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Everything was now set, all preparations complete. The only thing left to do was to set the plan in action. At first, Deanna was against the thought of Hermione taking the Polyjuice Potion to pose as Bellatrix. She even told them that she would do it instead, but everyone disagreed immediately. It was dangerous for Hermione to do it, but it was more dangerous for Deanna. After the Muggleborn convinced her with reassuring words and soft kisses on the forehead and the cheeks, she finally relented. She still didn't like it though, but at least, Ron was going to pretend to be a foreign wizard with Hermione.
As they didn't want to trouble the other guests of the Shell Cottage anymore, they had already bid their goodbyes the previous night, and Ron had taken his sweet time with Eleanor, knowing that it might take a long time again before they could finally have another moment like this. They had already inconvenienced Bill and Fleur so much by staying for more than a month. It was time for them to finally go and do what they needed to do.
Deanna was patiently waiting inside their room with Griphook while Hermione was taking the Polyjuice Potion and was changing into the robes she got from 12 Grimmauld Place. It was a miracle she even saved that bag from the Snatchers.
The Hufflepuff was feeling a little awkward since it was the first time she was left alone with the Goblin who was only looking out for the sword of Gryffindor that was in Hermione's bag. They had all been wary of him since he wouldn't leave them alone during discussions and he would always keep his eye on the sword of Gryffindor.
They also contemplated about when they should give it to him since it was important in destroying the Horcruxes and they didn't know if he would betray them. After all, they may have had a deal, but there was no saying what could happen. Deanna, despite her anxiety and fears, just decided to try her best to calm down and just do what they were supposed to do.
"You are an odd wizard, Deanna Dumbledore." Griphook suddenly spoke up, making Deanna's eyes widen. "You are famous amongst goblins for the uncanniness of your story. You even protected me, a goblin, from the chandelier back then. Very odd. However odd, what must be done will be done."
"Oh. Thank you? And yes, I agree?" Deanna said in an unsure tone, not really understanding what he was trying to say. The goblin only stared at her with an unreadable expression before he went silent again, an awkward atmosphere settling between them. It was like he was saying something to her in that moment, but he did not say
The door suddenly opened then and revealed Hermione, now Bellatrix, with a frown on her face. "Hey, Deanna?"
Deanna's eyes widened once she saw her and heard her voice. Of course, she knew it was Hermione, but she still had the need to repress a shiver.
Hermione felt the same as Deanna though, feeling disgusted at what she drunk and how she looked right now. "She's disgusting. I know."
"I agree." Deanna smiled at her before finally standing up and taking Hermione's hand, just telling herself in her mind once that this was her Hermione and not Bellatrix. "Come on."
The two of them along with Griphook quietly went down to meet Harry and Ron in the garden. It was already 6 in the morning as they planned, and it was chilly and a little windy outside with the arrival of May. It was still dark out with the stars glimmering palely in the dark sky. As they finally went out and reached the garden, Harry and Ron couldn't hide their disgust and shivers at the sight of Hermione looking like Bellatrix.
The Granger could only agree with their reactions. "She tasted disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots! Okay, Ron, come here so I can do you..."
"Right, but remember, I don't like the beard too long."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, this isn't about looking handsome."
"It's not that, it gets in the way! But I liked my nose a bit shorter, try and do it the way you did last time."
Hermione sighed and set to work, muttering under her breath as she transformed various aspects of Ron's appearance. He had a fake identity so they were hoping that he and Hermione could play the part of a dangerous pair. Deanna, Harry and Griphook were to be hidden under the Invisibility Cloak.
"There," said Hermione, "how does he look, love, Harry?"
Deanna glanced at Ron and thought Hermione did a good job since he looked not like Ron at all with his thick brown beard and mustache, long and wavy hair and short broad nose.
"You did a good job, love." Deanna said and sent her two thumbs up while Hermione smiled at that compliment.
"Well, he's not my type, but he'll do," said Harry. "Shall we go, then?"
The four of them took one last glance at the Shell Cottage before they turned around and walked to the point where the Fidelius Charm stopped and they would be able to Disapparate.
Once past the gate, Griphook spoke. "I should climb up now, Harry Potter, I think?"
Harry bent down to let Griphook climb onto his back before turning to Deanna who got the Invisibility Cloak from Hermione. "Come on, Dee."
Deanna moved closer to them and threw the Cloak over themselves while Hermione bent down to check their feet. "Perfect. I can't see a thing. Let's go."
The Hufflepuff held onto Harry tight before concentrating on the Leaky Cauldron. They moved into the compressing darkness and seconds later, Deanna found herself standing on pavement and saw herself staring at Muggles all around them. They went into the nearly deserted Leaky Cauldron. Some warlocks at the corner drew back into the shadows at the sight of Hermione.
They go to Gringotts. Hermione is Bellatrix while Harry, Deanna and Griphook are invisible. They get Hufflepuff's cup, Griphook betrays and they escape on the dragon.
"Madam Lestrange," murmured Tom, and as Hermione paused he inclined his head subserviently.
"Good morning," said Hermione, and as they crept past, Deanna saw Tom look surprised.
"Too polite," Harry whispered in Hermione's ear as they passed out of the Inn into the tiny backyard. "You need to treat people like they're scum!"
"Okay, okay!" Hermione drew out Bellatrix's wand and rapped a brick in the nondescript wall in front of them. At once the bricks began to whirl and spin, then an archway to Diagon Alley formed. It was quiet unlike how it usually was loud and bustling. More shops dedicated to the Dark Arts had been created, and there were lots of posters of Harry put up with the words UNDESIRABLE NUMBER ONE, and Deanna was surprised to see a lot of hers as well, saying MISSING PERSON with a reward of 20,000 galleons. Damned Voldemort and his persistence.
As they walked along the street, the people around them fled at the sight of Hermione, drawing hoods over their heads until a man with a bloodied bandage came across Hermione's path.
"My children," he bellowed, pointing at her. His voice was cracked, high-pitched, he sounded distraught. "Where are my children? What has he done with them? You know, you know!"
"I--I really--" stammered Hermione.
The man lunged at her, reaching for her throat. Then, with a bang and a burst of red light he was thrown backward onto the ground, unconscious. Ron stood there, his wand still outstretched and a look of shock visible behind his beard. Thankfully, Harry stopped Deanna who was about to take her own wand.
People around them started leaving immediately, not wanting that to happen to them. Deanna exchanged worried glances with Harry. Their entrance caused the ruckus and it might not be wise to continue. However, before they could move someone cried behind them.
"Why, Madam Lestrange!"
Deanna turned around and saw a familiar Death Eater. She whispered in a low voice. "Travers."
"Who?" Harry whispered back while Hermione had spoken with as much contempt as she could muster. "And what do you want?"
Travers stopped in his tracks, clearly affronted. "He's another Death Eater!" breathed Griphook.
Deanna whispered into Hermione's ear. "He's another Death Eater. Back in the Lovegoods' house, we met him."
"I merely sought to greet you," said Travers coolly, "but if my presence is not welcome..."
"No, no, not at all, Travers," said Hermione quickly, trying to cover up her mistake. "How are you?"
"Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix."
"Really? Why?" asked Hermione.
"Well," Travers coughed, "I heard that the Inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the... ah... escape."
Deanna's eyes widened at that, but she trusted Hermione would think of something...
"The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past," said Hermione in a magnificent imitation of Bellatrix's most contemptuous manner. "Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers."
Deanna mentally sighed in relief. Though the Death Eater looked offended, he also seemed less suspicious. He glanced down at the man Ron had just Stunned. "How did it offend you?"
"It does not matter, it will not do so again," said Hermione coolly.
"Some of these wandless can be troublesome," said Travers. "While they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case in the Ministry last week. 'I'm a witch, sir, I'm a witch, let me prove it to you!" he said in a squeaky impersonation.
"As if I was going to give her my wand--but whose wand," said Travers curiously, "are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heard that your own was – "
"I have my wand here," said Hermione coldly, holding up Bellatrix's wand. "I don't know what rumors you have been listening to, Travers, but you seem sadly misinformed."
Travers seemed a little taken aback at that, and he turned instead to Ron. "Who is your friend? I do not recognize him."
"This is Dragomir Despard," said Hermione; they had decided that a fictional foreigner was the safest cover for Ron to assume. "He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lord's aims. He has traveled here from Transylvania to see our new regime."
"Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?"
"'Ow you?" said Ron, holding out his hand.
Travers extended two fingers and shook Ron's hand as though frightened of dirtying himself. "So what brings you and your – ah – sympathetic friend to Diagon Alley this early?" asked Travers.
"I need to visit Gringotts," said Hermione.
"Alas, I also," said Travers. "Gold, filthy gold! We cannot live without it, yet I confess I deplore the necessity of consorting with our long-fingered friends. Shall we?"
Hermione had no choice but to fall into step beside him and head along to Gringotts while Ron sloped along beside them, and Deanna, Harry and Griphook followed. A watchful Death Eater was the very last thing they needed, and the worst of it was, with Travers matching at what he believed to be Bellatrix's side, there was no means for Deanna and Harry to communicate with Hermione or Ron.
All too soon they arrived at the steps of Gringotts and two wizards clutching long thin golden rods replaced the goblins that usually flanked the doors.
"Ah, Probity Probes," signed Travers theatrically, "so crude--but so effective!"
And he set off up the steps, nodding left and right to the wizards, who raised the golden rods and passed them up and down his body. The Probes detected spells of concealment and hidden magical objects.
Harry gave Deanna a nudge, and each of them took a wizard and murmured, "Confundo." The guards gave a little start, unnoticed by Travers, as the spells hit them. Hermione started climbing the steps when the guard stopped her.
"One moment, madam," said the guard, raising his Probe.
"But you've just done that!" said Hermione in Bellatrix's commanding, arrogant voice.
Travers looked around, eyebrows raised. The guard was confused. He stared down at the thin golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice, "Yeah, you've just checked them, Marius."
Hermione swept forward. Ron by her side, Deanna, Harry and Griphook trotting invisibly behind them. Within seconds, they were standing in the vast marble hall of the bank where the long counter was manned by goblins serving the first customers of the day.
Hermione, Ron, and Travers headed toward an old goblin who was examining a thick gold coin through an eyeglass. Hermione allowed Travers to step ahead of her on the pretext of explaining features of the hall to Ron.
The goblin tossed the coin he was holding aside, said to nobody in particular, "Leprechaun," and then greeted Travers, who passed over a tiny golden key, which was examined and given back to him.
Hermione stepped forward. "Madam Lestrange!" said the goblin, evidently startled. "Dear me! How-- how may I help you today?"
"I wish to enter my vault," said Hermione. The old goblin seemed to recoil a little. Deanna glanced around and saw that not only Travers was watching but also several other goblins were now staring at Hermione.
"You have... identification?" asked the goblin.
"Identification? I – I have never been asked for identification before!" said Hermione.
"They know!" whispered Griphook to Deanna and Harry, "They must have been warned there might be an imposter!"
"Your wand will do, madam," said the goblin. He held out a slightly trembling hand, and in a dreadful blast of realization Harry knew that the goblins of Gringotts were aware that Bellatrix's wand had been stolen.
"Act now, act now," whispered Griphook, "the Imperious Curse!"
Harry raised Draco's wand and pointed it at the old goblin, whispering, "Imperio!"
Deanna only kept silent, telling herself that desperate times called for desperate measures.
The goblin took Bellatrix's wand, examined it closely, and then said, "Ah, you have had a new wand made, Madam Lestrange!"
"What?" said Hermione, "No, no, that's mine –"
"A new wand?" said Travers, approaching the counter again; still the goblins all around were watching. "But how could you have done, which wandmaker did you use?"
This time, Deanna acted without thinking. She pointed her wand at Travers and muttered, "Imperio!"
"Oh yes, I see," said Travers, looking down at Bellatrix's wand, "yes, very handsome. and is it working well? I always think wands require a little breaking in, don't you?"
Hermione looked utterly bewildered, but to their enormous relief, she accepted the bizarre turn of events without comment.
The old goblin behind the counter clapped his hands and a younger goblin approached. "I shall need the Clankers," he told the goblin, who dashed away and returned a moment later with a leather bag that seemed to be full of jangling metal, which he handed to his senior.
"Good, good! If you will follow me, Madam Lestrange," said the old goblin, hopping down off his stool and vanishing from sight. "I shall take you to your vault." He jogged happily toward them, the contents of the leather bag still jingling. Travers was now standing quite still with his mouth hanging wide open. Ron was drawing attention to this odd phenomenon by regarding Travers with confusion.
"Wait – Bogrod!" Another goblin came scurrying around the counter.
"We have instructions," he said with a bow to Hermione. "Forgive me, Madam, but there have been special orders regarding the vault of Lestrange."
He whispered urgently in Bogrod's ear, but the Imperiused goblin shook him off. "I am aware of the instructions, Madam Lestrange wishes to visit her vault. Very old family, old clients. This way, please."
And, still clanking, he hurried toward one of the many doors leading off the hall. Harry gave another wave of his wand and Travers started following them. They passed into the rough stone passageway, lit with flaming torches.
"We're in trouble; they suspect," said Harry as the door slammed behind them and he pulled off the Invisibility Cloak. Griphook jumped down from his shoulders and Deanna held the Invisibility cloak. Neither Travers nor Bogrod showed the slightest surprise at the sudden appearance of Harry Potter in their midst.
"They're Imperiused," Deanna added, in response to Hermione and Ron's confused queries about Travers and Bogrod, who were both now standing there looking blank.
"What do we do?" asked Ron. "Shall we get out now, while we can?"
"If we can," said Hermione, looking back toward the door into the main hall, beyond which who knew what was happening.
"We've got this far, I say we go on," said Harry.
"Good!" said Griphook. "So, we need Bogrod to control the cart; I no long have the authority. But there will not be room for the wizard."
Harry pointed his wand at Travers. "Imperio!" The wizard turned and set off along the dark track at a smart pace.
"What are you making him do?"
"Hide," said Harry as he pointed his wand at Bogrod, who whistled to summon a little cart that came trundling along the tracks toward them out of the darkness. They all clambered into it, Bogrod in front and the others crammed into the back. With a jerk the cart moved off, gathering speed and the cart began twisting and turning through the passages. Deanna was starting to think that their plan was foolish: disguising Hermione as Bellatrix and bringing her wand.
They were now deep into Gringotts when they saw ahead of them, a waterfall pounding over the track. Griphook shouted, "No!" but there was no braking. The water filled her eyes and mouth and for a moment, Deanna could not see or breathe. Then, with an awful lurch, the cart flipped over and they were all thrown out of it. Deanna heard Hermione shout something and felt herself glide towards the ground, landing painlessly on the rocky floor.
"C-Cushioning Charm," Hermione spluttered, as Ron pulled her to her feet, but to Deanna's shock, she saw Hermione was no longer Bellatrix. She stood there, sopping wet and completely herself. Ron was red-haired and beardless again. They were realizing it as they looked at each other, feeling their own faces.
"The Thief's Downfall!" said Griphook, clambering to his feet and looking back the deluge onto the tracks. "It washes away all enchantment, all magical concealment! They know there are imposers in Gringotts, they have set off defenses against us!"
"Are you alright, Mione?" Deanna asked while handing her the Invisibility Cloak.
"Y-Yeah, thank you." Hermione smiled at her softly while sighing in relief to see her bag.
"We need him," said Griphook, catching Deanna and Hermione's attention as they saw Bogrod shaking his head in bewilderment. The Thief's Downfall must have washed off the Imperius Curse. "We cannot enter the vault without a Gringotts goblin. And we need the clankers!"
"Imperio!" Harry said again as Bogrod's expression turned into one of polite indifference. Ron hurried to pick up the leather bag of metal tools.
"Harry, I think I can hear people coming!" said Hermione, and she pointed Bellatrix's wand at the waterfall and cried, "Protego!" They saw the Shield Charm break the flow of enchanted water as it flew up the passageway.
"Good thinking," said Harry. "Lead the way, Griphook!"
"How are we going to get out again?" Ron asked as they hurried on foot into the darkness after the goblin, Bogrod panting in their wake like an old dog.
"Let's get into the Lestrange's vault first," said Deanna when suddenly she heard something clanking and moving around nearby. "What was that?"
"Griphook, how much farther?"
"Not far, Harry Potter, not far."
And they turned a corner and saw the thing which brought all of them to a halt. A gigantic dragon was tethered to the ground in front of them, barring access to four or five of the deepest vaults in the place. Deanna's eyes softened, seeing its pink eyes and flaky skin from its chaining to the ground. It seemed like it was pained and tortured with how it was kept here. The dragon roared when its head turned towards them and spat a jet of fire that sent them running back up the passageway.
"It is partially blind," panted Griphook, "but even more savage for that. However, we have the means to control it. It has learned what to expect when the Clankers come. Give them to me."
Ron passed the bag to Griphook, and the goblin pulled out a number of small metal instruments that when shaken made a long ringing noise. Griphook handed them out: Bogrod accepted his meekly.
"You know what to do," Griphook told Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "It will expect pain when it hears the noise. It will retreat, and Bogrod must place his palm upon the door of the vault."
They advanced around the corner again, shaking the Clankers, and the noise echoed off the rocky walls, grossly magnified. Deanna felt her heart aching with every roar and tremble the dragon let out. She saw the scars across its face and felt really sorry and hoped that the dragon would be fine somehow.
"Make him press his hand to the door!" Griphook urged Harry, who turned his wand again upon Bogrod. The old goblin obeyed, pressing his palm to the wood, and the door of the vault melted away to reveal a cavelike opening crammed from floor to ceiling with golden coins and goblets, silver armor, the skins of strange creatures – some with long spines, other with drooping wings – potions in jeweled flasks, and a skull still wearing a crown.
"Search, fast!" said Harry as they all hurried inside the vault.
Deanna started looking around for the cup of Hufflepuff as she remembered how it looked like from the memory Dumbledore had shown them. How Tom Riddle stole it from Hepzibah Smith. There was a sudden clunk behind them, and Deanna's eyes widened when the door had reappeared and sealed them inside the vault. They were plunged into total darkness.
"No matter, Bogrod will be able to release us!" said Griphook as Ron gave a shout of surprise. "Light your wands, can't you? And hurry, we have little time!"
"Lumos!" All of them lit their wands and examined the piles of objects around them.
"Deanna, could this be – ? Aargh!" Hermione screamed in pain, and Deanna turned her wand on her in time to see a jeweled goblet tumbling from her grip. But as it fell, it split, became a shower of goblets, so that a second later, with a great clatter, the floor was covered in identical cups rolling in every direction, the original impossible to discern amongst them.
"It burned me!" moaned Hermione while Deanna took her fingers into hers and started healing it with her wand, earning her a thank you from the Gryffindor.
"They have added Gemino and Flagrante Curses!" said Griphook. "Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies are worthless – and if you continue to handle the treasure, you will eventually be crushed to death by the weight of expanding gold!"
"Okay, don't touch anything!" said Harry desperately, but even as he said it, Ron accidentally nudged one of the fallen goblets with his foot, and twenty more exploded into being while Ron hopped on the spot, part of his shoe burned away by contact with the hot metal.
"Stand still, don't move!" said Hermione while Deanna clutched at Ron.
"Just look around!" said Harry. "Remember, the cup's small and gold, it's got a badger engraved on it, two handles – otherwise see if you can spot Ravenclaw's symbol anywhere, the eagle –"
They directed their wands into every nook and crevice, turning cautiously on the spot. It was impossible not to brush up against anything; Harry sent a great cascade of fake Galleons onto the ground where they joined the goblets, and now there was scarcely room to place their feet, and the glowing gold blazed with heat, so that the vault felt like a furnace.
Deanna raised her wand past the shields and the helmets near the shelves, and her eyes widened in glee when she saw it. "It's there, it's up there."
The little golden cup sparkled in the four-way spotlight as Harry, Ron and Hermione pointed their wands at it too.
"And how the hell are we going to get up there without touching anything?" asked Ron.
"Accio Cup!" cried Hermione, who had evidently forgotten in her desperation what Griphook had told them during their planning sessions.
"No use, no use!" snarled the goblin.
"Then what do we do?" said Harry, glaring at the goblin. "If you want the sword, Griphook, then you'll have to help us more than – wait! Can I touch stuff with the sword? Hermione, give it here!"
Hermione fumbled insider her robes, drew out a beaded bag, rummaged for a few seconds, then removed the shining sword. Harry seized it by its rubied hilt and touched the tip of the blade to a silver flagon nearby, which did not multiply. "If I can just poke the sword through a handle – but how am I going to get up there?"
The shelf on which the cup reposed was out of reach for any of them, even Ron, who was tallest. The heat from the enchanted treasure rose in waves, and Deanna felt herself sweating while she thought of a way to get to the cup. They were truly trapped now.
"Harry, I'll get you up there. Trust me." Deanna told him, and when the boy nodded, Deanna pointed it at him and flicked her wand. "Levicorpus."
Harry yelped when he was hoisted up into the air by his ankle and he hit a suit of armor and replicas burst out of it like white-hot bodies, filling the crumpled space. Deanna, Ron and Hermione struggled and yelled as the two goblins were knocked aside into other objects which also began to replicate.
"Impervius!" Hermione yelled in an attempt to protect themselves from the burning metal. They were now waist deep in the treasure while Deanna was holding Bogrod in order to keep him from slipping beneath the tide of treasures. She could vaguely hear Harry and Griphook yelling something as she fought off the pain of the hot metal on her skin, all of them trying to keep themselves above the hot objects. Soon, they found themselves sliding on an expanding avalanche of fiery gold and silver that bore her, Hermione, Harry and Ron into the outer chamber.
Deanna panted and hissed from the pain before getting up and helping Hermione, Ron, Harry and Bogrod up. "Are you guys alright?"
Harry frowned while looking for something. "The sword – "
Griphook started crying while brandishing the sword, "Thieves! Thieves! Help! Thieves!" He vanished into the midst of the advancing crowd, all of whom were holding daggers and who accepted him without question. They could only exchange horrified gazes. Griphook had betrayed them. He didn't keep his word. Well, there was only one thing left to do. Push their way through.
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Flipendo!"
"Ignis Rugiet!"
Jets of red light and fireballs flew into the crowd of goblins. Others continued advancing, and several wizard guards started running around the corner. They hid behind a wall when the wizard guards started casting more and more spells towards them.
"We can't just stand here. Got any idea?" Ron asked them. "Should be a brilliant one."
"I've got something, but it's mad!" Hermione answered. "Reducto!" She sent the spell at the wizards before she turned and jumped onto the hindleg of the dragon and climbed onto its back, making Deanna, Harry and Ron freeze from where they were standing. What the hell? "Well, come on, then! Relashio!"
Deanna was the first to get out of her stupor. She took Hermione's hand that the latter reach out she climbed onto its back as Hermione had done. Harry and Ron quickly did the same as her all while the dragon who didn't even realize it was free roared. After a second, it was finally aware that it was untethered and all of them clung as tightly as they could to the dragon who knocked aside the goblins and wizards as it soared into the air. They laid themselves flat on its back which scraped against the ceiling as it dived towards the passage opening while the goblins hurdled daggers that glanced off its flanks.
"We'll never get out, it's too big!" Hermione screamed, but the dragon opened its mouth and belched flame again, blasting the tunnel, whose floors and ceiling cracked and crumbled. By sheer force, the dragon clawed and fought its way through.
Deanna could see that it was too small for the dragon to pass through so she yelled, "Reducto!" Hermione, Ron and Harry did the same as her. They did that a few more times, combined with the dragon's fire, and finally the passageway was huge enough for the dragon to fly toward the fresher air and away from the goblins. They passed the underground lake, and the great creature seemed to sense freedom and space ahead of it.
They blasted their way into the marble hallways, and the dragon now had room to stretch its wings. Turning its horned head toward the cool outside air, it took off and with Deanna, Hermione, Harry and Ron still clinging to its back, it forced its way through the metal doors, leaving them buckled and hanging from their hinges, as it staggered into Diagon Alley and launched itself into the sky.
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