Another goblin came scurrying around the counter.

“We have instructions,” he said with a bow to Hermione. “Forgive me, Madam,

but there have been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange.”

He whispered urgently in Bogrod’s ear, but the Imperiused goblin shook him off.

“I am aware of the instructions, Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault …

Very old family … old clients … This way, please … “

And, still clanking, he hurried toward one of the many doors leading off the hall.

Harry looked back at Travers , who was still rooted to the spot looking abnormally vacant,

And made his decision. With a flick of his wand he made Travers come with them,

Walking meekly in their wake as they reached the door and passed into the rough stone

Passageway beyond, which was lit with flaming torches.

“We’re in trouble; they suspect,” said Harry as the door slammed behind them

and he pulled off the Invisibility Cloak. Griphook jumped down from his shoulders:

Neither Travers nor Bogrod showed the slightest surprise at the sudden appearance of

Harry Potter in their midst. “They’re Imperiused,” he added, in response to Hermione and

Ron’s confused queries about Travers and Bogrod, who were both now standing there

looking blank. “I don’t think I did it strongly enough, I don’t know …”

And another memory darted through his mind, of the real Bellatrix Lestrange

shrieking at him when he had first tried to use an Unforgivable Curse: “You need to mean

them, Potter!”

“What do we do?” asked Ron. “Shall we get out now, while we can?”

“If we can,” said Hermione, looking back toward the door into the main hall,

Beyond which who knew what was happening.

“We’ve got this far, I say we go on,” said Harry.

“Good!” said Griphook. “So, we need Bogrod to control the cart; I no long have

the authority. But there will not be room for the wizard.”

Harry pointed his wand at Travers.

“Imperio!”

The wizard turned and set off along the dark track at a smart pace.

“What are you making him do?”

“Hide,” said Harry as he pointed his wand at Bogrod, who whistled to summon a

Little cart that came trundling along the tracks toward them out of the darkness. Harry was

Sure he could hear shouting behind them in the main hall as they all clambered into it,

Bogrod in front of Griphook, Harry, Ron, and Hermione crammed together in the back.

With a jerk the cart moved off, gathering speed: They hurried past Travers, who

Was wriggling into a crack in the wall, then the cart began twisting and turning through

The labyrinthine passages, sloping downward all the time. Harry could not hear anything

over the rattling of the cart on the tracks: His hair flew behind him as they swerved

Between stalactites, flying ever deeper into the earth, but he kept glancing back. They

Might as well have left enormous footprints behind them; the more he thought about it,

The more foolish it seemed to have disguised Hermione as Bellatrix, to have brought

along Bellatrix’s wand, when the Death Eaters knew who had stolen it –

There were a deeper than Harry had ever penetrated within Gringotts; they took a

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 607