Blurred Lines- Chapter 4: A Culprit Named, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter Four

A Culprit Named

Lucius and Narcissa stepped through the fire and into the office first, quickly followed by their two children. Ragnok rose from his chair in greeting once their whole party had arrived, a grim look gracing the goblin Chieftain's face as he offered them a brisk nod.

"Lord and Lady Malfoy, Scion Malfoy, Miss Granger," he greeted them each in turn. "I wish that you were here for a more simple business than this."

Lucius offered a modest bow to Ragnok, showing his respect to a goblin who could easily empty his vault and make any and all financial aspirations disappear should he ever not toe the line. He may be Wizarding Aristocracy but he was far from stupid. Arrogance here would only gain him powerful and vengeful enemies.

"Chieftain Ragnok, thank you for clearing your schedule for us. If I may, I would like the inheritance test to include a paternity test as well. I want there to be no question as to who Miss Granger truly is."

Nodding at his request, Ragnok said, "The Deputy Headmistress is a loyal friend to your daughter. We would all like the confirmation of who would dare cross Lady Magic with such a heinous act as the kidnapping of a magical child." Ragnok's grim face turned feral as he continued, "Any patron of this bank who would commit such a crime would be subject to not only Ministry action but the legal ramifications thrown at them from the Goblin Hoard."

He looked terribly gleeful at the prospect, his sharp teeth showcasing a predatory smile.

Lucius silently chuckled at the bloodthirsty goblin, keeping his tone neutral as he responded, "Well, shall we see who has incurred the wrath of your mighty clan then?"

Ragnok led them across the hall from his office, knowing from his previous dealings with Lord Malfoy that nothing but the best service would be desired. If Miss Granger truly was the lost Malfoy daughter, Ragnok could not risk anyone but his most trusted knowing what was occurring that afternoon and would oversee the entire process himself to ensure not a single detail was missed. As they walked into the marble boardroom, Ragnok gestured to the closest chairs that lined the front of the ebony table as he moved to the opposite side to sit across from Hermione.

He produced a silver dagger that gleamed under the yellow candlelight and a four foot roll of parchment. Hermione's face stayed impassive as she waited for instructions on her part to play, having never entered Gringotts before for anything more than a currency exchange before purchasing school supplies.

"Miss Granger, in order to complete a full inheritance test, as well as the paternity test that Lord Malfoy has requested, you will need to prick your finger and allow seven drops of blood to fall in the center of the parchment. After your blood is added, Lord and Lady Malfoy will then each add seven drops of their own blood. If both are your parents as your school assignment suggests, the three pools of blood will merge together and write out your magical inheritance, as well as a complete history of any magical alterations that you have incurred not by your own doing, along with any magically binding contracts that are currently in your name," Ragnok explained.

Hermione cocked her head to the side, processing his words before asking, "Why not just test my blood against Draco's? Since we're twins with the same set of parents wouldn't it write up everything for both of us, thereby using less blood and proving my paternity?"

There was silence for a second before Ragnok laughed, shocking the other three Malfoys in the room who had never seen such genuine, spontaneous emotion coming from a goblin.

"Ah Miss Granger, you truly are the Brightest Witch Hogwarts has seen in many generations. Such simple logic would astound the majority of the Wizarding population. I look forward to following your career with much interest."

Hermione preened under the goblin's praise as she offered up a more familial address, "Please call me Hermione, or Adhara once this whole thing has been sorted out. I'm sure you and I will be overseeing a number of matters together for many years to come."

"Well then Hermione," he said with eager emphasis on her given name, "to answer your question, using your and Draco's blood would produce the same result. However since his paternity isn't in question and his magical inheritance is already known, that method would produce unnecessary information. Furthermore comparing you two as siblings will not dive deep enough to encounter any possible enchantments you may unknowingly be under."

Hermione nodded her acceptance of his answer before picking up the dagger to prick her finger on its fine point. She used her other hand to gently squeeze out the required seven drops before silently closing off the tiny wound with her wand. She calmly passed the dagger to Narcissa, who mimicked her movements before passing the dagger to Lucius. When the seventh drop of Lucius's blood hit the parchment, all twenty-one drops raced to converge together, scrawling out Hermione's history in elegant script. Lucius could only stare at the girl sitting between him and his wife, finally allowing himself to believe that his daughter was finally home, tears welling up in his eyes for the first time since he had lost her.

She stared back at him, a shy hopeful smile gracing her face as she whispered, "Hi Papa."

The dam broke and ten years of suppressed sorrow flowed forth, streaming down his face as he reached over to grab his little girl and bring her onto his lap. He cried for the years he had lost with her, the milestones he had never gotten to witness, and for the sheer elation he felt at finally being whole again. Hermione clung to her Papa and cried for the hard man her father had become in her absence. The man he'd been forced to be by a father whose only loves in life had been power, wealth, and status.

Draco quietly watched his normally emotionless father, gently grasping his mother's hand when he noticed that she too was crying.

"We're finally going to be a family again Mama," he whispered to her as she squeezed his hand in gratitude, only able to nod at her son's words.

As the tears calmed, Hermione gently let go of her father and slid off his lap to go back to her own chair. They had a roll of parchment to read that would be able to start giving her family and herself at least some of the answers and closure that they had all been looking for in one way or another.

Inheritance Test for Adhara Narcissa Malfoy a.k.a Hermione Jean Granger

Date of birth: 5 June 1980

Blood Status: Pure, Sacred Twenty-Eight, twice over

Birth Given Name: Adhara Narcissa Malfoy

Father: Lucius Abraxas Malfoy

Mother: Narcissa Druella Malfoy neè Black

Sibling: Draco Lucius Malfoy, fraternal twin

Magically Appointed Godfather: Severus Tobias Snape

Name Given at Adoption: Hermione Jean Granger

Adopted Father: Edward Daniel Granger

Adopted Mother: Jean Granger neè Williams

Titles of Inheritance

Joint heir of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, shared with Draco Lucius Malfoy

Joint heir of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, shared with Draco Lucius Malfoy

Sole heir to the Noble House of Dagworth-Granger by right of adoption

Magical Suppressions

Core: 50%