Title: Harry Potter and the Lady of Shadow
Author: le plume béni
Rating: R
Summary: AU, slash, starts after GoF. Jade Rivera will completely revamp Harry's life… but will they survive Voldemort's obsession with them both? Snape/OC (Jade), Harry/Draco, Ron/Hermione
Disclaimer: I plan to use many different ideas from many different sources… most of them not mine. Primarily this belongs to J. K. Rowling. Concepts may come from others such as Cate Tiernan, Anne McCaffrey, and Frank Herbert just to name a few. I'll be more specific when the ideas come up. Thanks to the above authors for coming up with the ideas in the first place!
Warning: be prepared for Harry/Draco slash… don't say I didn't warn you.
A/N: Constructive criticism is welcome. Praise is as well However, I dislike flames immensely. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Chapter One
Lucius and Draco Malfoy sat quietly at the breakfast table eating their meal. At first glance from a stranger, they looked like something out of the wizarding world's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous; gorgeous, composed, and aloof. To someone who was a little more informed, they were a father and son grieving over the late Narcissa Malfoy. To those who truly knew them, however (and they were few), they would know that there was nothing obviously out of place at this meal.
Private Malfoy meals were always like this – quiet and terribly polite. Not that the affection was lacking, mind you. Despite popular belief, the Malfoys did possess both hearts and souls. They just knew how to hide them better than most. Each sat lost in their thoughts and comfortable in the silence. Draco was a little more subdued than usual, as he was reflecting upon his mother. He missed his mother, although they had never been particularly close, but the grief of the Malfoy heir was beginning to wane. Lucius also missed his late wife, but more as a friend than a wife or lover.
While their grief didn't exactly move mountains, the death of Narcissa had been a major turning point in both their lives. The reason lay in the cause of her death; she had been murdered by Voldemort, Lucius's master. He had made the mistake of informing his master of his wife's strong opinions against the Dark Lord. Afraid that the woman's political beliefs would 'infect' his greatest follower he had ordered her killed. In Draco this inspired resentment, towards both the Dark Lord and his father. The Dark Lord for obvious reasons, his father for serving the man who had killed his mother. Draco wasn't feeling very supportive of the Dark Lord at that particular moment and sure as hell did not want to become a Death Eater. But Draco didn't want to die, either. The situation required delicate handling, he decided.
As for Lucius, Voldemort had underestimated the Malfoy patriarch and the loyalty he bore towards his family. The murder of his wife was unforgivable. Therefore Lucius Malfoy, infamous for his association with Dark Magic, had decided to leave the Dark Lord's service. Of course it wasn't nearly so simple. He required protection from the insane Slytherin. Dumbledore would be the immediate logical choice. He represented everything that Voldemort was against and was quite powerful. He had to be for the Dark Lord to fear him. It was quite unfortunate, then, that Lucius didn't trust the eccentric old man as far as he could throw him. He didn't want to leave one wizard's service just to enter another's. There was one other possible solution, and it was this choice that Lucius was considering.
Salvation bore the name of Lady Shadow – the One With No Fear Save God's Wrath. No one knew exact facts, simply the whispers of her many feats. The tales were ludicrous – that she was inhuman, an angel, a goddess, a demon. According to the rumors, the surprising truce between the vampires and werewolves, normally born enemies, was brought about by her intervention. Dark creatures flocked to her aid, natural disasters were her doing, and the wicked could expect death at her hands – or so they claimed. Lucius didn't buy a word of it. But where there was smoke there was fire, and if you knew where to find her, Lady Shadow was indeed very real.
Her protection could be attained at a price according to a minor faerie Lucius knew in Knockturn Alley.
"She's been around this way of late, if you know what I mean," had been the hobgoblin's exact words. Since the faerie claimed to have contact with the mysterious figure, Lucius planned to pay the creature a little visit.
The Malfoys finished their silent meal. Draco looked silently at his father as the man carefully wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin and folded it neatly on top of his plate.
"Father?"
"Yes, Draco?"
"I can't do what you do," the younger Malfoy blurted out. Seeing the frown on his father's face, he internally cursed himself for acting like an impatient Gryffindor.
"Explain," Lucius said curtly. The color rising in his fair cheeks, Draco obeyed.
"I have no desire to become a Death Eater," he stated firmly, his heart beating wildly and his fists clenched under the table as he studied his father's closed face.
"Then I suppose it is a good thing I have no intention of you becoming one," Lucius replied coolly. Draco's silver eyes widened.
"Are you serious?" Draco demanded. His father arched a brow at his son's graceless words.
"Absolutely. I am leaving the Dark Lord's service, and I would be most displeased if you were to undo my work and join him," the elder Malfoy told his son dryly. Draco blinked.
"Are we siding with the Light, then?" Draco asked carefully.
"Don't be absurd," Lucius snapped. "I'll deal with it. For now you stay out of this and attend to your schoolwork. Just because we are no longer supporters of the Dark Lord does not mean you can allow that Granger girl to outclass a Malfoy in your studies. Is that clear?"
"Yes, father," Draco replied through gritted teeth. Damn that mudblood!
Lucius walked to the front entrance of the Manor, where the wards allowed for Apparating and Disapparating and went to Knockturn Alley. He made his way quickly to Knife and Dagger, a seedy tavern where the hobgoblin worked. He ignored the stench of ale, mead, poorly cooked meat, and unwashed bodies to the best of his abilities. He also pretended he did not notice the stares of those few ragged characters already seated at the bar despite the early hour.
"Can I 'elp you?" the gruff bartender asked as he polished a murky glass with a filthy rag.
"I'm here to see Warrin."
"Alright. 'Ey, WARRIN, YOU LAZY SOD! GET YOUR ARSE OUT HERE!" the man yelled, causing Lucius to wince faintly. Merlin, but the man was loud.
"I'm comin', I'm comin'! Keep your damn pants on!" a voice replied. After a few bangs and crashes in the back, a short little creature walked out looking surly. The expression changed to a simpering smile when he spotted Lucius.
"Mr. Malfoy! How can I help you this fine day?" he asked cheerfully, causing Lucius to barely suppress an eye roll. Spare me.
"I'd like to meet your lady friend," the aristocrat said delicately, observing Warrin distastefully. He was an ugly little thing, with thick weathered skin, coarse uncombed hair, and crooked yellow teeth. Lucius had to force himself to smile back thinly. The hobgoblin looked confused for a moment, then brightened.
"Ah, my lady friend. Of course. Any particular time?"
"Tomorrow evening, at the Manor."
"I'll be sure to tell her. Anything else I can do?"
"Not today," he declined, tossing the creature a Galleon. "My thanks, Warrin."
"A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Malfoy!"
DHD
"I suppose you have an offer for the Lady?" a lovely young woman leaned outside the back door of the Knife and Dagger, her face impassive. Warrin licked his lips warily. This girl was the only one he knew of who had direct contact with the mysterious Lady Shadow. Therefore no one was willing to mess with her.
"Yes, I do," he replied, glancing around nervously.
"…"
"Lucius Malfoy wants to meet her at his manor tomorrow evening for a job," Warrin said finally. The girl frowned internally, keeping her facial expression neutral. Malfoy? Interesting.
"Fine," she said and started to walk away.
"Hey! Where's my money?" the hobgoblin demanded indignantly. The young woman sighed and tossed him a silver coin.
"All I get is a bloody Sickle!"
"You didn't secure a job, merely an offer. The payment is fair." Ignoring the protests of the small creature she walked out to the main alley, automatically scanning the area for possible threats through her dark glasses. Tomorrow looked promising.
DHD
He warned Draco of tomorrow's visitor and made sure his son knew not to bother them. He spent the time up to her visit in dread of the Dark Lord's call, fearing that he would somehow discover Lucius's treachery. Finally, the morning of Shadow's arrival, his Mark burned.
Lucius paled. Normally Voldemort called his followers at night, for one thing. Gritting his teeth as he donned the damned black robes, he briskly walked to the front entrance and Apparated to the Dark Lord's Headquarters. He walked into the crumbling abandoned castle where Voldemort currently resided and knelt at the feet of the monster. He could feel Nagini's gaze from the Dark Lord's right and shivered almost imperceptibly. Lucius barricaded his mental shields and forced his expression to remain neutral.
"How may I serve you, my Lord?" he murmured, keeping his eyes trained on the ground.
"Hello, my dear Lucius," the serpentine man hissed. Lucius suppressed a shudder; everything the monster said sounded malevolent. "Is there any news from the Ministry?" The blond man frowned but didn't look up.
"No, my Lord. The Minister still remains under my control," he replied smoothly.
"Then how do you explain this?"
A copy of the Daily Prophet landed directly in front of the soon to be ex-Death Eater. He froze when he saw the glaring headline, Cornelius Fudge's blustering picture underneath.
"THE RETURN OF YOU-KNOW-WHO!"
"My Lord, it must be - "
"Silence! You have failed me Lucius, and I am very displeased." The Dark Lord paused, a sadistic smile twisting his already deformed features. "You must be punished."
This time, Lucius did shudder. He hated pain, but what was worse was his master's sick pleasure from it.
"Crucio!"
He writhed in pain, screaming all the while, both parties completely unaware that a green-eyed teenager miles away suffered with the Malfoy. Lucius's mind knew it was simply a spell, but his body was convinced it was being cut up alive and grilled slowly over a fire. It was hard to tell how long it lasted; it could have been seconds, or years.
"I'll be merciful, Lucius," Voldemort whispered as his servant panted at his feet, released from the Unforgivable. "Do not fail me again."
"Yes, my Lord," Lucius gasped. "Thank you, my Lord."
Dismissed, Lucius staggered out of the Hall and Apparated back to his manor. He wearily made his way to his study, grateful that his son was not around to see him in this state. When he reached the door to his study he called for a house elf.
"Yes, sir?" she squeaked when she arrived, terrified. Lucius was known among his help for the cruelty that could result from his anger and pain.
"Get me a generic healing draught," he ordered. The potion would mostly relieve the after-effects of the curse, and Lucius would take anything he could get at the moment.
"That wont be necessary," a velvet baritone interrupted smoothly. Lucius looked up to find his study door open, Severus Snape leaning against the frame.
"Hello, Severus," Lucius greeted stiffly, not in the mood for company, even that of his closest – only – friend. "What can I do for you?" He carefully masked his pain, but forgot how well the Potions Master knew him.
"It's more what I can do for you right now, Lucius. I do believe I have a healing potion as well as a Pepper-Up potion for you." Lucius nodded and dismissed the quaking house elf before entering his study.
"How are you, old friend?"
"How do you think?" Lucius snapped, pain making him irritable. "Potions, please?" Severus rolled his eyes but complied. The blond quickly downed the neon blue liquid and then the bright red, glad that the potions had no adverse reactions to one another when taken consecutively.
"Why was our master upset with you?" Severus asked, dark eyes curious. Lucius arched a brow at his friend.
" 'Our', Severus? Are you certain he's 'our' master?"
"What are you implying?" Severus demanded, his eyes narrowed.
"You know perfectly well what I'm implying."
"No, I'm afraid I don't," the dark-haired man replied frostily.
"Would you like me to be blunt? You're a spy, Severus." The Potions Master flinched at the accusation, betraying the truth. "You're a spy for Dumbledore and you have been for years."
"You have no proof."
"You clearly underestimate my intelligence, Severus. I'm not an idiot."
"What do we do now, then?" Severus said finally. "You know me too well; you know I can't deny it. Will you betray me?" Have I finally been caught? He privately wondered.
"No. That would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? For the Dark Lord truly isn't our master." The only evidence of Severus's shock were his raised eyebrows.
"Will you speak to Dumbledore?" Severus asked carefully.
"No, Sev. That was your mistake. I refuse to swear allegiance to that senile old fool."
"I suppose that's where I come in," a rich voice came from the doorway. Lucius and Severus whirled to face the newcomer, wands drawn.
"Such hospitality," the obviously American hooded figure drawled. "Severus, I didn't know this was how you truly felt about me."
"Don't be silly, J – Shadow," the dark-haired man snapped as he put his wand away. "You startled me. What are you doing here?" Lucius looked between the two as he put his own wand away. They obviously knew each other, but he was shocked to see Severus actually trusted the woman. He didn't admit to having been startled in front of just anybody.
"Business," Shadow replied shortly, turning her head in Lucius's direction. The Malfoy patriarch took the hint.
"Please take a seat," Lucius invited. "I'm sorry to be so ill-prepared; I wasn't expecting you until this evening. Would you care for some tea?"
"No thank you. Let's just get to business, shall we? I know what you want, but I'm curious as to why."
"That is my affair."
"Yes it is, just like my protection is mine to give. I'm not obligated to help you." Lucius conceded the point, nodding graciously.
"The Dark Lord is insane. I can no longer in good conscience serve him and no longer wish to do so."
"In other words his service has become too risky. And I suppose your wife's murder is a factor as well?" Lucius's eyes flashed dangerously and Severus frowned. This wasn't Shadow's usual discreet style of getting to the point, nor her way of speaking to a potential client.
"This isn't political intrigue. This is a large task you ask of me and it poses considerable risk to me personally. I have no wish to protect a Death Eater who wishes to cut his losses while he can."
"If I were attempting to cut my losses I'd side with Dumbledore," Lucius snapped. "I only want my family safe. To hell with Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and the Dark Lord. I just want my son safe." Severus stared at the blond. Rarely had he seen Lucius Malfoy so honest.
Shadow was silent for a moment, before slowly lowering her hood. Before him stood a young woman of about sixteen or seventeen, with pale gold-brown skin and long dark hair braided back severely from a face sporting high cheekbones and a full mouth. She was the picture of exotic beauty. However, there were several incongruous elements to her appearance; the loose fitting black garb obviously made for combat, her youth, and the dark stylish sunglasses that obscured her eyes from view.
"All right, uncle," the girl said with an odd half-smile. "Let's get to work."
r/r pretty please!