Chapter 15: Malfoy charm
Lucius stood for a moment, baffled, when Minerva McGonagall appeared around the corner. He saw her dislike for him flit across her face for a moment.
"If you are looking for Professor Dumbledore, Mister Malfoy", said McGonagall coldly, "you have come in vain. He is currently not at Hogwarts, nor will he return within the next few days. Good day to you."
"Thank you for the information", he answered proudly. "You would not happen to know, where my son is at the moment?"
At that, McGonagall huffed rather inelegantly. "I do indeed not know where every student is, especially since he is not a student of Griffindor house."
"Do I hear a hint of discrimination in your words, Professor?", smirked Lucius. "I would have thought you above that. Thank you nonetheless. I will search for him myself." He waved nonchalantly, turned around and left her there.
Around the next corner, he stepped into an alcove and took out his wand. He sighed silently and made a slashing motion. A bloody streak appeared on his forearm. He pressed the wand tip against it and mumbled a locating spell. A crimson compass appeared, showing him the way.
Draco was out on the grounds. While Lucius walked, he realized that his son might be attending a lesson in Care for Magical Creatures. Which would be, if he remembered correctly, taught together with the Griffindors, including Harry Potter.
He was proven right. From the distance, he could see a group of teenagers standing around the massive form of Hagrid, the groundkeeper. Lucius could see the bright tuft of light blonde hair that belonged to Draco. And, after searching for a moment, he also identified Potter's black head.
He terminated the spell and steeled his resolve.
Hagrid was just lecturing them about Dryads, when suddenly Lucius Malfoy stalked down the path from the castle. His pale hair fluttered in the breeze as he came to a halt next to Harry.
"Potter, I have something to tell you", he said.
Harry turned around with an expression of utter disgust on his face. "As if I give a rat's shit on what you have to tell me, Malfoy", he spat. "I don't talk to Death Eaters."
Lucius swallowed. Pretty much what I had anticipated, he thought. Impolite little jerk. How can I convince him? He wondered who the most trustworthy person known to him was. A smirking red-head came to mind. What would Abarai-fukutaichou say?, he asked himself. He would find out what was important to him. Think, Lucius, what's important to Potter?
"Artum privatum", he muttered under his breath, pointing his wand at Harry and himself.
"Did you notice something in Draco's appearance lately, Mister Potter?", he asked loudly.
Harry threw Draco a sharp look. "He's looking slightly thinner, I guess", he mumbled, warily.
"That is a side-effect of the Cruciatus Curse", said Lucius. "It takes up quite some energy to withstand it."
Harry's head whipped around. He stared at him with narrowed eyes. "Why would you tell me that?", he asked. "Why should I care what you Death Eaters do in your free time?"
"I do not expect you to care, Mister Potter", replied Lucius. "How would you, who grew up without a family, know, what it means to a father to see his son suffer." He allowed for a fleeting moment for his emotions to show on his face.
"Are you having second thoughts, Malfoy?", asked Harry scathingly. "A bit too late for that. Now, that he's got the Dark Mark."
"Yes, it seems so", said Lucius. He raised his gray eyes to meet the boy's green ones. "There is only one way out now for me and my family: kill the Dark Lord."
Harry stared at him for a long moment, then he began to laugh. "Oh, that's thick, Malfoy! Do you think I'm that stupid?"
"Listen, Potter", said Lucius and took a step forward. Harry took a step backward. "Don't come near me, you creep!", he snarled.
"Please, Potter", said Lucius. "I ask of you, as a father, to hear me out." He stood in front of the teenage boy, for once bare of all his Malfoy pride. His arms hung limply by his side. The stresses and strains of the last days showed on his face. He seemed small at once, a tired man at the end of his wits. "Do you really think I am such a good actor, Mister Potter?"
Harry hesitated. "You don't make it easy to like you, Mister Malfoy", he said. "Nor does your son. But I guess, I don't wish the Cruciatus Curse on anyone…So, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
"If that prophecy is true, you are the only one who can kill the Dark Lord", said Lucius. "I want to help you with that. In fact, I have made some acquaintances in the last few days who are pretty powerful and have an interest in the Dark Lord's disposal, too. They want to meet you."
"Why should I trust you, Malfoy?", said Harry. The doubt showed in his eyes.
"I'll give you a pledge", said Lucius. He pointed his wand at his own chest and muttered a long and complicated incantation until his wand began to glow. He took a deep breath and pushed the glowing wand into his heart. It left no hole, but upon drawing it back, a purplish sphere appeared at the tip. He took it and offered it to Harry.
The boy took it. Gazing at it closely, he imagined seeing the shadowy outline of a human heart inside.
"You realize, what you are holding, are you, Mister Potter?", whispered Lucius. "If you crush it, the same will happen to my heart." He pointed at his chest. "Is that enough to make you trust me?"
Harry stared at the small sphere in wonder. Then his expression grew serious. He nodded.
"Let's go, meet them", he said. Then, with a look around him, he realized that they were still standing in the middle of his schoolmates. Hermione, Ron and several other Griffindors were desperately trying to get to him, but where hindered by some invisible barrier. He could see them shouting, but did not hear a sound.
"I guess you want to explain your plans to your friends first", said Lucius and ended the spell, simultaneously casting a shielding charm, which was hit by at least five curses at once.
"Calm down, everyone!", cried Harry. "We really only talked, it's okay. You can stop cursing Malfoy."
After the general ruckus died down, he took Ron and Hermione aside and recounted to them in quick words what Lucius had told him.
"Oh Harry, do you really believe him?", asked Hermione. "You know he can't be trusted."
"Yeah, he's a back-stabbing bastard", said Ron.
"I know it sounds fishy", said Harry. "But he gave me this." He opened his hand to show the sphere with the tiny heart in it.
"What is that, Harry?", asked Hermione. "It looks like Dark Magic."
"Some kind of Voodoo spell", answered Harry. "If it is destroyed, so is his real heart."
"As if!", grumbled Ron. "This is Malfoy we're talking about."
Harry threw a glance at Draco, who was conversing with his father in hushed voices. Only now he noticed the dark circles under his gray eyes. While he was looking, Draco suddenly met his gaze. He nodded to Harry, then turned back to his father.
Harry took Ron and Hermione by the shoulder. "Listen, you two", he said. "Dumbledore has told me that Voldemort took measures to make himself very difficult to kill. Right now, we need every help we can get. I don't know why, but I just feel I can trust Malfoy enough for the moment. If I'm not back by dinner time, contact the Order."
Against their protest he turned towards Lucius. "I am ready, Mister Malfoy", he said. "Let's meet your acquaintances."