𝐕𝐈. 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 ➵ 𝐏𝐉𝐎 𝐱 𝐇𝐏

013.

  ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

⟻ NEPENTHE ⟼

013.

the bank.

——— ☾𖤓 ———

THE LONG COUNTER WAS MANNED BY GOBLINS sitting on high stools serving the first customers of the day. Hermione and Ron headed toward an old goblin who was examining a thick gold coin through an eyeglass.

The goblin tossed the coin he was holding aside, said to nobody in particular, "Leprechaun," and then eyed Ron and Hermione. Hermione stepped forward. "Madam Lestrange!" said the goblin, evidently startled.

"Dear me! How– How may I help you today?"

"I wish to enter my vault," said Hermione. The old goblin seemed to recoil a little. Harry glanced around. Several other goblins had looked up from their work to stare at Hermione. "You have . . . identification?" asked the goblin.

"Identification? I-I have never been asked for identification before!" said Hermione. "They know!" whispered Griphook in Harry's ear, "They must have been warned there might be an imposter!"

"Your wand will do, madam," said the goblin. He held out a slightly trembling hand, and in a dreadful blast of realization Harry knew that the goblins of Gringotts were aware that Bellatrix's wand had been stolen.

"Act now, act now," whispered Griphook in Harry's ear,

Theo raised his wand beneath the Invisibility Charm, pointed it at the old goblin, and whispered, "Imperio!" A curious sensation shot down his arm, a feeling of tingling, warmth that seemed to flow from his mind, down the sinews and veins connecting him to the wand and the curse it had just cast.

The goblin took Bellatrix's wand, examined it closely, and then said, "Ah, you have had a new wand made, Madam Lestrange!"

"What?" said Hermione, "No, no, that's mine—"

Hermione looked utterly bewildered, but to Harry's enormous relief she accepted the bizarre turn of events without comment. The old goblin behind the counter clapped his hands and a younger goblin approached. "I shall need the Clankers," he told the goblin, who dashed away and returned a moment later with a leather bag that seemed to be full of jangling metal, which he handed to his senior.

"Good, good! S, if you will follow me, Madam Lestrange," said the old goblin, hopping down off his stool and vanishing from sight. "I shall take you to your vault." He appeared around the end of the counter, jogging happily toward them, the contents of the leather bag still jingling.

And, still clanking, he hurried toward one of the many doors leading off the hall. 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 Regulus as the door slammed behind them and he lifted off the Invisibility Charm, along with Harry who removed his cloak. Griphook jumped down from his shoulders: Bogrod showed not even the slightest surprise at the sudden appearance of Harry Potter in their midst.

"He's Imperiused," Theo added, in response to Hermione and Ron's confused queries about Bogrod, who was now standing there looking blank. "We need to make it quick. The guards outside are his followers."

"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.