Disclaimer: I lay claim to none of the characters in this story. They belong to JK Rowling as do all of the wizarding terms contained herein. So please don't sue me.
Chapter 6: The Two Faces of Lucius Malfoy
The ancestral home of the Malfoy family sat dark and ominous in London only three miles from 12 Grimmald Place. Today however, the mood within the house had changed. Sounds of innocent laughter floated through the house replacing the silence that usually filled it.
Cecelia Malfoy enjoyed being a grandmother. This was evident as she let her grandchildren eat giant pieces of chocolate cake the next afternoon at tea. This was one of the rare times with which she had to spend with them. Wiltshire was not so far away thanks to floo powder, but with Draco and now Zara too going away to Hogwarts these times would now grow even more precious. She wondered vaguely if her son and daughter-in law knew this. Their babies were on the edge, ready to spread their wings and fly into their lives.
There was a time not so long ago when being a pureblood meant everything. But now, as Cecelia aged, she saw with clarity not present in her younger years that the tide had shifted. The study of magic was open to every and all kinds of people. While she would never approve, Cecelia had come to realize that in order for this and all pureblood families to survive that this fact had to be lived with.
The Dark Lord, with whom her family had placed so much stock, had become a blot in their history. At the time that Lucius and others in his social circle joined this man, it was a wonderful undertaking. However, what came out of all of this was fear, death, and a tyrant. Muggles who knew nothing of their world did not deserve to die in the manner in which they did. Children with magic parents did not deserve to become orphans. Darkness, once a fascination, now enveloped this world.
Zara's brush with darkness had shown the Malfoy family that. They had always brought evil to others. But this time, evil had touched them and Narcissa and Lucius could still feel its burns.
But having children in general changed Lucius for the better and Narcissa as well. Cecelia had watched her son all of his life and Narcissa from a very young age. In public, both were very cool and distant. Lucius was cruel and ruthless, violent. As his mother, Cecelia accepted these facts unflinchingly. In private, the children in front of her transformed their parents into caring, loving individuals who respected and carried on tradition with the children, in a more involved fashion.
Cecelia could only hope that this would continue and that the darkness would not penetrate these innocent lives.
Lucius Malfoy hated the Leaky Cauldron. It was for peasants in his opinion. But this was the only place in which he could meet with Dumbledore in private. So therefore it was indeed necessary.
As Lucius walked down the dusty hallway toward the room where Dumbledore waited for him, he felt vulnerable for the first time since he was a small boy. Seeing fear in the eyes of his children shook the great Lucius Malfoy to the core. He liked to be in control. He had to be in control. That was what made him such a loyal servant to the Dark Lord. He could command others and they would follow.
Today however, control eluded Lucius. He could not control the safety of his children. As a doer of evil, he had never thought of his own safety or his family's. One could say that he fancied himself above others that way. But Zara had proven to him that no one was safe and that nothing was sacred.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting by the fire when Lucius entered. Unseen in the shadows, Minerva McGonagall sat in her animagus form to witness the unusual meeting.
"Lucius," said Dumbledore rising upon Lucius' entrance.
"Dumbledore," Lucius replied curtly shaking the other man's hand. Then he took a seat opposite him.
"May I offer you a drink? Fire whisky perhaps?"
"No. Thank you for seeing me at this time."
"Not at all, you have a matter to discuss with me?"
"Yes. I am growing concerned about my daughter Zara. She is a very special child."
Dumbledore nodded, "You mentioned wandless magic in your letter."
"I have become aware that Zara is able to do certain things without a wand, such as levitation. At first, I thought that such instances occurred because she had become frightened, or angry. But she has made it very clear that she can control what she does."
"What prompted your concern?"
"Several weeks after she was born, I was told that Zara would become a very powerful witch."
"I am aware of what you were told."
Lucius looked at him, "Are you?"
"Yes."
Dumbledore paused before he spoke again and looked at the other man closely. Before him, he saw the same man he had seen for years. His face and tone of voice were cold and distant. But beneath the cold expression Lucius Malfoy wore, Albus Dumbledore saw the slightest flicker of fear in his eyes.
"I assure you that Zara will come to no harm. You have my word."
"That is all that I ask."
"You also mentioned that some kind of incident occurred in your letter."
"Zara came in contact with a vial that made her very ill."
"I see," again Dumbledore paused. "As I said earlier, I am aware of how unique Zara is. She will be very powerful indeed in the future. But for now, you need not be too concerned. The obstacles that Zara may face in the future are ones that she will be prepared for. She has a very great capacity to love, Lucius.
"Yes, I am aware. But what does that have to do with the matter at hand?"
"Zara is pure. She has not yet come in contact with anything that would corrupt that. Anything that would corrupt that has the potential to make her ill."
"I see. Well then. I should be going," he rose to leave.
"Before you go Lucius, remember one thing. Evil cannot touch your family while Zara is there."
"Goodbye Dumbledore," said Lucius promptly before leaving.
When he was gone, Minerva came out of the shadows and took Lucius' seat.
"He is worried," she noted.
"Yes, but worry comes with love."
"So it is true then. The legend is no longer a legend."
"Yes Minerva. She will be coming to Hogwarts in the flesh."
The summer holidays were drawing to a close the following week. On an overcast Saturday morning in late August, Lucius Malfoy gathered up several things from the cabinet before sealing it again. Then he exited the room.
"Draco, Zara! Come now, we're going!" Lucius called up the stairs, passing them on the way into the drawing room and the fireplace.
Seconds later, Draco came thundering down the stairs with Zara following behind him. Draco was wearing his customary black shirt and pants under his school cloak with Slytherin emblazed on the right side. In contrast, Zara came into the room wearing a light pink skirt and a white top. On her feet she wore black dragon-skin boots that went up to the bottom of her knees and a simple black pea coat. Her hair was pulled back in a half ponytail with a small butterfly clip. And as always, Zara wore a locket emblazoned with the Malfoy family crest with her initials engraved on the back. It was a subtle, but loud reminder of who she was.
"We would have been down sooner, but Zara always takes too long," said Draco.
"I do not," Zara shot back.
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
The sharp rap of Lucius' serpent cane caused the bickering to stop.
"The fighting will cease!" Lucius said sharply. "This behavior is not appropriate in public nor is it conducive to the way your mother and I expect our children to act. I would like to think that we have taught you better manners than that. When you step outside of these walls you are representing this family. Both of you would do well to remember that. There will be absolutely no bickering or we will come directly home. Do I make myself clear? Draco?"
"Yes father," Draco said in a low voice.
"Zara?"
"Yes daddy," Zara replied softly.
"Good," Lucius said. "Now, I trust both of you can floo to Diagon Alley without any problems? I will meet you in front of Gringotts."
Before the children could say another word, Lucius disapperated with a loud crack and a second later he was standing in front of Gringotts. Lucius was thankful for the few moments of peace he was granted before the arrival of his children. It had rained for the past three days leaving the children no choice but to stay inside. Naturally the fighting ensued almost immediately and had continued throughout the week giving Lucius a severe migraine. So needless to say, he had grown tired of the fighting and like most parents of Hogwarts students was glad to know that they would be gone in one week's time. However, Lucius knew that the joy he would feel would quickly dissipate for neither Narcissa nor him had had an empty house for such a long span since they were newly married.
The children came along a few minutes later and Lucius handed Draco the items from the cabinet before taking Zara's hand and going into Knockturn Alley. They walked in silence until they reached Borgin and Burke and went inside.
"Don't touch anything," Lucius Malfoy said coldly to both children before taking the things out of Draco's arms and putting them on the counter.
Of course, the minute he said that Draco reached out to touch a glass eye. But Zara remained where she was. The incident with the green powder which now sat in its box on the counter had taught her never to touch things she knew nothing about ever again.
"I thought you said you were going to buy me a present," Draco said turning the eye over in his hand.
"I will buy you a racing broom," Lucius said coolly as they awaited the arrival of Borgin.
"I still don't see why they don't allow us brooms at school," Zara said, speaking for the first time since their arrival. Her tone had a slightly bitter tone to it.
Draco turned and smirked at his sister, "That's because they don't want ickle first years like you hurting yourself by crashing into something."
Zara allowed a second to pass before she offered a cool retort, "I doubt that especially since I can fly better than you."
Seeing her brother's livid expression, Zara knew that she had hit her mark. But before he could reply Lucius offered his own reply if only to prevent another squabble, "As soon as you return home for Christmas I will buy you your own broom, darling. You just have to be patient. I expect you'll be playing Quidditch for Hogwarts soon enough."
This response seemed to satisfy the youngest Malfoy and she went to her father's side. To pass the time, she looked in at the items encased in glass. But then, not liking the ugly, scary looking things that she saw, Zara turned her attention to the back wall. It was also covered with sinister looking objects. However they were an improvement over the glass case. After a few minutes though, Mr. Borgin emerged from the back.
"Ah Borgin."
"Mr. Malfoy," said Mr. Borgin. "How good to see you again and Master Malfoy and Miss Malfoy. To what do I owe this great pleasure?"
"I'm selling these Borgin," Lucius said indicating the things on the counter.
"Selling?"
While the adults talked Draco was looking around, touching various items.
"Yes, I have some others at home that must be out of my possession. With all of the Ministry raids going on, it would be quite embarrassing if a man in my position was found with them should the Ministry decide to call," Lucius said handing over a piece of parchment to the other man.
Borgin looked at the parchment, "Yes, of course."
"Draco!" Zara hissed softly.
But Draco merely ignored her and Zara crossed her arms. Borgin looked over the items before him before putting the parchment in his pocket and pulling out a pouch of gold gallons. Taking out a handful, he counted them out and then pushed a stack across the counter toward the older Malfoy.
"A pleasure. I'll see you at the Manor in the morning," Lucius said coldly taking them before turning around and seeing Draco frantically trying to pull his hand out from under a skeleton hand. Annoyed Lucius aimed his wand at the object and the hand let go. With his free hand, he took Zara's hand in his own. "Let's go Draco." And without another word, they left the shop.
When they reached the top of Knockturn Alley, Draco stepped out in front of his father and sister.
"I need to go to the Apothecary to get more ingredients for my potion kit."
"Very well," said Lucius coolly. "Your sister and I are going to Olivander's; we'll meet you at Flourish and Blotts."
Draco nodded and went off without a word and Zara and Lucius headed in the direction of the wand maker's shop. They walked in silence until they reached their destination and went inside. Zara looked around the shop taking in all of the boxes. A few minutes later Mr. Olivander appeared.
"Mr. Malfoy, what can I do for you?" Olivander said warmly. On a personal note, he did not like Lucius Malfoy. But this was business and he would never let his dislike for the blue-blooded aristocrat get in the way of that.
"My daughter is in need of a wand," he replied.
"Is she?" Olivander asked with a twinkle in his eye as his gaze turned to Zara.
Zara smiled at him politely and Olivander went to get a wand from the back. Nearly one hour later, Zara had tried dozens of wands without success. She was now nursing a small burn from the last one.
"Zara darling I must go see about your brother. Will you be alright here?" Lucius asked her.
"Yes daddy," She said looking up from her injury briefly.
"Good. You are to come to Flourish and Blotts when you are finished."
The young girl nodded obediently and Lucius handed her a small pouch before exiting the shop. She turned her attention back to Mr. Olivander who looked momentarily stumped before turning to a wand encased in glass on the front counter.
"I wonder…." Olivander said quietly to himself as he removed the wand from the glass case using a cloth. "This wand is very temperamental; it is what I call a hot wand."
"A hot wand?" Zara asked curiously.
"Yes Miss Malfoy," He said. "The core is made from a combination of a Welsh Green dragon's scale, unicorn hair and a talon from a fire salamander. They represent tenacity, purity, and passion. I've never made a wand like it before or since. It is made of Reed." Olivander set the wand down on the counter. "This wand is very hot when one touches it. But it will not be to the one who masters it."
Zara looked slightly apprehensive, "So you think I can?"
He smiled, "There is only one way to find out. Pick it up."
Zara hesitated and then touched the wand. It didn't burn her. She looked at Mr. Olivander again who nodded and then she picked it up. Zara pointed it to an empty vase on the counter and a white light burst forth and hit the vase. A ghostly unicorn figure galloped around the rim before pale pink flowers appeared in the vase.
Zara arched an eyebrow in surprise but Mr. Olivander looked amazed.
"It likes me," Zara said softly.
"Yes I think it does," said Mr. Olivander as Zara laid it back on the counter and he put it in a box. After it was paid for Mr. Olivander smiled at her. "Thank you Miss Malfoy."
"No thank you Mr. Olivander."
"It was my honor child. I wish you the best of luck."
Zara smiled at him, "Goodbye Mr. Olivander."
Then she turned and walked out of the shop. When she was gone Olivander went to the back and pulled an old dusty book off the shelf. He flipped through it until he found what he was searching for.
"She has returned."
Zara left Mr. Olivander's shop in a state of curious amazement. She had been with Draco when he got his wand. But nothing like what she had experienced had happened to her brother. When she had held the wand for the first time, she could feel a warm sensation going down her arm. It was like something had clicked into place before she had made the flowers appear. As Zara skipped down Diagon Alley toward Flourish and Blotts a small smile played on her lips. That was the coolest thing she had ever seen. She couldn't wait to tell her father and Draco.
But when Zara walked into the book shop, all thoughts of her exciting news vanished. She saw her father standing across from a small group of children with red hair except for two. In the center of that group stood a man with red hair who was standing with a girl of Zara's same age on one side. On the man's other side stood Harry Potter. Zara knew who he was of course. Everyone did. But she had heard about the boy who lived from her brother who had called him St. Potter. She looked him over quickly and from first glance he didn't seem to be the type of boy that Draco had ranted on about all during the summer holidays. It was only after this that Zara heard what her father was saying. She was standing behind him so no one saw her enter.
"Arthur Weasley," her father said with a near sneer. Zara didn't need to see his face. She had only seen that expression a couple of times and it was in company of friends. "I am surprised to see you here since the Ministry has been so busy with all of those raids as of late due to that Muggle Protection Act of yours. I hope you are being compensated for the overtime you've been putting in," he drawled and then he paused. Being behind him, Zara couldn't see the cause of it. "But seeing this, evidently that is not the case. What in Merlin's name is the point in being a champion for muggles and a traitor to your own bloodline if you are not even being paid well for it?"
"You and I have a very different view on what being a wizard means, Lucius," the man called Arthur Weasley replied
"Obviously," Her father said. "The people you associate with Weasley," he said as Zara peaked around to see a girl with brown hair, Hermione, must have been her name looking uncomfortable. "And here I thought you could not fall any lower on the social ladder. I was mistaken. I'll see you at the Ministry," He said coldly. "Come Draco, we must fetch Zara." As he spoke, Zara quickly backed up to just outside the door.
"Ah Zara you're here. Did you receive your wand?"
"Yes," She said.
"Good," He replied and then took her hand. "We are done here then. You have all of your other things already."
And without another word, the trio left the shop. When they were out of sight of Flourish and Blotts, Lucius released Zara's hand and stood in front of her and Draco.
"I'll see you both at home."Lucius said and disapperated and left Draco and Zara alone at the floo portal.
Draco grabbed some floo powder and threw it into the portal, "Malfoy Manor!" He shouted and in a burst of green flames Draco vanished.
After he was gone, Zara stood to the side and thought for a moment about what had transpired in the shop just now. She had never heard her father talk like that before. She knew that her father had certain views and beliefs as did her mother and now her brother. But never had Zara seen her father be so cold and cruel. Why did he say those things in public? Why hadn't they ever been said at home? The man in that shop was someone completely different than the father she knew. And that realization left Zara feeling very unsettled.
After a moment, Zara went over to the portal and took some floo powder, throwing it in the fire.
"Malfoy Manor!" she shouted and then she too vanished feeling the familiar hook around her navel as she was whisked home, feeling very lost.