Sturgis Podmore had failed to retrieve the prophecy. In fact, he had failed miserably. He had failed so miserably that he had been caught trying to do it.
What a surprise, Lucius thought sarcastically. Always trust one of Dumbledore's people to mess up a simple mission.
In all honestly, though, Lucius was relieved that the Dark Lord had not been too upset with him for failing to retrieve the prophecy through Podmore.
"Next time, Lucius, find yourself someone who is not a complete fool," the Dark Lord had hissed at Lucius after he had heard the news about Podmore being sent to Azkaban.
Even though he would never admit it out loud to anyone, Lucius had been hasty with Podmore. He had just taken the chance that the person under the Invisibility Cloak could have actually been useful to him.
But in his defense, the Dark Lord often expected instant results, so Lucius could not be totally blamed for taking such hasty action against an invisible, unknown person.
Back to the task at hand, Lucius believed that it was safe to say that an Unspeakable was not a complete fool. It also didn't hurt that the Unspeakables worked in the Department of Mysteries and therefore wouldn't be arrested for being in it.
And Avery had insisted to both him and the Dark Lord that an Unspeakable would be able to retrieve a prophecy. Lucius just hoped that Avery's information was reliable. Avery wasn't exactly known for being a genius, which was basically Lucius's diplomatic way of saying that Avery was an idiot.
Lucius smiled and nodded his head politely at Broderick Bode, an Unspeakable, as he passed by him in the hallway.
Bode returned the nod and continued on his way. It appeared that he was on his way home, and that he was eager to get there.
Perfect. He would not be on his guard then. He would not be prepared for what was about to come his way.
It was a shame, though, that no challenge would be involved. Oh, well.
Lucius whipped out his wand and pointed it at Bode's back.
Imperio, Lucius thought.
To Lucius's surprise, he could feel that Bode was trying to resist.
Lucius, though, could not help but be somewhat delighted.
At last a challenge, he thought.
"You will obey me," he hissed at Bode. "Imperio."
"No," Bode gasped. "Please, no."
Lucius remembered when his father had taught him how to perform the Unforgivable Curses. Abraxas Malfoy had dared his son to cast the Imperius Curse on him.
Abraxas Malfoy had quickly thrown off the curse on Lucius's first attempt, but for a moment (even if it had just been a brief moment), his father had been under his control.
No one could resist Lucius Malfoy forever. No one. He was the Master of the Imperius Curse, not including the Dark Lord of course.
"Imperio," Lucius hissed again. "Imperio."
This time Bode was not able to resist. He looked at Lucius in expectation, waiting to be given an order.
Lucius smiled. Success was always sweet, but it was even sweeter when it took some effort to obtain it.
