Hastily trying to come up with something else to fill the uncomfortable silence between the two, Harry frowned, and asked, "What about our sneaking into here? You said yourself you didn't want to be part of a theft from Gringotts."

The Goblin slowly smiled at Harry, revealing a great many pointy teeth, and he lifted a skinny finger in a gesture of ordering attention, as he cackled, "I managed to convince my superiors that an attempted theft was going to happen anyway, with you and your friends being so determined about it, and it was necessary to come along to keep an eye on you all. Plus, from witnessing everything, I was able to provide information on exactly how you accomplished your thievery." The Goblin's lips pulled back further in increasing grim glee, revealing even more sharp teeth, as Griphook smugly added, "You may be sure that our safeguards and precautions have been upgraded so that anyone else using those exact tactics as back then performed by you and the others will now end in total and terminal failure."

Harry couldn't help being irritated by Griphook's self-satisfaction, and the man grumbled, "And I suppose you managed to talk yourself out of any responsibility for what we did with the dragon, bringing down this place?"

There were few things as spine-chilling as a Goblin snickering evilly to itself, Harry now learned. After a few moments, Griphook had finished his sounds of mirth to beam at the annoyed human. Leaning forward, the Goblin said in a gloating whisper, "Ah, I prefer to think of that as my masterpiece. I merely pointed out that the culprit was quite capable of paying for his misdeeds, and if that dunned wizard refused a proper invoice, the seized contents of his vault would cover handily the costs of the entire rebuilding."

Harry stiffened in shock, and blurted out at the grinning Goblin, "YOU'RE the one who thought up that bill!"

"And it was paid," nodded a contented Griphook, who now leaned back in his seat and interlocked his fingers over his stomach, resting his hands against his ornate attire signifying his new, much higher rank at the bank. "Admittedly, not from you, but who cared? As long as the funds were received, that was all that mattered. We've rebuilt, and during that process, I was granted a most longed for promotion, demonstrating the immense respect I now possess in Goblin society."

Harry stared in utter astonishment at Griphook. Dazedly, the wizard finally realized that despite their form, the Goblins were NOT human, and they didn't think like humans. Harry winced at the thought of what the wizarding world would do to someone who basically went through the Ministry of Magic building with a bulldozer and a flamethrower. *Uh, you DID do something like that, when you broke in there, looking for Sirius and the prophecy. I think only Voldemort showing up kept us from being sent to Azkaban back then.*

Harry's uncomfortable thoughts were interrupted by Griphook's patient inquiry. "Well, Mr. Potter, I presume that you have business with us today?"

He was really becoming tired about all these shocks. Still, Harry managed to rally, to disbelievingly ask, "What, that's IT? Everything's forgiven and forgotten?"

"Business is business, Mr. Potter," shrugged Griphook. "All debts have been settled, and I believe Gringotts can look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the last surviving member of one of the oldest wizarding families." The Goblin now looked expectantly at Harry.

Sighing, and rubbing distractedly at the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, Harry finally gave in. He muttered, "I just wanted to visit my vault today."

"Of course, Mr. Potter. I presume you have your vault key?"

At Griphook's question, Harry nodded and pulled out from his jeans pocket this small vault door opener, embossed with the Potter seal. Satisfied, the Goblin waved a hand, and an instant later, the other lower-ranking Goblin bank clerk swiftly appeared at the side of the reception desk, quivering in anticipation at Griphook's orders. "Lockshott, escort Mr. Potter to his vault. Will that be all, sir?"

At the manager's inquiring look, Harry hesitated, and then he said, "It won't be a short visit like my usual. I don't know how long I'll be in there."

"That's not a problem. Whenever you leave, just close the vault door and wait at the platform outside it. That will send a magical signal, and in a few minutes, a goblin and a cart will appear to pick you up. Whatever the time, you will be escorted out of Gringotts. I hope this gives satisfaction, sir."

Harry looked narrowly at the Goblin, wondering if he was being sarcastic. The solemn expression on Griphook's features conveyed only professionalism in his work in serving the wizarding world, and Harry decided to take this at face value. The last of the Potters said politely, "Thank you, Griphook. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again, and I expect that things will go well in the future."

Griphook nodded in acceptance at this peace offering, and watched in silence as Harry left the desk, guided by his young Goblin escort.

As he walked through Gringotts, Harry was lost in thought over what had just happened. After a few moments, the man's lips began to twitch, as he was struck by the humor of it all. Of how a Goblin managed to land on his feet despite everything, being rewarded for all his efforts no matter how criminal they were, and showing a supreme example of that in a dragon-eat-dragon world, it was every Goblin for itself.

An actual grin was now on Harry's face, as he headed towards the cart that would take him down to his vault. Not just over feeling relieved how well things had gone, plus laughing inside over Griphook's success, but also that he soon would have another enjoyable roller-coaster ride down to where his family assets and possessions were stored.

Which, at this moment, included a magical booby-trap that was patiently awaiting Harry.