Harvest Moon

To everyone still reading and reviewing this story, I thank you so very much for your patience in the sporadic and often short updates. Also, thank you for the concern expressed. Truly and deeply appreciated.



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“Let’s make this a bit more interesting. Shall we do that, little brother?” the person wearing Harry Potter’s face asked. The wand flicked toward Hermione and elevated her nearly to the rafters of the cathedral ceiling of the foyer. “I’ll even give you a somewhat sporting chance. Remember how much fun it was sparring together when we were younger?” he said, drawing a blade from either sleeve of his robes. “I’ve missed that. Now, up you get.”



Lucius was levered to a standing position and found he could move again. Not that he was going to at just that second. Liren was up to something, he knew it. He had never wanted to spar outside of their daily requirements unless it meant he’d mastered something he could injure Lucius doing. The fact that both Hermione and Arabella were firmly in the other man’s line of fire was added reason to be cautious.



“Be careful, little brother. If anything happens to me, the spell is broken.” He nodded toward where Hermione was still dangling in midair like a macabre piñata. “And if the spell breaks, Hermione will fall,” he sang.



“What do you really want, Liren?”



A nasty smile played over the fake Potter’s lips. “Why, I should think you’d have that figured out by this point, dear little brother,” he said, walking over to him and leaning the blade of one of the swords against Lucius’ throat. “I simply want to see you suffer.”



“You’re insane,” Lucius growled, very aware of the danger he was in at the moment.



“Probably. Try spending two decades inside of a body that can’t move or speak and we’ll see how sane you are, little brother,” he laughed, deliberately nicking Lucius’ chin with the edge of the blade as he stepped back from him. “It was only supposed to be for a little while. A few months at most but then Father fell ill and I was all but forgotten amongst the dead. There was, however, a good side to it. I’ve had endless amounts of time to plan your destruction.”



“You mean to tell me that Father knew you were alive?” Lucius said, trying to keep his brother distracted, having spotted the real Potter over the fake’s shoulder. He was edging around the foyer, trying to get a clear shot at the imposter.



“Of course. It was his plan, after all. To have my death witnessed so I could operate in the shadows that much easier.”



“So you traumatized not only me but Narcissa as well. For nothing.”



“Hardly for nothing, little brother. Though Cissy seeing it was regrettable. But it looks like my play time with you is up,” the fake said, turning to smile at Harry. “Hope you enjoy the gift I’ve posted over the door for you, little brother.” With that, there was a ‘pop’ and he was gone.



Lucius instantly shot over the few feet to where Hermione had been dangling in midair. Indeed, when Liren left, the spell had been broken and she fell. Directly into Lucius’ arms. Unfortunately, it still sent both of them crashing to the floor.



“I’ll refrain from making the bad joke about women falling for me just now,” Lucius said wryly.



“I’m not amused, Lucius,” Hermione panted, trying to catch her breath while resting her head on Lucius’ chest.



“Providing you two can pull yourselves away from one another,” Arabella said, smiling a little. “You’ll recall the vile one mentioned a gift over the door, Lucius. That can’t be a good thing.”



Harry instantly shook off any amazement he’d been experiencing at seeing himself threatening Lucius Malfoy and darted out the front door. Everyone in the foyer could hear him swearing.



“Malfoy! Send an owl to the Ministry and tell them we have another body,” Harry shouted through the doorway.