mirrorball

chapter twenty one

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Griphook was waiting for them, as Fleur had said, in the tiniest of the cottage's three bedrooms, in which Hermione, Clara, and Luna slept by night. He had drawn the red cotton curtains against the bright, cloudy sky, which gave the room a fiery glow at odds with the rest of the airy, light cottage.

"I have reached my decision, Harry Potter," said the goblin, who was sitting cross-legged in a low chair, drumming its arms with his spindly fingers. "Though the goblins of Gringotts will consider it base treachery, I have decided to help you— " 

"That's great!" said Harry. "Griphook, thank you, we're really— " 

"—in return," said the goblin firmly, "for payment." 

Slightly taken aback, Harry hesitated. "How much do you want? I've got gold." 

"Not gold," said Griphook. "I have gold." His black eyes glittered; there were no whites to his eyes. "I want the sword. The sword of Godric Gryffindor." 

"You can't have that," Harry said. "I'm sorry." 

"Then," said the goblin softly, "we have a problem." 

"We can give you something else," said Ron eagerly. "I'll bet the Lestranges have got loads of stuff, you can take your pick once we get into the vault." He had said the wrong thing. Griphook flushed angrily. "I am not a thief, boy! I am not trying to procure treasures to which I have no right!" 

"The sword's ours— " 

"It is not," said the goblin. 

"We're Gryffindors, and it was Godric Gryffindor's— " 

"And before it was Gryffindor's, whose was it?" demanded the goblin, sitting up straight. 

"No one's," said Ron. "It was made for him, wasn't it?" 

"No!" cried the goblin, bristling with anger as he pointed a long finger at Ron. "Wizarding arrogance again! That sword was Ragnuk the First's, taken from him by Godric Gryffindor! It is a lost treasure, a masterpiece of goblin work! It belongs with the goblins. The sword is the price of my hire, take it or leave it!" Griphook glared at them. Harry glanced at the others, then said, "We need to discuss this, Griphook, if that's all right. Could you give us a few minutes?" 

The goblin nodded, looking sour. 

Downstairs in the empty sitting room, Harry walked to the fireplace, brow furrowed, trying to think what to do. Behind him, Ron said, "He's having a laugh. We can't let him have that sword." 

"Is it true?" Harry asked Hermione. "Was the sword stolen by Gryffindor?" 

"I don't know," she said hopelessly. "Wizarding history often skates over what the wizards have done to other magical races, but there's no account that I know of that says Gryffindor stole the sword." 

"It'll be one of those goblin stories," said Ron, "about how the wizards are always trying to get one over on them. I suppose we should think ourselves lucky he hasn't asked for one of our wands." 

"Goblins have got good reason to dislike wizards, Ron." said Hermione. "They've been treated brutally in the past." 

"Goblins aren't exactly fluffy little bunnies, though, are they?" said Ron. "They've killed plenty of us. They've fought dirty too." 

"But arguing with Griphook about whose race is most underhanded and violent isn't going to make him more likely to help us, is it?" chimed Clara. Hermione nodded in agreement.