Dolasitas

A/N Many thanks to those of you who reviewed. I appreciate any and all reviews - they only serve to speed up the writing process! PS. 'Thisperson' - this story will be taking into full account the series as JKR wrote it, and Harry is most definitely dead. The consequences of this will be dealt with in later chapters; suffice it to say, Voldemort is not as immortal as one might suppose...


Lexy stared at him, her eyes wide open. It was common knowledge that Lucius Malfoy was one of the highest ranking Death Eaters, and after what she had just heard, she was beginning to panic. “I apologise for walking into you, sir,” she said, her voice wavering. “Please do not let me hold you up for any longer.”

Lucius chuckled. “Oh, this is far from an unpleasant delay, Miss – Beaumont, is it?”

Lexy was startled, and her mind was working overtime as she realised she had to get away. The situation was becoming more dangerous by the second. “It is sir. I am afraid…”

He cut her off before she could make her excuses. “You see, Miss Beaumont, I have been keeping a close eye on those students whom I felt most deserving of my attention. You were at the forefront of them all.” His eyes darkened appreciatively as he looked over her body. “Yes, most deserving indeed.”

“Thank you for the compliment sir, but I really must be going. I have prefect duties to attend to,” she said desperately.

But just as Lexy began to back away, Professor Snape appeared from around the corner and she froze. Snape quickly took in the situation, and a calculating look appeared on his face. “Lucius, my friend, how are you? And Miss Beaumont, many congratulations and happy returns.”

Lucius’ eyes lit up. “Is it your birthday, Miss Beaumont? Why, you never said.”

Snape smirked. “Indeed. Miss Beaumont in fact comes of age today.”

Lexy silently swore. If she had been in trouble before, she was in even deeper now. Lucius’ eyes widened with delight. “In that case, Severus, I am sure that nobody will object to the star pupil taking time off from her prefect duties to celebrate. In fact, I may even take her into Hogsmeade to buy her a gift, if you will kindly permit me to do so.”

“Oh, I have no objections,” Snape replied silkily. “It is the weekend, after all.”

Lexy knew she had to get word to the Order. “Professor Snape, if you see Ginny Weasley, could you please inform her that I will be unable to meet her in the library after lunch, seeing as Lord Malfoy is so graciously accompanying me?”

“Certainly. Enjoy yourself, Lucius.” A ghost of a smile flitted across Snape’s face as he stalked off.

“I shall, I have no doubt of that,” Lucius muttered. He took Lexy’s arm in his, grasping it firmly. “So, Miss Beaumont, do you have a first name that I may call you by? If we are to spend the day together, it seems foolish to use formalities constantly.”

“Alexis, my Lord,” she stated grudgingly.

Lucius stopped and spun her to face him, his eyes boring into hers. “You will call me Lucius, witch,” he spat. “As for your name, I dislike it. It is too masculine. Do you normally use a shortened version?”

She looked into his cold grey eyes and shivered. “My friends call me Lexy, Lucius,” she replied quietly.

He hissed with pleasure as she spoke his name. “Then I shall call you Lexy, my dear.” They resumed their walk towards Hogsmeade, and Lucius’ eyes began to sparkle as his thoughts overtook him. It was obvious that the young witch was afraid of him, and she had every reason to be. Lucius’ wife, Narcissa, had failed to provide him with any more children after their son, Draco, who had proved unfaithful to the Dark Lord. As such she had been killed by the Dark Lord last month. He did not feel any grief for her; their marriage had been one of convenience, and she had not delivered what was required of her.

This, of course, meant that Lucius was now looking for a new wife to bear his children. Alexis Beaumont was the perfect candidate. She was an intelligent pureblood, and certainly very attractive. Lucius cast an appraising glance over her body. She was a petite witch, but with curves in all the right places – ample sized breasts, wide hips and a beautiful slender waist. Her dark brown hair curled softly over her shoulders, and she had the most wonderful plump lips. He felt a stirring in his loins as an image of Lexy blowing him with those lips arose in his mind. Lucius growled quietly, and Lexy started.

“I apologise if I startled you, Lexy,” he said abruptly, but offered no explanation for his actions. They reached Hogsmeade without further conversation and stopped first in the Hog’s Head, where Lucius secured them a table in a quiet corner. He ordered them both a drink, then seated himself opposite Lexy. He stared intently into her eyes for a few seconds, and smiled when she blushed. Lucius was pleased with that; none of the women that he associated with still blushed. He did hope she was still a virgin.

Lexy’s mind was spinning as she tried to think of a way that she could safely extricate herself from the situation she found herself in. It was clear to her from the look in Lucius’ eyes what his intentions for her were. With no family to protect her, there would be no-one to stand in his way. Lucius interrupted her reverie. “I do hope that I have not disturbed your plans for the day too much, Lexy. However, I promise you that what I have in store for you will be far better than anything you could have planned.”

“You presume an awful lot, Lucius,” Lexy said absently, covering her mouth as she realised that she had inadvertently insulted him.

To her relief, he merely smiled slightly. Knowing what he did about what was to happen, nothing could upset him today. “I do, Lexy, because I know I will be treating you to a wonderful birthday, the likes of which you could never imagine.”

“Oh, Lucius, I can’t accept too much from you. I have no way of paying you back, and I barely know you.” Lexy did not even want to think about how indebted she would be to the wizard if he fulfilled what he promised.

“I am certain that we can come to some arrangement, my dear,” Lucius said, unconsciously running his fingers over his lips. “Tell me a bit about yourself, Lexy. Are you a Slytherin?” he asked hopefully.

“No, a Ravenclaw, Lucius. As you know, I am a prefect for my house, and have been for two years now. My parents, Hugo and Victoria, died in the Great Battle, so I am an orphan – I have no other family now.”

Lucius did not miss the shadow that passed across her face. “Have you no siblings, Lexy?”

“My brother Will went missing around the time of the battle. He was but two years old.” Lexy wiped a tear from her eye, and in doing so missed the small smirk that flitted across Lucius’ face.

They finished their drinks in silence. Lucius rose and offered his arm to Lexy. “Come, Lexy, we will get your birthday present.” Lexy accepted his arm and they walked through Hogsmeade, stopping outside the last shop Lexy expected them to go to.

“Lucius, this is Infinitas. I cannot accept jewellery from you! It is too much, surely.”

He shook his head, and gently tilted her face up towards his. “Lexy, you have no family to spoil you, and I have no family to spoil. And after all, a lady only comes of age once.” Sensing that further argument would be pointless, Lexy followed him wordlessly into the shop.

The proprietor’s face lit up as Lucius Malfoy walked through the door. The wizard was well known for his extravagant purchases. If he made a sale, it would be enough to treat his wife to a wonderful anniversary. “Lord Malfoy,” he said in an oiled voice, “it is a great pleasure to see you again. How may I help you today?”

“Do not grovel to me, Dagby, I have no desire for that. We are looking for a ring for the lady.” Lucius snapped, instantly switching into business mode.

“Do you have anything particular in mind, my Lord?” Lucius took Dagby out of Lexy’s earshot, and explained what he was looking for. “Ah, I believe we have just the thing. Follow me if you would, please.”

Lexy narrowed as her eyes as the two wizards spoke quietly in the corner of the shop, Lucius’ eyes lighting up as Dagby showed him something. He nodded, and completed the transaction before returning to her side. He was clearly delighted with the purchase. “Come, Lexy, let us step outside before I present you with your gift.”

They walked for only a few minutes, Lucius leading Lexy away from the shops and crowds, pausing when they reached the hills overlooking Hogwarts. “The view is beautiful from here, isn’t it Lexy?” he said softly. “Come, sit here next to me.”

Warily, Lexy did as he requested, carefully lowering herself onto the ground. She decided to test Lucius to see if her suspicions were correct. “I was sorry to read of the death of your wife, Lucius.”

“Do not trouble yourself over it. I felt no grief, after all,” Lucius said coldly. “We never loved each other, and to be quite honest with you I was relieved when the Dark Lord disposed of her for me. Now I am free to pursue a new wife,” he said huskily, taking her hand in his.

Lexy tried to wrest her hand free of his grasp, but he was too strong. “Do not fear me, Lexy,” he said, clearly amused. “You have nothing to be afraid of so long as you do as I wish.”

“What do you wish from me, Lucius?” Lexy asked tremulously.

Lucius withdrew a box from his pocket, opening it to show her a sparkling gold ring adorned with the largest emerald Lexy had ever seen. “You are to become my wife and bear my children, Alexis Beaumont. You are most worthy of the role, and I will certainly enjoy lying with you every night,” he declared, looking at her hungrily with lust in his eyes.

“I am afraid I must decline. I have no desire to marry, and certainly not to marry a Death Eater,” Lexy said coldly, her convictions overriding her judgement. She tried to walk away, but Lucius grasped her painfully around the waist.

“How dare you deny me? My proposal to you was not a question, Lexy,” he spat, “it was a statement of intent. I will give you one more chance to answer me correctly. Now, witch, will you become my wife?”

“No!” she declared.

The next thing she knew was a large crack, and Lexy realised that she had been Apparated by the wizard. She looked around her. The room they were in resembled an unfurnished version of Professor Snape’s dungeons, but Lexy knew that it was impossible to Apparate into Hogwarts. “Where are we?” she asked, desperately searching her robes for her wand.

Lucius stepped away from her, twirling her wand between his fingers. “We are in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor, princess. Welcome to your new home.”