The Devil as a Father – Chapter 31
Author's note - This chapter has something for Terra King. She requested it and it worked beautifully into the story.
The older children sat by the fire next to Lucifer while Chloe got the littles ready for bed. They had a nice supper made by Lucifer tonight, and Ron and Harry both helped.
Lucifer had made all of them copies of the contract and explained the different parts. Ron had been unimpressed until he found out the kids had voted him into the company and this was about money. Ron rarely had money, and this was about gallons, every month. Suddenly he had questions. He asked them all, and Lucifer had been delighted. Hermione and Harry had known some, and Draco made them look for other types of issues and hidden stuff. He knew the enchantments for that, and everyone practiced them. Neville and Trixie sat and figured out math for how much would go into the company coffers for more stuff, and how much would be paid to each member of the company.
Ron was stunned at how much he would get. "I think you should not pay me anything until next month. I've only been here one day and all I did was look at the contract."
"We voted equal owners for everyone, Ron. You have already helped us a lot, you thought of really good questions."
Ron smiled at Harry. "Thank you," he said quietly, and decided he would do his best to work hard, and not worry about yelling and not being good enough. They all seemed to like him just the way he was.
Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry
While the Lux had enough amenities that the children could be kept busy all day without worry, there were things in the outside world, like tailors, toy stores, the Farmer's Market and the like that they visited.
Today Dan and Maze were escorting all the children to the Farmers Market, first to shop there, and learn about all the wonderful foods available in the world, and then to visit the magical market nearby. Ron had recently started cooking with Harry and Lucifer, helping make meals and learning to read recipes that caught his fancy. They were divided up in groups, given phones just in case, but expected to stay together. Ron was in charge of Daffodil, and he was taking his new responsibility seriously. He was also a bit nervous since he couldn't use magic to protect her, only yell or use the phone.
They were looking at strawberry apples, and he was explaining to Daffodil that these were only sold by local farmers, because while delicious, they were too delicate to be sold at market. This was true in the magical world and the no-mag world. They had been given money and he and she were biting into particularly delicious strawberry apples when a large man suddenly grabbed Daffodil and said, "You are coming home right now young lady."
Ron had been terrorized by his older brothers for years, but his reaction was like nothing he had ever experienced. Suddenly he was cold and furious at the same time and he knew that bad man was going to hurt little Daffodil who had held his hand so trustingly.
Ron popped the phone open and hit the emergency button while yelling, "Kidnapper" at the top of his lungs. The man started to drag the protesting seer with him, and sneered at Ron. He was a very big man and probably thought no one would try to mess with him.
Ron ran at the man and leapt in the air coming down with all his might in a flying kick on a very sensitive part of the male anatomy. He hoped it would work, the Twins and Bill had explained it as a move to use when someone little was being kidnapped.
The man fell like a stone to the ground. Ron grabbed Daffodil, still yelling, "help! Police," and running back where the others had been shopping.
And then Harry was there and staring at their attacker. Then Dan and Maze were there, and Dan took out handcuffs and cuffed the huge man. There was a lot of screaming going on and Ron suddenly realized, it was the big man. Dan was reading him his rights and the huge man looked like he was going to get and start fighting whether he had cuffs on or not.
Ron caught just a shadow of slight dismay in Dan's eyes, and he ran at the man and kicked him again.
Dan stared at him in shock, while Maze started to laugh.
"Why did you do that, Ron?" asked Dan
"He looked like he was going to take a go at you, Sir, and I thought I'd give him something to take his mind off fighting."
Maze grinned and said, "Yes, I think you accomplished that."
Maze crouched down and hugged Daffodil. "Are you OK?" she asked
"I know what he does to children," said Daffodil and she began crying. Ron thought about that and the fury in him, which had been starting to wind down, got worse.
Harry hugged her, and then she looked up at Ron, "You saved me," she said, "You were really brave,"
Then out of the crowd, Lucifer and KynKyn arrived. KynKyn took Daffodil into her arms, and to Ron's incredulous surprise, Lucifer picked him up and hugged him. "You saved my little girl," Lucifer whispered, and Ron no longer felt furious. Instead he felt weak and shaky. He stared into Lucifer's eyes and recognized that he was like Ron. He too didn't like things being unfair, and he too got really angry.
Then Ron sort of floated away, with only a strange sense of importance because he had protected Daffodil.
When he woke up, he was in the bed in the Morningstar main bedroom and Daffodil was next to him snuggling him.
In a chair next to the bed, Lady Morningstar was seated and smiled at him.
"What happened?" he asked, feeling ashamed. He had fainted like a dumb girl.
"You experienced what every auror or policeman going into extreme action experiences: You used all your body's energy to protect Daffodil and when you knew she was safe, your blood sugar dropped and in this case you lost consciousness. When you are older, you won't have such a strong reaction."
That didn't sound like a dumb girl at all.
"Did it ever happen to you?"
"I've gotten really tired and had to sit down and eat something or drink an energy drink. Once I was shot, and I fainted then."
"So I wasn't a coward for fainting?" Ron asked shyly.
She grinned at him, "On the contrary, you did wonderfully. You put down a person much bigger than even a regular grownup, you saved Daffodil, you hit the emergency button on the phone, and you yelled for help to let people know something bad was happening and to help us find you. You were heroic, Dear."
Ron's eyes filled with girly tears but he didn't care, cause he was heroic.
"I was scared and then I went all cold inside."
"Lucifer does that when he is in fights. All the reaction comes after. It's your body's way of surviving danger."
The door opened and Lucifer peaked in, under him, Harry was looking at him too, his eyes filled with worry. He saw Ron was awake and his face lit up.
"May we come in?" Lucifer asked, and she smiled at him and Harry and nodded for them to come forward.
Ron figured they were here to see Daffodil who was still asleep but instead both of them came over and smiled at him.
Ron felt something in his heart swell. They acted like he was important. It was so nice. He was always the left-over at home.
Lucifer took his hand and said, "Maze said you are a natural warrior and is demanding to teach you. Dan says you can be his back-up anytime."
Harry nodded eagerly. "You've been asleep a long time, but Mum said its normal after having a fight like this."
"I was never in a real fight before. He made Daffodil cry," said Ron, which for him explained everything.
"We're very proud of your bravery and quick thinking," said Lucifer.
"Is the big guy in jail?" asked Ron.
"Um, he's in the jail hospital unit, but yes."
"Wow, I must have really hurt him," said Ron, impressed with himself.
Lucifer laughed in amusement, "Oh yes. He won't be kidnapping anyone for a very long time."
"Is Daffodil going to be all right?" Ron asked, thinking about how she had cried. "She said she knew what he did to children." Ron felt a pang, and also very protective of the little seer.
"KynKyn did some special angel magic to help her deal with this. She wanted to be with you though. You made her feel safe," volunteered Harry.
"Again, thank you for your bravery and coolness under fire, Ronald Weasley. I fire-called your mother and told her how you saved Daffodil. She and your family should be very proud."
Ron snorted, "Maybe, probably surprised I didn't break something," he muttered, but then grinned. "That's okay. I really like you guys. Thank you for taking good care of me."
With that he fell asleep, now snuggling Daffodil back. She was so little. He would make her feel safe.
XXX
Back in the Burrow, Molly Weasley was wondering if Ron was safe with Lucifer Morningstar. A huge gray cat with spectacle marks on her eyes rubbed against her and made inquiring noises.
"Oh Minerva, wait till you hear what Ron has been up to," she said and told the cat, who was in reality Minerva McGonagall, head of Gryphindor, who was punished by Lucifer for being party to Harry's kidnapping.
When she was finished ranting about Ron, she looked reflectively at her friend, who was visiting this week. Molly was lonely and Minerva was lonely too, apparently. She certainly seemed happy listening to what Molly had to say.
An idea struck. "Minerva, do you think it wouldn't be too frightening to visit Lord Morningstar to see how Ron is doing? And perhaps to convince him that you aren't like Dumbledore?"
"MEOW," said Minerva and hid her head under her paws for a moment. Then she looked up and walked up to Molly and put a paw on her hand and nodded, which looks weird when you are a cat. Molly petted Minerva and thought very carefully. Lying to Lord Morningstar would be stupid and possibly dangerous, she'd be a fool to do such a thing, and he was doing her a great favor with Ron, who was impossible sometimes.
She fire-called Lord Morningstar and got Lady Morningstar, who smiled and said, "Hello Lady Weasley, Ron and the children are doing well today. They are learning about contracts and plants. Did you wish to speak to Ron?
Molly was very pleased. She was not really a lady, and to be called such by someone as influential and powerful as the wife of the Lord of Magic was very kind. "I'd love to say hello to my son, but my purpose in calling was to ask Lord Morningstar about Minerva McGonagall."
Chloe's face dropped, and she looked a little worried and angry. "Was this the woman who helped Dumbledore kidnap my son?" she asked in a voice that was well modulated, but had a band of steel in it that worried Molly.
"Yes," she said regretfully, "We think that she was under Dumbledore's compulsions and loyalty potions. She seems much happier as a cat," she said, wondering if Lady Morningstar wanted Minerva to suffer, but felt better when Chloe didn't seem upset about that. She was listening quietly and waiting for Molly to say more.
"We learned that Dumbledore had given me and my husband loyalty potions and put compulsions on me that could have destroyed my marriage and perhaps my relationship with my children. I think he did the same to Minerva, and took advantage of her in other ways. Would it offend you and Lord Morningstar to check her and see if that was done to her too?"
Lady Morningstar was silent and thoughtful for a moment
"Dumbledore tried to invade Harry's mind and he tortured him. I know Harry said that Minerva wasn't a party to that, and knowing the way the man worked, he probably told her that Harry was a rebellious child, and who knows what else," she said slowly.
"Let me talk to my husband first," she said finally. "Lucifer really was furious with Dumbledore and I don't want to make us be unfair to Professor McGonagall."
Molly stared through the flames of the fire call and then smiled. "You are very fair, my Lady. That's really more than we could hope for. When our systems were flushed from Dumbledore's spells, my husband and I were heartbroken and angry. We had looked up to the man as the leader of the light, and found out he was more a Dark Lord than Voldermort. I realized he had done compulsions on me that made me a very controlling person, and I had driven the older boys away. I probably am the reason that Ron has been so sulky as well, and that's hard to accept when I love him so."
Lady Morningstar took on a sympathetic expression, "I understand. I wanted to go back and beat the living daylights out of the man, for hurting my child and giving him nightmares. I'll talk to Lucifer and now, would you like to say hello to your son?"
"Oh yes, thank you my lady," said Molly.
Ron came to the fire, and smiled at his mother, "Mum we read over a real contract and Lord Morningstar says I asked really good questions. The goblins were even impressed."
Molly stared at him for a moment and said, "Ron, that's wonderful." She almost told him he should become a lawyer, but realized that was the kind of talk that made the boy feel stupid or angry. "I'm so glad you are having fun and learning too. What kind of contract was it?"
"Mum, they are making special communication devices for aurors. The kids made them with some help from the house elves and Lord Morningstar. The devices are really wicked and I wish I had helped make them. Trixie has been explaining some of the arithomancy to me and It's starting to make sense. These devices let them do tests in the field and talk to each other and ask for help. They are pretty incredible. Anyway the contract is with the ministry to make them and provide service to make them work, and Mum I'm helping them, they made me part of their company, and I will get money from this because I am part of the company. I'm doing magic with Harry and Hermione and Draco and making them for sale."
Molly almost accused him of lying, but stopped herself. "This is wonderful, my son." She said weakly, "This sounds like a better school than Hogwarts," she said almost to herself, impressed.
Ron laughed, "Yes, they are nice people, and I'm having fun learning. I didn't realize at first that I was learning things, until I realized that, well, I am learning things all day. Wait just a minute."
He ran away from the fire and then came back and handed her a strange clear bag thing that had cookies in it.
"What's this, Dear?" she asked.
"I made cookies with the little ones today. You and Dad see if you like them. If you have any recipes you would like to copy for me, we could experiment with them. Lord Morningstar says that we learn about precision in weighing and measurement, which is good for potions later, and fractions as well as developing our appreciation of food."
Molly smiled. "He's a good Lord. Thank you for the cookies. I'll save them for when your Father comes home and we'll try them. You go back now and have lots of fun, my darling. It's very nice to see you so happy."
When the call was done, Minerva came up and purred and rubbed under her hand and she sat and gently rubbed her friend's head before the fire, thinking about how different things were now.
Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry Lucifer Harry
It was dinner time at the Morningstar's, a time of family and good conversation. Chloe was thinking how to broach the subject of Minerva McGonagall to Lucifer. Maze seemed to be running late, but when they all heard the elevator door opened, everyone smiled. Then instead of Maze's usual stalk, they heard her running to them. She stopped dramatically and said, "Lucifer, we're going to be audited by the IRS!" Her eyes were shining.
Harry and Trixie shrugged at one another. Chloe and Lady Black looked concerned, but Lucifer looked absolutely gleeful. Amenadiel leaned over and explained in soft tones to KynKyn. Hermione looked confused, Ron and Draco looked at each other, rolled their eyes and the littles kept eating. Dan was there and looking at Maze as though he had never seen her before.
"Oh Mazikeen, I am so happy for you." Lucifer said in his most jovial voice, making everyone worry that he and Maze had gone mad or playing a weird prank. He stood up and they both hugged, which was unusual too.
"When will it be?" he asked, "In two weeks," said Maze, jumping up and down.
"We must arrange to have a group picture taken," said Lucifer, "Perhaps we can make Identification badges for them as part of security, but then take a group picture as part of the process, so you'll have a lovely poster."
"Oh Lucifer that's a great idea." Maze looked like she was going to explode with excitement.
"Excuse me," said Chloe Morningstar, "I don't understand why you are excited about an IRS audit. People are usually afraid of the….Oh. Maze is this because people are afraid of the IRS?" she asked, beginning to understand.
"They are the United States' premier torturing entity. Everyone is terrified of them. They never lay a finger on anyone but they cause wholesale high blood pressure, terror and stomach ulcers. They put people in jail. They're my heroes," said Maze.
Dan started to chuckle. Narcissa got a soft smile on her face and gave a delicate cough into her napkin to disguise her amusement. Amenadiel started to laugh softly. KynKyn looked puzzled but was smiling.
Sirius Black, who was allowed at Dinner today because he had pulled no pranks for a month, started laughing. Mooney laughed. The children really didn't understand, but smiled because Lucifer and Maze were happy.
"Only you Maze," chortled Dan happily.