The Beginnings of a Death Eater—Chapter Ten
Lunchtime wasn't fun anymore, no time was. Aside from Lucius' weekly Muggle and mudblood torture sessions with the dark lord, which did nothing to improve his humor, he did little besides study and mope. Now he sat brooding at a Slytherin table, picking at his food between stealing glances of Narcissa at another table, just as he did every meal of late. All around him boisterous Slytherins laughed, joked, shared stories, yet he heard none of it; attempts to draw him into conversation failed miserably.
Only a week of school remained until summer holiday, and he'd grown no closer to bridging the gap between Narcissa and himself. Why didn't she simply announce the end to their engagement and stop tormenting him? Everyone already knew, what was she waiting for? Each day he lived in fear of hearing those dreaded words, while simultaneously hoping for it for no other reason than to end this damnable suspense. With a final scowl thrown in her direction, he got up and left the room.
"Lucius," a voice behind him said.
He looked back at a pretty brunette striding quickly to catch up. "Yes?"
"Can I walk with you?"
He shrugged and kept walking.
"I'm Roxie."
"I know," he said. "You're in two of my classes."
She smiled, pleased he'd noticed. "I've wanted to talk to you for a long time, but with you and Narcissa together… you know, it seemed weird. And I didn't want her getting mad or jealous."
He sniffed. "No need to worry about that now."
"Where are you headed?"
Lucius paused. He didn't actually know, he'd just started walking to get away from her. It didn't really matter, his next class didn't begin for an hour. As long as it kept Narcissa out of sight, it would do. "Wherever you want to go."
Roxie flashed him a coy smile as she turned off the main corridor into a little-used hallway. "I found this place once when I was skipping class and I saw a prefect coming. I ducked in here." She yanked open a door Lucius would have sworn was a broom closet. Instead, stone steps winding the walls of a narrow turret spiraled upward as far as he could see.
"A watch tower?" he asked.
"I think so. Come on up." She took his hand and started up the steps, hugging the wall with her back. "Be careful, there's no railing."
"Really? I hadn't noticed," he drawled sarcastically. He pulled his hand away from her as he followed up the dizzying staircase, winding round and round with his back pressed so hard against the side he was afraid it might rip his robes. Not that he couldn't repair them, of course, it was the principle of the thing. In his mind he prattled on, trying not to think how easily they could plunge to their deaths. It wasn't that he feared heights, for flying had always been one of his favorite activities, but he had no broom, nor room in which to maneuver one.
"It's not much farther," Roxie said. She was enjoying the view of Lucius below her; it seemed a shame it had to end. Momentarily the steps gave way to a round, stone platform eight feet in diameter, surrounded by a chest high barrier. She walked to the edge to peek over.
Lucius' head popped up over the rampart. "Nice," he murmured, spinning slowly to take in the utter beauty of the scene. From this vantage they see the lake in the distance, surrounded by picturesque mountains and rolling hills. "I forgot how lovely it is here."
"You've been here?" she exclaimed.
"No, I meant Hogwarts. When I'm playing Quidditch I see this incredible view. I mean, when I played Quidditch," he corrected himself, frowning. So he'd whacked his teammate with a bat, what was the big deal? The idiot was fine now, and look at how many times he'd wanted to whack one of the other players, and hadn't. Shouldn't that count for something?
A cool breeze brushed over them. Roxie cuddled close to Lucius. "It's a bit cold, isn't it? If I'd known I was coming, I'd have brought a heavy robe."
"Hmmm," he answered. He wasn't entirely sure he liked her proximity, yet it seemed babyish to move away. And anyway, why should he move away? At least Roxie wasn't ignoring him! Out of spite he put an arm around her shoulders.
She sighed softly. "Did you know I've liked you all year?"
"No," he said honestly. "Why?"
Roxie giggled and snuggled even closer. "Why do I like you? You're gorgeous and clever and everyone looks up to you."
"Well, um, thank you," he returned, blushing. He was glad she couldn't see it. He'd only meant 'Why do you ask?'
"Lucius, I realize we barely know each other, but…" Roxie tilted her head up to gaze into his face looking down at her. "I've wanted to do this all year. Do you think I could kiss you?"
Shocked into immobility, he could only stare stupidly. It had been so long since he'd kissed anyone except Narcissa. Roxie, assuming his lack of response to be permission, leaned forward, grabbed the back of his head in her hands, and planted a hard smooch on his lips. He stumbled back, pushing her away.
"Roxie, I don't think I ought to be doing this."
"Why not? You said you and Narcissa are through."
"But I—" It sounded too crybaby-like to claim he didn't want them to be through. "It's not official," he mumbled.
"You can make it official." In two steps she was upon him again, pressing her body against him, forcing him backward into the barrier. "I'm not a prude like Narcissa. I'll give you whatever you want." Her hands seemed to wrap themselves around his waist, grope his ass, and cop a feel of his front all at the same time, sending a random thought flitting through his mind that maybe she had more than two of them.
Brushing aside her audacious mitts off his delicate areas as fast as she could place them, he answered, "I'm flattered." And a little scared, he acknowledged, heart thumping. He'd never been with such a forward girl, though he had to admit if Narcissa was the one feeling him up, he'd make no effort to stop her. "But until everything is settled we'd better just be friends."
"Friends who do this?" she purred, licking his throat from chin to chest.
He gasped with delight, biting his lip. If she copped another feel, she'd undoubtedly be more encouraged than would be prudent, given the situation. "Um, probably not," he breathed, yet this time he didn't push her away. "Oh!" There went her hand to his crotch!
"Oh," she echoed, smiling broadly. "You do like it."
"Roxie, I can't!" he stated forcefully, taking her arms in his hands and shoving her roughly backward. She stumbled, saved from a nasty fall only by his tight grip on her arms, steadying her.
"You could! Your body seems to be in working order," she retorted, jerking free of his grasp. "Any other boy would jump at the chance I'm giving you. It's pretty obvious you enjoy it, so why are you fighting? I'm not ugly."
"No, you're very attractive," he conceded, "And I do like it, but… I'm engaged. I can't be fooling around with some girl." He'd handled that quite well, he thought.
Roxie kicked him in the shin and stormed over to the stairs, leaving him hopping on one foot nursing a bruise. "You don't play me and get away with it, Malfoy!" she hissed, then took off at a run down the steps.
"Play you?" he repeated to himself. "Who's the one getting all grabby?" He hobbled over to the staircase to peer into the winding shaft. Already Roxie was halfway down.
Lucius pulled off the leather cord holding his disheveled hair, smoothed his locks, and retied the cord, then brushed off his robes. By the time he eventually made it to the bottom, it might be time for class. Always best to be prepared. He gingerly stepped into the stairwell and flattened himself against the wall.
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Lucius didn't bother to show up for dinner. He wasn't hungry to begin with, and he had tests to study for. Besides, it was bad enough to face Narcissa day after day without having to navigate around another of the female beasts, especially that loose canon called Roxie. The stress had got to the point he truly couldn't wait to go home which, all facts considered, was definitely an indication of stress overload.
Goyle trudged in and stood staring at Lucius' back, saying nothing.
"What do you want, Goyle?" He twisted around to see the thug grinning—or leering, which just seemed too creepy, so he chalked it up to a smile.
"Narcissa's on the warpath. She found out you were screwing around with that slut Roxie."
The blood drained from Lucius' face. "I wasn't," he protested feebly.
"You don't have to deny it to me; I say if they offer, take it."
"I didn't, I said!"
Goyle shrugged his heavy shoulders. "That's not what Roxie told everybody at supper. She said you lured her into the watch tower and had sex with her. Narcissa's having fits in the common room right now. She tried to come in here but Crabbe stopped her."
Lucius got up on shaky legs. This was NOT happening, it couldn't be! Like the walking dead he pushed past Goyle and stumbled down into the common room where a rather large group of boys and girls had gathered around to listen to Narcissa recounting the things she'd like to do to Lucius. When she caught sight of him, she flung herself at him and began pounding his chest and arms with her fists.
"You lying, filthy cheat! I never should've trusted you!"
Lucius snatched her wrists, holding her at bay while he spoke in a calm voice belying his interior angst. "Roxie is the liar. I didn't do anything with her."
"Were you in the tower with her?" Narcissa demanded, struggling futilely to free herself from his grasp.
"Yes, but—"
"And did you kiss her?"
"No! She kissed me!" He probably shouldn't have said that.
Narcissa redoubled her efforts, managing to loose one hand, which she swung in an arc to smack across his face, hard. "Let go of me! I hate you!"
Gritting his teeth, Lucius held even tighter. "Narcissa, this isn't the place to discuss this. Everyone is watching."
She brought her knee up into his groin; immediately he released her and doubled over, while all the boys in the room winced as they automatically shielded their own jewels.
"This is the perfect place, Mr. Malfoy, because I am officially and publicly breaking our betrothal! I hope you rot in hell!" She burst into tears and ran off toward the girls' dormitory.
Lucius managed to lift his head in time to see her disappearing down the stairs. He forced himself upright, humiliation written all over him as plainly as the red flush in his face. This wasn't over, not by a long shot. He tossed his head, lifted his chin, and strode back to his room.
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Lucius pushed himself up from the wall where he'd been leaning, waiting. "Roxie," he drawled to the girl as she exited the bathroom.
Roxie looked over at him, wary. "What?"
"You went to a lot of trouble yesterday to cause Narcissa to break our engagement."
She shrugged one shoulder, still not sure where this was going. "What do you want?"
Lucius forced himself to smile pleasantly. Only his eyes refused to obey. "You told everyone we had sex. It seems only fair I get to do what I'm accused of. Don't you agree?"
Pursing her lips, she studied him silently. He was so awfully cute, and if he wasn't mad about yesterday, what would it hurt? "Okay."
Lucius snapped up her hand to whisk her along the empty corridor, glancing furtively around. He opened the door to a space under a staircase, tugged her inside, and closed the door tight. Hurriedly he drew his wand and chanted a bubble of silence charm.
"We wouldn't want anyone to hear, now would we?" he purred. In a heartbeat, he pointed his wand at her and growled, "Immobulus."
Her body went rigid; he stepped closer, eyes narrowed with fury.
"You despicable whore. As long as everyone believes you, it's alright? You can do what you want? Fine. As long as nobody can prove what I'm doing, it must be alright, too. Learn this lesson, Roxie, and learn it well: Don't. Cross. Me. Again."
He raised the wand once more to utter, for the very first time willingly, "Crucio."
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James and Remus ducked into a compartment of Hogwarts train, ready for their summer holiday, excited to be going home. They joined Sirius, who was slumped in the seat opposite them, his exuberance tempered by the news he had to share.
"I got an owl this morning from mum," he began. "She said to make sure you guys know not to contact me this summer. I'm not allowed to see you, thanks to Cissy."
"Why? Because of Snivellus?" James asked, making a disgusted face.
"Yeah. She said if I'm gonna pick on wizards, I could at least," here he imitated his mother's harsh tone, "make sure the scum are those filthy mudbloods!"
James' brow dipped, his hands clamped into fists.
"Sorry. Her words, not mine," Sirius apologized.
"She sounds… lovely," James replied, rolling his eyes.
Sirius smiled. "Don't let this fool you, she's really a battle-ax." He burst out laughing at his depiction.
"It's not nice to talk about your mother that way," Remus put in quietly.
"She also hates werewolves, doesn't matter if it's not your fault."
Abashed, Remus turned to look out the window.
"I don't think she knows about you," Sirius offered, trying to make up to him. "Just in general."
James leaned forward to nudge Sirius in the side and motioned outside their compartment where Severus Snape was trying to wiggle past a horde of Slytherin girls. For an instant he glimpsed inside and his eyes went wide at seeing his tormentors. He turned his head, shoving harder to make his way past.
"Should we, Sirius?" James asked, fingering his wand, grinning mischievously.
"Nah. Cissy's on the train, too. He'd probably run to tell her, then she'd squash us. She's in a really bad mood since she dumped the blond jerk." A light shiver ran through him. He'd fought with his cousin many times over the years, they'd traded malevolent insults, but never had he seen her so utterly vitriolic as she'd become lately. "Looks like Snivellus is safe for another year, till Cissy graduates. After that, all bets are off."
"It's not really necessary to pick on him, you know," said Remus, continuing to stare out the window. "Why can't you leave him alone?"
"Spoken like a true pacifist," James mocked. "He's our sworn enemy, Remus."
"Hey, James," said Sirius. "Next week you want to sneak over to Lily's and peek in her windows?"
"Yeah! Wait, I thought you weren't allowed to hang around with me."
Sirius waved a hand as if to brush away his mother's orders, sniffing in a way barely short of contempt. "She doesn't pay me enough attention to notice if I'm home."
"What if she catches you?"
The other boy shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been hit before. It's the screaming at me I hate. Of course, if she really wanted to be mean, she'd make me go to Cissy's coming of age party." He made a show of gagging and retching, egged on by the laughter of his friends.
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Every day since arriving home, Lucius kept an eye out for owls, purposely hanging around his father's study where delivery was most likely to occur. As long as Abraxas didn't become aware of his unusual behavior, and as long as the blasted owl arrived while the man was at work, Lucius foresaw no problem with his plan. Day four finally saw the arrival of the bird, which flew directly to the study and perched on Abraxas' desk. Despite the squawking protests, Lucius removed the paper from its leg with trembling fingers, his stomach churning, his heart racing.
Four O's. One E. One A.
"Damn it!" he snapped.
Unfolding the parchment completely, he laid it on the desk, pushing the still-irritated owl aside, and took out his wand. Bellatrix had—miraculously—taken the time to walk him through the steps to this particular spell, one much more complicated than the typical one-worders. It first consisted of obfuscating the current marks so that they became unreadable, followed by a beguiling charm to lead the reader into seeing what the wizard wanted them to see, and finally a hardening spell to fix the marks on the parchment. Paying close attention to detail, Lucius recited the incantations exactly as Bella had instructed him, to be rewarded at last with a report that now read six O's. He held it up to the light and examined it from every angle, satisfied that no one could tell it had been faked.
"Thank you, Bella," he said quietly as he rolled up the parchment to reattach to the owl's leg.
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Abraxas heard the owl hooting noisily in his study before he'd got anywhere near the door. Indeed, perched there on his desk was a Hogwarts owl; it did what could only be described as a bizarre little dance upon catching sight of him, leaping up and down, spinning itself in circles, hopping from foot to foot. He crossed the room, removed the parchment, and shooed it out the window.
"All O's," he remarked to himself. "That's more like it."
He set the paper down, prepared to relax from the day's work, when a cloying suspicion wormed its way into his brain. He tried to toss it out with the rationalization that Lucius wouldn't dare try anything so brazen. He wouldn't dare.
With a disgusted sigh, he removed his wand from his shirt pocket. He swirled it three times over the paper as he recited the charm, then tapped the wand down. Nothing. The marks remained the same.
"Well, good," he said aloud. If Lucius had somehow got hold of an enchanting spell, this countercharm would have revealed it. Unless, he thought in annoyance, the brat had managed to find an older wizard willing to teach him a spell bordering on illegality.
His wand lifted again. As he spoke the charm, he swirled it clockwise with a light rap on the parchment, counterclockwise and rap, clockwise once more. To an observer it would look like swirl-tap, swirl-tap, swirl-tap. The spell now reversed, his son's true grades stared at him like a slap in the face.
"Lucius!" he bellowed.
Not content to wait for a house elf to fetch the boy, he stormed up the stairs clutching the parchment in one hand, his wand in the other. He burst into his son's room, where Lucius was reclining on his bed. At the sight of his enraged father, he bolted upright and jumped off the bed.
"Father, what—" Then he saw the parchment, which was extremely hard not to see because it was shoved in his face only inches from his nose. He gulped loudly as if swallowing the heart that had leapt into his throat.
"Did you honestly think you could fool me, son?" snarled Abraxas. "Did you believe I wouldn't check for enchantments?"
"But why would you?" squeaked Lucius, backing up until his legs struck the edge of the mattress.
"Because I know you!" shouted the man. He balled up the paper and threw it on the floor. "Damned sophisticated enchantment, too," he went on, seething. "I know they didn't teach you that at school!"
This seemed like a good time for Lucius to keep his mouth shut, and for once he listened to his instinct.
Abraxas took a step closer. "Did I not make it abundantly clear last year that I expect more than mediocre grades from you? Of course, I did!" he answered himself. "Why else would you go to the trouble of enchanting the parchment? Instead of rising to the level of a Malfoy, you've apparently sunk to the level of a troll!"
In a tiny voice Lucius spoke up in his own defense. "It wasn't a Troll mark, it was an A."
"Shut up!" A backhand knocked him onto the bed. "I've tried, Lucius, I have tried very hard to be a better father to you than mine was to me. Have I ever hung you in the dungeon for days on end until you thought your arms would tear from your body? No. Have I ever flayed the skin off your back so it took the healers days to fix you? No. How do you repay my leniency? By lying, cheating, mouthing off—hell, stealing and killing for all I know!"
He took a few moments of panting heavily to catch his breath while Lucius gaped in utter terror, then resumed the tirade. "Maybe my father was right. I respected him enough to be honest with him, I knew to keep my big mouth shut, and I sure as freaking hell would never, ever try to pull something like this!"
"Father, I'm sorry," Lucius murmured. "I won't do it again."
"You're damned right you won't!"
With one hand he snatched Lucius by the arm; with the other he waved his wand and the two Disapparated, then Apparated in the dungeon. Another flick sent Lucius careening face first against a wall where a rusty set of irons clamped onto his wrists and pulled him upward until his toes only scraped the floor.
"Father, please don't do this!" he begged. He struggled briefly, which served only to tear at the skin of his wrists. From the pain shooting through his nose, he could only surmise it had been broken in the collision with the wall.
"It's my responsibility to discipline you, Lucius. When you refuse to learn any other way, you leave me no option."
"I'll learn, I swear! Please let me go!"
Abraxas ignored the pleading. "I swore to myself I'd never use a whip on my children, and I haven't. I never made any promises about this." He put away his wand, then unfastened his belt, drawing it quickly from its loops. He wrapped the leather around his hand, buckle dangling. "You don't know how much it pains me to have to do this, son."