- The Malfoy Manor Dining Room, 31st of July 1991 -

When Draco had arrived at Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, he was pleasantly surprised to see that his mother had run into his godfather in the busy shopping street, inviting him over to dinner. Lucius had been called away to the ministry, so it was just the three enjoying one of Tipsy's wonderful dinners, when his godfather suddenly raised an eyebrow at him, seemingly intrigued.

"A little bird told me that you've been making some acquaintances at Diagon Alley today, Draco," he drawled.

Draco was impressed. His godfather truly had eyes and ears everywhere. What his godfather didn't know, however, was that it had been Draco himself who'd planted the gossip. He would need his mother to agree on taking both Hermione and Harry to do a heritage test. Him befriending him at Diagon Alley, would at least help to establish their relationship. Narcissa had always wanted her son to have more friends, and powerful friends would be even better.

The blond did his best not to let any of his emotions show before he answered their questions. Not only was Severus Snape an accomplished Occlumens, he was also a master Legillimens. One tiny mistake, and he'd be found out immediately. He could only guess at his godfather's response, so he requested Deandra's aid in strengthening his mental walls in case it would be necessary.

His mother looked up expectantly at Severus' inquiry. She was always one for increasing social status, but this was the first she had heard of Draco reaching out to his fellow Hogwarts students.

"I was planning to tell father as well," Draco answered once he finished his bite, dabbing at his mouth with his napkin. "I met two rather interesting individuals today. Potential snakes, if it would please you, godfather," Draco began.

"Indulge me," the Potions Professor ordered as he raised his glass of red wine at Draco, urging him to continue.

Draco would have to use every ounce of cunning in his body if he could put both his mother and his godfather on the wrong path today. He'd have to play it smart, using his childlike innocence to make sure they wouldn't suspect him.

"Once Dobby and I arrived at Flourish and Blotts, I met a certain Miss Granger and her mother. Intrigued by her last name, I couldn't help but wonder if she was perhaps a descendant of the Dagworth-Granger line. You've taught me quite a bit about that House of established and renowned potioneers, godfather, but sadly it seemed she was muggle-born."

Narcissa pouted her lips, leaning back into her chair as she swirled her own wine around. "Not necessarily. She might be the descendant of an unknown squib. Granger is not a very common name in the wizarding world, so it is certainly a possibility."

"My thoughts exactly, mother," Draco agreed. "Wouldn't it be marvellous if the Malfoy family was the one to reintroduce the Dagworth-Granger line to magical society? Their vaults must have been gathering dust for decades. A potential heir would have access to the vaults and riches within. Perhaps even some unknown potion recipes?"

He was doing his best to play on both his mother's want for ever-increasing societal status, as well as his godfather's interest in potions. Even if he had always been more interested in the dark arts, potions had come naturally to Severus as it had to Draco. Merlin, even the blond wizard himself was excited to see if there was anything of academic worth left in the Dagworth-Granger vaults – if Hermione actually was a descendant. In the past timeline they'd only assumed that she was, but they never managed to actually prove it.

His mother nodded approvingly, putting her glass back down. "We can't be sure until she has visited Gringotts, of course. Perhaps you could convince her to take a heritage test? If it turns out positive, her standing in the wizarding world would increase tenfold. If you would like, we could accompany them to Gringotts and make sure that she would be introduced to the right circles and trained in our ways afterwards, as any proper heir of an ancient house."

Of course, his mother would think about appearances first. One look at his godfather made it clear to Draco that he also seemed to agree with the plan. Good. At least now he didn't need to come up with some sort of excuse to head off to Gringotts to pay for a heritage test for a girl he'd just met.

"I also heard you ran into our new… celebrity," Snape drawled. "Mister Potter. Is he a potential snake?" His godfather seemed quite unbelieving and unimpressed. Draco had heard about some of the rivalry between Potter senior and his godfather, but had always been unsure where it stemmed from. If anything, he didn't want Severus to hate Harry this time round, so he'd need to choose his next words carefully.

"It was actually quite a disturbing encounter," Draco began. "I am sure Madam Malkin agrees. For all the stories that are told about him, he seemed to be a small and scrawny child. I asked Dobby about it later and he said he was sure that Mr. Potter hadn't been fed properly his entire life. He was also wearing rags for clothes and didn't know he was a wizard until today."

His mother might be cool and collected, but she loved children. She had always wanted to have more after Draco. Sadly, being pure-blooded and interbreeding had its disadvantages. Having issues getting pregnant was one of them. Another reason to add to the ever-growing list of why mainly having purebloods rule the British magical world was not the way to go.

"Are you implying, dragon," Narcissa began, "that mister Potter has been raised by muggles?"

"No matter," Severus interceded. "The Headmaster has always ensured Minerva and any other member of staff that the Potter child was taken care of in a loving family. Even if they are muggles, I am sure that he's treated well. Perhaps the boy just does not care for his appearance. His father definitely lacked proper manners and etiquette during his Hogwarts days," he sneered.

"I am just explaining what Dobby and I observed, godfather," Draco said, feigning innocence. "He even mentioned he wasn't allowed to read as it could potentially make him smarter than his cousin. Apparently his family is so opposed to magic that they will probably lock all of his things away until September first, not giving him a chance to learn about his origins or magic before he steps foot on the Hogwarts Express."

"His cousin?" his godfather suddenly hissed, losing all sense of composure, dropping his spoon onto the table. "Don't tell me he is being raised by Petunia Dursley?"

Merlin's beard, his godfather must really despise that woman if he could say her name with so much venom laced to it.

Narcissa looked up worriedly at one of her oldest friends. Severus had told her about his childhood and his love for Lily, the first friend he'd ever made after growing up in an abusive household. As she came from an upstanding pureblood family, the Blacks, she would never understand what it was like to grow up alone all the while being hated for being magical. But both Severus Snape and Lily Potter had suffered at the hands of some of their muggle family members. Now it seemed that her son, Harry, was facing the same fate.

Draco looked at his godfather in surprise. Did he know the Potters that well? "I'm not sure what his family is called," he answered. "Did you know Mrs. Potter and her family?"

"We grew up in the same village," Severus said, trying to keep calm. "Her older sister, Petunia, called her a freak."

Freak. Hermione had once told Draco that Harry didn't know his own name before he was forced to go to school. How he had thought his name was "freak" or "boy". Dear Merlin. Had it really been that bad? Had his aunt despised not only her sister, but her nephew as well?

"Tell them," Deandra spat out angrily in his mind. "I do not care how we will spin this, how we will claim to know this tiny piece of information. Maybe they will never ask. But tell them. No child deserves to grow up like this."

"I think they refer to him as a freak as well," Draco said quietly, spooning his hot soup into his mouth, trying not to blow his cover.

Severus wiped his mouth and stood up immediately, immensely annoyed at what he'd just heard. "I'm sorry, Cissy. I need to go confirm some things," he said. "I will stop by again next week to test Draco on his occlumency before he heads off to Hogwarts."

His mother nodded, standing up in respect to her guest. She seemed worried, a frown on her face. "Of course, Sev. Please. If there is anything me or Lucius can do to help…"

He nodded once before running off hastily towards the floo. Seems like Dumbledore was in for a treat. Draco smirked at his godfather's back. Served that old coot right for keeping so much information from them during the war. If only Harry had been better prepared, then perhaps that night in the Drawing Room would've never come to pass.

His mother was holding on to the back of her chair. He could see her clenching her hands, before she took a deep sigh. "Your godfather and Lily Potter were dear friends, during their first Hogwarts years. He loved her so much that he even attempted to make a pact with the Dark Lord to spare her life."

Draco looked at her incredulously. His godfather had tried to save Harry's mother? Then why had Severus spent the past seven years making the boy's life a literal hell? That didn't seem like honouring the woman you loved, now did it?

"He hated Lord Potter, though. Loathed him with a passion. For good reason I should say," his mother continued, sitting back down and sipping her wine. "When I was a Prefect, I would constantly find them in the hallways while casting hexes at each other. But it was always two or three against one, all of them ganging up against Severus. My cousin Sirius was on Lord Potter's side every single time. Their friend Peter was too sometimes, the only one who didn't care for their shenanigans when it came to your godfather was Remus Lupin." She sighed deeply. "Don't tell your father, but whatever comes out of this acquaintanceship with you, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, I will support you. In fact, I had already prepared for such an occasion since you mentioned it might be beneficial to become friends with the Boy Who Lived earlier this morning."

She snapped her fingers once and Tipsy showed up, holding two diaries in her hands. "This is a two-way-diary," his mother said, handing the first green leatherbound book to him. "We Blacks always like to keep our secrets close to us, but we are never afraid to share them with the ones we trust the most. You can use it to communicate with anyone you'd like, but I suggest giving this one to the young Heir Potter. It seems like he could use a friend," she smiled at him encouragingly. That Draco also was in desperate need of some friends, she thankfully left unsaid.

He took the two leather bound diaries and bowed his head at his mother, thanking her. "Would you happen to have another set, mother? I promised Harry that I would introduce him to Hermione, since they both grew up with muggles," he admitted.

"Of course. I'll get a copy that the three of you could share, and one for you and her. It should be interesting to get to know them, since you are attempting to turn both of them into snakes," she said, smirking. Draco smirked right back at her. If only she knew that Harry had always been a snake. And considering Hermione's penchant for taking revenge on the ones that hurt her and her friends… He wouldn't be surprised if she would fit in with the snakes as well.

- A few nights later, Draco's bedroom -

Draco's eagle owl, Ulysses, as well as Dobby, had been very happy and willing to send letters back and forth between Draco, Harry, and Hermione. But as soon as his mother had given him the diaries, he'd sent Dobby to them with both the diaries and a set of instructions on how to use them.

He'd given Harry the green diary to communicate with him, as well as a self-inking quill. He'd urged Harry to start practising with a quill before they started Hogwarts, considering they wouldn't be allowed to use muggle pens and pencils. He'd also included a black diary where he, Hermione and Harry could communicate in so that the two Gryffindorks – well he guessed they wouldn't be that for much longer if everything went according to plan – could communicate with both each other and him. In his note to them, he'd mentioned all they had to do was ask if they also wanted a private diary between the two of them. Hermione had gotten the same black diary, but also a silver one which was used for himself and her.

The three of them had been writing back and forth for a few days now, getting to know each other. Hermione's messages were usually longer, and filled with questions about the magical world which Harry was also eager to learn about. The raven-haired boy was actually quite sassy, something Draco had never learned about him the first time round.

He'd quite enjoyed getting to know the two of them, even Hermione, since he'd never had a civil conversation with her before the Yule Ball in their fourth year.

Waiting for either Harry or Hermione to write, he was pleased to see that the question he'd been waiting for had suddenly popped up in Hermione's handwriting.

"What house do you two think you will end up in?" she asked. "I am still debating if Ravenclaw or Gryffindor would fit me best."

Draco started answering immediately, not leaving anything up to chance. "Most children who come from magical families are sorted in the same house as their parents and ancestors. As I come from a pure-blooded family whose members have mostly been sorted into Slytherin, it is very likely that I will also end up there."

Harry was the first to reply to him. "I thought you said yesterday that the hat took into consideration your personality when picking a house which fit best. But it is actually based on what House your family was in?"

Hermione wrote a message which was shorter than usual. Draco could almost feel her disappointment flooding through the paper. "If that's the case, then the three of us will not end up in the same house. Harry's parents were in Gryffindor, yours in Slytherin and me-" Whatever she'd been planning to write, had been scratched out, making it illegible. "I'm a muggle-born. Slytherin wouldn't even be an option for me," it finally said.

Draco wasn't sure how to answer that one. He had to make sure Hermione would doubt being an actual muggle-born, but he also wanted both of them to truly consider Slytherin. There was no love lost between him and the rest of the Gryffindors, and he wasn't certain if he could ever become part of the Lion's den. Well, he would if he had to. But having to share a dorm with Weasley for the next seven years? Dear Merlin, someone please save him from that. Also, the two of them ending up in Gryffindor, would make nothing stand in the way of the Headmaster's meddling. McGonagall was a strict, powerful, and fierce witch. But she always did what the Headmaster asked of her, even if it was to the detriment of her lions. At least, with Severus on their side as their Head of House, they could perhaps start to change things for the better.

The young blond wizard picked up his quill and started writing. "Firstly, the sorting hat takes your wishes into account, not where your family has been sorted. I believe that a lot of witches and wizards do not want to disappoint their parents by being sorted in a different house, therefore they usually end up in the same house rather than the one that suits their personality best. My cousin Nymphadora, for example, never cared about any of it and ended up being sorted into Hufflepuff, even though her mother was a Slytherin." He left out that no one in the family was still speaking to either Nymphadora or Andromeda because his aunt had dared to marry a mudblood. "Sadly, I also have certain expectations to live up to. But I would like to think that I am cunning, resourceful, and ambitious which all are traits of Slytherin House. Secondly, are you sure you are muggle-born, Hermione? I talked with my mother earlier and she was wondering if you weren't a descendant from the Dagsworth-Granger family. Some pure-blooded families to this day leave their squib children in muggle orphanages, so it wouldn't be too farfetched to assume you are of their House, through your father's side of the family."

Both Harry and Hermione were outraged at this bit of information. Harry, was angry because he felt it was unfair for children to be taken from their parents, seeing as he couldn't remember his. Hermione was furious because she couldn't believe the magical world was so bigoted. If only she knew how they'd react to her if she never ended up taking a heritage test. Even if she wouldn't end up being a Dagworth-Granger, she would be a Malfoy through Armand's adopted daughter. That would make her a half-blood at the very least, even if his father would never allow her to adopt the name. Draco agreed with their sentiments, and tried to steer the conversation back to Hermione having potential magical ancestors. He wanted both of them to do a heritage test, even Harry. He didn't need it for his blood status, of course, but it would be useful for their political clout if he was the heir to multiple houses.

After some more back and forth, the three children had established three things. The first was that they would try to stay together at Hogwarts, seeing as they were each other's first real friends. Even in Draco's case that was true. Secondly, since Hermione would be the first out of the three of them to be sorted, they'd follow her lead. All four houses had potential, but Hermione and Harry both considered Gryffindor and Slytherin to be their main choices by the end of the conversations they'd had that evening, recognizing themselves in both houses' most famous traits. The third and last thing they agreed on was that Dobby, Draco, and his mother would pick each of them up some time during the next week to head to Gringotts for a heritage test. Hermione wrote a quick message before they went to bed, that her mum would also join them.

Draco laid down in his bed, happy that both Hermione and Harry were considering Slytherin. Before they would meet with the Goblins, Draco had to take a trip to Gringotts on his own, however.

"Any tips on how to sneak out of the manor without my mother noticing?" he asked Deandra.

The spirit smiled. "I can make a small adjustment to the wards, making it seem as if you're still here."

Draco smirked, turning around to get a good night's sleep. It certainly felt good having a magical entity on his side.

- The next day, Diagon Alley -

After Deandra had adjusted the wards, Draco had transfigured himself to look like his 17-year-old-self again, albeit with dark blond hair and blue eyes instead of his pale blond trademark hair and stormy grey eyes. He'd even added a freshly shaven stubble and grown his hair a bit longer, making sure no one would be able to recognize him.

"Merlin, it feels good to be tall again instead of being the height of an 11-year-old midget," he said to Deandra who laughed at him as he started strolling through Diagon Alley, looking around as the shops opened up. He could barely believe that the shopping area was so alive and colourful again, after seeing it empty and abandoned after the rise of Voldemort. Bloody hell, he hoped the second war never came to pass.

He strode over to the bank confidently, betting on the fact that not too many wizards and witches had entered yet. He greeted the guards as he entered the building, bowing respectfully with his hand on his heart as Deandra had advised him to do. The goblins looked surprised, but bowed back at him slightly, showing they had accepted his greeting.

Draco waited patiently for one of the tellers to call on him and was surprised when it was Gornuk. He'd remembered when this particular goblin had been brought to the manor by Greyback. He was the account manager for quite a lot of Light families during the Second war, so he'd needed to go into hiding. Sadly, the goblin hadn't made it out alive. Perhaps, this was another life he could save?

[Greetings, account manager Gornuk, may your vaults be filled with gold], Draco said in fluent Gobbledegook as he bowed slightly, his hand on his heart once more. [I was hoping to speak with Director Ragnok if he is available this morning. The matter is quite sensitive and not to be overheard by the wrong ears].

Speaking about ears, the goblin in front of him his ears had straightened out, and so had the ones of the tellers next to Gornuk. The witch who had been talking to the teller next to him and was in the process of exchanging some galleons for muggle money, was staring at him open-mouthed.

"I don't think the goblins are used to wizardkind speaking their language anymore," Deandra noted, amused.

Gornuk seemed to get himself back together and cleared his throat. [And who, may I ask, wishes to speak with the Director?].

He couldn't just say go and blurt out his name. There were enough people around to hear him. The rumour mill would already be going about a young British wizard who spoke Gobbledegook, he didn't need anyone to hear that the same wizard claimed to be Draco Lucius Malfoy.

[I would rather establish my identity in private, if that would be alright with you and the Director,] Draco answered. [I must also admit that I have transfigured and glamoured my appearance so no one may recognize me. I realise that Gringotts has measures in place to remove these tricks, so I would not want to be dishonest before we continue our conversation elsewhere.]

The goblin seemed to think this over for a second, staring him down and seizing him up, before nodding at him. [Very well. Follow me].

He hopped down his highchair and led Draco through a set of locked golden doors which led to a set of tunnels which ran deep under London. Eventually, they reached another set of heavy metallic doors, this time with golden door knobs. Two guards were standing in front of them and showed their sharp teeth at Draco. Not showing how scared shitless he actually was, he confidently greeted them respectfully in Gobbledegook, baffling both of the guards as they opened the door.

As soon as Draco walked through the doors, the glamours and transfiguration spells he'd put on himself disappeared, turning him into an 11-year-old again. Gornuk jumped in surprise, not expecting a child to have requested to see the Director.

Director Ragnok laughed out loud behind his desk when he noticed Draco standing in the doorway. "My, my. I certainly did not expect to see another Malfoy Heir waltzing through these doors. There is only one reason you would know Gobbledegook. Deandra, where are you at, you old hag? It's been far too long."

"Wait what?" Draco thought as the spirit materialised in front of him, her long silver hair hanging down to her waist, a set of turquoise robes hanging loosely around her shoulders. Even though she looked slightly more human than when they had been in the timestream, there was still a light silver hue around her body.

"I might not have told you the whole truth, little dragon," Deandra chuckled. "Gringotts was also built on strong leylines, just like Malfoy Manor. It is not the first time I am accompanying a Malfoy Heir to the goblin bank. Where else did you think I learned to speak Gobbledegook anyway?"

"You tricked me," he accused her. "And here I thought I was the cunning one."

"I cheated only because I wanted to see your face when Director Ragnok would recognize us," she winked at him, whipping her head around to the leader of the British goblins, staring him down. "Which reminds me, old friend. Why would you ever refer to me as an old hag?"

Ragnok raised an eyebrow at her. "You have to ask me that, woman? You've been a pain in my and my ancestors' arse for the past five hundred years. Ever since the bloody bank was established."

"Now, now, Ragnok. I did provide you with one of your best customers. The Malfoy family's investments have made both of our families richer," the spirit answered, sitting down at the desk opposite to Ragnok.

The director grumbled and waved his hand, motioning Draco to sit down next to Deandra. "I suppose this is not just any regular visit if you're involved. What is it this time? A betrothal contract gone wrong? Magical illness? A curse that needs breaking? Or perhaps…" Ragnok looked at Draco properly now.

"What's that around your neck, Mr. Malfoy?" the goblin asked. "Don't tell me you've gotten one of the Ministry's precious time-turners?"

Draco jumped in surprise. He'd hidden the necklace with a notice-me-not but the wards at Ragnok's office had made it visible again. Bollocks.

"Director, before I indulge your curiosity, I would like this conversation to stay completely confidential," the blond began.

And so, Draco began his story, even committing to a magical vow that both he and Deandra were speaking the truth. Ragnok had made a similar vow, promising to never talk of this conversation with anyone but the two of them. As Draco started explaining more and more about the Second War, about goblins being killed by the Dark Lord, Ragnok had quickly heard enough to make up his mind.

"What is it you want, Mr. Malfoy?" the Director sighed, sitting back in his chair and sipping his tea, brows furrowed.

"There's three main things," Draco began, his back straightening. This was it, this was what he'd come here for.

Deandra smiled at him, encouraging him. It was not every day that a teenage snot got an audience with the Director of Gringotts. Goblins were not to be trifled with. It didn't help he was currently looking like his 11-year-old self.

"First, the Horcruxes. Deandra and I managed to steal the diary from the secret room under the Drawing Room at Malfoy Manor on my first night back. I can only hope my father never attempts to think of it, and that if he does, he simply thinks he's misplaced it. I brought the diary with me in a special container, and I would like you to check its magical signature and help me find the others. Our theory is that one of the Horcruxes might be in the Lestrange vault."

Ragnok dropped his teacup, the porcelain shattering on the floor. The guards immediately opened the door, but the Director yelled at them angrily to come in and close it behind them.

"A HORCRUX?!" he shouted. "AT GRINGOTTS?!"

He handed the diary to the guards before sending them off to the Lestrange vault. After about 10 minutes they returned, a cup levitating in front of them.

"Hufflepuff's cup," Draco said, looking at the heirloom in awe. "This artefact has been lost for years. Why would one violate such a precious thing with foul magic?"

"Tom Riddle was never a man for tradition or nostalgia," Ragnok grunted. "I remember when he took the locket from the Slytherin vault. Bloody idiot didn't even care about it at all. Neither about its historical nor monetary value. All that was important was that it was his. Proof that he was the heir of Slytherin."

Both Deandra and Draco stared at him. "Did you just say that the Dark Lord is actually the heir of Slytherin?" Draco whispered.

Ragnok shrugged. "There is much the old fool and the ministry do not wish to share with the public. But we Goblins see everything. Everyone who comes into this bank, everyone who takes a heritage test, everyone who makes a will passes through these doors. The Ministry is just chasing its own tail, trying to hide contract or family ties. There are none that we don't know about. And everyone is free to come and ask for proof here, provided they pay a small fee."

"Speaking about heritage tests, that would be my second request, actually," Draco said. "I'd like for Miss Hermione Granger and Mister Harry Potter to conduct one. Myself as well, if possible. It could increase our political standing in the Wizengamot once we are of age."

Ragnok grinned at that. "I can tell you're a Malfoy, boy. Your ancestors have always been proud of their political power. None of them tried to gain it quite so young, however. Your request is granted. I need Mr. Potter here anyway. He needs to come and claim his place as the Potter Heir since he didn't bother showing up at the reading of the Potter will when he turned 11 last week."

"You mean the Potter's will was never shared before now?" Deandra asked in surprise. "It might explain why the house elves never came to his aid… They've been in a magical stasis for ten years. But then how did Dumbledore know to house the boy with his aunt and uncle?"

"His aunt and uncle?" Ragnok asked, perplexed. "I was only talking about the reading of the heirship and the Potter vaults. Their will concerning Mr. Potter's upbringing was shared once they died. His aunt and uncle were specifically mentioned as unsuitable, with Sirius Black, the Longbottoms, Remus Lupin and the Bones family being mentioned as potential guardians to raise him. Are you telling me he has been sent to live with muggles instead? Who dared to break that magical contract?" he barked.

Draco almost flinched at the Director's cold tone. Breaking Goblin contracts was not done. If someone had messed with the Potters' will concerning Harry's upbringing... Draco was glad he wasn't the person who'd done that. His vaults would be emptied, and he would be tried in front of the goblin courts.

"Draco and I have also discussed the possibility of the Potter child having a Horcrux in him," Deandra sighed at Ragnok. "I know that the Goblins have more experience with such magic. Dumbledore hasn't done anything about it, and the Ministry might send the boy to the Unspeakables, using him as their guinea pig. Do you think your curse breakers could remove the Horcrux from the boy? The items that house a piece of Lord Voldemort's soul could be destroyed if necessary, but I'd rather not see another child die to that madman."

Ragnok pinched his nose, thinking it over. "It can be done. For a price. Mr. Potter will have to pay in both blood and galleons. We can discuss it with him once we've found a way to safely remove it from him."

Draco nodded at the Director. What the goblin said made sense. Goblins never did anything for free, so Potter having to pay seemed reasonable even if it was with blood and gold. Speaking of gold, Draco had almost forgotten to even offer the director a list of both muggle and magical companies to invest in which would become valuable enterprises within the next seven years. He was definitely going to start an account for himself, unsure how long he could keep fooling his father and keep using the Malfoy money. He'd need a small fortune to survive on his own if he would be up against his father and his associates.

After he and Ragnok discussed the investments, the Director got everything ready for Draco to do a heritage test. It was just a formality at this point, as he was sure he wouldn't be connected to any other magical family. He took the dagger the goblin handed him and dropped a small drop of his blood onto the parchment. Instantly a line binding him to Hermione showed up. At least his suspicions were definitely confirmed then. The vow had settled between them again once they shook hands at Flourish and Blotts. Dobby had been correct to call her mistress. Fuck.

"I see you are displeased, Mr. Malfoy," Ragnok said, as Draco's blood kept spreading on the parchment. He was no heir of a long-lost vault, meaning all the political power and seats in the Wizengamot would need to come from Harry, Hermione, and any potential allies they would make at Hogwarts.

The blond wizard pulled his hand back, frowning. "Could you find a way to annul the marriage vow between me and Hermione?" he asked the goblin.

Ragnok raised an eyebrow at this. It was indeed a most unusual request. Marriage vows made wizards and witches stronger, aiding their significant other if they were ever in need. Besides, there was no such thing as a divorce in front of magic. What Draco was asking was practically unheard of.

"A magical contract made in front of magic is not easy to undo, Mr. Malfoy. We might be able to change the vow into a life-debt instead, but I can make no guarantees. Are you quite sure you wish to proceed?"

"I am," he exclaimed. "Hermione does not need to be bound to a vow that her other self made. She should have a choice in the matter of who becomes her husband, like she did last time. If it is impossible to break the vow, then manipulate it into a life-debt as you suggested. The least I can do is give her a choice, considering everything she's ever done for me. I don't want her to find out about the vow until you are able to remove it, so I would appreciate it if you could hide it when she comes to do her own heritage test."

"As you wish," the director agreed. "I will also make sure to look in the Potters' accounts and their will before you and your friends visit us. Please do bring your mother along with you. I'm sure she will have a thing or two to say about the execution of the will, if you catch my drift."

Both Draco and Deandra thanked the goblin, the spirit mentioning that she would be visiting some time soon to catch up. Ragnok grunted, waving her away and calling her a meddlesome old hag. The spirit retreated into the leylines, and Draco glamoured himself as soon as he left the Director's office, eventually making his way to the apparition point in Diagon Alley.