four older children made him chuckle. "Very well..."

Bill Apparated in front of Gringotts. The protective magic there was similar in respect to that of Hogwarts for no one could Apparate inside the building. Although, there were other protective forces at work that few wizards, if any, seemed to know about. Diagon Alley was fairly deserted at this time of night. Granted, there were the odd shops open here and there, just not many customers. Bill wasn't entirely sure if he'd be able to just walk into the bank, considering it was supposed to be closed. However, he figured if the doors weren't unlocked, someone would be there to open them for him. He was, after all, expected.

He ran up the steps to the doors and they silently opened before him. Just like those automated ones the Muggles use, he thought. Bill's steps echoed through the nearly empty hall as he walked toward the main desk. He could see three goblins gathered there, looking through a large tome. One looked up as Bill neared them.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley. Punctual as always, I see," he said, extending his hand.

"Sir." Bill shook the hand of this goblin whom he had never met, wondering what else was known about him and how this reputation had spread.

The goblin cleared his throat and the other two looked up from the tome. "I will take Mr. Weasley to the second floor board room for the meeting." They looked Bill over then nodded to the first goblin. "If you discover anything else, let me know immediately. This way, Mr. Weasley."

Bill followed the goblin through a door that seemed to spring out of the wall, up a long staircase, and into a small room with a massive oak table. Around the table sat two more goblins and two empty chairs. Am I going to be the only human here? Now there is a disturbing thought... The goblin who escorted him to the room gestured to one of the empty chairs, so Bill sat down.

The goblin stood in front of the final chair and placed his hands on the table. "Allow me to make the introductions. This is Mr. Weasley, one of our Curse Breakers." He turned to Bill as he gestured around the table. "On the far left is Queezink, next to him is Crinklow, and I am Frank." Frank? Bill thought. "Now that we are all here," Frank continued, "shall we begin?" At the nods from the other goblins, he turned to Bill once more as he sat down. "I am sure you would like to know what this meeting is in regards to. Especially since we had to call you back from you holiday."

Bill nodded. "Yes, sir, I have been wondering."

"You may have guessed that it has something to do with the return of the Dark Wizard. This is only partially true. His return has indeed given us cause for concern for we remember the financial panic his presence caused within the Magical Realm of the Mortal World many years ago. But there are certain preventative measures we can take and, no matter what, Gringotts will remain standing. So, his return would not be a concern of high priority, except for one minor detail."

At this, Crinklow leaned forward with his elbows on the table, bringing his hands up and pressing his fingertips together. "I am sure you remember when there was an attempt at a break-in nearly four years ago. The perpetrator attempted to remove the Philosopher's Stone from one of our most well protected vaults. While thefts have foolishly been attempted before, no one had come so close to succeeding and still escaped."

"While this was most disturbing, " added Queezink, "what is even more so is that it has taken us until recently to discover how he managed it. Much to our chagrin, it was discovered that some of our employees had betrayed the secret of our security system to the man who broke in. They have since been questioned, revealing all the details, and will soon be punished appropriately." An unnerving smile crossed the goblin's face.

"However," continued Frank," while the perpetrator is no longer among the living, there is no way of knowing whether or not he passed on his knowledge to the Dark Wizard. Because of this, we will be sending a delegation to the one who allows this Institution to exist."

Silence fell over the room. Bill was somewhat confused as to what, exactly, the goblins were talking about. He looked at each of them. They were all looking at him. He cleared his throat. "So... am I supposed to be a member of this delegation?"

Crinklow leaned back in his chair. "No, Mr. Weasley. We have another task for you."

Silence fell again. Bill looked at each of the goblins again. They were all still looking at him. "All right... What is the task?"

"Tomorrow morning, our delegation will be meeting with the King of the Goblins. When they return at the end of the week, you will be following in the footsteps of the one who attempted the break-in. If our petition to His Majesty is unsuccessful, you will have to make the journey alone."

Bill blinked. "And if it is successful?"

Queezink shrugged. "Then you will be accompanied by a member of the Immortal Ones."

A what? Bill barely prevented himself from flying out of his chair. He did not just say what I think he did. They don't exist. And even if they did exist, that was long ago. There haven't even been rumours of one being seen for at least half a millennium. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that last bit?"

"Then you will be accompanied by a member of the Immortal Ones."

It was too much for Bill. He stood up, immediately sitting down again. I don't believe it...