A/N - as you can tell, I moved away from writing in the first person this chapter. I don't know if I'll go back to it… probably not… but it was just too difficult to get the wording right that way. (Ok, I was halfway down the second page when I realized what I had done, and was way too lazy to fix it. Also, It wasn't the first time I did it, so I decided to just leave it.) At some point in the future, I may or may not go back and change the other nine chapters to third person, but again, I'm a lazy prat about rewrites. Anywho, I don't own the characters, but the story line is all mine. Oh yeah, Draco's slut is an original character who might end up with a bigger part somewhere in this thing. Anyone have any ideas about names? I'm horrible naming characters… I'm also looking for baby names.. what do ya'll think.. boy or girl? vote when you review!
Caliko
Compulsion - Chapter ten
By Caliko
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"My Lord - I have something to tell you." Lucius Malfoy simpered, relieved that he finally had something worthwhile to report. "It's about my son, Draco."
Voldemort turned his cold eyes down to look at his former right hand. Malfoy had become next to worthless since his foray into the Department of Mysteries. His glib tongue and deep pockets had managed to keep him out of prison, but the watch that had been put on the formerly robust deatheater had put an end to his usefulness.
He had sworn in court under a truth serum that it had not been him, that it must have been someone using polyjuice potion to incriminate him. Since the potion had never failed to uncover the truth before, the Ministry had no choice but to accept him at his word. However, too many people had come forward to testify against him, reporting, also under the truth serum that they had seen him countless times with known deatheaters. As a compromise, the ministry had put him under surveillance.
For a moment, the Dark Lord allowed a dark humor to seep from his face, then vanished the emotion from being seen. It was elementary dark magic to learn how to lie under truth serum. A simple obliviate spell would remove the memory, and the subject would honestly believe that he hadn't done any questionable action. The truth potion couldn't distinguish lies if the liar didn't know he was lying.
"Are we speaking of the same son that you have failed to bring to the fold, Lucius?" He drawled, knowing full well that Malfoy Sr. only had one child.
"Yes, My Lord." The man practically simpered, eager to get back in his master's graces.
"I do not see how anything about that traitor would be of interest to me." Voldemort purposely turned away, reaching down to the table next to him for the glass of scotch he had left there.
"Master, please. This will definitely be of interest. It's about the strange power he has gained. Sir, I think that he may almost be as powerful as you."
The Dark Lord froze midway between standing and sitting in the deep burgundy and mahogany chair, then continued to lower his frail body into the deep cushions. "Impossible, Lucius. I think the strain of being watched has done something to your mind."
Lucius kneeled in front of Voldemort, his head lowered, his eyes looking at the oriental rug in front of his knees. Dusty sunlight halted mere inches from his legs, as if forbidden to touch the Master's translucently pale skin. "Sir, it's true. He threw me from the room with just a thought. His eyes glowed a deep blue, and he raised his hand, palm out. The next thing I knew, I was slammed into the wall. Sir, there was a strange wind in the room, a wind that seemed to come from him. I was helpless to fight it, sir. It forced me from the house. I came here as soon as I could escape my watchers, just so I could inform you of this."
Voldemort listened, his elbow resting on the arm of the chair, with his chin cushioned in his palm. He seemed bored, almost uninterested, but Lucius knew that he had his attention. "How long has he had this power, and where did he get it?"
"I do not know, Master. I had only witnessed it that once."
"Get out, and find me answers. You should have known better than to come to me unprepared."
"But, Sir… Where should I start?"
Voldemort rolled his eyes, then waved his wand. Lucius hadn't even seen him pick it up. "Crucio" He spat, almost bored as his minion started to moan and twitch on the floor. "Crucio" He said again, just for spite. Then, with another flick of his wand, Malfoy was still. "Get out of my sight, Lucius. I do not wish to see you until you can explain your whelp's new powers."
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It was rather cold in the dark dungeons of Draco's ancestral castle. Despite being underground, a damp draft flowed through the endless passages that led Luthors workroom, making the torch flicker and hiss as the two flame haired twins stopped to examine the door one more time.
"Why are we here again?" Fred asked as he lit the sconces on either side of the bespelled latch.
"I just can't stop thinking that we missed something, Gred." George replied, his eyes twitching over the wall that blocked their way. The only clue that it was a doorway was the latch that was set into the ancient stones. Other than that, it looked no different than the walls that lined the rest of the corridor. "It's just too…simple. We found no other clues to the workroom. Just this stupid lever set into a dead end. As far as we know, there are no other ways into Luther's laboratory, and this way won't let anyone in."
"Hmm.. true, dear brother. Besides all that, we don't even know if this IS the way to the lab. Or if the lab is on the other side of that wall."
"I never thought of that!" A strange gleam came from Georges eyes as he lifted his torch up high to inspect the ceiling.
"What are you doing?" Fred began to mimic his twin, his neck twisting to unnatural angles as he looked for something new.
"Here." George beckoned, pointing to a nearly invisible seam on the ceiling. "Look there."
"Blimey… but what does it mean?" Fred began to follow the seam with his eyes, walking a complete circle in the process. "We're supposed to go up?"
"Yup. That lever must open the passage up."
"Little good that does us if we can't touch the lever, Feorge." Fred's mouth twisted sourly. "We're still stuck."
"True, Gred. But at least we know we're on the right track. Besides, maybe we don't need to touch the lever. Maybe it's supposed to lead the unwary away from the laboratory."
"Doubt that… but you could have something about the latch. It's possible that we may be able to blow a hole in the ceiling. We're good at that stuff."
"Exactly." George grinned. "Let's go tell Ginny what we found."
"After you, dear brother." Fred bowed, sweeping his arm out in front of him.
"Why thank you, brother." George loped forward, a definite prance in his step. "Would you extinguish the torches, chum?"
"Of course."
Minutes later, the two boys reached the rickety stairway and ascended into the ruins of the castle courtyard. Then, with a pop of displaced air, they were away, searching for their youngest sibling to report their findings.
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Ginny stretched, then rolled into a fetal position on the bed when a sharp pain lanced out around her belly. Moaning, she slowly straitened on the bed, rubbing the aching muscle that complained. She hated that feeling that came almost every morning. It was almost as if the baby didn't want her to wake up yet, comfortable and at peace only when her body was laying prone and stationary on a bed.
As the pain subsided, she glanced out the window, noticing that the sun had completely set. :::It must be close to dinnertime.::: Ginny thought, forcing her protesting muscles to move. :::I should get dressed. Everyone should be here already.::: She didn't want to move, but she also didn't want Draco the bad in the same room as Harry without her to run interference.
Wincing as the cold floor met her bare feet, she stood, then padded to her wardrobe. Taking out a warm robe and a pair of woolen socks, she dressed quickly before running a brush through her mangled hair. Then, with one last look in the mirror, she was gone, following the sound of loud insults through the house.
"You prick! Who the hell taught you to play chess?" Ron was growling, his voice cracking as he watched his king lay down.
"You did." Harry's voice was smug as Ron's king bowed down to him. "Remember, first year?"
"Shut up." Ron fumed, not a good loser at all. "I can't believe you beat me!"
"Come off it, Ron. He was due." Ginny grinned, standing in the doorway. "Take some pride in the fact that he's YOUR student."
"GINNY!" Harry leapt up and hugged her. "How are you feeling, Mum?" He pulled away, staring at the huge belly that was pressed against him.
"I'm fine, Harry. Never been better."
"Where's Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him since I went for a nap. So, have you managed to talk to Hermione and Percy?"
"Hermione is here, but Percy couldn't leave work. She should be back soon. She just had to pick some things up from the store. Women! Why do you insist on shopping the first day your someplace new?"
"Get used to it, Weasley. It's something that just is." Draco walked past Harry and Ginny and sat down in the armchair in front of the fire. "They arrive with one suitcase, and take home three. By the way, Virginia, the clones were looking for you earlier. They said they'll see you at dinner."
Ginny wondered what they wanted, but didn't say anything. The last thing she needed was for Draco to ask questions she couldn't answer. "Harry, I'll play you next, alright?"
"Sure, Gin."
She watched Draco out of the corner of her eye as she followed Harry to the chess board, amazed that he was being civil. She shrugged it off, and was soon lost in the strategy of Wizard Chess.
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Severus Snape was waiting in the headmasters office for his former charge. Dumbledore had explained everything to him as soon as he returned from Mr. Malfoys estate, and what he had learned worried him. That kind of power would be tempting to Voldemort, but in the hands of Draco the Bad, a being that was divorced from his good side, it was just as bad. Now he learned that the other half of the equation was wandering around Hogsmead with no memory of who or what he was.
He paced the floor, his dark robes swirling around his legs and his hair bouncing against his back with each step. Severus could only hope that Dumbledore gets to Malfoy before the boys father did.
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Draco the good eyed the man sitting in front of him, unsure if he could trust him. The last few days had been unsettling, and he was afraid to trust anyone. Unfortunately, he didn't have much choice, considering that he only learned his own name a few short hours ago.
Dumbledore still had not said a word to him since he came into the tavern. He simply walked into the Three Broomsticks and meandered gracefully to where he sat in the back. His long white beard swayed with every step he took, brushing against the front of the long purple robe that he wore. Behind his half-moon glasses, blue eyes twinkled, as if he knew something that he didn't. ::::Of course he knows something you don't, you prat. You barely know your own name!:::: Still, the attitude grated on one, regardless if the old man intended it or not.
"Well, young Malfoy, I must say that I'm very glad to see you. Strange things have been happening lately - and they all revolve around you."
"Sir?" Draco leaned forward to listen better. It would seem that he was finally going to get some answers. "What strange things?"
"Not here, my boy. Too many prying ears. If you would accompany me back to Hogwarts, I will be able to explain things just a little better."
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Grrr.. Another short chapter. Sorry everyone! I just have a short attention span lately. Anyway, please review… I'm desperate for some kind words… desperate enough to blackmail…. Hehehehehehhehe… I want at least 5 reviews before I even BEGIN to write the next chappie. ^_^ it's not a lot… and it may help me get past my writers block. ~ Caliko