It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 41

"That is a Ukrainian Ironbelly, Master Malfoy,"  Nagnok  explained.

"Really? I've seen four other types of dragons, you know, during the Tri-Wizard tournament," Draco replied. "Welch Green, Chinese Fireball, Swedish Short Snout and one mean Hungarian Horntail."

As Draco continued talking to Nagnok about the dragons and what he'd seen at the First Task, Severus slipped off his watch chain and enlarged the rod carrier and the replica of the Hufflepuff cup.  He had the fishing rod out of its carrying tube and put together in under ten seconds.

'Practice makes perfect,' his potion affected brain thought, cockily. Fortunately, another voice overrode that thought. 'Concentrate! You can gloat later.'

He pulled the shrunken copy of the Gryffindor Sword from his pocket and enlarged it, also. Stepping into the vault, he carefully laid the sword onto a side table, careful to not touch any of the other things already piled there.

Turning, he saw the Hufflepuff Cup sitting high on a shelf near the back of the vault, Walking as deeply as he dared between the heavily laden tables and chests of money, jewels and silverware, he reached up and put the end of the fishing rod through the handle.  Lifting the silver chalice ever so carefully he jiggled the rod to make the vessel slide down to the first guide ring, where it stopped, swaying slightly.

He brought the rod down, hand over hand until he could grasp the goblet and remove it from the rod.  Replacing it with the fake, he lifted the duplicate to the shelf, sat it down ever so gently and then pulled the rod out of the handle.  Quickly dismantling the rod he walked out of the vault, loaded the rod back into its case, shrank both the case and the cup down and re-attached them to his watch chain. Putting the watch, fob and chain back in place, he went and stood behind the group admiring the dragon. 

"It is a remarkable specimen, Nagnok," he drawled.

Nagnok turned and looked a bit bewildered.

"Have you finished in the vault, Headmaster?" Nagnok looked slightly apprehensive, realizing he hadn't done his duty by watching the tall Wizard when he was in someone else's vault.

"Simple matter of placing the object on a table, Nagnok.  Not at all time consuming or difficult."  Severus stood there, blank expression on his face. In fact it had taken less than a minute to complete the switch.

"Very well,"  Nagnok, replied, trying to sound efficient. "I'll just seal the vault and then we will proceed to yours, Madam Malfoy."  He bustled over to the door, but quickly peered inside to see what had been added, his eyes opening wide as he spotted the sword lying on the table. 'Oh, my.  I must tell Griphook about this,' he thought frantically.  But a second later, as he pushed the door closed and sealed it, a 'Memory Modifying Charm' made his recollection of what was in the vault not so urgent a matter. 'After all, it was just a small dagger, nothing important.'

* * * 

"Well, that's the end of that portion of our 'Tale'," Severus said,  doing a slight bow, to the smattering of applause from the Muggle visitors . . . the children in the audience were starting to fade, so those going home called it a night, picked up the sleepy youngsters and headed to the nearest Floo-connected fireplace to take them home, or to The Burrow.

The Malfoy's said their good-nights and left. The Lupins &Teddy were staying, of course, as was the other Marauder.  The Hogwarts resident teachers were filing out, when Professor Trelawney staggered, swayed and would have fallen if Poppy hadn't grabbed her arm and maneuvered her to a nearby bench.