A light in the Dark
** this is a fanfic of a fanfic... lol head trama... running in the HP universe of "Adopted by the Darkness", I took such a liking to some of the characters my mind created this... Much of it is creation of mentioned but not explored other regions of the HP universe. **
- I do not own Harry Potter, that universe or any of the characters there in. -
After holidays Lucius Sharp returned to Durmstang. While he enjoyed his time away (for he did care for his family, in his own twisted sort of way, and Father was able to punish him in ways the school would not allow) , he was glad to be back. There were more people to torment here. Oh sure his brother, Antonio, tried to punish him but he was limited by the laws of the school and his own nature.
Anyway the school was a buzz with the inter-school quidditch tournament. Most of the European schools participated. Continental at any rate, England (as usual) choose not to participate this year. It was a rather big deal to play in the tournament, for only those talented enough to make the team and smart enough to maintain high marks were allowed. It was gruelling challenge for the players. 10 weeks in length and more than half of those in other countries.
Lucius just looked at it as an opportunity to cause mayhem, internationally. That isn't to say the boy wasn't bright or talented, he was just a touch insane. Heck this was the only reason that he'd joined the team, he'd rather spend his time pranking that practising. What fun!
Lucius had stocked up on supplies while he'd been at home. Importing some of the things were rather difficult to get at school, and he simply did not have time to brew some of the potions he wanted. Sure he had a month to plot and plan, research (he did not really feel like going to prison in a foreign country) law.
During the team meeting he was taking note of the schedule. Largely to arrange his plans. He noted that the female chaperone was Proff Gniess. A matronly witch, competent in potions and plants. For the boys, Antonio Sharp. Lucius, groaned, how unfair!
Turned out his brother had volunteered the moment he'd heard that Lucius had made the team, no surprise really. Antonio felt (Lucius believed) responsible for his brother, and the family honour. Only bonus was that it poor Antonio would go crazy trying to keep him out of trouble... he liked that thought.
The rest of the team was overjoyed to hear this. Before graduating Antonio had lead the team to back to back victories. They started going on about how he could help with the strategy and point out weakness. At this point Lucius tuned out. His mind figuring ways around this new obstacle.
First game was away, against Beuxbatons, representing the French nation. It was a breeze in Lucius opinion. The team was easily intimidated. They were all about form and style. Power and strategy never entered their game.
Lucius decided to start mild, after all these lot were not a real challenge. Dungbombs at dinner, inside the turkeys. Twelve in total, covered the hall in food; turkey, cranberry, vegetables and of course dung.
The shrieks rang out. The chaos of the people failing about. Lucius loved it. To him it was beautiful and musical. Antonio didn't revel in Lucius delight, however he did not reveal him as the culprit either.
The moment that the Durmstang students returned to their quarters, Lucius was pulled aside roughly by Antonio. "Lucius, do you wish to cause an international incident?" He hissed.
"Well actually..."
"Rhetorical." Antonio snarled.
"Think I could actually cause a war?" Lucius mussed the idea.
"Stop!" Antonio ordered. "I can and will have you sent home for you behaviour." He threatened. He pulled the younger to meet his eyes. "We do travel with Subs, for just such events."
"You wouldn't." Lucius gasp. "Think what I would get into without you there."
"I said "home", I meant HOME." Antonio replied darkly. "You would lose your year and have Father to deal with." He felt his brother shiver. Weather it was in anticipation, or fear, he did not know. It may be the same in his brother's twisted little world.
Lucius agreed to behave, for the time being anyway. He pondered the possibilities.
Two weeks later the next match, a home game, at Durmstang. It was against Murcmine, the school representing Spain. Lucius still felt the challenge was lacking. It was the end of February, meaning it was rather cold. The Durmstang student having grown accustom to this weather had a decided advantage.
It was sad, one of the Spanish beaters dropped he bat, repeatedly claiming his fingers were too cold. The chasers, dropped and messed easy catches of the quaffle. One member of the team, lost hold of her broom and fell to the ground. Sadly she was caught by one of his team (though he actually preferred to cause chaos than pain). Pathetic show really.
Lucius couldn't help himself, he had to help them out. He'd warm them up, with a nice hot soothing shower. He poured warm water over them as they left the change rooms after the game on the way to the school, and just so they didn't get lost he made sure they couldn't go back in.
They were blue lipped and chattering teeth when they reached the Durmstang dinner hall. The half frozen students looked frightful, they tried to explain what happened but stuttered so badly that no one understood.
While mild, in comparison to some of his other pranks, the whole of Durmstang knew this was the work of Lucius Sharp. He was again stealthfully pulled out of the group of students and lead off, without attracting the attention of the visiting school. His brother, dragged Lucius down to his office.
Now as a teacher there was certain rules and limitations to what could be done as discipline. Antonio had a little more give from the headmaster as Lucius was his brother, but still rules were rules. His office was terrifying, on first glance. Strange creatures in jars fought for space on shelves with books. His desk defied the laws of physics, not collapsing under the weight of the parchment, equipment, and trinkets. He even had a picture of his family in a place of honour on the over-crowded desk. The floor was bare stone, save a plush rug of sapphire blue under his desk. The only other point of colour was a circle of red on the floor.
"Kneel!" Antonio ordered, pointing to the circle. Though the gesture was a waste. Lucius was rather familiar with this punishment and had headed that way as soon as the door opened. This punishment was simple, kneel on the cold, hard stone floor – until the professor released you. It was painful and simple, it was generally very effective except with Lucius. Some professors, questioned the student, others gave them task with for their hands to complete, others still just left the student and went about their work. There was no fear that the student would rise or leave, once in the circle they could not leave until released.
Antonio knew his brother well enough to know, that the harsher the punishment the longer time between his outburst. "Wait here for my return." Again, his words were a waste of breath really. But his words did convey his annoyance. He planned to leave his little brother there for quite some time.
One teacher had done just that and left a girl kneeling for an entire night. The girl had nearly been permanently crippled, she had been bed ridden for months. Even after a year, the girl had never been able to kneel again, and had suffered constant leg pain. This story was told to all the students as a warning. Now, unknown to most students, there was actually a safety feature to prevent this from ever happening again.
Every half hour the teacher would get a small shock to remind him or her of the student. It would increase slightly every half hour. After 4 hours it was rather painful and it would notify the headmaster. Seemed that the school board didn't wish to go through another court battle with disgruntled parents because of forgetfulness on their plate.
He headed into the staffroom to grab a bite to steel himself before dealing with his brother. It wasn't long until the headmaster burst in. Karkaroff fixed his eyes on Antonio and stalked over. "Sharp! You need to get that brother of your under control." He said in way of greeting. "I have just spent the past hour," which was impossible as the incident had only happened 20 minutes earlier, but Antonio did not feel that correcting him would be helpful. "Assuring the Spanish that this was not an attempt at sabotaging their chances in the tournament."
"Apologies Sir." Sharp sighed. Thinking, *At least the psycho waited until after the game.* Taking a breath, "Sir, I have told him the consequences of his actions will be severe. Including, losing his year."
"Good gawd, I don't want another year of him!" Karkaroff cringed. "Make it clear, this behaviour will not be tolerated. Somehow!"
"Yes sir."
"Mr. Sharp, one of the reasons I hired you, was to control that brother of yours." Karkaroff growled. "The only ones that have any effect on him, seem to be kin." He shook his head in disgust. Antonio smirked at that. "If I have another headmaster complain to me because of his antics ; it will not only be him that goes home. He will not only lose his year, but not be welcomes back. You will also be headed home, and not welcomed back." Karkaroff snarled. "Are we clear?"
"Yes sir." Antonio replied. He waited the maximum time before letting his brother rise. Sadly, his brother did this so much, his knees were nearly accustom to the punishment. Antonio suspected that Lucius could, stand more than 4 hours of this, but didn't want to fight with the headmaster to test this.
"Lucius, this has to stop." Antonio started. "Since it seems that I am being held responsible for you, this will stop!" He growled. "I will not lose my career, because of your insanity. If I need send you home now I will. I suppose that I should hear you out."
"Antonio-"At a scathing look, Lucius started again. "Professor, I have nothing to say."
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't send you home now?" Antonio sighed. "Knowing that if I do, you will lose your year, be expelled and not able to return and have father to deal with."
"I am the best beater on the team, the chances of winning decrease drastically without me." Lucius tried. "I cannot promise that I will not do the like again, as that would be an insult to your intelligence, for I am not certain I would be able to." He did not look remorseful.
"At least you're honest." The elder brother sighed. "It does not fill me with confidence." He walked away to sit at his desk. "Does this mean that your head has cleared for a moment?"
"I suppose so." Lucius said. The pain in his knees making him complacent. Pain seemed to have that effect on him, though the degree was hard to determine. Usually his family was able to read it on him.
Debating the extent that to which Lucius could be punished and the need to keep him well to leave 2 days later. Antonio gave him the harshest that he could without disqualifying him from the tournament. After all if Lucius was a nightmare while Antonio was with him, he was downright a demon without a keeper.