No Good Deed
No good deed goes unpunished. It is a common muggle saying, and despite their inferiority in nearly everything, in this at least, they have proved themselves correct.
I still remember the way her hair bushed out as they pulled the rucksack off her head. Her hands were bound with rope, the bodice of her dress was ripped, and her cheek was sporting the purplish after affects of a nasty backhand.
I watched from the window of my black carriage as they marched her up onto the wooden platform. The muggles were out in full force, leaving no cliché untouched. Pitch forks were hoisting, torches burning, recently dusted off bibles raising. Even the village drunk had his silver cross displayed for all to see. The crowd was murderous. If I didn't step out now, she would be dead with in the hour.
Their chanting was deafening. It could be heard all the way up the mountain.
"BURN THE WITCH!" They shouted in unison.
I sighed, pulling on the cuffs of my leather gloves. Hoisting my silver handled cane, I knocked on the roof of my carriage twice. At once the footman swung wide the door for me. Stepping out, I straightened my collar so it was clearly visible. It was my salvation after all. Walking forward, the people at the back of the crowd saw me first, and I watched their attention flow up the body as slowly all became silent at my presence. They parted for me like the waters of the red sea, and a straight path lay before me right up to the platform where the accused young woman had been forced to her knees.
Next to her stood the villages' Overlord, Winston Thigpen, a pear shaped man with a penchant for liquor and lascivious women. Throughout the village he was considered a respected man, but dark deeds go unnoticed by brainless lemmings. I always made a point to pay attention to the herd of muggles at the base of my mountain.
"Father Malfoy," he greeted me, a tremor of fear in his voice. The corner of my mouth nearly tipped into a smirk. I knew he feared me. He thought me a holy man, and a seed as wicked as he aught to fear a presumed priest. If he only really knew what I was, what I could do.
He'd call me the damn devil.
I nodded to him as I made my way slowly up the steps of the wooden stage. They had already constructed a make shift stake, and stacked logs and twigs at its base.
"Surely Lord Thigpen, you were not about to commence a sentencing with out me?" I let my eyes grow dark as I held his gaze.
"I saw no reason to wake you Father, as the accused was caught in the act of witchcraft by no less than four eye witnesses. Only two are required by law in order to expedite a trial."
"And a thorough interrogation of both the accused and the so called witnesses has been conducted?" I asked doubtfully.
"Of course Father."
"May I see the manifest then?"
"The manifest? Oh… well, as this instance was so clearly an open and shut case, we opted not to waste the parchment and ink."
"So am I to understand that this child was to be burned at the stake without a proper log of the proceedings?"
Winston Thigpen swallowed, and then opened his mouth. It hung ajar for several moments as he searched for an answer.
"I see." I let the disappointment in my tone wash over all of them. Guilt was by far my most effective weapon against them.
"But Father," Thigpen protested, "We found her with this!" He held up a thin carved stick.
I always prided myself with my ability to mask my initial reactions, but when Thigpen held up an honest to goodness wooden wand, it took everything with in me to keep my eyes from exploding from my head. I glanced quickly from the wand, down to the witch.
So they had finally caught a realone.
Merlin help us, either they were getting smarter, or we were getting more careless. I had half a mind to let them murder her for her sheer stupidity at being caught. I watched Thigpen palm the wand in a carelessly. Without thinking I snatched the wand from his grasp. His dirty and inferior muggle hands had no right to touch that instrument.
"Does your idiocy know no bounds!" I bellowed at him, my shock disguised as anger. "This, you fool, is a stick. Regardless, you failed to follow very simple protocol, and therefore the law of this land! This does not bode well for you! Release the child at once and escort her to my carriage."
"But Father, she is a convicted witch!"
"Who has had a mistrial! You have forced my hand with your complete ineptitude! I have no choice but to conduct an interrogation myself, and if I find it necessary, will carry out her sentence. Now escort her to my carriage at once!"
Thigpen was shocked and angry, but he nodded to his man to do as told.
"And if you find her to be guilty?" He asked, his eyes swept over the girl greedy with lust… blood or otherwise I couldn't say. The crowd was silent, all holding their breath to hear my answer.
"Then I shall do as the Lord wills. There is no mercy for those in court with satan." This seemed to suffice, if only for the moment. People were already starting to make their way home, the square emptying as they passed into the side streets and alleys. The air was thick with disappointment.
I approached my carriage. The girl was eyeing me as she was tethered to the handrail of the driver's bench. She couldn't be older than nineteen. Both my driver and the footman seemed very put out at having to share their space with a presumed devil's child, and shared a look of trepidation. Both were stupid muggles that I had hired a few years prior, Brutie and Milo. They were dolts who didn't question things, and preformed their position with a modicum of decorum. What more could I really ask for. I noticed that both of them were avoiding eye contact with her. Fools. They assumed that she could cast spells on them by simply staring into their eyes. Without the little ten-inch stick of vine wood, she was fairly harmless, and that was currently tucked securely in the back pocket of my trousers.
I stepped into the carriage, and we were off, headed up the winding mountain path. It was a chilly evening in early October, and I knew she had to be freezing outside the carriage, but I didn't dare put her in the cab with me. Muggles are suspicious creatures by nature. I have learned through the years that if I am to have a peaceful coexistence with them, I am constantly required to avoid unexpected reactions.
The cold air would be good for her. Give her some time to think about what could have happened as a result of her incredible carelessness. As the tiresome trek back up the mountain wore on, my curiosity began to best me. By the time I saw the lamplights on the carriage house next to the massive wrought iron gate, it was nearly insatiable.
Just who the hell was she! As far as I knew this area had always been heavily populated by muggles. The nearest wizarding town was at least a two weeks journey away. There was never any reason for them to travel into these parts of the countryside. Most simply apparated into the boundaries of any wizarding destination they wanted.
We pulled to a stop in front of the carriage house. I know Brutie and Milo thought it odd that the carriage house was outside the perimeter of the gate, and further more that they were never once permitted inside the looming iron gates, but thankfully they never questioned it. At least never to me. From the gate the view up the mountain showed a pristine and neatly kept old abbey. Quite the rouse. It was nothing more than an illusion, a simple charm I concocted to hide the sprawling mansion that actually lay just beyond the gate.
"D'ya need any 'elp getting the lass up to the abbey, Father?" Brutie asked as he opened the door.
"I can manage." I replied. I walked around the horses to see Milo slipping a noose around the girl's neck. As he tightened the knot up to her throat, her bushy hair was momentarily tamed. "Is that really necessary?" I asked.
"Can't be taking any chances, Father." Milo warned, handing the rope out to me like a leash.
"Goodnight then." I replied, turning my attention to the girl. "Follow me." I turned and started towards the gate, I half expected the slack in the rope to snap, but to my surprise, she followed obediently.
I placed my hand on the gate, and the ancient magic shuddered through me. Recognizing the house's master it creaked open. As I stepped over the threshold I could feel the magic of the many charms and wards wash over me. I turned to watch the girl.
The second she stepped through, her eyes snapped to mine. She felt them too, and recognized them at once. Her mouth dropped open as if she was going to speak, but she must have thought better of it and closed her mouth as she saw the mansion. I stared her down for a moment before turning on my heel and making my way up the path. The gravel crunched under our feet as we walked. Finally I spoke,
"So you're a witch."
"So you're a wizard." She tartly replied. Her voice was a soft lilting soprano with an air of haughtiness to it. I stopped and faced her.
"What is your name?" She looked up at me defiantly and held her silence. "You know I can make you tell me." My threat did little to bristle her compliance. Just then the front door of the house opened as Tilly and Payley, my house elves squeaked in unison,
"Master!" I turned and walked into the house, flanked by the witch.
"Can I take your coat Master?" Tilly's tiny voice asked.
"Shall I get you some tea Master?" Payley asked.
"Would you like the fire in drawing room lit"
"Would you like anything to eat?"
"Shall I prepare a guestroom?"
"Is Master tired?"
"Stop." I barked. "Light the fire, tea is fine, you're dismissed." They both shut their tiny mouths, looked up at me with their big eyes, and disapparated on the spot with a crack. I dropped her leash to remove my over coat and flung it across the chair in the entry. I pulled off my gloves and hat and dropped them on top of it. "This way." I nodded towards the French doors off the left of the massive entry hall.
Walking into the drawing room, I noticed that not only was the fire lit, but several candelabras as well, and a steaming pot of tea was sitting next to my armchair by the fire. The girl took a few steps in and stopped. I pulled my wand from its sheath, and with a flick the doors closed and locked behind her. She jumped at the noise.
"Sit down." It wasn't a request. I happened to glance in the large mirror hanging over the fireplace and frowned at my reflection. A salt and pepper beard and a face full of wrinkles stared back at me. I had momentarily forgotten I'd transfigured my appearance. The village below would hardly take a nineteen year old priest seriously. With a wave of my wand the grey hair turned back into its natural blonde, my skin smoothed back to its youthful flawlessness, and the beard disappeared completely. I ran my hand across my smooth jaw, and turned to take in the look of shock on the young witches face. Pulling the white strip from my collar I tossed it on top of the mantel.
"Who are you?" She finally spoke.
"You first." I replied.
"Give me my wand."
"No."
"What do you want?" She glared at me.
"An explanation." I matched her icy expression
"An explanation of what!" She spat. I turned to face her, my eyes on fire.
"I want an explanation of who you are and what they hell you're doing near my mountain. How is it possible that you got yourself so carelessly caught by easily the dumbest herd of muggles in existence? Do you even realize what I risked by rescuing you? The questions I'm going to have to answer, and the consequences I'll have to face all because of your moronic actions?" I crossed the room towards her. She made to back away from my advance, but her back hit the locked doors.
"I didn't ask you to step in. I was handling it." She hissed. This angered me to no end.
"The hell you were. You'd be dead right now if it wasn't for me and you know it, you ungrateful little wretch." Just who the hell did she think she was?
"How dare you! Give me my wand this instant!" She screeched. I closed the gap between us, and slammed my fist on the door next to her head.
"I'm not giving you a damn thing until you answer my questions!" Behind her defiant stance, I saw a flicker of fear cross her eyes. As if to deny it, she glared at me and said,
"I'm not afraid of you." This girl was positively infuriating. I leaned in close to her ear,
"Well you should be, love. You're in my debt now." I said softly with a deadly smirk on my face. I turned back towards the fire, but not before seeing the look of pure dread cross her features as awareness washed over her.