Revenge of a Slytherin

Chapter 23

Lucius suggested that Nichol take a nap as she was physically and emotionally drained. Nichol was so tired that she did not argue. He led her through the house to a suite next to his own. Once Nichol was settled on the bed Lucius clicked his fingers and an elf appeared. Lucius spoke quietly to the elf and it vanished for a few seconds before reappearing and passing a small jar to his master and vanishing again. Lucius returned to the bedside and sat down behind Nichol, taking her head into his hands – she flinched slightly and he said gently 'trust me…' Opening the jar he took a little of the cream from the jar and massaged it into Nichol's head, temples and neck. 'Mmmm' she sighed 'what is that? It feels and smells so good.'

'Ohhh just a little menthol, lavender and melissa – it will calm you and help you rest.'

As Nichol lay back and got comfortable Lucius stood to leave 'I will only be next door in my rooms if you need me.'

'Lucius' Nichol sat up 'please, stay, I'd rather not be on my own right now.'

'If you are sure?'

'I'm sure, please stay.'

Lucius climbed onto the bed beside Nichol, willing his body not to betray him. He knew he ought not touch her right now, for his plan to work he needed her to trust him.

As Nichol was lying on the bed and falling asleep she sighed and rolled towards Lucius. Laying her cheek against his chest she whispered 'thank you for telling me the truth and being honest with me.'

A couple of hours later Lucius woke to find Nichol fast asleep in his arms. Lifting his hand he gently stroked her hair 'oh I am going to enjoy this' he smiled.

As she woke Nichol remembered all that had happened the day before 'oh wow' she said to herself 'I'm a witch!' smiling and stretching.

'Hello sleepy' Lucius said 'so, do you want to go shopping?'

'Shopping?' Nichol sounded puzzled.

'Well you need some clothes, I cannot bear to see you dressed like a damn muggle for a moment longer.'

'Oh, I never thought about that.' She smiled.

'However, before we leave, you need to decide what you wish to do about your powers.'

'My powers? Oh I almost forgot.' She looked worried 'but they took them away – is there anything I can do?'

Climbing smoothly from the bed Lucius held his hand out to her 'come with me…'

Leading her downstairs and then even further down, below the manor. Turning to a blank wall Lucius said something that sounded like Latin, the wall began to shimmer and a door appeared. Taking a key from his robe Lucius unlocked and opened the door 'my potions lab…' he guided her through the door.

'Wow!' Nichol gasped, the room was huge, and lined with rows and rows of shelving and cupboards with a large workbench in the centre of the room; one wall seemed to be completely filled with books. 'This room is amazing!' she walked over to the books running her fingers over the spines 'some of these are so old, you are so lucky to have all of this Lucius.'

'Once we have sorted out your powers you are welcome to come down here to practice your potions and to read or research' he smiled, genuinely please at her excitement. His ex wife Narcissa and his son Draco had both shown disinterest in the potions lab and the historical value of the Malfoy family library. In fact the only thing they were both interested in was spending money and having the newest and trendiest of everything.

Nichol interrupted Lucius thoughts 'Ohhh I wouldn't dare, I would probably blow up the entire house' she grinned.

'Don't worry, after generations of little Malfoys getting to grips with their powers, the house is still standing, it is pretty resilient.'

Lucius went over went over to a tall cupboard and opened it – reaching inside he took out a small bottle, which contained a violet glowing liquid. Standing this on the counter in the centre of the room he turned back to Nichol. 'Last night I worked through that file, I used all of the information on how they bound your powers. I think I have found the potion they used and I have worked al night on this …' he gestured to the small bottle. 'I hope that this will reverse the binding.'

Nichol was staring at the bottle when Lucius' words suddenly registered 'you hope? You mean your potion might not work?'

'Oh I have no doubts about my potion – but I have never met anyone whose powers have been bound for so long.'

'So I might never get my powers?' she looked crestfallen 'what is the point being a witch if I have no powers?'

'Don't you wish to try the potion anyway? It's got to be worth trying surely?'

'I guess…' she shrugged.

'I just wish that they had told you sooner about your parents – if only they had been honest with you.' Lucius watched his last words sink in, he saw he face cloud over and had to prevent himself smiling.

Nichol was thinking about what Lucius had just said and she was furious with Dumbledore and Severus. Why had they not told her? They could have ruined her chance to get her powers back; she might never be a true witch. Steeling herself against this anger Nichol turned to Lucius 'so what do I do with this potion then?'

'You need to drink this …' he replied holding the bottle out to Nichol.

Watching her uncork the bottle Lucius was feeling the anger from Nichol and he could see in her eyes how betrayed she felt by Dumbledore and Severus. 'This plan just might work out' he smiled to himself.

Standing with the open bottle in her hand Nichol sniffed at the contents, but could smell nothing. 'Oh well' she said 'here goes…' She drank the potion quickly in one 'ewww' she gasped 'sweaty socks…'

'Pardon me?' Lucius looked at her like she was losing her mind.

'The potion, it tasted like sweaty socks…'

'Ahh' said Lucius, not entirely aware of the saying and wondering how she knew what sweaty socks would taste like.

'So what now? How will I know if this worked?' Nichol shrugged.

'To be honest I am not totally sure myself' Lucius replied 'perhaps we should just go out and see what happens?'

'But if I get my powers back in public?' Nichol looked concerned.

'We are not going shopping where the muggles shop – we are going to Diagon Alley, it is just people from the magical community there, don't worry.' They both left the potions lab and Lucius locked the door and it vanished again. Going back upstairs and into Lucius' study 'do you want to freshen up before we leave?'

'I wouldn't mind a quick shower if that is alright?' Nichol replied 'Oh, no wait, I have no clothes here…'

'That will be fine, if you head back up to your rooms I will have a house elf come up there and freshen up what you have on if you wish?'

Once Nichol had showered she found her clothes cleaned and hanging on the back of the door, on the dresser there were some bottles of her favourite toiletries. Once she was dressed there was a knock on the door and Lucius came in. 'Thanks for the toiletries' she said 'how did you know which…?'

'The last time you … visited … the elves unpacked your belongings...'

'Ahh, right, yes that would make sense' she smiled.

'So, are you ready to go then?' Lucius asked smiling and holding his hand out to her.

'Yes, I'm all yours …' she blushed 'sorry, I mean all ready, I keep forgetting and saying things that are normal in the muggle world.' She hoped he was buying this excuse.

'Ah I did wonder what that meant' he grinned, knowing full well just what she had said and meant.

Holding her closer to him and slipping his arm around her waist he took a portkey from inside his cloak and said confidently 'Diagon Alley.'