Stuck with Me [Harry Potter]

Chapter 14 - The War Has Started

Hermione sat there silent after Luna told her the whole story. The sound of waves encumbered their ears as Luna waited for a response.

"My..." Hermione began, but sealed her mouth shut again, not knowing what else to say.

"I know it is shocking, but... that is what happened."

"I can't believe it. It's... I mean, Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes."

Hermione shook her head in disbelief, swishing her light-brown wavy hair. "Just give me some time to take all this in..."

"Alright."

"Luna! Hermione!"

Both girls looked behind them and saw Harry run up the hill to them. The weary look in eyes told them that whatever he needed them for was not good. They all ran back to the cottage and met Ron, his brother Bill and the goblin Griphook in the kitchen.

"This isn't good," Griphook said. "The war's already started. We all have to go."

He eyed Ron, Harry and Hermione. Luna knew what her friends were planning. "I hope you retrieve the last horcrux," she told them all. "Surely it will be difficult to break into Gringotts Bank?"

"Yes, and that's why you're coming with us, right?" Ron asked the goblin, and the goblin rubbed his fingers to his temples.

"I only agreed to help because goblins have special clearance into the vaults. But this vault—the Lestrange Vault—it is particularly difficult to get into, even with the assistance of a goblin. Once this horcrux is retrieved, then one more will remain. We will be that much closer to defeating the Dark Lord. That is my only desire - for all of this to end."

"It will," Harry assured him and everyone. "I vowed to destroy Voldemort, and that's what I'm going to do. That's what all of us are going to do."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Ron asked Griphook, "You'll be able to help us get into the vault, right? You said it is difficult, even with a goblin's help."

"Yes, I can get in. I know the tricks. Now, we must go. We are wasting time."

"Right," Harry said, and the friends prepared for their break-in at the wizarding world's most prestigious bank.

Luna watched as they prepared. She wished that she could assist them, but this had to be done by them since it was their task to destroy all of Lord Voldemort's horcruxes. She hoped with all her heart that they would find it and destroy it. She wanted all the sadness created by Lord Voldemort to end.

"Luna, watch over Mr. Ollivander," Hermione said as the trio stood in the living room, "and stay safe."

"I will. Be safe as well."

Her friends left the cottage by apparating, and she was left in the lone cottage. Bill stood beside her. "Do you think that they will find the horcrux and destroy it?" he asked her.

"Yes, I believe that they will. They have destroyed five already, so I believe that they will destroy this one as well."

Fleur entered the room, hugging her torso. Bill noticed her expression and went over and hugged his wife. "What is the matter, darling?"

She spoke in her French accent. "This war... will it be the end? The end to everything terrible and horrible?"

"I sure hope that it will be. Dumbledore put a lot of trust in Harry, Ron and Hermione. I have faith in them as well."

"As do I."

She left the room, back to the kitchen, as Luna went to the window and stared off at the crashing waves. Her chest pinched when she thought about the danger that her friends were putting themselves into and what would happen in this war. So many people would die... Her mind rested on one particular person. Where was he? What was he up to?