Hermione had no choice but to fall into step beside him and head along the

Crooked, cobbled street toward the place where the snowy-white Gringotts stood towering

Over the other little shops. Ron sloped along beside them, and Harry and Griphook

Followed.

A watchful Death Eater was the very last thing they needed, and the worst of it

was, with Travers matching at what he believed to be Bellatrix's side, there was no means

For Harry to communicate with Hermione or Ron. All too soon they arrived at the foot of

The marble steps leading up to the great bronze doors. As Griphook had already warned

Them, the liveried goblins who usually flanked the entrance had been replaced by two

Wizards, both of whom were clutching long thin golden rods.

"Ah, Probity Probes," signed Travers theatrically, "so crude--but so effective!"

And he set off up the steps, nodding left and right to the wizards, who raised the

Golden rods and passed them up and down his body. The Probes, Harry knew, detected

Spells of concealment and hidden magical objects. Knowing that he had only seconds,

Harry pointed Draco's wand at each of the guards in turn and murmured, "Confundo"

Twice. Unnoticed by Travers, who was looking through the bronze doors at the inner hall,

Each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them.

Hermione's long black hair rippled behind her as she climbed the steps.

"One moment, madam," said the guard, raising his Probe.

"But you've just done that!" said Hermione in Bellatrix's commanding, arrogant

Voice. Travers looked around, eyebrows raised. The guard was confused. He stared down

At the thin golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice,

"Yeah, you've just checked them, Marius."

Hermione swept forward. Ron by her side, Harry and Griphook trotting invisibly

Behind them. Harry glanced back as they crossed the threshold. The wizards were both

Scratching their heads.

Two goblins stood before the inner doors, which were made of silver and which

Carried the poem warning of dire retribution to potential thieves. Harry looked up at it,

and all of a sudden a knife-sharp memory came to him: standing on this very spot on the

Day that he had turned eleven, the most wonderful birthday of his life, and Hagrid

standing beside him saying, "Like I said, yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it." Gringotts had

Seemed a place of wonder that day, the enchanted repository of a trove of gold he had

Never known he possessed, and never for an instant could he have dreamed that he would

Return to steal . . . But within seconds they were standing in the vast marble hall of the

Bank.

The long counter was manned by goblins sitting on high stools serving the first

Customers of the day. Hermione, Ron, and Travers headed toward an old goblin who was

Examining a thick gold coin through an eyeglass. Hermione allowed Travers to step

Ahead of her on the pretext of explaining features of the hall to Ron.

The goblin tossed the coin he was holding aside, said to nobody in particular,

"Leprechaun," and then greeted Travers, who passed over a tiny golden key, which was

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 666