Flammy: No, Draco did not really get raped, just molested. Don't worry about forgetting, it happens when I take so long to update. Yes I admit it. Hangs my head in shame
Kamui5: Alliances will be made in Slytherin, but with whom I will not reveal. Don't worry, Harry's relatives will get their just reward or should I say punishment.
Cherry0214: Thanks! Glad you like it.
Zoomaphonethepirate: I'm glad you like it. Happiness is in the near future, just to let you know.
Staryday: Glad you liked it. My little Sinilu is my favorite character and dedicated to Sinilu Silverspell, glad you like.
Morena Evensong: Glad you like my little Sinilu; it's dedicated to Sinilu Silverspell. Oh and glad you like the rest of it as well.
Princesspepper: Glad you liked it, and sorry it was sad but it fit the mood. The shock thing is like when you do something and then sleep on it and suddenly your opinion changes on it. Not sure if you get what I'm saying, but it sounded better in my head. Glad you like my little Sinilu (dedicated to Sinilu Silverspell). I was really nervous about adding my little Sinilu, but since it seems everyone likes it, yah me! If your going crazy, make sure you have someone help you tie up the straps on the back of the jacket! LoL! J/K!
Silver Salamander: Thanks, I'm glad you like so many aspects of my story. Blushes Oh stop it, stop, wait don't really stop.
Sinilu Silverspell: Cry WHERE ARE YOU?! Cry
Author Note: First off, Glad you all like it so far. Second, I hope I didn't take too long. Like I said before, this and the last chapter were supposed to be one so both chapters are sort of short. Anyways, as you'll notice, there's once again no Harry, but be prepared that there will be lots of Harry action next chapter. Well, that's it, enjoy and please review!
CHAPTER 5 – STARLESS
Draco gently pushed the doors of Gringotts bank open and quietly entered. He was still quite shaken about what had just happened, but there were things he had to take care of, and at the moment, he wasn't going to allow anything to distract him.
The noise of clinking money and pounding stamps echoed throughout the vast hall. Draco made his way over to one of the many goblins sitting behind one of the long tables, which stretched from one end of the hall to the other.
The goblin was busy counting the dozens of Galleons that were spread out across his workspace: occasionally making notes on a long piece of parchment.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me?" Draco politely asked. The goblin merely continued with his counting, not even looking up to acknowledge that it had heard him. Draco tried again.
"Excuse me, I'd like to make a withdrawal." The goblin continued to ignore him, and Draco was quickly running out of patience. He wasn't used to being ignored by anyone, let alone a rebellious goblin.
"EXCUSE ME!" Draco nearly shouted. He reached his last straw as he watched the goblin continue with his work, paying no heed to anything else.
Before Draco could begin to yell any obscenities, Sinilu let out an ear-piercing screech that echoed off the walls a thousand times louder than anything a normal starling could produce.
The goblin along with Draco and the vast majority of the individuals in the room threw their hands over their ears.
"Alright, alright, what do you want?" The goblin questioned in the rudest voice he could muster.
Sinilu went silent as Draco calmed himself and replied.
"My name is Draco Malfoy and I'd like to make a withdrawal." Draco sneered.
"One moment." The goblin got up and walked a few chairs down to another goblin; whispering something into his ear, before returning accompanied by the other goblin.
"I'm Griphook, and if you'd follow me, I'll take you to your vault." Griphook waved his hand and then walked through the table as though it wasn't even there. He waved his hand again and then began to walk towards the other end of the hall.
Draco hurried to catch up and followed Griphook through a large oak door and into a gigantic mine looking chamber. The vastness was overwhelming and stretched farther than the eye could see in every direction.
Griphook picked up a small lantern before climbing into a mine car and motioning for Draco to follow. Even before he had a chance to sit down, the mine cart had taken off down the track. Draco was thrown back into the chair, flustering Sinilu and causing it to screech as it was thrown off of Draco's shoulder and angrily took up flying beside the cart instead. Draco gripped the sides of the car with all of his might: afraid that even the slightest turn at this speed might throw him to his death.
After a short trip, the cart stopped just as suddenly as it had started: successfully throwing Draco into the front of the cart. He was amazed to realize that Griphook hadn't moved the entire time, as though the cart hadn't even moved in the first place.
Griphook gracefully exited the cart and made his way over to vault 666. Draco stumbled after him, as Sinilu landed gracefully on his shoulder.
"Key please." Draco took out his vault key and handed it to Griphook, who slowly unlocked and opened the door.
Draco froze: eyes wide with pain and fear. The vault was completely empty. There wasn't even a single Knut left. Draco swung around to face Griphook.
"Where's all my money, what happened?!" Draco didn't even attempt to hide the anger and worry from his voice.
"Your father, Lucius Malfoy was here earlier and proceeded to empty the contents of this vault." Griphook stated matter-of-factly.
"What?! But how?!" Draco shouted: beginning to loose it.
"The vault was started by Lucius Malfoy, and later put in your name, so legally he still has access to the vault." Once again the goblin spoke with no emotion in his voice.
Draco fell to his knees. He had nothing, absolutely nothing left. Silent tears began to fall as he starred into the empty vault, not hearing or seeing anything, only emptiness, like how he felt right now. Empty.
Griphook's voice broke his daze.
"Would you like to cut off your father's access to this vault?" There was really no point in it now. His father had already taken everything from him, but Draco found himself answering anyways.
"Yes please." It was barely a whisper, but Griphook heard it nonetheless.
"Of course, if you would follow me back to the cart now." Draco slowly stood, wiping the tears away as he did. As he started to get into the cart, Sinilu gave Draco a small peck and took off flying.
"Wait, Sinilu, where are you going?!" Draco called after the little starling. Sinilu didn't even look back as it slowly disappeared into the distance. Draco flopped himself into the mine car just as it took off. A new set of tears began to fall, as Draco thought about how alone he was. He couldn't believe that even Sinilu had just left him. Had it finally realized how little he would be able to do to take care of it? He couldn't blame the little bird, though. He had to admit he would've done the same; he wished he could do the same. That, of course, was out of the question.
The mine cart came to a dead stop and Draco got out, not really paying attention to anything. He mindlessly left Gringotts and plopped himself down on the steps that led to the banks huge doors.
Draco starred blindly out into the sea of people, before a thought hit him that nearly made him loose it once again.
Harry!
Harry needed healing potions and fast or he might die, but what was Draco supposed to do now? He had no money and no way of getting any, or at least not fast enough. Sure he could get an apprenticeship, but by the time he would be able to earn enough money for the potions, Harry would probably already be dead.
Draco flopped his head on his knees and cried his heart out. There really wasn't anything else he could do. Draco felt so helpless and everything seemed so out of control. He didn't want to admit it, but he almost wished he had just staid at the Malfoy manor and taken the dark mark, but no, he couldn't think that way. He had to save Harry some how and there was no going back now.
The time for talk was over, but Draco had no idea how he was going to get the money. Then again, why worry about money, when he could just steal it. He had stolen things many times in the past, but never anything this expensive. Still, if he was to save Harry, he was going to have to do it.
Draco slowly got up. The place being so crowded was most certainly a plus. Perhaps he could go in and get out before anyone even noticed that he was there. He could only hope.
Draco plunged into the crowded street with a strong resolve, but his worry was slowly chipping it away as he neared the apothecary.
Draco stopped just outside the door. What if he got caught? Child or not, he'd still get at least a week in Azkaban. Draco was surprised to find that the dementors weren't what worried him; it was the thought that Harry would probably be dead by the time he got out. In other words, getting caught was not an option.
Draco slowly opened the door: a small bell just above the door sounding as he did so. He was relieved by the sight of the tightly packed apothecary. This was going to be easier than he thought, or so he hoped.
Draco made his way through the isles until he came across the healing potions. He searched through the bottles until he found the three he was looking for: Skele-repair, Bruise-be-gone, and abrasion-abrasor. After taking a quick look around, he carefully slipped the three tiny bottles into his robe pocket, then proceeded to look around for a bit longer, before making his way to the door. Great, everything had gone smoothly, or so he thought.
A hand was firmly rested on Draco's shoulder: halting him just in front of the door. He slowly turned around and came face to face with the apothecary shopkeeper. Fear, like he had never known, raced through Draco's entire body: the firm grip on his shoulder being the only thing to stop him from bolting at that very moment.
The shopkeeper held out his hand and produced an old fashion key just like Draco's room key. Wait a minute! It was his room key!
"You seemed to have dropped this, young man", the shopkeeper whispered as he handed Draco the key. Relief flooded through Draco like a tidal wave as he gently took the key and carefully put it into his pocket.
"Uhhh...thank you, sir." Draco quickly turned to leave, but the hand was not removed from his shoulder. The man's face appeared beside Draco's, similar to the S.T. Seller's. Draco shuttered, but the mans voice was more understanding than anything else.
"It better be for a very good cause." Draco's eyes widened in shock. How could he have known: how did he see: did he really know what Draco took?
"Yes sir, it is." The shopkeeper released his grip and Draco took the opportunity to bolt from the store at full speed.
By the time Draco finally stopped running, he was standing in front of the wall that led to the Leaky Cauldron. There was no way he was going to stop anywhere else to steal what he needed now. Besides, he doubted any of the other shopkeepers would let him go that easily if he were caught. He would just have to get a job to pay for his and Harry's school supplies and he would simply let Harry share his cloths for now.
With his mind made up, Draco tapped the wall and made his way into the Leaky Cauldron. Draco didn't realize how flustered he looked until he was bombarded by Tom. He knelt in front of Draco and engulfed him in a hug. Draco stood there in utter shock.
"I'm sorry, Draco. I was just so worried that something had happened to you. Your father came through he about an hour ago and the smug look on his face made me think that perhaps he had found you. You are alright aren't you?" Tom rushed the words out as he pulled away from Draco and began trying to pat his hair into place like some over-concerned mother. Draco nearly started crying at this. Not even his own mother had ever done something like this.
"It's ok. I kind of like it actually", Draco smiled at Tom.
"Well then, how about you go up to your room and get cleaned up, and in about an hour or so, I'll bring you up some dinner?" Draco's smile widened even more.
"That sounds great", Draco replied as Tom returned the smile and then ushered him to the stairs.
Draco trudged slowly up the stairs; even though he was feeling better now then he'd felt all day. There were still so many thins on his mind and none of them were very encouraging. He really missed Sinilu and wished the little starling were still by his side. Everything about his current situation worried him and he was beginning to feel sick from all the stress, that or he was really hungry. He couldn't really tell, but that wasn't the point. One way or another, it would be best if he didn't leave his room for a while, just until things cooled down and he had a chance to think things over and come up with a better plan of what he was going to do from now on.
Draco walked with a little more speed down the hallway to his room: the thought of a nice hot shower spurring him on. Hopefully it would take his mind off of the things that had happened today, especially the unclean feeling he had gotten from the S.T. Seller.
Draco took out his key: his hand brushing against the three tiny bottles in his pocket, as he reached room 13 and unlocked the door. He went inside: quickly closing and locking the door behind himself. He turned around to check on Potter, but froze suddenly in fear. There was no one there. Harry was gone.
"POTTER!"