Sorry for the wait, school has started which gives me a lot less writing time, but I'll try to keep the wait shorter!
The gold burns as we flip through the piles, desperately searching for the cup as the walls close in around us. Griphook has taken the sword and run, and the room is getting smaller, mountains of shining gold plates crushing us, hot and icy against our legs.
Suddenly, I see it. The tiny golden goblet, high in the air, half covered by a set of ruby armor, glistening lightly despite the age, so small to hold something so large.
"I see it! I call excitedly, ignoring the pain, and pushing away duplicating metals to reach the tall mound. "Head to the door!" Ron and Hermione start pushing their way through, but Draco remains stubbornly where he is, with a look on his face that says 'I'm not getting out of here if you don't." He gives me a boost, just enough height to grab the cup. And I know that it's the horcrux, because it stays cool, not replicating itself. And I feel it. The presence of something, someone, that shouldn't be there.
"Hurry!" Hermione calls, and I toss the cup through the air to her. I know that if I don't make it, she'll destroy it, because she's Hermione and that's what she does, saves the day.
"I'm tired, and the burning is creeping up past my waist, making it hard to walk through the clutter, with each step bringing an increasing amount of pain. Draco takes my hand, holding it high above the golden masses, pulling me along. We reach the door as the mounds reach our necks, the choking feeling lessening as we force the door open.
Immediately, there's wand fire, and we'd all be stunned if Hermione didn't have the foresight to throw up a shield. As it is, Draco's knocked off his feet, and Ron has to scoop the cup back up after Hermione drops it, shoving it in his robes quickly as we run.
There are several employees chasing us, and suddenly I realize they're just herding us in, trapping us. And I know with what when I hear the roar. The sound of claws scraping the walls, the screams of those guarding the giant animal. And suddenly, Draco's eyes light up, and he rushes ahead.
The dragon is enormous, larger than the Horntail, writhing against its chains. It's black, from snout to barbed tail, with spikes down the ridge of its back. The most disturbing features, however, are the dragon's eyes. Scratched out, empty, blinded by the bank.
Draco is in the lead, dodging spells sent in all directions, and without hesitation he pulls himself onto the dragon. The rest of us freeze, and he gestures to us impatiently as the workers start to close in.
"Come on, it's the only way out!" Hermione sees the logic in this illogical movement first, pulling herself up with Ron and I close behind. The chains are incinerated, and the dragon rises into the air, torn wings flapping and bringing up winds that throw those chasing us back against the walls. We ascend at an incredible pace, the walls blurring around us as the glass ceiling approaches. We crouch together, clinging to the dragon with our heads bend inwards as we break through and fly into the cool air.
It's terrifying, with no control or direction, just the cold wind rushing past far too fast, the ground growing distant, the damp clouds enveloping us as the green texture of the land vanishes into white. We hold on tight, to the dragon and to each other.
"We made it." Ron says in wonder, and Draco surprises us by laughing.
"We're riding a dragon." He explains in wonder, looking around with a lot less fear than the rest of us. He leans over the sides of the dragon, and I quickly pull him back into place, forcing his hands onto a ridge to keep balance.
"I didn't think this would work." I admit softly, arms wrapping around Draco securely.
"Then why'd you follow?" He asks, and I just smile, resting my head on him.
When we jump into the water, the four of us hold hands, and hit the surface hard, coming up still linked in the icy deep water.
If I had to guess, I'd say just another few chapters? Reviews would be loved!