How Do "You" Like It?

Chapter Seven: Lucius Malfoy Changes Sides

As soon as Harry had climbed onto the table, Lucius had his wand out and was waving it erratically over him. Only Draco’s hand on his shoulder kept him calm as a known Death Eater cast spells over his body.
It was relatively painless and only lasted for fifteen minutes and the younger Malfoy talked to him the entire time.
“He’s promised not to harm you, Harry. You don’t have to be afraid. If this works for us, he’s even planning to change sides.” Draco said.
“Quite an ally for the order, Potter.” Snape said from near the door.
“Why?” Harry asked. “Why would this mean so much to you? I understand that you and Draco want to continue your family line, but to betray Voldemort for it?”
Lucius glared for a second at the use of the Dark Lord’s name, nearly breaking his string of words, but after that he merely finished his spell and then waved his wand once more.
A soft glow hovered over Harry and coalesced above him. In the mist there were tiny lights, winking like stars, just as bright and numerous.
Lucius grinned, then banished the glow and stood back.
“In answer to your question, Mr. Potter,” he began as Draco helped Harry to his feet. “the fact of what the spell has accomplished are only a relief to my personal needs. But, the ability to do this is a show of power so immense it cannot be ignored. As you know, Slytherins are known for siding with power. Changing sides is not against my principles. And if it is true that the Mud . . . Muggleborn witch cast this, I must re-evaluate my stand on this also.”
“Don’t believe, Mr. Potter, that I would sanction one in my immediate family, but I would welcome that kind of power into my home. After all, the Dark Lord himself is not a pure blood.” Lucius concluded.
Harry stared at the man as if he had just announced that he were going to grow a second head. Then, he realized he had a question. “Mr. Malfoy, what did the test say? . . What were all those lights?”
Lucius smiled grandly. “Those lights indicated the presence of ovaries and eggs. Mr. Potter, you, as well as my son, are quite capable of bearing a child. If we could determine a route of impregnation, and method of delivery.”
As Harry stared in shocked silence, Lucius turned to Snape. “I’ll need to verify that this is true for all ten and we should determine if Miss Granger actually cast this enchantment. Then, I will bring Narcissa here and we will speak with the headmaster.”
Professor Snape nodded, then turned to Harry and Draco. “Can you arrange a gathering of these boys? Strictly confidential, of course.”
Draco smiled as Harry looked appalled. “I don’t know. I can try. I guess if I tell them what it would mean for the war,” He blustered.
“And for them,” Lucius added. “If we find the exact curse, we can possibly undo it, for any that want. I would bet this first young man would be very willing for that around now.” he said as he held up Ron’s file.
“Okay, I’ll get them. . .Tomorrow, after lunch. . .in the room of requirement. Meet us there with Draco, just after.” Harry agreed.
“And I will bring Miss Granger.” Snape said, looking menacing. “I’m sure we can reach a mutually agreeable conclusion.”

Harry led the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff wizards to the hall just outside of the secret door. There, he stopped and turned to the confused young men.
“Alright. Here’s the thing. We all have the same problem and I’d bet that you all would like to get rid of it before it starts up again.” he began. “The book said that the cycle runs every twenty-eight days, so that’s around tomorrow for Ron and the rest will follow behind. Malfoy and I found a way to possibly remove the . . .whatever, but it means telling the secret to an adult. Professor Snape in this case. He only knows that there are ten of us and other than Malfoy and myself, you are all free to go about your lives right now. If you want to help cure this, then follow me and don’t ask questions." with that Harry opened the door and stood beside it.

Ron didn’t need an engraved invitation. He stepped up and stood directly in front of his best mate and nodded once.
Harry had told the truth, but one thing he had said was just off a little.
Ron had started to experience the cramping yesterday, and the rest had started this very morning. Ron stepped into the room and the rest began to file in behind him.
Only a Ravenclaw by name of Roger Davies held back, unsure if he were willing to let the frightening potions professor know that he had been infected with this oddity.
It might make him subject to some embarrassment and he was loathe to give that to Snape who had already made his life somewhat miserable.
Harry watched him, seeing the fear and uncertainty fill his features.
“You don’t have to. It’s alright.” Harry said and Davies flinched.
“I’ll come.” he said, mustering courage from Harry’s overflow and following the others in.
Inside, along with Snape, was Lucius Malfoy, his son, Hermione and a man that a few recognized from his occasional visits to the school as Kinsley Shacklebolt.
“Come on in. No need to fear. No one here is going to harm any of you. We merely need to assess the extent of your condition.” Malfoy senior said as he motioned the young men to find seats among the various couches and chairs around the room.
Hermione came over and stood near Ron and Harry, her face confused and concerned.
“What is all of this, Harry? Ron?” she asked. “Professor Snape told me to come here and threatened to fail me in Potions for the next three years if I didn’t.”
“Patience, Hermione. Just wait.” Harry said, unsure what he would want her to know at this point.
Lucius had lifted a folder and was calling for Hufflepuff number five, as Harry and Ron found a couch and settled with Hermione between them. Seamus sat nearby on a large chair.
Test after test followed each showing the same starscape and finally it was Ron’s turn.
When he settled on the table and Lucius raised his wand, the man stopped and stared directly at the only girl in the room.
“Miss Granger, have you been meddling in the dark arts recently?” he asked with a smile. “It seems that someone has altered our reality, and I want to know who it is. Did you cast a spell, hex, charm or give a potion to this boy that might have done him some bodily change?”
Hermione turned white and stammered incoherently.
Harry took pity on her. “Mione, did you do something to Ron, when he was rude to you, last month?”
“I. . .I, I just wanted him to understand what he was talking about. I-it was cruel what he had said.” she managed.
“It sure was.” Seamus agreed. “And I’m sorry if I added to it by laughing.”
“Yeah, I heard what he said and I think he was completely out of line.” Justin threw in.
A rousing approval filled the room. “Mione? What did you use on Ron?” Harry asked.
“What? Why do you want to know that? It was just a little thing, and it was over a long time ago.” she blustered.
“No. It isn’t, Mione. It spread to each of us and it is about to start over again. Just like it does for the girls. But, Mione, as much as I agree that girls don’t have a choice, why do we have to join now. We have other things to deal with, you know. Well, maybe you don’t but we can’t be like this, Please. We just want to change back.” Harry begged and heads around the room nodded in joined entreaty.
“All of you? How?” she asked. “It was just for Ron. I really mean that. I just wanted to teach him a lesson. I didn’t try to do anything like this.”
“Miss Granger. The spell, if you would?” Snape said from his place near the wall just behind Roger Davies.
“I found it in a library book called ‘The Ways of Diaffanil’. It claimed to share an experience with someone that would allow the ‘wearing of the same shoe’. I just altered it a bit and took the book back afterwards.” she admitted.
Snape stepped away from the wall and headed toward the door. “I’ll be back. Keep them all here,” he said to Kingsley his eyes falling on the couch where two Ravenclaw students sat. Then, he left them as Lucius began the chant that would test Ron for working female parts.
By the time Snape returned, Ron had returned to the couch and Draco was trying to call Harry away for a brief personal conversation. The professor carried a large leather bound book, died a deep navy blue and trimmed with bronze clasps and hinges. He laid it upon the table that Ron had vacated.
Lucius read the inscription as Kingsley leaned close and Severus motioned Hermione forward.
Several of the other’s closed in around Harry, their concern peaking as the three men conferred with the girl over the spell book.
“So, it was really Hermione that cast the spell?” Seamus asked.
“What is Malfoy’s dad doing here?” was Justin’s question.
“Listen!” Harry snapped, getting the attention of all who were close. “If Hermione did this, it wasn’t meant to go so far. She had every right to be mad at Ron and he should have apologized. But if ‘he’ thinks she’s powerful enough, Malfoy’s dad is gonna switch sides in the war. They also think they can reverse the effects if they get he spell figured out.”
Even as he finished speaking, the three men broke apart and Hermione walked away from them.
Snape called out and all of the students turned to him. “We have narrowed down the spell and will work on the antidote. In the meantime, you may all return to your rooms. We will have Mr. Potter contact you when we are ready to begin the reversal.” and Kingsley opened the door to allow the young men to exit. “Mr. Davies?” Snape said as the 7th year Ravenclaw stood.
Roger sighed as he turned back and walked over to the professor. “Yes, Sir?” he said.
“I’m surprised to find you among these . . . .children.” Snape sneered as he watched the exiting boys.
Harry had stopped when Draco grabbed his arm, but the rest were nearly all out of earshot.
“And why is that, Professor?” Roger asked as he watched the two remaining boys interact.
“Aren’t you a little old to be involved in all . . . .this?” Snape asked waving around the room.
“Was there an age limit on the spell, Sir?” Roger’s eyes turned toward the older man, but his face didn’t follow.
“No . . . .but there appears to be an appreciation agenda attached. That is why the spread stopped. In order to pass, the current infectee must appreciate the next in line. This is rare among Slytherins, so it couldn‘t continue.” Snape said, eyeing the only infected member of his house as he joked with the ‘golden boy’. “So, what would some fifth year have to appreciate you for?”
Roger turned to the Professor and glared lightly. “Actually, it passed to me from a fourth year. He’s on my team. Did you think I was some cold hearted bastard?”
“Contrary, Mr. Davies. I was under the impression you were an intelligent and talented young man with a potential for a future in potions, charm and transfiguration. I had heard that you were quite popular as well.” Snape’s compliments made Roger’s eyes feel a need to move closer for a hard look to assure him that he was talking to the real Severus Snape.
“S-sir?” he stuttered out. “I-I thought you . . . .h-hated me.”
“Hated you? Where could you have gotten that impression, Mr. Davies?” Snape said.
“Where? From you. You ride me regularly about my work. I’m never good enough in your class.” Roger blustered.
Snape ignored the ambiguous term and addressed the actual comments. “The fact that I care enough to push you is no excuse. As one of my most talented students, I am shocked that you didn’t seek help when you were . . .afflicted.” the dark haired man scoffed.
Roger gave him a scathing look. “I had some issues with anyone examining my . . .symptoms. Do not judge me, Professor. If it had been you, I doubt the outcome would have been different.”
“Do you? Well, regardless. I imagine you will be pleased to be cured soon. It can’t be pleasant to go through all this and then the idea of your body producing eggs, that must make one feel rather emasculated.” the man said, though his tone was not of snide sarcasm, it sounded more awed.
Roger failed to notice this as he heard the words. “Eggs? What eggs?” he asked.
“The last test. It determined that each one of you has not only a working uterus, but ovaries and eggs. I’m surprised you didn’t gather that.”
Roger dropped onto the closest seat and stared at a point in space not far from his feet.