Hermione was hustled towards the vault as she clung to Harry. Her head was pounding, her lungs ached, and she was still shaking despite the warming charm and blankets wrapped around her. The last memory she had was saying goodnight to Harry and snuggling into bed. Her next conscious thought was trying not to inhale frigid lake water as she woke in the murky deep with Harry's shocked face inches from hers.
"We're almost there, Mi, just a bit further," Harry whispered, his head close to hers.
"What happened?"
"They - the Goblins - think a house elf took you while we were sleeping. It had to be on Dumbledore's orders, no one else is powerful enough to order an elf to kidnap someone."
Her eyes widened. "Harry, what about Dobby? He wouldn't let anyone else in if he could help it!"
Harry gripped her tighter. "I'll call for him as soon as we get inside. We're too exposed out here and I won't risk you. Not again.
The group barely had time to enter the Vault before Ragnok met them.
"You will be portkeying into Gringotts Underground directly from here. I do not trust the headmaster not to interfere and suspect that as soon as the official task is concluded he will be here along with several Ministry officials to discuss the actions Mr Potter took. We have already sent a response to the Prophet. The time has begun to act rather than respond." The HordeMaster turned to look at the two huddling teens.
Harry interrupted the Goblin leader, shocking everyone. "I'm sorry, sir, but Mi made a good point walking back. Dobby!"
At first nothing happened and both teens started to panic but a soft pop came from behind them and a very disheveled house elf appeared.
"Harry Potter, sir, has collected his Mi! Dobby is so happy! But Dobby must punish himself for not protecting Harry Potter's Mi better." The little elf shot off toward a wall and only Harry's seeker reflexes kept the little guy from cracking his head.
"Dobby, my friend, what happened to you?"
The sight of a house elf sitting, and feeling comfortable enough to sit, on the floor with his Master had the Goblins shocked.
"Dobby failed Harry Potter's Mi." The elf moved to sit between Harry and Hermione, linking his arm through the witch's. "House elves felt powerful magic, they did, magic told them to take what was precious to Harry Potter and the other champions. Dobby did all he could to resist. He locked himself in the Come and Go room in Hoggywarts until magic went away and Harry Potter, sir called for Dobby."
Harry practically growled. "That bearded bastard. I'll chop that beard off and strangle him with it."
"As delightful as that idea is, Mr Potter, as far as the tournament is concerned, you have officially rescinded your participation by entering the Black Lake early and also by taking a hostage not your own. You can be certain the Ministry will want to make sure you do not make fools of them. Losing your Magic will be secondary to them."
Harry shook his head. "I told you magic didn't matter to me. I've always had to work for what little I got."
"Ah, Pup, but to have a crowd like what's at the Lake find out the savior of the Wizarding world willingly gave up his magic for a muggleborn girl is going to cause absolute chaos. It won't be like an earthquake hit, more like a tsunami," Sirius explained.
"Wait. Whose hostage was I?" Hermione interrupted fixating on part of Ragnok's conversation.
Harry ran a hand through his hair, agitated. "Krum's."
"What! Wh..aack…" she trailed off into a harsh coughing fit leaving her doubled over and both men and Goblins watching worried.
Harry rubbed her back, desperate to give her some kind of comfort and relief. "Easy. He's not getting anywhere near you. We're getting out of here and I'm not letting him or Dumbledork anywhere near you."
With a shudder and a painful sounding wheeze, Hermione nodded.
Ironfist frowned. "The reason we are leaving now is not just to protect the young ones. The dock itself had a Sonorous charm on it. Everything that was said was broadcast live to the British Wizarding Society by the WWN."
Sirius gave a wicked grin. "All of wizarding Britain as well as the international wizarding news heard you call Dumbledore and arse and punch him out. That may give us more time as the press tries to get answers to why you threatened to leave the castle grounds."
The Portkey turned out to be a large purple umbrella and deposited the group deep in the Gringotts Underground, a place most humans never breached. Hermione noticed the walls were carved from the same white granite as the bank above with little decoration. Soft light glowed from the ceiling and floors but she was too tired to inquire as to where the light was coming from.
Harry eased her into the room in front of him, an infirmary, where they were met by a female Goblin with long white hair pulled into a high tail and glittering black eyes.
"Is this the human female?"
Harry growled slightly. "This is Hermione Granger. She is my best friend in the world and she nearly died a half hour ago."
The healer stared at Harry a moment. "Very well. Huma - Miss Granger - on the table - the rest of you males - and that includes you, your Majesty, may leave."
The healer would hear no arguments much as Harry and Hermione tried to resist being separated - to the point where the potion bottles in the infirmary shook - but the Goblin female growled back at Harry and told him he would be assisting with brewing whatever he broke and it would be time away from Hermione if he didn't do as she said. It was the HordeMaster himself who led the teen from the room.
"Mr Potter, we will wait next door for your Lady. It will give us time to tell you of the safeguards put in place before the task."
The waiting area was just as stark as the hallways but the furniture was comfortable and several trays of tea and snacks appeared after the group sat. Harry tried not to pace but he wasn't sure his bouncing knees were any better.
"What do you mean by safeguards?"
Sirius ran a weary hand over his face. Did they really just wake up? It felt like hours had passed already.
"Well, Pup, part of what we talked about from the very beginning with you and Hermione was the fact you could be considered of age because of the tournament. Ironfist arranged for us to have that paperwork filed immediately following the first task and in that paperwork was a provision to have Hermione named under the protection of both the Noble House of Potter and the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. We could do that because her parents seemed to have no problems with signing all medical, school, legal and financial guardianship decisions over to me once they found out I was your Godfather."
"Hermione's parents did that? Just signed papers without meeting you?" Harry asked, confused. He knew Hermione and her parents weren't close once they found out she was a witch but he didn't think things were that bad.
"Well, we met briefly, but I got the impression her parents weren't comfortable with things they couldn't see or understand. They were happy to have someone in the magical world making decisions for Hermione dealing with the magical world. I just failed to mention the Mr Potter I was referring to was her friend Harry and not a relation."
"So what do we do now?"
"A good deal of that is going to depend on Dumbledore and the Ministry. I would say once they fail to find you both on Hogwarts grounds they are going to show up here. Gringotts is sovereign ground, they cannot be controlled by the Ministry and cannot be compelled to hand you over once you seek sanctuary here. I don't doubt Dumbledore is going to try and force you back into the tournament. We need to get our word out to the press as well."
"But why? In all the years the tournament was held, you can't tell me someone hasn't had their name put in against their will. Mi has been researching the Goblet of Fire with the other tutors while I've been getting more physical training and she can't find any references to a witch or wizard losing their magic if they are chosen specifically by the Goblet, just the Goblet will choose the best magical representative out of the choices it's given. If it's given several people from the same place, like with the three schools for the tournament - Krum, bastard that he is, Delacour, and Diggory are the best of who put in their names."
"It must have to do with the Prophecy your parents were worried about," Remus spoke up.
Harry spun towards the Marauder. "What prophecy?"
"Dumbledore didn't tell you?" Sirius asked, confused. "What has he been teaching you these last three and a half years? Nothing extra?"
Harry narrowed his eyes. The group could feel the static in the air as magic began to slowly roll off of the teen.
"I grew up thinking my parents were unemployed drunks who died in a car crash. Hagrid was the one who told me they were killed by Voldemort. Dumbledore never told me why. When I asked him specifically why the mad bastard was after me after I killed his meat puppet Quirrell in first year, the senile old goat told me I was too young to understand. So. I repeat, what prophecy?"
"Calm down, Pup. And don't argue, take a couple of breaths. I don't doubt Hermione is feeling your emotions right now and she can't do a damn thing about it and it's surely driving her crazy. That Goblin healer will keep you apart if she can't treat Hermione properly."
"Like Hell she will," Harry muttered under his breath, but he did try to center himself a bit before crossing his arms and glaring at the two humans in the room. Ironfist and a smirking Ragnok remained seated near the door since the Goblin guards decided it safer to guard the group from outside the room once the rock walls started shaking.
"Now, I don't know the whole of the Prophecy as James didn't know all of it but it amounts to a child would be born to a family who defeated the Dark Lord three times at the end of July. That child would have the power to defeat the dark lord. At the time, only two families matched that description; the Potters and the Longbottoms."
Sirius wiped his eyes. "Since Voldemort vanished and seemed to be destroyed after he attacked your parents, you were considered the Chosen One."
Remus took over, "Shortly after, we found out the Letstranges and a Death Eater by the name of Barty Crouch, Jr had attacked the Longbottoms at the same time. Neville's parents are in the long term spell ward at St Mungo's."
"Barty Crouch? That's the name of the Ministry rep for the tournament. He hasn't been seen since Christmas. Percy Weasley took his place at the Ball." Harry replied.
"That is odd. He had his son jailed in Azkaban. He died there not too long ago. It was a relief to not hear his crazy laughter and ramblings. Granted Bellatrix Lestrange is crazier than all of them put together, but she's quieted down over the years."
"Mr Potter, we will check into the disappearance of the senior Mr Crouch," Ironfirst nodded and slipped out of the room to speak with the guards.
"Mr Potter," Ragnok drew the boy's attention over to him, "might I ask what the compensation is for winning this farce?"
"Hmph. One thousand galleons and eternal fame and glory. Not very impressive since no one I talked to can even remember when the last tournament was held. I think we might get a trophy or something but I know the Goblet will also be the final task so the audience can see it in all its so-called glory. That's why Hermione has kept at her research, she's determined that the thing is at least 2000 years old and the Ministry has no idea what they really have. The fact that no one can really translate the runes on it seems to prove her point."
"And if Voldemort gets a hold of something like that…" Sirius trailed off.
"Yeah, eternal life for Voldemort would be bad. Really bad."
The door opening drew their attention and the female healer stepped in.
"Mr Potter, before I allow you to see your Miss Granger, I would like to scan you. The magic your partner performed is very impressive for one so young and I believe it is protecting you from a parasitic hitchhiker. Rather than draining your magic as it intended to do, it is now drawing on Miss Granger's magic as a means to protect you from it."
"WHAT?!" Sirius jumped to his feet.
"Easy, Padfoot." Harry lay his hand on his Godfather's shoulder. "You mean my scar don't you"
The healer nodded. "Yes, how did you know?"
"The times I've run into Voldemort at Hogwarts my scar burned and felt like it was trying to split my head in two. I also have nightmares where it seems like I can see through his eyes. Mi had me learning Occlumency to try and block the dreams."
"This makes sense. Your partner is very wise, a rarity in a human. May I?" She asked, raising her hand.
Harry nodded and sat in a chair. A moment later the healer was chanting softly, almost lulling Harry to sleep before pain like never before seared through his head and behind his right eye. He promptly vomited everything he ever ate in his life up and would have dropped to the floor had Ragnok not caught him. A commotion at the door drew their attention as Hermione practically flew in and rushed to Harry's side, supporting him as he continued heaving.
"Child, how did you get past my wards?" The healer looked shocked and stopped her scans leaving Harry a moment to recover.
"What the fuck was that?"
Hermione covered his forehead with her cool hand and he leaned into her touch. He now had the mother of all migraines in addition to being furious at the world. He could feel Hermione settling his mind and a small, dark part of his mind wanted to lash out at her, wanted to wallow in anger and bring down anyone that tried to get in his way.
"Those feelings aren't yours, Harry. They don't feel right," Hermione whispered as she vanished the pile of sick and helped lead him back to the infirmary and plopped him gracelessly onto her bed. Her look practically dared the healer to try and separate them now.
Sighing, the Goblin waved a hand and enlarged the cot before fetching a headache potion.
Hermione continued to glare at the healer. "What did you do to him? It almost feels like there's another part of … well something in his mind. Something angry."
"I attempted to redirect the protection you have over his scar in order to read what is underneath. It reads as if it is a ruak kiecg, a soul leech."
Ragnok let loose a string of profanities in the Goblin tongue. "How is it that ciequbib vombcef left a child with a parasitic piece of soul attached to him and did NOTHING. It is no wonder Voldmort didn't die that night. A piece of his soul remains."
"A piece of Voldemort?" He knew it was pointless but Harry still tried to dig his fingers into his scar making it bleed before Hermione managed to wrestle his hands away.
"Harry, hurting yourself isn't going to get that thing out." Hermione looked at the HordeMaster and healer. "I'm assuming you do have a way to remove this thing if you know what it is?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, we do. Ancient chieftains were often obsessed with living forever and created echos of themselves, horcruxes, containing a piece of their soul. But the soul is a fragile thing and breaking it more often than not kills the person."
Harry looked over to Hermione and it was clear the two were doing their silent communication.
"The diary." They said together.
"What diary?" Sirius asked.
"At the end of second year with the Basilisk. Lucius Malfory dropped a diary with T M Riddle on it into Ginny Weasley's book pile. It had a ghost of a young Tom Riddle in it. I destroyed it with a fang from the Basilisk."
"The fool tried to make a second one?! He must have been trying to use your death to create another horcrux. This may have been another reason he disappeared after he attacked you, his soul was too unstable to remain in the mortal world." Ragnok answered.
"Do you think he could have made more?" Remus asked.
"It is highly unlikely. Even attempting two would make the soul remaining in his body too unstable to support life. Most horcruxes are inanimate objects so it may take us some time to modify the ritual for a living host, but I do not believe Mr Potter is a true horcrux. Otherwise he would constantly be fighting the other soul for possession of his body."
"Hmph. Then if my opinion as a healer means anything, I believe these two need rest. Humans are more fragile than Goblins. Miss Granger was suffering from mild hypothermia, water in the lungs and due to the protection she carries, several runes were…carved into her torso to force her to awaken early and also to cause her more difficulty in drawing breath. Those have all been healed."
She looked at Harry.
"Mr Potter will most likely suffer a headache for a few hours until the protection from Miss Granger redistributes over the scar completely but otherwise he appears healthy. The healing regime he underwent recently did him well."
Ironfist returned while Ragnok excused himself to return to work. Hermione felt like she went a few rounds with a mountain troll and couldn't believe it was barely afternoon. She was sure Harry felt the same way as they were led to a simple room with a night table and a double bed. A door led to a shower and Hermione realized that while they were dry, the Great Lake was teeming with life and both were in desperate need of a shower. A quick look in a set of drawers found a long robe styled with buttons that would work as a nightgown.
"Harry? I'm going to take a shower. I feel…well gross from the water."
"Hmmm."
Figuring he was still thinking about the bit of soul behind his scar, Hermione moved into the bathroom and again marvelled at how everything seemed to be carved right out of the stone. She slapped the runes on the shower wall, making the water as hot as she could stand before stepping in. Everytime she closed her eyes she could picture the moment she woke up in the lake, the hazy water and the instant she sucked water into her lungs before Harry sealed his lips over hers and helped her breathe. She came closer to dying this time than any other time. At least when she was petrified she didn't remember anything at the moment. She only became aware of her surroundings sometime later when Harry was talking to her.
"Damn it, woman, are you trying to boil yourself alive?!"
A hand snaked by her and smacked the rune to cool down the water a touch. Hermione was afraid to turn around.
"Harry? What are you doing in here?"
Instead of turning her around like she expected him to, he eased her out of the spray and looked along the wall for something to wash her hair with. To both their surprise, there was muggle-style shampoo and conditioner as well as several types of soap for them to use. Harry lathered some shampoo in his hands and began to work it through her tangled curls.
"Hermione, I…I almost lost you today. For a heartbeat there, when you opened your eyes underwater, I thought I was going to and my heart almost stopped. If you would have drowned - I don't know if anything would have stopped me from killing Dumblefuck and everyone else responsible for putting you underwater."
As he rinsed her hair, she thought about what he said. What would she do if their roles were reversed.
"Would you really have killed them?"
"Yes." He began untangling her hair with conditioner. "Mi, you are too important for me to lose. We argue, we fight, sure, you're bossy, I'm stubborn, you have a thing about being right and I have a thing about rushing in and saving people, but we both know our flaws and accept them. I've never had that before." He sighed before carefully wrapping his arms around her from behind, waiting for her to pull away in disgust.
"I don't know what I feel for you because I didn't exactly get the most positive reinforcement from the Dursleys and I don't want to deal with Sirius cracking jokes but I know I can't live without you, Hermione. Not right now, not in any future I see right now either."
Drawing a deep breath and summoning every ounce of bravery the sorting hat must have seen in her, Hermione turned around and stared into Harry's eyes. Eyes that looked as scared as hers surely did.
"I feel the same, Harry."
Then she stretched up and kissed him.