"Young Master Malfoy, sir. I was just telling your father how you've grown so. My, my, how big you've become. Why…I remember you as a wee bairn…" said the voice of Mistress Vamp. She was the housekeeper and long-suffering wife of Tom, the innkeeper at the Leaky Cauldron.
Draco's ears pricked up as he was stopped in his tracks by the reference to his father. Harry did an about turn from climbing the stairs, closely followed by Severus upon hearing the woman's admonition.
"Tell me, Mistress, when did you see Lord Malfoy last?" asked Severus; he was the first to get the question out. The two younger wizards clung to the vacant space between, as the middle-aged half-vampire gave her reply.
"Ohh let me think, dearie. It must have been five days past. Terrible hurry he was in as well. Didn't even stop off for a spot of torture that day. Most unlike him as you know, Professor," Mistress Vamp replied.
"Tell me everything about his visit please, Vampy," pleaded Draco, who had grown up with the adulation of the day crawler, for most of his life. Each week, when Draco was a child his Uncle Severus and Lucius would have their special meetings, accompanied by Draco, in the Leaky Cauldron. Mistress Vamp, or 'Vampy' as Draco learned to call her, would always look after him.
As soon as his father and Uncle had finished with their nasty business, and Draco knew it was nasty business as his father would always say how much of a 'Filthy Potions Master' Uncle Severus was afterwards. Lucius would then take Draco over to Gringotts, and his weekly treat to see the goblins.
As time went by, and much to his son's regret, Lucius stopped taking Draco on his weekly vault crawl. Once Narcissa had finally moved out of the Manor, Lucius took to leaving Draco with the house-elves instead. Draco wasn't even sure if 'Sev', as he now called him and his father even went to these types of meetings any more.
"Well, the lovely Lord Lucius…ooh, such a nice man, never hits you where it'll show. He came in last week, he did. He wasn't with his nice friend the…" Vampy was interrupted by a loud cough from the potions professor.
"Ahem!" sounded Severus, attempting to sway the day walker from revealing more than was absolutely necessary to his two companions.
"Kindly stick to the facts, Mistress; this is a matter of great importance. Did Lord Malfoy appear to be well?" Severus spoke, his tone sounded quite agitated, believing the woman was just wasting their time. He made a crude gesture to Draco and Harry that they should get on with their mission.
"He was fine, he was," she replied with a leer.
Harry put his hand on Draco's shoulder and gave a little squeeze; the sighting of his father by the day crawler wasn't going to be the case-breaker Draco had briefly hoped for. Harry's warmth as always was such a great comfort. Smiling timidly to his lover, Draco turned to the woman, and thanked her for letting him know his father was okay.
Severus had already gone up to their rooms, deposited their bags, and come back down again in this time. Motioning to the front door, Harry moved out of the way of the big hug that the mistress was forcing on him, and had just about stepped out into Diagon Alley when the vampiric witch screeched.
"Oooh, Master Malfoy, sir! I would forget my head if it wasn't stitched on," she giggled, as Severus and Draco both looked like they wanted to kill her.
"What have you forgot, Mistress?" Harry asked.
"This here! Lord Malfoy, he says to me, 'Give this to my son, and don't forget' I'm such a lucky blood lover! I nearly did forget, I did!" She giggled some more and then handed Draco a large ornate key.
"Where is the lock this key opens, Mistress?" Severus snapped.
"I don't know, Professor, he never told me that."
Draco examined the key. On the one side was the word Nemo. Draco thought back to his Latin vocabulary lessons for help, as Harry quietly snickered to himself when the name conjured images of a small clown fish, and not the captain of the Nautilus.
"What's so amusing, Potter?" Severus snipped.
"Oh it's back to Potter now is it, Snape?" Harry mischievously replied.
"Why, you little…" Severus sneered as he moved closer to Harry, only to be cut short when Draco yelped as he turned the key over, noticing something on the other side. Harry and Severus were pulled from their minor bickering, as both looked over the blonde's shoulder to view the lettering. Sure enough on the reverse side of the key there were three more words.
"Capitulus Arcanum Lacus." Draco spoke in his best Latin accent. Harry looked at Severus for a translation of the script, receiving blank stares in return. Harry raised his eyebrows at Severus, giving the equivalent of an unspoken nudge, but, still the professor didn't respond.
"I thought you were the bloody teacher here? Harry snapped at Severus, his patience thinning as he believed Severus was sulking over the Snape jibe.
"I'm a bloody potion's master, not a fucking language expect!" spat Severus.
"Well from that remark, you're fluent in foul language as well, Severus." Harry sarcastically whispered, as Draco giggled. The eldest of the trio decided to let that last remark go over his head, but did offer Harry the victory sign, which a smiling Harry accepted.
"Enough you two; it's like being back at school. Do try and get on, please?" Draco pleaded. Both men apologised for their antics and looked on again as the blond studied the words some more.
"NEMO!" Draco exclaimed, "Is the Latin word for nothing…I think?"
Harry spoke up. Unbeknown to most, Latin was one of Harry's favourite languages. In the times before he and Draco got together, Harry would spend hours reading Latin classics in the Astronomy Tower. They allowed his mind to flicker between thoughts of Caesar and Mark Anthony, and his growing passion for Draco. Motioning to Draco to pass him the key, Harry held it up to the light to make sure that a hidden word would not be revealed and then corrected Draco's grammar.
"Nemo, actually means 'nobody'; the Latin for nothing is 'nil'." Severus couldn't have looked more jealous if he wanted to. It was a fact that Harry relished, especially when Draco gave him a luxuriant kiss for being so clever.
"Mr. Potter. The rest of the translation. Today, if you please." Draco let go of Harry, giving him one last peck on the cheek as he looked at the other side of the key, and the three words carved on it.
"Capitulus Arcanum Lacus, this doesn't actually make any sense," Draco said, trying to reaffirm the language skills that he actually possessed. "This literally translates as chapter sacred lake" Draco said, Harry nodded agreement.
He couldn't make any sense of this trio of words either. Severus seeing that the boy's enthusiasm was quickly starting to slide took charge of the situation again. "That key will belong somewhere, but, for now, we would be better placed in the vaults of Gringotts, don't you agree?" The snarky voice drew their attention back to the present.
Harry and Draco, shaken to action, followed Severus through to the main thoroughfare of Diagon Alley. Walking past the Apothecary shop, dodging some squabbling children outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, moving on past the stationary shop, they then quickly followed Severus's lead by ducking into Flourish and Blotts.
Severus explaining that a wizard walking their way was a prominent Death Eater, the last thing they needed was to be discovered out in the open, after all. When the coast was clear, they resumed the short journey past Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and up the steps to the biggest building on the alley.
They approached the bronze front doors of Gringotts via steps of white marble. A goblin stood guard outside, dressed in a uniform of scarlet and gold. Passing through the front doors, they walked into an entrance chamber facing another set of doors. These doors were silver and over these was a rhyme.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
of what awaits the sin of greed
for those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
a treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
of finding more than treasure there.
Harry looked the two goblins who were guarding these doors; they appeared apathetic to their surroundings, as they opened the doors for our three to enter. Once in the main hall, the long tables either side of the room had high-chair seated goblins, hard at work counting and weighing coins, writing in ledger books, and examining precious stones. The goblins of Gringotts were renowned in the wizarding world for being the most arrogant of creatures; to deal with them required plenty of patience.
Draco approached the information desk and holding out the key to the goblin on duty, a Mr. Griphook, Draco asked if they could be shown to the vault in question.
"No." was the only response from the goblin, followed by a "Next?"
"Excuse me, I am Professor Severus Snape. My companions and I believe this key to belong to a Gringotts bank vault, and the solution to a riddle therein." Severus was trying to keep his temper in check; Harry wasn't having any luck keeping Draco from exploding.
"Listen here, you insufferable little troll!" Draco was seething.
"Goblin." Griphook corrected with a small smile.
"Listen here, you insuff… oh very funny!" Draco said, as the Goblin sneered at him.
"This key does not belong to a Gringotts bank vault. Every one of our keys has the Gringotts coat of arms on it. This does not. Therefore this does not belong, to this bank. Therefore, our business is concluded. Now move along; there are customers who need my help." Griphook jeered.
A herd of guard goblins descended on the information desk. It was obvious that attitude of any kind would not be tolerated here.
"Mr. Griphook?" Harry respectfully spoke. "My name is Harry Potter. Please forgive my friend, he is very upset. Do you know where this key may fit?" The goblin shook his head; the show of respect in Harry's voice had a positive effect on Griphook.
Either this or the name carried some weight here at the wizarding bank, as it seemed to do in the rest of the wizarding world. The guards backed off, making the situation at the desk seem a lot less tense now. Draco took Harry's lead and asked a polite question of his own.
"Mr. Goblin, sir. Can you give me the key to the Malfoy family vault? I am Draco Lucius Malfoy, and I am the next Lord of Malfoy Manor."
"No." replied Griphook. This incensed Draco, and caused Severus to become a little more animated than he felt was helpful afterwards. Harry pulled Draco into a calming hug and whispered discretely for him to calm down.
"Dray, stop getting angry. He is deliberately tormenting you. I'll take care of this. Now, please go outside with Severus. The last thing we need is to be forcibly removed from the bank before we have any answers," Harry murmured.
"Ok, but, please hurry, time may be running out." Draco said in a soft pleading voice that made Harry just want to kiss him and reassure him, but that would have to wait, as Harry watched Draco and Severus walk towards the door. Harry didn't know which one looked the more dejected; Severus especially looked like his whole world was crumbling down.
Harry returned to his conversation with the wiry old goblin. "Thank you, Mr. Griphook. My friends are very upset as you can see. We are trying to locate either the location that key opens, or the Malfoy-Potter family vault" Harry kept his eyes down; he didn't want to be seen as being pushy.
"Mr. Potter, the Malfoy-Potter vault, like all others in this establishment, needs the relevant clearance to gain access." Griphook informed as he returned to his ledger and offered no other explanation.
"Just one more thing sir!" Harry asked. "What is the appropriate clearance needed for this vault?"
"A key Mr. Potter. The vault can only be accessed with the pass key."
Harry pleaded one last question, knowing that the goblin was highly unlikely to be accommodating. "Where can I find the key?" Harry was even more confused when he was given the answer: "The key-holder has the key; you just need to ask them. Now. NEXT!" and Harry was jostled out of the line, as the queue behind him had finally grown weary of their extended wait.
Harry's face gave away the fact that they were no nearer finding where the key belonged. And even further away from where Lucius was.
Instructing Draco and Harry that it was time to return to their room, Severus lead to way out of Diagon Alley back to the Leaky Cauldron.
Draco didn't even stop off in the bar part of the Leaky Cauldron for food. He felt gutted, and went upstairs to his room to lay on the bed and cry, tears just rolled down his cheek. Harry had let him go on ahead; he wanted to relay to Severus the further snippets of information that Griphook had offered.
When he finally entered the room he was met by his beautiful, cherished boyfriend curled up on his bed, his face reddened with tearstains. Sitting down on the bed next to him, Harry ran his fingers lightly through Draco's hair, jolting the blonde to sit up and through his arms around Harry's neck.
"Harry, I'm so scared…don't leave me! Promise you won't ever leave me!"
Harry pulled his lover into a tight embrace, placing butterfly kisses on his face. "I'll never leave you, Angel. I love you," Harry whispered.
Outside the door Severus could hear his lover's son being comforted the way he so loved receiving himself. How he missed Lucius, how he wished that he were here in the special bed they shared so many times over the years. Severus' thoughts faded to a time long past, a happier time.
:Flashback:
Wisps of the long pale hair tickled as he made his was down the lean body below him, marking a trail from neck to hip.
"Luc, stop teasing me." The dark eyed wizard moaned, straining his hips in a silent plea to his lover.
"Tell me, Severus…tell me what you want." Lucius said. "All you have to do is tell me."
"I want you… in me… around me… always." He whimpered as Lucius swallowed him to the root.
: End Flashback:
A guttural moan brought Severus back to the present with a start. 'Damn it, Luc', he thought, 'You promised me you'd never leave me.'
"Harry, I feel so dead inside. I need you to take away those feelings from my mind…make me see only you, feel only you, hear only my voice screaming your name as you take me to the edge and beyond."
"Draco I promise." Harry pulled Draco's clothes off gently and disrobing himself, climbed up on top of his lover. Harry wasn't in a rush; he wanted to taste every single inch of his lover's body.
The need to comfort by exploring and touching every inch of Draco's skin was paramount in his mind. To feast on Draco's unique aroma, and drink of his desire, skilful hands and mouth deliver pleasure and comfort in equal amounts.
Harry turned Draco around so that he was facing Draco's back and kissing the back of his neck expertly manoeuvred him off the bed to the rug in front of the fire. Licking down the top of Draco's back, Harry inhaled in the smell of his lover, with each new pheromone that Draco released Harry's already growing desire to fuck his lover increased. Draco's rearward thrusts begged Harry to enter him, claiming him again as his own.
Harry pushed Draco down forcing his head into the pillow that lay on the floor, raising Draco's perfect white globes up towards Harry's awaiting attention. Rubbing his tongue over the top of Draco's firm buttocks, Harry inhaled Draco's wonderfully evocative musk; it was pure pheromone heaven for him.
Licking down the between his lovers cheeks, he could hear Draco scream his name louder and louder, the closer he went to Draco, opening with his tongue.
Harry spread Draco's legs wide apart and pulled his ball sack back towards his hot pucker, devoutly paying attention to Draco's tight hole and ball sack. He let his tongue go from working frantically around his balls, to darting in and out of his needful opening.
Draco was rocking his pelvis and thrusting his hips back and forward into Harry's obliging mouth; the more attention Harry's mouth paid Draco's body, the more relaxed and eager for his lover to be inside him Draco became.
Harry manoeuvred to the front of Draco, and lifting his head up presented him with his cock to suck. Draco submitted in his willingness to do anything for the lover he desired. He sucked Harry's cock greedily, relaxing his throat so that all of Harry could get down his throat and he could feel the hairs on Harry ball sack softly scratch against his chin.
Draco's hands were probing at Harry's opening, with each face fuck thrust that Harry did to Draco, Draco in turn groped more intently so that he managed to get one finger from each hand inside Harry's hot hole. The more he probed, the more Harry screamed his name.
Repositioning himself so he was now lay on his side facing Draco with his cock in Draco's mouth; Harry started thrusting away, whilst Draco's hard cock was sliding into his own mouth.
Harry pushed a finger into Draco's hole and felt the warm slippery welcoming therein; it was more than either could take and in a last frenzy of mouth fucking and anal finger probing, they moved together. Everything that the two were doing was spurred by the previous action of the other; this was love-making with no rules, no pre-planned agenda, just reactions to movements, just one goal for both, the pleasure of the other by giving and receiving more pleasure than was ever imaginable.
When Harry entered Draco, he did so as Draco requested, with impact: slamming his hips against Draco's arse, slapping his balls against Draco's crack in deep steady lunges. Altering the speed as he changed the angle he slammed his cock into, until without warning his cock exploded filling his lover with stream after stream of love, bathing that heated inside with his commitment.
Shaking himself, Severus could make out the sounds coming from the next room; in his haste to comfort his lover, Harry had neglected to raise a silencing charm. Severus was at pains with himself; he was grieving for the loss of his lover, and was forced to hear his godson's ecstasy being screamed at the top of Draco's voice as Harry slammed away at him in the other room. Not able to control his own erection, but, feeling guilt-ridden that he had one, Severus got off his own bed and went to the window in his small room over looking the muggle thoroughfare, Charring Cross Road.
Thoughts of the day came back to him. What did the key mean? What was the significance of the words that were carved on it? It was surely another clue. But what did it mean, what other clues were in the letter? Thoughts of his love for Lucius came back to him as tears welled up in his eyes. Why did he have to be lonely when they were having mad passionate sex next door? Life was a bitch! he thought.
He looked out over Muggle London and the buildings in view and told himself how far the muggles had become, the Blind Pub and the Elephant and Castle further down the street – which was opposite Severus window – were examples of Victorian splendour. Over the tops of these buildings and in the distance, he saw the huge muggle park where he used to enjoy long strolls around the lake with Lucius.
It was no good; the more he thought about Lucius, the more he grieved. Sighing deeply, he decided to go and get some scotch from the bar before retiring. He left his room and started to climb down the stairs to the public bar. Getting about five stairs down, a revelation hit Severus like a light had just been turned on in his head.
Turning around in the snappiest show of billowing robes imaginable, Severus charged back to the window in his room, staring intently at the building opposite. It must be…it surely must be! he thought, as his eyes were glaring at the sign above the public house's door:.
The Blind Beggar.
Beta'd by the amazing sbkar, many thanks