Beta love to the lovely CarbConnoisseur

"Are you ready for this?" Dorea asked carefully.

Draco shrugged. "We have a good reason to be going. It's not that suspicious."

Dorea hummed. "Minerva and Filius made us a copy, just in case."

"I hadn't thought of that," Draco admitted slowly.

"If Bella is informed, she'll check. It seemed wise."

"Yes. Merlin, I can't imagine what would have happened if there wasn't something there," he agreed, not wanting to imagine the fallout that would have caused.

"Indeed. Let's get this over with then."

Nodding, Draco followed her towards the floo, calling out for Diagon Alley.

"I wish to access all of the Black and Potter Vaults," Dorea demanded as the Goblin looked at her curiously. "My Granddaughter is getting married and I want to ensure her jewellery is perfect."

"Your Granddaughter, Madam Potter?" the goblin asked with a frown.

Seeing it, Dorea changed tactics. "Might I speak to Garlag?"

The goblin blinked, but nodded. "Yes," he agreed, eyeing her suspiciously as he hopped off his chair.

"Madam Potter wishes to speak to Garlag?" Another goblin frowned, eying Dorea. Draco had to fight not to fidget. It had not been so hard the last time around. No one had questioned them when they came for Hermione's engagement ring. Was it because Dorea had asked for access to all of the vaults? Silently, he followed his Aunt and the goblin into one of the private rooms. He settled almost immediately. He could do this. He'd been in this very room with his father more times than he could count to meet with Snarfang, the goblin in charge of the Malfoy vaults. It was almost comforting in its familiarity.

"Madam Potter?" Garlag prompted.

Dorea watched him curiously. "I merely asked to visit the Potter and Black vaults. My granddaughter is getting married and I want her wedding jewellery to be perfect."

"Madam Potter, your son is not old enough to have a daughter of marriageable age."

"No," Dorea agreed slowly. "Under normal circumstances, he would not be. Might I speak frankly, Garlag?"

"Are you asking if our conversation is confidential, Madam Potter?" Draco thought the goblin looked amused.

"Yes," Dorea agreed, her face blank.

"Consider me intrigued, Madam Potter."

"My granddaughter is a time traveller. She has been verified using veritaserum"

The goblin blinked. "I see. She has not been verified here?"

"Should she have been?" Draco asked with a frown.

The goblin looked at him shrewdly. "To ensure the right to claim," he agreed. "You are?"

Draco hesitated, allowing Dorea to speak for him. "Does the promised confidentiality still hold?"

"Yes, Madam."

"My name is Draco Malfoy," he sighed.

"Also a time traveller?"

"Yes," Draco agreed.

"And you're willing to verify that?"

"Will anyone be notified?"

"No." The goblin definitely looked amused now. "Unless you would like them to be."

"No. Definitely not," Draco replied quickly. "What does verification involve?"

"Blood."

Draco nodded. He'd expected as much. "Very well."

"Three drops, Mr. Malfoy," the goblin instructed, holding out a tiny dagger. Silently, Draco sliced his finger, allowing three drops to fall onto the waiting parchment. The goblin's eyebrows rose. "It would seem that you are exactly who you say you are, Mr. Malfoy. Now, why don't you tell me why you're really here?"

Draco snorted. "Technically, my fiance really does need jewellery for our wedding."

"But that is not the only reason you are here."

"No," Draco agreed, making a split-second decision. "Do you have rules about what can and cannot be kept in a vault?"

Garlag looked surprised at the question but answered regardless. "Yes. Not many, but yes. Anything which can harm a goblin just being in the vicinity needs to be handed to our curse breakers before being stored. Nothing alive may be stored in a vault. Any additional person who wishes to visit another family vault must be verified. Anyone who wishes to store something in another vault must be given permission from the goblins."

Draco hummed. "So a Horcrux?" he asked casually. Beside him, Dorea looked startled at his blunt question.

"Would be against the rules," Garlag agreed.

"And if there is one?" Draco queried.

"Then we would be most grateful for the information and would be obliged as a nation to ensure that you were looked upon favourably."

Draco hummed. "Then perhaps it's time to visit the Black vaults. We're hoping it's there."

"There is truly a Horcrux in our bank?" Garlag checked, looking like he didn't believe a word of it.

"There was in our time," Draco allowed. "We're unsure if that's the case this early. We merely wanted to check."

"Whose vault?" the goblin growled.

"Bellatrix Lestrange."

He nodded sharply. "Wait here."

"Was that wise?" Dorea asked softly once he was gone.

"I don't know, but… I think he'd have known if we'd lied."

"Probably," Dorea sighed. "They did not verify you last time."

"Maybe they did," Draco replied slowly. "Goblins rarely get involved in what wizards are up to. I would be surprised if they did verify me and then left it well alone. You didn't give a name, but you told him I was your great nephew. That's not a lie. It would have come back true."

Dorea paused, considering that. "True, we have no idea how goblins traditionally verify someone. I've never seen them ask for blood in the main part of the bank." Draco hummed in response, mulling that over. Were there ways to ensure a person was who they said they were that wizards knew nothing of? He startled slightly as Dorea continued. "If it's there, we need to convince them to take the fake."

"I know. Anything else and he might make another one. And if he does that…"

"We lose our advantage," Dorea nodded. "What's left?"

"The diary and the locket. We have a plan for the ring and we have the diadem."

"So close," she murmured. "We need to consider a plan for after we have them all."

"I know," Draco sighed. "I was going to mention it to Moody. Dumbledore doesn't seem to be in any rush."

"No. He… we'd have followed him blindly, you know."

"Funnily enough, I do," he agreed.

She winced. "Yes, I imagine you would."

They both fell silent as they waited on the goblin to reappear. It took over half an hour and when he returned he was furious.

"Mr. Malfoy, you did us a great service," Garlag intoned stiffly.

Draco nodded. "It was there then."

"Yes."

"Have you destroyed it?"

"Not yet. It is on its way to one of our experts."

"Please don't!" Draco interjected quickly. "There are more. Not here. We don't have them all yet and we don't know if he can feel them being destroyed."

The goblin froze. "Who created more of that abomination?" he hissed.

Draco sighed. "Tom Riddle. I imagine you're more familiar with him as Voldemort."

"How many more?" The goblin barked.

"We think four."

"And you're going to get rid of them?"

"That's the plan," Draco agreed.

The goblin hummed, summoning another goblin and dispatching them with orders in gobbledygook that Draco didn't understand. "We will keep them here. Bring the others. When the time is right, we will destroy them."

"Will you place this in my great-niece's vault?" Dorea checked, holding out the replica. "We're worried that if she notices something amiss, he'll create more that we will have no idea about."

"Very well, Madam Potter," Garlag agreed slowly. "How many do you have?"

"One," Draco answered, watching Garlag closely. "We have plans to get the next one shortly. Someone is working on the third and the fourth requires patience while we wait for it to be placed."

"Very well," Garlag nodded. "You will keep us updated."

"Of course," Draco agreed.

Garlag turned to Dorea, "Bring your granddaughter for verification," he commanded. "You can bring the Horcrux with her."

"Very well, Garlag. I shall check her schedule. She is… helping coordinate the search, as well as wedding planning."

Garlag grunted. "Before the week is out."

"Before the week is out," Dorea agreed.

Hermione fidgeted as she waited on the Healer. The week had flown by with discussions of missions, the involvement of the goblins, and Dumbledore's increasing absences. The twins were finally awake for reasonable periods of time and had been allowed out of bed for a few hours the night before. Benjy Fenwick had been attacked, only escaping because of Hermione and Draco's portkey. It had been a miracle he'd been unharmed, but Regulus and Severus warned that the portkeys were now being discussed at meetings and to therefore be on their guard.

"How are ye, Miss Potter?" Healer McMillan's voice startled her out of her introspection. "Where's yon laddie o' yours?"

"Oh, he was just discussing something with my… ah, brother. Wedding related, I think, or more likely stag night related."

The healer snorted. "Verra well. We'll check yer healin' an then I've invitit someone I'd like ye tae meet."

"Oh?" Hermione queried softly.

"She'll be up yince this is done. Now lie yersel doon an lets be hae'n a look."

Slowly, Hermione lowered herself down on the bed, trying to ignore her rising panic at being alone with another person who had their wand pointed at her. "Almost done lass," the healer soothed, taking in her rising heart rate. "Everything looks guid, lass," she eventually pronounced.

"Everything?" hermione checked.

"Yer askin aboot yer chances o' bairns?"

"Yes," Hermione sighed.

"I canna see ony reason why no. I'd advise ye tae wait a bit. Yer body's bin through a lot and while a lot o' the damage his been healt, yer still underweight and it could probably dae wi a rest. Pregnancy is hard on the body, ye ken."

Hermione nodded, allowing the relief to wash over her. She had almost given up and accepted that biological children were not going to be for her if she survived.

"Princess?" Draco's voice sounded from the door. "Princess, why are you crying?"

He looked up at the Healer, completely panicked when Hermione threw herself at him, sobbing.

"Dinna fash, laddie. It wis guid news."

"Good news that resulted in this?" he asked incredulously, as he rearranged Hermione until she was more comfortable.

"Aye," the healer responded serenely.

"Feel like giving me a clue?"

"Everything looks good," Hermione mumbled.

"Ok…" Draco drew the word out slowly, realising he was missing something but not sure what.

"Everything, Draco."

He blinked, attempting to grasp whatever clue she was dropping. "Oh… Oh!" He squeezed her tightly as it clicked, tempted to join her in her tears.

"Shall we check you then, lad?"

He nodded slowly. "Let's get it over with."

Silently, Hermione moved to sit at the end of the bed, her eyes red and puffy, watching the healer's wand avidly.

"And… yer looking guid too," the healer announced. "You've been having that extra meal?"

"Like Hermione would allow anything else," he muttered.

"Good. It's working. Keep it up at least fur the nixt month. Ye'll cut it oot naturally as yer portion sizes increase. I assume ye've noticed?"

He frowned. "Now that you've mentioned it."

The healer rolled her eyes. "It shouldna be needit yince yer eating a normal amount, but I'll be checking oan ye monthly fur a wee bit longer. Any concerns ye kin contact me through Poppy. Now, I wantit ye tae meet someone before I left ye this time. There's nae pressure. She'll leave a way fur ye tae contact her fur when yer ready."

Hermione frowned, wondering who on earth the Healer was going on about. She waited silently for the Healer to return, doing a double take at the sight of what looked like Bella standing at the door.

"Andromeda," she whispered as her breathing righted itself and her mind processed what she was really seeing.

"You have me at a disadvantage," the witch replied, her eyes on Draco.

"Draco Malfoy and Hermione Potter. How much did they tell you?"

"Nothing," the witch breathed. "I'm… bound by oaths from the DOM if that's what you're worried about, but nothing. Malfoy… as in…"

"Lucius? Yes. He's my father."

"Your father! He can't be!"

"He is," Draco insisted. "What do you know of the tempus reset ritual?"

Andromeda paled. "Sweet Salazar. Does… Cissa… I…"

"Does she know? Yes. I've met her in this timeline."

Andromeda slowly sank into the chair the Healer had conjured her. "This is… unreal. Why would you… It's a last resort."

"It was," Hermione replied softly. "There was no other choice but death."

Andromeda paled, looking at her. "I… Gods." Her mouth twisted into a wry smile suddenly. "Well, if nothing else, our sessions won't be dull."

"I don't know that I'm ready yet," Hermione admitted softly. "I have things to do first that need to take precedence."

Andromeda nodded slowly before turning to Draco. "And you?"

"I agree," Draco sighed. "I… We'll need it. After. But right now our focus can't be on anything other than our current task."

She nodded then. "And if I wanted to get to know my nephew? I assume you are my nephew?"

Draco sighed. "Yes… I would consider it."

"Good. I'll leave my card with Aunt Dorea. You tap it and say your name and what you want–an appointment, an emergency appointment, to cancel a prearranged session. It'll alert me and allow me to act accordingly. Otherwise, perhaps you'll indulge me and meet me for tea? In the muggle world? Ted knows some places where we won't be seen."

Draco nodded. "Fine. I can do that."

"Good." She nodded briskly. "Friday?"

"I… I think that should be fine," Draco replied, looking as if he had no idea how he'd been talked into it so quickly.

"Meet me at the Leaky then. Disguise yourself if you must. We won't be there long." He nodded dumbly, wondering what on Earth he had just gotten himself into. She looked at him, amused. "It was nice to meet you, Nephew. Miss Potter."

The day Draco was due to meet Andromeda, Hermione found herself in Gringotts with her Grandmother. "Why are we here again?"

"Verification purposes. The goblins like to ensure people are who they say they are."

Hermione hummed, shifting slightly on her seat as she waited in a room she hadn't even been aware the bank had.

"Madam Potter," Garlag greeted while walking in. "And you must be the one claiming to be Miss Potter." Hermione nodded slowly. "Your hand, Miss Potter. I'm going to drip three drops of blood onto this parchment. Let's see what it says."

Hermione watched with interest as her blood was almost absorbed before lines branched out from the centre. "Interesting," The goblin murmured.

"What is?" Dorea inquired politely.

"Were you aware that you were a Dagworth-Granger, Miss Potter?"

"No." Hermione shook her head, looking startled.

"Your father was a squib. Interestingly, so was your mother. A Nott, according to this. You are, of course, now a Potter. Sibling adoption?"

"I… yes." Hermione frowned, not quite able to process that.

"Unusual, Miss Potter, unusual. There is no current Heir to the Dagworth-Granger line. You could claim it. You could also claim addition to the Nott line."

"Why would I want to?" Hermione asked sharply.

The Goblin looked at her shrewdly, "Because… any children of the line would come to you if required. The Nott line consists of the Head and his wife. If he were to have children who needed a home…"

Hermione froze. "What would my relation to them be?" she asked curiously.

"Cousin."

"Thaddeus Nott is my Uncle?"

"Yes. Your mother was his sister, according to your blood. Unusual for the Notts to let a squib live."

She shuddered. "If… if I needed to claim it later, could I?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Would I be notified?"

"You could be if you asked."

She nodded slowly. "I wish to be notified if Theodore… Thaddeus' children ever need me."

Garlag nodded. "Very well, Miss Potter. The Dagworth Granger line?"

She sighed. "Is there… a benefit to claiming it?"

"The vaults," the goblin replied. "There are houses which might be of interest."

"I need to speak with Draco," she said finally. "If I was to ask for your advice, would you give it?"

The goblin grinned. "Yes. It is in our interests to have the vaults maintained.

She hummed. "You think I should claim it?"

"After your… treasure hunt, yes. In the meantime, perhaps you'll permit me to look over it and rid the estate from any lapsed or poorly performing investments."

She nodded. "Of course, Garlag. Are there… Hector Dagworth Granger was a renowned pioneer. Are there likely to be books?"

"I do not know," the goblin replied slowly. "Perhaps."

"Something to consider after my treasure hunt, I suppose. On that note, we brought one. I've been told you're keeping them safe until the correct time?"

"We are, Miss Potter," he agreed. Silently, she handed over the box.

"Might I have the box back once you've stored it? It… cancels out the effects, and there's a team that's hopefully going to collect another one tomorrow."

"Very well," he agreed. "I shall be back."

"Do you think you'll need to take custody of your cousin?" Dorea asked into the silence.

"Perhaps. Assuming we capture Nott. In our timeline, Theodore Nott was in our year. Draco told me his mother died in childbirth. If it happens again, I'd like him to be safe. Apparently he's family, but even if he wasn't…."

Dorea hummed, wrapping her arm around her granddaughter. "You're a good woman, my girl."