Mirrors

Three:

"Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself." –Unknown

   Lucius checked with the hotel. The young woman and the boy had checked out after four days, and left no number for anyone to call, nor had they left any message for him.

   He walked out of the hotel, disgusted. He hadn't really expected any thanks, but this Muggle was just following the tradition of ungratefulness amongst their kind.

   Lucius shook his head and walked along the streets. Even though it was day, the streets were not crowded, and people still seemed to avoid him as they passed him.

   He walked about without aim, his black duster folded neatly over his arm, and he went to the park that was nearby, almost sure to be free of Muggles at that time of the day.

   He did pass a few vagabonds who slept on the benches, and Lucius went past them with no feeling of pity. He walked on, weaving his way on the pathways, almost coming to the exit of another entrance to the park when he saw a small figure with messy black hair on a bench. It seemed familiar somewhat.

   He approached it, and with the tip of his cane, pushed back some of the hair from the face.

   It instantly stirred and jumped up, dark eyes glaring at him. "You!"

   It was indeed the young lady he had saved, though he shuddered to use such a word. He crossed his arms and smirked. "Me, what? Do you not remember me, or is it a surprise to see me after leaving with no gratitude?"

   Her face reddened slightly, but she straightened herself, defiant. "You didn't leave us any name or address or number! How do you expect gratitude? By magic?"

   He stepped forward till he towered over her, and his voice was low and husky as he answered, "Possibly." It did not give away what he was, but served to infuriate her further.

   "Yeah, right!" She snapped. "You want gratitude? Fine!" She rose and steadied her tone, keeping the rage from her voice, and said in a (mockingly) polite tone, "My sincerest thanks, Mister."

   Instead of responding to her, Lucius said, "Where is the other one with you? The kid?" He was more interested in the boy than this woman, wishing to know why he had responded to the plea by those dark eyes some time ago.

   She paused for a moment, wary, then as if she figured she needed to do something for her benefactor, said slowly, "My brother's at Joe's Diner, working."

   Lucius raised a brow. "And why is he working and not you?"

   "They wouldn't hire me," she muttered, more to herself. "Said that they'd have to pay me more with the same amount of work done."

   "Let's go."

   "Where?"

   "To the diner. I wish to see just what your brother is doing."

   "Hey, you crazy?" She cried out as he grabbed her wrist and dragged her along.

   He did not answer, but strode through the park. She had to jog slightly to match his pace, but she had ceased her struggles, afraid of attracting too much attention to herself.

   Within ten minutes, they came to Joe's Diner. The place was filled with tables and chairs instead of booths, looking more like a place where teens hung out than for proper dining for someone with power and status like Lucius. Nevertheless, he pulled her in, and the few customers there were quickly averted their gazes as the two entered.

   As they sat down, she ran her hands through her hair in an attempt to tidy them, and Lucius found that action strangely intriguing and he gazed at her for a moment before signaling for someone.

   A tall, middle-aged man came over, holding a menu, notepad and a pencil. He saw the young lady and gave a grimace that was hidden quickly, but Lucius saw it. He put on a polite smile for Lucius, for the latter could be seen as a rich man from a mile away.

   "Good afternoon, sir…miss." The man stumbled over the word for a moment. "What would you like to have?"

   Lucius took the menu from the man, holding it out to the lady, but she shook her head and refused to take it. Lucius scanned the menu quickly.

   "Steak," he said.

   "No," she spoke quickly. "A burger's enough."

   He frowned at the choice of food as he handed the menu back. "Steak," he repeated, waving the man away.

   The lady looked worried and desperate, and he laughed to see that. "What?" he mocked. "You're afraid of eating a steak?"

   Her lost looks was replaced by one of flaming rage as her dark eyes met his, and Lucius was a little surprised to find that keen glare uncomfortably familiar. "What are you trying to do? First, you take me away from the life I know, and I can't go back. Now, you try to humiliate me?"

   "Do you really want to return to the life you know?" He laughed again as he saw the pain of her memories of her 'old' life on her face, conflicting with her pride.

   "You darn piece of shit!" She hissed.

   But he did not hear her insult, for at that moment, the boy—her brother—came over with a plate of steak and a drink, surprised at seeing his sister and Lucius. He smiled.

   "Hi, sis." He set the plate down. "Hello, Mister. Thank you for helping us the other time." He grinned.

   Lucius found that bright, open grin somewhat familiar and refreshing, and smiled back. "What is your name, kid?"

   The boy frowned. "Sis didn't tell you?" He glanced over at the young woman. "I'm Michael Da—" He hesitated. "Just Michael. My sis is Cynthia."

   "Cynthia…" Lucius drawled, smirking at her. "You don't suit that name."

   "What the—?"

   "You've got much more character than that name gives you."

   Cynthia stopped in mid-sentence, shutting her open mouth with a snap. She glared at him and did not touch the food.

   "Hey sis," Michael said, "you're not going to eat?"

   "It's all right, Michael. Bring her a…burger." As the boy nodded and walked away, Lucius cursed, "Darn Muggle food."

   "What 'Muggle'?"

   "You don't have to know."

   "Fine!"

   As he waited for the burger to arrive, Lucius rose and walked to the counter, and seeing the tall man that had taken their order earlier, he snapped out, "Who is in charge?"

   "I'm the boss here," the man answered with a puzzled frown. "Why?" He did not wish to offend a customer, but he was wary.

   "I want you to give a job to Michael's sister."

   "What? Are you crazy? She'll need a lo—!"

   "Hire her." Lucius's voice was hard, and his dark eyes bore coldly into the man's eyes so that even though they were of the same height, the man seemed dwarfed.

   "A-all right. Whatever y-you say."

   "It would have done you well to obey the first time," Lucius hissed softly. "I will return to see how she does." It was a warning not to ill-treat Cynthia.

   The man only nodded numbly and Lucius returned to his seat.

   Michael came with a burger and gave it to his sister. Cynthia shot him a dark look before taking it.

   "Oh yeah, we haven't asked for your name, Mister."

   "Lucius—" There was a slight hesitation on Lucius's part as he realized he had spoken too quickly. "—Malfoy."

   "Thanks." Michael smiled again and went off.

   There was silence as Lucius and Cynthia ate, and it was halfway through his meal (and he kept snarling to himself that he was eating Muggle food) that three people entering caught his attention.

   They saw him as well and froze, and Ron Weasley tugged on Harry Potter's sleeve as if suggesting they leave. But Hermione Granger just turned her face away and directed her friends to a table.

   Michael took their orders, and Lucius was drawn to the smile on his face and the twinkle in his eyes. It had been too long since he had seen such open and honest feelings, such a big change from the desperately pleading look the youth had had.

   An idea struck him, and he rose again, walking over to the three teens' table as Michael turned to go. Lucius allowed himself to smile at the teen before he turned to face the three, who were all tensed, hatred and fear plain on their faces.

   "Ah…Miss Granger," he said, voice silky smooth. "I wish to speak with you."

   Hermione turned her face away. "I'm not going to."

   Lucius's demeanor seemed to harden without any change in his expression. "If you would not care to use your magic against mine, you would do well to listen."

   The young girl looked worried as Harry Potter rose and faced Lucius squarely. "You can't do it. It's against the rule of the Ministry of Magic to use our powers here."

   "Y-yeah!" Ron stammered bravely.

   "I make the rules, Potter."

   "Fine." Hermione's voice was tight. "He can't do anything with so many people watching, anyway." She rose and walked over to a corner where she was still in full view of everyone, and Lucius went to her.

   Harry and Ron stared anxiously as they saw Hermione's expression change from angry to shocked to skeptical before she finally nodded. As she returned to her friends, Lucius went to his table, picked up his duster, spoke to Cynthia briefly and left.

   Five pairs of eyes watched him leave, and Hermione said, "Guys, I don't quite feel like eating here anymore. Why don't we go elsewhere?"

   "Herm, are you all right?" Harry asked.

   "Yes, I'm fine! Go out! I need to make a call."

   As the girl hurried away, Ron asked, "She needs to use the fellytone again?"

   "Telephone, Ron."

   They saw Hermione make her call, then walk to the young woman whom Lucius had spoken to, speaking to her for a long time, before both nodded and Hermione left with them.

   But she remained tight-lipped and wouldn't say anything, insisting firmly that Lucius did not threaten her. But they could get nothing else out of her.