Chapter 3
Malfoys, Politics, and More Conversation
Slytherin Common Room
"I'll be there in a bit; cover for me," Draco muttered as the Slytherins headed toward their Common Room. Theodore Nott nodded and moved forward in the group, engaging Pansy Parkinson in conversation while Draco quietly disappeared, on his way to the owlery to warn his father. They were in serious, serious trouble.
Draco knew perfectly well where his father's loyalties lay; with the winning side, no matter which side that happened to be. Until Artemis's return, Lord Voldemort had looked to be the obvious winner of a conflict; however, the balance had just changed and Lucius had to know before he had the chance to commit himself any more firmly to the Dark Lord's cause. He scribbled a quick note on his way.
"Father," it read. "A.D.S. appeared at castle. Appears to be genuine article. Suggest new strategy. D."
Malfoy Manor
It was not common knowledge, but Lucius Malfoy had not always been a staunch Death Eater; at one time he had been reporting to Snape, who, as everyone now knew, had been reporting to Dumbledore through Artemis. However, the younger Dumbledore's death had thrown a wrench into a very sophisticated monkeyworks. Communications had broken down completely and in the chaos James and Lily Potter had been betrayed and murdered. The last three weeks of the war had convinced Lucius Malfoy that his politicking was simply not worth it; since the beginning of the second war he had been trying to keep himself and his family alive without regard to the agendas of either side. That plan had just been shot to hell by his son's unannounced letter. He stared at the note for a full five minutes before promptly panicking.
Dumbledore's Office
After filling Artemis in on all the details of the last 15 years both men were awaiting her reaction with bated breath. "Wow you really do miss a lot when you're dead don't you?" She finally replied in a shell-shocked tone.
"It's a lot to take in and some parts are rather unbelievable, I grant," replied Dumbledore.
"Actually the only thing I'm having a hard time with is the fact that they actually elected that moron," she replied. "You wouldn't happen to still have any lemon drops in your desk would you daddy?" she asked as he reached in and pulled out the bowl. "Want some?" she asked Severus who was paying almost no attention and actually took one of the candies he normally refused.
"Could we continue this tomorrow morning?" he asked, passing a hand over his eyes as if to wipe away the weariness there.
"Of course," Dumbledore said. He rounded the desk to embrace his daughter before releasing her to her husband. "We'll continue when you've had a chance to rest. Try not to keep her up all night," he said, looking at Severus, who gave him a look of semi-disbelief before following his wife out the door. He must have been hearing things; Albus had not just said what he thought he'd said.
Hilarious deleted scenes –
Malfoys did not panic. Malfoys did not lose their cool, they did not appear half-dressed in front of company, and they did not scream hysterically at their very confused wives, but Lucius Malfoy was currently doing all of these things. He had gotten his son's note first thing in the morning and what he had read there was enough to send him into a blind terror. He had neglected to pull on a shirt before rushing down the stairs, shouting his wife's name and looking more afraid than she had seen him since the night of Voldemort's return. Alexander Nott, father of Theodore, had taken one look at the Malfoy Lord and begun to laugh even as Lucius shoved a note at his wife and demanded that she read it. It was only after Narcissa cast a Calming charm that Lucius recovered himself enough to realize what he had just done. Malfoys also did not turn beet red when embarrassed; Lucius, however, was apparently not feeling very Malfoyish that morning because he proceeded to do exactly that.
A.N – please note that in our universe, Lucius Malfoy was released from Azkaban fairly quickly following the fifth book because of his influence.