Disclaimer: Are these things really even necessary? By now you should have figured out...I'm not J.K.R. WAIT! Has there been a metamorphosis?...Nope. Still don't own HP.

Chapter 3

Harry sat, confined to a single room furnished with just one chair. His hands were tied - and in this case, that was not an expression. Through the glass wall, he watched Hagrid and Griphook arguing about him. He could practically hear their words, even though someone had mentioned that this glass was supposed to be soundproof.

Entertained, Harry watched as the fight started to get physical. Hagrid towered over Griphook, wielding his giant pink umbrella.

And then they went silent.

Hagrid straightened up, tucking his pink umbrella into the folds of his overcoat guiltily. Griphook turned to stare at somebody, the same emotionless look on his face as always. Harry read his lips as he said, "Hello, Dumbledore."

A tall man in midnight blue robes and a tall, matching hat swooshed into Harry's view. He had long, silver hair and a beard to match, and he wore half-moon glasses that covered up his twinkling, blue eyes. He acted kindly, but at the same time like royalty. Harry liked him instantly.

There was a short dialogue between the threesome outside - well, mainly between Dumbledore and Griphook; Hagrid stood respectfully off to the side. Then they turned to Harry and walked into the room, passing straight through the glass. Harry gaped - it had been weird enough passing through it himself; watching others walk through, making the glass ripple, was even stranger.

"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore said genially. He held out his hand for Harry to shake. But Harry's hands were bound, so he just nodded politely.

"Oh! Goodness," Dumbledore exclaimed, upset. He turned on Griphook. "Why is this boy tied?"

"He's a thief," Griphook said simply.

"I do not believe he could be up to anything in this little cell," Dumbledore said coldly. From the folds of his robes, he pulled out a wooden stick - a wand, Harry presumed - and waved it over Harry's hands. The ropes binding him slithered away from his wrists, and Harry stretched gratefully. He tried to express his thanks with just a smile.

"Shy, then, Harry? You're quiet," Dumbledore noticed. Harry decided to play along with it. He ducked his head, nodding.

"Hmm," Dumbledore said, nodding. "You need not be afraid, Harry. Well, not of me," he laughed. The goblins glared at him, but Dumbledore ignored them. "So, Harry, will you answer some questions for me?"

Harry didn't know what to do, so he was silent and made no movement.

"Alright, then. I suppose I will have to cut to the chase. Where is the stone?" Dumbledore asked, his voice a little sharper now.

Harry tried to look innocent. He shrugged silently.

"Do you mean to say that you stole the stone and then lost it?"

Harry hesitated, thinking, and then nodded.

Dumbledore sighed, muttering something under his breath. At first Harry watched, excited, under the impression that it was a spell. But nothing happened, and Harry realized that Dumbledore had been cursing. He was fascinated by the fact that curse words didn't have to be bellowed. Maybe one day he should suggest this to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia.

Thinking about that had distracted Harry. He blinked to refocus on Dumbledore, who was now speaking with Griphook in a calm, low voice.

"No, we cannot let a thief leave unpunished. We saw him, he stole it in front of our very eyes!" a rather infuriated Griphook was objecting.

"He lost it, Griphook," Dumbledore quietly insisted. "Trust me - I know." He winked at Griphook conspiratorially.

"Why should I trust you? You are a wizard; I am a goblin. We do not trust wizards, ever; you know that. Why, then, do you think you are the exception? Get out, wizard, GET OUT!" Griphook spat the last sentence.

Dumbledore sighed. "I had hoped it would not come to this. Oh, well. All right, Griphook, I shall leave. I hope you don't mind me taking your captive here with me." He gestured at Harry.

But Griphook was still angrily ranting about goblins' rights and how wizards stole everything and other such things that Harry did not understand.

Dumbledore shrugged. "Well, come along, Harry." He led Harry through the glass, which felt like stepping through a wave of ice water. "Hagrid, you too," Dumbledore added. Hagrid joined their group.

Just as Dumbledore was gently pushing Harry, who was dumbstruck, out the door, Griphook came running after them, shouting and shoving through the crowd of delayed clients. "NO! You can't do that! You cannot just -" Griphook blustered.

Dumbledore, calm and collected as ever, shrugged, causing his midnight blue robes to ripple. With a voice as smooth as the silk he wore, he pointed out, "You told me to leave. Ordered me, rather; it was not very polite, but I shall choose to ignore that factor."

If physics could allow steam to come out of someone's ears, it would have happened to Griphook as he exhaled angrily and slowly. Judging from the color his face had turned, one might think he was going to explode - but Harry knew better; living with Uncle Vernon had taught him that much. "I did not authorize you to take the boy," Griphook said through gritted teeth.

"Oh? I believe I asked you . . ." Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

"And I believe I did not answer, certainly not in the affirmative."

"True. You seemed too angry; I figured I should take dear Harry off your hands. I am sorry," Dumbledore apologized.

But politeness was wasted on the goblin. Ignoring the apology, he snapped, "You cannot take the boy."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I have said this already, but I shall repeat myself. I had hoped it would not come to this."

Then he seized Harry's shoulder and, turning on a dime as if to walk out the door, disappeared, pulling Harry with him into oblivion.

A/N: Hope you liked it! Sorry it took a while to be posted; it's hard when the only writing you do is in school. Anyway, reviews are much appreciated!