Ch. 28

Diagon alley was gaining back some of the vibrancy it had lost during the death eater days. When he walked through the streets people would do double takes when they saw him. Draco didn't have as bad of a reputation as he thought he did. People did remember what his family had done, but the wizarding world saw him as a child who was a product of the environment he was raised in and didn't blame him. His parents however were often the subject of intense ridicule. People were glad to see how well he turned out after how he had been raised; being appointed to his post at Hogwarts did much to add to his credit.

He went into Gringotts and presented his key to the Goblin at the front. His family had one of the oldest vaults in the bank. He noticed a flyer behind the counter with Potter, Weasely's and Hermione's picture on it that read: WANTED, THIEVES. The whole wizarding world had heard of the daring break in to Gringotts and while the rest of the wizarding world had praised their actions and moved on, the Goblins felt that the break in could affect the publics view of security at the bank and continued to brand them as trespassers. They were banned from the bank and a flyer was put up to make an example to others should they get any wild ideas.

Since his family did have one of the oldest vaults the head manger came to see him directly to his vault.

"Young Mister Malfoy, it's a pleasure," the goblin said.

Draco knew he had influence with the bank. He pointed over to the flyer that was pinned to the wall. "What's the meaning of this?" he asked him.

"Those were the thieves that broke into the vault of your aunt Lestrange," the goblin pointed out, sure that Draco knew who the three in the picture were.

"Thieves? These are the hero's who stopped the dark lord," he looked at the goblin questioningly. "Surely, you don't prefer he was still in power?" Draco asked.

"No," the goblin shuddered. "But a thief is a thief. We must not make exception for robbers Mr. Malfoy." He said politely.

"I see." Draco said as he thought for a minute. "I planned to go to my vault today, but I think I'd rather close my account."

"Close your account? But…your family has had an account here for several generations?"

"Yes, the contents can be delivered or are they able to be picked up by myself today?" Draco said, quite intent on finishing the transaction.

"Come, Mr. Malfoy, surely there's been a miscommunication." He offered.

"I'm not sure there has been," Draco sneered. "Gringotts is resolute in displaying a picture of my fiancé," he said as he pointed over to the flyer "and refers to her as a thief and a robber. I'm sure I heard you correctly."

"I had no idea, would I had known…" the goblin backtracked.

"Would you have known you would have given her the proper respect?" said Draco, doubtfully. "There's no sense in me having an account where my wife isn't going to be welcome." He finished. His heart felt full at professing Hermione to be his fiancé and wife. He still needed to ask her.

His profession to the goblin was getting him a lot of attention from those in the bank. He noticed most of the goblins had stopped working and that customers were staring at him. If loyal customers began closing their accounts and the word got out, it could further undermine the image of the bank.

The goblin walked over to the flyer and took it down, walked back over to Draco and ripped it up. "I believe that clears matters up?" he asked, his tone angry and disappointed.

"Oh, yes, quite." Draco replied as if to say all matters were settled. The irritated goblin took him down to his vault, glaring at him most of the way while Draco pretended not to notice. He hadn't come to the bank for this purpose, but was happy to be able to use his influence for something to benefit Hermione.

When they got to the lowest levels of Gringotts, the goblin opened the vault. There were many things inside even though Lucious had paid quite a few galleons for his freedom. He walked until he found an old family heirloom, a goblin made diamond ring that was stunning to behold.

The goblin noticed his people's own work be placed into Draco's pocket and instead of irritated became resentful of Draco. Both him and his wife were thieves as far as he was personally concerned. "You and the girl will make a nice pair," he said as he smiled at Draco. Draco was surprised and thanked the goblin, he was too happy to notice the real meaning behind the goblin's words.

Draco returned to the surface and once out of the bank stopped by a flower shop to get something pretty for Hermione. He looked through some of the arrangements that were present and decided to go talk to the front counter for help when he heard someone call out to him.

"Malfoy?"

Draco turned around at the familiar voice, "Potter, what are you doing here?" he asked a little too harshly.

"Looks like I'm buying flowers…what else?" Potter offered in a friendly way. "So how are things going with Hermione?" he asked.

"Good," he softened his tone when he realized that she must have told her friends about them.

"Yeah, I admit I was surprised at first, but I could tell at New Year's that she was in love." After Harry said it he felt weird. "That's what Ginny says anyways…"

"Are you two?" he tried to ask when Harry nodded.

"Yeah," he replied. "Wait, together or in love?"

Draco shrugged, he meant together but it was kind of the same difference. "Both."

"Well yeah, and you and Hermione…" he wanted to see what Draco's feelings for her were. "are you guys in…love." Harry wished he had never come into the store.

Draco hesitated and pulled out the ring he had in his pocket and showed it to Harry. "I'm going to ask her," he started to feel nervous and swallowed hard when he said it.

Harry just looked from the ring back to Draco, "could he be serious?" Harry thought. They both stood in awkward silence as Draco put the ring back in his pocket.

When Potter didn't say anything Draco tried to talk again. "You should be able to get into Gringotts now. I just got them to take that flyer down."

"How did you manage that?! Not even the minister of Magic was able to persuade them. They actually sent him back a howler for bringing up the subject." Harry Remembered.

Draco smiled lightly. "I told them I was closing my account, my family has one of the oldest vaults there. Then they took the flyer down." Draco made it sound so easy.

"Well I haven't had access to my money since the war." Harry added. "I want to stop in there but I'm a little hesitant after the last time…"

Draco was taken back to how he felt today at going to Hermione's house and talking to her father. He had recently felt the same way. "Let me grab some flowers and I'll head over there with you."

"Seriously?" Harry asked.

"Sure Potter, give me just a minute," he said as he turned around and ordered a medium arrangement of lilies and roses and headed out with Harry.

When Draco walked back into Gringotts the goblins stopped working again. He had already tried their patience by threatening to close his account, and the manager shared with the other staff about the goblin made ring he had. Now he was bringing someone known to be the greatest thief Gringotts had ever known right into their midst.

The manager ran right out of his office, shocked. He slowly walked up to Draco and Harry. "Mr. Malfoy?" was all he uttered.

"My friend here wishes to access his account?" Draco returned. He used the word friend very liberally.

The goblin waited for a moment before speaking again. "And do you have your key?" he said, not bothering to address Harry with respect.

"Yep," He managed to have his key on him by a happy accident. He had been asking Ginny to go to his vault and to take his key when she told him she didn't need his money and threw his key at him just that morning. He handed the key over.

"This way," he said as he turned and walked away. Harry turned to look at Draco, wondering if he was joining him.

"Let's go Potter," he motioned for Harry to start moving.

It was a sign of how much they both had changed that Harry trusted going into the bank with Draco, let alone down into the vault. Harry knew that once inside the passage there would be virtually no way out. Gringotts had the highest security of any place he knew.

They headed into the cart and set out for his vault. They didn't have to travel very far when all of them got out and stood in front of the vault and the goblin opened it.

Harry had a pretty good sized mountain of gold and his amount of wealth surprised Draco. Then he realized that he always considered Potter to be poor only because he had always considered himself better than him. Discovering yet another character flaw about himself Draco started to frown. He looked cross as he stood and waited for Harry to be done.

When Harry was done, they headed back up and out and the goblins watched as another thief left their bank that day.

"That was amazing!" Harry said when they got out. "Thanks!"

"No problem. I've got to get back," Draco said as he patted his pocket, looking visibly nervous.

Harry could see that Draco was nervous and as Draco turned to leave Harry called out to him. "Malfoy," he said as Draco turned around. "Don't worry, she's going to say yes." Harry reassured.

Draco gave him the first genuine smile Harry had ever seen on his face as he turned to leave.