Dudley's expression grew gravely serious.
The evil aura he sensed was far more potent now, a sharp escalation from before. Whoever was hiding nearby was close, their emotions spiraling, betraying their presence through a surge of uncontrolled energy.
Could it be… A thought struck Dudley as Griphook's finger neared the bottom of Vault 713's door, moments from opening it. The hidden figure's target was likely whatever lay inside.
That explained why they'd been followed and why the malevolent aura flared just as the vault was about to open.
"Wait!" Dudley blurted out, urgency overriding caution.
"What?" Griphook's hand froze, and he turned to Dudley with a scowl.
"Kid, what're you playing at?" Hagrid growled, his patience wearing thin. His mission was already behind schedule, and now this boy was causing further delays.
"I have a question," Dudley said, struggling to keep his voice steady to avoid alerting the hidden watcher.
"What question?" Hagrid snapped, his tone sharp with irritation.
Ignoring Hagrid, Dudley stepped forward to stand before Griphook, his heart pounding.
"What do you want?" Griphook asked, his gaze cold and suspicious.
In a hushed voice, Dudley said, "About twenty meters to the left, behind that large stalactite, someone's been tracking us."
Griphook and Hagrid froze, startled, while Harry looked utterly confused beside them.
"They might be here to rob Gringotts," Dudley added, his voice low but firm.
He had no choice but to alert the authorities; the situation was beyond his ability to handle alone.
"Kid, do you realize what you're saying? Rob Gringotts? Are you mad?" Hagrid's face darkened, half-convinced Dudley was pulling a prank, though he kept his voice low.
All along, Hagrid had boasted about Gringotts' impregnability, insisting no one could steal from it. Now, Dudley's claim felt like a direct challenge to his assurances.
"Sir," Griphook said, his tone laced with arrogance, "do you understand the gravity of your accusation? No one can sneak into Gringotts, let alone rob it. You'd best know what you're talking about."
"Mr. Griphook," Dudley replied, his voice steady and authoritative, drawing on his Arbitrator's presence and a lawyer's persuasiveness, "Gringotts maintains its reputation by never dismissing potential threats. That's why it's remained unbreached for so long. Are you really willing to ignore my warning? If something goes wrong, you'll be the one held accountable."
The evil aura felt too dangerous, and Dudley's ingrained caution refused to let such a threat go unchecked.
Griphook's expression shifted, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. This child, barely taller than him, spoke with an unsettling conviction. If anyone else had made such a claim, he'd have dismissed it outright, but Dudley's words carried an unexpected weight.
"Fine, I'll check," Griphook said after a moment's thought.
Hagrid frowned at Dudley, torn between skepticism and an odd sense that the boy's words rang true, though coming from a Dursley, it felt absurd.
"You'd better not be messing about, lad," Hagrid warned. "If you're wasting Dumbledore's time, you're done for. Gringotts doesn't take kindly to pranks."
Dudley met Hagrid's gaze. "You don't want anything to jeopardize Professor Dumbledore's top-secret mission, do you?"
Hagrid's hand slipped into his pocket, gripping the tattered umbrella he'd used earlier, his eyes narrowing. "The consequences for fooling around here are serious, boy."
Griphook gave Dudley a final glance before turning toward the stalactite Dudley had indicated.
"I suggest you alert Gringotts," Dudley urged.
"If you're lying, the punishment might be light," Griphook said coolly, "but if I notify Gringotts and you're wrong…"
"Notify them," Dudley said, his voice unwavering.
Griphook hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pressed a magical device hidden there—a security measure to summon Gringotts' personnel in case of anomalies. Without another word, he strode toward the stalactite.
Dudley began to back away slowly. Griphook's brazen approach was reckless; the hidden figure likely sensed the disturbance already. Dudley needed distance to stay safe.
"What're you doing?" Harry whispered, bewildered. Was Dudley pranking Gringotts? It seemed crazier than joking about a bomb on a plane.
"Quiet and follow me," Dudley hissed, pulling Harry back with him.
To Griphook and Hagrid, everything seemed normal. They sensed no danger, convinced Dudley was stirring trouble to make a fool of them. They only humored him to prove him wrong.
This was Gringotts, the safest place in the wizarding world—or, in Hagrid's mind, second only to Hogwarts.
Tap, tap, tap… Griphook's small steps echoed as he approached the stalactite.
Dudley's eyes remained fixed on the spot, bracing for the hidden figure's reaction. He had done all he could to prepare.
I hope it's just some petty thief, he thought, his pulse quickening.
"No one's here, kid," Griphook called, nearing the stalactite. "You'd better—"
A chill shot down Dudley's spine. Evil, madness, coldness, and fear crashed over him, a tidal wave of negative emotions that made his scalp prickle.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A blinding green light erupted from the darkness, striking Griphook. The sneer on his face froze as the spell hit, his body collapsing lifelessly.
In that moment, time seemed to stretch into eternity. The brilliant green light consumed everyone's vision, searing itself into their minds.
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