**Written for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes: Edible Dark Marks Challenge**
Note: Yes, this is meant to be OOC, before you say so
The Real Reason
The Dark Lord swept his long cloak over the many dead bodies scattered across the once shining floor of Gringotts. He looked down with a murderous glare and spotted a goblin stirring feebly "Avada Kedavra!" He shouted, stopping the goblin from ever fully awakening. Normally this would appease him; today however, no amount of deaths could make up for the fact that the Potter boy was hunting his horcruxes. He needed to ensure the others were still safe, but first another matter needed taking care of.
He disapparated back to the Malfoy Manor, a self-made prison for all inhabitants.
"Lucius!" he shouted, knowing that the Death Eater would soon appear. Moments later he did just that, shuffling in with a limp that clearly showed in all the lines on his face.
"Yes, my Lord," he replied bowing his head.
"Find the coarsest brush you can and the highest quality soap, then return to me and wash this filthy blood off my feet. And hurry, the smell is starting to make me feel queasy,"
"My Lord?" questioned Lucius, his eyebrows furrowing over his cold grey eyes; this behaviour was most unusual.
"Now Lucius!"
"Yes, my Lord. Right away," he hurried away, still with a bemused look. He returned a few minutes later holding both the objects and levitating a bowl of warm water.
"Well, go on then," the Dark Lord said, nodding pointedly towards his feet where the blood was rapidly drying. Lucius took a deep breath and knelt down by his masters feet and began to generously apply the soap.
"I don't understand, my Lord. Why not use scourgify? And why the sudden dislike of blood?" he asked, intricately brushing around the Dark Lords little toe.
"There's no feeling like a proper wash and scrub and I get to humiliate you at the same time. As for the other question; I have always hated blood Lucius, why do you think I always use the Killing Curse? It leaves no mark. Damn that Potter boy, why did he have to break the glass?"
"Indeed my Lord. Forgive me for asking; Why not invest in a pair of shoes?"
"Honestly Lucius... it does nothing for the evil Lord persona. It's more dramatic if I go barefoot, though I'm starting to regret it with all this blood being spilt,"
"I have finished my Lord. Is it to your satisfaction?" Spoke Lucius after many uncomfortable silent minutes. The Dark Lord closely inspected his feet and nodded.
"Well done Lucius, a much better job than Wormtail used to do. I had to Crucio him almost every time. No matter, I shall leave now but be prepared to come to my side immediately." With that he left in a mass of swirling robes, leaving Lucius very confused about what had just happened.