Chapter 2: Snap Decisions
Qui-Gon awoke to a mild headache from his indulgence with the wine of last night's dinner, though the softness of the bed in which he slept in did more than made up for it. Pushing off the bed and doing normal morning hygiene rituals, Qui-Gon was reminded of his days in the Jedi Temple as a Youngling Leaner, especially when his former Master was rapping on the door for him to hurry it up.
After getting dressed and squeaky clean, Qui-Gon and Dooku moved through the castle to find their new young… cargo, and be on their way. It wasn't that they didn't enjoy the late dinner they had shared with the people, or their conversation, but it was all rather unusual for them as full-grown Jedi, who normally did not have such practices. When Jedi ate meals together, they did not have to speak to one another, or even look at each other. No, for Jedi Masters such as them, Dooku and Qui-Gon could have eaten with their eyes closed and simply reviled in the tranquility of the Force during the entire course of the meal.
"Ah! Gentlemen, up early, are we?" Dumbledore greeted with Severus Snape right behind him, following and scowling as though trailing the ancient man wasn't supposed to be a part of his day.
Though Qui-Gon and Dooku did notice that man was even more unusually sour because he was holding the infant child.
What was even more unusual was the man's emotions. They were mere flickers in the Force, meaning the man had excellent training in hiding his emotions, but to two fully-trained Jedi Masters who lived to feel ripples in the Force, the man's feelings might as well have been lain bare for them to see.
The unusual part was how the man seemed to both love holding the child, and hate the action deeply as well.
"Yes, well…" Dooku began with a glance at Qui-Gon, who met his eyes for a second. And in that second, an entire conversation had transpired between the Jedi pair, "We felt it would do us well to leave at the earliest convenience. We did not wish to trouble you any longer than necessary."
"Of course." Dumbledore said, nodding as though he had dealt with Jedi wanting to sneak away before, "To my office then. You'll have to excuse me though. We have someone there who wished to speak with me, and would not take no for an answer. I'll only be a moment, and then we can all see you off."
"That is fine." Dooku said after a moment of thought. Qui-Gon exchanged another glace with him, both knowing that the old man was up to something, but not what exactly.
"This way then, gentlemen." Dumbledore said as he moved past them, walking promptly toward his office, which they had been sure they had been heading to when they were walking from where Dumbledore had came, "The castle, sometimes, likes to play tricks upon the mind, gentlemen. Do not be alarmed."
Qui-Gon and Dooku said nothing as they followed Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape.
"We never got the boy's full name." Qui-Gon said after they had reached a gargoyle, which jumped back to reveal a spiraling stairway up toward the Headmaster's office.
"He is Harry James Potter." Dumbledore said as Severus Snape grimaced at the name, particularly the middle name to the boy.
"A fine name for a young one." Dooku said politely, nodding as Dumbledore smiled. Qui-Gon wished he had his former Master's noble nature and speech when it came to such things as interacting with an unknown culture. It was one of the reasons he never took missions to discover new Younglings himself. He didn't think he had the tact for it.
"Ah! There is our guest." Dumbledore said as he opened the door to his office and practically floated in, "Good morning to you, Lucius."
"Good morning, Headmaster." a voice seemingly like that of Dooku said, making Qui-Gon look up to see a very formal and noble looking blond… man?
"Gentlemen, this is Lucius Malfoy. Lucius, these are Misters Jinn and Dooku. They are here to inspect the castle." Dumbledore said easily enough. Qui-Gon and Dooku exchanged, figuring that they're taking the boy was a large secret.
"Yes, I'm sure." Lucius Malfoy said, looking as though he didn't believe a word of it, "Is that the Potter boy, Severus?"
"No." Severus Snape said, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion, "This is an that Poppy has left in my care for the day. The blasted woman…"
Oh yes, Qui-Gon thought, the dark and dower man was good at playing up lies. If he didn't known any better, he would have in fact believed the man as he looked vaguely irritated holding the child. He even seemed to be debating dropping the boy on the floor and just walking away. Qui-Gon was a bit afraid that those impressions were more than just acts.
"She has been known to try and make people more nurturing…" Lucius muttered to himself before shaking his head, "I'm here today, Dumbledore, because I'd like your help."
"And why is that, Lucius?" Dumbledore asked from behind his desk, his eyes twinkling and his head tilted in curiosity.
"I am a proud man, Dumbledore!" Lucius snapped, his jaw set, "I will not beg, and you know exactly why I need your help."
"I only ask to be clear." Dumbledore said as he leaned forward, his face a cold mask, "You need my help because your side has lost and now you will be thrown in Azkaban with the rest of Lord Voldemort's followers. You need my help to escape the fate in which you have created for yourself. Is that correct, Lucius?"
"I don't care about myself, fool!" Lucius roared back as Dooku raised a brow, "My family! They need me!"
"Then you should have thought of that long ago!" Dumbledore shot back, "From the day you chose to follow a madman!"
"I was a teenager! A child!" Lucius shouted, throwing his hands in the air, "I had no idea what I was really getting into, and by the time I had figured it out, it was too late!"
"It is never too late, Lucius Malfoy!" Dumbledore boomed, his voice cold as ice as Severus stood off to the side, rocking the baby Harry in his arms. Qui-Gon raised a brow. Why hadn't the child awoken through all the noise?
"What would you have me do?" Lucius shot back, "Spy? Endanger my family further? I'm not Severus here! He has no one! I have a wife and child! I could buy my escape from the shackles, but then my family's name would be forever besmirched by such an action."
"Then do the right thing now, Lucius Malfoy!" Dumbledore roared, and that was when Dooku's eyes widened slightly before a frown overcame his face.
"Wh-What?" Lucius stammered, taken back when Dumbledore rose from his chair behind the desk.
"Do the right thing for not only your family, but for your soul as well." Dumbledore said gently as he placed a comforting hand on Lucius' shoulder, "I am sending Harry away to… a place. One where not even Lord Voldemort could hope to reach him. There, he will be free from Lord Voldemort's wrath."
"But the Dark Lord is death." Lucius said, slapping away Dumbledore's hand, "Finished by Baby Potter himself mere nights ago."
"Voldemort will return. Of this, if little else, I am certain." Dumbledore said, not revealing anything on the subject or his theories to it before pressing on, "And when he does, Harry Potter will be at the top of his list of targets. Those that oppose him, second. The world, third. His own followers, saved for last to watch the is to become of them. I hope Harry trained by then so that list is never carried out."
Lucius seemed to greatly consider the unsaid side of the conversation, thinking it over for a long time before he sighed, seeming less of a noble and proud man and more of a broken and sorrowed one, "What must be done? What… must I do?" Lucius asked, his tone so resigned that it seemed almost completely submissive. Qui-Gon had to applaud the man. It seemed he would give up his pride if it meant keeping his family safe from harm done by this Dark Lord Voldemort.
"I wish to make you an offer, Lucius, if these two gentlemen will allow it." Dumbledore replied as he glanced to Qui-Gon and Dooku.
"We shall." Dooku said as Qui-Gon gave him a startled look. Dooku gave him a sharp glance back, silencing whatever protests the maverick Jedi had.
"Thank you." Dumbledore said with near palpable sincerity before turning back to Lucius, who looked as though he were mentally picking up the pieces of his shattered pride, "Now Lucius, this is the deal I have. They are going to a far away place. A place in which Voldemort would never reach. I ask that you go with your wife and child to this place. We'll work out the smaller details later today, but what is your decision?"
"Th-That's it? Just running off into hiding? Nothing else?" Lucius said as Dumbledore gave him an amused look which confused the Malfoy Lord greatly.
"As I said, we will work out smaller details later." Dumbledore said as both Severus and Lucius frowned, at first in confusion, but then slowly into unmasked suspicion.
"You are serious. You're just going to let me leave like this. With strings attached, no doubt, but just so simply…" Lucius stated more than asked, racking his mind to find out what the old coot had in store for him and his family. Dumbledore nodded his head once to confirm that Lucius was right. Lucius looked to Severus, who blinked once as even he couldn't wrap his head around whatever the ancient man was playing at.
Lucius sighed before nodding, accepting the offer in the spirit it was given. He had already given up his pride by coming to the old cot, he would not give up his image as well.
"I shall be back around noon. Bags packs, and a cover story. Will I ever be returning?" Lucius said, straightening his robes as he glanced at Dumbledore.
"Yes. Hopefully, before Harry does." Dumbledore said.
"Right. Good day to you all." Lucius said.
With that, and a sweep of his robes, Lucius was gone.
"Headmaster Dumbledore." Dooku called once Lucius Malfoy had stormed past them and out the door, "I hope you realize the position you have placed us in."
"I do." Dumbledore said, "But what would you have me do? The man is very valuable; more so alive than dead or imprisoned. If I were to turn him away, he would no doubt be a very incited enemy."
"This man, Lucius Malfoy." Dooku said, "Is there anything else we need do about him."
"His son, Draco, I believe his name was." Dumbledore said, stroking his beard, "The boy will be very powerful. Yoda will be interested. I'll send a message ahead of you tonight."
"Thank you, Headmaster." Qui-Gon chimed in, bowing with respect.
"Now then, I understand how you two wish to leave as soon as possible." Dumbledore said, moving around his office as he gently ran his fingers over strange silver objects, "However, you will need to wait until nightfall."
"Understood." Dooku said, his head held high with pride and yet his gaze humble and kind.
"I have also been made aware that it will rain heavily tonight. I shall need to bring umbrellas when I see you off." Dumbledore said as Dooku and Qui-Gon exchanged quick looks at the thought of the Headmaster seeing them off.
"I was under the impression you would not be seeing us off, Headmaster Dumbledore." Dooku prodded easily as Dumbledore turned to him with twinkling eyes.
"Just a precaution, I can assure you." Dumbledore said, seeing their vague sense of discomfort with his presence watching their every move.
Dooku was reigning in his emotions as all Jedi were taught to do from their earliest, but he was finding it hard with all the unspoken things that were occurring. Dumbledore and Snape looked fairly comfortable with the tacit events, but Dooku knew that he for one was not.
"So the entire point of our coming up here to your office was not to leave now, but to offer a broken and nervous man a way out of prison through redemption." Dooku stated rather than questioned as Dumbledore nodded, though at least had the decency to look guilty.
"I apologize." Dumbledore said, "I was merely thinking of the best for the future, the Greater Good, and Harry himself."
"No!" Qui-Gon bellowed, having enough of Dumbledore's ways, "You will not use this child to hide behind your manipulations. I can understand that you're helping people and that you want this Dark Lord to be vanquished once and for all, but you will not use an infant to deflect from your own ways!"
"Qui-Gon!" Dooku roared, "Hold your tongue!"
"No… He is right…" Dumbledore sighed out, looking his age as his wrinkles seemed to more prominent and the twinkle in his eyes had disappeared, "Though I am thinking of Harry and his well-being, I can't use that as an excuse for what I have done here today. I have used to two fine gentlemen, my old friend Yoda, and even Severus here to see to it that Lord Voldemort is stopped once and for all. Excuse this old man for his moment of hubris in thinking that what I did would cause no ill will between us. I understand how you must feel. Though do understand I don't mean any harm. I have seen first-hand a person's fall to darkness, and battled those I've loved when they fell… I do not wish to do it again, and wish it so that darkness is stopped… I wish it so that people who fight that darkness, people like myself don't have to rise to such an occasion."
Not a word was spoken as the men in that office stared between each other in silence. It was twenty minutes of tension later when Harry awoke with a fussy wailing to showcase his hunger. Severus scowled half-heartedly at the child while shifting him in his arms.
"Hungry, are we?" Severus sneered at the Potter child, "Well, Poppy can fix that."
And with that, Severus stalked out of the office, his robes billowing as Qui-Gon resolved to ask the man how he created such an effect.
"We too shall be taking our leave, Headmaster Dumbledore." Dooku said, bowing as Dumbledore gave him a look.
"Please, call me Albus. I believe I requested so last night." Dumbledore said as Dooku couldn't recall if he did request such or not.
"If you wish… Albus." Dooku said, with him and Qui-Gon leaving the office.
"I don't like this, Master." Qui-Gon said as Dooku raised a brow.
"What do you not like, my former Apprentice?" Dooku replied.
"This complete situation. He just basically ordered us to take on more passengers." Qui-Gon said, scowling fiercely, "Plus, I believe he's hiding something."
"Of course he is." Dooku chuckled, "Aren't we all?"
"We need to investigate." but as soon as those words left Qui-Gon's lips, Dooku had rounded on him with a severe look in his eyes and a frown marring his face.
"We are Jedi, Keepers of the Peace; not officers nor detectives! It is our duty as Jedi to give any being who is in need of safe refuge or protection such accommodations. We will do as we are requested to by Albus until we leave." Dooku said firmly, "You will mind yourself while we are here, Qui-Gon. I sense dark things lurking about, ready to strike out at the first sign of curiosity. Do not give these things the chance, Qui-Gon."
"I…" but Qui-Gon sighed and lowered his head at the look his former mentor was giving him, "I will not, Master."
"Good." Dooku said, once again setting off for a quiet place to mediate on the impromptu meeting, "You stake too much into your surrounds. While it is a good thing, it is, like all other things in life, only so in moderation."
"Of course, Master. Thank you, Master." Qui-Gon replied as Dooku placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It was a lesson I could never get through that hick skull of yours before you became a brave Jedi Knight. Now you're a Jedi Master and still haven't learned." Dooku teased as Qui-Gon smirked.
"I am trying, Master." Qui-Gon said as Dooku chuckled.
"Well… I guess we can't all be good at all aspects of our jobs."
"Hey! I resent that!"
"But it doesn't help to make it any less true, now does it?"
"I reserve the right not to answer that question, Master."
"Former Master, and you're only helping to prove my point, my former Apprentice."
"He's a prime one, he is." Poppy Pomfrey said as she began to feed young Harry Potter his bottle-like sippy cup, glancing up at her colleagues, "He just can't seem to get enough. His eyes can't seem to taken in enough of his surroundings, and he's so curious for a one year-old."
"Indeed he is." Minerva McGonagall agreed, "Why, just yesterday, when I was looking over my lesson plans for the new year, the boy picked one of the parchment up and I would swear to you he was trying to read it."
"He must get that from his parents." Pomona Sprout said with a chuckle, "I remember when James Potter and his little friends would rush through the halls. Every time that boy said he was going to the library, I'd place spells on my plants so he couldn't touch them."
"Yes, James was a bit of a menace to plant life." Aurora Sinistra said as she reached up and gently stroked Harry's cheek, "He was so excitable when we were in school. Though I only knew them for the few years before I went on, he and Lily were some of the brightest people I had ever met."
"That they were." Professor McGonagall sighed, feeling tears overcome her. She did her best to push them back.
"That Lily Potter! Merlin bless her for settling that boy's antics!" Professor Sprout exclaimed with a teary-eyed laugh, "If it wasn't for her, we might have all been covered in pink with feathers and dots by the time the boy had left our halls."
"If it wasn't for her, I might have seen that fool-hearty boy more times than I did; and I saw him in my hospital wing many times just from Quidditch!" Madam Pomfrey said with a smile down at Harry, kissing his forehead, "I hope not to have to see you like I did your father; whining while getting your bones reset."
"Excuse, girls." Professor McGonagall said, sniffling, "I need a minute. Important work. Last m-minute." she said before walking swiftly out of the room while her colleagues watched on.
"James always did think of her like a school mother." Professor Sinistra confessed as she stood from the bed she had been sitting on to get a better look at Harry, "While he was very mischievous, he was also one of the cleverest students of his age."
"Lily was clever, too." Madam Pomfrey said as Professor Sprout stood as well, "She was the brightest witch of her age."
"Indeed she was." came Severus Snape's voice as he walked purposely toward the trio of women.
"Good evening, Severus." Madam Pomfrey said as the other two women on either side of her echoed her greeting.
"Good evening, ladies. I came to give the Potter boy this." Snape said, holding up a smoking vial.
"A potion?" Professor Sprout said, looking taken back.
"It will help with any health problems he may get from his new family abroad." Snape said as Professor Sinistra looked suspicious.
"Where is he going?" the dark-skinned witch asked as she stroked the infant's tuff of jet black hair.
"I was not made aware of that information. Snape said impassively, "All I know is that two gentlemen have come to see him safely to his new home abroad."
"What brew is that, Severus?" Madam Pomfrey asked as Snape handed her the vial.
"One Hundred In One Medicines." Snape replied as Madam Pomfrey whiffed at the smoke.
"Hmm… Alright." Madam Pomfrey agreed as she took Harry's bottle and handed the child to Professor Sprout before mixing the vial's contents into the bottle. Shaking the sippy cup well, Madam Pomfrey handed the bottle-like mug to Professor Sprout, who began to feed Harry happily with a smile as she sat back upon the bed.
"The boy sucks it up as though it'll disappear on him." Professor Sprout laughed as Sinistra sat next to her.
"He shall be leaving in a few hours. If you would have his things ready." Snape said to Madam Pomfrey, who nodded.
"Of course, I'll get right on that." she assured as Snape nodded, turning on heel and stalking out of the hospital wing with his robes billowing in his wake.
"I have got to have Severus teach me that." Sinistra giggled as Madam Pomfrey only rolled her eyes.
"That boy… Always so dreary and dramatic… Merlin, help him…"
"I have give him the potion, Headmaster. Just as you requested." Severus said as Dumbledore nodded.
"Good. It's magical properties will serve him well." Dumbledore said as he watched his fireplace.
"Might I ask why you've had me give the boy a Memory-Enhancing Potion at each of his meals thus far, Headmaster? Along with others." Snape demanded as Dumbledore gave him a look.
"Doesn't the name imply it all? Along with the others, as well?" Dumbledore countered as Snape glowered at him.
"Why, Albus?" Snape asked again as Dumbledore sighed.
"Where he is about to go, he'll need it all. They'll have him trying to recall details about an entire universe and it's history. A few more of those, and Harry will be able to recall even the earliest of memories years from now."
"Having a photographic memory could serve the brat well. Even I must admit that." Snape sneered as Dumbledore turned to him.
"He's a mere infant, Severus. Must you be so cruel, even to a child as young as he?" Dumbledore asked as Snape glared at him, baring his teeth even.
"Don't you dare ask me questions like that! If you had done what I asked, he'd have Lily here to scold me!"
"She and her husband made their choice, and they ended up placing their faith in the wrong man." Dumbledore said frostily, staring at Snape from over his half-mooned spectacles.
"I hope Black dies an agonizing death in Azkaban." Snape spat with more venom than he had mustered in years toward the second worst of the Marauders.
"I only wish I was allowed to see him." Dumbledore said, as though he were cursing bad luck, "If only I could figure out why he had done it. If only I could hear from him when he had turned. For the longest of time, I had suspect it was Peter Pettigrew who was the spy among us."
"I know." Snape said, "In fact, I had never seen Black when meting with the Dark Lord. But, it seems that the Dark Lord had kept backdoor meetings even from me."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said.
Before more of the conversion could go on, the fire in the Headmaster's office roared to life as the flames turned green. From the large fireplace came Lucius Malfoy followed closely by who was assumed to be his wife. The Lady Malfoy held the hand a small blond boy, who was currently sucking his thumb.
"We are ready, Dumbledore." Lucius said, his head held high as was his wife's. The child seemed confused, as children usually were when they in the midst of adult situations. The young blond boy looked around the room with wide and curious eyes before taking in the kindly image of the elderly Headmaster.
"You have taken everything you believe you'll be in need of?" Dumbledore queried as Lucius glared at him.
"Yes, of course!" Lucius snapped, "Are your little stooges ready to escort us away?"
"We are not stooges, Mr. Malfoy." came Dooku's voice as he and Qui-Gon entered the office, "However, we are ready to be off."
"Very good." Dumbledore said, turning back to Lucius, "Have you come up with a story for your absence?"
"We are going away to escape from the change in Pureblood ways which are sure to come with the Dark Lord's defeat. We shall, however, return someday when the situation has calmed enough." Lucius said as Dumbledore nodded.
"Then let us be off." the elderly wizard said as he gestured to his fireplace.
"You people travel by fire!" Dooku said, "What manner of sorcery is this?"
"What in the name of Merlin are you yelling about?" Lucius shot back.
"He is merely referring to the difference in culture between that of here and where you are going, Lucius." Dumbledore said, dusting off his robes as he thanked Mrs. Figg, as they were introduced to her, for letting them use her fireplace to arrive on Privet Drive.
"Now then, gentlemen, you umbrellas." Dumbledore said, reaching into his pocket as he took out several tiny twigs. With a wave of his hand, the twigs grew in size and changed shape until Qui-Gon was gaping at seven fully-formed umbrellas.
"Strange use of the Force… Simply strange…" Qui-Gon heard Dooku mutter as he took the umbrella. Dumbledore handed another to Snape, who made his float above him as he carried and fed the small Potter child. Lucius snatched his away from the old man, handing it to his wife Narcissa for her own use with their son Draco whilst he conjured his own with a wave of his wand.
"Using sticks to manipulate the Force in a metaphysical sense? That's practically the same as the old Sith Alchemy! … Although, I have not sensed the Dark-side from it… In fact, I barely sensed any ripples in the Force at all, and I'm mere meters from them…" Qui-Gon thought as he watched the wizards closely. Dooku had made him promise not to do anything against them, so he would merely collect his observations for later to present to the Jedi High Council.
"Shall we be out then?" Dumbledore asked, "I daresay this weather is dreadful, but you have an early flight to catch."
"Yes, then. Come, Qui-Gon." Dooku said as he and Qui-Gon went out the door which was held open by Mrs. Figg graciously, both Jedi leading the way back to their ship through the heavy storm.
"It should have been right over there!" Qui-Gon yelled over the rumbling thunder and heavy rain as he pointed to the empty lot with a swing set at the far corner. He might have only seen them a few times while on other planets, but Qui-Gon was sure that what lay before them couldn't properly be labeled a park.
"Perhaps we're just not seeing things… at the right angle, so to speak." Dumbledore said as he too took out a stick like the one Lucius had earlier and weaved it through the air like an orchestra conductor.
Before their very eyes, their Republic-class Jedi cruiser was revealed in a splash of golden light. They gawked at the power in which the mysterious beings of the planet wielded. They had been steadily growing more and more wary of the sorcerers, but now the two Jedi were just thrown for a loop. If they could make entire ships invisible, create umbrellas from twigs, transport great distances through fire travel, and do so without the Force reacting to these acts strongly, then it made Dooku and Qui-Gon somewhat fearful of what else they could do.
But then both Jedi realized that they were slowly, but steadily getting ahead of themselves. After all, fear was but the being of the path to the Dark-side…
"Everyone aboard who is going abroad, please." Dooku said as he gestured to the lowered boarding ramp of their ship. Lucius and Narcissa, who they had been introduced to, seem extremely wary of the metallic contraption, but at Dumbledore's persistence that they'd be fine, they finally, yet still reluctantly, got onto the ship… once Qui-Gon and Dooku both proved it was a safe walk up and into.
"Will that be all, Albus?" Dooku asked as he stood on the lowered boarding ramp.
"Yes, and thank you for this kindness." Dumbledore said as Snape handed off Harry Potter to Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon, figuring that the one year-old boy was alright enough to walk with assistance, sat Harry down on his feet and held his hand to keep him on his feet and upright.
"Be sure to feed him these green sippy cups at least twice." Snape said as Qui-Gon nodded, taking the large diaper bag from the dower man as he went aboard with Harry in tow.
"If that is all, we shall be off." Dooku said , standing under the ship while Dumbledore nodded, readying his umbrella as he and Snape left.
Dooku walked completely onto the ship as the boarding ramp came up and shut itself. Making his way to the cockpit, he saw that their pilot had just woken up and she was fawning over young Harry. Turning his attention to the side, he saw that the Malfoy family was huddled together in the corner of the ship, glancing around at all the shiny metal and bright blinking buttons as though it were all some form of deathtrap.
"No need to be alarmed. This is merely a more advanced form of transportation." Dooku said, but could still see the paranoia and culture shock in the Malfoy parents' eyes while their child seemed curious. Honestly, Dooku hated dealing with primitives and bringing them into the Republic, but it was his mission this time, "Please, allow me to show you to your room."
"This contraption has accommodations?" Narcissa asked as she and her husband exchanged interested looks.
"But of course, my Lady." Dooku said, appealing to the Malfoy's obvious sense of pride and superiority, "It's rooms may not be up to normal standards, but that is because this is a low-class ship; which is only supposed to possess the barest of such."
"We understand." Lucius said as he and his wife rose from their seats, "You seem to hold a great deal of regality yourself."
"Oh, yes" Dooku chuckled, as he guided them to their room, "You see, I was born into nobility. If I were not an honorable Keeper of the Peace, then I would be the highest ranking noble where I am from. They call the title Count of Serenno, a place ruled by the nobility."
"I see…" Lucius drawled as he gripped his cane, "I am Lord Lucius Malfoy, Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy. This is my wife, Lady Malfoy and our son Draco Malfoy."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Malfoy." Dooku said, shaking the man's hand, "Please, call me Count Dooku."
"As you wish, Count." Lucius said, smiling as Dooku dropped his hand and pressed a button on the wall next to a metal door. The door slid open quickly, making Lucius and Narcissa jump back in surprise and shock before they peered into the room. It wasn't much, but it was better than some rooms they had seen in commoner homes.
"Please, enjoy your accommodations for the moment. Our trip shall be a week long, and so I ask that you make yourselves at home." Dooku said, his eyes lingering to Draco, "If it would be to your liking, your son may join Qui-Gon Jinn and I as we help train young Mr. Harry Potter in the basic meditations done for his age group."
"Oh?" Narcissa said, casting an interested glance at her son before looking to her husband, "And how would this be done?"
"We would help in quieting the children's mind while they grow used to the feeling and experience so that they could do it on their own later in life. It's very useful and quite easy; like falling asleep." Dooku said as Lucius seemed to think it over.
"Well, we are starting a new life…" Lucius mused as he nodded, "Right then. Draco may participate in this mediation. It sounds a lot like Occlumency to me, so it will be of help to him in the future."
"Oh, Bella was so very good at Occlumency." Narcissa said to her husband as that seemed to cement the decision.
"Then all the more reason for Draco to start learning now." Lucius said, remembering the fierce woman that he had somewhat feared as his sister-in-law before she had been captured.
"Well, we shall be doing these mediations at least six times a day. Is that acceptable?" Dooku said, reading the man's positive and a bit overeager emotions.
"Better make it seven… it to be progressive." Lucius said knowing that the number seven was magically powerful in all things.
"Seven?" Dooku echoed, not sure why the man wanted to up the mediations to the extreme for children who had never experienced it, but merely taking it as the overeager sense he had felt from the man before, "As you wish, Lord Malfoy."
"Now then…" Dooku said as he glanced over the family, "I must contact our base of operations with my apprentice. Enjoy the night, for I shall come and collect young Draco Malfoy in the early morning."
"That is acceptable." Lucius drawled with a curt nod.
"Then I shall take my leave." Dooku said, leaving the room as the door slid open for him and then closed behind him.
"That is so strange…" Narcissa quipped as Lucius nodded.
"Indeed. Well, let's get the newt eyes from our potions case before they start to molt."
Tell me what you guys think, or ask questions. Leave a REVIEW and I'll reply to any questions you guys have as best I can.
Also, Draco is NOT going to be a Jedi. The reason why is pretty obvious from Lucius and Narcissa's point of views, but it will be explained later in the story.