The next couple of weeks past smoothly at Malfoy Manor. Narcissa had not brought up their row again, and both of them remain silent on their views on Andromeda and other blood purities. Draco had treated fairly coldly the following day, barely acknowledging his cousin. Penny's suspicions were confirmed when he confronted her on their way up to their rooms that night. Pulling her to one side of the upstairs hall his grey eyes glared down at her fiercely as his hand gripped her bicep.
"If you ever" He began, heavy emphasis on every syllable "Raise your wand to my mother again" He paused as Penny fought to control her facial expression. Though she would normally be inclined to laugh at his idle threat, the protective anger radiating off him silenced her.
"I don't intend to." Penny said shortly, yanking her arm from his grip. Scanning his face, Penny felt a rush of affection for her cousin as he sized her up before nodding sharply. As he went to turn away a thought occurred to Penny.
"So I can't touch Narcissa but Uncle Lucy is fair game?" She said, amusement creeping into her voice despite her best effort. Giving her a dirty look, Draco made an irritated noise before shrugging.
"My father is a great wizard" He said proudly as Penny rolled her eyes. "He has held his own amongst society's great and powerful for many years, he does not need protecting." Draco finished as Penny made a vomiting noise.
"And Narcissa is a delicate flower." She replied sarcastically as she turned away. "I think you are forgetting something about your mother" She went on as she began walking away. Draco raised his eyebrow questioningly. "She's a Black." Penny finished with a smile before she entered her room and closed the door behind her. Unbeknownst to either of them, a blonde figure at the foot of the stairs smiled widely before making her way back to the drawing room.
During the weeks that followed Penny accompanied Lucius and Draco on a few of his meetings with Ministry officials. As at the World Cup Penny was sure she was being paraded around for show, like a prized specimen. Watching her uncle interact Penny resisted rolling her eyes constantly at how slimy he seemed to her.
"He is such a snake" She muttered to Juno, who hung over the back of her chair.
"Hey!" Her pet protested.
"Sorry Juno, it's a phrase" Penny apologised as she grinned, ignoring the sideways looks she was getting.
"An insulting one at that! What did we ever do to deserve such a reputation? Surely it should be, he is such a cat, or such a dog. They are the ones who pretend to be a humans friend just so they can steal your food!" Juno hissed indignantly as Penny sniggered. Glancing back at her uncle she imagined telling him that he was such a cat, and had to cover her mouth to stifle the sound.
Another day, Juno remained at the Manor as all four of them visited Diagon Alley where Narcissa helped Penny pick out a couple of new bras, along with a new collection of robes, as her ones from the summer now hovered a good inch above her ankles. After they had finished shopping they visited Gringotts so that Lucius and Narcissa could top up their bags with gold. Penny had only ever been in the lobby of the goblin run back, and as they made their way to the carts Penny stared in fascination at the rock. Gingerly settling in the cart Penny glanced nervously at the goblin at the controls.
"Are there not seatbelts?" She asked, having heard the carts were not the smoothest of rides. The goblin looked blankly at her. "Er…restraints to prevent us falling out?" She rephrased.
"No." The goblin replied as he smiled umpleasantly. "It's only ten thousand feet before you hit the bottom." He chuckled darkly as Penny went white. Before anyone could retort the goblin tapped a button on his wheel and the cart lurched before shooting forward at high speed. As the cart sped through the underground caverns Penny gripped Draco's arm, clutching tightly causing Draco to grimace as the cart sharply cornered, screeching metal sending chills down Penny's spin. Watching their twists and turns Penny slammed her eyes shut as a wave of nausea hit her, making her clamp her mouth shut tightly. The sound of water made her open her eyes briefly to see a large waterfall falling from the distant roof over the course of the tracks. Penny barely had time to yelp before the cart shot through the waterfall, drenching Penny in icy water. Looking down at herself Penny was momentarily surprised to see she was bone dry. Another lurch of the cart hit her and she quickly slammed her eyes shut once more. What seemed like an eternity later the cart came to a sharp stop.
"Vault 837." The goblin announced, shooting Penny a nasty smile as she staggered out the cart and leant against the nearest pillar. Retching she messily vomited as the Malfoys all gracefully exited the cart. Reaching her side Narcissa offered her a white handkerchief, which she accepted with a murmur of thanks.
Placing his long fingered hand on the surface of metal, the vault door melted away at the goblin's touch, revealing the large cavern inside. Penny's eyes went wide as a bright gold gleam shone out into the gloomy rock. Following the Malfoys into the vault Penny's eyes shot around her wordlessly. Although she knew the Malfoys were an extremely wealthy family, nothing had prepared her for seeing the true extent of their wealth. All around her were moulds of golden coins, the piles continuing to the distant wall of the vault. Draco appeared at her side, grinning smugly at her stunned expression, before gesturing her to follow him. Glancing at Narcissa, the blonde woman nodded before crossing to stand beside her husband, who was filling a satchel with golden coins. Making their way through the vault Draco led his cousin into a smaller chamber off the main vault, his grin widening as Penny's piercing eyes widened again. The smaller chamber glinted in a colourful array of reds, blues and greens where precious stones in chunks bigger than Penny's hands gleamed brightly.
"Be sure not to touch anything" Draco warned her as she bent to examine the nearest piles of sapphires.
"What are they cursed with?" Penny asked looking up at her cousin who shrugged.
"Dunno, I just know only mother and father can touch anything in here without being burnt." He said as Penny grinned at the bitter note in his voice.
"Found that out the hard way did you?" Penny asked, sniggering as Draco sniffed indignantly.
"Your father makes a lot of donations, seems a lot of effort to make so many trips to the vault." Penny questioned as she stood back up.
"Oh no, he just send the goblins normally." Draco said dismissively with a sneer. Penny frowned in thought at his comment, silently questioning today's trip before the two of them returned to the main vault.
Returning into the chilly air outside Penny cautiously peered upwards, before flinching at the long drop below. Reluctantly climbing back into the cart, Penny turned to speak to her aunt.
"Your vault is a long way down" She commented as Lucius' grey eyes peered at her, his expression silent and calculating.
"All reputable Pureblood families all have vaults in the greater depths of Gringotts." Narcissa answered with an air of arrogance and pride. Reputable, Penny repeated internally, getting the feeling the Weasley vault was in the rock far above them. When the goblin took his seat Penny quickly slammed her eyes shut as the cart launched forward once more. Reaching the lobby Lucius snapped his fingers at a nearby goblin who despite his furious expression, rushed forward with some yellowish liquid that he offered to Penny. Glancing at Lucius, the tall man nodded and Penny took a small swig. Immediately she felt colour flood her face, the nausea in her belly vanishing.
"Thank you" Penny muttered, the goblin blinking in surprise at her politeness. Taking the bottle back he sneered slightly as he retreated.
Later that night Penny awoke to a Juno nudging her persistently, her considerable weight pressing down on her.
"Go away Juno" Penny hissed sleepily, pushing her face into her pillow as Juno began flicking her tongue at her, tickling the base of her neck. "Five more minutes." Penny mumbled, trying to push Juno's face away from her own.
"It is not the morning Mistress." Juno answered as Penny growled slightly.
"Then why are you disturbing me?" Penny snapped, opening one eye to glare at the white serpent, the full moonlight breaking through gaps in the curtain to give the serpent a speckled gleam.
"Something is wrong." Juno answered simply before elaborating. "Mister Malfoy is in a state of agitation, he is not acting consistently within his usual circadian rhythms." Juno went on as Penny rubbed her face, gently supporting herself on her elbow.
"Why do I care if Uncle Lucy is sleeping or not?" Penny asked the serpent, her foggy brain reluctant to function.
"Narcissa is distressed by his change in circadian rhythms and is heading downstairs now." Juno said, her head tilted to listen. "As I understand it two agitated humans are likely to get aggressive with one another." Juno finished as Penny pulled herself from her bed.
"I don't see how a married couple arguing is my concern" Penny muttered as she pulled on a dressing gown. "But might be good to know what's gotten Lucy's knickers in a twist." Penny went on before she crept out her room and down the stairwell, taking care to avoid the creaky points. Making her way across the entrance hall Penny listened to the night, soon able to make out Narcissa and Lucius' voice raised in agitated tones.
"Merlin darling, I just don't see why you are so aggrieved by this." Lucius said impatiently. Leaning against the wall, Penny listened through the ajar crack.
"She is my niece not a bargaining chip Lucius!" Narcissa shot back, her voice going higher than Penny had ever heard it. Penny tensed slightly, realising herself to be the subject.
"You really think you can keep her from him Narcissa?" Lucius retorted. "Yes she is extremely powerful too, but she is a child. She won't be of age for years, we don't have years. The Mark has been growing clearer for months, clearer than it's been in fourteen years. He will return Narcissa, and he shall be none too pleased with me for my neglect. She may be the only card we have to play." Lucius finished earnestly as Penny heard a sob.
"She is like a daughter to me Lucius" Penny heard Narcissa sob, her heart clenching at the pain in her aunt's voice.
"She is not the daughter we lost Narcissa" Lucius said sternly, even as his tone softened. "And she is not Bellatrix, no matter how much she looks like her." He said bitterly. "I do not wish to cause you pain darling, but when the Dark Lord returns, if presenting his daughter to him means protecting you and Draco than that is what I will do." Lucius declared.
Hearing footsteps Penny remained where she was as her uncle marched past her, freezing on the spot as he saw her silhouette out of the corner of his eyes. In an instant he turned, wand raised to her chest, pausing as he saw her piercing blue eyes reflected in the moonlight. Glaring up into his cold grey eyes Penny saw a momentary flicker of panic before his usual calculating look descended. Lowering his wand he watched her carefully, trying to read her glowering expression. Neither said a word as they stared each other out. A couple moments past before Penny edged past her uncle, not breaking eye contact, before turning on her heel and wordlessly strode up the stairs, his grey eyes piercing her back as she climbed and disappeared went out of sight.