So, this is what you are like…
This was Malfoy's first thought when they materialized in Greg's parlour, and he looked his enemy in the eye.
"I see the party is in full swing," he smirked coldly, at the sight of Potter and Gregory, standing by the couch, staring at Liana. MacLaggen – or Gregory, what difference does it make now? – was pale, but put on a brave face, despite the wand at her throat. Scorpius spotted three more, at Marcus Devereaux's feet. The latter clearly wasn't expecting extra visitors, because his face betrayed the panic that it took him a few moments to suppress.
Scorpius thought that he had seen this man somewhere before, very briefly, but he just couldn't recall where. Helene's admission of her husband's extraordinary abilities also did not escape Malfoy. On the other hand, he had never known any metamorphmagi – except for Lupin, of course.
"Something went wrong, eh, Devereaux?" Malfoy said mockingly, gripping his wand. Dong took care to Disapparate – at Helene's side, whom Malfoy immobilized for the time being and made invisible. It was not the time for her to make an appearance; she would only muddle things. Not the time for a conjugal row. "Your well-laid plan failed, didn't it? I didn't kill Fritz Zabini, and Priscilla released Xenia… Didn't know, did you?" Scorpius sneered, watching Devereaux's expression change. Need to make sure that he doesn't twitch and impale Liana on his wand. "Yes, Xenia is safe and sound," a bit of lies, a bit of goading. Scorpius smirked inwardly: they switched places, and now he was playing with Devereaux like a cat with a mouse. "Priscilla let you down? She often does… And the kidnapping of Albus Potter fell through – you bit off more than you could chew with that boy, I'll wager," Scorpius glanced at James, who almost imperceptibly nodded back. "And Dong ended up coming back to me – he's too loyal. Did you know that house elves can disobey orders for loyalty's sake, and then voluntarily punish themselves for it? You didn't do your homework with Harry Potter's story. On the other hand, could it be that it's only the Malfoys' house elves thing?" Scorpius stood still, careful not to provoke the silent Devereaux. Why is he silent? "And Lily is no longer in your grasp; she is with her father," out of the corner of his eye, Malfoy spotted Potter jump, but didn't turn toward him. "You have lost, Devereaux."
But who are you?!
Silence fell. Liana seemed to be afraid to move, Gregory was pale as a sheet, his lips pressed into a thin line. Oh yes, Greg, I know how you feel! And I am even trying to help, because this is not your war, not your duel. Not your single combat.
"You have lost, so let the girl go," Scorpius said calmly. Knowing the enemy's skills and moves would be great, but to do that, it's important to know his identity.
"You are mistaken, Malfoy," Marcus Devereaux finally spoke, pressing the tip of his wand harder against Liana's slender neck. She winced. "Perhaps, I did not do all I wanted, but you got your comeuppance. And you are still getting it: I am going to kill her right in front of you, and you will live the rest of your life, knowing that she died because of you. Besides, I succeeded with the main portion of my vengeance…"
"You will not kill anyone," Scorpius stated coldly. "Why don't you tell me what you have done, other than losing every round of this stupid game of yours?"
The face – no, the mask – lit with an odd-looking triumphant smile.
"I nearly destroyed you, Malfoy. Soon you will be nothing and nobody, your fortune gone," said Devereaux, clearly relishing every word.
"You burnt down the Gringotts?" Malfoy inquired skeptically, suddenly remembering where he had encountered the surname "Devereaux". And this man… He felt like laughing.
"No. It's just that your father invested all your money into a bankrupt venture; he has signed all the papers," triumph plainly showed in his flushed face.
"Sorry, you mean these papers?" Scorpius slowly pulled out of his cloak pocket the documents, sent to him by his father to be signed, which he completely forgot. "I assume that my dear father neglected to tell you that he has no legal right to sign any papers without my consent? Of course, he is embarrassed by it. And so, everything that he signed is basically fireplace kindling now…
Devereaux's face suddenly contorted in fright. What is he afraid of?
"The Trojan horse has fallen apart, hasn't it?" Potter's voice was a tad mocking. A great time to quote Homer, hippogriff take you!
Marcus merely glanced in James' direction.
"So, have you got any more to say?" Malfoy inquired, as though making small talk, tossing the papers to the floor. If this jerk does not admit defeat directly, then it's time to lay all cards on the table.
Devereaux suddenly grinned – a deliberate, predatory smile.
"I will not spoil my last surprise. Besides, as you see, I still have one piece of unfinished business," Marcus nodded that Liana MacLaggen, pressed to his side. She appeared to be under a curse that prevented her from punching the dirtbag in the face, and end this charade.
"First let me explain something to you," Scorpius began politely. "You dared touch my wife; you wanted me to go crazy with fear. I don't forgive things like that, and usually respond in kind. There is only one thing left to clarify: how much do you love your wife, Marcus Devereaux? Dong."
The house elf appeared almost instantly, bringing with him, now visible, but still immobilized Helene.
"A déjà vu? Now I have your wife," Scorpius smirked, pointing his wand at Helene. The girl might not be able to move, but her eyes betrayed all the terror at the scene before her. Well, she had been warned. "What are you going to do now?"
Yes, the bastard was good at thinking on his feet – he quickly found the solution that seemed plausible to him.
"You let Helene and me go, and I won't harm anyone. Or we shall all die here; I have nothing left to lose."
Stupid… Malfoy gave a slight wave with his wand, letting Helene speak. Come on, dear, or I'll have to risk Liana's life. Because I simply cannot let him leave here.
"Why?" was all Helene could say, still rooted to the spot. She seemed completely indifferent to being held at wandpoint. "Why?"
Her husband remained mute, staring at her. Well…
"Devereaux, have you ever seen the Cruciatus Curse in action?" Malfoy inquired coldly, steeling himself. "And do you know what the person subjected to it feels? Now your wife has an excellent chance to find that out… And to learn of your true feelings for her. If you know what I mean…"
"If you touch her, Liana dies."
Not MacLaggen, not Gregory. Liana. Well-well-well…
"No," Malfoy said firmly. His eyes lingered on the wand pressed against Liana's neck, and he almost slapped his forehead for the second time today. Of course! How could he fail to recognize this wand, after seven years of seeing it on the next nightstand over in the Slytherin House bedchamber?! "You will not kill anyone, because it is not in your nature. And what is it that you disliked so about the surname 'Flint' that you decided to change it, Mark?"
This was the instant Scorpius was waiting for – Devereaux's momentary surprise and confusion at his words. Malfoy instantly ripped the wand out of Flint's hand and dispatched at him a green beam – without a moment's hesitation, putting into the spell all the hatred and pain that built up inside him in the fifty-six hours of this blasted stand-off.
Why not? Nothing mattered to him now.
Everyone froze for a moment, then Gregory rushed for Liana who was frozen in shock. Malfoy slowly turned toward Helene: she did not run to her husband's prone form; only tears flowed freely from her wide-open, beautiful eyes.
Gregory appeared before him unexpectedly – calm and collected – and punched him in the face. Malfoy's head jerked, but he did not respond, because he knew it to be deserved.
"Is it true that Lily has been found?" Potter looked back with disgust at what only recently was Marcus Devereaux.
Scorpius only had the strength to nod.
It was finally over.