the_debt_of_time

"Potter, I have information you might be interested in. The Dark Lord wants me to go to Gringotts
with Rodolphus in order to fetch an item of great importance. He was enraged to find out that not only was
Bellatrix killed but that the Sword of Gryffindor might be missing from her vault. We're headed to Diagon
Alley tomorrow. If you find this information helpful, I'll expect to be accosted outside Gringotts. Let
Granger or Black be the one to engage us. Weasel might hurt himself."
Ron glared as the dragon vanished. "Prick."
Hermione ignored him, practically vibrating with excitement. "Did you hear what
he said?"
Ron glowered. "Yeah, I heard the ferret."
"It wasn't a ferret; it was a dragon," Hermione corrected him, annoyed that he was
focusing on childhood rivalries instead of the amazing gift they had just been handed.
"How come he gets a dragon?" Harry asked, looking deflated.
Hermione observed the wizards sitting around the table, each looking put out by
the appearance of the Patronus, Sirius included. She narrowed her gaze at each of them.
"Are you joking? Malfoy is offering to deliver us a Horcrux, and you have decided, instead
of celebrating, to have a pity party over the fact that his Patronus is a dragon?"
Ron frowned. "Mine's just a stupid dog."
"Hey!" Sirius barked. "I take offence to that. Mine's a dog too."
"Well, of course yours is a dog; you're a dog!" Ron countered.
"Mine's a stag like my dad's," Harry added, clearly trying to make himself feel better.
"Well, then how come I got a dog?" Ron whinged. "It's nothing to do with me!"
Hermione smacked the back of Ron's head. "Oh, for crying out loud, you think my
otter has anything to do with me?"
Sirius's eyebrows raised, and he looked at her with a confused expression. "Your
Patronus is an otter?"
Hermione put her hands on her hips. "Yes. Got something to say about it?" she
asked, daring him to poke fun at her otter.
There was a heavy knock on the front door, and everyone's head turned. Bill came
running out of his bedroom, concern splashed across his face, pointing his wand at the
door; Harry, Ron, Sirius, and Hermione did the same.
"Who is it?" Bill demanded.