Chapter 42:

Their plans were made, their preparations complete; in the smallest bedroom a single long, coarse black hair (plucked from the sweater Alicia had been wearing at Malfoy Manor) lay curled in a small glass phial on the mantelpiece.

"And you'll be using her actual wand," said Harry, nodding toward the walnut wand, "so I reckon you'll be pretty convincing."

Hermione looked frightened that the wand might sting or bite her as she picked it up.

"I hate this thing," she said in a low voice. "I really hate it. It feels all wrong, it doesn't work properly for me… It's like a bit of her."

"Good thing you're not using it then." Alicia said and she plucked up the wand from her hands.

"Hermione's being Bellatrix."

"Ha." Alicia said, scoffing. "Hermione, be Bellatrix? Hermione's too nice and got too much regard for rules." She scowled at the wand too. "Such an evil thing it must be, think of all the curses that've gone through it."

"But that's my point!" said Hermione. "This is the wand that tortured Neville's mum and dad, and who knows how many other people? This is the wand that killed Sirius!"

Alicia instantly darkened as she looked at the wand.

"You know, considering Bellatrix's wand was stolen, is it smart to use it?" she asked, yet again.

"How're goblins to know that?" Ron asked for the hundredth time.

"We should think about the fact that they have." Alicia grumbled.

"I miss my wand," Hermione said miserably. "I wish Mr. Ollivander could have made me another one too."

Mr. Ollivander had sent Luna a new wand that morning. She was out on the back lawn at that moment, testing its capabilities in the late afternoon sun. Dean, who had lost his wand to the Snatchers, was watching rather gloomily.

Harry looked down at the hawthorn wand that had once belonged to Draco Malfoy.

"Well we finish this war, Mr Ollivander can go back to his shop, do his job and you can get a new one." Alicia said.

The door of the bedroom opened and Griphook entered. Harry reached instinctively for the hilt of the sword and drew it close to him

"We've just been checking the last-minute stuff, Griphook. We've told Bill and Fleur we're leaving tomorrow, and we've told them not to get up to see us off."

They had been firm on this point, because Hermione, or Alicia if she got her way, would need to transform into Bellatrix before they left, and the less that Bill and Fleur knew or suspected about what they were about to do, the better. They had also explained that they would not be returning. As they had lost Perkins's old tent on the night that the Snatchers caught them, Bill had lent them another one. It was now packed inside the beaded bag, which, Hermione had impressively protected from the Snatchers by the simple expedient of stuffing it down her sock.

"I just miniaturised mine largely and hid it." Alicia said "That's how I didn't loose my wand." she smiled.

Everything was set for their visit to Gringotts, everything except, Alicia noticed, their escape plan. She did believe however it might be better they don't have one as the whole thing was likely to be blown apart in an instant. Their plans were never foolproof after all.

The other thing the four had not worked out, was how they were going to ditch Griphook. They couldn't give him the sword and they didn't know how to get ride of him without doing so. It had been impossible to decide on this course of action, because the goblin rarely left Harry, Alicia, Ron, and Hermione alone together for more than five minutes at a time: "He could give my mother lessons," growled Ron, as the goblin's long fingers kept appearing around the edges of doors.

Bill had given Harry a warning as to trusting goblins and Alicia guessed he expected them to double cross him. If Alicia was honest, if he was thinking this, then she wouldn't be surprised if he had a plan to do the same just in case.

This added back to her worry of them escaping, but she was sure they'd find something… hopefully.

Luckily, with this in mind and reassurance that she had to just be on guard and take in ever detail she could in order to help them escape, Alicia got some sleep that night. The air in the house between the four of them could not have been more different compared to the night before their infiltration of the Ministry. For some reason, she could not comprehend how, there had been some excitement amongst the nerves as well as sheer determination. Now there was nothing but worry, nagging and uncertainty. Their plan was good, as long as there wasn't anything new, unexpected or trouble.

And let's face it, that's all that happens with us. Alicia had reminded herself.

When six o'clock came that morning, the four slipped out of their sleeping bags, dress in the semi darkness and crept out into the garden. Hermione was to collect Griphook while Alicia was to take the polyjuice potion.

It tasted absolutely disgusting. But Alicia held no surprise to this. It seemed personality held a large necessity on the outcome of polyjuice potion. Alicia felt herself changing and her skin bubbling. Her black hair became longer and rippling. Her eyes headily lidded, disdain filling them as Alicia looked in the mirror.

She hated seeing Bellatrix look back at her.

"Ready?" Hermione whispered and Alicia nodded before the two moved, Griphook with them, and they went out into the garden.

The dawn was chilly, but there was little wind now that it was May. Harry and Ron were already there and Hermione tucked her beaded bag back away in her pocket as she pulled out an old set of robes taken way back from Grimmauld Place.

"I have never tasted anything worse, than Bellatrix." Alicia said "I feel like I need to burn myself for having taken in her essence."

"Ron, come here so I can do you…" Hermione said

"Right, but remember, I don't like the beard too long —"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, this isn't about looking handsome —"

"It's not that, it gets in the way! But I liked my nose a bit shorter, try and do it the way you did last time."

Hermione sighed and set to work, muttering under her breath as she transformed various aspects of Ron's appearance. He was to be given a completely fake identity, and they were trusting to the malevolent aura cast by Bellatrix to protect him. Meanwhile Harry, Hermione and Griphook were to be concealed under the Invisibility Cloak. They'd thought of changing both of the girls, but too many extras would draw attention.

"There," said Hermione, "how does he look, Harry?"

It was just possible to discern Ron under his disguise, but only by the twins, likely, because they knew him so well.

Ron's hair was now long and wavy; he had a thick brown beard and moustache, no freckles, a short, broad nose, and heavy eyebrows.

"Well, he's not my type, but he'll do," said Harry. "Shall we go, then?"

All four of them glanced back at Shell Cottage, lying dark and silent under the fading stars, then turned and began to walk toward the point, just beyond the boundary wall, where the Fidelius Charm stopped working and they would be able to Disapparate. Once past the gate, Griphook spoke.

"I should climb up now, Harry Potter, I think?"

Harry bent down and the goblin clambered onto his back, his hands linked in front of Harry's throat.

Hermione pulled the Invisibility Cloak out of the beaded bag and handed it to Alicia before standing beside Harry. Alicia threw it over them both before she checked them over to double check their security.

"Perfect," she said. "Can't see a thing. Let's go."

Alicia turned on the spot as Ron did and she assumed Harry with Griphook and Hermione were following. Moments later, her feet found the pavement that was Charing Cross Road and she opened her eyes to look around the familiar street. Muggles bustled past wearing the hangdog expressions of early morning, quite unconscious of the little inn's existence.

The bar of the Leaky Cauldron was nearly deserted. Tom, the stooped and toothless landlord, was polishing glasses behind the bar counter; a couple of warlocks having a muttered conversation in the far corner glanced at Alicia and drew back into the shadows.

"Madam Lestrange," murmured Tom, and as Alicia passed he inclined his head subserviently.

She said nothing and ignored him, not even sparing him a glance. Like Bellatrix would ever waste her breath on someone like Tom unless she was torturing him.

Alicia drew Bellatrix's wand and tapped a brick in the nondescript wall in front of them. At once the bricks began to whirl and spin: A hole appeared in the middle of them, which grew wider and wider, finally forming an archway onto the narrow cobbled street that was Diagon Alley.

It was quiet, barely time for the shops to open, and there were hardly any shoppers abroad. The crooked, cobbled street was much altered now from the bustling place Alicia had visited before her first term at Hogwarts so many years before. More shops than ever were boarded up, though several new establishments dedicated to the Dark Arts had been created since her last visit. Harry's own face glared down at them from posters plastered over many windows, always captioned with the words UNDESIRABLE NUMBER ONE.

A number of ragged people sat huddled in doorways. They were moaning to the few passersby, pleading for gold, insisting that they were really wizards. One man had a bloody bandage over his eye.

Alicia ignored them all and Harry, Hermione and Ron followed with Griphook. The beggars glimpsed Alicia and she looked down her nose at them. They seemed to melt away before her, drawing hoods over their faces and fleeing as fast as they could. Until the man with the bloodied bandage came staggering right across her path.

"My children!" he bellowed, pointing at her. His voice was cracked, high-pitched; he sounded distraught. "Where are my children? What has he done with them? You know, you know!"

Alicia rose her wand as the man lunged at her. The man went flying away in a flurry of red sparks. She plastered a snicker on her face.

"You should have thought better of your actions if you hadn't wanted them taken." she said making her voice like Bellatrix's as much as she could.

The blast had caused several faces to appear at the windows on either side of the street, while a little knot of prosperous-looking passersby gathered their robes about them and broke into gentle trots, keen to vacate the scene.

Their entrance into Diagon Alley could hardly have been more conspicuous. As if to prove this fact, a cry sounded from behind them.

"Why, Madam Lestrange!" Alicia turned slowly, making sure to keep no care in her expression. A tall, thin wizard with a crown of bushy grey hair and a long, sharp nose was striding toward them.

"Travers." Alicia said before Harry could relay what Griphook had told him what the Death Eaters name was. She remembered him. "You want something?"

"I merely sought to greet you," said Travers coolly, slightly affronted. "but if my presence is not welcome…"

"I am merely busy Travers. Clearly you can understand." it wasn't posed as a question.

"Yes. I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix." he stated.

"Oh?"

"Well," Travers coughed, "I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the… ah… escape."

"You're brave to question his decisions." Alicia said "The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past. Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers."

Though the Death Eater looked offended, he also seemed less suspicious. He glanced down at the man who had fronted her.

"How did it offend you?"

"Does it matter? It wont happen again." she said cooly.

"Some of these wandless can be troublesome," said Travers. "While they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case at the Ministry last week. 'I'm a witch, sir, I'm a witch, let me prove it to you!' " he said in a squeaky impersonation. "As if I was going to give her my wand — but whose wand," said Travers curiously, "are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heard that your own was —"

"It seems you have had nothing better to do than listen to rumours, Travers. Such a pity too, considering you really are sadly misinformed." Alicia cut him off. She said nothing about the wand, it all depended on Gringotts the outcome of whether she admitted to having it or not.

Travers seemed a little taken aback at that, and he turned instead to Ron.

"Who is your friend? I do not recognise him."

"This is Dragomir Despard," said Alicia; they had decided that a fictional foreigner was the safest cover for Ron to assume. "He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lord's aims. He has traveled here from Transylvania to see our new regime."

"Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?"

" 'Ow you?" said Ron, holding out his hand.

Travers extended two fingers and shook Ron's hand as though frightened of dirtying himself.

"So what brings you and your — ah — sympathetic friend to Diagon Alley this early?" asked Travers.

"I need to visit Gringotts," said Alicia simply.

"Alas, I also," said Travers. "Gold, filthy gold! We cannot live without it, yet I confess I deplore the necessity of consorting with our long-fingered friends."

Alicia said nothing.

"Shall we?" said Travers, gesturing Hermione forward.

Alicia fell into step with Travers without a word. The two together, with Ron a pace behind, headed along the crooked, cobbled street toward the place where the snowy-white Gringotts stood towering over the other little shops.

We can't do this with a Death Eater watching. Harry sad to his sister

Well if we turned and left now it'd be much to obvious. Alicia responded. They know what happened at Malfoy Manor, they know Bellatrix's wand is gone, I think if anything we're lucky we've done this so far after our escape. If it'd been the next day people wouldn't believe Bellatrix to be released already. Let us go into Gringotts and see how this goes. she offered.

They arrived at the foot of the marble steps leading up to the great bronze doors. As Griphook had already warned them, the liveried goblins who usually flanked the entrance had been replaced by two wizards, both of whom were clutching long thin golden rods.

"Ah, Probity Probes," sighed Travers theatrically, "so crude — but effective!"

And he set off up the steps, nodding left and right to the wizards, who raised the golden rods and passed them up and down his body. The Probes detected spells of concealment and hidden magical objects.

Alicia waited for Harry to act. She watched as, unnoticed by Travers, who was looking through the bronze doors at the inner hall, each of the guards gave a little start as the planned confundus spells hit them. Alicia followed Travers up the stairs, Bellatrix's long hair rippling behind her.

"One moment, madam," said the guard, raising his Probe.

"But you've just done that!" said Alicia in Bellatrix's commanding, arrogant voice. Her patience clearly thinning. Travers looked around, eyebrows raised. The guard was confused. He stared down at the thin golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice,

"Yeah, you've just checked them, Marius."

Alicia swept forwards, Ron beside her, and Hermione, Harry and Griphook trotting invisibly behind them.

Two goblins stood before the inner doors, which were made of silver and which carried the poem warning of dire retribution to potential thieves. Alicia remembered the first time she'd read it, and Hagrid's words. "Like I said, yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it." and here they were doing exactly that.

The long counter was manned by goblins sitting on high stools, serving the first customers of the day. Alicia, Ron, and Travers headed toward an old goblin who was examining a thick gold coin through an eyeglass. Alicia allowed Travers to step ahead of her on the pretext of explaining features of the hall to Ron.

The goblin tossed the coin he was holding aside, said to nobody in particular, "Leprechaun," and then greeted Travers, who passed over a tiny golden key, which was examined and given back to him.

Alicia stepped forward with an air that gave her a high presence in the room.

"Madam Lestrange!" said the goblin, evidently startled. "Dear me! How — how may I help you today?"

"I want to enter my vault," said Alicia obviously, an annoyance behind the words at even being asked.

The old goblin seemed to recoil a little. Not only was Travers hanging back, watching, but several other goblins had looked up from their work to stare at Alicia.

"You have… identification?" asked the goblin.

"Why on earth would I need identification!?" Alicia snapped "I have not been asked for such before!"

Griphook says they know. Alicia pursed her lips.

"Your wand will do, madam," said the goblin. He held out a slightly trembling hand.

"Do not waste my time!" Alicia snapped as she heard Harry's next plan. "My wand was stolen as you should know! Any wand I have you would not recognise, how can it be used for identifying me!" her voice echoed from the walls as the anger of Bellatrix pushed through. Many of the goblins faltered in watching her.

The goblin looked at her for a moment, hesitance was there.

"Right."

"Imperio." Alicia stared in waiting.

"It was just a precaution, obviously it is not necessary."

"Then get on with it!" Alicia commanded.

The old goblin behind the counter clapped his hands and a younger goblin approached.

"I shall need the Clankers," he told the goblin, who dashed away and returned a moment later with a leather bag that seemed to be full of jangling metal, which he handed to his senior. "Good, good! So, if you will follow me, Madam Lestrange," said the old goblin, hopping down off his stool and vanishing from sight, "I shall take you to your vault."

He appeared around the end of the counter, jogging happily toward them, the contents of the leather bag still jingling. Travers was standing quite still with his mouth hanging wide open. Ron was drawing attention to this odd phenomenon by regarding Travers with confusion.

"Wait — Bogrod!"

Another goblin came scurrying around the counter.

"We have instructions," he said with a bow to Alicia. "Forgive me, Madam, but there have been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange."

"And you don't think I, the owner of the vault, would know them?" Alicia asked "You have asked for my identification, you have prodded me with sensors, for what reason must I, the owner of the vault, be held up even more for!" she demanded. The goblin actually jumped as Alicia's voice was stern and loud.

Despite his, he whispered urgently in Bogrod's ear, but the Imperiused goblin shook him off.

"I am aware of the instructions. Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault… Very old family… old clients… This way, please…"

And, still clanking, he hurried toward one of the many doors leading off the hall. Alicia followed and with a glance back, a sneer on her face, she saw Travers following them, walking meekly in their wake as they reached the door and passed into the rough stone passageway beyond, which was lit with flaming torches.