Five minutes later, Potter had somehow managed to trick Lucius into freeing Dobby. Leo couldn't say he wasn't pleased about this, given the Malfoys' mistreatment of the elf, but the downside was that Lucius was even more furious than he'd already been.
They'd found a deserted classroom and sat down, Lucius at the teacher's desk and Leo at his own usual one.
"Explain," said Lucius.
"I was trying to stop the attacks."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want innocent people to die!"
Lucius sighed. "You think Muggle-borns are 'innocent people'? That they're human just like any other?"
"Well, yes," said Leo, angry now himself. "If you actually bothered to learn about Muggles, you'd see they're human just like wizards. They've accomplished all kinds of things, just because they don't have magic doesn't mean they're somehow inferior."
"Silence," snapped Lucius. "Listen to me."
Leo waited.
"I understand these things. I have heard these arguments before and they are true. Muggle-borns are not inferior. However, a large proportion of the wizarding population believes these things, and it is important that we are seen to not be too friendly towards Muggles and Muggle-borns. We can use anti-Muggle sentiment to our advantage very easily. Do you understand?"
"Yes, but… why would you unleash that monster on the entire school? What possible political gain can be worth killing potentially hundreds of people?"
Before answering, Lucius raised his wand and cast several spells Leo didn't recognise. "Privacy charms," he explained. "What I am about to say must be kept extremely confidential. Do you understand?"
Leo nodded.
"The Dark Lord, before he vanished, ordered me to give his diary to a student, so that it would be used to open the Chamber of Secrets. I have to obey his orders."
"But the Dark Lord is… gone. Dead. Isn't he? Why do you still have to do what he says?"
"The Dark Lord is gone, yes – but he will come back, and when he does, I must be able to prove that I have been loyal in his absence."
Leo could understand these reasons, but it was still no justification for what had been unleashed. He could cope with it, though, so he said, "I understand. I didn't realise."
"I expect much more thought before you act next time," said Lucius.
"Yes. I know. I'm sorry."
Lucius turned and stalked out of the room without another word.