Kassandra Bauer and the Deathly Hallows. (Book 7)

Chapter 34: Escape from Gringotts and the Siege of London.

Our plans were made, our preparations complete; in the smallest bedroom a strand of hair laid curled in a phial upon the mantlepiece. A thick, black strand plucked from the armor Hermione wore at Malfoy Manor. 

"And you'll be using their actual wands." Harry said. "So I reckon you'll be pretty convincing." 

Hermione looked frightened that the walnut wand might sting or bite her. It probably would knowing Bellatrix. "I hate this thing." She said in a low voice. "I really hate it. It feels all wrong, it doesn't work properly for me... it's like a bit of her." 

Heh... this coming from the woman who dismissed our loathing of the blackthorn wand, insisting that Harry was only imagining things when it did not work as well as Harry's own. And telling us to practice. Just saying.

"It'll probably help you get in character, though." Ron pointed out. "Think what that wand's done!" 

"But that's my point!" Hermione said. "This is the wand that tortured Neville's Mum and Dad, and who knows how many other people? This is the wand that killed Sirius!"

I hadn't thought of that before. I looked down at the wand, and was so tempted to to slice it in half with the sword of Gryffindor. Or my Energy Sword. Whichever was sharper. It wasn't like I had a Minotaur that could chop the wand in half like it did to Ethan's Wand. 

Ollivander had sent Luna a new wand this morning, to thank them for their support in that cellar. Dean, who lost his wand to the Snatchers also got himself a wand. 

Harry had the Hawthorne Wand which belonged to Draco Malfoy, and it clearly proved a worthy ally to him in Cambridge. Him and the Rod. 

The door of the bedroom opened and Griphook entered. I reached for the hilt of the sword and drew it close to me. The Goblin noticed. Seeking to gloss over the sticky moment, Harry quickly said: "Just making sure the last minute stuff is in order, Griphook. We decided not to tell the others we're leaving at all, less of a chance they'll try and stop us this way." 

That had been a flat out lie. People knew what was about to happen. While I would miss the quiet of the Shell Cottage... I knew that it would soon be replaced by the quietness of my own home. And to be in Neville's arms again. 

And to be honest. I just wanted to get rid of Griphook. I suppose we would have to figure out how to part with the Goblin on the way. Not that it was easy with Griphook on the watch for any monkey business if you know what I mean. Hermione also disapproved so heartily of the planned double cross that we gave up attempting to pick her brains on how best to do it; Ron, on the rare occasions that we've been able to snatch a few Griphook- free moments, had come up with nothing better than 'We'll just have to wing it, guys." 

"Stay on your guard." Anubis advised. "There's always the possibility he could double cross us first." 

I had a hard time sleeping that night. Lying awake in the early hours, I thought back to the night before we infiltrated the Ministry of Magic. Now... we were going to have to break into Gringotts and right on the verge of a battle as the Rebels would attack London. And I couldn't help but keep the lingering fear that something would go wrong. Something always did. 

But it had to work. It just had to. There was no turning back now. Right now... we had a duty to do. And we would do it.

It was a relief when 6 came and I could slip out of my bed, dress in semi darkness, then crept out into the garden where Hermione and I would meet the boys. There was no need to creep out though. No one else was around. Except for Mater and Dean, and a few other Rebel Troops stationed by the area.