Chapter 5: The Bank

20th July 2002

Pansy was a bridezilla. There was no doubt about it, Theo thought as he sat in the boutique with Pansy next to him. She had her arms crossed watching each of the bridesmaids and the other women involved in her wedding try on different styles and colours.

"Ginerva, you look absolutely atrocious in that," Pansy snapped. The other witch hadn't even stepped out of the dressing room before the criticism began.

"Then change you fucking colours, Parkinson! You knew I was a redhead with freckles when you decided to go with fucking purple, I don't know what you were expecting! Also, you're marrying my ex. Why do I have to be in your colour scheme anyway?" Blasie's hot headed wife shouted as she stormed out into the showroom, her face red as her hair with sparks coming from her fingers. "Harry is going to be a widower before the two of you even say I do!"

"The colour is plum, you caveman!" Pansy yelled back at the other woman as she retreated back to the fitting room. Honestly, if it came to a duel between them, Theo wouldn't be remotely surprised. "Your wife looks lovely in it, I don't know why you can't have her complexion! And a united front, Ginerva, we have to show a united front!"

After Ginny had disappeared behind the curtain, a string of curses towards Pansy was still audible despite a silencing charm having been put in place. Pansy rolled her eyes, not even responding. Theo didn't know if it was because she'd grown into a mature woman who didn't chase after every fight or if it was because she was such a bitch this was the reaction she was used to invoking in people. Theo suspected that it was the latter.

"You always could, I don't know." Theo said, looking over at his friend perched on the edge of her seat. "Not be such a harpy over everything. It doesn't have to be flawless."

"I'm marrying the Chosen One for Morgana's sake. The wedding had to be perfect."

"You are bloody mental," Theo muttered as he watched Daphne glide out of the fitting room in another gown that made her look like a model.

"Make her less attractive." Pansy instructed the consultant, who nodded and hurried away, causing Daphne to scowl. "What?"

"I agree with Theo, you're completely mental." Daph snapped before accepting the new dress that had been summoned for her and slipping away.

"Yes, well, that sounds like a you problem," Pansy replied, looking over her shoulder towards the door. "Granger had better hurry up, she needs a dress and we've got to get one picked out for the flower girl."

"Her appointment isn't even for another ten minutes, you lunatic," Theo pointed out. "Merlin, why Potter wants to marry you is a mystery to me. Anyway, while this has been fun, I have a few other, more pressing matters to tend to." Theo said, stretching his arms above his head, sending Pans a wink as she glared at him.

"I need your input!" Pansy yelled, but Theo was already almost to the door. "I swear," he heard her complain to nobody in particular. "It's impossible to find reliable help these days."

Walking out, Theo shoved his hands in his pockets and whistled while he went. The only reason he'd agreed to listening to Pansy rip apart the other women was because he'd been bored and had missed the irrational witch.

However, now he needed to go to Gringotts and check on the family accounts and ensure that there was a next of kin for the Nott fortune. Admittedly, he'd been receiving the owls from the bank over in America. However, they were much easier to ignore when he had the excuse of being busy with his mastery program and that he was overseas. Being home, one of the goblins had actually shown up to the townhouse he was renting and informed him that he needed to make an appearance.

As he walked down the street away from the boutique – his mind elsewhere – Theo nearly ran over a woman rushing towards the establishment.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," the woman stammered, reaching out and brushing at his chest. "That was my mistake," she continued, trying to check him over for any injuries, when Theo realised who the witch was.

"I think I'll survive, Granger." Theo purred, stepping out of the way and smirking at how flustered she appeared. That was when he first noticed a head of wild brown curls tucked behind Granger's leg.

"Theo!" Granger exclaimed, her face brightening as she looked into his eyes. "I didn't recognise you. Wait, is Pansy already…"

"She's already being a complete hag, yes." Theo answered, stepping around the two witches. "I wish you luck, as you're going to need it," he said, glancing down at the tiny head poking out from behind her mother's leg. Theo shot the girl a smile, noticing her striking eyes. They weren't brown like Granger's but a deep blue instead. Holding his gaze, her eyes grew wide before hiding behind her mother again.

"Thanks for the warning. I hope you have a good day." Granger told him, before walking towards the entrance, her shadow sticking close by.

Theo took one last look at the little girl, not seeing anything of Draco in her. No, her complexion was much like her mother's, a deep olive, and her face was rounder, but that could be because of her young age. The eyes were the bit of the child that Theo couldn't place. Draco's were silver, not this deep blue that the girl had. Maybe Narcissa's eyes? They were blue.

As the door closed behind the pair, any thought of her and her mother evaporated from his mind. Theo shoved his hands in his pockets and made his way through London to Gringotts. As he went, he noticed how people passing him by on the street no longer stopped and stared at him as if he were a stray dog. Instead, most people just looked past him, or the younger witches and a few wizards would admire his appearance before continuing about their days.

It was strange, but Theo happened to enjoy how much it reminded him of life in America. But it was even more relaxing because this was his home, his real home. It wasn't some foreign place where he was learning to navigate and create a new life.

When he finally arrived at the bank, Theo stepped inside, nodding towards each of the goblins. Though as was expected, they only scowled in his direction which brought joy to him. Some things never changed. Chuckling to himself, Theo went straight to the desk of the goblin who'd handled his family's accounts ever since he was a boy and sat in the chair across from him.

"You're late, Mr. Nott," the goblin growled. Pulling a much thicker file out than Theo had anticipated, he dropped it on his desk causing the entire thing to shake. "When it comes to something as important as this, I would expect you to be prompt."

"Yes, well, I got caught up, so I do apologise," Theo said, looking around and up at the ceiling.

"Where is your heir? It needs to be here so that its blood can be added to the vaults." The goblin said, confusing Theo.

"Er, I thought we could just name some random cousin who's already submitted a blood sample to be the next of kin for the vaults and be done with it. I don't have an heir to add to the blood wards." Theo explained, confused at what this goblin was talking about. He didn't have any children – that he was sure of. Never did he forget to cast the contraceptive charm. If he happened to be with a muggle, he'd learned about condoms while living in America and had to keep those on hand.

"If that were the case, this would be much simpler," the goblin explained, groaning at Theo. "As is, an unknown Nott heir has appeared on the list, making them next in line. Their blood sample was not given at birth, but their magical signature clearly shows them being the next Nott heir. Therefore, we need their blood to complete this process." The goblin was now visibly irritated, but so was Theo. He didn't have an heir, and for this goblin to say so was beyond infuriating.

"Now look here," Theo began, but the goblin shoved a piece of parchment in his face, stopping his rant.

"Unknown Nott Heir, born May 1999. We need the exact date of birth, name, and blood sample. The magic doesn't lie, Mr. Nott. Now, if you do not have this heir with you, then I suggest you go and find it." The goblin pulled away the piece of parchment, shoving it back into the thick file before snapping his fingers so that it was gone. "Find your heir, and then you come back."

When Theo went to open his mouth to argue his point further, the goblin waved his hand, sending Theo shooting out of his seat and toppling onto the floor. "Our business, for today, is concluded. Find your heir, Mr. Nott. Gringotts is waiting."

Without anything else to say, Theo stood from the ground with as much dignity as he could muster, he hastily exited the building. Stumbling out and into the bright sunlight, Theo felt like he couldn't breathe. He had a child. He had a three-year-old child? Deciding that the goblin must have somehow gotten something wrong, perhaps his father had sired another poor sod, Theo knew there was only one place he could confirm this.

He was going to have to go back to Nott Manor to view the family tapestry.

ooo

It felt like the world was closing in around him as Theo stood in front of the Nott tapestry in the dust filled library. The bloody thing took up the entirety of the only bare wall in the room, showing thousands of years of the Nott lineage. More illegitimate children than he cared to count, all connected to who'd sired them with red lines, while the poor witches who'd married into the family with gold, and then the legitimate heirs a deep blue. Thoros and Cassandra Nott were connected with a gold strand, the date of his mother's birth and death under her name. A single blue thread came from them, with Theodore Alexander Nott being their direct line.

His parents nor his own name weren't he couldn't rip his eyes from, however. Because clear as day coming from his name, was a red thread. Eleanor Cassandra Nott, with a date of birth the ninth of May 1999. With her being an illegitimate child, her mother was not listed, as she was not a part of the Nott family.

"Fuck," Theo whispered into the empty air, not a soul around to hear him. "Well, this isn't good."