Chapter 28: Selecting Artefacts

Following behind the Malfoy patriarch, he led us away from the ballroom down many different corridors and flights of stairs until we came to a black-stained wood door. "We store all the artefacts behind these doors under heavy security, so if you value your hands, please keep them by your sides, " he said as he unlocked the door by making many different wand movements.

After a few minutes of unlocking, Malfoy opened the door to reveal a large vault filled with old-looking items. "On each item is a name tag along with the description of what it does and price. If you see anything you like make a note and we shall tally your total together." Lord Malfoy added as we entered the room while showing us an example of the tag system he was mentioning.

"See anything you find interesting dear?" I asked Daphne who was looking around, "Not yet but I will let you know as soon as something does." she responded receiving a nod of understanding from me. We slowly made our way through the sections, looking over the magical trunks and jewellery we passed while ignoring most of the darker magical items.

"This item is a bit intriguing," I say while pointing to an amulet whose tag tells the story of an old widow who sold it to the Malfoys stating that it could change your face for an hour before needing to be recharged for an hour. "It is only 14k galleons as well. What do you think?" I asked before looking at Daphne to see her reading the tag before nodding in agreement.

After an hour of looking over the artefacts we decided on a few artefacts totalling about 90k galleons, "We have found the artefacts that we desire, Lord Malfoy." I say to get his attention from the work her seemed to be doing, "Oh and what is it that you have chosen," He asked as he finished what he was writing before standing and following us to the items.

"We have chosen this amulet for the first item," I said directing him to the amulet before leading him to a ring which allows people to store small items inside it. "The third item shall be this necklace that grants protection," I say indicating the necklace that can cast protego on its own to protect the wearer.

Continuing through the room I pointed out the final item we were going to select, "This broach is the final item." I told to the Malfoy Patriarch. The broach is a large woman's broach made from platinum with an emerald surrounded by green sapphires, which only had the magical effect of nullifying potions the wearer ingests be they beneficial or harmful.

"The total value of items you have chosen is 90,000 is that all you require?" Lord Malfoy asks in his usual haughty tone while gathering the items and removing the protection so we can touch them. "That would be all Lord Malfoy. We will call it even with those and forget the last 30,000 as a sign of our growing friendship." I said with my silver tongue weaving lies together.

After choosing the artefacts we followed Lord Malfoy back to the party to find that Draco had arrived with his date, Pansy Parkinson, so we decided to head over to him and greet him. "Good evening Mr Malfoy and Miss Parkinson, I am sorry that we were not able to greet you as soon as you arrived," I said shaking Draco's hand while Daphne greeted Pansy.

After spending a few more minutes chatting to the Lords and ladies hanging around with the Malfoy heir, Daphne decided that she was bored and started to drag me onto the dance floor for the second time that evening. We danced the rest of the evening away while the Lords and Ladies schemed away in the background, "It's getting late my love, it might be time for us to head home." I whispered in her ear as she rested her head on my shoulder as we danced.

She nodded slightly and we made our way over to the older Malfoy couple, "I am sorry to say Lord Malfoy that we shall be retiring for the night. I thank you for your hospitality and hope that our new friendship lasts a long time." I said to the man when he finished his conversation and he turned towards us. "Yes, thank you, Lord Malfoy, for the wonderful evening and thank you Mrs Malfoy for the selection of music," Daphne added after I had finished.

"Oh, you are welcome my dear and call me Diane. It is a lady's duty to make sure her husband's endeavours are properly executed." Lady Malfoy stated as I linked her first name with the Selwyn family, finally connecting the dots in how Draco still came to be after Narcissa was no longer sold to the Malfoy family.

After finding out Draco's mother's name and saying goodbye to our hosts we were shown by the same old butler to the entrance floo before flooing home. "Daphne, the 4 artefacts we have gotten today can count as some of your Christmas gifts so take them home." I say before being strangled as the woman mentioned did her best to hug the life out of me, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." was her only response.