Part Twenty Eight
Getting into Gringotts was no easy task. Even with the poly juice potion. If not for Harry using the Imperious curse you wouldn't have gotten in at all. The Thief's Downfall erased all the enchantments on your group and if not for Hermione's quick thinking you all would have been splattered on the rocks of the vaults. Got past the dragon, into the vault. Now it was only to find the horcrux and get out. Though that didn't prove easy either. Harry could feel it but there were spells on the objects, Griphook betrayed you, you thought there was no escape. But of course Hermione saved the day again by thinking of riding the dragon out. Once they were at a safe place you all jumped off the dragon and into a lake in the highlands. But what came after was worse yet.
"He knows. He knows what we've been doing, he knows we're hunting for horcruxes." The lot of you were panting as you exited the water.
"What? How?" You furrowed your brow.
"I saw him."
"Harry you let him in? You can't do that."
"I know sometimes I can't control it, or maybe i can I don't know. But there's a horcrux in Hogwarts. I saw Rowena and the castle, there's one there."
"Well Snape is the headmaster now, we can't just walk through the front gate."
"So we go to Hogsmeade, go to Honey Dukes, use the secret passageway." You all changed into dry clothes while chatting and decided your game plan for getting into Hogwarts. The group apperated into the main area near Honey Dukes. Right as we settled ourselves an alarm blared and we ducked into cover.
"He's here!"
"Find them!" The alarm went off in anther section before you were caught. You made you way through the tweets trying t find your way but came upon a locked gate when an old man beckoned the group over.
"In here Potter." The lot of you went in. You looked around as you entered. You took note of the dark and damp, but also the similarity of the old man to someone you used to know. The painting of a beautiful young woman watched as you all came in.
"You damn fools. Haven't you any idea of how dangerous it is?!"
"You're Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother." You looked at everyone.
"It's you I've been seeing in here! You sent Dobby." Aberforth turned back to face the group.
"Where have you left him?" Harry looked to the ground.
"He's dead." Aberforth nodded.
"A shame. I liked that elf."
"Who gave that to you? That mirror?"
"Mundungus Fletcher, about a year ago."
"Dung had no right. It belonged to - "
"Sirius. Albus told me. But tell me, where would you be if i hadn't" HHe set down food and drink. Ron and Hermione dove right into it and started eating. You followed shortly after. Harry still stood off to the side.
" We need to get into Hogwarts tonight. Dumbledore gave us a job to do."
"Did he? Nice job? Easy?"
"We've been hunting horcruxes. We think one is in the castle." Aberforth stopped what he was doing.
"That's not a job my brother's given you. It's a suicide mission. Do yourself a favor boy, go home. Live a little longer."
"Dumbledore trusted me to see this through."
"What makes you think you can trust him? What makes you think you can believe anything my brother told you? In all the time you knew him did he ever mention my name? Did he ever mention hers?" He pointed to the portrait, who was smiling.
"Why should he-"
"Keep secrets? You tell me."
"I trusted him." Aberforth started walking towards Harry.
"That's a boy's answer. A boy who goes chasing horcruxes on the word of a man who wouldn't even tell him where to start. You're lying! Not just to me, that doesn't matter. To yourself as well. That's what a fool does. You don't strike me as a fool, Harry Potter. So I'll ask you again. There must be a reason."
"I'm not interested in what happened between you and your brother. I don't care that you've given up. I trusted the man I knew. And we need to get into the castle tonight." Aberforth faces the painting.
"You know what to do." The girl nodded and walked further into the painting down a path.
"Where have you sent her?"
"You'll see soon enough." And he started walking away. Hermione spoke this time as she neared Harry/
"That's your sister Ariana, isn't it? She died very young didn't she?" He turned back to face Harry.
"My brother sacrificed many things, Mr. Potter. On his journey to find power. Including Ariana. And she was devoted to him. He gave her everything, but time." Hermione spoke again.
"Thank you Mr. Dumbledore." He nodded and walked out the door. Ron and harry eyed her strangely.
"He did save our lives twice. Kept an eye on us in the mirror. Doesn't seem like someone who's given up." You noticed movement in the painting.
"Hey, they painting." The others looked.
"She's coming back."
"Who's that with her?" Everyone took a step back except you. You held your wand at your side, ready to defend in case of attack. The portrait moved and it showed Neville. Your shoulders sagged from their tense state.
"Hey Ab, we've got a couple more coming through." Neville led the group of you into the tunnel.
"Don't remember this on the marauders map." You quickly turned to look at Ron.
"That's because it never existed until now." Your gaze retuned to Neville.
"The seven secret passages were sealed off at the start of the year, this is the only way in or out now. The grounds are drawing with Death Eaters and Dementors."
"How bad is Snape as headmaster?"
"Hardly ever seen him. It's Carrows you need to watch out for." The name sounded familiar to you.
"Carrows?" Harry finally spoke up.
"Yeah, brother and sister. In charge of discipline. They like punishment, the Carrows." He pointed to the cuts and bruises on his face.
"They did that to you? Why?"
"Today's dark arts lessons had us practicing the Cruciatus Curse. On first years. I refused." You tensed at the mention of it.
"Hogwarts has changed."
6.11.24