Froggy - thanks
Empire and Exigency
Chapter 12: An Offer You Can't Refuse
by Annie B
Rated PG-13
JKR owns all things Hogwarts. I only wish I did.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So." Lucius lolled back on his now-padded chair ( formerly a large rock ) and took another sip of wine. Hermione had had all day to consider the matter, and had decided to play the 'good daughter' card for trumps. Thus Malfoy Senior had been provided with Dobby's best Fordnam and Mason style picnic basket, enough of Hermione's favorite shampoo and conditioner to return his hair back to its usual sleek gloss, and the spider web cocoon he had been suspended in when the four had arrived was now transformed onto a suitably sleek spider-silk robe. "What now?"
Apparently even a stay in Askaban had done little to teach the man civility, or even the need not to piss off creatures that were both larger and more magically gifted than oneself.
"Now that you're not a dead Dementor any more?" Ron - on the other hand - was playing the 'prat' card.
"Should I assume I have simply become your prisoner, rather than the Ministry's?"
The man had style. Kidnapped - make that murdered - and trapped in a cave guarded by monsters, Lucius Malfoy was still playing the aristocrat. Harry had been amused. He knew Draco - after six-plus years how could he not - and now he knew where the brat came by it.
"Really, father." Draco drawled back. "When was a Malfoy ever simple?"
Lucky for them, Harry considered, in this game it was Draco ( or rather Harry himself ) that had the winning hand.
Harry shifted in his own throne, wishing he had asked Hermione for that padding spell earlier. What the hell was it about Dark Wizards that made them go for impressive but uncomfortable? Couldn't Salazar and Godric have gone shopping at IKEA? Picked up a couple of recliners rather then the carved-out-of-a-mountain-and-just-as-hard sort of Dark Throne effect?
Still, the monsters-and-megalith look *was* impressive. Harry took in the skull shaped lanterns, the black iron holders in the shape of dragons, the rune carved walls with the ward sigils picked out in the brown-red of blood. Not what he would have picked, but very TRK.
He shifted again. The Founders must have had buns of iron. Maybe he would get Dobby to find him some pillows? Later. He couldn't do anything now. He didn't dare show any weakness in front of Malfoy. "You have a choice."
"Sort of... " Ron added.
"Actually, you have three choices." Harry tried to duplicate the superior Malfoy smile. He had the impression that his impression needed work. No matter. You didn't need to be *good* at threats as long as you hand the wand to back them up.
"If you really want to stay with Voldemort..?" In which case you have got to be the planets greatest idiot, Harry tacked on mentally. "We can bind your magic and oblivate you and apparate you out to this island we know about. Officially deserted. Unplottable. But there would be food and water, and even without a wand you could probably survive." The 'and be totally miserable' remained unsaid. A part of Harry - possible a large part - was sort of hoping Malfoy would pick that option.
"Only until after our final victory, of course." Draco added in a voice he probably hoped was reassuring.
"Which might take a few years but... hey" Ron sounded unnaturally cheerful at the prospect of Malfoy and sand crabs. "Wizards have long lives."
" I promise weld bring you back once everything was entirely over."
"You'd be perfectly safe. Really." Hermione moved over to stand by Draco. "There's this Squib couple; Thurston Howell the Third and his wife. They go there in the summers. You could stay with them."
"They could use a house boy." Ron again. Again liking the image.
"Or we could put you in suspension." The little voice in Harry's head added 'by the neck'. Really, when had he stared channeling Ron? He took a sip of butter beer ( Dobby had packed enough picnic for everybody ) and forced himself to focus on business. "Literally. Stun you, let Aragog here spin you into a nice comfy cocoon and hang you up in his cave." Which was pretty much how they had found Malfoy when they had returned. Well, except for the stunned part. "Again, it would be perfectly safe. Aragog wouldn't eat anyone he promised not too." Well, probably not. If he thought it would upset Hagrid. And as long as Harry didn't mention *who* it was that the spider was guarding?
"With the right magic, you wouldn't age a day." Draco was trying for reassuring again. It didn't work any better than the first time. 'Trust me' was not Draco's strong point. "And again,we promise we's let you out once the threat was past."
"Maybe not exactly immediately after the war." Harry looked at Ron.
"Wouldn't want to have a new Death Eater movement start up."
"But as soon as we were sure the threat was past."
"Twenty or thirty years at most." Ron grinned. It was no more comforting than Draco's had been. But then - Ron probably want trying for comfort.
"And I swear I would take good care of the family fortune. I have all kinds of wonderful ideas."
This promise of Draco's was even less 'comforting' to Lucius than the first two had been. Harry would swear he even caught a wince before the older man schooled himself back into his usual sangfroid.
"Or if you want to be on the wining side?" Hermione's smile was the only one that worked. Which meant she was either a better person or a better actress.
"Which would delight Mother, since she *has* missed you." Draco. Twisting the knife. Harry reconsidered his desire to someday have kids.
"Yes?" Malfoy's first question. And his first mistake. Tactically speaking. Harry knew Malfoy was his. More importantly, he knew that Malfoy knew he was Harry's now.
Harry leaned forward. "I always have room for another Malfoy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I would like the thank all the people who have supported me in this. This is a very special fic, and I'm not real confident, so your help and guidance is very appreciated.
Empire and Exigency
Chapter 12: An Offer You Can't Refuse
by Annie B
Rated PG-13
JKR owns all things Hogwarts. I only wish I did.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So." Lucius lolled back on his now-padded chair ( formerly a large rock ) and took another sip of wine. Hermione had had all day to consider the matter, and had decided to play the 'good daughter' card for trumps. Thus Malfoy Senior had been provided with Dobby's best Fordnam and Mason style picnic basket, enough of Hermione's favorite shampoo and conditioner to return his hair back to its usual sleek gloss, and the spider web cocoon he had been suspended in when the four had arrived was now transformed onto a suitably sleek spider-silk robe. "What now?"
Apparently even a stay in Askaban had done little to teach the man civility, or even the need not to piss off creatures that were both larger and more magically gifted than oneself.
"Now that you're not a dead Dementor any more?" Ron - on the other hand - was playing the 'prat' card.
"Should I assume I have simply become your prisoner, rather than the Ministry's?"
The man had style. Kidnapped - make that murdered - and trapped in a cave guarded by monsters, Lucius Malfoy was still playing the aristocrat. Harry had been amused. He knew Draco - after six-plus years how could he not - and now he knew where the brat came by it.
"Really, father." Draco drawled back. "When was a Malfoy ever simple?"
Lucky for them, Harry considered, in this game it was Draco ( or rather Harry himself ) that had the winning hand.
Harry shifted in his own throne, wishing he had asked Hermione for that padding spell earlier. What the hell was it about Dark Wizards that made them go for impressive but uncomfortable? Couldn't Salazar and Godric have gone shopping at IKEA? Picked up a couple of recliners rather then the carved-out-of-a-mountain-and-just-as-hard sort of Dark Throne effect?
Still, the monsters-and-megalith look *was* impressive. Harry took in the skull shaped lanterns, the black iron holders in the shape of dragons, the rune carved walls with the ward sigils picked out in the brown-red of blood. Not what he would have picked, but very TRK.
He shifted again. The Founders must have had buns of iron. Maybe he would get Dobby to find him some pillows? Later. He couldn't do anything now. He didn't dare show any weakness in front of Malfoy. "You have a choice."
"Sort of... " Ron added.
"Actually, you have three choices." Harry tried to duplicate the superior Malfoy smile. He had the impression that his impression needed work. No matter. You didn't need to be *good* at threats as long as you hand the wand to back them up.
"If you really want to stay with Voldemort..?" In which case you have got to be the planets greatest idiot, Harry tacked on mentally. "We can bind your magic and oblivate you and apparate you out to this island we know about. Officially deserted. Unplottable. But there would be food and water, and even without a wand you could probably survive." The 'and be totally miserable' remained unsaid. A part of Harry - possible a large part - was sort of hoping Malfoy would pick that option.
"Only until after our final victory, of course." Draco added in a voice he probably hoped was reassuring.
"Which might take a few years but... hey" Ron sounded unnaturally cheerful at the prospect of Malfoy and sand crabs. "Wizards have long lives."
" I promise weld bring you back once everything was entirely over."
"You'd be perfectly safe. Really." Hermione moved over to stand by Draco. "There's this Squib couple; Thurston Howell the Third and his wife. They go there in the summers. You could stay with them."
"They could use a house boy." Ron again. Again liking the image.
"Or we could put you in suspension." The little voice in Harry's head added 'by the neck'. Really, when had he stared channeling Ron? He took a sip of butter beer ( Dobby had packed enough picnic for everybody ) and forced himself to focus on business. "Literally. Stun you, let Aragog here spin you into a nice comfy cocoon and hang you up in his cave." Which was pretty much how they had found Malfoy when they had returned. Well, except for the stunned part. "Again, it would be perfectly safe. Aragog wouldn't eat anyone he promised not too." Well, probably not. If he thought it would upset Hagrid. And as long as Harry didn't mention *who* it was that the spider was guarding?
"With the right magic, you wouldn't age a day." Draco was trying for reassuring again. It didn't work any better than the first time. 'Trust me' was not Draco's strong point. "And again,we promise we's let you out once the threat was past."
"Maybe not exactly immediately after the war." Harry looked at Ron.
"Wouldn't want to have a new Death Eater movement start up."
"But as soon as we were sure the threat was past."
"Twenty or thirty years at most." Ron grinned. It was no more comforting than Draco's had been. But then - Ron probably want trying for comfort.
"And I swear I would take good care of the family fortune. I have all kinds of wonderful ideas."
This promise of Draco's was even less 'comforting' to Lucius than the first two had been. Harry would swear he even caught a wince before the older man schooled himself back into his usual sangfroid.
"Or if you want to be on the wining side?" Hermione's smile was the only one that worked. Which meant she was either a better person or a better actress.
"Which would delight Mother, since she *has* missed you." Draco. Twisting the knife. Harry reconsidered his desire to someday have kids.
"Yes?" Malfoy's first question. And his first mistake. Tactically speaking. Harry knew Malfoy was his. More importantly, he knew that Malfoy knew he was Harry's now.
Harry leaned forward. "I always have room for another Malfoy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I would like the thank all the people who have supported me in this. This is a very special fic, and I'm not real confident, so your help and guidance is very appreciated.
