The Boy Who Fought: OC X Hermione

Griphook

Bill started filling a kettle to make tea, as everyone was sitting around the living room, minus Hermione, since she was still recovering from the birth. Harry and Ron were somewhere else around the house.

"It's beautiful here." Luna complimented, as Carson nodded in agreement.

"It was our Aunt's. We used to come here as kids. The Order uses it now as a safe house, what's left of us, at least." Bill explained, as Luna was admiring a chime.

"Muggles think these keep evil away. But they're wrong..." Luna tells everyone, as Harry walked into the room with Ron.

"I need to talk to the goblin." Harry announced. "Can you get Hermione as well Carson?"

"I can try. She's still recovering." Carson told Harry, and they went to where the goblin was.

Carson went to go get Hermione, and they let Luna watch over Steven as they went to talk to the goblin.

"How are you?" Harry asked the goblin.

"Alive."

"You probably don't remember..."

"That I showed you to your vault the first time you visited Gringotts? Even amongst goblins, you are famous, Harry Potter." Griphook answered, as he looked out the window. "You buried the elf. I saw you."

"Yes."

"And brought me here." Griphook added, eyeing Harry curiously. "You are a very unusual wizard."

"Why did you leave Gringotts? If you don't mind me asking." Carson asked, as Griphook turned to him.

"Soon the Death Eaters will control it. That was unacceptable to me." The goblin answered.

"Then you're on our side." Ron stated.

"This is a wizard's war. I take no side."

"I need to get inside Gringotts, into one of the vaults." Harry told the goblin.

"It is impossible."

"Alone, yes. With you, no." Harry told him.

Griphook stares impassively at him, silent. He glances at the Sword of Gryffindor, which stands in the corner.

"How did you come by this sword?" Griphook asked, not taking his eyes off the sword.

"It's complicated. Why did Bellatrix Lestrange think it should be in her vault at Gringotts?" Harry answered.

"It's complicated." The goblin answered back.

Harry and the goblin stare at each other, as if testing one another. Finally, Harry speaks up.

"The sword presented itself to us in a moment of need. We didn't steal it." Harry commented.

Griphook nodded, pondering what Harry said.

"There is a sword in Madam Lestrange's vault identical to this one, but it is a fake. It was placed there this past summer."

"And she never suspected?" Carson asked.

"The replica is very convincing. Only a goblin would recognize that this is the true Sword of Gryffindor."

"Who put it there? The fake." Ron asked, as Hermione got up from where she was sitting after hearing faint cries come from outside of the room.

"I'm going to check on Steven, make sure he's all right. You guys talk without me." Hermione told the group, Carson nodding and kissing her cheek before she left the room.

"It was not my place to ask, nor did I desire to. There are more than a few curious things in the vaults at Gringotts." Griphook told them, getting back on track.

"And in Madam Lestrange's vault as well?" Carson asked.

"Perhaps."

"I have gold. Lots of it." Harry told the goblin, trying to bribe him.

"I have no interest in gold." Griphook stated.

The goblin twists the curl at his chin, then his eyes drift once again to the sword. Harry starts to respond, but the goblin cuts him off with finality.

"That is my price." Griphook told them.

"Deal." Harry answered, Carson and Ron looked at him shocked.

"I have your word, Harry Potter, that you will give me the Sword of Gryffindor if I help you?" Griphook asks, holding out his hand. Harry shakes his hand, and the deal is made.

The three walk out, leaving the goblin alone. They meet back up with Hermione, and explain everything to her.

"Harry, are you thinking there's a Horcrux in Bellatrix's vault?" Hermione whispers, trying not to wake the baby in her arms.

"She was terrified when she thought we'd been in there. She kept asking Carson what else we'd taken. I'd bet anything there's a Horcrux there. If we find it, we can kill it. And if we kill it, we're one step closer to killing him." Harry answered simply.

"And if we find one? How're we supposed to destroy it if we've given Griphook the sword?" Carson asked him, as Ron nodded along.

"I'm still working on that part."