The door closed behind them, shutting out the sound of the bustling lobby, and Harry found himself in a hallway running the entire back length of the building, filled with doors to what must be very small offices.
"Gropegold's office is right down there," the goblin said, "third on the left from the end."
Harry turned to thank his guide only to find that the little man had vanished.
Feeling decidedly uncomfortable, Harry headed down the hallway. The slight rustle of his robes on the carpet was the only sound that disturbed the oppressive quiet.
Just as he reached the third door from the end another suited goblin - this one with long white hair - came bursting out of it. Harry had to jump back or be trampled.
"Make way, make way!" it said, hurrying down the hallway in a rush.
"Mr. Gropegold?" Harry asked.
"Too important to talk," the goblin cried with a wave of his hand.
"I'm Harry Potter," he called after the little man, "I think you work for me?"
Gropegold stopped and slowly turned, his beady eyes staring at him.
"Nice try," the goblin said with a smirk. "I don't know how you got in here but I don't have time to deal with an impostor like you. Best be gone if you know what's good for you."
"But I am Harry."
"I don't know who you are, but I assure you, no Harry Potter would ever be approaching me for anything," Gropegold said definitively.
'This doesn't make any sense,' Harry thought.
Just then the door behind Gropegold opened and the bald goblin from before stepped out.
"What's all this noise?" he demanded.
"Overseer Barchoke!" Gropegold exclaimed, a new unctuous tone entering his voice. "What a pleasure to see you on this level, sir."
"Ah, Mr. Potter, a pleasure to have you," he said as Harry stepped closer. "What brings you to Gringotts?" the Overseer asked as if he hadn't just spoken to him minutes before.
Catching on to what his role was supposed to be here, Harry told the goblin what he already knew.
"I received a letter saying it was important for me to see Mr. Gropegold here today, but when I arrived he said he was too important to talk to me."
"Really?" the Overseer asked, steely gaze shifting to the goblin in question. "Is this how Gringotts treats valued clients now?"
Gropegold gave the Overseer his falsest smile.
"You know how these little heirs are, sir. Always in a hurry to grow up, always wanting money for something, always thinking their wants are the greatest thing in the world, always wanting to take over the account before it's time-"
"And isn't it your duty to see that he's ready when the time comes?" Barchoke interrupted.
"A task I leave to his able guardian, sir. Little tyke must've given them the slip. I'll see him back where he belongs-"
"And where might that be?" Barchoke demanded. "Just who is this able guardian?"
"You know I can't divulge sensitive information, sir," Gropegold said in his stuffiest voice.
"I do," Barchoke smiled, a mere display of his pointed teeth. "I also know it wasn't listed in his file or written on any of the transfer forms for today when I checked them last night."
"You- you checked my files ?" the color drained from Gropegold's face.
A door across the hall opened on a goblin dressed in black and an old warlock with a face that looked hacked from an old stump. Whoever they were they certainly weren't who Gropegold expected to come out of that office as his eyes took on a distinctly panicked look.
"A cursory glance," the new goblin said, his red eyes alight. "A thorough examination should find the answers we seek."
"Auditor Axegrind. Litigator Lichfield," Gropegold said breathlessly. "S-surely you don't think I've done anything-. Su-surely some sort of arrangement can be made here," he said to the group.
"Next he'll try paying us with our own gold," the wizened warlock said. The goblin in black nodded, his lip beginning to curl.
"How could we not check your files," the Overseer asked, angling himself between Harry and his accountant. "Especially when Mr. Potter's most curious letter arrived in the middle of an Overseer's meeting?"
"It seems," Auditor Axegrind said, taking up a position to flank the rogue accountant, "young Mr. Potter was unaware whether he had any investments with us, and had severe doubts as to whether or not you exist. Tell me, citizen Gropegold-"
Gropegold's face turned ashen.
"-Do you bleed?"
The goblin turned and fled. Barely two steps down the hall the warlock struck, a flick of his wand had the panicked goblin suspended in midair by his ankle. Up and down the hall doors opened and goblins in scarlet and gold sprang out. Another flick had the former account manager land on his face hard, as the goblins swarmed.
"You can't do this to me!" the lone goblin cried.