The opportunity was too good to pass up. I eyed the dark passageway with morbid curiosity, braced and ready for anything I might find inside. I was about to enter when a shrill objection froze me in my tracks.
"Come on Allie! Are you absolutely insane?" Lilie barked, having finally caught up with me.
"Glia nin-e-thar. Na gwao. Wetta thim en athem" (This is a bad plan. Don't go. Stay here with us please.)
"You'll get yourself killed going down there." Lilie was furious with me for running off and Syl looked rather like he was having a panic attack. He was usually so expressionless that to see his visible concern nearly made me laugh. I stared back at the sign for a moment, ignoring the two, before I finally made up my mind.
This way to Knockturn alley =»
I guess I'd better rewind a bit to explain how I ended up here of all places.
It all started at lunch with my mum, sister and odd roommate. Lilie had insisted we eat at Lunaris the most expensive restaurant in the magical world... oh... well... maybe i'd better start a little further back.
Several weeks had slipped by since the haze of confusion descended upon the muggle and magical communities in the wake of the June 18th international terrorist attacks. While the ICW and United Nations bickered and argued amongst themselves in an attempt to gain control of the situation, back in the UK a special cabinet had been formed and legislation passed to ensure greater security for the people. This meant more emergency powers were granted to my family as I suspect had been my aunt's intent all along. By not stopping the attack she had virtually guaranteed the Potter-Weasley government would become even more powerful than ever.
It was all I could do to continue my work and carefully record any suspicious activity I came upon at the ministry. I had made a few acquaintances within the junior auror divisions in the hopes of learning as much as I could... while continuing to forge some meaningful alliances of my own at the ICW and MI6. My meddling of course had not gone unnoticed by Hermione and a threat assessment had suddenly "come in" outlining a "plot" against me. I was ordered to take an extended vacation at my parents palace on Isle Avalon and after a week the sheer boredom and monotony was starting to get to me. It was one afternoon, during a lunch with my mother, that my impatience grew too much to stand any longer. It was time to escape.
Now we come back to my present dilemma.
"Albus! Even you have to admit its a bad idea to go into Knockturn alley without your wand or guards." My sister chirped, grabbing at my arm to try and detain me. Syl looked at me with that piercing expression that said he disapproved.
"Your sister is correct, it was unwise to venture even to Diagon alley given the recent breakout from Azkaban. Your mother will also find it quite rude that we abandoned her at lunch. She's bound to notice something's wrong if we've not returned from the lavatories in over an hour."
"Oh stop it. I'll be perfectly fine. For the last month i've been under the tutelage of the greatest wizards and combat specialists alive. That's as well as Alex Sorenson and not to mention our svaltalfar prince here. Even wandlessly I am more than a match for most wizards and witches. You both worry too much. Besides, I have money to spend on important research materials that I can only find down there or in the Avalon Court of Mircales. And since my parents would most likely notice if I walked in and dropped a gold nugget the size of a dragon's egg at Draconis & Serenes, this is my only option. Don't worry, I will be perfectly fine. Syl watch my sister and keep her safe. If my mother realizes we're gone, at least we know she won't know where to find us."
"At least! At least he says! Well at least let us come with you, you blithering idiot!" Lily called after me as I disappeared down the dark and gloomy side passage that led to the unknown. At least she had the good sense to stay put.
"Firsts first" i whispered to myself with a sigh.
My main priority was protecting myself so I first conjured a spectral image of a masked unspeakable behind me, hoping it might dissuade an attack should I be recognized. I stared for a moment at the conjured image, examining it for any design flaw or noticeable sign of imperfection. When I was satisfied that nobody would recognize it for a fake I began my expedition into the grim dark.
The first thing that struck me was the undeniably strange aesthetic of the area. All of the shops in knockturn alley were almost exclusively devoted to the practice and study of the dark arts, which in turn was responsible for the odd smells and sounds that seemed to emanate from every nook and cranny. Shady figures in cowled robes snuck in and out of even darker tunnels and alleyways to my every left and right. Gamblers and illegal magical creature traders skulked around under makeshift tattered tents, while ancient witches haggled over foul smelling poisons and age-fighting potions of dubious effectiveness. The caged animals shrieked and railed against their metal prison bars, producing a chorus of strange and pained music.
As i walked further down the maze of tight streets I realized painfully that all eyes were trained on me. It took me half a second to realize why. I almost slapped myself for my ABSOLUTE stupidity. For a moment I thought it was because they'd recognized my face. But i was wrong again. Whether or not people knew I was the minister for magics son, it was difficult to miss a handsome and obviously very rich boy meandering around in public with an armed escort. In retrospect it might have been more prudent to wear less noticeable clothing.
At least I was wearing a decidedly Slytherin emerald silk vest and silver thread tie. I hoped that it would be enough to dissuade anyone from attack. At least the brilliance of my invisibility cloak was that it's reverse side was a beautiful design of shimmering stars and celestial bodies. Out of convenience as well as luxury I had since attached a clasp to it so that I could wear it as a formal cloak while inverted. If the need arose I could flip it around and escape quickly should anyone be stupid enough to start trouble. The very unfortunate side effect of wearing such a resplendent outfit was that it drew attention like a swarm of angry flesh eating gnatsprouts. I should have changed before leaving Lunaris at the Avalon court. My MI6 field trainer would have punched me in the gut for my carelessness had she ever found out about the blunder.
I sighed as I rotated my shoulder, feeling all the bruises that I'd received from Lily and the martial arts trainers. I couldn't believe how much effort she'd put into her lessons all these years. Thank goodness Malfoy, mum and the accountants had taken over managing my business projects. I couldn't handle them on top of everything else. As it was I was barely getting any sleep.
Unfortunately my aunt had examined some of my more advanced experiments and told me she'd submitted research proposals on my behalf to the ministry for grant money... Hermione hadn't even asked me for permission... It would mean even more work... and it meant that i would most likely be monitored doing it. Already she'd convinced my parents to lock me up on Avalon isle when I wasn't working for the ministry or at the lab. She wanted me too busy to interfere with politics.
"I feel like I'm the experiment... Ugh..."
I slapped both my cheeks to bring my focus back to the task at hand.
"First on the agenda would be to find..." I began, pulling out my makeshift shopping list to double check the ingredients and miscellaneous equipment.
-Werewolf fangs (3 canines)
-achromantulae venom (4 vials)
-basilisk eye (expensive and rare!)
-Unicorn blood (1.5 liters)
-Phoenix tears (6 vials, 1K/ 100ml)
-Goblinium Osmite ore 2,300g or 35.56 cm3 (Kill me now.)
-Lethifold fabric (1 bolt)
-Darkness Incarnate by Herpo the Foul (21,000 galleons at auction)
-Light and the mysteries of Faeric magic by Merlin Andromedus Avalon (23,000 galleons at auction.)
-Phoenix feathers (x5)
-Cockatrice claw (x3)
-White nundu fur (a substantial amount)
-Roc's egg (1... If I can carry it)
-Achromantulae silk (ten yards)
-Felix Felices potion (three doses, properly titrated)
-Baku trunk (Good luck finding one)
-Birthday presents for aunt Dromeda and Narcissa Black
My head swam thinking how much this would cost me. Although... The potential profit from marketing the potions or spells I planned to devise would undoubtedly pay off. I would have an interesting summer of experimenting if I could find even half the ingredients or materials on this list.
As I walked onwards I realized that actually finding anything here would be more dangerous than i'd ever imagined.
Every store looked like it might be the end of me. First I came across "The Black Death" which was renowned for its esoteric and inhumanly effective poisons. Over its entrance hung the large effigies of Lilith the mother of all Basilisk, locked in mortal combat with Ungol the first of the Achromantulae. Their fangs dripped with a strange liquid that burned right through the ground it fell on. A patron had literally had to remove his jacket and use it as a shield to dart inside.
Across the way stood the Rancid Rose, a shop specializing in dark herbs and plants. Its every surface was covered in shifting vines as sleek as silk. Black roses grew along the wiry tendrils with bladelike petals that looked as though they could slice through flesh just as easily as a cleaver would butter.
Darkness... If only the world could see it the way i did. The light and the dark should never be separated. They should remain one. This place would not seem so bad then. I was reminded somewhat of the muggles atomic bomb. An evil and destructive force used to slaughter millions of innocents in an instant. Such a device, as dark as conceivable, had then been modified and harnessed to create an abundant source of energy for an even greater number of people. Magic like science is free of morality... it is what we choose to use our craft for that defines our character. I am merely interested in the medium. I want to know everything.
This place however was more than a haven for the study of dark magic, it was a vehicle for the transmission of dark deeds as well.
I sighed sadly, examining the enslavement and torture of supposedly lesser species, the subjugation of sentient plants and the harvesting of illegal wand cores... this place was toxic in the extreme.
The only redeeming feature of Knockturn alley and the reason that so many wealthy Purebloods found themselves mixed in amongst the rabble was of course because of the Shadow Court.
I stared down the largest street of the district, towards the enormous demonic structure. Horned gargoyles ringed the parapets, their contorted expressions a tapestry of horror along the towers and terraces. A dark and foreboding gothic castle, the Shadow court had over the centuries developed a grim and tumultuous history. The castle had since its creation been owned in succession by wizards famed for their evil ways. First by its builder Herpo Hecate the Foul, then by Brutus Ascanius Malfoy, Myrcella Maxus the Cruel and even the sorceress siren Sylvia Slytherin (The first). Each had made individual explorations into the depths of darkness and left their own mark on the stones of the structure throughout their lives. Eventually the private residence had been converted into the Royal Institute for the Dark Arts by its then owner a Peverell Prince whose name escapes me. From here the academy's history took on an ironically brighter tone.
The castle-school grew into a peerless beacon of magical experimentation that flirted only objectively into the dark arts as a means to explore magic as an academic whole. Students were forbidden from harming or experimenting on one another and not one death or disappearance had been recorded for the first two hundred years of its existence. Advances in charms and herbology as well as in arithmancy and divination flooded out from the Shadow Court as its students successes and innovative investigations were compounded.
Unfortunately times changed and so too did social conventions. Conflicts and ideological differences set the magical society against the muggles and so the murders and treachery began. Eventually the Institute was closed and converted back into a residence once more. This time, however, its owners decided to rent the space to shops, aspiring dark artists and pureblooded wizards who had mischief on their minds. When Tom Riddle had left Hogwarts to work at Borgin and Burke's he had rented one such room in the Shadow Court, which as it happens was where he had organized his army during the first wizarding war.
Instead, it now contained the master Opera Stage known as Gabrielle's Symphony, as well as many expensive showrooms and restaurants. Its basement was also the most famous public dueling dome in the world.
I looked up, scanning for Borgin and Burkes as a starting point for my search when instead I saw a familiar braid of platinum blond hair, tied in an elegant blue silk ribbon.
What was Draco doing here? Most higher class nobles chose to flu into the Shadow Court as apposed to walking through the dregs of Knocturn alley. My shock overtook my reason, leading me to do something more idiotic than i could fathom. In my excitement i forgot for a moment where I was, calling carelessly out to the man as i approached.
"Mr. Malfoy! I had no idea you still frequented knockturn alley. What a strange coincidence to find you here. I hope you're arm is healing well. I should have done a better job... trying to stabilize..." I stopped mid-sentence, slowing my approach towards the expensively dressed man i had mistaken for Draco. Something wasn't right. When he turned around my mind froze awkwardly.
"Oh... I'm... dreadfully sorry... I... completely mistook you for..."
The man remained there, staring at me in utter and complete shock. He scanned my attire, noting immediately my Slytherin colors as well as the guard behind me.
"My son... obviously..." he offered, finishing my statement for me. I extended my hand politely to introduce myself, not really knowing what else to do or say. What was he of all people doing here? I thought he'd been exiled from the country.
"I'm... A-Al..."
I stopped myself, realizing it would resonate more profoundly with him if I revealed our family's newly discovered heritage. "I'm Marquess Albus Potter of house Peverell." I corrected. His eyes went wide as he registered the name. He offered his hand politely in return. One of the seven greatest houses of all magic.
"Lucius Malfoy, former Prince and supreme founder of magical England." he returned, while his associates grimaced.
Lucius would prove undoubtedly a divisive figure here. Either most saw him as a traitor who had led to the dark lords demise or a hero who had helped resurrect him in the first place. He was lucky now it was his wife's betrayal that had saved my family and not his own...
Although... that act might have saved him some time in Azkaban as it had done Cissy. My mistake was assuming that Lucius could ever have been a more divisive figure here than I.
"Lucius! Don't talk to that filthy rat, he's the son of our lord slave master. Prince Potter of shit and greater shit. The very reason we are now made to bow and scrape so low to the mudbloods and bloodtraitors."
"Said the penniless and disgraced Carrow of his social betters." I spat unthinkingly at the grown man. He'd hit a nerve. "Tell me, did your brother escape my uncles Prison? Or was he one of those that were thrown back in to rot with the rest?" It was stupid of me to retort so childishly. I could feel my field trainer Amelia hitting me again at the stupidity of my response. I was supposed to be mastering control of myself. Every time I did something stupid she would react violently. The agents had all been trained that way... Why my parents thought Lily and I needed that sort of training I couldn't even guess.
Unfortunately my words provoked exactly the reaction i wanted to avoid. Agron drew his wand in retaliation so I had to mentally manipulated the spectral guard to do the same. This was very bad.
"Mr. Malfoy... Did you know Scorpius and I were on track to qualify for warlock status by our sixteenth birthday? We would be the most powerful wizards in the entirety of recorded history since the beginning of our species if we managed to attain that title by then. It stretches the limits of the imagination to wonder then what I am capable of now." I offered, wandlessly darkening the sky with thick black clouds. A ball of fire erupted effortlessly from my open palm. It was exhausting and much too draining a spell to keep up, merely to attempt a bluff. My head began to spin as the energy left me, but i held firm.
It was masterful fire magic and while my move did have the intended effect on Agron Carrow, four other unsavory looking men drew wands at me as well. I wasn't as safe as I liked to pretend. Amelia at least would have been proud of the tactic. Intimidation of that kind might have played better in a different situation though. Most likely if I'd not been a fucking fourteen year old with my slender frame and a face more suited towards modeling than inspiring fear.
"Stop! you imbeciles! Do you realize what will happen to you if you harm one hair on his head. Think for once in your lives. His family has absolute power. Now is not the time for this!" the men looked at each other for a brief moment before disbanding disheartened, sheathing their wands with scowls and curses at Lucius. Agron merely spat at my feet before walking off. The glare they'd all given Mr. Malfoy sent shivers down my spine.
I turned towards the blond, surprised by his actions.
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy, I might have had a little trouble there had you not intervened on my—"
He grabbed my arm then and twisted it angrily so that my rings were more visible to him. He'd noticed the accursed thing when I'd conjured the fire!
"owe, owe, owe" I offered wincing.
"I stopped them because I saw this you little thief! What are you doing wearing it? There are ancient charms on this ring that prevent someone like you from even putting it on."
I was taken aback by his obvious bigotry. Had this man learned nothing of the folly of hatred? Despite his words he looked slightly terrified by the nightfyre crystal next to the signet ring, which caused him to lesson his hold on me, if only slightly.
"Magical historians have since deduced that my grandmother Lily wasn't a spontaneous manifestation of magic in a muggle family but rather the descent of pureblooded squibs." I shot, withdrawing my arm roughly from his grasp with a light curse. "Even though we don't know which pureblood family it was we don't like to advertise our blood status because it might undermine our position as muggle defenders." I couldn't believe how hard he had grabbed me. "Of course the malfoys would charm the bloody thing not to accept half bloods or less!" I spat clearly annoyed. His eyes suddenly opened wide before he started laughing.
"What's so funny? I fail to see how you are amused..." Had I been mistaken in my assumption? Had he meant something else by 'someone like you'?
"More is funny about this than you realize boy. That isn't important. What I'd like to know now, is how you managed to get ahold of Armand Malfoys seal when your mud-blo... muggle born aunt... shall we say... confiscated it from me so long ago."
"I stole it back obviously. I broke into one of my aunts magical store rooms in the OoM and retrieved it as a Christmas present for your son. I suppose more your grandson."
He paused in shock for what was already too many times to count. The simple candor of my words had caught him off guard.
"Why on earth would you risk yourself to do that for us? That also doesn't explain how you remain currently in possession of my family's most prized heirloom."
"I did it because I figured both my parents and Scorpius's would be mercilessly unlikely to accept our friendship without cause. Which in this case was a display of extreme generosity at great personal risk. So I retrieved the ring for Draco who gave it to... Your grandson."
"You and Scorpius are friends?"
"We were... Best friends" I offered softly, suddenly saddened by the thought of him. "We've since fought... And he... Threw this back in my face... I don't know what led me to put it on... but I... Haven't removed it since."
He stared at me for a long time, contemplating my story with weighted purpose. There was much I couldn't divine about his thought process. I didn't know him well enough to guess what he was thinking, so I waited simply for him to continue. There was a curious mix of fear, surprise and hope in his face though, that led me to wonder curiously what had caused that particular cocktail of emotions.
"I would pay my weight in gold to know what you are thinking."
"I... was debating whether or not to tell you the significance of the charms on that ring. However since only Draco and I know about them, it will pose you no danger if I decide to keep it secret. You should know however that they have nothing to do with blood purity. My own curiosity has me wondering however what on earth could have led you to do something so stupid as to come into knockturn alley dressed like you were going to lunch at Lunaris?"
He hadn't actually answered my question, so I decided to avoid his.
"Well... Um... because I just snuck away from a lunch at Lunaris..." I offered a little embarrassed.
He smirked softly. "That would explain the clothing, not I think why you are here. Which was my question."
"I have this list of ingredients I needed for my experiments. I couldn't very well go shopping on Isle Avalon, more people might notice me there."
He artfully snatched the piece of paper away from me to examine it before I could stop him, of course in that haughty and contemptible way that the Malfoys sometimes had. I blushed as he reviewed the contents. Lucius Malfoy was again staring at me as though i were mentally handicapped. It was a look that bore an eerie familiarity with the one Draco had given me when I had first stayed over at the Malfoy's home. His eyes widened strangely when he came to the birthday present for his wife. He knew I wasn't kidding.
"You are unequivocally mad. Every item on here is a class S untradable material. Not to mention the sum of these products would cost you a small fortune."
"Scorpius and I have invested money in several ventures... We've been quite successful. Not to mention my family's acquired wealth... Or the research grants I've received from the department of mysteries. What's a small fortune when you have mountains of gold sitting in vaults around the world. You would know that sentiment better than most."
"You weren't kidding about qualifying for warlock status... You are a prodigy as well as a genius." I blushed again at the compliments. "Still, it seems counterintuitive for a genius to risk breaking the law despite or rather because of your relationship to the ruling family." He thought he was being funny...
"Ohhhhhh you mean because my father is a war hero and the minister for magic?" I offered sarcastically. He stared suddenly at my guard, smirking at the realization that if I were planning on breaking the law I would hardly have brought ministry law enforcement along with me. I waved my hand, dissolving the flawless illusion into smoke and mist. "Why do I need guards in Knockturn alley when I have an infinitely more well versed Pureblood named Malfoy to show me around?"
"What? I don't understand. Why would you want me... around you... Do you not know what i've done boy? Have you any idea of the crimes i've committed? Against your family especially..."
I stared quietly for a moment, images flashing in my mind of the war stories i'd been told. The fear and horror and death my parents and family were made to endure because of this man. All that I am... all that I know of life so far... all that i have learned. I sighed deeply trying not to cry.
"People... change. More importantly... i have the profoundest ability to change others whom i encounter. I've also done horrible things you know. Some had explanations, some justifications and others were entirely inexcusable. Ultimately though I am a good person. As much as that may mean for someone of only fifteen. If my father can be believed, your son has changed the most of anyone. He's even had some of Scorpius's muggle born friends to stay at the manor as guests. Draco and Cissy have little energy left to care about such trivial things after all the horror they've seen. Your lot lost the war. In as shocking and sobering a defeat as was possible. I think Voldemort whose soul was no longer human, was the only one incapable of redemption. Some of you might be free of him now, twenty years later. With time enough spent healing and reflecting on the atrocities you've committed. Although who knows. Perhaps you're like that imbecile Agron... exactly the same." I offered seriously, my eyes piercing. He examined me carefully, stopping only to flinch at the ease with which I spoke the dark lords name.
"Why, you ask? Well I want to know. Who are you really... Lucius Malfoy. History has told me much... but not all i think. Share with me the past, your version of it at least. And i will share with you the present, stories about your estranged Grandson. He's so very much like me. Maybe we can both learn something."
"You are quite presumptuous, Potter."
"Marquess Peverell please, and yes, I am. Just consider this before you decide, if Serious Black despite his family was placed in Gryffindor for his character, what does it say about me. I, the son of Harry Potter himself, am a Slytherin. That should be enough for you to understand me."
He paused for a moment... contemplating my words and suggestion. There was a lot that i could learn about the malfoys should i speak further with Lucius... then again there might be more he could learn about me. A very dangerous prospect. I like gambling though. This would also have the added benefit of infuriating Scorpius if he ever found out.
"Why not, they'll only throw me back in prison if they catch us shopping for... Herpo's bones... Basilisk eyes!" he shot rereading the list. "What on earth do you have planned with all of this?" he inquired a little frightened.
"One, I'm breaking the secret to natural flight. Two I'd like to work on an exceedingly special wand core. Three, I'm thinking of making alterations to the resurrection stone so that I might actually be able to bring back the dead. Four i'd like to make a potion that provides unique properties to physical enchantments. Five, i'm working on a spell of my own invention that will be able to pierce through any seal or barrier. Six, I'm recreating Nicholas Flammels elixir of immortality. Seven are a series of potions too complicated for you to understand and eight is too dangerous for me to risk telling you about." I offered seriously. He stared at me with another cocktail of emotions I couldn't quite read.
"You are so very strange. You remind me terribly of... Well... It doesn't matter. As much as I hated your grandfather and father... I would still be more remiss in letting anything happen to you than I would be for declining your offer and being arrested for not having intervened. They'll throw me in jail for merely having had the misfortune of running into you. Regardless of what I decide I will be made to pay for this. I might as well see what my wife and son find so obviously fascinating about you. "
LPOV
This boy was so very well beyond strange. He wasn't afraid of me, nor did he hold a typical child's resentment for the enemies of his forefathers. He was trusting and courteous yet remarkably witty. I had trouble patently disliking him as was the case with his grandfather and father.
Albus Dumbledore... that's who he reminds me of. Wisdom beyond measure. Beyond the years its taken me to acquire. This boy... is blinding... a rare thing indeed. Enigma. The aura of wizards so gifted that their magic has influenced their very personality and perception. There was also a chance I could learn something politically useful by accompanying him. Shall we see how sharp this tool is that they've been crafting?
"Damn it!" the boy cursed suddenly as he checked a glowing charm on his bracelet. "I'll have to sneak back here another day. I completely forgot about the Trace. Summoning the specter in the crowd was one thing... darkening the sky was another. They've found me."
A fraction of a second later twelve aurors appeared along the intersection with a tall and beautiful redhead at the lead. Albus turned around sheepishly, seemingly resigned to his fate.
"Well, this is quite a surprise. The man that tried to murder me once upon a time... Has come back to our little island from his exile on the mainland." the gorgeous woman offered in her smug satisfied tone.
"Princess Peverell is it now?"
"Warlock, Mistress for magic, and Princess, yes how correct you are." she offered devilishly. How highly they have risen since their defeat of the dark lord... "Arrest him..." she offered very softly to her guards with a wide smile. The aurors had suddenly surrounded me, wands trained at my head and chest.
"Mum! I ran into Lucius mistaking him for Draco. He hasn't done anything wrong. I promise. Lucius, it was good to meet you but I think you should be going now. I have my own prison to return to." He flicked his wrist apparating me away in a thunderclap to a very familiar study, to stand before a very familiar set of faces. My wife... And my son...
So this was a bit long and very hard to write. We're gonna have some shocking revelations about Al and Scor's childhoods two chapters from now. Plus they're not gonna be fighting for too much longer. Trust me, i've written them making nice again. Its pretty cute. Ok no actually its totally adorable.
I'm posting now because i haven't updated in a while but i may make some heavy revisions here cus i think this chapter is a bit dense and wordy. Anyway let me know what you love or hate.
