harry potter: the twins who lived

chapter forty-eight.

Emma had trouble sleeping since the day dobby died, the memory replaying in her head, over and over like a record everytime she went to sleep. She sat at the table with ron and hermione, listening to the chirps of the seagulls, ruth sitting beside her as he held her hand.
“ it’s beautiful here,” said luna.
“ it was our aunt’s,” said bill as he had been in the kitchen with fleur, “ we used to come here as kids.”
“ the order uses it now as a safe house,” he informs, “ what’s left of us at least.”
“ muggles think these keep evil away,” said luna as she looked at a windchime, “ but they’re wrong.”
“ i need to talk to the goblin,” said harry.

Bill leads them into a room, opening a door, as he lets them inside.
“ how are you?” harry asked.
“ alive,” said the goblin.
“ you probably don’t remember…” harry paused.
“ that i showed you to your vault the first time you came to gringotts?” asked the goblin, “ even amongst goblins you’re famous potter twins.”
“ you buried the elf,” he said looking at them.
“ yes,” the twins nod.

“ and brought me here,” he adds, “ you are….  Both very unusual wizards.”
“ how did you come by this sword?” he asked.
“ it’s complicated,” said harry.
“ why did bellatrix lestrange think it should be in her vault at gringotts?” emma asked.
“ it’s complicated,” said the goblin.
“ the sword presented itself to us in a moment of need,” said harry, “ we didn’t steal it.”
“ there is a sword in madam lestrange’s vault identical to this one…” said the goblin, “ but it is a fake.”

“ it was placed there this past summer,” he said.
“ and she never suspected it was a fake?” emma asked.
“ the replica is very convincing,” said the goblin, “ only a goblin would recognize that this is the true sword of gryffindor.”
“ who is the acquaintance?” asked hermione.
“ a hogwarts professor,” said the goblin, “ as i understand it he’s now headmaster.”
“ snape?” asked ron, “ he put a fake sword in bellatrix’s vault?”
“ why?”

“ there are more than a few curious things in the vaults at gringotts.”
“ and in madam lestrange’s vault as well?” asked emma.
“ perhaps,” said the goblin.
“ i need to get into gringotts,” said harry, “ into one of the vaults.”
“ this is impossible,” said the goblin.
“ alone yes,” said emma, “ but with you no.”
“ why should i help you?”  

“ we have gold,” said harry, “ lots of it.”
“ but that’s not what you want is it?” asked emma as she looked at the goblin, “ what do you really want?”
“ that,” he points to the sword, “ that is my prize.”
Harry was quiet for a moment, looking at the sword and then to the goblin, before walking towards the door.
“ wait,” they looked at the goblin, “ i’d like to speak with the girl alone.”
“ no,” said harry.
“ harry,” he looks at emma, “ i’ll be fine go.”

Harry wanted to protest, but emma gave him a look, and he nodded his head with a sigh. Once harry, ron and hermione left the room, closing the door behind them, did emma turn to griphook.
“ i had my suspicions when i first met you,” he said, “ how rare a sight indeed.”
“ what are you talking about?” emma asked.
“ i know what you are,” said griphook, “ you’re a sleigh beggy.”
“ a what?”
“ a sleigh beggy,” he said, “ it’s a rarity to be born one in the wizarding world.”

“ sleigh beggies have short lifespans,” he explains, “ they absorb and create their own magic which can cause damage to themselves.”  
“ i'm assuming you never knew,” he sighed, “ a waste of talent now that you’re dying.”
“ what?”
“ i’m sorry dear robin,” he sighed, “ i shouldn’t have said anything.”
“ no,” he looked at her, “ thank you for telling me griphook.”
“ will you not tell your brother?” he asked.
“ he’s already got too much on his mind,” she sighed shaking her head.