Disclaimer: Not Mine.

The Brotherhood

~~~ Chapter Thirty Six ~~~

Ginny paced by the fireplace, waiting for anyone to come back. They had decided all to go on the same day, so if Voldemort realised that his Horcruxes were being found, hopefully, they would be able to get them all. It had been several hours since they all had left and Ginny was very worried. She knew that in all likeliness, they would take a while to retrieve, but she could hope that someone would be back by this point.

Plus, the waiting was driving her crazy. How could they leave her here alone? Ginny glanced at the clock. It was past six in the morning. She had been up all night.

"Mum wanted me home by seven," Ginny muttered to herself, "If nobody is back by then, I am going to have to do something about it."

~~~TB~~~

Dora walked down the street. She knew it was way too early for most people to be out and about, but Gringotts was open at all hours of the day and night, so it was fine for her to visit.

Dora walked past the two goblins at the doorway, who nodded to her in greeting.

The bank was deserted, as far has humans were. Several goblins were there, busy doing whatever they did when humans weren't around to bother them.

Dora walked up to the counter and one of the goblins looked up at her.

"I need to get into the Lestrange vault," Dora stated, handing the goblin the key.

The goblin took the key and examined it suspiciously before casting another suspicious look at Dora.

"It looks like all is in order. I'll find someone to take you down immediately," the goblin stated. He called back to another goblin, saying that they needed to take the clankers as well.

Dora followed a goblin carrying a bunch of metal in a bag which Dora assumed was the clankers.

The ride down to the vault was longer than Dora had ever experienced, and even though Dora didn't get motion sickness usually, this time, she felt decidedly sick.

Dora watched with wide eyes as the goblin shooed back the dragon with the clankers, and then opened the vault.

Dora glanced at the goblin, then entered. She couldn't believe that it was this easy.

Dora searched the shelves for what she was looking for and soon her eyes landed on a golden cup. She reached up and grabbed it, pleased that it was actually where it was supposed to be.

Tucking the cup into her robe, Dora looked around. She was sorely tempted to take something more, but decided against it. She didn't want to make anyone more suspicious than they already were.

~~~TB~~~

Sirius stepped off the boat onto the island. It was a small island, only containing a bowl filled with green liquid, which was what had been glowing. Stepping forward, Sirius studied the liquid carefully. He was sure that the locket had to be under the potion, and that he was going to have to drink it.

"Harry's going to kill me," Sirius muttered. If Harry knew that Sirius was doing something that he knew would probably kill him, he would definitely freak out. Unfortunately, getting rid of Voldemort was worth more than Sirius' life, and Sirius knew this.

Conjuring up a cup, Sirius dipped it into the green potion and scooped up a cupful. He drank it slowly, but surely, and grimaced at the taste.

He felt weakness set in almost immediately, and Sirius knew he had little time. He scooped up another cupful and swallowed it down quickly.

~~~TB~~~

Dora followed the goblin back into the cart, and sat patiently as the cart made it's way up to the entrance of the bank. Dora could feel the cup's weigh in her pocket and she felt unease by it. Part of Voldemort's soul was in this cup.

The cart reached the entrance and Dora exited the cave part of the bank, into the main entrance. As she entered, she paused. Something was off.

Looking around, she noticed that there seemed to be a tense air in the bank.

Dora kept gazing around as she walked across the room. She turned as she felt eyes on her.

A woman walked out of the shadows and smiled grimly at Dora. "Why hello, little Nymphadora. What were you doing in my vault?"

Dora drew in a sharp breath at the appearance of her aunt. Looking around, she saw that deatheaters surrounded her in all other directions. She was trapped.

~~~TB~~~

Sirius gasped for breath, wanting desperately to put the cup down and stop drinking the potion. However, he had experience with horrible memories, and was able to keep his concentration enough to finish the deed.

Sirius nearly let out a cheer when he felt the cup reach the bottom of the basin and he took the last of the potion. Relieved, Sirius reached into the basin and grasped the locket before he collapsed wearily to the ground.

Sirius knew he had to finish this. He crawled over the ground toward the boat, although he felt pain burning in his throat. He needed water. However, he didn't have even close to enough strength to cast a spell, and he knew that he couldn't go near the lake.

Finally, Sirius reached the boat and pulled himself into it. Pained as he was, he accidental touched the water, and as he did, a pale hand came out of the water and got a firm grasp on his wrist.

Sirius tried to pull away, but it was in vain. He was pulled under the water.

A/N - Double cliffhanger anyone?