Blood Ties

A/N: Here's to Friday, I love you so much. Update day and my day off from work. Working at Wal-Mart this time of year bites, especially when you're in charge of keeping all the sales items from getting lost. In reality, that just translates into working about a thousand hours a week. Good news is that I'm still on track with my writing schedule for this. I'm currently working on chapter 45 and am nearing the end. So, without further ado, here is the latest chapter.

Chapter 38

They'd strategize quietly as they maneuvered through the alley. Draco said that his Aunt's vault was on the same level as his own and only a few vaults over. He said that her vault was guarded by blood wards. So, in theory, he ought to be able to gain access to her vault since he was of Black blood.

She didn't know if the goblin's would be too keen to just let him access the vault though. Technically, it didn't belong to him. That's where she was to come in. She was to ask to access her vault after they arrived at his. He would remain, claiming that he couldn't find what he was looking for. They would scoot off to her vault and he would get the cup while she was gone.

Again, she didn't like the plan. They would have to be separated once more. That, and he would have to find the cup on his own. Who knew what traps she had in her vault. That, and she knew from Bella's mind, that there was more than one cup and they all had self replicating charms placed on them. As soon as he touched one cup, they would start to multiply.

She had faith in him though as they climbed in the cart and went on the terrifying ride. It seemed to last forever since his vault was much deeper in the earth than her own. She slipped out of the cart when they came to a halt. She waited as Draco entered his vault.

She waited for fifteen minutes before she asked the goblin in her sweetest voice, "Would you mind terribly, Trimclaw, if we stopped at my vault on the way out? I forgot that I needed some money for the rest of the summer. I feel terrible when Lord Malfoy pays for everything."

"Go on, Sweetheart," she heard Draco call from within the vault. "I can't seem to find the manuscripts that my Father requested."

The goblin narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "It's breaking protocol to do that, I'm afraid," he answered imperiously. "We will wait."

"Are you saying?" Draco asked dangerously as he exited his vault. "That you refuse to assist my fiance whilst I finish gathering what my Father requested."

"Of-of course not, Master Malfoy," the goblin stuttered. "It's an unusual request. I will take Miss Granger to her vault. I'm afraid that it will take some time before I can return with the cart."

"It's not a problem," he stated. "It will take me a bit to amass the documents that my Father needed."

He kissed her hand and flashed her a wink. She rode the cart away from him hoping that he knew what he was doing. She gathered a few piles of Galleons from her own vault and returned to the lobby. All in all, it had been about twenty minutes since she left Draco.

She was surprised to see him waiting for her by the doors. She allowed him to take her arm and tuck it into the crook of his arm and guide her from the bank.

"Did you get it?" she asked curiously as they walked to the apparation point.

"Of course," he boasted proudly.

"How did you get out?" she asked

"I flew," he answered slyly as he placed his arms around her waist.

"Flew?" she asked as they prepared to go back to Grimmauld.

She smiled at him. "I guess that extra talent came in handy after all."

"Indeed," he smirked.

She pressed a quick kiss to his lips and then froze as she saw an unmistakable flash of the infamous Malfoy hair in her periphery.

"Draco," the man called, his voice hard with malice. It was Lucius. "Just what do you think you are doing?"

"Hold tight," he whispered.

She trembled as his Father strode closer and closer, his walking stick echoing menacingly with each step that he took. She squeezed her eyes shut as they disappeared with a loud crack just as his hand was reaching out to grab her.

End Note: Thoughts? This might complicate things just a bit. But of course, you all expected a few more twists. I'm a little excited. I'm going to see Breaking Dawn part 2 in a little over an hour. Sad to see it finished. But I guess there's always The Hunger Games Trilogy. Leave a review and I'll see you Tuesday.