Disclaimer: Please see Chapters 1 and 2 for full disclaimers.
Many, many thanks…
Wyall Jared… Giving you chills? Delighted to hear it. I promise you'll get wedding stuff in the next chapter. Cross my heart!
Evenstar Elanor… Oops. You caught me in that one. I'll now go stand in the corner and take a time out!
Chapter 10: A Dagger in the Back
While Serena and Tonks were reduced to shrieking laughter by one of Aunt Kerry's exceedingly blue stories, and Severus was being toasted by Albus and Jeremy, Lucius Malfoy had just finished telling his wife about his new modification to the Imperius Curse. Next to him, Malificus sat as his brother's living guinea pig.
"Why on earth would you do something like that?" asked Narcissa. "He's been in the hospital! He's your brother!"
Lucius looked at Malificus and saw the fury in his brother's eyes, and for a moment a pang of guilt lanced him. "I'm not doing this to be cruel," Lucius said. "We have an opportunity here to finally help the Dark Lord return o this plane of existence. I have a plan that will keep everyone's attention away from us and it all hinges on our dear friend Severus Snape."
"Severus?" Narcissa wasn't certain where her husband was going with this.
Lucius smile turned sly and cold. "Don't fret over the details, my dear. Leave those to me. Malificus plays a tremendous role in this plan, and it will also be a delicious bit of payback for Serena for what she did to him." He gestured at Malificus' scarred and disfigured face. "But I have to make sure that Malificus' passions don't get the better of him."
Lucius turned and looked at his brother. "You just don't think clearly around Serena. I need to be sure that you'll do and say exactly what I need. Once the Death Eaters are back in power, I'll release you from the Curse."
"And how do you know this will work? Spell modifications are often touchy and unpredictable…" Narcissa had an uneasy feeling about this.
Lucius went to his brother and said, "When I ask you about Fudge, you'll answer that he's a good man and an asset to the Ministry."
"Tell me, Malificus, what do you think of Cornelius Fudge?" asked Lucius.
In truth, Malificus thought Fudge was a little sot with no backbone and less talent, and Lucius could see the struggle in his brother's eyes as Malificus tried his best to say that he despised Fudge for his weakens… to prove that Lucius didn't control him. In the end, Malificus lost.
"He's a good man," he said confidently. "An asset to the position."
From where she stood in the room, Narcissa raised her eyebrows. More than once she'd heard Malificus rant about Fudge's ineptitude as Minister. She raised her wand.
"Veritas," she ordered, thinking she would break whatever spell her husband had placed on Malificus.
"Minister Fudge is a good man," repeated Malificus. "I wholeheartedly disagree with those buffoons who are upset about how he handled that whole affair with the Goblins." Inside he was screaming; he didn't believe anything he was saying.
Lucius was delighted with the results of his addition to the Imperius Curse. His plan would work out quite nicely, and while he used Malificus as a marionette to keep everyone occupied, the Dark Lord would finally be able to return in his corporeal form.
"Excellent," purred Lucius, and then he thought, it will probably be wise to see exactly how much I need to coach him before we get too deeply enmeshed in my plan...
Then he decided to try an impromptu test on a topic he had not prepped Malificus for, just to see how his brother would react to an unexpected question. "And what do you think of my wife?"
As the question fell through the air, Narcissa froze.
Malificus struggled to say something benign and diversionary and failed miserably. "She's a bloody fabulous shag," he said.
Lucius' face turned to stone. "What did you just say?" He felt all of the blood in his body turn to ice.
"He's obviously deranged," interrupted Narcissa. "Whatever spell you put on him has unbalanced what was left of his mind!"
"Silence!" hissed Lucius. He turned to stare at his brother, a snarl curling the corner of his mouth. He couldn't have possibly said what I think he just said…
"She's a great shag," repeated Malificus with the sudden realization that he had a small iota of power left.
Lucius slowly turned away from his brother and looked at his wife. "I believe you owe me an explanation, Narcissa."
"Lucius…"
His hand shot out as he grabbed Narcissa by the throat. She gasped and clawed in vain against the crushing pressure. Malificus stepped forward only to be halted by a sharp command from Lucius.
"How long has this been going on, Narcissa?" her husband asked. His grip was so tight all she could manage was a hoarse gurgle; he loosened his hand just enough to allow her the smallest bit of air.
"A while…" she rasped.
"How long!" he thundered.
"Years," said Malificus with more than a little enthusiasm.
"Years? Years? How many years?"
In his heart, Malificus couldn't help but gloat. This might mean his life, but even under his magical constraints, he could still strike his brother. "Since just after your second wedding anniversary," he said with a malicious smile. "Sixteen years."
Lucius ground his teeth together. He pulled Narcissa close to him, gripping her hair and forcing her head back. "You traitorous bitch. Is Draco even my son?"
"Yes! Yes, he is," said Narcissa in the strongest voice she could muster. "The affair started after he was born."
She thought back bitterly to those months after Draco was born. All Lucius could see was his precious first-born son; she became second rate, her purpose finished. She'd done everything she could think of to interest Lucius in her again, but for a time he hadn't paid her any attention. Then Malificus had come calling, telling her how beautiful she was, how sexy and desirable she was, and what a fool his brother was to not see that… Not long after she'd first slept with Malificus, Lucius desire for her rekindled, but by then she was addicted to the thrill of the affair.
With a hard shove, Lucius pushed Narcissa into Malificus. There was a raw red mark on her neck where he'd held her. Then he grabbed her hair again, pulling Narcissa back to him. Pressing himself into her back, he pulled her head back and grabbed her around the waist with his free arm, crushing her against him.
"Was my brother a better lover than I am?" he hissed over her shoulder and into her ear. "Was it him you wanted all these years?"
"No," said Narcissa, and it was the truth. "No, I want you. I've always wanted you."
"Then why?" demanded Lucius. And why should I believe you?
"After Draco was born, he made me feel beautiful… you didn't seem to want me. After that, it was the danger," she said softly. "The thrill of getting away with it."
Lucius looked at his brother. "And what about you?"
Forced to be truthful by his brother's spell, Malificus shrugged as he said, "To spite you. To spite my perfect elder brother who does everything right. To spit in your face for always making me feel like I wasn't as good as you. Narcissa is a pleasant enough romp, but I did it to hurt you, Lucius."
"And is Narcissa telling me the truth?"
"She is," answered Malificus. "She loved the danger, not me. The last time we were together she told me that she'd never leave you. She loves you… and she loves being Mrs. Lucius Malfoy."
Lucius twisted Narcissa around to face him. He slapped her hard and she gasped in shock. He had never struck her before. Ever. "So, you enjoy being Mrs. Lucius Malfoy? That's good. You're MY wife, Narcissa. You belong to me and I won't be made a fool of. You have a taste for dangerous games? Well, your little game has just broken through to the next level. Do not leave the manor… I'll be back to deal with you."
He released his hold on his wife. Narcissa turned and fled from the room as Lucius grabbed his brother by the arm. "As for you," he snarled, "I need you right now, but you'll pay for this, too."
Malificus knew the threat was real.
Well, hope you liked this chapter (and I hope it surprised you just a little bit). Stay tuned for more… and please read/review!