Chapter 6:
Yaxley dissaperated as soon as he walked back into the darkness, away from the murder scene he just created. He was determined to find Professor Slughorn, a former potions master at Hogwarts and a valuable asset to the Death Eaters. As he held the punctum in his hand, the arrow pointing towards Slughorn's location began to move, leading him deeper into the countryside and away from civilizations.
Yaxley followed the arrow through dense forests and over rough terrain, always keeping a watchful eye for any sign of Slughorn.
"Tricky little bastard," Yaxley muttered to himself while walking across an ankle deep river. "Think you can hide in a forest do you? We will see about that."
He was determined to track him down, no matter the cost on his health. He was sleeping only an hour a night and barely eating. All Yaxley could think about was how if he failed this mission, his son would be forced to pay the price.
But as the day wore on, the arrow started to spin frantically, making it impossible for Yaxley to determine its direction. Initially he assumed that the direction change was because Slughorn was moving, but it was becoming less likely with every change. There was simply no way the old potions master was moving this fast. He cursed under his breath, frustrated by the sudden change in the punctum's behavior.
He stopped to take a break, sitting on a fallen tree and studying the punctum more closely. He had been following it for hours on this particular day, but now it seemed as though it was no longer working. Yaxley couldn't understand why. He sensed strong magic radiating from the device so he knew it was not a fake, but for some reason it seemed to be broken.
He cursed under his breath, continuing to examine the punctum in his hands. He had stolen it from a seemingly reputable establishment, but had not been told of any limitations or potential issues. It had seemed foolproof, but now he found himself lost and alone in the wilderness.
As he walked, he berated himself for not being able to fix the device. He had always prided himself on being a skilled and resourceful Death Eater, but now he felt like a failure. He finally came to the conclusion that the magic in this item was beyond his understanding and he needed to seek assistance. He knew that he needed help, but the irony of the situation was not lost on him. The only person who could have helped him was the man he had killed to steal the punctum in the first place.
Yaxley's mind raced as he tried to think of a solution. He knew that Lucious Malfoy had a vast collection of dark artifacts, and was well-versed in their workings. Perhaps he would know how to fix the device. But the thought of returning to Malfoy Manor filled Yaxley with dread. He knew that his master was currently staying there, and he feared his wrath.
But as Yaxley continued to walk, he knew that he had no other choice. He couldn't let his fear stop him from finding Slughorn. He would have to swallow his pride and ask Malfoy for help. He pushed the thought of his master's anger to the back of his mind and set off towards Malfoy Manor.
Yaxley trudged through the winding path that led out of the forest, dizzy and disoriented from lack of food and sleep; it took him twice as long as it should have. His heart was heavy with dread. The journey back had been long and grueling, a fact that his clothes reflected, being torn and covered in dirt. But he knew that he had no choice but to return to the Manor and seek help from Malfoy. He had been foolish to think that he could master such a complex magical artifact on his own, and now he was running out of options.
A few days of travel had passed and Yaxley approached the gates, he could see the imposing black walls of the Manor looming before him. He hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before muttering the password "clean blood" under his breath. The gates creaked open with a loud groan, revealing the dark and foreboding entrance to the Manor.
Yaxley stepped through the gates, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any sign of danger. He knew that Voldemort was staying at the Manor, and the thought of meeting him before he had Slughorn him filled him with fear.
As he made his way up the path, he could see the Manor looming ahead of him, its dark windows reflecting the light of the setting sun. He quickened his pace, eager to be inside and away from the prying eyes of the other manor that were surely watching his every move.
Finally, he reached the front door and knocked heavily. A moment later, the door creaked open and one of the Malfoys house elves, Edric, peered up at him with its beady eyes and bat-like ears. "Master Yaxley, welcome back," it said, bowing low. "What can Edric do for you?"
"Er, I am here to see Lucious, is he home?"
"Certainly, right this way, follow Edric… yes," the elf muttered.
Yaxley made his way through the dark and foreboding halls of Malfoy Manor, his footsteps echoing off the stone floors and high ceilings. The manor was always a place that made him uneasy, with its grand and imposing architecture, and the sense of dark magic that seemed to linger in the air.
As he was led deeper into the manor by a house-elf, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread building in his chest. He knew that Malfoy and his inner circle of Death Eaters were busy with a task from the dark lord himself in one of the many chambers of the manor, and the thought of interrupting them because he needed help was very humiliating.
The house-elf led him down a long hallway, lined with tapestries depicting scenes of Death Eaters in battle, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he passed them by. Finally, they reached a door at the end of the hallway, and Edric opened it, gesturing for Yaxley to enter.
The room beyond was dimly lit, but he could make out the figures of Lucious Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange seated at a large table in the center of the room. A few other Death Eaters were also present, their faces obscured in the shadows.
"Edric you pesky little freak, do not barge in unannounced!" Bellatrix croaked, lifting her wand to punish the poor creature.
"Master Yaxley is here and needs to speak with Lord Malfoy, it seems urgent," the elf recoiled.
"Oh, well come in Corban, take a seat," she said while magically and roughly forcing Edric out the door and slamming it. A squeal of pain could be heard but nobody paid any attention.
As Yaxley enters the room, he is immediately met with the sight of several Death Eaters sitting around a large table, poring over maps and documents. Bellatrix is at the head of the table, her face twisted in a scowl as she barks orders at the others. Malfoy sits to her right, his face a mask of calm and control.
Yaxley clears his throat nervously, and all eyes turn to him. He feels a wave of anxiety wash over him as he realizes the gravity of his request. "Excuse me," Yaxley says, trying to keep his voice steady. "I need to speak with Malfoy, alone." The once proud man seemed like a weak dog begging, the trials of this quest clearly breaking him.
Bellatrix's scowl deepens, and she opens her mouth to protest, but Malfoy holds up a hand to silence her. "Leave us," he says, his voice cold and commanding.
Bellatrix and the others rise from their seats and file out of the room, casting curious glances at Yaxley as they go. When the door closes behind them, Malfoy turns to Yaxley. "What is it, Corban?" he asks, his voice betraying a hint of impatience. "As you know we have a very important mission at the department of mysteries coming up and very little time to waste, much to plan."
Yaxley takes a deep breath and pulls out the punctum from his pocket. "I acquired this," he says, holding it out for Malfoy to see. "But it seems to be broken. I was hoping you could help me repair it. I would not ask unless it was important, I am on strict orders from the dark lord."
Malfoy raises an eyebrow, looking at the punctum with interest. Clearly this new information about this being a task from Voldemort has changed his perspective "I see," he says, taking the device from Yaxley's hand and examining it closely. "This is an interesting piece. It's a shame it's not working. What exactly is the problem with it?"
"The dial spins and changes directions constantly. It is not pointing me towards the person I need to find. It just keeps spinning."
Yaxley watches anxiously as Malfoy turns the punctum over in his hands, studying it closely. He can feel his heart pounding in his chest, knowing that his fate may hinge on whether or not Malfoy can fix the device.
After a moment, Malfoy looks up at Yaxley, a small smile on his face. "Go wait outside with the others, I require complete silence with no distractions," Malfoy barked.
Yaxley walked out and stood amongst the others for a quarter of an hour before being called back in.
As Yaxley stood before Malfoy, the powerful dark wizard held the punctum in his hands with a critical eye. "It's not broken," he said, his cold, calculating gaze piercing through Yaxley. "But it's not working. Why is that, Yaxley?"
Yaxley shifted nervously, unsure of how to explain his confusion to the powerful Death Eater. "I-I acquired it to help me find someone," he stammered. "But it's not pointing me in any direction. I thought it was broken. Are… are you sure it's not broken?"
Malfoy's lips twisted into a smirk. "I have examined it thoroughly and am confident there is nothing amiss. The punctum only works when you are absolutely certain of who you want to find," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Are you certain, Yaxley? Are you truly sure of who it is that you seek?"
Yaxley's mind raced as he considered the wizard's words. His face turns red with embarrassment and anger. Was there someone he truly wanted to find above all others? He had been so focused on his task, on finding Horace Slughorn for Voldemort, that he hadn't stopped to think about whether anyone else was on his mind.
"Right, thanks." Yaxley grabs the punctum and quickly exits the room in an awkward escape, too embarrassed and disheveled to stick around.
As Yaxley speeds through the grand halls of Malfoy Manor, racing to find the exit, his mind is going a million miles an hour. He can't shake off the feeling of embarrassment and confusion that had washed over him in Lucious' study. He clutches the punctum tightly in his hand, the weight of it feeling heavier with each step.
He thinks over his conversation with Malfy, trying to make sense of it all. "The device isn't broken," he had said, "It's only not working because you're not sure who you want to find most." Yaxley had been taken aback, unsure what this could mean.
As he hurries towards the exit, a thought begins to take shape in his mind. Of course, there is nobody else he wants to find more than Slughorn. His son's life depends on it. But as soon as the thought forms, another one follows closely behind.
Ever since Voldemort had threatened his son's life, Yaxley has had the deep desire to go straight to Hogwarts and find his son, stand by him and to protect him. But he had known he couldn't do that, so he had pushed the thought away.
The realization hits him like a ton of bricks. This is what had been messing with the punctum. His mind had been clouded with conflicting desires and fears. He stops in his tracks, taking a deep breath as he comes to terms with the truth. He now knows that if he wants the device to work, he has to not want to find his son. The only way this would ever be possible is if he knows that his son is completely safe without him.
"Great," Yaxley thinks as he now is slowly exiting the manor, "another thing to figure out."