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"Ah, Probity Probes," signed Travers theatrically, "so crude\a150\a150but so effective!"
And he set off up the steps, nodding left and right to the wizards, who raised the golden rods and passed them up and down his bodyThe Probes, Harry knew, detected spells of concealment and hidden magical objectsKnowing that he had only seconds, Harry pointed Draco's wand at each of the guards in turn and murmured, "Confundo" twiceUnnoticed by Travers, who was looking through the bronze doors at the inner hall, each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them
Hermione's long black hair rippled behind her as she climbed the steps
"One moment, madam," said the guard, raising his Probe
"But you've just done that!" said Hermione in Bellatrix's commanding, arrogant voiceTravers looked around, eyebrows raisedThe guard was confusedHe stared down at the thin golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice,
"Yeah, you've just checked them, Marius
Hermione swept forwardRon by her side, Harry and Griphook trotting invisibly behind themHarry glanced back as they crossed the mulberry roxanne thresholdThe wizards were both scratching their heads
Two goblins stood before the inner doors, which were made of silver and which carried the poem warning of dire retribution to potential thievesHarry looked up at it, and all of a sudden a knife-sharp memory came to him: standing on this very spot on the day that he had turned eleven, the most wonderful birthday of his life, and Hagrid standing beside him saying, "Like I said, yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it Gringotts had seemed a place of wonder that day, the enchanted repository of a trove of gold he had never known he possessed, and never for an instant could he have dreamed that he would return to steal But within seconds they were standing in the vast marble hall of the bank
The long counter was manned by goblins sitting on high stools serving the first customers of the dayHermione, Ron, and Travers headed toward an old goblin who was examining a thick gold coin through an eyeglassHermione allowed Travers to step ahead of her on the pretext of explaining features of the hall to Ron
The goblin tossed the coin he was holding aside, said to nobody in dolce and gabbana handbag particular, "Leprechaun," and then greeted Travers, who passed over a tiny golden key, which was examined and given back to him
Hermione stepped forward
"Madam Lestrange!" said the goblin, evidently startled"Dear me!" How\a150\a150how may I help you today?"
"I wish to enter my vault," said Hermione
The old goblin seemed to recoil a littleNot only was Travers hanging back, watching, but several other goblins had looked up from their work to stare at Hermioneidentification?" asked the goblin
"Identification? I\a150\a150I 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 goblinHe 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, "the Imperious Curse!"
Harry raised the hawthorn wand beneath the cloak, pointed it at the old goblin, and whispered, for the first time in his life, "Imperio!"
A rolex watches ladies curious sensation shot down Harry's 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 castThe 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\a150\a150"
"A new wand?" said Travers, approaching the counter again; still the goblins all around were watching"But how could you have done, which wandmaker did you use?"
Harry acted without thinkingPointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, "Imperio!" once more
"Oh yes, I see," said Travers, looking down at Bellatrix's wand, "yes, very handsomeand is it working well? I always think wands require a little breaking in, don't you?"
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 coco chanel handbags 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 jinglingTravers was now standing quite still with his mouth hanging wide openRon was drawing attention to this odd phenomenon by regarding Travers with confusion
"Wait - Bogrod!"
Another goblin came scurrying around the counter
"We have instructions," he said with a bow to Hermione"Forgive me, Madam, but there have been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange
He whispered urgently in Bogrod's ear, but the Imperiused goblin shook him off
"I am aware of the instructions, Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault \a133 Very old family \a133 old clients \a133 This way, please \a133 "
And, still clanking, he hurried toward one of the many doors leading off the hallHarry looked back at Travers , who was still rooted to the spot looking abnormally vacant, and made his chanel j12 white watch decisi |
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