Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

But nothing happened. The old goblin was clearly an experienced driver — that was why he dared to go so fast!

Gringotts goblins were all known for their speed. Evan had already learned this from his previous visits to Gringotts’ vaults. He still remembered how, last time, Griphook had told them with a sly grin that there was only one speed for the carts. That was also why most wizards disliked visiting the Gringotts vaults — few could endure that dizzying, stomach-turning ride. Yet compared with this old goblin, the younger ones were actually rather slow. Today, Evan finally understood that.

The cart didn’t just have one fixed speed; there were faster settings. It was only that the younger goblins had yet to grasp that fact.

Speed itself had no limit; it was only that every goblin had his own threshold, and pushing past it allowed them to surpass themselves.

Perhaps… there was still an even greater speed. Driving the carts might look simple, but in this respect, the younger goblins still had a great deal to learn.

For the passengers, however, none of them would wish for the cart to go any faster. As it was, this was already more than enough.

Evan clutched Hermione and Elaine tightly; he felt he was close to his own limit.

If he encountered a trap now, he wouldn’t have the chance to disarm it in advance.

Fortunately, he didn’t encounter any defensive measures.

They sped ever downward, and after a sharp, sudden turn the cart finally began to slow.

The friction between the wheels and the tracks sent out dazzling sparks.

At last, the little cart rolled to a gentle halt in the darkness.

Evan recognized this place. The last time he had come with Sirius to the Black family vault, they had passed through here. They had had to continue on foot, crossing past a dragon, then take another cart to go even deeper, down to the molten rock at the heart of the underground. That was Gringotts’ most secure core — every ancient Wizarding family’s vault lay buried in the magma.

In this way, these vaults located in the magma were fully protected. There was no other way to enter except to open the vault door from the front.

The methods for opening the doors of these ancient vaults varied: some required a key, some a spell, others something else entirely. Unlike the upper-level vaults, the doors to the deepest vaults were a mystery even to the goblins themselves; only the descendants of those old Wizarding families knew how to open them.

If a family line died out, the method of opening the vault was lost as well, and its contents would remain sealed away forever, becoming part of Gringotts’ wealth.

As for anyone who might, by chance, come into possession of the method and try to take what lay within — there was no way.

The goblins would never allow it. Knowing the method alone was useless; first, you had to be a rightful heir of that Wizarding family.

The Lestrange vault was not in the very deepest core. They would reach it after passing the dragon ahead; there was no need to change carts again.

A thousand years ago, the Lestranges had not yet been a particularly prominent Wizarding family, and their vault was not set so deep. Even so, Evan was quite interested in what lay inside. Apart from the cup, the Lestrange family heirlooms, and Bellatrix’s personal collection, the vault was said to be piled high with gold.

Sirius had once told them that the Black family vault was overflowing with gold.

But the last time they’d been there, they’d seen no gold or valuables, only a pile of strange Dark magic items and a miscellany of objects inscribed with the Black family crest. Then, the goblin Griphook told them that before Sirius’s mother, Lady Walburga Black, died, she had divided the Black family vault’s treasures between Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy.

Because there had been so many items, it had taken them two full days to empty the vault.

That was why one could expect great things from the Lestrange family vault.

Following the old goblin forward through the darkness, Evan kept his hold on Bellatrix. In truth, the Lestrange vault was not the only one that intrigued him. Now that he was here, his thoughts began to stir. Deepest in Gringotts lay yet another vault — Vault One: the Slytherin family vault!

He had been intensely curious about that vault ever since his last visit.

It wasn’t just a question of what a powerful wizard like Salazar Slytherin might have kept in a vault; it also concerned the key to the secret treasure.

Cunning Slytherin, born of the swamplands! He trusted only wizards of the purest blood — no Mudblood could ever gain anything from him! The key to the treasure was a power of overwhelming might, kept in the deepest depths of the earth by his sly and treacherous servant!

Considering the clues Salazar Slytherin had left on the wall, it was highly likely that the key had been left in that very underground vault at Gringotts. While Evan’s current clues didn’t point there, the outcome was uncertain; no one could determine the key’s exact whereabouts.

The tests left by the shrewd Slytherin were as difficult as expected, all related to the evil god.

After destroying the evil god’s eyes, body, and brain, there still remained a soul lurking in another dimension waiting for them.

Besides the dangers of the entire process, there was no mention of any clues to the treasure key.

Perhaps Slytherin had intended to give the clue to his successor who successfully passed the test at the end, asking him to retrieve it from a certain location.

For example, Vault One under Gringotts would be the most suitable place.

A thousand years ago, goblins had indeed served Salazar Slytherin for a time — a connection that fit well with the image of a cunning and treacherous servant.

As for the depths of the earth, what place could be deeper than this?

Many clues matched this place. If Evan had even a bit of luck, he could save himself a great deal of trouble.

Besides the Twin Serpent Staff, he was now carrying all the magical items left by Salazar Slytherin; perhaps among them was the very key that could open the vault’s door. Most crucial of all, he had Elaine with him — she was, in name, the heir of the Slytherin line, and by lineage was even purer than Voldemort himself.

Evan knew this would be an unplanned move, but what reason did he have not to go to Vault One and try his luck?

With that thought, Evan quickly drew up a new plan — a plan to enter Gringotts’ Vault One.

“Careful, Lord Lestrange — don’t go any farther!” the old goblin warned.

Only then did Evan realize that they had reached the dragon.

The others had all stopped in their tracks, but he, lost in thought about entering Vault One, had gone on ahead, still leading Bellatrix forward.

The half-blind dragon seemed to have caught their scent and was swaying unsteadily as it rose to its feet.

Its eyes were milkily pink; both rear legs bore heavy cuffs from which chains led to enormous pegs driven deep into the rocky floor. Its great spiked wings, folded close to its body, would have filled the chamber if it spread them. Then, as if finally identifying the intruders, the dragon turned its ugly head toward them, roared with a noise that made the rock tremble, opened its mouth, and spat a jet of fire that sent them running back up the passageway.