Folds of black cloth swayed back and forth in a determined rhythm as Hermione strode down the hall toward the West exit. Her gesticulating arms followed no pattern but that of an animated and agitated dialogue. While the words may have seemed syncopated to her, but Harry, Ron and Ginny had all they could do to concentrate on her talking, let alone keep pace with her walking. Hermione was operating on a different plane now, shot through with adrenaline and driven by the clarity of thought from her new knowledge. Harry strained to listen.
". . . of the plan are really quite clever, everything that we should have expected from Voldemort. The Horcruxes - at least five of them, anyway - were supposed to be contained in heirlooms of the Hogwarts founders. Why Voldemort would show such affinity to the school is beyond me, but that's where we are with it. Perhaps both the locket and ring, being Slytherin-related, are his way of showing dominance. . . maybe attachment. . . no, definitely dominance," Hermione rattled on. She continued, barely taking a breath, "The Hufflepuff Cup is hidden in Bulgaria - inside the Troyan Monastery at the base of Stara Planina, to be exact. That's in the Balkans, by the way." Hermione couldn't resist throwing that in, and Ron rolled his eyes just as naturally.
Hermione didn't miss a beat as she continued on, "That's where his new Death Eater, Electra, is from. Don't you see it? Electra, Agamemnon, Troy. That's why Voldemort chose that monastery - because of her and her background. It is a clever word association but definitely a surprise that Voldemort would show anyone any type of consideration whatsoever." Hermione paused, and then looked pleadingly into Harry's eyes as she said, " Harry, beware. . . she is powerful, she is important - and she wears the Ravenclaw necklace."
Hermione's oratory had taken them all the way to the Owlery at the top of the West Tower. As she burst thought the door, the noise sent the owls flapping off their perches in fright. A look of anticipation and great concern still on her face, Hermione turned to Harry, Ron and Ginny who staggered up the final steps. She was excited to have successfully learned what she did, but with that knowledge came deep distress. Matters were becoming graver by the day, an unavoidable fact upon which they were all focused.
Plans were formulating in Harry's head at every word spoken by Hermione, but he never got the chance to verbalize any of them. Before they could even begin to catch their breath, Hermione took out her DA Galleon and placed it in an envelope. She went over to the Owlery's desk and jotted off a quick note, which was placed in the envelope before she sealed it, and wrote the name "Viktor Krum" on the front. The envelope was secured to the leg of a large Barn Owl, and off it went. Hermione then turned to Ron and told him to send a message to Charlie, asking him to set up within twenty-four hours a Portkey landing site in a secluded spot near Troyan Monastery, Stara Planina, Bulgaria. Ron dutifully took out his Galleon and silently sent the message.
Hermione led the group out to the landing where she leaned against the stone and outlined her plan for the Hufflepuff Cup. She, Harry and Dobby would use a Portkey for transport to rendezvous with Charlie and Viktor at which point they would begin to hunt down the Cup. A wave of her hand somewhat diminished the Weasley protests for being left out, and even Hermione's saying that their time would come still did little to mollify Ron and Ginny.
The next day brought decidedly bad weather, and early that afternoon Harry, Hermione and Dobby met in Professor McGonagall's office. Hermione was glad for the dreary, wet conditions outside. She wanted everyone to be focused and serious; not that they wouldn't be, but even the slightest optimism brought upon by bright, sunny weather could lead to a mistake later. There were no margins for error anymore, and Hermione had created an edge she intended to keep. She had no idea about Harry's revelation, and that gave them an even greater advantage, or at least Harry hoped as much.
Lying on Professor McGonagall's desk was the Gryffindor Dagger which Hermione had converted into a Portkey. The significance of her choice was clear, and her cheeky effrontery gave Harry an inner lift. On Hermione's count, all three grabbed the dagger at the same time and were whisked away to whatever fate the Cup had waiting for them. That thought sobered Harry and brought him back down to earth as he, Hermione and Dobby landed with a thud in a small grassy clearing.
Experience had taught Harry plenty, and he was on his feet with wand out in an instant. Dobby already had his hand out, prepared for whatever might await them as Hermione scrambled upright. Charlie Weasley, standing alongside a tall fir tree that skirted the clearing, let out a soft whistle - just enough to get their attention but not enough to cause alarm. All three turned to the sound and quickly made their way over as soon as recognition took the place of wariness.
Charlie turned without a word and led the way through the woods. A few minutes later, with a hillside on their right, the group came upon an old, three-story building just beyond the trees. The façade of the monastery was stone and white stucco with two wooden balconies facing out to the town. A lone figure stood on the upper balcony keeping a close watch on the area. Hermione recognized the figure as Viktor Krum, waving not in recognition of Hermione, but in response to Charlie's wave up to him. At that Charlie led Harry, Hermione and Dobby through the main entrance and into the Troyan Monastery. Krum joined them immediately and all exchanged quiet, serious nods - everyone's expressions full of respect and purpose both. Satisfied with the team in front of her, Hermione pulled her shoulders back with pride as she explained exactly what the mission was, and why.
Although the monastery was extensive, all agreed that the church itself was the logical place to look for the Cup. Voldemort may have had some symbolic reason for the choice, but just as likely it was chosen for its central location within the monastery; therefore, it was the easiest position to defend. Krum turned and silently led the party through the ring of the building and into the courtyard which contained gardens, statues and a small stone church.
As soon as Krum stepped into the courtyard, the air turned bitter cold and became as still as death. Wands out, each person walked slowly and cautiously. Halfway into the courtyard, a soft singing began to waft through the air. From a large, previously unnoticed tomb tucked behind some bushes to the side of the courtyard, a covey of silvery Veela ghosts drifted toward the group. Their singing mesmerized the young men, all of whom stopped dead in their tracks, eyes glazed over, arms limp at their sides.
Hermione grabbed Harry, trying to shake him put of his stupor, but as she looked over his shoulder, she cried out in horror.
Lying on the ground by the tomb were her parents, throats slashed, lifeless. Floating above the bodies, drifting their way, were a dementor, a giant and Lucius Malfoy. Harry began to hear his mother's screams again, Viktor fell to his knees muttering and covering his head and Charlie clasped his hands over his ears as tears streamed down his face. For Dobby, Lucius Malfoy represented the terror of servitude mixed with anger for the way Dobby had been treated and the things that Malfoy had done - trying to hurt Harry Potter among them. Hermione's wails echoed around the courtyard, surrounding each person's pains with her own shrill agony.
It was his anger that kept Dobby somewhat focused and therefore the only one to notice the swords and silver ropes in the hands of the Veela. As the ghosts approached the group, Dobby raised his hand to them and silently said 'Apparitious condensus.' Blue-white streaks of lightning shot from his hand and struck the Veela ghosts, instantly causing each apparition to condense into a tiny spot of white powder that hung in mid-air before falling to the ground and impacting with a tiny puff of white smoke. The swords and ropes fell harmlessly into the herb gardens nearby. Dobby shook his head, trying to keep the cobwebs out and his mind focused as he loped over to where Harry stood. A quick snap of the fingers and a "Pay attention, Harry Potter, sir!" brought Harry's eyes down to Dobby's level.
Once Harry noticed his dementor, he knew exactly what was going on. Harry raised his wand, propelled the charm "Riddikulus' with a firm loud voice, and destroyed the boggart which exploded into wisps of smoke and vanished. Harry, now in total control of himself once again, stepped in front of each member of the party in turn and destroyed his/her boggart. As they all sat along the low stone walls and gathered their wits about them, Harry walked over to the gardens and gazed down at the swords and rope that had been brought by the Veela ghosts. Real enough, he told himself.
Voldemort had left two layers of terror for anyone who approached the Cup. While the ghosts and the boggarts were meant to incapacitate, the swords were surely meant to kill. Harry wondered about the ropes. . . perhaps their purpose was to add a little sport, torturing the victim before the kill. Certainly, Voldemort and his vicious slaves would not be above inflicting pain and gaining pleasure while doing so. Harry walked over to the group and took charge once again.
From high atop the church, a figure draped in black seemingly floated alongside the narrow stone steeple. Incensed at what had just happened, she dared not do anything now. Too much was at risk if she attacked, so she must follow her master's instructions. Electra watched silently as the group moved toward her family's ancient tomb.