Harry Potter The Surprise

Harry and Hermione weren't the only ones having a bad day, things just kept progressing down the road from bad to worse for the Malfoy family.

Since Ambrosia was without doubt the premier restaurant in magical Britain, and Lucius considered the Malfoys to be Britain's premier family, it was vital that they were seen eating there on the busiest day of the year - the day the students returned from Hogwarts.

It was hardly a pleasant meal though, with Narcissa refusing to speak to Lucius and Draco harping on throughout the entire meal about how Harry Potter had gotten the best of him again. Those weren't exactly the words Draco used, but both his parents understood that's what would have happened.

Entering the restaurant to see a large picture of the owner standing beside Potter and his mudblood should have warned Lucius this was not going to be a good night - and that same picture was more than enough to initiate Draco's rant.

Things then took a sharp turn down shit street however when the bill refused to accept payment from Lucius' house ring. Three times Lucius tried in vain to pay their bill by his normal method, his growl at the waitress getting louder with each unsuccessful attempt. Eventually the owner was forced to intervene. After listening from the background to the young Malfoy whelp decry Lord Potter for the entire meal, the owner demanded immediate payment by whatever method they could manage.

Having to ask his wife and son for gold to help with meeting the bill did not improve Lucius' mood any, and his wife was mortified with embarrassment for the second time today. Leaving the restaurant, the Malfoys headed straight for Gringotts. Discovering that they no longer had an account manager, and had to get in line to see a teller, almost saw Lucius draw his wand.

Narcissa had a tight grip of his wand arm, and was muttering orders to her husband without appearing to do so.

"We'll visit the vault, then sort this out. You draw your wand in here and I'll be a widow - because you'll be missing your head."

Lucius never uttered a word, leaving Narcissa to speak with the teller. Sitting in the cart, there was so much running through his head - mostly that this couldn't be happening to him.

The goblin cart drivers were currently having to draw lots, each wanted to be the operator who took these pure-bloods down to their now empty vaults. While how and why they had been emptied was a closely-guarded secret, moving that much gold and heirlooms around underground was never going to be a secret for long.

The goblin who had drawn the Malfoys wasn't disappointed, closely watching the family as he opened the door to a now empty vault.

Both parents just stood there and stared, though Draco of course had something to say. "This stupid goblin has taken us to the wrong vault."

Spotting the letter, though ignoring the knut sitting beside it, Lucius burst open the wax seal.

I entrusted one of my greatest treasures into your care

You deliberately gave it away to a little girl

This has already cost you everything your family own

It will soon cost you your life - and family line

For this unforgivable failure, that is the price I will extract

Nothing less than the annihilation of the Malfoy name.

LV

Having access to all Tom's memories allowed Hermione to do a reasonable copy of his handwriting and turn of phrase. It would certainly be reasonable enough to convince his followers it was actually written by Lord Voldemort.

Narcissa finally found her voice to correct her son. "If this was the wrong vault, the key wouldn't have opened the door. It's the right vault, just empty." Lucius handing over the note left Narcissa feeling empty inside too.

His mother's reprimand ignited Draco's anger. "This is Potter's doing. He said we would be nothing without our money, and he's taken it all away."

Not in the mood to put up with his son's perpetual whining, Lucius lashed out at the teen. "Talk sense, Draco. How could Potter do this?"

A belligerent Draco wasn't for backing down. "He wasn't on the train today, but I saw him at breakfast in Hogwarts. Severus has been chasing him for days, without catching up with Potter. Potter told the entire school Severus was a Death Eater, and he wouldn't be taking his potions classes again. Potter's even taking that troll Bulstrode on holiday with him. Things have been nuts in Hogwarts lately - McGonagall disappeared too."

Something at the back of his mind prompted Lucius to ask Draco a question. "Did you once tell me Potter was a parselmouth?"

"Oh yes, that was brilliant - the whole school turned against Potter. I set a snake on him…"

Lucius had already tuned Draco out. The note Narcissa held was a death sentence - for all of them. Potter was certainly aware of the diary incident, leaving Lucius clutching at the flimsiest of straws. If there was even the slightest chance Potter could have been involved in this, meaning the note was a fake, Lucius thought it was a chance he had to take.

If it was Potter, there was a possibility of not only killing the little bastard but refilling the Malfoy vault - also adding Potter's gold to his own substantial pile. If this actually was his master's note and actions, fleeing the country promptly - and no doubt penniless - was really his only chance to live.

"Draco, this is very important. How would I go about finding Potter?"

There was no hesitation from Draco. He understood exactly what his father was asking here, and had the very answer his father needed. "Granger. Find Granger and Potter will either be there, or quickly come running. He would do anything for her. Can I help, please can I help?"

Lucius knew he had at best a couple of days to save his family. By that time, word would have gotten out that he didn't have the gold to back up any of the promises he intended to make for information leading him to Granger. Lucius also expected that they would be getting evicted from their manor soon too.

He would task Narcissa with raising whatever cash she could in case they were forced to flee the country, allowing him the time to concentrate on getting his hands on Potter.

Even if Potter wasn't involved in this legalised robbery, killing the little shit would at least provide some personal satisfaction before the Malfoys had to flee Britain with their tails between their legs. If his master did do this, killing Potter just might be the only thing that could possibly see their master showing them some generosity - and sparing their lives.

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