Forbidden Request

Chapter Ten: Shadows Of The Vault

As the shimmering wall receded, Professor Fig and I found ourselves in the grand, opulent entrance hall of Gringotts Bank. The marble floors gleamed beneath our feet, and the high ceilings were adorned with intricate, golden patterns. The grandeur of the place was both intimidating and awe-inspiring.

Our reverie was interrupted by the approach of a goblin, his normal flesh-colored skin and finely tailored robes marking him as one of Gringotts' staff. His eyes were sharp, and he moved with a purposeful gait.

"Welcome to Gringotts," the goblin said, his voice gruff but polite. "I am your guide. How can I assist you today?"

Professor Fig stepped forward, holding out the artifact. "We need access to a specific vault. This artifact—" he paused, glancing at me, "—it seems to be key to our purpose here."

The goblin's eyes narrowed as he examined the artifact. "I see. May I have the vault key, please?"

I stepped up and handed him the portkey that had belonged to Professor Fig's wife, the very artifact that had led us here. The goblin took it with a nod and scrutinized it carefully, surprise filling his eyes.

"Very well," he said after a moment. "Follow me."

He led us through a series of winding corridors, each one more elaborate than the last. The walls were adorned with glowing sconces, casting a warm, flickering light over the luxurious surroundings. The sense of ancient magic was palpable, adding to the gravity of our journey.

After a short walk, and a very twisty cart ride, the goblin stopped in front of a large, imposing vault door. The door was adorned with intricate carvings and glowing runes, indicating it was heavily protected.

"This is the vault you seek," the goblin announced, his tone serious. "It is warded and secured. Only those with the correct magical authorization can access it."

Professor Fig nodded in understanding. "Thank you. We'll handle the rest from here."

The goblin gave a curt nod and stepped back, disappearing down the corridor.

"Ready?" Professor Fig asked, his tone both reassuring and focused.

I nodded, my pulse quickening. "Ready."

Professor Fig began working on the magical lock with precise movements. As he manipulated the complex enchantments, the door slowly creaked open, revealing a dark chamber within. The room was small and the air was cool and thick with the scent of old parchment and magic.

We stepped into the vault, and the door closed behind us with a heavy thud. The chamber was dimly lit, with shadows dancing across the walls.

In the center of the room, illuminated by the soft, ambient light, was a large pedestal with a single pensive.

But our attention was quickly drawn to a more immediate threat. As we moved further into the vault, the chamber's enchantments activated, revealing a set of enchanted armor that began to move menacingly. These magical guardians, resembling medieval knights, were clearly meant to protect the vault's treasures.

Professor Fig looked at me with a determined expression. "We need to use Lumos to find our way through and defeat these guardians."

I raised my wand and cast Lumos, the bright light piercing through the shadows and illuminating the chamber. The knights, now clearly visible, began to advance towards us with clanking armor and glowing eyes.

"Be ready," Professor Fig instructed. "We need to fend them off to proceed."

The battle was intense. The knights were formidable opponents, their movements swift and their strikes powerful. I focused on using spells to deflect their attacks and create openings for Professor Fig to strike. We worked in sync, my wand casting bright flashes of light to confuse and disorient the knights while Fig used precise, powerful spells to incapacitate them.