Death Eaters' Plan, Hebrides

"Lucius?"

The Death Eater waiting outside frowned as he watched Lucius Malfoy return. "Why did you come out so quickly? Don't tell me you can't bear to part with your Galleons and want to defy the Dark Lord's orders?"

"Of course not." Lucius Malfoy said calmly, "It is their honor, and the honor of the Malfoy family, that these Galleons can be of use to the Dark Lord."

"Then why have you come back?"

"Gringotts is crowded. I'll have to wait a while before a goblin can take me down to the vaults." Lucius Malfoy said. "I didn't want to stand around doing nothing, so I thought I'd buy a few things in Knockturn Alley first."

"Gringotts is crowded?" The Death Eater was doubtful. He lifted a foot to head over, intending to see for himself.

Lucius Malfoy did not stop him. He merely hurried down the stairs. "Then I'll go to Knockturn Alley first. We'll meet back here later."

With that, he walked toward the nearby fork in the road without looking back.

The Death Eater frowned. Looking at Gringotts so close by, then at Lucius getting farther away, he hesitated no longer and immediately turned to follow him.

He could not trust Lucius to act alone.

"What, you don't trust me?" Lucius asked blandly as he watched his companion catch up.

"If you were truly loyal to the Dark Lord, you should hand over your vaults willingly." The Death Eater sneered.

"The Dark Lord would not stoop to coveting such things." Lucius said. "Who would I hand them over to? You?"

"I wouldn't mind." The Death Eater said darkly, making no effort to conceal his intentions.

Lucius said nothing more and merely quickened his pace.

The two turned down Knockturn Alley from the fork. The already quiet street