Chapter 9: The Lestrange Vault

Hermione was in love with Ron, and he was sleeping less than three meters away from her at a quaint, comfortable cottage by the beach. Under normal circumstances she would most definitely ask him to go on a walk with her along the water. She would brush her tangled hair before he had the chance to awaken, finding her disheveled, dressed in strange clothes, and staring at him from across the room.

Love of the sort that she was contemplating should be the last thing on her mind after the lives that they had lost. The mission close at hand was critical, and she knew they'd be lucky to make it out of Gringotts alive. Turning to the window, she rubbed the walnut wand that was clutched too tightly in her nervous hands. The darkest witch that she had ever had the displeasure of meeting had owned it, and now Hermione was expected to wield the deadly wand along with the vicious personality of Bellatrix Lestrange. While she kept telling Harry and Ron that the wand felt wrong, there was a part of her that was curious about it. She'd sooner die than admit to the boys that it was a fascinating object that called to her as much as it disgusted her.

HG**LM

"Bella mentioned something about a golden goblet being taken from her Gringotts vault, and the Dark Lord is furious."

Severus looked up from his book to see Lucius standing over him with a sour expression. "Was there a question somewhere in that statement, Lucius?"

Lucius' actions were calm and firm as he reached for Severus' book, closed it, and put it on a nearby table. "I need your full attention. This is important."

Severus said, "The walls have ears."

Lucius nodded. "Yes, but this is still my house, and I assure you that we are alone . . . I need to know about this goblet. What are its magical properties? Where did it come from? Why do they need it? Does Ginny Weasley have access to it?"

Severus folded his hands into his lap and spoke to Lucius as if he were trying to keep his patience with an inquiring student. "You look like you haven't seen a razor or a bar of soap in two weeks, yet you wish to be involved in a situation that has recently increased the Dark Lord's homicidal tendencies? Go take care of yourself and talk to Draco. I can handle this without you."

"I need to know this, Severus."

Severus sighed. "Let it go . . . Pull yourself together. You've been wearing the same cloak since you left Azkaban, for Circe's sake!"

Lucius didn't hesitate. He simply nodded in agreement and said, "I know. I'm in the process of rectifying things now, and I've been wearing this cloak on purpose; it was Hermione's. Ginny Weasley threw it into my cell at the prison, but I didn't notice the name inside for weeks . . . All of this is irrelevant. I know you can tell me what I want to know."

Severus shook his head. "Are you hearing yourself? You must have lost your mind because the Lucius Malfoy I know would not wear a tattered cloak at all—let alone for months—no matter to whom it had belonged."

"That doesn't matter now! My present and urgent concern is that I need to know if that goblet of the Dark Lord's is actually the Hufflepuff Cup! I need to know if it's gone, and I need to know who has it now!"

Severus looked at Lucius as if seeing him as a wizard for the first time in months. "I am fairly certain that Potter has it, and that it is essential to his success."

"Then he knows its true power?"

"I'm more surprised that you know its true power," Severus breathed.

Lucius' tone became even more hushed. "Look—I don't know how any of you found out about the Grail, but this situation needs to be handled delicately."

There was a long pause before new understanding laced with a hint of disbelief flashed across Severus' face. Lucius remained deep in thought.

"None of us knew it was the Grail until this moment. It is valuable to the Dark Lord for another purpose." Severus shook his head as if to clear it. "Bloody hell! You can't mean the Grail."

Lucius nodded. "Yes, but the Weasley girl is apparently the only other person aware of that fact."

Severus regained his composure and interrupted, "As of now, she does not have access to it. She is at Hogwarts and it is with Potter . . . but I will keep this information in mind."

"Thank you, Severus."

HG**LM

Merlin knew better than most men that even a king with a reputation for equality and benevolence was still someone to be feared, and Arthur was not likely to be generous with him as he and his apprentice were moments away from delivering the worst report possible about the Grail; it was lost to the king forever.

Even though Merlin feared punishment for relaying false information, he also knew that it was the best possible course of action. He and Arthur had both misjudged Nimue, so they were no longer worthy of possessing the Grail.

He gave Morgana's hand a firm squeeze as to comfort her for she knew it, too. Even though she possessed more bravery than most seasoned and powerful wizards with whom he had crossed paths, mingling with royalty had always caused her some anxiety. With the anticipation of the king's response consuming her thoughts, she was barely coherent.

Followed by a fidgety Morgana, Merlin kneeled before the throne. His quiet voice echoed throughout the still chamber. "My lord."

Arthur gestured sharply for the wizard and his apprentice to rise, but remained silent.

Morgana tried not to look directly at the king, but the nobles surrounding her with their finery, smirks, and growing whispers forced her gaze to remain forward. Wishing to be anywhere else in the world, her eyes followed a movement from the throne, and she locked eyes with the king as he received a chalice of wine from a young maid.

The king studied her for a long moment before speaking. "Tell me where to find the Grail."

Merlin began to answer, but Arthur hissed, "Silence, Merlin! I know what you told my knights. I want to hear what your mate has to say."

Morgana stammered out a quiet reply. "My-my lord, I'm not . . . I'm his apprentice."

"Is that so? And I suppose you'll also tell me that Nimue has fled with the Grail?"

"Yes, my lord." Morgana chewed her lips, and Arthur's eyes rested on them as they became moist and plump.

Arthur then turned his attention to Merlin. "If you wish to keep this maiden of yours in your charge, then you will find and return my property."

Merlin held his voice steady. "You wish to execute my apprentice?"

"No. She will live here and serve me. You owe me that after your other witch stole from the kingdom."

"But she was your witch . . ." Morgana's trembling voice rang out in midst of the exchange between king and wizard, and they both turned to her.

Gasps erupted from the masses, but were silenced as the resounding clap of Merlin's hand across Morgana's face filled the air.

With Merlin's quick gesture, Arthur's displeasure at Morgana's comment dissipated enough that he leaned back in his chair and addressed her calmly. "Never speak unless you are spoken to, girl. If you were a servant in my house—and you may soon be—you would know how to conduct yourself around your betters." Addressing Merlin, he added, "Leave me."

HG **LM

With a gentle wave of her hand, Morgana deactivated the wards around the hearth and furiously clawed away one loose stone after another until she pulled the Grail out of the secluded crevice that Merlin had created for it weeks before.

Turning to the door with the cup in her arms, Morgana jumped at the sight of Merlin watching her with furious eyes from the doorway.

She stood frozen with fear, but the tears staining her cheeks were shed out of deep sorrow. Finding her words, she cried, "I must take it to him, or he'll take me and kill you."

Merlin's anger abated as he crept toward his crying lover. "I already have a plan in place. This power is more important than you or me, Morgana. I must go with him on a quest, but first I will deliver the Grail into the hands of powerful allies. It will be hidden well, out of our hands, and out of Arthur's possession as well."

Morgana asked, "What kind of quest?"

"As you know, there has been talk between the most powerful wizards of going to Persia on another mission. I've managed to convince the king that Nimue has fled there already. He and his knights will follow me." Merlin had a dangerous look in his eyes.

Morgana understood. "Will you kill him?"

"Not necessarily. If his threats cease, then I see no reason that everyone cannot have a safe return, but I have planned for more than one outcome." As he spoke to her, he gripped the Grail that was still held tight within her arms. "Let go."

She held fast. "I'm afraid."

"I won't let him have you."

"You hurt me today."

"You gave me no choice."

"I know."

"I'm sorry." With his apology, Merlin kissed Morgana's bruised cheek.

The Grail grew warm in her hands, comforting her. She let go.

HG**LM

As Hermione and Ron flew high above the Room of Hidden Things in furious retreat from Fiendfyre, Hermione noticed a small shiny object as it slipped from Ron's pocket.

The misshapen piece of metal was all that remained of the great Hufflepuff Cup after she had stabbed it with a Basilisk's fang, banishing one more fragment of Voldemort's stained soul from the world.

The Horcrux had tormented Ron in the same way as did the Slytherin Locket, but Hermione had not been affected in the same way. She had felt that there was something more significant about that Horcrux above all of the others. She had been both excited and nervous when Ron had first suggested that she should be the one to destroy it. She had hoped to destroy the soul fragment without hurting the object itself. She had been disappointed when the cup had become bent and contorted, but she had nevertheless insisted that they not leave it in the chamber.

Even now, the cup grew warm in her hands, comforting her. She had a vague premonition of letting it go, so she held it closer.