Hufflepuff boy - Cedric Diggory x male oc x Viktor Krum

78

A cart hurtles through the darkness, ferrying the lot of them-- Cayden, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Griphook and Bogrod-- down the rickety rails, twisting and turning, sloping ever downward.

Harry leans towards Griphook, who commandeers the cart. "How long before they come after us?"

"Time will tell." Griphook said.

Harry's eyes meet Griphook's in the flickering darkness, then Ron's face appears over Harry's shoulder.

"What's that? Up ahead." Ron said, pointing to the curtain of water.

"I should have known--" Furiously, Griphook starts to throw levers, trying to slow the cart.

"What is that, Griphook?" Harry questioned.

The wheels screech, throwing off sparks.

"Griphook! What is that!" Harry exclaimed.

Griphook doesn't answer, furiously preoccupied with the cart.

Harry turns to Cayden, hoping he has an explanation, but he just shakes his head, staring up ahead as Griphook slumps back, powerless, watching in grim resignation as the cart careens wildly down the rail and pierces the shimmering curtain.

Instantly, water engulfs them with ferocious power. The seats beneath them collapse, flipping downward and they drop in a cascade of roaring water towards the ground rushing up thirty feet below. Cayden screams something, his hand flashing and one by one they splash down gently and unscathed.

As the water drains away, they peer upward, watching as, alarms blaring, the cart rattles back the way it came.

Harry turns to Cayden, arching an eyebrow at his twin's wet hair and still in the dress. "Well done. Hey." He studies his twin for a second. "You look like... you."

Cayden looks down at himself, he is soaking wet and sees that he has his original body and not Bellatrix LeStrange. He looks at Ron and sees that he is the same, pulling down the dress sleeve to cover his arms.

Griphook nods to the waterfall. "The Thief's Downfall. Washes away all enchantments. Can be deadly."

"You don't say." Ron said, glancing at Hermione who is now visible to everyone. "Just out of interest... is there any other way out of here." He said as the cart's alarms grow faint.

"No." Griphook said, and before the four can say anything.

"What the devil are you all doing down here!" Bogrod exclaimed.

They all turn, seeing a soaking Bogrod, cleansed of the Imperius curse, backing away in angry confusion.

"We need him!" Griphook exclaimed.

"Is this your doing, Griphook? You have no rights here anymore. When you gave up your keys, you--" Bogrod's words were cut off by Cayden who waves his hand without saying anything, placing him under the Imperius curse once again.

Griphook steps past, pushing Bogrod on. "Well done."

The four watch the goblins go, exchanging a glance. Just then a moan is heard, deep and unsettling, coming from down the tunnel.

Ron cocks his ear in disbelief. "No. It's not possible..." He said, walking forward with Cayden, Harry and Hermione trailing behind him, and finds Bogrod standing placidly by himself.

As Harry and Hermione hang back, Cayden and Ron move forward slowly, squinting at the massive thing shifting heavily, they can hear chains clinking. They share a glance and look, and see a giant dragon tethered to the ground, bars access to a deep vault. Its scales are pale and flaky, its eyes milky.