The weeks passed. After hearing about Ron's disastrous attempt to make a phone call to Harry, Draco didn't try either. But when it came round to his birthday, he did send Harry a large cake and a couple of muggle books- they couldn't get Harry into trouble with his aunt and uncle. After sending it off, Draco settled down for dinner with his uncle in front of the new television that his uncle had just brought.

'Clever, the things these muggles come up with, you know.'

'Muggles!' Draco scoffed, 'what are they good for? Muggleborns, fine, at least they've got magic, but muggles.' He shook his head.

'Now, listen here boy! There's nothing in the world that you don't owe to muggles.'

'What? Why?'

'Lucius will have told you all about Old Septimus, I assume.'

'What, the one who basically controlled the Minister for Magic and the rest of the Ministry?'

'That's the one. Well, did he tell you about how Septimus spent all the family wealth doing it?'

'No, he failed to mention that.'

'Well, his son Clodius was left with absolutely nothing. Had to join the muggle navy to avoid his creditors.'

'What, you mean he was bankrupt?'

'Precisely. All of the family wealth had been spent on bribes. Even the Manor had been mortgaged. Well. He was on a ship called HMS Centurion. A young Lieutenant.'

'Never heard of it.'

'Well, it doesn't feature much in wizard history. But you've heard of Charles VI, right?'

'Of course, last wizard king.'

'Well, when he died there were loads of wars about his succession. During these, Britain declared war on Spain. Now, Spain's wealth came from its vast empire in South America, and it was all transported back to Spain by ship. Now, the Centurion's captain was told to sail with a squadron to go and capture these galleons. Most of the squadron sank before they got there, the casualty rate was huge-only ten percent of the men who left survived, but Clodius was one of these. There was only the Centurion left by the time they got round into the Pacific. After a long time, they had captured many ships and then they went on to take the Acapulco Galleon. It was stacked full of treasure. Now, under the system of prize money, the value of the ship and its contents were kept by the sailors, when they got them back to England. Clodius share came to at least forty thousand pounds. So in many ways, Draco, it's entirely due to muggles that the Malfoy's have any money or influence at all. So remember that next time you go mouthing off about them.'

'I will.' Draco said, humbly. 'Oh, and Uncle Noctifer?'

'Yes, Draco?'

'Does this have anything to do with why galleons are called galleons?'

'It might do.' Answered Noctifer, cryptically.

Draco was slightly humbled by this revelation, but that didn't make him feel too bad for long. He got some good news from Ron, whose Dad had won the Daily Prophet Galleon prize draw. Apparently there'd be enough money at the end of the day for Ron to get a new wand. Hermione was on a holiday in France with her parents. Draco had been writing letters to his friends for most of the summer, and already he had planned to meet them all in the Leaky Cauldron before buying his school stuff, just like last year. That plan was changed, when Hedwig flew through his bedroom window one evening.

Dear Draco,

I've just run away from the Dursleys. Need help, can I come and stay at yours?

Harry.

It had been scribbled very quickly; it didn't say where he was, or anything. Immediately Draco ran downstairs to his uncle, who was relaxing on the sofa.

'I've just got this letter from Harry, he needs somewhere to stay – is it alright if he comes over? Can we pick him up?'

'Yeah, alright kiddo. Do you know where he is?'

'No. He didn't say, but he's probably near his aunt and uncle's house.'

'Still not much use. Write him a letter, I'll go and get changed, and when he's told us we can apparate to him and bring him back here. After all, with Sirius Black on the loose...'

Draco hadn't even thought about that but he did as his uncle had suggested and wrote Harry a quick letter. He sent it off with Hedwig. Half an hour later, the answer came back.

Waiting at the playground opposite St Grog's Primary School, Little Whinging, Surrey. See you soon.

Draco handed the note to his uncle, who by now had changed into some very respectable evening wear. He read it, proffered his arm to Draco and disappeared. Draco and Noctifer reappeared in the playground, standing on top of the swings.

'Oh well, not bad over such a long way.' Said Noctifer as he jumped down. Harry turned round with a start. He had been looking at something.

'It's you!' Harry's face lit up as he saw Draco coming over. 'Your uncle, I presume.'

'Noctifer Malfoy at your service.'

'Harry Potter.' Harry offered his hand to Draco's uncle, who took it and shook it.

'Got everything you need?'

'Yeah, I've had my trunk packed all week.'

'Right grab your things, then we'll be off.'

'How? I didn't see you arrive.'

'Course not! We apparated down. Come on that's it, just grab my arm and we'll be off.' Within a few gut-wrenching seconds, they were back.

'Wow. That was quick.' Said Harry

'First time you've apparated I assume.'

'So that's what it was. I've heard people talk about it.'

'Yeah, well we had to come quickly, after all, there's a murderer on the loose.'

'Who?'

'Sirius Black. They've got the muggles looking out for him and everything.'

'What. Oh. Yeah. I think I saw something on TV about an escaped prisoner.'

'Yeah, they've told the muggles he's carrying a gun. Far more dangerous than that of course.'

'Really?'

'Oh yeah, he didn't just murder a couple of people, Black didn't, he killed thirteen people at once, just one curse. Had to be disguised as a gas explosion, if I remember the papers correctly.'

'Thirteen people. Wow, what a loon.' Said Draco.

'Just remember that loon's your cousin Draco.'

'What Draco's cousin's a mass murderer?' Harry turned to face Draco, 'Better stop teasing you then, you might call in the family to have me killed.'

'No need to worry about that Harry,' Noctifer rejoined, 'If I remember correctly, I think he's your godfather.'

Now it was Draco's turn to gloat.

'You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family Hazza, I'm only related to him, look's like he was a friend of your family! I always knew there was something dodgy about you.' Draco said, sticking out his tongue.

'Now, now boys, play nicely.' Noctifer chuckled. He hadn't had this much fun since his own time at Hogwarts.

Draco showed Harry round the house quickly before heading back downstairs.

'Come on, if we hurry we'll catch the beginning of Horizon.'

'What do you want to watch a documentary for?' Harry scoffed.

'It's fascinating seeing how muggles get along without magic. Besides, it's on TV, who cares what it's about?' Draco explained.

When the programme ended, Noctifer sent the two boys to bed.

'It's going to be a busy day tomorrow, we've got to go shopping for school stuff and all sorts. I take it you're coming Harry?'

'Yeah.'

'Then I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning. I'll knock on your door when it's time for you to get up.'

That knock came all too early in Draco's opinion. He groaned and rolled over in his bed. A second knock came and Draco levered himself slowly out of bed. Surely it wasn't morning already? But it was.

A quick breakfast of bacon sandwiches set them up for their day's shopping.

'Right, first stop Gringotts. How are you dealing with the money Harry, you alright? I mean, if your aunt and uncle usually...'

'No, I'm fine, thanks.' Harry cut Noctifer off before he could finish his sentence, but the older man didn't seem to mind.

'Right, so Gringotts for you too, I take it. We can go together.'

They entered the ancient bank and Noctifer marched to the chief cashier at the far end of the hall.

'Ah, good day my fine fellow, Mr Harry Potter and I would like to access our vaults if you would be so kind.'

'Ah. Mr Malfoy, of course. I should be only too happy to escort you. Bogrod. Take over the desk!' The little goblin hopped down off of his stool and beckoned them over to the cart. I trust that you both have your keys?'

Noctifer produced his with a smile and Harry did likewise. The goblin gestured for them to board the crazy cart, and as soon as they had done so he set it going.

'Draco, I thought these things were one speed only. Last time I was here I'm sure it went slower.'

'Well, who knows what perks come with being the chief cashier? Does seem quite fast though.' Draco agreed.

They came to Harry's vault first. Despite knowing that it wasn't exactly polite, Draco couldn't resist the urge to have a look inside as he sat in the cart with his uncle. What he saw surprised him. It was full of galleons and sickles and even a couple of knuts. That was a lot of money, not even his father had so much in his Gringotts' vault.

The cart carried on lower and faster than before, until they got to Noctifer's vault.

'Vault 928. Your key if you please, sir.' Noctifer handed over the key to the goblin, who put it in the lock and turned it once. The great iron door opened wide, only for them to be met by another door. This was guarded by two bored-looking goblins who stood to attention and saluted before opening the new door with the key. Draco's wonder at how the goblins got food and drink and other necessities ended when he saw inside the vault. It was huge, there was no other word for it, and it was stuffed full of more gold than either of the boys had ever seen in their life. Draco's jaw dropped. How had his uncle got his hands on so much gold? Noctifer caught sight of Draco's face.

'I'll tell you about it when your seventeen.' He said. Clearly something unusual had gone on here. Draco's uncle leant forwards and scooped a load of coins into his bag.

'That ought to do for a while.' Noctifer said, before they headed back to the surface.

'Flourish and Blotts first for your new books, I think boys.' Said Noctifer.

In the bookshop Harry was surprised to see Ron and Hermione.

'I thought you two were abroad?' he asked.

'Nah, got back couple of nights ago, sorry I didn't send you that letter, but Errol wasn't too well. Think that flight from Egypt might not have done him too much good.' Ron ended quietly, to try and avoid being overheard by Mrs Weasley, who was standing nearby, ordering a load of books for her extensive family. Hermione, it seemed, had already got her books and more besides if the bulging bags she was carrying was anything to go by.

'Got enough books there, Hermione?' Draco asked.

'Nice to see you too, Draco.' Hermione replied sniffily. 'I had a great summer thanks, how was yours?'

'Alright I suppose, got all the holiday work done?'

'Oh yes, I completely rewrote the History of Magic essay to include some information I found out when I was in the South of France, fascinating stuff- but I've gone a foot over the length limit- do you suppose Binns'll mind?'

'Nah, Binns won't mind, I think he loves all that stuff really. Besides its Binns, he's a walkover.'

'A walkthrough, you could say.' Interrupted Harry.

Hermione groaned at the awful joke and said she wanted to go and buy herself an owl. Ron, who needed something for his rat left too but not before the four had agreed to meet up in Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlour in half an hour.

Forty minutes later, Harry and Draco were to be found in Quality Quidditch Supplies ogling a new broom. It was called the Firebolt.

'Look at the balance on that, every twig clipped just so, handmade I'll bet, not like anything that Nimbus turns out.' Said an elderly wizard in a deerstalker cap. His opinion was being treated as gospel by the band of young boys who had gathered about him.

'..not to mention they've finally created a fast broom that can turn.' said a witch dressed in green, ' probably the best broom yet. Supposed to handle like a Waxwing and move quicker than Fulbert the Fearful's first curry.'

They were swept up in the finely-crafted beauty of the stick, until Draco happened to glance at his watch.

'Come on, Harry, we were supposed to be meeting Ron and Hermione ten minutes ago.' They left the shop in a hurry and ran to the ice-cream parlour.

'Nice of you two to join us.' Said Ron. 'I think the adults have gone to the Cauldron for a drink. But have you seen Hermione's owl?' He said sarcastically. Hermione didn't have an owl. She had bought herself a pussy.

'He's called Crookshanks.' Hermione told the boys. 'Isn't he wonderful?'

Draco wasn't entirely sure what to say, the truth, that it looked to him like a ball of orange fluff on legs, was unlikely to go down well and as for saying that it was a lovely cat, Draco couldn't bring himself to do it.

'Yes, very nice.' Draco said eventually. This seemed to please Hermione who went back to babying her cat.

'So, Harry.' Ron began, 'is it true? Did you really blow-up your aunt?'

'Blow-up your aunt? Harry, is that why you left your aunt and uncle's?'

'Yes. I just sort of, well, lost control.'

'And blew up your aunt?!'

'She's not really my aunt; she's my uncle's sister. Besides, she deserved it.'

'Harry,' said Hermione, 'Do you know how lucky you are not to have been expelled?'

'Honestly, I think I'm lucky not to have been arrested.'

As the adults returned, the conversation came to an untimely end, not to be resumed until they were safely on the Hogwarts' express. They had found themselves arriving at the platform slightly late and had only been able to find one compartment with even a modicum of privacy. In it sat a sleeping man, who, from his luggage, appeared to be a Professor R. J. Lupin.

'What do you reckon he's teaching?'

'Well, there's only one post vacant isn't there? He must be taking the dark arts job.'

'Blimey, looks like one half decent curse would...' Ron fell silent and drew his hand across his neck.

'You don't reckon someone's already..?'

'No. Look, he's still breathing. But he's sound out.'

With a jolt, the train started.