"It will serve as payment for hiring you, and as a gesture of my sincerity."
In a private room at Shelter No. 2, Harry handed the Gryffindor's Sword to the goblins before him, whose expressions were complicated, and gave them a reason to cooperate with his plan. "I think you can tell that this Gryffindor's Sword is genuine."
"Yes, it's genuine."
Yet neither goblin looked pleased. They felt that Harry had never intended to honor his promise and hand over the Gryffindor's Sword.
"I understand your concerns. We can make an Unbreakable Vow. You help us enter the Lestrange Vault and retrieve the Hufflepuff's Cup hidden inside, and I will give you the Gryffindor's Sword as payment for helping me obtain the cup."
"Hufflepuff's Cup? Are you sure the Lestrange Vault contains something like that?" The two goblins exchanged glances.
There was no helping it—Harry Potter was simply too sincere.
If he was willing to make an Unbreakable Vow, that meant he had never considered breaking the agreement.
Only...
"Yes, it does. If you really want to know why we're willing to trade this sword for the cup, I can tell you, but I doubt you'd want to know."
"Enough. Take it or leave it. We've already shown enough sincerity, so don't keep pushing your luck," Ron said, cutting off the goblins' thoughts at just the right moment.
"We agree."
Things went even more smoothly than Harry had expected.
Of course, that was also because this was the goblins' only chance in nearly a thousand years to reclaim the Gryffindor's Sword. They could not possibly give up such an opportunity so easily. As for why Harry wanted that cup, it had nothing to do with the goblins.
Especially since Harry Potter was willing to make an Unbreakable Vow with them,