Chapter 37: Fall Of Lucius Malfoy & The Notorious Narcissa Black
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
Lucius attempted to argue, but his vault had already been seized.
His remaining gold was nowhere near enough.
Even worse, the Dark artifacts he had stored there had been destroyed—legally—under Ministry rules regarding confiscated Dark magic.
Those same rules were laws Lucius himself had helped push through years earlier.
Now they had destroyed his fortune.
Desperate, Lucius asked to use Malfoy Manor as collateral.
Gorpus calmly informed him the property belonged entirely to Narcissa.
Lucius himself had arranged it that way for tax purposes.
Only she could offer it.
Lucius requested an owl.
Five galleons.
He had no money.
Eventually he was forced to walk naked through Diagon Alley to the Leaky Cauldron while guarded by goblins.
The Daily Prophet photographers had an excellent day.
At the fireplace he contacted Narcissa.
She quickly learned that:
Lucius had spent 35 million galleonsTheir vault was empty & The debt was 26 million galleons
She was furious.
But after thinking carefully, Narcissa made a decision.
Instead of saving Lucius, she:
Sold Malfoy Manor, Filed for divorce, Collected her private hidden savings, Left the country
Within a week she was relaxing on a beach in southern France, enjoying cocktails and younger company.
Lucius waited in a goblin cell for hours.
Then days.
When he finally learned Narcissa had divorced him and sold the manor, he collapsed.
Eventually thirst forced him to sign a confession.
His sentence:
260 years of labor digging vault tunnels in Greenland.
Goblins warned him that suicide attempts would simply add medical fees to his debt.
Lucius was portkeyed away.
Years later—many centuries later—he was finally released.
Old, broken, and half-blind, he stepped outside into the Arctic wind.
Moments later a polar bear discovered him.
The bear enjoyed its meal.
In the following days the Daily Prophet published several articles about Lucius's downfall.
Ragnarok, head of Gringotts, read one and frowned.
The paper implied the goblins had been unfair.
He called for Griphook.
"If the editor asks for a loan again," Ragnarok said calmly,
"approve it."
"And ensure section forty-eight, subsection A, sub-subsection eighteen is included."
Griphook grinned.
Meanwhile Voldemort, reading the same newspaper, saw the photo of Lucius marching naked through Diagon Alley.
He sighed.
"How am I supposed to conquer the world with followers like these?"
Back at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy stared in horror at the newspaper headlines describing his father's disgrace and his mother's disappearance.
He had no idea what his future would be now.
Far away near Hogsmeade, a large black dog opened a package delivered by owl.
Inside was a letter and several keys.
The dog transformed into Sirius Black.
He read the letter and burst into laughter.
His bid of fifteen million galleons had successfully purchased Malfoy Manor.
He turned to Buckbeak.
"You know," Sirius said with a grin,
"That place will make a perfect wedding gift for Harry and Hermione someday."
"The ultimate prank on Lucius."
Buckbeak screeched approvingly.
The Notorious Narcissa Black
Narcissa Black quickly became something of a sensation throughout the wizarding world. Every few days a new article appeared in the Daily Prophet or some other magical publication describing her newest fashion choices, the people she had been seen dating, or the late hours at which various companions were spotted leaving her hotel room.
She was traveling across the globe before deciding where she might eventually settle. So far she had already visited France, Italy, several countries in the Far East, and even Australia. Some gossip columns had begun speculating that she might soon appear in an upcoming issue of Play wizard.
For Narcissa, single life had proven far more enjoyable than she had expected. Being wealthy, attractive, and independent was far more entertaining than standing beside a pompous pureblood elitist like her former husband.
She also discovered something interesting during her travels: non-magical men were often far more skilled at pleasing a woman than many wizarding men. Occasionally she even slipped Pepper-Up potions into their drinks as an experiment.
The side effects turned out to be… impressive.
One particular man later conducted blood tests on himself after noticing unusual reactions. That accidental discovery would eventually contribute to a potion-like Muggle medicine known as Sildenafil Citrate.
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy's situation had deteriorated dramatically.
His subscription to the Daily Prophet had expired, and the goblins had seized the trust vault previously attached to his father's name. With no money left to him, Draco couldn't even afford a newspaper.
Three weeks after his parents' divorce and his father's sentencing, Draco sat alone at the Slytherin table during breakfast.
He kept glancing around the hall, hoping someone might leave a newspaper behind so he could read the latest gossip about his mother.
The articles disgusted him.
She was constantly pictured laughing beside Muggles or Muggle-borns—always smiling, always enjoying herself.
He nearly jumped when someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
Professor McGonagall stood beside him.
"Mister Malfoy," she said firmly, "please come with me. The Headmaster wishes to see you."
When they arrived in the Headmaster's office, they waited for Albus Dumbledore to finish reading a parchment.
The elderly wizard seemed unusually distracted.
Severus Snape had just finished delivering his weekly report regarding the Dark Mark growing darker on his arm. Dumbledore didn't truly need such frequent updates, but the idea of Snape having tattoos amused him more than it probably should have.
He had been wondering if the Potions Master might have others.
His thoughts were interrupted by McGonagall clearing her throat loudly.
Dumbledore blinked.
"Ah, Minerva! And young Mister Malfoy."
He gestured for Draco to step forward.
"You are here to determine where you will live from now on," the Headmaster explained calmly. "Several possibilities exist."
Draco swallowed nervously.
"My father—"
"Yes, your father is certainly one option," Dumbledore said brightly. "The goblins have offered you the opportunity to share his sentence."
Draco stared in horror.
"You could work beside him and help repay his debt twice as quickly."
Dumbledore checked his parchment.
"That would require roughly one hundred and thirty years of labor."
Draco's voice cracked.
"One hundred and THIRTY years?!"
"Yes, that is the estimate."
"I think… I'll choose another option."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, you could stay with your Aunt Bellatrix."
Draco paled.
"She is currently residing in Azkaban, but the prison authorities are willing to provide you a place in her cell."
Draco nearly fainted.
"I'm not living in Azkaban!"
"Very well."
Dumbledore crossed off another name.
"Your other aunt, Andromeda Tonks, has also been contacted. She is somewhat reluctant but would consider taking you in."
Draco scowled.
"I refuse to live with any non-pureblood family."
Without thinking, Draco raised his wand.
"I, Draco Malfoy, swear on my magic and my life that I will never willingly live with a non-pureblood household."
A flash of light sealed the magical oath.
Dumbledore sighed.
"That… was unwise."
He reviewed the parchment again.
"That unfortunately eliminates Professor Snape as well."
Soon only one name remained.
"Only one pureblood household has agreed to take you in."
Draco smirked.
"Greengrass? Nott? Crabbe?"
Dumbledore stood and walked to the fireplace.
"I will notify them immediately."
Draco felt a sudden sense of dread.
Dumbledore tossed Floo powder into the fire.
"He has agreed to join your household."
A familiar female voice answered from the flames.
"Wonderful. I'll be there immediately."
Draco turned pale.
Moments later Molly Weasley stepped out of the fireplace.
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