Chapter 4

Purposefully, Draco directly went upstairs into the Lord's office.

„Is the young master looking for something? Maybe Kreacher can be of assistance."

Kreacher offered eagerly.

„No need. Thank you, Kreacher. Just wait a moment."

Draco went straight to the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black.

In his time, Phineas had been the Lord of House Black and Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Now, his portrait was guarding the Black Lord's safe.

Since, Phineas' portrait also hung in Hogwarts in the headmasters office, and there was much more action going on there than in this empty townhouse, it was no surprise that Phineas wasn't in the frame hanging in Grimmauld Place right now.

Draco wasn't inclined to wait until Phineas was so bored in Hogwarts that he would visit Grimmauld Place, so Draco cast a spell on the portrait, forcefully summoning Phineas to appear in this frame.

„Huh? What is going on? What is this? Why am I suddenly here?"

Phineas mumbled confused until he caught sight of Draco.

Then Phineas' eyes narrowed and his tone changed, „Did you do this, boy? Why? And more importantly, how?"

„How? With a very old and exclusive spell, from the time magical portraits were invented. But don't concern yourself with the ‚how'. Let's talk about the ‚why'. The reason why I summoned you is much more interesting. I want access to the Lord's safe. Would you be so kind to make way?"

Draco first brushed the portrait off and then inquired politely.

„Oh. Are you the new Lord of House Black? It's a about time. Show me the inheritance papers from Gringotts, those with the Ministry's stamp on, and I will naturally grant you access."

Phineas' tone got much more friendly.

„I don't have them."

Draco admitted without batting an eyelash.

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„I won't grant you access without. Come back when you have them, and don't bother me until then, unless you want to tell me about the portrait trick."

„I'm afraid I have to insist."

Draco stated calmly but determined.

Phineas guffawed condescendingly, „Insist all you want, boy. You won't change my mind."

„Then I will have to destroy your portrait. Since your frame is enchanted so that only Lord Black can remove it whole, I have no other choice. What a pity. It will take some time to do it without triggering the security enchantments, so I better get to work soon."

„Ha, you think that could scare me. I can just move to my frame in Hogwarts and you still won't be able to access the vault."

Phineas' portrait was only the outermost layer of the vault's security and he wasn't even really there to keep a determined thief out, the following security layers were for that.

„True, but then you would miss it when I manage to open the vault."

Draco teased.

„As if. You will just hurt yourself trying, little thief."

Phineas sneered.

„If you are so sure I can't do it, why don't you open up and see, or are you scared?"

The taunt was really obvious and couldn't move an old Slytherin like Phineas, but the boy was starting to get on his nerves.

„What is your name, boy?"

„My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

„A Malfoy? I knew you were a thief. Get lost!"

This was Phineas' last warning.

If the boy still didn't leave...

Draco raised his wand threateningly, „You leave me no choice. Then it will have to be the hard way."

Just as Draco uttered the first syllable of his spell, the portrait swung open.

Behind the portrait was the old Black Family wall safe.

It was covered from top to bottom in runes.

„Fine, have at it. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Phineas was fed up with the thieving boy.

But Phineas was still a teacher and headmaster at his core, so he still had some concern for young wizards, „Do you have some Black blood in you, boy?"

Phineas knew, if someone with no Black blood in their veins just touched the vault with their little pinky, a deadly curse would strike them.

Draco didn't answer and directly put his hand on the engraved metal.

Phineas sighed, it was the little thief's own fault for being greedy and hasty.

The blood ward extracted a drop of blood from the blonde young man, and deemed him of acceptable lineage.

That took care of the second security layer and assured that even if Draco couldn't open the safe, the security wards wouldn't curse him to death.

Even if the boy was annoying, Phineas was glad the boy's folly at least wouldn't kill him.

He would just have to experience some pain when he inevitably failed to break through the last security layer, installed to teach greedy Black Family members not to covet Lord Black's private treasures.

The last security layer was a passcode akin to Morse code.

One had to flare their own magic at the runes on the vault in a specific sequence.

Because every Lord Black changed the passcode at the start of his takeover, wrote it down and deposited the passcode in Gringotts, only accessible by the next Lord Black inheriting the position officially, it was impossible for the boy to know it.

As an emergency measure, Phineas, because of his position as the vault's guardian in the last century, also knew the passcode.

What he definitely wouldn't tell the boy.

Phineas was already looking forward to the boy's failure.

He was also interested to see what different ways the boy would try until he gave up.