"I merely sought to greet you," said the deatheater coolly, "but if my presence is not welcome ..."

"It's Travers!" Griphook hissed. 

Hermione gasped. "Travers was one of the deatheaters that we met at the Lovegood's house!" 

I gave her a confused look. "Lovegood's house?" 

"That's where we learned of the Deathly Hallows," she stated matter-of-factly. 

"No, no, not at all, Travers," said Astoria quickly, trying to cover up her mistake. "How are you?"

 "Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix."

 'Really? Why?' asked Astoria.

 "Well," Travers coughed, "I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house,after the ... ah ... escape."

"Fuck!" Kam yelled as she fell off of us. "We are so dead right now!" 

"Only if Astoria can't pull this off. So far, she is doing a horrible job," Hermione scoffed. "I could've done a perfectly fine job." 

I rolled my eyes. "I have all the faith that Astoria will pull this off." 

"I assure you, Travers, that my standing with the Dark Lord himself is impeccable, and I am sorry that you cannot say the same. He has the greatest trust in me and lowly scum such as yourself cannot compare to the bond we share," Astoria grunted.  

"I didn't mean to -" 

"Offend me? You have done more than that. You have thrown dirt upon my name. You do best think about what you say next before I am the one throwing dirt upon your body." 

"Yes, Madame." 

Kam squealed. "That was badass! See, Herms, she really knows what she is doing!" 

"Well, it's just that some of these Wandless can be troublesome," said Travers. "While they do nothing but beg I have noobjection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case at the Ministry last week. "I'm a witch,sir, I'm a witch, let me prove it to you!" ' he said, in a squeaky impersonation. "As if I was going to giveher my wand – but whose wand," said Travers curiously, 'are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heardthat your own was –"

 "I have my wand here," said Astoria coldly, holding up Bellatrix's wand. "I don't know what rumours you have been listening to, Travers, but you seem sadly misinformed." 

 "Who is your friend? I do not recognize him."

 "This is Dragomir Despard," said Astoria; they had decided that a fictional foreigner was the safestcover for Ron to assume. "He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lord's aims.He has travelled here from Transylvania to see our new regime."

 "Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?"

 "Ow you?'" said Ron

"When are we going to get there?" Kamrynn whined. "All this talk is just boring. I mean, it was exciting when I thought that we were going to get caught, but now, I'm bored." 

I shushed her. "Shut it, would you?" 

"So what brings you and your – ah – sympathetic friend to Diagon Alley this early?" asked Travers.

 "I need to visit Gringotts," said Astoria. 

"Alas, I also," said Travers. "Gold, filthy gold! We cannot live without it, yet I confess I deplore thenecessity of consorting with our long-fingered friends. Shall we?" 

We felt the lurch of Harry starting to walk forward. I do admit, I was glad that we were moving forward now. I knew that the affects of the shrinking potion had a time limit just as the polyjuice potions does, but I couldn't remember, especially for the amount that we had each taken. I was sure that Hermione knew since she had made it. The jolt of Harry walking up the Gringott's stairs did not agree with me, but not as much as hearing Harry use the confundus charm. He was using Draco's wand. I still couldn't believe that he stole the wand from him at the Malfoy manor. 

"Madam Lestrange!" said a goblin, evidently startled. "Dear me! How – how may I help you today?"

 "I wish to enter my vault,' said Astoria. 

 "You have ... identification?" asked the goblin.

 "Identification? I – I have never been asked for identification before!" gasped Astoria. 

"They know!" whispered Griphook in Harry's ear. 

"Fuck!" Kamrynn and I said at the same time. 

"They must have been warned there might be an impostor!"

 "Your wand will do, Madam," said the goblin. 

 "Act now, act now," whispered Griphook in Harry's ear, "the Imperius Curse!"

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. So, this is what things have resorted to? We were using unforgivable curses? I couldn't help but think that we had sunk down to the level that Voldemort and his minions have done. We were the good side, right? 

 "Imperio!" Harry muttered. 

"Whatever it takes, i guess," Kamm said, shaking her head. 

"It has definitely become the times that we have to," Hermione said in a defeated tone. 

"Ah, you have had a new wand made, MadamLestrange!"

 "What?" said Astoria, "no, no, that's mine –"

 "A new wand?" said Travers. "But how could you have done, which wandmaker did you use?" 

Harry then muttered for a second time: "Imperio!" 

"Oh, yes, I see," said Travers, "yes, very handsome. And is it working well? I always think wands require a little breaking in, don't you?"

"If you'll follow me to your vault, Ms. Lestrage." 

"Finally," Kamm muttered. 

"Wait – Bogrod!" said another goblin. "We have instructions. Forgive me, Madam Lestrange, but therehave been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange."

 "I am aware of the instructions. Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault ... very old family ... old clients...this way please." 

"We're in trouble," Harry whispered. "They suspect. I don't think I've done it strong enough." 

There was some talk of Bogrod having to be the one driving the cart that we would be taking down into the vaults. Then Harry was sitting and the jerk of the cart as it preceded forward. It really was frustrating not being able to see anything. All of a sudden Griphook yelled no and then we were covered in water. Actually, we were drowning for a brief moment as the pocket filled with water and then was released. We were then cold, wet, and tiny. it was not a fun time. 

"We're not on the cart anymore," Hermione commented. "We're not moving any longer." 

There was then a crashing sound, which I could only assume was the cart hitting something. Us almost drowning had really sent us through a lurch and we had not felt Harry falling out of the cart. Astoria shrieked something as I realized that we were actually still falling. 

"Cushoning charm," Astoria commented. 

"The Thief's Downfall!" said Griphook, "It washes away all enchantment, all magicalconcealment! They know there are impostors in Gringotts, they have set off defenses against us!" 

I sighed as I felt a sharp pain in my arm. I looked down to see my hand getting bigger, which caused me to look over at Hermione, who made a jester for us to get out of his pocket. What a wonderful time for the potion to wear off, I thought as I fell through the air from Harry's pocket and hit the rocky floor with a thud.