Harvest Moon

To everyone reading and reviewing, thank you so very much. I truly appreciate it.



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Lucius was careful to keep his breathing deep and even as he listened to the sounds going on around him, trying to discern where he might be. He was damp and cold, probably in a basement somewhere or sub cellar. He could also faintly hear the sounds of the sea. His eyes nearly flew open when he realized where he was. But he had enough restraint to simply open them a crack to see if he was alone in the room. He wasn’t.



“I know you’re awake, brother dear. I take it you’ve figured out where you are by now. Not terribly difficult once put into the proper perspective,” the person still wearing Arabella’s face said, coming around and leaning triumphantly over him. “You know, I’m rather glad I changed my plans.”



“Changed what plans? Continuing to murder the women I’ve been with, even in a casual sense.”



“That had been the initial plan. To keep killing the ones closer and closer to you as I went along. But I think this is much more fun,” Liren said. “Why search them out when I can just take you and have them come to me. It cuts out so much of that needless work.”



Lucius growled, testing the strength of the bonds that held him.



The false Arabella chuckled. “I doubt you’ll be getting out of that.” The mad one tapped the heavy iron manacles with one finger. “You see, I remembered the nasty little habit you have of being able to do wandless magick in certain circumstances. Before you start thinking any sort of bombardment or unlocking spell will work, let me assure you it won’t. Nothing fancy. No magickal seals to trigger a release. Just iron you need a key to unlock. And I have the key. Now, what to do with you until the cavalry arrives.”



“No one I know is stupid enough to come after me.” Gods, he hoped that was true and that Draco and Hermione stayed away. He’d figure a way out of this. Somehow.



“Oh really?” Liren said, pulling the cover off of the scrying mirror and carrying it over to Lucius. “Show me.” The mirror surface seemed to swirl before a clear picture came into view. That of Hermione and Arabella looking frantically through the Gilded Lily. Doubtlessly hunting for Lucius. “For being reputed as the smartest witch of her age, she isn’t very smart on certain things.”



“So that’s how you’ve been watching everyone. You’d know where they were and when it would be most convenient to take them,” Lucius said.



“I thought it was clever of me,” Liren said, moving back over to the table to replace the mirror.



“Our grandmother would be appalled by what you’re using her scrying mirror for,” Lucius pointed out.



Liren smiled nastily. “Or proud. Grandmother understood the need to keep an eye on your enemies. I wonder who will arrive first. Draco will naturally figure it out first considering he’d be aware of the property list the Malfoy’s own. But from that point it will be a race to see who can get to you between him and the girl.”



“Harm Hermione or Ara and I’ll kill you slowly. But there won’t be a level of hell for you to hide in if you lay a hand on my son,” Lucius snarled.



“MY son, Lucius,” Liren growled back. He took several deep breaths to steady a little. “MY son.”



Lucius stared at him aghast. “Impossible. You were put into stasis when we were sixteen. Narcissa and I didn’t marry until we were twenty and Draco wasn’t born until two years after that.”



“Do you really believe, for even a moment, that there aren’t ways of accomplishing that?” Liren smirked. “The Dark Lord had many, many secrets as you well know. Magenta! Columbia!”



Two soft squeaks were heard from somewhere deeper into the room before a high voice said, “Y . . . yes, M . . . Master?”



“Keep an eye on him while I tie up a few loose ends. Do NOT talk to him. He’ll try to convince you to let him go.”



Damn straight, Lucius thought.



‘Yes, Master. We is doing what you says,” Magenta squeaked, holding on to a shaking Columbia.



“Excellent,” Liren said. “Oh, don’t look so concerned Lucius. I’ve even got your own jar set up for you when I think you’ve suffered enough. Though it might take years for me to have any real satisfaction on that score. Perhaps when they’re all dead I’ll put you in stasis for thirty years or so. Perhaps leave you there until you actually die of old age. I’ll have what I was intended to all along and you, dear brother, will have what you should have had all along. Now, I should go prepare a warm welcome for my guests when they arrive. Have a good evening.” Liren went out the heavy oak door and Lucius could hear him laughing all the way down the hall.



Lucius stayed very still for a few moments before muttering to himself. “Think, Lucius, think. There must be a way out of this.”