Lucius looked at Moody for several moments in shocked silence.
Behind him, Lucius could feel that the group of people he had been talking to just moments ago were also looking at the Auror in shock.
"I beg your pardon," Lucius finally said, his voice a combination of confusion and politeness.
His goal was to cause a scene without being the one who became angry or aggressive.
"You are under arrest," Moody repeated.
"For what?" Lucius asked.
"I think you know what for, Mr. Malfoy," Moody growled.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," Lucius responded. "I can't remember doing anything wrong. What am I under arrest for?"
"For being a Death Eater," Moody hissed.
Everyone behind Lucius gasped.
"A Death Eater?" Lucius breathed, his voice completely shocked and horrified. "When was I a Death Eater? I don't remember ever being a Death Eater."
"Surely you must be mistaken," Fudge spoke up. "There's no way that Lucius is a Death Eater. He has done so much good for both the Ministry and for our world as a whole."
"Yes, surely you must have heard about all his generous donations to St. Mungo's," a woman added. "Not to mention all the potion ingredients that Malfoy Apothecary provides for St. Mungo's as well. There's no telling how many lives, including the lives of many Muggle-borns, have been saved because of Lucius's generosity."
At the same time as the woman was speaking, a man was saying, "We won't tolerate any longer this persecution of innocent citizens. Where's your proof?"
"We are no longer at war," another woman shrieked. "You can't just go around arresting whoever you please."
"Yes," another man added, "we know all about how you Aurors are arresting people without there being any evidence against them."
Lucius resisted the temptation to smirk, and he somehow managed to maintain a confused but innocent expression on his face.
All the Aurors now had their wands out.
Everyone continued to glare angrily at the Aurors, but the wands kept them from stepping forward to mount a more physical attack.
"Please, my friends, calm down," Lucius said. "I don't want any of you getting in trouble on my behalf. I'm sure that all your concerns are important to the Aurors."
"Yes," Moody breathed in a voice that made it clear that he was struggling to remain patient. "Despite what you all may have heard, we are not going around and arresting random people."
"Lies," Fudge cried. "You speak nothing but lies. What about the truth for once? What about Barty Crouch Jr.? There's more evidence pointing to him being a Death Eater than there is to Lucius being one."
"I appreciate your support, Fudge," Lucius spoke, "but you really shouldn't be saying such awful things. I don't think Crouch Sr. would appreciate anyone speaking so ill of his only son and child."
"I can assure all of you that we are investigating these rumors concerning Crouch Jr.," Moody growled, "but there are many rumors going around the Ministry. We must take them all into account, and it will take some time to sort everything out."
Moody then directed his attention back to Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy, are you going to come quietly, or are we going to have to take you by force?"
"He hasn't done anything wrong," a woman shrieked.
Lucius turned and placed a comforting hand on the woman's arm.
"It's going to be all right," he said to her. "The evidence will show that I am innocent. Because I surely can't remember ever being a Death Eater."
Moody rolled his eyes, but he didn't say anything in response to Lucius's words.
"Only if there is a trial," the woman cried, giving Moody a significant look.
"You need not concern yourself with Mr. Malfoy," Moody hissed. "He will be well taken care of."
Moody then turned back to Lucius with clear impatience on his face. "Mr. Malfoy."
"All right, all right," Lucius cried. "I don't want to be killed for something I didn't do. But will you make sure that this news is given to my wife gently?"
The women looked at Lucius with soft expressions on their faces, clearly touched by his concern for Narcissa.
"We'll be sensitive towards your wife," Moody snarled.
"Thank you," Lucius breathed. "Thank you so much for your generosity."
Several women sobbed.
"It's going to be all right," Lucius said. "I'll be just fine."
"Your wand, Mr. Malfoy," Moody snapped.
Lucius pulled his wand out of his snake-head cane and handed it to Moody, which the Auror immediately pocketed.
Moody then waved his wand, and chains appeared on Lucius's wrists.
"Come along now, Mr. Malfoy," Moody growled, grabbing Lucius by his left forearm.
Lucius swore that he felt his Dark Mark burning for just a brief moment.
Moody looked at him, but Lucius just gave him a blank stare in response.
I can play these minds games better than you, Lucius thought.
Moody then waved his wand at the crowd, motioning for them to get out of the way.
"Is this your idea of justice, threatening people just because they're concerned about the well-being of a friend?" Fudge asked angrily.
"It's all right, Fudge," Lucius spoke calmly. "I don't want any of you getting in trouble on my behalf. Crouch doesn't need much encouragement to arrest someone."
"He doesn't need any encouragement to arrest someone," a man muttered.
Everyone, however, did move out of the way for the Aurors.
"I hope you enjoyed that little scene that you just caused," Moody hissed at Lucius as they began to walk down the hallway.
"I didn't do anything," Lucius replied. "I just wanted to know what I was being arrested for. It was my friends that was angry about it because they're concerned about me. And for good reason. My friends in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement have told me about all the people thrown into Azkaban without a trial. Could we slow down a bit? I'm afraid I'm not feeling too well today, and you wouldn't want it getting around the Ministry that I got sick while I was in your custody, now would you?"
Moody growled angrily, but he did slow down his pace.
"Thank you," Lucius said. "I have to say, all this has me very confused. Like I said back there, I can't remember ever being a Death Eater. I most definitely can't remember doing anything wrong."
"Let me guess," Moody spoke mockingly. "You were under the influence of the Imperius Curse, right?"
Moody's voice then turned angry. "How many more of you are going to use that as an excuse?"
"If it's the truth, then it's not an excuse," Lucius cried. "How much further do we have to go? I'm really not feeling well."
"Let me guess," Moody snapped. "You're slowly starting to feel guilt for all the horrible things that you did while you were under the Imperius Curse, right? But I can play along for a moment. I'm taking you to Crouch. He wants to see you personally."
"Why?" Lucius asked. "I'm really confused now. What exactly is going on here?"
Moody's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything in response.
They finally stopped outside the door leading to Crouch's office.
Moody knocked on the door. "I got Malfoy."
"Enter," came Crouch's voice from the opposite side.
Moody opened the door and pulled Lucius into the room.
"Thank you, Auror Moody," Crouch spoke, his eyes fully on Lucius. "You may all go now. There are still others that need to be arrested."
Moody hesitated. "I don't think that would be wise."
"I can handle Malfoy," Crouch insisted, pulling out his wand.
"He will try to make you angry," Moody growled, "and people will hear about it if you rough him up any. He already has a substantial group of people, many of whom are other important, influential Ministry officials, upset over his arrest."
Crouch just waved away Moody's concern.
"I'm trying to help you here, Barty," Moody said. "Don't do anything foolish with Malfoy."
"I will keep your words in consideration," Crouch replied, his eyes still fully on Lucius.
"Let me at least bind him to the chair," Moody spoke.
Lucius swayed slightly. "I really think I'm going to be sick."
When all else fails, Lucius thought in amusement at the angry looks on both Moody's and Crouch's faces, use drama to your advantage.
"Let me at least stay here," Moody growled. "The others can make the rest of the arrests."
Crouch looked annoyed, but he nodded his head.
Moody then gestured for the other Aurors to leave.
Lucius was now standing in between two men that he knew absolutely hated him.