Chapter Four
Harry's POV
Harry was still extremely shaken but he was good at putting things behind him. He was trying to forget about the bargain and smiled at his old teacher.
"Harry, good to see you dear boy," said Dumbledore warmly. He opened his arms welcomingly as he did at the start of a new term in Hogwarts.
"Hello, Professor."
"Tell me, how have you been?"
Awful: I've been starved; wacked a few times; been doing chores all day and well into the night and... oh yeah, a Death Eater wants my body.
"Fine, sir," said Harry flatly.
Dumbledore surveyed Harry over his spectacles. "You're quite sure?"
Harry nodded.
Before the wise old man could say anymore on the matter, Malfoy had caught up with them.
"Hello, Lucius. Come; let us discuss your motives inside with a pint of Butterbeer." Harry didn't bother to point out that it was a Muggle pub and probably only sold Guinness.
"So, Lucius," Dumbledore said when they were seated, "tell me. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I thought I already made that clear: I am enjoying this war as much as you and Mr Potter are and I'm worrying for my son's future."
Harry wasn't sure if that really was the reason or if Lucius only wanted Harry, but he couldn't know for sure.
"Yes, you did mention that, but it's highly unlikely that you would give us information for nothing," said Dumbledore sceptically.
Harry thought Malfoy looked extremely uncomfortable. He knew what it was like to be pierced with Dumbledore's all-knowing stare.
"But I am getting something out of this all," said Malfoy emotionlessly.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and said pleasantly. "And what would that be?"
Harry thought he saw Malfoy's eye flicker over to him for a split second and he prayed that Lucius wouldn't tell Dumbledore what he'd agreed to.
"My family would be free," Malfoy said simply, and Harry let out a held breath quietly.
Dumbledore left a very long pause in which Harry stared at his knees, aware of Lucius' glances every now and then.
"Well, I suppose if that is the reason then I don't see any reason to why we shouldn't accept your information..." Dumbledore turned to Harry who was next to him.
"You're sure want to trust Lucius, Harry?" Harry felt like telling his headmaster there and then but didn't want to miss out on vital information which would prevent deaths.
Harry nodded, not sure if he could manage to speak without his voice breaking.
"Excellent, but I warn you, Lucius, you will have only one chance. I trust you understand why?"
"Of course; I respect the fact how much of a risk you're taking with me and I appreciate it greatly."
"Then I think a drink is in order, can I get you anything, Harry? Lucius?"
"Thank you, I'll have a whiskey, please," Lucius said immediately.
"Harry?" said Dumbledore attentively.
"I'll have a Pepsi please, sir," he said timidly. The Dursely's never offered him anything; he was taught to accept what he was given. He'd only had a Pepsi once in his life and it was the nicest Muggle drink he'd ever had.
"Never heard of it," said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
"Oh, but that's always the way with these Muggle places," said Malfoy snootily.
Dumbledore said nothing and moved on to the bar.
When he was out of earshot, Lucius leant in and whispered to Harry.
"Listen, for you to keep to your half of the deal, you need to be able to visit me so I've arranged a little something this year."
Harry stared, stony faced and folded his arms. "And how will you persuade Dumbledore to let me visit you?"
"You see, I've applied to the Defence Against the Dark Arts job which I must remind him about. If it comes from you, he'll believe it." Lucius looked very smug with his plan.
Harry sighed and, again, fought back tears. He hardly ever cried but this man could bring them up just like that.
"What do I say to him, then?" croaked Harry.
"Well, when we're discussing something along the lines of my new position at Hogwarts you should say how good it would be to have someone who has experience in the Dark Arts." Harry could tell Malfoy was loving every moment of this - he clearly loved giving instructions to people.
"Fine," said Harry stubbornly, "this had better be worth all of your precious information."
"Indeed it is," Lucius said, satisfied.
Dumbledore soon appeared at their table with the drinks. "They don't do Butterbeer or Firewhiskey," he said sadly. Handing out the drinks, Harry noticed how Lucius grabbed his glass without a word and took quite a large gulp; probably how he treats his servants, thought Harry. Harry took his drink with a shy "thank you."
"Albus, I just remembered about my applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, have you thought on it?"
Dumbledore comically stared at Lucius, quite blankly. Then said, "Ah yes, I remember. I wasn't too sure on the idea, actually. I have no intention of endangering my students."
"What makes you think they'd be in danger?"
"In case Lord Voldemort gets word of your betrayal and finds out you're at Hogwarts and decides to attack the school."
Lucius seemed surprised at Dumbledore's bluntness. Then regained himself and spoke.
"You have my word that if it comes to that, I would surrender myself." Harry was so surprised how far Malfoy was going just to have him.
"I need to think about the students you'd be teaching. I don't want them to feel uncomfortable or scared in my school." Harry was extremely happy Dumbledore was taking all these precautions and was happy that he was questioning Malfoy so.
However, before Harry could continue his admiration of his headmaster, he received a sharp pain to his shin and realised Lucius had kicked him.
He then realised he had to try and persuade Dumbledore seeing as he was being stubborn.
"Actually sir," said Harry nervously, "I think it could be useful having someone who's experienced in the Dark Arts. I remember in my fourth year – even though it wasn't Moody – we learnt a lot because the imposter had familiarity in that area."
"I see," Dumbledore looked at Harry intently. "Is there anything I need to know, Harry?"
Harry tried to look surprised and confused. "No sir, why?"
"I just didn't think you'd want... after what Lucius did in the Department of Mysteries..."
"I know, but before I sent your letter, we spoke and Mr Malfoy explained how hard it is to say no to Voldemort's face."
"Yes, quite... In that case, I will have to trust you and give you the job seeing as no one else has applied."
"Thank you, Albus." Lucius' expression made Harry want to gag. It was filled with superiority and boastfulness.
"When is it a good time for you to give us the inside information, Lucius?"
"Whenever it suits you," Lucius said extra politely. This man made Harry sick.
"As soon as possible, please."
"Very well, shall we go?"
"Indeed. Harry, I will return you to your aunt and uncle's house and we shall meet you there again just after noon."
"Yes, sir," said Harry grumpily, staring at the floor.
"Are you absolutely sure you're okay with this arrangement?" said Dumbledore bending down slightly to Harry's level making him feel very young.
"Yes," snapped Harry. He felt bad for getting angry at his Professor but he'd bottled so many things up it was hard to remain calm.
Dumbledore stood up straight and took Harry's arm. Before they disapparated, Harry noticed Lucius' eyes raking over his body and shivered in disgust.
Lucius' POV
Lucius felt slightly awkward walking on his own towards the old man and young boy. He noticed they were talking and he quickened his pace.
When he was close enough to hear what they were saying, Dumbledore stopped talking to Potter and looked up at him.
"Hello, Lucius. Come; let us discuss your motives inside with a pint of Butterbeer." As if they'd sell any decent drinks in this bar, thought Lucius.
"So, Lucius," Dumbledore said when they were seated; Dumbledore and Harry opposite him as though he were being interrogated for a crime. "Tell me. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I thought I already made that clear: I am enjoying this war as much as you and Mr Potter are and I'm worrying for my son's future." He'd lost count how many times he'd said this now.
"Yes, you did mention that, but it's highly unlikely that you would give us information for nothing," said Dumbledore sceptically.
Lucius shifted in his chair; this man was staring at him as though he knew something.
"But I am getting something out of this all," he said calmly.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and said sweetly, "And what would that be?"
Lucius glanced at Harry instinctively, but shot back to Dumbledore almost instantly.
"My family would be free," Lucius said simply, and he thought he saw Potter deflate slightly.
Dumbledore thought for a few moments and Lucius' eyes kept getting drawn to the boy, almost as if he were a feast for Lucius' silver orbs.
"Well, I suppose if that is the reason then I don't see any reason to why we shouldn't accept your information..." Dumbledore turned to Harry.
"You're sure want to trust Lucius, Harry?" Lucius knew Potter wouldn't say no; Harry wanted this information so badly that he was willing to sacrifice himself to Lucius. Sure enough the clever boy nodded.
"Excellent, but I warn you, Lucius, you will have only one chance. I trust you understand why?"
Lucius knew why; the old man was very suspicious of anyone involved in the Dark Arts, but he kept his friendly manner. "Of course, I respect the fact how much of a risk you're taking with me and I appreciate it greatly."
"Then I think a drink is in order, can I get you anything, Harry? Lucius?"
About time, thought Lucius, it would have been better manners to have offered when we got in. "Thank you, I'll have a whiskey, please," Lucius said immediately.
"Harry?" said Dumbledore attentively.
"I'll have a Pepsi please, sir." The boy looked petfrified of asking for something, even a drink. That could come in useful, thought Lucius.
"Never heard of it," said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
Lucius sniffed. "Oh, but that's always the way with these Muggle places."
Dumbledore said nothing but left the two.
After making sure the old man was out of earshot, Lucius leant in and whispered to the dark haired boy in front of him.
"Listen, for you to keep to your half of the deal, you need to be able to visit me so I've arranged a little something this year."
Harry just stared, looking downright moody and irritable. "And how will you persuade Dumbledore to let me visit you?"
"You see," Lucius said smugly, "I've applied to the Defence Against the Dark Arts job which I must remind him about. If it comes from you, he'll believe it."
His little beauty sighed and his eyes started sparkling. This boy always seemed on the verge of tears.
"What do I say to him, then?" Harry said, gruffly.
"Well, when we're discussing something along the lines of my new position at Hogwarts you should say how good it would be to have someone who has experience in the Dark Arts," he said casually, though he loved having the power to tell people what to do.
"Fine," the boy said, stubbornly, "this had better be worth all of your precious information."
"Indeed it is," Lucius said, happily.
After a few minutes in which Lucius enjoyed studying Harry, the old man appeared at their table with the drinks. "They don't do Butterbeer or Firewhiskey," he said sadly. He handed out the drinks and Lucius noticed how hesitantly Harry took his drink, mumbling his thanks. Lucius took a swig of his whiskey as soon as he was handed it and almost choked seeing the old coot with a muggle glass of milk for himself.
"Albus," Lucius said as though only just remembering, "I just remembered about my applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, have you thought on it?" He took a sip of his drink to hide his anxiety; he needed this job to be near Harry – the pull towards this boy was so strange.
Dumbledore blankly stared at Lucius, and said, "Ah yes, I remember. I wasn't too sure on the idea, actually. I have no intention of endangering my students."
"What makes you think they'd be in danger?" Lucius asked, trying hard not to sound as angry as he felt.
"In case Lord Voldemort gets word of your betrayal and finds out you're at Hogwarts and decides to attack the school."
Lucius had never known someone other than Dumbledore who said such forward things.
"You have my word that if it comes to that, I would surrender myself." Of course I wouldn't, Lucius scoffed. He'd maybe lead the Death Eaters away by leaving the school, but only with his Harry.
"I need to think about the students you'd be teaching. I don't want them to feel uncomfortable or scared in my school." Lucius had forgotten how Dumbledore took every possible precaution, and noticed Harry looking happy and admiringly up at his head teacher.
To wake him up from his day dream and to make sure he didn't forget to tell Dumbledore what Lucius told him to say, Lucius kicked Harry's shin.
Harry glowered, but nonetheless began making up his story. "Actually sir, I think it could be useful having someone who's experienced in the Dark Arts. I remember in my fourth year – even though it wasn't Moody – we learnt a lot because the imposter had familiarity in that area."
"I see," Dumbledore looked at Harry almost as though he didn't know him. "Is there anything I need to know, Harry?"
Lucius' breath hitched. Did this man know? He hoped Harry wouldn't give anything away, and he was right. Harry said, "No sir, why?"
"I just didn't think you'd want... after what Lucius did in the Department of Mysteries..." How dare the old man talk as if Lucius wasn't even in the room!
"I know, but before I sent your letter, we spoke and Mr Malfoy explained how hard it is to say no to Voldemort's face and that the stuff he does isn't always what he wants to do." Wow, Lucius thought, this boy was good at improvisation.
"Yes, quite... In that case," Dumbledore turned to Lucius as though just remembering he was there, "I will have to trust you and give you the job seeing as no one else has applied."
"Thank you, Albus." Lucius said, forgetting his bitterness and becoming filled with success.
"When is it a good time for you to give us the inside information, Lucius?"
"Whenever it suits you," Lucius said keeping his polite tone.
"As soon as possible, please."
"Very well, shall we go now?"
"Indeed. Harry, I will return you to your aunt and uncle's house and we shall meet you there again just after noon." Lucius felt a pang of annoyance; he wanted Harry to be with him!
"Yes, sir," said Harry quietly, and Lucius noticed how grumpy he looked.
"Are you absolutely sure you're okay with this arrangement?" said Dumbledore bending down to Harry's level which would have been patronising to anyone. Lucius felt Harry's annoyance.
"Yes," snapped Harry. This surprised both men.
Dumbledore stood up straight and took Harry's arm. Before his Harry disapparated, Lucius tried to take as much in of Harry as possible, not knowing the next time they'd meet. Unfortunately, when Lucius got to Harry's face, he saw a look of disgust there.