Slytherin's angel

Chapter 30- The vault

As they exited the kitchen and made their way back down the dark hall, Narcissa's voice pierced the silence, "We're going to have to go back to the Manor."

"Whatever for?" Bellatrix questioned.

"To get Lucius' will." Narcissa answered, her worried face illuminated by slivers of light as they entered back into the sitting room. "They won't hand over his account without a written statement."

"Where is it?" Bellatrix wondered, throwing powder into the fire place. The look she gave his mother unnerved him, she looked hungry and desperate, knowing that once they had whatever necessary to get into the Malfoy vault, he was subject to give her anything she wanted.

"I-In Lucius' desk." Narcissa frowned, rattled by Bellatrix just as Draco was.

"Then, let's go!" She said, "Malfoy Manor!"

Narcissa gave Draco one last worried look.

"We'll figure it out as we go." Draco assured her.

Narcissa nodded and then followed after her sister.

Draco followed his mother, watching as Bellatrix hurried out of the parlor towards Lucius' office.

"What does he have in his vault, mother?" Draco hissed close to her ear, grabbing her arm as he led her after her sister.

"You think your father would have shared anything like that with me?" Narcissa frowned at him, "My guess is as good as yours, but if Bell wants it, it can't be good."

"Hurry up!" Bellatrix yelled from the doorway, impatiently tapping her foot.

Draco pushed past her, sitting in his father's chair, looking at the many drawers of the desk.

Bellatrix eyed the large desk in wonder, "I want this."

Draco glared up at her, "It would be of no use to you. It can only open for the original buyer and their direct descendants. You would never be able to open it."

Bellatrix huffed, "Well, hurry up then!"

Draco cleared the messy desktop of open books and long rolls of parchment, until the top was clear of the clutter. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the cool wood. He felt the desk swell underneath him, its claws clenching and tensing up. As if letting go a breath, the desk relaxed, its claws stretched out and went lax.

"What happened?" Bellatrix shot.

Draco ignored her, opening the top drawer on the right side, searching through the documents, not finding anything that looked like a will.

"Are you sure it's in here?" Draco looked up at his mother.

"I know it is," She responded, "he told me, in case anything happened-''

Narcissa covered her mouth, her eyes watering. She turned away from them, taking out a handkerchief and wiping her eyes.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, coming over to him, "Hurry up!"

"You can't touch it!" Draco warned her, holding his hand up to stop her, "It'll lock up again and I won't be able to get in it for the rest of the day. Have patience!"

Draco shut the drawer, opening the one below it. It wasn't in that one either. So, he tried the final drawer, quite surprised to see only one parcel in there. It was a folded up piece of silver parchment, the family stamp sealing the letter shut. Draco frowned, removing the piece from the drawer.

He turned it over, but there was no writing on the front. He opened the letter, recognizing his father's large cursive handwriting:



This is the living will of Lucius Abraxas Malfoy:

I, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do hereby make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament, as follows:

FIRST: I am a pureblood wizard and resident of Wiltshire, England; that I am married to Narcissa Malfoy and have one son, Draco Lucius.

SECOND: I direct all payments of all debts and expenses of last illness.

THIRD: I do hereby devise and bequeath each and everything of value which I may possess, including the Manor and surrounding property, personal property and mixed properties to my son, Draco Lucius Malfoy.

FOURTH: I do hereby devise and bequeath my account at Gringott's Bank, including everything in which this vault contains to my son, Draco Lucius Malfoy.

In the event that said Draco Lucius Malfoy shall survive me and be living at the time of his appointment, then to such event, the bond is hereby waived.

I subscribe my name to this Will this 5th of June 1980 at Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England.



Draco was rather stunned.

"He wrote this the day I was born." Draco stated, folding up the letter and placing it in his pocket with his picture of Ashley.

Narcissa nodded, as if this wasn't a surprise to her, "He wrote it as soon as he had an heir."

"So...he didn't really want children, then, for the sake of children." Draco hung his head, not sure if he should feel bad about his father not wanting him, or if he should have been surprised at all.

"I wanted you, Draco." Narcissa ran her fingers through his hair, kissing his cheek.

"Enough of this!" Bellatrix exasperated, "Let's go!"

Narcissa didn't let her sister ruin the moment. She looked into Draco's eyes with her blue ones, giving him a soft smile. She took his hand, holding it tightly as she pulled him from his seat.

They walked down the dark hallway, what little light there was passed over Narcissa's worried face, she looked up to him, squeezing his hand. Pushing the door open towards the sitting room where Draco had come from, Bellatrix grabbed a pinch of Floo Power, throwing it into the dirty fireplace, "Diagon Alley!"

She disappeared into the emerald flames, leaving mother and son alone in the shabby cottage.

In a rare form of affection, Narcissa grabbed his hand, kissing it firmly.

"You're a good man, Draco." She said softly, "I know you are."

Draco was rather shocked, unable to say anything or to stop looking at her.

She gave him one last look before she stepped in after her sister.


***

Bellatrix struggled to fix her beehive of hair when they landed in Diagon Alley. Draco looked around nervously, examining the panicked looks of the witches and wizards when they saw them standing there.

"What?" She snapped at an older witch, who quickly averted her eyes, shuffling away from them as quickly as possible.

Draco grabbed his mother's arm nervously, fearing for her safety as they started to walk down the alleyway with one of the most notorious Death Eaters.

"Are you allowed down here?" Draco asked, his eyes flitting between all of the people, their scared whispers filling his ears. They were contagious, people moved away as they moved towards the looming building.

"Why wouldn't I be, Draco?" She drawled.

"Because, you broke out of Azkaban. Don't you think someone will come for us?"

"I'd like to see them try." She stumbled in her heels on the cobblestone. "Everyone knows I have prodigious ability. I can't be touched."

"I hope you're right." He mumbled, fearing the idea that Aurors might burst out of the alleyways and shops and start shooting spells at them.

He felt Narcissa tighten her grip on his arm as they ascended the stairs, passing through the golden doors that warned them of the grave dangers of imposters and trespassers.

It was utterly silent as they entered the main lobby. Crystal chandeliers glittered high above, their heels clicked on the polished marble floors and timely thuds of stamps as Goblins stamped bank statements resonated off the marble statues and walls.

He could've sworn he heard the goblins grunt in distain as they watched them walk to the main accountant's desk.

The goblin heading the desk ignored their approach, continuing to scribble with his quill. Draco looked to Bellatrix who motioned her head to the goblin, willing him to speak.

"I need to get into my vault...please." He choked.

The goblin looked up at him, his prominent forehead giving him a life-long glare. It took a moment for Draco to return it, figuring if he returned the look it would make him seem that he meant business.

"Do you have your key, Mr. Malfoy?" He asked, his deep voice rumbling through the lobby.

"No, but my father has passed the account to me." He took out his father's letter, handing it to him. The goblin threw him one last look before he opened the letter, his dark, beady eyes scanning his father's handwriting.

"You will need to be made a key." He told them, "One will be waiting for you when you return."

"Very well." He said, taking back the letter. As he was putting back the parchment, the picture he kept in his pocket managed to wrangle out of its hiding place, fluttering onto the floor.

He panicked as he watched Bellatrix bend after it, closely examining the couple in it. She raised an eyebrow.

"Cissy wasn't lying." She stared, "She is beautiful. Although I didn't get a look at her face as the girl scrambled out of the room. Veela, isn't she?"

Draco nodded slowly, reaching for the picture. He glared at his mother, making sure Bellatrix didn't see. Narcissa averted her eyes guiltily.

"Oh, don't get your robes in a twist." Bellatrix sneered, "I have no interest in the half-breed."

A pang of anger rose quickly within him, but what was he going to do to Bellatrix Lestrange about it?

"May I see your wand, Mr. Malfoy?" The goblin interrupted.

Draco turned back to him, huffing as he pulled it out of his pocket.

He shoved the picture back in his pocket hastily.

The Goblin looked at him over his wand, weighing it in both hands, tilting the tip to his face, as if he could see the contents that lay within.

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy, if you'll follow me." He handed his wand back to him.

The three went around the tall desk, following him towards large double doors at the head of the building.

"If you would, please." He gestured towards the cart. Draco got in first to help his mother, who gave him a kind smile as she took a seat next to him. He offered his hand to his aunt, who smirked in surprise.

"See, I raised him better than you thought." Narcissa told her.

"Yes, yes." Bellatrix exasperated, waving Narcissa off.

The goblin hoisted himself onto a higher seat behind them, pushing the handle to move the cart as the light of the lobby disappeared with the closing of the double doors.

With a violent jolt, the cart moved into action, the rusty wheels creaking loudly. It was extremely dark, except for an unknown light source that was coming from somewhere high in the ceiling. He looked at the damp walls, moisture glittering in the dim light. He shivered as he saw the shiny jackets of large beetles scatter away from the noise and weak light of the goblin's lantern. Draco jumped as he heard a faint roar somewhere deep in the depths below.

The breeze was bone-chilling; his jacket was not enough to keep him warm. Narcissa hugged him close, shivering violently beside him. Bellatrix didn't seem to mind the cold, tilting her face upward to take on the constant gust of wind, her pitch black hair billowing behind her.

Draco yelped as the cart plummeted suddenly. He braced himself, grabbing both sides of the cart, trying to prevent himself from falling out as it nearly titled perpendicular with the dark abyss below.

When they had leveled out, Draco asked in a panicked tone, "How much long-''

He found himself gasping for breath as a shower of ice cold water came down on them. It felt as if a thousand knives had been stabbed into his body. His organs seized and his body went rigid. He was even colder now, the draft only adding to the freezing temperature.

Finally the cart came to a halt in the shadows. He heard the goblin climb out as they blindly followed suit.

"What was that?" He roared, shivering from the cold. He pushed his hair back, looking to his mother, who was shivering so hard her teeth were chattering. Bellatrix's hair had fallen flat, making her look like a ghoul drowning in her hair.

"D-Draco." Narcissa shivered, pointing her wand to the inside of his robes. His clothes lifted, completely dry and warm, as if they hadn't gone through the water at all. She turned her wand to herself, performing the same spell while she wrung her hair of excess water.

The goblin turned to him, "Thief's Downfall. Reveal's imposters if they're using the Polyjuice Potion or other disguising enchantments. Glad to see that you're yourself, Mr. Malfoy."

He walked a few more steps, but turned back to them quickly, "I need to remind you to be quiet as we enter the dragon's lair."

Dragon?

"W-what?" He breathed.

"The most valuable vaults are down here, Mr. Malfoy, yours included."

Draco regretted inheriting the vault. There was no way he wanted to bypass a dragon every time that he needed to access it. The goblin shuffled away towards an arena of faint light, where a large, pale mass rose and fell against the chamber wall.

He hadn't noticed his numb arm as they entered the arena; Narcissa was squeezing it so tight he had lost all feeling.

Bellatrix had her wand ready, taking a defensive stance as she pointed it at the sleeping dragon, expecting it to pounce at them at any moment.

"That won't be necessary, Mrs. Lestrange." The goblin told her.

At the sound of his voice, the dragon shifted, huffing as it quickly drew itself to full height, its head nearly touching the ceiling, where a circle of light poured in from an unknown source.

Draco stumbled back, grabbing his mother's arm.

It let out a low grumble that sent the chamber shaking. It threw its head back, taking a deep sniff of air, exhaling light puffs of smoke from its nostrils.

Bellatrix stepped forward, swinging her arm to perform a curse, but the goblin stepped front of her, waving his short arms at her frantically.

"That won't be necessary, Mrs. Lestrange!" He fumed, "We have ways with coping!"

Bellatrix glared at him, but lowered her wand.

The goblin rushed over to a crate at the base of the large arch, pulling out a long instrument with shells tied at both ends. The goblin shook it, making an awful racket that echoed ten times over on the crevice walls. In surprise, the dragon hit its head at the top of the catacombs, letting out an awful growl in pain. The goblin shook the stick even harder, creating a louder rattle that Draco didn't ever think he would be able to get out of his head.

After the dragon recovered, it started to recoil back into a large hole that its body had been hiding.

"She's been trained to fear this noise!" The goblin shouted over the ruckus, shaking it all the way across the arena. The three scattered to follow after him, keeping close as if there was a three foot radius of protection.

The dragon moaned and wailed as the darkness engulfed it, its gray eyes glittering in the faint light.

"It's blind." Draco breathed to his mother, frowning at her in confusion.

"Doesn't mean it can't smell us." She grabbed his sleeve, dragging him quicker across the concrete.

They ascended a small flight of stairs, taking a right down a narrow hallway, rows and rows of locked doors on the left hid vaults of the richest wizards in the world.

The goblin hurried them further down the hall, rattling the music maker until the dragon had completely retreated.

Even though he had stopped shaking the odd instrument, Draco's ears were still ringing.

"Follow me." The goblin hurried down the corridor.

His vault was somewhere in the middle. He took out a spare key of his pocket, sliding it into the lock. The screeching of rusty locks started to unwind, a maze of metal pieces started to slide and unlock before him, running the length of the door. After several seconds, there was a loud click, signaling the opening of the vault.

The goblin slid the door to the left, turning to them, "I will be waiting for you out here, Mr. Malfoy."

He nodded, stepping into the vault.

He gasped quietly, astounded by the contents within. Growing up, he had always known that they were well off, but not this well off.

The vault had to be at least the size of the entrance room in the Manor. He had never seen so much gold, stacked in large piles scattered throughout the vault. There was so much, he knew there was no way anyone wizard could spend it in a lifetime and highly doubted that neither his children nor his grandchildren could.

Bellatrix giggled greedily, talking bold steps to bypass the gold, heading towards objects near the back.

Draco bent to pick up a golden coin, feeling it in his hand to make sure he wasn't dreaming. But he knew it was genuine and couldn't comprehend how one man had acquired so much throughout a lifetime. He understood now why he was always making such large donations and extravagant purchases: because spending such money hardly put a dent in the vault that was the size of a small house.

He felt Narcissa's hand gently touch his shoulder.

"I never knew...this much." Draco frowned, starting to peruse its magnitude, gold flashing in the light with every step.

He heard giggles from Bellatrix somewhere in the back, making Draco's heart flutter with nervousness.

"Bella." He warned, weaving between the piles of gold to find her. He looked back, finding that his mother had gotten lost somewhere. He decided to leave her behind, knowing that Bellatrix was the more worrying person.

He found her hunched over what looked to be a table in the back, muttering darkly to herself.

"Bella?" He stopped feet from her, reaching inside of his jacket for his wand. He knew that he would've been no match for her, but it was the only defense he had.

She turned slowly to him, an evil smile plastered on her face. She had an armful of rusting metal, a clicking noise emitted somewhere from within the tangle of rusting metal.

"Do you know what any of this is?" She asked him, a malevolent laugh trapped in the back of her throat.

Draco looked at her; a sense of needing to run away suddenly came over him. But she wouldn't do anything to her favorite nephew, would she?

"Do I want to?" He asked her.

"The Dark Lord will be very pleased." She told him, tossing him something. He caught it, opening his hands to see a large, black spinning top.

"What is this?" He asked her.

"A Sneakescope." She told him, "Will let you know if any of those Aurors are coming."

"They won't come anymore." He told her, "I threatened them."

Bellatrix threw her head back, her pale through moving with her laugh. "Threaten? My boy, threats are empty without action!"

"I-I don't-''

"You don't what, Draco?" She sneered, "You're a Death Eater now. We know no mercy."

"My mother didn't do anything in support of Lucius." He argued.

Bellatrix seethed, "Your mother wasn't worthy of the Mark!"

Draco stared at her, deciding that challenging her wasn't the smartest move.

"Your loyalty is to the Dark Lord first, you spoiled brat!" She narrowed his eyes at him, stepping up to him with her armful of treasures, standing at least half a foot shorter than he, but yet, he found himself completely intimidated.

"You would do well to remember that." She sneered, pushing past him, tripping over her own shoes, kicking at a silver goblet angrily, sending the cup crashing into a pile of gold.

Draco didn't know whether to chase after her, or let her cool off. He had grown up with her bi-polar mood swings, knowing that they didn't last long, but to steer clear when she was angry.

"Draco?" She heard a faint call somewhere from the front of the vault. He knew it was Narcissa, but decided to look at the table of artifacts that Bellatrix had looked over.

He didn't know what they did, or what they were called, but they looked insidious all the same. On one end of the table, there was a tall structure, with a cap at the bottom, which coincidently could've fit on someone's head, forcing the person's head on a spiked running board on the bottom. Next to it, was a square shaped instrument, with two rows of long spikes protruding from the top and bottom. Draco cautiously walked over to the table, peering to look at a tag attached to one of the sides, reading "Knee Splitter".

Hidden the opposite corner was a large rack, one end tilted towards the floor. Draco didn't need to know that it was some sort of stretching device, perhaps the worse form of interrogation he could imagine.

"Fucking Merlin." He breathed, backing away from the instruments, jumping as he fell onto a large pile of gold, tripping into it, sending showers of the golden coins on top of him. He scrambled up, running towards the front of the vault.

He found Narcissa admiring herself in the mirror, a sapphire tiara on her head. She turned to him, smiling, "How does this look?"

"Where's Bellatrix?" He panicked, not seeing her anywhere inside of the vault.

"She's out with the goblin." Narcissa huffed, disappointed that Draco hadn't given her his opinion. She took off the tiara, untangling her blond hair from it and put it back into a velvet cushioned box.

"Do you know what he had back there?" He asked her angrily.

She turned to him, frowning, "More gold, I assume?"

"Torture devices." Draco growled, "And I think Bellatrix just took some of them."

Narcissa averted his gaze.

"Mother?" He shouted.

"I knew." Narcissa sighed, "But what was I supposed to do about it? I wasn't allowed to access the vault."

"You knew? And you didn't think to report it or anything?" His voice cracked.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes, "I was powerless while he was alive! I was a single mother in a rotten marriage, trying to keep my neck on my head in order to raise you! I would think you would be more grateful!"

Draco was shocked at her outburst. Unlike her sister, Narcissa always had a cool attitude. She was self-assured and confident, even though Lucius told her otherwise. Narcissa was a slow pot to boil, but caught her son off guard every time she reached her limit.

Narcissa sighed angrily, straightening her robes. "You will not question me again, Draco. Your father is gone now; let us leave it at that."

She stumbled over the scattered gold. Draco reached for her arm to help her, but she tore her arm angrily from his grasp, stumbling out of the vault.

He looked around the vault one last time, deciding that it was time to leave. Although there was plenty of money hidden within the house, he grabbed a handful of gold, not wanting to have re-live the trip anytime soon.