The Inevitable

Chapter 26 - Gringotts

Hermiones POV

I eyed my figure in the mirror of Fleurs guest bedroom warily. We had sewn together this hideous black dress last night after we spoke with the goblin. I never trusted goblins, I didn't trust this one either. The poly juice sat in a cup on the dresser beside me. I was dreading this moment. I hadn't seen myself as Bellatrix in the memories, but I really didn't want to see it now. I looked down to my left arm. It was covered by the sleeve of the dress and a bandage underneath that. The cuts still burned. I closed my eyes, but only the memories of that moment were there.

Screams of agony and painful wails. I had tried so hard to hold it all in. I had never been hit with a cruciatus curse before. I didn't want to let her have the satisfaction of hearing my screams. I didn't want to scream because Draco was there. I didn't want him to hear that. Unfortunately I hadn't been strong enough to hold out. My mouth had filled with blood from where I had bitten my tongue while it happened. I opened my eyes only to find tears cascading down my face.

"Mione can you- Mione?" Ron entered into the room stopping once he saw me. He moved next to me catching me as I fell. I sobbed into his shoulder and clung to him. "I'm so sorry..."

"I can't stop seeing it, feeling it. The pain won't stop," I sobbed. His hold on me tightened.

"I know, shhh, I know," he ran a hand through my hair trying to calm me down. "You're the strongest of us all, you know that?" I scoffed a sad laugh at his attempt to make me feel better. "I'm serious Mione. None of us could've went what you went through. You willingly put yourself through that torture even when you knew what was going to happen. You're one tough bitch, and you won't let this break you." He pulled back look at my face. "You are Hermione bloody Granger, the best witch to ever live. Don't forget that." I smiled, but it was a true smile. I wiped at my nose with the sleeve.

"How long have you been holding that pep talk in?" I asked swiping at my face.

"I've been thinking of what to say to you since we got here. By the way, don't tell Malfoy I held you...I don't want to die." I chuckled as he grinned bigger. Ron and Harry were my brothers. I'm glad we had been able to fix something from our trip to the future.

"Are you ready to go?" Harry stopped even he caught sight of us on the floor. He gave a sad smile as he sat down to join us. "Alright there Mione?" I nodded my head grabbing his hand.

"I will be." I stood up with a new determination. I grabbed the poly juice without another word and downed it. Gods this really was a terrible tasting potion.
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"An imperious curse? Really Theo?" I scolded as we rode the cart down to the vaults. Walking into Gringotts as Bellatrix Lestrange was...well strange. I did a terrible impression of her according to Theo who used an unforgivable on the goblin.

"Worry about my soul later Hermione," he chuckled out. I rolled my eyes at that. "Here it comes." I looked ahead to see water falling from nowhere in particular. When we hit it, it was freezing.

"Shit," Ron cursed feeling the bone chilling water. The goblin quickly turned around shocked to see the four of us and another goblin occupying the cart.

"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here-" he was cut short by a foot kicking him out of the cart and down into the cavern below. I stared wide eyed at the man who did it.

"What?" Theo asked like he hadn't just murdered the goblin. Harry and Ron cackled behind me. They laughed to the point of wheezing. Theo grinned while I continued to stare at him in shock.