DH26: Gringotts – Harry Potter Lexicon

"The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past."
-- Hermione Granger (as Bellatrix Lestrange)

Plans and preparations being complete, the goblin Griphook accompanies Harry, Ron and Hermione to Gringotts Wizarding Bank, hiding with Harry under the Invisibility Cloak while Hermione poses as Bellatrix Lestrange and Ron assumes a false identity. By using the Imperius Curse to control the Gringotts staff members, they manage to reach the level of the Lestranges’ vault before various defences are set off against them. They manage to obtain the Hufflepuff cup from the vault, then escape by releasing the dragon guarding the most secure vaults and helping it break out.

Calendar and Dates

Sometime after the previous chapter, so it is at least March of 1998 at the beginning of the chapter. The raid on Gringotts takes place on a day in May.

Interesting facts and notes

This is the wand that tortured Neville's mum and dad

That was before Bellatrix Lestrange was sent to Azkaban. Sirius Black's wand was taken away from him when he was sent to Azkaban, so hers also must have been taken away from her. Perhaps it was given to her family, in which case Narcissa Malfoy may have returned it to Bellatrix upon the latter's escape. We don't really know, however.

the planned double-cross

I can't help thinking that they might have been better off if they'd let Griphook into their confidence just a little, and attempted to negotiate a delayed handover of the sword. However, on reflection I suspect that they'd still have wound up in more or less the same position - Griphook would not have trusted them to keep their end of the bargain. They're lucky that he trusted them as far as he did.

when six o'clock arrived...semi-darkness...The dawn was chilly, but there was little wind now that it was May.

So it's been over a month since the incident at Malfoy Manor.

She was taller than he was

As we learned in "The Seven Potters" (DH4), Hermione is ordinarily shorter than Harry, which is why her robes are too big for her once the Polyjuice Potion wears off on this occasion.

the dragon's thrashing, spiked tail

The dragon sounds like a Hungarian Horntail to me.

it staggered into Diagon Alley and launched itself into the sky.

I'd hate to be the poor devil at the Ministry in charge of covering up this little incident.

Exceptional character moments

The way the dragon has been treated and conditioned to respond to the goblins says a lot about them.

Griphook being rightly suspicious about the plans of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry feeling a bit guilty about it.

Memorable lines

"Well, he's not my type, but he'll do."

"He realised now that they could hardly have laid Dobby to rest in a more beautiful place, but Harry ached with sadness to think of leaving him behind."

"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 at the Ministry last week...."

"Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault … very old family … old clients …"