Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

The group arrived at the foot of the marble steps leading up to the great bronze doors. The place had changed. The liveried goblins who usually flanked the entrance had been replaced by two wizards from the new Ministry, both of whom were clutching long thin golden rods.

Several wizards were queuing there for inspection, waiting to enter Gringotts.

“Probity Probes!” Evan whispered, slowing his pace. “I didn’t expect they’d set this up.”

“What’s this thing?” Elaine asked

“It’s a device that can detect concealment spells and hidden magical objects.”

“And how do they use it — stick the rod in somewhere?” Elaine’s voice carried a trace of mockery.

“No, Elaine, that’s what the rod is for in other situations. They just need to move the probe over your body to detect any concealment spells or dishonest thoughts. This device won’t work with Polyjuice Potion, and if your Occlumency is good enough, it won’t detect anything either,” said Evan. “Still to be safe, we’d better use a little trick. Hermione, do you think you can use a Confundus Charm on them?”

“No problem!” said Hermione. As she moved closer behind Evan, she drew her wand from her pocket, pointed it at each of the two guards outside Gringotts in turn, and murmured, “Confundo!”

Each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them.

“Brilliant, Hermione — beautifully done! Not many witches or wizards can cast such a perfect Confundus Charm!” Evan praised her as he climbed the last few steps.

He didn’t pause at the door, but headed straight into Gringotts.

“One moment, sir!” said the guard, raising his Probe.

“But you’ve just done that!” said Evan in Rodolphus’s arrogant voice. “Or do you think that my brother and I, the Dark Lord’s most loyal servants, need extra checks to enter Gringotts?”

“No, of course not…” the guard said hurriedly, seeming a little confused. He stared down at the thin golden Probe in his hand, and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice,

“Yeah, you’ve just checked them! Lord Lestrange, you may enter.”

“I have my doubts about your attitude, both of you. I’ll be personally speaking to the Minister about this matter…” Evan insisted to the two guards who were scratching their heads. He let Harry go first and did not enter immediately. Instead, he paused at the door to buy Hermione and Elaine time to pass under the Invisibility Cloak. “The Ministry stationed you here not so you could —”

“What’s going on here? What happened, Rodolphus? Did these two scumbags make you angry?”

At this moment, a cold woman’s voice sounded behind Evan.

Evan turned around, his heart skipping a beat as he saw Bellatrix, pale and haughty, slowly walking towards him along the marble steps. Behind her, a house-elf struggled to keep up with her, holding a long sword.

That was… the Sword of Gryffindor!

But it was only a fake. Evan didn’t sense the Cyclops’s characteristically violent magical power on the scabbard.

He glanced at the fake sword and returned his gaze to Bellatrix.

Evan opened his mouth, unsure how to address the suddenly appearing Bellatrix.

Damn it — of all people, why her here?!

Should he call her by her name… or something more intimate, like “dear”?

Given that the man he was impersonating — Rodolphus Lestrange — was, in name at least, Bellatrix’s husband, a more familiar form of address ought to be natural… right?

By that same logic, was he supposed to kiss her?

But as far as Evan knew, the relationship between Rodolphus and Bellatrix had always been lukewarm, virtually non-existent. He probably didn’t need to risk any gestures of affection!

Their marriage had been a purely political alliance between two pure-blood families, with no emotional foundation. Years of imprisonment in Azkaban had given them little real contact. And Bellatrix’s fanatical devotion to Voldemort had long since left no room in her eyes for any other man. The mere existence of Voldemort’s daughter was proof enough of the true nature of her “marriage” to Rodolphus!

But running into Bellatrix here was still awful, truly awful.

Evan hadn’t expected to run into Bellatrix at the Gringotts entrance by chance. Behind him, Harry, Hermione, and Elaine, who were about to enter, all stopped and looked at Evan and Bellatrix worriedly.

“Some filth never learns to accept reality. There’s far too much Mudblood scum on this street. We ought to cleanse it as soon as possible,” said Bellatrix in her coldly superior tone as she came up beside Evan. She raised her wand toward the two guards. “And as for you, disrespect to the Dark Lord’s servants is disrespect to the Dark Lord himself. Crucio!”

The guards let out a terrifying scream, falling to the floor, writhing and convulsing violently.

Their hoarse, desperate screams filled the air, while Bellatrix laughed in delight, clearly satisfied with their suffering.

“All right, Bella!” Evan couldn’t stand it any longer. He gave a sharp, sweeping flick of Rodolphus’s wand, ending the curse. The two guards lay gasping on the ground, half-dead from the pain.

“They weren’t being disrespectful to me, they were only —”

“Too weak, Rodolphus. You almost sound as if you’re afraid. How pathetic — always the same. I’ve warned you often enough. Or do you think it doesn’t matter, that the honor of the Lestrange name is already worthless? Don’t forget who you are. We are Death Eaters, the Dark Lord’s most trusted servants. You can only win his favor by showing greater strength.”

Bellatrix broke off abruptly, her face suddenly leaning in close to Evan’s, “Wait… you look a little… strange?”

“Really? I’m probably just exhausted — didn’t get much rest last night, you know.” Evan stepped a little closer, fixing his eyes on Bellatrix’s. He began to attempt a subtle blend of the Imperius Curse and Legilimency. He wasn’t particularly skilled at casting either spell this way, so he didn’t dare try to seize full control of her, nor probe too deeply into her mind. But he could manage to plant a few misleading hints, a few gentle suggestions, “Didn’t sleep well… last night’s… exertions went on far too long. I’m really worn out…”

“Idiot! Stay away from me; you’re making me uncomfortable!” Bellatrix snapped shrilly. “Those worthless vermin will link your behavior with me. Your and your brother’s foolishness will drag me down, just like Malfoy’s recent, unforgivable blunders. The Dark Lord is already beginning to lose faith in us. This morning that old crone he brought back from Germany actually dared to give me orders! We must do something to win back his trust! I heard you’ve got information about the whereabouts of Mason and Potter? Some fellow claiming to be from the Bulstrode family said he saw them both?”

“No. That whelp was talking nonsense. We made sure he paid the price for it,” said Evan softly, though he couldn’t help being intrigued by Bellatrix’s mention of the Dark witch who had dared to give her orders.