New Allies & Enemies [2]

"Three, two, one" Marquas counted down as they approached the magical waterfall, then: "Now!"

They passed through the enchanted water, momentarily revealed in their true forms as all magical concealment washed away. The instant they emerged on the other side, McGonagall cast a rapid series of transfigurations restoring their appearance alterations while Marquas deployed his specialized Disillusionment solution. Moody, meanwhile, cast a disruption charm that created magical interference in the detection grid, buying them precious seconds to complete their disguise restoration.

It worked, barely. The detection system registered a momentary anomaly but not a clear security breach, resulting in a notation in the monitoring logs rather than a full alarm.

"Cutting it fine," McGonagall observed tersely, her Scottish accent more pronounced under stress.

"But effective," Marquas countered as they continued toward the high-security vault corridor. "Activate the token now."

Moody pressed the goblin-made metal disc against a specific point on the cart track, causing it to glow briefly before seeming to melt into the metal. Immediately, the oppressive weight of the security enchantments around them lightened, not disappeared entirely, but reduced to a level that would allow them to approach the Lestrange vault without triggering immediate alerts.

"Fifteen minutes starting now," Moody reminded them grimly. "Not a second more."

They abandoned the cart at a maintenance siding and proceeded on foot through the final corridor leading to the oldest, most secure vaults. The Lestrange vault was identifiable by the family crest discreetly engraved beside the massive door, a sinister design featuring ravens and daggers that seemed entirely appropriate for a family with their reputation.

"Standard Gringotts high-security measures," Marquas observed, examining the door without touching it. "Plus additional family enchantments. The goblin intelligence suggests a specific approach point, there."

He indicated a small indentation near the center of the door that was barely visible unless you knew to look for it. According to Nagrok, this was the access point where vault custodians could perform maintenance on the security systems, a vulnerability known only to senior Gringotts staff.

Moody approached cautiously, his magical eye examining the door in ways normal vision couldn't. "Nasty piece of work, this. Multiple curses layered with intent-detection charms. Gemino and Flagrante curses on everything inside, I'd wager."

"As expected," Marquas nodded. "The maintenance access should bypass the primary defense grid, though not the internal protections."

Using a specialized tool provided by Nagrok, essentially a goblin-made skeleton key designed for security maintenance, Moody carefully engaged the hidden mechanism. The door responded with a series of nearly silent clicks as ancient tumblers shifted and magical wards temporarily reconfigured.

"Ready yourselves," McGonagall warned as the massive door began to swing open. "We'll have seconds before secondary security activates."

The vault interior gradually came into view, a cavernous space filled with mountains of gold, jewels, and artifacts collected by generations of Lestranges. The wealth was impressive but secondary to their purpose; somewhere among these treasures lay Hufflepuff's cup, transformed into a Horcrux by Voldemort himself.

"Detection charm now," Marquas instructed, drawing his wand. Together with Moody, he cast the specialized Horcrux-finding spell they had developed using residual magic from the destroyed locket. The spell manifested as a subtle golden mist that drifted through the vault, seeking the unique magical signature of a soul fragment.

"Remember, don't touch anything directly," McGonagall reminded them. "Levitation charms only, and maintain precise control."

The detection mist suddenly concentrated toward the rear of the vault, swirling around a high shelf where numerous golden objects gleamed in the dim light.

"There," Moody indicated with his wand. "Upper shelf, behind what looks like a ceremonial mask."

Using carefully controlled levitation charms, McGonagall cleared a path through the packed treasures, creating a narrow corridor of space they could navigate without brushing against curse-laden artifacts. Marquas followed, maintaining the detection spell's focus, while Moody kept watch on their magical perimeter and remaining time.

"Eight minutes," he warned as they approached the indicated shelf.

The cup itself was smaller than Marquas had imagined, a beautifully crafted golden chalice with two delicately wrought handles and Hufflepuff's badger emblem engraved on its side. Despite its innocuous appearance, it radiated a subtle wrongness that made the detection mist swirl around it like moths to a flame.

"Containment ready," McGonagall stated, producing a specialized bag designed to hold dark objects without direct contact. Using precise levitation, Marquas carefully maneuvered the cup from its shelf and into the waiting container, which McGonagall immediately sealed with both physical and magical barriers.

"Surprisingly straightforward," she commented, securing the container inside her enchanted cloak.

"Don't," Moody growled. "Never say that during an operation. Practically begging for complications."

As if summoned by his words, a faint tremor ran through the vault floor, followed by a distant sound that might have been stone grinding against stone.

"What was that?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"Secondary security system," Marquas realized, mentally reviewing Nagrok's warnings. "The vault recognizes unauthorized removal of an object. We need to move, now."

They retreated with controlled urgency, retracing their path through the precarious treasure mountains toward the door. The tremors intensified, and the distant grinding sound grew louder, seemingly coming from beyond the vault rather than within it.

"Five minutes remaining on the token," Moody reported as they reached the vault entrance. "Should be enough if we move quickly and don't encounter"

He never finished the sentence. As they emerged from the Lestrange vault into the corridor, they found themselves facing a security response they hadn't anticipated: a squad of armored goblins led by a senior security officer, all looking extremely displeased at their presence.

"Intruder containment protocol engaged," the lead goblin announced in coldly professional tones. "Surrender immediately or face lethal response."

So much for the clean extraction, Marquas thought grimly, mentally shifting to contingency planning. They couldn't fight their way past a goblin security team without causing exactly the kind of incident they'd been trying to avoid, one that would alert Voldemort immediately to the theft of his Horcrux.

"Suggestions?" McGonagall murmured, her wand hand steady despite the tension.

Before either Marquas or Moody could respond, the situation escalated dramatically. The grinding sound they'd heard earlier crescendoed, and around the corner of the vault corridor emerged the source: an enormous, pale dragon, its eyes milky with partial blindness and its scales bearing the scars of long imprisonment. Heavy chains connected to a metal collar around its neck were held by goblin handlers who prodded it forward with sharp, glowing tools.

"The bloody dragon," Moody muttered. "Right on cue."

For a suspended moment, everyone, human thieves and goblin security alike, seemed frozen by the dragon's appearance at close quarters. Then multiple things happened simultaneously:

The goblin security leader shouted commands in their native language. Moody cast a blinding flash that disoriented the front line of guards. McGonagall transfigured the stone floor beneath the dragon handlers into quicksand. And Marquas, drawing on one of his most experimental potions, threw a vial directly at the dragon's restraint mechanism.

The potion, designed to neutralize magical bindings, struck the enchanted chains with a sizzling hiss. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, and Marquas feared his formula had failed. Then, with a sound like shattering glass, the magical reinforcement within the chains collapsed, leaving only mundane metal restraining a very angry, very powerful magical creature.

The dragon, sensing its opportunity, reared back with unexpected speed for such a large creature. With one powerful motion, it snapped the weakened chains and released a roar that shook dust from the ancient ceiling. The goblin handlers scattered, their control implements useless against an unrestrained dragon.

"Well," McGonagall observed with remarkable composure, "I believe we've found our distraction."

"And our escape route," Marquas added, eyeing the dragon calculatingly. "If we can guide it toward the surface tunnels..."

"You're not suggesting " Moody began incredulously.

"Unless you prefer attempting to fight through multiple security checkpoints while carrying a Horcrux?" Marquas countered.

The decision was effectively made for them as the dragon, disoriented and angry after years of captivity, charged down the corridor, fortunately away from the deepest vaults and toward the main transport shafts that eventually led to the surface.

"Follow it!" Marquas commanded, casting a Disillusionment charm over all three of them as they ran in the dragon's wake. The creature's rampage created exactly the chaos they needed, goblin security forces were far more concerned with containing a rampaging dragon than tracking down vault thieves, especially when the immediate threat was breathing fire and destroying ancient infrastructure.

They followed the dragon's path of destruction through increasingly wide tunnels, occasionally helping guide its direction with strategically placed noise or light spells when it hesitated at intersections. The beast seemed to have an instinctive sense for the route to freedom, following air currents and the gradually lightening color of the stone toward the surface levels.

"Token effect expires in thirty seconds," Moody warned as they approached what appeared to be a major junction chamber. "Full security lockdown will engage immediately after."

"Then we stay with our scaly escort," Marquas decided, casting another disorientation charm toward a group of security goblins attempting to establish a containment perimeter ahead.

The dragon, seemingly energized by the gradually freshening air, redoubled its efforts toward freedom. It crashed through a massive set of metal doors that apparently led to some kind of cargo receiving area, setting off multiple alarm charms that were largely redundant given the obvious nature of the breach.

"We're approaching the service entrance to the main hall," McGonagall realized, recognition dawning as they entered a larger, more finished chamber. "If it continues this direction"

The dragon answered her unfinished question by lowering its head and charging directly toward what appeared to be a solid wall but was, according to their intelligence, a concealed barrier between the secure areas and the ornate public hall of Gringotts.

"Brace yourselves," Moody advised grimly as the dragon gathered itself for impact.

The collision was spectacular. The concealed barrier, despite substantial magical reinforcement, shattered under the dragon's determined assault, showering the elegant marble hall beyond with debris and dust. Amid screams of alarm from customers and staff alike, the dragon emerged into Gringotts' main hall, spreading its wings for the first time in what was likely years.

"Now or never," Marquas urged, maintaining their Disillusionment as they followed in the dragon's wake.

The scene in the bank's public area was one of complete chaos, witches and wizards diving for cover, goblins attempting to maintain some semblance of order while simultaneously activating emergency protocols, and in the center of it all, a partially blind dragon sensing freedom and determined to reach it.

With a roar that rattled the enchanted windows, the dragon launched itself upward, crashing through the domed skylight of Gringotts in a shower of glass and magic. The night air beyond seemed to energize it further, its wings spreading fully as it climbed into the cloudy London sky.

"Exit strategy?" McGonagall shouted over the continuing chaos.

"This way," Marquas directed, leading them toward a side corridor where emergency exits had automatically opened during the security breach. They slipped through unnoticed amidst the general confusion, emerging into a back alley of Diagon Alley where pre-positioned emergency Portkeys waited, courtesy of Regulus's advance preparations.

Moments later, they materialized in the secure warehouse where they had begun the evening, mission accomplished, Horcrux in hand, and with a spectacular distraction covering their tracks. Regulus was waiting, visible now that they were in secured space, his expression a mixture of disbelief and admiration.

"A dragon?" he demanded as they regained their bearings. "Your subtlety knows no bounds, I see."

"Improvisation became necessary," Marquas explained, helping McGonagall secure their prize in additional protective layers. "The secondary vault security activated despite the maintenance access."

"Likely an update since our informant's intelligence was gathered," Moody suggested, already working to remove all traces of their identities from equipment and clothing. "Fortunate we had a backup distraction available, even if unplanned."

McGonagall, who had been examining the secured Horcrux through multiple detection charms, looked up with an expression of grim satisfaction. "Confirmed, this matches the magical signature you described, Albus," she stated, addressing Dumbledore who had apparently arrived during their operation.

"Excellent work," the Headmaster acknowledged, stepping from the shadows. "Though I gather from your rather dramatic arrival that the extraction didn't proceed entirely according to plan?"

"The phrase 'unleashing a dragon on Diagon Alley' comes to mind," Regulus commented dryly.

"A calculated adjustment to circumstances," Marquas corrected. "The dragon was seeking escape regardless of our intervention. We merely... facilitated its exit in a direction that served our purposes."

"Speaking of which," Moody interjected, "what's our timeline for destroying this abomination? Every minute it exists is another minute He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named might sense its compromise."

"Immediate destruction," Dumbledore confirmed. "I've prepared the containment chamber used for the previous Horcrux. Fiendfyre, carefully controlled, remains our most method of destruction"