Tempted by Fate: A Serpent's Requiem

Lucius followed his wife and son into the front door of their manor. It was pretty obvious that Narcissa was angry. She didn’t say a word as she made her way up the stairs to their bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

“Father, I’m off to see Crabbe and Goyle.”

“Don’t stay out too late. You know the train leaves for Hogwarts tomorrow. I can’t have you missing the train.”

“Yes father.” Draco apparated with a loud pop leaving Lucius alone in their living room. He sighed as he made his way up the stairs towards his bedroom.

“Cissy are you going to let me in so we can talk?” he asked impatiently, standing at the door. When Cissy chose not to respond, Lucius shrugged his shoulders before walking across the hall to his private study. After locking himself in, he grabbed a book off of one of the many bookshelves filling the room then settled into his huge black lounge chair that was draped in green and silver satin. He opened a novel but slammed it shut a second later. Why do I feel like this? That Ginny…looks just like her mother…such impudence! He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

******************************************************

“Damn. We’ve been at Hogwarts going on four years now. You would think there would be more sexy ladies to choose from.”

“Avery, is that all you think about?”

“Oh come on Lucius. Live a little. No wait…the reason you aren’t interested in anyone right now is because you have plenty of money.”

“And that means what to me?”

“You have all the sexy ladies throwing themselves at you. Man, you’ve got it made!” Lucius folded up his newspaper and got up from the table. “Hey man, where you’re going? I know you’re not trying to starve yourself. You didn’t even eat anything!”

“I am going back to the common room. I have some work I need to catch up on.” Lucius grabbed the rest of his books and started up the stairs that led to the Slytherin common room.

“Lucius! Lucius! La La La La Lucius!” Peeves shouted as he bounced from portrait to portrait.

“Oh shut it Peeves!”

Lucius reached the top of the staircase and took a left heading down the hall. He stopped a second later when he spotted a figure, sitting down with their back against the wall crying. As he approached the figure, he noticed that it was a girl, a red head that he’d never seen before. He noticed that there were papers all over the floor in front of her and her duffle bag lay opened as well. He hesitated for a moment, but her constant sobbing only raised his curiosity more. He walked over and tapped her shoulder.

“Um…excuse me, but can I help you?” She looked up at him and frowned before wiping her eyes.

“Uh…no. I just…I was just leaving.” She started gathering her papers, not caring whether or not they were straightened, and began stuffing them inside her bag.

“Let me help you,” he said, squatting down to help pick things up. He picked up the rest of the papers, straightened them neatly before handing them back to her. She looked up and smiled.

“Th…thank you.” She stood up to leave but quickly fell back to the ground after tripping over her robe. “Oh…my robe!” she cried. Lucius looked down and saw that her robe had been torn.

“Wow. Looks like you need to get an update.” He extended his hand and helped her stand.

“Yeah I guess,” she replied sadly looking away. “Thanks for all your help.” She grabbed her bag and ran off down the hall. I wonder what that was all about. Lucius shook his head as he started towards the Slytherin tower.

“Password?”

“Cobra.” The door slid open and he entered the common room. His heart sank a little when he found that it was currently being occupied.

“Oh Lucy!”

“Bellatrix, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?” Lucius said dryly, as she ran and threw her arms around him; her short curly hair bouncing as she walked back to the couch.

“You don’t like that name?” She laughed before returning to the couch where she had been sitting playing cards with her friends. Lucius decided to go on up to the boys dormitory for he was in no mood to be bothered by Bella.

“Lucius, aren’t you going to say hello?” Lucius turned to see Narcissa sitting on the floor next to Bella, staring up at him wondrously, eyebrows raised teasingly.

“Oh, I’m sorry Cissy. I didn’t see you.”

“I noticed,” she replied pursing her lips.

“Lucy, you seem a bit distracted. Is something bothering you?” Bella asked, looking up from her card game.

“Well…as a matter of fact…yes.”

“What then?”

“I saw this girl—a red head—sitting out in the hallway not too far from here actually.”

“Ok so why is that bothering you?” Bella asked laughing.

“Well she’s a Gryffindor. I don’t think she had any reason to be on this hall at all.” Bella and Cissy looked at each other but neither said a word. “You two? Did you do something to her?” he asked.

“No,” Cissy said quickly.

“I noticed that her robes were torn and…”

“Lucy darling listen, don’t worry about her. She just got a taste of a little harmless prank. That’s all. Besides, her family is dirt poor. She’ll never be anything like us. No one pays attention to her so just let it go,” Bella replied nonchalantly. Lucius sighed before ascending the stairs to his room.

*************************************************************************

Molly quickly paid for the rest of Ron’s books before heading towards the door.

“Mom, is everything alright?” Ginny asked. Molly smiled weakly at her daughter.

“Of course dear. Everything’s fine.”

“Damn. Mom I can’t stand those fucking…”

“Ginny…”

“Sorry mom but it’s the truth. That Draco…thinks he’s so great because his father is rich. Lucius is nothing but a rich snob who needs a lesson about women.” You have no idea Ginny. Molly smiled as she ushered Ginny out of the shop.

“Molly! Ginny!” Molly looked up to see her husband followed by Harry and the others coming their way. Arthur kissed her on the cheek before grabbing the bags from Molly.

“Oh honey, I can carry this stuff. We’re all apparating so it’s really no big deal.”

“No, I got it sweetie. Alright everyone. Let’s get out of here.”

---
---

A second later they were all back at the burrow carrying their school things into the house.

“Alright you all. You know the drill. Pack now so you all can have dinner and get to bed.”

“Yeah, yeah Molly. We hear you,” Fred said as he thumped a weary looking Ron in the back of the head.

“GEORGE!” Molly shouted.

“THAT WAS FRED MOM!” George shouted, running up the stairs after him. Molly shook her head before plopping onto the sofa in the living room. Today had been a trying and tiring day for her so far. Running into Lucius and his bitch didn’t make matters better. Arthur came and sat next to her on the couch, putting an arm around her.

“Honey, what’s bothering you?”

“Nothing. I’m…fine,” she lied.

“Molly…Ginny told me what happened in the book store.” Molly sat upright and stared at him for a second.

“It was nothing Arthur and I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Did she hurt you?” he pushed.

“No Arthur. I’m fine. Everything is fine so quit asking.” Arthur stared at her for the longest time before admitting defeat.

“If you say so. Anyway I have to go talk with the teenagers. You know, give them the old start-of-term talk,” he said with a grin. Molly laughed as she waved her wand to start dinner.

---
---

After dinner, everyone started to leave the kitchen for bed but Arthur stopped Harry at the bottom of the staircase.

“Harry, let’s talk.” Harry stared at him curiously for a second before going back to his seat at the table. “Harry, I’m sure by now you and the others have been talking about Sirius Black.”

“Yeah, and I really would like to know what that has to do with me.”

“Well…Fudge has asked me to keep it a secret but I feel that you have a right to know. You see Harry, Sirius Black was the man that betrayed your parents. He’s the reason why they are dead.” Harry stared at Arthur in shock. He didn’t know what to say. He opened his mouth to speak but no words would come from them.

“Harry, I know this is bad timing, but with the start of the new term and Sirius on the loose, you need to know. God only knows what Sirius is up to.”

“Ok. So this Sirius person…he told Voldemort…”

“Yes, although we really don’t know for sure. You see, Remus seems to think otherwise…”

“Remus?”

“An old friend of mine and new teacher at Hogwarts this year. He’ll be replacing Lockhart although I’m certain he’ll be missed.”

“Like hell he will.”

“Anyway Harry, as you know, there has never been anyone to escape from Azkaban. The fact that Sirius is the first to ever do so has everyone in a bit of a rut. The minister, based on certain circumstances from the past, seem to think he’s after you. Now why he’d be after you is beyond me. In any case, I need you to be on the look out Harry. Lucius knows and so does Draco but do not let them manipulate you into doing something crazy. You must not go looking for Black. You understand me?” Harry stared at Arthur for the longest time before answering.

“Why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?”

Arthur shrugged his shoulders before sending Harry off to bed. He wasn’t sure whether or not Potter was telling the truth but on the other hand, it was a good enough answer for him. He got up from the table just as his wife was heading up the stairs. He could tell that she was still upset about the earlier events. Lucius, you better hope I don’t run into you tomorrow. Arthur put out the lights before following his wife to bed.

---
---

“Ginny you’ve been awfully quiet. Is something wrong?” Hermione asked as she positioned herself next to Ginny on the bed. The boys were in the twins room sound asleep but Hermione and Ginny had been reading smut the last hour.

“Well…it’s my mom.”

“Oh yeah,” Hermione winced. “She seems…I don’t know…bothered about something. Did you two run into the Malfoys like us?”

“Yeah and if I could I would have blown that little bitch up like Harry’s aunt.”

“Whoa Ginny. Calm down. It can’t have been that bad could it?”

“The little bitch slapped my mum and Lucius just stood there, but what’s so funny about it is that when his little princess walked up, he looked like he’d seen a ghost. I don’t think he was expecting her.” Hermione laughed out loud at the different faces Ginny was making.

“Well if you run into her again, I’ll approve of you messing up that pretty face of hers.”

“I think I will,” Ginny replied thoughtfully. “Before I roll over and fall asleep can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How are things with you and…Ronald?” Hermione frowned before turning away. “Oh come on Hermione, I didn’t mean any harm.”

“He’s still being his usual insensitive self. I’m getting to the point of not caring anymore.”

“I understand. Ron’s a shit head. Why not go after Fred or George?” Ginny asked teasingly.

“How about you go after Harry?” Hermione asked grinning. Ginny scowled before turning away. How can I go after someone who’s not interested?

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Lucius awoke with a start as the alarm in his study went off.

“What in the devil…?” He reached over his chair and shut the alarm off that was sitting on his desk. He looked at the clock and saw that it read 11pm. He cursed under his breath before standing to go back to his room. He walked across the hall and tried to open the door but it was still locked. He pulled out his wand and muttered “alohamora” but the door was still chained shut.

“Curse that woman,” he whispered before going back to his study and slamming the door. I can’t believe she’s still upset about earlier. It’s not like I did anything wrong. Lucius took off his robe and changed into some green silk boxers before climbing into the small daybed located in one corner of his study. It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep.

*************************************************************

“Glad to see you eating this morning Lucius.” Avery said. He came and sat down at the table next to Lucius and started eating some waffles.

“Whatever.” Lucius continued to sip on his coffee as he half listened to Avery’s story of conquest. He had zoned out until there was a loud roar coming from their table.

“Hey Lucius, did you see that?”

“See what?” Lucius looked up to see that same red head running out of the great hall. She was still wearing that messed up robe of hers from yesterday. “What happened to her?”

“Well you know her family’s poor and all. They say she’s a bad witch too. Like, she’s not doing too hot in any of her classes. When she walked in a while ago, your dear old friend Bellatrix started tossing food at her.”

“What’s her name?” Lucius asked.

“I think its Molly or something like that. Molly…um…Prewett.”

“I see. Well, I have to get going now," Lucius replied curtly, quickly standing up.

“Why are you leaving now?” Avery asked, clearly pissed off for being left to eat alone again.

“Avery, be a man and go do something productive.”

“Oh I did that last night,” he said with a sly grin. Lucius rolled his eyes and hurried out of the great hall. When he reached the changing staircases, instead of going towards Slytherin, he decided to take a detour and go the long way. He soon spotted Molly sitting outside the library.

“Hey…” He ran towards her but she jumped and started running away. “Hey…Molly? Don’t go…I just wanted…to say I’m sorry!” he shouted.

She stopped at Gryffindor tower and slowly turned around. For the first time, Lucius got a clear look at her face. As he got closer he could see her features better. Even though she had been crying, he could tell that her eyes were a dark, olive green that seemed to gleam from the tears. Her hair was bushy and messy looking but the pretty red color made up for the untidiness. She was wearing some awful looking jeans that looked as if they had been to hell and back, but her shirt was half covered by the rugged looking Gryffindor robe she was sporting. She glared at him for a moment before speaking up.

“Why are you apologizing?” she asked softly.

“For…the actions of my friends. I’m sorry…I don’t know what was said or did but I really am…”

“Whatever. It’s ok. I should be used to it by now. It’s been going on for three years now. Why should today have been any different?” She looked down at the floor and Lucius could tell that she wanted to cry.

“Uh…so…” Lucius started but she cut him off.

“Look, I know this is awkward for you so you can just leave now. I am going to my room and I am not coming out anymore unless I have class.”

“What about breakfast? What are you going to eat?”

“I’ll eat tomorrow.”

“But you’ll be hungry.”

“So what? I don’t eat all that much anyway.”

“Alright. Then I guess…I’ll see you around.” Lucius walked away feeling…well, he wasn’t quite sure how he was feeling. He looked back to make sure she had gone inside before hurrying off to the Slytherin tower. It would soon be time for Potions.