"True love is felonious… You take someone's breath away… You rob them of the ability to utter a single word… You steal a heart." — Jodi Picoult
Chapter twenty-six: Thievery
Ivy
The grinding, scrapping sound echoed loudly in the silence of the courtyard and I felt my breath, which had been coming out in steady, measured gasps before, catch and hold in my throat as the brick of the wall in front of us moved and shifted to form an archway. It was the first time we had been to Diagon Alley in almost a year and I knew that it wouldn't be the same; that it couldn't be, like everything else in our world it would have been altered by Voldemort's dictatorship, however, I still wasn't prepared for how much it had altered. The high street that had been a constant fascination and love in my first years as a witch, which had once buzzed and teamed with life and colour and excitement, was a mere desolate shell of what it once was. Gone were the brightly coloured shop fronts, vibrant displays and the once ever present hum of happy chatter, absent was the enchanting appeal of the street, it's unique aura and even more unique patrons, and instead there was only one, long, stretching grey street, lined with derelict or dingy shops that were obviously struggling to keep open. The alley was almost empty, a few hooded figures moving as quickly as possible made their way up and down the street but none of them stopped to talk to each other, the sense of camaraderie and friendship that had once filled the air here was notably missing.
Left cold and disheartened by the sight before me I walked with the others as we stepped onto the cobbles in silence, all of us shocked into an appalled hush by the state of the place. And we had thought it was bad last year, I thought in disbelief as I passed by one of the dodgy looking stalls that now lined the street. The stall, I noticed looking back over my shoulder in disgusted interest, was owned by a smirking witch whose black hair was streaked with long white lines, the cart was covered in dirty jars and dusty boxes that upon closer inspection housed decapitated human fingers. Ron, who lagged a little behind us, was struck dumb with revulsion and fright when the old hag suddenly swept towards him, brandishing a withered and yellowed digit.
"One of Albus Dumbledore's own," she proclaimed in a low, scratchy voice, "cut from his hand by Severus Snape himself and one can only guess at the powers it holds. Tonight is a full moon; add this to any potion by the lunar light and its properties will be more than intensified." The hag ensured him as she brought the rotting finger dangerously close to Ron's face; my friend paled behind the thick moustache and beard of his disguise and looked as though he wanted to vomit.
Anger and disgust rocketed through me at the vile woman's claim, even as chills ran down my spine and I quickly took hold of Harry's hand, holding it securely to keep my obviously livid friend from attacking the hag and blowing our cover. Furious that she could boast to such a thing, something that was as horrific as it was impossible, Harry turned to look at me sharply, however, he soon adopted his new calm composure when he caught sight of the stern expression I wore, he knew I didn't condone what was happening, far from it, it made me almost as mad as him, but we had to be careful. We couldn't risk being discovered, we had to get into Gringotts and we had to do it today, there was no time left to lose and I had told them all as much today, I had the strongest and most worrying sense of urgency assaulting me, it pestered me, niggled away at my subconscious relentlessly, and I knew that time was short. So, from where we hid under the Invisibility Cloak Harry and I left this minor annoyance to the others.
In an instant the hag went from half forcing the finger into Ron's hand to quickly lowering her head and backing away as fast as her legs would carry her, a look of undeniable fear on her wrinkled face. And I knew exactly why, at that moment the pushy, creepy hag had spotted Hermione. Standing tall and haughty just beside me Hermione shot a dark look at the woman what would have struck fear into the heart of far braver beings, it was a look Bellatrix Lestrange was infamous for and Hermione had it down exactly. Looking up at my friend it was difficult to remember that it was actually Hermione standing there and not Bellatrix herself, the Polyjuice Potion, made from a single black hair Bellatrix had left on Hermione's jumper, had made a clone so physically exact of the original that it was actually terrifying.
"You will do as I say and then I will kill you." the malice and the intent rang so forcefully in the remembered words that I had to shake myself to banish the fear and hatred they inspired. The wounds she had inflicted ached in memory and I had to grit my teeth against my anger, vowing that I would make her pay for what she had done.
With the immoral woman retreating fearfully at just one glare from Hermione we didn't loiter, taking our cue for the sparse shoppers we made our way quickly down the street, Harry and I moving slower than the other two as the added weight of Griphook slowed Harry down and at irregular intervals the goblin would reach out and grab at my hair and clothing to keep himself from falling. It was as one of his long fingernails scrapped my flesh and brought a hiss of indignant pain to my lips that I noticed something, my scowl slipped from my face when I realised the street wasn't as empty as I had previously thought. Homeless people, dirty and ragged, dotted the street in alarming numbers, they sat hunched over on the pavement, were wedged in doorways and lay in alleys, there were dozens of them and they stopped me in my tracks.
"What is it?" Harry whispered worriedly in my ear and when I didn't answer, when I only stood and stared at a woman dressed in mucky, tatty robes who rocked a screaming infant in her arms, he followed my gaze and voiced my question. "Who are they?"
"Muggleborns," Griphook answered and with furious tears stinging my eyes I turned to look at him, horrified, "those who aren't sent to Azkaban are left to fend for themselves, but no one will employ a Wandless and they are forced to beg for food and money."
Disgusted and feeling my heart constrict in sympathy and agony five simple words repeated hauntingly in my head, this could have been me, I thought as I looked out at them all, without Harry this could have been both mine and Hermione's fate. "And they just leave them here?" I asked as quietly as I could in my outrage, moved by this horrific sight in ways that little else had moved me so far, it was heart breaking to see people reduced to this and to know that it was outside of their control.
"The Death Eaters don't care what happens to them now, they aren't their concern, and the people are too afraid of what will happen to them if they help, so their pleas are ignored." Griphook said in a solemn voice that was devoid of any real emotion, however, as though to punctuate the goblins word's a beggar boy up ahead reached out to a passer-by, a witch with her chin pressed firmly against her chest.
"Please miss, spare me some change, I'm so hungry." He implored in a weak voice that confirmed his words but the witch, her expression distraught, didn't respond at all, she simply pulled the hem of her robes out of the man's reach and hurried onwards. I scowled at her tearfully as she passed even though she couldn't see me, I knew that I shouldn't blame her, I knew that she was just trying to protect herself, but I couldn't help it, I hated how she could stand to be so heartless and I wished Hermione didn't have hold of all our money, I wished we could do something for them.
"It's disgusting!" I spat furiously as Harry ushered us along, past the beggar boy who was now sinking back onto the curb and looking hopeless.
"I know," Harry whispered as we rushed to catch up with the others, "we'll stop this." He told me confidently and I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant, that we had to stop Voldemort in order to put an end to all this suffering, however, that didn't stop me from wanting to help these people now.
Desperate to this end I looked back over my shoulder at the boy, he had mousy blond hair but that was the only characteristic I could discern under his long locks, however, I could tell from his voice and size he couldn't be much older than us, and it felt wrong to walk away from him, from all of them. However, when I looked back I saw that he wasn't alone any more, a petit young woman with golden blonde curls was sitting by his side, a look of deep concern on her face as she discreetly handed him a small sack that could only contain gold. The blond boy showed his gratitude by reaching out and hugging her fiercely, the girl smiled brightly and wrapped her own arms around him before patting him on the back, saying a few words and getting to her feet. Still smiling, though it was small and sad now, the woman looked cautiously up and down the street before crossing as naturally as she could and heading towards the woman with the child, another sack just distinguishable by the way it was poking out the side of her cloak, in her grip. For some reason she looked oddly familiar, however, I couldn't quite place where I knew her from.
Still wondering how I knew her and feeling relief and pride for the Wizarding race as someone was bothering to help these people, I reluctantly and with renewed determination turned to face the right way. Hurrying along beside Harry I kept my expression hard and unwavering and walked with my head held high and my gaze fixed firmly and intently upon Gringotts, as the large marble dome rose up before us. Keep calm and carry on, I thought decidedly, repeating my new mantra which would have been nothing more than an optimistic new year's resolution just a year ago. It was the viewpoint that was going to get me through all this though, what had allowed me to put the events of Malfoy Manor as far behind me as I could put them for now and I was determined to stick to that. No matter how volatile and emotional I have been in the past, that ended now, for the duration of our fight against Voldemort I would be level headed and logical, no spur of the moment decisions, no running off in a tangent, only clear thoughts would pass through my head. It was with this in mind that I finally noticed another alteration to the street, a startling difference that would have shook the old me to my core and made me livid with rage and humiliation. However, as it stood and in the wake of seeing the beggars I really didn't care that much. Covering the alley, secured in every window and hiding almost every inch of grey stone were posters; posters that I had last seen in the Ministry of Magic in September and at the time had rammed home exactly what I was now. Undesirable Number 2 posters, everywhere I looked I was met with a black and white photograph of my irate self, looking defiantly out at the street with big bold letters bellow me proclaiming I was a wanted threat to security and broadcasting to the world my biggest secret, that I was a Seer.
It still stung, it still riled me that I was being painted as some great criminal by the Ministry and that everyone now knew my secret, that they knew I had lied about it all these years and kept it to myself, however, I took a deep breath and dealt with it. There were twice as many posters with Harry's face on them than mine, and he was handling this fine. If Harry could do it so could I. One look at Harry, who was walking with as much determination as I and looking exactly like a young man who held the future of the world in his hands, strained, angry and adamant, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I'd be fine.
"My children!" A hysterical sounding man cried, shocking me from my inner pep-talk and pointing accusingly at Hermione. "Where are my children? What has he done with them? You know, you know!"
Hermione looked stunned and actually quite remorseful even though there was nothing she could do, and I could say, without a shadow of a doubt, that such a sincerely apologetic look had never graced Bellatrix's face. Ron reacted instinctively to the attack on Hermione and had his wand trained on the distressed man in an instant, Harry and I were quick to do the same beneath the cloak, and I gripped the Hawthorn wand with intent, even though I knew it would be stupid to risk exposure by jinxing the poor man. My gaze fixed on the distraught wizard, who, chest rising and falling with emotion and tears flowing freely down his cheeks, was clearly distressed and was therefore unpredictable, I couldn't help but think, so much for our inconspicuous entrance, between this man and the creepy hag I don't think we could have made much more of a scene. All around us people were shuffling off as quickly as they could, heads down and desperate not to get caught up in this somehow, lest it have dire consequences, it was Bellatrix they saw there and that meant there was only one way such an act of impertinence on the part of the beggar man could be met, and I knew for a fact that Hermione wouldn't be able to hurt him. Was our cover blown already?
"Why, Madam Lestrange!" a voice called out from further down the street and I felt myself tense all the more, that voice was familiar, and not in a good way. Taking my gaze off of the unsettled man, who was no longer our biggest threat, I spotted a tall, slim wizard with bushy grey hair making his way confidently towards us.
"It's Travers," Griphook hissed to Harry and I as the man reached Hermione, who was pulling her best psycho-killer-Bellatrix look.
"And what do you want?" Hermione demanded sharply causing Travers come to a stunned stop and look dismayed, clearly he knew Bellatrix.
"He's another Death Eater!" Griphook informed us, his voice barely audible and quickly I moved forwards with Harry so he could repeat this to Hermione.
"I merely sought to greet you," Travers said and suddenly his voice registered with me, squinting I recognised the outline of his form from my blurry vision back at the cottage and realised he was the one who had been suspicious of Bellatrix having possession of her own wand. "But if my presence is not welcome…"
"No, no, not at all, Travers," Hermione covered quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice her lack of recognition. "How are you?"
"Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix." Travers said with the voice of a man trying to catch someone out, and though that didn't necessarily mean that he knew something was wrong with us, I still kept my gaze on him firmly, looking for any indication that he knew more than he let on.
"Really? Why?" Hermione asked and cautiously confused I waited for his answer as well.
"Well," Travers said as though he were broaching an awkward topic, "I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the ... Ah … escapes." He said and instantly my heart caught in my chest, frowning deeply I looked at the Death Eater and willed him to say more. The Malfoys were confined to the manor? They hadn't been while I had been there had they? No, I was sure that they hadn't, and that meant it was my escape that had pushed their master over the edge and brought on this punishment. And still my mind raced on. What other punishments had they been given? What was happening to Draco? Was he involved in this and if so to what extent? What were they doing to him? Catching my thoughts I quickly forced them back under control and banished every unnecessary question about HIS welfare, I didn't care what they were doing to him; one possible act of kindness didn't wipe the slate clean, not even close.
"The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past," Hermione said easily and without falter, impressing me in spite of my self-admonishment, "perhaps your credit is not as good as mine is, Travers."
Travers gave Hermione a look of offense but his brows smoothed out and he looked less suspicious, so Hermione had obviously played her part well. It was then that he noticed the man Ron had stunned as soon as the Death Eater had approached and his lip curled as he nodded at him in disgust. "How did it offend you?" Travers asked.
"It doesn't matter, it won't do so again." Hermione assured him and Travers looked apathetic to her disgust.
"Some of these Wandless can be troublesome," he told her in a vile manor that had my blood boiling, "while they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead their case to the Ministry last week. 'I'm a witch, sir, I'm a witch, let me prove it to you!' as if I'd actually give her my wand-" Travers said as though the idea was ludicrous, "but whose wand are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heard your own was-" Travers said, repeating the words he had spoken earlier in my vision and watching them I waited for Hermione's response.
" – do not speak of it!" Hermione snapped, as though the thought repulsed her, "I do not wish to think of where my wand is, the mere thought is a disgrace. Thankfully I was able to procure another wand to replace it." Hermione said, bringing a smile to my lips by the way she dodged the line that would have tripped us up, I felt pride fill me that I had been able to warn her of this and that for once we were prepared. I would control my visions yet.
"Whose?" Travers asked curiously.
"My sister's," was Hermione's response, she spoke with such a ferocious edge, as though daring Travers to mock her for that, "it has not the same qualities as mine but it does well enough, as would any wand from our family."
"I have no doubt," Travers agreed, reluctant to dispute with her, as anyone would be with the lunatic that was Bellatrix Lestrange, "who is your friend?" he asked moving swiftly on, "I do not recognise him."
"This is Dragomir Despard," Hermione said, referring to Ron as his fictional, foreign character, which would allow him to raise the least suspicion and ensure he wasn't recognised or his presence questioned. "He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lords aims. He has travelled here from Transylvania to see our new regime."
"Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?" Travers asked, half extending his hand but seeming to think better of it.
" 'Ow you?" Ron asked in keeping with his cover and Travers asked Hermione what she was doing in Diagon Alley at this time, keeping to the truth wherever possible she told him she wanted to go to Gringotts and Travers, much to our dismay, revealed he was here for the same reason, managing to get in an insult for the Goblins of the bank just for good measure, and so, with Travers offering to escort Hermione, we all headed down the street.
"We're going to need to shake him," I whispered to Harry, my gazed fixed upon Travers, walking ahead of us, thinking of what a threat he posed.
"I know," was Harry's muttered response, "but we might not have to, when we get to Gringotts he'll go his own way anyway."
Still cautious and serious I nodded in response but gripped the Hawthorn wand tightly as we approached the white marble steps of the bank, and as we ascended and I looked up at the impressive columned building I was stuck by a sudden rush of childlike wonder. Gringotts had always fascinated me, a structurally beautiful building guarded by the first none human magical race I had ever seen and hiding an exciting and deadly secret beneath its polished floors, I had longed for a vault of my own for as long as I could remember. I had been in the bank countless times to convert Muggle money with my parents but it wasn't the same, I had always envied Harry and Ron the rickety cart ride down to their vaults and loved to hear their stories of what was bellow to stunning building. Well, I thought as we reached the landing that looked out over the whole of Diagon Alley, you're finally going to get to see what it's like down there, just not under the circumstances you wanted. Determination coursing through me as we drew ever closer to committing the unthinkable deed, one thing I'd certainly never thought I'd do in my life, we had a little problem with the security wizards who flanked the front doors, however with a confudo charm from both Harry and I it was resolved and we were passing under the banks poetic warning to potential thieves in no time.
With Hermione, Ron and an oblivious Travers taking the lead Harry, Griphook and I followed them into the main hall invisibly; it was as we stepped out onto the beautiful marble floors, our footsteps echoing in the great domed room, that I felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over me. Stopping abruptly I threw out an arm that forced Harry to do the same, concerned he turned to face me quickly, his green eyes questioning and for once I knew exactly what was happening.
"It's a vision," I breathed urgently as the room started to spin unnaturally around me and I swayed on my feet, reaching out to grip Harry's arm tightly and keep myself on my feet as my stomach rolled and my head span. No, not now!
"Don't let her fall!" Griphook hissed as I watched the walls start to sway as well, drifting backwards slightly until I staggered and I realised it was me that was moving. Desperately I tried to fight it, tried to control my sight, but the Powers That Be were having none of it and a other worldly breeze swept almost violently across the front of my mind, wiping away everything else and robbing me of my senses.
Suspended in darkness for a moment I felt the vision brewing beyond the blackness but saw and felt nothing but that until my Inner Eye flew open and my vision burst forth. Colour exploded all around me, glittering in the flickering light and shimmering beautifully; silver, emerald, ruby, sapphire and gold filled every inch of space around me; however despite this stunning sight I still felt cautious and unsure. I couldn't make out a single solid thing, the shapes around me were just fuzzy outlines and blurs, indistinguishable, just as my forced vision at the cottage had been and that frustrated me.
"Harry," Hermione's familiar voice asked as a black clad figure with bushy brown hair stepped into my line of sight and seemed, almost, to reach for something, though I had to strain to see even that, "could this be - ? Argh!" she screamed as though something had hurt her and quickly withdrew her hand. In cannon with her movement I felt as though I were being pulled back, wretched from this vision I was thrown abruptly back into the present and swaying with disorientation I felt my head press against something soft and warm as I tried to collect my thoughts and stop the room from spinning. Adjusted I slowly lifted my head and realised as I did that the soft thing I had been resting against was Harry's chest, looking up into the anxious eyes of my friend I realised that he had caught me when my vision stuck and kept me from falling by gripping my arms tightly.
"What was it?" he asked and pulling myself up so I supported my own weight I shook my head.
"It doesn't matter yet," I told him, knowing what I was saying was right, "we'll deal with it when we have to."
Harry looked unsure and frowning in reluctance he looked as though he might argue until I looked at him, seriously and pleadingly and said, "Trust me." My voice barely above a whisper and my friend nodded his agreement.
In the time it had taken me to have and recover from my vision Hermione had made her way to one of the many tall podiums that lined the room, with Ron by her side and Travers talking to a goblin a few desks down, she was trying to gain access to Bellatrix's vault without her key.
The goblin, who had a pair of tiny gold spectacles perched on his long, slender nose and tufts of fine white hair around his ears, looked seriously uncomfortable as he addressed Hermione, who he thought to be the infamous Bellatrix.
"You have….identification?" his asked, somewhat warily and Griphook grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me closer to Harry.
"Identification? I – I have never been asked for identification before!" Hermione exclaimed in a good show of outrage, though it did capture Travers attention, but mercifully he was securely inside a cart and about to zoom off by this point.
"They know!" Griphook exclaimed in a whisper, "They must have been warned there might be an imposter!"
"Your wand will do, Madam." The goblin assured Hermione, who looked reluctant, as she didn't actually possess Bellatrix's wand, however Griphook was right, there was a far greater problem, in order to make such a request in the first place they must have been warned of this possibility, and that, was a really bad thing. Trying to decide on the best course of action and wishing I'd seen THIS coming I shared a look with an equally frustrated Harry as an unsure Hermione handed over her borrowed wand.
"Act now, act now," Griphook hissed at us, "the Imperious Curse!" Startled I watched as Harry did as Griphook suggested, unable to believe he had actually done it but seeing the necessity, though even still, I wasn't happy about it.
"Imperio!" Harry whispered, pointing his wand at the goblin behind the desk just as he accepted Hermione's wand.
"Ah, you have borrowed your sister's wand for the occasion, Madam Lestrange." The goblin said as he examined it and I watched as Hermione looked surprised by this but rolled with the punches and accepted his words without question, even though she hadn't a clue what Harry had done or why the goblin was proclaiming the wand was Narcissa Malfoy's when it clearly wasn't.
With only a slightly alarming opposition from a few of the other goblins, who told the Imperioused Bogrod that they had special instructions regarding the vault of Lestrange and that we couldn't go down there, though this was resolved by Harry who used Bogrod to talk our way out if it, for now, the six of us made our way towards where the carts were stationed. The threat posed by the goblins' suspicion made us stop and think about whether or not we would chance carrying on, however, we had gotten this far and we decided to keep going. Safely hidden behind a closed door Harry pulled the Invisibility Cloak off the two of us and Griphook jumped down off Harry's shoulders, using my neck as a support one last time to help him lower himself to the ground and causing me to wince and grit my teeth to keep from saying anything. With that we all clambered quickly into the cart. Sat uncomfortably between Hermione, or rather Bellatrix, and Griphook, while Harry, Ron and Bogrod sat in the front seats, there was very little time for anticipation before the cart was shooting of with a lurch. As we navigated through the twisting, lamp lit tunnels I was given a chance to feel my excitement again, in spite of everything it was still brilliant to be down here and my eyes were wide and childlike as I took in every inch of what I could see and revelled in the dropping sensation in the pit of my stomach, every time the cart went down a level. But as with most pleasant things of late, this didn't last long, and I was once again reminded of the gravity of the situation when the world spun around me, a very disconcerting feeling when you were traveling at incredible speeds in what was essentially a rollercoaster cart, and another worldly breeze drifted across the forefront of my mind, wiping away this rushing scene.
Sound reached me before sight as my vision exploded into view, a deafening roar that seemed to shake the tunnel around me sounded and my vision-self pressed her hands against her ears to block it out and screwed her eyes tightly shut as a reaction. However, when I opened my eyes I saw only blurry colours and outlines and a part of me, the part that was aware this was a vision, cursed, damn it, not again! The quality of my vision was appalling, so cloudy that only the basic outlines of what I saw were distinguishable and I couldn't help but wonder, somewhat fearfully, if I had ruined my Sight, if I had somehow damaged my Inner Eye by trying to force my visions, and that thought terrified me. However, I didn't dwell on it for long, fear and exhilaration thrilled my vision-self's heart as the enormous white creature filling the dark tunnel before me reared its head and a blinding burst of yellow flames erupted from its mouth. I saw nothing more though, no matter how bad the quality, this was all I got of the future before I was plucked from the vision and returned to the present. Coming awake with a jolt I realised that I was slumped against Hermione, however, I couldn't move until the dizziness had passed and the whooshing of the cart rushing through the tunnels wasn't helping. It was the dragon, I thought as I stared at the back of Ron's head, the one that I had seen in my vision at Malfoy Manor and was here in Gringotts somewhere, for my Inner Eye to keep reminding me of it like that it had to be important, I realised as I retook control of myself and slowly sat up. Hermione was looking down at me anxiously.
"What did you see?" she asked, desperate for some news on the outcome of this attempt and for some surety, however, she didn't get any, and as I went to open my mouth my words died in my throat as Griphook bellowed,
"No!"
Afraid I quickly turned and felt my heart stop dead when I spotted a crystal blue waterfall pouring over the track mere meters in front of us, we had no way of stopping, no chance of breaking in time, we rushed through the water at full speed and it stung as it soaked us to the bone, filling our eyes and mouths and causing me to splutter. There wasn't any time to process that though, as the second the water touched it we were thrown from the cart and sent soaring through the air, my scream caught in my throat and my mind scrambled frantically for a solution as I heard our cart smash against the rock of the tunnel and crumple. Mercifully, Hermione saved us, she screamed a spell at the last minute and we landed painlessly and weightlessly on the tunnel floor.
"C – Cushioning Charm," Hermione explained shakily as Ron helped her to her feet, and I felt my heart sink as I pushed my soaping hair out of my eyes and realised that Hermione looked like herself again, that the potion that made her appear as Bellatrix had been reversed. Ron too, was once again his usual self, Hermione's minor vanity charms vanished.
"What happened?" I asked as I pushed myself to my feet, slipping a little in the puddle I stood in while Hermione and Ron also realised the chances to their appearance.
"The Thief's Downfall!" Griphook exclaimed as he clambered to his feet beside Harry, "it washes away all enchantment, all magical concealment! They know there are imposters in Gringotts, they have set off defences against us!" suitably alarmed and anxious to get pressing on we readied ourselves to leave as Harry put Bogrod back under the Imperious Curse, which had been lifted by The Thief's Downfall, as Griphook explained we would need him. Hermione meanwhile, forward thinking as always, pointed Bellatrix's wand at the waterfall and cast a Shield Charm that sent the water shooting down the passageway and blocked it off to others.
As ready as we would ever be, we wasted no time in carrying on down the tunnel, Griphook leading the way and assuring us that we wouldn't be long. Cautious and feeling unsettled by the struggle we were having and the difficulty of getting even this far, I was feeling less optimistic than before until we rounded a corner and all such thoughts were driven from my head by an infinitely more pressing one. Filling the passageway and tethered to the ground intimidatingly close to us, the huge, white, scaly beast blocked the way to several deep, ancient looking vaults and shocked me to a stop at the sight of it.
"Err, Ivy," Ron stuttered in dull panic, "is that the dragon from your vision?"
"Yes," I gasped, stunned to see the dragon in the flesh and surprised that we had come across it so soon, I had always felt it would be relevant later on, not yet. Gulping down the lump in my throat and swallowing the fear that had sprung up at the sight of the sheer size and power of the dragon, I took a tentative step forwards, struck by something else in its appearance. The great white dragon, which had always seemed to fierce and frightening in my visions, seemed less so now, curled up and growing in the passageway, it was a chained beast and still deadly, but it looked beaten, downtrodden somehow. It moved its head and I noticed vivid red lines marring its face.
"It's partially blind," Griphook told us, "but even more savage for that. However, we have a means to control it. It has learned what to expect when the Clankers come. Give them to me." Griphook commanded and Ron passed him the small bag he had picked up after we were thrown from the cart. Griphook took several small, metal instruments from the velvet bag and handed one to each of us, I inspected mine with a sense of disgust, even though I didn't know what it did yet, I could imagine and I didn't like what I thought. Griphook told us that the dragon associated pain with the sound of the Clankers rattling and instructed us to shake them, reluctantly and with revulsion I did as he asked, thinking that Hagrid would be horrified by this as the cringe inspiring ring of the Clankers echoed out, rebounding off the tunnel walls and causing the dragon to roar in agony and back away. I felt like rubbish as I watched its fearful retreat.
"Make him press his hand to the door!" Griphook instructed and Harry used the control of the Imperious Curse to make Bogrod wander over to the door and press his small hand against the wood. The door melted away, dissolving from the point of Bogrod's hand outwards and revealing the shimmering, jewel filled room that had haunted my visions for weeks now and filled me with dread at the mere sight of it.
"Be cautious," I warned them as we approached the vault, "she's bound to have some kind of protection in place and The Powers That Be wouldn't have kept showing me this if it wasn't important."
"We know, Ivy." Ron said placating me and I turned to face them, adamant that they understand my apprehension.
"No," I said sternly, trying to convey the gravity of this, "you don't. This place IS guarded by enchantment, don't touch anything, I've seen what will happen if you do, the objects will burn you if you touch them."
"Well that's going to make finding anything difficult." Ron said irritably as we stepped through the doorway and into the gold filled room.
"We'll think of something," Harry said determinedly, though he lost a lot of that when the vault suddenly shut behind us, blocking out the light of the passage and causing everyone but Griphook to jump in fright, we were all so on edge.
"Merlin I hope so," I muttered unhelpfully, looking over my shoulder into the darkness behind me where I knew the vault door was.
"No matter, Bogrod will be able to release us!" Griphook growled irritably from somewhere in the blackness. "Light your wands, can't you? And hurry, we have very little time!"
"Lumos!" I heard Harry cast and following his lead, Ron, Hermione and I did the same, illuminating the gold filled chamber and causing the many jewels to wink and glimmer when the light hit them. Peering out at the vault, which looked exactly as it had in my visions, I didn't hold out too much hope, the room was filled with all manner of precious items ranging from everyday coins to an emerald incrusted suit of armour and including several tiaras, headbands and cups, any one of them, or none of them, could be a Horcrux.
"Remember," I warned again as I stepped forwards, my wand held aloft as I peered out into the furthest reaches of the room, trying to see what was hidden in the shadows, "don't touch anything." I said, recalling my blurry vision from earlier in which Hermione had hurt herself trying to touch something in the vault, however, the room was so tightly packed with treasure that there was little space to move and Ron accidentally nudged one of the goblets spilling out across the floor. Ron yelped in pain as the goblet burned him and yanked his seared foot away as twenty new, identical goblets popped into being.
"What the Hell?" Ron exclaimed as the four of us stared at the new goblets in shock, our hearts plummeting, but still I held on fast to my determination, no matter how hopeless this looked we had to try, we had to keep going.
"Stand still," said Hermione, clutching Ron's arm and pulling him towards her, "don't move!"
"They have added Gemino and Flagrante Curses!" Griphook explained furiously, clearly no more pleased with this turn of events than we were, as our situation grew more and more desperate. "Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies will be worthless- and if you continue to handle the treasure, you will eventually be crushed by the weight of expanding gold!"
Oh you have got to be kidding me, I thought, backing up so that the four of us stood almost back to back with Griphook at our side as we scanned the room for anything that bore the crests of Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. I could appreciate the irony for potential thieves, to be killed by the one thing you wanted more than anything else, immense wealth, but honestly, this seriously didn't do us any favours.
"Just look around!" Harry instructed as my gaze skimmed over sceptres and crowns and every other kind of treasure imaginable but landed on nothing of any use to us. "Remember, the cup's small and gold, it's got a badger engraved on it, two handles – otherwise see if you can spot Ravenclaw's symbol anywhere, the eagle-"
We searched, desperately turning out wands on every corner of the room and hunting franticly for a possible Horcrux but it was no use, we couldn't see anything, and it was impossible to move enough to search properly without touching any of the cursed gold. The clang of metal falling echoed all around as each of us brushed against the treasure and sent it tumbling forth, my own hand throbbed painfully from where I had skimmed a single ruby, and caused dozens of the same to come cascading onto the floor. There wasn't any space to move, the increasingly warm and claustrophobic room was causing each of us to pant with exertion and stress, however, that didn't matter as, as soon as Harry exclaimed the words, "It's here, it's up there!" I knew it would all be worth it.
Reacting instantly Ron, Hermione and I turned to face the direction Harry was pointing and spotted a delicate, golden cup twinkling in the wand light, the crest of the gentle school founder branded clearly against the front, however, our excitement dimmed somewhat when we realised it rested high up on a shelf that was too far away for even Ron to reach, even if there hadn't been piles of cursed treasure underneath it.
"How the hell are we going to get up there without touching anything?" Ron asked as he turned to look at us, a look of desperation on each of our faces as we struggled to overcome this latest obstacle. After all we had been though, after every struggle and success of this year, not one of us was prepared to give up now, to fall at such a seemingly minor hurtle, but under the stress and fear of everything no one knew what to do. Forgetting everything Griphook had told us about Gringotts Hermione tried to summon the cup but of course it didn't work, and watching all this I took several very deep, calming breaths. It was difficult, my heart was beating wildly in my chest and I twitched with the urge to act, to do something useful, but I forced myself to still and pushed everything from my mind as I closed my eyes. I had to try, I thought as I stood there, I had to find a way, to See a way, but no vision would come, try as I might I couldn't summon up so much as a feeling about what we ought to do and that infuriated me more than I could say. Why couldn't I be useful? I exclaimed in an internal rage as a screwed up my tightly closed eyes and continued to focus, why couldn't a control this stupid 'gift'?
Struggling with my inadequacies I barely heard Harry suggest we use the sword to hook the cup with, so as to prevent any more burns, but hear him I did and I was forced to admit defeat and open my eyes, if my Sight wouldn't cooperate I was going to have to help them think of a way out of this myself, as it seemed I couldn't rely on the future. Hermione pulled out her beaded bag and plumaged through it for the sword, however, as she searched I felt my ears prickle at the sound of clanking beyond the vault door, growing louder, closer. They were coming, I thought with dread before shifting nearer to my friends, looking for some way to help and refusing to mention what I'd heard, odds were they could hear it too and the last thing we needed now way to panic. With the sword in hand Harry looked over at the cup and frowned, realising that even with it he was going to be too small to reach it, we all were, it was simply too high up, the clanking outside grew even louder and I watched as Ron and Hermione exchanged a look of terror and Hermione made her decision, acting swiftly the drew Bellatrix's wand and pointed it at Harry.
"Levicorpus!" she whispered and Harry was suddenly yanked up into the air, dangling by his ankle Harry was reaching for the cup but that was all I saw as one misplaced movement from him sent the emerald encrusted suit of armour tumbling down, multiplying as it fell right towards us. Ron, Hermione, Griphook and I staggered backwards, Bogrod stayed in a mesmerised stance where he was but mercifully avoided hitting the armour, we weren't so lucky, each of us stumbled across the little space and collided with cursed treasure, landing backwards on a silver shield I yelped as my back burned agonisingly and copied shields popped into existence all around me, catching my bear arms and multiply further. Horrified I pushed myself back to my feet but found there was nowhere left to stand, Hermione, Ron, Griphook and Bogrod were all wading through the rising tide of treasure, gold scolding my knees I reached out for Hermione, who took my hand in hers and clutched it tightly, linking me to her, Ron and the goblins, but that was all we could do. Hermione tried to cast spells to protect us but it was futile, nothing would work, no spell that moved any object would work in here, and gripping the useless Hawthorn ward in my sweaty hand I hissed as the gold made it to my waist, stinging every inch of skin it could reach.
"We need to get to the door!" I half screamed as a sceptre fell on my arm, resting and burning there until I managed to shake it off.
"We can't!" Hermione cried, nodding at Ron, who was using his free hand to try and keep Bogrod above the tide of gold, which was now taller than him.
"Griphook!" I called out, unable to see the other goblin anywhere, and not about to just leave him to suffocate under all this wretched wealth I dug through the gold searching for him, ignoring the scolding of my skin after my initial scream. Not a moment too soon I felt Griphook's blistered fingers beneath my own and pulled him to the surface, straining against his wait and the agony burning every inch of me.
"Liberacorpus!" Harry shouted from above, freeing himself from Hermione's spell and landing on the mountain of treasure with a crash and a yelp as it burned away at its new victim. The sword flew out of Harry's grip when he landed and he yelled for someone to get it. Despite his scorched state Griphook, the lightest of us, scrabbled over the treasure and snatched up the sword. However, that was all I saw with regards to the sword as at that moment, covered almost to the neck in searing treasure and in agony that was surely what the Cruiciatus Curse was based on, I felt my head spin.
"Oh, Merlin, no," I whispered as a wave of nausea hit me and the golden, glimmering room, with its tumbling treasure and stabbing agony, revolved around me. Hermione, whose hand I still clutched, turned to look at me, however I knew there was nothing that could be done, it was going to happen, a vision was going to come now, while we were all fighting for our lives, and a gasp I felt another worldly breeze drift across the front of my mind, and my vision claimed me.
I was numb; in the initial blackness of my vision I couldn't feel a thing, the jewels and coins and treasures that scolded my skin couldn't be felt here and for that at least, I was grateful. Suspended in the darkness for mere seconds I felt my vision brewing just beyond my sight and then in a massive explosion of sensation and feeling my vision burst forth. I panted, sweat clinging to my grimy skin I gasped and struggled to force air into my lungs raced forwards, I saw only in tunnel vision, focusing entirely on my destination and not the corridors I ran through, the only thought in my head was reaching the seventh floor, I HAD to get there. My legs ached, my chest burned and my entire body throbbed from exhaustion but still I pushed myself forwards, none of that mattered, I would heal, but if I didn't get up there in time than he wouldn't. I had been in this position before, racing to save him, and this time I wouldn't fail. I saw all of this in perfect clarity, this vision wasn't cloudy or blurry, clear, sharp lines made up this one, but that wasn't all, it wasn't just the sights and sounds that were intensified, by emotions, my desperation, my terror, and another feeling I wasn't prepared to put into words but made me feel like I was being suffocated, rocked through me as I ran, and ran, I felt them so strongly and with such vividness it was hard to remember it was just a vision, that it wasn't happening. I have to get to him, my vision self-thought franticly as I reached a corner and threw my hand out to grip the wall and propel myself onwards that might faster. It was as I did this, as I pushed myself on that I was abruptly yanked from the vision, from this desperate situation, and thrown into another one.
Landing in the present with a gasp my eyes flew open and I found myself staring up at a dark, stone ceiling, my arms and legs burning as they rested against cursed treasure and the sensation of someone trying to lift me and pull me out of the way. The world was still spinning around me so I could only lie there, on top of a pile of gold while I waited for myself to recover, wondering, what on Earth had happened. Someone else had other ideas though, and while I scowled at the ceiling trying to figure out how I had gotten out of the vault, I felt someone tugging on my arm and pushing me up by the shoulder, sitting up a little under both my efforts and theirs I spotted Hermione, angry red marks covering her hands, face and neck and she put all her effort into getting me to my feet. Sensing her urgency I forced myself up, regardless of how I still felt unsteady and nauseous.
"Come on, Ivy!" Hermione urged as I staggered to my feet and she pulled my forwards, away from the pile of gold, looking back over my shoulder I saw how it was all spilling out of the vault through the open door and how we had gotten out.
"Hermione," I said, turning back to look at her and spotting Harry and Ron standing in the middle of the tunnel, both as burnt as Hermione and both casting stunning spells down the passageway, where dozens of furious goblins were running towards us, "what happened?" I asked, completely disorientated.
Still pulling me along and out of harm's way, Hermione answered, "Griphook took the sword, he ran for the door and opened it before taking off down the tunnel shouting that we were thieves, he's betrayed us." She told me and stunned but not really surprised I looked at her.
"And the cup?" I asked, sure that Harry had had it when he fell but clueless about after that.
"Harry still has it," she confirmed as we reached the boys' side, gripping the Hawthorn wand tightly I stopped where I was, looked down the tunnel at the approaching goblins and took a breath, head held high I knew this wasn't over yet, that getting out would not be easy. But what ever was? I asked myself, taking aim at the nearest goblin, but we had the cup now, that was one more Horcrux, and all that remained was to get out of here and find a way to destroy it, certainly something worth fighting for.
"Stupefy!"
Author note: phew, wow, I feel exhausted now, lol. To be honest with you guys, I really didn't want to do this in two parts, but, with any luck this will all work out for the best and I'll get enough into next chapter to be happy with the progress. Sorry this took so long, I've been a bit busy since I last updated and I have a few bits of news for you.
First of all, I've added a new chapter to Foresight, the prequel to Seeing, so, if you haven't checked that out yet and would like to, now you know.
I've started work experience at a local publishing house; it only publishes true crime, war novels and none-fiction, but its experience!
And most importantly and most time consuming (but definitely worth it.), I've started a collab with Fer Frie D, which I am incredibly excited about, and will be keeping you guys posted on as it develops. It involves some more Pre Seeing Ivy, but Fer Frie D and I hope to do some more varied stuff in the future.
Also, we hit 200 reviews last chapter! Yay, Losing Sight stands at 203 reviews at the moment and I'm thrilled, honestly, such a number was beyond my wildest dreams when I first started writing on here, so I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who reviewed. I know that I said I'd send a preview of the story I'm uploading after Losing Sight to the person who was my 200th reviewer, however that Aoi (thanks so much sweetie :D) and because she reviewed anonymously there was no way to send her it, but, I've decided instead to add the preview to the end of this fic, that way everyone can see it. Again, thanks everyone, I love you all and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. x