94 Diagon Alley

However and when, without handing over the Gryffindor sword, Harry couldn't think of an answer. The goblin seldom left Harry, Ron and Hermione alone for more than five minutes, and it was impossible for the three of them to negotiate a solution.

"It's ready to teach my mother," Ron complained, as the goblin's long fingers kept appearing by the door. With Bill's warning in mind, Harry couldn't help but suspect that Griphook was always on the lookout for their tricks. Hermione was so disapproving of the planned deception that Harry gave up discussing with her how to accomplish it. And in the rare free time without Griphook, all Ron can think of is: "Let's play by chance, man."

At six o'clock that morning, Harry and Ron got out of their sleeping bags, dressed in the dark, and walked gently into the garden, waiting to join Hermione and Griphook. The dawn was cold, but since it was May, there was no wind. Harry looked up at the stars still shimmering in the black night sky, and listened to the water crashing against the cliffs over and over again - a sound he would miss.

Bellatrix Lestrange strode across the lawn towards them, with Griphook by her side. She was wearing an old robe that she had borrowed from the Diggory's long ago, and as she walked she tucked the small beaded bag into the inside pocket of the robe. Harry couldn't hold back a shudder of disgust even though he knew it was Hermione. She was taller than him, with long wavy black hair draped behind her back, and her puffy-lid eyes looked at him contemptuously. But when she spoke, Harry heard Hermione in Bellatrix's low voice.

"She smells disgusting, worse than Yi Deegan! Well, Ron, come and let me get you..."

"Okay, but remember, I don't like long beards—"

"Oh, for God's sake, it's not a question of good-looking or not-"

"No, it's in the way! But I like my nose a little shorter, like you did last time."

Hermione sighed and went to work, mumbling to help Ron change his face. He's been given a completely fabricated identity, and they're counting on Bellatrix's evil dominance to protect him. Harry and Griphook will hide under the Invisibility Cloak.

"Okay," said Hermione, "how does he look, Harry?"

The disguised Ron was barely recognizable, but Harry thought it was only because he and Ron were so familiar. Ron now has long, curly hair, a bushy brown beard on his chin, a mustache on his upper lip, no freckles, thick eyebrows, and a short, broad nose.

"Well, not my type, but okay," said Harry. "Can we go?"

All three looked back at the Shell Cottage, which was dark and silent under the looming stars. They turned and walked out, and as soon as they crossed the wall, the Faithful Charm was no longer effective, and they could Apparate. Once out the door, Griphook spoke.

"Should I climb up now, Harry Potter?"

Harry bent over and the goblin climbed onto his back, clasping his hands around Harry's throat. It wasn't heavy, but Harry didn't like bumping into the goblin, and he didn't like it hugging him so tightly, with astonishing strength. Hermione took the Invisibility Cloak out of the beaded pouch and covered them both.

"Excellent," she said, leaning over to examine Harry's feet. "I can't see anything. Let's go."

Harry turned around with the ring on his back, trying to concentrate on the Leaky Cauldron - the entrance to Diagon Alley. The goblin hugged tighter as they entered the oppressive darkness. A few seconds later, Harry's feet hit the ground, and he opened his eyes to see Charing Cross. The Muggles hurried past, with their early morning slouching expressions, unaware of the inn.

There was hardly anyone in the Leaky Cauldron. Tom, the hunchbacked and toothless boss, was wiping glasses at the back of the bar; a few wizards whispering in the far corner glanced at Hermione and retreated into the dark.

"Mrs Lestrange," Tom whispered, bowing his head respectfully as Hermione passed.

"Good morning," said Hermione, and Harry, who walked gently under the invisibility cloak with a pull ring on his back, could see that Tom was a little surprised.

"So polite," Harry whispered to Hermione as they entered the small backyard from the hotel, "you treat them like trash."

"Good, good!"

Hermione drew Bellatrix's wand and tapped a brick on the ordinary wall in front of her. The wall immediately began to rotate, and a small hole appeared in the middle. The opening became larger and larger, and finally formed an arch, leading to a narrow cobblestone street, that is, Diagon Alley.

The street was quiet, and when the store opened, there were hardly any customers outside. The winding cobblestone alleys have changed a lot. When Harry came here before he first entered Hogwarts, the alleys were bustling and bustling. While so many shops are now boarded up, there are a few new stores dealing with black magic items, which were not there when Harry came last time. Harry's own face glared at him from the posters posted in many of the windows, which read Bad Guys Number One.

"Hey, Mrs Lestrange!"

Harry turned sharply, and Griphook held his neck tighter. A tall, thin wizard strode toward them, with bushy gray hair and a long, pointed nose.

"It's Travers." The goblin hissed in Harry's ear, but Harry couldn't remember who Travers was. Hermione straightened up and asked with the greatest contempt she could feign, "What do you want?"

Travers stopped, obviously offended.

"He's a Death Eater too!" whispered Griphook, and Harry leaned in quietly and put the message into Hermione's ears.

"I just wanted to say hi to you," Travers said coldly, "but if it's not welcome..."

Harry heard him now, Travers was one of the Death Eaters summoned to Xenophilius' house.

"No, no, where, Traverse," Hermione said hurriedly, trying to cover up her mistake, "How are you?"

"Well, I admit I was surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix."

"Really? Why?" Hermione asked.

"Well," Travers coughed, "I heard the people at Malfoy Manor were locked up in the house, after that… ah… escape."

Harry begged Hermione to remain calm. If this news is true, if Bellatrix shouldn't be seen in public - "The Dark Lord has forgiven those who have been most loyal to him in the past," said Hermione, imitating Bellatrix in a lifelike manner At his most arrogant, "Perhaps your credit with him is not as good as mine, Travers."

The Death Eater seemed offended again, but also seemed less suspicious.

"But," said Travers curiously, "whose wand are you using now, Bellatrix? I heard your own was—"

"This is my own wand," said Hermione coldly, holding up Bellatrix's wand, "I don't know what rumour you heard, Travers. , you seem miserably misled."

Travers seemed a little surprised and turned to Ron.

"Who is your friend? I don't know him."

"He's Dragomir Despard," said Hermione, deliberating on the plan and deciding that a fictitious foreign name would be the safest cover for Ron, "he hardly ever English-speaking, but very supportive of the Dark Lord's goals. He came to see our new regime from Transylvania."

"Really? Hello, Dragomir."

"Hello." Ron held out his hand.

Travers shook hands with Ron with two fingers, as if he was worried about getting himself dirty.

"Then what's the point of you and your—ah—this supportive friend coming to Diagon Alley so early?" Travers asked.

"I'm going to Gringotts," said Hermione.

"Oh, I'm going too," Travers said, "gold, dirty gold! We can't live without it, but I admit, I'm sorry I have to talk to those long Finger friends to deal with."

Harry felt Griphook's hand tightening his neck for a moment.

"Please?" Travers said, motioning for Hermione to move forward.

Hermione had no choice but to follow him along the winding cobblestone streets towards Gringotts, the snow-white tower towering over the small shop go. Ron walked beside them, Harry and Griphook behind.

The last thing they want is a vigilant Death Eater, and worst of all, with Travers by his side as Bellatrix, Harry can't help it Talked to Hermione and Ron. Soon, they had reached the bottom of the marble steps leading to the bronze gate. As Griphook had warned, the uniformed goblins on either side of the gate had been replaced by two wizards, each holding a slender golden rod.

"Ah, honesty detector," Travers exaggeratedly sighed, "primitive—but effective!"

He walked up the steps and nodded to the wizards to the left and right of the gate, who held up golden rods and moved them up and down around him. Harry knew that the device would detect hidden charms and hidden magical objects. Knowing only a few seconds left, Harry quickly raised Draco's wand and clicked on the two guards, whispering twice to confuse the audience. The two guards were struck by the spell, and both were slightly shocked. Travers looked at the inner hall inside the copper door and did not notice.

Hermione climbed the steps, her long black hair