Avalon - Chapter 67 - The Rat

The Rat

The cave had been empty.

Not only had the army of inferi he’d painstakingly created been destroyed, but the locket belonging to his ancestor had been taken.

The Dark Lord had merely stood on the little stone island, peering into the empty stone basin, as the stench of burnt, rotten flesh filled his nose. For how long he did so, he couldn’t be certain, but upon managing to pull himself from his state of shock, he was filled with a mixture of anger, panic, and fear.

So very few would be capable of managing such a feat as to find the cave itself, navigate each of the obstacles, consume the draught he’d created, endure the effects of it, and have the wherewithal to fend off the inferi.

The very idea that someone could do all of those things was ludicrous, and yet, Lord Voldemort was leaving the cave without the locket, and more fear than when he’d entered, his mind awash with the very worst of thoughts beginning to plague him.

He shook his head and took a moment to steady his breathing.

“The elf,” he whispered.

Only the damned elf he’d used to assist him with hiding the locket could’ve spoken of it, and that very same beastly creature belonged to none other than the Black family.

Perhaps then the missing locket could merely be an anomaly?

Another wave of fear washed over him.

If that was so, the ring would not have been discovered.

He had told no one of it, nor shared where it was hidden.

It had been a lone venture, and yet, it too had been taken.

But what of the others?

Pacing frantically back and forth in front of the fireplace, he sent for Bellatrix, Lucius, and Wormtail.

The former two had been entrusted to care for a Horcrux each, and he would need the third to check on another.

Not that he would disclose what it was Wormtail would be searching for.

There was quite the risk he would be caught entering the castle, but the Dark Lord needed to know that the diadem remained where he had left it so many years prior.

As expected, Bellatrix was the first to arrive, and though she was smiling in anticipation of being given a task to please her master, her expression fell as she took in his demeanour.

“My Lord?” she questioned, a frown furrowing her brow.

He took a moment to steady his voice before speaking, and when he did so, he was surprised by how calm he sounded despite his inner turmoil.

“Some time ago, I gave something to you to keep safe for me.”

“The cup,” Bellatrix acknowledged.

“It is still safe?”

“Of course, my lord.”

The Dark Lord nodded, feeling just a little relief replacing the dread that had settled within him.

“I would like you to fetch it for me.”

“Now, my lord?”

Voldemort nodded.

“Then I will need to pay a visit to my vault. I shall return with it shortly.”

She left, and the Dark Lord nodded approvingly.

Hiding the Horcrux within Gringotts was quite the ingenious solution, and one he had considered himself, but had opted against. His given name would not have allowed him a vault in the deepest, most protected part of the bank, and if it were to be him to place such a thing in the care of the goblins, perhaps it would not have been as safe.

With so many uncertainties, he had not taken the risk, but Bellatrix evidently believed in the security of her own to do so.

“You sent for me, my lord?”

He frowned at the appearance of Wormtail.

He’d expected Lucius to arrive long before the rodent-like Pettigrew.

“Have you found a way into the castle, Wormtail?”

“I have, my lord, but it is not one that can be used to take it. I can only make it through as a rat. It is one of the older ones we used when we were students. Black unintentionally caused it to collapse, but I have found a way through.”

“Then you will need to use it, and quickly. There is something I need for you to retrieve from the castle. Fear not, Wormtail, it is in a place no other knows of.”

The man had immediately become wide-eyed and nervous at the mention of entering Hogwarts, but he must.

Much to the Dark Lord’s chagrin, there was no alternative.

“O-of course, my lord,” the rat stammered. “What is it I am to collect?”

“An item of the utmost importance,” the Dark Lord answered as he summoned a piece of parchment and a quill.

He knew that telling the damned fool what it was he was looking for and how to reach it left too much room for error, but having it written down in his own hand, Pettigrew would have no excuse for failing in the task should he return without the diadem.

When he was done, he handed the parchment to the man.

“Do not fail me, Wormtail,” he warned.

The rat nodded nervously as he all but sprinted from the room, eliciting a glare of irritation from the unkept patriarch of the Malfoy family.

Oh, how Lucius had fallen.

He seemed to have aged by more than a decade these past months.

His skin was sallow, and eyes bloodshot from the mix of lack of sleep and habitual consumption of alcohol.

“You requested my presence, my lord.”

“I did. When you found yourself as perhaps my most valuable of followers, I gifted you something, a book you assured would be safe under your care.”

“You did.”

“I need that book, Lucius.”

For a brief moment, the blond appeared to be nervous, but he schooled his features before nodding.

“Then I shall fetch it for you now, my lord,” he assured him. “It is in a place that only I know of and can access.”

“Do so, Lucius,” the Dark Lord urged, narrowing his eyes as the man left the room before releasing a deep breath to calm himself.

Three.

At the very least, three of his Horcruxes would be returned to him soon enough.

Were he not feeling so vulnerable and even paranoid, he would perhaps leave the diadem and cup where they rested, but he needed to see them, to see for himself that they remained intact and unmolested.

Until then, he could not truly relax, and for now, it would be a seemingly long wait until they were safely in his possession where none could get to them.

“Come, Nagini. I think it is best that you stay close until we are certain.”

The large serpent crawled towards him and curled herself protectively around his feet, whilst the Dark Lord did his utmost to not consider the very worst that could come from the discovery of the destruction of the Gaunt shack.

(Break)

The bank remained empty for the most, but Morgana watched the entrance closely from where she had skittered her way under the front desk at the main desk.

Riddle would know of what had happened to his family home by now, and if he panicked as Harry expected, she would either find herself in the company of Bellatrix, or they would have given it all away for nothing.

Of course, Harry had others watching places of interest for any sign of the woman, but Morgana was all but certain she would arrive here.

There was simply no other place she would leave something of such value, even if she didn’t know what it was she’d truly been given.

To her, it would be the most precious of things, no matter what it was.

If Harry was right in his thoughts, Helga’s cup was a priceless artefact in its own right, but to Bellatrix, only the worth it held to her master would be of consequence.

Morgana was pulled from her thoughts as she watched a cloaked figure enter Gringotts.

Their face was obscured by the robes they wore, but the gait of the walk, and even how they carried themselves was distinctly feminine.

The click-clacking of heels only confirmed it, and as the woman reached the desk, still hiding her appearance, she placed an exceedingly distinct wand on the desk.

“I would like to visit my vault,” she murmured.

Morgana immediately recognised the voice, and carefully crawled forward, clinging to the hem of the robes in the nick of time before Bellatrix was led away, knowing she needed to play her hand carefully.

There were measures in place here that would undoubtedly reveal her, including the blasted Thief’s Downfall they would inevitably pass through.

Still, she was prepared for the eventuality, and hoped Harry’s faith in his cloak would prove to be well-found.

Fortunately, Bellatrix was just as lithely built as her, and as climbed into the awaiting cart in the adjoining corridor of the foyer, there was more than enough room for the two of them when Morgana inevitably transformed.

As they began barrelling along the tracks, she climbed onto the back of the cart where she could precariously perch herself and make use of the cloak she had borrowed from her husband.

For now, it would be a tense interlude, and as they continued making their way deeper into the bank, Morgana took a calming breath to prepare herself for what was to come.

Bellatrix would not hand over the cup willingly.

On the contrary, she would fight until her final breath to keep her master’s prized possession in her grasp.

Knowing this, Morgana braced herself, and deftly concealed herself within the cloak as they passed through the Thief’s Downfall, daring not to even twitch to avoid being detected too soon.

Seeing that the goblin nor Bellatrix seemed to have noticed her, she relaxed somewhat but remained vigilant.

So many things could go wrong before the Horcrux had been retrieved, and Morgana knew there was no room for error on her part.

Every step must be executed perfectly until the final moment where chaos would inevitably ensue.

(Break)

He kept a close eye on the map, though he couldn’t help but ponder just what might be happening within the walls of Gringotts.

Bellatrix had indeed arrived at the bank, undoubtedly doing so at the behest of Riddle, who would be panicking about the status of each of his Horcruxes.

He would’ve arrived at the Gaunt shack to find it ablaze and bereft of the ring that had once adorned his ancestors fingers, the very same ring that rested in front of Harry, devoid of the soul fragment it had housed.

Albus had been correct.

The black stone of the ring was indeed the last of the Hallows gifted to the Peverells more than a thousand years prior, meaning Harry had accumulated all three.

The headmaster had never asked for the wand to be returned to him, after all, and Harry suspected he was rather relieved to be rid of it.

The stone, however, had quite hold over the man, who had implored him to remove it from his sight.

What is was Albus desired, Harry didn’t know, but it had been enough to almost cost the man his life the first time they’d visited Little Hangleton. It seemed that all men had their weakness, something Harry was not impervious to.

His own was his wife, and whilst she was busy infiltrating Gringotts in a bid to relieve Bellatrix of another of the Horcruxes, he was sitting behind his desk in his office watching the map closely.

If Riddle was so worried about his Horcruxes, he would have need to check on the one he’d hidden within the room on the seven floor, only Harry did not expect him to come.

No, he would send another, and there was only one of his followers who could hope to make it into the castle undetected.

Harry’s nostrils flared as he caught sight of a dot appearing on the parchment in one of the disused passageways that had been collapsed before he’d even started Hogwarts, and a malicious grin tugged at his lips.

“Dobby,” he called.

“Harry Potter sent for Dobby,” the elf replied as he appeared with a gentle pop.

“Tell Draco it is time.”

Dobby nodded before vanishing once more, and Harry stood, drawing his wand as he stalked from the classroom, casting a disillusionment charm over himself in anticipation of finally getting his hands on Peter Pettigrew.

(Break)

“Now?” Draco whispered, immediately wide awake from his restless slumber that had been interrupted by the elf.

“Harry Potter says now.”

Draco nodded and stood on his trembling legs as he slicked his hair back nervously.

The moment had come so soon that he’d barely decided upon a course of action despite knowing the layout of the manor better than any save for his father.

He knew that it would take around five minutes from where his mother would be resting to get them clear of the protections the Dark Lord had put into place, and from there, they could be free.

Dressing, he could not escape the thought that these could be the very last moments of his life, and with that in mind, he retrieved the letter he had written to the wayward girl he’d come to miss.

“Could you…?”

He released a deep breath as the elf looked at him questioningly.

“If I don’t make it, could you see that this letter find its way to the girl it is addressed to? I wouldn’t ask, but I do not have anyone else.”

The elf eyed the sealed envelope for a moment before nodding.

“Dobby will do that for former master,” he declared soberly,

Draco nodded appreciatively and took a final look around the room he’d spent the better part of seven years in.

Perhaps his schooling would prove to be for nothing, and his life would indeed be cut short, but he had to try. For once in his life, he knew he needed to find the needed courage to rescue his mother from her plight.

Even if he chose not to act now, in only a matter of days, both would likely be dead when Draco failed to kill Dumbledore, either at the hands of the Dark Lord himself, or Potter, who would not need an excuse to do so.

“I’m ready,” Draco murmured, though he felt anything but.

Before he could lose his nerve and what little courage he had managed to muster, he held out his hand and was pulled from Hogwarts for what could well be the very last time he’d ever see the castle again.

(Break)

She watched as Bellatrix entered the vault.

It was full of gold and other trinkets, but the woman ventured to the very back where she climbed a ladder to reach something that had been placed high on one of the shelves adorning the walls.

Upon taking it in her grasp, she took a moment to look at it reverently, and Morgana stepped forward, only for the goblin accompanying Bellatrix to turn sharply towards.

He could not see her, but evidently, could sense that something was amiss.

“INTRUDER!” he bellowed.

Morgana stepped out of reach of the little creature as it swiped towards her, but the sound of crashing footsteps filled the stone tunnels, and though she managed to avoid being seen, she was soon surrounded by goblins and a furious Bellatrix, whose eyes were scanning the immediate area.

“I see no intruder!” she huffed.

“Something is here,” the goblin growled. “I sensed something that doesn’t belong.”

Bellatrix tutted.

“I will be leaving,” she declared. “You will take me back up!”

The goblin shook its head.

“I’m afraid you will be going nowhere until the entire vault system has been searched meticulously, Mrs Lestrange. The bank is now n lockdown and will not be reopened until we are certain it is secure from any and all threats.”

Bellatrix’s nostrils flared, and as she drew her wand in irritation, the heavily armed goblins responded in kind, brandishing a variety of vicious weapons as they bared their teeth.

For a moment, the woman’s gaze swept across the scores of goblins, but she showed no sign of backing down, nor did the creatures.

They already despised humans, for the most part, and drawing a wand on them was likely all the excuse they needed to act upon such a threat.

Even so, whilst the goblins muttered amongst themselves and Bellatrix continued to glare at them, Morgana did not remain idle.

How she had been detected, she was unsure, but it did not change that she was taking such a risk for a significant reward. As such, she carefully moved so she was closer to Bellatrix, but far enough away that she would not be caught up in the impending melee before firing a spell.

Chaos quickly ensued.

Whether or not Bellatrix would’ve attacked them no longer mattered.

The goblins did not take kindly to the affront of a human even threatening them, but as the spell smashed into the armour of one of the creatures, sending him tumbling into others, they reacted quickly and violently.

Bellatrix was confused, but reacted immediately to the charging creatures, unleashing a gout of fire that scorched several and sent the others into a frenzy.

“Accio cup,” Morgana whispered.

The Horcrux was ripped from Bellatrix’s hand, and she screamed in anger as she unleashed a plethora of spells on the goblins, rushing forward into the gap she’d made in the ranks in a bid to find it.

Unfortunately for Morgana, it had been intercepted, glancing off the armour of one of the goblins before clattering to the floor.

Cursing under her breath, she navigated her way towards it, casting a thick fog, only of her hand to grasp one of the handles as Bellatrix took the other.

It was a look of shock that adorned the features of the other woman.

“You!” she hissed, tugging at the cup.

Morgana merely grinned in response before hurling Bellatrix into the fray of goblins with a banishing charm and hastily retreating, pocketing the cup and summoning the cloak.

When it was back in her hand, she covered herself in it once more as she pondered just how she would escape from the bowels of the bank.

Moving along the tracks, the sound of the fighting remained close as Bellatrix evidently fought to give chase.

Morgana’s attention, however, was firmly on the enormous, pale beast she found herself facing in the adjoining cavern, and though the dragon could not see her, it could certainly smell her beneath the cloak.

Thinking quickly, she fired a blasting curse towards the chain binding the creature and used the distraction to pocket the cloak before quickly transforming into a small robin, taking to the air and landing on the dragon’s back just as a trio of goblins skidded limply into the cavern.

Two of them were already dead, but the third stood, only to be snatched up by the jaws of the behemoth, and the dragon roared triumphantly after it had swallowed its unexpected meal.

With the cacophony of noise only growing louder, the creature became restless, stomping its feet in anticipation.

Reverting back to her human form, Morgana placed a hand on the hard scales, whispering to calm it, and instead of continuing to paw the ground irritably, the dragon began to growl in a low rumble, sniffing the air, likely unable to see out of its milky eyes.

It was only a moment later that the racket became deafening, and as the violence spilled into the cavern, there was no more placating he beast, and it breathed an enormous plume of fire, scorching more of the goblins.

Morgana spotted Bellatrix amongst them, who somehow continued to manage to fend the attackers off, but she had been wounded several times and would fall victim to the next onslaught courtesy of the dragon.

Unable to deny this, she glared balefully at Morgana before firing a spell towards her, which succeeded in only striking the dragon, sending it into another frenzy.

Once more it stomped its feet, and breathed fire in all directions, before seemingly realising it was free of its chains.

Morgana found herself clinging to one the spikes within reach on its back as it began climbing up, tearing chunks away from the jagged walls in its sudden bid for freedom.

Below, the goblins scattered to avoid being crushed, but a few spells were hurled towards the dragon by the desperate Bellatrix, who quickly found herself under attack once more.

Morgana could only shake her head as the dragon continued its ascent.

Somehow, she had managed to obtain the Horcrux, bringing them a much-needed step closer to being rid of the Dark Lord that had plagued Harry all his life, and as the dragon burst through the floor of the foyer of Gringotts, she held on tighter, though she smiled as the dragon growled contently when it tasted the fresh ai of Diagon Alley, likely for the first time.

It did not linger, however.

Upon freeing itself, it took to the sky, and the frantic screaming from those below was lost to them as they continued to climb away from them and to the freedom of the skies.

(Break)

He continued watching the map, watching as Pettigrew carefully navigated his way through the corridors until he reached the seventh floor, passing him by without paying him any mind.

Harry’s eyes narrowed as the rodent transformed into the squat man he had once saved, much to his chagrin.

Were in such a position as he had been in the Shrieking Shack, he would revel in seeing his godfather avenging his parents.

Harry had been young and foolish then, too preoccupied what would have happened to Sirius instead of what Wormtail deserved. Now, however, he would finally reap what he had sown, and the man would suffer terribly for his transgressions.

Pettigrew was nervous.

Perhaps he could sense that danger was near as he paced bag and forth, murmuring frantically under his breath.

Harry, however, was not to content to allow the rat to even access the room, and as he revealed himself, Peter froze, his eyes widening in abject terror as he became aware of the protections falling into place.

“Hello, Wormtail,” Harry greeted him.

Peter screamed and collapsed to the ground in agony as his attempt to transform failed, and he was punished by the protections. Desperately, he fumbled for his wand, only to be bereft of it as Harry hit him with a disarming charm.

“I have been waiting for this moment for more than a decade,” he chuckled amusedly. “I foolishly spared your life, but that will not happen again. You betrayed them, Peter, and for that, your final hours are going to be spent suffering in every way you can conceive before I kill you. Don’t worry, the diadem was never waiting for you. Your master will be following you soon enough, but this isn’t about him. This is about you, Peter.”

The rat flinched as Harry flicked his wand in his direction and squealed as he was transformed and placed within a cage that had been conjured around him.

Grinning, Harry shrunk it and placed it within his robes.

“Fear not, Peter, we will have all the time in the world to make sure you suffer enough,” he murmured as he consulted the map once more.

There was nothing else amiss within the castle for now, and Harry made his way back towards his office where he could continue watching out for the arrival of Draco, and the return of his wife, who, if all went well, would’ve acquired another Horcrux.

(Break)

He’d had so many fond memories here, and yet, as he looked upon what had once been a happy home, Draco was weighed down by fear at the mere sight of the imposing building, let alone waited awaited him within.

It wasn’t only the Dark Lord that gave him pause, but his Aunt Bellatrix, and all the other loyal followers who were currently living there.

How Draco could hope to get his mother out, he didn’t know, but he couldn’t walk away. The elf had vanished the moment he had deposited Draco a short distance away from the protections, and now, it was all up to him.

Releasing a deep breath in a bid to steady his nerves, he shook his head as he made his way towards the house, his grip tightening around his wand, for all the good it would do.

If the Dark Lord was to discover his deception, he would be killed.

Draco doubted he could even deter his own aunt from doing so on behalf of her master, but there was nothing else for it.

He had dug deep to find the courage to do what he intended and knowing that his letter would be delivered if this was indeed to be it for him, Draco’s pace quickened.

He needed to get his mother out of there, and his father, if the man would see sense.

Draco was not sure he would.

Lucius Malfoy had been all but broken by the Dark Lord, and undoubtedly worsened in the months since Draco had last been home. His father had been a drunken mess, unkempt, and barely able to string a sentence together.

Draco loved him dearly, but he could not deny that it was his father’s fault he found himself where he was now, frantically scrambling to salvage what he could of his family.

Reaching one of the side entrances to the manor that would lead him through the kitchens, he carefully navigated his way into one of the corridors, ducking into an alcove to catch his breath and steady his heat rate.

He’d never done anything so terrifying, and he had no intention of doing so again should he make it through this.

Bracing himself, he stepped out of the alcove and stuck close to the wall as he made his way into the foyer, where he hurried up the stairs to where his parents slept.

By what he could only deem to be a stroke of luck, his aunt was seemingly absent from the family wing of the home, and as Draco reached the door to his parents room, he heard panicked but hushed voices on the other side.

He could not discern the words, but the voices belonged to his mother and father.

Pushing the door open, Draco was greeted by the sight of fearful glances, and his mother’s trembling wand aimed towards him.

“Draco?” she choked.

He could only nod as he closed the door behind him.

“We have to leave!” he said urgently. “The Dark Lord will kill us if we don’t.”

“Where will go?” his mother asked.

“Hogwarts,” Draco whispered. “Potter…he sent me here to get you.”

“Potter?”

Draco nodded.

“There’s no time to explain. We need to go, now!”

Before either his mother or father could digest what he’d said, a blaring alarm sounded throughout the house.

“The Dark Lord is gathering everyone,” the latter explained. “Something must be happening.”

“It is,” Draco replied. “I do not know what, but Potter promised he would get me time to get you out.”

“What of me?”

Draco swallowed deeply as he looked at his father.

“He made no promises, but I expect he will hand you over to Bones.”

Lucius chuckled humourlessly.

“Either that, or he would kill me,” he mused aloud.

Draco said nothing as the voices from the foyer below reached them.

Once more, he could not hear what was being said, but they faded only a moment later, leaving the trio in an eerie silence.

“They’ve left,” Narcissa choked in relief. “If we’re going…”

She looked hopefully towards her husband who looked towards where his wand hand used to be.

“Death or probable death,” he murmured. “At least Potter might make it quick.”

Nodding, he gestured for Draco and Narcissa to follow, and the woman shrunk the few trunks they’d managed to pack before Draco had arrived.

“Where were you going to go?”

“It doesn’t matter,” his father sighed. “You cannot hide from him when he decides he wants you dead.”

It was true.

Only Potter had managed to survive the Dark Lord thus far, or had a hand in ensuring those the man targeted yet breathed. It was almost fascinating, though Draco knew he could not lose focus.

As he followed in the wake of his parents, he kept his wand in hand, and his father clutched one in his left, likely having taken it from those left behind by one of their ancestors.

His own had been lost to him the night his hand had been removed.

“And where is it you are going? The Dark Lord wishes to speak with you upon his return.”

Draco stilled at the sight of Barty Crouch.

The man had taken leave of his senses years ago, but had fortunately not been around much since the Dark Lord had returned, though Draco had seen enough of him to know he was quite insane, much like his aunt.

The smile he wore was most disconcerting, and Draco stepped protectively in front of his mother.

She was no fighter.

Despite being raised a Black, she had not taken after Bellatrix when it came to pursuing violence. She’d once revealed to him that she’d wished to be a Healer, but marrying her father and having him had put an end to her ambition.

Draco was under no illusion that he could beat Crouch in a fight.

He was one of the Dark Lord’s very best, after all.

“We are going to retrieve something for the Dark Lord,” Lucius answered. “He asked me to do so, and I will need my wife and my son to assist me. Why else would Draco be here?”

Barty chuckled amusedly as he shook his head.

“Why indeed?” he mused aloud. “Well, I have been instructed to ensure no one leaves, and that includes you, Lucius. Do be a good man and follow me. Our master will decide if you are to be given permission.”

“Where is he?”

“Attending to something, but he will return soon enough.”

Crouch was leering at them, his wand pointing at Lucius almost willing him to be defiant.

“He already decided, Barty.”

“And then he changed his…”

He scowled as Lucius fired a spell at him, and deftly avoided the curse.

“RUN!”

Draco did not need telling twice, and his took his mother by the hand. Dragging her out of the front door, he led her through the grounds countless hours flying over as a child.

He could feel his heart pounding in his ears, but he was focused on getting them out of there.

Draco had not expected such a sudden bout of courage from his father, but Lucius had come through for his wife and son when they’d needed him most.

How long he could hope to survive against Barty using a borrowed wand and without his dominant hand, Draco did not know, but he suspected that he would not see his father alive again.

He choked on that realisation and wiped the tears from his eyes as he continued all but dragging his mother towards the gates of their home they were fleeing and into the unknown that awaited them on the other side.

Would Potter truly allow them to live?

All Draco knew was that the future was so uncertain, and as he pondered the journey that brought him to this very moment, he could only shake his head.

His life had fallen apart so quickly, but now, just maybe, something could be salvaged from the debris.

How that could be was not something he could hope to answer even as he stepped over the threshold of Malfoy Manor and activated the portkey Potter had given him.

There was little relief to be felt, only heartache and uncertainty, but he had made it out with his mother; truthfully much more than he’d expected from this evening.

(Break)

The entirety of Diagon Alley had been was empty, save for the followers he had sent to secure it, and the Dark Lord looked upon Gringotts in the distance, the gaping hole in the roof, and he watched closely as he approached.

“What happened?” he asked Antonin quietly.

“We are unsure, my lord, but the bank would only react like this f it had been attacked. Witnesses say they saw a dragon come out through the roof with a woman on its back before it flew away.”

The Dark Lord frowned.

“Bellatrix?”

“Bellatrix, my lord?”

“She was sent here to retrieve something, Antonin. I must know if it is her.”

Taking the man by the wrist, he pulled the sleeve of his robes up, exposing the Dark mark, and pressed his forefinger to it.

If something had gone amiss and Bellatrix had needed to flee, she would return to him here. However, when several minutes went by, there was no sign of the woman, and he became concerned.

No, something wasn’t right, but before he could begin to ponder what had truly happened, the front door of Gringotts was blasted open, and a gravely wounded Bellatrix collapsed on the steps of the foyer, bleeding and being pursued by a heavily armed mob of goblins, who paused at the sight of him.

The Dark Lord flared his nostrils as the creatures looked towards him with no small amount of concern in their beady eyes.

“KILL THEM!” he commanded furiously as he stepped forward, ensuring his most loyal follower would come to no further harm.

He did not know what had happened, but he could see he clothing and flesh had been scorched, and she’d been wounded several times. Her skin was paler than usual, but she managed to reach towards him with a trembling hand.

He took it in his own and quickly realised that she was not long for this world.

“Do you have it?” he asked.

“I’m s-sorry, m-my lord. I c-couldn’t s-stop her.”

“Who? Who couldn’t you stop?”

He suspected he already knew the answer, but he needed to hear it from Bellatrix, needed for her to confirm his fears.

“The D-dark witch…Potter…”

Her finals words had been the name that had haunted him for too long, the name of the foe she had come to equally despise, and as the Dark Lord stood to survey the scene around him, he felt his rage finally spill over.

Stalking into the bank, he unleashed a guttural raw, cursing a goblin who dared lunge for him with a bloodied knife.

Against all odds, and though he struggled to believe such a thing could be, he knew he could no longer deny what had happened.

Somehow, Potter had indeed discovered his deepest of secrets, and the Dark Lord had never felt so vulnerable.

Now, more than ever, he needed Wormtail to come through for him, he needed Lucius to prove himself, and he needed to find the damned witch who had allied herself with Potter.

What good it would do in having his Horcrux returned to him, he didn’t know, but he would kill her, make her suffer for her transgressions against him, at the very least.

(Break)

Harry had been surprised to see Draco arriving at the grounds with his mother in tow, and even happier that Lucius had not been accompanying them.

It had been Albus who had met the duo and had led them to his office.

There was no telling what had happened at Malfoy Manor, but to Harry, that wasn’t so important, not when he was waiting for Morgana to return to the castle, hopefully with another Horcrux for them to destroy.

She was well.

He could feel it within himself that she had experienced a myriad of emotions in the passing moments, and she was drawing ever closer to him, but he remained ignorant of what may have transpired.

It had not been easy remaining at Hogwarts whilst she ventured off alone.

Harry had become accustomed to being at the forefront of the efforts to destroy Tom, but he’d not been able to ignore the possibility of Pettigrew arriving to fetch the diadem.

With his suspicion proving to be correct, he did not regret his decision, and he trusted Morgana implicitly, having every faith in her success.

Even so, it had undeniably been a tumultuous night, and that didn’t change as he watched her own dot appear on the map, though he breathed a deep sigh of relief knowing she was safe.

When dealing with Riddle, anything could go amiss, but his faith in his wife had not wavered, and had been well-found.

Taking his leave of his classroom, he made his way through the corridors of the castle, meeting her as she reached the entrance hall.

Morgana looked no worse for wear.

Her hair was in disarray, and she’d seemingly endured quite the ordeal, but she nodded as she removed Helga’s cup from within her robes, eliciting a proud smile from him.

“What took you so long?” he asked amusedly.

Morgana quirked an eyebrow at him.

“I had to make sure my new friend was well enough to make her way home.”

“Your new friend?”

“Quite an impressive dragon I found in Gringotts. She deserves to live out the rest of her life not being tormented by those little monsters.”

“Bellatrix?”

Morgana shrugged.

“Perhaps she made it out, but I wouldn’t be so certain. The goblins were not pleased. And you?”

Harry’s nostrils flared as he removed the shrunken cage from within his robes and held it up for the woman to see.

Morgana eyed the rat with utter contempt before placing a tender kiss on Harry’s lips.

“I will see you back at Grimmauld Place. We will destroy this together, but not before you get what you want from him.”

She kissed him once more before taking her leave of the castle, and Harry shifted his attention towards Pettigrew.

“It seems as though Tom’s days are numbered. It’s a shame you won’t get to see him die, but then again, you’ve lived for much longer than you deserve, you little bastard. Come on, Peter, let us make sure Death isn’t deprived of your company. I’m sure he will have just as much fun with you as I intend to.”

The rat squeaked desperately, but there would be no escape for him this time.

For Peter Pettigrew, the final moments of his life would be fraught with uncompromisable misery.

Harry would personally see to that, and he would relish every second the rat was at his mercy.