Lucius Malfoy sat in Minister Fudge's office and tried to remember again why he put up with the idiot.

It certainly wasn't because the man could carry on a good conversation. Lucius knew there were politicians who were able to, for lack of a better term, turn on and off the public persona they created. They would be the smiling, easy going, empty-worded people that made the public feel safe while out among the masses, making them think that they too could be the Minister of Avalon! The type of man one wanted to take to a pub or have a round of darts with or invite to the house to watch a football game. But when they were in private, among trusted advisors, they were reveal their intelligence and their cunning. They would speak of the arts and fine wines where only hours earlier they had eaten fish wrapped in newspaper like a common bricklayer. It was all an act, a show, and like any good performer the moment they were back stage they returned to themselves.

Cornelius Fudge was not that kind of man. He might be the very first politician who truly believed every shovel of lies he tossed at the voting electorate. Lucius had never seen him not spouting the same canned soundbites or discussing a situation in anything but how it must be viewed by the public. He would have thought that perhaps the man didn't trust him and was keeping him at arm's length but it had been years and still the man acted in the same oily sweet way.

'Besides,' Lucius thought, repressing a shudder, 'if he didn't want me close to him he wouldn't have invited me to that clothing optional spa two years ago.' The sight of Cornelius Fudge slowly spreading his legs wide while they sat together in a steam room, his flabby belly rolling onto his lap and yet still failing to hide all of him from view, was burned into Lucius memory; to borrow a phrase he'd heard his son Draco spout once (and claim proudly he was the creator of, meaning in reality Potter had come up with it), it would "replace the Wailord" in his nightmares.

He would say that Fudge was two-dimensional but that was an insult to stick figures. The man was a political caricature brought to life thanks to the wish of a very vain and stupid man. He was a literal strawman who was cursed to haunt sane people and babble until they killed themselves.

"…boy not showing up to class has people asking too many questions," Fudge said. Lucius was seated in a desk chair far nicer than the one Fudge rested in, his right hand brought up near his mouth as he rubbed his upper lip, giving the impression he was listening carefully to all the man had to say when in reality he kept tuning him out and thinking about what wine he wanted with dinner that night. Not that he was missing much as Fudge seemed to be caught in a loop, cycling through topics again and again before returning to the point from only a slightly different angle. "I thought perhaps that things would die down as the school year continued… so much to do and see, you know? Oh, wonderful time at Hogwarts, wonderful time. Truly the gem of Avalon. And not just because of the grounds!"

"Mmmhmm," Lucius said, unable to even hide his boredom. Any of his other associates would have realized something was wrong by the way he was slowly sliding down in his chair in an utterly undignified manner. Lucius' father had taught both him and his si… the disgrace… that one was always judged by how they held themselves in the company of others. If a man wasn't in full control of himself how could he control others or a situation or the fate of a nation? One must have an iron will and enforce that first upon themselves before they could force it onto others. Thus Lucius Malfoy always stood with his back straight and his muscles ready to leap into action. The fact that Fudge was so boring and so pathetically not a threat should have been clear by the way he was slowly declining downwards.

"Which are of course marvelous. Much care is taken to ensure that Merlin's great castle is both kept up to date and modernized so that the students of Avalon are given the best of both worlds. From the towers to the new computer systems that have been donated, Hogwarts…"

'I am on the Board of Governers, you foolish twit,' Lucius mentally thought as Fudge began to prattle on, giving his standard verbal tour of Hogwarts and all it had to offer like he was the demented host of some timeshare video. And while he hadn't attended Hogwarts, for he had been far too busy learning at the much superior Beauxbaton Academy (which Draco would have attended if 1) it wouldn't have caused issues with the traitor and her daughter and 2) Draco could have passed their tests), many in Avalon seemed to forget this fact thanks to all his work in integrating himself into Avalon society. In fact there were a few times when someone would mention something that Lucius had done at school, forgetting that he hadn't even come to Avalon until he was in his early 20s. 'What made the Hat place you in Slytherin I'll never know. If you have a cunning bone in your body it's only from the bird you consumed for lunch.' Fudge continued to talk about all the recent renovations that had been done to Hogwarts, so into his speech that he clearly forgot that not only was Lucius on the Board of Governors but that many of the renovations had come about thanks to donations HE HIMSELF had made. The Slytherin Computer Lab was called the "Lucius Malfoy Computer Wing"!

"And of course there is the Gauntlet Season… we produce such wonderful talent, you know? One of the premiere areas to find players in the world. Everyone comes to see our youngsters play and doing so is to see future stars."

"Potter plays Gauntlet, does he not?" Lucius asked. He knew that the boy did, though he hadn't been in any matches since Draco' third year, since the Grand Trainer Tournament had canceled the season in the 4th year, but Lucius mostly brought it up in the hopes of getting Fudge back on track.

And thankfully that did the trick. "Yes, though not now and that has only drawn more attention to matters. The Sports Writer for the Galahad Gazzette, you know the fellow?"

Lucius didn't, as he had never been a fan of sports. But he didn't feel like having Fudge go on a long speech about someone that was so utterly beneath him so instead he merely waved his hand in a vague gesture to signify for the Minister to continue.

"He always wants to know about the next new phennim or however you say that word so he pays attention to the matches, asking all sorts of questions. Questions I'm not ready to answer! Any other year it would be simple enough; a few comments about how wonderful all the different teams are, which they are and I support friendly competitive play, and leave the rest to the students. Our future… and future voters, you know!

"But then Potter disappeared at the worst possible time! The second half of the Gauntlet Season has begun and after the postponement last year everyone is interested to see just who might be the next rising star. And while I do not know of these rumors that Potter is a prodigy... surely he can't be better than your boy... people were interested in seeing him. Especially with him having trained with the Johto National League this summer."

Lucius kept his face utterly still. He knew that the closest Potter had been to the Johto Gauntlet Team was standing with the Kenway brothers while they trained him in the art of combat while a radio played one of their matches. But the boy's allies had managed to craft a strong alibi for him... one that Fudge had taken like a wide-mouth Magikarp gobbling up a juicy worm.

"His absence is missed and everyone is asking where he is! And I don't have an answer for them!" Fudge leaned back in his chair, rubbing his bulbous forehead. "Oh, why didn't he tell us where he was going?"

'Because that goes against the need to disappear you twit,' Lucius thought to himself. Of course he would have preferred knowing where Potter was as well, as then he could have snatched him and delivered him to his Lord, but Potter wasn't as stupid as Fudge or Dumbledore's followers. The boy was naturally distrustful from what he had gathered... a product of his youth in Little Surrey.

"It's just a mess," Fudge continued on, now sitting forward so he might take a drink of his whiskey, the bottle sitting on the desk. Lucius had a glass as well though he'd only touched it once, taking a polite sip so that Fudge didn't feel awkward drinking alone. The Gym Leader knew that Fudge trusted him but it didn't hurt to lubricate his tongue a touch, just to get him talking. "They ask me if I know why Potter disappeared and I can't give them an answer because I don't have one! Who knows why the boy disappeared... he is a glory hog and entitled beyond belief so he could have gone for any reason! But we need him back at Hogwarts... he means so much to all of us! But he doesn't consider that... I sometimes wonder why people are so obsessed with him? He isn't anything special, just a child really. An important child. A national treasure. I worked hard to get him back on Avalon soil after everything collapsed that Halloween, you know. I am the man that dealt with Voldemort, after all!"

'No you didn't,' Lucius thought. 'You weren't Minister when that happened.' It was rather interesting to watch Fudge rewrite his own personal history and even more amusing to see him twist himself in knots trying to both deride Potter and hail him as a saint. Lucius remembered seeing a contortionist in Kalos when he was a teenager who could wrap herself about her own body; that woman would have quietly retired in disgrace if she could see Fudge now.

The Minister shook his head. "And these rumors, my friend, these rumors! Claims that Dolores drove a child to hurt herself... that she wanted to hurt Harry! The nerve! Dolorus Umbridge is a kind soul who would never hurt a Butterfree!"

Lucius almost snorted at that. It was a close call.

He quickly wrapped the meeting up, promising to visit Fudge again in a few days to check in on him and getting a confirmation that the Minister would call a meeting he'd asked him to hold at the beginning of their conversation. While he didn't hold an official post in the Avalon Government he was held by those in the Minister's Office as an advisor and concerned citizen who did his duty in the process of running the government. That meant that he was able to bypass many of the security measures in the Ministry and move about freely without being hassled by the guards and aurors stationed all about. Which was quite good as he didn't want to explain the items he had tucked away in the shoulder bag he had brought with him to Fudge's office. Making his way outside he took the scenic cobblestone path from the Ministry through Cador City's governmental district, passing by the Pokemon League and the offices of the Elite 4 which were connected to the Ministry by a series of elevated tunnels, then making his way towards the commercial district. Hotels and shops lined the streets and Lucius nodded politely to a few of the more influential members of society he passed while sneering at those dregs of society that didn't move quickly enough out of his way. The weather was beginning to warm up and Lucius was able to make due with a simple long coat over his expertly tailored suit, the wind catching the ends of the garment at times and causing them to flicker out behind him. The look would have been completed had he possessed a cane but after that Lovegood bitch had managed to trick him out of it along with the Alakazam Potter had taken from him he'd refused to purchase another one or even use one of the many ones he owned until he had once more in his possession the cane that had been stolen from him… preferably with the bitch's blood smeared all over it.

Lucius continued on, taking a sidestreet towards one of the less visited parts of Cador, before coming to a small tailor's shop. The owner, Bucklynn, nodded politely as Lucius entered, motioning towards a dressing room off to the side that was rarely frequented save by certain members of Avalon society who all held the same… beliefs. Into that room Lucius entered and once the door was locked he began to change. His suit was tossed aside, something that would horrify most people since it was a custom-made Sinnoh-design by Cocoa that cost more than the mortgages most people had on their homes. Lucius didn't care… the garment would be collected by Bucklynn the moment he left, sent out for dry cleaning, and returned back to Dagonet City for him to collect. He hadn't made use of the tailor in years, not since long before the War had ended, but he knew that the man wouldn't have forgotten what needed to be done.

Sure enough there was a knock on the door and a garment bag was waiting for him when he cracked open the dressing room, Bucklynn not sticking around to ensure that Lucius collected the items within. Setting his shoes aside he removed his dressshirt, another Cocoa original, and then began to dress in clothing that would have horrified Fudge had he seen him in them. Khaki trousers, an off the rack dress shirt over a working man's white undershirt that he only half buttoned, a dark brown coat with the collar popped, and scuffed shoes. He looked in the mirror and began to task of tying his long hair up into a tight bun on the top of his head and once that was done he threw on the newsboy cap that had been in the garment bag. One final check and then he grabbed his money clip, tossing the metal aside and crumbling the bills in his hand a few times before stuffing them in his pocket, and then his Pokeballs, twisting the indicator sensor on it to change their look from the custom Malfoy Ultra Balls he'd had made by a crafter in Hoenn to beaten up standard Pokeballs.

Transformation complete he reached up and twisted the clothing hook on the wall, causing the mirror at the back of the dressing room to swing open, revealing a dusty path that led out of the tailor's shop and into a bordering abandoned building. The dust and grime was on purpose, to give the final touches to his disguise. Stepping out once more into Cador proper, Lucius began to make his way towards his true destination.

'Of course you can't call Knockturn Alley 'proper',' Lucius thought to himself, wearing not his normal sneer but instead a stubborn scowl on his features, the standard look for a man who was used to hard work in the dark parts of Cador… none of which was legal. Knockturn was where bad people went to get whatever they needed and good people went when they were stupid enough to want to get themselves killed. Every vice imaginable could be bought in Knockturn, so long as you had the cash for it. Women and men who sold their bodies to the highest bidder… and younger fare for those with more perverted tastes. Drugs that would open minds and loosen tongues for addicts… and would grant deaths both painless and agonizing for killers. Underground Pokemon battle arenas as well as fighting pits for men and women that wanted to work off their aggressions. Fences, money laundries, forgers… everything one could ever need to create a new life out of thin air.

The Aurors knew about the Alley, of course, but couldn't ever do anything about it. The citizens and denizens of Knockturn worked together to ensure that no matter what the only ones that got arrested were the pawns they were willing to sacrifice. Add in the fact that many powerful people made use of the Alley and its delights… and didn't want word of what said delights were to ever get out… meant that Bones and her ilk were forever frustrated in trying to shut down the greatest source of criminal enterprises in Avalon even though it existed blocks away from the Elite 4 and the Ministry.

Lucius moved through the throng of people, never attempting to get out of the way of those that got in his path. In his normal life that was because he expected people to leap out of the way. Here it was a show of dominance. To collide with a shoulder and not be the one to be spun about. To force others to topple and fall. And to give those that did try and shove back a line of curses that would make all but the most hardened of hearts faint.

It took him about ten minutes but he finally made it to The Black Vial, a tavern that was like every horrible legends and urban myth rolled into one. More men and women had walked into that building than had ever come out. Lucius didn't even pause as he made his way inside, weaving past the dregs of Avalon Society as they drank liquor that was little more than paint thinner and slurped up stews that didn't always contain meat from creatures that walked on four legs. He flashed two fingers at the man tending the bar, a heavy set figure missing half his ear and covered in scars, then flicked out three fingers then one. There was no need to wait and see if the man would react, as Lucius knew that the code was enough. The bartender reached down and pressed a button under the counter so that by the time Lucius reached the basement the door it was unlocked and he was able to step inside, the sounds from The Black Vial's main floor instantly disappearing as the door sealed itself shut, allowing him to make his way down the stairs and into the rather large underground of The Black Vial.

"Last one to arrive, Lucius," Regulus Black said, standing at the foot of the stairs with a scowl on his lips. He was wearing a black turtleneck and matching coat, idly playing with a book of matches.

"The meeting is at 2:30, is it not?" he asked, taking off his cap and stuffing it in his pocket. "And I believe I arrived here with 10 minutes to spare."

"You should have arrived her 30 minutes to spare. What if our Lord had wished to start the meeting early?"

"But he didn't, Regulus." Lucius moved to continue on but the younger of the Black Brothers got in his way. Lucius merely smirked before striking out with his hand, wrapping his fingers around Regulus' throat and spinning, shoving him into a wall. "I am not a grunt you can give orders to, you arrogant little prick. I am an Admin, same as you. In fact the only difference between the two of us is that I was there from the beginning and you joined at the end."

Regulus clawed at his hand, pulling his fingers away enough so he could speak. "I have been loyal… far more loyal than you! Continuing on with your privileged life-"

"Where I continued to do our Lord's work while you hide at a literal rat with those Weasley traitors, doing tricks on command for their brats."

"James and Lily Potter died thanks to me!"

"And so did our Lord!" Lucius snarled. "That bitch murdered him because of you and it is only his power that allowed him to continue on. No thanks to you." He gave the arrogant little prick a shove. "You think you are someone special, Regulus? You aren't. Not among us."

"Hehehehehe!" A peel of screeching laughter filled the air and Lucius repressed a shudder. That cackle that had set his teeth on edge the moment he had first heard it all those years ago, when he begun courting the Black Sisters in his first step towards establishing himself in Avalon Society. Andromeda had been his first choice, as she had not only been the most mature of the three but also the most intelligent and cunning, but she had gone off and married that traitor Ted Tonks, whose grandparents hadn't even been able to afford Pokeballs. The next obvious choice would be been the next eldest but there was a reason he had dismissed her a few moments after speaking with her: the woman, even then, was insane. When Arceus had begun handing out brains clearly he had let hers drop and done serious damage to it. And her time in prison had only made things worse.

Bellatrix LeStrange.

She was seated on a barstool near the secondary bar The Black Vial had, dressed in ripped black jeans, a gauzy top with a vest closed with safety pins, leather boots, and long fingerless gloves. There was an icepick dagger in her hand, which she was using to idly stab the counter. It was dangerous and sexy and captivating… and all of that was ruined by the absolute madness in the woman's eyes. Even though she kept her head pointed straight at him and Regulus her eyes were swirling and spinning about the room, never able to stay in one place for long.

'And that's why there are rules for Magnuses,' Lucius thought as he stared at the woman. While he had never possessed the talent to merge with a Pokemon like the Black Family had, he'd educated himself on the rules just in case Draco had ever shown the talent as Narcissa did (though she had never found a Pokemon that fit well for her). One of the most important things that potential Magnuses were taught were to never merge with Ghost Types. Those that practiced the arts weren't for sure what it was about that Pokemon type but trying to form a magnus bond with them could lead to wild personality shifts and alternations in how one functioned. Perhaps it was the intangibility of Ghost Types, or the energy they used for their attacks. Whatever the case becoming Magnus partners with one was highly discouraged.

But Bellatrix, in her own delusions of grandeur, had done just that with her Misdreavus.

The result was that Bellatrix, who had already had a hairpin trigger and a lust for battle, had become utterly uncontrollable for all save their Master. Lucius could prolong her bloodletting and her fits but he couldn't stop them… the best her could do was turn her in a different direction and let her attack something else.

"Oh, two little boys fighting in front of mommy," she crooned. "I can decide if I should punish-" her face twisted and a leer that would have been better suited on a Knockturn whore turning tricks settled on her features, "-or PUNISH."

Lucius released Regulus and adjusted his coat. He would have felt bad for the man being stuck down here with Bellatrix, only allowed brief moments to slip away when their Lord managed to secure them passage, but frankly the two deserved each other. Both were toadies who believes themselves the true Right Hand of Team Nocturne and looked down on all others. Being trapped together was a fitting punishment for their arrogance.

Greyback was seated at a table, several jugs of the same paint thinner liquor from upstairs around him, the massive hairy man filling a tall glass and pounding it down at impressive speed. The Mad Sinnohian Dolohov was leaning against a wall, one of the oldest of the old guard, watching as Bellatrix began to egg Regulus on into another fight; Lucius got the sense from the way he rolled his eyes that they had been doing that song and dance for a while. One Armed Travers was at a table; he didn't actually have only one arm, as both remained, but thanks to the burns give to him by Selene Lovegood's Drampa he had to keep one forever encased in a bracer lest the exposed nerves cause him agonizing pain. There were other members of the Inner Circle missing but they were off doing tasks for their Lord.

'Or are buried,' Lucius thought. 'McNair killed, Parkinson missing and assumed dead, and those are the two highest among us.' He shook his head in disgust. They were getting picked off one by one by Potter's allies and even the trap they'd set for Kenway had failed.

It all rather reminded Lucius of when Voldemort had first begun to rise to power and prominence. He had been one of the first to join the man once Nocturne had transformed from a club of old men wanting to talk about the good days to young men wanting to change things, having seen quickly that the merely Tom Riddle, as he had been known then, was far more than anyone realized. That his ambitions were far greater than any could have imagined and that his dreams were more solid than anyone else's. And more than all that he had the will to do all it took to achieve them. That was the failure of so many... the lack of that killer instinct to make the final push. So many stumbled when they reached those invisible lines that so often told a man what he could and couldn't do... Lord Voldemort had crossed them without breaking stride so that Lucius wondered if for the man they were there at all.

Knowing now what his Master truly was made the latter far more likely.

Many would have balked upon learning that Lord Voldemort wasn't a man of flesh and blood but a Pokemon made of the souls of countless people. They would have felt fear at what the creature could do or rage at being lied to. But Lucius saw only further proof that he had chosen the winning side. And that was the most important thing. Morals were all well and good... but they were cold comforts for the dead.

'And besides,' Lucius thought as the encrypted holocaster began to flicker on, waiting for its mate to turn on so the meeting might begin, 'the knowledge he posses, the things he has seen... he will lead us into a new golden age. A return to a better time, a purer time, when only those chosen by destiny might have power. The wretches will be put in their place and finally Avalon will rise as it should!'

He hid his smirk

'But should it not? Well... plans are in place.' Narcissa never been a true power of Team Nocturne... that was both their decision. It was easier for her to cover for him if she truly didn't know what was going on; oh, she supported Nocturne's agenda, for she was a Black and save for that fool Sirius and Lucius' sister-in-law Andromeda the Blacks understood that they were far above even the other gym leaders of Avalon. They were bred to rule and it was their right to dominate. But that didn't mean that Narcissa was foolish enough to admit that. Oh no, not his cunning wife. Narcissa performed as a true neutral, courting friendships with both those supportive of Nocturne and those against them. Should the worst happen and Voldemort fall again his wife would be in the perfect position to beg for mercy for him to Bones or whoever else held his fate in their hands. They had done that in the first War and they would do it now. She would use every favor, every trick, every good deed done to try and free him. 'And if that should fail my blood will live on.'

Draco had only come under his tutelage when Lily Potter had defeated his master that Halloween night. Before then Narcissa had begun the training to make him into a neutral leaning boy but once Lucius had been cleared of all charges he had relished being the kind of father his own had never been. Teaching his son how to be a man. There were... mistakes (and at that he growled low in his throat as he thought of Draco's recent failures) but more than enough time to correct them. The true Malfoy line would be firmly established by the time Draco reached adulthood, his path far easier that Lucius'. He already it all decided... the boy would, upon leaving Hogwarts, take a work study in Sinnoh with Saturn, an old contact that was sympathetic to the cause. He would complete Draco's training before the boy returned to Avalon where Lucius would use his influence to get him placed in Hogwarts as a professor. Others might have looked down on his son taking such a position but it would teach Draco how to control and mold others before finally he would take over for Lucius as the new head of their gym.

'Despite what Sirius Black might be planning,' he thought as he remembered the dagger hanging over his head that was Black's promise to in 3 years restore the Black and Potter gyms. Black already had moved to take the spot Parkinson had left and he knew that Black planned on Potter taking the Malfoys' position.

He wouldn't.

Lucius had plans. Plans to deal with the potential loss of his gym. Plans for his vengeance against Potter and Lovegood for cheating him. Plans for if Voldemort fell a second time.

That plan was, hopefully, quickening in Narcissa's belly.

'Perhaps a daughter this time,' he thought. 'The sons of House Black are all deranged but of the daughters only Bellatrix is truly mad. A daughter that can claim she is like Potter, seeking to redeem the family name when in reality she works to undermine them all the same-'

The Holocaster cracked and there was a chime and then the image of their Lord appeared, all of the Nocturne Admins bowing save for Greyback but he wasn't truly one of their number anyway. Just a beast that was used to do the wet work.

His master's form was masked and hidden, disguised thanks to a heavy hood and a mask. This was Lord Voldemort's own choice, to hide the body he now controlled.

And Lucius wasn't shocked at all when it was Bellatrix who spoke first.

"Oh Master," she whispered with reverence, "It is only us, your most loyal servants. Will you not let us gaze upon your face?"

"I think not, Bella," Voldemort stated, his voice masked as well so that it was impossible to tell if he even was a man or in a woman's body this time. He could have been any one, from a figure in their prime to a child to an ancient figure and none of them would have known. "My protection is worth far more than your sycophantic curiosity." Even though she had been mocked Bella cooed like she'd been whispered the greatest of love poems. "Now then, has any of you managed to locate any of the Parkinsons?"

"Patrick's whereabouts are currently unknown," Dolohov stated. "If he is hiding he is hiding deep."

"I'm telling you he's still in that mansion of his," Greyback said, leaning back in his chair and taking a shot of whatever foul drink he'd been slurping up. "His trail doesn't leave the property."

"Except we've detected no movement within," Regulus reminded the paid killer. "No heat signatures, no movement on the motion sensors we installed, nothing."

"Then he's dead. That is the Pack's method."

"Is that respect I hear in your voice?" Dolohov asked, intrigued.

"You'd be wise to respect them too," Greyback said with a feral smile. "I've found that the ones that disrespect the Kenway brothers are the first to die. Bruno hired me to deal with them but the moron didn't respect them. Thought that all it would take is a bit of force to make them turn tail and run... all that did was have them come at Kanto all the harder."

"Yet you didn't finish the job," Bellatrix said with a sneer.

"Not for the lack of trying," Greyback growled. "Bruno didn't want to give me anymore coin and he pulled back when I told him how we could deal with the Sons."

Lucius remembered that; Greyback's solution had been to plant explosives in a city and then begin firing them off, starting at the outer edges and working inward. Burn everything and anything... and everyone. Because in order for the trap to truly work the citizens had to be there, unaware that they were set dressing for the trap. A casual estimate by Lucius had shown that Greyback's chosen target, Celedon, would have resulted in 2.7 million people dying in Greyback's inferno just to slay the Kenyway Brothers.

"I would have killed them with ease," Bellatrix taunted. "They are just widdle boys who need a strong hand to put them down."

The bestial man jabbed at the table with his finger. "You say that... and then they'd begin moving so fast you couldn't keep track of them, punch you as hard as a speeding car, and rip out your throat with their teeth. And that's after they used their damn Speaking abilities to mess with your Pokemon and pull them out of the fight." He leaned forward and glared at Bellatrix. "I'm the only one in this room that fought them, actually fought them hand to hand, and lived to tell the tale. To draw blood. So yeah, I do respect them. Doesn't mean I won't happily burst their skulls in. But if you want to race in thinking they will be easy kills then you are fools. These ain't the Aurors or Dumbledore's peackeepers from your last war. The Kenways and the Pack... they are us. They follow the same rules we do save for the fact that they do care if the unaffiliated get in the way. But everything else? Don't treat them like Avalonians. Or do and die." Greyback leaned back and smirked. "I get paid either way."

Voldemort chose that moment to cut in. "The Pack is of little concern when it comes to Parkinson unless one of you can prove they had a hand in his disappearance. And from your glances I would say you can't." The holocast form of their master shifted. "What of his family?"

"The wife and daughter are completely off the grid. We know that they were alive when the girl was pulled from Hogwarts but that is it," Lucius stated.

Voldemort waved the subject away, dismissing it and moving on. "What of the Aurors? How are things after their encounter with Jack Kenway?"

"We lack blackmail material to press the vulnerable ones to assist us," Lucius stated, looking up even as he remained kneeling. "But fractures are forming. They have kept hidden what happened from Bones, or else she would have stepped in and dealt with Rufus and placed someone else in command. The Nocturne Agents we have embedded with them have been able to provide us little as suspicions are running high... but it is clear that there are more than a few rattled by what they almost did."

"Then far from a total loss," his master said. He wasn't happy that Kenway had survived or that they'd had their mole revealed but he was correct that there were at least roots that might grow and eventually produce saplings and then fruit. All it would take was someone saying the wrong thing to the wrong person and they'd be able to make those cracks into fissures. "What of Potter?"

"He remains unaccounted for," Regulus stated. "We have reports that he and Dumbledore became embroiled in a feud concerning the girl that nearly killed herself; Potter of course wanted to move against Umbridge while Dumbledore once more preached caution."

"A common thing for the old bastard," Dolohov muttered

Lucius could hear the displeasure in his master's next words. "Where is Potter hiding?"

"We don't know," Regulus admitted.

"So you've lost the most important piece in this game we are playing," Voldemort asked, his distorted voice still holding the mocking purr it always did right before he delivered pain onto those that had failed him.

Regulus swallowed at that and Lucius mentally smirked. It was always so enjoyable to see a toady put in their place. "We... we have tried what we could to find him but the Weasley girl installed the security in his dex... it is impossible to hack, at least with the Agents we have. And if we tried we'd risk her learning and tracing it back to us." Their master remained quiet and Regulus quickly added, "We might have had better luck if we had a member of Potter's Pride informing for us... but the only one who might have been able to get close would have been Lucius' son." He didn't turn his head, nor did he smirk, but Regulus' delight in spinning blame onto Lucius was clear to hear. "And we all know where Draco stands with Potter."

"Potter enjoys surrounding himself with traitors to our culture and ways. I was not going to have Draco betray Team Nocturne just to aid it. And even if I did I couldn't very well, I don't know, have him live with the Weasleys and spy that way?"

Regulus, stung by the reminder of that lost avenue, opened his mouth to speak but Voldemort cut him off. "Enough. You have all failed me in this task and only by finding Potter and bringing him to me will see you redeemed in my eyes."

Lucius could tell that Bellatrix oh so desperately wanted to ask why they didn't just kill Potter? Why he was needed at all? But even she wasn't foolish enough to ask that and bring about their master's wrath. Harry Potter would be the new vessel for their Lord… he had spoken and so would it be. Already Lucius had plans to ensure that he had a place in that new order his master was creating.

'Lupin will die. So will Black. And then I will have myself declared Potter's guardian.' With him acting as a new 'father figure' to their Lord he would be able to be at his side daily, taking on the appearance of mentor while in reality he would be at the right hand the throne, assisting Lord Voldemort in taking control of Avalon and reshaping it into the envy of the world…

The rest of the meeting went smoothly enough. Their Lord revealed that he had plans to force Potter out of hiding, giving them their commands. Lucius had already done his part, his meeting with the Minister being a key to that, one that would force Potter to act or live forever with the cost of being inactive. He also recorded his meeting with the man, not quite for sure WHY his Master wanted it but assuming that it was to test his loyalty, to ensure that he was following his orders to the letter. The others were given other assignments with Bellatrix and Regulus informed they must remain hidden for now. When the holocaster finally turned off Lucius quickly took his leave, seeing no reason to spend more time with the other Admins than he needed to. He longed for the day of competent associates, ones he would be honored to count as allies.

'Not this rabble I have to deal with,' he thought as he used his Nocturne Yamask to teleport back home. Arriving back in the foyer of Malfoy Manor he began to remove his disguise, tossing the coat for one of the psychic Pokemon to catch and clean.

Thwump.

Lucius paused, the jacket lying in a messy pile on the ground.

He slowly removed his hat even as his fingers reached for his Serperior's pokeball. Tossing the headwear found it too fall to the ground. His household Pokemon were far too trained to make that mistake once, let alone twice.

Lucius instantly threw out Serperior's Pokeball. The grass snake formed only to let out a shriek and retreat back into the ball. He walked over and picked it up, trying again but this time his Pokemon didn't even allow the ball to open.

What was-

He stopped, sniffing the air. Lilac. A hint of orange. Narcissa was always trying out new scents in the house so it hadn't surprised him when he'd first entered. But now he detected something the scents were hiding, covering up. He looked at the wall and saw that it seemed to be…wet. Drabbing his finger against it he found the grooves of his fingers coating in a thin sticky liquid. He brought it to his nose, sniffed-

Max Repel. Custom made. Powerful.

He began to move up the stairs, cautiously reaching into a drawer of a decorative table when he got to the top and lifting a hidden compartment to reveal a Glock with a loaded chamber. After Jonas Kenway he would never shy away from guns again. Moving towards his bedroom he kept the gun at the ready, knowing that this was how other members of Nocturne had died, in their homes. The Pack wanted to send a message, to make it clear that they could strike anywhere at any time. Kill you anywhere. That even your home wasn't safe.

But if they thought Lucius would be a victim in his own bedroom they were wrong. He had measures in place that would deal with the intruders. He continued down the hall, body tense, until he finally reached the door, gripping the hand and swinging it open while keeping his form out of the entryway just in case there was someone waiting…

Nothing.

He stepped inside only to see he had been oh so wrong.

There, middle of his bedroom, hanging from a noose, was the cold body of Narcissa, a suicide note pinned to her chest.

~MC~MC~MC~

Harry entered the chamber after his study time, rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks that had come from leaning forward at a desk, typing away on a laptop Dobby had brought him. A workout was needed and honestly he wondered how he'd ever managed to spend so much time in school without taking breaks for physical exertions. It helped calm the mind after it had been given its workout-

He froze.

"Jasmine?"

His girlfriend sat on the ground, leaning against a stone wall, her eyes vacant as she looked at nothing at all.

"Harry," she whispered in a tiny, shuddering voice, "I… I did something. I did something very bad."