HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE Authors note at the end, guys. I need to explain a few things in this chapter.
Evil Line Break
Glittering gems, Wizarding coin and countless treasures befell the humans' eyes as they stood before the vault and prepared to go inside, soon stepping in. The second they were over the threshold and inside the large room, the door melted back into place, leaving them all in darkness to which they startled before clothing rustled in the dark.
"Lumos." Three wands lit up, Bellatrix holding hers aloft and looking around while Anna tried to move, feathers dragging across the floor before they walked forward, looking around. Harry seemed to be distant the further they walked beyond the threshold itself. Anna in particular couldn't help but look around, having never been inside the Wizarding bank nor the vaults within.
The humans and angel knew what they were looking for. The Goblet of Hufflepuff with its distinctive badger engraved face had to be somewhere within the vault as Anna hissed when she bumped into a blade that looked remarkably like her own when they looked. Her face seemed to fall into sadness the longer she looked before she forced her eyes to go elsewhere. Harry had to blink twice and shake his head, but it looked like the blade disappeared when Anna discreetly waved her hand over it and she carried on walking further into the vault, her face poker straight as she nodded silently to Harry when he turned to watch her. Something glittered in the darkest corner when Harry turned back to look for the Goblet, his wand light moving with him and catching his eyes. He scrunched his eyes up slightly and wandered over, curious as to what it could be. The object was largely covered by a cloth, but a little bit had fallen down from the top, revealing a reflective surface and an eroded engraving on the frame, something that looked familiar as he got close enough to reach up and pull the cloth down.
Behind him, the others were trying not to touch anything, having been told by Griphook that the objects were spelled with duplication and burning hexes. The copies would be useless but would continue to sprout from the original, essentially drowning the would-be thieves in a sea of crushing metal. However, this wasn't the case as Harry reached the object of his attention, reached out and gripped the cloth, taking it off to reveal a splendid seeing glass with an intricately carved edge and what appeared to be a language, saying, "Erised stra ehru oy tube cafru oyt on wohsi."
Something about this was familiar to the Boy Wizard as he stared at the framework and then the mirror itself, now fully understanding that this was the same mirror he had seen in his First Year, The Mirror of Erised. But the image before him was not the same as before. Before he had seen the images of his parents, Lily and James Potter standing behind him, close enough that they could almost touch. Now, however, the image was different.
He saw himself, exactly as he was, dirty, unkempt and in the muggle clothing that kept him inconspicuous, but he also saw a light come into view just behind him. It felt familiar like it was a part of him but separate. Other lights came into view the more he looked and squinted as they all gathered around and two faces emerged, the light around them never fading before the reflection suddenly shifted into what was a night sky made light by a bright meteor over a countryside horizon, broken only by a small village. Another light shot through the sky, however, this headed in the opposite direction as the first before a hand on Harry's shoulder had him looking around quickly, startled as he looked at a very concerned Anna. Blinking, he looked back at the mirror and saw that it was just the two of them, Anna's wings still on show and her hand on his shoulder as she looked at the mirror itself before leading Harry back into the light and re-joined the others, all of whom had paused and were watching Harry, Ron, in particular, was staring at him with a curious face before they went back to looking for the goblet. Hermione kept shooting her friend glances as if she wanted to know what he'd seen but the Boy Who Lived was now walking through the vault, a hand rubbing on his scar as he looked up and almost bumped into a table of artefacts as he jumped back, eyes glued on an object that was on the highest shelf just above them.
The Goblet of Helga Hufflepuff was sat in full view above them all, Badger's engraving glittering in the light of the wand's combined lights as he pointed it out, a small quiver on his voice as they all joined him, Griphook included. They stood mesmerised by the glittering artefact that they didn't realise someone had bumped into a table with a similar goblet until Hermione felt the heat on her foot as she winced and looked down, just in time to see it multiply and scatter all over the floor around their feet, all of them burning as the humans and Goblins tried to step out of the way, only to bump into other tables and touching the artefacts which only added to the rapidly growing pile.
Harry had to duck as a cacophony of metallic noise and feathers sounded as Anna's wings spread in an attempt to stop the delicate skin underneath from burning. Holding them aloft as they looked at her, she looked formidable and dangerous even with the pained scowl set firmly in place.
"Don't move." Harry heard himself saying, looking at his friends and holding out his hands. The others froze, yet the metal kept burning and rising, even with them all just standing there while he looked to the goblins, who were already waist-deep in crushing metal and sinking fast.
"Harry, I hope to God you have a plan," Hermione yelled, pain clear in her voice, her disguised hair showing brown highlights, signalling the Polyjuice potion was wearing off gradually. Even Ron in his disguise was looking pained before a racket came from Anna's side as she lifted Griphook and Bogrod out of the metal with ease and held them by the scruffs of their necks.
"Angel, kindly put us back onto the floor,"
"Do you wanna get burned?" Anna looked at the goblin just as Harry shouted, "Hermione, the sword! Get me the sword!"
Hermione went inside her robes, pulled out the silver beaded bag which contained their supplies and such and bypassed reaching inside as Ron waved his wand, and grabbed the Sword of Gryffindor, handing it to his friend.
Harry touched a goblet that was within reach and felt relief when the goblet didn't multiply. Looking at the Goblet above them, he suddenly yelped as he felt his ankle yank him into the air and hoist him up, Hermione pointing Bellatrix's wand at him. Giving her a nod as he swung above them, he directed her over to the Goblet's ledge and soon had the cup within his grasp, the sword barely touching the handle, thankfully without the goblet splitting as it got tapped.
He was dragged away, the sword slipping away from the handle, as Hermione hissed, moved away from the burning duplicates and looked back down. The debris was rising, almost to the teenager's shoulders if he had been on the ground still. Looking up as Hermione returned her attention, he got the Goblet by the handle, whipped out his wand, pointed it at his ankle and shouted, "Finite Incantatum!"
Effectively ending the spell holding him up, Harry crashed back down, immediately feeling the burning, rapidly multiplying metal on his back, just managing to keep hold of the cup and the Sword as clanging sounds echoed outside and they all looked to one another in horror. They'd been found out as the sounds got closer, the dragon outside roaring in pain as they looked to the door and Hermione, now looking more like herself than Bellatrix, opened her bag, grabbed the Goblet and sword and shoved them both inside just as the door opened and they began tumbling out in a tumble and cacophony of metallic noise into the entrance hall and into a crowd of both Goblins and Humans. Everyone scurried back at the metal moving at speed, even the dragon brought its leg up, hissing in pain as Hermione looked at it, down to its leg and saw a shackle around the ankle. Thinking quickly, she sent a spell into the crowd, quickly followed by Harry and Ron, a small battle taking place, Harry stepping in front of Anna as if to protect her while she removed any and all memory of Griphook's involvement from said goblin's mind. It wasn't torture but it was the best she could come up with before she brought her blade out and down on the chain links holding the dragon captive, clambering on top, ducking down as a spell was shot in her direction.
Reaching down, she grabbed hold of Ron then Harry then Hermione and brought them onto the dragon's neck and set them in the crook, each still firing spells at their opponents as they were elevated. It seemed to take a while for the dragon to realise that it had riders as Anna shouted a near-draconic roar, held her hand out and caused it and her eyes to glow. Wings, huge leathery wings spread as the spellwork stopped and the humans trembled before the angel atop the dragon as her wings spread menacingly before she and her companions were whisked away in a hale of rubble and stone as the dragon leapt up, grabbed hold of the chamber's walls and scrambled through the doorway, helped by a "BOMBARDA!" from Hermione. She repeated the same spell as rubble fell where the spell hit.
It didn't take long for Harry and Ron to catch on to what their friend was doing. She was carving the tunnel, making it easier for the dragon to travel. Small roars came from Anna, who was leant over the spike she held, her wings draped over her as the dragon whimpered back and sniffed the air as Anna nodded and shouted over the rockfall, "Keep carving! He knows the way to the top."
"How the hell do you know that?" Harry found himself replying, casting another Bombarda into the ceiling. It was getting lighter above them as Anna smiled and answered, "I speak Dragon, Harry."
Meanwhile, In the lobby, life was going on as usual. Patrons went about their business and Goblins were happy to serve their customers. Fengrad had just sent a customer on their way and was reaching for his goblet of the horrible liquid that was pumpkin juice when it started rippling. Stopping to watch it, he swore in Gobbledegook when it spilt over onto his smart suit and the floor shook, sending a few wizards to the ground before it cracked and a dragon emerged, four riders atop its neck, all looking rather burnt and ragged. Three riders held wands while the fourth seemed to be bent over the dragon's neck, feathered wings draped over the dragon's neck; however, all looked deathly serious as the dragon arched its neck towards the domed ceiling and began climbing, leather-like wings quivering in anticipation for flight as it crashed through the glass, raining it down on the witches, wizards and goblins alike. A loud thunderous roar could be heard as it perched before all they heard was Thump, thump, thump as it began flying in an unknown direction…
Okay then…
I have no idea why it took me this long to finish this flaming chapter.
A few things before I sign off and start the next chapter.
1. The mirror that Harry saw, is the Mirror of Erised. I had this idea that it disappeared after Harry's First Year and somehow ended up in the Lestrange Vault. I also had a small idea that it could show your darkest memories, the memories you repressed or had forgotten. Please don't troll me about this, It is an idea that I ran by a cousin and they liked the idea. However, they don't know about the memory part, just that Harry would look into the Mirror.
Also, the thing with Anna knowing Dragon came from the fact that all angels can speak many tongues. Castiel even refers to this in the show when he says, "I'll interrogate the cat." So please don't troll me on this, it's sort of true to the show's lore on angels.
2. Absences. Yes, I've been absent quite a bit now. Sorry and all but I've been dealing with some crap in my personal life, mainly my cousin trying to tell me what I can and can't do and just arguing all the time. I think I actually started this chapter while I was back at that place. I have moved out of that situation after having had enough and am living with another family member. It's a much better place and I'm happy. I also now have a partner, (Who's an old flame but it's rekindled, thank God. Thank you butterflies in my stomach. Please don't ask me about this.)
3. The chapter in general. I really hope this is close to the actual escape from Gringotts in Harry Potter.
Please, comment, like and… you guys know what to do. I actually like seeing your comments.
Edit: All my SPN Fam out there, I have HHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEE NEWS!
As of last night, I and my boyfriend, who is the sweetest guy ever, are officially on the last season of Supernatural. It's been a long road. Watching it every weekend when I stay over at his but it's been fun going on this journey with Sam and Dean Winchester and yeah, I've spoiled a few moments for myself with literally skipping ahead to watch Scoobynatural (SCOOBY DOOBY DOO!) but it's been fun.
Hermione Jean Burton.
