▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐎𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 the order's safe house that Bill and Fleur were residing in, Juniper was standing by herself, staring out the window with her arms crossed. She turned her head when Harry walked inside, heading straight for Bill and coming to a stop beside Luna.

     "I need to talk to the goblin." Harry claimed. Bill nodded, leading him to where the goblin was. Hermione, Ron, and Juniper followed after them. Bill left the room, closing the door behind him. Harry stared at the goblin for a moment before asking, "How are you?"

     "Alive," the goblin answered.

     "You probably don't remember that you―︎"

     "That I showed you to your vault the first time you came to Gringotts?" The goblin finished. "Even amongst goblins you're famous, Harry Potter." The goblin watched him for a moment. "You buried the elf."

     Harry nodded. "Yes."

     "And brought me here." Again, Harry nodded. "You are a. . . very unusual wizard." The goblin took a breath, interlacing his fingers before nodding to the Sword of Gryffindor. "How did you come by this sword?"

     Harry looked at the sword that was leaning against the wall beside him before looking back at the goblin. "It's complicated. Why did Bellatrix Lestrange think it should be in her vault at Gringotts?"

     "It's complicated," he responded.

     "The sword presented itself to us in a moment of need. We didn't steal it."

     The goblin nodded. "There is a sword in Madam Lestrange's vault identical to this one, but it is a fake. It was placed there this past summer."

     "And she never suspected it was a fake?"

     "The replica is very convincing. Only a goblin would recognize that this is the true Sword of Gryffindor."

     Hermione spoke up from her spot beside Juniper. "Who is the acquaintance?"

     "A Hogwarts professor. As I understand it, he's now headmaster."

     "Snape?" Ron asked. "He put a fake sword in Bellatrix's vault? Why?"

     "There are more than a few curious things in the vaults at Gringotts."

     "And in Madam Lestrange's vault, as well?" Harry asked.

     The goblin leaned back in his seat. "Perhaps."

     "I need to get into Gringotts. . . into one of the vaults."

     "This is impossible."

     "Alone, yes," Harry agreed. "But with you, no."

     The goblin stared at him for a moment. "Why should I help you?"

     "I have gold. Lots of it."

     "I have no interest in gold."

     "Then what?"

     The goblin thought about it for a moment before nodding his head towards the sword. "That. That is my price."

     Juniper watched as Harry contemplated it, and she almost yelled at him in disbelief when he agreed to the terms, but she kept her mouth shut. They walked out of the room, leaving the goblin behind. Hermione turned her head to look at Harry as they walked down a set of stairs, coming to a stop in front of the room Ollivander was residing in. "Are you thinking there's a horcrux in Bellatrix's vault?"

     "Well, she was terrified when she'd thought we'd been in there." Harry whispered back. "She kept asking you what else we'd taken. I bet you anything there's a horcrux in there, another piece of his soul. Let's find it and kill it, and then we're on step closer to killing him."

     "And what happens when we find it?" Ron asked. "How are we supposed to destroy it now you've given the sword to Griphook?"

     "I'm still working on that part."

     The door opened and Fleur walked out. She looked at them before saying, "He's weak."

     They entered the room as Fleur made her way downstairs. Ollivander looked up at them. "Yes?"

     "Mr. Ollivander, I need to ask you a few questions." Harry gently said.

     "Anything, my boy, anything."

     Harry nodded before walking towards him, holding out Bellatrix's wand and showing it to him. "Would you mind identifying this wand? We need to know if it's safe to use."

     Ollivander took the wand and immediately began examining it. "Walnut. Dragon heartstring.  12 and 3/4 inches. Unyielding." He looked at Harry. "This belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange. Treat it carefully." He handed the wand back, and Harry took it.

     He pulled out another wand. "And this?"

     Ollivander took it and once again started examining it. "Hawthorn. And unicorn hair. 10 inches. Reasonably pliant." He brought the wand up to his ear, listening. He pulled away. "This was the wand of Draco Malfoy."

     Harry frowned. "Was? Is it not still?"

     "Well, perhaps not, if you won it from him. I sense its allegiance has changed." He handed the wand back to Harry.

     Harry stuffed the wand back into his pocket. "You talk about wands as if they have feelings. . . can think."

     Ollivander smile slightly, leaning towards him. "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. That much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wandlore."

     "And what do you know about the Deathly Hallows?"

     Ollivander's smile fell. "It is rumored there are three―︎the Elder Wand, the Cloak of Invisibility to hide you from your enemies, and the Resurrection Stone to bring back loved ones from the dead. Together, they make one the master of death. But few truly believe that such objects exist."

     "Do you?" Harry asked. "Do you believe they exist, sir?"

     "Well, I see no reason to put stock into old wives' tale."

     Harry watched him as he said this before saying, "You're lying. You know one exists. You told him about it. You told him about the Elder Wand and where he could go looking for it."

     Ollivander's eyes moved to the ground in shame. "He tortured me. Besides, I only conveyed rumors. There's. . . there's no telling whether he will find it."

     "He has found it, sir." Harry stood from his spot on the bed. "We'll let you rest." Harry walked over to them as Ron opened the door.

     "He's after you, Mr. Potter." Ollivander said, stopping Harry in his tracks. "If it's true, what you say, and he has the Elder Wand. . . I'm afraid you don't really stand a chance."

     "Well, I suppose I'll have to kill him before he finds me, then." Harry walked out of the room.

     "Thanks for the confidence boost." Juniper commented. Immediately Hermione ushered her out of the room.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐀 plan to get into Gringotts, and Juniper didn't like it one bit. Hermione held up a piece of Bellatrix Lestrange's hair, showing it to them. Ron asked, "Are you sure that's hers?"

     "I'm positive." Hermione answered.

     Ron took the hair, dropping it into the polyjuice potion. "How will we know what it is when we get in there? Horcruxes could be anything."

     "I'll―︎I'll know." Harry assured.

     Juniper cocked a brow, wrapping an arm around Hermione's waist as Hermione leaned into her. "And that means?"

     "I don't know how to explain it, but I'll know." Harry answered.

     They turned their heads when footsteps approached. Fleur held out a black piece of clothing. "This is the closest I could find to what you described."

     Hermione stepped out of Juniper's grasp, taking the clothing from Fleur. "It's perfect. Thank you, Fleur." She stepped back beside Juniper who's arm immediately fell back into place.

     Juniper sighed, shaking her head. "I don't like this, Hermione. I don't like this at all."

     "It'll work." Hermione whispered. Juniper shook her head and Hermione glanced towards Ron and Harry. "Give me a moment." The two nodded and Hermione pulled Juniper to the side, away from the rest of them. Hermione stood in front of her, meeting her eyes. "This will work."

     "I'm doubting that, it doesn't change that I don't like this. I mean. . . forcing you to become that woman, it's horrific. Let me do it. Don't put yourself through that."

     Hermione shook her head. "I can do this, Jay. I can."

     Juniper closed her eyes. "I know. I know." She met Hermione's eyes again. "But you shouldn't have to. Is there another way? Can't we just sneak in?"

     "We need the key, Jay."

     "Really, we don't. I can get us in."

     Hermione sighed before grabbing Juniper's hands. "Do you trust me?"

     Juniper nodded. "You know I do."

     "Then trust me when I say I can do this, and this will work."

     Juniper stared at her for a long moment before nodding. "Alright." Hermione gave her a small smile before giving her a quick kiss. They walked back over to Ron and Harry, Hermione giving them both a small nod.

     Bill looked at the four of them. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

     "In the morning." Harry answered.

     "And Griphook?"

     "He's coming with us."

     Bill nodded. "Listen, I know goblins. If you struck any kind of bargain with Griphook, you must be exceptionally careful to live up to it. If you don't, he won't be forgiving."

     Juniper ran a hand over her forehead. "What is with everyone and their horrible pep talks?"

     "I think it's your bedtime." Hermione answered, shooting Bill an apologetic look. Juniper just stared at her and Hermione pointed towards the stairs. "Go." Juniper rolled her eyes but listened.

The next morning, Juniper helped Luna pack her bags. She was going back to Hogwarts, even though Juniper hadn't wanted her to. She wanted Luna to stay safe, and right now it seemed Hogwarts was not the safe place that it used to be. It had never been safe for Juniper or Hermione or Ron or Harry, but it had been safe for Luna. Juniper shut the bag before turning and handing it to the blonde.

     She placed her hands on Luna's shoulders. "Be safe, Luna."

     "You don't have to worry, Juniper. You already have everything else to worry about."

     Juniper gave her a small smile before embracing her in a hug. Luna hugged her back and they stood there for a moment, just hugging each other. Juniper closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to let Luna go. She knew she had to. The world wouldn't stop because she wanted it to, so hesitantly she pulled away. "I'll see you soon, Luna."

     "Soon," Luna agreed before walking out of the room.

Juniper took a seat on the edge of the bed, a sigh leaving her lips. Ron and Hermione were going to go as other people, Harry was going to hide under the invisibility cloak with Griphook, and Juniper. . . well, Juniper was going to be out in the open with nothing but magic concealing her. She would stay close to Harry incase her magic failed, that way before anyone could notice her she would have the chance to slide under the invisibility cloak. Juniper stood from the bed, taking a deep calming breath, before walking outside.

She climbed up the sandy hill where Ron and Harry were already waiting. Ron looked the same except completely different. He had long curly brown hair and a beard, he was also slightly taller but his face still looked like his own. Juniper came to a stop in front of Dobby's grave, staring down at it with a small frown. She turned her head when footsteps approached.

     Hermione and Griphook walked up to them, Hermione disguised as Bellatrix. "Well?" Hermione asked them. "How do I look?"

     "Hideous." Ron answered.

     "I know it's you, but I still wanted to pull my wand out." Juniper admitted.

     "You can give that to Hermione to hold, alright, Griphook?" Harry said, looking at the goblin. Hermione opened her bag, allowing Griphook to put the sword inside it. Hermione walked up to them. Ron held out his hand, Hermione grabbed it first followed by Harry and then Juniper. They turned their heads as Griphook approached. "We're relying on you, Griphook. If you get us past the guards and into the vault, the sword is yours." Griphook said nothing before grabbing their hands, and apparating them to the Gringotts bank.