Turning Lucius
Greta Jameson
4: Awakening
Lucius lay on his back with his eyes closed. He had been conscious for several minutes, but maintained the deep, rhythmic breathing of a sleeper and had not opened his eyes for the dread. He did not know who or what he was fearful of, but he was apprehensive all the same. He slowly tried to lift his left hand and then his right. Yes, he was tied down - and whoever bound him was probably nearby, waiting for him to wake. The remnants of a foul, bitter flavor still filled his mouth, and he felt weak. He tried to recall recent events and only remembered speaking to that old . . . auror? Had he been captured? Surely they wouldn't dare! Ministry raids were one thing, but imprisonment and interrogation was something totally different.
Keys jangled and a heavy door slowly opened.
"You mean he still hasn't come to?"
"No, still sleeping peacefully," the deep, familiar voice replied. "Not a word for the past few hours."
"Fine. Call us when he wake,." the man whispered, as he closed and relocked the door.
"Severus, what's going on? How did I . . ."
"Ahh . . . so you were awake."
"How did I get here?"
Snape smiled sadly at him, "You don't remember anything, do you?"
"No I don't. Come on, untie me and let's be off."
"I'm afraid it's not so simple my old friend. You work for Albus now. You volunteered your services after . . ."
"Alright, the jokes over, Severus. Release me this instant, or I'll . . ." Lucius said as he tried to get up.
"You volunteered your services after Voldemort killed Miranda," Snape continued loudly.
Lucius sank back onto the bed and turned his head towards the wall. Miranda's name brought back a torrent of memories that swept him away.
"You have given information to the aurors about your recruitment and incorporation, and you have agreed to continue reporting after you return to Druben," Snape answered as he untied Lucius' hands.
"For the love of a woman I have betrayed everything I believe in!" Lucius choked.
"It was her dying wish."
"No. I've changed my mind. I've done all that I'm going to do for Dumbledore."
"Once again Lucius, its not so simple. Over the past few days, you have talked at length about some of your deeds. The aurors have been able to resolve quite a few open cases. If you don't continue to help us, they have enough information to send you to Azkaban for several lifetimes."
"No choice, then."
"You always have a choice. At least in our world you do," Snape said as he removed the rest of Lucius' bonds. "The last few days have been difficult. You probably feel awful. Much of what you feel is a consequence of the ebbing of Voldemort's power over you. You did not answer his most severe summons, and subsequently he will be less able to influence you. In a few days or weeks, perhaps, you will be free."
"Hah! We have very different definitions of freedom! "
"I know. You need a little time to think things over," Snape said as he walked towards the door. "I'll have some food sent up, and newspapers are over there on the desk." He put his hand in his pocket and said, "Oh, yes . . . I almost forgot. We found this when we were cleaning out Miranda's room. Albus thought you should have it."
Lucius lay curled on his side. Snape was right, he did have choices. The problem was that none of them were any good. He could flee East and tell Voldemort that he was captured but that he had escaped. Alternatively, he could refuse to cooperate any further and spend the rest of his days in prison. Or he could do as Albus asked and quietly work to undermine Voldemort's return to power. If he wasn't killed, he would be allowed to live openly though cautiously in this world.
He ran his finger round the edge of the framed portrait of Miranda that Snape had given him. Her dark eyes and proud face gazed regally back at him, and then she smiled gently as her eyes moved over him and she silently said his name. He closed his eyes and imagined her final minutes. He saw her fair skin charred and broken by Voldemort's greedy, hateful bolts. He heard her cry out in pain and knew which path he had to tread.
Greta Jameson
4: Awakening
Lucius lay on his back with his eyes closed. He had been conscious for several minutes, but maintained the deep, rhythmic breathing of a sleeper and had not opened his eyes for the dread. He did not know who or what he was fearful of, but he was apprehensive all the same. He slowly tried to lift his left hand and then his right. Yes, he was tied down - and whoever bound him was probably nearby, waiting for him to wake. The remnants of a foul, bitter flavor still filled his mouth, and he felt weak. He tried to recall recent events and only remembered speaking to that old . . . auror? Had he been captured? Surely they wouldn't dare! Ministry raids were one thing, but imprisonment and interrogation was something totally different.
Keys jangled and a heavy door slowly opened.
"You mean he still hasn't come to?"
"No, still sleeping peacefully," the deep, familiar voice replied. "Not a word for the past few hours."
"Fine. Call us when he wake,." the man whispered, as he closed and relocked the door.
"Severus, what's going on? How did I . . ."
"Ahh . . . so you were awake."
"How did I get here?"
Snape smiled sadly at him, "You don't remember anything, do you?"
"No I don't. Come on, untie me and let's be off."
"I'm afraid it's not so simple my old friend. You work for Albus now. You volunteered your services after . . ."
"Alright, the jokes over, Severus. Release me this instant, or I'll . . ." Lucius said as he tried to get up.
"You volunteered your services after Voldemort killed Miranda," Snape continued loudly.
Lucius sank back onto the bed and turned his head towards the wall. Miranda's name brought back a torrent of memories that swept him away.
"You have given information to the aurors about your recruitment and incorporation, and you have agreed to continue reporting after you return to Druben," Snape answered as he untied Lucius' hands.
"For the love of a woman I have betrayed everything I believe in!" Lucius choked.
"It was her dying wish."
"No. I've changed my mind. I've done all that I'm going to do for Dumbledore."
"Once again Lucius, its not so simple. Over the past few days, you have talked at length about some of your deeds. The aurors have been able to resolve quite a few open cases. If you don't continue to help us, they have enough information to send you to Azkaban for several lifetimes."
"No choice, then."
"You always have a choice. At least in our world you do," Snape said as he removed the rest of Lucius' bonds. "The last few days have been difficult. You probably feel awful. Much of what you feel is a consequence of the ebbing of Voldemort's power over you. You did not answer his most severe summons, and subsequently he will be less able to influence you. In a few days or weeks, perhaps, you will be free."
"Hah! We have very different definitions of freedom! "
"I know. You need a little time to think things over," Snape said as he walked towards the door. "I'll have some food sent up, and newspapers are over there on the desk." He put his hand in his pocket and said, "Oh, yes . . . I almost forgot. We found this when we were cleaning out Miranda's room. Albus thought you should have it."
Lucius lay curled on his side. Snape was right, he did have choices. The problem was that none of them were any good. He could flee East and tell Voldemort that he was captured but that he had escaped. Alternatively, he could refuse to cooperate any further and spend the rest of his days in prison. Or he could do as Albus asked and quietly work to undermine Voldemort's return to power. If he wasn't killed, he would be allowed to live openly though cautiously in this world.
He ran his finger round the edge of the framed portrait of Miranda that Snape had given him. Her dark eyes and proud face gazed regally back at him, and then she smiled gently as her eyes moved over him and she silently said his name. He closed his eyes and imagined her final minutes. He saw her fair skin charred and broken by Voldemort's greedy, hateful bolts. He heard her cry out in pain and knew which path he had to tread.