Gringotts

"I don't like this," Harry hissed beside Hermione's ear for the umpteenth time. Presently, Hermione was Polyjuiced into the hideous form of Bellatrix LeStrange with Ron behind her though he had dark robes, messy hair, and a shaggy beard which was about the only changes on his appearance. Harry, on the other hand, was under his invisibility cloak and walking alongside Hermione.

They were currently in Gringotts where they are trying to get into Bellatrix's vault and get Hufflepuff's Cup. The trio were walking along the halls of the prestigious bank, with Hermione and Ron trying to look as intimidating as they can.

The first part of their plan wasn't easy. First, the three of them had to get under the invisibility cloak to get past the wards which was not an easy feat since the last time they were together under the cloak was when they were eleven and they had grown considerably since then- especially Ron. After managing to get past the detection wards, they ducked in a nearby corner perfectly excluded from public view for Hermione and Ron to disguise themselves while Harry stayed under the cloak which was the reason he has been complaining as he didn't like it when his beat friends risked detection for him.

"Stuff it, Harry. We don't want to get caught," Hermione murmured under her breath then huffed in irritation.

Harry grumbled silently when they reached one of the goblin tellers. Hermione put on her best menacing stare then said, "I wish to enter my vault."

The goblin looked over her from head to toe which unnerved Hermione but she kept herself from shivering. When he was done surveying her form, he said, "Yes. And your wand, Madame LeStrange?"

Hermione smirked. She had found out that the wand Ron had retrieved had been Bellatrix's while the mad witch had hers. She had been saddened at the loss of her beloved wand but took advantage of the situation. She'll get her wand back soon.

She pulled out the wand from her arm holster and presented it to the goblin. It was 12 3/4 inches, walnut, and had a dragon heartstring core. Once the goblin was satisfied with his inspection, he called another goblin and spoke to it in Gobbledegook, the goblin's language. With a nod, the goblin teller turned to the humans, "Please follow him now, he will lead you to your vault." He nodded to the goblin beside him.

The goblin bowed at them then gestured for them to follow him. With a glance at Ron, Hermione followed the goblin to the carts leading to the lower vaults. She gulped nervously at it but then her fears abated when she felt Harry's hand brush hers under his invisibility cloak. She smiled inwardly at that.

Ron held out his hand for her to take and she took it to balance herself whilst she stepped into the cart. Ron then stepped in and sat beside her. She didn't know if Harry had stepped in as the cart began to move but she felt him grab her hand and squeeze it. She squeezed back.

Harry held her hand during the whole ride and she loved him for it. She hated heights. With Harry's hand in hers, she managed to stop herself from screaming. As the cart dropped, they all heard a roar and the trio were treated to the sight of a dragon in chains, fire emerging from its snout.

Bill and Griphook had warned them about the new security measures the goblin had instated but the trio still found themselves surprised at the dragon. Though Griphook would have liked to go back to Gringotts, they all agreed that he was better safe hidden from Voldemort. Hermione internally bristled at the thought of a dragon in chains- as if the creature had no rights and whatsoever. As if sensing her turmoil, Harry squeezed her hand in reassurance.

At long last, the cart stopped at a cave deep in the bank. There were dark double doors. They approached the doors and the goblin pulled out a golden key. He thrusted the key into the keyhole and twisted it. He pushed the door inwards then stepped sideways with a bow.

Hermione regarded the goblin with a curt nod and sauntered into the vault full of gold and other trinkets with Ron and Harry- invisible, of course- hot on her trails. Ron looked back at the goblin and closed the doors so Harry could take off his cloak then cast a Muffliato. As it was rather dark inside the vault, they cast Lumos and the room was bathed in a soft light. Hermione wrapped him in a hug and was about to kiss him when Harry pulled away.

With a bemused and hurt look, she asked, "What is it, Harry?"

Harry smiled sheepishly at her and said, "It's not that I don't want to kiss you, but..." He gestured at her.

Realization dawned on her then she blushed. What was she thinking? Of course Harry wouldn't kiss her now, she was in the image of the woman who killed Harry's godfather. "Oh... sorry, Harry," she said.

Harry gave her a soft smile. "It's alright. Tell you what, when we're back at the cottage, I'll let you do anything to me."

Hermione blushed harder. "I'll take you up on it," she teased.

Ron made a disgusted noise. "I'm still here and Hermione still looks like Bellatrix, you know? Come on, we don't have time for this. The Polyjuice is going to lose effect in a few minutes."

Harry nodded. "Right. Let's split up. Don't touch anything, we don't know if these items are cursed or not. If you see the cup, shoot green sparks from your wand. If you think something's wrong and you're in trouble, send red sparks."

The trio split up and began to search for the cup.

Looking around, Harry took note of the enormous wealth of the LeStranges. There were huge piles of gold, artifacts, and other treasures made of gold. How were they supposed to find the cup when they don't even know what it looks like? Besides, there were loads of other golden cups in the vault.

Just then... Harry slapped his forehead. "Oh, I'm such an idiot," he murmured. "Accio Hufflepuff's Cup!"

A zooming sound passed throughout the cave until he caught a flash of gold fly towards him. With his Seeker reflexes, he swiftly caught the item with one hand but then dropped it as quickly as he caught it when he felt his hand burning up. "Ah! Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, holding his hand to his face.

"Harry! Are you alright?" he heard Hermione call.

In answer, he sent both green and red sparks from his wand to the ceiling. He only had to wait a few seconds when both of his best friends came into view, with Hermione still looking like Bellatrix and Ron still with a shaggy beard and Death Eater garb.

"What happened? What did that mean?" Ron asked, referring to the green and red sparks.

Harry pointed to the cup at his feet. This time, he saw perfectly what it looked like. It was gold with a golden badger at its center and had two curved handles at the sides. It was a beauty to behold... pity it was used in a dark ritual and had the soul of his most hated enemy. It had to be destroyed.

Hermione and Ron gasped simultaneously. "Bloody hell, mate! How did you find it?!" Ron gaped at his friend.

Harry smiled sheepishly, turning away from them. "Funny thing, really. I thought of how hard it'd be to find this with all the gold they have in here... then I thought of summoning it instead."

"That's it?! A summoning charm?! All we had to do was do a summoning charm?!" Hermione exclaimed, flabbergasted. She felt stupid not thinking of it earlier.

Harry laughed. "Yeah... I felt pretty stupid not thinking of it earlier, too," he said, as if reading Hermione's mind.

"But... what about the red sparks you sent?" Ron asked, thoroughly confused.

Harry grimaced and showed his raw and bloody palm to the two. "It's cursed."

Hermione immediately rummaged through her beaded bag- which Harry hadn't noticed before- and pulled out a bottle of salve. She applied the salve on his palm then sighed when the burn healed. "Good thing the burn is just normal. A cursed burn is not easily cured."

Harry smiled and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Hermione. You really are brilliant."

Ron shuddered violently at the display. "Ugh, bad image. Care to obliviate me of that memory?"

Hermione laughed but it sounded wrong, given Bellatrix usually cackles madly and not laugh sincerely. "Come on, let's get out of here. Harry still has a promise to keep."

Harry blushed while Ron gasped, "Hermione!"

Harry disappeared from sight, having put in his invisibility cloak. Hermione transfigured a galleon into a sack and levitated the cup into it. Together, they exited the vault.

"Done, madame?" the goblin asked Hermione.

"Yes. Let's go," she snapped.

She was about to go to the cart when the goblin gasped. "Thieves!" he exclaimed and pushed a button hidden on the rock wall.

Ron's eyes widened when he saw Bellatrix fading from view and Hermione replace her image while Hermione gasped when Ron's beard disappeared. They were taken out of their shock when Harry took off his cloak and fired a stunner at the goblin, rendering him unconscious.

"Come on! We have to move! He guards are coming!" Harry snapped. They ran through the cavern and went through a waterfall, drenching them, until they reached the room where the dragon was located. It was getting rather violent as the goblins tried to contain it. Just then, wizards came into view and gestured towards them. They hid behind the rocks, Harry and Ron on one side, Hermione on the other.

Spells flew past them and hit the rocks they hid behind, bits and pieces flying.

"Do you guys have any ideas?!" Hermione shouted at them.

"Us?! You're supposed to be the brilliant one!" Ron retorted.

"Well, I do have one but it's mad!" Just then, she fired spells at the wizards and bolted towards the dragon, jumping on its back. "Come on!" she called.

"Mental, I tell you," Ron said then followed after her, curses flying from his wand.

Harry was just about to follow after them when a red streak flew over his head, barely hitting him.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed at him.

Harry leaned back at the rock, shooting curses at the wizards. He couldn't get a clear shot and unless he does, he is never coming out of that rock.

"Harry, come on!" Ron yelled.

Harry stepped out and was almost hit with a stunner but he managed to cast a Protego. He hid behind the rock once again. He peaked and saw Hermione and Ron battling the wizards behind the dragon's back. They were having a hard time hitting their targets with the dragon moving around. He looked at the chains that bound it then cast a Sectumsempra on it, cutting it from the rock.

Once the dragon realized its chain was severed, it opened its wings and prepared to take off.

"Harry, get on! Please!" Hermione screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Fortunately, the wizards also noticed the dragon's wings spreading and focused their attention on it. Harry took the opportunity to run towards the dragon's chain and held onto it as the creature flapped its wings, flying upwards.

It blew fire at the rock above it then burst through it. And as easy as that, they were out into the open air.