Author's Note
Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!
I'm so sorry for the long delay! I spent some time traveling around Italy before I settled in Milan, then I had to find a place to live. All sorted now though, so hopefully updates will be quicker – especially since the story is nearly complete. Though I have to say this chapter isn't one of my best. I think I rushed it a bit too much since I didn't want you guys to wait any longer. I'll probably rewrite it at some point in the future.
Any dialogue you recognize comes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Most is changed at least a bit though to fit right.
I'm not J.K. Rowling, so I don't own anything.
Ch 30: A Touch of Truth
Awareness returned in bits and pieces, fragmented and confusing. Her head felt big and puffy, and the taste of mint and lavender coated the inside of her mouth. She tried to swallow to dispel some of it, but her tongue was too big and there wasn't enough moisture to do it. Soft voices conversed nearby, and her mind slowly comprehended that they belonged to Harry and Ron. They were making plans for something judging by the way Ron suggested they trick someone or fib a little.
"What happened?" she asked, her dry throat making the words scratchy and strained.
"You passed out," Ron informed her, coming over and offering a glass of water to her.
"Oh," she said, feeling a little embarrassed that she had, as she gulped the refreshing water down.
Taking stock of her body, Hermione found that most of the aches and cramping had vanished. A thick white bandage covered her forearm, but the area was blessedly numb. Small mercy, but she'd take it.
"All right there?" Ron asked, wincing as he did, likely recognizing that her previously unconscious state clearly indicated she wasn't.
Hermione blinked, glancing from Ron to Harry and back again.
"We have to finish this," Hermione insisted, forcing the words past the sandpaper lining her throat. Urgency vibrated through her, drumming a steady, unrelenting beat.
"I know," Harry said wearily.
"No more distractions or –"
"We're going to break into Gringotts. Griphook has agreed to help us," Harry announced without preamble, pushing the conversation forward as he cut her off.
"You heard her too then?" Hermione asked, relieved he'd figured out what she had.
"She was worried we'd been in her vault. There's a Horcrux there," Harry said, nodding. Feeling justifiably vindicated, Harry meaningfully added, "I knew there was one in Diagon Alley."
It had been the reason they'd checked back in the fall, though they'd not known where to look and had found no signs when they'd tried. It'd been too dangerous to search without a clear location.
A weight lifted off Hermione's chest. He'd finally picked. He'd settled for going after the Horcruxes, as Dumbledore had intended, rather than fixating on the Hallows as Voldemort was doing.
Harry gave a sharp nod as she scanned his face, silently acknowledging her conclusion. A light shone in Harry's face, and it was the most determined and focused she'd seen him in months. Having a clear direction grounded him, and it was easy to see why so many were willing to follow him – even if it meant risking their lives to do so.
"We'll need to do it tomorrow or the day after. The sooner the better. Severus said You-Know-Who is out of the country for a couple days – probably still searching for the wand. We should do it before he returns. After, well, Severus said he would try to buy us another day or two, but I don't want to think what that will mean for him if he tries," Hermione said in a rush, wondering if the boys had already come up with a plan to get into Gringotts undetected. Maybe Bill would have a few suggestions. He worked there after all. How long had she been out? Was he back from getting Ginny yet? "Did…." she trailed off as she noticed the looks she was getting.
"Severus?" Ron repeated, looking nauseous.
Harry appeared like he didn't even recognize her right then. But he was the first to brave voicing his questions. "Luna's said some things, Malfoy too for that matter, and what Lucius was saying…Hermione, what's going on?"
At least they were willing to listen. She'd worried they'd turn on her like they had in third year when she'd reported the mysterious arrival of the Firebolt. They'd not spoken to her for months then because they'd believed she'd betrayed them.
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," she began haltingly, each word needing to be forced out after being locked up for so long. "Over Christmas Hols last year. My mum was killed, and –"
"Your mum? But I thought…." Ron stopped, horror gripping him, probably because he remembered what he'd said just before he'd left them.
"Hermione," Harry breathed, shaking his head and his face awash in sympathy.
She couldn't talk about it. It hurt too much, the wound feeling as raw and fresh as the one on her arm, so she plowed on, saying, "Severus saved me, but Lucius used a spell on us."
"Repetita Cupiditatem. I heard," Ron said, grimacing.
"What is that?" Harry asked, glancing from Ron to Hermione, as baffled as she'd been when it first happened.
"It's a…sexual spell," Hermione said delicately, willing the heat from her cheeks. It didn't work, and both of the boys were suddenly blushing too.
"That's…that's sick," Harry goggled.
"Yes," she allowed, wishing they would stop staring at her like she was an alien or something, "when forced, but Severus made sure it never felt that it was between us, regardless of how it began. We informed Dumbledore, and Severus tried to refuse, willing to die rather than force me, but the headmaster married us that night instead, viewing it as the best – the only – course."
"Married!" Ron repeated loudly.
"I don't quite understand why he insisted on it, not anymore," Hermione said quietly, musing more to herself than the boys as she gave them a minute to process everything, eventually adding, "he thought I could help Severus, but…"
"Help him? HE MURDERED DUMBLEDORE!" Harry roared, jumping up to pace the room. He always had to be moving when he was agitated.
"You don't understand. There's so much you don't know. They'd have killed me, but first…"
"Hermione, he may have saved you then, but that doesn't change what he's done since," Harry ranted, refusing to even consider there might be more to the story.
"Listen," she ordered. "Harry, please – listen to me!" she shrieked, startling him to a halt as he blinked, open-mouthed at her. "When Nagini bit you…Harry, I didn't have the potions to treat that. Didn't you wonder? I took you to him. He saved you. He has always done whatever it takes to save you. And, Ron, the sword – you followed his Patronus to find it and save Harry. That was him, he smuggled it out of the castle and hid the fact from the rest of the Death Eaters."
"His Patronus?" Ron asked, clearly stunned.
He'd spent weeks talking about how grateful he was to it, and whomever the castor was. How it had led him to Harry, and without it, Harry would have drowned, he'd never have been reunited with them, and they'd never have destroyed the Horcrux.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"Snape's Patronus is a doe," Harry stated flatly, though she could practically see his mind racing.
A strange look crossed his face, and Hermione wondered if he was putting the pieces together the way she had. Just as quickly it vanished, dismissed as absurd as he recalled his most recent grievance with Severus – one he found utterly inexcusable.
"But Dumbledore? I was there, Hermione. I heard him begging –"
"For Severus to do it. It was all prearranged," Hermione insisted.
"Bollocks," Harry scoffed, giving her an almost pitying look for being so gullible as to believe that.
"Dumbledore asked him to. I was there when he reminded Severus of his promise to do it. He even told me so again later. Dumbledore was dying anyway, Harry – you saw his hand. He was cursed," she explained.
Hurt wrapped itself around Harry, a thick, nearly suffocating blanket. And she knew he believed her. The clues were all there, staring him directly in the face, impossible to ignore.
"After everything we've been through together…for over a year…you've kept all of this secret. I thought we trusted each other," he said bitterly.
"I do! Harry, you know I trust you with my life. I trust Severus with yours too," she declared passionately, crawling across the bed to grab his arm and force him to look at her.
"Hmph," he huffed, unconvinced.
"I didn't want to distract you or make you feel guilty. There was enough else going on," Hermione insisted, defending her decision, though she couldn't bring herself to tell him she'd also feared he'd not forgive her. That more than anything had convinced her to keep her silence. "And…and…he's my husband. That means something. I couldn't betray his trust to you either."
They stared at one another, Harry slowly processing her words and recognizing that it wasn't about him or a slight against him or even another individual in his life neglecting him. This was about Hermione, and a relationship she had with someone outside their immediate circle.
"I should have been there for you," Harry breathed, the words barely audible, as though he felt selfish for being hurt that she'd leaned on another rather than him.
She understood that. Harry rarely let anyone help him – just her, Ron, and Ginny since Sirius's, then Dumbledore's, death. Hermione hadn't been in many situations to need Harry in turn, and now he was finding out that she had, but that she'd turned to Severus instead.
"I know you would have been. I didn't let you," Hermione said, inhaling a ragged breath when Harry squeezed her hand.
"He didn't tell me any of this," he said roughly. It took Hermione a second to figure out who he meant. Dumbledore.
That was the real problem here. He was mad at Dumbledore, but the man was dead, so he didn't know where to channel his anger.
For weeks after he read Rita Skeeter's book, he'd moped and brooded. She understood why he felt so betrayed, and she wished she could fix it, but it simply wasn't within her power.
Darkly, Harry added, "What's one more secret?"
"He loved you, Harry," Hermione said imploringly.
"She's right, Harry. He did," Ron added.
"Did he? I don't know who he loved, you guys, but it was never me. This isn't love, the mess he's left me in. He shared a damn sight more of what he was really thinking with everyone else – you included, Hermione – than he ever shared with me."
"He needed you to believe the worst of Severus. Everyone had to for him to stay close to You-Know-Who."
"Why? Why did Dumbledore need him to stay close?" Harry demanded, his anger abruptly vanishing. A calculating look that Hermione was far too familiar with, and knew to both dread and respect, replaced it.
"So Severus would be at Hogwarts. So he could– Harry, what are you thinking?" Hermione asked, breaking into her own line of thought as comprehension dawned bright on Harry's face.
"He trusted Bellatrix with one Horcrux in Gringotts. She and Snape are his most favored, and Snape was deliberately placed at Hogwarts, where we know he wanted to either make or keep one," Harry reasoned, making giant leaps in logic to conclude as much. Hermione had no idea how he did that, but she was mildly impressed.
"You think he managed to hide one there without Dumbledore knowing?" Ron asked skeptically, assuming the role she usually played during one of these discussions.
"That's exactly what I think," Harry said, getting more animated by the second as he talked himself into believing the theory. "Or he had Snape take it there when he took over."
"Severus would have told me," Hermione said sharply, annoyed he was still doubting Severus's loyalty. If he really wished to protect Voldemort, he could have just handed Harry over when he'd been bitten and was unconscious.
"Not if he doesn't know. You-Know-Who doesn't trust anyone enough to share that sort of information," Harry said quickly, coming up with the rationale a bit too quickly for Hermione's liking. "He could have given it to Snape and asked him to keep it at the castle without explaining."
"Severus knows about the Horcruxes. If he'd been asked to take one to Hogwarts, he'd have told me," she repeated.
"Then You-Know-Who hid it in the castle before, and he wants Snape there to guard it – possibly unknowingly," he allowed grudgingly when Hermione opened her mouth to protest and defend Severus once more.
"So all we have to do is find it," Ron said encouragingly, deliberately not pointing out how large the castle was and therefore how difficult a task that would be – particularly when they didn't know what the item was. He'd done much better at staying optimistic since returning to them.
"After we successfully break into Gringotts, you mean," Hermione said, granting them an opening to inform her of the plan they'd come up with while she'd been unconscious. There were bound to be holes in it, and they'd expect her to sort out as many as possible.
Except instead, Ron asked, "Did he really develop a counterspell for it? The spell, I mean."
"Yes, over the summer, and potions to block it before that. As I said, he never forced me and he did what he could to protect me. Always," Hermione said carefully, knowing it was a sensitive subject, and Severus would hate knowing she'd discussed it at all with her friends.
"Protect you," Ron said dubiously, scowling as he asked, "And George?"
"It was an accident. I swear," Hermione said quickly.
"So why do we have Malfoy here?" Ron asked pointedly. "There's obviously a lot you still haven't told us."
"I was surprised he wasn't on his way back to Hogwarts too."
"His mum kept him home," Harry answered, making it clear he'd already interrogated the Slytherin. "She was trying to get him to run."
"Where is he now?"
"Dean and Luna are with him, Fleur and Remus too," Harry said, cracking a small smile as he held up his wand. Remus was there? Had they told him about Severus? "He's a bit put out that I won't give him his wand back."
"Didn't much like the reminder that he wouldn't be needing one here anyway. We only brought him because he mentioned that life debt – nasty things, those, when you don't comply. We saw Wormtail kill himself downstairs when he refused, so we weren't going to risk that happening to you. But why does he think you owe him?" Ron asked again, refusing to be put off.
"Wormtail is dead?" Hermione gasped, wondering how precisely that happened. Severus would be pleased. Immensely, considering the rat's role in Lily's death.
"Yes," Harry answered flatly. "He –"
"Why do you owe Malfoy?" Ron persisted, having little patience for rehashing what he already knew. She'd have to ask about it later. Perhaps Severus could use Wormtail as a scapegoat if necessary.
"That night, when Dumbledore died last spring…Crabbe took me. He…he tried to…he was going to," Hermione stuttered, unable to fully voice what had almost happened to her. Swallowing the tight lump lodged in her throat, she went on, "Malfoy got Severus to get me out of there."
"I'll kill him," Ron declared darkly, menace making him look deadly and foreign in that moment. He wasn't the Quidditch obsessed friend she used to fancy right then. No. He was the wizard that had devoted the last few months to learning how to fight, and he meant business.
"Ron, I'm all right," Hermione said, worried about what he might get into his head to do. She'd had a difficult enough time getting Severus to stand down afterwards. She didn't really feel up to doing the same with her friends.
"Are you? I've heard your nightmares. You barely slept this year," Harry asked quietly, a flush staining his cheeks at the sensitive topic. He was always so out of his element when anything even remotely emotional was brought up.
"He's a dead man," Ron repeated.
For all Hermione didn't agree with Mrs. Weasley on a variety of subjects, she did admire the chivalrous streak she'd fostered in her sons. It used to chaffe Hermione when Ron was overbearing, but right then when she was still coping with her most recent visit to Malfoy Manor, it was a welcome sign that he cared.
"Severus erased his memories. He made sure Crabbe wouldn't come after me again," Hermione said crisply, idly tracing the ring he'd recently given her.
She'd never been able to bring herself to remove it. Part of her couldn't help but wonder at what it symbolized. It wasn't as though he'd needed to give it to her, but he had.
Ron stilled, his rage quieting as a new realization suddenly dawned on him as he watched her, seeing the ring as though for the first time. "You're in love with him," he gasped incredulously.
"It doesn't matter," she said swiftly, downplaying her feelings and their significance. "He did what was necessary to protect his cover and help Harry by keeping me safe. That's all it was for him. I was part of the job."
"If you say so," he huffed, not buying it.
"How could you love him?" Harry asked, too perplexed not to. She was surprised he didn't sound furious, only extremely confused.
"We spent a great deal of time together last year," she said wistfully, longing to go back and sit before the fire with him just one more time. Too bad all of the time turners were destroyed. "He's rather clever and quite funny once you get to know him."
"Right," Ron said dubiously, unable to hide his disbelieving snort at her comment.
"That's where you were disappearing off to?" Harry asked, blinking dumbfoundedly. Probably, he was shocked he'd never noticed on the Map, but then he'd been too wrapped up in discovering Malfoy's scheme.
"And the sex?" Ron blurted.
"Is none of your business," she said primly, glaring at Ron for daring to ask such an invasive question. Harry looked a bit ill.
Hermione could tell Ron was about to mention that he'd talked to her about his sex life, but seemed to realize he didn't actually want to know about what she did with Snape, so he closed his mouth with an audible snap, his teeth clicking like a sickle falling.
"Why would he do any of it? He hated my father," Harry inquired uneasily, seeing far more than he should. He understood quicker than she had at any rate.
"We don't have time for me to explain. We need to come up with a plan for tomorrow," she said evasively, not wanting to tell him that Severus was in love with Lily. She didn't want their pity or the discomfort the knowledge would bring. Nor did she wish to betray Severus by sharing something so personal. He'd taken great pains to keep the truth hidden.
"You're right," Harry agreed reluctantly, seeming to make the conscious decision to trust her. "We have enough else going on. But, Hermione? Afterwards. You're going to tell me the rest…or get him to. I need to know the truth – the whole truth."
The plea reminded her of how hurt Harry had been in fifth year when he'd learned about his father's bullying and how his parents hadn't always been in love. He didn't want to be protected. He just wanted to understand the people he'd never had a chance to know for himself.
"I promise," she agreed.
They gave her a few minutes to clean up and take more of the potions that had been left on the nightstand. Then Hermione joined them in the kitchen where they were talking with Bill and Lupin.
It was readily apparent that both had been told about her relationship, because they stared at her accessingly. Lupin, in particular, paid close attention, and even dared to hoarsely ask, "Did he take advantage of you?"
"Never," she replied adamantly, trying not to be offended that he'd suggest such a thing. Though Severus had been her professor, and in a position of power and authority over her, so she understood why. Especially given Severus's questionable allegiance. "He'd never intentionally hurt me."
Thankfully, Lupin left it at that, and they spent the next few hours devising a feasible plan to get into Bellatrix's Gringotts vault. Though if Ron uttered the words "wing it" one more time, she might just pull her hair out from the stress of it all.
Hermione waited for a lull in the conversation to have a private word with the werewolf who had grown up with her husband. "How's Ginny?" she asked, easing into the conversation.
It had been nearly two years since she'd discussed anything of significance with the man, and then it had been the unjust laws surrounding werewolf and house-elf rights.
"Safe. I think Harry's disappointed Bill didn't bring her here," Lupin confided, smiling at where Harry was examining the practice disguise Hermione had tried out on Ron.
"Yes, I imagine he was," Hermione said, smiling as well. He'd probably have relished the opportunity.
"Harry told me," he said raspily.
"Of course he did," Hermione rattled off tartly.
"He had some questions about Snape's Patronus. He thought I could help him understand," Lupin intoned suggestively. He waited, and when Hermione said nothing, he admitted, "I had no idea. None of us did. They were never even friendly. Did Dumbledore or Snape explain why he sold her out to You-Know-Who if he felt that strongly for her?"
It took everything in her to hid her reaction. She'd wondered. She'd had so many questions about the pair of them. And here was the answer. One she hadn't expected. One she'd never dared hope for. But in the end, did it matter? She wasn't certain.
But Lily had hid their friendship from her housemates. Kept it secret. Severus had assumed Hermione would do the same, she remembered.
If nothing else, the two relationships were vastly dissimilar. Perhaps that would make all the difference in the end.
"I'll not betray his secrets," she said tightly, pursing her lips in disapproval. Lupin wasn't usually one to fish for gossip, but considering this involved his closest friends, she understood his desire to learn more.
"Secrets? I can't imagine him opening up enough to anyone to share any secrets," he said, clearly surprised, but he scrutinized her, and concluded, "yet I am obviously wrong. He has shared with you."
"No offense, but you're the last person I'd discuss this with. You know I respect you and value your opinion, but I know your history with Severus."
"Not something I'm proud of," he acknowledged, ducking his head to shield his face.
"The pair of you should talk after the war. You'll both have a chance to start over. A chance to be better for your child," Hermione suggested. She refused to believe Severus wouldn't have that chance, despite his own beliefs.
It'd probably help both of them heal. They alone remembered some of the people that had meant the most to them. And to be honest, they could both do with a friend. Severus would no doubt be resistant to the idea, but a fresh start might be just the thing for him.
"Dora," Remus sighed, but a small smile played about his lips.
"I was happy to hear you went back to her," Hermione said, treading carefully. He probably didn't much like to have his mistakes brought up, but he'd involved her and the boys in this one.
"I didn't until after her dad had to run," he admitted, wincing. Hermione idly wondered if the stress of the situation was the reason his hair looked more grey than ever. "I only did then to protect her, since the pregnancy has left her too vulnerable to be alone."
"Don't you love her?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
"Yes, but I'm not sure I deserve to. I imagine Severus feels similarly?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that," she said evasively, wishing it truly was that. It'd be easier for her to overcome than Lily's ghost was. "Forgive me if I'm overstepping, but Tonks doesn't deserve to pay for your doubts and hang ups."
"I'm not sure I can do better, but I do hope for the chance to try," he said bleakly, and Hermione detected a thread of disdain and self-loathing directed inward.
"Have you made arrangements for her? This will probably come to a head quickly after the events of today, or yesterday, I guess," she said, wondering how long she'd been out for. The boy's hadn't said, but it had been light out when she'd come downstairs, and still was, so it was probably midafternoon now.
"Luckily she'll still be in hiding. She isn't due for another week," he said, his worry a brush of frost that chilled the air. She didn't know if it was at the reminder of his impending fatherhood, or because Tonks, as an accomplished Auror, was usually in the thick of things.
"One less worry for you," she tried, hoping to inspire a bit of optimism in her former professor.
His gaze immediately sought out Harry, where he was still in the corner with Ron, their heads bent together, whispering. Probably discussing what they'd discovered about her and Snape.
"I suppose," he said vaguely. "What are your intentions, with your own marriage, after the war?"
"I'll give Severus his freedom, of course. He's more than earned it," Hermione said smoothly, hoping the pain that idea wounded her with didn't show on her face.
If it did, Lupin kindly ignored it, only humming a faint, "Hmm."
"Harry mentioned you spoke with Malfoy," Hermione said, casting about for a change in topic.
"Yes. I spoke with Andy when Bill first contacted me. She's agreed to take him in," Lupin said softly, a weary sigh escaping at the prospect of the challenges that entailed. When he saw Hermione's surprised expression, he explained, "He's her nephew, after all. Family obligations."
"I'd forgotten," Hermione murmured.
"I wish I could do the same. Dora is less than impressed, but I think that has more to do with the pregnancy hormones."
"Not too much longer," Hermione reminded him.
"Let us hope the babe takes after her, rather than me." The vehemence in his statement unsettled Hermione, but she understood the source. The very last thing Lupin wanted was for his child to experience the ridicule and prejudice that he'd always endured.
Seeing his fear reminded her about her desire to make a difference. Perhaps that was the answer. After the war, she could work on overturning laws that targeted marginalized individuals. She could change people's perspectives, and ensure future generations grew up more open-minded than the previous ones had.
A twing pulsed in her arm, reminding her of the new scar she bore. Mudblood. Yet she was one of the most intelligent witches to pass through Hogwarts.
She was a walking billboard advertising her stance now.
At least she'd have something to focus on and pour her energy into after her marriage was dissolved.
"Let Snape know we're on our way to Gringotts then we'll be heading to Hogwarts," Harry instructed her the next morning.
"You want me to tell him?" Hermione squeaked, jumping slightly. She'd just taken the Polyjuice potion with Bellatrix's hair and changed into robes they had modified to suit the vile woman.
"You've got a way to talk to him, right? I trust you, Hermione. If you think we can trust him, then I guess we try. It'll prove things one way or another," Harry said ominously.
"You think he'll have a trap waiting for us," she guessed, pursing her lips in disapproval.
Harry shrugged, not denying that he considered it a possibility even as Hermione wrote to Severus. At least he was insisting that Snape would betray them. It was progress.
Ron glanced at the parchment she clutched, slightly annoyed to see he'd been right all along about it being something other than whatever excuse she could come up with. "He's usually busy. Sometimes he doesn't reply for hours."
"We can't wait. No matter what, this ends now," Harry said, determination glinting behind his round spectacles. "I trust you," he repeated.
"Right then," Ron muttered, "let's get on with it."
Hermione kept tugging on her sleeve as they rode the rickety cart down to the vault. Apparently Polyjuice Potion couldn't mask cursed scars anymore than it worked on giants, so the word Mudblood was still carved along her inner forearm.
She couldn't get the image of the beggars lining Diagon Alley or the sound of the man's pleas out of her head. What had Bellatrix done to the man's children? And since when were there beggars? Then again, if they were Muggle-born and had had their wands confiscated, they wouldn't be able to work, even if someone was brave enough to risk employing them, so what other choice did they have? It was a better fate than Azkaban – marginally.
The despair and darkness prevailing in Diagon Alley had merely been hinted at the last time they'd visited, but it was in full bloom now with no escape or surcease in sight.
The oppressive feel of frigid water rushing down upon her, choking and temporarily smothering her, broke her from her reverieve. The Thief's Downfall. She'd barely taken in the return of Ron's trademark Weasley hair and freckles before they were plummeting, toppling from the derailed cart that had revealed their disguises.
"Molliare!" she cried, casting a Cushioning Charm to soften their landing.
Immediately, Harry began controlling the goblins, issuing orders to continue to the vault and not expose them to the others pursuing them, but Hermione was too distracted by the mention of a dragon to pay much attention. Her head was on a swivel as she searched the dank cavernous space for the chained animal. And once she finally found it, her terror morphed to horror and devastation.
The blind beast was a pitiful sight, covered in scars as it was from having suffered decades of abuse.
Fortunately, they didn't linger for long, finally reaching the Lestrange vault where they rushed in and began searching for the Horcrux.
She wasn't sure how it happened, but suddenly a single goblet was multiplying into a dozen that clattered and cascaded to the floor, tumbling over each other and knocking other items into her and the others. Each one multiplied further when it brushed against them and left fiery blisters in their wake.
The items had all been spelled with Gemino and Flagrante Curses to protect them from thieves. Harry continued to shout orders, explaining what she already knew and what he planned to do about it, but she was frozen in place, terrified to even breathe too deeply. Her body hadn't yet recovered from Bellatrix's torture, and now she was going to be crushed and burned to death in the witch's vault.
"There!" Harry gasped, spotting the tiny golden cup with a badger stamped on the front.
Desperate to stop the dangerous mountain of treasure from growing and burying them alive, she cried, "Accio cup!"
"No use, no use!" the goblin announced, spoiling her relief.
The pain intensified, singing her in countless places at once like a hundred cigarette tips branding her. Meanwhile, Harry wrestled with the goblins, helping them clamor higher while still trying valiantly to reach the cup perched high above them, using the tip of the sword to hook it and send it flying above them.
Hermione winced in sympathy as Harry dove, landing on a pile of burning gold as he caught the precious cup. He clung to the hard won item as Griphook wrenched the sword from him, betraying them as he announced to the crowd of waiting goblins, "Thieves! Thieves! Help! Thieves!"
The air shimmered from the heat coming off the gold, making them feel like magma was carrying them out into the hall as they rode the clinking and shifting wave that brought them face-to-face with a horde of angry goblins.
There was nowhere to go. The mutilated dragon was at their backs while the goblins blocked the way forward.
The three of them debated for several seconds which was worse fate or who they'd have better luck against when Hermione realized Harry had made the decision for them, and was now expected them to ride the dragon out. Wrath of goblins or being eaten? Hermione couldn't say for certain which sounded worse.
Ron didn't give her a choice as he dragged her up to balance on the dragon's back, her feet only barely long enough to hook under the wings. He held her waist, knowing how terrified she was of flying, and grabbed the edge of a scale to anchor himself to the ascending animal.
It bashed at the ceiling, desperation forcing it to break the solid barrier, the final obstacle, in an attempt to reach freedom.
"Defodio!" she yelled, helping widen the hole enabling their escape.
When cool fresh air fanned over her face, Hermione ducked her head, squeezing her eyes shut so as to pretend there wasn't a thousand foot plummet to her death waiting below while she willed herself not to be sick. With each great flap of its giant wings, she felt her seat shift, rising and falling like a broken Muggle elevator that had been turned into an adventure ride for thrills.
She didn't dare look about or try to speak, knowing it'd be all over for her if she attempted it. She'd had a very healthy fear of dragons ever since Harry had faced off with one in their fourth year at the Triwizard Tournament.
"I say we jump when it gets low enough! Straight into the water before it realizes we're here!" Harry suggested, somehow making his proposal sound rational when it was anything but.
"Jump?" Hermione repeated faintly, but it didn't matter, because Ron, recognizing she didn't have the nerve to jump, grabbed her arm and hauled her over the side with him.
Her stomach raced after her, lingering a bit longer on the dragon's back before chasing her body down.
Down.
Down into the early spring water that had only just thawed enough to be fully liquid after the last frost of the year. The shock of the near frozen water made black clouds bloom rapidly across her vision. Her limbs briefly seized, aching all the more as it came in contact with the stinging blisters covering most of her body.
It took several minutes to get to the bank of the lake they'd landed in and get cleaned up, using dittany on their numerous burns and changing into dry clothes.
"Do you think he knows yet?" Ron asked worriedly as she finger-combed her snarled curls.
"Has Snape said anything?" Harry inquired.
Hermione checked the pockets of her sodden clothes, but they were empty. She could have sworn she'd put the parchment in her pocket after informing Severus they were collecting the next Horcrux.
"I can't – Harry!" she gasped, lunging forward as he collapsed, screaming and clutching his forehead.
"He knows," Harry wheezed, clenching his jaw and rolling as he saw a scene playing out in his head that she and Ron weren't privy to. "I was right. The last one is at the school."
"Where?" Ron demanded, holding Harry's shoulders to keep him still lest he bash his head against a rock on the pebble beach.
"I was in his head, but I didn't see. He was thinking about warning Snape," Harry explained breathlessly, face ashen and waxy.
"Did Snape…?"
"No. He doesn't know about Malfoy Manor, and Snape hasn't told him anything," Harry admitted, a silent apology passing between them as he nodded at Hermione. At least Harry finally believed Severus was on their side.
"Do we have a plan?" Hermione asked anxiously, noting the way Ron was already tossing their scattered belongings back in her bag as though preparing to leave.
"There isn't time for a plan. We need to get going. He's checking on the other Horcruxes, but he'll reach Hogwarts sooner or later. We need whatever headstart we can get," Harry sighed, standing and brushing debris from his clothes where he'd been rolling around. "Luckily, he'll go for the Wand first."
"The Wand? You mean Dumbledore's?" Hermione demanded, feeling as though she'd missed something along the way.
"Yes. He's going for the Deathly Hallows while we go after the last two Horcruxes," Harry said darkly, eyes vacant as though he was still lingering in the place between his mind and Voldemort's.
"What made you change your mind?" she asked, not having thought to ask why he'd suddenly dropped his obsession with the Hallows.
"You. What you risked and endured to protect the sword – our means of destroying them," he said, clenching his jaw as he withdrew the cup from his pocket and studied it. She'd been tortured because of the sword, and now they didn't even have it. At least they'd gained the cup. They'd just have to figure out another way to destroy it. "It's the right move. The one Dumbledore wanted us to follow."
"If we've a time limit, we best get searching. There's no telling what or where it will be," Ron said, breaking the growing tension.
"But how are we going to get in? Pretty sure it'd defeat the purpose of Severus being a secret spy if he met us at the front gate," Hermione said quickly, hating the idea of leaping without looking for a net first. What little luck remained to them was bound to run out sooner or later, and she did not want to risk it by running off half-cocked.
"We'll go to Hogsmeade and use a secret passageway. Then we can see what Snape knows. You said he'll help us, right?" Harry argued.
"Yes, but –"
"There's no time, Hermione! We have to go now," Harry insisted, holding out a hand for her.
"Oh, very well!" she huffed, accepting his hand and feeling her body collapse inward as the darkness compressed her into nothing.
