Hallowed
Chapter Ten: Godfathers and Gringotts


There was a rush of wind so loud it was as if he was flying. His hand gripped something long and slender, and he could not find it within himself to let go. Looking down, he could see water and land rushing past him in gray/green blurs. His destination was close, and he was excited; why, he had no idea. A stone tower flashed before him, and the form of an old man; he wore what looked to be tattered grey robes that were hanging off of his slight but not too thin frame. His face split into a grin when their eyes met.

"I knew you would come…" The man's eyes were glittering in excitement as he looked up and revealed rather rotten teeth. "I knew you would search for and eventually find me… I no longer have it."

"Tell me, Grindelwald…" The high-pitched and cold voice of Voldemort echoed as if from far away. "You know where it is… Tell me."

"You will fail in your attempt to control it…"

"Tell me where it is!"

"It lies in the ground, buried with its master…" The man's words were still sharp and clear. "It lies with him… Dumbledore."


The rushing sound started again, and there were trees, mountains, oceans, all whirling past him in a blur of grey, blue, and white. It was not the rushing of wind he heard now however; it was the pulsing of waves crashing against the shore. Salt filled the air, cold spray and wind hit him and his arm was suddenly ablaze with pain. Harry opened his eyes to see sand, rock that had been washed smooth by the sea, and Dobby looking up at him with tears streaming down his face. He could also see Ron and Hermione not far away. Both of them were getting up from the ground; the latter a bit shakily, but they headed for him. Looking down, Harry saw the source of his pain; Bellatrix' dagger had easily gone deep into his arm and was still there with blood seeping through his sleeve and out onto the white sand around him.

"BILL!" Ron's shout was the first thing he heard after being grounded back into his own head. Harry couldn't move his arm and he didn't want to. The pain was nearly unbearable and he felt as if the arm was made of lead anyway.

"Harry Potter saved Dobby…" The elf whispered as his voice was not strong enough to speak properly. He was clearly choked with emotion. "Harry Potter risked his own life to save Dobby…"

"I'd do it again." Harry managed as he used his free hand to squeeze Dobby's shoulder gently. He could hear people running toward them and when he finally broke eye contact with the elf, Harry saw Bill, Fleur, Dean, and Luna. Fleur had seen the injury first and was already conjuring medical supplies and summoning what she couldn't. Bill had gotten to him first and was looking at the dagger with wide eyes.

"Harry, what happened!" The dagger was obvious, and Bill pointed that out. "Looks like that smarts a bit, but how did you lot get captured? Dean told us where you ended up..."

"I think we just wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ron said quickley. He had also had the presence of mind to grab hod of Griphook before they had disapparated. The goblin was sitting not too far away. "We had just left from..." He remembered that Luna was there, and thought before he spoke. "From talking to Xenophilius Lovegood when we got to that clearing. As soon as we got there..."

"Snatchers were there already." Dean said. "Griphook and I were separated from Ted and the other goblin. The one man was captured, but Ted got away."

"It will 'urt." Fleur addressed Harry as she began working on his arm. She closed a hand around the dagger and watched as Harry nodded in understanding.

"Do it." Harry braced himself; he saw Ron and Hermione looking rather pale as Fleur steadied her hand and withdrew the dagger in a swift but precise jerk. The blade came clean out of Harry's arm and left a gaping hole that Fleur began wrapping tightly.

"Had to be done, mate." Bill said as he helped get Harry to his feet. "Rather move without that thing getting knocked around while still in your arm." He and Fleur started toward the cottage with him while Dean and Luna assisted Griphook; Ron and Hermione bringing up the rear with Dobby. Bill continued talking as he reached the front path. "Welcome to Shell Cottage by the way. Fleur and I live here while also keeping it a safehouse for the Order."

"Fidelius charm?" Harry asked as they made their way to the kitchen where Fleur began unwrapping his arm and put several drops of a blue potion on it. At first it stung terribly, but a blissful numbness set in, and he relaxed.

"Yeah. I'm secret keeper." Bill nodded. He motioned for the others to head on into the sitting room. "Mr. Ollivander is upstairs. Good that you got Dobby to bring him here, Harry. He might not have made it…"

"How bad?" Harry asked it just to keep the conversation going on something rather than looking at his arm.

"Terrible." Fleur said as she performed a few spells over the hole to ensure that there had been no poison in the dagger's blade. "He was tortured in many ways…" At that comment, Harry had to really suppress the urge to say that he knew. He had seen Voldemort using the cruciatus curse on Mr. Ollivander several times and had some experience with it himself.

"Yeah, he's still unconscious." Bill added as he prepared to leave the kitchen. "We'll be in the sitting room when you two are done here."

Thankfully, it did not take long to at least get Harry's arm sorted and bandaged. It would still take time for it to heal properly, but that didn't matter. It would, given Harry didn't over-exert it. When he and Fleur entered the sitting room, they found the others just talking and keeping the silence away. Luna spotted Harry first and made room for him on the large sofa. He sat down between her and Ron while Fleur headed upstairs to check on Ollivander and Griphook, whom Luna and Dean had escorted up when they came in. Harry could feel all eyes on him, and he couldn't avoid looking up after so long. When he did, Bill spoke again.

"Mum's been in contact a few times since we all had to leave the Burrow. She is worried about you three; knowing that you've been out on your own. I'll spare you the conversation I had with her and just say this: Whatever you are planning to do from here on, be damned careful. From what I've understood, the death eaters are getting more and more paranoid."

"They should be." Dean commented as he checked a good-sized bruise on his arm from where one of the snatchers had plowed him into the ground. "Think about it, Harry just escaped the Malfoys, Greyback, and Bellatrix Lestrange. You Know Who won't be too pleased with them."

"That reminds me…" Ron said suddenly as he shifted to look at Harry more directly. "Back at Malfoy Manor, why in the ruddy hell did you toss them back their wands?"

"Dunno." Harry really didn't know just why he had. There had been a reason forming in his head when he had tossed them back to Narcissa Malfoy, but it hadn't become completely clear. Thinking back on the situation, he realized just why he had. "Ron, Malfoy knew it was us." He motioned to himself, Ron, and Hermione. "Draco knew it was us and he didn't say anything."

"So you gave them back their wands for that?"

"I don't think they wanted any part of it." Harry defended his own actions here. It was still odd for him to do something decent for a man who had been a git to him throughout all of his Hogwarts years, but Harry couldn't just keep the wands for spite. "You saw their reactions when Bellatrix performed the counter jinx; They weren't surprised at all. Besides," he finished with a slightly raised eyebrow. "What were we going to do with the wands anyway; snap them when we got here?"

"Two fewer to be used against us later on." Ron said quietly, but Harry could see the slight understanding growing in his face.

"You gave them their wands back?" Hermione spoke for the first time since they had gotten away from the Malfoys and Bellatrix. Her eyes were set on Harry now, and he didn't like the look she was giving him. "You gave them back when all they did was stand there and do nothing while…"

"What could they have done, Hermione?" Harry had to ask it, but he could feel a knot forming in his throat. It was probably true that those two just stood there while Bellatrix cursed Hermione and threatened her with the same dagger that had been used on him unintentionally. "I mean, I know how-"

"No, you don't know how I would feel about it." Hermione said somewhat coldly. Ron looked between her and Harry in slight alarm. He wasn't sure what to do about this. "You don't know…"

"I know what it feels like to be tortured and to be powerless to do nothing to stop it." Harry said, and he got up from the sofa and walked toward the door. As he pulled it open, he felt the cold sea breeze hit him; it had the potential to change his mind about walking out for a moment, but he went on anyway. He didn't much want to look at anyone right now. For some reason, he was starting to get angry, and there was no reason for it. Stepping out onto the grassy lawn, he heard the crunch of snow, and wasn't surprised to see it falling around him. It was still the dead of winter, and even with the salty environment, the snow was still gathering on the ground. Wrapping his cloak tighter around him, he didn't hear the door close quietly behind him. He swore aloud at the sea ahead, and nearly jumped when he heard a response.

"I can understand why you're angry." It was Luna who had followed him out into the cold. Harry turned on his heel and looked her over, but he didn't see the slightly "off" girl he had come to know. Luna seemed more serious, but it didn't replace her kindness. "You're still dealing with the fact that everything you do seems to have a negative effect."

"I suppose." He could still feel the anger rising, but it wasn't taking over like it had been about to. It was as if it was in the background; building up a wall that could crash down on him at any moment. "Everything we do seems to come back and blow up in our faces in some way."

"I think you did the right thing." Harry felt as if Luna were worlds away from him at that point. Her voice was distant while the bitterly cold sea air blew into his face. Her words however, were clear. "Giving them back their wands when they hadn't done anything to you."

"Draco's been a prat, but I dunno…." He looked out over the crashing waves and frowned. "Was it a good thing to hand over their wands? What if Ron's right; that they'll just turn against us…"

"I don't think so." Luna stepped closer, and with each step, Harry could feel his own anger ebbing away. "My mum always said that for every good deed done, another will be paid you in time."

"I hope she was right." He said as he turned to look at her. They had discussed her mother before, and from what Harry knew, she had been a bright and powerful witch. Perhaps with that came wisdom; he wasn't sure. "Any ideas on what to do from here?"

"From what I heard, Bellatrix Lestrange was very angry at the thought that you might have been in her vault."

"Of course…" It hit him like a lumbering troll. Bellatrix had been almost petrified into hysterics at the thought of them being in her vault at Gringotts. What could she be hiding there? Could it be another horcrux? Thinking of mentioning this to Ron and Hermione, Harry stopped. After what had happened just a few minutes ago, he decided to let Hermione cool off before speaking to her. "Luna, you're brilliant. She assumed we'd found something there; something aside from the sword." He decided to change gears there, though. Instead of mentioning the horcruxes, he thought of what the future held for Luna and Dean. They couldn't join them, but would it be safe to go back to Hogwarts? "What will you do now; go back home, on the run, or back to Hogwarts?"

"I'm not sure." This sounded like the Luna Harry remembered. She had that airy tone to her voice again. "I thought of going back to the castle."

"It's not the same, you know? As it was before, I mean."

"Neither am I." She said with a cryptic smile. With that, Luna headed back inside, but she was replaced by Ron. He had finally come out and was passing her as she went along the path to the door. When he approached Harry, Ron stood somewhat awkwardly before speaking in a low voice.

"She'll come 'round, you know?"

"I get where she was coming from, but I wasn't just going to keep their wands for no reason; we didn't need them."

"I know." Ron said bracingly as he stepped up to where he was evenly beside Harry. "Give her time, she'll come around. Who knows what Bellatrix did to her, anyway."

"I think we all have a pretty good idea." Harry muttered.

For the next week, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent time with Bill, Fleur, Luna, and Dean. Griphook usually took meals in the room he was staying in, like Mr. Ollivander, but when he was strong enough to join them downstairs, he grudgingly agreed. They all awaited news from the Order, but didn't really hear anything. Harry had asked Dobby to return to Hogwarts so that he wouldn't be missed, and the elf had agreed enthusiastically; stating that the elves would be ready when the time came. Hermione meanwhile, had spoken to Harry again a day or so after they had nearly hit a sore spot with one another. She had apologized for losing her nerve, and he had done the same for being somewhat insensitive to the situation. Either way, the three were on good terms again, and Harry had mentioned to them just what Luna had suggested; that their next target might be Gringotts; more specifically, Bellatrix' vault. At first, Hermione had been skeptical, but as she thought about it, her curiosity grew, and the thre began scheming on ways to get into the bank and search her vault. This was when Hermione revealed that she had managed to pull a few of Bellatrix' hairs during their struggle.

On one Saturday afternoon, they were all gathered around the table for dinner, and there was a knock at the door. Bill stood and pulled his wand before moving to the door to have a look. When he muttered something to the stranger, they replied, and it seemed Bill was satisfied with the answer. He stepped back and pulled the door open to reveal a man in shabby robes and a worn black traveling cloak that was clearly snow-flecked. Only when the door was closed behind him did he remove his hood. It was Remus Lupin. Still greying faster than he should, the young man shook off his cloak and looked around the table; he had clearly not expected the house to be so full. His eyes landing on Harry, he stepped forward and grasped his hand in a warm greeting.

"Harry!" He said as Harry stood to shake his hand in return. "I didn't expect to see you here, but I'm thankful you three are safe." He looked to Ron and Hermione in turn. "I have news." He added; looking around at the others, who had hoped he would say this. "I'll start with the bad first: You Know Who has been spotted in Hogsmeade."

"Hogsmeade?" Dean asked bewildered. "He's that close to the school? Why would he be there?"

"The Elder Wand." Harry murmured under his breath so that only Ron and Hermione could hear. The look they gave him made him feel slightly guilty; he hadn't told them what he had seen when they had first arrived at Shell Cottage. Mouthing that he would explain later, he listened as Bill urged Remus on.

"Why do you reckon he's there, Remus?"

"I don't know…" Lupin frowned. "No one is really sure on that. So far, he's said he would leave Hogwarts alone…"

"Right, while having death eaters in charge and teaching classes." Harry said frowning as well. "Saw where the Carrows are there."

"Oh yes, that poses a problem." Remus muttered. He knew exactly how Harry had seen this, and didn't say a word for or against it.

"And the good news?" Ron asked. He knew there was nothing that could really be done about Voldemort being spotted so close to the school. "I hope there's good news as well."

"Oh, there is!" Remus reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope that looked to be full of something. When he handed it to Harry, he urged him to open it. Harry did so, and several photographs came out onto the now cleared off table. They all showed moving images of a grinning Remus and or Tonks with a lightly wrapped bundle in their arms. Harry looked at them and then back at Remus and beamed. He noticed the man beside him was doing the same.

"Congratulations!" He, Ron, Hermione, and the others said almost at once; Bill standing up to shake Remus' hand and clap him on the back. "Got a name?"

"Teddy, after Dora's father." Remus said. "She's heard from him, by the way. He's safe for now. I thought I'd let you all know, though." He grinned as Hermione and Fleur were talking excitedly about the baby's turquoise hair in one of the photos. "I should get back, though…"

"Hang on." Bill said, and he entered the kitchen and returned with a tray of butterbeers and mead. "You'll not leave until we've properly celebrated this. Good and happy news like this doesn't come along all that often, does it?"

"No, I suppose not." Remus joined them in a few good and cheerful rounds of butterbeer while everyone took the time to look through the photos in detail. While most were doing that, he turned and addressed Harry. "There was something else…" He almost looked as if this was going to be an awkward sort of topic, but he pressed on. "Dora and I have talked it over and we wondered if you'd agree to be Teddy's godfather, Harry." He said it hopefully but with a notion that he almost expected a negative answer. Harry took no time in answering with a nod and a grin.

"Of course, if you're sure."

"Yes." Lupin beamed and stood from the table. "Oh, Dora will be thrilled at your answer. I do need to go, though. Wouldn't want her or her mother to worry."

"Travel safely, will you?" Harry said as he rose to walk with Lupin to the door. "Give them my best."

"And ours!" Bill called as he stood as well. "Let them know all's well here." With that, everyone bade Remus farewell as he ventured back out into the ongoing snow flurry. Bill stood at the window and watched him get just beyond the walk and disapparate before returning to the table.

Harry Ron, and Hermione, while spending time with everyone else, took the time to talk amongst themselves that night about what Harry had meant. He explained what he had seen of Voldemort and Grindelwald's conversation and where the Elder wand resided. He also brought up a tentative suggestion that they enlist the help of Griphook the goblin to get into the wizard bank. This would require more talks with him, but Ron and Hermione seemed to agree that the former Gringotts employee would be essential to successfully getting in and out of the bank's vaults. When they finally consulted the goblin, he was ready to refuse, but he decided to assist with a stipulation: they give him the true sword of Gryffindor. Harry, who had an idea, tentatively agreed, but he was overheard by Bill when talking about the plan a few days later. On Wednesday, Bill found the three sitting in the sitting room talking in low voices about the upcoming planned trip into Gringotts. He cleared his throat, and they all looked up sharply, but he spoke before they could defend their actions.

"I know what you're planning." He began in a half stern voice. "I heard, and I have to say I think it's damned foolish to attempt it." He chose to sit down in the armchair opposite the sofa to look at them. "Gringotts goblins are exceptionally paranoid. I've worked with them, and they are very… reluctant to deal with wizards, even if they have to. You're planning on getting into the bank and out by using Griphook, but I have to ask: what did he want in return?"

"He wants the sword." Ron offered. Bill didn't look surprised.

"Figured as much. It's goblin-made." He leaned forward slightly as he explained. "It's like Muriel's tiara, isn't it? Goblins assume that while you have paid for it, you have only paid for the right to use it. When you die or something happens, they think it should be rightfully theirs again, due to the fact that their lot made it."

"So, when you buy something that is goblin-made, it's like you're only paying rents on it?" Ron asked, and Bill nodded.

"Exactly. Whatever you've promised him, be sure you live up to it. Goblins are very particular when it comes to that sort of thing."

"So, you're warning us on how to get away with it rather than telling us not to do it, then?" Hermione asked; slightly concerned. "I would think you'd be telling us not to do it."

"Not like I can stop you, is it?" Bill smiled sadly. "I mean, you're of age, so I can't technically keep you here, can I?"

From that point on, the three began fine-tuning the plan. Hermione would use the hairs and polyjuice potion that remained to impersonate Bellatrix Lestrange, while Ron would be put under some glamour charms to make him look like a foreign ally of Voldemort's. Harry would be under the invisibility cloak with Griphook, and they would enter the bank and hopefully get down into the vaults without issue, but getting out was another ordeal altogether. Griphook hadn't discussed the specifics on how they would be getting out, but he hadn't said he would just leave them down there either. Harry brought it up to him a few more times and the goblin didn't get very specific at all with his answers. That next Saturday, Harry and Griphook left Shell Cottage to wait for Ron and Hermione. The former was being altered by Fleur and Bill together, so that the charms would be done correctly rather than fall apart at the wrong moment. Hermione, while saying that she was not very learned with glamour charms, was busy choking down the remains of the polyjuice potion she had stashed in her bag. When she finally joined them, Harry had to keep the look of revulsion off of his face. Standing before him in elegant black robes was a very convincing Bellatrix Lestrange. The only thing missing was the arrogant smirk that the woman usually always wore.

"Well, how do I look?"

"Hideous." Ron said as he stepped out as well. He was now wearing brown robes that looked to have been locked away in a dusty closet for years. His hair was dark brown with flecks of grey. It looked shorter than his hair naturally was, and he had a neat but thin greying goatee as well. "Don't think I look any better though."

"Well, you both look convincing, anyway." Harry said as he and Griphook took in the others' appearances. "Are you ready, then?"

"S'pose." Ron muttered as they walked away from Shell Cottage toward the sea's edge. "Hermione?"

"As ready as I'll ever be to impersonate Bellatrix." It was odd to hear Bellatrix speak but know that it was Hermione. Harry nodded and withdrew his cloak while Hermione shrank her bag and put it in her robe pocket.

"Right. Griphook, you'll be with me under the cloak." The goblin stepped closer. Harry took his arm, and the three concentrated on Charing Cross Road in London. They had already said their goodbyes to Bill, Fleur, Dean, Luna, and Mr. Ollivander earlier that morning. That last conversation with him had been somewhat interesting. Putting it out of his mind for the moment, Harry turned and disapparated while holding tight to the goblin beside him and the cloak around them both.

When they appeared on the walk just outside of the Leaky Cauldron, Harry could see that this was one of those bitter cold days. Snow was still thick here, but not as bad as they had seen elsewhere. The wind had picked up here, and those that were outside were rushing in all directions with coat collars and hoods pulled up over their faces to shield them from the biting frosty air. Ron had approached the door first, but Griphook caught Hermione's sleeve before they pushed it open. His hand gripped her wrist tightly as if in warning. When she looked back, she wore an expression that Bellatrix would never consider fit for her face; unsure.

"What is it, Griphook?" Ron muttered under his breath.

"Remember who you are supposed to be." The goblin hissed. "You walk with an air that suggests you're entitled. You act as much like a self-centered and confident witch as possible; otherwise we may as well use that sword to slit our own throats."

"Right." Hermione said briskly, She was about to enter first when Ron stopped her. They waited while they heard the sounds of Harry dropping to his knees to allow Griphook to get atop his shoulders. That was part of the plan he wasn't too sure about, but Harry had agreed that it would be easier to hide the two of them under the cloak this way. Only when they saw Harry's footprints step closer to them, though slightly staggered, did they open the door and stride in.

The Leaky Cauldron was not nearly as full as it usually was, but the people in the pub were quick to take notice of the two that had entered. Ron stayed quiet but kept just behind Hermione. She, posing as Bellatrix, did her best to seem in charge of the situation. Harry had to admit that she was doing rather well; considering she was scaring half of the people in the pub including Tom, the barman. With him nodding to her rather timidly, she strode through the pub and exited through the door that would lead them to the entrance to Diagon Alley. Once there, Hermione withdrew the wand that had belonged to one of the snatchers they had disarmed and tapped the brick to reveal the archway.

Diagon Alley was nowhere near what it had used to be. Brightly lit stores that had used to keep the area pulsing with life now stood boarded up and dark. Ollivander's was still closed, Florean Fortescue's parlor was dark and empty, and even Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes had been closed. Madam Malkin's robe shop was closed, but it seemed it had been open earlier that day. In short, the alley was more barren and empty than any of the had ever seen it. Their main concern however, stood at the head of the alley; Gringotts, in its marble white towering building, did not stand void of people as it usually did. There were two wizards standing there with golden poles. Thankfully, there were a few people hanging about outside of another shop and talking in low voices because Ron took a moment to send Griphook a questioning look. The goblin aswered the unspoken question.

"Security. They will be sure to know your business before entering the bank. It is an insult; we have never needed such things before."

"But what are they for, Griphook?" Harry muttered as they purposefully stopped to look into the darkened apothecary. "What do the poles do?"

"Check for enchantments." Griphook answered quickly. "They'll know that those two aren't who they say they are." Apparently hearing this, Ron and Hermione shared a look before Hermione decided on a more Bellatrix-like approach. Stepping past the small crowd of people, she strode up to the wizards, who nodded curtly as she approached.

"Madam Lestrange." Another voice from behind said, and Hermione turned; she had to work to keep her expression calm as she faced a man she recognized. It was one of the death eaters from when they had gone to see Xenophilius Lovegood; Travers. "Didn't expect to see you out and about so soon."

"I'm here to check on my vault." Hermione offered curtly. As she said her next words, both Harry and Ron noted how hard it must have been to say them. "Filthy mudblood could have gotten in. I'd rather se if everything's secure."

"Fair enough." Travers agreed. "So, who is this one you've got here?"

"Foreign supporter of the Dark Lord." Hermione said in the equivalent to Bellatrix' most reverent voice. "Volunteered many of his people to the cause, he did."

"Good on him. Got a name there, Chap?" Travers addressed Ron, and Ron just looked at Hermione. Apparently, the tw had already discussed this, because Ron looked as if he didn't understand a word he was hearing.

"Doesn't speak English." Hermione said half exasperated. "Speaks Bulgarian." With that, she addressed the two pole-holding men. "I have business here."

"Of course, Madam Lestrange." One of them said preparing to raise his pole, but Griphook nudged Harry quickly, and Harry managed a discrete "Imperio" that left the wizards wearing expressions similar to Crabbe and Goyle. They looked at their poles and then at each other before the one spoke again. "Good day then, Madam Lestrange."

With that, Hermione and Ron strode forward and into the first room of the bank. Travers followed, apparently having business to do there as well, and they all looked at the silver doors that displayed the message regarding thievery. Hermione went on past the two goblins that bowed slightly as she passed. From here, they could see goblins sitting on high stools at their places on either side of the hall. Some were weighing gold, gemstones, and one was even weighing what looked to be fangs. As Hermione and Ron passed, they received looks from the Gringotts employees, but no one else said a word. Looking around the hall, they could see many doors leading off of it and to the many vaults. Travers was headed for one of them, and Hermione went for a goblin nearby. This one was weighing what looked to be mounds of rubies as she approached. She cleared her throat so that the goblin nearest looked up sharply.

"I wish to enter my vault."

"Ah, Madam Lestrange." The goblin said in a slightly awed but worried voice. "Of course. Would you mind providing some form of identification? Perhaps your wand?"

"I hardly think that's necessary." Hermione snapped in a cold voice that Harry could easily associate with Bellatrix.

"It is the bank's policy. I'm sure you understand."

"They know." Hissed Griphook in Harry's ear. "They know something's off."

"No, I most certainly do not understand." Hermione had heard Griphook and was improvising. "I have a bit of urgent business and I'd like to see to I, if you don't mind." She said it in a harsh and sharp tone. The goblin looked to recoil slightly, and Harry seized the opportunity to cast another silent imperius curse on the goblin. He seemed to calm himself, and, after looking down at Hermione again, he nodded.

"Bogrod will show you to your vault, then. If you will follow me."

Ron and Hermione nodded to Travers who was still waiting on his goblin, and they entered a door just past the teller. Inside there, stood another goblin with a cart that would take them down through the cavernous bank to the Lestrange vault. A slightly tight fit, Hermione, Ron, Bogrod, Harry, and Griphook got into the cart and it took off down a steep slope. Harry gripped the invisibility cloak while Griphook held onto his neck tightly. He could feel the long fingers of the goblin pressing on his throat as they took another steep drop. Chancing a look at Ron and Hermione, Harry saw them looking around as the cart went past several vaults with lock and key much like his. As they got further down, the air got to be more and more frigid. It was already cold due to the temperatures outside still below freezing, but this was air that almost felt as if it were cutting into Harry's skin as they ventured further. Vaults became fewer and fewer; Harry noticed they looked similar to vault 713, the one that had contained the sorcerer's stone more than six years ago. Harry was drawn out of his thoughts by the sound of rushing water, and as they reached it, Griphook reacted by shouting "No!" at Bogrod, but it was too late. They had gone through it, and when Harry looked up again, he was sopping wet. He also noticed that Ron and Hermione were no longer the unnamed Bulgarian wizard and Bellatrix Lestrange; they had been reverted back to their normal appearance. Immediately, the cart stopped with a jolt and flipped over.

For a second, Harry's heart clenched, and then they all fell through the endless blackness toward the rocky depths below. Harry reached into his pocket for his wand and had just tightened his grip on it when he felt Griphook's hands tightening even more around his throat. The goblin was going down fast and pulling Harry along with him, but as solid rock rushed up to meet them, they all heard Hermione's voice.

"Aresto Momentum!"

Just as soon as it had started, they had stopped falling. Suspended in midair just above the ground, they had a moment to right themselves before Hermione released the charm and they dropped to the stone landing below. At this point, all of them were still sopping wet and very cold. Bogrod, the goblin, was looking around at them with alarm in his eyes.

"What the devil are you all doing down here! Thieves!" With that, he went to put the bank on alert, but Ron stopped him by muttering "Imperio" under his breath. The goblin calmed down, and as he looked around, he seemed to remember what he was doing. He picked up the metal box that he had been holding when they had first seen them and opened it. Inside, here were what looked to be two heavy and dense iron balls that were on chains that didn't seem they would support them. Holding them out in his hand, he let them dangle freely for the moment. "Follow me, please." He said in a much calmer tone than before. This left the four to continue down the path until Bogrod paused outside of what looked to be a plain wall. Looking around the corner, he took the large metal balls and swung them so that they would make a very harsh clanking noise. Harry was surprised that such a sound could come from a small object, but as he and the others progressed, they heard the distant wailing of something rather large. Looking everywhere, Harry finally spotted something moving in the shadows, and Ron recognized it at once.

"A dragon…" He turned to Griphook. "So the rumors were true… There are dragons down here!"

"To guard the lower vaults." Griphook nodded.

"Why is he making that sound?" Hermione asked as she too spotted the dragon backing away from them as they passed.

"Clankers." Griphook motioned to the swinging metal orbs Bogrod's arm. "They've been trained to expect pain when they hear the noise."

"That's awful…" Hermione muttered as they passed. She could see the dragon's face, and its eyes were white. "It's blind…"

"Would you rather he see us?" Ron asked. "Wouldn't want a dragon to see me down here… Wouldn't have anywhere to go to escape it, would we?"

"Still…" But Hermione couldn't think on it anymore. They had stopped just outside a door to a vault. This was exactly like the one from 713. Harry watched as Bogrod gently ran his finger down the middle of the door. It melted away; revealing an entire cavernous room filled with gold, piles of galleons, and more treasures than Harry had seen.

They stepped into the vault, and kept Bogrod close at hand, so as not to get sealed inside. Harry searched the vault's contents but couldn't see very much further up than a few levels. Pulling his wand, he cast Lumos Maxima to illuminate the entire vault. When the orb of light settled in the air like a small sun, he looked further up. He could already hear the slight sound of metal scratching against glass as he had with the locket, but his eyes never landed on the cup he remembered from Hokey's memory. Only when he reached the topmost level did he spot it. Helga Hufflepuff's chalice with the ornate badger on it stood out against the silver of the goblets that surrounded it. Preparing to move toward it, his hand brushed a small golden tea platter and he immediately withdrew. His hand felt as if someone had lit a fire on it and the platter had clattered to the floor and split into three equal and separate versions of itself. Looking to Griphook Harry saw the goblin shake his head.

"They've added Geminio and Flagrante curses. Everything you touch will burn your skin and multiply. The copies are useless."

"Do you see it, Harry?" Ron asked as he searched the vault as well.

"Up on the top, just there." Harry indicated, and he knew what was coming next; apparently Griphook did as well.

"Summoning charms and the like won't work in here."

"How are we supposed to get it down, then?" Hermione voiced Ron's question for him, and Harry had to wonder the same thing. He couldn't very well clamber up onto the shelving. If he did, he was bound to hit something and then he would burn himself and likely fall. That would only lead to more duplicating and burning. He then spotted a small spot where me might be able to place his foot to get a bit of a leg up, but he wouldn't be able to reach the cup even then, unless…

"Hermione, hand me Gryffindor's sword, will you?" He asked as he kept an eye on the slightly bare spot on the shelf where the tea platter had been. When she returned her bag to its normal size, she plunged a hand into it and retrieved the sword. Handing it to Harry, she watched as he took a step up onto the shelf where the tea platter had been. It seemed to support his weight well enough, but as he edged his foot further along, he hit one of the large gem-encrusted goblets that stood rather tall beside him. It fell against his leg and multiplied, but Harry was more concerned with the fact that he had a scalding goblet on his leg and he was losing his balance. Reaching up blindly, he wrapped his hand around the edge of a shelf above to keep his balance. There were already things clattering below where the goblet copies had touched other things and were already duplicating. Harry focused; holding the sword by the bare end of its ruby-encrusted handle, he was just able to slide the blade through one of the handles of the horcrux. It slid down the blade and touched his other hand that he was using for balance; this sent him crashing back down against other items that had already duplicated. He managed to keep the sword point upright so that the cup didn't get lost in all of the other duplicated contents of the Lestrange vault. As he struggled to get to his feet again while pushing scalding metal objects off of him, he took the chalice and pocketed it. Unlike everything else, it was ice cold to the touch. He had just managed to get back toward Bogrod, Ron, and Hermione when a hand gripped the blade and pulled it from him.

"Griphook!" Harry shouted as his free hand reached for the sword. "What are you doing! I need to destroy this with that!"

"The cup for the sword!" The goblin roared over Ron and Hermione's shouts of pain as more copies spawned from the plates, goblets, and the like now flooding the floor. "Your word!"

"Let me destroy this and then it's yours!" Harry shouted back, but the goblin had already wrenched the blade from him and was making his way back to the door. "Get back here, Griphook! Part of the deal was that we got in and got-"

"I only said I'd get you in." Griphook sneered as he got out of the vault. "I never said anything about getting you out!"