Between Fine Lines

Twenty-two

When Hermione looked at herself in the reflection of the building, she wanted to vomit. Wild, tight curls were pinned up, but a few ringlets had still fallen loose. She grimaced, her rotten teeth visible in the tile in the wall as she took in the crazed appearance of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"This is what Bella looks like now?" Regulus muttered more to himself than anybody else. "Can't say I'm truly surprised..."

"Alright, let's go. We can't be wasting anymore of this polyjuice potion," Draco insisted, his eyes darting around. With Hermione looking like Bellatrix and Regulus' true appearance concealed under some transfiguration charms, Draco was the only one who looked like his normal self, and his platinum blonde hair was a dead giveaway to exactly who he was.

"Let's get this over with," Hermione insisted, and the three of them rounded the corner, wasting no time in magically pushing the bank door open as Hermione strode purposefully inside, Regulus and Draco following behind her. It was later in the afternoon and the bank was quieter than expected, which made Hermione relieved.

"Madam Lestrange..." the goblin at the front desk greeted her calmly. "What may we assist you with today?"

Hermione cleared her throat, "I would like access to my vault," she almost shuddered at the sound of Bellatrix's voice coming out of her mouth. The goblin nodded, ushering her to the main podium and Hermione tried to keep her composure as she followed him.

"Present your wand, please," the goblin in front of her peered over his glasses and Hermione pulled Bellatrix's wand from the holster at her side. She held it out, holding a pointed gaze at the elf, hoping her face looked just disinterested enough.

There were a few beats of silence as the goblin quietly examined her wand before giving a brief nod. "Spordak will escort you to your vault."

"Right this way Madam Lestrange," the goblin ushered her forward and Hermione, Regulus and Draco followed him through the bank.

There was an uncomfortable silence as they rode down into the depths of the bank. Hermione's eyes widened as the cart looped around. "What is that?" Regulus questioned, watching the gushing water not even fifty feet ahead of them.

"Standard procedure, wipes away any spells or charms, if there's none to be had, you'll come out dry on the other side," the goblin commented, barely turning his head to address the male. "Salazar's balls," Draco muttered as the cart went whooshing under the water. There was a screeching noise as the cart came to a halt and a small pole with a red alarm rose from the front of the cart and as the sirens went off, it tipped all four of them off the cart and hurdling down hundreds of feet.

"Arresto Momento!" Hermione shouted and they all came to a screeching halt barely six inches from the ground before thumping down softly.

"What the hell is this?" Draco scoffed as he got up, Regulus helping Hermione to her feet as she spelled the two of them dry.

"The thief's downfall," Spordak commented smugly. "We had a feeling you were not the real Miss Lestrange, how you duplicated her wand I am unsure but it is some impressive magic."

"We have to imperius him, he'll snitch and we'll have bigger problems," Hermione whispered. Regulus looked at Draco. "Go on, big bad deatheater," he whispered. Draco shook his head and Regulus sighed, pointing his wand at the goblin and muttering the incantation at The goblins back, since he had stupidly already turned around to leave the three of them down there to rot.

" Where did you even get that wand from?" Draco questioned. "Is that yours?"

Regulus smirked, "It is now- used to be Rowles', but now he's dead," the raven-haired male informed the blonde before instructing the goblin to lead them out of the area and back toward the vaults.