In a sense, Annie was already very, very familiar with the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley before her and the bustling crowds of wizards.
So this time, she had no need for a kindly "bucktoothed girl" to guide her. She easily found the place she wanted all by herself.
And sure enough...
Before long, she arrived before an enormous building that towered over the shops around it in the center of Diagon Alley. Snow-white from top to bottom, with a gleaming Bronze Door, it looked like a magical castle from a fairy tale.
That was right!
This was Gringotts, the wizarding bank—the tallest, largest, and most distinctive building in all of Diagon Alley, without exception!
"..."
ε=(ο｀*))) Sigh.
"I'm back again! I kind of missed this place!"
() Hehe.
Looking at the huge building, which was a little more luxurious than its neighbors, and remembering some of her past "great achievements" here, Annie found it all increasingly amusing. Ignoring the goblin guard in his Crimson-and-Gold Uniform, who dared to look down his nose at her yet bowed haughtily as she entered, she cheered and trotted straight inside.
Soon enough!
She reached the second set of silver doors and once again saw the following inscription engraved upon them:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits insatiable greed,
Those who take without earning their share
Shall face the harshest punishment there.
So if you seek from our vaults below
A fortune that was never yours to own,
Thief, you have been warned: beware,
Not treasure, but retribution awaits you there.
"..."
"..."
Seeing Annie stop and stare at the inscription on the Silver Door without moving on, the two goblins guarding this second entrance exchanged a glance. Then one stepped forward, bowed to her, and spoke:
"Esteemed young guest!"