Chapter 04
All around tears and grins

Lucius' POV

Knowing how hard the last chapter has been for my friend as he once confided in me that he still loved Potter's wife and that he felt he was the one to lead her to her death and knowing the next won't be any easier, I think: "The Dark Lord's nothing more than a cruel monster. No way will these students be able to read of his actions."
And with that I stand up and walk over to my best friend since I was 15 years old. Severus came to Hogwarts in my 5th year, when I had become Prefect and I had easily seen that he had been devastated by the separation with his youth-long friend, Lily Evans a Muggleborn with quite a bit of raw talent, not to mention a fierce temper.
I had taken to the young boy and had been, together with Professor Slughorn; my Potions Teacher and Head of House, the one to discover how much of a pure natural Severus was with Potions Brewing and how to deal with what ingredient.

It had been a proud day for the three of us. I had also been the one to constantly get back at the Marauders when they rounded on Severus and in less than three years, Severus and I had grown a brother bond only rivaled by that of those bullying Marauders, not that we ever saw it that way, seeing what they were to us.
Of course I know pure well why Black went against Slytherins, and more importantly, why he constantly goes against Severus, but it angers me as it had been my work and my work alone. Yet I know that will never matter to the Lord of Black.

It had been in my Sixth year and Severus had to be initiated by the Snakes, as he was almost a year and a half overdue. Yet I had already seen that Severus lacked the cruelty that naturally came to some of those in our House and so I had convinced the elder Snakes that I would take the initiation for him and had kidnapped Lupin.
The kidnapping itself had been quite simple and I had dragged him to a small side cave, near the Boathouse and there I had vanished the boy's cloths, whipped him, cast several burn spells on him to make sure the whip marks would never leave, cast the Cruciatus curse at him and then cast a spell to keep his mouth open.
I had been about to mouth rape the young man, when Severus came running in, shouting that the Marauders were on his heels, believing him to have kidnapped Lupin. He saw the state of the young boy and had ranted at me, screamed at me and released the boy, but I had broken his legs and so Severus had dragged me, by my hair, out of the cave just before the Marauders found him.

Since then had Potter and Black pestered Severus endlessly and I had of course pestered them back just as hard, but I had been unable to stomach the flinches Lupin made whenever he was near me and I had seen him look at me in fear when I had arrived here for the reading, yet I have never more touched him with a single curse.
Not just because the gentle, kind and honest man – I know realize – never deserved to be my target in the first place, but also because I had not wanted to betray Severus' trust in me again. Yes, Severus had been officially accepted by the Slytherins after that, but it had taken me until Draco's birth to regain his friendship.

I sigh and spare a glance at Lupin, who notices and whitens, already fearing I will kidnap him again, maybe even finish my work of all those years ago, but that thought had been banned out of my mind years ago – banned out by a couple of powerful dark hexes shot at me from Severus' wand that ended me up in the Hospital Wing.
I then look at Severus, who had seen my glance and Lupin's reaction and the Potions Master glares at me, actually shocking the school into silence by the venom shown in his eyes, but I know I deserve it. I nod and the man nods back, before sitting at my spot with Draco. I then turn to the book and softly start reading.

Prior Incantatem

This confuses me, as I know the spell can only be used to see what spells were last used by a wand, but then I think: "Maybe this spell can save the boy's life. Let's hope it." I breath in and look at the family at Gryffindor Table; the 3 Diggorys, Fleur Delacour, Harry Potter and Victor Krum – the last two having a large black dog on their laps.
Lupin, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Krum's parents and Fleur's sister, Gabrielle, who had been hers to save during the Second Task sit opposite of the family and together they form a united front – united against the pain the book is bringing them. I smile at this sight and then I read on.

Wormtail approached … Death Eaters.

Now, while I feel fear course through me at the idea of a 14 year old fighting that monster, does Granger gasp and look at her friend worried, but Potter has a stony face and says: "Like I said, I'll use Fawkes, get to the Cup then the Graveyard, use Voldemort's plan against him, use some Parseltongue to kill his snake and get out of there."
The girl nods, while I still worry as the simplicity of that plan can make a lot of things go wrong and Ronald mutters: "And if that doesn't work, you'll always have shield charms, not to mention the Disarming spell. You've been a Master in that since 2nd, remember?" Potter smiles at his best friend and I feel some relief, before I read on.

"You have … do you?"

Reading this – how this man takes advantage of his younger victim – really makes me get a foul taste in my mouth, a taste I thought I could lose with the loss of that maniacal monster and his murder spree. But then I look up and see a small confident smile on the lips of Potter and his friends, along with on the face of Dumbledore.
Dumbledore then explains his: "He still underestimates Harry. If he keeps thinking Harry nothing more than a weakness, he'll make a mistake. He'll actually allow Harry to escape." This makes some students sigh relieved, but I already know that's not the reason behind the confidence on the faces of the four Gryffindors. And so I read on.

Harry didn't … "I WON'T !"

Now my eyes are wide as saucers as I can more than clearly remember how Voldemort had used the Imperius Curse to make powerful men do his bidding and Severus mutters my thoughts: "Potter – can actually – break the – the Dark Lord's – Imperious curse?" To this Harry shrugs and says: "I've been trained under the spell of Fake Moody.
I was able to break his, so it must have prepared me for breaking Voldemort's." I can still barely believe it as the Imperious curse was a spell the Dark Lord used more for his murders than the Killing Curse as he could force his victims into suicide with it, which was exactly what caused the fear to spread through the people so quickly.
I shudder as I remember the many, vindictive yet creative ways that monster had let his victims kill themselves, ways even my father would believe inhumane and then look at the young Potter Heir with new respect, finally understanding why even Dumbledore thinks him the only who can take down that monster. And with that I read on.

And these … missed him.

Now I shake my head and read the small paragraph again for myself, while a deadly silence has fallen over the Great Hall, many mouths wide open with shock. I read the same words again and think: "Breaking his Imperious ánd dodging his Cruciatus? How many bloody talents is that boy hiding?" I look at the boy shortly before I read on.

"We are … never died …"

Now, while this one sentence makes me feel as if my blood just froze up and my stomach turned into solid lead, does Potter close his eyes and whisper: "So I was right." This scares me as it means the Dark Lord just can't be killed and then I remember the boy's plan and him muttering something about some kind of fang.
Suddenly I quickly glance at the Second Book, a book in which I know my most terrible crime will come to light and I think: "Dumbledore told me the Monster had been a Basilisk. Could it be the boy is planning to use its poisonous fangs? I did hear he killed it." This makes me feel a little more comfortable and I read on.

Harry crouched … was possible …

Now I shake my head slightly again, not wanting to believe that a fourteen year old could think like that, while these words caused quite a few gasps and when I look up I see teary girls and proud-smiling boys looking at the Potter Heir, while Krum holds him and whispers: "I can't lose you, Harry. Not both of you. You can't die."
Potter smiles at the Bulgarian Champion and then he says: "Krum, if I had died, there would not have been books about my fifth, sixth and seventh. I guess I escaped somehow." This makes everyone around him sigh relieved and my eyes widen at how the boy can push his own worries aside for those of others.
I look at him, as he seems not at all worried, even if I do read some confusion in his eyes and I think: "How can anyone be this selfless? Even when his own life is at stake?" But instead of wondering on, do I read on, feeling proud that the boy is the third cousin of my wife. For the first time ever feeling proud to be related to a Potter.

Before Voldemort … and vibrating.

This shocks everyone around – except for Dumbledore as the man seems to grow in confidence after hearing this – and Potter grabs his wand with wide green eyes, twirling it in his hand and looking at every angle intently, as if trying to see its very core. Then his eyes widen and he whispers: "Of course, the core. The feather."
But he doesn't elaborate and just puts his wand back in his pocket before looking at me and while I wonder what could be so special about the feather in his wand as the boy suddenly seems to really feel as if he has a fighting chance – if the peaceful grin on his face as he looks at me is anything to go by – and I read on.

And then … phoenix song …

This same sound suddenly sounds from within the hall, sounding eerie yet beautiful and Dumbledore's phoenix appears above Potter in a burst of flames. He lands on the boy's shoulder and to my astonishment, Potter seems unfazed, even if I can't help but notice the quick sign of anger showing in Dumbledore's eyes.
Harry, instead, simply smiles at the beautiful creature and starts petting it as if this happens every day. He then pulls out and holds up his wand to the phoenix with a wink and the bird thrills a soft proud tune, making me feel quite relaxed, even while I wonder how the two got so close and what they know of that wand, as I read on.

It was … Cedric Diggory.

This shocks everyone senseless and while it makes the Diggory elders hold onto their son extremely tight, does it make me feel relieved that the book is lying on the pedestal. But then I understand and whisper: "Prior Incantatem. The reverse spell. All the Dark Lord's spells, all the murders he committed are being reversed."
This shocks everyone, the younger students grabbing onto the elder ones and Professor Sprout not looking at me, but at them and Granger asks: "But how?" And Potter answers: "Because of Fawkes." The girl looks at him and he says: "I always hid this fact to the world, but – Voldemort and my wand – share a core."
Everyone looks shocked and he holds up his wand and says: "This wand's core is a Phoenix Feather – a feather from a Phoenix who gave only one other feather for wand-making. And that feather is in Voldemort's wand." Everyone looks at him shocked and as he lowers his wand again do I continue reading the chapter.

If ever … other tonight …

Already does my wish to read diminish with every word I read and I feel disgusting for having to read about something this personal. Then the dog starts to whine as if he too knows who this woman will be and I look at Potter, only to see him look at me with tears glinting in his eyes – making it more than clear to me that he knows as well.
I look at Lupin and Severus and while Severus has his head down, are there also tears in Lupin's eyes and I realize the werewolf still has trouble accepting the death of his friends all those years ago. The man sees me looking and for the first time doesn't cringe, but I know it's because of the pain he still feels for that night.
Vowing to have my wife reunite with her sister, if only to ask Andromeda for help, do I look around, wondering how the other students will take this and then realize that that is exactly the reason I can let the teachers ask Andromeda for help. I take a deep breath, determined to have this plan executed before the next book and read on.

The smoky … his mother.

Everyone who had yet to realize this gasps loudly and Lupin softly stands up, his eyes on me cautiously and his left hand on his side, where I know he hides his wand, as he walks over to the young Potter Heir. I know the man is afraid I will do something to punish him for interfering, but keep my own face neutral.
Neutral to hide the pain of feeling dirty. Dirty, because I am reading about something Voldemort – that monster – turned from a personal heaven into a living hell. I then look at the Potter boy and think: "There has to be a way for Potter to know his parents, for them to meet with him. I will find it." And then I notice Lupin again.

He looks at Diggory shortly and Diggory looks at Harry, but the boy only has hurting eyes for his ex-teacher and Diggory turns away to sit with his parents, sliding up a little to allow Lupin to sit with his cub and as Lupin sits down, does the dog again change his seating position, lying his head on Lupin's lap and most of his body on Potter's.
Lupin wraps an arm around the boy and I look at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering why he doesn't do more, but then, after a few seconds, does the boy cradle against Lupin himself, making me understand that he has trouble with others touching him. This worries me as no kid should have that kind of issues and I go on reading.

"Your father's coming … not hear …

I again look at Potter, Lupin and the dog and then at Severus, knowing he still hates the fact he lost his best friend – and the girl he has secretly loved his whole school life and afterwards. And indeed, under his curtain of dark hair hiding his face in shadows, can I see small crystals shining, proving that my best friend's crying.
Lupin then tightens his hold on Harry's shoulders just enough not to make the boy cringe and whispers: "I have no doubt they're proud of what you're doing, Harry. I'm proud of what you've done. So is everyone who cares for you. It hurts, but I have to admit – Harry – not just your parents are your family – my little cub."
Potter nods and with one hand grabs the dog's fur, to which the dog turns his head and softly licks the wrist, making Potter smile, while tears are strongly running down his cheeks, tears I know he normally wouldn't have shown the school. He then pushes his face in Lupin's shoulder and starts to whisper softly and then goes on repeating it, a little louder every time, before he shouts something that really makes me proud of the young boy.

"I have family!"

And with that the two cling to each other, crying loudly and Lupin hiding Harry's face in his shoulder with a strong hand hidden in the boy's hair, but I know that Lupin is crying out of pain for losing members of his pack and out of joy for gaining new family members, while Potter is just crying because of the second reason.
I smile at the small family and then look at my own, knowing we would have scoffed at this in public, but that we would have fully encouraged it at home. Knowing that the current situation makes it appropriate for us to treat this as a personal matter, do I wait until they've calmed down before I softly continue reading the chapter.

"When the … the wand.

"Like I'd leave it there with those monsters." Potter sniffs, his voice still strong and determined, even if he hiccupped halfway through and the Diggory family smiles at him, while Lupin softly strokes his hair, his other arm tightly wrapped around the boy and the dog has most of his body snuggled up against the boy.
Granger and Ronald are widely smiling at Potter, obviously proud of him and happy he has found a family of his own and when I look at my wife, I see she's thinking the same I am, making me proud I married her. "No one will ever break up this family. We'll go through hell to prevent that." And with that firm determination, do I read on.

"Do it now." … had to do –

This makes the relief of everyone, the relief they felt when they believed Harry had a good chance to escape, disappear from the room as everyone fears for Harry's life once more and I think: "Potter, please let your legs be as quick as your broom." As I again remember Draco's many complaints about Harry's speed as I read on.

"Stun him!" … his wand.

"No." Krum, Diggory, Delacour and McGonagall all gasp softly, none of them able to speak louder out of fear and I hear Narcissa whisper: "Please Lucius, please help him." But I have already read ahead and hold up a hand, silencing everyone as I say: "He's safe. They both are." And while everyone looks at me do I go on reading.

"Accio!" Harry yelled … going back …

"YES!" Is heard all over the Hall and Lupin slightly loosens his grip on Potter, but keeps his arm around the boy, while the dog happily barks and there are now tears coming down from those that were, before, too nervous for Harry's health to cry over Diggory's death or are too emotional to control their relief.
I can't blame any of them as I currently want nothing more than to go to my own family, get it all together if I can and hold onto them for all my life, if only to make sure we are nowhere near these events as even reading about makes emotions go loose all around. All around relief. All around happiness. All around tears and grins.