Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny Apparated just outside the Leaky Cauldron the following day, in a secluded corner free from Muggles. As they progressed inside the inn, they noticed a lot more hustle than usual.

"Well, people are celebrating," Harry said. 

"Can't expect them not to, it's the fall of Voldemort we're talking about," Ginny replied, looking fondly at Harry from beside him. 

"Oi, now don't you go snogging him here in public," Ron warned on seeing the look in Ginny's eyes.  "Not in front of me."

"Turn 'round, then, simple," Ginny retorted. "I'll kiss him a hundred times and in front of Rita Skeeter's office if I want to."

"Oh, Harry's going to be murdered," Hermione laughed. 

Harry grinned embarrassedly, "I'll make sure to always have Aurors around me." 

Ron glared in a meet-me-alone kind of way.

Harry and Ginny had made themselves official after the war, and apart from the usual my-daughter-is-dating-a-young-man anxiety, even Mrs. Weasley had had no problem. Hermione and Ron, though, had not yet made the big announcement. Of course, Harry and Ginny knew, and so did a few others, but Mrs. And Mr. Weasley didn't need to get the news of two of their children dating their almost-children Harry and Hermione respectively, within the same week.

The Leaky Cauldron was indeed much cheerier than they last remembered; the sunlight poured in more brightly, there were more guests than ever, all chatting enthusiastically, and the distinctive smell of Butterbeer mingled with Firewhiskey and cheap sherry lingered in the air - the exuberance was overwhelming.

The little group found, on passing through the magical entrance at the back of the Leaky Cauldron,  that the same applied to Diagon Alley. The shops that had been boarded up were open again, and the windows of several of them were plastered with pamphlets and announcements. Walking along the street, they casually looked at the items on display. The apothecary was selling Flobberworm eyes at four Knuts a scoop, the announcement said, and Madam Malkin's was taking orders for dress robes, delivering them within a few hours. Harry, Ron, and Ginny glued their faces to the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies, admiring the latest broomstick called Thunderstreak 280 when Hermione pulled them all away and dragged them to Gringotts to get their money first.

"Wonder if they've got a new dragon yet?" Ron said, smirking. Hermione and Harry wheezed.

They climbed up the marble staircase and entered the bank. Goblins sat behind their counters as usual, but apart from them, the place was almost empty. Well, almost.

A tall, lean boy with platinum-blond hair stood in front of the counter straight ahead, the goblin behind which was rifling through some papers and muttering gravely.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny reached the counter, non-verbally deciding to completely ignore Draco until necessary. Draco, however, sneered, "Oh, it's you, Mudblood. I was wondering what the smell was."

Ron and Harry whipped out their wand in an instant, pointing them at Draco's face. 

"You - don't - call - Hermione - that - ever - again," Ron growled, emphasizing each word and advancing threateningly at Draco. "Understand?" Harry added.

"Oh my, I'm so scared," Draco mocked, leaning against the counter coolly. "Granger, you require such scum to guard you? How desperate are you not to take out your wand and show how unskilled you are?"

"Like you have the guts to do anything, Malfoy," Hermione said equally coolly. "Once a coward, always a coward, you know."

"You missed out on 'masked' and 'traitor', Hermione," Ginny said angrily.

Draco opened his mouth to retort, but just then a goblin arrived and asked Draco to follow him. Sneering at the rest, he departed.

"A great way to start the day," Harry groaned, pocketing his wand.

***

Draco followed the goblin and assumed that he was being taken to the Malfoy vault. Hence, he was extremely bewildered when the goblin directed him to a room whose plaque read:

Inheritance and Related Subjects Authority Office
Brodkoff (Head of Department)

"Hey, can you hear well?" Draco asked the goblin. "Did you hear me when I said I wanted to visit my vault?"

The goblin knocked on the office door, completely ignoring Draco's remark, which, naturally, seriously annoyed him. What the hell was going on?

"Come in," a voice answered the knock from inside. The goblin opened the door and indicated for Draco to enter. He huffed, confused, and went inside.

The place looked more like a small living room than an office, only far less cozy or comfortable. A sofa set was on the left of the door, and cupboards and shelves crammed with dusty old files and stacks of papers occupied the opposite wall. To the right were a few empty wooden chairs kept in neat rows of two, probably meant to seat the people waiting for their turn with the goblin who sat by the table in the far-left corner.

"Good day, Mr. Malfoy," the goblin said briskly. "I am Brodkoff, the Head of the Department of the Inheritance Authority Office. Please have a seat."

One of the first things Draco noticed about the goblin was that he, being short, was sitting on a pile of books kept on the chair to be at an appropriate level with the table. Smirking slightly, he sat down on the chair opposite him.

"So, Mr. Malfoy, you asked to access the Malfoy vault sometime earlier today at forty-two minutes past ten. Is that right?" Brodkoff asked.

"At last you understand why I came to Gringotts. Now, may I ask why I'm here?" Draco replied scornfully.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, you came here to withdraw money from the Malfoy vault, which indicates quite plainly that you are not aware of the latest - ah - developments that have taken place. I thought you would do better to be informed as soon as possible."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, bemused.

"You see, the vault in question has been guarding the wealth of the Malfoy lineage for centuries. As you may very well know, your earliest ancestors, when they opened a vault here at Gringotts, made certain arrangements with the bank such that the oldest Malfoy alive at the moment would have the maximum powers over the wealth. For example, the person would have the right to determine who can or cannot access the vault, and their consent and signature would be mandatory for larger transactions, among other things. Your family has been following this 'tradition', for want of a better word, ever since."

"And you are telling me this because...?"

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, an update was passed to us late last night from Mr. Lucius Malfoy, the oldest alive member of your lineage, concerning the vault. The directions given to us said that Mr. Draco Lucius Malfoy has been barred from accessing the Malfoy vault, and henceforth has no right to withdraw, deposit, or transfer money, or to perform any such related action, involving the concerned vault."

"WHAT?" Draco bellowed and shot up from his seat. 

"I'm afraid that is the truth," Brodkoff said in his business-like emotionless tone.

"You can't be serious! Father, block me from accessing my money? That's simply not possible! You must have the wrong information!"

"The goblins at Gringotts are more than adept at their job," Brodkoff said, not even looking at Draco - he had begun studying another file and apparently considered his job done once Draco had been informed. "Hence, there is no chance of the information being false or being implemented incorrectly."

Draco wrenched open the door of the office and stormed down the corridors without another backward glance. His father could not have done this!

But he had, Draco thought bitterly. If he could get him branded with the Dark Mark, it was no great feat for him to do what he'd done. Draco knew that Lucius would be furious with him after he, Draco, had revolted against his father. 

Once on the street, Draco made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron and to his room. There, he saw an owl perched on the windowsill with a letter tied to its leg and seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Draco untied the letter and read.

Draco,

I hope you get this letter early enough. I want you to hear this from me rather than from anywhere else.

Lucius was enraged with what you did yesterday. He was one of the angriest I've ever seen him. I really tried to stop him, but you know what your father is like. I don't know how to break this to you, but it's just got to be done.

Your father disowned you yesterday, Draco. I tried to explain to him but he doesn't seem to want to listen. And he also rendered you ineligible to access our vault at Gringotts.

I know you're angry, Draco. I know you must be feeling hurt. But remember, I'm always by your side. I know what you did was right and I fully support you. I'm sending you some gold in a pouch with the owl. The money should be more than enough for buying your school things and also for extra expenses throughout the school year.

Whenever you need more money, owl to me. I'll send it to you as soon as possible. I'll also try to calm Lucius down and persuade him to undo this wrong. In the meantime, stay calm. Focus on Hogwarts and your studies and nothing else. You're going to Hogwarts to escape this mess at home. Don't let it trouble you there.

Wherever you are right now, stay safe.

N.M.