Harvest Moon

I’m glad everyone is being understanding about the romance versus sex thing. I like smut as much as the next girl but I don’t think I write it very well. I figure if it’s the only thing someone is interested in there are plenty of other authors who offer excellent renderings of that on a regular basis. Thanks to everyone reading and reviewing. As always, I hope you enjoy.



***

Black robes fanned out behind Liren as he made his way along the corridor and down the stairs to the lowest part of the dungeons. The heavy door creaked on ancient hinges as his pushed it open, walking inside the room that, to any other, would be a nightmare. He hummed happily to himself and happened to glance at the reflection in the glass as it shifted from the face of Harry Potter to the one he normally wore. It was too bad the real Potter had seen him during his little impersonation. The man would doubtlessly be more cautious with his hair from now on. Ah well, it had been fun while it lasted. Just as torturing Lucius directly with suspending his love from the ceiling had been. In the aftermath of the fun, he had to wonder why the little blonde bitch had been able to withstand a Crucio aimed at her. As a muggle, she should have been screaming within a nanosecond. It was odd. Once he got his hands on her properly he’d have to do some experimenting before he killed her. She might have some kind of technique or natural resistance he could siphon off and use for his own gain. That might be something else entertaining to do while his darling baby brother watched. Glancing at the reflection again he tsked and smoothed a piece of hair back into its normal place before heading to the small table in the corner of the room.



Seating himself comfortably he pulled the dark purple silk cover from the scrying mirror in its frame. Carefully removing it and setting it on the table, he waved a hand over it. “Show me.”



Colors instantly swirled in dizzying patterns before settling and focusing on the two individuals seated on a Persian rug. The scene was intimate and though what they were saying couldn’t be heard he presumed the conversation was about their feelings. How sweet, he thought acidly. He wondered what had suddenly pushed them so firmly together. Was it from his swinging the Auror from the rafters or was it finding a good friend posted up over the front door? It hardly mattered since either one of those scenarios was his doing.



“You always were an entertaining plaything, dear brother,” he said, rocking the chair backward so it balanced on two legs.



He passed one hand over the mirror again, causing it to go dark. Now, to contemplate his next move. Everything from this point on would have to be planned even more carefully. As much as he wanted to go rushing headlong into the plan that would ultimately destroy everything and everyone Lucius cared for it would be too dangerous at this point. They would all be on their guard now more than ever. Not that it mattered in the slightest. He’d have Lucius on his knees begging him for mercy soon enough.



“Yes. Very soon, Lucius, you’ll suffer like no other before you has. You’ve lived my life for too long now and I won’t permit you to escape again,” he mused, chuckling darkly.



“Liren?”



He turned slightly. “Yes, my angel? What is it?”



“Is there something wrong?” she asked.



“Wrong? Of course not, my love. Why do you ask?”



“You’ve just been so odd lately,” she said.



“I’m always odd. Why is it suddenly unusual to you at this point in time?”



She swatted at him playfully. “Silly man. You’ve been behaving more strangely than usual. You seem more distant.”



“Ah, I see. Forgive me, my darling. I’ve simply been getting distracted by these plans within plans.”



“Be careful, Liren. Lucius may be many things but a fool isn’t one of them.”



“Oh, I’m aware of that. It’s what will make my inevitable victory over him all the sweeter,” he said, smiling nastily.



***



Draco was looking over some of the new case files in his and Hermione’s office when Luna breezed in and settled herself cross-legged in front of him on his desk.



“I take it you have something important to show me aside from your lovely self,” he drawled.



“That I do,” she said, waving a file under his nose. “I think you’ll find this interesting.”



He snatched the file out of her hands and flipped it open to read the first line of the report.



“This is from Ollivander?” he asked, looking up at her.



“It is. Fortunately, the wand Arabella took from our lovely little homicidal maniac was one of his. On Harry’s orders the other Aurors had him examine the wand and trace it back to who he’d sold it to. Care to hazard a guess who it belonged to before you read any further?”



“I’ll wager a galleon it belonged to my uncle Liren.”



“It did indeed. Read away,” she prompted.



Draco quickly read through the document. His frown growing more pronounced with every word his eyes scanned. He looked at Luna again. “It says there was a thirty year span between certain spell groups performed by the wand.”



“I’ve been planning to ask you about that. Why would there be a thirty year span between spells?” Luna asked curiously.



“Well, if it is my uncle, and it seems pretty damn clear that it is, he was locked in stasis for the last three decades. It would make perfect sense for the wand to have remained dormant during that span of time. I should probably try to find Hermione and tell her then get this information to my father. Considering the two of them will probably be together, that makes things much easier for me.”



Luna leaned forward and snagged the file back from him. She hopped off the desk and gave him a fast kiss before heading to the door.



“Luna, exactly where did you get that file?” Draco asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “That isn’t something that comes across the MME’s desk.”



She grinned at him impishly. “Unlike you, I have no problems conversing with Harry Potter.”