Last Chance To Love
Disclaimer: Characters taken from JKR's Harry Potter © and used in this fanfiction do not belong to me.
Summary: (Not including DH and parts of HBP) Harry is in his sixth year when a transfer from Beauxbatons arrives. She is smart, beautiful and head strong. She is a new challenge, especially since she doesn't treat Harry like any other girl he's ever met……But what happens when Harry has to make a choice, either to love or to fight?
A/N:HEY HEY HEY!! Hope u guys like it, I don't no if its as gud as I wanted it to be but enjoy it. LOVES Thanx Teddybeargurl
Recap: Last Chapter.....
"Ron, do you think you can get a fake wand made for me? One that is close enough to Malfoy's that people will believe the lie? I know that Fred and George can get one for you, but you have to make sure they don't know where we are." Ron thought about that for second.
"Yea, probably could get that done. I'd have to beg them not to tell Mum, but I could probably bribe them with something. Anyway Harry you're not planning in going into Gringotts without your wand?" Harry shook his head.
"I'll still have it on me, but it'll be in my robes. Don't worry Ron." Ron rolled his eyes at Harry's sarcasm.
"Well approximately a month from now, we're going to get to work. But until then I guess we're going to have to wait." Vera nodded and took Harry's hand.
"It'll work, I can feel it." Harry smiled and kissed Vera's hand. He hoped that it would because they needed it to.
Chapter 14: Too Close
Over the next month, they all prepared for the task ahead. They were also on guard because they knew that Malfoy had probably alerted his family of the stolen locket. They knew that they were wanted and to make sure that their plan went without a hitch, they were taking all precautions necessary. They were going to have Hermione and Ron follow them inside, hidden underneath the invisibility cloak. They hoped to get in and out easily, but they knew that if things got revealed, they would imperious the goblin so they could get in and out easily.
The Polyjuice potion was almost finished and they had all planned to drink some because if the invisibility cloak didn't work, then at least they wouldn't be exposed as Ron and Hermione, best friends of Harry Potter. The only flaw in the plan that Harry saw, was Vera. She would be completely out in the open, exposed. Harry didn't want this, but Vera tried to convince him that it would be fine.
The night before they planned to go to Gringotts, Harry started worrying about Vera. He looked at her as she read her book by the fire. He went over to her and sat on the arm of her chair. He stroked her hair slowly. Vera looked up from her book, she smiled at Harry who still absently stroked her hair. Vera closed her book and looked at Harry. She had concern on her face.
"Harry are you okay? You're not worried about tomorrow are you?" Harry shook his head.
"I'm not worried about tomorrow, but I am worried about you." Vera sighed and took Harry's hand in both of hers.
"Harry everything is going to be fine. And I can take care of myself, you know that." Harry sighed as he looked into Vera's eyes.
"I know, I just don't want anything to happen to you or any of us." Vera squeezed Harry's hand as he lightly stroked her face.
"None of us want anything bad to happen, so think positively. Tomorrow will be fine and soon, this war will be over. Promise." Harry moved down and kissed her lips. Vera moved up to meet his lips and felt the desperation of his kiss, as if he needed the assurance that everything would be okay. Vera kissed him softly and then pulled back to stroke his face. He smiled and then moved away.
Vera watched him go and felt a little sad. He was worrying himself grey over her. She didn't want him to worry and this mission was necessary to finally rid the world of Voldemort. She watched as he went into their bedroom. She knew the next day would go well, she could just feel it.
The next day, all of them woke up bright and early, they wanted to make sure that they had everything that they needed. Hermione and Ron both had their hairs from the two workers from the inn and had the invisibility cloak. They had also packed all their things just in case they had to make a quick escape if anything did go badly.
They all made their way out of the inn, pulled on their hoods, took each other's hands outside the doors, and quickly Apparated to Diagon Alley. They moved to a deserted area and pulled out their flasks. They each put in their hairs. The three potions sizzled and bubbled. Harry's turned a silvery green, Hermione's turned a deep purple and Ron's turned a dark red. They all looked at their potions and then swigged it. Harry gulped down half of the potion before he stopped because the heat and bubbling of his skin was too much. He shook as his body changed into Draco Malfoy. Hermione and Ron were changing too and when they stood up finally, Ron had become a thin man with a very red face and black hair and Hermione had become a small mousy woman with curly brown hair.
"Ready?" Vera asked as Ron and Hermione put on the invisibility cloak.
"Yeah." They said from underneath the cloak. Harry nodded and then took Vera's arm, they walked to Gringotts and then entered. As soon as they entered, a small goblin moved toward Harry and Vera. He bowed and then looked up at the sneer that Harry was making.
"Mr. Malfoy, it is an honour. What is it that I can do for you today?" Harry looked down at the goblin, maybe this was going to be easier then he'd thought.
"I'd like to go to my family vault. There is something of importance that I need to retrieve." The goblin nodded and led the way.
As Harry and Vera walked toward the doors that led to the underground track that led to the vaults, Harry shivered slightly as he read the words on the door, that he hadn't seen in so long…..Enter, stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed, For those who take, but do not earn, must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours, Thief, you have been warned, beware of finding more than treasure there…… He knew that they weren't taking the treasure for their own personal use but to stop a great evil, so he straightened up a little knowing that he shouldn't fear the ancient words.
As the doors closed, shutting loudly, Harry looked forward hoping that Ron and Hermione had gotten in before the doors had closed. He didn't want to look back and expose them so he kept looking straight toward the cart that would take them down to the vaults. Harry made sure to make it look as if he was taking extra care to get Vera into the cart, but was actually giving Hermione and Ron ample time to get into the cart before him.
As soon as Harry sat down in the goblin cart, they began to speed down the tracks. Harry took a deep breath and then felt someone lightly touch his shoulder, Harry looked behind him quickly and knew that Hermione and Ron were still there. He breathed a sigh of relief.
The cart travelled down and down, going deeper then any of them had ever been before. Eventually though they began to slow down and then jerked to a stop. They quickly shuffled out as the goblin led them forward and down into the tunnel. All that could be heard was their footsteps.
As they neared a large cavern with two large vault doors, in the middle stood a large troll. Both Vera and Harry held their noses as they passed the troll. As they stopped at the first door, the goblin walked forward and put his palm against the door. The vault door sizzled and then disappeared. The goblin bowed and watched as Harry and Vera walked in. Vera glanced at her watch and tapped it very lightly. He nodded. They obviously didn't have that much time left.
The vault was larger then anything Harry had seen. It went quite far and every shelf and corner was filled with gold, jewels, armour and all sorts of treasures. Harry slowly scanned all the treasure and then he saw the cup. It was gold and shiny with large handles and it looked exactly as it did in the memory that Harry had seen. Harry was about to summon it but Vera stopped him. She moved close to his ear.
"Wait all this gold could have enchantments on it. Let me bring it down and don't touch it, just hold open the bag and I'll put it in there." Harry nodded and then pulled the small bag out of his pocket. It bloomed into a large bag and Harry waited with the it in his arms. Vera raised her wand and then pointed at the cup.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" The cup jerked and then slowly levitated up off it's shelf. Vera swiftly moved her wand and the cup swooped down to them and then stopped right in front of Harry. He opened the bag and Vera lowered the cup into the bag. Harry tightened it and slowly pressed it in his hands, making it small enough to fit in his pocket again. They turned and quickly moved with the goblin back to the cart. He drove quickly and as they zoomed up to the surface, Vera's eyes began to grow large as she saw Harry's scar appear on his forehead. She pointed to it, knowing the potion was wearing off.
Vera pulled out his flask and handed it back to him. Harry took a very short and quick swig of it. He shook slightly as the potion restored him to his Draco self. He sighed knowing that Hermione and Ron were changing back too.
As the cart stopped at the surface, Harry took Vera's hand and led her quickly out of Gringotts without a second look at the goblin. He rushed outside and then hurried to the corner. Hermione and Ron were about to take off the invisibility cloak when a voice called toward them.
"Draco?" Harry turned and he paled slightly. Bellatrix Lestrange stood at the corner of the road, moving toward Harry. Harry felt Vera grab his hand hard, knowing he had to keep up the charade.
"You're mother and father won't like to hear that you are skipping school." Harry clenched his teeth and then smiled evilly.
"No, I'm just doing some work for the Dark Lord." Bellatrix smiled at Harry and then patted him on his shoulder. It took everything in Harry not to break her hand. She looked over Vera and then smiled again.
"Good. What is it that you needed from Gringotts?" She asked.
"Well I think that is between me and the Dark Lord is it not?" She looked angry for one moment before she calmed down.
"Well …." Suddenly two more people Apparated nearby and they saw that it was Lucius Malfoy and the real Draco Malfoy. She turned and looked over at them. Harry saw Draco's eyes connect with his and he raised his wand as Harry grabbed Vera's hand. Harry spun into nothingness as three spells flew toward them.
Harry felt something tugging on his robes as he flew through the crushing nothingness. Harry didn't know if Ron and Hermione had Apparated away, he just knew they had to get away.
When Harry's feet landed, he turned toward Vera, who was leaning against him. His eyes scanned her and noticed that her arm was bleeding. He also noticed that they were not alone. Harry pulled Vera out of the way as he realized that Bellatrix had grabbed onto his robes. She had been the one tugging on them as they had Apparated away. Ron and Hermione pulled off the invisibility cloak and ran toward them. Vera was biting her lip to fight the sharp pain shooting up her arm as she watched Bellatrix in front of them. Bellatrix had a wicked glint in her eyes as the three of them pointed their wands at her.
Vera scanned the area quickly to see if anyone had noticed them yet. She was glad that she didn't see anything.
"You……then it must itty bitty Potter and his friends. Hmm…..won't the Dark Lord be happy with to find that I've gotten him his prize." She whispered at them. Harry gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on Vera, he didn't want anything happening to her.
"Don't do anything stupid Bellatrix, or we may need to get rid of you." Harry said through gritted teeth. She grinned and then cocked her head to the side.
"Oh really, well see then." She flicked her wand and a spell flew right at Harry. They all flew in different directions. Harry pulled Vera to the side where they tumbled to the ground and Ron and Hermione moved in the other direction. Harry looked over at Bellatrix and then his eyes widened. She was rolling up her sleeve and was about to press her dark mark.
"Stop her!" Harry yelled as Hermione pulled out her wand.
"Stupefy!!" She yelled. The spell hit Bellatrix hard and she fell to the ground in a heap. Harry got up with Vera and walked over to the collapsed woman. She hadn't been able to touch her mark so they all sighed in relief.
"We have to get rid of her before they track her here." Vera said weakly. She had lost a lot of blood during the fight. She almost fell into Harry's arms as he helped her up. He still looked like Draco, but it was very slowly beginning to fade away. The blonde was turning more brown.
"Can you guys get rid of her? I need to get Vera upstairs." They nodded and then were about to pick up Bellatrix but Hermione stopped and then pointed her wand at Vera's arm.
Hermione quickly transfigured a bandage onto Vera's bleeding arm and then began to pull Bellatrix up.
"You guys get upstairs. Be careful, no one can see you Harry." Hermione said. Harry nodded as he led Vera inside. They looked around, luckily no one was at the front desk.
As they went into their room, Vera started sweating lightly. Harry helped to put Vera in an armchair. Harry went over and checked Vera's arm. It was still bleeding. Harry went and got Vera a glass of water. He helped her to drink the water and sat beside her, holding her hand. In no time, Hermione and Ron were back. Harry moved over to them anxiously.
"She doesn't look so good." Harry said. Hermione nodded and went to get the first aid kit as Harry went back to look at Vera. He transfigured a handkerchief and wiped her brow.
"I don't know what kind of spell hit her. Vera, how are you feeling?" Harry said. Vera looked at him and smiled.
"It's stinging, but other then that I'm okay." She said as Hermione ran over with the kit. She began to do some spells on Vera's arm and then the bleeding stopped. Vera let out a sigh. She smiled at Hermione.
"Thanks, that's so much better." Vera said. Hermione smiled as she moved to put the kit away. Harry stroked Vera's face. She looked up at him, and noticed that his eyes were green once again. She smiled.
"I'm sorry Vera, I knew it was too dangerous." Harry whispered as he pressed his face on her hair. Vera smiled.
"It's okay Harry. I mean look at me, I'm fine, don't be sorry." She whispered. Vera felt Harry nod and then sigh. He moved away from Vera and she followed him.
Harry pulled out the sack from his pocket and put it on the table. It expanded and lay on the table, largely. They all stared at it for a moment, before Vera spoke.
"I think we should destroy it in the bag. I still don't know if we'll be able to touch it, I don't think any of us wants a mishap, do we?" Vera said. They all looked at eachother then at Hermione.
"Can we fix the bag afterwards if we destroy the horcrux in it?" Harry asked. Hermione thought for a moment.
"Most likely. It's okay if we can't, I know how to perform the spell on any bag." She said. Harry nodded and then went to get the sword. When he came back, he positioned the sword over the bag and the rest of them stepped back, but then Harry looked over at Ron.
"How about you do it? We're all in this together you know, so we should all play a part in the destruction of the horcruxes." Harry said. Ron looked a little scared, but then he walked closer and took the sword. He nodded to Harry as he stepped back and then Ron positioned the sword over the bag. He took a deep breath and stabbed the bag where the cup was.
At first nothing happened and then a large gust of wind blew out, exploding the bag and making all of them fly backwards. It was so quick that they all were pushed two feet backwards and then suddenly were standing still. They all looked around at their windblown looks. Harry stood up, his hair was black again and it was sticking up.
"Wow. That was different." Hermione said as she moved to Ron and looked at the bag. The bag was lightly deflated with the sword sticking out of it and the shape of the cup was seen. Ron pulled out the sword and they watched.
"I think we should get rid of it." Ron said. Harry nodded.
"We can burn it in the fireplace. I'm pretty sure it'll melt now that it has no powers." Vera said quietly. Harry turned to her and smiled. He used his wand to pick up the bag with the broken cup inside it. Hermione lit the fireplace as Harry dashed the bag into the fire. They all watched as the bag burned up into nothing but ashes.
Harry sighed as another horcrux burned up and he was one more step to destroying Voldemort. Very soon this horrible nightmare would be over and hopefully when the dust cleared after the large battle that Harry could feel coming, he and Vera would be standing together so that they could be together, because Harry didn't know what he would do without her.