Gringotts Bank

From Hpwiki

1 Description
2 Function in the Books
3 Links
4 References

Description

Gringotts is the one and only wizard bank. It is a tall, white building with bronze doors, standing part way down Diagon Alley. It is staffed by goblins. To ward off thieves, there is a notice above the internal silver doors:

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.

Gringotts' interior is marble, with approximately one hundred cashiers. Both wizarding money and muggle money is accepted, as are gemstones. The bank has an international presence, with business deals taking place as far away as Egypt, or even further. The vaults underneath (which come in various security levels) are accessible by a rail cart system, akin to a roller coaster ride in a mineshaft. In addition to curses, enchantments and high-security locks, the vaults are protected by dragons. Despite this, break-ins are not unknown; they make front-page news in the Daily Prophet.

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Function in the Books

In Book One, Harry collects money from his parents' vault to pay for his school equipment, clothing and books. Hagrid picks up a mysterious package from vault seven hundred and thirteen, which turns out to be the Philosopher's Stone.

In Book Six, we learn that Bill Weasley has moved from his position as curse-breaker in Egypt to a job at their branch in London, and that Fleur Delacour has been working for the bank "for my Eenglish".

In Book Seven, Harry, Ron and Hermione break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault with the help of Griphook, the goblin. They do so because they are seeking Hufflepuff's Cup, one of the seven Horcruxes.

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