The Heist

Harry woke up more rested than he had ever felt over the past few days. Maybe months. He suspected that the bed had been enchanted to have the same properties as the Dreamless Potion. The bedroom which had been prepared for him was decorated in the same fashion as the living room. However, the curtains in front of the windows were pulled back giving Harry a view on the street. The sky was so white Harry couldn't say what time of the day it was. Hoping it wasn't too late, he grabbed his bag and his broom and headed towards the door. The night had consolidated his resolve and since he had his Firebolt back, travelling would be easier now. He was about to reach the main entrance when a smell of eggs and bacon freshly cooked reached his nose. It was at this moment that his stomach chose to remind him loudly that it had been a long time since he had had a real meal.

Harry ventured cautiously in the corridor, searching for the kitchen. He would be greatly embarrassed to meet Dumbledore again, but he was too hungry. One of the doors was half-opened and when Harry pushed it, he discovered a table for one set with a breakfast that rivaled the one served at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen but instead of the relief it should have brought, Harry was almost disappointed. However, he quickly forgot his worries as soon as he took his first bite.

When he was done, he waved his hand and the remaining of the breakfast placed itself on a napkin which wrapped itself before flying towards the bag. Harry couldn't help smiling while closing it. After five years he was still marvelling at even the simplest demonstration of magic.

He arrived in the garden which was separated from the street by a high hedge. He was trying to decide a way to wrap himself up his Invisibility Cloak while covering most of his broom when he remembered that he hadn't the Trace anymore. He felt a pinch of guilt in his heart as he turned towards the closed door. He hadn't even thanked Dumbledore for that. Doubt crawled back in his mind but before he succumbed to it, he took his wand out and applied the Disillusionment Charm to his broom and himself. He rose into the sky and headed due north while trying to convince himself that the tears streaming down his cheeks were only because of the wind.

Reaching the Chamber of Secret was easier than Harry had thought. With the Marauder's Map and his Invisibility Cloak, finding his way through the empty castle was effortless. In the Chamber near the fountain was lying the diadem and has Harry grabbed it, he felt Tom's presence behind him.

'What are you doing here?' The Horcrux asked unceremoniously. 'I thought you wouldn't stay at Hogwarts for the holidays?'

Harry quickly filled him on what had happened over the last few days. Tom was so captivated by the tale that he remained silent when Harry was done.

'Ok… ok,' he said eventually. 'I must say I am amazed Dumbledore let you leave. Are you sure he didn't put any tracing spells on you?'

'I don't think so,' Harry replied. 'He removed the Trace.'

'He didn't!'

'I assure you he did. He even gave me back my Firebolt.'

Tom was astounded and felt the need to sit down.

'Are you all, right?' Harry asked worried.

'Yes… I am fine, don't worry,' Tom replied. He raised his gaze towards Harry and asked: 'So you're a fugitive now?'

'We are both. But wait there's still something I need to tell you. I learned about the Prophecy.'

'The What?' Tom asked while frowning.

Harry proceeded to repeat the Prophecy he had memorized on first hearing. The frown on Tom's face deepened.

'Is there something wrong?' Asked Harry puzzled by his reaction.

'Many,' replied Tom. 'To be honest I am quite ashamed my choices led me to become someone who can feel threatened by a baby…' He started to pace and added. 'The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, do you realise that if Voldemort hadn't done anything he would have never marked you, invalidating the Prophecy?'

'I know', Harry replied. Tom raised his eyebrows. 'I have never been really fond of Divination,' explained Harry. 'Before I heard our Prophecy, I didn't know such things existed, but if I had I am not sure I would have believed in them.'

'Skeptical much?'

'Since my Fate has been decided for me, I kind of dislike the idea of have no control over my own destiny. But to be honest… at this point I have lost almost all hope to make it out alive. I just want to make sure we get rid of all Horcruxes before…' His throat tightened, preventing from finishing his sentence.

'Well, the Prophecy states that one must die by the hand of another, but it doesn't say who,' Tom remarked. 'You could still beat him.'

'Yeah right,' scoffed Harry.

'I am serious,' Tom said irritated. 'I mean, he marked you as his equal… you're not quite there yet I must say, but if it becomes the case, I don't see why you couldn't beat him.'

For a second, Harry imagined himself emerging victorious from a duel against Voldemort. He almost smiled at the thought of a year at Hogwarts free of any threats. But sinister thoughts soon overtook his dream.

'I am still one of the Horcruxes we need to destroy.'

'I thought about that. The Horcrux has a strong influence over you because Voldemort is back but if I remember correctly, it wasn't that bad before, was it?'

Harry nodded, seeing what Tom was getting at. Indeed, if he was the only way for Voldemort to return, then as long as no one knew, it would be like there were none. But the risk would remain.

'It wouldn't be an easy life,' Tom added, looking down at Harry's grave look. 'But it would still be… life.'

'A cursed one,' Harry corrected with a harsh tone. 'But anyway, before I get to live it, there is much to do, and I suggest we start at once. In a few days, my absence will be noticed, and I will officially become, how did you put it? A fugitive.'

'How many days before school starts again?'

'About five,' Harry replied after quickly counting the days since he had fled London.

'Perfect, then we will have the time to retrieve the Cup,' Tom smiled.

'You make it sound like it will be easy,' Harry noticed with a suspicious look on his face.

Tom looked at him pensively for a few seconds which made Harry feel a bit uncomfortable like he was being gauged.

'Let me see the ring,' Tom eventually declared.

Harry pulled the Horcrux out of his hidden pocket and put it on the edge of the fountain.

'With the diary, the diadem and me, that make four Horcruxes in total,' Harry summarized. 'And if we find the Cup, only two will remain.'

'Fortunately, I know where to find the Cup and the Locket,' Tom replied nonchalantly, 'but I am afraid I don't have a single clue concerning the last one.'

The revelation made Harry feel relieved and anxious at the same time, which was a very curious sensation.

'All right,' he said after taking a deep breath. 'The Cup, where do I find it?'

'Gringotts.'

'Are you suggesting I'm going to rob a bank?' Harry asked in a high-pitched voice.

'Not exactly,' Tom replied calmly. 'When I started to create the Horcruxes, some of my followers, my Death Eaters, helped. One of them was particularly zealous and she offered her vault to hide the Cup.'

'She?' Harry pointed out. 'Are you talking about Bellatrix Lestrange?'

'Precisely,' Tom answered. 'Cousin of your godfather Sirius Black.'

'Ok wait, how do you know that?' Harry exclaimed.

'You told me he was your godfather. I don't know him, but I know about his brother Regulus Black.'

Sirius had a brother? Harry was speechless.

'It's a small world, isn't it?' Tom continued. 'Anyway, as soon as Bellatrix knew I was looking for a safe place to hide my secret, she offered her vault, no question asked.'

'Great but I am not Bellatrix and in five days I certainly do not have the time to brew a Polyjuice Potion nor to find any of Bellatrix Lestrange's hair.'

'And you won't have too. When you want to use Gringotts as a haven for anything else than money, you must sign a contract with the bank. I won't explain the details now but since the Cup was a very valuable artefact, one a kind, Bellatrix signed a special contract.' The smile on Tom's face was now sly. 'The thing is that the signature on the contract is technically not hers. It is a forged one. Because that day, it isn't her who signed the contract.'

'How is this possible?' Harry asked curious about how someone could fool the Goblins.

'She was under the Imperius Curse,' Tom replied. 'Which, in regards of the Wizarding Law, invalidate anything she may have signed during this time.'

'And you are telling me that the Goblins saw nothing? I mean, maybe they didn't notice that she wasn't truly herself, but surely, they must have protection of some sort in case this would happen.'

'They do. But you know dark magic has many other purposes than simply killing or abusing others. In this case, I found a nice little Charm that helped me to overcome those protections.'

Harry could tell how proud Tom was of himself. But for once, he was sincerely impressed. And curious. Definitely curious. He had always been told how devious dark magic was, which was obvious considering the knowledge he had on the matter. It appeared that this knowledge was very small.

'You didn't expect that, did you?' Tom asked with a mischievous look. 'There is more to Dark Magic than the Unforgivable Curses and Horcruxes. Way more. It has been branded dark, but if anything, I can assure you that it is often a clever way to achieve your goals.'

'It's dangerous!' Harry retorted.

'Only to those who don't know what they're doing,' Tom replied with a haughty look. 'But I could show you, if you wish.'

'Why did you trick Bellatrix?' Harry asked ignoring the tempting invitation. 'Didn't you trust her?'

'Who do you think the Death Eaters are? Do you think we were friends?' Tom exclaimed. He paused a few seconds before adding: 'I might have been friends with some of them at first. But when I started to ascend, it changed.'

'Why is that? I mean they knew from the beginning that the power you sought would be for you and only you right? So why did it change? Did you stop trusting them?'

'It's not that simple Potter,' Tom replied annoyed. 'Besides we've got work to do, so please stay quiet while I explain what you must do if you want to retrieve that Cup.'