The Witch's Daughter: Book 1| The Sea of Stone

~Chapter 9| Gringotts

Andrea stared at the white marble building in front of her.

 “Gringotts,” Gran said, confirming her suspicion. A small lanky figure stood next to the door, he bowed as they passed.

 “Welcome back, Mrs. De Luca,” he said in a scratchy voice. Gran smiled at him.

 It’s good to be back, Urik.” The goblin grimaced, which might have been an attempt at a polite smile, as they walked through the doors.

 “Wow,” Andrea breathed. “Gringotts is--!” she couldn't finish. ZThere was no adjective that would descibe the majestic wonders in front of her. Goblins sat behind two rows of tall desks, peering down at the wizards coming and going. Wizards, goblins, and other creatures she didn't recognize bustled back and forth, their chatter rising and echoing off the vaulted ceiling. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen!

“Your first time here?” a drawling voice asked behind her. She turned; the voice belonged to a pale boy with slicked back, white-blond hair and blue eyes. He stood in front of a man who looked exactly like him except older, and a woman with the same pale hair. Both he and what appeared to be his father were smirking at her.

“Well, Lucius Malfoy. I wasn’t expecting to see you today! What a pleasant surprise!” Andrea heard her grandmother say. “This must be your son, Draco, and your wife Narcissa. How wonderful it is to finally see you all again!”

“Yes,’’ Mr. Malfoy said. “And this is—? “

“My granddaughter. Andrea.” Mr. Malfoy’s cold grey eyes assessed her carefully, before breaking into a warm smile.

“I should have guessed. I assume she is a pureblood?” The question came out more like an accusation, but Gran smiled wryly, wagging her finger at him, to show him that she knew he was joking.*

“Of course she is! Lucius, did you honestly expect I would let my daughter marry otherwise?” She discretely nudged Andrea’s shoulder; she walked over and shook their hands.

 “It’s wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy!”

 Mrs. Malfoy looked her over carefully, and then she too, smiled. "You may call me 'Narcissa'," she said warmly, before introducing her to her son. After a closer glance, Andrea noticed Draco's eyes weren't blue after all, they were a dark stormy gray. Dark stormy gray . . . she shook herself out of her reverie, and greeted him with a handshale and a smile. He looked at her outstretched hand and shook it, looking up warily at his father; Mr. Malfoy was talking animatedly with Gran about whatever boring discussions adults talk about. Draco smiled at her, "Hello," he said simply.

Andrea smirked at him, "'Hello'? I'd think you'd have a better greeting than that, young Master Malfoy," she teased.

"I-I--" he stuttered. She laughed.

"I was just teasing you!" He chuckled once, before his parents turned their attention back to them.

"Come, Draco," Mr. Malfoy said, nodding his farewell at Gran.

“Yes,” Gran said in a cheerful tone, “We’d better be off too, we have a lot to do today. I’m sure we’ll see them at the station, dear. Draco is in your year after all. Well, good day to you all.” Andrea waved to the Malfoys--Draco, in particular--as they went deeper into Gringotts.

They made a beeline to a high desk where another goblin could be seen peering over an old book. He looked up.

“Ah, Mrs. De Luca. It is a pleasure to have you back with us. How was Greece?” he asked politely.

“It was wonderful, and I’d love to stop and chat, but we got my granddaughter’s acceptance letter a little late so if you would be so kind as to let us down, we would be most grateful.”

“Of course. Griphook!” A slightly smaller goblin looked over from his position by a huge set of doors. “Please show the De Lucas to their vault. Number 145 please.” He turned to us, “Just follow Griphook, he will take you to your vault.”

Andrea followed the goblin, her grandmother right behind, to a battered looking mine cart. He climbed in and Gran and Andrea both followed suit. (They had left Gramps at Flourish and Blotts, he always loved books.) With an almighty lurch, the cart started up, gathering speed.

Soon they were going so fast that everything that sped past them was a blur. Andrea found herself sitting forward, enjoying the feeling of the cool wind rushing past her face. All too soon, they stopped at a row of vaults that looked ancient.

“Follow me, please,” Griphook said as he hopped out of the cart. Andrea leapt out and turned to Gran. Her face was pale, and she was trembling slightly.

“Never did like going fast,” she mumbled. "After several hundred years, you'd think they would’ve changed the transportation, but no . . . " But she got out just the same.

“Key, please.” Andrea handed him the key Gran had given her earlier, it was rather small for something so important; silver with small swirls, it could be mistaken for a necklace pendant or a brooch if it wasn’t examined thoroughly. Key in hand, Griphook headed to the vault that had a large 213 above it.

“These vaults aren’t used very often anymore,” Griphook said as he unlocked the door. “Most of the owners are long gone now,” he added with a cruel grin, and with a flourish, he pushed the doors open.

Andrea gasped at the tremendous piles of gold, silver, and bronze coins that glimmered in the dim light from Griphook’s lamp, along with various other objects that seemed to have no available name. Gran handed her a black pouch. She turned it over in her hands, and looked at her quizzically.

“The coins, you put them in the bag. It’s like a wallet,” Gran spoke as little as possible, still looking a bit green. Andrea went to the nearest pile of coins and shoved a couple handfuls into it. Seeing a strange looking flask in the pile she lifted it up and showed it to Gran.

“It has nectar in it. I made it myself, so it’ll never run out,” she explained as she took it and examined it closely. “Still in good condition though, good, very good.” Gran walked over to a different pile, wobbling a little as if slightly drunk, or dizzy--one of those--and pulled out a small metal box that no doubt contained ambrosia, adding it to the pouch and flask they were taking back up to the surface. “I think we’re ready to go now,” she said walking slowly back to the minecart, savoring the feel of solid ground beneath her before climbing back into the cart.

She did not look very enthusiastic about the ride back up to the surface. 

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-Skyy