A/N: Like all my other recent posts, this story has been archived elsewhere previously. I hope that you enjoy this look at Chamber of Secrets for Lucius' POV. It was originally written for Potter Place variety challenge to incorporate a Minor Character and Missing Scenes.

Chapter 1

Lucius Malfoy mulled the conundrum of Harry Potter. The boy had returned to the wizarding world and seemed to be thriving. Draco had complained vociferously about Potter, from how he got away with rule breaking (including getting Draco in trouble over something to do with a Dragon), to how the teachers favored him, to how he was allowed to be on the Quidditch team as a first year.

He had expected most of this, after all Potter was a hero to the wizarding world even though he did nothing other than live. For that reason, Lucius had to modify Draco's attitude towards Potter. This was not a time to be anti-Potter.

It was a shame the boy hadn't been sorted into Slytherin. That would have made it much easier to befriend him. But now with the boy in Gryffindor that made things more difficult. Add to that the fact the Ministry had recently begun renewed searched for Dark artifacts. He had thought that period had ended years ago. After all, there was no reason for them to suddenly decide to start harassing citizens about their property.

He flipped the book in his hands. His master had given it to him years ago for safekeeping. It was a diary, a seemingly blank one, but Lucius knew better. After all, Lord Voldemort was a powerful wizard, and surely he would not entrust his words to a simple diary.

Lucius had not thought about this diary in years. It had sat in his locked desk drawer since he had received it. But for some reason, he had been taking it out to look at it recently. It was almost as though the book was calling to him. Once again, he flipped through the pages, knowing that he would see nothing on them.

On a whim, he picked up his quill and wrote on the first page. "What is this book?"

To his astonishment, the ink vanished into the pages, as though it was being absorbed. Lucius was about to close the book and stuff it in the drawer when he saw writing appear on the page, only this time it was not the same words he had written, nor was it his handwriting.

"This is the diary of Tom Riddle."

He stared in shock at the book. His father had told him how Tom Riddle had risen to power and become Lord Voldemort. He had in his possession Lord Voldemort's private diary. He was shaking in anticipation of what he could learn from this book.

New writing appeared. "Who are you?"

"I am Lucius Malfoy, one of your most loyal servants, my lord."

"Are you related to Abraxas Malfoy?"

"I am his son," Lucius wrote eagerly, trying not to drip ink on the pages.

"I wrote this when I was sixteen. Tell me what has happened since."

Lucius knew there was a great deal to tell his master. He also only knew of what transpired from the time he was recruited, but he would do his best to chronicle the Dark Lord's rise. "It will take time as there are many years to cover. It is 1993 currently. I will tell you what I know from when I entered your service in 1974."

Lucius spent the next three nights bringing the diary to date. Tom had asked for a little clarification along the way, but had mostly been content to absorb what Lucius wrote. He finished by explaining that Harry Potter was at Hogwarts.

"And what do you think about that?" Tom asked.

"I think it is a travesty that he survived while you were vanquished." Lucius still wasn't sure what happened that night, but the fact that his Dark Mark had only faded and not vanished meant that somewhere the Dark Lord was alive.

Lucius waited a long time before another message appeared. "Can you get this book to Hogwarts?"

"I can give it to my son," Lucius replied automatically.

"No. I need to go to someone in Potter's house."

Lucius wasn't entirely sure how he would get the book to a Gryffindor child, but he would find a way. "I will ensure that it happens." Lucius knew the wizarding world was weak. Fudge was already in his pocket, as were the Hogwarts' governors. They were currently all fawning over Potter as though a twelve-year-old boy could make a difference. He had already been making plans to assert more power behind the scenes, to find a way to bring Britain into more prominence within the wizarding world.

Now he only needed a way to deliver the book to a Gryffindor, one who would not be likely to bring the book to the attention of an adult. As a Governor, he knew which students were in Gryffindor, and he would use one of the younger students. When he took Draco to Diagon Alley before the school year started would be the perfect time to do this.

The Ministry was conducting raids on more and more people, and not just disreputable people. There were some pure-blood families having their homes raided. Lucius had already hidden his most precious Dark artifacts beneath the drawing room floor in a very well enchanted chamber – one that even Aurors should not be able to find, but he had quite a few that possessed no real value to him and would serve only to cause him trouble with the Ministry. He would take Draco by Borgin and Burke's to sell those before proceeding to Diagon Alley to purchase Draco's school things. He hated having to part with them as they were rather expensive, and he knew that Borgin would not give him full value for them, especially now, but he did need to get rid of them.

Tucking the diary in his pocket beside the list of items he intended to sell, he called for Draco so they could Apparate to Diagon Alley.

As he had expected, Borgin had been loathe to give him a fair price, but he felt he had made the best deal he could.

After leaving Knockturn Alley, he took Draco to buy a new broomstick. He found himself having a hard time maintaining his patience as Draco continued to go on about how Potter was receiving preferential treatment. Walking out of Quality Quidditch Supplies, he had finally had enough. "Now that you have your new broom, perhaps you can finally prove how you are better than Potter rather than expending so much effort whining about his preferential treatment. Your behavior is beneath being a Malfoy. We do not whine. We prove that we are better than everyone else. I had thought I had taught you better," he said sternly.

Draco looked abashed. "Yes, Father," he replied simply.

"Now, we shall get your schoolbooks and then return home." Lucius knew there would be plenty of people in Flourish and Blotts, and he was sure to be able to find someone there to whom he could slip the diary. After all, that fop Gilderoy Lockhart was going to be there and everyone would be paying attention to him, not to what Lucius might be doing.

Arriving at the store, he saw that he was correct. It was packed and everyone was focused on Lockhart. And of course Potter. The boy had donenothing yet people revered him as a hero. A bright flash of red hair caught his attention, and he knew that he had found his mark. While the youngest Weasley had not yet been sorted, her entire family had been Gryffindor, and he had no doubt that she would be one as well. She was young and foolish, the perfect patsy. And noticing the tattered books in her cauldron, he found the perfect opening. After all, he had little respect for Muggle loving Arthur Weasley and reminding the man of his poverty was always good for entertainment and should take everyone's attention off of his hands while he slipped the diary into one of young Weasley's tattered texts.

It had been easier than he had thought to slip the book to young Weasley. Even the black eye was worth it, though he would have that healed as soon as he returned home. He had done as his master commanded: the diary was on its way to Hogwarts. Riddle had not seen fit to tell him why specifically he wanted the diary at Hogwarts, and Lucius had long ago learned that questioning the Dark Lord to excess was not prudent.

Draco started to open his mouth to say something, but Lucius shot his son a look telling him that silence was his best course of action now. Lucius wanted to return home so that evidence of the common brawl he had participated in would not be noticed. Upon arriving at the Apparition point, he grabbed Draco's arm a little harder than he should have. He then left his son to practice on his new broom while he went to his office to consider what would happen to him now. Surely he would be rewarded when the Dark Lord's plan succeeded.