Harry's spirits plummeted "You can't have that,"...
Harry's spirits plummeted
"You can't have that," he said
"Then," said the goblin softly, "we have a problem
"We can give you something else," said Ron eagerly"I'll bet the Lestranges have got loads of stuff, you can take your pick once we get into the vault
He had said the wrong thingGriphook flushed angrily
"I am not a thief, boy! I am not trying to procure treasures to which I have no right!"
"The sword's ours \a150\a150"
"it is not," said the goblin
"We're Gryffindors, and it was Godric Gryffindor's \a150\a150"
"And before it was Gryffindor's, whose was it?" demanded the goblin, sitting up straight
"No one's," said Ron"It was made for him, wasn't it?"
"No!" cried the goblin, bristling with anger as he pointed a long finger at Ron"Wizarding arrogance again! That sword was Ragnuk the First's, taken from him by Godric fendi spy bag replica Gryffindor! It is a _____ _________, a masterpiece of goblinwork! It belongs with the gobl___The sword is the price of my hire, take it or leave it!"
Griphook glared at themHarry glanced at the other ____, then said, "We need to discuss this, Griphook, if that's all rightCould you give us a few minutes?"
The goblin nodded, looking sour
Downstairs in the empty sitting room, Harry walked to the fireplace, brow furrowed, trying to think what to doBehind him, Ron said, "He's having a laughWe can't let him have that sword
"It is true?" Harry asked Hermione"Was the sword stolen by Gryffindor?"
"I don't know," she said hopelessly"Wizarding history often skates over what the wizards have done to other magical races, but there's no account that I know of that says Gryffindor stole the sword
"It'll be one of those goblin stories," chanel purses bags said Ron, "about how the wizards are always trying to get one over on themI suppose we should think ourselves lucky he hasn't asked for one of our wands
"Goblins have got good reason to dislike wizards, Ron"They've been treated brutally in the past
"Goblins aren't exactly fluffy little bunnies, though, are they?" said Ron"They've killed plenty of usThey've fought dirty too
"But arguing with Griphook about whose race is most underhanded and violent isn't going to make him more likely to help us, is it?"
There was a pause while they tried to think of a way around the problemHarry looked out of the window at Dobby's graveLuna was arranging sea lavender in a jam jar beside the headstone
"Okay," said Ron, and Harry turned back to face him, "how's this? We tell Griphook we need the sword until we get inside the _____ and then he black quilted bag can have itThere's a fake in these, isn't there? We switch them, and give him the fake
"Ron, he'd know the difference better than we would!" said Hermione"He's the only one who realized there had been a swap!"
"Yeah, but we could _ca_per before he realizes \a150\a150"
He quailed beneath the look Hermione was giving him
"That," she said quietly, "is despicableAsk for his help, then double-cross him? And you wonder why goblins don't like wizards, Ron?"
Ron's ears had turned red
"All right, all right! It was the only thing I could think of! What's your solution, then?"
"We need to offer him something else, something just as valuable
"Brilliant, I'll go and get one of our ancient goblin-made swords and you can gift wrap it
Silence fell between them againHarry was sure that the goblin would accept nothing but the sword, even dior rasta if they had something as valuable to offer himYet the sword was their one, indispensable weapon against the Horcruxes
He closed his eyes for a moment or two and listened to the rush of the seaThe idea that Gryffindor might have stolen the sword was unpleasant to him: He had always been
proud to be a Gryffindor; Gryffindor had been the champion of Muggle-borns, the wizard who had clashed with the pureblood-loving Slytherin
"Maybe he's lying," Harry said, opening his eyes againMaybe Gryffindor didn't take the swordHow do we know the goblin version of history's right?"
"Does it make a difference?" asked Hermione
"Changes how I feel about it," said Harry
He took a deep breath
"We'll tell him he can have the sword after he's helped us get into that vault \a150\a150 but we'll be careful to avoid telling him exactly /when/ he can see by chloe bag hav