Chapter 03: Gringotts

"Do you have money?"

Professor McGonagall suddenly realized this crucial point. Although Luke's clothes were finely made, they were clearly a bit ill-fitting, likely handed down from an adult.

Luke nodded. "I do, but I'll need to go to Gringotts to retrieve it."

As he spoke, he pulled out the crest in his hand. "I need this. This leads to our family vault, known only to us and the goblins of Gringotts."

Professor McGonagall nodded, understanding. If that wealth had been known to another branch of the Gaunt family, it would likely have been long exhausted. Whether in times of lavish prosperity or destitute decline, the Gaunts had surely craved those funds, unconcerned about their kin's well-being.

McGonagall had dealt with many pure-blood wizards, both from renowned families and lesser-known ones. Many wore their pride and malice openly on their faces. Though there were certainly amiable ones—like the Weasleys or the Shacklebolts—the ranks of decadent pure-bloods were vast.

But this child before her, of all the young nobles she'd met, struck her as the most genuine representation of noble blood.

'Are there more hidden talents among the other families?'

The thought flitted through her mind, only to be quickly dismissed. If they had talents of this caliber, those families would have used them to shore up their own power. Times were rough for the pure-bloods now; Voldemort's defeat had pushed many to the fringes of power, and some were on the brink of ruin. Hiding such assets in such times would make no sense.

Returning to the present, she told Luke, "Follow me, then. Let's head to Gringotts."

Luke followed McGonagall's pace toward the towering white building.

They arrived at the entrance within minutes. Before them stood the bronze doors, flanked by two goblin guards in scarlet uniforms embroidered with gold, who respectfully greeted them and opened the doors. Their manner was notably polite.

Next, they passed through another set of silver doors, engraved with a warning.

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn,

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

Luke glanced at it, realizing it was merely a goblin warning against would-be thieves.

Luke was hardly interested though. These warnings held little weight: Voldemort had commanded Quirrell to break in, and later, Harry and his friends practically turned the place upside down.

So these threats were really not that effective.

Professor McGonagall, being familiar with the place, did not linger at the door, and Luke quickly caught up with her as they walked through the doors and into the hall.

On either side, goblins busily counted money. Ignoring them, Luke headed straight toward the high seat in the center.

A goblin with sparse hair and half-moon glasses sat there, watching as McGonagall and Luke approached. The goblin sighed inwardly. He had just seen off Hogwarts' groundskeeper, and now a full-fledged professor had arrived. What's more, any student escorted by a professor usually meant trouble.

So, it was unlikely that this visit was a mere currency exchange.

"Luke Gaunt, here to inherit Robert Gaunt's vault," Luke stated calmly, presenting the crest in his hand.

The goblin took a sharp breath. He had anticipated trouble, but not this level of trouble. The heir of the shadowy Gaunt family! He'd thought them extinct by now.

Though he quickly regained his composure, his reaction was not lost on Professor McGonagall. Judging by his response, the vault likely held a vast sum.

"Please wait here."

The goblin climbed down from his high chair and entered a side room.

Another goblin immediately stepped forward, bowing to both of them and gesturing for them to follow. Luke and Professor McGonagall were led into a finely furnished room that clearly wasn't meant for ordinary guests.

Shortly afterward, the goblin manager returned with a small box, which he presented to Luke.

When Luke opened it, he saw a snake intricately carved from a single block of dark green gemstone, with a red gem embedded in its left eye socket—but it only had one eye. The snake's tongue was flicked out, but its mouth was closed.

"Please drip a drop of blood onto the eye"

The goblin instructed with a stern but steady tone. Despite Hogwarts' validation, this step was necessary both as a formality and a matter of his own reluctance to let it go.

If no one claimed the treasures within a hundred years, the vault would be declared abandoned and become Gringotts property…

Without hesitation, Luke drew a small knife from his belt, cut his finger, and let a drop of blood fall into the snake's right eye socket.

But the snake remained unresponsive.

The goblin's eyes gleamed, and Professor McGonagall furrowed her brow. Luke, however, remained calm. As he'd expected, after about thirteen seconds, the blood crystallized into a gem, and the entire snake turned from dark green to bright green. Its mouth opened, revealing a key.

Luke calmly took the key, smiling at the visibly disappointed goblin. "Lead the way, please. I need to withdraw some money for supplies, as you can see, I'm so down on my luck that even my clothes don't fit properly."

Professionalism prevailed in the goblin's demeanor as he nodded and said, "Follow me, please."

He led them toward the vault.

Boarding the cart, they whizzed past vast caverns lined with vaults.

This was practically the entire wizarding world's bank. Emptying it could yield untold wealth, but it would also result in a swift pursuit by nearly every wizard in Britain.

Soon, they veered onto a side path, arriving at the end, where there was no grand vault door—just a dark, empty cave. Professor McGonagall was shocked. Luke, however, seemed unperturbed and had clearly made no attempt to leave her behind, despite the secretive nature of the place. She doubted he'd overlooked this detail, especially given his currently worried expression.

Luke had indeed realized something—today was July 31. If he remembered correctly, today was also the day Harry was coming to Gringotts, which meant the bank was likely about to be attacked. So, there was no way he'd leave his "safety net" behind and wander here alone.

Besides, he had complete faith in Professor McGonagall's integrity. The Gaunt inheritance might be vast, but unless it was absolutely enormous, he was sure that nothing he'd show her could faze her.