Severus did not sleep well. The bath had relaxed him, the brandy had calmed him, the bed was comfortable and the covers warm. 6 years 4 months and 5 days, sharing a room with Lucius.
Merlin's beard! He wasn't a child. He could sleep in a room by himself. He had longed for this, and now the solitude was suffocating. He rolled onto his right side, and the silence was deafening. At least here he could see the clock marching on. 4o'clock, too early for breakfast, but a coffee would likely be found in the dining room.
He dressed quickly in the robes from yesterday. The only plain black set he had managed to find in Lucius gaudy collection. The elves had managed to was and press them, and there was no one in the manor to impress.
Relishing the simple freedom of walking to the dining room he was surprised to see Lucius already there nursing an espresso. An elf popped in to receive orders for the next batch of coffees and disappeared just as quickly.
"The elves seem to have clamed down slightly." Severus observed, the coffee materialising in front of him.
"Thank Merlin, otherwise I wouldn't have a stable left in a week. Serving a thestral, I do not know what they were thinking."
"It was almost worth it to see Grangers reaction. I don't think I have heard of that recipe being used in 200 years" Severus smirked.
"Because no one had been stupid enough to try and serve thestral to guests in 200 years. Dirty creatures only fit for potions and making boots from" Lucius scowled, no wizard would touch meat from magical horses usually. If it wasn't directly cursed like unicorns it was still thought to bring bad luck. Unfortunately house elves were not known for their superstitious nature. And Malfoy elves were not going to allow social niceties to prevent them from serving their master a welcome feast.
"Oh, you're both up" The Granger girl announced her appearance, walking over to a free seat at the end of the table.
"Yes, good morning Miss Granger. Would you like some coffee? We were just recollecting last night's attempt at a banquet by the elves." Lucius greeted her, keen to carry on laying the groundwork for her to become comfortable with himself and Severus.
"Tea if I may please. And it is not surprising the poor little mites are having a hard time the way they are enslaved." Hermione retorted as a tea service appeared, warming to one of her favourite topics. Really, wanting freedom for himself but not the elves! Typical!
"You'll leave the tea then?" Severus said rolling his eyes, really the girl couldn't even say good morning without being insufferable.
"Leave her Severus. She obviously knows little about house elves" Lucius said, tying for kindly, but instead managing patronising.
"How dare you! Nothing gives someone the right to hold others against their will and force them to work." Hermione answered her voice becoming shrill. She had been one of the senior government advisors before Potter became Minister, of course she knew what she was talking about.
"But elves aren't held against their will Miss Granger." Lucius carried on, his tone becoming more even. "House elves have no magic of their own, they are only able to channel the magic of the family they serve. An exchange if you will. That is why some people will tell you elves have powerful magic, it is our family protection magic. As wizards we can only access it in times of great distress, whereas the elves can call it as they wish.
"It is why my elves were so enthusiastic yesterday. They family magic was suppressed by the wards at Azkaban, our escape yesterday left them with a magic rush. I imagine they were feeling a little giddy."
"Giddy?" Severus cut in "Slaughtering a thestral? You can not tell me there were no chickens down on one of the farms?"
"Chicken? Hardly suitable for a Malfoy." Lucius sneered.
"But, when Dobby was free, he could still use magic." Hermione cut in, a smug look in her eye, no one bested her in a debate.
"Dobby was never free. He attached himself immediately to Potter, and served the Potter line, just because he accepted money from Dumbledore does not mean that he was free. Let me ask you how did he die?" Lucius asked
"He took a knife, meant for Harry." Hermione replied quietly, it couldn't be true could it?
"Loyally laying down his life for his master. Sounds like dedicated service to me" Lucius said trailing off at the end. "Granger, what happened to Dobby when he died?" The voice came back sharply.
Hermione looked up sharply, really this man's moods, quiet, loud, sharp, sarcastic. Where was she? "We buried him. Harry insisted." Back in the day when he was Harry, not Potter. Back in the day he was good, their shining light.
"HE DID WHAT!" Two voices shouted
"Damn Dumbledore. Refusing to educated muggleborns in the ways of wizards. Well we know where the madness likely started." Lucius carried on. "There is a reason Granger that elves are only attached to old families. Binding magic and blood magic is complex and not lightly trifled with, you don't just bury an elf. They are tied to your family magic and the heart at least should be destroyed on death. Otherwise as they decompose family protections breakdown as well."
Hermione stared at Lucius in horror. "Dobby is draining the Potter protection magic?"
"Drained, I would say. The process is likely finished now. Not that it happens often enough for anyone really to know." Severus cut in. "Bloody hell. He is certainly mad then, not just paranoid."
"Yes, but it will make things easier. You were talking of forming a plan my friend." Lucius said leaning back, savouring the comfort of a proper armchair after the bench in his cell.
"I want to start brewing some polyjuice. Have Granger spotted walking through the ministry, Diagon Alley, you get the picture. There will be rumours of her escape, but it will not be reported in the press." Severus began, "I want to start causing some instability, giving people a little hope."
CRACK
Severus was cut short by a flash of light and a loud crack. Lucifer appeared in an empty seat.
"Not one to dress for breakfast My Lord?" Lucius raised an amused eyebrow at the welcome intruder.
"Not all of enjoy clothes as much as you my darling peacock." Lucifer smirked, stretching his arms up, displaying his very naked body to full advantage. Hermione blushed and looked away, she would say it had been a long time since she had seen a man like that, but she would be lying- Hermione had never seen a man like that.
Lucius smirked, the devil fed off lascivious thoughts, if the girl thought she was protecting herself by acting embarrassed she was about as wrong as she could be.
"Can we help you my Lord? After all I am sure I there is something else you would rather be UP to" Lucius said, heavy with innuendo.
"Perhaps a brandy?" Lucifer began.
"But, it's not even 6o'clock" Hermione said, voice heavy with outrange.
"Ohhh aren't I a Devil" Lucifer laughed toasting her with the glass that appeared. "I like her Lucius, I really like her."
"Please my Lord, she is not for you." Lucius cut in watching the girl go white. She really would have to watch herself, the last thing she needed was to become a target of the devil. Although to be fair pickings were pretty slim at the moment.
"I did wonder why you wanted her along to Lucius. Good luck." Lucifer smiled widely, the girl seemed very uptight, but Lucius always had interesting tastes. "But I just stopped by to see how you all were this morning and leave you some potion stores and wands, I assume you will have problems with immediate supplies.
"But I must leave you now, the plans of men are not my concern, I will help you as I can however."
With that he was gone and silence reigned once more.
A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed, followed and favourited. I have not written for a long while, but it is good to be back and I do hope you have enjoyed the update.