Chapter Fourteen: Checking the Vaults

This is just something that occurred to me as I was trying to think of what to fill the gap with while on my way to brighter things or maybe those suggestions I'm still waiting for. Hope you enjoy this little chapter.

Sirius looked at the goblin who was driving the cart. Theo was next to him in the cart, the wind rushing by him, green, but giddy. They were heading down to one of the family vaults. With all the holders of the Lestrange vault in Azkaban, the head of the Black family, Sirius, had free access to the vault's contents as a caretaker.

Another one of those conveniently useful old pureblood laws.

Sirius actually had a purpose in coming down to the vaults. Ever since Dumbledore's surprising revelation, Sirius had been rapidly searching for places the others could have been hidden. He had eventually come to the conclusion that, knowing his cousin Bellatrix, she would happily accept anything Voldemort could give her. She would be a prime candidate.

As the cart rolled by, Sirius looked up and heard the river that fed the Thieves' Downfall flowing above them. The Gringotts cart rattled and shook and flung itself around tiny corners. Suddenly the area began to get warmer.

They were close.

[_]

Standing near where the Ukrainian Ironbelly guarded several high security vaults, was a squad of wizards. One of them was Dumbledore. There was also Mad-Eye and Fudge, as well as a group of Gringotts Curse-breakers.

There was another wizard there, who looked capable of dealing with the handful that Theo had quickly become. He was settling into life with him and Remus quite easily. He liked to play with Harry and Remy.

Fudge called out, "Mr. Black, why have you brought your son?"

"I couldn't find anyone to sit him. Remus had work today, my house-elf had to go and take care of a problem that arose in Grimmauld Place, and our back-up sitters are on a quick holiday in Northern Ireland."

"Fine."

The big wizard that Sirius had pegged for the one to grab Theo stepped forward and said, "I'll watch him for a bit."

Sirius nodded and turned to Theo.

"This man is going to watch you for a bit while I go off to do some boring adult things. I want you to be good."

"Okay Paddy!"

Sirius smiled at the slight play-on-words and turned to face the wizards.

Sirius was silently handed a metal clapper which hurt his heart to use to frighten such a beautiful dragon, but he had no choice. Eventually they skirted around and made their way to the door of the Lestrange vault.

The goblin brushed his hand on the door and they entered the vault. Sirius looked at Dumbledore, who was eyeing the treasure with mild interest. He was ignoring most of it anyway.

Sirius wandered about his cousins' vault looking for anything that seemed out of place. Over here was a sculpture of a silver snake. Sirius had never pegged Bellatrix as a House Pride kind of person, but maybe Rodolphus or Rabastan were he hadn't met either brother.

The Curse-Breakers were examining every piece of treasure, attempting to find if there was one with the tell-tale magical signature. Sirius stood at the other end of the vault, examining the back wall. A glint of gold caught his eye. Up on a shelf, was some sort of golden artifact. Sirius felt drawn to it, but he couldn't figure out how to get up there.

Oh well, he wasn't a wizard for nothing. Sirius Summoned the object to his hand. A cup? Definitely a somewhat ornate cup with onyx tracery detailing a badger. Definitely Hufflepuff related and it made Sirius suspicious.

"Hey what about this?"

The group came over. Moody and Dumbledore smiled having quickly seen was Sirius had. As usual, Fudge was stubborn and looked at it like it meant nothing.

"Why should this be it?"

Moody nearly growled like a dog.

"Because Minister, the Lestranges are notoriously Slytherin. Why do they have a clearly Hufflepuff artifact in their possession?"

Fudge nearly gave himself whiplash looking back at the cup. One of the Curse-Breakers pointed his wand at it and murmured a spell. Unlike everything else that had that spell cast on it, it hummed in a dark, rich tone.

"Definitely a powerful presence of Dark Magic."

Dumbledore stepped up to it and cast another spell. The cup was envolped in smoke and it twisted to form a snake and the waxy, bald face of Voldemort.

The smoke dispersed. The wizards took the cup with them, back up to a chamber they could destroy it in. Sirius reclaimed his son, and the went home, both happy.

[_]

In a cell in Azkaban, Tom Riddle fell down as though struck with a dagger. He felt part of his soul die. Tom was desperate. He had only made five Horcruxes out of his goal of six. He would be immortal! He would escape and wreak havoc on that foolish Black and his werewolf pet.

As night fell Lord Voldemort vowed vengeance.

Well that was certainly interesting to write. It had some ups and downs, but I think we're good. As always, please leave comments with some suggestions or just to tell me that the story is good. In any case, have a nice rest of your day, enjoy some of the other fanfics that we've got floating around here, and I hope you enjoyed!

See you soon!

-LordofNothing1