CHAPDISC: DH26, Gringotts

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 184109


Jen wrote: 

> Touche. <g>  I have to agree when re-reading both paragraphs. 
> 
> Here's what I'm thinking about goblins after reading all the posts.  
> The only goblins who matter in the story are the Gringotts goblins.   
> Griphook is an exception to this particular group, as Zara said, 
> because he consents to help the Trio violate Gringotts.  Yes, he 
> demands payment in return for his help, unlike a more selfless Dobby 
> or Firenze, but ultimately he helps even more than the centaurs by 
> making it possible for Harry to recover an impossible-to-obtain 
> Horcrux. (Kreacher is another example of one willing to help Harry 
> when promised something in return.)  
> 
> Plus, I think there IS at least one goblin who cares about the 
> wizarding war.  Griphook knows what's going down despite all his 
> harsh talk about wizards.  He's seen firsthand what life under LV 
> will be like.  He manages to both help Harry *and* get something he 
> wants (briefly) *and* make it impossible for Voldemort to trace back 
> any help from the goblins, ensuring no reprisals if Harry loses.  
> Griphook's one smart cookie.
>
Carol responds:
I disagree. Yes, Griphook is an exception in that he happens to fall
into the company of Wizards, rescued in part by them and in part by a
House-Elf, but I think that almost any Goblin, especially a Gringotts
Goblin, would have behaved as he did. (They're all clever and obsessed
with treasure, as far as I can see. Look at the Goblins and Ludo
Bagman, for example.)

The thing about Griphook is that he's helping HRH, all right--helping
them get *in* to Gringotts and the vault so that he can get the sword.
But he has no interest in helping them to get safely *out* again or in
helping them to steal the cup. In fact, he joins in the chase after
the thieves that he aided, no doubt claiming that he was forced to do
so under the Imperius Curse (or perhaps telling the truth--that he
tricked them into thinking that he was helping in order to retrieve
the true sword, expecting them to be trapped there).

He's leading them to the treasure (and urging them on in their
commission of a crime) with no intention whatever of letting them get
away with it--or even survive. Some friend and ally! If he'd
succeeded, the Goblins would have had not only the Sword of Gryffindor
but the cup that HRH were attempting to steal and three young Wizards
would be dead or, at best, prisoners of the Goblins and the DEs.
Griphook is clever all right. Diabollically clever.

Carol, very happy that the enchantment on the sword returned it to the
Wizards in the end