Weeks passed as everything was in place for the Gringotts break-in. Griphook and Hermione had needed to recover from the torture they got at Malfoy Manor, but overall; all of them had needed the rest and it was nice not to be camping out in the forests, having to take turns keeping guard. Hermione brewed Polyjuice potion in the time too. Now, it was May 1st, 1998. Their plan was ready and they were all standing outside as Hermione came up the path looking like Bellatrix. Ron was transfigured into a random person with a glamour of Hermione's creation.
"How do I look?" Hermione asked.
"Hideous," Ron commented as Harry slapped his arm.
"It's perfect, Hermione. Have you got the wand?" Harry inquired. Hermione held it up, then put it away. "Let's be as quick as possible. Griphook?"
The goblin wandered up the path with the sword. "Hermione will hold onto that for now," Ron told him. Griphook put the sword in Hermione's bag and they connected hands.
"Remember, Griphook. You get us past the guard and into the vault, the sword is yours." Harry told the goblin, who nodded. "Alright, take us in Hermione. To the Leaky Cauldron."
Hermione nodded and they were gone. Moments later, appearing in the alley near the Leaky Cauldron. The streets were quiet, shops boarded up. It was eerie and the group couldn't believe how much things had changed since they left last August. Not even then, the last time they were in Diagon Alley was to get their books for sixth year. It saddened them to see the once bustling road of their childhoods so dark and meek.
"Madam Lestrange," Spoke a voice.
Harry nudged Hermione to reply. "Good morning," The man stared at her, then walked off.
"Good morning? Good morning?!" Griphook asked.
"Easy," Ron told the goblin.
"Bellatrix Lestrange does not greet anyone with such a cheerful school-girl demeanor. If that's how she's going to be, we might as well take the sword and slit our own necks." Griphook scolded.
"No, he's right…It was foolish of me. I'll do better." Hermione said.
"Can you do her voice?" Harry inquired.
"Um…" Hermione thought, clearing her voice. "Yes, what is wrong with his face? Was it you, deary? Give me her wand, we'll see what her last spell was." She recited from a couple weeks back in her best Bellatrix voice. "How was that?"
"Bloody hell, Hermione," Ron stared, slack-jawed at just how good it was.
"It'll do." Griphook stated. "Now's let's go."
Harry crouched down and Griphook got on his back as Ron threw the invisibility cloak over them. From there, Ron and Hermione walked towards the bank with Harry carrying Griphook and following. Soon, they walked up the steps and Griphook had warned them about the guards who would check for enchantments upon entry, so Harry cast the Confundus charm to confuse them and walk on through. They approached the goblin at the back and stood before the tall desk where he was writing on parchment.
"Heh-hem!" Hermione sounded to get the goblin's attention. He ignored or didn't hear. "You dare to ignore me, goblin?" He didn't stop what he was doing. "Take me to my vault." She ordered.
"Identification?" The goblin asked.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Hermione commanded as the goblin finally looked at her. "I don't believe it's necessary to identify myself now that you've seen who you're dealing with. Now, take me to my vault."
"Madam Lestrange," The goblin said then he got down.
"I don't like to be kept waiting." Hermione stated firmly.
"They knew she's an imposter, they've been warned." Griphook whispered. A guard from behind them began to walk forward.
"Harry? What do we do, Harry?" Ron questioned.
Another goblin appeared. "That's Bogrod, he's in charge these days." Griphook said.
"Madam Lestrange, would you mind presenting your wand?" Bogrod asked.
"And why would I do that?" Hermione spat.
"Well, it's the bank's policy. Surely, you understand?" Bogrod argued gently with a smile.
"No, I do not understand when you can quite clearly see who I am for yourself. Now, enough of this. Take me to my vault now, or I will be forced to use…Force." Hermione threatened.
"Smart girl," Griphook commented quietly.
"We don't have time for this and they obviously know something is up." Harry sighed as he moved silently next to the stand.
"I must insist," Bogrod told her.
"What are you doing!?" Griphook asked.
"What needs to be done." Harry remarked as he raised his wand subtly next to Bogrod. "Imperio!" Harry cast. A golden dust emitted as Bogrod inhaled it and relaxed. Ron and Hermione were shocked, but didn't show it. "You will take us to Madam Lestrange's vault. Now." Harry commanded.
"Very well, Madam Lestrange. If you'll follow me," Bogrod told her.
Next thing they knew, they were whipping through the bank on the high-speed cart with Griphook driving and Bogrod, still under imperious, on the back. They passed a waterfall as Griphook suddenly started to slow the cart down. "Oh, forgot about that." Griphook mentioned.
"What!?" Harry asked.
They went under the cart and it stopped fast, and an alarm blared before dropping them right off and falling very far down. "Aresto Momento!" Hermione cast quickly as they slowed and then hit the hard ground.
"Good thinking, Hermione," Harry told her.
"What was that?" Ron asked.
"A defense in the bank. Thief's Downfall they call it. It washes away all enchantments and spells." Griphook informed. "It can be deadly."
"You don't say?" Ron glared. "Just out of interest, is there any other way out of here?"
"No," Griphook shook his head.
Bogrod turned around to see them. "What the devil are all of you doing down here. Thieves!"
"Imperio!" Harry cast again as Bogrod stopped.
"Come, we're going on foot from here." Griphook said.
So they walked the rest of the way, only stopping when a loud growl was heard.
"That doesn't sound good," Ron pointed out.
As they kept walking and rounded a corner, there was a large, chained up white dragon in the center of the cavern they were in.
"Bloody Hell," Ron gasped. "That's the Ukrainian Ironbelly…"
"Very good, now here," Griphook handed them some machine. "Shake it. The dragon is trained to associate the sound with pain." He told them.
"That's barbaric!" Hermione said as they walked through to the vault.
Griphook grabbed Bogrod's hand and put it on the door as it pulsed and then opened.
"Lumos," Harry said as Ron and Hermione did the same to light the room more.
"Blimey…" Ron looked around while they walked.
"Accio Horcrux," Hermione tried. Nothing.
"You weren't seriously trying that one again, are you?" Ron asked her.
"That kind of magic won't work in here." Griphook said.
"Hermione, what are we looking for?" Ron asked.
"Why are you asking me? Harry's the one who saw them." Hermione replied.
"Only flashes and only the cup, which might not be in here. It could be the Ravenclaw item." Harry told them.
"Can you feel them, Harry? You told us once you felt the power they let off, is it in here?" Ron questioned.
Harry stopped and closed his eyes to listen. He heard Parseltongue whispering. "Definitely." Harry nodded. He looked around and up, following the whispers until he spotted a small golden cup on the highest shelf to their left. "There." He pointed and smiled.
Hermione bumped into something and it fell. But then it multiplied and everything began to as well. "The gemino curse. Everything you touch will multiply." Griphook said.
"Give me the sword." Harry said as Hermione tossed it to him and he caught it while now trying to climb up the piles of artifacts duplicating themselves. It made it very hard to get where he needed to be.
"Stop moving." Hermione ordered Ron.
They both stopped and Harry was able to ride the multiplying items up higher without moving until he used the sword to grab the handle on the tip of the sword and bring it to him, but not before going under the items. Finally, he emerged with it in hand and swiped the objects out of his way. "Got it!" Harry exclaimed.
"Great, now let's get out of here." Ron said.
Griphook took the cup from Harry. "We had a deal, Griphook!" He yelled.
"The cup for the sword!" Griphook told him. Harry raised the sword and gave it to him, Griphook tossed the cup as Hermione caught it. "I said I'd get you in, I never said anything about getting you out." He grinned before using Bogrod's hand to open the door and they left.
"Griphook!" Harry yelled as they fought to get out. Items fell out of the vault as Harry saw Griphook already getting past the dragon while Ron and Hermione managed to exit and they stood on the perch to watch. Griphook left as Ron scowled.
"Bloody git, least we have Bogrod," Ron informed. The dragon reared back and blasted the imperious-doused goblin. "That's unfortunate." Ron blinked.
All of a sudden, shots were fired at them. Members from the bank knowing about the break-in. The trio hid behind walls to avoid being struck.
"We can't just stand here." Hermione said.
"You're the brilliant one!" Ron argued.
"I've got one, but it's mad," Hermione said. She whipped around and fired at the railing. "Reducto!" Harry and Ron stared as she rushed out and leapt off the edge, onto the dragon's back. The dragon fired as the goblins hid behind the large beams. "Well, come on then!" Hermione told the boys. Ron and Harry looked at each other and then rushed out and jumped on as well. Hermione blasted the chain as the dragon began to climb up. The dragon burst through the main floor, destroying so much of the goblin's working as the dragon burst through the top of the bank next and roared out.
"Now, what?" Ron asked.
Hermione fired a small blast from her wand as the dragon took to the sky, flying and they only held on.
"That was brilliant, absolutely brilliant." Ron cheered. The dragon flew off into the early morning rising sun.
. . .
Far enough away and hours later, they felt it was safe to get off. The problem was getting the dragon to stop. "We have to jump," Harry said. "Now, while we're over water."
The other two nodded as they let go and all of them dropped into the water below as the dragon continued onward to wherever it was going. As they tried to break surface in the cold waters, Harry saw visions of Voldemort firing off the killing curse and images of when he'd gotten destroyed horcruxes. Voldemort could feel when they were destroyed and he definitely knew now that Harry was hunting them. He had Nagini close to him, saying he had to protect her. That confirmed for Harry that Nagini was a horcrux. Then Harry saw flashes of a Ravenclaw girl, and the emblem for it. Harry swam for the edge, Ron and Hermione with right behind.
"He knows," Harry told them. "He knows we broke into Gringotts, and he knows what we took. He knows we're hunting them."
"You let him in?!" Hermione yelled. "Harry, you can't do that."
"I can't always control it, Hermione. And I didn't let him in, but I know when he does major things. As if he's lowering his own defenses and making it easy for our connection to break through." Harry stated as they started to change, well, Ron and Harry. "The next horcrux is at the school."
"What?" Ron asked.
"You saw it?" Hermione pushed.
"No, but I saw the castle, Rowena Ravenclaw and the house emblem for Ravenclaw. It's got to be there." Harry said. "After this, it's just Nagini. I saw Voldemort tell her that he had to keep her safe."
"Just one problem with going to the school. Snape is Headmaster, we can't exactly walk through the front door." Ron reminded.
"I know." Harry said.
"We need to plan this." Hermione told him.
"Hermione, I love you but think about how that goes? We plan, we get there, and all hell breaks loose. Let's skip the plan and just go. We're too close to being done. I want this over!" Harry said desperately. Ron and Hermione stared at him gently. "My whole six years at Hogwarts was dealing with Voldemort. My parents are dead because of him. Sirius is dead. Dobby is dead. I'm tired." He admitted. "I'm tired of always looking over my shoulder for who will be next, what he'll do…When he'll come. I want to be done, I want my life back…"
'Harry?' Draco asked. 'I sensed a shift, you okay?'
"In the middle of something, babe. I'll check in later, alright? I'm okay. We're just…Working on the next plan." Harry reassured.
'Alright. Talk soon, love.'
The connection ended as Harry took a deep breath. "Draco can sense when my emotional state changes…He checks in to make sure I'm okay." He informed when they were looking at him curiously.
"We understand, mate…But we have to be careful too. If we slip up, we're caught and we're dead with the mission unfinished." Ron comforted. "You need a clear head for this."
Harry sighed. "I'm sorry for unloading…I'm just, we're so close to having this over and we spent months wondering where to go and what to look for…We've had a hot trail since Ron came back and it's finally almost completed. We've got one more to find…"
"It's alright, Harry…" Hermione soothed. "What should we do, though?"
"We'll go to Hogsmead, use the passage in Honeydukes." Harry told them. "There's something wrong with him, you know who. In the past, I've always followed his thoughts. But there's something up now."
"Maybe he's growing weaker?" Ron offered.
"It's not…Weakness. He's…Wounded. If anything, he feels more dangerous." Harry informed. "It's…Anger and I think…Fear."
"Well good, I hope he feels us destroying parts of him. He should be scared." Ron scoffed.
"Let's warm up, then well go to Hogsmead." Hermione told them calmly.
. . .
The group set up camp one final time in the tent and got warm inside, fully changing into warmer clothes. The group discussed that they had to get into the castle undetected and head for Ravenclaw common room, having no other ideas on where to start. They'd have to use the cloak if nothing else and move swiftly and silently to locate the last item. Later that night, they packed up again and apparated right into Hogsmead. Before they even took a step, a loud alarm blared.
"Potter!" Someone yelled.
Death Eaters swarmed the area, coming out of the Three Broomsticks. Ron, Hermione and Harry hid out behind a covered table while the death eaters were scrambling to find them.
"We should let the dementors find him." A death eater commented.
"The dark lord forbids anyone killing the boy but him," One remarked.
"He wants the boy's life, not his soul…The kiss should make it easy killing." Another said.
"Enough, find him."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione heard another alarm as the death eaters near them ran in the direction. The trio quickly went to hide in an alleyway near Hog's Head Pub.
"Potter, quick…This way." A voice said. Harry went in as Hermione and Ron followed.
The trip looked around as Ron stood with Hermione. "Did you get a good look at him?"
"I know…I saw Dumbledore," Hermione sighed as she caught sight of a mirror on the wall next to a portrait of a young girl. "Harry…I can see you in this."
"What?" Harry looked at the mirror, it was missing a shard as Harry lifted it up and saw the back of Hermione's head.
"Bloody fools. What were you thinking coming here? Do you have idea how dangerous is it?" The man stared them down. He did look an awful lot like Albus.
"You're…Aberforth, Albus Dumbledore's brother. You're who I've been seeing in here?" Harry stated. "You're the one who sent Dobby to me at the manor…"
"Where have you left him?" Aberforth asked.
"He's dead…He died saving us. Bellatrix killed him by throwing a knife that made it through the apparition out." Harry revealed.
"Sorry to hear that. I liked that elf," Aberforth said solemnly.
"Who gave that to you, the mirror?" Harry inquired.
"Mundungus Fletcher, about a year ago." Aberforth replied.
"Dung had no right selling that to you. It belonged to-," Harry started.
"Sirius." Aberforth cut him off. "Albus told me." He added. "He also told me you'd be hacked off if you ever found out I had it, but ask yourself where you'd be without me having it?"
Harry was quiet as Aberforth brought food and drinks to them. Ron and Hermione jumped right on it.
"Have you heard from the others in the Order?" Hermione asked.
"The Order is finished." Aberforth informed.
"We need to get into Hogwarts, tonight. Dumbledore gave us a job to do." Harry stated.
"Did he now?" Aberforth questioned gently. "Nice job, easy." He joked sarcastically.
"We're hunting horcruxes. We think the last one is in the castle and we need your help getting in." Harry said.
"He didn't give you a job. It's a suicide mission," Aberforth remarked. "Do yourself a favor, boy. Go home, live a little longer."
"Dumbledore trusted me to see this through," Harry commented.
"What makes you think you can trust him. Anything he says? In all the time you knew him, did he ever mention my name?" Aberforth asked now. "Did he ever mention hers?" He motioned to the picture behind Harry. "Keeping secrets," He added.
"I trusted the man I knew." Harry responded.
"That's a boy's answer. Trusted the man who didn't even tell him where to start. You're lying." Aberforth accused. "Not just to me, but yourself too. That's what a fool does. You don't strike me as a fool, Harry Potter. So there must be a reason. So I ask again…"
"I'm not interested in what happened between you and your brother. I don't care that you've given up. I trusted the man I knew." Harry said firmly. "The man I knew and I figured out that Voldemort cannot be destroyed until the horcruxes are destroyed. The man I knew trusted me to see this through because he believes in me to get the job done. He and everyone else knows that I have the power to destroy Voldemort. I told my friends earlier tonight the same thing I will tell you…" He paused. "I want this to be over. I want it to be done with Voldemort gone, so he can't hurt or kill anyone else. So the world doesn't have to keep living in fear. So I can stop my life looking over my shoulder for him. I want to go home and live the rest of my life in peace. I lost my childhood because Voldemort killed my parents and I was left to be raised by muggles who hated me for the longest. My education to having to deal with Voldemort every year at school, except third where I found I had a godfather. I want my life back and it starts with ending Voldemort…So you can help me or not, but if not…I'm going back out there and taking my chances." Harry said. "Are you going to help me make a difference, or fall in line with the rest who have lost hope?"
Aberforth looked at the picture of the girl. "You know what to do," He told her, she bowed and walked off from sight.
"Thank you," Harry said.
"Where'd you send her?" Ron asked.
"You'll see," Aberforth turned from them.