Sanctuary
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. This is for fun only, please don't sue.
Author notes: The story is AU, has OCs and some OOC.
Chapter 2: Cutting ties.It was Draco 17th Birthday and Narcissa had recovered enough to enable her to leave the house. They had left under the guise of a family trip to Diagon Alley so that they could go shopping for last minute things for Draco's birthday. That was the cover story that Draco and his mother were using but today was an important day as it was a day when they were going to escape Lucius with a little revenge on the way out of their misery. They had to be true to the house they were sorted into.
Narcissa was going to make Lucius pay and by gods he was going to pay for all the pain and suffering that he had put her and her son through. With the assistance of Severus Snape they had acquired two extendable and weightlessly charmed treasure sacks. These magical charms enable the sacks to store an extremely large quantity of items and to remain weightless so that an individual could carry a large quantity of treasure easily. Severus had slipped the bags to Draco when he greeted his godson at the Manor that morning.
Mother and son were supposedly going to meet Lucius for lunch in Diagon Alley after he had dealt with an urgent matter that Severus needed his assistance for in his role as Death Eater.
Upon entering Gringotts Bank the welcoming greeted Narcissa. "Good morning Madam Malfoy how can we help you this morning?" Many years of elite patronage meant that exclusive clients like the Malfoy's and other pure blood families received a high level of service from the Goblin bank.
"I want to visit our vaults. My son will need to get a number of inheritance items out now that he is of age and will also need to open his own vault so he can store them. I will need the assistance of a Senior Goblin Advisor as well today so it would be advisable if a couple of your colleagues accompany us on our cart journey to the family vaults", advised the pureblood witch as she handed over her key.
After a ride on the cart into the depths of Gringotts with a number of Goblins, mother and son entered the Malfoy family vault.
With a smile, Draco drew his wand and commanded "Accio all Black family items" and with a wave of his wand directed the items into the opened treasure sack he was holding.
Narcissa smirked at her son before using her own wand to summon her dowry and 50 percent of the remaining currency contents of the vault into the treasure sack she was holding open.
Draco checked to ensure that there were no items belonging to Severus Snape, Prince or Black family. After a quick thought Draco reviewed his command and waved his wand while declaring "Accio all items not legitimately owned by the Malfoy family". To his great surprise there were a number of items that raced into his bag. "Accio all Draco Malfoy related documentation" let to a number of papers being deposited in the carrying sack. "Accio all Black family books, papers and documentation" and with this command came more papers. Draco took his and his mother's sack and placed them on the back of the Gringotts cart they had traveled on.
As a final act of revenge against her father who trapped her in the arranged marriage and her abusive husband, Narcissa Malfoy commanded "Accio all remaining goblin made items". With her wand stroke she directed summoned items onto the corridor floor.
As she exited the vault she declared to Griphook, the Senior Goblin Advisor, who had accompanied them on the cart, "I hereby return all these Goblin made items to the Goblin Nation for all your assistance today and in the past".
"You are most welcome Madam," the Griphook commented as he directed the other goblins to remove the goblin made items. "What further matters can I help you with?" he asked with a gruff laugh this witch and wizard were up to something and the bank was profiting.
"We need the Goblin Nation to witness the next part of our business here this morning outside this vault before we begin negotiations for other matters", advised the regal witch.
"Are you ready Mother?" asked the young wizard looking at Mother and remembering how he had nearly lost her six weeks ago thanks to his father's temper. Yes they were going to get free of Lucius Malfoy and the Dark Lord. He was not going to follow his father's wishes to be come a Death Eater but rather he would fight on the side of the Light against his father and all he stood for.
"Yes", she acknowledged to her son while she straightened her back while taking calming breaths. The young wizard removed a set of papers and a quill from his robes. After enlarging the papers he handed them to Griphook before holding his wand in the oath manner. His mother also held her wand in the oath manner.
"By my wizard oath I renounce the name of Draco Lucius Malfoy and take the name of Draco Cygnus Black as my right through my maternal line. As the current Lord Black of the Minor branch of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black I declare my loyalty and fidelity to Lord Sirius Black our overlord. So mote it be", as Draco finished this oath the magic of the oath caused the patriarchal signet ring of his maternal grandfather, Cygnus Black the Third to appear in front of him. Draco promptly put the signet ring on to his little finger of his left hand. He then used the blood quill to sign the renunciation papers that Griphook was holding.
"Does the Goblin Nation acknowledge the binding magic and legal documentation of my birth name renunciation?", he asked Griphook.
"The Goblin Nation acknowledges this magical oath and legal documentation. We greet you Draco Cygnus Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black", advised Griphook as he bowed before the young Lord. Draco returned the bow.
"As I have been acknowledged as the Patriarch of my line with this ring I claim all powers as a family patriarch and as such I approve and sanction the divorce of my mother, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black. She is no longer the wife of Lucius Malfoy and the Black Family claim all family items and her dowry back from the oath breaker, Lucius Malfoy. All ties to the Malfoy family are broken and she will revert to her family name of Narcissa Black. So mote it be", Draco declared and again the magic of the promise swirled around all those present who were observing the oath.
With this declaration oath Draco then signed a second set of papers that were the divorce papers for his mother with the blood quill.
"I confirm that I am no longer the wife of Lucius Malfoy. I reclaim my name and allegiance to the Noble and Ancient House of Black. So mote it be" declared Draco's mother before signing the divorce papers with the Blood quill. The magic in the air then swirled around her hand and removed her wedding band and engagement ring that had been stuck on her hand since her binding ceremony to Lucius over 20 years ago.
"We the Goblin Nation acknowledge and recognize that this legal document and the divorce of Narcissa Black from Lucius Malfoy", advised the Griphook. With a quick spell Draco made three copies of the documents. One set for the ministry, a set for Lord Malfoy and of course a copy of the originals for each other. From his pocket Griphook produced an embossing punch and signed each copy of documents before embossing them with bank logo.
With a quick flick of her wand Narcissa sent the hated symbols of her marriage and binding into the Malfoy vault before handing the Malfoy vault keys to Griphook. The witch had left one set of the renunciation and divorce documents on the floor of the vault entry. She had placed the rings onto of the paperwork so it would be immediately clear to Lucius that he no longer had a wife or a son.
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Turning to Griphook, Narcissa suggested "Let us close the Malfoy vault and remove ourselves to more comfortable surroundings while we negotiate our next items of business". It was a satisfying experience to see the closure of the Malfoy vault and the end of their servitude to the cruel man.
"Certainly, now I presume that you both like to open new vaults for both of you", smirked Griphook thinking how enraged the older wizard was going to be. The two of them had certainly plundered the vault of the obnoxious wizard he thought goblins were horrible filth under his shoes. " I would suggest that we move you back to your family vault area and I will arrange for your personal individual Malfoy vaults to be closed and the contents transferred to your new vaults." Yes Lord Malfoy was going to get his just desserts there was much plundering going on. Griphook took the newly declared Blacks to the lounge in Vault 713 to organise the new financial management arrangements. As part of the accounts Draco ensured that both he and his mother had muggle cash and credit cards. Additionally they were also issued with new vault keys where they emptied the contents of the charmed sacks that had been on the back of the trolly cart. As part of the negotiations in Vault 713 Griphook presented Narcissa with a large document envelope advising that they had been holding it in trust for her, it was from her cousin Sirius who she had not spoken to since she married Lucius.
A small goblin rushed into Vault 713 and whispered in Griphooks ear. Griphook turned back to the Blacks to advise them that the Ministry had acknowledge the receipt of the renunciation and divorce documentation by notifying Lucius and he was now upstairs in the main foyer of the bank. It was now a question of getting out of the bank and away from Lord Malfoy.
"Griphook I thank you assistance today and I hope that your gold multiplies. We have a portkey can we use it here"
"Yes you may Lord Black and we the Goblin nation thank you for your business and the return of goblin made items. May your investments be profitable and your future life be glorious", advised the goblin who respected the young wizard to make such a choice and actions on his coming age birthday. Older wizards did not have the same strength of character.
"I thank you Griphook for all your assistance today and promise I will be back to negotiation further transactions to increase our vaults and plunder the vaults of our enemies", said Narcissa as she shook the hand of the Goblin.
"I look forward to future business with you Madam Black" Griphook acknowledge with a tilt of his head. Yes this witch was not going to sit back and she would be highly profitable for the goblin nation if she was anything like her father Cygnus with his Midas touch.
Standing together in a clear area of Vault 713 the two new Blacks held onto a set of rosary beads. When he was sure that his mother was holding a section of the beads Draco called out "Sanctos, Sanctos, Sanctos". Suddenly the stomach tug of port key transportation took the newly freed family out of Gringotts and away to a place of sanctuary organized by Severus Snape.
With a crash Draco and his mother had arrived in a stone room. There was a large fireplace and an ancient tiled floor. Helping his mother from the floor he asked "Do you have any idea where Godfather has sent us?"
"No Draco, but please remember to be on your best manners as I feel we will be in for a learning experience and Severus' contacts have agreed to provide safe passage and sanctuary for us. So please don't embarrass me my son", advised Narcissa.
A Dark robed woman wearing a dark head veil over a white coif entered the room. She had a large set of wooden rosary beads that hung from her belt which was holding a blue tunic that protected the dark robes from flying up at the speed of her silent walk. Her hands seemed to be in the arms of her opposite hand sleeve. Without saying a word the woman walked to a side door that Narcissa had not observed when Draco had helped her off the floor.
With gestures the silent woman guided them through the building and out onto a cloister corridor. When Draco went to speak to his mother the dark robed woman stopped him with a finger placed on his lips and a shook her head. Waving them onwards the quite woman guided the two of them to an iron gate where the woman removed a key from under her blue tunic and opened the gateway.
Where were they? Why must they be silent? Where was this woman taking them? Stepping though the iron gateway the pair found that they were in another cloister corridor and the garden in the middle had changed from the lawn center to that of four paths and various garden beds.
"Ah thank you Sister Xavier" called a voice. "Welcome to the guesthouse, I am Sister Francis and I will be looking after you today before you make your next part of the journey. Here is your room and facilities, "advised a similarly garbed woman who had a friendly welcome smile. "Why don't you go and freshen up? I will be along a little later with a light luncheon."
Turning round Draco noted that the room they had been shown into was sparsely furnished with two single beds, two wooden chairs, a single wardrobe and two strange pieces of wooden furniture that he did not recognise. The room had an internal side door that lead to an ensuite bathroom. Lying on the bed while his mother was in the bathroom Draco stared at the plain white washed ceiling lost in his thoughts.
Yes! They had done it. They had got away from him but what now. There was a knock on the door and Draco got up to open the door there was another silent woman in the dark robes and headdress the same as the others. She stepped forward and carried a tray to one of the beds where she rested it while opening a butler's table. Once she had placed the tray on the table she left. The tray had drinks and some fruit for them to snack on before their lunch arrived.
"It appears we are currently residing in a muggle religious house called a convent", advised Narcissa looking at the confused look on her son's face.
"Why won't they speak to us?" asked Draco.
"From the layout and the gateways it would suggest that we are now in the guest house of a religious order who may be an enclosed contemplative order" advised Narcissa. "Normally only the guesthouse nuns would be able to speak to outsiders. They may be under a rule of silence at certain periods of the day."
"So that explains the quiet but Mother, how do you know so much about muggle religious?" asked a son who was curious about aspect of her knowledge. His mother was revealing that she had some diverse knowledge today in a number of fields. She had surprised him in her discussions with Griphook and the negotiation of the financial management of their investments.
"I have been interested in many muggle things over the years. I would suggest that you forget all the claptrap your father has been trying to indoctrinate you into for the last 17 years. Your Godfather is a half blood and we are amongst muggles who are hiding us from your father and the Dark Lord", sternly advised Narcissa.
The Guesthouse Mistress Sister Francis brought them lunch and explained them that they would need to rest in the guesthouse area until after dark when the next courier would arrive at the guesthouse to take them onto their final place of sanctuary.
"Mother what are those thingies?" asked Draco after lunch when another silent Sister had removed the remnants of their meal.
"That is a Prie Dieu. An individual uses it so they can kneel in prayer. One of the key aspects of enclosed religious orders is that undertake a life of religious devotions that includes a regular schedule of asking for intersession on the behalf of others", she advised her curious child.
