Chapter 5
Ron couldn't figure out why Hermione kept reading the book that Dumbledore had left her. He was also confused over the deluminator that was left to him. Yes it came in handy to turn the lights on and off. Harry, since he wasn't there didn't we what was left to him, the snitch he had caught in his first quidditch match. Hermione had it since the minister trusted her to make sure Harry got it, but as far as he knew Harry hadn't received it where ever he was.
Fred and George was scrounging up something to eat as Ron fiddled with the radio. There was a program called Potter watch that they could keep up on what was happening.
"Ron" Hermione called. "Can you come here for a minute?"
When Ron got over to Hermione she pointed at the page she was reading. "Have you ever seen this mark?"
Ron looked at the page and frowned. "It looks familiar" he said as Fred and George looked over her shoulder. "Xenophelious Lovegood has a necklace with that on it" Fred said. "I saw it one day when he came over to the burrow not long after Dumbledore died."
"I wonder what it means" Hermione added out loud but to herself.
"Why don't we go to see him?" George asked. "Maybe he can tell us."
"Since we don't know where to go next, it wouldn't hurt" Ron added.
So Fred, George and Ron packed up the tent as Hermione fit everything into her beaded bag and set off to the Lovegoods, but as soon as they took down the protective charms, they were surrounded. Fred grabbed Hermione as they started running as fast as they could. Ron went another direction as did George. Before they got to far, they found themselves knocked down. "Tie them up" a voice said. George groaned when he heard the voice. "Scabier" he whispered to Fred.
"Merlin" Fred whispered back. "Greyback is here also."
"These are Potters friends" Greyback was saying , "but Potter isn't here."
"So that makes the female Granger" Scabier added. "The dark Lord wants her. Bring them."
Hermione was dragged by Scabier and soon they appeared Infront of a black gate. "We have Potter's friends" Greyback said.
"Including Granger" Scabier added shoving the girl into the gate.
"I'll take her" Bellatrix said. "She will tell us where Potter is. Lock the boys up."
Fred was trying to get away from the one snatcher holding him as Hermione was dragged by the hair by Bellatrix but to no avail. They were shoved into a cell in the basement just as Hermione started to scream.
"We have to get to Hermione" Ron shouted as Fred and George beat on the door.
"Ron? Fred? George?" Luna asked as she appeared around the corner followed by Griphook and Ollivander. Just then Hermione screamed again from upstairs. Within seconds Peter Pettigrew appeared and unlocked the door. "Where is she?" Fred yelled but Peter held his wand towards him. "You, goblin. Come here" Peter said.
Griphook followed Peter out of the cell and up the stairs. Just as they disappeared, Don't appeared. "Doby, what are you doing here?" George said.
"Doby came to save Harry Potter's friends" Doby replied.
"Works for me" Fred said. "Doby, take Ollivander and Luna to shell cottage."
"Ready whenever you are sir" Luna said.
"Sir. I like her very much" Doby replied. "Meet me at the top of the stairs in 5 seconds." With that Doby disappeared with Luna and Ollivander. Just then Peter appeared again and Ron, Fred and George stood to the side as the cell was unlocked and Peter stepped inside. Once he was in a little ways, all three got ready to jump on him when Peter fell over unconscious. George smirked when he saw Doby at the top of the stairs holding Peter's wand. All three hurried up the stairs to where Doby waited. "Wait" Doby said. "Sir's should know about Hermione."
"It can wait" Fred yelled as he barreled past Doby. He crouched down to get a sense of what was happening. There was Hermione laying on the floor. He could see she was still breathing, but shaking. Bellatrix was walking Infront of Griphook who was holding a sword and from this distance Fred could see it was the sword of Gryffindor. How did Hermione get that? He wondered.
"It's a fake" Griphook said.
"Liar" Bellatrix screamed slicing the shade of Griphook's face. "Who went into my vault."
"I assure you Madame, no one has been in your vault. The real sword is still there."
George was no crouching on one side of Fred and Ron on the other listening.
"Very well" Bellatrix replied. "Greyback, she's all yours."
Hermione screamed again and tried to stand up as Greyback approached. "Like hell" Fred hissed as he jumped forward. Thankfully he had his second wand as did George that they kept hidden just Incase. Fred disarmed Lucious Malfoy and once he caught the wand, he tossed it to Ron so he could join in the fight.
"Drop your wands now" Bellatrix yelled. When the three boys looked, she had Hermione in her arms and a knife to her throat. Just as the boys dropped their wands, there was a squeaking noise coming from above. Everyone looked up to see Doby on top of the chandelier, turning a screw. He then disappeared just as the chandelier fell to the floor. Ron bit back a laugh as Bellatrix screamed as Hermione fell towards Fred who caught her. Doby appeared next to them and griphook. "Grab ahold of me" Doby yelled. Bellatrix was still trying to stand up but hadn't regained her footing when they disappeared. "Find them" Bellatrix yelled.
Fred, George, Ron and Hermione fell on the sand near the water. Doby had hurried up to the house and they noticed that he was coming back with Bill Weasley. "Oh my God" Bill yelled as he picked Hermione up. "You three go see Fleur. I need to take care of Hermione."
Fred tried to go with him, but Bill told him to see Fleur first then he could see Hermione. Fleur quickly got them cleaned up as Doby and Bill worked on Hermione. Fleur applied some cream to Griphook's face just as Bill walked in. "Doby is with Hermione. What happened?"
Between the three boys they related the events leading to their arrival here. Just then Ron snapped his fingers. "Wait. Remember Bellatrix being worried someone had gone into her vault?"
George's eyes widened. "That could be where the next one is."
"Next one what?" Bill asked.
"Ummm, a piece of you know who's soul?" Ron said as a question. Bill's eyes widened. "Are you saying he made Horcruxes?"
"Yes" George said. "How many we don't know."
"This is a reason to confiscate that vault. How dare they hide an evil object inside Gringotts. Fred, you and I will go to Gringotts. Griphook, you will come with us. You can verify what we are saying."
"Plus, I have an idea what the object is that you are seeking" Griphook added. "It's Hufflepuff's cup."
"Get rested up then we will go."
"No, we go now" Fred said. "Bellatrix may show up there and remove the object first."
"Then we go now. George, you and Ron stay here with everyone. Fred, Griphook and I will be back soon."
Since Moody's death, Kingsley Shacklebolt was the head of the Aurors. Bill had sent a message to him to meet them at Gringotts. They quickly filled Kingsley in on what they had learned and Kingsley took charge. He led the way into Gringotts and to the head goblin.
"The head auror here to inspect the vaults of those who are death eaters" Kingsley said.
"By whose authority?" The goblin asked.
"Mine. We believe that there are dark objects being hidden here."
"Well, seeing as Griphook is missing, we can't allow any entrance to the vaults in question."
"I'm not missing you cretin" griphook snapped. "You will allow us entrance or your head will be plastered to the wall."
Within minutes they were led to the basement on the cars. Kingsley and Bill led the way to where the Lestranges vault was. Bornuk, the goblin in charge placed his hand against the door. "Stand back" he said.
"Be careful not to touch anything " Griphook said. "Alot of these high security vaults have multiplying spells on them."
"We will be careful" Bill promised as Fred started to look around. "There it is" he said. "Bill, levitate me."
"Levicorpus" Bill muttered lifting Fred into the air. Fred's hand wrapped around the cup and Bill quickly brought him down. "Why didn't the cup make duplicates?" Bornuk asked.
"Because this isn't a random object" Bill said. "This is a horcrux."
Kingsley inhaled sharply. "Are you kidding me?"
"No. Fred, George, Ron and Hermione have been hunting them. They only suspected there was one in here when they were captured and Hermione tortured."
"Let me guess, Bellatrix did the tormenting?"
"You guessed it" Fred said. "She carved mid blood in Hermione's arm and also used the cruciatus curse on her."
Griphook, who was carrying the sword of Gryffindor, handed it over to Fred. "We can't waste anytime" he said. Fred took the sword and once outside the vault, he placed the cup on the floor. "I'm sorry Harry." With that he stabbed the cup as Kingsley and Bill stood at a distance. There was a black substance that flew out of the cup.
Harry fell off his seat in his room. It felt like he had been stabbed. There was no one in the room with him. He breathed heavily as he went to stand up. That was when it occured to him. Another horcrux had been destroyed. "Oh no" Harry whispered as he realized what this meant. A piece of Voldemort was inside him. That was why he could speak to snakes as well as see inside Voldemorts head.
Voldemort screamed. How could they have figured out his secret? He apparated to his relatives cabin and when he saw the floor boards, he screamed in fury. He then went to the cave. Another scream could be heard. Gringotts was next and as he killed the goblins that was there he was looking inside their minds. The cup was gone. He had to act fast to protect Nagini and the one at Hogwarts. As long as those two held, he would be safe and Potter killed.
What Voldemort didn't know was that Harry was looking into his mind at that time.
Harry went to Luke Skywalker afterwards. "You need to get a message to Hermione. Tell her Nagini his snake is a horcrux as well as something belonging to Ravenclaw."
"How do you know?" Luke asked.
"I can sense it. There is also something else you should know and tell Hermione this. A piece of him is inside me also."
"You need to go back" Rey said. It wasn't a question, but Harry nodded anyways. "I need to go back."
"Then let's go" Luke said. "Ben, Rey. You ready?"
"We are ready."
Luke reached into his pocket and touched the coin sending a message to Hermione. He then grabbed the rock next to his desk. "Take my hand."
"Hermione thought of everything " Harry said with a chuckle. With that all four of them disappeared.