"i go crazy 'cause here isn't where i wanna be
and satisfaction feels like a distant memory"

"Has anyone seen my wand? I've seriously just put it here five seconds ago."

"No, Ronald, I haven't seen it. Will you please stop stepping on my foot?" Maia answered, rolling her eyes as Ron realized his mistake. "I've got no clothes to put on! You've got to be kidding me," the Slytherin held a red sweater with an R knitted in it. "This is really the best you've got?!"

Panic was finally rife in the room. Hermione was preparing the vial she would take to transform into Bellatrix Lestrange —keeping a little more in a canteen in case the plan took longer than anticipated—, Ron felt in his pockets for his wand —which he swore that had been there seconds ago—, Maia was complaining aloud that they had no clothes to lend her to look like her version of a Malfoy— it seemed impossible to believe that in that huge bag that always hung on Granger's shoulder there were nothing but books— and Harry was too quiet.

The euphoria of the early days had subsided considerably, as the scene at Shell Cottage revealed. Maia and Hermione had spent more than an afternoon locked in that room, trying to perfect the potion or simply trying to find a way not to screw it up. The other two Gryffindors had been surprised not to hear any insults or mixed cries coming from both girls, but it turned out that they had gotten along much better than expected.

It seemed obvious to Harry, anyway: Maia was Hermione's counterpart, the Slytherin part, pureblood —glamorous, the boy would dare to say— bright and horrifying in equal measure, they could destroy the two Gryffindors with a words if they wanted. Perfectly competent, fit for any duel that lay ahead —there was only one difference: despite her reputation, Maia had turned out to be far more risky and reckless than they had thought. Maybe it was just the situation, maybe it was that they had never gotten to know her well enough.

"Try this on," urged Hermione, her brows furrowing. "It's the most ancient-looking thing I've got here."

Maia shot her a deadly stare. "What did you just say?"

"I meant elegant!" Hermione corrected herself, aware of her poor choice of words. "Harry, will you zip up her bodice, please?"

Maia admired herself in the mirror, and while it wasn't a choice she'd made at any other time, she couldn't deny that it suited her. She had gotten the black skirt from Fleur, as well as the black high-heeled shoes —she had reminded her many times that they were from her wedding, and that although she had enchanted them to make them grow a couple of sizes more, she wanted them back. And the bodice flared her protruding chest; Ron forced himself not to look at the Malfoy, red as his hair.

The Slytherin watched Harry come up behind her in the mirror. "You're awfully quiet this wonderful evening, Potter."

Harry whispered back, pretending as if he was just yawning so his friends wouldn't make out what he was saying. "We can't do this."

Maia snorted dryly. "You're out of your mind —stretch the grip, please. Care to explain why?"

"There is no way Hermione acts like Bellatrix without breaking into tears. Have you seen her hands? Trembling as a leaf of a tree," Harry snapped, looking back at Ron and Hermione, who were bickering again. "And you... It's impossible they don't know you're a traitor by now. No offense, but I think you being there will only make things worse."

The Slytherin coughed to distract the attention. "What would you rather, Potter: me being with your little friend or me being here just hoping she doesn't pass out while walking in those Bellatrix heels? Besides, I'm capable of taking care of myself, will just flee the fuck out of there," Maia bit back. Harry looked at her with eyes wide. "I'm just kidding, Potter, I'm not leaving without all of you. Let me have a talk with Granger, yeah? And then we'll see if she's ready."

"Found it!" Informed Ron, his wand in his hands and a dumbfounded grin on his face.

"Leave," ordered Maia, her voice hard.

"What?"

"I said, leave. Are you looking for your ears, too?" Ron frowned but was aware that it was just Maia's personality. "Ah, not you, Granger. Stay."

Hermione gave her a dubious, thoughtful look, but she stayed in the room, despite Ron's stares —what Malfoy was capable of, he didn't know. Maia glanced at the steaming cauldron still on the floor, and nodded to herself when she saw that it took on the color it required to function. She trusted the Gryffindor, now it was necessary for Hermione herself to do so.

"Look at me, Granger," started Maia, looking at her through the mirror's glass. "I wasn't going to tell you, but you've let me no choice."

"What is it? Is there something else I should know about Bellatrix? Oh, Merlin—"

"Stop. You babbling isn't going to help," Maia sighed, feigning desperation, and added. "I slipped some Felix Felicis in your pumpkin juice this morning —don't look at me like that. I noticed you couldn't stop shaking your legs, which means you're nervous. Do you know who will realize you're nervous, if I can do so? Exactly, the goblins," Maia surrounded Hermione, her hands on the other girl's shoulders. "Now, you don't have to worry about anything. You've got luck on your side. Stick to the plan and it'll go smoothly."

"Where did the Felix Felicis come from?"

Is that really what worries you the most, you idiotic— stop, Maia.

"I still had something left from Slughorn's class."

"You could've warned me!"

Maia bit back, her voice mimicking Hermione's. "You wouldn't have let me! Now look at yourself. You're the brightest witch of our age, Granger. Go out there and show them what a muggleborn is capable of."

Hermione nodded to herself several times, convincing herself of the Slytherin's encouraging words. "It would help if you called me Hermione."

"Old habits die hard, Gr —Hermione." The Gryffindor let out a small smile, the same gesture tugging Maia's lips. "Come on. We've got asses to kick."

When they left the room, the two boys immediately rose from the floor, expectant. "What —What happened?" Asked Harry, his eyes diverting from Hermione to Maia back and forth.

"I told her the truth," Maia confessed and the Gryffindor didn't completely understand, a nervous smile tugging his lips nonetheless. "It's time."

The rest of them nodded, sharing knowing glances as they descended into the dining room of the house. Maia found it strange to see only Bill and Fleur —now also Griphook— and not see a trace of Ginny, who had left Shell Cottage a couple of days ago —she had tried to convince Molly to stay there, safely, with her brother and Fleur, but Molly hadn't given her consent, arguing that she'd be calmer if she stayed home with them— not before giving her a sad but equally hopeful look.

Hermione took the glass in her hands, gulping, still hesitating despite the Slytherin's confession. "Cheers," she commented.

Hermione's expression turned into a grimace of disgust, but quickly her clothes and her body were transforming into the characteristic features of Bellatrix Lestrange. Maia would squint whenever her aunt's wild hair appeared, or when she saw that her clothes were similar to hers, and her jaw clenched when Hermione's eyes were no longer chocolate, but a deep, empty black. "How do I look?" The Gryffindor wanted to know, now in full Bellatrix appearance.

"Hideous," quickly answered the blonde girl. "Which is absolutely perfect. You can put the cloak over you three already. An hour, okay?" She looked at the three Gryffindor. "One hour and it will be over."

All five disappeared, although there were only two people in view: Maia Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. Both Hermione and Maia sensed the presence of the other three near them, but couldn't deny that it was a bit intimidating that the two of them faced it seemingly alone.

They were in a creepy, dark lane in Diagon Alley. It was as if, suddenly, everything had begun to darken around them, as if the alley could sense the presence of the Death Eaters and their domain of the magical world.

"Mrs. Lestrange," a dark-cloaked man addressed Hermione.

"Good evening," She replied, her voice trembling.

Maia and Griphook turned to Hermione, who looked at them apologetically. "Good evening?" Maia narrowed her eyes. "Tuck him tonight in his bed, too, shall we?"

"I'm sorry," Hermione excused herself. Maia found it almost comical that Bellatrix Lestrange bowed her head to her.

"Remember what we said, okay?"

"Right," Hermione whispered back.

Bellatrix started walking down the hall from Gringotts, while Maia stayed a few steps behind, showing that the Lestrange had more power than her on every occasion. The goblins looked up questioningly, wanting to find out what that noise was that was stinging against the ground and taking them out of their work. Hermione seemed to be doing a good job, walking without hesitation and staring at the Gringotts chief.

For the moment everything was going well. No one had yelled that there were intruders or that a traitor was in the bank. Maia's heart was pounding, but she couldn't show her true emotions or everything would fall apart. She felt the presence of Harry and Ron at her side, a few feet away, when they reached the lectern.

Bellatrix cleared her throat, trying to get attention without saying a word, but failed. She turned to her niece, who gritted her teeth and forced her to continue insisting with a withering look.

"I wish to enter my vault," Maia couldn't deny it, even the voice was the same as her aunt's. That a potion could bring that image to life made her hair stand on end.

The goblin stopped writing with an exasperated sigh. "Identification?"

Bellatrix sneakily turned back, gulping. Maia cleared her throat gently. "I do not think that will be necessary."

The goblin raised his head at last, curious, and dropped the feather from his hand when he saw the pair in front of him. "Mrs. Lestrange! I may need to see your wand, I'm sure you understand, due to the actual climate."

Maia watched from behind as Hermione fought not to hesitate. "My wand has been stolen, you ought to know that."

The creature frowned a little, almost imperceptibly given his facial features, but it nodded to himself and left for the chamber. Soon after, he returned with another goblin, who raised his eyebrows at the sight of Bellatrix Lestrange and her niece.

"They know," Griphook whispered beside them. "They know she's an impostor."

"I'm afraid we must see your wand in order to let you in, Mrs. Lestrange."

The blonde stepped forward, her face serious but insolent. "She's said her wand was stolen. Don't you know? By those horrid blood traitors, mudblood—"

Maia interrupted herself when she saw Hermione turn and give her an impassive look. "This isn't how I've taught you to behave. Be sure we will talk later."

"Sorry, aunt Bella," Maia lowered her head, trying to hide a small smile that threatened to cross her lips: Hermione was doing better than she would have expected.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Lestrange," Hermione stood in her place, trying not to look at the wand she saw emerging from Harry and Ron's invisibility cloak. She heard an imperio, and as much as she might have opposed its use in other circumstances, she was now relieved for it. "Please, follow me."

The other goblin next to the head goblin's eyes widened when he changed his mind so quickly. Bellatrix gave him a haughty look, which was mimicked by Maia. As they entered the deep dark grounds of the bank, Harry uncovered himself and the other two people under it.

"Over here," instructed Griphook, walking ahead of them with the other goblin still imperiused.

"You were brilliant over there!" Ron whispered excitedly. "For a moment I thought they got us."

"You did better than I expected," Maia confessed, a smirk tracing her lips, looking at the Gryffindor. It was weird seeing Hermione smiling disguised as Bellatrix. "Oh, one more thing—"

"—We know you didn't mean those words, Maia—"

"—That's actually not what I was going to say —but, yeah, that too," her nose was scrunched when she took a look at Hermione. "What I said earlier about the Felix Felicis... a lie."

Hermione gasped, lifted herself off the trolley and almost fell over. "It was a lie?! We could've been caught!"

"Have we been, though? If you believed there was luck in your bones then you'd act accordingly. You were speaking and walking like you were Bellatrix, you completely nailed it, because you thought nothing could go wrong."

"It was reckless!" Hermione still argued.

"How you acted back there was what you would've done if you weren't afraid. So consider yourself reckless, then."

Harry took his turn. "Why have you told us now? We still have to get in and grab it."

Maia looked at him directly. "Because luck doesn't exist. What happened was purely Granger and her self confidence in thinking she could achieve anything. What is ahead ourselves is on the four of us, now. If we get out of here alive and with the horcrux, then we've done a good job."

Ron gulped. "And if we don't?"

"Then we simply weren't good enough," Maia answered, dragging her words.

A red light illuminated the compartment they were occupying, and seconds later an alarm jolted their ears. The cart stopped short as it passed under a large fountain, drenching all the occupants of the carriage. Then the wood that served as the floor split open and they all plummeted into a deep, suffocating void.

"Aresto momentum!" Hermione —now her normal appearance— and Maia yelled at the same time. The bodies of the six were left levitating in the air, and when they were close enough to the ground not to hurt themselves, the spell disappeared and their bodies came into contact with the rock.

"Why is she looking normal again?" Ronald asked looking at Hermione.

"Extreme security. Once you get in, all enchantments vanish," answered Griphook.

Maia couldn't believe what she was experiencing. She had been at Hogwarts half a year ago, her thoughts far from the castle but not this far. Two months ago, her deepest concern was that no one would find out what had happened with Ginny at Hogwarts. A month ago, a dagger from her aunt had pierced her skin, she had proclaimed herself a traitor, and she had almost died. In those same moments, their feet were descending through the tunnels of the depths of Gringotts, having sneaked with Harry Potter and his friends into the vault of their aunt —who was probably seeking revenge against her—, looking for a horcrux that they weren't even sure was there.

And, of course, a huge knot in the pit of her stomach. Since they had entered, there was something that Maia didn't like, although she hadn't dared to speak her concerns out loud.

Potter's manipulated goblin had stopped short, making everyone slow down and look at each other as if there was some problem. "What are you all doing here? Impostors—"

This time it was the Weasley who cast the spell on the bank chief, who smiled again as if possessed. A snore and a timid roar as a result alerted the four students, who looked towards the hole that augured the only possible exit from there, now that they had been detected.

"We have a dragon guarding the vaults, in case someone like you decide to break in," Griphook reported, a chilling smile on his face.

She picked up a small bell —Maia was convinced it would hardly resemble a small stone in her hand— and shook it. The dragon, drowsy, continued to listen to the rhythm of the instrument, letting the goblins and their companions pass without incident other than surprise at the presence of a dragon.

"You have to shake the bell," informed the goblin. "The dragon feels pain if you do so, that's what keeps him this quiet."

Maia watched the dragon's eyes redden, almost like a human's urge to cry. She shared the same feeling as Granger, who made a grimace of her face at the little cries of pain from the creature.

Shortly afterwards they reached the door of the Lestrange vault. A strange sense of familiarity filled Maia's body, even though she had never visited this place before. Bellatrix Lestrange had never had the opportunity to bring her niece to her vault to appreciate the great heritage of the Lestrange and the Blacks, but the truth is that Maia had no interest in seeing the contents of the chamber; she just wanted to get in, grab the horcrux, and get out as fast as she could.

The feeling that something was going to go wrong kept taking over her thoughts.

None of them could help the gasp that escaped their lips as they saw so many jewels, gold, and other glittering things in the vault. Something stirred inside the Malfoy as her eyes scanned the room; it was as if her heart could sense that there was something waiting for them.

"Do you think it is here, Harry?" Whispered Ron. "Can you feel anything?"

Maia answered before the Gryffindor. "It's here. It makes sense because she was notoriously worried about someone having broken in, but we have to be careful. My aunt is not stupid, and surely you have enchanted the place so no one touches her—" she hadn't even finished speaking when Hermione shifted in her place, uncomfortable, and dropped a small glass. Before hitting the ground, the jewel had already multiplied by two, and its two parts by another two, and so on until it reached an unexpected cup level. "—things."

"I can see it! Up there," Harry shouted.

"Everyone else, don't move!" Urged Maia. "If it's only Potter who makes things multiply we'll have higher chances of making it out of here."

Ron and Hermione nodded to themselves, sharing a knowing look with Maia, who was staring at Harry. Beneath him, the golden goblets continued to multiply each time they made contact with the ground, but there was nothing more they could do to prevent it. The three of them tried not to move too much —Maia could have sworn she saw Hermione out of the corner of her eye hold her breath— but the speed at which the jewels filled the room was eerie.

Griphook reluctantly passed the Gryffindor sword to Harry when he claimed it. Thanks to it he was able to reach the small cup, visibly different from the others despite efforts to make it go unnoticed in the vault. Harry stumbled over the amount of the others that were scattered around the room and the Hufflepuff cup reached Griphook's hands, who showed his teeth.

"The cup for the sword, Potter! That's the deal."

Harry no longer cared about anything other than getting the horcrux back, so before the watchful eyes of the others, he disposed of the sword, throwing the cup at the Slytherin. She held it securely in her arms, with the inevitable concern that something would happen to it if she came into contact with the horcrux, but nothing seemed to happen.

"I told you I was gonna let you in, never talked about getting you out," the goblin shouted with a malicious grin on his face.

Maia gritted her teeth and Ron mimicked her gesture. Griphook fled with the enchanted goblin and sword. Very soon after they saw that the glasses came up to their shoulders. "Anyone has any idea of ​​how to get out of here?" Hermione let herself be heard above all the noise.

"I suffer from claustrophobia," confessed Maia. "So I don't know about you, but I'm not letting a damn room kill me. Bombarda!" Screamed the girl, but not even that destroyed the wall. A powerful beam of red light shot out of her wand as she yelled this time: "Bombarda maxima!

The glasses began to flicker and the wall could be heard creaking as if it were simple wood. A huge crack opened in the wall and jewels began to fall through it, allowing the four students to push their way out of the vault. They barely caught their breath when they all got out, but they came face-to-face with dozens of guards casting spells their way.

"You got me there!" Maia shouted in between the spells coming their way. "What do we do now?"

"I've got something, but you won't like it," Hermione said, defending herself from the stun she had just deflected.

The Gryffindor then leaped on the dragon, which had been in a rage since the watchers had accidentally awakened it with their spell fury. The Slytherin and the two Gryffindors looked at each other, eyes wide. "I told Harry on our first year: that one's mental."

"Jump!" Encouraged the girl from the dragon's back, which shook, furious at being the target of the spells.

Ronald was the first to trust the Gryffindor's words. Maia didn't know if it was because the boy was obviously in love with Hermione or because he had blind trust in her, but the Slytherin mimicked the redhead's gesture, and Harry followed her shortly after.

"Reducto!" The chains wrapped around the dragon's legs came loose, and the security guards took refuge behind the columns so that the fire from the creature's mouth wouldn't reach them.

The four intruders kept casting spells downward, not with the intention of harming anyone, but of protecting themselves. They clung to the dragon's scales as if their lives depended on it, ducking their heads whenever the dragon collided with a wall. The creature toppled the dome of Gringotts Bank, and from there, it flew towards Merlin knew where.