Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius Black/Lucia Malfoy
Warnings: alternate universe; female!Lucius Malfoy (Lucia Malfoy); and het
Prompts: (Pairing) Sirius/Lucius; (Setting) Gringotts; and (Word) Fool

Pure Ambition
007. The Only Man for Her

Lucia Malfoy strolled into Gringotts Bank looking every inch the proper pure-blood lady her parents raised her to be. She resisted the urge to sneer at the goblin. It would serve her no pursue to rude. This goblin possessed the power to make her visit pleasant.

"Good morning, master goblin," she greeted with a bow of her head.

The goblin placed his quill to the side. "Morning, Heiress Malfoy, how can Gringotts be of serve today?" he asked, peering down at her.

"I would like to Silverhammer and Saffire," she replied. "It's concerning my betrothal with Heir Sirius Black."

The goblin nodded, writing something on his piece of parchment. "I'll see what I can do," the goblin said.

Lucia nodded before she turned to walk over to a small waiting area. She didn't want to wait. She needed answers, and she wanted them now. The thought of having to wait was horrible. Taking a deep breath, Lucia tried to gather herself. It wouldn't to display any emotion at the moment.

When she reached the waiting area, Lucia took a seat, gracefully sitting down by tucking one leg under the other and placing her hands on top of her lap – looking like a pure-blood lady.

As she was forced to sit there and wait, Lucia found her mind wondering to the matter of her visit. Sirius Black had run away from home, and Walburga Black had disowned her eldest son and heir. Lucia needed to know how that effected her betrothal with Sirius. They had been betrothed for years, since Lucia was thirteen and Sirius was eight.

Sirius was hers. He had been hers for seven years – and nothing was going to change that. Lucia had been preparing to become Lady Black since she was thirteen. If she couldn't be Lady Black then Sirius would become Lord-Consort Malfoy.

"Heiress Malfoy," a goblin said, drawing her attention.

Lucia stood up, smoothing out her robes before she walked over to the goblin. The goblin led her through a set of double oak doors and down a marble corridor to the familiar office of Saffire, the account manager for House Malfoy. Silverhammer was seated next to Saffire behind the desk.

"Heiress Malfoy," greeted Saffire, motioning to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

Lucia took the offered seat. "Greetings, Saffire, Silverhammer," she said with a bow of her head.

"Grinaxe says you're here about the betrothal with Heir Sirius Black," Silverhammer said, looking at a piece of parchment.

"I am," Lucia confirmed.

"You are aware that Heir Sirius Black was disowned, aren't you?" Silverhammer asked.

"Yes, I am," Lucia answered, her hands curling into fists.

"The contract is null and void," the House Black account manager told her. "There is no interest in renewing a contract between you and Heir Regulus Black."

Lucia's eyes narrowed. "My contract with Heir Sirius Black is unbreakable," she told the goblins. "Only death or loss of magic will make the contract 'null and void'."

Her statement caught Silverhammer off guard while Saffire grinned. It was clear Silverhammer was a fool – as was the family he served.

"You are correct, Heiress Malfoy," Saffire boasted.

Lucia smirked.

"Now, see here–" began Silverhammer.

"Silence, Silverhammer!" Saffire ordered his counterpart. "This matter no longer concerns you or the House Black."

Silverhammer glared at the other goblin. "You'll find that–"

"It does not concern anyone outside of House Malfoy, myself, and Mister Sirius Black," Saffire said, cutting the other goblin off again.

Lucia scowled at the mention of Sirius' reduced title. He would be Heir Sirius Malfoy soon enough, if Lucia had her way. Sirius was the only man for her.

"Leave Silverhammer," Saffire ordered with a grin smirk. "And remember that you can't discuss private House Malfoy business with anyone outside of this office."

Silverhammer's glare deepened as he stormed out of the office. The door slammed behind him.

"In light of Mister Black's disownment," began Saffire, "I've drawn up a new contract." He placed a piece of parchment on the desk. "While your previous contract is unbreakable, I believe you'll find this revised version is more beneficial."

Listening to Saffire's words, Lucia read over the new contract. A smirk formed on her lips. In the original contract, House Malfoy would pay House Black a large bride price while House Black would provide them with a new residence. All their children would be raised in and taught House Black's tradition, and each child would be named after a constellation or star, as was the House Black tradition. In this new contract, House Malfoy won't pay House Black a single knut and all of their children would be raised in House Malfoy's traditions and teachings.

"It's perfect," Lucia told the account manager with a smirk.

Saffire offered her a Blood Quill.

Lucia was quick to sign the revised contract as Heiress Lucia Athena Malfoy of Houses Malfoy and Rowle.

"Can you contact Sirius?" Lucia asked, her voice soft. She had sent him dozens of owls over the summer, and Sirius hadn't replied to a single one.

"Of course, Heiress Malfoy," the goblin promised.

"Please owl when the contract is signed," Lucia requested as she stood up.

"Consider it done, Heiress Malfoy."

...

Lucia had sat down to dinner with her parents when a barn owl arrived, landing in front of her. She smiled at the sight of the Gringotts crest. Ignoring proper customs and teachings, she opened the letter and quickly read the words.

Sirius had signed the new contract.

She sighed in relief, passing the letter to her father.

"I want to sat a new date for the wedding," Lucia told her mother. "No husband of mine is returning to Hogwarts as Mister Sirius Black. He'll be Heir Sirius Malfoy."

Flora Malfoy nodded. "I'll get started tomorrow," she promised with a smile, pleased for her daughter.

"We'll be keeping this out of the society pages for awhile," Abraxas Malfoy announced, setting the letter down. "I want to see the looks on Walburga's and Orion's face when they realize Lucia and Sirius are married."

Flora frowned. "Can I arrange to sell the exclusive coverage after the first of September?" she asked.

"Please sell it to The Quibbler," Lucia requested.

Both her parents looked at her. The Quibbler was a new publication and it was developing a reputation for being odd.

She blushed. "It's Sirius' favorite," she told her parents. "I think it would make a lovely wedding gift."

With a frown, Flora agreed. She would prefer to sell the exclusive rights to The Daily Prophet or Witch Weekly.

Count: ~1,100

This was written for

Are You Crazy Enough to Do It Challenge
307. (Pairing) Sirius/Lucius

Build a Zoo Challenge
Orangutan (Enclosure): (Setting) Gringotts

Character Boot Camp: Favorite House
05. Fool