Falling Masks

AN: For Jen-Jen. May this chapter be something you can read on the plane while you and Puff fly home. Love you! xx

Hermione felt she was living flashes of deja vu.

Just like her dream, the sunrise ran a deep red across the horizon over the sea. The house was still, only the occasional creek of a floorboard under their feet. They had all said their goodbyes to Bill and Fleur last night. Well wishes, promises of safety-toasts that they'd see each other sooner in better times. They wouldn't be waking to see them off. All they needed to do was finish getting ready and disappearing before either of them stirred.

Which was good, Hermione thought, looking down at her empty goblet of Polyjuice potion. She straightened up in front of the mirror, Bellatrix's reflection staring back at her. She was embarrassed, but she stood an arms length from the mirror, as though defending herself just in case Bellatrix walked out of the mirror as she had in her dream. Unlike the dream she didn't see the madness behind the eyes—she supposed she'd have to supply that herself.

"Should've let me kiss you before you took your potion," Fred said, coming through the door. He was looking at her with such a glance of distrust that nearly struck her raw.

"I could say the same," she laughed, looking at his large, black bushy hair clashing with his thin red eyebrows, "you look like you tried taking Hagrid's Polyjuice potion."

"Rather be Hagrids doppelgänger than a mad woman's," he winked. She tried to grin back at him. If it was her face, she'd smirk; anything with Bellatrix's face was some twisted form of a grimace. She pulled on leather gloves and reached for his hand, "how's this?"

He squeezed back, thumb brushing fingers. "It's not your hand," he said simply, "but they can do for an hour or so."

She squeezed back with a lazy smile. The only way she had gotten out of bed that morning was the thought that the next time they fell asleep wrapped in an embrace they'd be free. She could still imagine the soft hum of his kisses against her skin, how they had both laughed as they snogged one another, how they were able to just, for the slightest moment-be kids.

"Come here, let me help you with your disguise, you won't get far with those eyebrows" she said patting the corner of the bed. "I promise I won't do anything I can't set right."

"But Hermione-," Fred started, sitting down obediently, "I'm already incognito. Can't you see? I even blacked out a tooth."

"It's absolute rubbish. It's like you're trying to get us killed," She chuckled as she waved her wand along his jawline. The bushy bearded smoothed and evened out, retreating back into his cheek. Facing from black to a dark chestnut beard that gently curved around his face.

"Where do you stand on facial hair?" Fred asked as she did the same thing to his eyebrows, making them double in size, " we never got a normal enough time in our relationship for me to grow one out."

She looked at him, tilting her head and squinting her eyes, "Hmm, could go either way. Definitely not that bush you were wearing earlier—probably no longer than this," she answered, tapping his nose so it nearly doubled in size, "I did like that bit of scruff when we came back from Majorca."

"Mmm," he nearly purred at the word, "only a bank robbery and massive battle between us and and there."

"Mhmm," she mused, looking down at her wand work at his chin length brown hair. She couldn't have placed him. Not in a million years, "there you go, look in the mirror," she said, moving out of the way for Fred to inspect himself. His hands traced the beard and she could see a smirk under it.

"What? Fancy your beard?"

"No it—it's funny. Only time I've had a full beard like this was when George and I crossed the Goblet of Fire's age line. It's odd is all," he said, smoothing out a portion and turning back to her, "Now be honest-do you think I'm ugly?"

"Hideous," she laughed shaking his head, "can hardly stand looking at you."

"So I'm not a remake of a Bulgarian ex-boyfriend, very good!" Fred beamed, "Come along Sunny, it's time."

He reached for her hand and she slid the little purse in her pocket. They tiptoed down the stairs and out the door, were Harry and Ron already outside.

They opened the door to see the two looking into a mirror at Ron's nose. "Hermione please tell Ron you'll be able to fix his nose after this?" Harry grumbled, throwing his head to his companion.

"What'd you do now?" She asked looking over. Ron's long, usually thin nose had ballooned, looking swollen and Romanesque. "Ah—yes. Should be able to fix that. Easy fix."

"Should?!" He cries out nasally, looking panicked at Harry. "I told you we should have waited for her."

"We hadn't the time for that," Harry said, draping the Invisibility Cloak around his shoulders till he was a floating head.

"Ron's just sensitive 'cause Muriel said he has a Prewett nose rather than a Weasley snout," Fred supplied, a jest in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes. "Hermione will fix that in a snap your grace—"

"Stop it," Hermione said, noticing the pink in Ron's ears, "it's really not bad,I promise we'll fix it as soon as we can Ron."

Ron looked a little more assured. He straightened up and looked at the three of them, "any last words before we try this?"

"Harry—be ready to use the imperius curse on the goblins," Hermione said simply, "There's a good chance they've been tipped off about Bellatrix's wand; if they hesitate in the slightest—"

"Imperio," Harry nodded with a casual wave of the wand, "got it."

"And you two— if Harry can't for some reason, be ready to muddle some free will too," Hermione said looking at the Weasley pair. "Be discreet but effective. We have to get in the vault."

"So we go in, give them Bellatrix's wand—Harry possibly curses a goblin," Ron started, "and Fred and I do the bubble charm so we don't get washed out in the thief's downfall?"

"Exactly," Hermione smiled, "There's a good chance that the cart will still recognize we're intruders, so I'd we get thrown from it—"

"Be ready with arresto momentum," Fred finished, looking quite pleased with himself. "I've wanted to do that spell since that Quidditch game with the dementors."

Harry gave Fred an uneasy look. "Right— and once we get down there, you and Ron stand guard and make sure the goblin doesn't lock us in."

"Do you think we should have asked the goblin to come with us? Griphook?" Ron asked, "You know, probably wouldn't hurt having any inside man."

"Nah, Hermione's said it before and I'll say it again, he'd not have done it for free. It would've cost you something," Fred pointed out, "and aside from Gryffindor's sword, I don't know what other goblin treasures you have. Best leave him out of it."

Ron nodded, fixing his jaw. "Shouldn't have said anything-it's not like we can recruit him on our way down Diagon Alley eh?" said Ron with a shrug.

Hermione knew that look; he was anxious. "Don't worry Ron, you and Fred on guard is all we need. We'll get the cup from the vault and be out of there in no time."

"But what if they're waiting for our cart to come back with Ministry Officials, or the Death Eaters catch wind and are there too?" Ron implored.

Hermione looked over at Fred who was smirking behind his chestnut beard, "Then I guess we'll have to find another way out."

"Come on, we're on a time crunch with Hermione's Polyjuice," Harry said, reaching out to Ron and Hermione's hand flipping the cloak over his face. She reached for Fred with her other hand and they pulled right into a circle.

"We have a plan, we know the plan—"she started, squeezing Harry and Fred's hands.

"What could possibly go wrong?" Fred asked, winking at her.

The exchange wasn't lost on Ron. He turned over, "Have you met us?" He asked, motioning to Harry and Hermione. "What won't go wrong-"

((*))

They arrived with the slightest pop in a corner of Diagon Alley.

As Fred straightened up and gathered his bearings, he was surprised at just how eerie it was; how much had changed since they had been there last.

It had been off color for months now, but it was leaps and bounds worse than he remembered it. It didn't help that a cloud of smog hung over the city and mist seemed to seep from the sky above and the ground below. There were more shops closed than open. Come to think of it, he couldn't see any shop giving indication they were ready for business. If someone tries to enter some, he was sure a booby trap would react before the trespasser could.

They weren't too far from the shop. He could see the offensive bright paint from where he stood, bleeding through the mist. He could make out the silver gleam of the steel he and George had left to protect their windows. That had only been out for a few weeks and he could see a large sprawl of Graffiti. "U-KNOW-POO" and "Dumbledore Army, still recruiting" two of the prominent phrases that were visible from where he stood.

God bless em, Fred thought turning his attention back to Hermione and Ron, Harry long since under the cover of the cloak. If we survive this, I'll hang those panels in the shop for the rest of time.

"Oh look Harry, their wanting a word," Hermione said, eyes wide as she looked at a wall covered top to bottom with undesirable number one signs.

Fred's eyes darted them as well. The same picture, It was one he recognized from an old Prophet, from when he was 15 and had just stormed the Ministry for Sirius. You'd think they'd have a newer one of him-

"Oi Hermione," Ron started, his voice weary. Fred looked up and saw his brother pointing at two pillars nearby, "They're after us now too. You're undesirable number two," he said motioning are the posters.

Fred walked over and felt his stomach drop. It was an old picture of Hermione, but newer than Harry's had been. From Dumbledore's funeral if he was guessing right. Her face was fuller than it was now. Her hair had grown longer-it would still take a minute for someone to recognize her. He hoped.

"You're always Desirable No. 1 to me," Fred said, sliding his hand into hers and squeezing it tightly before he let go.

The writing was literally on the wall. Should they fail, should they not get out of Gringotts via Dragon, there wouldn't be a Happily Ever After. Not for any of them. He and Ron would probably be killed on sight. They'd take Hermione and Harry for questioning which Hermione most likely wouldn't survive, and You-Know-Who would have Harry killed in time for the evening Prophet.

"Hard times for business?" Ron asked as they made their way down, passing Eyelops as they went, the owl cages in the window empty save for a few feathers and droppings.

"It's been this way for a while but never this bad," Fred answered, "This lot probably left after the Death Eaters stormed the shop," he explained.

A figure was coming out of the mist now, running full pace at them. They dodged to avoid but the figure dodged with them, and Fred realized they were running straight towards Hermione.

"Stupefy!" Fred bellowed, end the man went flying backwards, landing in the crates left outside an abandoned window. Fred protectively took his hand, placed it on Hermione's shoulder and steered her away, not lingering to get a good look of the man.

"What bloody idiot thinks it's a good idea to charge Bellatrix Lestrange?" He spat, turning around to glare at the man, not stirring in the ruins of the crates.

"What idiot indeed!" Said a voice emerging from the mist.

Fred put his grip back on Hermione and pulled her behind him as he extended his wand at the voice. From the mist emerged a tall, thin wizard with short grey hair and a bushy grey beard. His eyes were dark and hard, and he noticed he clenched his jaw as he noted the two men with Bellatrix.

He extended his own wand but put it up with his other hand in a friendly gesture.

"I heard a bang and came to investigate," said the man, "and when from the mist I heard your name—" he looked at Fred and Ron, "why Bellatrix, you have friends."

Hermione shook of Fred's hand and stepped in front of them. "One of those wandless miscreants Tavers," she spat, looking back in disgust, "why the ministry doesn't kill them to clean the streets I'll never know."

The man named Tavers nodded in agreement, "I think our friend the minister only needs to make a few reassignments in government and we could very well see that," he started, walking towards them relaxed, "If not immediate execution, life in Azkaban, however short or long that maybe."

"Right, let the Dementors feast on this waste of flesh," Hermione scowled.

Ron laughed nervously, and nodded. Tavers looked at the pair again, as though trying to place them, where they new Death Eaters he had yet to see from behind their masks? He looked at them with mild distrust, still unsure.

"I heard the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were—ah, detained," he said delicately, looking to Bellatrix, "I must say I'm rather surprised to see you out and about-with company none the less."

Fred glanced over to Ron. They had discussed this before, a question over whether or not Bellatrix would have been punished for what had occurred at Malfoy Manor. He turned his glance back to Hermione, hoping her acting skills were everything she'd promised they'd be.

"You shouldn't believe everything you here Tavers," Hermione chided, brushing dust from her dress, " I am the Dark Lords most faithful servant, do you honestly think he would deny me a trip to Diagon Alley?"

"No, never—" Tavers backtracked, "of course, the rumor you and your sister lost Potter—"

Hermione let her wand fire off at a window, glass breaking and a plume of smoke whispering to the sky, "Nothing but a vicious rumor orchestrated by those jealous, I assure you."

"Right," said Tavers, not exactly convinced, but obviously not keen to push the conversation. "So who are your body guards, I don't think we've had the pleasure."

"Ambrus and Alajos Rakoczy," Hermione answered glancing at the pair, "our friends from Budapest have come a far way to offer their services to the Dark Lord. They arrived last night and I insisted they come see Diagon Alley with me as I visit Gringotts."

"Ah, headed to the bank too?" Tavers smiled sinisterly, "Let me join you, I have some business with our little Goblin friends—apparently there was an issue with transferring money from the Muggleborn filths account to my own" he explained.

Fred glanced at Ron and turned his head slightly as though he was trying to look at Harry. Had they planned for this? A Death Eater joining them on their walk? Hermione was doing an excellent job—but he didn't want Tavers with them for the duration of the trip, even if it meant Fred getting to lock him in a vault, or better yet serve him up as lunch to their Dragon.

The closer they drew to the bank, the more wandless witches and wizards that lined the streets in their shanties. Had they been here when he lived on the Alley and he hadn't noticed? Surely not, he and George would've thought of something—anything—to alleviate their sufferings.

But they hadn't—noticed nor helped. And now he tried to push forward, trying his hardest to ignoring the eyes that watched his back, begging for answers he couldn't give them.

The pillars of Gringotts looked grimy, as though the bank had been poisoned from the inside and the cancer was trying to push its way out. Their feet echoed on the cold marble and Fred looked around to see if there would be any witnesses for his next move.

"Imperio" he whispered, pointing his wand at Tavers, who had been telling Bellatrix in detail his escapades against a Muggleborn in Yorkshire. He straightened up as though he had been poked between the shoulder blades. His mindless chatter ceased and he took strides into the closet labeled "custodial." He gave another flourish of his wand and the three of them stared at the door when they heard a sudden drop.

"What did you do?" Asked Ron, hesitantly reaching for the door.

"Poor chap felt the urge to use a body bind curse on himself," said Fred, looking from Ron to Hermione, "I didn't want to risk it, you know?"

She nodded, looking from him to Ron and then beyond to where she assumed Harry was, "Ready?" She asked. The two brothers nodded and Fred could see the flash of an ankle which must have been Harry in agreement. "Very well then," she started, stealing her face and standing a little straighter, "let's go get the Horcrux."

The Grand Hall was full of Goblins who seemed to slow their work to a trickle as the three of them walked in. Hermione masterfully taking the lead, her steps identical to Bellatrix, her boots crossing in front of each other with the swish of her skirts.

"I want entry to my vault," she barked before she reached the main desk. Brandishing her wand, red sparks bursting a vos behind a cluster of goblins, water bursting out and raining down on them. She slammed the wand down on the desk.

"M-Madam Lestrange," said the aged goblin, who looked like he would rather be anywhere than where he was now, "So—so good to see you."

"Cut the chit chat raisen face, just get me to my vault—I have more important things than spending my day at a bank," she said, crossing her arms and motioning her head to Ron and Fred, "I've got to get these two to Thicknesse in the Ministry before noon."

Fred started down at the Goblin, trying to look fierce. He hoped he did a better job than Ron who looked mildly uncomfortable, as though he had eaten something that was bothering his stomach.

"We just need to do the spells to ah—ensure this is your wand," the goblin started, passing the wand to his fellow.

They know, Fred realized, watching as the other goblin waved his hands and red light surrounded Bellatrix's wand. The real Bellatrix must have tipped them off the wand had been stolen, and it was more than any of their lives worth to allow an imposter in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault.

"What do you mean, ensure this is your wand," Hermione spat, taking her wand and clearing the goblins desk of scales, stacks of gold falling to the floor, "I'm Bellatrix Lestrange, you give me my wand back and you'll know all too soon who I am. Do you know how much Goblin Filth that wands cleaned? Shall it do more?"

Fred shook his shoulder so his wand emerged, not quite falling free. He was about to fake a cough and make the incantation when a peaceful look fell on the goblin's face. Harry had beat him to it. The goblin took the wand from his fellow and handed it over the counter to a red faced Bellatrix.

"Everything seems to be in good order. Please, allow me to take you down," he said with a flourish and bow.

Fred noticed his peers looking over in disbelief, a few looking in harsh whispers. They knew, they knew something had happened. And Fred knew they only had minutes before they'd be discovered.

He followed them hastily down the side hallway to the carts. Holding the door for longer than necessary so Harry could get in and join them.

Fred wasn't exactly keen of Gringotts. He had always welcomed George and Lee volunteering to take the deposits over from the shop. As their cart left the hub, ricketing and racketing as though it would fall apart should it hit a pebble, he wondered If it would be better to conjure a sick bag than summon a bubble head charm.

They took the first corner, and he could see the waterfall ahead of them falling on the tracks. He raised his wand, hoping the incantation would hold.

The water didn't touch them. By all extensive purposes, they charm should have worked. Hermione had even turned around to smile at him—and then the cart stopped and the smile fell. "What is this goblin?!" She barked, looking at the cursed goblin who now bore a sinister smile, "why have we stopped?!"

"We have more than just waterfalls to detect imposters Madam Lestrange," he cackled as the tracks gave way under them and they plummeted down the chasm.

Everything was happening too fast. The ground was coming up to meet them. Harry had been launched out of his invisibility cloak that he now grasped in his hand, trying to keep it from flying away. Fred fought to get his wand loose but it seemed to be stuck in his sleeve. He wasn't going to die at Hogwarts later tonight but right now, slammed against the hard rock like a fly on a muggle windshield.

"Arresto Momentum," he heard three voices say. The others had grabbed their wands, and now the ground wasn't rushing towards him. If anything he now felt as though he was falling like a leaf. He glanced at Hermione the black curls covering a smile. She knows what's about to happen, she wouldn't let you lot die this easy.

They hovered over the ground before they the magic let them fall. Harry took the cloak and shoved it in his bag, "Alright to show my face?"

"Quite," Hermione said, "he won't have a chance to tell anyone." She said motioning to the goblin.

"Sounds a little sinister there love," Fred said, watching the goblin who was trying to get his bearings. "Harry, you still have him under?"

"Might have come loose when we fell, I was a little preoccupied," Harry started. The goblin heard the voices and whipped around, alarm on his face.

"Imperio," Fred cried, watching the feigned peace steal the true emotion. "Come along Goblin, Madam Lestrange still needs to enter her vault."

"We're not far, it's just over here," Hermione started, motioning towards what looked like ruins. Columns tumbled over, broken arches and what looked like scorch marked marble.

They drew close and the goblin started clanking the contraption in his hand making a loud noise. Fred could head a whine behind the marble and he peeked over to see a dragon cowering in a corner. "That's barbaric—" Fred muttered, looking to Hermione, "conditioned to pain at the sound of it?"

Ron turned his head, "I'll give you my SPEW button when all this is over."

The group reached a door halfway down the passage near the dragon. Fred's spell forced the goblin to put his hand against the rock, allowing the door to disappear.

"Lumos Maxima," Ron said, rays of light falling down on the room around them. Stacks of Gold, more than Fred had ever seen, piled the room. There were black sets of armor lining the walls, what looked like heirlooms on shelves. The room was as deep as it was wide, and Fred got the sickening feeling that had Hermione not known exactly where in this room the item they needed was, they could easily be caught before she found it.

"You two go in and Fred and I will stick with the goblin, I don't trust him, even with the Imperious curse."

Harry and Hermione disappeared, wands alight as they made their way in.

"Think theres any booby traps in there?" Ron asked as their light faded.

"I think I'd anyone would booby trap their vault it would be Bellatrix Lestrange," said Fred, straining his eyes, trying to see where they've gone.

"Do you have him? I don't want—"

"Go a head, but be careful, send a flair if something doesn't seem right," Fred said, mildly uneasy. Harry and Hermione had already made it through without any indication of a trap, maybe he should keep Ron here?

No, he belongs with his mates, not watching a goblin with his brother.

Fred watched as Ron's light disappeared into the vault.

He glanced over at the goblin, relieved small talk wasn't encouraged. What exactly were you to say to a goblin you had under an enchantment while your friends stole from said Goblin's bank? You don't understand-they're not who they seem. They want to end this too. They're stealing something that will help them end it-

"You'd know if there were any tricks in there," Fred said after a moment, "Are there?"

"Enter stranger, but take heed, what awaits the sin of greed—" was all he mustered while he stared into the darkness. Fred started at him confused. Those words were familiar—where did he know those words—

A loud clatter sounded from the darkness. And then another. Fred wasn't sure if it was an echo of the first or its own. "You lot alright?" He called in the darkness, raising his wand and trying to strain view of them.

"We're fine, we got it—" Hermione called, then her voice building in a panic "Ron no—"

More clatter. It was like a rumble now, the roar of the sea, becoming louder and louder. "Lumos Maxima!" Fred cried, anxious to see what was churning in the room.

They were up to their knees in treasure, goblets, gauntlets and the like popping into existence, tripping them at every turn. Ron had fallen into them again and it had seemed to agitate more into existence. Hermione was clutching a little gold cup that didn't seem of much importance, but she was gripping it like it did, holding it up as though she was afraid it would disappear into the mass of gold at her feet.

"If that's it, come along," he said, taking a few steps into the room, turning to keep an eye on the goblin. He turned his wand and the goblin glared at him while he stood up straighter, his arm against the door to keep it open. Fred taking strides into the room, towards the wave of gold carrying them out.

"Fred get out, the treasure multiplies when touched," Hermione warned wading through towards him. She was still fifty yards out, the treasure past her knees. Harry and Ron were making strides to her, treasure accumulating as they went, pained expressions on their face.

He noticed they were keeping their hands up now, hoping to avoid touching the gold. "What is it?" Fred asked as they inches closer.

"The gold is burning," Ron said through gritted teeth, "it's nearly gone through my pant leg."

Fred looked around the room in a panic. Burning gold accumulating in the masses, burning through trousers—Hermione didn't have trousers, she was in that bloody dress. "You lot, duck," he said as he pointed his wand at the outer wall and it exploded into chunks.

Some of the gold started going out; it was still growing at their feet but it wasn't piling up as quick or near as high.

They were close enough, he thought. Fred strode to her, wrapping an arm around her as he picked her up and spun her to the treasure free earth. "I'll get the boys, go get the escape car ready," he said, squeezing her hand. He went back, grabbing Harry and doing the same, him running to the door to help Hermione. By the time he went back for Ron the treasure was at his ankles and he could feel the heat radiating from the cursed gold, a burning sensation irritating his right ankle.

Once he got Ron, he kept his arm around him and helped drag him to the door. "We'll get some Dittany in those burns once we get out of here."

"I think we might still get burned," Ron said, looking past his brothers view. Fred lifted his head and saw in horror the scene before them. There were nearly a dozen witches and wizards in Ministry of Magic robs that now surrounded the dragons keep. Jets of light surrounding them. He grabbed Ron by the elbow and pulled him towards the ground just in the nick of time.

Crouched low, Fred looked up, they weren't far from the dragon. He looked at Hermione who made eye contact with him and nodded, "On the count of three follow me."

"What's she having us do?" Ron asked, hands a top his head, ducking jinxed flying over them "Fred? Where she's having us go?"

"One—"

"Looks like we're going to get to live Charlie's dream," Fred said simply, putting an arm around Ron's shoulder as another wave of jets went overhead.

"Two—"

"Charlie's dream?" Ron said confused, looking forward at the dragon who had just let out fire at their would be attackers. Then understanding dawned on his face, "Fred no—"

"Three!"

"Ron yes." Fred said, pushing Ron forward with him. Hermione tumbled first from the perch, Harry behind her, and then Ron and Fred, landing on the bumpy slope of the dragons back hide.

"Going up," Hermione said, casting her wand at the dragons chains, calling out for them to hold on.

Fred waved his wand to the ceiling, breaking the glass dome that appeared their only way out. He hoped the dragon would see its way out. He wasn't quite sure if the dragon was alright truthfully. It looked older than he had imagined, maybe blind? Not the dragon you'd choose to fly an escape or break into Azkaban with—but choices were thin at the moment—

"Come on, feel freedom, get off the ground," Fred chundered, ducking low on its back, holding on to one of the ridges that went down its spine. "Give the tossers a barbecue and then get the hell out of here."

And then he could feel it; the dragons wings were being used. It was arching itself up, they weren't on the ground. The dragon was hovering over head of their attackers and in defiance of its former masters, was breathing fire down upon them.

Perhaps Charlie was right, perhaps Dragons did know the good guys from the bad ones.

"Good on you mate," he smiled, clutching to the ridge in the spine tighter, looking forward and watching the others do the same. Hermione looked down from her perch, a wide smile on her face. She was beaming. They had done it. They had broken into Gringotts, she now had the little gold cup still glued to her hand, soon to be stashed in her little purse. They had broken in, and they had broken out—just like they planned.

Now, all that was left was finding a way to steer the dragon to Azkaban, liberate Potter's Army, and storm Hogwarts castle.

Now, all that was left was finding a way to survive the night.

((*))

The Polyjuice Potion had finally worn off.

Hermione's brown curls had at long last replaced Bellatrix black ones, the hair shrinking back to her head to where she had her shoulder-length mop flopping in the wind rather than the long curled matted mane.

She was elated, they had done it! She knew they could—but there was something in breaking in and out of a high security vault, twice. Perhaps not as smooth as she had hoped, but that didn't matter. They had the Horcrux. They were flying north, north to Hogwarts. North to their last battle.

She looked behind her, Harry, Ron and Fred situated in between the bumps on the dragon's back. Harry always looked at ease when airborne, while the two Weasley brothers looked a mix of uncomfortable and bemusement. Fred made eye contact with her and arched an eye brow, carefully extracting himself from his bump and crawling towards her.

She leaned forward as far as she could go, her arms extended to him. It wouldn't do anyone any good to tell him to stay put. His hands found hers and she steadied him towards her, pulling him to the bump nearest her.

"All this for an antique?" Fred asked, gesturing to the bag. " if you had wanted a pretty little goblet you should have told me and I could have made an early birthday present."

"It's an—artifact," Hermione stretched, looking down at the Horcrux, "one that belonged to You-Know-Who. We need to destroy it before we can destroy him. It—"

"Doesn't make a lick or sense," Fred finished for her, snaking his arms around her waist and holding her close. His mouth beside her ear. He still had his beard and she could feel if tickling the side of her face, "but that's alright, you'll fill me in later when we have time, yeah?"

"Yeah," she nodded,taking her hands and placing them over his, holding him in the moment.

"You know, I always wanted to take you on a midnight broom ride but I know how you feel about flying," he said, turning his head to look over the dragon's side, "But you seem to be doing well enough with this."

"This is being done out of necessity," Hermione countered, nodding resolutely, "trust me, I'd rather be on the ground."

"Whatever you say love," he chuckled, his lips pressing against the back of her head.

"You know me, I like a quite life," she countered, turning her head around to glimpse his face.

"Whatever you say love—you just broke into and out of Gringotts, I'd believe anything you'd say you're so hot right now,"

She rolled her eyes but reached again for his hand again, brushing it with her fingers, trying to hold for the moment, her thumb brushing his knuckles, the hot feeling of blisters from the jinxes gold under her touch.

"What's your next move?" He asked, his head crouched over her shoulder so she could hear him better. "Do we need to drop you off right at the gate?"

"No, we'll jump in a lake here in a little bit and apparate from the banks to Hogsmeade," she started, "and from there we'll meet with Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, and he'll get us into the school."

"And your sure I'm not allowed to follow?" He asked, she clasped his hands again and shook her head, turning her glance from the horizon back to him, "No my love, not this time."

She had half braced herself for his appeals, his last ditch effort to sway her. But he didn't. He just stayed quiet, which was beyond unsettling, sitting on the bump behind her, arms wrapped in, strapping her to the dragon.

"Breaking out of Gringotts and escaping on a dragon, how jealous is George going to be?" Hermione asked, lifting her head to face his better.

He smiled, looking from the horizon to her, "Beyond livid. Only way he'll ever forgive you is if you take him to break into Gringotts for his stag night someday."

"Hmm, I might just have to live with his displeasure. Maybe Percy will have come around by then and he can hate him more than he'll be disappointed with me," she laughed.

Fred's laughter joined in, "Maybe. The trials Percy will have to go through to get back in our good graces though—"

"Trials? What are you going to make the poor man do?" Hermione asked.

"For starters he has to wander through a bog of grindylows wearing nothing but a nightshirt blindfolded—"

She softly elbowed him, "come on, he's your brother—"

"Fine, he doesn't have to wear a blindfold—but it would only help him. Percy has no sense of direction whatsoever—"

She leaned back into his arms, "You know, he comes around sooner than you think."

Fred pauses for a moment, as though allowing the words to process. And then Hermione felt an inward groan. "No, your not telling me Percy gets battlefield forgiveness."

"'Fraid so, he's been in hiding since they went to get Ginny; he'll come in right before the battle starts," Hermione started, and then she froze turning to him, "you don't need to be there though. If your not there, you can still hold him to the trials."

Fred looked at her with an impish smile. "Whatever you say Sunny."

She looked to the horizon. A sparkling blue loch wasn't too far off. It was time.

Something felt off. Everything was going to plan but she couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding. As though time was watching these moves she was making, taking note, and still waiting to strike the death blow.

Maybe Fred was lying and he'd really be at the school tonight? She had just told

Him Percy would be there—why was she such a loose lipped idiot? Or maybe he had something more dangerous planned? Maybe he was going to storm the ministry, cause a diversion somewhere?

Or maybe there was another feeling she felt off. Maybe she would die tonight. Was this to be her last sunlit afternoon? Flying over lochs and valleys on the back of a dragon with her Fred? As far as last afternoons, it wasn't too bad. She could do far worse—

You're thinking too much Granger, she thought to herself, shaking her head. How many times did you fight this feeling when you'd sit for exams? Everything will be fine and you'll get your 112%—

"I think this is our stop," Hermione said motioning down to the waters ahead. She turned around scooting from her bump to get a better view of Harry and Ron. "We're going to have to jump," she said, motioning down at the waters ahead of them, "swim to shore and we can go from there."

Harry nodded, as did Ron who looked relieved at the thought of getting off the dragon at long last.

They were over the loch in minutes. Ron went first, and then Harry. Hermione scooted off the bump and took Fred's hands as though she expected them to go together. When he didn't moved she looked up at him, confused.

"Remember when I said I have a plan that will take me away from Hogwarts tonight?" Fred asked, patting the dragons back, "plan needs a dragon—"

"Fred—" this wasn't good. It couldn't be good. The foreboding bubbling within her into a full boil of disaster. What good scenario was there when she was leaving Fred Weasley unsupervised with a dragon? A diversion situation—

"You got to go, you're already separated too much from the boys," he said taking her hand and prying his from them.

He lifted her hands up to his lips and kissed them, freeing one of his hands and tucking her hair behind her ear. The wind from the dragon's wings blew it away just as fast. "Next time we see each other, there'll be no need for goodbyes," he promised, squeezing her hand "Next time will be the first day of our forever."

"Fred—"

"I love you," he said as he gave her a push and watched her fall into the waters of the Loch below, disappearing before she could call out to him again.

AN:

A significantly shorter chapter…

I thought about having Gringotts and Azkaban in the same chapter but once I actually started writing that out it felt like there was waaaay to much going on. Gringotts, although it happened very similar to how it does in Cannon, is something in its own right, and it deserves to stand on its own.

That being said…

With this update before Christmas, so long as the Holidays remain true to my work our schedule, we should get to Azkaban come New Years! (Or shortly thereafter). Consider this my Christmas gift to you—two chapters and a loveable idiot racing towards danger on his dragon.

If you'd like to consider a Christmas gift to me—please take a minute to review? You lot have been quieter than usual the last two chapters which I found surprising considering the kids were together. I really enjoy reading your thoughts and you'd be surprised how often one of your words jarr me to remember something for the next chapter or down the road.

Regardless, may the story rise up to greet you. Happy Holidays!

KH