Harry Potter and the Order of Mercaba
by SeraphimBlue
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all the characters of his universe are owned by J.K. Rowling. I hold no claim over anyone here, except for my original characters and the Order of Mercaba, which is my own creation.
Chapter 13
From the shadows a cloaked man watched, hidden from view as he observed his prey. Hours passed but he was patient; it was his trademark after all. Once set upon a target, nothing stood in his way. It was the law of the clan that you never gave up on a target, until they or you were dead… and his record was one of the best.
He'd been watching his target, Lucius Malfoy, for the past week. He had learned the man's habits, seen who he communicates with on a daily basis and learned the man had a set path that he followed most days. The man was a creature of habit and those habits would be his undoing.
It was 10:15 pm and Lucius Malfoy had just walked into Madam Veronica's brothel; one of the highlights of the darker parts of Knockturn Alley. He had been there four times in the last week, remained an hour and a half, then exited a bit drunk and disheveled to return home, where he promptly fell asleep.
A quiet conversation with one of the girls inside revealed that Lucius had been needing "female attention" and had been getting more and more violent as the visits increased. He paid well for his proclivities, but there would be no bad blood if said visits were to cease.
Everything was set, he knew when his target would be leaving and had spoken to Giselle, the poor woman who was the subject of Malfoy's attentions, and had convinced her to push the drink just a bit harder this time. All he had to do was sit back and wait.
As he waited, he prepared his method of death. The client wanted the man to feel as much pain as possible but still make it look natural. He had a number of poisons, but had been playing with neurotoxins lately and felt he had one that might be fun.
An associate in the American branch had created a toxin that was a blend of the venom from a brown widow spider, the funnel web spider and the brown recluse spider. The mixture was purified and enhanced to intensify their most deadly effects… then focused to be strong enough to kill a human in a matter of hours… but those hours would be extremely painful and terrifying, for the toxin paralyzed the victim's entire body so they were unable to flee for help, yet would feel everything.
After the paralysis engaged, there would be pain that flooded the body, followed by a burning sensation that coursed its way through their veins. The sensation of their organs slowly liquefying, as the necrotic aspect of the recluse's venom kicked in, would follow, but a special quality of the venom would keep them alive and aware of every second.
Finally, after ungodly pain that should last at least five hours, the victim's heart would go into cardiac arrest… feeling like it is going to burst through their chest… then stop, leaving them to feel their life slipping away as their lungs fail and they die in agony… over and over until their heart just finally pops.
The amazing part of it all is everything has been designed to mimic being bitten by a spider, so everything looks natural. In the muggle world, anti-venoms and anti-toxins could be used to try to save the victim… but the Wizarding World was so backward that there would be no clue how to confront a situation such as this. It was perfect.
The toxin was designed to be delivered by muggle or magical means. A simple spell would fire a tiny two-pronged dart, no bigger than a thorn, at the victim that once it broke the skin and delivered its poison… would combust into nothing, leaving no trace except for what looked like a bite mark. The same could be done with a tiny blowgun and leave no magical traces; that was the method he'd be using tonight.
Pulling out his supplies, he put together the blowgun and loaded it carefully with the dart. It was so finicky that sometimes, if you were careless, you could poison yourself instead of the target. Loading the dart carefully into the blowgun, he smiled as everything locked into place.
A noise caught his attention and he saw Lucius Malfoy exiting early, a smear of what looked like blood on the corner of his mouth. He must have gotten too violent and been kicked out after a slap to the face. Not wanting to lose his chance, he pulled the gun up… aimed at the side of Malfoy's neck… and fired.
Lucius Malfoy grunted and slapped at his neck, just seconds after the dart combusted, then cursed and stumbled away before apparating back home. The assassin watched and smiled, then followed to observe.
Moving to a perch he had set up beforehand outside the manor's wards, he had a clear view of the master bedroom. Within a few minutes, Lucius stumbled in and fell upon the bed without even disrobing. Pulling out a pair of omnoculars, he set them to record and then sat back to watch the victim slowly die…
Number 10 Grimmauld Place… the next day
Arcturus looked up as a bat flew in through his open office window and dropped a package on his desk before flying away. A quick spell showed it was safe and after opening it, revealed the omnoculars and a note.
"It is finished… enjoy"
Arcturus picked up the omnoculars and slowly brought them up to his eyes and began the recording. Letting it play at normal speed for a bit, he quickly noticed there was a way to speed things up. Growing impatient, he did so and smiled.
He sped up the playback for a bit then returned it to normal. Every minute of his former grandson in law's death was there for his viewing pleasure… and a pleasure it most truly was. The agony of it all was what the young man deserved.
When it was over, he put them away and sat back, satisfied.
"I hope you enjoy the afterlife, Lucius, as much as I enjoyed your death."
A deep booming laugh escaped his lips as he stood and left to deliver the news to the rest of the family.
Gringots London
Gypsum looked up as a gong sounded and a frown crossed his face. It had been a while since he had heard that sound; not since the night James Potter died. It was the alarm for the death of a Head of House.
Moving to the files he waited for the update to show him which family needed to be dealt with. As he waited, one file lit up and he summoned it to him. Opening the file, he grinned.
"Lucius Malfoy is dead. With his father, Abraxas Malfoy, having died recently… this meant that Lucius was the current Lord. Hmm…"
Moving back to his desk, he really wished Jasper was here to do the walking for him… but the boy was taking care of his mother today and wouldn't be back until the weekend.
He placed the file on his desk and activated the attached will of Lucius Malfoy. As it unrolled, he read it and smiled.
"Everything goes to your son, Draco. Just Draco it seems… no mention of the former Mrs. Malfoy. Just Draco… no Draco Malfoy or Draco Black. It seems you failed to change your will after your divorce… so young Draco Black inherits the entire Malfoy fortune. It's a shame that the boy is too young to touch anything… and therefore everything goes to his mother, as regent. Oh this is priceless…"
Quickly drawing up a letter, he wrote out the important information and then called for an owl… sending it off to Narcissa Black at Number 10 Grimmauld Place… before writing up the official notification that had to go to the Ministry.
Number 10 Grimmauld Place
Narcissa smiled as she fed Draco his breakfast. She watched him eat his cereal and chew on a strip of bacon and was happy that they were someplace safe.
"Your breakfast, Mistress."
Narcissa looked at Dobby as he brought her her own breakfast and nodded.
"Thank you, Dobby. Has the Daily Prophet been delivered yet?"
Dobby shook his head.
"Not yet… but Dobby brings it to yous when it comes."
Just then a Gringots owl flew in through the open window and dropped off a letter… followed by another owl with that morning's copy of the Daily Prophet. Narcissa picked up the paper first and blinked in shock at the front page's headline.
"Lucius Malfoy Found Dead"
Looking up at her grandfather as he entered and sat down, she turned the paper toward him.
"Was this you?"
Arcturus looked at the paper and grinned.
'I had a part in it, but didn't do the deed myself."
Narcissa looked back at the paper then read the article carefully.
"Spider bite? How could that kill him?"
Sirius sat down across from her and glanced at the paper.
"There are some pretty nasty spiders out there… not including Acromantulas. Many of them can kill you in a few hours… or minutes, if rumors about Australia are correct."
Narcissa looked from him, to her grandfather, then back at the paper.
"I knew it would happen… but just not this quickly."
Arcturus's face took on a serious cast.
"He hurt you and was a danger to the family. No one endangers the family. I took steps to ensure the safety of this household and I stand by my decision."
Narcissa nodded and turned to the letter from Gringots. Opening it, she smiled as she read it's contents.
"Draco inherits the entirety of the Malfoy fortune… money, estates and the name. There's nothing in here about it being Draco Malfoy or Draco Black… it just says 'my son Draco'. It also names me as regent until Draco's seventeenth birthday."
She looked up at her grandfather and frowned.
"What do you think we should do about this? Do we keep the Malfoy name or let it die and merge the money into the Black vaults?"
Arcturus sighed. He hadn't been wanting to bring this up yet.
"Keep it separate, for Draco will need it when he matures… seeing as he isn't my heir."
Narcissa gasped in shocked confusion.
"What do you mean? Why?"
Arcturus looked at her and Draco.
"There is another already chosen to be my heir and no, it's not Sirius. The Headship of the House of Black will be going to Harry Potter. He has a closer tie to the family than young Draco."
Narcissa frowned and started to object, but stopped at the look on her grandfather's face. She would hold her tongue, for the moment, and find out what's going on later.
"Yes grandfather."
Arcturus nodded and noticed the anger in her eyes. He would explain things to her later. He would need to make sure there would be no rivalry between the two boys as they grow up.
Sirius looked up then.
"Speaking of Harry, have you heard anything back from Gringots yet about when we can see him and the family that's raising him?"
Arcturus nodded.
"I finally got word. The family has gone off continent to visit relatives… somewhere in Japan or China I believe. Their final destination wasn't determined and the length of the visit wasn't stated… but I left word with Feldspar, their vault manager, to notify them of our interest in seeing them."
Sirius nodded.
"That's fine… I still need to track down Remus. I got word that he might be in India, visiting one of the more modern packs. I sent him a letter and the local alpha promised to pass it on."
Narcissa frowned in confusion.
"Packs… Alpha? What are you talking about?"
Sirius glanced over at her and wondered if she was playing.
"Remus is a werewolf; has been one since we were kids. I thought you knew."
Narcissa shook her head.
"I had no idea… but it makes sense now. He looked ill all the time. He was always so tired each full moon."
She paused as a thought hit her.
"Wait a minute… you're not thinking about bringing him here, are you?"
Sirius frowned.
"Yes I am. Why not?"
Narcissa puffed herself up to look bigger.
"I'll not have a dangerous werewolf in my home around my son."
Sirius glared at her.
"First...Remus is not dangerous and second… if I want him here living with me, in my home, then he'll live here with me. If you don't like it, you can always move out."
Arcturus watched the fight building and cleared his throat.
"Mister Lupin is not dangerous, Narcissa, so have no fear. However, I do understand the worry of having the man around a child. Therefore I have decided to move back to Castle Black and take you, Draco and Dobby with me. I will extend an invitation to Andromeda, Theodore and Nymphadora as well… should they chose to come. This will leave you Grimmauld Place, Sirius, for you and Remus to enjoy. It's more suited for a couple of bachelors than a family with a small child."
Sirius's eyes widened and he nodded.
"That sounds okay to me."
Narcissa nodded.
"I agree. Castle Black would be a better environment for Draco to grow up in. It's in nature with farmland and the security of being in the country, far away from nosy neighbors. Plus it has the old family wards and shields."
Arcturus smiled.
"That settles things then. No further arguments."
The Realm of The Morrigan
Alex walked into the main playroom and saw Harry playing with a young woman. She was showing him magic and keeping him entertained. Harry was smiling and laughing away, completely at peace with his surroundings.
"Greetings dearest…"
Alex turned around and smiled at his grandmother. Leaning in he gave her cheek a kiss hello.
"Hello grandmother."
The Morrigan nodded, returned the kiss and moved fully into the room.
"It's such a joy to look upon Harry. He's happy… and is already learning… but there is more we need to do. I have made plans for a blood ritual in the next few days."
Alex frowned.
"A blood ritual… what kind?"
Morrigan sat down in a comfy chair and motioned Alexander closer.
"I wish to infuse my own blood with that of your son; fully bring him into the family… much the same as I did with you. However, with Harry being so young… I believe he will gain more ability than you did, and this will aid him well in the future."
Alex looked at his grandmother and then back at Harry. He had gone through the ritual himself at a young age… not as young as Harry, but still young. It had strengthened him and given him magic far beyond what he would have achieved on his own. It should be perfectly safe.
"I see nothing wrong with that. Why do I have the feeling you are keeping something back?"
Morrigan smiled.
"You've become well attuned to my voice… better than I thought. Yes, there is more. The ritual I wish to do will require a great deal of magic and to stabilize this magic… he will need to remain here with me for some time. At least four or five years."
Alex blinked in shock.
"Five years?! I didn't need that much time."
Morrigan frowned.
"You were older and your body was more able to take in the power and adapt it to your own needs. Plus… I'm giving Harry more than I gave you."
Alex started to object, so she stopped him.
"You want the boy to survive, correct? You know there is something out there that threatens him. Wouldn't it make sense to give him every chance you can to come out alive… or better yet, come out on top? What is five years when it assures him a long life?"
Alex sighed and nodded.
"I see where you're going with this. I… I'll go talk to Alisa."
Morrigan nodded as Alexander left to go find his wife. She watched him leave then turned back to watch Harry.
"Soon, my little one… soon you will be of my blood, and I can finally teach you true power."