Chapter 14: Treason

"Please state the result of your plans, Malfoy-san", said Soi Fon coldly.

Lucius looked at the 13 faces turned towards him. He swallowed and straightened up. "He did not fall for it", he replied.

"In other words, your plan has failed", stated the 2nd Squad captain. She smirked. "I think that is proof enough that he is a danger to Soul Society and needs to be executed as soon as possible."

"Wait!", shouted Lucius. "There is still a possibility to negate the danger the Dark Lord poses. I just need to kill him."

Silence fell in the wide hall. "Do you take us for fools, human?", thundered the Soutaichou. "You, kill your master?"

"He is my master no more", replied Lucius. "I was branded a traitor. He tried to kill my son. Abarai-fukutaichou can testify to it."

Renji stepped forth. "That is the truth", he stated. "The man pointed his weapon first at Malfoy-san, then at his son and would have hit him with his spell had I not deflected it with Zabimaru."

"So if you would turn against your former master", said Komamura, "would you be able to kill him?"

"I myself might not be able to do it", said Lucius. "But I know someone, who can. If you give me permission to travel to the Living World again, I can meet him and offer my help."

Soi Fon laughed. "You think you are so clever, ryoka! If he was able to kill him, why would he need your help?"

"He is still a child, the same age as my own son", answered Lucius. "And the Dark Lord made preparations, it will not be easy to kill him."

Yamamoto hit the ground with his staff twice, the echoes rolled back thunderously. "Silence!", he bellowed. "You are to bring this human before us, then we will decide whether what you say is true."

Lucius bowed, his thoughts racing. "Thank you, sir", he mumbled. How the heck should I bring Harry Potter to trust me?

Severus apparated on a windswept cliff. The Dark Lord stood at the edge and stared out over the ocean. He flicked his wrist, and, without turning around, muttered off-handedly: "Crucio!"

The black-haired man twitched, convulsed and fell to the ground. When his screams started to sound hoarse, Voldemort finally ended the spell.

Severus came to his knees, gasping. His dark eyes focused on the face of his master.

"What can I do for you, my Lord?", he asked.

"Cast the Divina Porta spell", commanded Voldemort.

Severus moved his wand and golden lines appeared. A door formed and opened wide.

"Finite incantatem!", snapped Voldemort and the door vanished. He closed in on Severus.

The expression on his face was calm, but his voice dripped with acid, when he spoke. "And now what spell did Lucius perform yesterday night? Tell me, Severus. It seemed very much like your spell, yet that flick of the wrist...did you two think I would not notice? Did you think I would be so foolish to step into your little trap? You could get out of this alive, Severus, if you only tell me where Lucius is hiding."

Severus stood up and looked the Dark Lord directly into his evilly flickering eyes. "Lucius Malfoy's whereabouts are unbeknownst to me", he said coldly. "Why would I know? I was never, as you imply, 'in league' with him. It stings my pride that you think I was behind such a bumbling scheme to kill you, my Lord."

At that, Voldemort let out a short and mirthless laughter. "How very typical of you, Severus", he sneered. "Indeed beneath your pride. Team work was never your strong side, was it? But you need to throw that aside, right now. I want to test a theory. On the count of three, cast the Divina Porta spell."

Severus raised his wand, as did Voldemort.

"One, two, Avada Kedavra!", cried the Dark Lord.

"Divina Porta!", shouted Severus.

The spells collided and formed a door. It looked different from the door before. While the gate the single spell had created resembled the doors to the Great Hall in Hogwarts, this door seemed to be of ancient asian making, manufactured from paper and wood. Beyond, darkness loomed.

"Well, Severus", said Voldemort mockingly. "After you."

Lucius stood before the iron-wrought gates of Hogwarts and stared at them for a long moment. His mind had not yet formed a plan that would be able to convince the Potter Boy. Perhaps I should talk to Dumbledore first?, he wondered.

He started, when the hilt of a sword bumped into the small of his back, very softly. His guard was growing impatient. He pushed the creaking metal gate open and marched over the grass as if he was strolling over the gravel path to Malfoy Manor.

With fast paces, he entered the castle and made his way to the headmaster's office. The few students he met were treated with prideful indifference.

"I wish to talk to the headmaster", he told the gargoyle in commanding tone.

There was no reaction.