A/N: I am posting this chapter because I am bored. I discovered this morning that I have the day off because of Hurricane Sandy. They were calling it Frankenstorm until someone corrected them that it should be Doctor Frankenstorm's Monster. Also, I have corrected the various errors in previous chapters that were pointed out. I seem to have a problem with question marks. They disappear from where I put them and show up elsewhere.
At Gringott's
Gringott's bank was nearly deserted. There were only three people there other than the goblins. A family with a young girl.
"MUMMY," the girl cried as she pointed. "IT'S HIM!"
The man came, almost running, up to them. He grabbed Draco's left hand. "Mister Malfoy, It's so good to see you back. We'd almost lost hope."
"Soon," Draco said, answering his yet to be asked question. As soon as all hope is lost.
The man thanked Draco and, because she was with him, thanked Cassy as well. He went back to his family to tell them the good news.
"Mister Malfoy," a goblin said.
"Am I the only one who still calls you Draco?" Cassy whispered.
The goblin gave her a frightening grin. "If Mister Malfoy wishes to be informal, I will do so. I assume that he is here on business." He turned back to Draco. "I am Griphook. How may I help you?"
"I am here to see my vault."
"And the lady?"
"Should I not return . . ."
"I will have your executor summoned." When Draco raised an eyebrow, he added, "His presence is necessary if any changes are to be made."
Draco nodded his head. Cassy asked him what he was changing. He told her, quickly adding that it was only a precaution. It didn't make her feel any better. He brushed her cheek with his hand and she gave him a small smile.
Draco explained what he wanted. He needed to know if there was something in the central vault. The one where the heirlooms were stored.
"Central?" Cassy asked him. "As in more than one?"
"It's to make things easier," Draco explained as they walked to the waiting car. "Remember how the limo seemed larger when there were four of us in the back than when there were three? The vaults are like that. The first is for the corporate holdings. The second for family heirlooms, or junk, things that aren't wanted but can't be thrown away or sold. The third is for the valuables. Money, jewels, jewelry."
"And you want an heirloom?"
"A portrait."
The conversation ended as they climbed into the car. Cassy said there wasn't enough to it to be called a car. Draco told her to hold on. She did. And knelt as soon as she exited the car. She then let everyone know what she had for breakfast.
Draco apologized to Griphook as he waved his wand to cause the mess to disappear. As he helped her up, she added that she had a stomach virus.
Griphook eyed Cassy. He asked if she seemed fine most of the day but seemed to wake up with stomach problems. When Draco nodded, Griphook informed him that it wasn't dangerous and that the condition would resolve itself. It was a common ailment.
"Like a cold?" Cassy asked in a snappy voice.
Griphook smiled, "Not as common, but I think you would prefer to change the subject." He reached into a pocket and pulled out a vial. "Your accident is common enough as well to warrant this. It is a potion to calm your stomach."
Cassy took the potion, warily. Griphook assured her it was not harmful in the slightest. She opened the vial and drank. Draco noticed that the paleness in her face vanished before she could hand the vial back to the goblin.
Griphook went to the door of a vault and held his hand to it. He told Draco to do the same. He politely asked Cassy to do the same on the other side of him. The vault would need to know the people who were entering. As soon as all three of them had their hands on the door, Griphook pulled a key from his pocket and turned it in the lock. The vault door opened.
"Mister Malfoy, the lists of the contents of this vault are to your right. The general location is also noted. I will wait here if you need assistance."
As Draco entered, torches automatically lit. He went over to the small table which had a wall rack above it. In the nooks of the rack were various parchments. He took the one listed as portraits. He casually mentioned to Cassy that she was welcome to anything she liked.
"I wouldn't know what to do with half this stuff."
"That's why it's here. No one else knows either."
"And whose portrait are you looking for?"
"My father. Jack once told me that if I ever met my father I should introduce myself. I thought my father was still alive at the time. Now, I think he meant a painting of my father. Did you notice the pictures in the Leaky Cauldron? I know I told you about Walburga. If I'm right, my father knows something that I need to know. And I'm almost out of time."
He led the way though the vault, pausing whenever Cassy wanted to look at some odd statue or piece of furniture. At one point, one of the portraits on the wall commented angrily that a Mudblood was in the vault. At once, Draco's wand was out. He let out a controlled scream followed by a freezing spell. The portrait was gone but the frame was intact.
"Draco?"
"The frame is solid gold. I didn't want to destroy that."
"Was he alive?"
"Think of him as an interactive computer program." He smiled. "You see. I did learn something from the Science Museum."
He had been raising his voice because the other portraits were calling out to those further away, letting them know what had happened. Draco put his wand to his throat and began to talk in a VERY loud voice. "Quiet. I am Draco Malfoy. I will not have Cassy insulted by anyone. And she is not muggle born. She is a muggle. If anyone has any objection, speak now before I put my wand away."
"We are sure you have your reasons," said a nearby portrait, "and you are a Malfoy. That alone makes me sure that your wishes deserve proper respect." The portrait bowed toward them both.
Draco stared briefly. The man looked like his father, only fifty years older. He decided to ask. "I'm looking for my father. Lucius Malfoy."
The portrait stared, then politely laughed. "I thought you meant me, briefly. I assume you mean the newest member of our group. The outcast boy." He pointed to a stack of portraits, perhaps three dozen, sat one on top of the other in the back corner of the vault. "I believe they put him on the bottom."
Draco thanked the portrait, causing the man to raise an eyebrow. When Cassy thanked him as well, the man gave an unabashed smile and commented on how times must have changed.
Draco walked over to the stack and explained to Cassy what he was going to do. Cassy nodded, and waited as Draco pointed his wand. He cast the floating spell and all but the bottom one rose into the air. Cassy pulled that portrait away and leaned it against a garish stature of a woman in Victorian dress. Draco carefully lowered the rest of the paintings until they rested on the floor again.
He went over to the portrait and picked it up, propping it on an old desk that was probably made of extremely rare wood. He could now look the portrait in the eye. The portrait was looking back at him. A boy his own age.
"I see the family resemblance, but I don't see anything of Narcissa in you."
Draco smiled. "Narcissa Black married, um, Nott. I don't think I ever heard his first name."
"The old man?" Lucius laughed when Draco nodded. "So, Father disbanded the marriage contract. What DID I do that caused him to do that and thrust me in here?"
"Whot? Oh, you married me mum. Excuse me. You married my mother."
"MARRIED ME MUM? What kind of language is that?"
"He's a Cockney," Cassy added helpfully.
"Did Father do this? Please do me one favour. When you burn his portrait, I want to watch."
"I did inherit," Draco pointed out, remembering his fancy voice. "I don't think he cared where I grew up."
"Then why did I allow this?" He noticed Draco's frown. "Ah, I'm not there. Nor your mother, I assume. If I may ask her name."
"Lily Evans."
"Evans? That isn't a pureblood name."
"She was muggleborn."
Lucius smiled. "She must have been a fantastic witch for me to marry her."
"You thought she was."
"And what reason did I give for marrying . . . someone of her stature?"
"You loved her."
The smile became a knowing smile. "And what was the real reason?"
Draco returned the smile.
"She also loved you."
Lucius looked stunned.
"You told me once. Love isn't I love you or you love me. It's we love each other." There were tears in his eyes and, somehow, he found Cassy's hand in his. "And you told me that you were happy when I was born because now we were a family."
Draco wiped his eyes on his sleeve, unwittingly showing his right arm. Lucius was no longer smiling. His face was one of pure disbelief. He was trying to form a question but seemed to have some difficulty. He finally stammered something out.
"Who . . . Who are . . . you?"
Draco coughed as he suddenly tried to laugh. That was the reason he came here.
"My apologies. Lucius Malfoy, permit me to introduce myself. I am your son, Draco Malfoy."
Lucius' attitude changed at once. He gave Draco a knowing smile and made a gesture to the frame below his portrait. As he completed the gesture, a panel slide aside revealing a hidden alcove. It held, barely, three vials. All were smaller than the potion vial Cassy had earlier. Draco carefully took them and placed them in his shirt pocket.
"Thank you, Father," Draco said. It felt strange saying that to someone his age. The portrait nodded his head.
Once they returned to the bank proper, Griphook led them to his office. He informed Draco that Arthur Weasley was waiting. Cassy asked why he was there. Draco told her that Arthur was the executor of his estate. He could tell by the look on her face. It was a reminder that she didn't want.
"I thought this was Gornuk's office," Draco said as they approached the door.
"Gornuk is no longer with us," Griphook informed him. "The wizards will wreak their havoc anywhere." His face was almost a snarl as he opened the door. "And we are forced to wait for the Chosen One to arrive."
"He'll come," Draco said. "As soon as I'm dead."
"Forgive my bitterness," the goblin scowled, "but I hope it will be soon."
"It could be tonight."
"I can only wish."
"You have your wish," said an unexpected voice.
"Uncle Severus?" Draco said in a startled voice as he stepped into the room.
"If you've been following the muggle weather reports you know why I'm here." He paused when he saw Cassy holding Draco's hand. "And you have a new companion?"
Cassy smirked at the comment. Draco knew she was thinking about Nigel. She proved it by telling him if the man mentioned a storm was coming she was going to lose it.
Severus glared at the girl. "The last time I called Draco, he said he was in bed with his girlfriend. It was a lie, of course. I'm sure he would say the same about you."
Draco knew what was coming. He squeezed Cassy's hand in reassurance as she said, "Naw, this time he'd lie and say he was alone."
Draco smirked. "She likes me."
"Now I do have cause to question her intelligence." Professor Snape waved his hand to dismiss the conversation. "I am here to deliver a message to you. It is to be delivered in private." He looked at Griphook, then at Arthur, then at Cassy. His frown flickered for only a second. "The Dark Lord wants you to come to him. Late in the day. No later than dusk."
Draco nodded. "Please inform our Master that I will be there. I am making some last minute changes to my will."
Severus went to leave, pausing to look Cassy in the eye. He put a hand on her shoulder and said in his stern teaching voice. "I warn you to be careful. If you ever find yourself in trouble, you will find ME at your back." He almost spit out the last word. To Draco's surprise, Cassy put her hand on his and thanked him. Severus then kissed her on the forehead before leaving.
"You're right, Draco," Cassy said with a smile. "He is a wonderful man."
"He was threatening you," Arthur Weasley said.
"Yeah, threatening me to listen or else. He is a teacher. Right?"
"Right," Arthur agreed. "And could we hurry up with business. I have recently overheard an important conversation that I must report."
"The changes," Draco said. He nodded toward Cassy. "Make sure money is never the problem."
"Consider it done."
"And that rule about not taking anything for yourself. Do what you want with it. You can even keep it. All of it."
"I'll make my decision only when I have to."
"Because of the current circumstances," Griphook pointed out, "You should express your intentions should you not be able to fulfill your obligations when needed."
"Ah," Arthur said, "in that case, Draco's young lady is the sole inheritor."
"And if," Griphook said. "A conditional. We do not know the future."
"Oh," Arthur hesitated, then smiled, "the first new student to walk into Hogwarts after this is over."
"Um," Draco said. "Muggleborn?"
"Brilliant, Draco." Arthur said as Cassy smirked again. Arthur ignored it, noting to Griphook, "The first new muggleborn student."
"It will be done," Griphook said firmly. "If it ever has to."
"Anything else, then?" Arthur asked, looking directly at Draco.
"A question." He pulled the three vials out of his pocket. "What are these?"
Both Griphook and Arthur Weasley were staring. Arthur finally managed to ask, "where did you get those?"
Draco explained about his father's portrait. He then repeated his question.
"Memories. I would hazard a guess that they are from your father." Draco knew the man's intrigued look mirrored his own. "I have no idea why."
"If you wish," Griphook offered, "I can have a pensieve brought in."
"A whot?" Draco asked.
"It is a means of viewing the memories. As though you were with the person at the time."
"They are probably personal," Arthur explained.
"Knowing my father, they are probably things I need to know. I wouldn't mind sharing them. There may be things I don't understand." Draco knew the man wanted to know what was in the vials, but he also had important information to reveal. "The Dark Lord won't start without me. And I will probably get something to eat before I go."
That decided the issue. Arthur hesitated, then nodded his head. The man was too curious to refuse. Draco asked Griphook if that was possible. Griphook smiled and called a clerk into his office, telling him to get the large pensieve.
"That will permit up to four people to view the memories," Griphook said. "I assume . . . Cassy . . . will be included."
Draco took the hint. "You're welcome to join us. After all, this is your office." He looked at the vials in his hand. "Which one first?"
Arthur picked one up and looked at it, turning it around in his hand. He picked up a second one and examined it. "This one," he said and pointed to a small 'A' engraved into the glass. He showed Draco the first vial and the letter 'C'. "This should be the last one."
Then Arthur had an idea. "Griphook, is there a floo I can use? For a short message." He smiled at Draco. "The details can wait. They only need to know when. We already know where."
Arthur was back by the time the pensieve arrived. He did the honours and emptied the vial. When instructed, Draco leaned forward until he was close to the edge. Then he felt like he was falling into a great chasm. He landed easily on a grassy field. Cassy was there, next to him, reaching for his hand. Arthur and Griphook were watching him. A few feet away, oblivious to their presence, stood his father.
