Chapter Two: Death Eaters for Dummies
AN: Thanks to my new beta, Ambiguity.
The depraved and dirty wizard came back down not even one minute later. He was wearing plain, long, black robes, with very large belled sleeves and resembling a Muggle monk's habit.
"Wow, those sure are…unique," Severus said from the couch.
"Enough with the sarcasm, we must all dress alike and dress plainly, so we are never detected. Now, for the mask. It's a ridiculously simple spell that only Death Eaters can produce. Ergo, anyone can say it but only we will get the effect. The incantation is best done silently and is rather easy to remember - Mors Persona - but it's the wand movement that's the trick.
"So, you brandish your wand, and move it like so," Lucius said, raising his arm at a forty five degree angle and quickly whisking his wrist three times counter-clockwise, then thrusting his wrist upwards once, followed by a very fast clockwise half-circle, from the two o'clock to the nine o'clock position. "Once you get to the upward movement of the wrist, silently say your incantation. I will now demonstrate."
He started out slowly, as Severus counted along to the three counter-clockwise motions, the quick upward motion - so quick he heard Lucius's wand slice through the air - and then instantly into the clockwise half-moon swish. As soon as his wand stopped moving, the air around his face instantly appeared smoky. Within two seconds the smoke congealed over Lucius's face and began to form a mask. The mask, white and transparent at first, quickly turned into metal with slits for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Severus… laughed.
"What?" Lucius' voice asked from behind the mask.
"It's just…kind of funny looking."
"Oh? How's this then?" Lucius said putting the hood on.
"Yup, even funnier…had I known the attire was so ghastly, I may have reconsidered joining."
In an instant and with one swish of Lucius's wand his mask turned back from metal into smoke and looked as if it were being pulled from his face. He lowered the hood and looked down at Severus.
"That's not funny Severus. This is serious stuff. It's meant to frighten people."
"I guess I'm not that easily frightened," Severus admitted as Lucius sat down beside him.
"Well, it does frighten the people we're meant to frighten. Also, as you know, for our own protection we must each conceal our identity from the others. Therefore we must wear these at all times in the presence of other Death Eaters at meetings."
"How often are these meetings?"
"Well, they are not scheduled. It depends on what is going on. When you are summoned, you won't know if you are being Apparated away to meet with the Dark Lord alone, or with others present, or just with other Death Eaters alone.
"The Dark Lord can see through the masks, so he does know whom he is talking to. If it's just the two of you, or if there are people in the room he trusts, he will ask you to remove the mask. The silent incantation to remove it is Persona Perfecta. As you noticed, the wand movement is much simpler for that - you just put it to the edge of your face and move it downward, and it peels the mask away. Now I want you to practice the wand movement for the mask and by tomorrow morning, I want to see you perform it."
"Okay…but he said he won't be summoning me for some time."
"Yes, though I suspect he may summon you while you are here, to test you, to see if I taught you properly. Obviously I'd have to Apparate you; I assume I'd be summoned to go with you. When you are summoned, you are to grab your robes, which should always be shrunken and with you at all times. I did keep mine upstairs today because I knew he was not going to summon me today since he wishes me to train you. Regardless, they are magical and are very easy to put on. They are also custom-made to fit you. I believe he said you would not have one straight away.
"Once you are summoned, you need to go to wherever you can safely Apparate from immediately. The Dark Lord needs to know if you are at Hogwarts, or out of town. He must have a general idea of where you are at all times. If you are just heading to the shop, it's none of his concern, but if you are somewhere very far away, then he must know."
"How do I contact him?"
"Well, that's where it gets tricky. He's constantly on the move. He is, as you know, currently residing at the Lestranges but I doubt he'll stay for very long. He likes to keep his interests…mobile. If you need to speak to him, you place your wand on the Mark where the snake's head is. This only works if you touch it on its head. You silently say Morsmordre. If you place your wand anywhere but the snakes head, then you are summoning fellow Death Eaters. Understand?"
"Yes," Severus said with some trepidation. It was all becoming very real to him.
"So you place the wand on the head, say or think the incantation and you will be instantly Apparated to wherever he is. He may or may not appear to you that second. He may be busy doing other things, but you will be Apparated to wherever he wants you and you sit and wait.
"Now, to summon other Death Eaters, you do the same exact thing but touch your wand to any part of the Mark other than the snake's head. First, you must speak or clearly think the name or names of those you wish to summon. When we are summoned, we do not know if it's a fellow Death Eater or the Dark Lord doing so. So, for example, you would touch your wand to your arm, clearly speak my name, then the incantation and I would show up. Any questions?"
"Um, why would I summon you?"
"You wouldn't really, unless it was an emergency, or the Dark Lord or another Death Eater asked you to. You can not just summon me or anyone else just to say 'hello.' Abusing this Mark will result in punishment or death.
"Now, to summon us all, that is, all of the Death Eaters, you do the exact same thing, but with no names. You touch your wand to any part of the Mark, except the snake's head, and just say Morsmordre, and we will all show up. Every single one of us. Do you understand?"
"Yes?"
"I've never done this and doubt I ever will. There is really no reason short of a real emergency for a Death Eater to summon all other Death Eaters. We all have lives, jobs, wives, kids, etcetera and are not at each other's beck and call. We are all, however, at the Dark Lord's beck and call."
"I see, and they would all Apparate to wherever I am if I did that?"
"Yes. And if you did not have a damn good reason, they'd have no hesitation in torturing you to death. Now, to launch the Dark Mark into the sky, you do the same exact thing, except just prior to the incantation you say Aeris and then Morsmordre. When you do that, the Dark Mark will appear in the sky over your present location. You do this for one of two reasons. One, after you eliminate someone it is proper protocol to…"
"After I murder someone you mean?" Severus asked. He was under the impression he was to be used as a spy, not an assassin.
"Muggle's aren't worthy to breathe Severus, nor are their supporters. But yes, you didn't think we just showed up at people's houses and talked to them, did you? Besides, whoever is being eliminated is someone the Dark Lord and or we deemed as unworthy anyway, and therefore, already dead," Lucius stated plainly as if he were discussing the state of the weather.
"Listen, after you elimiate someone it is correct protocol to cast this Dark Mark up into the sky for all to see. That way the authorities know exactly who committed the crime. Second, if you are somewhere to murder someone and maybe need a little help, you do the same, to cast it into the sky for all to see, and then summon the help you need.
"You never summon the Dark Lord for this, just other Death Eaters, preferably ones you know and trust."
"He said I'd not be killing people," Severus pressed.
"Yes, well perhaps not but I am to train you in everything Severus, not just what he says he wants you to do. Someday you may need to train someone and they may need this information."
"Do you eliminate people?" he asked rather innocently.
"No, however this is how I was taught so this is how I'm teaching you. Not like I have a manual to read, may I continue?"
"I see…go on," Severus said, still a little wary of the thought that he may need to murder someone.
"Now, we flash the Dark Mark into the air because we want the people to know it is the Dark Lord who committed these crimes. We want the publicity. We do not, however, want to be caught. You will do everything in your powers to never be apprehended. The Aurors and Ministry officials do not use Unforgivables and do not kill.
"You however, can. You must never be apprehended, understand me?"
"Yes."
"If you are, however, and you are sent to Azkaban…for life, you can not divulge anything you know or give away the names of any of your fellow Death Eaters. You will die rather than divulge anything you know or name any of your fellow Death Eaters. If you talk, the Dark Lord will know and you will die anyway, but in considerably more pain. I know I'd never give up your name and I trust you'd do the same for me."
"I wouldn't!" Severus said, rather offended. "I'm no rat!"
"Good, I did not think so," Lucius said and smiled for the first time since beginning his instruction. "Now, you must always be someplace where you can Disapparate or Portkey away. And you must be able to defend yourself at all times. I trust you know as much or more Dark Magic than the average Death Eater, so I am confident you will be able to defend yourself. You and I will practice some tomorrow at my Manor - Father is out of town.
"The main thing to remember is that you must do whatever the Dark Lord asks of you, or else you will face punishment. On occasion, a band of Death Eaters will get together and decide to act on their own, without the Dark Lord's knowledge. Now, you must use your better judgment if you are asked to participate."
"Why would someone go out and do something in his name and not ask for permission first?" Severus asked.
"Well there are…some…who think by doing something on his behalf without his knowledge, it will raise their standing or please him. It does work. If the act is successful, the Dark Lord has been known to be very jubilant about it. If it's unsuccessful or unnecessary, he can be most displeased. I personally have not done anything he has not asked me to do. I have gone to him with ideas and suggestions. Some he's agreed to and some he has not. That's how I operate; you may do what you wish."
"I think…I'll just…do what you do, pretty much."
Lucius smiled and laughed a little, before finally relaxing a little.
"It's really quite simple: just do as you're told, don't get caught, and don't get killed…some Death Eaters are dumber than a box of Gobstones. I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Okay, well, I'm glad I joined the stupid club," Severus said, as Lucius rolled his eyes. "Gonna take that generic robe off now?"
"Yes," he said, removing it to reveal his disheveled clothes from earlier beneath. He shrunk the robe and put it in his pocket. "I should lead by example."
"So now what?"
"Now we celebrate, for tomorrow we duel to the death!" he said in a much exaggerated tone. "At least, I'll try not to kill you."
"Okay, I'll try not to kill you too," Severus said confident he could beat Lucius's ass at dueling.
A moment later Lucius came out with a bottle of Muggle champagne and two very tall flutes.
"Um, is Narcissa coming over?" Severus asked, wondering why Lucius was bringing over 'date food.'
"No, these are for us, to celebrate," Lucius said, opening the cork with barely a pop, using magic of course.
"Um…I don't drink."
"Of course you don't, but you'll be of age very soon. It's just champagne."
"But I don't want to drink. My father is an alcoholic and my mum is…"
"A potions addict. I know, I know," Lucius shrugged, placing one of the flutes down on the table. "Just because they are does not mean you will be too. Just drink in moderation. Besides, you will be moving in circles where drinking socially will be expected; you may as well get used to it."
Severus did not want to drink, ever. But Lucius may have a point: what if the Dark Lord asked him to have a drink? He'd have no choice. He looked at the bottle and recognized it as one he'd seen in Muggle shops before.
"Is that Muggle champagne?" Severus asked, eyeing the green bottle with the yellow label.
"Indeed it is. There's only one wizarding champagne and it's from the Porvoi vineyard. I'm not about to drink that crap."
"Okay, Veuve Clicquot it is then," Severus said as Lucius handed him the tall flute. He watched as Lucius poured the pale bubbly liquid into his own flute. Then Lucius raised his glass to toast: "To the Dark Lord."
"To the Dark Lord," Severus said, raising his glass as well. He brought it to his lips and was instantly popped in the nose by a renegade carbonated bubble, reminiscent of the first time he drank a Coke. "It tickles."
"Yes, just take a sip already," the impatient Professor of the moment said, taking a sip of his own.
Severus took a sip of the sweet but not too sweet liquid. He swallowed and took one more sip. It was not as horrible as he thought it would be, but perhaps a little too sweet for his personal tastes. He looked up at Lucius for further instruction. Was he to drink it all, or was one or two sips sufficient for a toast to the Dark Lord and total world domination in general? Lucius sat back down and continued to drink his, so Severus assumed he was to do the same.
"Um, okay, so what do we do now?" Severus asked, taking another sip as he began to feel a slight warm rush in his face and chest as the champagne went down.
"Well, we are going out later to celebrate, with people you know of course. Until then, not much," Lucius said, pouring himself another glass. Without even asking, he refilled Severus's glass to the top. Lucius then took a slow sip and relaxed deep into the couch with his arm extended over the back pillow tops. He rested his head behind him and closed his eyes before he began to slowly speak.
"Mmm…I can still taste her, even after drinking this," Lucius said in a low voice, but still loud enough for Severus to not only hear, but also for him to choke on his champagne from sheer disgust. He felt Lucius pat him on the back several times as he managed to pat on the parts that were not numb. "You alright?"
"No! God, you're so gross, and I did not ask you anything in that regard," Severus said wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Lucius had a terribly wicked look on his face and started laughing.
"Well, now that I know how easily grossed out you are by it, I'm sure it'll be quite amusing to discuss it with you as much as possible. But in all seriousness, I didn't really think to offend you when I said it, it just sort of slipped out….I can't believe that after over a year she finally relented and gave herself to me…I think I'm on the road to forgiveness."
"Um…yes…I guess. I'm still not certain what you need to be forgiven for. I mean, he's the one that forged that letter. You were wronged, not him."
"Yes, but she's irate that I Imperiused him and went there to pursue her. I guess she was happier with him, even though he forged that letter - not that she knew - than she ever was with me. But now she sees what he's really like."
"I guess. I'd thought she be mad when she found out he forged it," Severus said, drinking some more and feeling just a little bit light-headed.
"No, as it turns out," Lucius said, filling Severus's glass again, "she was impressed that he went to such lengths to gain her love."
"What? Women are insane! She wants you two to duel for her, doesn't she?"
"Hmm, well…it does seem that way, yes. I could easily kill him, maim him, turn him into something unnatural."
Severus pretty much believed Lucius. The Lucius Malfoy he'd met five years ago was not the same one sitting beside him now. Granted Lucius was only sixteen when he'd met him, but he was very stand-offish, proper, and very put together. He spoke of women as Goddesses to be worshiped, respected, and admired. Turns out that was all a load of crap. He's really just a regular man, with money (new money too) who can put on the façade of being very plain and proper when need be, but is actually a very casual bloke with a sick sense of humor and very odd sexual preferences. Even stranger, Narcissa was a clone of him in almost every way. They really were a match made in…hell.
Severus was getting a little more light-headed but it was not overcoming him. He felt very warm and toasty inside and had no clue how much he was drinking, as Lucius kept his flute full at all times.
"So, um, what does it taste like…and don't say chicken," Severus asked, taking more sips of his bubbly.
"What does what taste like?" Lucius asked, unaware that Severus had abruptly changed the subject back to sex. "Oh…" he said, lifting a brow and smiling. His eyes rolled up for a moment as he appeared to be deep in thought..."Hmm," he moaned slightly and then took in a very deep breath, held it for a moment and then slowly exhaled. "Well…whatever she ate earlier I guess…sweet."
"Really?" Severus asked, ignorant of the fact he was now tipsy. "Oh…I don't want to do that."
"Well, you will change your mind someday."
"No, I won't!" Severus said, pointing his flute at Lucius for another refill.
"Caviar?" Lucius asked.
"It tastes like caviar?" Severus asked. Well, caviar did make sense, actually.
"What? No, I'm asking if you want some, it goes well with champagne…Dobby!"
"Dobby is here, sir."
"Caviar," Lucius said pouring more champagne into Severus's flute. Severus took another sip and began to giggle uncontrollably. He flat-out burst into hysterics when Dobby presented the caviar to him. He laughed so hard, Lucius found it necessary to take his flute away from him so he would not knock it over.
"What is so damned funny? Or are you completely pissed?"
"Just…this…all of this…I mean, most sixteen-year-olds celebrate with a burger and a Coke, not champagne and caviar….shit, man, I live in Manchester for fuck sakes, not Buckingham Palace!"
"If I thought for one second that you would actually ingest a hamburger I'd gladly take you there instead…however, I think I'll fuck a Muggle before I witness you consume beef."
"True…true…true. Alright, gimme some caviar," Severus said, as Lucius put some on a cracker for him. It did seem odd for someone from northern England to feast on caviar in the middle of the afternoon on a Thursday but he really did enjoy it, very much. "Mmm…s'where arrrre we sowing tonight?"
"Sowing? You mean going? I do think you are rather pissed…and you hardly drank any!"
"I was a booze virgin, man…" Severus said, once again bursting into laughter. He opened his teary eyes to see Lucius laughing with him. "You popped my booze cherry!"
"Okay….I see. Well, tea perhaps. Dobby! Green tea!" he yelled in the direction of the kitchen.
The room was spinning, and he felt like everything he did he did in slow motion. He didn't even notice he'd fallen over and was slouched up against Lucius's shoulder.
"Oh dear, Dobby, bring Sober-Up potion, this instant!" Lucius yelled. When he looked over, Severus was asleep.
---
When Severus woke up, he was on the couch with a pillow beneath his head and a blanket over his body. He sat up to find it was dark out and he was very, very dizzy. His head was pounding and his mouth was so dry, he could hardly scrape his tongue from the roof of his mouth.
"Lucius?" Severus whispered, hoping he was near enough to hear him. No one came, so he called for Lucius again, louder, and with a whine to his voice.
"Severus, are you up?" Lucius asked, stepping through the green flames of his very large fire place. "You look…miserable."
"What did you do to me?" Severus whined, sounding very much like the Snivellus he really was deep down inside.
"I gave you a drink and you got drunk rather quickly. Here, drink this, it's Sober-Up and you'll feel better instantly," he said, sitting beside Severus and handing him the green vial. Severus drank the minty tasting concoction, a concoction he thought he'd never drink as he thought he'd never consume alcohol in his life. Its effect was not instantaneous, but he did feel almost human within five minutes.
"Is it time to go out and celebrate?" Severus asked, hoping to God the answer was no.
"No, we missed it; it's after ten o'clock now. I just came back from Rabastan's. We'll go tomorrow night instead."
"Did you tell them I was passed out drunk on your couch?"
"Yes."
"Lucius!" Severus squealed, angered that he'd gone and told people about his despicable condition.
"What? Why lie? They are our friends…besides, it's not a big deal, we've all been there…be glad your head isn't in a toilet right now!"
"I guess…hey, what if I was passed out drunk and I got summoned? I'd get splinched Apparating!"
"True, best to not be drunk then! I mean, there was little chance of being summoned tonight. We must teach you how to drink properly so you don't get drunk so easily."
"I don't want to drink anymore…I'm starving."
"Enough for a hamburger?" Lucius asked with a large smile.
"Why? Got a Muggle tied up in your dungeon right now?"
"Perhaps," Lucius said with a serious face…which quickly turned into laughter.
"I didn't think so….no…I'd love some mashed potatoes though."
"I think that can be arranged, Severus."
"Good, then a shower, then bed…I still am really tired."
"Yes, you need your strength for tomorrow, after all. Now, let's get you some dinner," Lucius said, rising to head to the dining room with Severus following him just a few steps behind.
"What do you want?" Lucius asked the still slightly drunken boy.
"Mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding."
"Dobby!" Lucius yelled, making Severus jump in his seat.
"Must you do that?" Severus asked, sounding rather annoyed.
"Yes, yelling at him is fun for me…" Lucius replied. "I want roasted chicken, broccoli and mashed potatoes, and he wants mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding."
"The shop that has the puddings is closed, Dobby can't get that," the elf said with a deeply saddened look on his face.
"I don't want your excuses!" Lucius shouted as he rose, terrifying the elf further. "Get what I asked for…NOW!" he screamed at the top of his lungs as his pale blond locks fell onto his irate face. He stood there, glaring at the tiny elf, breathing heavily, and looking so terrifying that even Severus became afraid.
"Um, my head still hurts and I can live without the pudding."
"Nonsense, he was put on this earth to serve and to do as he is told! You'll have your pudding!" Lucius spoke, taking his seat and calming down somewhat. Severus noticed a huge vein throbbing on Lucius's temple, peeking out beneath the shower of platinum hair.
"You should cut him some slack, he's sexually frustrated."
"What are you talking about?" Lucius asked fiercely, still annoyed by his elf.
"He told me you won't let him find an elf-mate so he can make little elf-babies," Severus mocked, drinking his third glass of water.
"Oh boo-hoo…just what the world needs, another retarded mongoloid house-elf! We need fewer Dobbies, not more!"
"Is he really that retarded?"
"Yes, he's really that retarded, he can't even cook! A decent elf would be going back to the Manor now and having one of the more capable elves make your pudding for you, but he's a moron and is probably out in the streets right now bashing his head against a brick wall!"
Somehow Severus did not doubt that. Dobby did seem to be a little on the moronic side. Ten minutes later, he showed up with take-out food consisting of chicken, broccoli and mashed potatoes…he then presented Severus with a Yorkshire pudding. It did look rather odd, but Severus accepted it and began to inhale his mashed potatoes.
"Amazing how good starches taste when you are hung over, isn't it?" Lucius commented, making a slight face at his own dinner.
"Mm hm," Severus said, stuffing his face. "These are like the best potatoes ever…and they're really not even that good."
Lucius giggled some and continued with his dinner.
"I think Dobby got that pudding from a shop that had it frozen….it's…kind of flat."
"I think I'll kill him," Lucius said, getting angry again.
"No, frozen pudding is not worth killing over," Severus said as he took a bite of the lackluster bread.
Dobby was able to live to see another day, and after dinner the two wizards retired. They needed their rest for the next day, when they would duel one another.