"How are you?" "Well, I confess I am surprised...
"How are you?"
"Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix
"Really? Why?" asked Hermione
"Well," Travers coughed, "I heard that the Inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the
Harry willed Hermione to keep her headIf this was true, and Bellatrix was not supposed to be out in public\a150\a150
"The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past," said Hermione in a magnificent imitation of Bellatrix's most contemptuous manner"Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers
Though the Death Eater looked offended, he also seemed less suspiciousHe glanced down at the man Ron had just Stunned
"How did it offend you?"
"It does not matter, it will not do so again," said Hermione coolly
"Some of these wandless can be troublesome," said Travers"While they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case in the Ministry last week'I'm a witch, sir, I'm a omega constellation watches witch, let me prove it to you!" he said in a squeaky impersonation"As if I was going to give her my wand\a150\a150but whose wand," said Travers curiously, "are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heard that your own was\a150\a150"
"I have my wand here," said Hermione coldly, holding up Bellatrix's wand"I don't know what rumors you have been listening to, Travers, but you seem sadly misinformed
Travers seemed a little taken aback at that, and he turned instead to Ron
"Who is your friend? I do not recognize him
"This is Dragomir Despard," said Hermione; they had decided that a fictional foreigner was the safest cover for Ron to assume"He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lord's aimsHe has traveled here from Transylvania to see our new regime
"Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?"
"'Ow you?" said Ron, holding out his hand
Travers extended two fingers and shook Ron's hand as though frightened of dirtying himself
So what brings you and cartier ladies santos series replica watches your\a150\a150ah\a150\a150sympathetic friend to Diagon Alley this early?" asked Travers
"I need to visit Gringotts," said Hermione
"Alas, I also," said Travers"Gold, filthy gold! We cannot live without it, yet I confess I deplore the necessity of consorting with our long-fingered friends
Harry felt Griphook's clasped hands tighten momentarily around his neck
"Shall we?" said Travers, gesturing Hermione forward
Hermione had no choice but to fall into step beside him and head along the crooked, cobbled street toward the place where the snowy-white Gringotts stood towering over the other little shopsRon sloped along beside them, and Harry and Griphook followed
A watchful Death Eater was the very last thing they needed, and the worst of it was, with Travers matching at what he believed to be Bellatrix's side, there was no means for Harry to communicate with Hermione or RonAll too soon they arrived at the foot of the marble steps leading up to the great bronze doorsAs Griphook had already warned omega chronograph watches them, the liveried goblins who usually flanked the entrance had been replaced by two wizards, both of whom were clutching long thin golden rods
"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 black and white chanel 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 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 rolex sea dweller ba