e his heart skip and his hand tremble。
〃iIt's there； it's up there！i〃
Ron and Hermione pointed there wands at it too； so that the little golden cup sparkled in a three…way spotlight： the cup that had belonged to Helga Hufflepuff； which had passed into the possession of Hepzibah Smith； from whom it had been stolen by Tom Riddle。
〃And how the hell are we going to get up there without touching anything？〃 asked Ron。
〃iAccio Cup！i〃 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。
〃Then what do we do？〃 said Harry； glaring at the goblin。 〃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 insider her robes； drew out a beaded bag； rummaged for a few seconds； then removed the shining sword。 Harry seized it by its rubied hilt and touched the tip of the blade to a silver flagon nearby； which did not multiply。
〃If I can just poke the sword through a handle … but how am I going to get up there？〃
The shelf on which the cup reposed was out of reach for any of them； even Ron； who was tallest。 The heat from the enchanted treasure rose in waves； and sweat ran down Harry's face and back as he struggled to think of a way up to the cup； and then he heard the dragon roar on the other side of the vault door； and the sound of clanking growing louder and louder。
They were truly trapped now： There was no way out except through the door； and a horde of goblins seemed to be approaching on the other side。 Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and saw terror in their faces。
〃Hermione；〃 said Harry； as the clanking grew louder； 〃I've got to get up there； we've got to get rid of it …〃
She raised her wand； pointed it at Harry； and whispered； 〃iLevicorpusi。〃
Hoisted into the air by his ankle； Harry hit a suit of armor and replicas burst out of it like white…hot bodies； filling the cramped space。 With screams of pain； Ron； Hermione； and the two goblins were knocked aside into other objects； which also began to replicate。 Half buried in a rising tide of red…hot treasure； they struggled and yelled has Harry thrust the sword through the handle of Hufflepuff's cup； hooking it onto the blade。
〃iImpervius！i〃 screeched Hermione in an attempt to protect herself； Ron； and the goblins from the burning metal。
Then the worst scream yet made Harry look down： Ron and Hermione were waist deep in treasure； struggling to keep Bogrod from slipping beneath the rising tide； but Griphook had sunk out of sight； and nothing but the tips of a few long fingers were left in view。
Harry seized Griphook's fingers and pulled。 The blistered goblin emerged by degrees； howling。
〃iLiberatocorpus！i〃 yelled Harry； and with a crash he and Griphook landed on the surface of the swelling treasure； and the sword flew out of Harry's hand。
〃Get it！〃 Harry yelled； fighting the pain of the hot metal on his skin； as Griphook clambered onto his shoulders again； determined to avoid the swelling mass of red…hot objects。 〃Where's the sword？ It had the cup on it！〃
The clanking on the other side of the door was growing deafening … it was too late …
〃There！〃
It was Griphook who had seen it and Griphook who lunged； and in that instant Harry knew that the goblin had never expected them to keep their word。 One hand holding tightly to a fistful of Harry's hair； to make sure he did not fall into the heaving sea of burning gold； Griphook seized the hilt of the sword and swung it high out of Harry's reach。 The tiny golden cup； skewered by the handle on the sword's blade was flung into the air。 The goblin astride him； Harry dived and caught it； and although he could feel it scalding his flesh he did not relinquish it； even while countless Hufflepuff cups burst from his fist； raining down upon him as the entrance of the vault opened up again and he found himself sliding uncontrollably on an expanding avalanche of fiery gold and silver that bore him； Ron； Hermione into the outer chamber。
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！ Thieves！〃 He vanished into the midst of the advancing crowd； all of whom were holding daggers and who accepted him without question。
Slipping on the hot metal； Harry struggled to his feet and knew that the only way out was through。
〃iStupefy！i〃 he bellowed； and Ron and Hermione joined in： Jets of red light flew into the crowd of goblins； and some toppled over； but others advanced； and Harry saw several wizard guards running around the corner。
The tethered dragon let out a roar； and a gush of flame flew over the goblins； The wizards fled； doubled…up； back the way they had e； and inspiration； or madness； came to Harry。 Pointing his wand at the thick cuffs chaining the beast to the floor； he yelled； 〃iRelashio！i〃
The cuffs broken open with loud bangs。
〃This way！〃 Harry yelled； and still shooting Stunning Spells at the advancing goblins； he sprinted toward the blind dragon。
〃Harry … Harry … what are you doing？〃 cried Hermione。
〃Get up； climb up； e on …〃
The dragon had not realized that it was free： Harry's foot found the crook of its hind leg and he pulled himself up onto its back。 The scales were hard as steel； it did not even seem to feel him。 He stretched out an arm； Hermione hoisted herself up； Ron climbed on behind them； and a second later the dragon became aware that it was untethered。
With a roar it reared： Harry dug in his knees； clutching as tightly as he could to the jagged scales as the wings opened； knocking the shrieking goblins aside like skittles； and it soared into the air。 Harry； Ron； 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 Hermione yelling； 〃iDefodio！i〃
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 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 f