Chapter 2-Lucius
I had to admit that after wrestling with fifteen hippogriffs and two Ministry officials all night, it was far more refreshing to see a pretty face than to receive even the Dark Lord's hard-earned praises for a job well done.
My mind drifted back to the young woman I had seen in the Lestrange Mansion. She looked young, about eighteen or nineteen at the most. But she was easily the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and I had seen a good many in my time. Her name vaguely registered in my mind. Narcissa. I had never heard it before. I remembered her face, her eyes especially: so full of childlike innocence, and closed my own.
I smiled. Then shook my head. No, she was not for me. I had more missions to complete for the Dark Lord. Missions far more dangerous than this one had been. Besides who even knew what bloodline she belonged to? She could be a filthy Mudblood or blood traitor for all I knew. I grimaced and touched the wound on my cheek. One of those blood traitors had caused that. What if she was one of them? I winced at the thought.
But no. She could not be. That Lestrange woman had caught her arm, and she was very particular about whom she associated with. So she couldn't be of dirty blood, definitely. I recalled her steady gaze and aristocratic bearing and my heart lightened immediately.
I suddenly realized that I had reached home. I quickly siphoned off the blood from my cheek with my wand till only the cut remained. I fingered it gingerly as I opened the door and strode through the halls. On reaching Father's study, I paused for a minute before knocking once.
"Come in!" I frowned. Had he known where I had gone? And what I had achieved? Or were his tones of glee suggestive of some other good news that he had received? I entered, somewhat subdued; my bubble had deflated a little.
"Ah, Lucius", my father rose from his armchair by the window where, it seemed, he had been watching for me to come. He pointed to the fireplace.
I obeyed instantly and seating myself on a straight-backed chair by the fire, waited for him to speak. He stood in front of me, and waved a piece of thick, expensive parchment in front of my face.
"Cygnus Black has accepted my proposal!", he said.
I stared at him blankly. I had no idea what he was talking about. He tapped the letter with one finger, and glanced at me impatiently.
"Father, I..." I began.
"I had sent an owl," he interrupted. "To Cygnus Black a few days ago, asking.." He began to walk up and down slowly. "For his daughter to form an alliance..." He paused. "With you."
A sudden chillness settled upon me; all victory was forgotten. I could not believe what I was hearing. I knew this was a good opportunity: an alliance with the prestigious and powerful House of Black, but yet...yet I could not banish the image of that unknown woman whom I had beheld so briefly, but whom I realized now, was the one for me.
I grasped my staff tightly in both hands and tried to pay attention to what Father was saying next.
"She is his youngest daughter," Father continued to pace. "The eldest is Bellatrix Lestrange, and the second, Andromeda, he has disowned for marrying beneath her." I sensed the contempt in Father's voice as he said those last words, but my senses had dulled severely. I felt as if nothing could shock me again. No, nothing could ever have any effect on me, ever.
"Your future wife is only nineteen years of age."
I tried to stand but my legs were trembling. My mind had frozen. I tried vainly to forget that I had ever seen that woman in the Lestrange Mansion, now that my fate was already settled for me; and tried to prepare myself to do my duty in retaining the honor and prestige of my family.
I swallowed, and said a silent goodbye to the woman I had seen. I stood up, legs still trembling.
"And her name", Father continued; my heart beat seemed to stop, I could visualize my world breaking into two.
"Is Narcissa".
My legs gave way, and I collapsed onto the chair. My staff clattered to the ground, and as my heart started to beat again, each thump was music to my ears.
Father paused and regarded me with raised eyebrows. I hardly noticed; my soul was jubilant and I felt myself soaring far above the clouds.
Father cleared his throat delicately. I rose and followed him out, reluctant to tear myself from the fancies that had already begun to form in my mind.
The days, I thought, were passing unnaturally slow. I could not wait to see her again, this time with the knowledge and certainty that she will soon be mine. I smiled. The prospect was too thrilling for me to imagine it with a set face.
Meanwhile, I had completed another task for the Dark Lord. I returned to the Lestrange Mansion a week later to report to him, my heart fluttering slightly. Would he be pleased with me? I had succeeded again, just as I was determined I would, but my stomach still churned terribly whenever I thought of meeting those cold, red eyes and being completely at his mercy.
When I entered his presence, minutes later, I found my colleagues Travers, Mulciber, Crabbe and Goyle huddled in a corner, all bearing unmistakable signs and effects of the Cruciatus Curse. I shuddered involuntarily, as I walked to the centre of the room. As Avery, Rosier and Nott moved to let me through, I noticed that they too looked frightened. Only Bellatrix Lestrange, seated at the Dark Lord's feet, looked triumphant; evidently he had praised her. She threw me a dirty look as I entered which I must confess I expected. It was then that I remembered: she was Narcissa's sister. That immediately explained her sudden hatred of me; as earlier she had never bothered to notice I existed.
The Dark Lord was seated facing the east window, his scarlet pupils gazing broodingly into the distance. I approached him hesitantly and he lifted his head slightly, but his gaze had not left the window.
"I have good news, my lord." I said. "I have destroyed all records of Mugglebaiting, and torturing of Muggle-borns at the Ministry and have managed to place the Imperius Curse on two more wizards from the Ministry: one from the Department of the Regulations of Magical Creatures and the other from the Muggle Liaison Office."
I paused and glanced at him anxiously. His red pupils were focusing on my face. Had I done enough? Anyhow it had taken me the whole evening; those wizards, I had to grudgingly admit, were immensely skilled, and each could singlehandedly match even me despite all the Dark Magic I had learnt, some from the Dark Lord himself.
The door opened and the Lestranges' house-elf crept in with the day's Evening Prophet that she handed to Bellatrix who turned immediately to the Dark Lord.
The Dark Lord's long, white fingers took the newspaper from her eager hands and he smoothed out the first page. I could see the headlines clearly even from where I stood.
"Raid in the Criminal Records Room, Room Keepers Tortured, Killed. Dark Activity Suspected", The Dark Lord read out, then his eyes travelled down to the bottom of the page. "Mr. Lucius Malfoy has kindly donated a generous amount of one thousand galleons for the renovation of the Criminal Records Room and other offices that have been targeted this past week."
The Dark Lord looked up. I felt my legs turning to jelly. Would he approve?
"To gain easy access to the Ministry, my lord", I said quickly. "I have also applied for a job there for the same reason."
He seemed pleased and I heaved an inward sigh of relief as he rose and moved to the fireplace.
"You have done well, Lucius", the Dark Lord's voice was not as cold as usual. "Lord Voldemort will not forget your faithful service."
I knelt at his feet and kissed the hem of his black robes. I could sense Bellatrix's heated gaze though I could no longer see her face.
"And now." I rose and watched the Dark Lord speak, glancing at the trembling figures of the others he had evidently just punished. "We await the next great excitement."