Dolasitas

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One look at Rodolphus’ face told Lucius all he needed to know. “What has happened, my Lord?” he asked tentatively, fearing what he would hear.

“This letter has been sent to me from Volkarov,” Voldemort said coldly, rising from his chair and moving to stand by the window. “It would seem that the Order of the Phoenix have resumed their work, and they are responsible for yesterday’s kidnap. Volkarov informs me that they have convinced him not to go through with my plans for Russia, and he claims he will be calling an emergency meeting of the International Confederation to discuss what he has found out.” He stretched out his fingers, darted his hand into his pocket and withdrew his wand, and Lucius and Rodolphus both tensed up, but he did not make any further movements.

“What are we to do, master?” Rodolphus asked, grimacing at Lucius worriedly.

Voldemort remained silent for a few minutes, lost in thought. Finally, he turned back to them. “Were you or Lady Malfoy able to identify any of your abductors?” he demanded.

“We came into contact with two, master, both of whom I recognised,” Rodolphus replied hesitantly, glancing nervously over at Lucius, fearful of how they would both take what he was about to reveal.

“And?!” Lucius asked impatiently.

“The first was Neville Longbottom, and the other… the other was Draco Malfoy,” Rodolphus owned in a low voice.

Lucius roared with anger, and sparks flew out of the end of his wand. With an effort, he brought it under control and moved forwards towards Voldemort. “My lord, I crave of you, when we capture those low-lives, allow me to be the one to kill him,” he requested, his voice clipped and icy.

“Granted,” Voldemort replied sharply, his red eyes almost glowing. “Were either of you mistreated in any way, Rodolphus?”

“No, my Lord, but Draco is now aware of Lexy’s pregnancy.”

Lucius looked up abruptly. “How do you know about that?”

“It was fairly obvious, Lucius,” Rodolphus explained. “I had guessed before we had even left the grounds of the manor. And Draco walked into the room whilst Lex was vomiting.”

Lucius lost all colour from his face. “She won’t be leaving the house again until the child is delivered, then,” he declared, his hands shaking. “I refuse to take any more risks with people like that out there.”

“A sensible precaution to take, Lucius, especially as you won’t be with her as often as you are used to over the next few months,” Voldemort said, his eyebrows raised.

“My… my Lord?” Lucius asked haltingly. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean, Lucius, is that I have plans that are more important than you keeping your wife company. She will be perfectly safe if she stays in the manor, or you could even send her to Hogwarts to stay in Severus Snape’s quarters whilst you are absent.” Voldemort nodded, and began twirling his wand between his fingers, stroking it lovingly. “Yes, with this setback we will have to get moving on the other plans. Lucius, you have the information I gave you safe still?”

Lucius nodded. “In the study off our bedroom – only I can enter it.”

“Very good. That will have to take a back seat for now, though, as there is something else that I am more concerned with first. You will remember our discussions on the Book of Magical Learning, I am sure?”

Rodolphus nodded, and spoke up. “Absolutely. Is it time to move to acquire it, then?”

“I believe so. We have held power long enough that we can move to dispose of the Mudbloods contaminating wizarding society without opposition,” Voldemort replied, his upper lip curling. “Lucius, you and Avery are to go to the school and retrieve the book. You are, from this moment, the Minister of Magical Purity. Once we have the book, you will be able to monitor the birth of any magical children. Any born to non-magical parents, or to Mudbloods, you will arrange the extermination of.”

To his great surprise, Lucius felt a stirring of nausea at the idea of killing newborn children. He supposed that it must be a natural instinct of protectiveness of Lexy’s pregnancy, and forced his attention back towards Voldemort. “When will you require me to do this, my Lord?”

“As soon as we leave, Lucius. Rodolphus, you will leave with me to further discuss what we are to do with the International Confederation.”

Rodolphus nodded and rose to his feet. “Lucius, you take good care of Lex, d’ya hear me? She really is an absolute treasure. And owl me if either of you need anything at all.” The two men shook hands as Voldemort dismissed Lucius from the study, and Lucius hurried back upstairs to Lexy’s side. Finally, it seemed that the time for action was here. It had been beginning to confuse him, for Voldemort had seemed content to sit back and let things happen as they would; an unusual tactic for him. Now, however, it would appear that progress would be made. First, though, he had to ensure Lexy’s safety.

Slowly, Lucius sat on the bed next to her and gently ran his hands through her long, soft hair. “Are you awake still, princess?” he murmured.

Lexy nodded and rolled over towards him. “Is everything okay, Lucius?” she asked sleepily.

“Yes,” he nodded reassuringly. “I have to visit Hogwarts, so I thought that you might like to take Will to visit the Snapes whilst I am there, rather than staying here alone.”

“Ooh, yes,” Lexy replied with a wide smile. “I’ll just go and get Will ready, and then we can leave if you like.”

Lucius nodded. “I just need to make a fire call first. I’ll meet you in the nursery once I’ve done that.” Lexy nodded and left the room, and he entered the study, bent down to the fireplace and tossed a handful of Floo powder into the flames. “Caius Avery,” he called sharply, and within seconds he was looking into the Avery’s living room.

Avery stooped down and looked into the fire. “What do you want?” he asked sulkily. The two men were still not back on good terms after the problems with Lexy’s brother.

“The Dark Lord has a task for you to, Avery,” Lucius replied coldly. “Meet me in the Hogwarts entrance hall in thirty minutes.” With no further instructions, he withdrew his head from the fire and walked across to the nursery. Lexy was sat on the floor with Will in her lap, brushing out his hair.

“We’re nearly ready, Lucius,” Lexy said. “I just need to finish this little monkey’s hair,” she explained, planting a kiss on Will’s nose.

“How much longer are you going to let it grow?” Lucius asked reprovingly, but with a twinkle in his eye as he imagined her sat there with their own child in less than a year’s time.

“Oh, I know it’s a little long,” Lexy replied with a guilty smile, “but he looks so adorable.” Will giggled as she affectionately ruffled his hair and lifted him into the air as she stood up. “I suppose we’ll have to Floo?” she enquired anxiously.

“I’m afraid so,” Lucius nodded, his face tight. “There is no way that I’m taking you anywhere exposed until we’ve finished off the Order once and for all.”

“Did…did Rodolphus tell you who was responsible?” she asked hesitantly, desperate to find out if he knew, but not wanting to be the one who had to reveal it to him.

“Yes, he did.” Lucius’ tone forbade further discussion, and Lexy mutely followed him back to the bedroom, where he made a Floo call to the Snapes, informing them that they would be coming through before standing back. “You two first, Lexy,” he commanded.

Lexy nodded, and with an unexplainable sense of foreboding stepped into the green flames. A few dizzying seconds later, she and Will emerged into Severus Snape’s office, and Will’s wailing complaints had already ceased by the time Lucius stepped into the room. “Severus?” Lucius called.

“Come on through,” Severus replied from the living quarters off the back of the study.

They did as he asked, and entered the living room to see Severus sat in a high backed chair with the sleeping Casper in his arms. “Ginevra is asleep at the moment, but she should be up soon,” he explained. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

“I have some business to do for our master in Hogwarts today, and I did not feel comfortable leaving Lexy alone in the manor. I presume you heard of yesterday’s events?”

Severus nodded, his face sober. “I did. I am glad to see that you are unharmed, Alexis. Is your… business… related to that, Lucius?”

“No, but I have no doubt that or master will be in contact with you shortly to discuss the change of strategy. I was surprised about how calmly he took it, to be perfectly honest; it would seem that Russia was the least important of his plans,” Lucius replied musingly.

Severus’ eyebrows contracted, but he had no comment to make out loud. He doubted that anyone else still alive understood the Dark Lord in the way that he did, and for him to apparently dismiss a setback like this with such apparent nonchalance was disturbing to say the least. Even more worrying was the fact that he had no idea what the Dark Lord was planning that involved Lucius coming to Hogwarts on a mission so urgent that he had to come hours after his pregnant wife was returned to him. He was roused from his musings by a soft giggle. “Sorry?” he asked sharply.

“I was just saying how well-behaved Casper is, sir,” Lexy responded with a broad smile, “but you were obviously in a world of your own.” Lucius chuckled and caressed her abdomen, and Severus felt a sudden rush of irritation.

“When can we expect you back, Lucius?” he enquired.

“I cannot say for sure. Maybe less than an hour, but perhaps more. It depends on others than myself, so I cannot be certain.” Lucius turned to his wife, his face sober once more. He was uneasy having to leave her, but he fully believed that Severus would ensure her safety. The once ruthless Death Eater seemed to have lost his edge since the Final Battle – it was bemusing, but Lucius supposed it was a problem for the Dark Lord to deal with as he saw fit. “Lexy, I will be as fast as I can be, princess. You’ll be okay?” he asked anxiously.

“I’ll be fine, Lucius,” Lexy replied reassuringly, putting Will down and accepting his embrace. “You know exactly where I’ll be, and I promise you that we won’t leave this room until you come to get us.”

Lucius took a deep breath and nodded, kissed her possessively, shook Severus’ hand and left the room. As he strode upwards through the familiar stone corridors of the castle, he began to wonder how in Circe’s name they would be able to prise the Book away from the headmistress, Professor McGonagall. Whilst she would never be in the same league as the previous headmaster, Albus Dumbledore (reputedly the only one that the Dark Lord had ever feared), Lucius did not doubt that it would be a difficult task to persuade her to relinquish possession of the legendary book. It was said that it had been created by Rowena Ravenclaw herself in order to ensure that all eligible children in the land were given the opportunity to attend Hogwarts and receive a full magical education. How easily it would give up its secrets, only time would tell.

His shoulders squared and tense, Lucius climbed the stairs leading into the main entrance hall to see Caius Avery anxiously pacing back and forth. Lucius threw the man a condescending look and beckoned to him imperiously. “We are going to the headmistress’ office, Avery. I will explain on the way there.”

Avery scoffed scornfully once he had heard what they were to do. “And you need me with you just to take a blasted book?”

Lucius spun around and fixed him with a piercing stare. “If you consider this task to be beneath you, I can always ask the Dark Lord to send someone to take your place,” he threatened coldly.

“I… that will not be necessary, Lucius,” Avery stuttered.

“For your sake, Avery, I hope that is true. The Dark Lord has attached a great deal of significance to attaining the book, and I would hate for anything to go wrong today.” His cold grey eyes told Avery all he needed to know, and with a shiver he continued ascending the spiral staircase which led to the office.

His right hand firmly gripping his wand, Lucius rapped smartly on the thick wooden door with his left. “Open up, McGonagall,” he called threateningly.

Minerva McGonagall pulled back the door, a haughty expression on her face, which faltered slightly as she noted the two drawn wands. “What do you want to interfere with this time?” she demanded disdainfully, her own hand drifting nervously towards her wand.

“If you co-operate with us, there will be no need for wands,” Lucius replied with an icy smile that did not reach his eyes. “You have something which our master desires – we have come to collect it from you.”

Avery pushed past McGonagall into the office, his eyes looking around greedily. “It’s gotta be in here somewhere,” he muttered to himself.”

“What is it that you want?” McGonagall asked, fearful of what the answer would be.

Lucius stared at her intently. “The Book of Magical Learning.”

McGonagall took a step backwards and her hand flew to her mouth. “You cannot seriously think that I would relinquish that into You-Know-Who’s possession?!” she exclaimed, her heart pounding with fear. As long ago as before Albus Dumbledore’s death, the Order had discussed the possibility of Voldemort trying to seize the book, but they had never seriously considered the possibility, believing that Voldemort knew the limitations of the book. Apparently, that was not the case.

“Clearly, we do, otherwise we would not have wasted our time,” Lucius replied coolly. “And I can assure you that we are not leaving without the book.” Catching her off-guard, he whipped his wand through the air and held it against her throat. “Now, where is it?” he hissed.

McGonagall’s hands were shaking, but she drew herself imperiously to her full height. “I will not tell you.”

“Very well,” Lucius said abruptly. “Avery, fetch me one of the students – the first one you find will do.”

McGonagall gasped and all colour drained from her face. “Surely even you have not sunk so low, Malfoy?” she asked as the portraits on the walls around her roared with anger.

Lucius laughed and refused to respond, moving further into the room to sit down in the high backed chair behind the desk, twirling his wand nonchalantly as he looked around the room. A few seconds later, Avery returned, pushing in front of him a small, clearly terrified young girl wearing Hufflepuff robes. “It’s okay, Claire,” McGonagall said reassuringly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” But her words had little effect on the girl, who continued to whimper fearfully.

“This is your last chance,” Lucius said, stretching out his arms as he rose from the desk. McGonagall shook her head mutely, and Lucius nodded. “Very well, Avery, over to you.”

Avery laughed delightedly, and pointed his wand at the child. “Crucio!” he exclaimed, and she collapsed onto the floor, screaming in agony as he maintained the curse.

“Any second thoughts, McGonagall?” Lucius enquired, struggling to make himself heard over the screams, although his self-satisfied smirk told McGonagall exactly what he was thinking.

“Stop it,” McGonagall said brokenly. “STOP IT! I will give you the book!” She covered her face with her hands as the curse was lifted, fearing the consequences of what was about to happen. She could only hope that the protective enchantments would hold.

Lucius and Avery turned to face her expectantly. “Go on, then,” Lucius commanded, his face taut with excitement. He had not expected her to give in so easily; clearly, the woman was weak he thought viciously.

McGonagall tapped the desk with her wand, and one of the drawers sprang open. Her shaking hands withdrew a black leather-bound book embossed with the title in golden leaf on the spine. She closed her eyes momentarily before regretfully handing it over to Lucius, who instantly pulled it tight to his chest.

He narrowed his eyes as he stared at her, and after a few seconds his shoulders relaxed. “It was very sensible of you to co-operate so easily, McGonagall. Finally, it would seem that you have learnt your lesson. I shall inform the Dark Lord. Come, Avery, let us leave now.”

McGonagall hurried across to the young girl as they left the room, stroking her head reassuringly. At least she had bought the Order some more time – perhaps they could devise a plan to safeguard the book’s secrets before Voldemort realised the truth. It seemed, however, that fortune was not on her side today. Just as Avery was about to shut the door behind them, Lucius shot out a hand to keep it open. “Wait…” he said slowly, his mouth slightly open as he thought. “How do we know that this is the real book?”

McGonagall gaped at him. “You have my word,” she declared eventually. “On the lives of my students, I swear to you that it is the genuine article.”

“Still, it would do no harm to check, Lucius,” Avery said, withdrawing his wand once more.

Lucius nodded. “Precisely.” He laid the book down on the table, and slowly opened it. Instantly, he span back around towards McGonagall, unsheathing his wand in one fluid motion and pointing it at her chest. “How dare you?!” he snarled.

“What is it, Lucius?” Avery demanded, his eyes wide.

“There is nothing in the book!” McGonagall tried to push Claire out of the office, but Lucius pointed his wand at the door and it slammed shut with a large bang. “Clearly, Avery, the woman needs some more persuasion to tell us how to work this. How old did you say the girl is, McGonagall?” he asked politely.

“No, Malfoy, please…” she begged him desperately.

“How old?” he repeated, a dangerous glint in his eye.

“Thirteen…she is only thirteen. She has nothing to do with this Malfoy, I –“

“She will not be the youngest Avery has ever had, then,” Lucius cut across her indifferently.

Claire screamed and crawled towards the door as the implications of his words became clear, Avery leering at her and beginning to undress. McGonagall panicked and pointed her wand at him. “No!” she screamed. A red light accompanied by a bang erupted from her wand and shot past Avery’s face, striking the wall and blasting a hole in it.

“Bitch!” he yelled, turning his wand towards her.

“Avery, no!” Lucius shouted, turning his wand on him and preparing to disarm him, but too late.

“Avada Kedavra!” A flash of green light later, and McGonagall crumpled on the floor, her wand falling beside her with a clatter and her arm still outstretched. The room was plunged into an oppressive silence except for the terrifying gasp of the child.

“You damned fool, Avery,” Lucius spat furiously, terrified of Voldemort’s reaction. “Now how are we to find out how to work this thing?”

Avery’s eyes widened, and he began trembling. “I…I…” he was interrupted as they both felt the burning of their Dark Marks, and Lucius grabbed the book off the desk, seized Avery’s arm and swept out of the room.

“Hurry up and get out of the castle so we can Apparate to him,” Lucius growled. “And I hope for your sake that you have formulated a better explanation by the time we get there.”


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A/N Many thanks for the reviews - keep 'em coming! I'm aiming to update once a week now my muse has returned.

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