Another chapter, I think I'll try to go as far as the last battle and maybe have an epilogue… what are your thoughts? Oh, and what casualties on both sides would you like to see? Anyway, please R/R and have a wonderful day/night/afternoon.
Hermione walked into Gringotts next to Draco. Harry and Griphook followed along under the invisibility cloak. As they walked the goblins seemed engrossed in their work, but they eyed Bellatrix curiously, she just lifted her nose like she was better than everyone, and marched up to the goblin at the front desk. He barely looked up at her. "Ahem," she cleared her throat impatiently, and after realizing he wouldn't look up from his writing she said, "I'd like to get into my vault."
"Identification?" he asked, his quill scratching at the parchment.
"I highly doubt that's needed." Bellatrix crossed her arms.
Finally the goblin looked up and did a double take. "Miss LeStrange, you do realize that I'll need to see your wand."
A guard from the back started to walk towards them. "They know she's an imposter." Griphook hissed to Draco.
"What should we do Potter?" Draco whispered back.
"Why is that necessary?" Hermione asked defiantly.
"Its policy, surely you can understand that this is how the bank works?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand. I need into my vault."
"That can't be…."
"Imperio," Harry pointed his wand at the goblin and he breathed in the sparkly spell.
"Fine Miss LeStrange, if you could follow me."
The four followed the goblin to a cart and Griphook drove it. After a while they noticed a water fall and beyond that a broken rail. "If we pass through that all your illusions will be gone," Griphook warned.
"On my count we jump." Harry said, "One."
He's kidding, Hermione thought.
"Two."
What is he thinking? Draco panicked.
"Three!"
Harry Leaped from the cart, along with Draco, Hermione, and Griphook holding the other goblin. Before they all hit the ground Hermione cast an elevating spell. Their bodies dropped to the ground softly. "Good thinking 'Mione."
Griphook nodded. "Right, this way to the vault."
The four followed the goblin and soon were in a cavernous room. A chained dragon stared at them and bared its teeth. Hermione flinched when she noticed the raw spots from the chains. Griphook grabbed something from a box and handed the other one to Harry. "Shake it, the dragon is trained to dislike loud noises."
A noise like all the annoying children's toys put together emanated from the brass contraption, causing the beast to cower and whimper. Hermione looked at the majestic creature with sympathy, but followed closely behind Harry. Soon they came to a huge door and Griphook stared at Hermione. "Bellatrix's wand if you please?"
Hermione fished into her purse and handed him the wand. Griphook tapped the door and then put the other goblin's hand to the lock. The mechanism clicked and the door swung open. Gold and silver trinkets blinded them in all their shiny glory. "Don't touch those, they multiply on contact."
"You mean skin on gold right?" Harry queried.
"Yes."
"Hermione, you have gloves in that purse right?" Harry asked, a plan running through his head.
Hermione found black leather gloves and handed them to the excited wizard. "I can almost hear a buzzing; I just need to get closer." Harry murmured and crossed the threshold. Soon he located a goblet at the top of a stack of riches. When he was almost to the top his bare ankle brushed a silver cup and it started to duplicate. He snatched the cup and jumped to the ground. He ran towards his friends and was out of the vault. The door shut with a bang and Harry placed the cup on the floor. "The sword please."
Hermione took the sword from her purse and Griphook took it. "You only asked for a way in, you never talked about a way out."
"Why you little-" Draco shouted.
The teens covered their ears as sirens blared. Griphook took the noise devices and ran off. The three charged after him and were face to face with an irate dragon. "This may be crazy." Harry shouted, the cup held in his right hand. "Get on the dragon."
"Harry that is-"
"Just get on." Draco said; the soft brown eyes of the snatcher's staring down at the scared dark brown eyes of Bellatrix.
The woman took his hand and was placed between one of the dragon's neck spikes. She held onto his waist and buried her face in his back. The potion then started to wear off and they both shrunk a little. There was a bang and another and soon the dragon let out a screech and Harry hopped in front of Draco.
The beast beat its enormous wings and broke through the ceiling. Wind whistled through their ears as the creature flew away from Gringotts. It let out a happy screech and flew into the clouds. After a long time the dragon flew over a lake. "On my count we jump!" Harry said.
"One."
"Why does he get to count?" Draco muttered.
"Two."
"He's the leader of this whole operation." Hermione answered.
"Three!"
"It was my idea." Draco said as he leaped and landed into the lake.
The three resurfaced and swam to the shore. "We ought to go back to the beach house and get Ron." Harry held out his hand to Hermione.
Draco didn't take Hermione's hand. "Why should we?"
"Like it or not, Malfoy, he's still a part of this team." Harry said warningly.
"A broken part." Draco muttered, but he took Hermione's hand and they apparated.
Ron's face was purple with rage when he set eyes on the three wizards. "HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME BEHIND?" He shouted his fisted clenched at his sides.
"You let your emotions get the better of you." Draco sneered putting an arm around Hermione.
Ron's eyes were so huge they looked about ready to leap from his head. Then his face went pale and his body shook with rage. "I said keep your arms off of her Malfoy." he said in a dangerously low tone.
Ron stomped up to Draco and lifted his fists. Draco moved in front of Hermione and took a defensive stance. "I don't want to hurt you Weasel." Draco said calmly.
"Good, you probably wouldn't have strength anyway once a fistful of Weasley meets your face." with that Ron punched Draco in the nose.
"Huh, that felt like the punch Hermione gave me. Way to hit like a girl." Draco punched Ron in the gut and then in the face. Ron tackled the Slytherin to the ground and they wrestled. The blonde soon was on top of the red-head, and he straddled his waist. There was a glint in his gray eyes as he punched Weasley's face.
"Stop it!" Hermione screeched, pulling Draco off of Ron with surprising strength.
Draco shook his head to clear it and walked to the house. He needed to change into his black suit. Hermione followed him to the house and went into a guest room to change into her jeans and T-shirt. Putting on her pink jacket she waited outside the other bedroom door for Draco. The blonde walked out in his suit and looked at his former enemy. He chuckled to himself. "What," Hermione asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"I was just thinking how we used to be in our early Hogwart years. I probably never would've been your friend, let alone your boyfriend, if this war wasn't happening. I'd probably still act like a stuck up git and taunt the golden trio till the end of seventh year."
"I wonder who would've been head boy and head girl." Hermione mused.
"You and some Ravenclaw I bet." Draco said dismissively.
"Actually I heard your grades were the closest to mine. If we'd have gone back to school… by now I'd be frustrated with your aloof and arrogant ways."
"What changed?"
Hermione contemplated the question. What had changed in that dungeon, she wondered. "You showed me how human you are and how there is more to the cold Slytherin Prince than just a façade. Of course I could be wrong; you could be spying for the Dark Lord, and using Harry and me. I trust that you truly want a second chance and that you deserve one."
"What if I don't? I've done horrible things as a Death Eater. Things I'm ashamed about and I hurt innocent people. You know how many times I vomited after a meeting, or how many times I cried myself to sleep? The other Death Eaters could be hunting me down and I could be putting you in danger all over again."
Hermione embraced Draco into a hug. "We'll figure out our next move and finish this war for good."
"I hope you're right." deep inside Draco felt that they would lose. Voldemort was powerful, he even had Dumbledore killed. Now he had the Elder Wand and was set on killing Harry. The odds weren't in their favor, but then again they never were since first year. They had all somehow lived through that and all the other plots.
Harry walked in with a very subdued Ron and called Draco and Hermione to the parlor. The four sat down in chairs and Harry said, "We need to find a way into Hogwarts, any ideas?"
"We could apparate into Hogsmead." Hermione suggested.
"You still have that map Remus gave you, right Harry?" Ron inquired.
"Yes, I know a secret passage into the Gryffindor common room."
"What are we waiting for, let's go." Draco stood and held Hermione's hand. Ron grabbed hold of her other and Harry held onto Ron's hand. With a pop they were in Hogsmead. Harry motioned for the other three to follow and went into an abandoned house. "It should be behind this portrait hole, but I don't know the password."
"Great Potter, now you've really set the imbecile bar high." Draco sneered.
"Why would you want to get into Hogwarts anyway?" the four teens turned to see a tall bearded man with clear blue eyes.
"You must be Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth." Harry said inclining his head.
"I've been watching you through this mirror-"
"Creepy," Ron whispered and was rewarded with an elbow to the gut.
"I sent you Dobby for help and he died for his actions. Be thankful I saved your life." Aberforth said quietly.
"What's the password for this portrait?" Hermione inquired.
"Why fight a losing battle? Did my brother even tell you what to do with the horcrux's once you find them? Did he give you the right tools for the job? Albus never told you anything huh? Did you even know him?"
Harry paused. "No, I didn't really know him, and I regret that. I still trust him though; he gave me the glass to see you. He's still helping us."
Aberforth turned to the broken mirror and said, "Come open the portrait."
Soon Neville swung the portrait open. "Good luck," Aberforth said and sat on a wooden chair.
"Snape knew about a few secret passages, but luckily he couldn't find them all. So, Malfoy, you decided to join with the DA." Neville asked skeptically
"No I'm just here because I'm bored! You and Potter are both-"
"Would you just play nice for once? I mean honestly bickering in a tunnel?" Hermione asked with a raised brow.
Neville cleared his throat. "Anyway I'm really glad you're here. With Snape as Headmaster and DADA teacher this school year was torture. There are also Death Eaters here that enforce stupid rules. Mr. Filch also has the torturing rooms in the dungeon all set up for detention."
Draco shuddered and made a mental note to not kick Mrs. Norris if he ever came back to school. Soon they reached a portrait and slid into the common room. Dean was the first to see Harry come out and he ran to the boys' dormitories. The common room was filled with students and then Ginny came down. There was a quiet hush as Harry stared at his girlfriend. "I heard Harry Potter is back." she looked down at her boyfriend and took the stairs down two at a time. She ran into his outstretched arms and held his waist tightly. "I missed you." she breathed into his ear.
"As I you." he whispered back, finding her mouth and placing a gentle kiss on it.
Everyone let out an 'aww' at the show of affection and Draco took Hermione's hand. Dean noticed the blonde and cried, "Eh, what's the Slytherin Prince doing here?"
After the shocked gasps Hermione explained what had happened. Seamus looked at Draco with distrust but couldn't find the words to articulate his misgivings. "Look I know it's hard to trust him but let's face it, we need all the help we can get! Even if it's a slimy snake of a git." Neville reasoned.
"That's right, wait… did you just call me a slimy snake of a git to get your point across?" Draco questioned with a raised brow.
Neville gulped but held his ground, "Yes, I believe I did."
Draco nodded with an approving look in his eyes. "You have more spine than I thought, Longbottom."
Neville let out a breath. "We need to tell everyone Harry Potter is here!" Seamus said and everyone cheered.
All the Gryffindor's filed out of the common room and Harry and Ron and Hermione and Draco mixed in with the others to go to the Great Hall for dinner. "Do you think this'll work?" Draco whispered.
"It will have to." Hermione answered, squeezing his hand comfortingly. The doors to the Great Hall swung open and Colin went up to Professor McGonagall. Her face lit up and she found Harry. The news that the Boy-Who-Lived was back at Hogwarts quickly spread and all the houses except for Slytherin were talking excitedly together.
The Great Hall doors swung open and Snape walked into the room; his robes swished as always. "Is it correct that Potter is back?" he asked tonelessly.
Harry's green eyes turned sharp as he looked at the man that killed Dumbledore. "How dare you stand there like he did."
"Let's give Potter to the Dark Lord already!" Crabbe shouted.
"Mr. Filch, take these Slytherins' to the dungeons." Professor McGonagall said. Mr. Filch obliged and led them away. "Now Snape, you go and tell Voldemort Harry is back. Let him know we're ready for the war."
There were cheers as Snape left the Great Hall. Draco stood silent, the black sheep of the bunch. Hermione looked at him worriedly and put her arm around his waist. "Everything will be okay."
Draco looked down at her and mustered a reassuring smile. "Let's find those Horcrux's."
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