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|partof=[[Second Wizarding War]]
 
|partof=[[Second Wizarding War]]
 
|date=[[1 May]],<ref>The break-in occurred the day before the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], which occurred on [[2 May]], [[1998]].</ref> [[1998]]
 
|date=[[1 May]],<ref>The break-in occurred the day before the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], which occurred on [[2 May]], [[1998]].</ref> [[1998]]
|location=[[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]], [[Diagon Alley]] [[London]], [[England]]
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|location=[[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]], [[Diagon Alley|Diagon Alley (north side)]] [[London]], [[England]]
 
|result=Decisive trio victory. [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] acquire an additional [[Horcrux]] belonging to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]
 
|result=Decisive trio victory. [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] acquire an additional [[Horcrux]] belonging to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]
 
|commander1=*[[Harry Potter]]
 
|commander1=*[[Harry Potter]]
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|latest=
 
|latest=
 
|last=
 
|last=
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}}{{Template:Dialogue|Harry|The vault we need to get into isn't empty, and i'm guessing it's protection will be pretty powerful. It belongs to the [[Lestranges]].|Griphook|You have no chance. No chance at all.|[[Harry Potter]] and [[Griphook]], while at Shell Cottage}}
}}
 
   
There was a '''break-in of [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]]''' on [[1 May]], [[1998]], during the height of the [[Second Wizarding War]]. It was carried out by [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] in order to steal one of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]’s [[Horcrux]]es from the [[Lestrange Vault|vault]] belonging to the [[Lestrange family]]. The trio were assisted by [[Griphook]], a former employee of [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]], who agreed to help them in exchange for [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword]], but double-crossed them.
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There was a '''break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank''' on [[1 May]], [[1998]], during the height of the [[Second Wizarding War]]. It was carried out by [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] in order to steal one of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]’s [[Horcrux]]es from the [[Lestrange Vault|vault]] belonging to the [[Lestrange family]]. The trio were assisted by [[Griphook]], a former employee of [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]], who agreed to help them in exchange for [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword]], but double-crossed them.
   
The trio broke into the bank with Hermione disguised as [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], Ron given a fake identity as a disguise, and Harry and Griphook under the [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility Cloak]]. They found their way into the vault and acquired [[Helga Hufflepuff's Cup]], and in their attempt to escape ended up flying [[Ukrainian Ironbelly at Gringotts|a blind dragon]] out of the bank in what would become a famous escape. This is, to date, the only known successful robbery of Gringotts. [[Quirinus Quirrell]]'s [[Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1991)|attempt to steal]] the [[Philosopher's Stone]] in [[1991]] was unsuccessful only due to the fact that the stone had already been removed from its vault.
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The trio broke into the bank with Hermione disguised as [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], Ron given a fake identity as a disguise, and Harry and Griphook under the [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility Cloak]]. They found their way into the vault and acquired [[Helga Hufflepuff's Cup]], and in their attempt to escape ended up flying [[Ukrainian Ironbelly at Gringotts|a blind dragon]] out of the bank in what would become a famous escape.
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This break-in is, to date, the only known successful robbery of Gringotts. [[Quirinus Quirrell]]'s [[Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1991)|attempt to steal]] the [[Philosopher's Stone]] in [[1991]] was unsuccessful only due to the fact that the stone had already been removed from its vault.
   
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
{{Dialogue a-b|Hermione Granger|Are you saying there’s a [[Horcrux]] in the [[Lestrange vault|Lestranges vault]]?|Harry Potter|Yes, Bellatrix was terrified when she thought we’d been in there, she was beside herself. Why? What did she think we’d seen, what else did she think we might have taken? Something she was petrified You-Know-Who would find out about.|Harry and Hermione discussing about the place of the [[Horcrux]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Hermione Granger|Are you saying there’s a [[Horcrux]] in the [[Lestrange vault|Lestranges' vault]]?|Harry Potter|Yes, Bellatrix was terrified when she thought we’d been in there, she was beside herself. Why? What did she think we’d seen, what else did she think we might have taken? Something she was petrified You-Know-Who would find out about.|Harry and Hermione discussing about the place of the [[Horcrux]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
   
[[File:DH - Shell Cottage (film version) picture2.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Shell Cottage, where the plan seeded.]]
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[[File:Tumblr mg6o4nMu3j1rlr2dlo10 r3 250.gif|frame|left|[[Harry Potter|Harry]] at [[Shell Cottage]], where the plan seeded]]
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After [[Battle of Malfoy Manor|escaping Malfoy Manor]] in the spring of [[1998]], [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] stayed at [[Shell Cottage]] for a period of time with [[Luna Lovegood]], [[Dean Thomas]], [[Garrick Ollivander|Mr. Ollivander]], and [[Griphook]]. When [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] had interrogated and tortured Hermione with the [[Cruciatus Curse]] at [[Malfoy Manor]], she unknowingly revealed that there was something in her [[Lestrange Vault|vault]] at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] that was very valuable to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. Harry and his friends deduced that this was another of Voldemort’s [[Horcrux]]es, and thus needed a way to get into the vault in order to steal it.<ref name="DH23">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 23 (''Malfoy Manor'')</ref><ref name="DH24">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 24 (''The Wandmaker'')</ref> A plan was then conceived to break into Gringotts, during their stay at [[Shell Cottage]].
 
  +
After [[Battle of Malfoy Manor|escaping Malfoy Manor]] in the spring of [[1998]], [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] stayed at [[Shell Cottage]] for a period of time with [[Luna Lovegood]], [[Dean Thomas]], [[Garrick Ollivander|Mr Ollivander]], and [[Griphook]].
  +
 
When [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] had interrogated and tortured Hermione with the [[Cruciatus Curse]] at [[Malfoy Manor]], she unknowingly revealed that there was something in her [[Lestrange Vault|vault]] at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] that was very valuable to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. Harry deduced that this was another of Voldemort’s [[Horcrux]]es, and thus needed a way to get into the vault in order to steal it.<ref name="DH23">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 23 (''Malfoy Manor'')</ref><ref name="DH24">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 24 (''The Wandmaker'')</ref> A plan was then conceived to break into Gringotts, during their stay at [[Shell Cottage]].
   
 
==Plan==
 
==Plan==
 
===Bargain with Griphook===
 
===Bargain with Griphook===
{{Dialogue a-b-a|Griphook|I have reached my decision, Harry Potter. Though the goblins of Gringotts will consider it base treachery, I have decided to help you…in return for payment… I want the sword. The sword of Godric Gryffindor.|Harry|You can’t have that. I'm sorry... The sword’s ours... We're [[Gryffindor]]s, and it was Godric Gryffindor’s-|Wizarding arrogance again! That sword was [[Ragnuk|Ragnuk the First]]’s, taken from him by Godric Gryffindor! It is a masterpiece of goblin work! It belongs with the [[goblin]]s. The sword is the price of my hire, take it or leave it!|[[Griphook]] and [[Harry Potter|Harry]] bargain.|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
 
   
 
{{Dialogue|Griphook|I have reached my decision, Harry Potter. Though the goblins of Gringotts will consider it base treachery, I have decided to help you…in return for payment... I want the sword. The sword of Godric Gryffindor.|Harry|You can’t have that. I'm sorry... The sword’s ours... We're [[Gryffindor]]s, and it was Godric Gryffindor’s |[[Griphook]] and [[Harry Potter|Harry]] bargain.|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
[[File:Goblin-Griphook,_holding_the_Godric_Gryffindor's_sword_DH.jpg|thumb|160px|
 
   
 
[[File:Goblin-Griphook,_holding_the_Godric_Gryffindor's_sword_DH.jpg|thumb|145px|[[Griphook]] with the [[Sword of Gryffindor]]]]
[[Griphook]] with the [[Sword of Gryffindor]]]]To this end, they bargained with Griphook, a former employee of Gringotts, to help them break in. He agreed to help them — in exchange for [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword]]. As [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]] explained to Harry, [[goblin]]s have different conceptions of ownership than wizards, considering the maker and not the buyer to be the true owner. Griphook also claimed that [[Godric Gryffindor]] had stolen the sword from goblin [[Ragnuk|Ragnuk the First]].<ref name="DH25">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 25 (''Shell Cottage'')</ref>
 
   
 
To this end, they bargained with Griphook, a former employee of Gringotts, to help them break in. He agreed to help them — in exchange for [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword]]. As [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]] explained to Harry, [[goblin]]s have different conceptions of ownership than wizards, considering the maker and not the buyer to be the true owner. Griphook also claimed that [[Godric Gryffindor]] had stolen the sword from goblin [[Ragnuk|Ragnuk the First]].<ref name="DH25">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 25 (''Shell Cottage'')</ref>
Harry reluctantly agreed to Griphook’s ultimatum, though he planned to only hand it over after he, Ron and Hermione had used it to destroy Horcruxes. [[Griphook]] was also suspicious of any wizard’s ability to keep his word, given the poor history between his people and wizards.<ref name="DH25"/>
 
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Harry reluctantly agreed to Griphook’s ultimatum, though he planned to only hand it over after he, Ron and Hermione had used it to destroy Horcruxes. [[Griphook]] was also suspicious of any wizard’s ability to keep his word, given the poor history between his people and wizards.<ref name="DH25" />
   
 
==Disguise==
 
==Disguise==
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{{Quote|Bellatrix Lestrange was striding across the lawn toward them, accompanied by [[Griphook]]... Though Harry knew it was [[Hermione]], he could not suppress a shiver of loathing.|Hermione disguised as Bellatrix |Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows }}
[[File:Tumblr_ltsu3crgyI1qe72a6o1_250.gif|frame|left|Hermione, in [[polyjuice potion]] form as [[Bellatrix]], before the break in.]]Hermione then used a strand of Bellatrix's hair, which had fallen onto her jumper back when she was being held at [[Malfoy Manor]], to disguise herself as Bellatrix with the [[Polyjuice Potion]]. She also [[Transfiguration|transfigured]] various aspects of Ron's appearance to disguise him as “Dragomir Despard”, a foreign wizard. Harry and Griphook hid under his [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility cloak]] and the group headed to the bank.<ref name="DH26">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 26 (''Gringotts'')</ref>
 
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[[File:Tumblr_ltsu3crgyI1qe72a6o1_250.gif|thumb|left|230x230px|Hermione, in [[Polyjuice potion]] form ]]
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Hermione then used a strand of Bellatrix's hair, which had fallen onto her jumper back when she was being held at [[Malfoy Manor]], to disguise herself as Bellatrix with the [[Polyjuice Potion]], she stated that the potion tasted "disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots". She also [[Transfiguration|transfigured]] various aspects of Ron's appearance to disguise him as “Dragomir Despard”, a foreign wizard. Harry and Griphook hid under his [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility cloak]]. The group apparated separately with, Hermione appariting herself and Ron via Side-along Apparition and Harry doing the same with Griphook.<ref name="DH26">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 26 (''Gringotts'')</ref>
   
 
==Break-in==
 
==Break-in==
 
===Diagon Alley===
 
===Diagon Alley===
{{Dialogue a-b|Travers|Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix... I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the…ah…escape.|Hermione (as Bellatrix)|The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past. Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers.|Hermione trying to imitate [[Bellatrix Lestrange]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Travers|Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix... I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the… ah… escape.|Hermione (as Bellatrix)|The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past. Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers.|Hermione trying to imitate [[Bellatrix Lestrange]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
   
When the trio and [[Griphook]] entered [[Diagon Alley]], they were taken aback by the changes: [[Dark Arts]] shops lined the street while many familiar stores had been boarded over, and Harry's "Undesirable Number One" wanted posters were everywhere. Their plan proceeded reasonably well, and Hermione made a convincing [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], though Harry warned her against being too polite to subordinates. She was visibily startled when a [[Beggars on Diagon Alley|beggar]] approached her, asking her for his children - one of the wizards whose wands had been confiscated and thus are forced to beg in the street. When he lunged for her throat, Ron [[Stunning Spell|stunned]] him.<ref name="DH26"/>
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When the trio and [[Griphook]] entered [[Diagon Alley]], they were taken aback by the changes: [[Dark Arts]] shops lined the street while many familiar stores had been boarded over, and Harry's "Undesirable Number One" wanted posters were everywhere. Their plan proceeded reasonably well, and Hermione made a convincing [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], though Harry warned her against being too polite to subordinates. She was visibily startled when a [[Beggars on Diagon Alley|beggar]] approached her, asking her for his children one of the wizards whose wands had been confiscated and thus are forced to beg in the street. When he lunged for her throat, Ron [[Stunning Spell|stunned]] him.<ref name="DH26" />
   
[[Travers]], a [[Death Eater]], approached the group and addressed "Bellatrix". He was surprised Bellatrix was outside [[Malfoy Manor]] after hearing everyone there had been confined to the house and that Bellatrix's wand was lost. Hermione, in a “magnificent imitation of Bellatrix's most contemptuous manner”, dismissed his comment by responding that the [[Tom Riddle|Dark Lord]] showed mercy to those who have served him well in the past.<ref name="DH26"/> Travers's suspicions seemed eased, and he accompanied them into the bank.
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[[Travers]], a [[Death Eater]], approached the group and addressed "Bellatrix". He was surprised Bellatrix was outside [[Malfoy Manor]] after hearing everyone there had been confined to the house and that Bellatrix's wand was lost. Hermione, in a “magnificent imitation of Bellatrix's most contemptuous manner”, dismissed his comment by responding that the [[Tom Riddle|Dark Lord]] showed mercy to those who have served him well in the past.<ref name="DH26" /> Travers's suspicions seemed eased, and he accompanied them into the bank.
   
 
===Getting in===
 
===Getting in===
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{{Quote|Harry acted without thinking: Pointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, " ''Imperio!''" once more|Harry Imperiused [[Travers]] and [[Bogrod]] to gain entry into the Lestrange vault|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
   
[[File:Ron_and_Hermione_entering_Gringots_for_the_Break_In.jpg|thumb|222px|Ron and Hermione (disguised as Dragomir Despard and [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]) break into Gringotts Bank.]]
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[[File:Tumblr_lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro1_250.gif|frame|Ron and Hermione (disguised as Dragomir Despard and [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]) break into Gringotts Bank]]
   
{{Quote|Harry acted without thinking: Pointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, "Imperio!" once more|Harry Imperiused [[Travers]] and [[Bogrod]] to gain entry into the Lestrange vault|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}At the doors of the bank, two human guards had [[Probity Probe]]s--devices that detected concealment charms. Harry quickly used a [[Confundus Charm]] on the guards and Hermione passed by them unchecked, though their apparent confusion causes Travers a moment's pause. When they reached the counters, Travers presented his key to the [[Goblin]] employees, who requested "Bellatrix"'s identification.
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At the doors of the bank, two human guards had [[Probity Probe]]sdevices that detected concealment charms. Harry quickly used a [[Confundus Charm]] on the guards and Hermione passed by them unchecked, though their apparent confusion causes Travers a moment's pause. When they reached the counters, Travers presented his key to the [[Goblin]] employees, who requested "Bellatrix"'s identification.
   
[[File:270571_10150263928434313_156794164312_6966695_518410_s.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Harry with Griphook on his back under the [[Invisibility Cloak]].]]
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[[File:Tumblr_lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro2_250.gif|thumb|left|240px|Harry with Griphook on his back under the [[Invisibility Cloak]]]]
   
 
When Hermione hesitated, one nervously said that her wand was sufficient proof, though she claimed it was new. Harry suspected that the Goblins knew that Bellatrix's wand had been stolen and were thus looking for an impostor. [[Griphook]] suggested using the [[Imperius Curse]] on the [[Goblin]], [[Bogrod]], who then accepted the wand as being correct. Harry also put Travers under the curse when he became suspicious, knowing there were no [[wandmaker]]s available.
 
When Hermione hesitated, one nervously said that her wand was sufficient proof, though she claimed it was new. Harry suspected that the Goblins knew that Bellatrix's wand had been stolen and were thus looking for an impostor. [[Griphook]] suggested using the [[Imperius Curse]] on the [[Goblin]], [[Bogrod]], who then accepted the wand as being correct. Harry also put Travers under the curse when he became suspicious, knowing there were no [[wandmaker]]s available.
   
[[File:Copiadecopia.jpg|thumb|210px|The trio, Griphook, and Bogrod on a cart going deeper underground as they break into the bank.]]
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[[File:Tumblr_lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro3_250.gif|frame|The trio, Griphook, and Bogrod on a cart going deeper underground as they break into the bank]]
   
Bogrod requested the [[Clankers]], and then led Hermione and Ron, with Harry, Griphook, and Travers into a passageway. The door slammed shut, and Harry sent Travers away to hide. Bogrod, still under the Imperius curse, summoned a cart that descended deep within Gringotts. After many twists and turns, the cart passed through a security waterfall—known as the [[Thief's Downfall]]--that washed away all illusion charms and magical concealment. When the cart overturned and dumped them out, Hermione and Ron had been restored to their true appearances, and the Imperius Curse on Bogrod was lifted. Griphook believed the other Goblins knew they were impostors, but Harry decided to continue and uses the Imperius Curse on Bogrod once more.<ref name="DH26"/>
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Bogrod requested the [[Clankers]], and then led Hermione and Ron, with Harry, Griphook, and Travers into a passageway. The door slammed shut, and Harry sent Travers away to hide. Bogrod, still under the Imperius curse, summoned a cart that descended deep within Gringotts. After many twists and turns, the cart passed through a security waterfall — known as the [[Thief's Downfall]]that washed away all illusion charms and magical concealment. When the cart overturned and dumped them out, Hermione and Ron had been restored to their true appearances, and the Imperius Curse on Bogrod was lifted. Griphook believed the other Goblins knew they were impostors, but Harry decided to continue and uses the Imperius Curse on Bogrod once more.<ref name="DH26" />
   
 
===Within the vault===
 
===Within the vault===
   
{{Dialogue a-b|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!|Harry|Okay, don’t touch anything!... Just look around! Remember, the cup’s small and gold, it’s got a badger engraved on it, two handles…|Searching for the [[Horcrux]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|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!|Harry|Okay, don’t touch anything!... Just look around! Remember, the cup’s small and gold, it’s got a badger engraved on it, two handles…|Searching for the [[Horcrux]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
   
 
[[File:Bellatrix_Lestrange's_Vault_DH2.jpg|thumb|left|230px|inside the [[Lestrange]] vault]]
 
[[File:Bellatrix_Lestrange's_Vault_DH2.jpg|thumb|left|230px|inside the [[Lestrange]] vault]]
   
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Griphook, and Bogrod hurried to the door, whereupon they see an aged, half-blind [[dragon]] guarding the vault, which Griphook subdues by using the Clankers; Harry guessed that the cowering Dragon associated the noise of Clankers with pain. Hearing pursuit approaching, Harry forced Bogrod to open the vault, which was filled with precious objects. The vault closed shut behind them, and Griphook said Bogrod could release them, but they must search quickly. Hermione then screamed in pain; the vault's protective charm causes the contents to start [[Gemino Curse|multiplying]] exponentially and [[Flagrante Curse|become searing hot]] every time something was touched.<ref name="DH26"/> As they searched, the amount of treasure started to grow and the heat began to rise with them stuck inside it, burning their skin every time a piece of gold touched them.
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Harry, Ron, Hermione, Griphook, and Bogrod hurried to the door, whereupon they see an aged, half-blind [[dragon]] guarding the vault, which Griphook subdues by using the Clankers; Harry guessed that the cowering Dragon associated the noise of Clankers with pain. Hearing pursuit approaching, Harry forced Bogrod to open the vault, which was filled with precious objects. The vault closed shut behind them, and Griphook said Bogrod could release them, but they must search quickly. Hermione then screamed in pain; the vault's protective charm causes the contents to start [[Gemino Curse|multiplying]] exponentially and [[Flagrante Curse|become searing hot]] every time something was touched.<ref name="DH26" /> As they searched, the amount of treasure started to grow and the heat began to rise with them stuck inside it, burning their skin every time a piece of gold touched them.
   
 
[[File:Tumblr_lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro5_250.gif|frame|Harry using the Sword of Gryffindor to retrieve Hufflepuff's cup amongst the burning treasure]]
 
[[File:Tumblr_lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro5_250.gif|frame|Harry using the Sword of Gryffindor to retrieve Hufflepuff's cup amongst the burning treasure]]
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===Escape===
 
===Escape===
 
{{Quote|it took off, and with [[Harry]], [[Ron]], and [[Hermione]] still clinging to its back.... it staggered into [[Diagon Alley]] and launched itself into the sky.|The Trio's escape|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
 
{{Quote|it took off, and with [[Harry]], [[Ron]], and [[Hermione]] still clinging to its back.... it staggered into [[Diagon Alley]] and launched itself into the sky.|The Trio's escape|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
[[File:Tumblr_m74jkmoQ2x1qlxnhco5_250.gif|frame|left|he Trio escaping on the dragon.]]Harry, Ron and Hermione all hurled [[Stunning Spell]]s and curses at the oncoming goblins throng to hold them off. Harry then used a [[Revulsion Jinx]] to release the half-blind dragon from its chains and the trio jump onto its back. The dragon began to breathe fire at the goblins and to fly through the corridor that was almost too narrow for it, while the goblins threw daggers at them.
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[[File:Tumblr_mfuyahaqar1rlr2dlo9_r1_250.gif|frame|left|The Trio escape on the back of a dragon]]Harry, Ron and Hermione all hurled [[Stunning Spell]]s and curses at the oncoming goblins throng to hold them off. Harry then used a [[Revulsion Jinx]] to release the half-blind dragon from its chains and the trio jumped onto its back. The dragon began to breathe fire at the goblins and to fly through the corridor that was almost too narrow for it, while the goblins threw daggers at them.
   
Hermione used ''[[Gouging Spell|Defodio]]'' to enlarge the passageway for the dragon, and Harry and Ron copied her. Their combined efforts and the dragon’s violent thrashing allow them to break into the main hallway. As customers and employees fled, the dragon burst out of the doors into [[Diagon Alley]], and launched itself into the sky.<ref name="DH26"/>
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Hermione used ''[[Gouging Spell|Defodio]]'' to enlarge the passageway for the dragon, and Harry and Ron copied her. Their combined efforts and the dragon’s violent thrashing allow them to break into the main hallway. As customers and employees fled, the dragon burst out of the doors into [[Diagon Alley]], and launched itself into the sky.<ref name="DH26" />
   
 
==Aftermath==
 
==Aftermath==
  +
{{Quote|The boy has discovered our secret, [[Nagini]]. It makes us vulnerable. We must deploy all our forces now to find him. And you, my friend, must stay close.|Lord Voldemort to [[Nagini]] in [[Malfoy Manor]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2}}
{{Dialogue a-b|Hermione|What’ll happen to it, do you think? Will it be alright?|Ron|You sound like [[Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid]]. It’s a dragon, Hermione, it can look after itself. It’s us we need to worry about… I don’t know how to break this to you, but I think they might have noticed we broke into Gringotts.|after the trio jumps off the dragon|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
 
   
[[File:The_Killing_Curse.gif|thumb|300px|Voldemort reacts to the theft of the cup, one of his Horcruxes.]]
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[[File:The_Killing_Curse.gif|thumb|240px|Voldemort reacts to the theft of the cup, one of his Horcruxes (click for animation)]]
   
 
Harry, Ron and Hermione eventually leapt off the [[dragon]] into a lake.<ref name="DH27">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 27 (''The Final Hiding Place'')</ref> Their break-in and escape from [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] would become infamous, as students from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] heard the news despite the school being under the [[Death Eaters]]' tyrannical control.<ref name="DH29">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 29 (''The Lost Diadem'')</ref> Although they had acquired an additional [[Horcrux]], their break-in also exposed their plan to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who was enraged when he discovered that a [[Horcrux]] had been stolen. Harry, through his mind connection to the Dark Lord, witnessed his fury that his secret had been discovered and his determination to check if all the other Horcruxes were safe. Tuned into Voldemort's thoughts, Harry also learned that one Horcrux was hidden at Hogwarts, as he had long suspected.
 
Harry, Ron and Hermione eventually leapt off the [[dragon]] into a lake.<ref name="DH27">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 27 (''The Final Hiding Place'')</ref> Their break-in and escape from [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] would become infamous, as students from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] heard the news despite the school being under the [[Death Eaters]]' tyrannical control.<ref name="DH29">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 29 (''The Lost Diadem'')</ref> Although they had acquired an additional [[Horcrux]], their break-in also exposed their plan to [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who was enraged when he discovered that a [[Horcrux]] had been stolen. Harry, through his mind connection to the Dark Lord, witnessed his fury that his secret had been discovered and his determination to check if all the other Horcruxes were safe. Tuned into Voldemort's thoughts, Harry also learned that one Horcrux was hidden at Hogwarts, as he had long suspected.
   
{{Quote|The boy has discovered our secret, [[Nagini]]. It makes us vulnerable. We must deploy all our forces now to find him. And you, my friend, must stay close.|Lord Voldemort to [[Nagini]] in [[Malfoy Manor]].|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2}}The trio had also lost [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword]] to [[Griphook]], which meant they would have to find other means of destroying the Horcruxes. As they already knew, [[Basilisk]] venom destroys Horcruxes, and so with the Sword of Gryffindor no longer available, Ron and Hermione would have to go to the only place where that venom exists: the [[Chamber of Secrets]] beneath [[Hogwarts Castle]]. Thus, Harry would be forced to visit the school for both the reason of attaining Basilisk venom and finding the next Horcrux. At the moment, however, Harry was more interested in collecting Horcruxes than destroying them; we will see that he does not even consider how to destroy the Cup Horcrux, being more concerned with preventing Voldemort from reaching the one at Hogwarts. Those, the trio planned to return to Hogwarts, setting the stage for the [[Battle of Hogwarts|final battle]] of the [[Second Wizarding War]].<ref name="DH27"/>
+
The trio had also lost [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword]] to [[Griphook]], which meant they would have to find other means of destroying the Horcruxes. As they already knew, [[Basilisk]] venom destroys Horcruxes, and so with the Sword of Gryffindor no longer available, Ron and Hermione would have to go to the only place where that venom exists: the [[Chamber of Secrets]] beneath [[Hogwarts Castle]]. Thus, Harry would be forced to visit the school for both the reason of attaining Basilisk venom and finding the next Horcrux. At the moment, however, Harry was more interested in collecting Horcruxes than destroying them; we will see that he does not even consider how to destroy the Cup Horcrux, being more concerned with preventing Voldemort from reaching the one at Hogwarts. Those, the trio planned to return to Hogwarts, setting the stage for the [[Battle of Hogwarts|final battle]] of the [[Second Wizarding War]].<ref name="DH27" />
   
 
The high-security vaults at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] were left without one of their dragon guardians and, by [[July]] of that year, the bank had added [[sphinx]]es to their security mechanisms, much to the disdain of [[wizardkind|wizards]] who, like [[Mallory Twiddle]], spent hours trying to solve the sphinxes' riddles and were, eventually, chased out of the bank.<ref name="wizardst">"[http://www.hplex.info/wizards/a-z/t.html Wizards, Witches and Beings: T]" on the [[Harry Potter Lexicon]]</ref><ref name="dp">"[http://www.hplex.info/about/sources/source_dp.html Daily Prophet newsletters]" on [[Harry Potter Lexicon]]</ref>
 
The high-security vaults at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] were left without one of their dragon guardians and, by [[July]] of that year, the bank had added [[sphinx]]es to their security mechanisms, much to the disdain of [[wizardkind|wizards]] who, like [[Mallory Twiddle]], spent hours trying to solve the sphinxes' riddles and were, eventually, chased out of the bank.<ref name="wizardst">"[http://www.hplex.info/wizards/a-z/t.html Wizards, Witches and Beings: T]" on the [[Harry Potter Lexicon]]</ref><ref name="dp">"[http://www.hplex.info/about/sources/source_dp.html Daily Prophet newsletters]" on [[Harry Potter Lexicon]]</ref>
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
  +
*''[[Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts]]''
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==

Revision as of 18:58, 4 August 2014

Harry: "The vault we need to get into isn't empty, and i'm guessing it's protection will be pretty powerful. It belongs to the Lestranges."
Griphook: "You have no chance. No chance at all."
Harry Potter and Griphook, while at Shell Cottage

There was a break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank on 1 May, 1998, during the height of the Second Wizarding War. It was carried out by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in order to steal one of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes from the vault belonging to the Lestrange family. The trio were assisted by Griphook, a former employee of Gringotts, who agreed to help them in exchange for Godric Gryffindor's Sword, but double-crossed them.

The trio broke into the bank with Hermione disguised as Bellatrix Lestrange, Ron given a fake identity as a disguise, and Harry and Griphook under the Invisibility Cloak. They found their way into the vault and acquired Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, and in their attempt to escape ended up flying a blind dragon out of the bank in what would become a famous escape.

This break-in is, to date, the only known successful robbery of Gringotts. Quirinus Quirrell's attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone in 1991 was unsuccessful only due to the fact that the stone had already been removed from its vault.

Background

Hermione Granger: "Are you saying there’s a Horcrux in the Lestranges' vault?"
Harry Potter: "Yes, Bellatrix was terrified when she thought we’d been in there, she was beside herself. Why? What did she think we’d seen, what else did she think we might have taken? Something she was petrified You-Know-Who would find out about."
— Harry and Hermione discussing about the place of the Horcrux.[src]
File:Tumblr mg6o4nMu3j1rlr2dlo10 r3 250.gif

Harry at Shell Cottage, where the plan seeded

After escaping Malfoy Manor in the spring of 1998, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger stayed at Shell Cottage for a period of time with Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Mr Ollivander, and Griphook.

When Bellatrix Lestrange had interrogated and tortured Hermione with the Cruciatus Curse at Malfoy Manor, she unknowingly revealed that there was something in her vault at Gringotts that was very valuable to Lord Voldemort. Harry deduced that this was another of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, and thus needed a way to get into the vault in order to steal it.[2][3] A plan was then conceived to break into Gringotts, during their stay at Shell Cottage.

Plan

Bargain with Griphook

Griphook: "I have reached my decision, Harry Potter. Though the goblins of Gringotts will consider it base treachery, I have decided to help you…in return for payment... I want the sword. The sword of Godric Gryffindor."
Harry: "You can’t have that. I'm sorry... The sword’s ours... We're Gryffindors, and it was Godric Gryffindor’s —"
Griphook and Harry bargain.[src]
Goblin-Griphook, holding the Godric Gryffindor's sword DH

Griphook with the Sword of Gryffindor

To this end, they bargained with Griphook, a former employee of Gringotts, to help them break in. He agreed to help them — in exchange for Godric Gryffindor's Sword. As Bill Weasley explained to Harry, goblins have different conceptions of ownership than wizards, considering the maker and not the buyer to be the true owner. Griphook also claimed that Godric Gryffindor had stolen the sword from goblin Ragnuk the First.[4]

Harry reluctantly agreed to Griphook’s ultimatum, though he planned to only hand it over after he, Ron and Hermione had used it to destroy Horcruxes. Griphook was also suspicious of any wizard’s ability to keep his word, given the poor history between his people and wizards.[4]

Disguise

"Bellatrix Lestrange was striding across the lawn toward them, accompanied by Griphook... Though Harry knew it was Hermione, he could not suppress a shiver of loathing."
— Hermione disguised as Bellatrix [src]
File:Tumblr ltsu3crgyI1qe72a6o1 250.gif

Hermione, in Polyjuice potion form

Hermione then used a strand of Bellatrix's hair, which had fallen onto her jumper back when she was being held at Malfoy Manor, to disguise herself as Bellatrix with the Polyjuice Potion, she stated that the potion tasted "disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots". She also transfigured various aspects of Ron's appearance to disguise him as “Dragomir Despard”, a foreign wizard. Harry and Griphook hid under his Invisibility cloak. The group apparated separately with, Hermione appariting herself and Ron via Side-along Apparition and Harry doing the same with Griphook.[5]

Break-in

Diagon Alley

Travers: "Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix... I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the… ah… escape."
Hermione (as Bellatrix): "The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past. Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers."
— Hermione trying to imitate Bellatrix Lestrange.[src]

When the trio and Griphook entered Diagon Alley, they were taken aback by the changes: Dark Arts shops lined the street while many familiar stores had been boarded over, and Harry's "Undesirable Number One" wanted posters were everywhere. Their plan proceeded reasonably well, and Hermione made a convincing Bellatrix Lestrange, though Harry warned her against being too polite to subordinates. She was visibily startled when a beggar approached her, asking her for his children — one of the wizards whose wands had been confiscated and thus are forced to beg in the street. When he lunged for her throat, Ron stunned him.[5]

Travers, a Death Eater, approached the group and addressed "Bellatrix". He was surprised Bellatrix was outside Malfoy Manor after hearing everyone there had been confined to the house and that Bellatrix's wand was lost. Hermione, in a “magnificent imitation of Bellatrix's most contemptuous manner”, dismissed his comment by responding that the Dark Lord showed mercy to those who have served him well in the past.[5] Travers's suspicions seemed eased, and he accompanied them into the bank.

Getting in

"Harry acted without thinking: Pointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, " Imperio!" once more"
— Harry Imperiused Travers and Bogrod to gain entry into the Lestrange vault[src]
File:Tumblr lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro1 250.gif

Ron and Hermione (disguised as Dragomir Despard and Bellatrix Lestrange) break into Gringotts Bank

At the doors of the bank, two human guards had Probity Probes — devices that detected concealment charms. Harry quickly used a Confundus Charm on the guards and Hermione passed by them unchecked, though their apparent confusion causes Travers a moment's pause. When they reached the counters, Travers presented his key to the Goblin employees, who requested "Bellatrix"'s identification.

Tumblr lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro2 250

Harry with Griphook on his back under the Invisibility Cloak

When Hermione hesitated, one nervously said that her wand was sufficient proof, though she claimed it was new. Harry suspected that the Goblins knew that Bellatrix's wand had been stolen and were thus looking for an impostor. Griphook suggested using the Imperius Curse on the Goblin, Bogrod, who then accepted the wand as being correct. Harry also put Travers under the curse when he became suspicious, knowing there were no wandmakers available.

Tumblr lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro3 250

The trio, Griphook, and Bogrod on a cart going deeper underground as they break into the bank

Bogrod requested the Clankers, and then led Hermione and Ron, with Harry, Griphook, and Travers into a passageway. The door slammed shut, and Harry sent Travers away to hide. Bogrod, still under the Imperius curse, summoned a cart that descended deep within Gringotts. After many twists and turns, the cart passed through a security waterfall — known as the Thief's Downfall — that washed away all illusion charms and magical concealment. When the cart overturned and dumped them out, Hermione and Ron had been restored to their true appearances, and the Imperius Curse on Bogrod was lifted. Griphook believed the other Goblins knew they were impostors, but Harry decided to continue and uses the Imperius Curse on Bogrod once more.[5]

Within the vault

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!"
Harry: "Okay, don’t touch anything!... Just look around! Remember, the cup’s small and gold, it’s got a badger engraved on it, two handles…"
— Searching for the Horcrux.[src]
Bellatrix Lestrange's Vault DH2

inside the Lestrange vault

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Griphook, and Bogrod hurried to the door, whereupon they see an aged, half-blind dragon guarding the vault, which Griphook subdues by using the Clankers; Harry guessed that the cowering Dragon associated the noise of Clankers with pain. Hearing pursuit approaching, Harry forced Bogrod to open the vault, which was filled with precious objects. The vault closed shut behind them, and Griphook said Bogrod could release them, but they must search quickly. Hermione then screamed in pain; the vault's protective charm causes the contents to start multiplying exponentially and become searing hot every time something was touched.[5] As they searched, the amount of treasure started to grow and the heat began to rise with them stuck inside it, burning their skin every time a piece of gold touched them.

Tumblr lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro5 250

Harry using the Sword of Gryffindor to retrieve Hufflepuff's cup amongst the burning treasure

Harry spotted Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, but it was out of reach. Hermione levitated Harry close to it with the Levicorpus spell, and he snagged the Cup with Gryffindor's Sword, while Hermione, Ron, Griphook, and Bogrod struggled to stay above the hot multiplying objects below. As Harry sets himself down, he dropped the Sword and the Cup.

Griphook grabbed Gryffindor's Sword, and flipped Hufflepuff's Cup up into the air. Harry caught it, ignoring as it seared his flesh and thousands of replica cups burst forth from it. Borne by a treasure avalanche spilling from the now-opened vault, Griphook betrayed the trio by running off clutching Gryffindor's Sword and yelling that thieves were in the vault as a crowd of armed goblins and wizards approached them.

Escape

"it took off, and with Harry, Ron, and Hermione still clinging to its back.... it staggered into Diagon Alley and launched itself into the sky."
— The Trio's escape[src]
Tumblr mfuyahaqar1rlr2dlo9 r1 250

The Trio escape on the back of a dragon

Harry, Ron and Hermione all hurled Stunning Spells and curses at the oncoming goblins throng to hold them off. Harry then used a Revulsion Jinx to release the half-blind dragon from its chains and the trio jumped onto its back. The dragon began to breathe fire at the goblins and to fly through the corridor that was almost too narrow for it, while the goblins threw daggers at them.

Hermione used Defodio to enlarge the passageway for the dragon, and Harry and Ron copied her. Their combined efforts and the dragon’s violent thrashing allow them to break into the main hallway. As customers and employees fled, the dragon burst out of the doors into Diagon Alley, and launched itself into the sky.[5]

Aftermath

"The boy has discovered our secret, Nagini. It makes us vulnerable. We must deploy all our forces now to find him. And you, my friend, must stay close."
— Lord Voldemort to Nagini in Malfoy Manor.[src]
The Killing Curse

Voldemort reacts to the theft of the cup, one of his Horcruxes (click for animation)

Harry, Ron and Hermione eventually leapt off the dragon into a lake.[6] Their break-in and escape from Gringotts would become infamous, as students from Hogwarts heard the news despite the school being under the Death Eaters' tyrannical control.[7] Although they had acquired an additional Horcrux, their break-in also exposed their plan to Lord Voldemort, who was enraged when he discovered that a Horcrux had been stolen. Harry, through his mind connection to the Dark Lord, witnessed his fury that his secret had been discovered and his determination to check if all the other Horcruxes were safe. Tuned into Voldemort's thoughts, Harry also learned that one Horcrux was hidden at Hogwarts, as he had long suspected.

The trio had also lost Godric Gryffindor's Sword to Griphook, which meant they would have to find other means of destroying the Horcruxes. As they already knew, Basilisk venom destroys Horcruxes, and so with the Sword of Gryffindor no longer available, Ron and Hermione would have to go to the only place where that venom exists: the Chamber of Secrets beneath Hogwarts Castle. Thus, Harry would be forced to visit the school for both the reason of attaining Basilisk venom and finding the next Horcrux. At the moment, however, Harry was more interested in collecting Horcruxes than destroying them; we will see that he does not even consider how to destroy the Cup Horcrux, being more concerned with preventing Voldemort from reaching the one at Hogwarts. Those, the trio planned to return to Hogwarts, setting the stage for the final battle of the Second Wizarding War.[6]

The high-security vaults at Gringotts were left without one of their dragon guardians and, by July of that year, the bank had added sphinxes to their security mechanisms, much to the disdain of wizards who, like Mallory Twiddle, spent hours trying to solve the sphinxes' riddles and were, eventually, chased out of the bank.[8][9]

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. The break-in occurred the day before the Battle of Hogwarts, which occurred on 2 May, 1998.
  2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 23 (Malfoy Manor)
  3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 24 (The Wandmaker)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 25 (Shell Cottage)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 26 (Gringotts)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 27 (The Final Hiding Place)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 29 (The Lost Diadem)
  8. "Wizards, Witches and Beings: T" on the Harry Potter Lexicon
  9. "Daily Prophet newsletters" on Harry Potter Lexicon