All willing and able to storm the Estate were impatiently gathered in the living room, waiting for Mad-Eye to tell them who they were paired with and their assignments. It had been decided to delay the task until October 1st because intel revealed Bellatrix and the rest of the Lestranges would be gone from the Estate to celebrate her birthday. Though the decision was an unpopular one, it made strategic sense.
Dean was twirling his wand agitatedly while Ron was drumming his against his thigh. Fred and George had closed the shop early to come and join them while Tonks, Ted, and Arthur were huddled in a small circle. After what felt like forever, Mad-Eye hobbled into the room and pinned a piece of parchment on the mantle near Sirius and Remus.
"Aright, listen up because I won't repeat myself," the former Auror growled. "The house has been divided into seven quadrants, each comprising anywhere from one to four rooms. You and your partner will be assigned a section that you will search from top to bottom. If you encounter any traps or run into any trouble, then you are to Apparate out immediately! Do not circle back to help anyone else. Am I understood?"
Alastor took their silence as admission and continued to rattle off their pairs.
"Thomas! Remus! You two will be responsible for the Family Portrait Room, the Living Room, and the Red Parlor."
"Aye, Sir," Dean responded, nodding towards his old Defense Professor.
"Weasley, George. Nymphadora-"
"Don't. Call. Me. Nymphadora!" Tonks shouted at him while her hair transformed dramatically from deep purple to fire engine red.
Mad-Eye ignored them and continued with their assignment, which was the Entrance Hall, Library, and Study immediately to the right inside the house.
"Weasley, Fred, and Sirius, you two will take the ballroom and surrounding grounds. Granger. Ted. You two will take the bedrooms and drawing room on the east side of the house, while Potter and I will take the bedrooms on the west side of the Estate. Weasleys Ron and Arthur will take the old school room, the kitchen, and the pantry. Ultimately, we will all meet in the dungeons to start freeing prisoners before activating the emergency portkey out of there."
Hermione raised her hand, the gesture only causing Mad-Eye to roll his eyes.
"This isn't a classroom, Granger. Ask!"
"Sir, how are we able Apparate out of the Estate, let alone get into it?" she voiced.
"Hestia has been working on dismantling the blood wards since the end of August. We won't have any issue being able to get out should things go awry," the former Auror answered curtly. "She'll be standing guard near the estate and warn us if anyone crosses the property line."
"How?" Fred piped up.
"With these!" Mad-Eye answered as he tossed each of them a sickle before looking down at Hermione. "I believe you are familiar with this particular charm, Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded as she felt the coin heat up before producing the world, 'check-in' around the image in the center. "It's a Protean Charm. The same one I made for the DA so we could communicate our meetings without Umbridge finding out."
Moody nodded. "Precisely. This is how I will notify you that the search is over and head towards the dungeons ASAP. Understood?"
"You sound like it's a guarantee that things will go bad. Honestly, that's not very encouraging," Fred commented, earning him equal looks of disapproval and agreement with his statement.
"Have you learned nothing?" Mad-Eye snapped. "Constant Vigilance. Always assume and prepare for the worst."
Fred did not have a quip after that as Mad-Eye ordered them to work with their partners to ensure they could detect any Horcruxes, which unfortunately had to be with old fashion searching with the naked eye since they discovered the Horcrux could not be summoned.
"Well, Hermione. If you have no objection, I think we should practice defense and attack spells before planning our comprehensive strategy," Ted offered.
She nodded, choosing to trust the 'disgraced Auror,' as the Daily Prophet took to calling him under his mug shot.
Since the enactment of the Muggleborn Commission, several born to non-magical parents were forced to flee or go into hiding. Those caught were brought before a tribunal run by none other than Delores Umbridge, Albert Runcorn, and Corban Yaxley. All who went before this farce of a court were convicted and never returned, leaving many to suspect that they were either murdered or a Dementor sucked out their souls.
Hermione shivered at the thought before looking up to find Ted giving her a troubled look. "Are you okay? You looked very far away."
"I'm fine, Mr. Tonks," Hermione mumbled as she corrected her posture.
She felt a sense of discomfort as Ted scrutinized her, mainly looking at her face to see the hidden emotion buried behind her eyes.
"It's okay if you don't feel up to this," he finally said. "Even though you are technically an adult, you are very young, and if you lose focus out there for only a second, there could be deadly consequences."
"I-" she cleared her throat- "I know that."
"I'll be honest, when we go through Auror training, we have almost three years to get to know our partners before we even get to step out into the field. A certain level of trust is built between one another that you and I are not allowed given the circumstances. So, while I don't mean to insult you or your magical ability because, believe me, from one muggleborn to another, that is the last thing I would do, I'm sure you can understand why I am apprehensive about our pairing," Ted explained gently.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the man, a quip poised on the tip of her tongue to counter his cleverly hidden insult when he raised his hand to stop her.
"Hermione, I'm not intentionally trying to insult you. I know these past few weeks have been hard for you since Draco's been taken. I would be the same way had that been Andy. But, I need to know that you will be focused on this mission." He lowered his head, giving Hermione a stern look. "I need to know that you are willing to do what is necessary."
It was like all the oxygen had vanished from the room as Hermione steeled her gaze upon Ted Tonks. Her ever-logical brain knew that the truth of the statement was correct. She had not only been distraught but distant these past few weeks. Since Mad-Eye shut down Sirius' proposal about going after Draco, she had retreated into herself, only coming out when purpose called for her. That was why after sulking in her bedroom for a few days, Harry had asked her to begin searching and reading in the Black Family Library. It was a task he thought would keep her thoughts occupied and away from images of Draco being tortured. So, while she was somewhat affronted by the implication that she was not in sound mind for this mission, Hermione could still acknowledge his apprehension was not unwarranted.
She steeled her gaze, trying to look at Mr. Tonks with faux confidence she had not felt in so long. "Your concern is duly noted; however, I assure you I can handle this."
Ted didn't say anything at first and instead stared at Hermione as he tried to decide whether to trust her succinct words. Eventually, he nodded and waved his arm to permit her to exit to the basement where the training room had been set up. Hermione stomped down the stairs with a renewed sense of invigorated resolve. She would prove to him that she could be a trustworthy partner, but more importantly, she would prove it to herself.
The morning of the mission found everyone in a state of restlessness and unease. This was the first major operation that the Order had orchestrated since Dumbledore's death, which meant a lot was riding on this to succeed. Hermione's muscles ached from how hard she and Ted trained yesterday. Still, the soreness was a welcomed reminder that she had managed to not only keep her focus but was proof that she wouldn't become a liability during this impossible task.
Methodically, she pulled out a mug from the kitchen cabinet and began pouring coffee from the pot on the stove. At the same time, Hermione tried not to lament the days when she would find a cup perfectly prepared and waiting for her at the Gryffindor table.
"Hey, Hermione," Ron greeted as he wiggled past her to help himself to another plate of eggs. "You ready for tonight?"
Hermione tried to stifle a yawn while hoping the mug was large enough to hide the bags under her eyes. "As ready as any of us can be, I suppose."
"Right," Ron said before shoveling food into his mouth. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," she replied, trying not to cringe at Ron's inferior table manners.
"Have you heard Harry talking in his sleep at all?"
Hermione blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just… I share a room next to him, and sometimes I can hear him talking through the walls," Ron elaborated. "But when I asked him about it the next day, he said he couldn't remember a thing!"
"Harry's sleep talking? What is he saying?" Hermione asked, but to her dismay, Ron simply shrugged.
"I don't know. Usually, I sleep through the night, but this time was a fluke. Draco's the one that usually wakes up and talks to Harry when he has a nightmare or what not."
Hermione's mind started reeling. She remembered Draco saying something to her about Harry muttering a name in his sleep the night before the wedding, but she didn't think anything of it until Ron mentioned something. When Voldemort tried to enter Harry's mind back in fifth year, he did so through Harry's dreams before becoming strong enough to control Harry while he was conscious. It resulted in Snape putting a barrier inside Harry's mind while continuing to practice Occlumency with him, but was there a weakness that no one knew about? Was Harry somehow unintentionally entering Voldemort's mind through his dreams?
"Granger! Weasley! Front room now!" Mad-Eye shouted, pulling Hermione out of her train of thought. The last thing she needed before preparing to break into one of the oldest estates in Wizarding Britain was another mystery to ponder.
Dusk in the Sussex countryside would have been a glorious sight if not for the direness of the mission the Order was about to embark on. Hermione crossed her arms and watched the waves of the English Channel, which were almost too calm given the turmoil of emotions crashing around inside her. Mad-Eye was slowly making his rounds with the teams while he passed out illegal portkeys and explained the mission one more time. When it was first proposed that they search the Lestrange Estate, Hermione thought it would have been on a remote island outside of Britain, somewhere muggles would never dream of stepping foot on. She had been sorely mistaken, for the property was actually located in the French countryside, hence the requirement for portkeys in lieu of Apparition.
"Right, your Portkeys are set to activate within a minute. Remember your locations, and then meet up in the dungeon!" Mad-Eye shouted as he came to stand next to Harry.
Hermione rolled the marble between her fingertips before briefly looking at Ted from the corner of her eye. His posture was straight, but his knees were slightly bent as he prepared for the whirling portal to appear and whisk them away to their destination.
"Three! Two! One!"
Mad-Eye's voice disappeared in the rushing wind and the lurching feeling of Hermione being taken away by the transportation magic. Within the blink of an eye, she was no longer on English soil and instead found herself stumbling on the rough terrain near their destination. She could see the house only an acre away when she felt someone hold on to her elbow to steady her.
"Alright there, Hermione?" Hestia asked. Her face flushed with concern as she tried to pull her long, over cloak tighter around her body discreetly.
"Well, thank you," Hermione replied when she felt Ted's presence on her right.
"Can we get an update on the wards?" Moody grumbled quietly.
Hestia nodded. "I've dismantled the anti-muggle, anti-muggleborn, and the blood wards around the entire property. All that is left is the anti-apparition ward, but you should be good to start heading in."
Mad-Eye nodded. "You heard the lass. Move out!"
With swift movements, the pairs broke apart and started moving around the property, looking for various entrances into the enormous, foreboding home. Hermione and Ted made their way through the front door and up the staircase. She tried to hide her wince at Sirius knocking out the house elf who had attempted to stop their raid, but nothing got by her partner.
"Focus, Hermione," Ted warned in a low tone as they veered off from Mad-Eye and Harry. The east wing of the house had a few large bedrooms along with a lady's parlor, which was decorated in pastel colors and patterns that were popular in the 40s. She noticed several portraits sneering and cursing at them to get out of the home as they frantically searched top to bottom in each room. With each passing second, Hermione could feel her adrenaline wavering while the frustration of coming up empty-handed started to break through her concentration.
"It's not here!" she snapped as she took one more look through the wardrobe.
"Alright. I think we've done all we can," Ted said, pocketing the fake silver sickle before nodding towards the stairs. "Let's head down and meet up with the others."
Hermione huffed, the air pushing a stray curl out of her face. "We can't give up! It must be here somewhere."
"That's not the objective," Ted reminded her sternly when a sudden crash came out in the hallway. They could hear Sirius screaming a warning up the staircase that it was time to go when the door to the bedroom was blasted in.
"Hello!" Bellatrix cackled as she strolled over the debris. She glared at Ted and Hermione before raising her wand over her head. "I don't remember inviting the mudbloods to my birthday."
"Stupefy!" Ted shouted as Hermione threw up a shield charm around them. He and Bella threw some spells back and forth before Hermione quickly dropped the shield and cast a Reducto at the chandelier. She pushed Ted to the side as the crystal shards scattered everywhere, causing Bellatrix to duck for cover as well.
"This way," Ted insisted as he pulled Hermione around the remains of the fixture and out into the hallway.
She could feel her lungs yearn for air, and the muscles in her legs screamed in agony as she pushed herself to move faster, to get as far away from Bellatrix as possible.
"You know how to play, itty, bitty, baby…" the mad woman cackled again when she fired an Incendio at the staircase. Hermione and Ted fell down the remainder of the flights and rolled off to the side of the Entrance Hall, effectively separating them from one another.
"Shite," she cursed as she picked up her wand and came face to face with Draco's deranged aunt.
"You almost killed me back there with that spell," Bellatrix sneered.
"Yet, here you stand," Hermione quipped. She shuddered slightly as she watched Bellatrix's mouth curl in a menacing sneer.
"Oh, you think you're so clever. Hermione Granger, the 'Brightest Witch of Her Age,' hmm?"
The woman advanced, one of her boots kicking a marble away from her path while she backed Hermione up against the wall. They were so close that Hermione could see the whites of the Death Eater's eyes.
"I let one mudblood ruin my sister, so I sure as hell won't let another come between my family and me," Bellatrix hissed, jerking her body forward. Her eyes were wide and crazy while her mane of dark, unkempt curls flew around her face as she shouted, "Crucio!"
"Protego!" Hermione shouted. As soon as the shield charm was up, she quickly dropped it and cast another jinx towards her opponent before ducking through the doorway. She ran through the old school room, locking the door magically behind her before darting through the kitchen and out the servant's entrance.
Her mind had eerily begun to yell at her in Ted's voice that she needed to go back, that she needed to stick to the plan as she ran across the lawn into the forest for cover. Yet, Hermione ignored everything around her as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her own small marble. She squeezed it once, hoping she was beyond the property line before she felt her body jump into the air. The Portkey had activated and sent her back to Grimmauld Place just like it was programmed to do.
She didn't have time to stop or even think about how to land when the magic of the transportation device deposited her on the living room floor. Hermione groaned as she felt the pain of slamming her shoulder into the floor travel up her arm and around her shoulder. Her eyes were still adjusting when she was suddenly hoisted up and placed in the recliner.
"It's alright, dear. Let me have a look at that shoulder," Andromeda's soothing voice said.
"Ah," Hermione gasped as she felt the effects of Andromeda's healing spell take over. She leaned back against the chair, panting as she waited for the pain to disappear. More sounds of people returning filled the small room, just in time for her eyes to adjust and take note of who was arriving. Arthur and Ron appeared first, followed by Fred and Sirius, then Dean and Remus.
"Have you seen George?" Mr. Weasley asked the room. His face fell as several shook their heads.
"We're missing Harry and Mad-Eye. Ted as well," Sirius said before looking at Hermione. "What happened?"
"I… Bellatrix attached us. She threw a fire spell at the stairs and caused us to be separated," Hermione explained. "I ran as soon as I could get free of her."
Hermione shuddered as she heard Andromeda suck in a harsh breath while Sirius looked at her with concern. She couldn't entirely tell from his gaze, but Sirius looked equally worried and disappointed in her.
"I'm sorry," Hermione squeaked out. "I should have gone back."
"No. That is the last thing you should have done," Remus insisted. "We were outnumbered, and there was no way that you could have taken on Bellatrix by yourself."
"But I didn't follow the plan!" Hermione shouted, tears flowing freely from her eyes as she admitted her mistake out loud. "We were supposed to stay together and then go to the dungeon as soon as the coin heated up."
"Hermione," Remus consoled. He carefully placed his hands on either side of her face, forcing Hermione to look into his kind, large eyes. "You did the best you could given the circumstances. Ted will find a way out."
After giving off a few shaky sobs, Hermione eventually nodded, accepting Remus's comfort. He removed his hands from her face just as Tonks and George appeared in the room.
"Help!" she shouted while George clutched the side of his face. Blood was gushing out from a large wound, coating his hand, arm, and neck.
"Put him on the couch," Andromeda demanded, immediately getting to work to stop the flow. She barked orders at various members while she cleaned and patched him up to the best of her ability.
"Where is he? Where is my baby?" Molly wailed as she came storming into the room. As soon as she made eye contact with George's pale face, Mrs. Weasley placed her hand over her heart and began to cry.
Andromeda stood up, backing away to allow George's family to gather around the couch. "I did all I could for him, but unfortunately, the curse used was dark enough that I can't grow the ear back."
For the first time in Hermione's life, she saw Fred Weasley begin to cry in front of everyone. "How are you feeling, Georgie?"
"Saint like," George whispered.
Fred took the back of his sleeve to wipe his nose. He raised an eyebrow at his brother, confused by the statement. "Come again?"
"Saint like. I'm holey," George blinked, waiting for Fred to catch on to his attempted joke. When the brother didn't say anything, Geroge raised his arm and began pointing at the hole in his head. "I'm holey, Fred. Get it?"
"Of the wide world of ear-related humor, you go for 'I'm holey?' That's pathetic," Fred chuckled.
"Reckon, I'm still better looking than you," George teased.
Molly had a soft smile on her lips that somehow broke through her sniffling while Arthur patted her back in comfort. Though the group was relieved to see some of the missing people, there still was no word on Mad-Eye, Harry, or Ted.
Hermione began bouncing her leg up and down, looking at the floor as if she was willing all of them to Apparate inside this very moment, when another distortion filled the room. She jumped out of her seat when Harry flew through the Portkey portal, catching himself as he landed hard on the rug. His glasses were broken, and his face was scratched, but otherwise, he was left unharmed from the encounter.
"Harry, my boy," Sirius gasped as he pulled the dark-haired wizard to his feet, embracing him into a bone-crushing hug. Remus came around, drawing them in for a familial embrace as they softly whispered their thanks for Harry's safety.
The next moment, Hestia appeared, her face pale with fear and worry as she instantly searched the room for Tonks. The couple immediately reached for one another and began peppering soft kisses along each other's faces for their reunion. When Hestia broke apart, she fixed Sirius and Remus with a grave expression. "Mad-Eye is dead."
Harry's face dropped? "What? That can't be! He was right behind me!"
"He was rescuing Ted when Rabastan hit him with a killing curse," the unspeakable reported. "They were so close to the property line, but with the Estate burning and more Death Eaters showing up… I couldn't stay."
Tonks placed a protective hand around Hestia's middle, drawing attention to her round stomach. "It's okay. No one blames you."
"My husband?" Andromeda asked in a broken voice.
Hestia had tears in her eyes as she finally got the courage to look up at her mother-in-law. "I'm so sorry, Andy. He didn't make it out."
The strong yet regal woman who Draco admired shed only a single tear before she excused herself from the room. Hermione looked down to avoid seeing the composed mask cracking as Andromeda hastened her steps and barricaded herself into one of the guest bathrooms.
The silence that was left in the Healer's wake was more deafening than anything Hermione had ever experienced. No one dared to move or even breathe as the remaining Order members mourned the loss of their leader and fallen soldier. There was a sense of uncertainty; a lingering question left unspoken.
Where did they go from here?
After what could have been an eternity, Sirius stepped forward and cleared his throat. "I think it's been a long night, and we should all get some rest. Tomorrow we can decide who should take over and what to do next."
No one had the energy or the willpower to argue with the request, so like zombies, they all took their leave and marched up to their bedrooms to shower and sleep. As soon as Hermione approached her door, she quickly slammed it shut before pressing her back against the wood. Her body involuntarily slid down until she was curled up on the floor and sobbing hysterically.
Mad-Eye was dead.
Ted Tonks was believed to be dead.
And it was all her fault.
Had she not strayed from the plan, had she stayed and helped Ted instead of running away from Bellatrix the first chance she got… he would have been alive. He would have been downstairs, embracing his wife, daughter, and daughter-in-law instead of possibly lying lifelessly somewhere along the ground.
Sobs wrecked through her body like a hurricane as her mind plunged into the darkness that had become a new constant within her headspace. Gusts of emotions rushed through her, filling her heart with guilt and shame as she wallowed in her failure.
Hermione stayed on the floor until her eyes had run dry. Somehow, she found some strength to sit up and look forward towards her bed through her cloudy vision. For all she could tell, this was only the eye of the hurricane passing through before another wave of grief hit her with full force. She took advantage of the small moment of clarity to pull off her clothes and make her way to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face did little to shock her system, but it still felt refreshing all the same. She briefly wondered if she scrubbed hard enough, could she erase the mistakes and start anew, but it was merely a fleeting thought.
Grabbing the spearmint toothpaste off her counter, Hermione began aggressively brushing her teeth. The action was comforting and a lonely reminder of what she had done to her parents. She couldn't help but wonder if they were safe and enjoying their time in Australia. A part of her envied that they couldn't remember the magic (or her for that matter) and that they were far away from this war and its consequences.
She spit the excess out in the sink, blinking a few times from the sting of fluoride before her eyes suddenly noticed something on the floor. She narrowed her gaze at the discarded jacket, seeing something dark sticking out amongst the fibers of the denim. Hermione slowly knelt next to her clothes, carefully pinching the dark thread between her fingers. She held it up to the light, twirling the strands of hair a few times back and forth to see that though they were long and curly, they were not from her head.
Hermione gasped, almost dropping the hairs into the sink. They belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange. The hair must have fallen out when they were dueling, and somehow, it stuck to her jacket. She quickly crossed the room and pulled out her beaded bag, searching for an empty vial. Carefully, Hermione placed them inside and sealed them with a twist of a cork. She held the glass container up, looking once more in the light to see the hair. If you had asked her later, Hermione wouldn't have been able to answer why she fought against her instinct to flush the hair away and never look at it again. Yet, Hermione managed to pull herself together enough to save this, realizing it could be useful one day. After one last look, she placed the vial safely inside her bag before crawling into bed and giving into complete exhaustion.
Hermione woke to someone banging on her door. She groaned as the pounding only pushed on her head, making the aching behind her eyes hurt even more.
"Hermione! Get up! We have a meeting to attend!" Ron shouted from the other side.
"Coming!" she called back hoarsely.
Reluctantly, she rolled out of bed and quickly put some fresh clothes on before making her way down the stairs. The closer she got to the bottom, the more apprehensive she became to face everyone. Hermione had no idea who the new leader would be, let alone if they would punish her somehow for her transgressions in the mission yesterday.
Come on, Hermione. Remember that Gryffindor courage.
Steeling herself, Hermione took three grounding breaths before she hopped off the last step. On her right would be the hallway to the kitchen where the members were gathering. But, something off to her left in the living room had caught her attention.
"Dora! I swear this should be illegal!" she heard Hestia complain.
Peering through the crack in the living room door, Hermione noticed that the large, round woman was shuffling back and forth across the room while clutching her back and arching it like she was in pain.
"Now, now, dear. We did agree to this," Tonks said in a somewhat placating tone, which only earned her a look of ire from her wife.
"But no one said how uncomfortable this would be!" Hestia cried out.
"Here, why don't you lie down, and I'll rub your back," Tonks offered. She had just managed to coax Hestia onto the couch when Hermione accidentally leaned too far into the door. She stumbled forward, causing the door to creak open and reveal her standing at the threshold.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to intrude," Hermione said with wide eyes. Her cheeks became flushed with humiliation as she quickly turned to move away from the semi-intimate scene.
"Nonsense!" Tonks exclaimed before waving her arms. "Come in!"
Hermione tentatively stepped forward while watching the couple before her. An easy sense of being existed between them, making her heart ache and long for Draco. She wasn't trying to be jealous, but the little green monster of envy made a slight appearance as Tonks caressed Hestia's bulging stomach.
"You… You're…"
"Pregnant. I know. It was honestly a shock, especially after I confirmed with the muggle healer that the pregnancy was not viable," Hestia explained. "So, imagine my surprise when my mother-in-law not only said that the tech was wrong, but I was carrying two babies!"
"Sirius and Remus are, naturally, overjoyed," Tonks added with a soft smile. "They'd wanted to start a family for years, but it never felt like the right time."
"Now is as good a time as ever… if maybe slightly inconvenient," Hestia said with a groan as she adjusted her back so that Tonks could diligently rub the sore spots along her wife's spine. "If you keep waiting for life to give you the perfect opportunity, then you will spend your entire life waiting."
Hermione chuckled slightly, looking down at her engagement ring. "I suppose that's true."
"We're going to get him back, Hermione," Tonks promised, noticing Hermione staring at the diamond on her finger. "Don't you worry. You and Draco will get your moment of happiness too."
Hermione gave Tonks a sad smile before turning to walk out of the room. Her mind instantly went to what needed to be done, the first step being the Order needed to recoup, and then they should contemplate places Bellatrix would have hidden a Horcrux. If it wasn't at the Estate, then where else would she think to hide a piece of her master's soul? Where would be the safest, most guarded…
"Of course!" Hermione gasped out, the realization stopping her mid-step. She felt a sense of invigoration at the thought, causing her to act before she fully processed it, which is what led her to dash head first into the kitchen. She found Sirius, Remus, Harry, Ron, and Arthur gathered around the table talking in hushed tones when they looked up at her intrusion.
"I think I know where the Horcrux is," she announced to the stunned room.
"Well, go on then. Where?" Harry asked.
"What's the safest place on earth? Somewhere that is impenetrable, and no one who breaks in gets out alive?" Hermione posed to the group as she stalked over to the idea board. She uncapped the dry erase marker and started to scribble a name across the top of the board.
GRINGOTTS
When she turned around, she found the group staring at her with mouths agape and eyes wide with shock.
"No," Ron breathed out. "Hermione, that's…."
"Insane," Remus finished.
"But not implausible. It makes sense that they would hide it in the Lestrange Family Vault," Sirius added. It was clear by his posture and how everyone was flocking around him that he had become the new leader of the Order of the Phoenix. "It's one of the oldest, which means it's deep underground and has loads of protection. Just like the Black and Malfoy Vaults."
"Are you mad?" Arthur asked. "You cannot seriously be entertaining this idea! There is a reason why Gringotts has the reputation as the safest place in the Wizarding World."
"I know, Arthur," Sirius snapped. He plopped down in the seat at the head of the table, rubbing his temples as he let out a tired sigh. "It would seem the Order is going to have to accomplish the impossible if we are to defeat You-Know-Who."
"No one has ever broken into Gringotts, or at least they have never gotten away alive," Arthur reiterated.
"That certainly poses a challenge," Sirius stated unhelpfully.
"Plus, not to mention the extra precautions the Goblins have added since the Death Eaters took over the Ministry," Remus said.
"What if we had someone who has been down in the Vaults. Who knows exactly where it is and could sneak us in," Hermione piped up.
"What do you mean? Who do we know that can navigate us underground to the right Vault?" Harry asked.
"Don't Bill and Fleur still work there?" Hermione questioned, looking at Arthur.
The Weasley Patriarch reluctantly nodded. "They do… but…."
"Then they can sneak us into the Vaults and escort us down," Hermione added.
"How would we get past the Goblins?" Ron asked. "They certainly aren't going to let us just walk up there and let us enter a Vault that isn't ours."
Hermione bit her bottom lip as she slowly tugged her beaded bag and pulled the drawstrings apart. She waved her hand over the opening and called for a vial of long, dark curly hair. "They will if I walk in Polyjuiced."
Remus audibly gasped while the rest of the room stared at Hermione with complete and utter shock before they all began speaking at once.
"No! Hermione!"
"It's too dangerous!"
"How do you even know that is her hair?"
"Draco wouldn't want you to take this kind of risk."
The last sentence came from Arthur, who was looking at her like she had gone completely mental. She released a shaky breath and steeled her gaze upon the redheaded man. "Do you want this war to end, or don't you?"
Arthur didn't have anything to say and simply took a step back at the vehemence in her voice. When Hermione felt confident that Mr. Weasley wouldn't argue with her, she turned to Sirius. "Call Bill and Fleur. We can figure out a plan to get past the security protocols and into the Vault with their help."
Sirius nodded. "I agree." He held up his hand, stopping Arthur's protest before it even began. "I know you are worried about putting Bill in danger and what this will mean for his future career with the Goblins, but right now, this is the only lead we've got."
Hermione watched as Mr. Weasley's protest died on the tip of his tongue. He snapped his mouth shut and stepped back, bowing his head in acknowledgment.
"Well, that's settled. We'll know more once we can work with Bill and Fleur. Everyone get some rest," Sirius commanded firmly yet gently.
Four Weeks Later
"No, no. She walks with a little more… sway in her step? Almost like she is unbalanced. Let's go again," Sirius said.
Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes as she pivoted again in the high-heeled boots. Since she posed the idea of breaking into Gringotts while potioned as Bellatrix, Sirius had her practicing constantly. Whether it was facial expressions, responses, or even how the woman walked, he wanted Hermione's performance to be flawless and leave no room for the Goblins to question she was an imposter.
Thankfully, she was saved from further torture when Bill knocked on the doorframe and announced he was ready to go over the final plan.
"Alright, everyone. Let's group up," he said, ushering everyone into the kitchen and in front of the whiteboard with the bank layout.
Bill stood on one side while Fleur flanked the other, the two newlyweds sharing a nervous look as Bill cleared his throat.
"Right, so, from past records, Fleur was able to determine the time that the Lestranges usually arrive at the bank, which is between 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning. They have a private accountant, Griphook, who oversees all transactions with the family."
"What 'Mione will have to do is state that she is wishing to make a withdrawal but would like to request a Curse Breaker to examine the items," Fleur added.
"That should be easy enough," Hermione said.
Bill nodded. "That's when I come in and will escort you underground along with Griphook."
"Can't the Goblin stay behind?" Ron asked.
Fleur shook her head. "That would be 'ighly unusual and very suspicious thing to ask."
"Plus we need him to open the Vault since we don't have the key. Once we are inside the vault, we should be able to find the cup no problem," Bill finished.
"I want to go with you," Harry stated.
"That is out of the question," Sirius yelled. "Harry, you can't put yourself at unnecessary risk. Besides, we don't have anyone for you to Polyjuice as!"
"I'll go under the invisibility cloak! Besides, you need me to find the Horcruxes," he argued.
"And why is that?" Remus asked.
"Because I can hear them," Harry admitted.
The room stilled, looking at the dark-haired wizard like he had just admitted to snorting pixie dust instead of being able to hear the pieces of Voldemort's soul.
"What did you say?" Sirius asked, his voice slow and methodical, like he was still trying to process the conversation.
"It's no secret that the Horcruxes have a negative effect on everyone. So far, people have described it like there is a Dementor in the room," Harry explained. "While I feel that too… it's slightly different. When I leave the room and the Horcrux behind, I can hear it calling out to me. And don't even get me started on what happens when I touch it."
"What?" Remus whispered.
"I can see the moment the Horcrux was created."
"Who did he kill to make the locket a Horcrux?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged. "I don't recognize them. I think it was just a random homeless muggle he came across after stealing it from Borgin."
"Well, if Harry can hear them, then it would significantly speed up the process," Bill said.
"Besides, Hermione needs backup! I would like to volunteer," Dean piped up.
"No way!" Ron disagreed. "If anyone is going, it's me!"
"Why? I can do spells just as well as you can," Dean argued indigently.
Ron huffed. "That's not what I meant! Just that Harry, Hermione, and I have always done things together, so if two of my best friends are putting their lives in danger, then I want to be there to make sure they're safe!"
"Enough!" Sirius shouted, cutting through the banter. He let out a deep sigh, the circles under his eyes becoming more prominent as his face drooped. "Ron, I understand you feel loyal to Harry and Hermione, but this needs to be a small operation."
"It wouldn't be uncommon for someone to accompany Bellatrix. A lower-level Death Eater?" Ron countered.
Harry nodded. "Not that I don't trust anyone else, but I would feel better if I had Ron watching my back while I snuck in with the invisibility cloak."
Sirius moved back and forth, looking between the three Gryffindors as each of them returned his gaze with pleading eyes. He knew Harry, Ron, Hermione, and even Draco had formed a tight bond, one that rivaled his own with Remus, Peter, and James once upon a time. He couldn't help but feel melancholy and apprehensive about willingly putting these children (because, yes, even being of legal age, they were still young and naïve) in danger. Mad-Eye or Dumbledore wouldn't have hesitated for them to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, but Sirius was slightly more selfish than his predecessors.
"Sirius," Harry breathed out as he cautiously approached his godfather. The dark-haired wizard placed a gentle hand on Sirius' arm, looking up at him with a resolve that made the man catch his breath. "You know we have to do this."
The new leader blinked, fighting back tears as he looked deeply into his godson's eyes. It was like he was lost in a memory from another time before he silently nodded his head.
"Tomorrow then," Bill said. "Meet us near the entrance near Diagon and Knockturn."
"There," Fleur said as she fixed the dingy black dress Remus pulled out of the Attic. She had woken Hermione earlier than expected the following day to finish setting her outfit for her 'grand performance' as Bellatrix. "That should make you presentable."
"As presentable as a mad woman can be," Hermione quipped, earning her a slight giggle from Fleur. "How do you know all these glamour spells?" She quickly corrected herself when she saw Fleur's face drop. "I'm sorry. That was very rude. I just meant… you are so beautiful without the assistance of magic..."
Fleur chuckled. "You mean I am part Veela, so why would I need to know such things? Shouldn't my… natural abilities circumvent the desire for additional assistance?"
Hermione ducked her head sheepishly as she fell under Fleur's discerning eye.
"It's okay," the blonde said kindly. "My sister, you remember Gabriel, no? She has wanted to be a stylist since she was a little girl. So, every year she would ask for fabric or make-up to practice her passion. Being the only other girl to play with, I would often let her use me as her guinea pig. So, I suppose I just learned it all by proxy." She took a steadying breath as she looked out the front window. Fleur's face had a far-off expression when she said, "Who knew it would come in handy one day."
Hermione entered the living room, finding Ron ready to go in his non-Polyjuiced disguise as an Auror. Fleur did a fantastic job making sure the long grey robes fit him while also spending time coloring his hair and adding a mustache to hide his features.
"How do I look?" Ron asked.
"Like a creep," Harry teased, earning him a punch in the arm from his friend.
"Boys, focus," Remus warned sternly, effectively silencing the two.
Hermione lined up next to them, holding the vial of hair in her hand, and waited for Sirius to give her a bottle of Polyjuice.
"It's not much, but it will give you a couple of hours worth," Sirius explained.
"Thanks," she said as she uncorked the vial and dropped the hair into the flask. She looked down at the brown liquid with disgust as it started to morph and change into an electric green color. "It smells like rotten eggs," she informed the group as she took a tentative sip. Hermione gagged as soon as the foul potion touched her lips.
"You have to swallow a whole portion, Hermione," Remus insisted.
"I know," Hermione snapped, plugging her nose and forcing the necessary amount down her throat. She dropped to her knees, capping the flask as she felt the magic take effect, transforming her body inside and out until she emerged as Bellatrix Lestrange. Hermione blinked, adjusting her vision before taking a few tentative steps in the high-heeled boots. "Well, say something?"
A hand instantly flew to her throat, shocked by the change in her voice to match the pitchy tone of the Death Eater's voice.
"Brilliantly evil," Ron deadpanned, nodding at Harry to put on the invisibility cloak. The three huddled together, ready to Apparate to the chosen location.
"Right, on the count of three," Hermione said. She cleared her mind and concentrated on the destination as Ron counted down.
"Three, Two, One…"
Hermione's breath hitched as she felt the uncomfortable pull before landing on the cobblestone street.
"Harry?" she whispered, looking to her left to ensure he was still there.
"Here," he replied back.
"Right, let's go," Ron stated, holding his arm out for Hermione to walk forward first.
Remembering her training, Hermione replaced her uncertain expression with a scowl while straightening her posture. She walked with purpose and her head high through the bank's front door while Ron trailed right behind her. The Bank was as impressive as ever with a line of Goblins dutifully filing paperwork while extra security filtered around the space. The main part of the building appeared to have been decorated with candle lit jack-o-lanterns and vines of orange maple leaves weaving up along the columns.
It must be Halloween.
Hermione thought as she ignored the Goblins looking at her curiously and approached the Bank Manager.
"I wish to enter my vault."
"Oh, Mrs. Lestrange. We were not expecting you," the Goblin said.
Hermione narrowed her eyes while placing her hands on the edge of the large desk. Fighting the uncomfortable and crawling feeling in her stomach, she hoisted herself up, so she was near eye level with the Manager. "And whose fault is that?!"
"Our sincerest apologies, Madam Lestrange!" The Goblin cowered behind the counter, his apologies flying off the tip of his tongue faster than either she, Ron, or Harry could make sense.
"Was it your fault?" She jumped down from the desk, swiping the pumpkin for decoration off the counter top before stalking over to another Goblin. "Or yours?"
"No, Madam Lestrange," the Goblin squeaked out, dropping the stack of paperwork he had been carrying.
"Doesn't matter," she spat. "Take me to my accountant now!" Hermione demanded, waving her arms around like she would curse anyone closest to her.
"Of course, Madam Lestrange. Of course," the Bank Manager bowed. "Right this way."
She, Ron, and the invisible Harry followed the Goblin down an ornate hallway until they stopped at an office near the end. The Bank Manager knocked thrice until a muffled, 'enter,' sounded from the other side.
The accountant, Griphook, immediately stood upon seeing the Polyjuiced version of Bellatrix. "Madam Lestrange. Please come in. How may I assist you today?"
Hermione swayed a bit in her step, making sure to look menacing and confident as she glared at the Goblin. She waited until she heard the door firmly shut behind her before speaking her extensively rehearsed lines. "I need to retrieve something from my Vault. It is a matter of the utmost urgency."
Griphook nodded. "Of course."
"I'll also require a Curse Breaker to accompany me," Hermione added. "Your best one."
She could hear Ron's breath hitch only slightly as Griphook stopped what he was doing to raise a questioning eyebrow at her. "Forgive me, but that is such a curious request. You have never sought out a curse breaker before."
Bellatrix-Hermione scoffed. "And it's none of your business why I am asking for one now. It's not your place to argue but follow orders, which I expect you to be doing right now!"
Time felt like it was moving in slow motion as she felt her heart rate pick up and her breathing pause. She had never dreamed of being an actress, nor was Hermione that good of a liar, yet here she was trying to convince this innocent Goblin to let her break into this Vault and search for a dark artifact.
Eventually, Griphook nodded before pressing an intercom system on the wall. "Bill, can you come to my office?"
"Be right there, Sir," Bill's distorted voice replied through the speaker.
Hermione relaxed only slightly, bringing her arms to cross in front of her chest. "About time. You know I don't like to be kept waiting."
"Of course, Madam Lestrange," Griphook answered.
"And you can curve the attitude," Hermione snapped, effectively silencing the accountant.
It didn't take long for Bill to step into the office. He immediately noticed the tension between Griphook and the fake Bellatrix and a silent concern etched in his features if Hermione was maybe overdoing her performance. Still, he chose to ignore it and nodded towards his boss. "You wanted to see me?"
"Madam Lestrange has requested a Curse Breaker to accompany her to her vault," Griphook informed him.
"Yes, yes! Now that you fully understand my request… we ought to be going. I'm on a tight schedule," Hermione shouted again.
"Are you now?" Griphook sassed. He took another step towards the witch before folding his hands in front of him. "Well, surely Mr. Weasley can accompany you… since you have your key and all to enter your vault."
"Don't be preposterous," Hermione snorted. "You need to accompany us for the inventory."
"Oh, but surely you could just simply stop by the office and tell me what you took out?" Griphook sneered, looking between her and Ron like he knew something was off. "I must say, I don't know who you two are, but it was pretty clever of you to Polyjuice yourselves."
Panic began to flood Hermione as the Goblin started to waddle over to this desk again. He was reaching to press something (another button, maybe?) when Bill raised his wand.
"Imperio."
The unforgivable curse silently hit the Goblin, causing his body to sway slightly and his face to reveal a somewhat droopy look.
"Griphook," Bill breathed out. "Take us to the Lestrange Vault, and avoid any traps or 'thief's downfalls' along the route."
"Yes, Mr. Weasley," the Goblin slurred while he hobbled off to take them to the track that would lead them underground to the vaults. As quickly and quietly as possible, the five of them climbed inside the first available cart while Bill pushed the lever to steer the vehicle. Hermione's eyes began to water as the rush of the wind smacked her in the face from how fast the cart was moving towards their final destination. She didn't know how far down the cart had traveled, but it was deep enough that she felt her ears pop from the lowered elevation. They heard a loud roar of a creature, which Hermione saw was from an Ukrainian Ironbelly based on the quick glimpse she got from peering over the side of the cart.
"That's barbaric," she commented, feeling sympathy for the poor creature who looked malnourished, blinded, and scarred.
"It's added security," Bill replied, his tone somewhat apathetic as he focused on navigating the windy and twisty rails. Everyone gave a collective sigh of relief when Bill finally slowed and stopped in front of a large iron door.
"We'll need him. The Vault cannot be opened without a Gringotts Goblin," Bill informed them. Harry threw off the invisibility cloak, grabbing one side of Griphook while Ron took the other. Together, they pressed the Goblin's hand against the door and watched as the protection enchantments melted away before swinging open.
Hermione's jaw dropped as she took in the impressive sight. The cave-like Vault was filled to the brim with various processions and valuables, some appearing to be dating back centuries. Clearly, this family had accumulated more wealth than Hermione, Harry, or Ron could have ever dreamed of possessing in their lifetime.
"Search fast," Harry hissed.
"Careful not to touch anything," Bill warned. "There could be anti-muggleborn or other curses on the jewels."
"Well, that's going to make searching for this thing harder," Ron gripped, but nonetheless, he continued to search around the mounds of gold and various antiques filtered around the room.
"Harry," Hermione tentatively asked. She faulted for a bit in her step as she felt the potion's effects begin to wear off.
Harry shook his head as soon as he made eye contact with her, realizing what was happening. "Don't take your last dose until we're back on the cart. We need to be able to walk out of Gringotts before heading back to headquarters."
"Right," Hermione said. "Do you… hear anything?"
Harry shook his head again before closing his eyes. "Remember. It's going to be small, like a chalice. It will have an emblem of a badger on it."
Hermione nodded before returning to her search. She tried to carefully maneuver around the Vault, looking high and low for the prize while her body began adjusting back. She grunted in pain, almost collapsing onto the floor when it suddenly passed.
"You alright?" Bill asked her.
"Yeah," Hermione breathed out as she allowed Bill to help hold her up. "It's just excruciating."
"I'll take your word for it," Bill said with a soft smile.
"It's this way," Harry announced with finality as he moved closer to the back of the Vault.
"Be careful not to go too far," Bill cautioned. "It's connected to the one in France. A magical portal line will activate and alert that branch if you cross it."
If Harry heard the eldest Weasley sibling, he gave no indication or acknowledgment as he continued to march forward. He was, quite literally, a man on a mission and would stop at nothing to succeed. He held his wand up, pointing it towards a small trophy-like object on the shelf at the very top of the Vault.
"Accio Horcrux!"
Ron gave his friend a look of disbelief. "You really going to try that one again?"
Harry shrugged. "Worth a shot." He then turned to Hermione, who had fully transformed into her normal self. "Got anything in your bag that could help get it down?"
Hermione quickly pulled the drawstrings back and began rummaging through her supplies when another thought struck her. She pointed her wand at Harry's feet before swishing and flicking it like they learned in first year. "Wingardium Leviosa."
Harry's body instantly rose off the ground and began ascending towards the vaulted ceiling. Hermione gracefully bounced the wand in an upward movement to propel Harry closer to the target.
The group collectively smiled as Harry grabbed the cup's handle and was lowered back to the ground.
"Put that in your bag, and let's get out of here," he said when Ron accidentally tripped over one of the crowns that had been sitting on the floor.
"Ouch! It burned me!" he shouted as the object began to multiply.
"Shite! It's a Gemino Curse," Bill growled. He swished his wand back and forth, muttering several incantations that could not stop the rapid replication of all the valuables. "Run! Get out as fast as you can, or everything in this room will suffocate you."
Hermione, Ron, and Harry didn't need to be told twice as they darted out of the Vault with Bill and the Imperiused Goblin right on their tails. Hermione fought the ache in her lungs and the burning in her muscles as she tried to push herself to go faster in the heels.
"Hey! Look!" Harry shouted as he stopped and pointed up to another display towards the ceiling.
Hermione huffed, turning back and preparing to pull Harry out of the Vault when she too stopped to see what he had found. In a glass display on a shelf near some other jewels, proudly displayed, was the Sword of Gryffindor.
"How do we get up there?" Hermione asked when Ron raised his wand and shouted, "Accio sword!"
Surprisingly, the case fell forward, landing perfectly in front of the trio. Harry didn't hesitate and picked up the entire case before resuming their escape at Bill's insistence.
Hermione practically stumbled out of the Vault, almost running into one of the rocky columns. She panted against it, allowing the jagged, earthy surface to press into her palms as a reminder that she was alive while Bill closed up the Vault.
"We got it," Harry reminded them with a gleam in his eye. He placed the entire case, sword and all, into Hermione's bag when Ron gave them a thumbs up.
"Good, now let's get out of there!"
"Oh, I don't think so!"
Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Bill turned to find Griphook had somehow broken the curse and jumped into the cart. He set off an alarm on the vehicle before zooming away and leaving the four behind.
"Hurry! We'll go around the dragon and out another way," Bill implored.
"What other way?" Ron shouted.
"There are emergency portkeys hidden around the place, just in case of a cave-in," Bill explained. He rounded the corner and rushed up to a wall filled with wooden panels before touching one near the center. Inside was a chipped teacup under a sort of protection ward that Bill attempted to dismantle with a password. After trying the spell a few times, he furrowed his brows and looked down at the object with fear. "It's not working."
A piece of the wall beside Hermione exploded, causing the group to duck for cover near the rotunda. From her hiding spot, she could see they were standing on a balcony a story above the creature. At the same time, other Goblins and security personnel approached the round chamber where the pale Ukrainian Ironbelly was chained.
"We're trapped!" Ron shouted.
"Well, we can't just stand here!" Hermione yelled back as she crouched down to avoid a stunning spell near her head. "Anyone got any ideas?"
"You're the brilliant one," Ron retorted.
"I… I've got something, but it's mad!" Hermione admitted as she looked up at her three companions.
"At this point, you're all we've got," Bill shouted.
Hermione gritted her teeth, screaming a Reductor curse at the railing near her position. She ran back the way they came, giving her a head start before she flung herself off the landing and onto the back of the dragon. The creature screamed, breathing waves and waves of fire around the area and forcing the bank staff to halt their assault.
The three men stared at her, mouths agape, when she shouted, "Well, come on then!"
One by one, Harry, Ron, and Bill jumped onto the back of the Ironbelly while Hermione shot a severing spell on the chain that kept the dragon tied down to its prison. It was amazing how the creature instinctively knew it was free based solely on the sound of the cuffs shattering and began climbing its way up the side of the cave. Each step up was a step towards their freedom, guided by the beast's sense of smell towards the fresh air.
The four held on to the thick white spikes that ran along the dragon's spine for dear life while narrowly avoiding the spells shot in failed attempts to stop their escape.
"It's a dead-end! There's no way he'll break through the stone and the concrete!" Bill shouted.
As if the creature heard the redhead and accepted the challenge, it began belting large hot flames towards their assent, effectively melting away at the obstacle. Realizing what the animal was doing, Hermione and Bill raised their wands and flung as many charms as they could to help widen and disintegrate the soil-like material. Within no time, the dragon had managed to break up the flooring and pushed its way onto the surface.
Hermione could hear patrons and Goblins alike screaming in fright as the creature continued to breathe fire in its wake. It continued clawing and climbing even further until the dragon broke through the glass cupolas. The Ironbelly paused for a moment, sucking in its first breath of fresh air in how many years as it savored the feeling of the afternoon sun on its neglected scales. It raised its head high into the sky and let out a triumphant roar.
"Now what?" Ron shouted.
"Reducto!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at the dragon's tail.
The creature gave another holler before attempting to fly. The Ironbelly struggled for a few moments, trying to use its wings until it eventually managed to level itself out. The four of them flew high and wide over the London skyline and away from the destruction left behind.