Chapter Three: Attack on Gringott's

Harry had told Dumbledore about the letter he received. Harry then reported it to the Ministry. Harry did not respond to the letter. After all, Voldemort could not apparate to Hogwarts so he could not attack Hogwarts.

Harry went to sleep hoping he was right. The next day he was awoken by a screech owl in his room. The screech owl had dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet on the foot of his bed. Harry paid the owl and it flew off. "Ugh…" Harry mumbled, "I forgot that Hogwarts is the first place to receive the Daily Prophet."

Harry glanced on the front page of the paper. A huge bold headline read:

Attack on Gringott's leaves 31 out of 42 Goblins Dead

Harry went on to read:

Last night at approximately 9:34 PM close to closing hours the goblins at Gringott's Bank startled the goblins. The attack left thirty-one out of the forty-two employed goblins dead. The surviving goblins explained that Voldemort and twelve of his followers had performed the attack. The goblins have finally decided to get their armies together to help against the war of Voldemort. A note was left on the main counter that said, "For this attack you can thing Professor Potter of Hogwarts. Potter had refused to give me instructions on how to enter the Ministry so I was forced to strike against him!

Sincerely,

Voldemort

The Ministry of Magic is grateful that Mr. Harry Potter, Assistant Head of the Department of Education and current Potions Professor, did not respond to Voldemort's threat. We are happy to announce that the Ministry's aurors caught eleven of the death eaters! Nothing from Gringott's was stolen or damaged. Thirty-one new goblins have already been hired. More on Page 12.

Harry discussed this article with Hermione and Ron over breakfast. The rest of the day had been spent preparing for the start of school. Harry had gone out into the forbidden forest to collect some potion ingredients. Professor Dumbledore had also given Harry all of Snape's ingredients.

The next day, Harry went out to the greenhouse to talk to Professor Sprout about some limpwurt root when he noticed someone coming through the gate. The persons' wand was raised, and a black ball was on the tip of the wand. The man turned around and shot the ball off of his wand. Soon, over one hundred people in dark cloaks came rushing into the grounds. Harry drew his wand and pointed it at his throat, "Sonorous!" he shouted.

Harry began to speak in a huge booming voice that carried across the grounds and through the castle, "Everyone! Death eaters are here on the grounds please assist me!"

Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick were the first ones out onto the grounds. Harry pointed his wand at the rushing crowd. He muttered several different jinxes and curses, multiple colored lights shot out of his wand and knocked about ten people down.

Professor Trelawney came rushing toward Dumbledore and said, "I have alerted the aurors!"

About two minutes later the aurors were on the grounds of Hogwarts. After all of the people had been stopped one last person stepped in. He lowered the hood of his cloak. It was Lucius Malfoy. "Dumbledore! This is the end!" he screeched.

"Eroul!" Lucius shouted!

A huge black ball hit Dumbledore and then encased him in an orb. "Dumbledore!" Harry shouted.

Harry knew that what had just hit Dumbledore had been a curse of the dark arts. Harry tried to figure out something to stop the orb. Harry had remembered that for some curses you just said it backward to reverse it. So Harry pointed his wand at Dumbledore and yelled, "Loure!"

A huge ball of yellow light hit the black orb and Dumbledore jumped out of it. Harry then pointed his wand at Lucius Malfoy. "Loure!" Harry shouted, and a ball of yellow light hit him and encased him.

Lucius Malfoy began shooting different curses at the orb until finally it broke open. He then summoned a broom and flew off. Harry tried to stop him but it was too late.