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Suggest pagesMuggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Deathly Hallows/Chapter 26
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Chapter 26 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Gringotts
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Their plan is simple: go with Griphook to Gringotts Bank. Hermione, disguised as Bellatrix Lestrange, can open her vault and retrieve the Horcrux. They have Bellatrix's wand that Harry captured during the fight at Malfoy Manor, and strands of her hair for the Polyjuice Potion. Hermione is worried because Bellatrix's wand does not perform well for her, although Harry is pleased with Draco's hawthorn wand. He thinks Hermione's problem is that she did not capture the wand's allegiance as he did with Draco's. Harry, eager to leave Shell Cottage, frets over how they can prevent Griphook from keeping Gryffindor's sword after breaking into the Lestrange vault.
Harry has told Bill and Fleur that they are leaving early, and not to see them off; Hermione will be in disguise, and Harry does not want Bill guessing what they are planning. Before apparating out, Harry sadly glimpses Dobby's grave and wonders how the House-elf knew to save them. Hermione strides over in her Bellatrix disguise, so convincing it causes Harry to shiver with loathing. Ron, who has been given a false identity, grouses about his appearance. Harry, with Griphook on his shoulders, will be hidden under the Invisibility Cloak.
They Apparate into the Leaky Cauldron and, once inside Diagon Alley, are surprised at how it has changed. Many Dark Arts shops now line the street while the nicer stores have been boarded over. Witches and wizards who have lost their wands beg in the street. Harry's "Undesirable Number One" wanted posters are everywhere. Their plan proceeds reasonably well; Hermione makes a convincing Bellatrix, although Harry warns her about being too polite to subordinates. A stranger approaches and addresses "Bellatrix"; Griphook whispers that it is Travers, a Death Eater. Travers is surprised to see Bellatrix outside Malfoy Manor after hearing that everyone involved in the recent events there had been confined to the house. Hermione says the Dark Lord shows more mercy to those who have served him well. Her performance seems to erase Travers' suspicions. He is also going to Gringott's, and automatically falls in beside her. They must pass two human guards at the doors with Probity Probes. Harry Confunds the guards to allow Hermione to pass unchecked; their apparent confusion seems to cause Travers a moment's pause. Inside, the Goblins request Bellatrix's identification. When Hermione hesitates, one nervously says that her wand is sufficient proof, although Hermione claims it is new. Harry suspects the Goblins know that Bellatrix's wand was stolen and are looking for an impostor. Griphook whispers to Harry to use the Imperius curse on the Goblin, Bogrod, which convinces him this wand is correct. Travers becomes suspicious; he knows there are no wandmakers available, and Harry uses the Imperius curse on him as well. Bogrod asks for the Clankers and leads Hermione and Ron, with Harry, Griphook, and Travers following, from the marble main hall into a passageway. The door slams behind them, and Harry sends Travers away to hide. Bogrod, also still under the Imperius curse, summons a cart that descends deep within Gringotts. After many twists and turns, the cart passes through a security waterfall that washes away all protective charms. When the cart overturns and dumps them out, Hermione is no longer Bellatrix, and Ron is himself. Harry, positive the other Goblins know they are impostors, wants to continue as planned, placing Bogrod back under the Imperius Curse. Griphook escorts them to the Lestrange vault which is guarded by an aged, half-blind dragon that is heavily tethered. Griphook subdues it using the Clankers, simple metal noisemakers. Harry guesses that the dragon has been trained that the Clanker noise will be followed by pain, and it cowers in fear.
Hearing pursuit approaching, Harry forces Bogrod to open the vault, which is filled from floor to ceiling with precious objects. The vault closes behind them; Griphook says Bogrod can get them out again, but they must search quickly. Hermione screams in pain when she picks up a goblet. The vault's protective charm causes the contents to start multiplying and become searing hot every time something is touched. Harry spots Hufflepuff’s cup, but it is out of reach. Hermione levitates Harry, and he snags the Cup with Gryffindor's sword, while Hermione, Ron, Griphook, and Bogrod struggle to stay above the hot multiplying objects below. Griphook is being buried in burning gold, and Harry pulls him up; as he sets himself down, he drops the Sword and the Cup. Griphook grabs Gryffindor's Sword while flipping up Hufflepuff's Cup. Harry catches it, ignoring the searing heat. Borne by an avalanche of treasure spilling from the opened vault, Griphook runs off with Gryffindor's sword, calling to the gathered Goblins that thieves are in the vault. Harry, Hermione, and Ron hurl curses at the Goblin throng. Harry releases the half-blind dragon, and, jumping on its back, the Trio blast openings into the ceiling for it to fly through as they make their escape.
[edit] Analysis
Although the Trio and Griphook spent much time carefully planning the Gringotts break-in, it may not have been as well thought-out as they believed, which is surprising considering their near-disastrous experience at the Ministry of Magic. It should have occurred to them that Gringotts had probably been alerted about a possible attempt to breach the Lestrange vault, and that Bellatrix's wand had been stolen. It is possible that Griphook, distrusting Harry's agreement, may have intended for the Trio to be discovered so he could immediately reclaim Gryffindor's sword for Goblins. Although there is no definitive proof for this, it seems he should have known what security measures were in place, and could have advised the Trio on how to avert them. The caper also placed a heavy burden on Hermione, who had to convincingly portray Bellatrix. Although she appears to have pulled off the deception relatively well, it is unclear if Gringotts had been tipped off.
As they arrive in Diagon Alley, the Trio, who have been relatively cut off from the magical community, now see the direct result that Voldemort's take-over has had on the Wizarding world. Many familiar stores are gone, boarded up, or have been replaced by Dark Arts shops that were probably in Knockturn Alley. Muggle-borns, homeless and their wands confiscated, have been reduced to begging in the streets.
At this point, it almost seems that Harry has reached a dead end in his quest. Of the six Horcruxes that he believes to exist, three (the diary, the ring, and the locket) have been destroyed. He has found a fourth, but has lost the means to destroy it, and while he believes that the fifth may be Nagini, he has no idea what or where the final one is. How shall he proceed?
Readers may remember Travers as one of the Death Eaters who appeared at Xenophilius Lovegood's house when Xeno alerted the Ministry of Magic that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had arrived there. The Trio likely did not recognize him, as they probably only glimpsed him briefly as they made their escape. Travers was also mentioned when the Trio were infiltrating the Ministry; Umbridge assumed that Travers had sent Mafalda Hopkirk to be her recorder, thus taking Hermione away for what promised to be a full day in court.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why does Harry choose to proceed to the vault rather than escape, even though he is convinced the Goblins know they are imposters?
[edit] Extra Study
- Why did Griphook flip up the real Hufflepuff's Cup to Harry as he (Griphook) ran off with Gryffindor's sword?
- Why didn't Griphook warn the Trio about the magical waterfall that washed away protective charms, the hot, multiplying objects in the vault, and other safeguards?
- Before going into hiding, how might Fred and George's joke shop have been affected by the changes in Diagon Alley?
- Now that the sword is gone, how will the Trio be able to destroy the remaining Horcruxes? How can they get the sword back?
[edit] Greater Picture
As we know, Basilisk venom destroys Horcruxes. With the Sword of Gryffindor now no longer available, Harry may have to go to the only place that he knows that venom exists: the Chamber of Secrets beneath Hogwarts. As it turns out, there will be a more compelling reason for Harry to return to Hogwarts; Voldemort, enraged when he discovers that a Horcrux has been stolen, will shortly visit all his Horcruxes to reassure himself they are safe, and Harry, tuned into Voldemort's thoughts, will learn that one Horcrux is hidden at Hogwarts. Thus, he will be forced to visit the school in any event. At the moment, though, Harry is more interested in collecting Horcruxes than destroying them; we will see that he does not even consider how to destroy the Cup Horcrux, being more concerned with preventing Voldemort from reaching the one at Hogwarts.
