After dinner had ended the guest continued to mingle and to his surprise, Lucius came back over to talk with Percy some more. He seemed genuinely interested in Percy's career. He asked about Percy's work under Cornelius Fudge, making subtle inquiries that indicated he was aware of Percy's past achievements. Percy was flattered by the unexpected attention, as Lucius seemed to be more interested in him more than anyone else at the party, even the new Minister. Percy didn't question what possible motives that Malfoy might have and began to open up more, speaking with a surprising ease he rarely felt when discussing his work.
Lucius led Percy to the study so they could talk more openly in private.
The study at Malfoy Manor was a room of dark elegance, filled with rich, polished wood, leather-bound books, and the lingering scent of aged parchment. A fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls and adding a warmth to the otherwise imposing space. Lucius sat in one of the high-backed chairs, a glass of firewhisky in his hand, his posture relaxed yet commanding. Across from him, Percy took his seat, his expression serious and slightly tense, as if he were still unsure of his place in this world of wealth and power.
They had been talking for some time, their conversation circling around the politics of the Ministry, the challenges of navigating its labyrinthine bureaucracy, and the ambitions that drove those who worked within its walls. Percy, always eager to prove himself, had spoken at length about his career, his achievements, and his desire to rise through the ranks. Lucius listened with a carefully cultivated interest, nodding at all the right moments, offering just enough praise to keep Percy talking.
As their conversation naturally drifted, Lucius decided it was time to steer it toward something more personal, something that would allow him to plant the seeds of doubt and division that he needed. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Percy with a kind of fatherly concern that was as practiced as it was disingenuous.
"Percy," Lucius began, his voice smooth and measured, "you speak with such passion about your work at the Ministry. It's clear that you're dedicated, driven. But tell me, how does your father feel about your career? I imagine it must be difficult, considering his position and beliefs."
Percy's expression tightened slightly at the mention of his father, a small but noticeable shift that Lucius did not miss. Percy hesitated for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal, but the need for validation, for understanding, outweighed his caution.
"My father…" Percy began slowly, choosing his words with care. "He doesn't understand what I'm trying to achieve. He thinks that by working closely with the Ministry, I'm somehow betraying our family values. He's always been so…focused on Muggles and their ways, on living modestly. He can't see that there's more to life, more to be achieved."
Lucius nodded, his expression sympathetic, but inside, he was already seeing the opportunity.
"I see," he said thoughtfully. "It must be difficult, then, to pursue your ambitions without his support."
Percy sighed, the tension he was feeling was much more apparent now.
"It is. I respect my father, of course, but he's so stuck in his ways, so resistant to change. I've tried to explain to him that the world is different now, that we need to adapt, to grow, but he won't listen. It's like he's…disappointed in me."
Lucius allowed a moment of silence to pass, as if giving Percy the space to fully articulate his feelings. When he spoke again, his tone was gentle, almost conspiratorial, as if he were sharing a truth that only the two of them could understand.
"Percy, distancing yourself from your family, from their beliefs, is never easy. It takes a certain strength, a certain vision. Not everyone is capable of seeing beyond the limitations of their upbringing, of questioning the values they were raised with."
Percy looked up, meeting Lucius's gaze. There was a flicker of something in his eyes, a hint of recognition, of validation. Lucius knew he had struck a chord.
"It's not that I don't care about my family, but I want more for myself. I want to make a difference, to be someone important, someone who can influence change. My father doesn't see that. He thinks I'm betraying the family, but all I'm trying to do is…"
"All you're trying to do," Lucius interjected smoothly, "is find your own path. That's not betrayal, Percy. That's ambition. And ambition is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it's something to be nurtured, cultivated. It's what drives progress, what shapes the future."
Percy absorbed Lucius's words, and for the first time, he felt as though someone truly understood him, understood what he was trying to achieve. Despite everything that he had heard about him, Percy always had a certain amount of admiration of Lucius Malfoy for his power and influence, but now he realized that there might be more in common between them than he had previously thought.
"Do you really think so?" Percy asked.
Lucius leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"I do, Percy. And I believe that you have the potential to do great things, to rise far beyond the expectations of those who would limit you. But to do that, you must be willing to question everything, to challenge the assumptions you've been taught to accept."
Percy nodded slowly, his mind racing with the possibilities that Lucius's words had opened up. For so long, he had struggled with the feeling that he was being held back by his family, by their simple values and modest ambitions. But now, he was beginning to see that perhaps Lucius was right, perhaps distancing himself from them was the only way to truly achieve his potential.
"I think you're right, Mr. Malfoy," Percy said, his voice stronger now, more certain. "I have to make my own way, to prove that I'm capable of more than just following in my father's footsteps."
Lucius's smile widened, pleased with how easily Percy had taken the bait. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Percy. It takes courage to break away from the past, to forge your own path. But know this: you're not alone. There are those who see your potential, who believe in your ability to make a real impact. And I am one of them."
Percy felt a surge of gratitude, a sense of belonging that he had rarely felt within his own family. For so long, he had been searching for validation, for someone who saw him as more than just the ambitious Weasley trying to climb the ladder. And now, here was Lucius Malfoy, a man of power and influence, telling him that he had what it took to succeed.
"Thank you," Percy said earnestly. "It means a lot to hear that."
Lucius nodded, his expression one of paternal pride.
"You have a bright future ahead of you, Percy. Don't let anyone hold you back. Not even your family."
As the conversation shifted back to more casual topics, Percy couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made an important connection, one that could shape the course of his future. And as Lucius continued to subtly reinforce his newfound confidence, Percy began to see Lucius as a possible mentor, someone who understood him in a way his family never could. There was a certain clarity in Lucius's approach to the world, a practicality that Percy found refreshing. In that moment, Percy realized he had might have more in common with Lucius than he did with his own father.
The seeds had been planted, and Lucius knew it was only a matter of time before they took root. Percy Weasley was ripe for manipulation, his desire for validation and success making him the perfect pawn in Lucius's grand design. And as Percy left the study that evening, Lucius watched him go, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
'One step closer,' Lucius thought. 'One step closer to having him right where I want him.'
Percy left Malfoy Manor that night with a sense of satisfaction, feeling more validated and understood than he had in years. For the first time, Percy began to really question what he had been raised to believe about Lucius, and wondered if, perhaps, his father had been wrong about Lucius and the Malfoys all along.
Lucius Malfoy was clearly the exact opposite of Arthur Weasley. Percy had always thought that his father lacked ambition, but Lucius was clearly someone who wanted to make an impact and had the ability to do so. He was the definition of success and power. He was wealthy and influential. He was dignity and grace.
To put it simply, Lucius Malfoy was everything that Percy wanted to be.
And Lucius had recognized it.
XXXXXXX
The grand halls of Malfoy Manor had become familiar territory for Percy. Over the past few weeks, he had found himself drawn to the opulence, the sense of power that seemed to seep from every stone and tapestry. It was a far cry from the modest warmth of the Burrow, but it was here, within these walls, that Percy felt he was finally being seen, finally being understood.
Lucius had noticed this hunger in Percy from the extended conversation he initially had with him, the ambition that drove him, the desire to prove himself, to rise above the limitations that his family had placed on him. And so, Lucius had begun to nurture it, carefully feeding Percy's aspirations with words of encouragement, offering him glimpses of a future where he was no longer just another Weasley, but someone of real influence and power.
Almost every night, Percy found himself at Malfoy Manor, seated in the luxurious study with Lucius, their conversations drifting late into the evening. They spoke of politics, of the intricate dance of power within the Ministry, and of the future of the wizarding world. But as the weeks passed, their discussions began to take a darker turn, one that Percy found increasingly difficult to resist. One evening, as they sat by the fire, Lucius leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Percy, there's something I've been working on, something that could change everything. It's not…conventional, but desperate times call for desperate measures."
Percy's curiosity was piqued. Lucius had a way of speaking that made even the most outlandish ideas seem tantalizingly possible.
"What is it?" Percy asked, eager to learn more.
Lucius hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether or not to share this secret, but the glint in his eyes told Percy that he had already made up his mind.
"Muggle technology. I've been studying it."
Percy blinked in surprise. Of all the things he expected to hear, this was not one of them.
"Muggle technology?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "But…you've always been so…"
"Yes, I know," Lucius interjected smoothly, "I have always held a certain disdain for Muggles and their contraptions. But these are unusual times, Percy. The world is changing, and we must change with it if we are to survive and thrive. I realized that there is something to be learned from the Muggles, something that we can use to our advantage."
Percy leaned forward, captivated by Lucius's words. The idea of combining the old world of magic with the new world of technology was intriguing, if not entirely unthinkable. And if Lucius Malfoy of all people was studying it, then there had to be something worth exploring.
"What have you discovered?" Percy asked.
Lucius's eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and something darker, something that sent a shiver down Percy's spine.
"I've found a way to merge dark magic with Muggle technology. Together, they can create something the world of wizardry, and the world in general has never seen before: a cyborg. An unstoppable being, one that has no need for rest, doesn't make mistakes, and cannot be hurt, not even by the most powerful of spells."
The words hung in the air, heavy with the promise of unimaginable power. Percy's mind raced with the possibilities, with the sheer magnitude of what Lucius was suggesting. An unstoppable being, impervious to magic, with the precision and efficiency of a machine. It was a concept that defied everything he had ever known, and yet… he was spellbound by it.
Lucius watched Percy carefully, noting the light of fascination in his eyes, the way his breath quickened with the thrill of the idea. It was time to make his move.
"Percy," Lucius said softly, his voice carrying the weight of inevitability, "perhaps this is what you have been searching for all along. Perhaps this is why you have felt so different from your family, why you have been driven to find your own path. It has led you here, to this moment."
Percy's gaze locked with Lucius's, the older man's words resonating deep within him. It was true; he had always felt different, always felt that there was something more he was meant to do, something that went beyond the simple life his family had envisioned for him. And now, here was Lucius offering him the opportunity to fulfill that potential, to become something extraordinary.
"Imagine it, Percy," Lucius continued, his tone rich with promise. "You would be more than just a man. You would be a force of nature, a being of pure power and precision. You could achieve anything, rise above all others, and reshape the world in ways you never thought possible."
Percy's heart raced with excitement and fear. The idea was intoxicating, overwhelming, but it was also terrifying. To become something more than human, to shed the limitations of flesh and blood. Was this really what he had been searching for? Was this truly his destiny?
Lucius leaned back, giving Percy the space to process what he was being offered. He knew that this was the moment of decision, the moment when Percy would either step into his new identity or retreat back into the safety of the life he had known. The idea was both terrifying and thrilling. Percy could actually feel his heart rate begin to accelerate. He had always prided himself on his logic and reason, but this…this was something else entirely. The power, the control, it was intoxicating.
But even as Percy's mind raced with doubts and questions, there was a part of him that knew the answer, that had known it the moment Lucius had begun to speak. He couldn't go back. Not now. Not after everything he had learned, everything he had seen. The hunger for power, for recognition, for something more had consumed him, and there was no turning away from it now.
Lucius leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he went to seal the deal.
"Percy, you don't want to go through life being known as just another Weasley, do you?"
Percy most definitely did not want to be just another Weasley. He wanted to be his own man. He wanted to be known for his own unique and special abilities.
"I am willing to do whatever it takes," Percy muttered to himself. "I am not like the rest of my family."
"Then, will you do it?"
The decision weighed heavily on Percy, but the allure of becoming something greater, something invincible, was impossible to resist. Percy took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he made his decision. "I want to do it," he confirmed, his voice steady but filled with a strange mixture of resolve and fear. "I want to become this being. I want to become the cyborg."
Lucius smiled, a slow, satisfied smile that spoke of triumph and anticipation. "You've made the right choice, Percy. Together, we will change the world."
As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, Lucius began to outline the process, the dark rituals and technological enhancements that would be required to complete the transformation. Percy listened intently, his mind already envisioning the power he would wield, the new identity he would assume.
The path before him was dark and uncertain, but it was also filled with the promise of greatness, of power beyond anything he had ever imagined. And as he listened to Lucius's plans, Percy couldn't help but feel that this was indeed what he had been destined for all along. Lucius had planted the seeds of ambition, of doubt, of power, and now, they were beginning to bear fruit. Percy Weasley would become something more, something beyond the limits of human weakness.
In doing so, he would leave behind the simple, ordinary life he had known, stepping into a future where he would be unstoppable, invincible.
As the night wore on and the fire burned low, Percy's transformation had already begun, not in body, but in mind. The hunger that Lucius had nurtured in him had grown into something that could no longer be contained, something that would drive him to accept the dark, terrifying power that awaited him.
The days leading up to Percy Weasley's transformation passed in a blur. The corridors of the Ministry of Magic no longer felt like the place where he belonged. His once meticulously maintained routine had been abandoned, his desk left untouched as Percy's mind became consumed by thoughts of the coming transformation. The ambition that Lucius had nurtured in him had grown into an all-encompassing obsession, pushing aside everything else in his life.
Instead of filing reports or attending meetings, Percy spent his days at Malfoy Manor, delving deeper into the ancient magic and advanced Muggle technology that Lucius had combined. The two of them worked in secrecy, their plans hidden from the outside world, even from the most loyal of Lucius's followers. What they were about to create was unlike anything the wizarding world had ever seen.
A being that transcended the limits of both magic and technology.
XXXXXX
Finally, the day arrived.
Lucius led Percy down a series of winding staircases into the deepest, most hidden chamber of Malfoy Manor. The air grew colder as they descended, the torches lining the walls casting flickering shadows that danced like phantoms in the darkness. At the bottom, they reached a large, reinforced door. Lucius whispered a spell, and the door creaked open, revealing the chamber where the transformation would take place.
The room was dimly lit, the only sources of light coming from a few scattered candles and the soft glow of the machinery that dominated the space. The centerpiece of the room was a large, metal table, surrounded by strange devices that hummed with a mix of ancient magic and Muggle technology. Wires and tubes snaked across the floor, connecting to a central machine that thrummed with an eerie energy.
Percy felt a chill run down his spine as he looked around the room. This was it. The moment he had been preparing for, the moment that would change everything. He was nervous, yes, but the thought of what he would become, of the power he would wield, overrode any doubts or fears. At that moment, Lucius felt that he needed to tell Percy something very important.
"Percy, if you do this, you need to understand that there is no reversing it. Your old life...is over."
The younger man nodded.
"I understand."
"Lie down, Percy," Lucius instructed.
Percy obeyed, climbing onto the metal table and lying flat on his back. The cold metal sent a shiver through him as he settled into place. Above him, the machinery buzzed with anticipation, and the room seemed to close in around him, as if the very walls were leaning in to watch what was about to unfold.
Lucius moved with practiced precision, adjusting dials and checking the connections of the wires and tubes. His expression was focused, intense. He had invested so much into this moment, into creating something that would not only change Percy but change the entire world. There was no room for error.
As Lucius completed his final checks, two long, slender metal tentacles unfurled from the central machine. They moved with an almost serpentine grace, rising up on either side of Percy's head. He watched them with a mixture of fascination and fear, his breath quickening as they drew closer.
The tentacles paused for a brief moment, as if considering their target, before they shot forward, attaching themselves to the sides of Percy's neck with two tiny needles. The pain was sharp and sudden, causing Percy to gasp involuntarily. But before he could process the sensation, an odd tingling spread from the points of contact, radiating through his entire body.
Percy's back arched up off the table as the tingling intensified, every nerve ending in his body alight with a strange, electric energy. His muscles tensed, his hands clenching into fists as he fought against the overwhelming sensations. Then, just as suddenly, his body relaxed, sinking back onto the table.
But the reprieve was short-lived. A violent tremor began in Percy's hands, shaking uncontrollably. The tremors spread quickly, moving up his arms, down his torso, until his entire body was convulsing. His legs jerked wildly, his breathing became labored, and his vision blurred as the room seemed to spin around him.
He wanted to cry out, to tell Lucius to stop, but the words caught in his throat, choked off by the overwhelming flood of sensations coursing through him. It felt as though every part of him was being torn apart, reassembled, and torn apart again in an endless cycle.
Through the haze of pain and confusion, Percy heard Lucius's voice, steady and firm, cutting through the chaos. "Now, you are Ultron."
Those words were the last thing Percy heard before everything went black. His body fell limp on the table, the tremors finally subsiding as the transformation reached its climax. The machinery around him hummed with finality, the process complete. For a moment, there was silence. The pain had been excruciating, unlike anything he had ever experienced, but he gritted his teeth and bore it.
As the hours passed, his body began to change. His skin became harder, his senses sharper, and his mind more focused. He no longer felt a sense of restlessness, and hunger was a distant memory.
Then, slowly, Percy's eyes opened.
But they were no longer the eyes of Percy Weasley. They were cold, metallic, and glowing with an eerie blue light that radiated a power far beyond anything he had known before. The machinery around him began to whir to life, the tubes and wires disconnecting from his body as he slowly sat up, his movements deliberate, controlled.
He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers experimentally. The skin that had once covered them was gone, replaced by a sleek, metallic surface that glinted in the dim light of the chamber. His entire body had been transformed, every part of him now a fusion of flesh and machine.
But it wasn't just his body that had changed. Percy's mind, once filled with doubts, fears, and the desires of an ordinary man, was now something different. He was aware of everything, every wire, every spell, every circuit that made up his new form. He could feel the power surging through him, the precision of his movements, the strength that no longer had any limits.
He was no longer Percy Weasley.
He was Ultron.