Chapter Eleven
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in the living room, content after having a delicious lunch.
"I'm going to go for a walk." Hermione stood up and announced.
"I'll come with you." Ron said with enthusiasm while standing up as well.
"I don't need a chaperone."
"What if you're not fully recovered yet and…what if you pass out and fall and break your neck or something! I don't want to take any chances."
Hermione eyed him, trying to figure out if that was the real reason he wanted to go, "I guess if you're that worried, you can come. I just need to grab my jumper from my room, it can get quite cold when the sun starts to go down."
"No, let me get it." Ron insisted.
"Ron, I am perfectly capable of walking up and down a flight of stairs."
A playful grin appeared on Ron's face, "Ah, you may be able to walk...but I don't think you can run!"
Ron bounded off towards the stairs and Hermione quickly went after him, though with his head-start and long legs, he easily reached the top of the stairs first. He went into her room and started looking around for the sweater. He spotted it on top of the dresser and went to get it.
He heard Hermione say, "Wingardium leviosa!" and the tips of his fingers were only able to brush the fabric as the jumper rose high into the air and out of his reach.
"Really?"
Hermione had a smug look on her face. "Oh, come on Ron, you know it's one of my favorite spells. I couldn't resist."
"It's cheating."
Hermione frowned at being accused of such a thing and retorted, "You didn't establish any rules."
"It's principle. Besides, I was just having a laugh." Ron said in a hurt voice.
Hermione felt bad for becoming a little over-competitive, so she let the sweater drift down and fall into his hands.
Ron looked wide-eyed at it and said in a high-pitched voice, "Mistress has at last given Ron clothes, I am free elf!"
Hermione tried to stifle her laugh, but a small giggle still escaped her. She then composed herself, "You shouldn't joke about that. House-elves are—"
Ron chastised himself for starting her on the subject and tried to find a replacement. He examined the sweater in his hands. "Hey, whose black hair is this?" He held it up, "It's too long to be Harry or Dean's. Unless you met some guy with long dark hair while I was gone?" He joked.
Hermione merely stared at the hair.
"What? What's the matter? You didn't right?"
"I was wearing that the…other day. It must be hers."
Ron felt very stupid for bringing up another sore subject. He let the hair float to the ground, "Well we won't be putting you in our polyjuice potion."
Hermione watched the hair fall and then realized something, "Ron that's it!"
She dove to the ground and started searching for the hair.
"What are you talking about? And what are you doing on the floor?"
"We can use it to get into her vault!"
"How—oh!" Ron got down on his knees and started looking for it as well. "Why didn't you think of that before I dropped it!"
"You thought of it!"
"Oh yeah." Ron said and then continued to search the floor.
"I got it!" Hermione exclaimed holding it up.
"Brilliant." Ron added and then laughed, "We must look absolutely ridiculous; scrounging around on the floor for a single hair."
Hermione laughed, "You're right. We probably could have just used accio, but we have it now and that's all that matters. Come on, let's find Harry."
"Sure, but wait."
"What?"
"You will give me some credit for this?"
Hermione smiled, "Ron, I'll give you all of the credit."
A wide grin appeared on Ron's face as he followed her out of the room.
"Harry!" Hermione eagerly called down the stairs.
"What is it?" Harry shouted back.
"We have something to show you!"
"Okay, I'm coming!"
"What is with all ze shouting?" Ron faintly heard Fleur say from the kitchen.
"Oh, sorry Fleur, we're done with the shouting now." Harry apologized.
Several seconds later, Harry arrived at the top of the stairs and saw Ron and Hermione both grinning, "What do you want to show me?"
Hermione glanced downstairs and then said, "Come in here," She led them into her room and then cast muffliato, "We don't want Bill or Fleur overhearing. I highly doubt they would like this."
"They wouldn't like what?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Us using this." Hermione held up the single black hair.
Harry looked at it, "Whose is that?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange's." Ron answered for Hermione.
"So…"
"We can use it in the polyjuice potion and get into her vault!" Ron explained.
"That's great!"
"Ron thought of it." Hermione happily added.
"You did?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"I have my moments." Ron proudly said.
"Where did you get it?"
"It was on my jumper." Hermione said in a quiet voice.
"Oh" Harry was sorry that he asked. He then eagerly said, "Well, let's show this to Griphook."
The quickly made their way to the door the Griphook's room and Harry knocked.
They heard the goblin say "Come in."
"Sorry to disturb you, but we found a way to get into the vault." said Hermione.
"Really? How?"
"We found a hair belonging to her. We can put it in our polyjuice potion and one of us can turn into her." Hermione explained.
Griphook nodded, "Very well. It may be your best chance."
"I think it's our only chance." Harry said.
"Now, let me get this straight. So Mr. Potter and I will use his cloak of invisibility, and I assume you will turn into Mrs. Lestrange," He pointed to Hermione, who turned very pale. "But what are we going to do with you?" He pointed at Ron.
Ron, who was busy being concerned about Hermione, didn't have an answer, "Erm…"
"We can transfigure your looks." Harry offered.
"Uh yeah. Yeah, I can pretend to be one of her henchmen and tag along." Ron liked that idea.
"We can figure out the specifics tomorrow, we just wanted to run it by you." Harry said, noticing that Hermione was still pale and hadn't said anything else.
"Yes. Give us all time to think about it." The goblin agreed.
"Great. Bye for now." Ron quickly said, taking Hermione's hand and leading her out the door.