A Traveller's Tale
by Greta Jameson
10: A Community of Wizards and Witches
On Fred and George's advice, Ron had taken great pains to arrange his fifth year schedule so that he had no classes on Friday afternoons. Unlike his brothers, he didn't use this time to make mischief. Instead, he sat down at his desk to tackle Sebastian's manuscript. He leafed through the pages of "Classical Cryptography" until he found the section on digraph systems and read:
The Playfair, invented by Charles Wheatstone, was the first digraph system using letters to encode messages, and remained in wide use for over fifty years. Playfair differed from the centuries earlier digraph system invented by Giovanni Porta in the use of letters instead of symbols. One characteristic of the Playfair is its use of the letter 'x' to separate two identical plaintext letters prior to encipherment.
He remembered that Snape had said something about numbers separating pairs of letters, so he wondered if Sebastian had used random numbers from 0-9 instead of the letter 'x'. He read on and found that he needed a five- square matrix for the key, so he arranged the word 'MOEBIUS' followed by the remaining letters of the alphabet in a five by five square, like this: M O E B I
U S A C D
F G H K L
N P Q R T
V W X Y Z Then he read the rules used to substitute plaintext for ciphertext:
If both letters are in the same column, the letter below the plaintext is used as the ciphertext; if both letters are in the same row, the letter to the right of the plaintext is used as cipher. Lastly if the two letters are in neither the same column nor the same row, each is exchanged with the letter at the intersection of its own row and the other's column.
He had to read that last sentence several times and work through the example in the text to understand the system. Might as well give it a try. He examined Sebastian's wispy unbroken lines, and separated the first line into pairs of letters: MTSBPUDLBQDQBMPMLMRUBPWSQCZDMP
MT SB PU DL BQ DQ BM PM LM RU BP WS QC ZD MP
Then he tried to break the cipher using the matrix based on the word 'MOEBIUS' and the Playfair rules. The letters 'M' and 'T' were in different rows and different columns so he looked for the plaintext at the intersection of 'M's' row and 'T's" column, and found the plaintext letter 'I'. Then he found the intersection of 'T's' row and 'M's' column in the plaintext letter 'N'. Solving the rest of the ciphertext pairs in a similar manner, the plaintext pairs became:
IN CO NS ID ER AT IO NO FI NC OR PO RA TI ON
His eyes swept the pairs, trying to discern a word. "Let's see, 'tion' here and here," he said as followed the line back. This must be a Playfair digraph! The line read: 'In consideration of incorporation'. But what was incorporation? He would have to decipher more to find out.
He worked for most of the afternoon, pausing every so often to reflect on the decoded text. A bloody goldmine, that's what this manuscript was!
A few hours later, Harry entered the room, lay down on his bed and glumly asked, "So, any luck?"
"No nothing really," Ron sighed. "Just the secret to Voldemort's power, that's all."
"What?" Harry yelled as he ran over to his side. He looked over Ron's shoulder and tried to read the deciphered letter pairs, but had a great deal of difficulty picking out words.
By/in co rp or at in g/t he/no vi ce s/or/ap 6p re nt ic es/na tu ra l/gi ft s/th e/D ar k/M as te r/I nc re as es/th e/d iv er si ty/an d/s tr en gt h/o f/h is/ow n/p ow er/an d/b in ds/th e/n ov ic e/t o/h im/fo r/a ll/ti me/It/is/cr uc ia l/f or/th e/M as te r/t he re fo re/to/se le ct/pu pi ls/wi th/th e/w id es t/v ar ie ty/of/sk il ls/an d/g if ts/Su c4 cE s6 sf ul/in co rp or at io n/is/be st/ac hi ev ed/wh en/th e/n ov ic e/i s/w il li ng/bu t/u nd er/ex tr ao rd in ar y/c ir cu ms ta nc es/it/ca n/b e/a ch ie ve d/w it ho ut/th e/c on se nt/of/ Th e/s ub je ct
"Allow me," Ron offered sitting up straight and declaiming:
"By incorporating the novice's or apprentice's natural gifts the Master increases the diversity and strength of his own power and binds the novice to him for all time. It is crucial, therefore, for the Master to select pupils with the widest variety of skills and gifts. Successful incorporation is best achieved when the novice is willing, but under extraordinary circumstances it can be achieved without the consent of the subject."
Both boys fell silent and thought about the meaning of the words. "That's how he's grown so strong," Harry said seriously, "by acquiring the gifts of the deatheaters and who knows how many others."
"He's not really a wizard at all then," Ron replied. "He's more like a community of wizards and witches."
"We've got to stop him for good this time, or he'll just keep on getting stronger," Harry said resolutely. "We've got to find out how to reverse the incorporation!"
"Lucius Malfoy has just arrived at the eastern portal," Miranda said sitting forward suddenly in her chair.
"Then the time for your meeting has arrived, my dear," Albus replied. "If you hurry you should be able to meet him in the corridor just west of there. It's an ideal place to talk - public but quiet - a place rarely frequented by students. I will assist by sealing the nearby doors, so it is unlikely that you will be disturbed."
"Yes, you're right. That probably is safer than meeting in my office or room. Thanks, Albus," she said as she walked to the door of his office.
As she left, he called after her, "And Miranda, remember, you should teeter right on the edge of the precipice. You're hand will be stronger when you get to Druben if they think that you almost came along willingly."
Miranda entered the corridor and watched Lucius as he walked towards her. His hair and cloak flowed behind him as he clicked the stones with his walking stick in front of him like a blind man. He stopped a couple of meters away, waited to see how she would greet him and smiled contentedly as she ran her hands across his shoulders and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He drew her close and kissed her deeply. She was strong, but still so soft and warm and he imagined them laying together as he held her tight.
His hopeful reverie ended when he asked, "So, have you decided to come back with me?" and she stiffened in his arms. He could he have been such a fool! He always knew that she would never go with back him, but he had deluded himself into thinking that she would. "Why not, Miranda? Just tell me, why not?" he pleaded
"Because I will not help Voldemort destroy this world," she said slowly.
"He doesn't want to . . ."
"Then why is he preparing for war? Why doesn't he just stop fighting?"
"And do what?" he demanded loudly "Wait to be executed by the Ministry after a secret trial? Another one of their travesties of justice! What would happen to the community then?"
"You could make peace with your enemies and help it get back on track," she argued.
"Don't be ridiculous! The Ministry will never make peace with Voldemort!"
"Then let someone else lead! The community was never meant to have a permanent leader. You must know that Slytherin deemed the burden to be too great for one man.
Lucius looked out over the path to the athletic fields as he shook his head. "That will never happen. He will never give it up," he replied quietly as he walked over to the windows.
She came over to him and asked, "Tell me, what did you join for?"
He smiled as he remembered, "To study with him, to learn from the scholars that flocked to him from around the world and to pursue Slytherin's ideas of community and magical unity."
She nodded solemnly, "And how long has it been since you've done any scholarly work? Decades or only years?"
"He has promised me that we will return to those things after the war."
"And you believe him?" she cried incredulously
"I have to believe that he still wants to . . ."
"Well I'm sorry, Lucius, I don't. I don't think that he can see beyond the fighting and the killing!"
"Miranda . . . please."
She ran her hand gently down his arm and said, "If you told me that the principal concern of the community was to be the pursuit of unity, then I would help you, because I . . ."
"What?"
"I want to be with you," she said haltingly. "At least for a while."
"Then come with me now. With your help, the war will come to a more swift and satisfactory end, and we will return to our original work in no time," he smiled as he put his arms around her. He felt her tremble as he touched her and asked, "That's not an act. You really do want me, don't you?"
"Oh yes Lucius, I do! I do want you!" she said holding him tightly. "But I don't want Voldemort! I would follow you," she said stepping away from him, "But I cannot follow him."
He stared back at her, sad and angry at his loss. "Well, there it is, then. I have failed to win you."
"No Lucius, you have won . . ."
"If that were true, you'd be coming with me now," he said bitterly.
"Lucius, you ask for too much. If you asked me to go somewhere other than Druben, I would probably go with you. But being with me isn't enough for you is it?" she asked as she turned towards the window. "You want everything that I am to possess for your very own - as you are possessed by Him!" "That's not true! I do love you!" "But your love and your work are so closely bound that you cannot see where one begins and the other ends, can you?" "It's more than my work, Miranda. It's a way of life," he said coming up close behind her. "And yes, it does color everything we do. "But it's a beautiful way of life, and I want to share it with you'll - if you'll only let me." "But before the beauty comes the killing?" she said turning to face him. "I'm sorry Lucius, I just can't go with you - not now."
He held her close for a long time as he slowly accepted his defeat. Then he said, Miranda, just listen for a moment. And please don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to threaten you, just to explain to you how things really are. . ."
He looked anxiously around the corridor, knowing that he shouldn't tell her. "He will not give up trying to get you to come east . . . willingly or otherwise."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if you come with me now, I can and will protect you. If, however, you are brought east by other means . . . I may not have the same degree of influence over how he treats you."
"Oh, Lucius . . .no!" she cried in shock
"Shhh. I will always try to help you . . . I may not be able to, that's all."
"So, he will force me to join?"
"Miranda, he wants to use your gifts for our strategic advantage, and he will not stop until he has you. He is relentless in pursuit of his goals. Come with me now. I'll take care of you. I promise that I will."
She shook her head as she backed away from him again, "Look for me after the war . . . after Voldemort is gone," she replied as she turned to go.
He watched her leave and stared out into the gathering darkness. He let his forehead rest against the castle's cold stones. He knew he ought to go and meet his son, but wallowed in his sadness until night finally fell.
When finally he could stay there no longer, he went off to collect Draco. As he walked, he felt a great rage well up from deep inside him. He wanted his woman and his world and he wasn't willing to give up either one. "Nothing will stop me!" he growled as he swung his walking stick into the castle wall, breaking it in two.
"What's wrong son? Why so quiet?"
Draco just shrugged and looked away as they walked across the field toward the portal.
"Are you nervous about speaking with the Master for the first time?"
"A little . . . but that's not it."
"Well, if you want to talk about it. . ."
Draco stopped and looked angrily at his father and said, "When I was coming back from quidditch this afternoon, I was going to come in the long hall on the east side and take the shortcut over to Slytherin - you know the one."
"Yes, of course," Lucius replied with a cold streak of fear shooting up his spine.
"But I had to change my route so I wouldn't disturb you and Professor Traveller."
"Draco, you don't understand . . ."
"No! I understand perfectly!" he yelled. "You don't love Mum at all - not even a little bit - and you just go from woman to woman looking for someone to love you. You know, when you told me about Mrs. Snape, I felt really sorry for you, and I could understand how you could still love her. But Traveller, I know you've only just met, and you're already all over her."
"You understand a lot for someone your age."
"The thing I hate most of all are the lies. Everyday of your life you're living this lie - and you've been living like this for who knows how long? Day-to-day you and Mum hardly even speak to each other, but every time someone comes to dinner you both perform this charade of marital bliss for them. I watched you and Traveller for a long time - you were so happy to be with her. I've never seen you look like that at home."
"Not a word of this to your mother . . ."
"Fine. Cover it up - another one of our little secrets. Pity you can't live up to your own principles."
"Damn you!" Lucius yelled, and then glancing around to see if anyone was near, he continued in an angry whisper, "We all live like this! We all put social proprieties above personal satisfaction. That's the way the world works! You still have a lot to learn about it."
"Yeah, maybe. But I'll never let anyone dictate my life."
"Really? What would you do if you were in my shoes?"
"Without a pause Draco answered, "Ask her to be released from the declaration. People do it all the time these days."
"Not people in our circle, son."
"Whose life is it? Yours or theirs?"
Lucius heard his own voice in his mind answering, "A little bit of both," and realized how distasteful that would sound to Draco's sixteen-year-old sensibilities. He wanted an end to the hostilities, so he said, "Look son, the sophistication of your observations surprises me, and a few have made me think about things. But let's not argue any further at the moment." He slipped his arm around Draco's shoulders and magically persuaded him to stop. "We're already past due back home, and I don't want all this to disrupt your meeting this evening. If you want to talk about this some other time, I'll welcome the opportunity - assuming we can do so in private. Alright?"
"OK," Draco murmured and walked towards the portal.
In a few minutes they had traversed the long miles between Hogwarts and their manor and entered amid the bustling of the elves. Narcissa was waiting in the living room, pacing back and forth. When she saw them, her face brightened and she ran to Draco and gave him a big hug. Lucius got her usual near-smile and a peck on the cheek.
"I was beginning to get worried about you," She said only to Draco.
"I'm alright Mum, he said politely shrinking from her affections. "Dad and I just had some things to talk about, that's all."
"What sort of things?" she asked with concern.
"Nothing. Just . . . things."
Beginning to get secretive just like his father, she thought. "Well you're here now, that's the important thing. Come along I've got a nice supper waiting."
"So, what brings you home?" Narcissa asked as the servants withdrew from the table. "Your father never did tell me why you were visiting this weekend."
"Umm . . . he wants me to meet one of his friends."
"Friends?" she inquired with her eyes moving from her son to her husband.
"Business associates, dear. Draco is getting old enough to start learning some of the tricks of the trade. We're going to have a long-distance chat with someone this evening."
Narcissa's pale skin turned a ghostly white, and her silence fell like a shroud over the table.
"Mum, are you alright?"
"She's been a bit under the weather lately, son . . ."
"If you think . . . that I am going to just sit back . . . and watch you ruin my son . . ." she began slowly.
"Narcissa, whatever are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about Him! He's back and you're with right by his side, aren't you?" the fear and hatred evident in her voice.
"I think that's enough. We had better continue this conversation after dinner."
"You do what you want with your own life, Lucius Malfoy. But you'll have to go through me first if you want to drag Draco down with you."
"Narcissa, please - not in front of . . ."
"I won't be there for you this time. . . I swear I won't be . . ."
Lucius threw his silverware down, pulled Narcissa to her feet and ran up the stairs two at a time, pulling her up with him. Draco heard their door slam, and ran upstairs to listen.
"How dare you speak like that in front of him," Lucius began loudly.
"You have no right to do this to him," she said through her tears.
"I have every right in the world - he's my son! And besides, Draco wants to meet him."
"But Lucius, he has no idea what it all means. He thinks a little extra power would be a good thing, maybe help him at school or with the girls. He has no idea that he will be paying with his life, and he can never, ever change his mind and live peaceably again."
"You have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Yes I do! And he has no idea what he will be ordered to do - the killings, the brutality and intimidation of innocent wizards and witches."
Narcissa rose from the bed and paced as she continuing angrily, "You didn't know that I knew - did you? Then you must have taken me for a fool all these years. How could I not know? Those blood-stained ghouls you call 'business associates' that you drag through here at all hours of the night." Then her voice sank to a near whisper as she threatened, "I won't allow you to introduce him to that life, and I won't wait quietly by like a dutiful wife during the next round of trials. I'll release you from our declaration - I swear I will."
Lucius sighed as he sank down sideways into one of the plush chairs and draped his long legs over the arm, "I really wish you would release me right now."
"Oh? Have you finally convinced Madeline Snape to run off with you? Or is there someone else? One of your little friends?"
"Not Madeline, not one of my friends. I'm just tired of living this lie. You don't love me and I don't love you. Isn't it time we both had a chance at a little happiness?"
Madeline stood at her mirror watching him in it as he spoke. Then, in a sweep of her hand brushed all of her perfumes and trinkets from the tabletop except for one - the freesia - his favorite scent - that one she hurled at the mirror, thoroughly smashing it.
"Not only do I not love you, I hate you, and I have for years and years," she yelled. I tried so hard when we were first married to be the wife that you wanted me to be. I remade myself to fit in to this world of yours. And what thanks did I get? Endless lonely nights with you gone - killing in his name. Every now and then you'd remember to come home for one night. At first I was happy to see you, grateful for your touch. Then I became repulsed by you and barely endured the nights. And at the end of it all, you were paraded around in a public trial for war crimes. In our one private meeting you begged me to protect you - so I lied for you. I supported your claim that you were cursed, when all the while I knew that you were his eager accomplice. You walked free on my lies, and when all of the finger pointing was through, you finally spent enough time with me to give me Draco - my one salvation in this miserable life."
She sat down on the tufted bench in front of her table and began to weep. Lucius began a round of applause and called out loudly, "Lovely performance! Beautifully realized! Pity so bloody little of it was true!"
"You went into this marriage with your eyes wide open. You knew that I was getting older and my family was putting pressure on me to find a wife - any wife and produce a child. I set my sights on you because you looked like Madeline. If I couldn't marry her, I would marry someone who looked like her. You agreed to choose me, because, frankly I offered far better security for your impoverished bloodline than you could have hoped for in your wildest dreams. And at the time you were grateful to be liberated from a life of hard work." Then he rose to his feet and paced around the room, continuing louder, "Don't pretend that we were a love match. I've never loved you. I thought I might have started to around the time that you were carrying Draco. But when he was born, I realized that it was him that I really loved, not you."
He paused in front of the mirror to look at himself, but it was broken, "And as to my lifestyle and activities, I made those as plain as I could to you before we were married. You knew I was rarely here, but your avarice moved you to receive my declaration anyway. You could have made a decent life for yourself, if you'd done something worthwhile with all of that time on your hands rather than blame me for everything that wasn't right in your life." He sat back down in the chair and said quietly, "As to the favors you did for me when I was on trial, those are things that I am deeply thankful for and will remain so for the rest of my life."
A deep silence filled the room for several minutes as Lucius placed Narcissa in a deep sleep so she wouldn't interfere with his meeting. Then Draco heard his father's firm footsteps trodding towards the door and he leapt around the corner to avoid him. Lucius shut the door and went down the steps calling the elves to bring more supper as he did.
"Come son, its almost time," Lucius called softly as he tapped on Draco's door.
"There you are. . . are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm OK," he said, though he was now uneasy about meeting Voldemort.
"Listen, I'm sorry about what happened between your Mum and me, sorry you had to hear it."
Draco just shrugged and walked on.
Like many of the older manors, the Malfoy home still had a tower - once used for observing the heavens and activities in the surrounding countryside. Lucius' father had masons close the tower windows and now it was his private study. A turn of ancient metal keys and the slide of a bolt and they went through the old oak door. Draco had only seen the inside of the room through the crack in the door, but had never been allowed to enter before. Torches and candles illuminated the walls and tables, and in the center of the room a large circular table held a dimly glowing crystal sphere - Lucius' Palantir - from which he sent and received communications to Voldemort.
Lucius sat down at the Palantir first and placed his hand around it without touching it. He closed his eyes and called to his Master with his mind. After a few minutes the Palantir began to glow more brightly as shadows passed across its curved surface. Its light continued to glow more intensely, and eventually Draco had to shield his eyes with his hands, as he continued to watch.
After a few more minutes, Lucius' eyes sprang open and a small smile spread slowly over his face. The face of a man appeared. Draco could see that he had dark brown hair that fell with a slight wave to his chin, strong angular jaw, high forehead with long straight brows and bright eyes of undetermined color. At times they looked a dark sea blue, and when he turned his head, perhaps they seemed brown or even a dark hazel. He was, for all intensive purposes, an attractive man, but there was something about him that frightened Draco. Perhaps it was the hardness of those multicolored eyes that looked like the glint of sunlight off a dagger, or the smooth plasticity of his skin that didn't seem quite human. Draco's attention turned to that mellifluous voice, speaking to his father. Sometime it seemed soft and harmonious like a woman's, and at other times it had a rough, nasal quality that was definitively masculine. Throughout his consideration of Voldemort's features, he had crept forward - drawn by him - until he now was standing at Lucius' shoulder.
"Is that your son?" Voldemort asked, knowing the answer.
"Yes," Lucius smiled, looking proudly at Draco.
"Let me speak with him."
"As you wish, my Lord."
Voldemort looked at Draco for a long time in silence assessing his features and the quality and strength of his intellect, perseverance and will.
"Don't be frightened of me Draco, I mean you no harm," were the first soft words to pass his lips.
"I'm . . . not fright . .."
"Yes you are! Don't lie!" came the Master's harsh reply. "Don't ever lie, I'll always know," he said more calmly. "You are considering joining us as a novice, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"You have many of your father's characteristics, and would be a strong addition to our community, but you are young and still not sure you want to follow us."
"Yes. That's right."
Voldemort relaxed and sat back as he said, "Well then, perhaps the time is not yet right. You must want to serve, Draco. You must be willing with every fiber of your being. We can work with you, show you the benefits of our way of life and the freedom it offers. Then perhaps you will become enthusiastic about our work."
"I'd like that, sir."
"Very good. I will discuss with your father plans to bring you east during your next break from school. You can spend some time with us and see for yourself what we do, that way you'll never have to believe the lies of those close at hand."
Lucius clenched his fists at Voldemort's words. He knew that Narcissa's words had made an impression on Draco and had frightened him. He placed his hand roughly on Draco's shoulder and scowled at him, indicating that the interview was over.
"I'm terribly sorry for wasting your time, Master," Lucius began penitently.
"Not a waste of time, Lucius. Just a bit early. You need to work with him more. Sebastian had difficulty convincing Severus to follow - but eventually he came into the flock."
"His mother cautioned him about following you, and frightened him - just this even. . . "
"Yes, I know Lucius. I read the event in his eyes."
Draco stepped back from the Palantir. He knew that Lucius was furious and didn't look forward to the row that was likely to follow. He wanted to just leave quietly, but knew that would be the worst thing he could do. Better to stay and face him.
"What of the telepath, Lucius?"
Lucius just looked away and shook his head sadly.
"Ah . . . she is going to make it difficult for us, isn't she?
"She says that she embraces Slytherin's ideas . . . but she does not wish to assist our war effort. She said she will join us after the fighting is through . . ."
"I don't want her after the war, Lucius. I want her now!" he yelled angrily. "Tell Snape to ready his plans and bring her east at his first opportunity."
"Yes Master, I . . .I know that I am in no position to ask favors of you . . .but . . ."
"Don't worry, Lucius. She is worth far more to us alive than dead. I will be patient with her, especially since she seems to have at least some sympathy for our cause."
"You are most generous . . . Master. I'm sorry I failed you."
"Not failed, Lucius. Never failed."
"Thank you, my Lord," Lucius said bowing his head and closing the connection. He shook his head as if from a dream and turned to see a frightened Draco backing away from him.
"What's wrong son?"
"What . . . what are you going to do to Professor Traveller?" he asked loudly
"Nothing, just try to convince her to join our side," Lucius said smiling in an effort to calm him.
"I thought everyone was supposed to be willing," he said as he edged closer to the door. That's what you've always told me."
"Well, strictly speaking that's how it is. But on occasion, we have to do a little more convincing than usual."
"You're going to kidnap her, aren't you? Force her to fight for you."
"I'll do no such thing. I'm very fond of her and don't want anything bad . . ."
"Snape is going to do it! I heard him tell you."
"Now Draco . . . there are a lot of things you don't understand . . ."
"You're a fiend! I'll never follow you! Never!" Draco shouted as he ran down the steps away and off to a far corner of the manor.
"We'll just see about that now, won't we?" Lucius menaced as he stalked down the steps after him. He grabbed his cloak and wand and swept out of the manor, pausing only when he was far from the house to gaze up at the stars. The dipper shone overhead and at this late hour Orion rose over the eastern horizon. He sat beneath one of the patriarchal oaks on his property, and reflected on the events of the evening. He had spent most of his life in a loveless marriage, but only tonight did he learn the depth of Narcissa's hatred for him. And now Draco, the real love of his life, despised him too. There had always been someone to go back to, and now there was no one - except maybe Miranda. After long contemplation, he walked back to the portal and towards Hogwarts.
With great stealth, he opened the Pass into Miranda's room just a crack and watched her sleeping on her bed of quilts and fur. He watched the blankets rise and fall, and he waved his left hand over her body as if caressing her. She woke suddenly, having sensed him and looked around the room. Then she reached out and whispered, "Lucius, I know you're there. Please, come to me."
He closed his eyes and thought that only a few hours earlier he would have eagerly welcomed her invitation. But now, everything had changed. Until she had agreed to help their war effort, her life was in Voldemort's hands - not his. He stroked her one last time, closed the Pass and continued eastward.
End of Part I of A Traveller's Tale.
To be continued . . .