rt flipped over and they were all thrown out of it。 Harry heard the cart smash into pieces against the passage wall； heard Hermione shriek something； and felt himself glide back toward the ground as though weightless； landing painlessly on the rocky passage floor。
〃C…Cushioning Charm；〃 Hermione spluttered； as Ron pulled her to her feet； but to Harry's horror he saw that she was no longer Bellatrix； instead she stood there in overlarge robes； sopping wet and pletely herself； Ron was red…haired and beardless again。 They were realizing it as they looked at each other； feeling their own faces。
〃The Thief's Downfall！〃 said Griphook； clambering to his feet and looking back the deluge onto the tracks； which； Harry knew now； had been more than water。 〃It washes away all enchantment； all magical concealment！ They know there are imposers in Gringotts； they have set off defenses against us！〃
Harry saw Hermione checking that she still had the beaded bag； and hurriedly thrust his own hand under his jacket to make sure he had not lost the Invisibility Cloak。 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！〃
〃iImperio！i〃 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 ing！〃 said Hermione； and she pointed Bellatrix's wand at the waterfall and cried； 〃iProtego！i〃 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。 He 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 a133 〃
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 e。 Give them to me。〃
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； and Hermione。 〃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 den。 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 guess that it had been taught to fear hot swords when it heard the sound of the Clankers。
〃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； other 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 cap to Ron and Hermione； 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！〃
〃iLumos！i〃
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 and Hermione had lit their wands too； and were now examining the piles of objects surrounding them。
〃Harry； could this be a150a150 ？ Aargh！〃
Hermione screamed in pain； and 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 Germino and Flagrante Curses！〃 said Griphook。
〃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！〃
〃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。
〃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 …〃
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's wandlight passed over shields and goblin…made helmets set on shelves rising to the ceiling； higher and higher he raised the beam； until suddenly it found an object that made his heart skip and his hand tremble。
〃iIt's there； it's up there！i〃
Ron and Hermione pointed t