"The case has been going on for so long that I've forgotten whether I'm really innocent or guilty." (Ashleigh Brilliant)
Lucius Malfoy watched as his eagle owl hunted and efficiently dispatched a squirrel halfway up the tall elm tree that shaded the garden before he finally went to sleep on one of the lower branches. The wizard had poured himself another tea and waited for Eleanor to write her bankers' authorization and for the aurors to arrive. Tethering's last remark about Narcissa still rankled. The Blacks might be pureblood, but they were not exactly wealthy, and to imagine his faithless ex-wife in control of the entire Malfoy family fortune did nothing to improve his mood.
At least with a real witch about he had been able to get out of the chore of doing the dishes after their rather impromptu meal. Eleanor had quickly enchanted a dish-brush, and things had taken care of themselves after that. "You could have left me with some dish cleaning charms to begin with," he had complained, but she had thought it would be a cute reply to kiss him on his nose, smile, and breeze out of the kitchen. His pride slightly dented, he had withdrawn to the patio.
"All done!" he heard a cheerful exclamation behind him, and looked towards the house to see Eleanor emerge with a sealed parchment scroll. Just then several muffled cracks alerted them both as a group of five aurors apparated around them, followed immediately by Advocatus Tethering. Lucius heard a groan from his lover. "Oh, Merlin, not him again!"
"Wands on the floor, hands in the air, or you will be petrified," exclaimed Alastor Moody, jabbing his wand at them. Lucius slumped back in his chair with a sigh and demonstratively crossed his arms. "Suit yourself," he drawled. "You broke my wand already. Or is your memory as haphazard as the rest of your appearance?" Moody jerked his head at two aurors, who immediately ran over to the blond wizard and pulled him to his feet, roughly securing his hands on his back with a spell.
Lucius saw that Eleanor had already placed her slim, carved cherry-wood wand on the patio floor and faced the aurors with raised hands. He watched idly as she got into a heated exchange of words with a young female auror intent on securing her wrists, who sported an enormous and very impressive black eye. "How could you do this to me?" the girl complained. "They appeared out of nowhere, arresting me as a Death Eater. What did you tell them?"
He smirked approvingly as Eleanor shrugged her shoulders in arrogant disdain. "All's fair in love and war, my dear Marigold. I had to lose you. As your former Defense teacher I have to tell you that I am very pleased you are this good at your job, but unfortunately it made me have to resort to deception. If you feel you had it rough, you should take it up with your superiors. Obviously your colleagues are taking liberties when making arrests. Or were you foolish enough to resist?"
Eventually Eleanor and Lucius were bound and lined up side by side while three aurors investigated the interior of the house. Moody strutted before them, his peg leg clicking on the slate stones under his feet. "I am placing you under arrest for aiding and abetting an exiled outlaw," he told Eleanor. "And you," he fixed both of his eyes on Lucius. "I am charging you with – with – errm, conspiring with a witch, when you are banished."
Finally Tethering stepped in. "You made that up!" he complained. "You can't charge Mr. Malfoy with anything. He is no longer of the magical realm or under your jurisdiction. Release him immediately, or I will invoke the Statutes for the Protection of Muggles from Magical Interference. You people are behaving like Death Eaters these days!"
Lucius felt grim mirth rise at his lawyer's ludicrous statement and clenched his teeth so he would not laugh out loud. The despicable and ridiculous Muggle Protection Act was invoked to keep him safe from auror arbitrariness. Arthur Weasley would probably rupture something vital if he ever got to hear about it.
The aurors started to carry out the Death Eaters, and finally Tethering had got on Moody's nerves long enough for the chief auror to snarl at two of his men to release the wizard. "After all, what's he gonna do?" he added with a sneer of contempt. Lucius felt the binding spell release his hands and cast a quick apologetic glance over at Eleanor who remained bound.
"Be careful with her," his lover exclaimed as Bellatrix was roughly added to the pile of dark-clad bound figures that began to pile up on the patio. "She's injured." Finally Moody had everyone assembled before him. He cast one last venomous look at the advocatus and then started giving orders.
"Brannock, Murphy, take Mrs. Lestrange and apparate at St. Mungo's. Keep her under guard. Report to me on her condition. The rest cut the prisoners' leg restraints so they can walk. We will apparate at the Ministry at the entrance of level 2. And someone grab a hold of Mr. Malfoy. He and his lawyer keep insisting he's a muggle and can't apparate on his own any more."
Lucius snorted in disgust at the unnecessary and callous reminder as his surroundings blinked out. A few seconds later they were being swiftly herded down a narrow corridor at the Ministry and Lucius leaned in to Mr. Tethering. "What the hell did you pick him up for," he snarled at the advocatus indicating Moody with a nod of his head.
"Believe me, I didn't seek him out," whispered Tethering. "He came barging in when I was talking to Murphy and Daclison. We needed him like you need an attack of liquesco-potion diarrhea."
"Precisely," said Lucius and almost stepped on Eleanor's robes as the whole group suddenly stopped. "What's going on?" asked a familiar voice. The blond wizard craned his neck and saw that they had halted to talk to none other than Arthur Weasly, who was looking at them in some surprise. "Got some of the escaped Death Eaters, Alastor? Great job! Where did you find them?"
Moody cleared his throat in some embarrassment. "Well actually we didn't, she did." He indicated Eleanor. "Did it to save Mr. Malfoy, so she's under arrest for helping an outcast wizard. One year in Azkaban I'd say. Him we'll probably have to turn lose again once we've taken his statement, I'm afraid." Weasley stepped closer. "Why, it's Lucius Malfoy. I hadn't thought I'd ever see you again," he said with some surprise.
The blond wizard lifted a brow. "Well, it seems for once we actually shared the same fond hope, Arthur. Working on a Saturday I see. And I guess you are still not getting any overtime pay, or your wife could finally stop knitting pointed tea cozies and instead buy a decent hat for you."
For being generally a mild-mannered man, Arthur Weasly started to look positively dangerous as Lucius dared to refer to his wife's knitting, but Moody stepped in, before matters had a chance to escalate. "Must rush, Arthur. Never mind him. You'll find his bark has very little bite these days. I'll see you later." He led the way as the blond wizard gave the Ministry employee a last parting sneer.
A little while later the chief auror rapped on a tall door and opened a small cramped office. He looked behind him. "Daclison, Woodbridge, take the Death Eaters to the lockup. See that they are transported back to Azkaban. Then get cracking on the paperwork. I'll catch up with you later."
Lucius watched Eleanor crane her neck as she tried to catch a glimpse of the occupant of the office, and a moment later Auror Moody had moved them in. A tall bony witch in her late forties dressed in brown robes sat behind an old broad desk and regarded them with a slight air of annoyance.
The blond wizard knew her as narrow-minded, pedantic and controlling. Unfortunately she had never put as much as a toe out of line and seemed to have no interest in money. Her rather forbidding looks had prevented him from ever trying to find out if she had an interest in anything else. She certainly and now regrettably was not on his books. Finally the ministry official put down her quill and looked up at the auror. "Yes, Mr. Moody?" she demanded. "What can we do for you?"
Moody stood up straight and made his rather lengthy report. "So to sum up: Four escaped Death Eaters have been recaptured. We also arrested Miss Sartorius, the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher at Durmstrang on the charge of aiding and abetting Mr. Malfoy, who is sentenced to exile. And we have taken in Mr. Malfoy, as he was – eh – as a witness." The witch folded her hands. "Congratulations on the Death Eater arrest," she said calmly. "Now what do you want me to do with these two?"
"Why, issue orders to hold them at Azkaban of course, until they can be tried," said Moody. The woman behind the desk sighed. "Mr. Malfoy has already been sentenced. We can hardly arrest him again." At that moment Lucius felt a movement at his back as Tethering stepped forward.
"If you will excuse me, Mrs. Snell, please. I am representing Mr. Malfoy and Professor Sartorius. I believe we have a date set for a revision of Mr. Malfoy's sentence?" The witch looked at him, sighed, got up and pulled a large folio from a shelf. She mumbled to herself as she read and then stabbed at a page with her finger. "Yes, review session before the wizengamot on the 21st of July. That's next Friday."
"Well," said the advocatus smoothly. "I believe it is in Mr. Malfoy's best interest to present himself at that session, as it will determine his future. Miss Sartorius' sentencing, on the other hand will depend on whether he is rehabilitated or not. If he is, she has done nothing wrong. If he isn't obviously she will need to go to trial. But until then, I believe we need to suspend judgment of her actions."
Tethering stepped up to the desk and bowed his head. "Mrs. Snell, we appeal for bail." At that Auror Moody intervened heatedly. "Just wait one damn minute! Mr. Malfoy is a convicted Death Eater, Miss Sartorius is in direct violation of the law, we can't just…" "Silence!" commanded Mrs. Snell. "I will have no hollering in my office." She regarded the whole group with a thin-lipped smile.
"Well Mr. Tethering, you make a compelling case. Mr. Moody, I can see your point, though try to be a little more subtle in your approach." She seemed to consider, but in Lucius' opinion just enjoyed having them all on tenterhooks. He would have actually sympathized with the sentiment had it not been directed at him, and decided that if he ever got back, Mrs. Snell deserved some attention. She might be bought with the prospect of power.
"Teacher at Durmstrang, you say?" the witch now asked and steepled her long fingers before her. A malicious smile curved her lips. "I will grant bail. 100.000 galleons, to be forfeit if either Mr. Malfoy or Miss Sartorius or both do not show at the review session."
Auror Moody was getting ready to object angrily until he heard the sum of money Mrs. Snell had quoted. 100.000 galleons were outrageous, a small fortune. For a moment everyone in the small room was very quiet, then Advocatus Tethering started to argue. "Ssshhh!" hissed the witch. "No ruckus in my office. I will not tell you again. Either you make bail, or I will have a portkey to Azkaban issued to Mr. Moody here. What is it going to be?"
Lucius looked over at Eleanor who had listened very calmly to the entire exchange. She had slightly cocked her head and gave the ministry official an appraising look. Finally she turned and quietly addressed Tethering. "Advocatus, please be so kind and open my belt-purse. There is a scroll in it that will give you access to my vault at Gringotts. Take what you need."
Now the surprised stares of everyone in the room were on her. Few people were aware that Eleanor Sartorius still possessed much of the fortunes of her illustrious family. She had never really spoken about it, even to her lover. And she certainly did not affect a particularly luxurious lifestyle. What actual information Lucius possessed about her holdings he had obtained through his agents. He gave her a small smile and she shrugged her shoulders. "Occasionally investments in me do pay off," she said lightly.
Then she turned to Mrs. Snell, who gaped at her. "I think you considered me a poor, underpaid teacher. I think you put the bar this high, because you didn't have the guts to outright deny me bail. I think that's despicable." The older witch drew herself up for a reply, but didn't really find much to say. Eventually she waved her hand at them.
"Mr. Moody, take them out of here. See that the advocatus puts up the money, have their statements taken down about the Death Eaters, then let them go." Moody grumbled at his orders, but there was little he could do now. Lucius leaned in on him as he led them out of the office. "Always make sure you know who you're messing with, auror," he taunted him quietly. "We are not finished yet, not by a long shot." Alastor Moody just growled at him.
Outside Tethering gave Eleanor a wink. "I think I have to recalculate my fee, my dear," he said bluntly. "You are one seriously wealthy witch." Then he took his leave to withdraw the money and the auror led his prisoners to a holding area where he finally loosened the spell on Eleanor's hands and locked them in.
The witch sat down with a sigh and rubbed her wrists. Lucius took his place next to her and turned towards her. "Thank you," he said. She lifted a hand, trailed them over the revers of his robes. "You are more than welcome to my selfishness," she teased him with a smile. "There was no way I was going to Azkaban. I'd have sold my soul to a Knockturn Alley loan-shark to avoid that. Plus, unless you give me the slip, I'll get my money back on Friday."
"Selfishness is rather becoming in you," he murmured. "I suggest you make a habit of it." She drew closer. "I have missed your bad influence for way too long now. I may have strayed into the paths of virtue in the interim," she confessed, and Lucius felt himself getting aroused at the teasing, intimate tone of her voice. Of course the surroundings were highly inappropriate, but that only added spice to the situation. "We will have to remedy that immediately," he suggested and pulled her to him to kiss her quite thoroughly. To his satisfaction she responded eagerly.
They both looked up and drew apart a little as they heard a lock turn. Eleanor cleared her throat and smoothed down her robes. A moment later two aurors had stepped into the room. "Nymphadora Tonks," said Lucius with a sneer. "Hello uncle," she replied breezily. "Not interrupting anything, am I?"
Lucius watched Eleanor lift a questioning eyebrow. "Ex-uncle, to be precise," he explained dismissively. "Daughter of Narcissa's sister Andromeda and a muggle father. I see you survived the breakout. Congratulations, not sure whether it's on your fighting abilities or just your dumb luck…"
The auror's face fell. "I was assigned somewhere else," she said flatly. "But a lot of my friends and colleagues died." Then she recovered. "I hear they are now trying to kill you, too. No longer Voldemort's golden boy, eh uncle?" Lucius compressed his lips, but didn't take the bait.
"And you are here, why?" he asked. "Nothing to do and the urge to gloat a little?" Tonks waved at the other auror who set up some parchment and a dictating quill on a side table. "Hardly, dear ex-uncle. I'm supposed to take your statements. So let's begin shall we?"
Lucius leaned back and stretched out his legs, laying his arm on the back of Eleanor's chair. He trailed his fingertips over her shoulder. "We are missing our lawyer right now," he drawled. "Oh, too scared to do anything without the wonderful Advocatus Tethering?" taunted Tonks. Lucius snorted quietly. That was a lot to take from this little mudblood punk, and for the moment his pride won out over his judgment.
"Fine," he drawled, appearing thoroughly bored. "I guess we can talk. So have you finally run out of Veritaserum after pouring the lot down my throat a few weeks ago?" Tonks pulled up a chair and looked at them. "You wish," she said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "No, you're not accused of anything at the moment. After all we can hardly charge you with recapturing a bunch of wanted Death Eaters. No potion for you this time."
A small smile played round Lucius' lips. "Very well then, what do you want to know?" "Well, first off, what were you doing at Professor Sartorius' residence?" The blond wizard felt the slightest movement under his hand as his lover's body tensed. His niece had cut right through to the heart of the matter.
He gently tapped Eleanor's back to let her know he understood and then shrugged his shoulders. "I first knew of her muggle residence six years ago. She took me there – for a night on the town. It seemed like a good place to go after you lot tossed me out without a second thought."
"So, no help from her, then?" asked Tonks. "You know very well that would have been illegal," he answered smoothly. "Plus, she told me you had her under observation all the time. Did she ever go to Ivy Crescent before last night? No? Well, then don't play dumb with me, Nymphadora."
The auror tapped her foot. "Don't call me that. I'm Tonks." Lucius regarded her with a sneer. "Really proud of our muggle father's provenance, are we? Nymphadora is a good name on the Black side. Some very fine witches bore it. You should honor it."
The woman tossed back her hair. "So who looked after you, uncle? Can't really see you pushing a trolley round the local Saintsbury's. Plus you have no muggle money." Lucius pursed his lips. "I had a muggle help me. We go quite a way back. I once tried to torture and kill him, you know. Apparently he is the forgiving sort. I am allowed to accept help from non-magical beings, am I not?"
Lucius began to enjoy the sparring. They threw questions and answers at each other, and he made a game out of how much of the truth he could tell without incriminating Eleanor. His niece was quite shrewd for her age, but still no match for him.
When she eventually concentrated on his lover he relaxed with a sense of self-satisfaction and listened to the exchange between the two women. Eleanor had obviously paid close attention to his story, and he could not pin down a single inconsistency. How stupid of the aurors to interview them together. Then again, he imagined that the escaped Death Eaters had been stretching the surviving resources to the limits these past few days.
Finally they were interrupted by a rap on the door and Advocatus Tethering entered. Tonks turned and looked at the lawyer, who triumphantly held up a payment order stamped with the Gringotts seal. "All done," he announced. "Let's get out of here."
"Fine," growled Tonks. "I guess we are finished. Of course you are lying through your damn teeth, the both of you." Lucius gave her an evil smile. "Prove it, my dear," he challenged her. She turned to her colleague and snapped at him in frustration. "Oh for Merlin's sake, put that quill away, and strike my last comment from the interrogation log, you moron."
She opened the door for them, and just as Lucius squeezed by her, she tapped his arm. "By the way, did you know, uncle, that Aunt Narcissa is making some inquiries?" The wizard felt himself frown in annoyance. "What kind of enquiries?" he asked. "Oh nothing official, but she is asking around. She is trying to find a buyer for Malfoy Manor."
"What?!" Lucius' voice stopped several Ministry officials dead in their tracks outside the interrogation room. "You lie!" The young auror shrugged her shoulders. "Why should I? She's owner of 12 Grimmauld Place now that Uncle Sirius is dead and she needs the money for renovation. You know what a dive that house is these days."
The wizard felt a red-hot haze surround him. "I swear by Merlin I'll have her…" Just then Tethering patted him on the shoulder. "Tut, tut, Mr. Malfoy. Wouldn't want to make any threats before witnesses now, would we." Lucius bit his outburst off in mid-sentence. He felt an almost painful pulse in his right temple and was sure he had not been furious like this in a very long time. Oh, she would suffer. She would not get away with this insolence.
"See you Friday, uncle," chimed Tonk's voice after him as he strode down the corridor, shouldering aside Ministry employees, careless if anyone followed him.