Summary: Lucius was keeping a deep dark secret from his family, and a slip up cost him everything.

Rated: T

Genre: Horror; Family

Competition/Challenge Block
Written for/Stacked with: The Houses Competition (Year 8); Monthly Challenges for All (Year 4); Whumptober 2021
THC: Slytherin - Astronomy; Drabble ([Character] Lucius Malfoy)

MC4A: Fireworks (AU Reserve; Pun Master; Bang Bang); Garden (Whump Fest B [Betrayal]); Hangman (Guess "P"); Chimera (Protection)

Other Challenges: Whumptober Day 17: Field Care 101 | Dread

Word Count: 912

Beta: Hope, Dhrish, Ash

Warning: Mentions of Blood; Implied Murder

Spilled Secrets

Lucius had been in this office a hundred times before, conducting various levels of business and handling other personal matters during those countless visits. However, he never anticipated coming to the office for this. The barrister went over pages and pages of parchment that contained various deeds to the lands, houses, bonds, and other official asset-related paperwork. He could barely comprehend the bequests of various possessions stowed away in the vaults deep under their feet.

Narcissa sat beside him, back rigid, unyielding, as she kept her attention on Mr. Floggs. Though she made sure her seat was pushed as far to the one side as respectfully as possible to put space between her and Lucius, he still couldn't help but steal a look her way. His beautiful wife was as cold and frigid as a late winter's night. He never imagined being on the receiving end of her ire, but he supposed he deserved this, as she had so thoroughly reprimanded him before, he'd brought it on himself.

No one, not even Narcissa, was ever supposed to find out Lucius' predicament. It was a complete freak accident, but during one of his travels out of the country, in a feeble attempt to search for his master, he was attacked by a vampire. He'd intruded on their property and paid the price for it. They drained and turned him as punishment for his actions.

Draco was the one who had caught him feasting on the human maid he specifically hired to drink from. Lucius instinctively reacted aggressively toward his son, lunging at him to stop him from fleeing, and that was what had sealed the proverbial coffin for him. He couldn't catch Draco quickly enough to compel him to forget what he saw before his son went to Narcissa and they had Apparated away the second she laid eyes on his frightening appearance.

He'd been doing so well keeping it secret. Being already known to dress to the nines from head to toe that kept his skin concealed from being burned in the sunlight and touched by others, the coldness went unnoticed. He started wearing hats with wide brims and used the hoods of his cloaks more often during inclement weather, but it was nothing to raise any suspicion.

But he'd gotten sloppy feeding in his office and not the cellar…

Alas, it was impossible to explain the fangs that protruded from his mouth or the veins that lined around his crimson red scleras or, most importantly, why his lips were stained with blood.

"Considering that you are no longer—ah—a living being, Mr. Malfoy, I have no other choice but to enforce your Will," Mr. Floggs stated, looking at him with barely contained fear.

"That's ridiculous! You can see me right in front of you, breathing and just as alive as you!" Lucius snapped back, causing the other two to stiffen.

"Y-yes, sir. But unfortunately, based on what the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures decrees about vampires, you are classified as a non-living creature. And based on how magical law has established wixen, you are not considered one anymore and thus all of your assets and possessions are to be passed on to your heir and spouse due to your… method of transformation."

"I am still a wizard," Lucius hissed, gripping hard at his cane and leaning toward the desk. "I am still capable of doing magic."

"That may be, but the magic you are now able to perform is not the same type as a wixen. Vampiric magic is a completely different branch altogether," Mr. Floggs explained in a wavering tone.

"Can I please sign the form that confirms my new status as a widow and be done with it? I wish to not conduct any further discussion about the Malfoy assets with him here," Narcissa said coolly. "I don't even know why he is here, anyway."

"Cissa, this is unnecessary," Lucius said, turning toward her. "I am still me. Nothing has changed."

Mr. Floggs pushed a piece of parchment toward her with a quill and she hastily signed it. Lucius was on his feet, placing his gloved hand over hers.

"Please don't do this…"

She looked at him and stood up stiffly, snatching her hand away. "Everything has changed! You lied to me! You attacked my son! You've been a walking corpse for months and I had no idea! It's disgusting!"

"If you'd just listen!" Lucius yelled back, slamming a fist down hard on the desk, clenching his teeth together as he half-glared at his wife.

She gasped and pressed herself against the wall, hand going up to cover her mouth as her blue eyes widened. "St-stay away from me!"

His eyes and face must've changed during the outburst. He relaxed his expression immediately, hoping to diffuse the horror in his wife's eyes.

"Do not come near me, my son, or my properties ever! You are dead to me!" she said in a voice that matched her shaken appearance.

Grabbing her cloak from the hook nearby, she stormed from the office, leaving him alone with the startled and terrified barrister. Lucius turned on him, eyes red and fangs bared.

"This is your doing," he hissed, moving fluidly around the side of the desk toward him. The man was rooted to his chair in unchecked fear. "You are to pay for it dearly."

If his wife wanted to see him as a monster, then a monster he would be.