Chapter 25 Draconis
Authors note: So, I have to go to school tomorrow and I'm already crying. But anyways here is another chapter. If I'm correct there will be another 5 tops. Don't forget to check out my one shot Monster! Enjoy!
Oooo
"Ready?"
"Ready as we will ever be." The Golden Trio had stayed at the cottage longer than necessary. Previously saving Luna, Ollivander, and the goblin Griphook allowed them to ask certain questions. Harry brought up the Deathly Hallows, referring to the Elder wand, but Ollivander had his doubts. Griphook however was very interested in how three Hogwarts students obtained the sword of Gryffindor. A deal was made between the four. If Griphook could help them break into Gringotts, in search of a horcrux, he could have the sword. Hermione was hesitant about the deal but had a gut feeling a horcrux had to be in Bellatrix's vault. Why else would she have been so mad at them presumably stealing the sword from said vault.
The four were standing outside the cottage, ready to go. Hermione had turned into Bellatrix, using a Polyjuice potion and a piece of hair she found on her sweater. Ron's features were changed to brown eyes, long red hair, and a long red beard. Harry and Griphook were going to be under the Invisibility cloak.
A quick pop was made as they safely made their way through Diagon Alley.
"Bellatrix." A lone Death Eater gave her a head nob and continuing walking.
"Good morning." Her voice was shaking but she kept walking even when the Death Eater stopped and stared at her in utter shock.
The soft but forced whispers of Griphook could be heard through the alley. "Good morning? Good morning? Are you mad! Bellatrix would never say good morning!" Hermione winced at the harshness of his voice but none the less kept walking until they were inside of Gringotts.
"Mhm." Hermione cleared her throat in hopes of getting the goblins attention behind the desk.
"Aw, Mrs. Black, what can I do for you today?"
"I wish to enter my vault." Hermione crossed her arms and kept he chin high.
"Identification?"
"Excuse me? I highly doubt that will be necessary."
"Protocol Mrs. Black. Your wand?" Pink and green swirls appeared out of thin air as the goblin changed his frown to a smile. Someone used the Imperius curse on him. "I'm sorry about that. Right this way to your vault!" He jumped off the high chair, grabbed his keys, and lead them to a crat that travel through the maze of vaults and to the very bottom level.
They were going all the way down so the cart was picking up speed. Going faster and faster until a clear water fall was seen a few hundred yards ahead. Hermione was clinging onto the cart for dear life.
"What's that?" Her scream was whipped away as they got closer and closer. The wind was whipping past her ears, making it hard to hear the stained response.
"Thief's Downfall!" But it was too late. The five were soaked and all enchantments were lifted. Hermione was turned back to Hermione. Ron no longer looks like an old man. And Harry and Griphook could be seen under the cloak. Worst of all the goblins curse was lifted and he stared at the four figures in horror.
"Intruders! Intruders!" A flashing red light began as the cart thrust to a stop and flipped over. All five went flying out as the ground became closer and closer. Inches away from death Hermione whipped out her wand. They stopped an inch before hitting the ground and Harry was quick to replace the curse on the goblin, Bograd. A pale purple, skinny looking dragon was lying in the middle of the floor. Chains around its legs as the five slipped past. They used some kind of tool that created a noise, making the dragon hide away in pain. Hermione thought the whole action was vile and cruel but she couldn't save the dragon now. Bograd reached the door and moved his finger in an unidentifiable way before the door flung open.
Griphook got down from Harrys back and stood behind the trio. "Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies are worthless – and if you continue to handle the treasure, you will eventually be cursed to death by the weight of the expanding gold."
"Okay, not touch anything. We are looking for a Hogwarts founder artifact. The cup of Hufflepuff is gold, small, and has a badger engraved on it. There also could be something from Ravenclaw but we have yet to figure that one out. Don't touch anything unless you think it is one of the two." Harrys voice boomed through the open room.
"Accio Horcrux!"
"Accio cup!" They knew using such spell was a cheap shot but they tried any way. The three began to move forwards in the room when Ron bumped into a table. Sending ten objects on the floor that began to multiply. Hermione proceeded to knock over cup and now they were being surrounded. The piles of fake materials were growing higher and higher as Harry, Ron, and Hermione struggled to kept their heads above it all.
"Stop moving!" Hermione and Ron froze. The noise began to die down as they stood neck high in piles of gold. "Look! Over there! The cup!" Harry began to climb and climb and the multiplying started again. He grabbed for the Gryffindor sword and hooked onto the cup right before the multiplying covered him completely.
The sound was deafeningly quick. Hermione was about to go in shock. Did she just lose her best friend! "Harry!" Suddenly there was a big movement as Harry tumbled down the golden mountain. Hundredths of riches multiplying behind him as he went. He stopped just before the door and looked up in horror.
"Griphook give me the cup!"
"Only for the sword!" Harry reluctantly handed over the sword, knowing the cup was worth more in the defeat of Voldemort. "I said I would get you in, but I never said I would get you out!" Griphook ran from the room, screaming for the guards and other goblins to capture the. He slipped by the angry dragon breathing fire at the horrid noise and joined the bank members. Like he was never on the opposite side in the first place.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione excited the vault but suddenly a wave of curses were shot their way. They dove behind two pillars that had a railing in between.
"Well what do you suppose we do?" Sometimes Ronald really got on her nerves.
"I have an idea but you're not going to like it." She jumped from her hiding place. "Bombarda!" The railing separating them from the dragon was broke, and she jumped. Harry and Ron looked at each other in shock before jumping after her. They broke the chains on the dragon and things turned positive. It was breathing fire at the guards as it tried to climb higher and higher. The Golden Trio were hanging on for dear life as the dragon broke through the bank and flung into the air. Stumbling a bit at the beginning but managing to get high up into the air. Away from all the eyes.
Hours pasted and they were still on the pale purple dragon, currently flying over a lake. "We should jump!" Harrys voice called through the raging wind.
"When?"
"Now!" Without hesitation, the three let go and plummeted deep into the icy waters. Harry let out a cry of pain as they reached the shore.
"He knows!"
"What?" Hermione and Ron were looking at him like he was crazy.
"Voldemort knows! He knows we are hinting for horcruxes. I saw it! And the last one is at Hogwarts. We have to go now!"
"Harry slow down. How do you know this isn't like 5th year all over again? Trying to trap you."
"Hermione trust me. He's mad. Something must be at Hogwarts. It was his second home."
"Fine Harry but we can't just show up at Hogwarts or Hogsmade without a plan. There are Death Eaters everywhere!"
A few hours later and a new set of clothes later lead to the pop and pull as they landed in the middle of Hogsmade. An alarm went off and twenty Death Eaters rushed outside as the three dove for cover in a dark alley. Hugging the wall for dear life.
"Come out, come out where ever you are Potter! You can't get away this time!" The sad sadistic way this Death Eater spoke sent a chill down Hermione's spine. How had Draco lasted this long surrounded by horrid people?
"Potter in here!" All three heads whipped around but none the less followed the old man inside. "What in god's name are you three doing here? Do you want to be killed?"
Harry was the first to speck. "We have to get into Hogwarts."
"Your Albus Dumbledore's bother. Aberforth, correct?" Hermione took a step closer and couldn't help but notice the similarities. He looked like a heavy and younger version of Dumbledore.
"Yes, and if I were you I would go now. The war is over. Voldemort has won."
"Can you help us get into Hogwarts?"
"Why would I do that? The war is over."
"The war is not over. We ca still win. We needing something there. Dumbledore gave …"
"What? Albus gave you a mission before he died. I assume rather difficult. Run away boy. Albus and everyone else knew you couldn't do it. My brother didn't know what he was dealing with. That's why he got himself killed."
"You don't know what you're walking about. Dumbledore said we could do this. I just need the thing from Hogwarts and we have a chance to win."
"Did he now? Just answer me one thing. How much do you really know about him? Did he ever talk about me or Ariana?"
"No but …"
"No Potter. The war is over. You lost. Might as well run while you still can."
"Mr. Dumbledore?" A grunt noise made Hermione continue. "I know you think the war is lost but give us one more chance. I don't know what terms you and professor Dumbledore were on but I would like to say I am personally sorry for your loss. But please let us fight."
He looked from her, to Harry, to the red head boy eating in the back. When Hermione saw him she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Typical. Aberforth let out a huff before leading them to a painting of a young girl. "You know what to do."
"Is this Ariana?" Hermione was staring at the little girl who couldn't be more than twelve. Her image was getting smaller and smaller as she walked away.
"Yes."
"She's beautiful." Aberforth gave a small head nod. Harry and Hermione stood by the painting as Ron continued to eat. "Honestly Ronald. We are about to enter Death Eater territory and you're eating."
"What? I'm hungry."
"Guys who's coming back with Ariana in the painting?" The trio took a few steps back before the painting swing to the side.
"Neville!" Hermione ran up and hugged him as Ron and Harry gave him a quick pat on the back.
"I knew you guys would come. I just knew it!" They started to walk down the dim lite passage as Neville told them about Hogwarts. Death Eaters all over the place. Performing and learning the three-unforgivable curse. Curses being inflicted on himself. But he always takes it will a smile because he knew the Death Eaters were only torturing him because he got under their skin. Then he proceeded to say how he, Ginny, and Luna started Dumbledore's Army and that they were heading towards the Room or Requirements. Neville quickly opened the door. "Hey guys! Guess who I found!" He stepped aside and several gasps were heard.
"Harry." Everyone stepped aside to give Ginny a direct few of Harry.
"Ginny." Smiles graced their lips.
"Gosh, I'm her brother and she hasn't seen me in months' but oh Harry I've missed you!"
"She has six brothers! There's only one Harry!" The crowd broke into laughter as the young couple embraced.
"Harry how can we help?"
"Yeah! We want to fight!"
Cheers were going around the room as Harry stood in the middle. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to find something." The cheers stopped.
"Find something?"
"Yes, now it has something to do with Ravenclaw. Any ideas?"
Luan, being a Ravenclaw herself spoke up. "Well there's the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw. But that's been missing for hundredths of years. If anything does go missing, I suspect the Nargles. Want me to ask them for you?"
"No Luna, that's fine, but could you take me to Ravenclaw tower?"
Suddenly a booming voice was heard throughout the castle. Snape. "All students must report to the Great Hall immediately."
"Maybe later Luna, but does anyone have a spare set of robes I can borrow?"
A whisper went around the room as Harry held a mischievous glint in his eyes. The war had begun.