A/N: I'll reply to reviews when I post Chapter Fourteen. Enjoy these four chapters!
Come the Maëlstrom
Chapter Ten
Everything seemed fluid and dark, like spilled ink that flowed over parchment. His feet were bare and he could feel the slight tickle of grass beneath his feet. He started walking silently, attempting to look around and see, but the inky dark prevented him from seeing more than a few feet ahead of him. So far as he knew, he was the only one here; he couldn't sense anyone else's dream. His feet whispered against the grass as he continued on, the darkness becoming more and more oppressive and smothering. A furrow came to his brow as he looked up in a vain attempt to discern the time; anything temporal seemed to be suspended here. He could have been here for a few hours or a few days for all he knew.
A gentle rumble seemed to come from all around, and he froze. Once it stopped, he continued walking along, this time a bit warily. It seemed that the darkness was gradually lightening and he stopped, looking around. The grass at his feet was green and it sprung back up when he lifted a foot hesitantly.
"Evil..."
The sibilant whisper echoed around him, making it impossible to hear where it came from exactly. More whispers came now, all around him, growing louder and louder and more insistent before it came to a quietly crashing end.
"Evil..."
There had been two voices that time, directly behind him. He turned around and found himself facing an eleven year old Harry. Those green eyes bored into him with a startling intensity that would have easily shamed the Dark Lord.
"You're evil." he said easily.
The bald statement was immediately followed by a voice behind him that made him whirl around.
"Not precisely. It's more of a grey thing."
Lucius found himself facing an eleven year old version of himself.
"This is what you become," those green eyes still bored into him. "Can you live with that?"
"I can. But can you live with your shame? Your guilt?" his young voice was soft, insinuating. "With the one thing your blood knows but you don't?"
"Will you live with yours? It will get worse before it gets better."
His eleven year old self nodded his head sagely. "If you're that lucky."
Eleven-year old Harry bowed his head. "I don't know if I can live with mine."
He watched as his eleven year old self opened his arms and eleven year old Harry ran right into them. Right through him into them. Lucius' brow furrowed in pure confusion he watched them vanish away into nothing just as Harry reached his younger self. He was still regarding the spot in puzzlement when a sharp crack echoed out loudly.
His gaze was drawn to a bright spot of white just up ahead. His steps started out slowly but sped up as he realised it was a flickering torch. A large pile of wood could be seen, something carried to it and placed down at the very top, while the cloaked figures, bowed down low and a keening wail reached his ears with an eerie warble.
When he got close enough, he found himself looking at a funeral pyre, stacked as tall as a person. And lying down on top, with the pallor of death clouding his face was Harry. His expression blackened as a torchbearer made their way closer and closer, intent on sending him up like some fallen Norse hero to the Valkyries. The darkness seemed to be creeping in closer, smothering the white. The cloaked figures cowered slightly and the darkness pressed in, until the torchbearer stuck the torch into the kindling. It immediately caught light and sent up a burst of flame, with pulses running up it. That darkness was completely gone now, and Lucius found himself pelting towards the pyre.
"I love you..."
He barely heard the words as the ground gave a fearsome rumbling shudder before it cracked open into a red abyss and swallowed him whole, all the while cackling in a voice that sounded like a triumphant Weasley.
Lucius' eyes snapped open and he scrambled to sit up in his bed, panting heavily and looking around. Dark, it was dark in here. He reached forward and snapped the curtains open to let in the light. The sun must have been setting or rising since everything in his bedroom was bathed in crimson light. It reminded him far too much of spilt blood and he went to shut the curtains once more when there came a small scream and the telltale 'pop' of one of his house elves disappearing. He closed the curtains, allowing in only a sliver of light.
He ran a hand through his hair, staring down at the blanket over his knees. He looked at his hand to find it trembling slightly against the blanket. That was one profoundly disturbing mishmash of a dream. First of all, Lucius did not dream; ever. His sleep had always been undisturbed since he was a child. He did not need to have something like this smacking his subconscious around. Second was the oddly prophetic tone that it had; there hadn't been a Seer in the Malfoy line since the seventeenth century and there couldn't be now as Elrida Malfoy was barmy, and considered herself above the physical act of sex. Third were those three little words. He couldn't be sure if someone else had said them or if he himself had said the, But he was sure that he had never said those three damnable words to anyone in his life, ever. Malfoys did not ever use those three words; they caused far too many problems. He was still trying to puzzle it out when the curtains were suddenly ripped open and he looked up to find Severus standing there.
"About time that blasted fever of your broke," Severus growled.
"About time?" Lucius echoed, with a raised eyebrow.
"Considering you've been feverish for a week, yes, it's about bloody time." Severus said as he walked over to the night table and poured a glass of water. "Drink." He ordered tersely.
Lucius took the glass and sipped at it. His stomach was already protesting. He wasn't about to gulp it down no matter what. He hadn't even realized how thirsty he was. It was a long while before he made it halfway through the glass and stopped for a moment.
"And the Dark Lord wants my head on a silver platter?"
Severus shook his head. "I told him you valiantly sent Fudge off on a wild goose chase while you resisted the effects of Veritaserum. Thankfully Fudge is an idiot who did something that seemed to corroborate that. If anything, the Dark Lord is extremely pleased with you for 'for enabling him to further his plans'."
"What has Fudge done in the space of one week?"
"Messed everything up. All the power vested in him and he's under heavy guard, everything to do with Muggles has been consolidated into one liaison department, and there's speculation that there's some sort of secret Ministry organisation that's interrogating wizards suspected of connections to the Dark Lord. They simply vanish from the street, and some aren't seen again."
Lucius shook his head and took another sip of water; that certainly explained his 'abduction'; he must have been the very first. "Fudge is the very epitome of the quintessential political moron."
"Indeed," Severus lip curled in disdain. "From reports, he's falling out of favour with many wizards, though some do support his decisions. And, if you can imagine this, he even managed to get Umbridge back into Hogwarts."
"That disgusting toad is back there?" Lucius asked, his lip curling in disgust.
"Observational purposes only, so that if the Dark Lord attacks the school she will be able to alert the Ministry and receive instructions for the Aurors there."
"Hmph," Lucius didn't say anything for a moment taking a few more sips of water. He was almost done. "So long as she doesn't interfere again."
"She's tried," Severus said. "I believe you've heard of Fred and George Weasley?"
Lucius nodded his head. Even he'd heard the students chattering about it at King's Cross after fifth year. Fireworks that multiplied when spelled, entire classes sick due to their line of candy, a swamp that took some doing to remove... they would undoubtedly go down in Hogwarts legend.
"They've been selling things like mad to the Hogwarts students via catalogue. I don't know how they smuggle it in, but so long as it keeps that vile woman away from me..." Severus paused for a moment, watching Lucius curiously. "Just how did Fudge get Veritaserum down your throat?"
"It was either I take it willingly or they forced it down," Lucius took another sip of water. "I was out for a week?"
Snape nodded. "There have only been a few documented cases of the Obscumens brew reacting with Veritaserum and that person did not survive; it's one of the first cases of Veritaserum reacting with another potion. The person slipped into a coma and suffered from hallucinations up until the moment that they died. You had a temperature of 110 when I found you. The house elves were beside themselves and Narcissa looked thrilled." He paused. "High fever and hallucinations or hallucinatory dreams are a side effect of the potions interactions, so if you did hallucinate or dream, it was simply fever and nothing more."
"I have no doubt... the conniving bitch would be happy." Lucius muttered darkly. "Have you been able to do any research?"
"Oh yes, in between brewing the potions you needed and ensuring a little thing called Death didn't decide to visit you permanently. It stopped by once earlier on though."
"I beg your pardon?" Lucius asked, managing to mask his surprise.
"You were dead for a good two minutes before I got your heart beating again," Severus said a smug smile on his face. "Considering the fact that you claimed my attending Avalon Academia was a waste of time, I'd say you owe them a rather large bit of gratitude."
Lucius scowled at Severus. "I am not opening my pocketbook, thank you. That's all they ever want."
"Ever cynical," Severus tsked in a reproachful voice.
"You're a fine one to talk about cynicism." Lucius retorted.
Severus gave one of his rarely amused chuckles. "Since you're better now, I think I'll take my leave. I've left the house elves with explicit instructions as to your care," he settled his cloak on his shoulders. "If you feel up to it later on in the week," he gave Lucius a look that said he meant exactly that. "Go to your library. I left a spell in place to sort out all the books you may find useful to some degree. I have my own research to conduct at Hogwarts."
Lucius didn't say anything as Severus walked out of the room and shut the door behind him quietly. He had just looked back down at his blanket when a 'pop' sounded in the room.
"Master Lucius is all right! Master Severus has cured you! Oh, Bwink knew Master Severus could..."
He groaned as he heard Bwink's ecstatic voice, automatically tuning her out. Damn his house elf. She insisted on doing practically everything for him. He did not need to be dressed like a child in the morning. And certainly not by a house elf, no less; it was nothing short of very degrading. What he could use now was a bath, a change of clothes, something to eat and then perhaps-
"...Mistress Narcissa tried to sneak in but Bwink wouldn't let her! Bwink knew she was planning to do something bad to Master!"
Bwink's sudden fierce words roused him from his thoughts. "Repeat that again." He said quietly.
Bwink looked at him in surprise, as if realising he was still there. "What Master Lucius?"
"Say that again. What you just said." Lucius said in exasperation.
"Mistress Narcissa tried to get in here when you was sleeping Master Lucius and Master Severus had to leave for a bit. But I wouldn'ts let her. She wanted to do something bad to Master Lucius. Bwink heard her."
Bwink gasped and started to gnaw viciously on her hand.
"Stop that," Lucius said in a slightly irritated voice. "Did she really? And just what was that witch planning?"
Bwink opened her mouth to try and speak but gave a strangled sound and proceeded to start bashing her head against the floor with a fairly loud 'thunk'. Lucius grabbed Bwink by the arm and pulled her up roughly.
"Bwink..." Lucius growled.
"Bwink can't say! Bwink serves Mistress Narcissa as well! Bwink cannot betray her!" she started smacking herself with her bony little hand.
Lucius had to pause for a moment to calm down. House elves were very frustrating creatures; useful but frustrating. He let go of her arm and let her stand on her own. "Bwink, if you don't tell me, you may find yourself with only Narcissa as your master."
That made Bwink stop and cringe in visible fear. Just how bad could Narcissa be if Bwink preferred him over her?
"Bwink..." he said threateningly.
"Bwink can't!" she wailed and started beating herself against the bedpost.
"Stop that," he ordered, giving her a curt slap to the face. "For Salazar's sake, you're my personal house elf from now on! Now tell me!"
Bwink gave a hurt little cry and fell to the floor. She picked herself up with joy in her eyes. "Master Lucius' personal house elf?"
Lucius stifled the curses that wanted to fly free. "Yes," he managed. "My personal house elf, but you may still serve Narcissa should she ask you for something. But when I ask you to tell me something, you will tell me immediately, am I understood?"
Bwink nodded, clutching her hands rapturously. "Bwink understands Master Lucius."
"Good. Then we are going to try this again, and you had better get it right," Lucius said slowly. "What was Narcissa planning?"
Bwink looked around fearfully. "May Bwink whisper it in Master Lucius' ear?"
In all his life, Lucius had never heard anything so audacious from a house elf. Well, there was Dobby, but Dobby was long gone now; freed by Harry. And Dobby had always been an oddball. He looked over Bwink; there was no way that he was letting that stained, filth covered rag masquerading as clothing anywhere on his bed, much less any closer to it.
"No. But whisper it anyhow if you must." He said.
Bwink looked around once more before speaking in a horrified voice. "Mistress Narcissa was wanting to poison Master Lucius so he wouldn'ts wake up. Ever again." Her bony hands flew up to her mouth in shock and her eyes widened even more with apprehension.
Lucius didn't say anything for a moment. "Just how badly do you want me gone Narcissa?" he murmured to himself.
"Is Master Lucius wanting to know anything else?" Bwink peered up at him hopefully with watery brown eyes and what looked like the start of a runny nose.
"No," Lucius said managing to mask his distaste. "That will be all for today."
"Master Lucius is sure he wants for nothing else?"
His eyes flickered up to the bathroom door for a moment. "Draw me a bath. And see to it that I am not disturbed in any manner whatsoever."
"Yes, Master Lucius!" Bwink said before vanishing with a pop.
"Bloody house elves..." Lucius muttered as he looked out the window once more.
The sky was a dark black-indigo now, with faint streaks of crimson in spots. An involuntary shiver passed through him as he regarded it. He wasn't sure why, and it certainly wasn't cold in the room. With a shake of his head, he looked away, chiding himself. He was far too pragmatic to start contemplating more... esoteric things.
Bwink appeared back with another pop. "Bath is ready, Master Lucius."
"That will be all then." Lucius said, barely looking at the tiny elf.
"But Master Severus was saying – " Bwink began hesitantly.
"I am fine." Lucius said pointedly. "If you're going to be my personal house elf, at least clean up a bit more." his eyes flickered over her in disgust. "That is all for now. I shall summon you if I need anything."
Bwink made a thoroughly ecstatic sound before she nodded her head rapidly – almost bashing her head against the floor again – and disappeared with an abrupt popping sound. Lucius snorted in disdain as he shifted to the edge of the bed and shrugged into a robe. He rose slowly and made his way to his private bathroom. A nice warm bath was what he needed at the moment, perhaps a bit to eat later on and this incident would be soon forgotten.
A warm fire crackled heartily in the fireplace and cast dancing shadows in the room. There was a large, long table littered with half open books, books with little bits of parchment stuck at various spots, books turning themselves to specific pages and quills copying certain passages. In the middle of all this activity, Lucius sat dead centre, poring over a book that the Dark Lord would have killed to get his hands on. Considering that it contained a few previously unused poisons that had no antidote, Lucius was just as glad it was in his personal library. Unfortunately, it seemed that none of them would be useful to any degree. He snapped it shut and picked up another one to start through. He didn't bother to look up when a slight pop sounded.
"Master Lucius?"
Bwink sounded a touch nervous. He looked up to find the house elf wringing her hands so hard it seemed like she would pull her fingers out from the socket. Lucius gave a rather cold stare.
"I am quite sure I indicated that I was not to be interrupted."
"Yes but Master Valerian is here, Master Lucius."
Lucius snorted and turned back to his book with a nod of his head. Trust his lawyer to come at a time when he was truly busy and not pretending to have something to do. The gentle creak of the library doors opening didn't make him look up at all.
"My, my," a soft contralto voice echoed slightly in the room. "I see you've been quite busy. This is why you've pushed back out appointment since you've recovered. You've kept me waiting a whole week. I am a very busy man, Lucius."
He glanced up to find the lean man surveying the table with a rather sardonic, and amused, gleam in his eye. As usual, his lawyer was dressed in the dark navy-blue robes of his office but left open to reveal the crisp white shirt, black slacks and shined black shoes. His hands were shoved casually in his pocket and his appearance was somewhat relaxed and friendly. Lucius knew it was anything but.
"Almost eleven at night," he mused glancing at the clock. "How prudent of you to call at a decent hour Valerian."
"I had very little inclination to run into your wife. As she's bombarded me with belligerent owls and flooded my secretary with extra paperwork, I don't wish to be held liable for my actions in the sanctity of your home."
Lucius snorted as he snapped the book shut and pick up yet another. "And just what would be the reason of visit?"
"It has been made known to me that you were prompted to answer certain questions during an illegal interrogation." Valerian slipped a gloved hand from his pocket and rubbed his chin slightly. "As my sources tell me, Fudge himself interrogated you under the supervision of Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks, while a Percy Weasley took notes. Am I correct?"
Lucius nodded his head curtly as he glanced up at Valerian. He never quite understood why the man wore gloves, through summer and winter, but to each his own. The man was a brilliant lawyer and had a very useful talent of gleaning truth from what seemed to be thin air; that's what he paid him for.
"A few other prominent families have had this occur to some family members as well and are attempting to file a joint lawsuit."
"Shall I assume kidnapping, forced confessions, coercion and blatant disregard for the use of Veritaserum are among the litany of charges."
Valerian inclined his head. "You assume correctly. Considering the fact that you fell gravely ill due to their ineptitude," the derision in his voice was plain to hear. "The other families would be most pleased if you joined in the suit as well."
Lucius placed the text on the table and regarded Valerian for a long moment. "If I knew I wasn't going to be on trial at a later date, as I undoubtedly will be, I would have owled you immediately upon waking up to sue them for every penny."
"Quite true," Valerian chuckled. "As you wish. Bide your time and pick your fights. I myself must 'pick' one tomorrow. A client wishes me to deliver something to their child at Hogwarts. Do you know how hard it is to get permission to simply deliver something in person to the school? It took me a month to get the clearance needed from the Headmaster."
"This is war," Lucius said simply, eyes scanning over the table.
"True again," Valerian placed his gloved hands in his pockets once more. "I shall see myself out, don't trouble yourself. We certainly don't want you to have a relapse of any sort."
Lucius simply gave a slight smile at the sarcasm. "I didn't say I was done with you quite yet, did I?" eyes still searching for something.
"Didn't you?" Valerian paused and looked back with an arched eyebrow. "For once I've finished with work before three in the morning. I deserve to pay some attention to my neglected bed."
Finally spying it, Lucius reached under a small pile of papers and drew out a slim, and sealed, envelope. Rising, he held it out simply. Valerian gave a small sigh, walked back over and took it.
"Surely you don't –" his eyes widened in surprise once he read the name on the front. "Harry Potter?!"
"I trust this will reach his hands, and his hands alone." Lucius stated simply. "It would be greatly amiss if it fell into the wrong hands... of any kind."
Valerian nodded his head. "I don't normally play owl for just anyone, but I can make an exception."
"How very gracious of you," Lucius replied sitting back down and picking up the book once more. "Now, I'm done with you."
"As you say," Valerian said with a light chuckle, tucking the envelope in an inner robe pocket. "I hope your research goes well," he called as he walked to the library doors. "Oh," he paused, hand on the doorknob. "And if I see that hag wife of yours skulking around my office again, don't be surprised if a nasty Howler is addressed to her during dinner."
And with that, Valerian slipped out and the door closed with a gentle creak and click. Lucius watched the door for a moment before he stared at the fire. He didn't know what possessed him to write a letter to Harry. But to actually send it off... the illness must have addled his mind more than he thought. That and working almost non-stop a day since he had woken up. And now, four nights later, he was still going at it. He shifted his gaze to the book before he closed it and rose from his seat. Once he outed the fire, he left everything where it was and walked out of the library, but not before locking the door, and raising a few wards on it. Then he made his way to the comfort of his bedroom. He certainly wasn't useful if he was worn out completely.