Sold-Chapter 17-What's My Favorite Sweet?
By Marmalade Fever
A.N.: Yes, I'm back. Don't look so stunned!
Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim Willow.
Lucius' heart raced as he entered the chambers of his master, the Dark Lord. He was trembling. He kept his head turned downward, resolutely. He would not do anything to anger his lord if he could help it.
"Lucius," the chilling voice said, calmly. "What brings you to my lair?"
"My lord," Lucius said, trying to keep his voice calm and level, "I have come across an object that may be of some crucial importance to your Lordship." He carefully withdrew the remains of the charred piece of paper from his bags. He then offered them to his lord on bended knee, as if it was a burnt offering, rather than a burnt letter.
"What is this Lucius?" the Dark Lord said, curiously. "I see nothing but a bit of charred parchment. Explain yourself."
Lucius took a deep breath. "My lord…" he said slowly, "if you would take a closer look at this particular piece." He held up the small scrap of paper that read Albus.
The Dark Lord took the scrap and held it closer to his eyes, turning it over and over. He sniffed it, he tapped it with his wand… "What is the meaning of this, Lucius?"
"My Lord, I do not know if this is the same Albus as your nemesis, but it seems that—" Lucius was cut off.
"You dare speak the name of mine enemy? Do you dare utter that filth in front of me? What are babbling on about Lucius? Have you gone mad in your decrepit state?"
Lucius stumbled, confused. "You… you do not see it, my lord? To me it is as clear as the light of day. That scrap of paper has the word Albus on it."
The Dark Lord's eyes shone red, but then they softened. "Adolphus!" he cried, as a gray-haired man stepped forward from the shadows. "What do you see on this scrap of paper?"
Adolphus took the paper in his hands and turned it over and over, much as his master had done. "Nothing, my lord."
Lucius was alarmed. "But, but, my lord! The other pieces! Do you not see the partial words and letters on them?" There was silence. "Ask someone else! I can't be the only one, I can't!"
"Do not raise your voice to me, Lucius! But very well, let us ask dear Bellatrix." The Dark Lord clapped his hands and a frazzled, square-jawed woman came forward, clutching a pair of spectacles to her heart.
"Yes, my lord?" she asked, turning her head to glare at her brother-in-law.
"Do you see anything on this paper?" the Dark Lord asked, handing it to her with his brow raised in triumph.
Bellatrix was still as she held the piece of paper, and for one brief moment, Lucius was sure she could see the name that was written in such clear script. "I see nothing, my Lord. It is not but a scrap of parchment, heavily burnt. But if your Lordship should desire, I would not tarry to examine the rest of the scraps in my laboratory."
"Thank you, Bellatrix," he replied, though his gaze stayed on her as she retreated with the rest of the parchment. "Where did you say you got this, Lucius?"
Lucius hesitated, knowing full-well that they must have thought he was a loon, but told the story of shooting down the paper with all manner of detail.
…
Evander finished his very detail-oriented letter to Dumbledore by signing his name, then allowing Lily and his mock-parents to do so as well. "If we send this straight away, we should be able to change our departure location to this cell at 7:27 tomorrow morning. Now all we have to do is to follow Dumbledore's instructions and send it to him."
Lily nodded. "So, we need to tap the four corners, like so…"
"Now say your full names," Hermione supplied, sitting beside them on the floor.
"Evander Gwydion Malfoy," Evander said, clearly.
"Lily Ithaca Potter." Malfoy raised an eyebrow at the peculiar middle name, but Lily didn't attempt to explain.
"And your birthdates…" The children told the paper the month, day and year of their birthdays. Evander had been born in the summer, Lily in the spring. "And your favorite sweets."
"What is my favorite sweet?" Evander pondered. "Our parents must have told Dumbledore the correct answer, but I'm not sure what that answer is!"
"Sugar quills," Lily spoke, clearly.
"Um… chocolate frogs?" Evander asked. Quick as a wink, the parchment disappeared in a burst of light. "That was lucky."
"Or maybe it only needed one of us to answer," Lily said, winking.
"Are the two of you going to keep me captive until tomorrow morning?" Malfoy asked, now held securely in place by a number of cords. "I won't runaway, I swear."
Hermione gave him a sour expression. "I'm helping them, and don't forget that I know quite a few good spells," she said, taking up the wand proffered by Evander.
"How nice of you to remind me, though I must remind you that you're out of practice."
"If Willow can use a wand, don't think that I couldn't," Hermione retorted.
"Who in the name of Merlin is Willow?"
"Shows what you know, now doesn't it?"
"Bet it's someone Muggle! How very like you."
"He's a character from muggle fiction, yes."
"And what could he do? Hmm?"
"He could perform advanced human transfiguration after only a few minutes of using a wand for the first time."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Evander and Lily watched in confusion. "Isn't that a movie?" Evander asked.
"From the eighties," Lily said. "They sure are good at arguing."
"And he could turn people to stone with only an acorn!"
"An acorn? What sort of magic is that?"
"Oh, never you mind!"
"Fine!" There was an awkward silence.
"Um, Lily and I are going to the kitchens to get some dinner… Will the two of you be all right down here?" Evander asked, staring at the two infantile adults.
"Yes, we will," Hermione said, twirling the wand in her hand. She smirked.
…
Professor Albus Dumbledore clutched a letter in his hand as he flooed to Draco and Hermione Malfoy's home. He smiled as they came to the door. "They've replied."
"How are they? Are they coming home?" Hermione asked, clutching at her heart.
"They're together. They've asked to change they're location, and they aren't the only ones who will be coming."
"No?" Draco asked, taking the letter from Dumbledore and scanning it. "Merlin's Beard!"
"What is it?" Hermione asked, trying to see over her husband's shoulder.
"It's our counterparts! They're coming too!"
A.N.: Okay, that bit about Willow was a little out-of-place. Honestly, I don't know what made me write it. I liked the Death Eater's Lair. How about you? Until next time!