Thank you to the wonderful beta of this story, AmbiguousGoldfish
Chapter Eight - Moving On
Harry looked around the kitchen table at his three companions, Hermione Ron and Draco. Tonight was the night they began to plan what would happen next. Harry rolled his shoulders back to release the tension that had formed and cleared his throat.
Hermione was still getting back to her normal self and Draco's stitches had been removed last night. Harry knew it was only a matter of time before they needed to head out again and they needed to come up with a plan.
Hermione's eyes met his as she made her way around the table, a steely look of determination set on her face. She took a deep breath before she began to speak. "We need to start talking about what the next phase of our plan is. Now that Draco has joined our cause, we might have more of a chance to hunt down the rest of the horcruxes."
"What…what's a horcrux?" Draco asked, looking puzzled. He knew that he would feel out of place during this meeting but he didn't think it would be this soon. What the hell was a horcrux and what did it have to do with the Dark Lord?
"It's…" Hermione paused, thinking of the best way to explain it. "When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was in school he learned how to make horcruxes. They're pieces of his soul magically bound to objects that mean something to him. This way if he dies he can come back. Harry destroyed one during his second year and Dumbledore destroyed the ring-"
"And we just destroyed the locket," Ron interjected.
Hermione shot Ron a look before continuing. "We believe that there are three more horcruxes out there and once we destroy them we will be able to destroy the Dark Lord…for good."
"Any information you can give us as to what the other horcruxes might be or where they could be hidden would help us greatly," Harry said, hoping that Draco could give them a step in the right direction.
Draco let out a long breath as he shook his head. "I...I wouldn't know anything about that." Draco said, thinking for a moment. "The only thing I can think of that could be a horcrux would be his snake, Nagini. He cares for her a lot, and the snake is always by his side when he is in the manor," Draco explained.
"I might have something," Hermione spoke softly. "Back at the manor when Bellatrix-" she trailed off, unable to say it aloud. …"She kept asking me what else I took from her just kept asking over and over again and I didn't have an answer for her." Tears started pooling in Hermione's eyes, the horror of reliving her torture overwhelming her.
Ron moved his chair closer to Hermione and placed his arm around her, squeezing her shoulder to give her a little bit of comfort.
"You think that one of those things could be in her vault?" Draco asked.
"It has to be," Hermione replied, clearing the tears that had fallen. "Why else would she have been so frantic?"
"Alright, so that's the plan then. We break into Bellatrix's vault in Gringotts, get the horcrux, then find a way to destroy it," Harry reasoned.
"That's a good plan, except for the fact that it's impossible," Ron said. "It's impossible to break into Gringotts. We will be killed within three minutes...if we were lucky."
"What if we use me?" Draco proposed. "What if I go in and ask to enter my vault? Instead of going to mine we go to Bellatrix's I know her vault number."
"But how will you open it? You need a key or a goblin," Ron asked
"Blood magic, it's for emergencies. You can use your blood to open your vault...or that of a family member. Bellatrix just so happens to be my aunt, so I will be able to open the vault," Draco explained.
"I have her hair," Hermione said softly.
"What?" Harry and Ron exclaimed in unison.
"I have a strand of Bellatrix's hair. It-it fell on my sleeve…"
"That's great! You can use the polyjuice potion to turn into Bellatrix, we will get in for sure-"
"No!" Hermione said quickly. "I'm sorry but I'm...I'm not ready...not yet." Hermione looked down at the table, feeling completely useless to the team. Becoming Bellatrix would only make her nightmare a reality. She couldn't wear the face of the woman who tortured her.
Ron gave Harry a look, he didn't want to push Hermione too far. They had made so much progress with her and he didn't want to take the chance of setting her back.
"It's fine Hermione, we will find another way," Ron assured her.
…
A month had passed and the polyjuice potion was finally ready. Harry had pulled the short straw which meant he was the one who had to drink it. He gingerly added the hair Hermione had collected and watched as the potion bubbled and turned a disgusting shade of green. Taking a shuddering breath, Harry downed the goblet and winced as the transformation began.
Harry made his way to the front door, wearing the body of Bellatrix Lestrange. Fleur had given him one of her dresses that was similar in style to something Bellatrix would wear. Feeling supremely uncomfortable, he joined the others who were standing just outside the door.
"I hate you," Harry muttered.
Ron couldn't help but to let out a snort as he did his best not to laugh.
"Shut up," Harry snapped, making his way over to Hermione and handing her, her wand.
"You will need your wand." Before Hermione had a chance to decline, he added "I trust you." Harry watched as Hermione grasped her wand, noticing that she wouldn't look at him. She kept her eyes firmly pasted to the ground.
"You sure about this?" Draco asked.
"No, but when are we ever sure," Harry said with a wry smile, holding his hand out.
All four looked at each other before Hermione, Ron, Draco and Harry apparated.