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Chapter Eight

Draco was nervous as he knocked on the door to Severus’ personal quarters. He really wished that he’d asked to go see Sirius instead of doing a floo call. As much as he trusted his solicitor and her brother to get Sirius’ name cleared, there was that bit of him that knew how prejudiced magical Britain could be that didn’t trust the process. Just in case he lost Sirius to Azkaban the last thing that he wanted was for his last conversation to be over the floo.

When the door opened however, it wasn’t his Godfather who stood there. Instead it was his cousin Sirius who stood there grinning at him. “Sirius!” Draco cried out and immediately flung himself into his cousin’s arms. “Im so happy to see you. I was just wishing I’d asked to see you  instead of floo calling, and now here you are!”

“Well I guess great minds think alike, pup,” Sirius replied while shutting the door. As Severus cast privacy spells to ensure they wouldn’t be interrupted, Sirius led Draco over to a couch where they both sat looking at each other.

“I wanted to make sure that I saw you before tomorrow just in case. I know you trust Gloria and Tristan, and I think there is a nundu shifter somewhere in their line because they both seem to be beyond mortal ruthless. Plus I know that they already have Peter and that he’s been kissed, but I just don’t trust those old fuckers in the Wizengamot. They still have the unregistered animagus and the escaping Azkaban parts that they could throw a fit about.”

“I won’t lie and say that I am not nervous,” Draco admitted as he started to bounce his leg.

“But that’s only a small part of it and I hope that it is the same for you. You are innocent of the charges that you’ve been accused of. They know it now if Pettigrew has already testified. He would have had to testify under vertiserum and I trust Madame Bones to draw what really happened out of him. There’s no way he was kissed if the full truth wasn’t brought to light.

“Yes, they will probably say something about you being unregistered, and you will need to do that now to stay out of prison. The escaping part though is ludicrous. You were in there for 12 years illegally and without a formal trial to sentence you there. That more than covers the year required for being unregistered and they can’t charge you for escaping some place that you’d not been sentenced to be in the first place.

“Besides, Lord Barrows will be taking proxy for my seats until you get through mind healing, and the sheeple will go his way. That is except for those arseholes following Voldyfart. It eats my arse that they’re all just lounging around in my damn manor.”

“You’re going to need to do something about that,” Severus said from his seat at his workbench where he worked on grading and the non-brewing parts of potions. Draco hummed and nodded his agreement as he temporarily shifted his gaze to his beloved Godfather.

“That is the second time today that the manor has come up. Harry asked me earlier what I was going to do about it, and I have been alternating thinking about tomorrow and the manor since. I wish that I had thought of it earlier, because there would be a lot fewer issues at the trial if some of the arseholes sitting in my home are locked up. But there is nothing that I can do about that now.

“To answer your and Harry’s questions, I think I am going to give Madame Bones some information that I have on the various Death Eaters and things I overheard when I was at home last summer. Then I am going to tell her about the secret entrance through the wards that is technically open to anyone who knows the password.  That would take them into the dungeon entrance and allow them to sneak up on the Death Munchers. Maybe if they’re really lucky they could capture the Dark Lord, also. By the way, Sev, thank you for letting Lenore come through earlier so that Gregory and I could speak with her.”

“You are most welcome. I am happy to do anything I can,” Severus said and Sirius immediately followed up asking, “How did it go?”

“It was very informative for both Gregory and myself. It seems that his father has been misleading him for years about the Lordship.

“My house elf Aphrodite came along with Lenore because she wanted to talk to me. Lenore and ‘Dite are working on getting the home packed up. Apparently most of the furniture and house things came from Lenore’s family’s vault within the Malfoy vault grouping.

“On a side note, ‘Dite has requested to be transferred to Grimmauld Place to help Kreacher as well as Mossey and Wodbey. It seems that the moment that she met Lenore she felt a minor bond forming and believes that it is her duty to help the family. She will serve as the cook and help Kreacher who she says needs healing desperately. She says the dark magic in the house has warped his innate magic because he was stuck there for so long alone.

“So, then Greg mentioned to her his worries about being disowned and not being able to take care of her. She told him that it was not his responsibility, but that it wasn’t something that he had to worry about. She then apologized for not correcting that worry years ago because it seems that Greg can’t be disowned.

“The boy that was to be Heir was rejected because he was  illegitimate and the family magic wouldn’t accept illegitimate male children or any female child. I guess that Greg is the only male child in the family between Ram, his brother Hyde, and their cousin Eban. The male legitimate child had to be created while the mother was married to someone with contention for the Lordship.”

“So they can’t disown him?” Sirius asked and Draco shook his head at him grinning.

“Nope, but that doesn’t change the fact that Hyde and Eban are not locked up and are a physical threat to Lenore and Greg. Per Lenore it’s only a matter of time before one of them comes to ‘check up on her’ and…”

Draco stopped speaking as his voice got shaky and a lump formed in his throat. “It seems that Ram has a habit of sharing her with Hyde and Eban when they are drinking together and they’re all feeling randy. I hate them so much.”

When Sirius scooted down to Draco’s end of the couch and wrapped his arms around him, Draco accepted the hug willingly as he sniffled in his cousin’s arms. “Why are all of these people so horrible? How were any of us children supposed to have grown up to be decent people with such terrible people raising us? Then our peers and those on the other side wonder why we’re all bullies and angry all of the time. How can we have been anything else? Tell me! What chance did any of us have?”

“You had no chance,” Sirius said quietly and Draco heard his voice shake, assuming it was because he was thinking of his own childhood.

“And yet you’ve turned into a decent human being anyway all on your own. You all have. I mean look at you. You get freed from your father and immediately you offer a safe haven to your friends and your school nemesis.

“Then you help me get my name cleared and the second you find out that Goyle’s mother is in danger you offer her help, too. As far as I can see you haven’t done a single selfish thing yet. You’re going to be an amazing Lord Draco. The best. I just hope that at some point things settle down enough that you can go back to being a child again and let me and the other adults around you worry about the grown up responsibilities.”

“Sheaking of Lenore. She is thinking of divorcing Ram. I told her if she did, I would pay her solicitor’s fees because I want her to use Gloria Stewart-Thistlethorps. If she does she’s going to change her and Gregory’s last name. It’ll either be Robin, Lenore’s maiden name, or she asked permission to use Malfoy. I guess she says that looking back her father didn’t treat her mother much better than Ram treats her.

“He never shared her mother but he was verbally and physically abusive and Lenore doesn’t think she wants to carry on that name. Even though father and mother are horrible she says that she knew and liked my grandfather Abraxas and she is proud of the person that I am turning into. Greg told her about what mother may be trying to do, and she said that Mother will have to get through her first.”

Draco blushed at the thought but believed that she was the best mother figure that Draco could ask for. While Pansy adored her mother, Draco didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her. Theodosia Parkinson née Fawley had been his mother’s best friend since they were babies.

In his opinion there was no way that she would have remained in that spot if she was as good of a person as Pansy believed. On the other hand he liked Theodosia, even if he didn’t fully trust her, and he would be devastated if Thesia turned out to be like Narcissa. The devastation would be more for Pansy’s sake than his own, but the emotion would be there nonetheless.

“So, tell me about Dumbledore and what you’re going to do about the Order. Speaking of which, I realized today that the fidelis wouldn’t keep you out because you are now officially Lord Black and therefore can’t be kept out of any properties that you own, which includes Grimmauld Place. It’s why I can tell you that my birth home is located at 12 Grimmauld Place in London.”

“Huh,” Draco said grinning as he felt his magic tingle as the location information settled on him.

“Interesting. My talk with Dumbledore was horrible. He’s a disgusting, manipulative, old goat and I don’t want to ever be alone with him again. He has no business teaching children or being responsible for children and I am not sorry that he won’t be able to fulfil the headmaster position next year because he’ll be dead.”

“Wha… Dumbeldore is dying?” Sirius asked and Draco nodded before relaying the conversation that he’d had with the dying headmaster earlier that day.

“I talked with McGonagall just after dinner, that’s why I was a little late. Our conversation went better and ran longer than I expected it to. She advised me that Dumbledore asked her to take over the Order of the Phoenix and filled me in on it with Dumbledore’s blessings I guess. It seems that this news that he has very little time left has really shaken him. He’s putting together something of a journal to be released after he dies. It’s going to detail all of the things that he did while he was alive, good and bad.

“Anyway, I told McGonagall, who told me I could call her Minerva and I told her that was rubbish, that I would not allow the Order to stay at Grimmauld Place because it was needed as a sanctuary. I did agree however to let them use another of my many residences. So, I was thinking of letting them use Malfoy Manor after we get everyone out of there. Not only would it make Lucius furious wherever he is in the after life, but Roman would be furious too. Pissing off those jackarses makes me happy. It will have plenty of room for the Weasleys to stay in it over the summer, and still has house elves. But honestly, I am sending all of the Malfoy elves to the enclave to be healed. The ones I have are former Black elves. Molly should be able to run the house without elves. But, I told McGonagall that I am sending two elves to oversee the place. Most likely Zeus and Hera since they are the most familiar with the manor because I will not have Molly Weasley going all hog wild in my home!”

“You need to, and you might need some adults there who can help watch over things, too, because Molly at times has very little respect for other people’s family possessions.” Sirius warned with Severus echoing his agreement. Draco just huffed and ran a hand through his pale blonde locks.

“I was afraid of that, and to be completely honest I am not sure that I trust Molly either. Minerva said that she wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs Weasley had been spelled or potioned too because she was nothing like this until well after her brothers were killed.”

Draco sighed and shook his head clenching his fists in his hair for a moment before continuing. “Dumbledore is like the bad knut that just keeps coming back.

“Well, I agreed anyway that the manor could be used once it was available. I did make sure they understood that I would not tolerate anyone damaging my home and I would not let them keep me out of it. I’m just hoping that there are enough of them with genuinely good intentions that they can balance out all the evilness that has been tainting the house’s magic. Tomorrow I am going to ask Gentleheart to assign William Weasley to be the cursebreaker assigned to both Grimmauld Place and Malfoy Manor. Can I trust him to be his own man and not just go along with everything his mother says?”

Severus and Sirius both nodded but it was Sirius who spoke first this time. “Bill and Charlie Weasley are both genuinely good men who have escaped their mother’s clutches. Bill is one of Gringotts’ best young curse breakers and even leads his own team, which is generally something that takes decades for someone born outside of the Eastern Dragon Kingdom to achieve.

“He knows hiis mother’s faults, and don’t discount Arthur. He may currently not be Lord, but he takes great pride in his pureblood heritage. Not the same way that you guys do, but pride nonetheless. He would never allow an ancestral home as old as Malfoy Manor to be damaged no matter how determined that Molly is to clean out what she percieves as bad.

“While her and I have never really gotten along, I do agree that she wasn’t always this bad. Fabien and Gideon adored her and they would be ashamed of the woman that she’s become. I never considered that she might be potioned or spelled, but it does make sense, and I believe McGonagall would know. My guess is that there are several of the staff that have been influenced to a negative degree.”

Severus nodded his agreement. “I have already started brewing a cleansing potion for both McGonagall and myself. Plus, I have scheduled appointments for us with the Dragons on the first day after the students leave. We both need tested and I want to petition Lady Magic to remove this mark from my arm. That would allow me to take up the Prince Lordship, which comes with a seat on the Wizengamot and a small estate.

“I am proud of you, Draconis, for your ability to work with Minerva. Albus called both of us into his quarters after dinner along with Filius and had him cast some spell on us that Albus insisted was a counter curse to the loyalty spell he’d placed on us years ago. I do remember him casting something on me when I took my oath to get him to save Lily that he said would help me. I was still working on my mastery at the time, and taking cleansing potions regularly.

“I am not sure that he would be able to potion me because I still cleanse myself regularly.  That isn’t to say that he didn’t cast more spells or charms on me. By how irritated with him I am I can tell something has changed, but I don’t trust that there isn’t more. Minerva felt the same when we discussed it at lunch. I doubt very much that the students will see much of him before the end of the year feast.

“So, you’ve solved Lenore’s problems. You’ve potentially found a home for the Order, and you are talking to Minerva. Any other news?”

“I got a letter from Gloria,” Draco said with a nod as Severus read his mind and called for a tea service from Honrey the house elf that was assigned to him from the Hogwarts’ elves. Draco waited until he’d gotten his tea and a plate of mini tarts before continuing. “She says that there will be an announcement in the papers tomorrow but she believes that we should hold off on the soulmate news for a little bit until people have calmed down from the lordship news.

“I need to tak to Gragin and that may happen tomorrow. I know it’s asking a lot. I feel like I am invading your space too much Sev, but I need to meet with Gentleheart tomorrow. Do you think it is better to ask the headmaster if he can come here and we can meet somewhere or do you think he’d let me go there. I already know I am not allowed to go to the trial, which I hate and don’t understand, but its very last minute and I think it would be too much of a risk with Mother out to get me. Do you think it would be safe for Harry to go? I’d like someone to be there for Sirius.”

“Draco, don’t worry about me,” Sirius started and Severus put down his tea cup glowering at the other man.

“Do not be so self sacrificing mutt. I know that Lupin is planning on being there for you but he will have to be up with the public because he holds no seat within the Wizengamot and he is not family. Harry though as your Godfather has asked permission to go and was granted it by both Gloria and the headmaster.”

“That’s surprising,” Draco said, scrunching his nose up, then tilted his head to one side as he considered the current situation. Although it’s equally surprising that he allowed you to come tonight, Cousin.”

Severus snorted and replied before Sirius could. “I think you will find that Dumbledore will agree to whatever you ask of him for what little time he has left. He is very afraid of you right now and I don’t completely understand why.

“I just know that I first noticed it when he asked clarification on your Lordships. I believe, and this is more guess than an educated deduction, but I believe that he is frightened of the power you hold over him either as the Earl of Southport or as Lord Fletchmore, which comes with you being Lord Black. There was once a rumor that the Master of Death had a companion.

“If I remember correctly it went something like the Earl of Southport combining with the Lord of Fletchmore and bonding with the Earl of Lochmond to create a couple powerful enough to cleanse Magical Britain of not just two dark lords but the power hungry Light. You know, Merlin was very protective of Arthur’s kingdom and Harry’s line does stretch back to Arthur.

“Some believe that if you do not go to Hel and her realm that you go to Avalon and live there under King Arthur forever.  Magical Britain is King Arthur’s kingdom even if he is no longer here. You are as we know Merlin reincarnated.  Harry is the Earl of Lochmond via the Peverell line, which we already knew from that Gringotts visit. All of that combines into a very scary couple for someone like Dumbledore whose only goal in life was to be known as the greatest wizard ever, surpassing well the former you.”

Draco opened his mouth, closed it and frowned as he scrunched up his nose at the thought. He still wasn’t totally onboard with the whole Merlin reincarnated thing.  Somehow though it made him feel better to know that he had Harry by his side.

The next day after breakfast found Draco back in Severus’ office in one of his more formal mourning outfits that he’d brought back with him. It had been decided between McGonagall, Dumbledore and Severus that the only place safer for Draco than Hogwarts or the Cottage would be Gringotts bank. So, Draco would be going to see Gragin in his office with Severus accompanying him.

He’d wished Harry good luck and that he’d come looking for Harry the moment he got back to see how the trial went. Harry in return gave Draco a hug setting off the whispers in the Great Hall. The student population didn’t seem to know what to think about the two of them, especially after the battle at the DoM which revealed Voldemort and Draco’s switched allegiances.

Things had seemed to be more confusing for the students when the Daily Prophet came out revealing all three of the Lordships that Draco had inherited. Draco was feeling the rift between himself and Pansy because normally he could count on her to be on top of all the gossip that the day’s news would create.

With them at odds though Draco had to depend on Blaise and Daphne who would have their ears open, but weren’t Pansy. The truth was Draco missed her desperately. Theo was his best friend and brother and Blaise was very close behind, but Pansy was the one that he could depend on for comfort even when he didn’t know that he needed it.

He’d been puzzling over her problem trying to come up with something that he could do about it. However, as much as he wanted to stop the arranged marriage from happening, he was powerless. While most of the purebloods in his parent’s circle of friends was related in some way, unlike Gregory, Pansy wasn’t relegated closely enough for Draco to take her in.

The only regal option that she had was emancipation, but that would cost her the Parkinson Ladyship. Not only that but she also would have to admit that maybe her mother didn’t have Pansy’s best interests in mind and there was something wrong there, which even Draco wasn’t sure of. He didn’t want to believe that Theodosia Parkinson was as ruthless as her best friend Narcissa, and frankly didn’t have any proof of it. Of course, he didn’t have any proof that she wasn’t either, which was the problem. Draco had long ago given up on just blindly trusting adults. Even the adults that he needed to trust.

He knew that he could trust Severus. His Godfather had proved his loyalty to his Godson long ago. The problem was that Severus was just now picking up his own Lordship and to be honest Draco probably had more training than Sev did.

Sirius was given reluctant trust because Draco was desperate and felt like Sirius was his only option. At least Sirius had all of the correct training because while he was growing up there had been a chance that Sirius would be the heir.  Of course, that changed when Sirius left home and didn’t go to Arcturus for support. Then he got put in Azkaban and that basically ended Arcturus’ hopes for making one of Walburgah’s sons his heir.

Sterling Barrows would have probably helped if Draco had asked him. But the Barrows Lord meant a great deal to Theo and Draco didn’t want to intrude on their relationship. Advise here and there he didn’t mind, but a mentorship would feel like he was invading on something sacred to Theo who had already lost too much.

Other than those three there really wasn’t anyone else who could help him that Draco felt that he could trust. Draco’s thoughts were just spirilling toward Sirius and all the things that could go wrong at his court hearing that day when Severus thankfully interrupted him.

“Ready brat? I have some things I need to see to in Diagon Alley. So, I am going to see you to Gentleheart’s office and then leave the two of you to do your business. Then I have a meeting with the Prince accounts manager, I believe that his name is Frildrur Warmheart. So when you are done just have your accounts manager see you to Warmheart’s office and we can leave from there when I am done.”

“I can do that Sev,” Draco promised and followed his Godfather into the floo, stepping out in the Lord’s Floo at Gringotts.

“Lord Black-Malfoy Emrys and Heir Prince,” Gentleheart greeted as the two nodded to him and offered the standard Draconic greeting.

“May your horde overflow with treasures beyond your imagination and you enemies fall in surrender at just the sound of your name.” Draco offered and Gentleheart grinned.

“So may our ventures overflow your vaults and your name be sung for ages. Thank you for accompanying him Heir Prince. Frildrur wanted me to tell you that his appointment before you was cancelled this morning. So, if you get done early then you can come to his office. He is free to see you whenever. He understands you have things to do but doesn’t want you to have to waste your time if you get done earlier than expected.”

“Thank you Accounts Manager Gentleheart,” Snape acknowledged with a half bow. “I will do so and hopefully then Draco will not have to wait too long. I have no idea how long my meeting with my own Accounts Manager will do, Draco. So, should I get done first I will come to you. IF you need me, Gentleheart should be able to find me. I will not be any further than Diagon. Although I do have an appointment at the far end with a new potions apothecary that has opened up. Do not leave the safety that the back of the bank offers. Gentleheart, his mother is believed to be a bonafide threat to his safety. So, I am entrusting his wellbeing to you while I am gone.”

“We will watch over him with all the seriousness as we do the safety of the king. I already have Naud Fireheart positioned outside of this room He will be following us to my office and will stay close by until Draco leaves. Draco, you brought this letter correct? I would like to have a record in your files since she also does business here.”

“I do. I have both of the letters that she has sent me since Father’s death on my person. Sev, I promise I will stay where it is safe. I have no urge to put myself at my mother’s mercies or even worse at Aunt Bella’s mercies. I will stay where it is safe. You do the same though. There is no way that they don’t at best suspect that you have turned your back on Voldemort to help me. One of those conversations is going to be having the bank help you get that mark off your arm, correct?”

“Yes, brat. Now go do what you need and I will see you when we are both done.” Nodding Draco wished his Godfather goodbye and then followed Gragin into the bank with Naud Fireheart following along behind him.

When they reached the Accounts Manager’s office, Draco headed to the seat at the small table that he was directed to. Immediately he dug the two letters out of the inside pocket of his robe where he’d stuffed them at home and handed them to Gentleheart who was pouring them both tea. Normal tea for Draco and Dragonleaf Tea for Gentleheart which was a little too strong and bitter for Draco’s tastes. Even with all the sugar that the Dragons put in their tea, it was still too bitter for Draco.

Quietly Draco stirred his tea and tried not to let himself panic about what was going on at that moment over at the Ministry while Gragin read. When he was done, the dragon passed the letters back with a dark look in his eyes. “I would offer to eat her for you but I have a feeling even with ketchup she would taste nasty.”

Draco almost snorted tea out of his nose, and had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from spewing his tea all over his friend. “You did that on purpose,” Draco said laughing once the offending liquid was safely swallowed. Gragin for his part just grinned and shrugged as he took a swallow of his own tea. “OK, to be serious I do agree with the others you have talked to, but I have a feeling it’s being drilled into your head enough so I am not going to pile on.”

“That is why you are my favorite, Gentleheart,” Draco murmured relieved as he relaxed back into the chair. He then went on to advise his Accounts Manager his ideas about Grimmauld Place and Malfoy Manor. When he was done Gragin had his elbows rested on the table top and his chin rested on his collapsed fingers.

“I think that your ideas are workable. You’ll want to have your solicitor contact Amelia bones as soon as possible. Honestly I am glad you decided to use the Manor because it will be a better solution than anything that I could come up with. You certainly have other homes, but I could not be confident that either A) they should be used for that purpose, or B) that they’d hold the wards that you were wanting.

“The tricky part will be getting the coordination and timing. You’re not going to be able to get this secret organization out of Sirius’ home but it seems that you want them gone as soon as possible. But the Manor will not be empty yet most likely.”

“Headmistress McGonagall said that they can use Hogwarts for Order meetings once school is out for a week or two. As to the manor, I could get them out right now if I were to have Apollo pop me directly into the ward room. I don’t necessarily know as I want to do that though because it feels a lot like delivering myself to my mother.”

“No, I don’t think that would be a very good idea. At least not just with you and Apollo. I also think that there is merit to you giving the Ministry a chance to see if they can capture some of Voldemort’s followers there. It would certainly strike a blow that it wouldn’t be able to recover from immediately. Especially if they could get some of the inner circle.”

“The inner circle are the ones who stay at the Manor the most. Mainly because most of them came from Azkaban and can’t go to their homes. Father had some wards up. The basic ones that he could manipulate, but he could never really communicate with the ward stone. The Dark Mark made that impossible. This is a drastic subject change, but I need to figure out my name. It’s driving me nuts.”

“I think that you are putting too much thought into it, although I understand why. Draco I deal with people all day long who have family vaults and family accounts, and even at 16 you are doing a better job than most of the adults did when they took over. The full name is a lot, and I get it. But let me ask you one simple question. Who are you?”

“What kind of question is that? I am Draconis Abraxas Arcturus Black Malfoy Emry. I am Lord Black, Lord Malfoy and Lord Emrys Earl of Southport.”

“No, that’s your formal title. You’ve been one person your whole life and that hasn’t changed. Why are you?”

“Well, the name I have always gone by is Draco Lucius Malfoy but that isn’t the name I want to use any longer. I like Draconis and I want to honor my grandfather not Father. Then Sirius asked me to honor the House of Black in my name and I can’t very well leave off my Earldom or ignore the House that I am reincarnated from.”

“Again, you’re talking your formal title. You can honor the House of Black and the House of Emrys, but not have to deal with it on a day to day basis. You were Draco Malfoy. You’re now Draconis Abraxas Malfoy. That’s it short and sweet. There’s a lord in there that you need to acknowledge now but yu dont have to make it more than you want to. Lord Draconis Abraxas Malfoy. If you’re dealing with some arsehole use your full name or use your most senior of Houses which is the House of Emrys. Otherwise you are Lord Draconis Abraxas Malfoy.”

“It’s that easy? I mean, isn’t that shooting myself in the foot powerwise? Father would say…”

“Your father is gone because he tried to kill his only child,”Gragin pointed out with a slight growl in his tone. “This name choice is not forever. You are Earl of Southport now. There is a lot that you can do that people will excuse once they get over themselves and remember that this news about the House of Emrys is not new news. You are Draconis Abraxas Malfoy until you want to be something else.What power does a 16 year old need to have?”

“I am Lord Draconis Abraxas Malfoy,” Draco repeated several times then finally gave a smile and a short nod. “OK, thank you. Pep talk noted and appreciated. Now, what else do we need to go over?”

Sitting back in his chair, Draco nodded along as Gragin brought out his two extra seals and then talked about investment accounts and getting the money in the older two vaults moving again. Especially the Emrys account which had been stagnant for a while.

Draco then mentioned his idea about the school and getting others involved. Gragin told him that he could help with that and had an idea of which houses to approach then offered to do it for him.

He then advised that they were in fact very, very distant cousins through the house of Emrys as Gragin’s line descended from the youngest son who was Dragon Born and had retreated back into the bank. So he had some personal books about Merlin Emrys that Draco should have.

“Gragin these are your family’s treasures,” Draco protested only for Gragin to shake his head.

“No, these are books that have been held in trust for you since the last time the Earl of Emrys title was active. Please take them and read about our progenitor.”

Letting loose a soft sigh, Draco nodded and gathered the books close admitting that he was close to his stopping point, which the Dragon said was fine. “You need to stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You are in mourning, even if it’s a complicated mourning. Come, let us be done. I will take you to your Godfather.”

And so he did. As Draco left the bank, he knew that he still had a lot of work to do, but felt that maybe, possibly he was on the right track.