▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐰𝐨 ━︎━︎ 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒, looking around at the surroundings. A person stopped upon noticing her. "Madam Lestrange," He nodded.

     "Good morning," Hermione replied. The man stared at her for a moment before walking away.

     Juniper placed a hand over her face as Griphook chastised her. "Good morning? Good morning? You're Bealltrix Lestrange. Not some dewy-eyed school girl."

     "Alright, let's calm down." Juniper warned.

     Griphook looked at her. "If she gives us away, we might as well use that sword to slit our own throats. Understand?"

     Juniper opened her mouth to argue but Hermione placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. "No, he's right. I was being stupid."

     "Okay." Harry whispered. "Let's do it." Harry kneeled down so Griphook could get on his back while Juniper let out a deep breath, muttering the spell that would allow her to be invisible.  Ron threw the cloak over Harry and Griphook, and then they walked to Gringotts.

     If you asked Juniper, goblins had always freaked her out. They were so small with sharp teeth and they were just ugly. Also, they were goblins, which meant you could never trust a word that left their mouths. They walked forwards until they were met with the Goblin that would give them the key. Hermione crossed her arms, clearing her throat. "I wish to enter my vault."

     Without looking up the goblin asked, "Identification?"

     "I hardly think that'll be necessary." Hermione replied.

     The goblin looked up before sitting up straight. "Madam Lestrange." He left to grab something.

     "I don't like to be kept waiting."

     "They know." Griphook whispered. "They know she's an imposter. They've been warned."

     Ron looked behind him, spotting the security guard slowly approach. "Harry?" Ron hissed. "What do we do, Harry?"

     When the goblin came back, he came back with a different goblin as well, one the Juniper assumed was the boss. "Madam Lestrange, would you mind presenting your wand?"

     "And why should I do that?" Hermione asked.

     "It's the banks policy. I'm sure you understand, given the current climate."

     "No. I most certainly do not understand."

     "I'm afraid I must insist."

     Juniper watched as the goblin's head moved back slightly as Harry whispered, "Imperio."

     The goblin sighed contently. "Very well, Madam Lestrange. If you will follow me."

     They were lead to the carts that would lead them to the vault. They all got on, riding the cart down to Lestrange's vault. As they were riding the cart, Griphook was trying to stop it and they rode underneath a small fountain of sparkling white water. When they came to a stop, all of them now soaking wet, an alarm began blaring on the cart and they were dropped from the cart. Juniper let out a yell of surprise before yelling out, "Aresto momentum!" They stopped a foot above the ground before landing a lot more softly than they would have if Juniper hadn't cast a spell.

     "Well done, June." Harry said, pushing himself up. They looked up at the cart that was still blasting the alarm, watching as it began to go backwards towards the beginning. Harry looked towards Hermione who was now back to her usual self. "Oh no, you look like you again."

     "The thief's downfall." Griphook said. "Washes away all enchantments. Can be deadly."

     Ron scoffed. "You don't say. Just out of interest, is there any other way out of here?"

     "No."

     "Of course not." Juniper sighed, running her hand through her wet hair. 

     The goblin who Harry had used the imperio curse on looked at all of them, the curse fading away. "What the devil are all you doing down here?! Thieves! When you gave up the keys, you―︎"

     "Imperio!" Ron casted. A loud roaring echoed in the distance. "That doesn't sound good."

     "No," Juniper breathed, "no it doesn't." She looked at them. "Let's find out what it is, shall we?" She turned and began walking towards the sound. Hermione hissed her name before quickly following after her. They crept around a corner, spotting a white dragon that was chained up, lacerations on its neck. Juniper frowned.

     "Bloody hell," Ron whispered. "That's a ukranian ironbelly."

     "That poor baby." Juniper mumbled. Immediately, they all looked at her. "What?"

     Griphook grabbed a small bell, handing it to Ron. "Here." The creature spotted them and stood, making his way towards them and letting out a small breath of fire. Immediately, Griphook began shaking the double-sided bell. Immediately, the dragon back off. "It's been trained to expect pain when it hears the noise."

     "That's barbaric." Hermione snapped.

     "That's horrible, actually." Juniper added. They made it past the dragon and Juniper grabbed Hermione's hand, whispering to her, "We can't leave the dragon here. It deserves to be set free." Hermione nodded in agreement.

     They made it to the vault, using the cursed goblins hand to open it. They all stepped inside and Juniper was extremely unimpressed. The vault was filled with gold and trinkets, all of which were strewn out everywhere. This was the most messiest, unkempt vault Juniper had ever seen. Though, she only had her vault for comparison. The door closed behind them, diminishing the only light they had. Quickly, they used their wands to help them see.

     "Accio horcrux," Hermione tried. Naturally, nothing happened.

     Juniper looked at her. "Did you really think that would work?"

     Hermione scoffed. "Well, I had to try. I don't see you doing anything."

     Juniper shrugged. "Harry's the horcrux detector, maybe his spidey-senses will go off."

     Ron frowned. "His what?"

     "Spidey-senses." Juniper repeated, Ron continued to give her a blank look. Juniper sighed. "It's this comic my uncle gave me, some superhero dude that the muggles like to read about."

     "That kind of magic won't work in here." Griphook explained.

     Harry crept further, eyes scanning every item in the room. "Is it in here, Harry?" Ron asked. "Can you feel anything?" Harry didn't answer.

     Hermione let out a gasp and Juniper turned her head, watching as the object Hermione had actually hit began multiplying. Juniper pursed her lips. "Oh. . . oh, that's not good."

     "That's it!" Harry called. "Up there!"

     Suddenly, every object that was touched or knocked over began multiplying. "They've added the gemino curse!" Griphook yelled. "Everything you touch will multiply."

     "Give me the sword!"

     Hermione listened, quickly pulling the sword from her bag and tossing it to him. Harry climbed up the mountain of objects, trying to reach the horcrux. However, everything under his feet kept multiplying and suddenly they were all drowning in the objects. Suddenly, everything stopped. Harry had completely disappeared under the objects before bursting out from them. "Got it!" Harry fell, the cup flying from his hand. Griphook quickly grabbed the cup. "We had a deal, Griphook!"

     "The cup for the sword!" Griphook snapped. Harry reluctantly listened, tossing him the sword. Griphook tossed Hermione the cup and she quickly caught it. "I said I'd get you in. I didn't say anything about getting you out."

     "Oh you bastard!" Juniper snapped. Griphook opened the vault and left them. Juniper felt her head go underneath the objects as they multiplied once more. A hand grabbed her, pulling her up. She looked at Hermione and gave her a nod of thanks before they all pushed their way through the objects and out of the vault.

     "Griphook!" Harry yelled.

     Griphook distracted the dragon, yelling out, "Thieves!" He ran, leaving the older goblin to stand there.

     "That foul little git." Ron said. "At least we've still got Bogrod." They watched as the dragon let out a breath of fire, killing the goblin. "That's unfortunate." Suddenly, spells were being thrown their way and they quickly hid behind the wall.

     "We can't just stand here! Who's got an idea?" Hermione asked.

     "You and June are the brilliant ones!" Ron called back.

     Juniper met Hermione's eyes and Juniper smiled widely. "I have an idea. It's absolutely mad."

     Hermione caught on quickly. "This is why I love you. Reducto!" She destroyed the wooden banner that was blocking Juniper's path. Juniper quickly ran back, sending Harry and Ron a quick wink before running forwards and jumping. She landed on the back of the dragon, using one of the spikes on his back to hold on. Hermione quickly joined her. Juniper looked at Harry and Ron. "Come on, boys! The view is just fine!"

     The two jumped on and Hermione quickly used her wand to destroy the chain that was holding the dragon. "Relashio!" The dragon began to climb, destroying the track a cart was coming down and sending the people on it flying to the bottom. The dragon burst through the floor of the main entrance hall, letting out a breath of fire that sent all of the goblins running. The dragon climbed to the top of the building, bursting through the glass dome and into open air.

     The dragon stood on the roof, looking at his surroundings as he let out pants. Ron asked, "Now what?"

     In response, Hermione yelled, "Reducto!" She hit the dragon's tail and suddenly they were flying through the sky. It took a moment for the dragon to gain enough strength and wind to fly, but when he did it, they began soaring through the air.

     "That was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Ron smiled.

      "Honestly, I just wanted the dragon to be set free. They were torturing him."

     Harry smiled. "Thank god June has a soft spot for magical creatures."

     Juniper smiled back at him. "Well, Care of Magical Creatures was one of my favorite classes."

     They flew for a few moments before Harry noticed the dragon getting lower and lower to the ground. "We're dropping!"

     "I say we jump." Ron said.

     "When?" Hermione asked.

     Juniper looked below them, taking note of the river. "Now!" And so, they all jumped off the dragon, landing into the water beneath them. They emerged, making their way to the closest piece of land.

     As soon as they got on land, Harry said, "He knows. You-know-who. He knows we broke into Gringotts. He knows what we took, and he knows we're hunting horcruxes."

     "How is it you know?" Hermione quickly asked.

     "I saw him."

     "You let him in?" Juniper asked. "Harry, you can't do that!"

     "Juniper, I can't always help it!" Harry snapped. They continued their trek up the hill. "Well, maybe I can. I don't know."

     "Never mind." Ron dismissed. "What happened?"

     "Well, he's angry."

     Juniper scoffed, "Obviously."

     Harry continued. "And scared, too. He knows if we find and destroy all the horcruxes we'll be able to kill him." Hermione leaned down and began pulling out fresh clothes for them. "I reckon he'll stop at nothing to make sure we don't find the rest." Hermione gave them an ointment to heal their hands that had been cut up from the dragon. "There's more. One of them is at Hogwarts."

     "What?" Hermione breathed, surprised.

     "You saw it?" Juniper asked.

     "I saw the castle and Rowena Ravenclaw. It must have something to do with her. We have to go there now!"

     "As much as I want to go back, we can't do that." Juniper argued.

     Hermione agreed. "We've got to plan. We've got to figure it out."

     "Hermione, when have any of our plans actually worked?" Harry asked her. "We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose."

     "He's right." Ron backed him up. "One problem―︎Snape's headmaster now. We can't just walk through the front door."

     Juniper shrugged. "Well, that's an easy fix. We use the map of course. There's so many secret passages into Hogwarts, we'll get in without anyone even noticing. The easiest option, however, would probably be to use the passage that runs through Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. There's a passage in the cellar that we can use and it will lead us right inside the castle."

     "Right." Harry agreed. "There's something wrong with him. It's like, you know, in the past, I've always been able to follow his thoughts. And now everything just feels disconnected."

     "Maybe it's the horcruxes." Ron suggested. "Maybe he's growing weaker. Maybe he's dying."

     Harry shook his head. "No. No, it's―︎it's more like he's wounded. If anything, he feels more dangerous."

     "Well, I guess we'll know soon enough." Juniper muttered, pulling out her wand and waving it, immediately drying her clothes.

     Ron and Harry looked at her. "Why didn't you do that for us?" Ron asked.

     Juniper shrugged, doing the same to Hermione's dress. "You didn't ask."

     He pointed at Hermione. "Neither did she."

     "She's my girlfriend, she doesn't have to." Juniper pressed a kiss to Hermione's cheek. "Besides, it's easier to change out of a dry dress than a wet one." She held up a towel, letting Hermione quickly change. When she was finished, Juniper grabbed her hand. "Ready?" She looked at all of them and they all nodded before Harry grabbed Juniper's hand and Ron grabbed Hermione's and they quickly apparated.