Chapter XXV {Dead Weight}

                                    

                                          
BEGINNING OF PART 2
                          


                          


                          
i sit at a nice wooden table that has purple lily's tracing the outer corners of it. i sip my hot tea that Bill has just made me as Luna examines a wind chime.
                          
"it's beautiful here." Luna says dreamily
                          
"it was our Aunt's. we used to come here as kids. the Order uses it now as a safe house--what's left of us, at least." Bill says 
                          
Luna ponders this, then taps the chimes again. "Muggles think these keep evil away. but they're wrong..." 
                          
Bill studies her curiously. then Harry appears in the doorway with Ron and Hermione standing by his side.
                          
"i need to see the goblin." Harry announces
                          


                          
Bill pushes open the heavy wooden door and steps aside for me, Harry, Hermione and Ron to enter the room. Harry waits for Bill to withdraw then walks over to where he's facing the goblin.
                          
"how are you?" Harry asks
                          
"alive." Griphook answers
                          
"you probably don't remember-" Harry begins
                          
"that i showed you to your vault the first time you visited Gringotts? even amongst goblins, you are famous, Harry Potter." Griphook nods to the window "you buried the elf. i saw you." 
                          
"yes." Harry answers shortly
                          
"and brought me here." Griphook studies Harry curiously "you are a very unusual wizard."
                          
"why did you leave Gringotts?" Harry asks completely ignoring Griphook's comment
                          
"soon the Death Eaters will control it." Griphook gives a slight glance to me. "that was unacceptable to me."
                          
"then you're on our side." Ron says
                          
"this is a wizard's war. i take no side." Griphook answers
                          
"i need to get inside Gringotts. inside one of the vaults." Harry says
                          
"it is impossible." Griphook says sharply
                          
"alone, yes. with you, no." Harry corrects
                          
Griphook stares impassively at him, silent. he glances at the Sword of Gryffindor, which stands in the corner. 
                          
"how did you come by this sword?" Griphook asks still staring at it
                          
"its complicated." Harry says running a hand through his hair "why did Bellatrix Lestrange think it should be in her vault at Gringotts?" 
                          
"its complicated." Griphook answers
                          
Harry and the goblin stare at each other, as if testing one another. finally, Harry speaks.
                          
"the sword presented itself to us in a time of need. we didn't steal it."
                          
Griphook nods, pondering this. "there is a sword in Madam Lestrange's vault identical to this one, but it is a fake. it was placed there this past summer." 
                          
"and she never suspected?" Harry asks
                          
"the replica is very convincing. only a goblin would recognize that this is the true Sword of Gryffindor." Griphook says
                          
"who put it there? the fake." i ask
                          
Griphook glares at my from the corner of his eye "it was not my place to ask, nor did i desire to." Griphook's eyes turn back to Harry. "there are more than just a few curious things in the vaults at Gringotts."