Spoiler Warning: This story is a sixth year fic that follows on from the events of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. As a conseqeunce this story contains *major* spoilers for book 5. You have been warned.
Posted 2nd April 2003
Revised Version Posted 22nd June 2003
SNAKE HEALER: THE MALFOY MUGGLE LOVER
CHAPTER 2: ESCAPE
Malfoy and Snape left Harry's new room soon after completing the raven-haired turned blond boy's disguise by casting a notice-me-not charm on his scar. The charm was designed to ensure that nobody noticed Harry's scar, unless they knew it was there. In practical terms it meant that only Harry, Lucius, Severus and anybody the later, who had cast the charm, told about the charm and the scar it covered could see it. Just like the potion that changed how he looked, the charm left Harry with the problem of how the hell was he going to prove that he was Harry Potter once he had escaped Malfoy Manor. After all nobody was going to believe that he was Harry Potter in disguise without some irrefutable proof, especially if he looked like someone from a family as dark as the Malfoys. He would manage though, if only because Dumbledore could summon Snape to prove that Harry was telling the truth, and that he really wasn't an evil dark wizard. To do that, however, he would have to get in contact with Dumbledore first, and the best way to do that was by letter. That way Dumbledore could come and rescue him, rather than him having to chance an escape attempt, something which if he were caught would make Lucius Malfoy extremely angry, and whilst Malfoy couldn't hurt him because of the bond, he was sure that in such circumstances the blond man would try to make his life even more of a misery than it was already.
It wasn't until after he had written the letter that Harry realised he didn't have an owl to send it with. He assumed Hedwig had been taken to the manor owlery, or wherever the Malfoy's owls were kept, but naturally he didn't know where that was, and seeing as neither of his two captives had deigned to leave him a map, he would have to go looking for it. Of course if he happened to stumble on a means of escape while searching for the owlery, be it floo powder, a broomstick or a portkey, then so much the better, but he wasn't as if he was going to actively search for one at this stage, at least not until after his attempt to have Dumbledore rescue him had been proved unsuccessful. Harry supposed he could just walk out the front door but Lucius would probably catch him, and he didn't have any muggle money anyway, and he certainly wasn't going to try hitchhiking. Of course if the worse came to the worse Harry supposed he could survive living on the run for a few weeks, but he'd rather stay at Malfoy Manor, where at least here he'd be guaranteed food, water, clean clothes and a shower.
Two hours later and he was still no nearer finding the owlery than when he had started. In fact he was thoroughly lost, much it seemed to the glee of the Manors many portraits. He'd actually tried asking some of them, but they'd just looked at him disdainfully, as if such a menial task as giving directions was beneath them. In fact he rather got the impression that, according to the portraits at least, he wasn't all that welcome, but then they were all dark wizards so Harry guessed they all resented for defeating Voldemort. The ghost had been somewhat more helpful, and had actually given him directions, but they'd been so long and complicated that he had soon forgotten them. That wasn't to say he was completely wasting his time, the Manor did have an air of beauty about it that not even Hogwarts possessed, but after two hours he was getting rather tired, and frustrated. He was, therefore, very grateful when he finally stumbled across a potential way out of Malfoy Manor.
It was just after the two-hour mark that he was walking down a corridor near the entrance hall when he heard the voice of Lucius Malfoy talking to an aristocratic sounding man about a business deal. Normally he would have ignored them, he didn't recognise the other voice as belonging to one of the death eaters that had spoken after Voldemort's resurrection so he doubted that Malfoy was about to discuss the dark lord's plans, which was the only thing he would want to hear about. But when the subject of the conversation turned to Voldemort he couldn't help but listen in.
"Yes," Lucius replied, when questioned about his 'other business dealings', the tone of voice gave away the fact he was referring to Malfoy's death eater duties. What surprised Harry though was how negative he sounded, it was almost as if he was sneering through gritted teeth, "And damn annoying it is too. I have better things to do with my time than be the plaything of a psychopath, who wants only to cause as much terror as possible. Especially when the said psychopath is angry at me for putting my interests before his," Harry was so shocked by this response that he seriously wondered whether Lucius was actually telling his true feelings, or merely saying what this man, who Harry assumed not to be a death eater, wanted to hear. Whatever the case Harry wanted to hear more so he approached the open door from which the conversation was coming from and peered inside. Lucius was sitting in an extremely comfortable office chair talking to the head of someone, who could have passed as his brother, through the fireplace. The room itself from the look of the large mahogany desk piled with papers and the various shelves and bookcases, seemed to the Malfoy patriarchs office, where he assumed all Lucius' legal business was done.
"Well why are you a death eater then?" the other man asked, while Harry was still taking in Malfoy's office. He didn't seem to be surprised by Lucius' lack of personal loyalty to the dark lord, in fact Harry suspected that he had already known the answer, and already knew the answer to the next question too. Of course that may have been because Lucius was saying what the other man expected him to say, and not because he already knew Lucius' opinions on the matter.
"Because he promised to do something about the mudblood problem, and because he promised to make Slytherin great again. But it was all lies, damn lies." Lucius protested with vehemence and passion that surprised Harry, he had never thought that either Malfoy could be so emotional about anything. The emotion soon dissipated as suddenly as it had come, leaving Lucius' voice as a cold sneer, "Not that a muggle-lover like you would understand."
"You shouldn't have trusted a dark lord," the head in the fireplace scolded, "You only got what you deserved."
"Cut the moralising, Janus," Lucius snapped angrily. Harry wasn't surprised to find that such a domineering man hated being told off and criticised, "You're a Slytherin not a Gryffindor."
"Well if you hate him so much why don't change sides?" The man who Lucius had called Janus asked, "I know you, Lucius. You're a man of action; you form a plan and then follow it. All this sitting around and moaning is so unlike you." To Harry the prospect of Lucius Malfoy on the light side seemed ridiculous and highly disturbing. Harry knew he wasn't a nice man, and even if he weren't totally evil he had behind the plot to kill the muggle-born students by opening the chamber of secrets, something nobody on the light side, not even Snape, who wasn't a nice man either, would do.
"I already have." Lucius replied contemptuously. He sounded slightly annoyed by the other man's assertion that he hadn't defected. "In case you've forgotten I am now officially a Ministry Spy." Malfoy's words certainly explained a lot. Harry had been wondering whether there was something more to the deal that let Malfoy escape Azkaban than what the Daily Prophet had reported, but he hadn't wanted to ask him, especially with Snape around. Of course such a position did not guarantee that Malfoy actually was on the light side, if anything it made more than probable that he had lied his way out of trouble.
"You know what I mean." The other man growled with annoyance. Harry was pretty sure he was referring to the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry was therefore thankful to note that the idea of Lucius as an Order member disturbed the man himself just as much as it disturbed Harry, "I am not joining a bunch of muggle-loving Gryffindors spouting moralistic claptrap," the blond man sneered haughtily, disgust clearly evident in his voice, "Besides, if Draco found out he'd lose all respect for me, he is still completely loyal to the Dark Lord, and will be so until it is too late for him. You should have seen his disappointment in me when I told him that I had agreed to spy for the ministry." Lucius' disgust disappeared from his voice as he began to talk about his son. He did not seem happy about the prospect of his son becoming a death eater, if anything he sounded distinctly unhappy with the idea, although from his words Harry knew he was resigned to the prospect of having his son bow down to the dark lord.
The thought of his archrival as a death eater disturbed Harry, he could certainly see Malfoy becoming a death eater, but despite all the Slytherins nasty comments and other antics, he could not see Malfoy actually enjoying it. Although Harry knew Ron would protest otherwise, Malfoy was not evil, he could not see the blond taking pleasure from seeing innocent people being tortured. He could quite imagine Malfoy enjoying Harry suffering, but then Harry was his enemy and the blond would imagine it suitable revenge for all the times Harry had humiliated him. This didn't mean that Draco Malfoy wasn't completely loyal to the dark lord, he merely had a 'glorified view', if it could be called that, of what being a death eater involved. This of course led Harry to wonder where the blond had got this view. His friends perhaps? If Crabbe and Goyle senior were anything like their offspring then Harry suspected they were both completely loyal to Voldemort, and could well have indoctrinated Draco too. Of course, Lucius may have indoctrinated loyalty to Voldemort along with anti-muggle prejudice in Draco himself simply to maintain appearances among his death eater friends. He was also surprised just how much Lucius seemed to value his son's respect as well as his son's loyalty. He had never really considered Lucius as actually caring about his son, much beyond Draco's ability to carry on the Malfoy name and bloodline. But again, Lucius claimed he thought otherwise, although Harry refused to take anything Lucius said at face value, even to his friends. Harry knew he was being far too cynical, but it was better to err on the side of caution.
Talking about caution, Harry realised that if he was going to spy on Lucius much longer he would need his invisibility cloak, as he did not want to be discovered. Besides if Malfoy had a working fireplace, which he was using to talk to people, then he was sure to have some Floo Powder somewhere in his office too. Harry rushed back to collect his invisibility cloak thanking his lucky stars that he didn't get lost, as he went to his room and back to the office. The whole trip took only a few minutes. Lucius was still talking to Janus in the fireplace when Harry returned, allowing him to tiptoe into the office under the cloak and hide in the corner. Although the conversation soon ended and Lucius got back to work, leaving a very bored Harry to wait for him to leave his office, something Malfoy seemed in no hurry to do. It did give Harry time, though, to scout out where the floo powder was kept, he didn't find out for certain, but he suspected it was in one of two pots on the ledge of the fireplace.
Lucius finally left his office at about half past six, making sure to lock the door behind him. Although he had only spent an hour under the invisibility cloak, it had felt like an age to Harry, who eagerly removed the cloak the moment the coast was clear and strode over to the fireplace. His suspicion that the floo powder was in one of the two pots above the fireplace was confirmed the moment he checked to see the contents of the left hand one. He grabbed a pinch of the red powder inside, before carefully placing the pot back on the ledge above the fireplace and flooing off to Hogwarts, where he hoped Professor Dumbledore would be. Not that he flooed directly to Hogwarts, that was impossible, as Hogwarts wasn't connected to the floo network for security reasons. Instead he was forced to floo into Hogsmeade and trek up to the castle. He made his way directly to the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office, which even though it was the summer holiday still demanded a password, which Harry knew would most likely be the name of a sweet. It was a few minutes until the gargoyle eventually sprung open upon hearing 'Blood Pops', allowing Harry made to make his way up the winding staircase to the headmaster's office. Although, he was forced to wait outside the door when he heard various voices emanating from inside the headmaster's office.
"I'm not taking this to the Order," he heard Dumbledore saying, "If Voldemort found out Harry would be in grave danger."
"Unless our dirty little traitor is in this room," 'Mad-Eye' Moody growled. He could imagine both of the paranoid former auror's eyes drilling into the head of one of the other people in the meeting, the man or woman who he thought to be the traitor.
"Alastor, everyone on this room has my complete confidence," Dumbledore sighed, sounding exasperated by his friend's paranoia, "Including Severus,"
"Then perhaps Snape should explain why Harry Potter is standing outside your office door disguised as a Malfoy, when he claims Potter is staying with some muggle friends of his." Mad-Eye snapped fiercely.
"Ask the boy himself," Snape sneered, "Rather than just assuming I'm behind it."
"Well come in then Harry."
There were six people in Dumbledore's office, all sitting round Dumbledore's desk. All of them Order members that he recognised. He wondered why they meeting in Dumbledore's Office rather than at Grimmauld Place, but then Harry wondered if Dumbledore didn't want anyone to know that the meeting had taken place. It was only after Harry had resolved this problem that he realised they were all staring at him.
"What," he asked, feeling disconcerted by way the group were looking at him, "It's my fault I look like a bloody Malfoy," he protested glaring at Snape, "He's the one who shoved the potion down my throat and cast a Notice-me-not Charm on my scar." Snape glared right back, in a manner, which would have caused most people to run away in terror, but not Harry. The implication of the glare was clear, Snape thought that Harry had been stupid to leave Malfoy Manor and was going to make sure Harry's life was made a misery in revenge for all the awkward questions that were about to come his way. The comment caused the rest of the group to break their stares, embarrassed a being caught, but only Dumbledore actually looked at Snape.
"Then if you be so good as to remove the charm Severus," Dumbledore requested, looking gravely at his potions master. It was a look that expressed disappointment. With a grumble the potions master complied. Harry couldn't tell the difference, he could after all see the scar even with the charm, as he knew it was there, but judging by everyone else's reaction those in the meeting certainly could: as with the exception of Snape and Moody they had visibly relaxed.
"And the disguise?" Harry asked hopefully. The charm on his scar hadn't bothered him, but he did not want to see a Malfoy every time he looked in the mirror, he'd probably have to resort to drastic measures simply to remain sane.
"I do not have the counter potion in stock, Potter," Snape replied with a sneer, although Harry also thought he heard a hint of smugness in the Potions Master's voice. He looked back to Dumbledore hoping that the headmaster would somehow aid in the situation either by removing the disguise or by asking Snape to brew the counter potion as quickly as he could, but instead he met a pair of twinkling blue eyes that held an emotion that Harry really did not want to see.
"No," he cried in desperation, praying to any god that was listening that the headmaster did not look as though all had just had a brainwave, and that this brainwave wasn't what he feared it was, "I am not spending my summer holidays looking like a Malfoy." He spat his worst enemies family with a passion that reflected just how much he hated the Malfoy family.
"My dear boy," Dumbledore responded kindly trying, unsuccessfully, to placate Harry, "I am not asking you to stay at Malfoy Manor, merely to keep your disguise as a precaution against Voldemort. It's for your own safety."
Harry sighed with frustration and annoyance. Dumbledore was right a disguise would certain make him safer, as Voldemort was looking for Harry Potter not some random young wizard. But that didn't mean it had to be this particular disguise, he was damned if he was going to spend his summer looking like a Malfoy, he'd rather have spent his summer with the Dursleys, "At least change my disguise," he pleaded, "I don't want to look like a Malfoy all summer."
"Normally I would agree to your request but in this situation your current disguise would be the most useful." Dumbledore replied, sounding somewhat sympathetic to Harry's plight. This sounded somewhat ominous to Harry, who was quick to ask why this was the case. It sounded as though Dumbledore intended to send back to the Malfoys.
"After the death of your aunt you will be living with one of your mother's cousins," Dumbledore explained in response to Harry's rather strong protests, "She married a distant relative of the Malfoy Family. Your current disguise would blend in perfectly with them." Again Harry began to protest this, any relative of Lucius Malfoy was most likely to be evil, "And yes I trust them both completely."
Harry sighed in annoyance. He trusted Dumbledore to do what the headmaster thought was in his best interest, unlike Snape who would and had only done enough to make sure Harry wasn't maimed or killed, but that didn't mean he had to like the headmasters intentions. Any relative of Lucius Malfoy sounded like someone worth avoiding, even if he was married to his mother's cousin. The problem was there was that if both Dumbledore and presumably the Ministry wanted him to go there was nothing he could do about it, especially while under disguise. After all he couldn't exactly turn up at the Weasley's asking to stay, they wouldn't recognise him and certainly wouldn't trust him, besides they were most probably at the Order Headquarters just as they had been the previous summer. A headquarters that Harry wasn't entirely sure he could find without the help of an Order member. He would just have to make the best of it.
Some of you may think that Harry yielded a bit too quickly there, especially considering how much he protested in the last chapter, but as I said in the chapter he does trust Dumbledore to do what is right in such a situation. On the other hand Gryphnwng commented on how Slytherin Harry was acting in suggesting the bond. I will politely disagree by saying that when imprisoned in the home of their enemies most Gryffindors would be extra careful too. I can understand the argument though, and if anyone else sees it that way it's because I'm a fan of Slytherin! Harry. Although I do think that Harry would do exactly the same thing in cannon.
The Notice-me-not charm is borrowed from Midnight Blue, without permission. It was included when Spika pointed out that I didn't disguise Harry's scar in the last chapter, naturally, Dumbledore will reapply it for the next chapter as it complete's Harry's disguise.
Harry hearing the Floo conversation was partly in reponse to H. Malfoy's review. Naturally I had to explain Lucius' character, I just didn't intend to do so this early. Obviously I haven't completely explained Lucius' motivations, but I hope this helps for now. I won't really touch the issue again until after Harry has found out about his true parentage.
In case you're wondering Harry will return to Malfoy Manor within the next two to three chapters. It's just that he has to go and stay with his mother's cousin first, as something happens there that is key to the rest of the plot.
Thank You to all those who reviewed chapter One, your reviews were most appreciated. If you want me to e-mail you when I update this fic leave your e-mail address in your review.