𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 | √

⎡93⎦

I held the strand of hair in front of my face.

"You're sure that's hers?" Hermione asked.

"Positive," I replied, dropping it into the cup, remembering as it floated down to me. Ron, Harry, and Hermione left as I shook the cup and chugged down the horrible potion. I felt my body change, I shortened a few inches, and my hair became curly. My teeth were chipped, and my lips were chapped. I glanced in the mirror. I was my own nightmare.

I left the cottage and onto the beach. When I made it to the top of the sand dune, I glanced at everyone. Hermione and Ron were dressed as a Death Eater couple.

"Well?" I asked, "How do I look?"

Harry smiled. Ron said, "Hideous."

Griphook walked up behind me holding the Sword.

"You can give that to Hazel to hold. Alright, Griphook?" said Harry.

I walked to the goblin and held open my bag. He dropped it in, and I closed it back up. Ron held out his hand, and we all put our hands into it.

"We're relying on you, Griphook," Harry said as Griphook walked towards us. "If you get us past the guards into the vault the sword's yours."

Griphook put his hand over ours, and we apparated, landing in an alleyway near the entrance of Gringotts. I looked to the opening of the alley. A man walked past.

"Madam Lestrange," he said with a nod.

I panicked and nodded, "Good morning."

"Good morning? Good morning?! You're Bellatrix Lestrange, not some dewy eyed school girl!" Griphook criticized.

"Hey! Easy!" Harry defended.

"If she gives us away, we might as well use that sword to slit our own throats. Understand?"

"No, he's right. I was being stupid," I say shaking my head.

"Okay." Harry glances down the alley. "Let's do it."

Harry got down so Griphook could jump onto his back. Ron threw the Invisibility Cloak over him and together we walked into Gringotts. The large double doors opened, and we stood in the entrance. I glanced at Hermione. She looked just as scared as I did. I walked down the long aisle of goblins ungracefully. When I made it to the goblin in the front, I stood looking at it, waiting for it to address me. I cleared my throat. The goblin kept writing in his book.

"I wish to enter my vault," I said, my head held high.

The goblin still didn't look up from writing and dipped his quill in ink. "Identification?"

"I hardly think that would be necessary," I replied.

The goblin finally looked up. When he saw me, he straightened up. "Madam Lestrange."

"I don't like to be kept waiting," I demanded. The goblin left his podium and came back with another goblin.

"Madam Lestrange, would you mind presenting your wand?"

"And why should I do that?" I asked, squinting.

"It's the bank's policy! I'm sure you understand, given the current climate."

"No! I most certainly do not understand!"

"I'm afraid, I must insist."

Suddenly, as though a ghost passed through his body, the goblin took a deep breath and said, "Very well, Madam Lestrange. If you would follow me?"

I glanced at Hermione. She nodded, and we followed the goblin down to the mine carts. Harry and Griphook appeared from under the Cloak, but the goblin didn't seem bothered. We hopped on the mine cart and held on for dear life as we bulleted down to the farthest vaults.