breached。 〃Its protection was minimal。〃
〃Well； the vault we need to get into isn't empty； and I'm guessing its protection will be pretty powerful；〃 said Harry。 〃It belongs to the Lestranges。〃
He saw Hermione and Ron look at each other； astonished； but there would be time enough to explain after Griphook had given his answer。
〃You have no chance；〃 said Griphook flatly。 〃No chance at all。 iIf you seek beneath our floors； a treasure that was never yoursi …〃
〃iThief； you have been warned； bewarei … yeah； I know； I remember；〃 said Harry。 〃But I'm not trying to get myself any treasure； I'm not trying to take anything for personal gain。 Can you believe that？〃
The goblin looked slantwise at Harry； and the lightning scar on Harry's forehead prickled； but he ignored it； refusing to acknowledge its pain or its invitation。
〃If there was a wizard of whom I would believe that they did not seek personal gain；〃 said Griphook finally； 〃it would be you； Harry Potter。 Goblins and elves are not used to the protection or the respect that you have shown this night。 Not from wand…carriers。〃
〃Wand…carriers；〃 repeated Harry： The phrase fell oddly upon his ears as his scar prickled； as Voldemort turned his thoughts northward； and as Harry burned to question Ollivander next door。
〃The right to carry a wand；〃 said the goblin quietly； 〃has long been contested between wizards and goblins。〃
〃Well； goblins can do magic without wands；〃 said Ron。
〃That is immaterial！ Wizards refuse to share the secrets of wand…lore with other magical beings； they deny us the possibility of extending our powers！〃
〃Well； goblins won't share any of their magic either；〃 said Ron。 〃You won't tell us how to make swords and armor the way you do。 Goblins know how to work metal in a way wizards have never …〃
〃It doesn't matter；〃 said Harry； noting Griphook's rising color。 〃This isn't about wizards versus goblins or any other sort of magical creature …〃
Griphook gave a nasty laugh。
〃But it is； it is precisely that！ As the Dark Lord bees ever more powerful； your race is set still more firmly above mine！ Gringotts falls under Wizarding rule； house…elves are slaughtered； and who amongst the wand…carriers protests？〃
〃We do！〃 said Hermione。 She had sat up straight； her eyes bright。 〃We protest！ And I'm hunted quite as much as any goblin or elf； Griphook！ I'm a Mudblood！〃
〃Don't call yourself …〃 Ron muttered。
〃Why shouldn't I？〃 said Hermione。 〃Mudblood； and proud of it！ I've got no higher position under this new order than you have； Griphook！ It was me they chose to torture； back at the Malfoys！〃
As she spoke； she pulled aside the neck of the dressing gown to reveal the thin cut Bellatrix had made； scarlet against her throat。
〃Did you know that it was Harry who set Dobby free？〃 she asked。 〃Did you know that we've wanted elves to be freed for years？〃 （Ron fidgeted unfortably on the arm of Hermione's chair。） 〃You can't want You…Know…Who defeated more than we do； Griphook！〃
The goblin gazed at Hermione with the same curiousity he had shown Harry。
〃What do you seek within the Lestranges' vault？〃 he asked abruptly。 〃The sword that lies inside it is a fake。 This is the real one。〃 He looked from one to the other of them。 〃I think that you already know this。 You asked me to lie for you back there。〃
〃But the fake sword isn't the only thing in that vault； is it？〃 asked Harry。 〃Perhaps you've seen other things in there？〃
His heart was pounding harder than ever。 He redoubled his efforts to ignore the pulsing of his scar。
The goblin twisted his beard around his finger again。
〃It is against our code to speak of the secrets of Gringotts。 We are the guardians of fabulous treasures。 We have a duty to the objects placed in our care； which were； so often； wrought by our fingers。〃
The goblin stroked the sword； and his black eyes roved from Harry to Hermione to Ron and then back again。
〃So young；〃 he said finally； 〃to be fighting so many。〃
〃Will you help us？〃 said Harry。 〃We haven't got a hope of breaking in without a goblin's help。 You're our one chance。〃
〃I shall 。 。 。 think about it；〃 said Griphook maddeningly。
〃But …〃 Ron started angrily； Hermione nudged him in the ribs。
〃Thank you；〃 said Harry。
The goblin bowed his great domed head in acknowledgement； then flexed his short legs。
〃I think；〃 he said； settling himself ostentatiously upon Bill and Fleur's bed； 〃that the Skele…Gro has finished its work。 I may be able to sleep at last。 Forgive me。 。 。 。〃
〃Yeah； of course；〃 said Harry； but before leaving the room he leaned forward and took the sword of Gryffindor from beside the goblin。 Griphook did not protest； but Harry thought he saw resentment in the goblin's eyes as he closed the door upon him。
〃Little git；〃 whispered Ron。 〃He's enjoying keeping us hanging。〃
〃Harry；〃 whispered Hermione； pulling them both away from the door； into the middle of the still…dark landing； 〃are you saying what I think you're saying？ Are you saying there's a Horcrux in the Lestranges vault？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Harry。 〃Bellatrix was terrified when she thought we'd been in there； she was beside herself。 Why？ What did she think we'd seen； what else did she think we might have taken？ Something she was petrified You…Know…Who would find out about。〃
〃But I thought we were looking for places You…Know…Who's been； places he's done something important？〃 said Ron； looking baffled。 〃Was he ever inside the Lestranges' vault？〃
〃I don't know whether he was ever inside Gringotts；〃 said Harry。 〃He never had gold there when he was younger； because nobody left him anything。 He would have seen the bank from the outside； though； the first time he ever went to Diagon Alley。〃
Harry's scar throbbed； but he ignored it； he wanted Ron and Hermione to understand about Gringotts before they spoke to Ollivander。
〃I think he would have envied anyone who had a key to a Gringotts vault。 I think he'd have seen it as a real symbol of belonging to the Wizarding world。 And don't forget； he trusted Bellatrix and her husband。 They were his most devoted servants before he fell； and they went looking for him after he vanished。 He said it night he came back； I heard him。〃
Harry rubbed his scar。
〃I don't think he'd have told Bellatrix it was a Horcrux； though。 He never told Lucius Malfoy the truth about the diary。 He probably told her it was a treasured possession and asked her to place it in her vault。 The safest place in the world for anything you want to hide； Hagrid told me。 。 。 except for Hogwarts。〃
When Harry had finished speaking； Ron shook his head。
〃You really understand him。〃
〃Bits of him；〃 said Harry。 〃Bits 。 。 。 I just wish I'd understood Dumbledore as much。 But we'll see。 e on … Ollivander now。〃
Ron and Hermione looked bewildered but very impressed as they followed him across the little landing and knocked upon the door opposite Bill and Fleur's。 A weak 〃e in！〃 answered them。
The wandmaker was lying on the twin bed farthest from the window。 He had been held in the cellar for more than a year； and tortured； Harry knew； on at least one occasion。 He was emaciated； the bones of his face sticking out sharply against the yellowish skin。 His great silver eyes seemed vast in their sunken sockets。 The hands that lay upon the
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