The Black Prince

Chapter 15

Voldemort, Lucius, Remus and Ginevra walked quickly into the sitting room, each one nervous about whether or not Severus would be able to calm the Prince. Voldemort and Lucius especially knew how bad the consequences could be if someone of that level of power lost control in a fit of rage or anguish.

Remus had an idea of how bad it could be, having seen his godson’s reaction to Sirius’ death a few years ago. His power had grown exponentially in the past few years though so he was well aware that the terrifying show of strength that he had witnessed when Dorian was a fifth year was nothing compared to what he might unwittingly produce now.

Lucius’ mind was whirling as he replayed in his mind the order that Severus had given earlier. It wasn’t so much the nature of the order but the sheer fact that he dared to give in while in the presence of his leaders. Well, leader really, since the Prince had demanded his freedom from Voldemort as his gift. He was still shocked by the sheer audacity Severus had shown in that single word. He would never dream of saying such a thing in such a tone while in either of his leader’s presence no matter how high he was in their favor.

"Poor Dorian," Ginny whispered. "He’s hoped for so long that he would be able to find out something about the Veil someday. He was certain he could pull his Father back from the After if only he knew a bit more about it."

"I will put the assignment to our researchers," Voldemort said. He had a rather large group of Death Eaters whose sole job was to research any given topic at his command. "Had he told me this during our negotiations I could have had them working on this for months."

"He feared that people would mock him for his dream. He knows that it is unlikely that he would ever get his Father back but he can’t give up."

"We will see if anything exists on it," Voldemort reassured her. "Even if there isn’t, it cannot hurt to have the researchers thinking about it for a few months. They might think of something the rest of us have missed."

Remus looked desolately at the door.

"It’s ok, Remus. We’ll go and get the Veil and he will be happy again," Ginny comforted, putting her hand in Remus’ and clasping it tightly.

He looked down in surprise, having been in his own world earlier and only comprehending her words after a pause. "Could you feel his pain? I had thought…for some reason, I had thought that he was getting better, that he was getting over Siri’s death. How could I have been so stupid?"

"He’s not even eighteen yet," Voldemort said from across the room as he was sitting in his customary chair. "We tend to forget how very young he really is. Of course he still mourns his Father. He’s not yet ready to move on. Although he may be an adult in nearly every other way, he still needs the man, especially given his Incubus heredity."

Remus’ face fell.

"Remy, I know you have worked hard to fill in for Sirius and you have done a wonderful job," Ginevra comforted. "Even still, nothing can replace him, and I don’t think you really want him to replace Sirius with you. He loves you for yourself, not as some sort of replacement father."

"I suppose you’re right. We have to save that Veil. I don’t want to even imagine the rage and pain if we were to lose it."

Just then the door swung open violently, banging off of the wall. Dorian spoke almost immediately. "We will take all of the elite with us."

"As you wish," Voldemort replied easily.

"My Prince," Lucius said hesitantly, "do we know how many workers will be present to destroy the Veil?"

Dorian turned to Voldemort in question.

"The report said that it was believed to be eleven Ministry workers and six Order members. They do not believe that Dumbledore will be present," Voldemort supplied.

"May I come with you, Dorian?" Ginny asked hesitantly, eyeing Severus nervously as she directed the question to her brother. She had long ago grown accustomed to asking Severus for permission such as this but after Voldemort’s reminder last night she didn’t want to say the wrong thing around the wrong people. She wasn’t sure if Lucius knew about her brother’s relationship yet and she didn’t feel it was her place to reveal it.

Dorian looked at her for a moment, thinking. "You may accompany us if you can convince Bella to remove the Ministry watch for underage magic on your wand and if you stay beside Severus and I for the entire time. Take one step away from us and I’m sending you straight home."

She nodded eagerly. "I promise. When can I ask Bella?" Bellatrix was an expert at removing charms without leaving any trace of her actions. Anyone could remove the charm but not just anyone could cover her tracks as well.

"After the Prince takes the potion," Severus said, cutting in gracefully. "The time draws near and we cannot delay too much or else my week of brewing will be wasted. Are you ready, Prince?"

"Yes," Dorian said confidently. Severus silently summoned a black robe and he held it out to his Prince silently. Dorian rolled his eyes but slipped it on nonetheless, although he did not fasten any of the clasps or bother to button his shirt.

"If you will allow me to lead you to my private lab I will administer the potion," Severus said, motioning toward the door.

Dorian nodded his consent and he waited for Voldemort so the two could walk side by side to the lab. Neither ever felt comfortable preceding the other so they had decided to simply walk side by side when possible. Having one walk before the other would imply a rank that did not exist, as the two allies were equal in everything.

Remus, Lucius and Ginevra brought up the rear for the short walk to the lab. Ginevra looked around herself in awe as they walked through the opulent halls of Headquarters.

The Headquarters of the Death Eaters was Slytherin Manor—the estate that had originally been built by Salazar Slytherin himself in an effort to escape the suffocating light magic of the other founders. Rowena Ravenclaw had been the only founder granted entrance. She had well understood the need for both light and Dark and had never fought his use of the Dark arts although she herself rarely used them.

The manor had been placed under charms to remain hidden until someone needed it for the same purposes that Slytherin had. It was revealed for the first time in centuries when a desperate Tom Marvolo Riddle had stumbled upon it many years ago. The manor had served as his primary headquarters ever since.

No one of the light had ever come close to identifying it or rooting out its general location. To find it you had to truly need the Dark sanctuary.

Severus walked over to a counter on the left side that had a small cauldron filled with a thick, bubbling amber colored liquid. He studied it silently for a moment, ensuring that the consistency was perfect and that it was truly ready. Finally, he silently declared it done and took up a gold plated ladle to fill the goblet that stood ready beside the cauldron. "The potion is ready, my Prince," he said quietly, holding the goblet out to Dorian.

Dorian looked at the potion silently for a moment, preparing himself for the pain that he knew would follow.

"It’s safe, isn’t it?" Ginevra asked. "I mean, no one else has access to these rooms, do they?"

"No, the rooms are quite safe. No one else has the passwords to them beside the Prince and Lord Voldemort and neither of them ever venture into here. The high level of protection allows me to leave potions unattended without fear for contamination when they do not need to be watched."

Ginny nodded and watched Dorian closely, curious as to what exactly the potion would do. Aside from inflict pain, she really wasn’t sure how the abilities would manifest themselves.

Dorian lifted the goblet to his lips and, locking eyes with his Master, tipped the thick potion back, swallowing quickly. Before he even set the goblet back down his eyes went wide and he frantically sought his Master’s gaze once more, needing the strength to remain standing and to hold back the screams of pain. He knew that without his Master present he would be screaming like a demented creature. His slim fingers crushed the gold goblet with inhuman strength, the pieces falling to the floor after a few brief moments.

"Dorian? Cub? Can I help you?" Remus asked anxiously, trying to assist his silent godson in some way. Dorian turned to him and slowly shook his head in the negative, unable to speak without screaming. Remus stepped forward to rub his back or offer support or at least do something but he found himself held back by Severus.

"Do not touch him until the potion has run it’s course," he said, his voice raspy with the pain of watching his sub endure such a thing and being forced to stand by and watch without being able to help at all. "If you touched him now you would only make it worse. With the level of pain he is in he must have full metamorphmagus abilities. The cell structure of his entire body is reweaving itself to support the ability."

"If he already had it Sev then why does his body need to go through the pain?" Ginny snapped, trying valiantly to hold back the tears as she watched her brother’s pale and twisted face.

"He had the potential to be an metamorphmagus, meaning that the skill was present in his DNA. It was not a primary trait though and so it had never manifested itself and would never have done so naturally. The only way to pull such traits to the fore is through the use of potions and spells," Severus answered her, trying to distract himself with the conversation.

Dorian gasped softly and every one took a quick step forward, but halted on their own when they remembered that they weren’t to touch him. They watched in wonder as his features slowly started to shift for the first time.

The Prince’s body slowly grew first shorter and then taller, finally stopping when he was nearly as tall as his Master. He closed his eyes in concentration and brought the rest of his body up to speed, making his skin much paler and his hair a golden blond. His lips thinned out and his chest became more muscled.

When he opened his eyes again they were a deep, chocolate brown. He simply quirked an eyebrow at the group’s slack jawed reaction. As always, he managed to look gorgeous. It appeared that regardless of the form that he took that his Incubus heredity was still able to be felt.

"I see you can control it all," Voldemort finally said. "Or can you? Could you become a woman if you wished it?"

Dorian rolled his eyes. "Become one? No. Appear to be one? Of course," he said, shifting first back to his own appearance and then presenting them with a female version of himself.

Lucius barely swallowed his groan as the stunning young woman appeared before him. He found the Prince gorgeous as a man but as a woman he was downright sinful. The Prince appeared to be a bit shorter and had the most delicious curves he had ever seen.

Dorian shifted back to his own appearance, smirking at Lucius. "Enjoy the show, Luc?"

Lucius blushed lightly. "Forgive me, Prince." Damn it. He had forgotten that his Prince could scent arousal.

"What the hell for? I’m an Incubus, Lucius. I was made for sex. Full stop. Every magical creature has his or her special abilities or skills. Mine is sex and sex appeal. If I can’t make you pant as a man at least I can do so as a woman," he said with a grin, enjoying Lucius’ discomfort.

Lucius blushed darker.

Remus looked hesitantly at his cub. "Can I touch you now?" he asked softly. At Dorian’s nod he pulled his godson tightly into his arms. "Your Father would have been so proud," he whispered as he embraced Dorian.

"Ooh Severus, I want to be a metamorphmagus!" Ginevra begged. "Can’t I take the potion too?"

"You don’t have the gene in your family sister," Dorian reminded her.

"How will I be able to go with you to our shop?"

"Tom spoke earlier of some Dark potions that allow you to shift your appearance for up to a week straight but those worry me. You should never underestimate the ability to just physically change a few things and blend in perfectly. The one thing that everyone recognizes a Weasley for is their hair. Can you honestly say that without your flamingly red hair that people would recognize you?" Dorian asked.

Ginevra bit her lip thoughtfully. "I don’t really know. You may be right. Perhaps if I changed that and used those muggle magic eyes you were telling me about it could work."

Dorian rolled his eyes. "They’re called contact lenses, Gin. I really think we should consider just shifting a few things on you rather than asking Severus to spend so much time brewing potions for you. He has entirely too much else to be spending his time on rather than wasting it on that."

"You just want him in your bed at night," Ginny teased.

Dorian shrugged his shoulders. It was entirely true. He turned to Lucius. "Take my sister to collect some robes and a mask. Make certain that her hair will be fully covered by the hoods and place the appropriate spells on them for her. Then take her to Bella and have her remove the ministry spells from Ginevra’s wand."

Lucius bowed low before taking Ginevra’s arm and leading her from the lab.

"Is it strange for you?" Ginny asked once they were outside the lab.

Lucius looked at her from the corner of his eye before looking straight ahead again. "Strange how?"

"You know what I mean, Mr. Malfoy. Is it strange having him as your leader?"

"He is an incredibly powerful wizard. I believe he may be more powerful than my Lord. He deserves his position."

Ginny sighed in irritation at how he kept dancing around the question.

He finally spoke again. "Yes, it is sometimes. Mainly when I realize that he is my son’s age. It is rare though that I remember that. I have realized that I never knew Harry Potter. I still don’t really know him."

Ginevra nodded. "He seems to like you a lot though."

Lucius sighed in relief. Despite all appearances, he had been worried. Draco’s mistakes were huge and he was terrified of how it might affect him and his son one day in the future. "Please call me Lucius," he finally said. He well knew how important it was to have this young woman like him. She was far too close to his leader to risk pissing her off or alienating her.

Ginevra smiled happily, pleased to be fitting in with her brother’s new life so easily.

Lucius took her to one of the storerooms and gave the guards the password to open the doors for them. He showed Ginevra to a rack of robes that appeared to be around her size and helped her to slip a few on before finding one that fit perfectly.

These robes couldn’t be altered with magic because so much magic had already been woven into the fabric itself. The Lord and the Prince had decided during their negotiations to obtain new and better robes that would repel more spells, thereby protecting their soldiers. The cost was well worth it in the leaders’ opinions.

The Ministry had decided long ago that they wouldn’t "waste" their money like that. Greater fools, them.

He placed the requisite spells on her hood, ensuring that any trace of hair would be covered. Her hair, as much as the Malfoy hair, was instantly recognizable. He had placed similar spells on his and his son’s hoods to protect them. The spells would keep the hood in place as well as prevent any stray hair from being seen or worse—dropping to the ground and being left behind as evidence.

They made their way toward the general lounge, a large room that was set aside for the use of the soldiers. Bella sat there, instructing with some of the young soldiers, offering some hints on how to properly hold your wand to perform a cutting curse.

"Bella," Lucius greeted her.

"Lucius!" she said with a smile. Lucius was one of her few friends. She glimpsed Ginevra. "Miss Weasley," she said respectfully but hesitantly, unsure how to properly address the self proclaimed sister of her Prince.

"Call me Ginevra, please," she said, wanting to tell her that she was a Black but knowing better than to do so without Dorian’s permission. "I need your help, if you don’t mind."

"Leave us," Bella snapped at the young soldiers who were watching avidly. "How may I help you?"

"Dorian told me that you were excellent at removing tracking charms on wands. Can you remove the Ministry spells for me?" she asked, holding her wand out to the Dark witch.

Bella looked at the wand in shock, recognizing the action for what it was. By handing over her wand, and doing it in such a public place, the young witch was proclaiming to the other soldiers that she trusted Bella with her life.

She had made a few mistakes in her career as a Death Eater and as one of the few women Death Eaters she had long since grown used to the general distrust she faced, particularly among the young soldiers. They might come to her for instruction when they needed it but they would never do something like this.

She had to fight long and hard to gain the Death Eater’s respect. Especially during the First War, they had looked down on women soldiers as weak or incompetent. She had fought that image ferociously, and ultimately paid for her determination to prove her grit through a few overly violent assaults that had gotten out of hand, particularly that on the Longbottoms. She had never really recovered. She was alternately seen as a vicious killer and as a weak woman. Both images shattered her.

She took the wand from the young witch’s hand gingerly. "It would be my pleasure, Ginevra," she said, smiling tremulously.

She studied the wand in silence for a long time. The spells on this wand were particularly complex. It soon became clear that additional spells had been placed on the wand by her Mother and by Dumbledore, no doubt because of her closeness with the Prince. Her eyes lit up at the challenge.

"Perhaps we should withdraw to my rooms, Ginevra. I’ll need to concentrate on this."

"Alright. Thanks for helping me out Lucius," she said in clear dismissal of her superior and bodyguard.

He looked hesitantly between the two women but decided to leave Ginevra alone with Bella. He certainly knew that Bella would never harm Ginny but he was surprised that she knew that. "As you wish. Shall I report to the Prince where you are?"

"If you are headed in that direction that would be wonderful. Thanks so much."

The two women walked out of the lounge together chatting lightly about the spells on the wand, starting a furious wave of gossip among the soldiers that were present.