He trudged to the entrance hall and was there greeted by a very pale-looking Bellatrix. The sad expression on her face and her posture made her look very fragile. Bellatrix stepped forward and hugged Harry briefly. "It's my fault," she said quietly.
"It's all right," Harry said. "Really. There's tons of stuff I should be doing. I'll just find a place to stay and then get busy. It's not like I really need a job anymore."
"Yeah," said Bellatrix. "You do have all the Black money."
"And the Malfoy money," Harry said quietly so as not to be overheard by anyone who might be nearby. "Romulus gave me his ring and had me empty the Malfoy vault."
Bellatrix beamed a smile. "That's the best news I've heard all day. I don't suppose you got any Malfoy property, though."
"No," said Harry. "I guess he couldn't do that."
"So Lucius will still inherit quite a bit," Bellatrix mused. "He'll be able to slowly build another fortune."
"Better than him getting all the gold from the start," Harry replied.
"True," said Bellatrix. "Where will you stay?"
"I don't know," said Harry. "I haven't given it much thought."
"Maybe you should stick to renting rooms until I can join you," Bellatrix suggested. "My father used to buy and sell property. I think I could find us a good deal for a flat that can be easily warded. I know a few useful strategies."
"Sounds like a plan," Harry said. "I've been thinking about communication. I can do the projection spell and meet you here at Hogwarts."
"I didn't realize that," Bellatrix said, looking vaguely excited. "It's a brilliant idea, though. You'll find me in the Chamber of Secrets. I'm going to finish cutting up the basilisk carcass. If I'm not there, check the Room of Requirement second."
"Actually, I have a slight idea," Harry said, remembering how he had given Lily one of Malfoy's rings. "That ring your father had, it was something Malfoy had given him. If you twist the jewel, it kind of jolts the Malfoy family ring." He held up his hand. "Give it a twist and I'll meet you in the Room of Requirement as soon as I possibly can."
Bellatrix arched one her eyebrows. "That's a special ring," she observed. "However, I'd prefer the Chamber of Secrets. I'm going to be spending all of my free time there. I won't send a signal if I'm not there."
"Okay," said Harry, wondering why she'd prefer that place.
"All right," said Bellatrix.
"Yeah," said Harry. "I guess I'll see you around." It was beginning to sound like the end of an awkward date. Harry settled for a handshake and departed. Thankfully, Bellatrix did not choose to sit and forlornly watch him leave. She retreated up one of the staircases as Harry exited through the castle's main entrance.
....
Lord Voldemort was in agony. The method by which Romulus Malfoy had attempted to strike down the dark lord had been notable for its ability to leave the victim, if he or she survived, in extreme pain. Some potions were not meant to be forcefully lit on fire. For Voldemort, the effects had been disastrous. His head and hands had received severe burns. Healing spells and potions had only been able to do so much. Now, he was left with tender, ugly scar tissue. Worse, he still felt like he was on fire. This did little for his mood.
The door to the room in which Voldemort sat alone opened to admit one of the Lestrange brothers. He approached slowly. "My lord," intoned Rodolphus Lestrange, "Lucius and Mulciber have returned from Gringotts."
"Send them in to report," Voldemort directed stiffly. He didn't want to move the muscles on his face anymore than absolutely necessary.
"As you command," Rodolphus replied, drawing back from the dark lord and moving to the door. He exited, leaving the dark lord alone for a moment.
Voldemort drew a deep breath and closed his eyes, attempting to master his feelings. Satisfied that he felt serene enough to deal with incompetent fools, he opened his eyes and stiffly turned his head to make sure his face was still in the shadows of the room. It wouldn't do to let his followers see the extent of his injuries.
Eventually, Lucius and Mulciber entered the room. Instantly, Voldemort ascertained that they were the bearers of bad tidings. This was disconcerting because Voldemort had been more than sure that they could not possibly fail to accomplish the mission on which they had been sent.
"Report," Voldemort hissed. Ruefully, he realized that he was already losing his temper, but reassured himself by clinging to the fact that hissing did not require much facial movement.'
Neither Lucius nor Mulciber wanted to be the one to break the news, so a brief contest of wills ensued. Mulciber won. He was older and more intimidating. There was also the truth that he had been connected to Voldemort for a number of years. He nudged Lucius forward.
Lucius promptly fell to his knees. "My lord," he choked, "there was no gold in the vault."
"How can this be?" Voldemort demanded. His injuries and being in the shadows prevented him from showing anger on his face, but he made sure that Lucius could hear the malice dripping from his tone of voice.
Lucius was too scared to speak. Finally, Mulciber chimed in. "My lord," he said in an oily voice, "the goblins implied that the gold had been withdrawn by one who presented the Malfoy family ring."
"When?" Voldemort demanded.
"Perhaps last night," Mulciber ventured. "They were not very forthcoming on the matter. They did assure us that the Malfoy assets and properties are intact, however."
"Could your mother be the possessor of the gold?" Voldemort asked Lucius.
"It may be a possibility," Lucius admitted eagerly.
"It's unlikely," Mulciber countered. "We already know that Mrs. Malfoy is in France. Given her personality and quirks, I doubt she would have returned home so quickly, even for the death of her husband. Romulus Malfoy apparently had a contingency plan to be executed in the event of his death."
Voldemort desperately wanted to pace. However, that would require his standing from the chair. That would require him to put weight on his hands as he pushed against the armrests. The burned state of his hands made that an unattractive option. Consequently, he was forced to remain sitting and to seethe inwardly.
"There are a number of avenues we might pursue," Mulciber continued.
"Be quiet," Voldemort snapped. "I'm thinking."
Mulciber snapped his mouth shut, thoroughly embarrassed. He didn't have to fear for his reputation with Lucius, however. The young Malfoy was on the edge of blubbering, though it was not clear whether the thought of having displeased the dark lord or having been deprived of a vast fortune was more unsettling to him.
"Harry Ashworth was at Malfoy Manor when the attack commenced," Voldemort declared.
"If you say so, my lord," Mulciber said.
....
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