Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1998)

### Cause

Harry deduced that one of Voldemort's Horcruxes was hidden in the Lestrange Vault at Gringotts

### Result

* Decisive quartet victory. The quarter acquired an additional Horcrux belonging to Lord Voldemort
* An Ukrainian Ironbelly was released from Gringotts into the wild

Commanders| * Harry Potter
* Griphook

Combatants| * Harry Potter
* Ronald Weasley
* Felicity Black
* Hermione Granger (impersonating Bellatrix Lestrange
* Bogrod (Imperiused)
* 1 Ukrainian Ironbelly
* Goblins of Gringotts (dozens)
* Gringotts guard

Casualties| Griphook | * Bogrod
* Many Gringotts guards (most killed by Voldemort
* Many Goblins (most killed by Voldemort)

**Harry Potter**: "*The vault we need to get into isn't empty, and I'm guessing its protection will be pretty powerful. It belongs to the Lestranges.*"
**Griphook**: "*You have no chance. No chance at all.*"
— Discussion of breaking into Gringotts

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, Felicity Black, and Hermione Granger in order to steal one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes from the vault belonging to the Lestrange Family. The quartet 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 quartet broke into the bank with Hermione disguised as Bellatrix Lestrange, Ron and Flick were given fake identities as a disguise, while Harry and Griphook under the Invisibility Cloak. They found their way into the vault and acquired Hufflepuff's Cup, and in their attempt to escape ended up flying a half-blind dragon out of the bank in what would become a famous escape.

This break-in, 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.

## History

### Background Information

**Felicity Black**: "*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 explaining how he deduced the location of the Horcrux

After escaping Malfoy Manor in the spring of 1998, the quartet stayed at Shell Cottage for a period of time with Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Garrick 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, based on how frantic Bellatrix was during the interrogation, and thus needed a way to get into the vault in order to steal it. A plan was then conceived to break into Gringotts, during their stay at Shell Cottage.

## The Plan

### Bargain with 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.*"
— Griphook making his request for 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 the Sword of Gryffindor. As Bill Weasley explained to Harry, goblins have difference 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.

Harry reluctantly agreed to Griphook's ultimatum, though he planned to only hand it over after he, Ron, Flick, 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 race and wizards.

### 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 Lestrange

In the early hours of the morning of 1 May the quarter put their plan into action. Hermione used a strand of Bellatrix's hair, which had fallen onto her jumper when she and the others were being held at Malfoy Manor, to disguise herself as Bellatrix with Polyjuice Potion. Hermione stated that the potion tasted "*disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots*".

She also transfigured various aspect of Ron and Flick's appearances to disguise them as "Dragomir Despard" and "Lavinia Petran", both foreign wizards. Harry and Griphook hid under his Invisibility Cloak.

## The 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 Granger (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's haughty manner

When the quartet 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 No. 1" 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 visibly 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.

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. Travers' suspicions seemed easged, and he accompanied them into the bank.

### Getting Inside

"*Harry acted without thinking: pointing his wand at Travers, he muttered, "*Imperio!*" once more.*"
— Harry using the Imperius Curse on Travers and Bogrod to gain entry into the vault

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 two guards and Hermione passed by them unchecked, though their apparent confusion causes Travers a moment's pause, but did nothing further and continued on into the bank. When they reached the counters, Travers presented his key to the Goblin employees, who requested Bellatrix's identification.