Dear Readers,
Please enjoy chapter 4. This one is short but very important.
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Lucius Malfoy Apparated with a crack on the outskirts of his Manor in Whiltshire. The evening here was perfect, it was neither warm nor cold on the last night of October. The stars were shining brightly in the moonlit sky and the air was still crisp with the rain that was pouring heavily only an hour ago. The pleasant evening did not raise Lucius' spirits in the slightest however. The always cool and composed Lord Malfoy was running towards the handsome and yet imposing Manor house at a distance. Lucius cursed thin air as his Death Eater robes were slowing him down. As the Manor gates loomed closer, the wizard took out his wand and waved it quickly. He did not have to stop at all as his robes transfigured themselves from black to their usual smooth silver. The mask that he had in his hand vanished with a quiet hiss.
Lucius paid no attention to his surroundings as he crossed the gates, which automatically opened for him. The peacocks on the Manor grounds were crooning softly in their sleep while the magnificent marble fountain was playing a quiet tune with water. On a regular day, Lucius would have paused to arrogantly enjoy this sight; he was very proud of his background and his rather large fortune. But not tonight. Tonight, sheer panic was in his heart, threatening him to lose control completely.
He pulled back his left sleeve just as he climbed one of the elegant arched strairways leading to the front door. Looking at his pale arm, Lucius could see the Dark Mark. It was still shining brightly, but the inky black tattoo was fading before his very eyes. He waved his wand in a whip-like motion and the front doors opened quickly to permit him entrance.
'Narcissa!' Lucius yelled to the deserted entrance rotunda. 'Narcissa!'
A frightened looking house elf ran towards his master, bowing low. 'Master, Lady Malfoy is already in bed.'
'Fetch her this instant!' Malfoy roared, kicking the house elf with the pointy end of his shoe. He was unjustly furious and he craved a medium upon which he could release his anger and fear. He needed power and control and kicking a house elf seemed to be the only thing that made him feel an infinitesimal better.
The house elf squeaked in pain and gave his master a terrified look before Disapparating. Lucius waited for three painful minutes, his foot tapping on the cold marble floor impatiently, his hands wrung together, twisting urgently.
'Lucius, what has happened?' came a sharp question. Lucius' head jerked up at the stairway. Narcissa Malfoy was climbing down the ornate stairway leading to the living quarters. She was wearing a splendid emerald green silk nightgown. Lucius would have been taken by the sight if the circumstances were not as dire.
'Has Bella turned up?' Lucius asked in a rush, grabbing his wife's forearm.
'I already turned in, how should I know? Narcissa asked haughtily, trying to release her arm to no avail. 'Release me Lucius. What is the matter?'
He complied his wife's orders, letting go of her arm. 'I don't have time to explain Cissy. We need to find Bellatrix, she is a danger to herself.'
'Well shouldn't she be back at her manor? Go to Rodolphus' Lucius.'
Lucius gave a growl of frustration, stomping his foot loudly. 'If I do not locate Bellatrix immediately, everything will be ruined.'
'What will be ruined Lucius? Explain. Why is my sister in danger?'
Lord Malfoy pulled back his left sleeve again and showed his arm to Narcissa. She stared at it for a moment before gasping.
'The Dark Lord Lucius! What happened?'
'I don't know Cissy. The Potters' house simply blew up in front of me. The Dark Lord is gone.'
'Is he dead?' Narcissa inquired in awe.
'Don't be ridiculous Narcissa! If he were dead, the Mark would disappear completely. He is simply left powerless.'
'Are you going to find him?'
Lucius stared at his wife for a moment, unwilling to give her an answer just yet. He was spared from replied by a commotion at the front door.
'Unhand me you dirty monkey!'
'But Mistress, Mistress Malfoy is asleep already.' A different house-elf was pleading shrilly.
'I do not care. Unhand me or die.'
The front door was blasted open with a spell. Moonlight shown on the vestibule, shadowing the newcomer in an eerie silhouette. But the intruder moved forward, her wand gripped tightly. Bellatrix Lestrange was looking as beautiful as ever, her back straight, her skin pale but radiant and her shiny black locks reflecting light. Like Lucius, she disposed of her Death Eater attire, wearing a snug leather dress instead.
'Bella!' Lucius rushed towards his sister in-law.
'Lucius, you are here already! We need to move out right away, our Lord needs our help.'
'Calm down Bella, no one is going anywhere until we sit down and talk things out.' Lucius spat.
Bellatrix gave her brother in-law a venomous look. 'Do you want to be a traitor? We swore allegiance, we swore to protect and aid the Dark Lord.' Her eyes had a fanatic gleam in them.
'If you try to find the Dark Lord now, you will be apprehended and thrown into Azkaban. People already suspect you Bella, but thanks to me there is no evidence of your wrongdoing.' Lucius tried his best to convince the witch, though he long suspected that his efforts would prove fruitless.
'Fine, if you wish to be a traitor Lucius, you can have your way. The Dark Lord will be most displeased with you once I find him.' She turned away from the Malfoys, striding purposefully back towards the front door.
Lucius acted quickly. Pulling out his wand silently, he thought 'Incarcerous.'
Unfortunately for Lucius, Bellatrix reacted in time, deflecting his Binding Curse. The rumors of Bellatrix's magical prowess proved true; she was the most powerful witch in the Magical World. Unfazed, Lucius initiated a brief duel, trying to keep up with Bellatrix's speed.
What the black-haired witch did not expect was her sister joining forces against her. Narcissa rushed to aid her husband with a well placed Expelliarmus. Bella's wand flew out of her hand and Lucius' next spell was successful.
Shrieking, Bella tried to free herself from Lucius' ropes. 'Lucius! Release me! Traitor, coward, filth!'
Lucius silenced his sister in-law with a spell and levitated her thrashing body.
'The guest bedroom.' Narcissa breathed out, leading the way.
Very quickly, the Malfoys made it upstairs, with Bella's body bobbing up and down ahead of them.
'Quietly Lucius, don't wake Draco.' Narcissa pleaded, opening one of the larger guest bedrooms.
'Do you have her wand?' Lucius whispered.
'Yes.'
Nodding, Lord Malfoy dumped Bellatrix unceremoniously on the carpeted floor and set about to change the room into a luxurious prison. He placed magical bars on the windows, preventing anything but air to enter or exit the room. The bathroom window followed suit. The door was transfigured into a massive metallic block with a barred window near the top.
'That should get us along for a while.' Lucius said at last, ushering his wife out of the room.
'Relashio!' Narcissa said, pointing her wand through the bars. The ropes binding Bellatrix were cut open. At once, Bella pounced on the door, her face livid, her mouth opening and closing, no doubt throwing a slew of insults at the pair of Malfoys. Luckily, no sound came out due to Lucius' Silencing Charm. Feeling defeated, Bella hammered hard on the metal door, producing loud thumping noises.
Before Lucius and Narcissa could do anything, they heard a child's crying in a distance.
'Draco!' Narcissa gasped, already rushing towards her son's nursery.
'Stupefy!' Lucius roared, stunning his sister in-law. Bellatrix dropped on the ground unconscious. Satisfied at last, Lucius turned away and walked quickly to the nursery.
Narcissa was bent over a huge coot, singing a soft tune to a drowsy baby boy. Draco Malfoy was feeling restless but he could not resist the enchanting power of his mother's lullaby. Lucius approached the bed and looked at his son. At last, Draco fell asleep, not a care for the world.
Narcissa sighed audibly, sitting down on one of the plush armchairs. Lucius remained standing by the coot, his hand stroking his son's blond hair.
'I am so lucky to have you and Draco.' Lucius whispered, pulling a blanket over the sleeping Draco.
Lucius walked back towards his wife and leaned down.
'There is work to be done.' He whispered.
Narcissa gulped, but nodded. 'Go then, do what you need to do.'
Lucius nodded in affirmation, already getting up.
'Lucius.' Narcissa whispered suddenly.
He turned to look at her inquiringly.
'Remember what you promised me. No matter what happens, no matter what you do, Bella must not go to Azkaban. She must remain free.'
'I remember. I promise to protect her.'
Lady Malfoy smiled and watched as her husband exited the room.
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