Chapter 44: Meeting at Malfoy Manor
How sad Lily had been to see Regulus and Melody finally get together as a couple, while she was struggling to get any such thing with Severus off the ground. But how happy and relieved she had been when he as good as confirmed to her in one silent mouth action that they would indeed have a relationship in due course.
November was now the month, and Severus, Lily and the Union were progressing in their studies. Sprout's Herbology lessons were more difficult for Lily, as she was trying to remember just about everything so she could pass on the information about the many magical plants and their properties to Petunia.
The leaves were now all gone from the trees and the Forest had its naked and exposed look about it, which made some of the more daring students such as James and Sirius keener to enter it. But their other big pet project was the completion of the Map. They hadn't thought of the name of the Marauders, to Severus' delight, as they were more than just themselves, Remus and Peter now. They were a Union, and so they decided to dub it the Union's Map and planned to show it to the Union members in a private meeting upon its complete devising.
Severus pointed out that with Regulus potentially out of the frame to get Remus' secret out into the open, the Map's creation was moot. But James replied simply, "It's as well to be on the safe side, Severus."
Severus and Lily spent all of their free time together and got closer and closer to each other. Things were going so well, that Severus decided he would try and kiss her on New Year's Day, hoping to romantically start off the year of 1975 with a new relationship with the girl he loved.
Lily was still patient with him, unsure what it was that made her best friend so afraid of committing to a relationship with her. She could see clearly everyday that he wanted them to be more than friends, but she just couldn't work out what was holding him back. She felt that perhaps it had something to do with his father, and how he feared becoming like him, but didn't mention it. She felt that if he wanted to discuss his reasons, he should come to her.
Quidditch season was up and running. James and Sirius, both on the team for Gryffindor, alongside Isabella, practiced constantly, while Severus and Peter became a duo in the Gobstones Club. They were more in their comfort zone doing indoor activities.
The first game against Gryffindor and Slytherin was due to begin on a cold day. The wind howled and frost lay everywhere, but it didn't deter the teams nor their Houses from heading out to the stands.
Severus, on the other hand, was practically dragged there by Lily, whilst Quincey found himself in the same position with Mary.
"Your friends need your support, you know," said Lily enthusiastically.
"But I'm not a Gryffindor!" protested Severus.
"What else could you be doing anyway?" asked Lily.
"I don't know…experimenting on a potion with a few leaves from the Wivered Wyrm plant?"
Severus was keen to prove himself as a Potions Master this time around, and he had lots of ideas concerning the plant. He was sure there was a masterpiece waiting in this plant somewhere, but he just couldn't think what it was as yet.
"Oh, don't be such a hermit!" laughed Lily. "You can go a couple of hours without experimenting! It won't kill you!"
"One: it could easily go beyond a couple of hours! Two: it wouldn't kill me to miss the match either, and three: it wouldn't kill you to miss it and give me some help!"
Lily just rolled her eyes with a smirk and pulled Severus up into the stands.
They arrived in time to see the team captains shaking hands. The friends waved to Sirius and James on the pitch. Severus then noticed something he had forgotten occurred in this year: Regulus was on the pitch too, wearing a Slytherin Quidditch uniform.
"Sibling rivalry in this game," he pointed out to Lily, "seems that Regulus has made the Slytherin team!"
"Wonder what position he plays," said Quincey with curiosity.
"Maybe a Chaser, like his brother," said Mary.
"No, look at how he's the smaller player. He's more likely the Slytherin Seeker," put in Severus.
"Well, let's just hope things don't get too dirty out there," said Lily, now a little worried.
The game soon commenced and in a matter of fifteen minutes, Gryffindor were leading, 80-30. Regulus was hovering around looking focused to find the Snitch. James and Sirius were showing off their scoring skills.
The game continued and the two hours had passed, and the score was now at 190-140 to Gryffindor.
"Time's up, can I go now?" moaned Severus.
"Nah! This is too exciting!" giggled Lily, as she cheered at Sirius' score to make the score 200-140.
"That's a matter of opinion," muttered Severus.
The game eventually reached its climax half an hour later, when Regulus darted for the Snitch and as close to him as Isabella got in an effort to catch up, Regulus caught the Snitch first, winning Slytherin the match, 290-250, with only a forty point difference.
"That's a lot of points for both Houses anyway," said Lily shrugging.
"Yeah, chances are they'll both beat Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and then face each other again in the final," added Severus.
"I bet James, Sirius and Isabella won't take that defeat sitting down next term," chuckled Mary.
Mary was right.
The three friends were seething in the Great Hall that evening.
"Oh, the shame of being beaten by my Slytherin brother!" grumbled Sirius.
Melody on the other hand looked more than cheerful. Her arms were wrapped around Regulus' neck, kissing his cheek constantly, while he looked both euphoric and triumphant at her love for him and his first victory for the Slytherin team.
"Ah, let him have that win," said Lily.
All eyes turned on her as if she had just had a snog with the Giant Squid.
"It was Regulus' first game ever," she said defensively. "And just after he finally managed to get Melody to date him. It was a perfect opportunity to make him his happiest. And considering what your parents will say to his dating a Muggle-born, Sirius, I'd have thought you'd want your brother to be the happiest he can be while it lasts."
"I suppose so," said Sirius, looking at his brother with a small smile. "He does look very pleased with himself."
"Just as you were when you and I first started dating," put in Marlene, resting her head lovingly on his shoulder, "and you're still my number one Quidditch player anyway."
"And you're mine, Jamesy," added Rebecca, mimicking Marlene's head rest.
That appeased the two would-be Marauders, and Severus and Lily smiled at the couples, but restrained the looks of jealousy itching to surface.
That evening, everybody went to bed, either thinking of couples and relationships, the future of disapproving parents and Dark Lords, or the shame of losing a game of Quidditch.
That same evening, Lucius Malfoy had thoughts of a Dark Lord on his mind. His father, Abraxas had announced to his son that none other than the Dark Lord himself was attending the Malfoy Manor, to give his son the highest honour: joining the Death Eaters and being branded as one of his soldiers.
"Do not let me or your mother down, son," said Abraxas shrewdly, stroking his pale goatee, "the Dark Lord expects nothing but pure dedication to the cause of purity and domination of both the Muggle and Wizarding Worlds."
"And the Dark Lord shall have it, father," said Lucius stiffly. "Nothing will stand in my way to help you and he with the cause and make it a reality!"
"Good boy!" said his father approvingly.
Just then, Lucius' ailing mother, Evelina, came into the dining hall where the men stood. She was slowly deteriorating from an illness that was claiming her central nervous system, and she knew that she had limited time left. But she was nonetheless just as dedicated to blood purity as the rest of her family and was determined to watch her only child gain the honour of serving the Dark Lord himself.
"You got your tie a bit lopsided, hun," she said to Abraxas, as she rearranged his emerald tie delicately.
"Thank you, my dear," he said softly, kissing her as though she were as delicate as a porcelain doll.
Lucius looked slightly dejected to see how fragile his mother was but knew he could not express such an emotion in front of the Dark Lord, and kept as stoic as possible, just as Abraxas had learned to be.
"He and his inner circle will be arriving momentarily," said Abraxas with a slight sweat on his brow. "Where's that infernal infant, Dobby?"
The name produced the crack that indicated the arrival of the young house elf.
"Y-y-you wished to see me, Master?"
"Yes, get to that front door, ready to welcome our guests!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"And for that stuttering, you will staple your ears ten times after the event is over, idiotic creature!"
Dobby whimpered in understanding before vanishing to the door.
"That bleeding elf is no better than its parents," snarled Abraxas.
"Forget Dobby, dear and let's get on with welcoming the Dark Lord!"
A few moments later, the three Malfoys stood grandly yet obediently, as Lord Voldemort himself swept into the room, led by the quaking and pale Dobby.
"The D-Dark Lord, Master!" he squeaked.
"Off with you! You're no longer needed tonight!" hissed Voldemort, kicking the poor elf away from himself.
Dobby sobbed and vanished to staple his ears.
"My dear Abraxas," greeted Voldemort graciously, "I must thank you for accepting me here on this special occasion."
"The pleasure and the privilege is all mine, my Lord!" replied Abraxas, bowing to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"And mine, my Lord!" curtsied Evelina weakly.
"And I, my Lord, am deeply honoured to meet you at last," said Lucius in a worshipping sort of way.
"Ah, young Lucius!" said Voldemort, stepping over to take a good look at his newest initiate.
Lucius kissed the hem of his new master's robes, mirroring his father's actions.
"Pray do stand, Lucius."
Lucius did so, looking slightly paler than usual, but nevertheless, exhilarated.
By now, Voldemort's Death Eaters had also entered the room and formed a circle, ready for Lucius' full initiation. Among them, Lucius saw Narcissa's sister, Bellatrix. She looked positively radiant, yet wicked and disgusting. She also held some contempt in her expression, which Lucius believed was due to her sister leaving him. She clearly blamed him for her change of heart.
"I believe you are ready to take my Mark and join my ranks, Lucius?" asked Voldemort expectantly.
"I have been ready for years, my Lord!" said Lucius breathlessly.
"Very good, I need loyal men like you," said Voldemort, "come into the circle, my dear boy!"
Lucius obeyed, ignoring the mutinous glare that Bellatrix was thrusting upon him with emphatic severity.
"Before we begin the branding, Lucius, I wish to convey my deepest regrets on your behalf for the loss of your fiancée, Narcissa Black," said Voldemort, though he didn't sound very sympathetic.
"If that woman has shown herself to be anything like her sister, Andromeda, my Lord, she is of no big loss to me. If anything, it was a lucky escape on my part!"
"Spoken like a true Pure-Blood!" appraised Voldemort. "I feel more and more confident of your competence in the cause, Lucius!"
He had only said this after performing Legilimency on the young man. Although, he still felt deeply hurt by Narcissa's departure, he had ultimately felt that she was just a traitor to her blood and to Lucius himself. He had decided in his mind at least, that Voldemort was more important to him than love from one woman.
"I am honoured in your faith in me, my Lord," replied Lucius.
"Hold out your arm, Lucius."
Lucius did so without any hesitation.
"Morsbrandeur!" chanted the Dark Lord, tipping his phoenix wand upon Lucius' forearm with the gentlest touch.
The effect of the incantation was however, far from gentle.
Lucius hissed through clenched teeth at the agonising burning pain he felt as the tattoo brand of the Dark Mark began to take shape, embedding itself deep into his skin, right through to the bone.
"Yes, Lucius, let the Mark take hold and grant you unspeakable power!" encouraged Voldemort.
Lucius panted as the pain began to ease as the skull with a snake protruding from its mouth finally took full form. It slithered on the spot of his arm and he looked upon it with red eyes. He couldn't have felt prouder of himself, nor could his mother and father.
"I am proud of you, Lucius Malfoy," said Voldemort, echoing their thoughts.
"Thank you, Master!" replied Lucius.
"You and your family will be rewarded most amply!" said Voldemort with a wicked smirk.
Lucius frowned in misunderstanding.
"I do believe that like your father, you wish to join my inner circle?"
"Indeed I do, my Lord!" said Malfoy keenly.
"Then to do so, I have a special mission for you, to prove your loyalty to the cause!"
"Name it, Master, and I shall do it!" said Malfoy with strong passion.
"There will be a raid planned for this coming month," explained Voldemort. "I plan for it to occur during the day the students of Hogsmeade go on their Christmas trip there. I expect you personally to kill somebody there, if not several, but I don't expect too much from you on your first mission. But anything less than one murder from you, you will face punishment! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, my Lord! I shall not fail your order!"
Voldemort smirked with triumph.
"Very good. My Mark will burn on that day…and I expect you to Apparate to Hogsmeade post-haste alongside your comrades!"
"Yes, of course, my Lord!"
Voldemort then turned to Abraxas and Evelina.
"You two have been devout Death Eaters and strong benefactors to the cause for the majority of your lives," said Voldemort proudly, but there was an undertone of doom in his tone that they recognised.
"Yes, my Lord?" said Abraxas uneasily.
"You have also been part of my inner circle for many years…and have shown nothing but deep loyalty to me…"
Both parents looked up at Voldemort with slight concern.
"…and I am also aware that Evelina is close to death, much to my bitter regret."
Once again, Voldemort showed no indication that he regretted anything, least of all, one of his follower's terminal future.
"Yes, that is so, my Lord, and it is very painful," replied Evelina.
"In that case," sneered Voldemort, "allow me to propose an idea that may benefit us all."
"We're all ears, Master," said Abraxas.
"I am in need of a death…a murder if you will."
"You wish for us to kill somebody for you?" asked Abraxas.
"If I may speak to you in private, Abraxas."
There was no inclination that Voldemort was requesting a private audience with Abraxas. It was a strict order.
"This way, my Lord."
Abraxas and Voldemort stood alone in the library.
"What is it you wish of me, my Lord?"
Voldemort suddenly whispered a name in Parseltongue.
"Nagini…come out!"
From out of his billowing robes, a snake as long as one of the Manor's library stacks protruded out onto the floor, circling Abraxas. He paled at the sight.
"This enchanting creature has come into my possession in most spectacular circumstances, Abraxas," said Voldemort, "and she has shown deep loyalty to me ever since, and I wish to reward her…what that reward is, is of no concern of yours. But…I must ask of you a favour to make that reward possible, and I believe it will provide your family some relief and mercy."
"W-what is it, m-Master?" stuttered Abraxas, ironically sounding like Dobby.
"I need to murder Evelina, your wife."
"W-what?!" spluttered Abraxas.
"She's in pain," continued Voldemort. "Her murder, swift, simple and unexpectedly…will be a mercy killing at best, an end to her pain, and to your suffering at watching her deteriorate. I'm offering you and your wife an easier way out than you're imagining. And in addition, I wish to offer you a just reward for your loyalty."
Voldemort pulled out something else from his robes; a worn-looking leather book with an unknown name inscribed upon the lower half of the cover.
"If you allow me to murder your wife," said Voldemort, "I shall reward you by becoming one of the guardians of one of my most powerful treasures. Nothing is more important to me than this book's protection! I expect you to dedicate the rest of your life to protecting this book in your home, and not to mention it to anyone, not even Lucius, until the day of your own death, where you will make Lucius guardian in your place, and emphasise to him the importance of its protection."
"Yes, my Lord…I understand."
It was clear that Abraxas didn't understand why Voldemort felt that guarding a tatty old diary was as important as his wife's life, but he knew that defiance would lead to not just his wife's death, but the death of his son and maybe even himself.
"You have my permission, my Lord…but may I at least have a final moment with my wife before…before it happens."
"You have my sympathy and understanding, Abraxas…so yes, you may."
Abraxas thanked his master and entered the dining hall once more. Now that Lucius' initiation was over, the Death Eaters had left, although Bellatrix showed reluctance. Voldemort hovered nearby as Abraxas sent Lucius out of the room.
"Give your mother a hug and a kiss goodnight, son."
Lucius did so.
"Love you, Mum," he said softly.
Evelina sobbed softly and stroked her son's cheek.
"I love you too, Lucius, and I am so, so proud of you!"
Lucius smiled and left the room as ordered. Abraxas turned to address his wife.
"You know…Lucius will make a fine Death Eater," he said casually.
"And later, a fine leader of men and beyond," added Evelina lovingly.
"Just as you and I were," said Abraxas sadly.
"Don't despair, dear," said Evelina softly, holding her husband's head to hers. "I've lived a full and happy life with you, helping to bring the Wizarding World to its true glory, and we've had a wonderful son together who will help make our efforts a reality."
"Yes…I love you so much, Evelina."
"And I love you…" whispered Evelina.
The two of them kissed passionately; a long, emotional, fulfilling final kiss.
As soon as the lips parted-
"Avada Kedavra!"
Evelina Malfoy felt nothing, sensed nothing and realized nothing. She died in her husband's arms, peaceful, happy and content.
As Abraxas sobbed holding his wife's dead body in his arms, Voldemort hissed to Nagini.
"We are one step closer to immortality, my dear girl…both of us…"
A/N: What did you all think of That then? I hope I delivered an emotional chapter here! The name Evelina was inspired by Doctor Who's The Fires of Pompeii, where a character named Lucius appeared, and I decided on adopting the name from another character from that episode. Chapter 45 coming soon! Please review! Thanks for reading!