Gringotts entry
"What in Merlin's name?" Professor Fig said as they turned around and found themselves in the room behind the enchanted crystal, which had large pillars and a desk with a sleeping goblin. "Godric's heart."
"Where are we?" Hermione asked.
"I don't believe it." Professor Fig said as they walked to the goblin and Fig woke him up.
"It can't be. Just a moment." The goblin said after waking up with a startled yell before getting down while mumbling before bowing. "Welcome to Gringott's Wizarding Bank. Vault number 12 I presume?"
"Precisely." Professor Fig said agreeing not wanting to know what would happen if he told the Goblin no.
"The key?" The goblin asked causing Fig to hand it over after Hermione reminded him about the portkey. "This way then."
"Stay close." Fig said as the Goblin whistled for a cart.
"After you." The goblin said with Hermione taking a deep breath to fortify herself before doing so. "Keep your hands inside the cart if you don't want to lose them."
"How many vaults are there at Gringotts?" Hermione asked to distract herself.
"Hundreds." The goblin said. "In fact you'll see quite a few on the way to Vault Number 12. As we speak we're just beneath the main lobby. The vaults you see now are the newest."
"Are private entrances to the bank common at Gringott's?" Fig asked.
"They are most uncommon." The Goblin said. "Only with great wealth or power - or both - could have arranged for such a service."
"You'll want to take a breath." The goblin said a few minutes later.
"A what?" Professor Fig said before they went through a waterfall. "That waterfall washes away all enchantments. It's a security measure."
"Experienced the Thief's Downfall before. Have you?" The goblin asked.
"Heard of it." Fig responded.
"These are the lower vaults we are passing now." The goblin said a few minutes later.
"How deep are we going?" Hermione asked.
"Vault number 12 was commissioned shortly after Gringotts was founded over four centuries ago. It resides in the deepest part of the bank." The goblin said. "Settle in, we've got quite a distance to go."
About ten minutes later they slowed to a stop from a security goblin that Hermione noticed had an armband glowing the same red she saw on the dragon's collar.
"Guard Number?" He asked.
"Vault 12." The goblin on their cart responded. "Momentous day."
"On your way." The guard said.
"Professor. " Hermione whispered to him. "That arm band the guard was wearing was glowing."
"Like the glow you saw on the portkey container?" Fig asked.
"No." Hermione said. "Darker. I saw that same glow on the dragon's collar."
"What was that?" The goblin asked.
"We were just wondering about that Goblin back there." Fig said.
"He watches over the oldest section of the bank." The goblin said. "Rare anyone goes there anymore."
A few minutes later they came to a stop.
"Here we are." The Goblin said as they got off.
"When was the last time this vault was accessed?" Professor Fig asked.
"A goblin has been stationed at my desk for hundreds of years." The goblin said. "In that time no one has visited vault 12 - until today."
"Sounds like a place you can find one of the ingredients for the animagus potion." Fig laughed. "One of the ingredients is dew that is gathered from a place untouched by sunlight or human feet for seven days. Professor Weasley went on a rant a few years ago about how hard it is to find ingredients with her busy schedule so she gave up."
'Becoming an animagus would help me sneak around to find a way back to the future.' Hermione thought as the goblin opened the vault. 'Maybe I should become one.'
"Vault 12." The goblin said standing to the side as they entered.
"Thank you for your help." Fig said.
"Yes thank you." Hermione said before turning to Professor Fig. "What do you suppose we should be looking for?"
"I'm not sure." Fig said before looking back at the goblin. "Sir, I wonder if you might -"
The instructions for Vault 12 indicate that I am to grant access to the holder of the key - and then close the door." The goblin said doing so before his muffled voice came through the door. "Best of luck."
"That was certainly unexpected." Professor Fig said after taking a deep breath,
"This is not good." Hermione said looking around though she did find some dew on a shelf, that she collected in case she got out.
"There must be something here. Hmm, let me think." Fig said thinking. "Revelio perhaps?"
"I thought we weren't allowed to use magic in Gringotts." Hermione asked.
"They locked us in the vault." Professor Fig said. "I think we can make an exception."
"Got it." Hermione said casting the spell and revealing a door with the glowing swirling flame symbol. "A door."
"Well that's a start." Fig said. "There's that symbol again. I don't suppose you see a way too -"
"I do Professor." Hermione said. "That symbol has the same glow I saw on the portkey container."
"If what you see reveals the way forward then I daresay we are about to learn the secret of this vault." Fig said. "Lead the way."
Hermione reached out and touched the symbol and everything went dark.
"Lumos." Fig said revealing there were in a different room with lots of pillars.
"This is no ordinary vault." Fig said. "I expect we'll need to earn our way out of here."
"So this is a test?" Hermione said not casting Lumos in case she needed to cast a different spell.
"I do, but to what end I can't say." Fig responded. "Stay close. There will be no disapparating if things go poorly - not out of Gringotts."
And with that they headed into the darkness.