Beginning of the End
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Nine: Servant of the Damned
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
********* Lucius Malfoy apparated to the grounds outside his American estate. He removed the silver mask from his face and walked to his door. A trembling house-elf held the oak monstrosity open as he stormed inside. His cloak was torn and covered in dust. His normally perfect hair disheveled and filthy. Angrily he collapsed in a leather armchair in the parlor and held his hand out for a glass of brandy. A chuckle broke the silence.
"So, brother, I take it you had a hard day?"
Lucius turned his head to the left and took note of the form of his younger half-brother reclining against the fireplace. "Stephan, how good to see you. Now leave."
"Tusk, tusk, Lucius. You should be thanking me. After all I got you into the school. And why keep up the formality of 'Stephan'. I much prefer my given name."
"Ah, but Stephan, I don't think you deserve to be called by our father's name. Salvianus is just to powerful a name for the likes of you. Your thanks is coming, brother. You should go and wait for it."
"Wait, WAIT! I have been waiting for years. Father sent me to this hellhole when I was just seven. Seven, Lucius. I have been living a lie for well over a decade and a half. Waiting. Listening. Positioning. Even after the Dark Lord was silenced all those years ago I waited. I planned. I did my job. I was a child and held strong. I persevered. I fooled the AMA, the staff, the students. I spied, I killed, I did everything you asked of me and more. Now it's over. The Dark Lord has what he wants. You have what you want. What about what I want, what I deserve."
Lucius took a deep breath and rose from the chair. Calmly he walked over to his brother. "Perhaps you are right. I had thought to delay this. Get some rest, make the moment special. Oh well, this will just have to do." Lucius walked across the room and made to open a cabinet. Instead of pulling something out from inside he palmed his wand.
"What could you possibly have in there to make up for a life time of abject humiliation in the name of some half-baked scheme for world domination? There is not enough gold in Gringots to make up for what I have had to endure."
"Ah, little brother, in that you are right. Crucio." The word had barely left the elder Malfoy's lips when the smaller man hit the floor. His screams echoed off the paneled room's walls. Smiling, Lucius walked up and kicked his brother over on to his back. Ending the curse Lucius looked down. "Up, Stephan. Take it like the man that you will never be."
Stephan grimaced and tried to stand. Failing, he gained a hold on the couch and managed to get to his knees. Bending down Lucus placed a hand on his brother's shoulders and leaned into his ear. "We said we would give you what you deserved when you had been of sufficient use. So we shall. Goodbye baby brother." Lucius planted a kiss on his brother's brow, than whispered, "Avada Kedavra."
Turning Lucius walked out into the entryway. Three other Deatheaters were masked and waiting. "Take that refuse and dispose of it properly. He was a Malfoy in part. Then start the search. The Master will not be pleased to find out we did not find what he wanted."
The others nodded and went to work. Lucius began to climb to his bedchamber. He was so tired. That damned woman and insufferable house- elf. Why couldn't they just die quietly? Why make such a fuss? His body ached from where he had impacted with the classroom wall. He cringed. The dark lord would not be pleased when he discovered the mission had failed. They had blown their operative's cover inside the school for nothing. And now everyone would realize they had operations in the states. All for nothing. Lucus sighed. He knew he had hours of pain to look forward to.
Suddenly his arm began to burn. Dejected, Lucius turned and walked back outside and disapparated to his master's side. The forest was dark and the sky obscured by the gathering fog. Lucius had no idea what country they were in let alone the region. He scanned the clearing hoping to catch sight of the Master.
"Crucio."
Lucius hit the ground. What seemed like hours later the pain cleared and he managed to lift his head enough to see the feet of his liege. Crawling like an animal, he just barley was able to plant a diffident kiss on the sodden robe.
"You failed."
"Yes, my lord."
"Why?"
"I do not know my lord. There was a woman and an elf."
"ENOUGH! You lost my prize because of an elf and a woman. Here I thought you had some talent Malfoy. Perhaps I should reunite you with your father and brother. After all, young Draco is almost ready. Perhaps he would appreciate the benefits of my good esteem, as you obviously do not care for them. Considering how much time you spend in the mud."
"Master, I. I accept your judgement. I was foolish and over confidant. But I promise to find the One my lord. Find it and bring it to you. As you commanded."
Voldermort reached one claw like hand out and pulled the cowering man to his feet. "You had better my servant. I do not handle disappointment well. Remember what fate awaited young Salvianus for offending my ideas of wizard behavior. Marrying a muggle, even to help his cover, was going to far. Do not follow his path and stray from your oath."
"Yes, Master. I will remember. I will always serve your needs before my own. I will always do as you ask without question. I will do my duty and bring you the One no matter the cost."
"The cost may be your life Malfoy. But it is a certainty that if you fail I will have a meal for Nagini. Her mother so enjoyed the last Malfoy to fail in getting me what I wanted. Dumbledore now holds the key to my domination. Retrieve it."
"Yes Master." Lucius shivered remembering his father's slow demise and the snake's pleasure in it.
Voldermort waved Lucus off. Lucius stumbled out of the clearing and made his way to a rotting log. Gingerly he lowered himself to the ground and lost consciousness. After a few hours he jerked awake and pulled enough energy from surrounding life forms to apparate to Malfoy manor. He made his way into the large foyer and looked up to see Draco standing on the landing. The young man's eyes held contempt for the filthy being soiling the grand manor. The last thing Lucius noted was the proud tilt of his son's head as he hit the floor. He awoke a day later to find himself clean and tucked into his bed. Draco was holed up in his room and refused to come out. He remained there till it was time to leave for King's Cross.
A/N: Want more back-story? All you have to do is ask. Flashbacks are your friend. Say it with me now, flashbacks are your friend. All together now.
LL&P Saavik
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Nine: Servant of the Damned
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
********* Lucius Malfoy apparated to the grounds outside his American estate. He removed the silver mask from his face and walked to his door. A trembling house-elf held the oak monstrosity open as he stormed inside. His cloak was torn and covered in dust. His normally perfect hair disheveled and filthy. Angrily he collapsed in a leather armchair in the parlor and held his hand out for a glass of brandy. A chuckle broke the silence.
"So, brother, I take it you had a hard day?"
Lucius turned his head to the left and took note of the form of his younger half-brother reclining against the fireplace. "Stephan, how good to see you. Now leave."
"Tusk, tusk, Lucius. You should be thanking me. After all I got you into the school. And why keep up the formality of 'Stephan'. I much prefer my given name."
"Ah, but Stephan, I don't think you deserve to be called by our father's name. Salvianus is just to powerful a name for the likes of you. Your thanks is coming, brother. You should go and wait for it."
"Wait, WAIT! I have been waiting for years. Father sent me to this hellhole when I was just seven. Seven, Lucius. I have been living a lie for well over a decade and a half. Waiting. Listening. Positioning. Even after the Dark Lord was silenced all those years ago I waited. I planned. I did my job. I was a child and held strong. I persevered. I fooled the AMA, the staff, the students. I spied, I killed, I did everything you asked of me and more. Now it's over. The Dark Lord has what he wants. You have what you want. What about what I want, what I deserve."
Lucius took a deep breath and rose from the chair. Calmly he walked over to his brother. "Perhaps you are right. I had thought to delay this. Get some rest, make the moment special. Oh well, this will just have to do." Lucius walked across the room and made to open a cabinet. Instead of pulling something out from inside he palmed his wand.
"What could you possibly have in there to make up for a life time of abject humiliation in the name of some half-baked scheme for world domination? There is not enough gold in Gringots to make up for what I have had to endure."
"Ah, little brother, in that you are right. Crucio." The word had barely left the elder Malfoy's lips when the smaller man hit the floor. His screams echoed off the paneled room's walls. Smiling, Lucius walked up and kicked his brother over on to his back. Ending the curse Lucius looked down. "Up, Stephan. Take it like the man that you will never be."
Stephan grimaced and tried to stand. Failing, he gained a hold on the couch and managed to get to his knees. Bending down Lucus placed a hand on his brother's shoulders and leaned into his ear. "We said we would give you what you deserved when you had been of sufficient use. So we shall. Goodbye baby brother." Lucius planted a kiss on his brother's brow, than whispered, "Avada Kedavra."
Turning Lucius walked out into the entryway. Three other Deatheaters were masked and waiting. "Take that refuse and dispose of it properly. He was a Malfoy in part. Then start the search. The Master will not be pleased to find out we did not find what he wanted."
The others nodded and went to work. Lucius began to climb to his bedchamber. He was so tired. That damned woman and insufferable house- elf. Why couldn't they just die quietly? Why make such a fuss? His body ached from where he had impacted with the classroom wall. He cringed. The dark lord would not be pleased when he discovered the mission had failed. They had blown their operative's cover inside the school for nothing. And now everyone would realize they had operations in the states. All for nothing. Lucus sighed. He knew he had hours of pain to look forward to.
Suddenly his arm began to burn. Dejected, Lucius turned and walked back outside and disapparated to his master's side. The forest was dark and the sky obscured by the gathering fog. Lucius had no idea what country they were in let alone the region. He scanned the clearing hoping to catch sight of the Master.
"Crucio."
Lucius hit the ground. What seemed like hours later the pain cleared and he managed to lift his head enough to see the feet of his liege. Crawling like an animal, he just barley was able to plant a diffident kiss on the sodden robe.
"You failed."
"Yes, my lord."
"Why?"
"I do not know my lord. There was a woman and an elf."
"ENOUGH! You lost my prize because of an elf and a woman. Here I thought you had some talent Malfoy. Perhaps I should reunite you with your father and brother. After all, young Draco is almost ready. Perhaps he would appreciate the benefits of my good esteem, as you obviously do not care for them. Considering how much time you spend in the mud."
"Master, I. I accept your judgement. I was foolish and over confidant. But I promise to find the One my lord. Find it and bring it to you. As you commanded."
Voldermort reached one claw like hand out and pulled the cowering man to his feet. "You had better my servant. I do not handle disappointment well. Remember what fate awaited young Salvianus for offending my ideas of wizard behavior. Marrying a muggle, even to help his cover, was going to far. Do not follow his path and stray from your oath."
"Yes, Master. I will remember. I will always serve your needs before my own. I will always do as you ask without question. I will do my duty and bring you the One no matter the cost."
"The cost may be your life Malfoy. But it is a certainty that if you fail I will have a meal for Nagini. Her mother so enjoyed the last Malfoy to fail in getting me what I wanted. Dumbledore now holds the key to my domination. Retrieve it."
"Yes Master." Lucius shivered remembering his father's slow demise and the snake's pleasure in it.
Voldermort waved Lucus off. Lucius stumbled out of the clearing and made his way to a rotting log. Gingerly he lowered himself to the ground and lost consciousness. After a few hours he jerked awake and pulled enough energy from surrounding life forms to apparate to Malfoy manor. He made his way into the large foyer and looked up to see Draco standing on the landing. The young man's eyes held contempt for the filthy being soiling the grand manor. The last thing Lucius noted was the proud tilt of his son's head as he hit the floor. He awoke a day later to find himself clean and tucked into his bed. Draco was holed up in his room and refused to come out. He remained there till it was time to leave for King's Cross.
A/N: Want more back-story? All you have to do is ask. Flashbacks are your friend. Say it with me now, flashbacks are your friend. All together now.
LL&P Saavik