Thank you for being so patient with me! I'm delighted you like my story. To a couple people who asked, the Jin'taar are entirely made up. I was thinking of the different magical creatures and races and thought the idea of a phoenix in human form was a neat one. Jin'taar can be scary though, as Avery found out!
Here's the next chapter without further interruptions!
Christmas gatherings and ventures have always been extravagant in the wizarding world. Up until recent times the Malfoy family has been considered the most prestigious event. It is still grand and beautiful. Now the Riddle family event at the House of Ancients is the most prestigious invitation you can receive. Purebloods only, of course. -Chapter 10, From Darkness Emerges
December 23rd-
Draco Malfoy stood next to his father, feeling monumentally nervous. This was the first official gathering he was attending since his inclusion into the ranks of the Death Eaters. He wanted, above all, to make a good impression and make his father proud of him. The second more than the first really.
Even when Draco had been tiny he'd loved and looked up to his proud father. It had been Lucius who'd taken care of him after he was born, Narcissa hadn't wanted anything to do with the child she'd grudgingly borne her Lord. It had been 4 years before she'd taken any interest in him. When Draco considered what she'd done it was still enough to make him coldly furious.
It had started at his 4th birthday. He remembered being upset that his father hadn't been there. Narcissa had soothed him, mentioning that he was out of the country on business. After that day he'd started having lunch and dinner with his mother, seeing Lucius only rarely. She had, Draco thought back with a silent snarl, just about managed to ruin him.
That had come to a raging halt after his 3rd year. Severus had reported to his father how he'd treated the DADA Professor, Remus Lupin. Lucius had been furious. He had sent Narcissa to Germany for that summer and proceeded to remove every single bit of Narcissa's superiority complex. Then Draco had spent a very busy summer reading texts and studying proper pureblood protocols and etiquette for any given situation. It had been embarrassing to realize how Narcissa had been manipulating him.
He had next seen his loving mother after his 5th year and she'd tried worming her way into his confidences again. That had run into a brick wall early on and she'd left after colossally losing her temper and yelling at Lucius. Watching his mother embarrass herself without any help from Lucius had been a real eye-opener for Draco and he realized now that all she'd been doing was turn him into an incurable brat.
He exited his mental musings as he held his father's arm and they Apparated. They appeared with a soft pop and Draco straightened his medium blue dress robes. His father wore robes of silver with violet trim, the Malfoy family colors. Looking around he suddenly noticed the structure they were approaching and stared at it in shock.
"Father, where are we?"
"This is the Forest of Dean, and that is the House of Ancients. It was built by Salazar Slytherin before Hogwarts was more than a goal in the Founders' minds," Lucius said quietly. "It currently belongs to the only person with 8 blood ties to Salazar Slytherin."
Draco nearly gaped at his father as they passed through the wards, which flickered a momentary dark crimson at their passing. "You mean there's an Ancient pureblood alive? Who?"
"You know him from school," Lucius replied.
Lucius watched his son's expression upon seeing the House of Ancients for the first time and had to admit his own reaction had been quite similar. Salazar Slytherin may not have promoted the intimidation techniques but this manor was certainly an example of that. As they walked up to the huge double doors they swung open silently, revealing a pair of house elves in smart black and silver livery.
Lucius recognized the one from the last meeting and waited. "Welcome to the House of Ancients, Lord and Heir Malfoy. If you would follow me, I will lead you to the study."
Lucius watched the mosaic floor and noted the most prominent color was now a sky blue. He made a mental note to himself about that color and knocked on the door the elf indicated with a respectful bow.
"Come in," was the hissed reply.
Lucius opened the door and walked inside, Draco making sure to close the door behind them. The Dark Lord was seated behind a massive ebony desk, Nagini coiled around the base of his chair. She hissed what Lucius supposed was a greeting as he bowed his head respectfully, Draco echoing the action with the slightest of nerves.
"Enjoying your holidays, Draconis?"
"Yes, My Lord. A break from the constant studying is welcome."
"Indeed," Voldemort replied. Turning red eyes on Lucius he said, "My grandson passed on your message. Which two of my Horcruxes have you recovered?"
"Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Salazar Slytherin's locket, My Lord. The diadem and sword will be more difficult to procure as both are under Dumbledore's jurisdiction."
"Have my grandson help you retrieve the diadem, you may need some of his special abilities."
"When do you need them by, my Lord?"
"Three weeks prior to Easter. It will be on Easter that this all ends. Now go, I will be joining the party momentarily."
Lucius bowed, echoed by Draco. When they had shut the door behind them Draco said quietly, "The Dark Lord has a grandson?"
Lucius nodded and said, "You will meet him soon."
Another elf led them to the ballroom. Standing outside the doors was a figure with pale skin and delicately curved ears, wearing a beautiful silk dress robe cut Mandarin style in silver with jade green piping and tiny but elaborate gold embroidery in a pattern of Celtic knots. The silk was cut to hug the slender body and usually loose hair had two braids on each side of the head with the rest flowing loose.
He could see Draco was trying to figure out the identity of the familiar figure. Harry helped him along by gracefully striding up to them. Hooked around his left ear was a delicate chain to which was attached an emerald the size of Lucius' thumbnail. Once he was within casual speaking distance he greeted them.
"Lucius, Draco. Have you already spoken to Grandfather? He was most curious about the objects you asked me to mention."
Lucius replied, watching out of the corner of his eyes as Draco paled, realizing exactly who this was. "Yes, we did. Your house elves were kind enough to lead us to his study and here. He suggested that I ask for your help on retrieving Ravenclaw's diadem, he said some of your abilities may come in useful."
Harry hummed quietly in agreement and said, "If I remember his description of the diadem's defenses, you will need one of my gifts in particular to escape that room alive."
A voice to Lucius' left said cheerfully, "Good evening, Lucius! Did my information play out correctly on the locket?"
"Greetings, Lilithia. Yes, your information was sound on Mundungus Fletcher. He did indeed have Salazar's locket and was most willing to hand it over."
Lilithia wore a strapless ankle-length gown in shimmering emerald green with her red hair loose and wavy. The dress had a slit past her hip and was paired with silver two-inch stiletto heels. She looked amazingly beautiful and polished and several low-ranked Death Eater's gazes were openly admiring. Her stares back were openly derisive.
"Ha!" A voice said from Harry's right, "you finally showed up."
Severus' usual black robes were made of silk this time, with delicate silver trim and embroidery. He had dropped the considerable glamour and washed his black hair, which was bound back by a simple silver chain. The glamour created his sallow skin and eagle-like nose. Without it he had pale but healthy skin and a straight nose that turned his face from sharp to rivaling Sirius Blacks', especially when paired with eyes that looked black but were actually very dark blue.
They all walked into the ballroom together and split up; mingling with people they knew or wished to speak to. Draco still looked a little stunned at the fact that Harry Potter was the Dark Lord's grandson, but he was recovering admirably as he introduced himself to the late Avery's youngest son. It was an elegant and beautiful party, Lucius had to admit.
Curiously he looked around for Harry and as if summoned by his thoughts the young man appeared. He was smiling slightly as he approached and after a moment said quietly, "What are you thinking?"
Lucius chuckled softly and said, "Can't you just read my mind?"
Harry looked wistful. "No. Yours is actually the only one I can't read."
"Very well," Lucius replied. "I am marveling at all the changes in store for the magical world. I am also amazed that one such as Albus Dumbledore has been deceived for so long."
"Dumbledore's greatest gift is manipulation," Harry replied. "Soon the magical world will know this and his power will be non-existent. As far as the changes, they are many but they are also necessary. Even the Muggle world is evolving and changing. If we do not we will be at risk."
Lucius thought about that for a moment and nodded his head in reluctant agreement. "I suppose you are right. I simply hope that our traditions will not be lost in the evolution."
"They will not be," Harry assured. "We are not going to follow the Muggles so much as change a few of our rules. The werewolves for one, we intend to remove their restrictions. They are a vital part of the magical world and the prejudices loaded on them by society must stop."
"Do you intend on lowering the restrictions for the vampires as well?" Lucius asked. "They are important as well; some of them have information about our world that is priceless."
"I'm sure Grandfather has plans for them as well," Harry replied. Casually he turned to Lucius and said, "We intend to reveal my family when we bring Lupin and Black here. Grandfather believes it will make a suitable impact with the Death Eaters as well as a nice shock for those two."
"Indeed," Lucius replied with a chuckle. "Black in particular is explosively verbal about his opinions; it will be interesting to watch his reaction."
Harry was smiling at something and Lucius turned his head to see what had garnered the expression. Severus was walking out the back door, lightly escorting James. The pair were talking quietly and Lucius could see a small smile on James' face. The older Jin'taar looked relaxed and happier than Lucius had seen him previously.
"I may have a few things yet to sort out with my Father, but I know better than anyone else what being separated from one's din'rhei does to a Jin'taar," Harry said quietly. "I have been trying to convince my stubborn dad to speak with him for the last month."
Some time later Harry was escorting Lucius and Draco out of the House of Ancients. It was nearly 2 in the morning and he was exhausted. Draco sped up when they reached the front doors, wanting to speak with his Aunt Bellatrix before she departed. Lucius was saying something to him and he paid attention to the older man's comments.
"I truly enjoyed myself tonight. It was a pleasant change from being the one hosting one of these gatherings."
"I am glad you came, Lucius."
The silver-eyed pureblood held one hand flat in front of him and Harry resisted a blink. A small box was wrapped in silver and black paper. "This is a small gift for you, Harry. I saw this a couple days ago and thought of your Parseltongue ability."
Harry slit the delicate paper and opened the box. His breath hitched sharply in surprise. Resting on black cloth was a pattern of coiled snakes, weaving in and out of each other creating the eternity symbol. One snake was made of obsidian, the other of clear crystal. In each opening was a perfectly round fire opal.
"It's beautiful," he whispered. "Would you put it on me?"
Lucius removed the bracelet and placed it on his left wrist, fastening the delicate but strong clasp. Harry looked directly into silver eyes and said, "Thank you."
Lucius smiled fleetingly before walking down the flight of steps and calling to his son. They walked just past the wards and Apparated. Harry looked down at the bracelet again before smiling and walking back inside.
A/N: Next time Lucius will realize exactly what Harry was hinting at. I had fun writing this chapter, though I didn't describe the party much. Lucius' discussion with Tom & Harry was more important, as was the 'little' gift. One wonders what that family would consider a 'large' gift…