The Original Heretic

vii.

a few days had passed with no leads on any more horcruxes, until hermione stumbled on a strange symbol in a children's book.

"the deathly hallows." i say as she shows it to me. "the cloak of invisibility, the resurrection stone, and the elder wand. put them together, you get that symbol." i explain.

"luna's dad wore that at bill and fleurs wedding. reckon we pay him a visit?" harry asked, and the other two agreed. i helped them pack everything up, and we were off. harry apparated us all, with extra magic help from me, and we appeared in a field, where there was a circular building not too far away. we trekked there, and a surprised, scared man answered the door after i knocked. after inviting us in and making some nasty tea, he told us the full tale of the deathly hallows. he was acting cagey the whole time, but i couldn't place my finger on what was wrong.

"brit, vampires have super hearing, dont they?" hermione looked at me, and i nodded. "can you see if you can hear another heartbeat?" i focused very hard, but could only hear four.

"no. it's just you three, and that man. why doesn't his daughter's heart beat?" i was confused, but then had the realization at the same time as harry.

"because she's not here." we both said, and immediately, we were all on guard. the man walked back in, and i pointed my wand at him.

"why were you lying about your daughter? where is she? tell me now, or your head won't be attached to your neck long enough for you to do so." i threatened coldly, baring my fangs. he stumbled back, and started crying out in fear.

"they took her! they took her, and said i could have her back if i gave those three to them!" he wailed, gesturing at the trio.

"who's they?" hermione wondered, but we got our answer as a spell flew by us.

"death eaters. run, run!" harry yelled, and we sprinted down the staircase.

"bombarda!" ron blindly shot a spell behind him, and we apparated out as part of the lovegood's house exploded, death eaters flying around the wreckage like vultures.

-

"he's after the hallows." harry spoke up randomly a day later. we were all a bit shaken up by the close call, and had spent the next day calming down.

"what?" ron looked up from the bed.

"he wants them! he's already powerful, but once one man has power, the only thing he wants is more. how did we not see it? he wants the wand, i have the cloak, and the stone? it must be in that snitch dumbledore gave me!" harry was ranting angrily at this point. "we were dumb enough not to realise that vold-"

"NO!" me and ron screamed, but it was too late.

"-emort-" immediately, cracks came from outside as men apparated outside.

"snatchers. we're done for." ron muttered as they began yelling.

"come out! we can see you!" he yelled, and harry's face paled. hermione shot a spell at him, and his face swelled to twice its size. thinking quickly, i grabbed both hermione and mines enchanted bags.

"invisique." i vanished, along with the bags, and ron looked around in alarm, but it was too late. the snatchers came in, pulling the three out. i stayed in the tent as they searched through it, finding nothing but the sword of gryfinndor. i followed the snatchers out, discreetly holding on to one's coat as they disapparated, landing in front of a grand manor. i trailed quietly behind as they announced they caught harry potter. at the door, i was halted by an invisible barrier, and i hit it in frustration. i wasn't invited in.

i waited outside, listening as they took the trip to the basement. i decided to play it risky, and announce my presence briefly so i could be let in. banging on the door, i waited until it opened, and a scowling man with long, blond hair answered.

"what do you want?" he hissed.

"let me in, then forget you saw me. i was just another death eater who caught wind of what happened and wanted to tell the others." i compelled.

"you can come in." he moved aside, and right away, i made myself invisible again, heading down to the jail. the door was still open, and i sped in before the man who had a silver hand locked it.

"this is stupid! and i can't believe that brit just left." ron kicked the door in anger, and i flicked his ear before reappearing behind him.

"boo, give me more credit." i complained as he jumped.

"i'm glad you're here, brit. any idea on how to get out? i suppose we can apparate-" harry began, but got interrupted.

"you can't apparate here, i've tried." a gruff voice said, and the two boys jumped, turning around, and i just looked calmly. a goblin stood there, and they seemed to recognize him.

"it's been lonely down here, but i would rather be lonely than knowing they caught you." a melodic voice added on, as a girl with wavy, blonde hair stepped into the light.

"you must be luna. you're a lovely artist, your paintings are magical." i smiled at her, and a light blush covered her cheeks.

"thank you."

"wait, where's hermione?" i looked around, then heard a terrible scream come from above.

"HERMIONE!" ron yelled, banging the door.

"ron, shut up! we need a way to escape." harry said, but his heart was racing as fast as ron's, if not faster.

"we're still tied up, can you get these off?" i looked at the ropes as harry lifted their tied hands.

"i might accidentally burn you. is there anything sharp in this cellar?" i looked around, and noticed an old man in the back. luna found a nail, handing it to me. i made quick work with the knots, and soon enough, harry and ron were free. hermione kept screaming, and i winced. ron pulled out some device from his pocket, and clicked it, causing orbs of light to illuminate the cellar. i finally saw the last prisoner in this desolate cellar, another boy who luna called dean.

hermione kept screaming as someone tortured her, and harry pulled a pouch from his neck. in it, he shook his snitch, but nothing happened. next, he pulled out what looked like a mirror fragment and yelled at it.

"we're trapped in the prison of the malfoy manor, help!"

"er... are you doing okay? what good is that gonna do?" i asked hesitantly. he just shook his head. the crazy witch, bellatrix was still yelling about the sword.

"draco! get the goblin from downstairs, he can tell us if it's real or not!" she screeched.

"against the wall, now! don't try anything, or i'll kill you!" a wavering voice said, and i snorted as ron clicked the device again, making the light disappear

i stayed right where i was standing, just invisible, and watched as a blond boy, draco, took the goblin out. right as he slammed the cell door back shut. there was a seperate crack, and a house elf appeared in the middle of the cellar.

"well that's probably good." i raised an eyebrow, looking at the boys.