He turned just in time to see the Boes attacking Hoptax, whom had already been stung once and was lying on the ground. He raised his wand and managed to Vanish them, too. However, they really did not Vanish, so much as that they just had to reform, because as soon as Harry Vanished them, they came back. Sensing danger, it was free-for-all with the Boes now as all of them attacked.
                              
Harry used the Vanishing Spell several more times, but as he got one that was an inch from Hoptax, one came up from behind him and leapt right through him. He fell to the ground again and felt his energy being drained. He was unable to Vanish a Boe that attacked Hoptax, who was on the ground. He was not going to win. These things seem to drain a wizard of his powers, he thought. Just like... a dementor!
                              
Harry managed to get to his feet. The Patronus Charm might do it, but did he have the power to do it? He needed mental power and a very strong, happy memory, but he did not think he had any more of them. He tried thinking of Ron and Hermione, but it was not enough, only a thin wisp of silvery air came out. The Boes were advancing on him, again. He would not be able to try again if he failed. He searched his memory... Sirius! He's alive! He fixed his thoughts on Sirius's handsome, laughing face and....
                              
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!" he yelled and a silvery stag came out of his wand. 
                              
It charged the Boes and sent them scurrying. It rounded all around them and the Boes soared away. Harry could see one bounding over the pond, escaping, and saw some creature pop up out of the water and then back down. He went over to Hoptax, who was shaking, to see if he was all right. He bended over to check and Hoptax slowly got up. The stag had come to a rest behind Harry. It was standing over his shoulder, as though ready to protect him if anything attacked. Harry reached out, and let his finger's glide along its silvery surface.
                              
The squeal of brakes startled him, and Harry looked up as a cart with three goblins in it came to a stop right above. 
                              
"There they are!" yelled one of the goblins.
                              
He turned back around as the stag was starting to fade, and said softly, "Bye, thanks again."
                              
"Boes attacked us! He drove them off! Hurry! Get us out of here! NOW!" shouted Hoptax, still afraid that the Boes would return. 
                              
"Right away!" they called back. 
                              
Harry said nothing and was wondering how they were going to get back up, when invisible ropes carefully lifted him off the ground. They both floated up to the cart and landed gently inside. Two of the goblins were directing their progress into the cart. The third goblin was ready at the controls and as soon as they were in, they sped up to the main hall at full speed. Hoptax was talking to them in Gobbledegook.
                              
When they had finished, one of them turned to him and said, "We went looking for you both after you didn't return. We heard the crash and headed in your direction and we saw that silvery animal." 
                              
"Is that what you used to drive off the Boes?" another goblin asked inquisitively. 
                              
"Yes, it's the Patronus Charm. Are there a lot of those things here?" asked Harry, shivering from the heavy breeze on his soaking wet clothes.
                              
"Only in certain areas. We make sure they don't get near the vaults, but occasionally they do wander closer, but they always give warning when they are around," said the goblin at the control. 
                              
They did not say anything else until they reached the main hall and the goblin, who was in charge in the bank, came to meet them, as well as many other goblins, who had abandoned their tasks. By the looks of it, the goblins had forced the other customers outside. The head goblin was talking to the others from the cart. 
                              
Harry could not understand what they were saying, so he started to dry off by wringing out his clothes, trying to get all the water out. When he did the best he could, he stared at the goblins, almost impatiently. They faced him after they finished talking.
                              
"Mr. 'otter," said the head of the bank in a heavy accent. He was probably not use to dealing with customers. "Ve're so sorry fer t'is, come o'er 'ere an' seet down." 
                              
He led Harry through a pair of gold doors on the opposite end of the entrance. It was a beautifully decorated office with a well-kept art collection. It was clearly meant to impress. One of the goblins brought Harry a cup of tea. 
                              
"A-gain, Mr. 'otter, ve're terreebly sorry. T'is 'as ne'er 'appened before. You could 'ave been easily killed. An' 'optax tells me you saved 'is life an' 'e vishes you t'anks. The Ministry ist coming to investigate, as vill ve, as to vhy t'is as 'appened. Ve kannot express 'ow sorry ve're. Ist there anyt'ing ve kan do fer you?"
                              
"Yeah, don't tell everyone it was me. I get enough attention," said Harry, lamely.
                              
"Ve vill do ev'ryt'ing vit'in our considerable pover to make sure it does not 'appen," the head goblin said, in a bow. 
                              
However, a knock on the door stopped the conversion from continuing. Madam Bones walked in with some Ministry officials. 
                              
"Ma'am Bones, velcome," the head goblin said, bowing his head slightly.
                              
"I believe you stopped a Ministry letter from being delivered to Mr. Potter," she said sternly. 
                              
"Why, yes ve did, since you vere already on the vay...." he said, shortly.
                              
"It is against the law to stop the delivery of any letters! But since I am here and I was told what happened in the main hall, I will not press charges," she said, firmly.
                              
"I didn' t'ink so. Vhere ist Mr. Mockridge?" the head goblin said.
                              
"He's on his way," Madam Bones said.
                              
"Ve vill vait fer 'im before starting," the head goblin said with finality. Madam Bones turned to face him.
                              
"Mr. Potter, since you are still underage, you're not allowed to do magic outside of school, but as I am told you were in danger of being killed, so obviously this violation is waived. And..." she stopped.
                              
She had caught sight of his black eye, which he had kept out of her sight until then.
                              
"Harry, who...why..." she asked horrified.
                              
"It doesn't matter. May I go? I still have to pick up my school supplies," he said, exhaustedly.
                              
"Yes, you may," said Madam Bones, who was now looking concerned and sympathetic.
                              
"Ve vill try to 'onor your request," the head of the bank said in a final bow as Harry retreated out the door. 
                              
He pulled his hood far over his head, so no peering gawkers outside would know who he was. He swept through the crowd as swiftly as his smarting leg would let him and hurried away. He got new quills and ink, potion supplies, a new book bag and he finally went to the Flourish and Blotts to get his books.
                              
He walked in the store and asked the assistant, who was about to close up, for the books he needed. He reluctantly agreed and allowed Harry to buy the books, and made it back to the Leaky Cauldron about an hour after he left Gringotts. He could have fallen asleep standing. The attack by the Boes took a lot out of him. He walked over, and with some difficulty paid Tom what he owed. Tom, as well as everyone else, was excitedly talking about what happened at Gringotts.
                              
"Hey, did you hear what happened at Gringotts?" he asked excitedly.
                              
"Yeah, I just left when everything happened," he lied.
                              
"Oh, really... oh... goodnight!" he yelled up to Harry. 
                              
He was already starting up the stairs, very slowly, because of his leg, which was now thriving in pain since he fell onto it three times. He made it up to his room, dropped his stuff on the floor, changed out of his wet clothes, got into bed, and without another thought of who or what caused the cart to plunge downward, he slipped off into deep sleep.