Ginny retrieved the Ravenclaw diadem from the dusty top shelf and leapt onto the floor of the tomb eager to leave. How a horcrux ended up here was unbeknownst to her but right now she had other things on her mind. Just as she was about to leave the tomb she heard voices right outside and froze.
"Lucius is your son on his way?"
"Yes Goyle just went to freshen up before the ceremony."
There was a silence
"Has there been any sign of the Dark-Lord?" Lucius said.
"No. You know him, he shall arrive exactly on time."
'The Dark-Lord? Oh no…. Oh no no no!' Ginny thought. She looked around the tomb for another exit and her eyes fell upon the stained glass window. She leapt upon the sarcophagus of the long deceased Karkaroff ancestor and began to paw at the window in an attempt to open it. The window began to ease open and Ginny gently slipped out onto a small ledge which trimmed the tomb. She leapt upon the roof and crept to the edge where she peered over at the hooded figures. There was around ten of them all situated in the centre of the necropolis.
In the distance Ginny recognised Draco heading towards the graveyard quickly. Ginny new her time was limited and soon she would turn back into her human self. She needed to act fast…
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Hermione hovered in front of a large black door and awaited the appearance of Harry and Ron and… well a rat. Suddenly the door creaked open and Harry peered out. Hermione hooted and Harry looked around in shock in search of the source of the sound.
Hermione flew past Harry into the passageway behind him and began to hoot louder before dropping next to Ron and pecking him on the shoulder.
"Ow! Blimey!" He said. He felt the brush of the dangling invisibility cloak and pulled. It fell to the floor revealing the owl with the blanket wrapped package in its grasp.
"Are you 'Mione?" Ron said as he removed the package from the owl's claws. Hermione settled onto the cold floor and tried her best to nod.
"Oh Hermione thank goodness!" Said Ron as he lent down and patted the owl lightly on the head.
Harry walked over with Neville in hand.
"Hermione thank Merlin you came." He said as he settled Neville down onto the floor next to Hermione. Neville all of a sudden began to squeak.
"Harry I think he's bout to morph back." Said Ron as they stepped back. Hermione flew back away from Neville as he slowly began the transformation. He grew larger and his limbs extended. His fur began to disappear and his clothes became apparent. The rat's face distorted and eventually twisted into its familiar human form.
"Oh Blimey it feels good to be human again." He said as he dusted himself off.
"So where from now? Have you planned this bit?" Harry said.
"What? No none of this was my plan. All Malfoy and Hermione's. I haven't got a ruddy clue what comes next. I was just told to get you guys out and meet Hermione here." Neville said as he looked over at Hermione.
Hermione began to morph back into her former self as well. Her feathers disappeared and her robes reformed. Her long, thick curly brown hair appeared upon her face as her beak distorted into her nose and her face fell back into its human structure.
Harry and Ron ran towards her and helped her up before capturing her in their embrace.
"We're so sorry Hermione." Harry said.
"Me too, but we have no time to catch up, we have to go rescue Narcissa and get out of here!"
"What!? Rescue Narcissa?" Ron choked out.
"Yes apparently she was in the chamber next to you. I promised Draco I would get her. We can't leave her there." Hermione said.
Harry let out an exasperated sigh.
"Okay, lets go."
"Oh, here are your things." Hermione said and thrust the package towards them. Harry and Ron retrieved their things and pocketed them. The four of them then quickly headed back towards the dungeons.
"What happened anyway? How did you get caught?" Neville whispered as they began the decent of the spiralled stone steps into the realms of the dungeons.
"Well we found out a while ago that when Igor Karkaroff was at Hogwarts with Durmstrang in fourth year for the Triwizard cup he discovered the Diadem. He didn't know it was a Horcrux, but simply knew it was the one of which was once possessed by Rowena Ravenclaw. We guessed he may have hid it on his estate before he fled from the return of you-know-who." Began Harry
(A/N: just a reminder that in the seventh book they had to resort to calling him by you-know-who because saying Voldemort alerted the death eaters of their location!)
"Ye, but we couldn't seem to find his castle so ended up leaving for a while and finding some other Horcruxes. Eventually we returned because there was only two left. His snake and the diadem."
"One night we discovered the estate but somehow they knew we were coming and caught us straight away. It was as if they were waiting for us."
"The possessed forest Harry. The forest alerted them of your approach, they were waiting for you." Hermione said.
"Oh… right then." Harry said
"And we haven't found the Horcrux. We don't even know where to begin looking!" Ron said.
Hermione sighed.
"Well if everything has gone according to plan we should have it."
Ron and Harry both stopped causing Neville and Hermione to as well.
"What!? How!?" Ron said.
"When Draco was here last he came across it in the tomb of one of Karkaroff's descendants. He recognised the tiara as that of Rowena Ravenclaw but did not know it was a Horcrux until I told him we suspected it to be."
"Okay can you stop calling him Draco because it is just too weird, and you told him?" Ron said.
Hermione's facial expression was frightening when she heard this.
"Just stop it boys! He didn't have to tell us where it was! He didn't have to lead us here and help save you from the death that was sure to become of you! I will call him Draco all I want and I told him because I trust him!" Hermione hissed.
The boys turned around with sour and slightly guilty expressions on their faces and the four continued on their way into the dungeons. The walked along the dark passageway towards Narcissa's chamber where they stopped at.
"So what do we do Neville?" Hermione said.
Neville stepped forward and ran his finger down the frame of the door until he found a grouping of small notches in the wood.
Neville turned back towards the door and began to recite the chant in his head.
Secured by Edel
Neville pressed the fingertip of his thumb into the first notch. It sunk into the wall
And protected by Fridmund.
He pressed his next finger into the next notch which dissapeared.
Captured by Stein
Neville felt the third notch slip away beneath his finger.
Through the Stark of Hendrikus.
The fourth notch disappeared and Neville focused on the last notch.
Ledyard shall prevail.
With that the fifth notch disappeared and the chamber door clicked open.
"What did you do?" Hermione said.
"There is ancient German witchcraft on these dungeons. You simply recite it in your head with each touch of the notches on the side of the door. I learnt it by listening to some stupid death eaters who were trying to remember the chant to open a chamber when I was down here. That's how Malfoy managed to get me out." He said as he pushed open the door of the chamber.
"How in Merlin did you do that for these two?" Hermione said thumbing towards Harry and Ron.
"They have the notches on the inside as well incase someone who isn't supposed to be in there gets stuck. It's just a matter of locating them. Had Harry here hold me up as I pushed up against the notches. I reckon I must have gotten splinters doing that!" Neville said.
The four stepped into the chamber where a whimpering Narcissa was found in a corner.
"Narcissa?" Hermione said coming towards her. The woman's head shot up towards Hermione and her eyes widened.
"Is Draco alright?" She choked out as she made her way to her feet.
Hermione nodded.
"He sent me to get you out of here. Quick we must leave." Hermione said as she took Narcissa's hand.
Narcissa nodded and they quickly left the chamber.
A/N: The chant – These are German names. In ancient times they were Powerful German wizards.
Edel- Means noble. The chamber is secured by someone noble.
Fridmund- Means peaceful protector. Which is self explanatory
Stein – Means stone. As in the stone wall which contains the hostage in the chamber.
Stark – Means strength.
Hendrikus – Means ruler of the home. The strength of the ruler of the home is what keeps the hostage inside. Get it?
Ledyard- Guardian of the nation. They will prevail in keeping the nation safe.
Knowing this chant makes the door swing open as it is believe only the ruler of the home… or Hendrikus would know it. But since the Karkaroff estate has been over run with death-eaters… well, enough said.
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So how are they gonna get out? Will Ginny be caught? Will Draco have to take the dark mark? Who...will...die...
how evil does that sound?? sorry. im truly not an evil person... i swear... mwahaha.
I'm still writing the next xhapter but I know everything that is to happen. It's just a matter of getting the ideas out of my head and then posted.