THE DRAGON

.•°★ THE old goblin seemed to recoil a little. Harry glanced around nervously, his eyes darting under the Invisibility Cloak. Not only was Travers hanging back, watching with suspicion, but several other goblins had looked up from their work to stare at Cassiopeia, still transformed into Bellatrix Lestrange.

"You have... identification?" asked the goblin, his voice tinged with unease.

"Identification? I—I have never been asked for identification before!" Cassiopeia said, her voice rising slightly, as she tried to channel Bellatrix's characteristic arrogance. Her discomfort in the role was painfully obvious to Harry, even if the goblins didn't know her true identity.

"They know!" whispered Griphook in Harry's ear, his voice tense and urgent. "They must have been warned there might be an imposter!"

"Your wand will do, madam," said the goblin, holding out a slightly trembling hand.Cassiopeia froze, the realization dawning on her at the same time as Harry. The goblins of Gringotts knew Bellatrix's wand had been stolen. The air seemed to thicken with tension as the goblin's hand hovered expectantly, and Cassiopeia hesitated just a fraction too long.

"Act now, act now," hissed Griphook urgently in Harry's ear. "The Imperius Curse!"

Harry's heart thudded in his chest as he raised the hawthorn wand beneath the cloak, pointing it at the old goblin. For the first time in his life, he whispered, "Imperio."

A curious sensation shot down Harry's arm, a tingling warmth that seemed to flow from his mind, down through his veins, and into the wand. It connected him to the goblin in a way he had never experienced before. The goblin's hand twitched slightly before he reached out and took Bellatrix's wand, examining it closely. "Ah, you have had a new wand made, Madam Lestrange!" the goblin said, his tone now oddly polite.

"What?" Cassiopeia said, alarm flashing across her face for a split second before she recovered. "No, no, that's mine—"

"A new wand?" Travers interjected, approaching the counter again. His eyes gleamed with suspicion as he glanced at the wand. Behind him, the goblins at their posts were still watching, their sharp eyes following every move. "But how could you have done that? Which wandmaker did you use?"

Harry acted without thinking. Pointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, "Imperio!" for the second time.

Travers's posture relaxed immediately, his expression turning eerily pleasant. "Oh yes, I see," he said, looking back down at Bellatrix's wand. "Yes, very handsome. And is it working well? I always think wands require a little breaking in, don't you?"

Cassiopeia glanced sideways at Harry—though, of course, she couldn't see him under the cloak. She looked utterly bewildered, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. But to Harry's enormous relief, she accepted the bizarre turn of events without comment. She simply gave a curt nod, turning her attention back to the old goblin.

The old goblin clapped his hands, summoning a younger goblin who approached quickly. "I shall need the Clankers," the older goblin instructed. The younger goblin dashed away, returning a moment later with a leather bag that jangled with the sound of heavy metal objects. "Good, good!" the old goblin exclaimed, satisfied. "So, if you will follow me, Madam Lestrange," he said, hopping down off his stool and vanishing momentarily from sight before reappearing. "I shall take you to your vault."

Cassiopeia gave a sharp nod, mimicking Bellatrix's usual dismissiveness. She cast a quick glance at Harry—her expression betraying her unease for the briefest of moments—before she followed the goblin. The group began their descent into the depths of Gringotts. The tension was suffocating as the echoes of their footsteps bounced off the walls of the stone passageways. Every nerve in Cassiopeia's body screamed to flee, to run far away from this madness, but she kept moving forward, her grip tightening on her borrowed wand.

They were getting closer. Too close to turn back now.
The old goblin appeared around the end of the counter, jogging happily toward them, the leather bag of Clankers jingling in his hands. Behind him, Travers stood stock-still, mouth agape, his expression a mixture of suspicion and confusion. Ron, disguised by a charm, frowned at the odd sight of Travers's vacant demeanor. "Wait—Bogrod!"

Another goblin scurried around the counter toward them, his sharp eyes darting between Cassiopeia, still in her Bellatrix guise, and the Imperiused goblin. "We have instructions," the newcomer said with a low bow to Cassiopeia. His tone was deferential, but there was a tightness to it that set Harry's nerves on edge. "Forgive me, Madam, but there have been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange."
The goblin leaned toward Bogrod, whispering urgently in his ear, but the Imperiused goblin waved him off.

"I am aware of the instructions. Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault. Very old family... old clients. This way, please..."

Still jangling the Clankers, Bogrod gestured for them to follow him. Cassiopeia gave a curt nod, doing her best to mimic Bellatrix's haughty demeanor, though Harry could see the tension in her posture.

As they began walking, Harry stole a glance back at Travers, still frozen in place with a vacant look. With a flick of his wand, Harry compelled Travers to follow them, walking meekly at the back of the group.

They passed through a heavy stone door into a dimly lit passageway, its walls lined with flickering torches. The door slammed shut behind them, sealing them off from the main hall. "We're in trouble; they suspect," Harry said in a low voice as he pulled off the Invisibility Cloak. Griphook jumped down from Harry's shoulders, landing lightly on the ground. Neither Travers nor Bogrod showed any reaction to Harry's sudden appearance.

"They're Imperiused," Harry added quickly, noticing the confused expressions on Ron and Hermione's faces. "I don't think I did it strongly enough... I don't know..."

A memory flared in Harry's mind: Bellatrix Lestrange, sneering at him during their duel in Malfoy Manor, her voice dripping with scorn. "You need to mean them, Potter!"

"What do we do?" Ron asked, his voice tight. "Shall we get out now, while we can?"

"If we can," Hermione replied, glancing nervously back toward the door. "Who knows what's happening out there?"

"We've got this far," Harry said firmly. "I say we go on."

"Good!" Griphook said with an eager nod. "We need Bogrod to control the cart; I no longer have the authority. But there will not be room for the wizard." Harry turned to Travers, his mind racing. Without hesitation, he pointed his wand at the man and murmured, "Imperio!"

Travers's expression softened further, and he turned obediently, striding toward a dark crevice in the wall.

"What are you making him do?" Ron asked.

"Hide," Harry said simply.

Turning his wand on Bogrod, Harry gave another subtle command. The goblin whistled sharply, and moments later, a small cart came trundling down the tracks out of the darkness. The shouting in the main hall behind them was faint but growing louder. "Get in!" Griphook barked, leaping into the cart.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cassiopeia clambered in, cramming together in the back while Bogrod took the front. The cart jerked forward, the wheels screeching against the metal tracks as it began its rapid descent into the labyrinth of tunnels beneath Gringotts. They hurtled downward, the cart twisting and turning through the narrow passageways. Harry glanced back, his heart pounding. The shouting had faded, but his mind was racing with the possibility of pursuit. The deeper they went, the colder the air became. Stalactites loomed overhead, and the tracks seemed to spiral endlessly downward. As the cart rounded a sharp bend, a roaring sound reached Harry's ears.

"What's that?" Hermione shouted over the noise.

Ahead of them, a massive waterfall pounded down over the tracks, a shimmering curtain of water that glinted ominously in the dim light. "The Thief's Downfall!" Griphook shouted. "It washes away enchantment—!"

Before he could finish, the cart hurtled through the waterfall. The icy water drenched them instantly. Harry's breath caught in his throat as water filled his mouth and nose. His vision blurred, and he felt weightless for a moment before the cart flipped violently, throwing them all out.

The crash of the cart echoed through the cavern as it shattered against the stone wall. Harry felt himself floating, weightless, before landing softly on the rocky floor. "C-Cushioning Charm," Hermione stammered, coughing as Ron pulled her to her feet. Harry blinked, wiping water from his eyes, and froze. Cassiopeia, drenched and shivering, was no longer Bellatrix Lestrange. Ron's charm had faded too, leaving him unmistakably himself, and as well as Hermione. 

Cassiopeia, was crouched nearby, her blonde hair plastered to her face as she took Harry's hand that was holding out for her. "You okay?" Harry asked, Cassiopeia nodded and she gave him a soft smile before she and Harry turned their attention towards Griphook. 

"The Thief's Downfall washes away all magical concealment!" Griphook said, scrambling to his feet. "They know there are impostors in Gringotts!" Harry's stomach clenched as he hurriedly checked for the Invisibility Cloak under his jacket. Hermione was already checking the beaded bag, her face pale.

Then he turned to see Bogrod shaking his head in bewilderment: The Thief's Downfall seemed to have lifted his Imperius Curse. "We need him," said Griphook, "we cannot enter the vault without a Gringott's goblin. And we need the clankers!"

"Imperio!" Harry said again; his voice echoed through the stone passage as he felt again the sense of heady control that flowed from brain to wand. Bogrod submitted once more to his will, his befuddled expression changing to one of polite indifference, as Ron hurried to pick up the leather bag of metal tools.

"Harry, I think I can hear people coming!" said Hermione, and she pointed Bellatrix's wand at the waterfall and cried, "Protego!"

Cassiopeia, keeping her wand drawn, added sharply, "Hermione's right. We need to move. Every second we waste here, they're catching up to us." They saw the Shield Charm break the flow of enchanted water as it flew up the passageway.

"Good thinking," said Harry. "Lead the way, Griphook!"

"How are we going to get out again?" Ron asked as they hurried on foot into the darkness after the goblin, Bogrod panting in their wake like an old dog.

"Let's worry about that when we have to," said Harry.

"And if we don't?" Cassiopeia muttered, her tone tight with unease.

Harry was trying to listen: He thought he could hear something clanking and moving around nearby. "Griphook, how much farther?"

"Not far, Harry Potter, not far . . . "

And they turned a corner and saw the thing for which Harry had been prepared, but which still brought all of them to a halt.

A gigantic dragon was tethered to the ground in front of them, barring access to four or five of the deepest vaults in the place. The beast's scales had turned pale and flaky during its long incarceration under the ground, its eyes were milkily pink; both rear legs bore heavy cuffs from which chains led to enormous pegs driven deep into the rocky floor. Its great spiked wings, folded close to its body, would have filled the chamber if it spread them, and when it turned its ugly head toward them, it roared with a noise that made the rock tremble, opened its mouth, and spat a jet of fire that sent them running back up the passageway.

"It is partially blind," panted Griphook, "but even more savage for that. However, we have the means to control it. It has learned what to expect when the Clankers come. Give them to me."

"Partially blind or not, it looks like it could eat us alive," Cassiopeia sneered, her wand gripped tightly, Harry grabbed her arm as she was about to step foot into the chamberl. 

Ron passed the bag to Griphook, and the goblin pulled out a number of small metal instruments that when shaken made a long ringing noise like miniature hammers on anvils. Griphook handed them out: Bogrod accepted his meekly.

"You know what to do," Griphook told Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cassiopeia. "It will expect pain when it hears the noise. It will retreat, and Bogrod must place his palm upon the door of the vault."

They advanced around the corner again, shaking the Clankers, and the noise echoed off the rocky walls, grossly magnified, so that the inside of Harry's skull seemed to vibrate with the din. The dragon let out another hoarse roar, then retreated. Harry could see it trembling, and as they drew nearer he saw the scars made by vicious slashes across its face, and guessed that it had been taught to fear hot swords when it heard the sound of the Clankers.

"This is horrible," Hermione whispered.

"Make him press his hand to the door!" Griphook urged Harry, who turned his wand again upon Bogrod. The old goblin obeyed, pressing his palm to the wood, and the door of the vault melted away to reveal a cavelike opening crammed from floor to ceiling with golden coins and goblets, silver armor, the skins of strange creatures— some with long spines, others with drooping wings—potions in jeweled flasks, and a skull still wearing a crown.

"Search, fast!" said Harry as they all hurried inside the vault. He had described Hufflepuff's cup to Ron, Hermione, and Cassiopeia, but if it was the other, unknown Horcrux that resided in this vault, he did not know what it looked like. He barely had time to glance around, however, before there was a muffled clunk from behind them: The door had reappeared, sealing them inside the vault, and they were plunged into total darkness.

"No matter, Bogrod will be able to release us!" said Griphook as Ron gave a shout of surprise. "Light your wands, can't you? And hurry, we have little time!"

"Lumos!"

Harry shone his lit wand around the vault: Its beam fell upon glittering jewels; he saw the fake sword of Gryffindor lying on a high shelf amongst a jumble of chains. Ron, Hermione, and Cassiopeia had lit their wands too, and were now examining the piles of objects surrounding them. She knew the objects around them have been cursed, and she opened her mouth to warn them but she heard Hermione scream in pain. 

"Harry, could this be—? Aargh!"

Harry turned his wand on her in time to see a jeweled goblet tumbling from her grip. But as it fell, it split, became a shower of goblets, so that a second later, with a great clatter, the floor was covered in identical cups rolling in every direction, the original impossible to discern amongst them.

"It burned me!" moaned Hermione, sucking her blistered fingers.

"They have added Gemino and Flagrante Curses!" said Cassiopeia, as she moved back. "Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies are worthless— and if you continue to handle the treasure, you will eventually be crushed to death by the weight of expanding gold. They do the same for our family's vault."

"Okay, don't touch anything!" said Harry desperately, but even as he said it, Ron accidentally nudged one of the fallen goblets with his foot, and twenty more exploded into being while Ron hopped on the spot, part of his shoe burned away by contact with the hot metal.

"Ron!" Cassiopeia hissed. "Can you not make this worse?"

"Stand still, don't move!" said Hermione, clutching at Ron.

"Just look around!" said Harry. "Remember, the cup's small and gold, it's got a badger engraved on it, two handles— otherwise see if you can spot Ravenclaw's symbol anywhere, the eagle— "

Cassiopeia swept her wandlight carefully over the chaotic piles. "I'm looking, Harry, but everything in here looks like it belongs in a madman's hoard."

They directed their wands into every nook and crevice, turning cautiously on the spot. It was impossible not to brush up against anything; Harry sent a great cascade of fake Galleons onto the ground where they joined the goblets, and now there was scarcely room to place their feet, and the glowing gold blazed with heat, so that the vault felt like a furnace.

"Harry, there!" Cassiopeia shouted suddenly, pointing her wand toward the highest shelf. The beam of her light illuminated a little golden cup sparkling in the chaos. It was the cup that had belonged to Helga Hufflepuff.

"And how the hell are we going to get up there without touching anything?" asked Ron. 

"Accio Cup!" cried Hermione, who had evidently forgotten in her desperation what Griphook had told them during their planning sessions.

"No use, no use!" snarled the goblin, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

Cassiopeia snorted, brushing sweat-dampened hair from her face. "Oh, brilliant, Hermione. Let's just call for it like it's a lost quill." Obviously, this side of her shows when she is in a panic, and clearly it doesn't really help them all.

"Then what do we do?" Harry snapped, glaring at Griphook, though his frustration was clearly aimed at their entire situation. "If you want the sword, Griphook, then you'll have to help us more than—wait! Can I touch stuff with the sword? Hermione, give it here!"

Hermione fumbled inside her robes, her hands trembling as she pulled out the beaded bag. Rummaging frantically, she finally drew out the glittering sword of Gryffindor. Harry seized it by its rubied hilt, the gems biting into his sweat-slick palm, and touched the tip of the blade to a silver flagon nearby. It remained inert, proving the sword's protective properties.

"If I can just poke the sword through the handle—but how am I going to get up there?" Harry muttered, staring at the cup perched high above them.

Cassiopeia squinted up at the shelf, the heat from the enchanted treasure causing her face to glisten. The dragon on the other side of the vault door let out a furious roar, and the clanking of goblins and reinforcements grew louder. They were truly trapped now. The heat rose in shimmering waves, making it harder to think. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, their faces pale and drawn, then at Cassiopeia, who, despite the tension, met his gaze with defiant determination.

"Hermione," said Harry quickly, "I've got to get up there. We've got to get rid of it—"

Hermione nodded, raising her wand. "Levicorpus!"

Harry was hoisted into the air by his ankle, wobbling as he dangled upside down. His head smacked into a nearby suit of armor, which immediately shattered, sending a cascade of molten replicas pouring into the vault.

"Watch it, Harry!" Cassiopeia yelled, diving out of the way as the searing hot metal rained down, it had hurt her,  burning her skin. She groaned in pain as she moved it back with her arm, The treasure began multiplying faster now, the cursed objects filling the space like an unstoppable tide. Ron and Hermione struggled to protect the goblin, and Cassiopeia raised her wand.

"Protego!" she barked, shielding herself as a wave of coins burst toward her, but it was no use. The spell was only temporary. 

Half buried in the rising tide, Harry swung the sword toward the cup and managed to hook it onto the blade's hilt.

"Impervius!" Hermione shrieked, her spell shielding her and Ron from the molten onslaught.

Then came the worst scream yet. Harry looked down to see Ron, Hermione and Cassiopeia waist-deep in treasure, trying desperately to pull Bogrod out of the cursed tide. Griphook, however, was sinking fast, his blistered fingers just visible above the gold. 

"Get him, Harry!" shouted Cassiopeia, attempting to throw a spell at an incoming pile of treasure.

Harry reached down and seized Griphook's fingers, pulling with all his might until the goblin emerged, howling in pain.

"Liberatocorpus!" Harry shouted, and he and Griphook fell with a crash onto the treasure. The sword flew from Harry's hand, clattering away.

"Get it!" Harry yelled, scrambling to find the blade.

"There!" shouted Griphook, and in that instant, Harry realized the goblin's true intentions.

Griphook lunged for the sword, his hand snatching its hilt. As Harry reached for him, the goblin swung the weapon high, and the cup soared into the air. Harry dived, catching the scalding cup in his hands. It burned his flesh, but he refused to let go. Around him, countless Hufflepuff cups rained down, the enchanted replicas threatening to bury them alive.Hardly aware of the pain from the burns covering his body, and still borne along the swell of replicating treasure, Harry shoved the cup into his pocket and reached up to retrieve the sword, but Griphook was gone. Sliding from Harry's shoulders the moment he could, he had sprinted for cover amongst the surrounding goblins, brandishing the sword and crying, "Thieves! Thieves! Help!" He vanished into the midst of the advancing crowd, all of whom were holding daggers and who accepted him without question.

"Harry!" Cassiopeia yelled. 

"Stupefy!" Harry bellowed, his spell striking the advancing crowd.

Cassiopeia joined in, her Stunning Spells precise and unrelenting. "We don't have time for this!" she shouted as the goblins closed in.

The tethered dragon roared again, its chained wings straining against its bindings.

Harry's eyes darted to the beast, and inspiration struck. "Relashio!" he yelled, aiming his wand at the cuffs.

The chains shattered with loud bangs, and the dragon lunged forward, its massive wings flapping furiously.

"Harry—Harry—what are you doing?" Hermione cried, panic in her voice.

"Getting us out of here!" Harry shouted, Cassiopeia looked around frantically. 

Without hesitation, Cassiopeia grabbed Ron's arm, pulling him toward the dragon. "Move it, Ron! unless you fancy becoming dragon chow!" They scrambled onto the dragon's back, she felt pain on her back as she was thrown away from the trio who were now on the back on the dragon. 

"Cassiopeia!" yelled Harry, as he watched her struggle to stand up. As he was about to leave the back of the dragon Cassiopeia jumped, almost slipping off the dragon. But Harry caught her just in time, before she fell. Her forehead was bleeding, probably from the impact of the spell that had hit jer. 

"Hold on!" Harry yelled as the dragon launched itself upward, the vault collapsing into chaos below, he grabbed onto her. With a roar it reared: Cassiopeia dug in her knees, clutching as tightly as she could to the jagged scales as the wings opened, knocking the shrieking goblins aside like skittles, and it soared into the air. Harry, Ron, Cassiopeia and Hermione, flat on its back, scraped against the ceiling as it dived toward the passage opening, while the pursuing goblins hurled daggers that glanced off its flanks.

"We'll never get out, it's too big!" Hermione screamed, but the dragon opened its mouth and belched flame again, blasting the tunnel, whose floors and ceiling cracked and crumbled. By sheer force, the dragon clawed and fought its way through. Harry's eyes were shut tight against the heat and dust: Deafened by the crash of rock and the dragon's roars, he could only cling to its back, expecting to be shaken off at any moment; then he heard Cassiopeia yelling, "Defodio!"

She was helping the dragon enlarge the passageway, carving out the ceiling as it struggled upward toward the fresher air, away from the shrieking and clanking goblins: Harry, Hermione and Ron copied her, blasting the ceiling apart with more gouging spells. They passed the underground lake, and the great crawling, snarling beast seemed to sense freedom and space ahead of it, and behind them the passage was full of the dragon's thrashing, spiked tail, of great lumps of rock, gigantic fractured stalactites, and the clanking of the goblins seemed to be growing more muffled, while ahead, the dragon's fire kept their progress clear—And then at last, by the combined force of their spells and the dragon's brute strength, they had blasted their way out of the passage into the marble hallway.

Goblins and wizards shrieked and ran for cover, and finally the dragon had room to stretch its wings: Turning its horned head toward the cool outside air it could smell beyond the entrance, it took off, and with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cassiopeia still clinging to its back, it forced its way through the metal doors, leaving them buckled and hanging from their hinges, as it staggered into Diagon Alley and launched itself into the sky. The dragon roared, ts wings slicing through the air as it broke free into the open sky Cassiopeia clung tightly to Harry, her voice steady despite their harrowing escape.

 "Next time, remind me to veto plans that involve cursed treasure and angry goblins." She coughed, Harry looked at her and he held her close. Harry laughed breathlessly, clutching the cup as the wind whipped through their hair. For now, they were free.