Author's note: In this chapter a wonderful and convenient device is mentioned, the Fiendfyre incinerator. It is the invention of Colubrina and used with her permission. If you do not know her stories, go find them!
During the Easter Holidays Severus was invited to Malfoy Manor for tea. A small crisis in the kitchen afforded Narcissa's immediate attention and thus left the two men alone in the conservatory, from where they kept an eye on Draco and Theo Nott who were flying outside. Severus would not have said anything had not Lucius brought up the topic.
"Seeing them like this, carefree and happy, I cannot image presenting Draco to the Dark Lord, Severus. Not as he was before his demise. You remember he Crucio'd Goyle for sneezing? I can't imagine being able to watch him do that to my son."
The Potions master shed his robe and unbuttoned his shirtsleeve. He pushed his unblemished left arm under Lucius' nose.
"Dear Merlin, how is that possible?"
"I can't talk about that ritual, I took a vow. And it hurt worse than getting it. But my magic is so much smoother since the removal. Even as an incorporate wraith he's draining us."
"I feared as much. And I suspect that the mark is at least partially responsible for our troubles in conceiving. It would mean the world to Narcissa if I could give her another child. Will you make enquiries for me?"
"Of course. And I might have found a truly troubling reason for the Dark Lord's non-death as well as his instability before his demise. Have you ever heard of a Horcrux, Lucius?"
The lord of Malfoy Manor blanched and nodded.
"I guess the Dark Lord made several of them. That would explain his increasing paranoia and why his body disintegrated while trying to kill a baby. He must have planned to use this murder for another Horcrux." Even though Henry and Draco were friends Severus was still wary to tell Lucius about Harry Potter.
"Come, Severus!" The blonde jumped up and took the stairs towards his study. Severus followed at a more sedate pace. Inside the room he saw his friend using a drop of blood to unward a safe from which Lucius withdrew a black Muggle diary. He used his wand to levitate it on the stone in front of the fireplace.
"My father gave this to me on his death-bed. He told me to keep it safe for the Dark Lord. Do you know a spell to check whether it is a Horcrux?"
"I do. Stand back, wand at the ready in case it fights back. – Homenum Revelio!"
The little book glowed green briefly.
"Fuck!"
"Dad!"
The two men hadn't bothered to close the door. Theo and Draco were standing just outside the study. Lucius was too flustered to react therefore Severus used his most serious professor's voice.
"Children, go find Narcissa, she should be in the kitchen, and stay with her! Run!"
That tone of voice was only used during Potions, shortly before a cauldron – usually Ron Weasley's – exploded. The boys were conditioned to obey.
"Lucius, you do have a container for dangerous ingredients in your lab, don't you? Will you fetch it while I keep watch?"
"Not necessary. Dobby!"
The small elf landed with a pop.
"Fetch me a class 5 x container from the lab!"
In mere seconds the little being was back. Malfoy put the container down and Severus levitated the book inside before sealing the box.
"And now?"
"Goblins are able to destroy it. Or basilisk venom or Fiendfyre."
"The goblins have a Fiendfyre incinerator. I used it for some of Abraxas' more questionable items. For a fee, naturally. I would like to be rid of the Horcrux right now. Will you make my excuses to Narcissa and the boys?"
"Of course. When there you could enquire whether Senior Healer Rageclaw is back yet and willing to see you."
Being the lord of the manor made it possible for Lucius to Disapparate from his study. The Potions master found Narcissa and the children having a hot chocolate in the kitchen.
"Narcissa, Draco, Theo, do not worry. Lucius and I found a dangerous magical object in Lucius' study. He is with the goblins right now to get rid of it."
Theo was the more reserved of the two, so it was Draco who voiced their suspicion.
"Does it have something to do with Henry's old problem?"
"Not directly, but it was indeed Henry's problem that made me think of asking Lucius."
That was not exactly the truth but the one explanation most likely to deter the children to search further. Neither Severus nor Filius underestimated the combined powers of their five firsties any longer. Thankfully at the moment they were working on establishing an inter-house Quidditch-for-fun league with Henry wishing to expand the idea to football as well.
An hour later Lucius returned, looking a little dishevelled. That would have been nothing on any other man but the Malfoy scion always looked perfect. Just then Dobby appeared.
"Master Draco, I is telling you that the foal is being born now!" The Abraxan foal to be born soon was promised to Draco at Christmas and he was adamant to be there for the birth.
"Father, may I?"
"Of course. Theo can go as well, if he wants, but take care that you are the human the foal sees first, that is important for bonding."
The boys were off moments before another elf announced a visitor. Theodore Nott Sr. strode into the parlour. He looked from Severus to Lucius to Narcissa and then spoke.
"I guess we're among friends here. I noticed something peculiar. Roughly half an hour ago my mark flared briefly and then faded to a lighter shade. Did you experience something similar?"
Lucius answered, "We did, Theodore. We guessed that whatever the Dark Lord used be unable to die got destroyed at least partly. Are you worried about him?"
Nott took a while to reply, "He did magical feats no one accomplished before him. But towards the end I felt he was irrational, unstable even. We all know that Dark Magic takes a toll, the art in the Dark Arts is to know when to stop. Where are the boys? Theo has a habit of popping up when expected least."
"An Abraxan foal is about to be born, they will be a while. Severus and I noticed the Dark Lord's increasing paranoia as well. He left the political route of protecting our ways. Dumbledore's a fool, but killing Muggleborns is not the way to go, there are way to little wizards and witches already."
"Some of our old comrades would call you a traitor for saying something like this, Lucius."
"Sure. There are some families like the Carrows or the MacNairs who took the idea of purity too far. They are simply inbred, marrying your cousins generation after generation is not healthy, as you well know from breeding Hippogryphs."
"I agree that Dumbledore's way is wrong but neither would I want my Theo to be cursed by the Dark Lord for nothing, as he was wont to do shortly before his quasi-demise."
"I agree concerning Draco. Severus has the theory that the Dark Lord made more than one Horcrux which would explain why he was so unstable. One is risky, more than one is foolish. Today I found an item containing a Horcrux among Abraxas' things. I brought it to the goblins for them to destroy. It must have been an early one, a big part of his soul, as your mark lightened considerably. Theodore, I think having that thing near us prevented Narcissa and me from giving Draco siblings."
"Dark magic of the scope of a Horcrux would do that, yes. If this is your roundabout way of asking – I haven't been given anything of significance by the Dark Lord."
"In our case it was a simple black Muggle diary, nothing of significance."
"I am quite sure, Lucius, thank you for your concern. There is more to it, isn't it?"
The other two men looked at each other and then started to unbutton their shirtsleeves, showing their unblemished forearms to their comrade. Nott's eyes widened. He swallowed and then enquired, "The goblins again?"
This time Severus answered, "Yes. I had to accompany a pupil who needed to be cleansed from dark magic to the goblin healers. I stayed with him during the ritual when my arm started to burn before I blackened out. Since then my magic is running much smoother, I've got much more power."
The elder man nodded, "I have suspected for a while that the mark siphons off our magic. Tell me, does your engagement end here or do you have further plans?"
Severus and Lucius looked at each other before the latter spoke, "I haven't thought much beyond keeping my family safe. It seems a little unrealistic to hope that the Dark Lord could return to the charismatic man with political aims he once was. I will not pledge my future on the mad creature he was at the end."
"Well spoken, Lucius. I have an errand with the goblins, I think we should meet again after school commences?"