Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 144: Breaking Gringotts
"So we only need to take the item from Bellatrix Lestrange vault?" Harry asked.
"In theory, yes," Dudley replied with a half-smile. "But in practice, it's proven to be difficult. I asked Sirius to try reclaiming that vault and even sent the proof from ministry about lestrange who had been imprisoned but so far, it's failed."
Harry studied Dudley expression. He knew his cousin well enough to recognize that look, the calm surface hiding something more.
"You already have a way, don't you?" Harry asked, curiosity creeping into his voice.
Dudley smile widened.
"Yes," Dudley said simply. "I do."
Harry had suspected it, but hearing the confirmation still sent a jolt through him. "What's the plan?"
"We break into Gringotts," Dudley said smoothly. "And take the item ourselves."
Harry stared at him. "Are you kidding me?"
"Nope," Dudley replied without hesitation. "I'm completely serious."
"But the goblins... no, the entire wizarding world will be furious," Harry warned. "We'd be making enemies of everyone."
"I know," Dudley said calmly. "But I have a solution."
That caught Harry attention. "What kind of solution?"
Instead of answering, Dudley raised his hand and held up his middle finger, he wasn't giving harry the middle finger but that finger is where the sling ring located, strange metallic ring etched with unfamiliar symbols.
Harry blinked. "What is that?"
Without a word, Dudley rotated his hand in a smooth circular motion. Sparks erupted forming a glowing circle in the air. On the other side of the ring circle, Harry could feel a very cold wind and it reveal a frozen wasteland on the other side.
Antarctica.
"Bloody hell," Harry muttered instinctively
"Pretty cool, right?" Dudley said casually. Before stepping through, he silently cast a warming charm on himself because the temperature on antartica is no joke. "Come on, follow me."
Harry hesitated for only a second before stepping through the portal. The moment he crossed over, icy air bit into his skin, making he had difficulty in breathing.
"Merlin, it's freezing!" Harry exclaimed, shivering.
"Of course it is, my dearest cousin," Dudley replied calmly. "The temperature here is around minus nineteen degrees Celsius. Sometimes it drops to minus thirty."
Harry stared at him. "Then how are you fine?"
Dudley smirked. "I'm a wizard, Harry."
Then, in a mocking imitation of Hagrid voice, he added, "Ye're a wizard, Herry."
Harry groaned. The cold was making his limbs stiff and something felt very that he felt he was almost turned into ice.
"Alright, alright," Dudley said, waving his wand. "Here you go."
Warmth enveloped Harry body instantly.
"Oh, wow," Harry said, looking down at himself. "The cold gone."
"Neat, isn't it?" Dudley asked. "So, what do you think of portal magic?"
Harry eyes widened in realization. "Dudley… you mean you can open a portal directly into Gringotts?"
"Yes," Dudley replied with a grin. "They have anti-Apparition wards for goblins and humans, but no anti-portal wards."
With another circular motion, Dudley closed the Antarctic portal and opened a new one.
Beyond it lay darkness, stone structure and endless metal vault doors.
They are just inside Gringotts.
The sling ring magic was terrifying especially for those wizard in Harry Potter universe. Not just that, they can even open portal anywhere even in a place that they never visited before.
That is why Dudley easily entering Gringotts there was even a muggle which coincidentally Peter Parker best friend in another universe, Ned had once found Peter simply by calling his name while doing a rotating hand motion.
Although he can directly did the same thing like what Ned had done, but he took precaution and visiting the front vault of Potter family.
This is the deepest levels of Gringotts and many pureblood families had vaults here, including the Potters.
Dudley glanced back at the portal and signaled him to follow him"Let's go, Harry."
Without another word, he stepped through the portal.
Harry followed him without question, the moment he stepped through the portal, Harry found himself in a place that felt eerily familiar.
Stone walls stretched around him, illuminated by flickering torches. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the scent of soil and metal. Ahead of him stood a massive reinforced door made of enchanted metal, one he recognized immediately.
If he wasn't mistaken, this was the entrance to the Potter family vault.
"Familiar place, isn't it?" Dudley commented with sneer on his face.
"You're right," Harry replied, swallowing nervously. His eyes darted around the corridor. "We're… really inside Gringotts."
"Yes," Dudley said without a hint of unease. "The deepest level, to be exact."
As Harry was still trying to steady himself, Dudley reached into his pocket and handed him a smooth, dark mask.
"Put this on," Dudley said.
Harry turned the mask over in his hands. "What's this for?"
"A precaution," Dudley explained. "If we run into goblins, they'll recognize our faces. This mask will cover your entire face and distort your magical signature. Better to be safe while we destroy the Horcrux."
Harry nodded and put it on, feeling a faint warmth spread across his skin as the enchantment activated.
"Now," Dudley continued, "try to locate the Lestrange family vault."
Harry hesitated. "I… I don't know how, Dudley."
"We don't have another option," Dudley replied firmly.
Without waiting, he activated his Gamer Mind. His vision sharpened instantly as he cast Revelio and overlaid it with the internal map from his game interface. The world seemed to show something around him.
Then he heard it.
Ring. A clear, unmistakable sound because those who had played Hogwarts Legacy would look around for any possible treasure, field guide or enemy in his surrounding when they heard this sound.
In the system, that sound meant only one thing, an artifact or treasure was nearby.
Not only that, the system provided a faint outline through walls and barriers. Dudley focused, pushing his perception deeper until he could see it clearly, normally for artifcat or treasure it would give a blue hue color, inside a distant vault, glowing with a strange crimson hue, was a small object.
A cup and he believed this is Hufflepuff cup.
Dudley deactivated Gamer Mind and turned toward Harry. "I've found it."
Before Harry could respond, Dudley rotated his hand in a familiar circular motion. Space twisted and a portal opened directly into the Lestrange family vault.
They stepped through and Harry froze once again.
The sheer amount of gold and artifacts inside dwarfed even the Potter vault. Piles of coins glittered like small mountains and priceless treasures were stacked carelessly around the room.
Harry could only stare. "This… this is insane."
"Welcome to the wealth of a pureblood family," Dudley said with a faint smile.
Harry let out a small, nervous chuckle. "So… do you know which one it is?"
"Yes," Dudley replied, pointing calmly. "That cup."
Harry followed his gaze and felt a chill crawl up his spine. "Do we need a basilisk fang?"
"Don't worry," Dudley said confidently. "I have one prepared. We can destroy it easily."
He paused, glancing around the vault. "But honestly, it'd be a waste to leave all this behind."
Harry thoughts clicked into place. If this wealth ever returned to the hands of Death Eaters, it could fund another war.
"You're right," Harry said firmly. "We should take it."
Dudley nodded. "Agreed."
He swept his hand downward. This time, the portal opened beneath the treasure like a gaping void. Gold, artifacts, and treasures were pulled into it, vanishing in seconds.
Suddenly, a sharp ringing echoed through the vault, high-pitched bell and instantly Dudley knows that it was goblin method to find intruder.
Harry flinched. "What was that?"
"A detection spell or intruder spell," Dudley replied calmly. "The goblins have noticed something is wrong with this vault."
He turned sharply. "Follow me."
Dudley jumped into the portal without hesitation. Harry followed immediately and they both vanished.
Ten minutes later, a goblin inspector arrived at the Lestrange vault.
He stared in stunned silence at the empty chamber because every last coin was gone.