A Ghostly Curse

Disclaimer: I own nothing except maybe the plot idea. Any character you recognize belongs to JKR.


A/N: Ever read a book that sparks your own wacky imagination in a way that simply cannot be ignored? Well, that’s what happened here! I only hope that maybe you guys will enjoy reading as much as I know I’m going to enjoy writing it!


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Chapter 1 -- The Making of the Slave

Lucius sat immobile in his most comfortable chair. There were too many things to think of. Too many voices screaming in his head. What was he supposed to do now? If he was a coward, he would have hidden. He would run as fast and as far as his magic and legs would carry him, and hide until the dust settled.

But he wasn’t. His very upbringing had taught him that hiding never solved any problem. Just as he’d always believed that real men stood by their convictions. But what did one do when that which he believed in no longer meant anything to him?

The Dark Lord had placed a great deal of trust upon him. He had made Lucius his right hand man just as Severus had become his left after he had cast the killing curse upon Dumbledore. But the night before the final battle, Severus had told showed Lucius something that had changed his entire life.

It had seemed that Dumbledore had asked Severus to take his life, rather than allowing him to suffer through a disease that was far worse than any Crucatius Curse could be. He had also requested that Severus show Lucius the future as Dumbledore knew it would be if the Dark Lord was allowed to win the upcoming war.

Closing his eyes, he tried valiantly to banish the memory of the sights he’d seen from his mind. Funny to think the old man had known all along that Lucius would be the willing one to change sides at the last moment. He hated Muggles. He had been given enough reason to hate them early on in his life, when he heard his fathers tales of all the terrible things Muggles did to each other. He had never wanted to give the disgusting creatures any chance to do the same things to the Wizarding community.

So, when the battle started, Severus had he had waited until Voldemort had his back turned from them and exchanged a single glance between each other before they had attacked him from behind. When Harry had seen that they had disabled the Dark Lord, he took his cue and cast the killing curse at his enemy. Then, the two dark wizards joined Potter and the Order to help destroy the remaining death eaters. All were captured and sent to Azkeban, save one.

Bellatrix had fled after seeing the destruction of her lover. She had all but disappeared from them with no telltale signs of her whereabouts. It was almost as if she had never existed at all.

With the end of the war, Lucius had been left in peace by both the Ministry and the Order. It seemed they had forgiven him any past wrongdoing because of his willingness to help in the destruction of Voldemort.

He should have been relieved. He was a free man. He had the rest of his life ahead of him. He could live out the remainder of his days peacefully, with no fear of imprisonment. Why then, he wondered did he have this unsettling fear in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong… So very wrong…

Narcissa prepared for bed with a soft smile on her face. All was right with the world. Her husband had been cleared of all charges. Her son was safe. Voldemort was dead and therefore no longer able to wreak havoc in the Wizarding world. Perhaps in time, all the animosity of the past would be forgotten and life would be a happy place for everyone. Wizard and Muggle alike.

There was nothing else she could desire, save maybe Lucius’ hands on her at this moment. She studied herself in the mirror. The green silk and lace covered her body like a second skin, leaving little to the imagination. With a small smile, Narcissa turned to leave her room, only to stop short at the sight before her.

“What? No hug for your dear sister, Cissa? But it’s been so long. We have so much to discuss. Aren’t you happy to see that I’m not dead?” Her voice turned colder as she sneered. “Not murdered and betrayed by that traitorous husband of yours!”

Narcissa shook her head. “Bella, come now, Bella. Surely you realize that the Wizarding world would have suffered under Voldemort’s rule?”

The black-haired witch closed the distance between the two swiftly and slapped Narcissa so hard, she fell to the floor. “Don’t you dare to say his name! You filthy bitch!”

The sister on the floor lay sobbing as the other pointed her wand in her direction. “He took mine from me. I think I should return the favor.”

Narcissa shook her head as she eyed Bellatrix’s wand warily. “Be merciful, sister. Forgive me for being such a disappointment to you.”

Bella gave her sister a disgusted look as she seemed to size her up. “It isn’t you I hate, dear sister. It’s your beloved family!” Muttering darkly, the first unforgivable hit Narcissa, pulling her scream from her like water from a spring.

When the pain subsided, she whimpered as she looked up into her sisters hateful expression. “I forgive you, Bella. Kill me if you must, but know I loved you.”

Bella paused as she took in her sisters words. She clenched her jaw and drew a deep breath before muttering, “You should not bless me with such words, Cissy. They are wasted on me, sister.” Raising her wand, Bellatrix spat, “Avada Kedavra!” …


… Lucius heard Narcissa’s scream and knew it to be one of great pain. Forgetting his cane in his hurry, he ascended the steps leading to his wife’s chambers. When he reached the doorway, it was open and he was greeted with the sight of his beautiful wife, dead at Bella’s feet.

The angry witch stood there, chest heaving as she looked from her sister to the man she had set out this evening to destroy. A fire burned brightly in her eyes as she leveled her wand at him.

Lucius watched Bella warily. His eyes traveled slowly from her face down to the wand that was poised in her hand. When he spoke, his voice quivered with emotion. “Go ahead, Bella. You’ve already taken my wife from me. Draco is a man grown. He doesn’t need me anymore. Kill me as well. I won’t try to fight you.”

Bellatrix’s expression turned sadistic and her lips spread into a bone-chilling smile as she began laughing. Lucius felt himself becoming exceedingly uncomfortable with her response. As her mirth subsided she spat at him, “Your precious son is dead, as well! How do you like that, Lucius? I’ve taken everyone from you!”

Fear gave way to outrage as his expression became one of barely controlled fury. “I warn you, witch!”

Bella returned his glare with equal anger. “You? Warn me? You bloody bastard! You took everything from me! You killed my lover and worse yet, you became a spy for the Order! Damn you, Lucius! I want you to suffer!”

His eyes rounded as he realized her meaning. She wasn’t going to kill him yet. She planned on tormenting him first! “You’ve gotten your revenge! You’ve taken everything that was important from me! Now, end this! If you want to kill me, then do it and have done with it!”

With a chuckle, she shook her head slowly. No, Lucius… I don’t want you to die!” her evil smile returned and she moved a little closer, still brandishing the wand in his direction. “I have a much better idea for you! I have a new curse, Lucius! One just for you!

“This is so much better than the killing curse. You see, this one separates your soul from your body. Your body just slips into a kind of stasis, while your soul is left behind to suffer forever. You’ll be tied to the Manor, with your body forever hidden from you. It will be as if you disappeared into thin air.” She laughed wickedly. “They’ll probably think you killed your precious, beloved Cissy, then fled to escape being sent back to Azkaban!”

Lucius shook his head in confusion. He’d never heard of such a thing. He wondered for a moment if Bella had completely lost her sanity. “There is no such curse, Bella! If there were, I would know it--”

His words were cut short when She took aim and screamed the curse. Lucius watched as a flash of light hit him dead square in the chest, but he felt nothing. No pain engulfed him, No seizures shook his body. Nothing. Giving Bella a daringly smartass look, he asked, “Is that the best you can do?”

He gestured at himself and began laughing, “I mean, come on! I didn’t even get a scratch! You call yourself a witch?” He dared to smirk at her. “Even a Mudblood can do better than that!”

Bella raised an eyebrow in his direction while putting her wand away. Then, turning to face him, she began walking directly toward him. As he watched her, he thought perhaps she was going to slap him. Bracing himself, he put up his hands in an attempt to knock her away when she entered his space only to have his hands go through her body as she walked right through him.

Screeching in shock, he swung around and looked wildly about himself. Reaching out, he tried to grip his extra cane. When his hand slipped right through it, he looked back at her with accusing eyes. “What have you done? Where’s my body?”

Giggling madly, Bella shrugged. “Don’t worry, dear Lucius. Your body is safe. It’ll live to a ripe old age.” her laughter grew wild before she added, “but you’ll never find it!”

Taking out a Portkey, she winked at him and looked one last time at her dead sister before sighing and using it to leave a stunned Lucius in her wake…

Seven Years Later
Hermione stood looking doubtfully at the old mansion. Malfoy Manor had been empty since the day that Lucius had gone mad and killed his entire family. At least, that is what everyone assumed happened. Hermione had her doubts.

Why would a man that had been cleared of any wrong doing because it had been discovered that he was acting as a spy for the Order along with Severus up and murder his son and wife, then flee the scene without even taking his wand.

The Ministry had said that they believed that he was hiding in the Muggle world. She rolled her eyes at that thought. Yeah, sure! Top that off with rumors that the old place was haunted and she was sold.

The mansion had a fantastic amount of space, and she needed it. Between needing a good lab for her Potions research, the house also came with an extensive library that she couldn’t wait to get her hands on.

The Realtor broke into her thoughts. “Okay, Miss Granger. IF you would just sign here, here, and here, then I can give you the keys.”

Offering the realtor witch a warm smile, she signed the papers that were floating before her. When she finished, the witch handed her the keys and nodded. “You enjoy your new home, Miss Granger. I’m sure you’ll find many a treasure behind those walls. The lady looked uneasy for a moment. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off to another meeting!”

No sooner had the lady port keyed away than Hermione turned back and looked at the house with mixed feelings of foreboding and excitement. “Treasures? I’m sure!”

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A/N: How’s this for a start? Don’t worry! I haven’t forgotten Mirror’s Reflection. But I always work on at least two at the same time, and this one has been driving me insane for the last six months!!! Please read and Review! I can’t wait to hear what you think on this latest one!