Half buried in a rising tide of red-hot treasure, they struggled and yelled has Harry thrust

the sword through the handle of Hufflepuff’s cup, hooking it onto the blade.

“Impervius!” screeched Hermione in an attempt to protect herself, Ron, and the

Goblins from the burning metal.

Then the worst scream yet made Harry look down: Ron and Hermione were waist

Deep in treasure, struggling to keep Bogrod from slipping beneath the rising tide, but

Griphook had sunk out of sight; and nothing but the tips of a few long fingers were left in

View.

Harry seized Griphook’s fingers and pulled. The blistered goblin emerged by

Degrees, howling.

“Liberatocorpus!” yelled Harry, and with a crash he and Griphook landed on the

surface of the swelling treasure, and the sword flew out of Harry’s hand.

“Get it!” Harry yelled, fighting the pain of the hot metal on his skin, as Griphook

Clambered onto his shoulders again, determined to avoid the swelling mass of red-hot

objects. “Where’s the sword? It had the cup on it!”

The clanking on the other side of the door was growing deafening – it was too late

–

“There!”

It was Griphook who had seen it and Griphook who lunged, and in that instant

Harry knew that the goblin had never expected them to keep their word. One hand

holding tightly to a fistful of Harry’s hair, to make sure he did not fall into the heaving

Sea of burning gold, Griphook seized the hilt of the sword and swung it high out of

Harry’s reach. The tiny golden cup, skewered by the handle on the sword’s blade was

Flung into the air. The goblin astride him, Harry dived and caught it, and although he

Could feel it scalding his flesh he did not relinquish it, even while countless Hufflepuff

Cups burst from his fist, raining down upon him as the entrance of the vault opened up

Again and he found himself sliding uncontrollably on an expanding avalanche of fiery

Gold and silver that bore him, Ron, Hermione into the outer chamber.

Hardly aware of the pain from the burns covering his body, and still borne along

The swell of replicating treasure, Harry shoved the cup into his pocket and reached up to

retrieve the sword, but Griphook was gone. Sliding from Harry’s shoulders the moment

He could, he had sprinted for cover amongst the surrounding goblins, brandishing the

sword and crying, “Thieves! Thieves! Help! Thieves!” He vanished into the midst of the

Advancing crowd, all of whom were holding daggers and who accepted him without

Question.

Slipping on the hot metal, Harry struggled to his feet and knew that the only way

Out was through.

“Stupefy!” he bellowed, and Ron and Hermione joined in: Jets of red light flew

Into the crowd of goblins, and some toppled over, but others advanced, and Harry saw

Several wizard guards running around the corner.

The tethered dragon let out a roar, and a gush of flame flew over the goblins; The

Wizards fled, doubled-up, back the way they had come, and inspiration, or madness, came

To Harry. Pointing his wand at the thick cuffs chaining the beast to the floor, he yelled,

“Relashio!”

The cuffs broken open with loud bangs.

“This way!” Harry yelled, and still shooting Stunning Spells at the advancing

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 815