Lucius Malfoy was a loyal servant to his lord. Mostly because he had Pettigrew and others watching his every move because most of the other Death Eaters coveted his position as having the most power. Many were mistaken into believing that it was Pettigrew who held this position but it was not. Lucius had more power, he was smarter, more charismatic and therefore Voldemort gave him a little more lee-way for failure and with that came more opportunities to make up those failures. Pettigrew was more trusted but he also had a much shorter leash. And Lucius was not a lapdog.

So Lucius always had to make sure that his position was not contested by the likes of Pettigrew or MacNair. He did as he was told and he did more than that when he felt up to it. He was a perfect tool. Even Voldemort said so.

During his son's seventh year Lucius was surprised to hear rumors that Draco was defecting. At first he didn't believe this but when his son didn't come home over Winter Hols, when he was supposed to begin indoctrination to recieve his Dark Mark over the summer, Lucius was not happy. In fact he was downright pissed. And then came the boiling point.

His perfect son sent a chilling letter informing his father that he was joining forces with Potter of all people.

'What utter stupidity,' Lucius shook his head. 'And what a waste of a son. That boy Potter doesn't have the knowledge or power to defeat my Master.'

And so the months went. They tried to get another spy to infiltrate Hogwarts besides Snape but it never worked. And it was true, Snape was watched like a hawk at Hogwarts, by none other than Dumbledore himself. And he wasn't the only one watching either. It was no wonder that Snape couldn't get very good information.

Fortunately there came a break a few years later. Almost four years since his son's betrayl.

"Master," Lucius bowed low, on his knees before Voldemort. "You sent for me Master?"

"I did Luciussss," Voldemort hissed putting a cold hand and drawing up Lucius' head. "I have a task for you my perfect one. I task you must not fail in. Will you do this for me Luciussss?"

"Of course my Lord," Lucius drew his gaze to the floor for the perfect amount of time before looking back up. "It would be an honor to serve you in so important a task my Lord. Will you speak of it to me now? Or will it have to wait until we are alone Master?"

Yes, Lucius was very good at placating his Master with all the right phrases. And he was even better at complying to orders. Betraying Voldemort rarely crossed his mind and when it did he only had to think of Kakaroff or the loss of his position in Wizarding society to immediately stop thinking of it.

"No Luciussss," Voldemort moved and sat in his makeshift throne. "I will tell you of my plan now. You are familiar with the ancient curse and protection spell of the far east are you not Luccciuss?"

"I am my Lord," Lucius sat back on his heels. "Only because in your wisdom you instructed me to learn it."

"Yes," Voldemort eyed him carefully. "I did. I want you to use it now Lucius. Very soon."

"Who shall be the sacrifice my Lord?" He asked keeping his face blank.

"The Parkinson girl and her unborn offspring," Voldemort smiled. "Her husbands parents have recently joined our fold. They will have them over for the Winter break. Kill her. If the boy causes any problems kill him as well."

"Yes my Lord," Lucius bowed. "Will that be all Master?"

"Yes Luciussss," Voldemort nodded. "Go and prepare. Come back once you have completed your task."

Lucius nodded and left.

Over the next month he cleansed his body and began practicing the ancient runes he would be using. It was a complicated two part spell, one curse and one protection. The protection would of course go to his Lord, and then who would be able to stop him?

Lucius did as he was told. He killed Blaise because he made too much of a fuss. And he performed the spell as exact as it could be done. Voldemort was pleased. And that meant that Lucius was secure within the group of Death Eaters.

Lucius and his Master also believed that having two of their little group dead would make the Boy Who Lived weaker. They were after all more willing to kill then he was, more willing to do anything dark and cruel and that made them stronger, people to be feared. But his son was weak. Dark was stronger than Light. Light could be swallow by Dark while within Light the Darkness merely hid.

And soon the final battle began. He saw his Master cut down with a single curse from the Boy Who Lived, now the Man Who Killed Voldemort. And he fought his son.

It should not have surprised him so much. His son defeated him with an ancient German curse, something he had picked up from his extra hours of practice no doubt. But he had expected Draco to kill him right away. Instead he felt himself lingering, slowly ebbing away. And then Draco spoke. And Lucius understood. He understood that the Darkness could in fact be killed. And he gave his son his blessing, what else could he do? His body was dying, he might as well do something for his perfect copy. But then he did something he never thought he would do. Lucius asked his son to forgive him.

And Draco did. But Lucius and Draco both knew that the hate was still there, that the hate would not go away even if forgiveness had been granted.

And then he died.

It was fitting that he die in the end, that he die in pain and suffering and guilt and pride. After all, had he not killed Blaise just to prove a point to Pansy? No matter what he told himself that's really what it came down to. and had he not killed Pansy merely because he was too chickenshit to go against his Master and his precious position and power? Because really that's what it came down to. And had he not killed an innocent child not even born? That had only been done because he had thought that innocence did not belong in the world, and he was wrong again.

In everything that mattered he was wrong.

It was only the fatalistic curses that mattered. Only the curses that killed. And he had found his curse and his salvation at the same time.