FIC: Corrosion [2/4] (Harry Potter; Ron/Lucius; NC-17)
Title: Corrosion [2/4]
Author: darkrosetiger
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Ron/Lucius
Archive:hp_cliche, others please ask
Rating: NC-17
Summary: After the war the Ministry decides to auction off the former Death Eaters as slaves. Auror Ron Weasley buys Lucius Malfoy and learns how seductive the Dark can be.
Warnings: D/s, S/M, slavefic, noncon, implied incest
Disclaimer:Ron, Lucius and the rest of the Potterverse belong to JK Rowling. The degree to which I am not her is astounding.
Notes:Written for the "Old Clichés, New Tricks" fest, by regan_v. Many thanks to telesilla for reading it over and offering advice.
Previous Chapters
After the disaster of his second date with Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ron staggers home around 1 a.m., drunk. He could have used a sobering charm, of course, but tonight, he wants to forget. What the bloody hell does he mean, telling me it's wrong for two blokes to have a bit of fun together, anyway? he thinks as he opens the door to the flat.
A few months ago, he would have had to worry about stumbling over something, but Lucius keeps the place immaculate. Who'd have thought a Malfoy would make such a good servant? Ron chuckles to himself. Lucius is stretched out on the couch in his shirt and trousers, reading by the light of the lamp Ron had left on for him.When he hears Ron come in the door, he sets his book aside. "I wasn't expecting you so soon," he says, looking slightly concerned. "Is something wrong?"
"Not on my end," Ron says bitterly. "But I guess Justin had second thoughts."
"Justin...the person you were meeting this evening?"
"Yeah." Ron sits down heavily on the other end of the couch. "He was all for it when I asked him out last week, but now all of a sudden he's decided that he's not like that, and that it's...I dunno, sick or something for two blokes to go out like that. I don't get it. I mean, well, Harry was a little shocked when he found out why Hermione wanted to break up with me--"
"And why was that?" Lucius asks.
"Accio Ogdens," Ron mutters. When the bottle of firewhiskey and a glass come hurtling towards the couch, he catches them easily and pours a healthy amount for himself, draining half of it in a single gulp. "Right...that's the stuff...she walked in on me kissing Neville. It's not like we actually did anything, but she got all worked up about it, and it came right after her whole thing about how the auction was wrong..."
"This Justin--is he a mu--Muggleborn?"
Ron gives Lucius a suspicious look. "Yeah--why?"
Lucius folds his hands in his lap. "As I understand it," he says carefully, "Muggles are more...strict, I suppose, about certain things that we in the wizarding world take for granted. Many of them still believe that for two men to enjoy one another's company intimately is immoral." He smiles and shakes his head. "I don't understand it, but I have noticed that Muggleborn wizards often have this attitude, and are surprised to discover that it is not universal. Narcissa was hardly shocked by my preferences, and provided that I did my duty in producing an heir, and was discreet about my liaisons, she didn't complain. I doubt that even as clever a witch as Miss Granger would have been able to approach the situation from that perspective."
Ron frowns, thinking. "I s'pose that's true, but Justin...I bloody well wish he'd told me, you know? Not fair to get a bloke all worked up and then say 'Sorry, I decided it's wrong.'" He tosses back the rest of his drink and looks over at Lucius again, and an idea occurs to him. I wouldn't be trying to hurt him on purpose; wouldn't be half as bad as what he did to Percy. And he's bloody well mine, isn't he?
"Master?" Lucius is sitting up and watching Ron, his expression unreadable. Ron sets his glass down.
"Take off your clothes," he tells Lucius, who doesn't move.
"Is that an order, Master?" Lucius asks quietly.
"Only if you make it one," Ron replies. They stare at each other for a long, charged moment before Lucius lowers his eyes and begins to unbutton his shirt. Ron has to fight back that feeling of elation that's become more and more familiar since he bought Lucius. Feeling suddenly overheated, he quickly takes off his own shirt; by the time he's done, Lucius is naked and bent over the sofa. Half in light and half in shadow like this, with his long hair loose, Malfoy has an otherworldly beauty that Ron aches to shatter, to hear Lucius screaming and begging him for mercy.
Lucius looks over his shoulder. "How do you want me, Master?"
"That's good..." With fumbling fingers, Ron undoes his belt and shoves his jeans off. It takes him a moment to remember the lubrication charm--it's been a while for him--but he finally manages to get his hand slicked up so he can shove two fingers into Lucius. "Fuck, you're tight," he mutters.
"It's...been some time, Master," Lucius says through clenched teeth. Ron feels a little guilty, knowing that he's not being as gentle as he could be. It's not like I'm trying to rape him..
"Come on...relax...yeah, that's it," he says, nuzzling at Lucius' hair, and how crazy is this, that I'm about to fuck Draco Malfoy's dad? He can't wait any longer; holding onto Lucius' hip, Ron eases into him.
Lucius gasps, leaning forward so he can rest his head against the couch. Ron can't help a small, vindictive smile at that, and he pulls back, then shoves back in hard. When Lucius makes another sound, one that sounds more like a moan than before, Ron reaches around, grinning as he takes Lucius' prick in his hand.
"I see you're enjoying yourself," he growls. "Is it true, then, what they said about the Death Eaters...I'd always figured you'd be on top, but I guess you like this better, huh?"
Lucius doesn't answer. Ron rests his forearm against Lucius' back to pin him down. "I asked you a question, slave."
"Yes...Master." Lucius' anger is clear in his voice, and Ron closes his eyes to savor the moment. This is better than firewhiskey any day.
"I know you want me to bring you off," Ron says, "so I'm going to do it, while you think about the fact that however much you hate me, I'm still not being half as bad to you as your lot would have been if you'd won."
"Is that...what you Gryffindors...call fair play?" Lucius snarls.
"No. If I was being fair, you'd be rotting in Azkaban, or dead," Ron tells him. He speeds up, stroking Lucius' cock roughly as he slams into him. Just before he comes, he shouts, "Now!" and he feels Lucius tighten around him, hot jets of semen spilling over Ron's hand.
"Merlin..." Ron collapses against Lucius just long enough to get his breath back. When he stands up, he looks down at Lucius slumped on the couch and feels another stab of guilt. "You can clean up in here in the morning; go off to bed now."
"Thank you, Master--you're most kind." Ron almost flinches from the icy chill in Lucius' voice, but when Lucius turns around, his face is its usual impassive mask. Ron flees back to the safety of his room and closes the door. He crawls into bed and falls almost immediately into a sleep haunted by vague, unsettling dreams.
Ron's head is pounding when he wakes. He struggles to sit up and notices a glass on the side table half full of a thick, foul-smelling greenish liquid. Ron reaches for his wand, then drops it as a spike of pain shoots through his skull.
"It's not poisoned. I couldn't harm you, even if I wanted to, thanks to the geas the Ministry put on me." Lucius stands in the doorway, watching Ron.
"Geas? But that's--"
Lucius gives Ron a very tiny smile. "Dark magic, yes. Among the darkest, for it constrains the free will of another. But...there are different rules for the Ministry. As I'm sure you know." He nods toward the glass. "It's a hangover remedy. It will help somewhat, though be prepared; it--"
Ron grabs the glass and drains it. He almost spits it back out. "This stuff is disgusting!"
"Yes, I'm afraid it's quite vile. I do have breakfast ready; tea will help."
"Thank you." Ron swings his legs over the side of the bed and starts to get up before remembering that he'd gone to sleep naked. Fortunately, Lucius has already gone into the kitchen, giving Ron time to pull on a pair of pajama bottoms. Lucius sets a plate in front of him as he comes in.
"Thanks," Ron mutters. The food is good, as usual; Ron had been quite surprised to discover that Lucius could cook fairly well. After a few bites, Ron sets down his fork. "Look...about last night..."
Lucius shrugs. "You didn't take me against my will. You didn't use force or magic to coerce me."
"No...but that doesn't make it right." Ron stares at his eggs.
"Master..." Lucius pulls out a chair and sits. "You own me. Provided that you do not permanently injure me, the terms of my sentence permit you to do as you wish with me. You had every right, and, if you recall, I didn't protest." He stands again. "Next time, however...if I may make a request, Master, I would ask that we use the bed."
Ron turns. Lucius is smiling; slowly, Ron returns the smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
* * *
Ron's supposed to leave for Ireland in the morning to investigate a series of recent attacks rumored to have been initiated by former Death Eaters. He's tired, but he'd wanted to pick up some things in Diagon Alley before leaving. As he's leaving Flourish & Blotts, he hears someone calling his name.
"Ron!" Harry waves to him as he's coming out of Quality Quidditch Supplies, followed, as usual, by a gaggle of adoring fans. Ron hears someone whisper, "That's Ron Weasley; he's Harry Potter's best friend, you know!" Before he has time to be annoyed, Harry's grabbed him and pulled him into a quick, rough hug.
"How're you doing--God, it's been ages!" Harry grins. "What's all that then? I didn't realize you were such a big reader."
"Oh...most of these are for Malfoy. I'll be away for a bit--all the stuff going on in Ireland, you know?--and I figured I should leave him something so he doesn't get too bored."
Harry raises his eyebrows. "This is supposed to be punishment, you know. Not that it's enough, but still."
Ron shrugs "Yeah, but he's got the place in good enough shape that when he's done the cooking, there's not much for him to do." Besides get fucked or suck me off, of course. "I figure it's better to get him something to read than to have a bored Death Eater on my hands."
"He cooks? Really? It's like pulling teeth to get Draco to do it--and he's not very good at it. We've had to hire Dobby to do the cooking until Draco can manage not to burn toast...but if that hasn't scared you off, you should come by for dinner sometime. It's been ages, and I know Ginny'd love to see you."
"I'd like that," Ron says, "but it'll have to wait until I get back. Things are kind of busy now." He's suddenly annoyed with Harry. Sure, easy for you to go off and play professional Quidditch and leave the rest of us to clean up this mess.
"Oh, sure, yeah." Harry bounces on his toes a little. "I just...well, we don't see you often enough, and we miss you."
Ron narrows his eyes a little. "Oh? Funny, I had the distinct impression that you didn't want to be around me much after you found out I liked shagging men." Even as he says it, he knows it's not fair. Harry asked several times if Ron was attracted to him, but he'd accepted Ron's "Are you mental?" and laughed and never said any more about it.
Harry looks hurt by Ron's accusation. "You know that's not true, Ron. Have I ever once given you a hard time about...about that? I mean, I did say you maybe should have told Hermione, but since she's not really speaking to me much these days, I'm not going to hold that against you."
"Yeah...I'm sorry." Ron stares down at his feet.
"D'you ever wish we could go back?" Harry asks softly. "Have everything be like it was, only with no Voldemort?"
Ron has to think about that for a moment. Before, he had Harry and Hermione and his family. Now, he has money and space to himself and...Lucius. "Sometimes," he tells Harry. "but we can't go back, so I don't like to think about it." He reaches out and touches Harry's arm lightly, pulling away the instant Harry glances up at him.
"Sorry," Ron says again, though this time he's not sure what he's apologizing for. "Listen, I'll be in touch--I'll send Pig as soon as I get back from Ireland, okay? I've got to go now, though."
"Yeah." Harry runs a hand through his hair and gives Ron a smiles that's mostly unforced. "Be careful, Ron. "
As usual, Lucius has dinner waiting for Ron. He never eats with Ron, always waiting until after his master is finished. Normally Ron's fine with that, but for some reason, tonight, he wants company. "Have a seat," he tells Lucius.
After a moment's hesitation, Lucius pulls out a chair and sits. "I trust that I have not displeased you, Master?" he says.
Ron shakes his head. "Not at all. I just wanted to talk. I'm going away for a few days. I think I can fix the lights so you can turn them on and off, like I did with the stove. And those books over there are for you, in case you get bored or something."
"That is thoughtful of you, Master," Lucius says. "Will you be away long?"
"Why--are you going to miss me?" Ron asks, not-quite sneering at Lucius. "I don't know. It depends on how long it takes to round up the friends of yours who've been causing a lot of trouble in Ireland. The trick'll be finding them." He smiles, the expression devoid of humor. "I'd ask you if you had any idea where a couple of Death Eater holdouts might be hiding, but I don't suppose you'd tell me even if you did know.
Lucius arches a pale eyebrow. "You don't know where they are?"
"Not exactly...no."
"As it happens," Lucius says, "I am of the opinion that my former comrades should share my fate, so I see no reason to hide any information from you. Alas, I fear I don't know where they could be found, though you could always...well, no. Never mind."
Ron had always hated that; Hermione did it to him all the time, starting to say something and then stopping, as though she thought he was too thick to get it. "What?"
"Well, there are ways...but those spells are classed with the Dark Arts, so you wouldn't want to use them, I'm sure."
"At this point, if it'll keep any more people from getting killed, I'd try damned near anything," Ron says, glaring at Lucius. "What's the spell?"
Lucius steeples his fingers. "Blood calls to blood. Depending on how long it's been--naturally, it won't work as well if too much time has passed--you can use blood to recall any lingering impressions from the site of a violent death. It works best if the blood is from the victim, but if that is not possible, there are other ways....I can't demonstrate, of course, but I can describe the process to you. If you wish, that is, Master."
Ron drums his fingers on the table, thinking. Finally he nods. "Yes. Tell me what you know."
Author: darkrosetiger
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Ron/Lucius
Archive:hp_cliche, others please ask
Rating: NC-17
Summary: After the war the Ministry decides to auction off the former Death Eaters as slaves. Auror Ron Weasley buys Lucius Malfoy and learns how seductive the Dark can be.
Warnings: D/s, S/M, slavefic, noncon, implied incest
Disclaimer:Ron, Lucius and the rest of the Potterverse belong to JK Rowling. The degree to which I am not her is astounding.
Notes:Written for the "Old Clichés, New Tricks" fest, by regan_v. Many thanks to telesilla for reading it over and offering advice.
Previous Chapters
After the disaster of his second date with Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ron staggers home around 1 a.m., drunk. He could have used a sobering charm, of course, but tonight, he wants to forget. What the bloody hell does he mean, telling me it's wrong for two blokes to have a bit of fun together, anyway? he thinks as he opens the door to the flat.
A few months ago, he would have had to worry about stumbling over something, but Lucius keeps the place immaculate. Who'd have thought a Malfoy would make such a good servant? Ron chuckles to himself. Lucius is stretched out on the couch in his shirt and trousers, reading by the light of the lamp Ron had left on for him.When he hears Ron come in the door, he sets his book aside. "I wasn't expecting you so soon," he says, looking slightly concerned. "Is something wrong?"
"Not on my end," Ron says bitterly. "But I guess Justin had second thoughts."
"Justin...the person you were meeting this evening?"
"Yeah." Ron sits down heavily on the other end of the couch. "He was all for it when I asked him out last week, but now all of a sudden he's decided that he's not like that, and that it's...I dunno, sick or something for two blokes to go out like that. I don't get it. I mean, well, Harry was a little shocked when he found out why Hermione wanted to break up with me--"
"And why was that?" Lucius asks.
"Accio Ogdens," Ron mutters. When the bottle of firewhiskey and a glass come hurtling towards the couch, he catches them easily and pours a healthy amount for himself, draining half of it in a single gulp. "Right...that's the stuff...she walked in on me kissing Neville. It's not like we actually did anything, but she got all worked up about it, and it came right after her whole thing about how the auction was wrong..."
"This Justin--is he a mu--Muggleborn?"
Ron gives Lucius a suspicious look. "Yeah--why?"
Lucius folds his hands in his lap. "As I understand it," he says carefully, "Muggles are more...strict, I suppose, about certain things that we in the wizarding world take for granted. Many of them still believe that for two men to enjoy one another's company intimately is immoral." He smiles and shakes his head. "I don't understand it, but I have noticed that Muggleborn wizards often have this attitude, and are surprised to discover that it is not universal. Narcissa was hardly shocked by my preferences, and provided that I did my duty in producing an heir, and was discreet about my liaisons, she didn't complain. I doubt that even as clever a witch as Miss Granger would have been able to approach the situation from that perspective."
Ron frowns, thinking. "I s'pose that's true, but Justin...I bloody well wish he'd told me, you know? Not fair to get a bloke all worked up and then say 'Sorry, I decided it's wrong.'" He tosses back the rest of his drink and looks over at Lucius again, and an idea occurs to him. I wouldn't be trying to hurt him on purpose; wouldn't be half as bad as what he did to Percy. And he's bloody well mine, isn't he?
"Master?" Lucius is sitting up and watching Ron, his expression unreadable. Ron sets his glass down.
"Take off your clothes," he tells Lucius, who doesn't move.
"Is that an order, Master?" Lucius asks quietly.
"Only if you make it one," Ron replies. They stare at each other for a long, charged moment before Lucius lowers his eyes and begins to unbutton his shirt. Ron has to fight back that feeling of elation that's become more and more familiar since he bought Lucius. Feeling suddenly overheated, he quickly takes off his own shirt; by the time he's done, Lucius is naked and bent over the sofa. Half in light and half in shadow like this, with his long hair loose, Malfoy has an otherworldly beauty that Ron aches to shatter, to hear Lucius screaming and begging him for mercy.
Lucius looks over his shoulder. "How do you want me, Master?"
"That's good..." With fumbling fingers, Ron undoes his belt and shoves his jeans off. It takes him a moment to remember the lubrication charm--it's been a while for him--but he finally manages to get his hand slicked up so he can shove two fingers into Lucius. "Fuck, you're tight," he mutters.
"It's...been some time, Master," Lucius says through clenched teeth. Ron feels a little guilty, knowing that he's not being as gentle as he could be. It's not like I'm trying to rape him..
"Come on...relax...yeah, that's it," he says, nuzzling at Lucius' hair, and how crazy is this, that I'm about to fuck Draco Malfoy's dad? He can't wait any longer; holding onto Lucius' hip, Ron eases into him.
Lucius gasps, leaning forward so he can rest his head against the couch. Ron can't help a small, vindictive smile at that, and he pulls back, then shoves back in hard. When Lucius makes another sound, one that sounds more like a moan than before, Ron reaches around, grinning as he takes Lucius' prick in his hand.
"I see you're enjoying yourself," he growls. "Is it true, then, what they said about the Death Eaters...I'd always figured you'd be on top, but I guess you like this better, huh?"
Lucius doesn't answer. Ron rests his forearm against Lucius' back to pin him down. "I asked you a question, slave."
"Yes...Master." Lucius' anger is clear in his voice, and Ron closes his eyes to savor the moment. This is better than firewhiskey any day.
"I know you want me to bring you off," Ron says, "so I'm going to do it, while you think about the fact that however much you hate me, I'm still not being half as bad to you as your lot would have been if you'd won."
"Is that...what you Gryffindors...call fair play?" Lucius snarls.
"No. If I was being fair, you'd be rotting in Azkaban, or dead," Ron tells him. He speeds up, stroking Lucius' cock roughly as he slams into him. Just before he comes, he shouts, "Now!" and he feels Lucius tighten around him, hot jets of semen spilling over Ron's hand.
"Merlin..." Ron collapses against Lucius just long enough to get his breath back. When he stands up, he looks down at Lucius slumped on the couch and feels another stab of guilt. "You can clean up in here in the morning; go off to bed now."
"Thank you, Master--you're most kind." Ron almost flinches from the icy chill in Lucius' voice, but when Lucius turns around, his face is its usual impassive mask. Ron flees back to the safety of his room and closes the door. He crawls into bed and falls almost immediately into a sleep haunted by vague, unsettling dreams.
Ron's head is pounding when he wakes. He struggles to sit up and notices a glass on the side table half full of a thick, foul-smelling greenish liquid. Ron reaches for his wand, then drops it as a spike of pain shoots through his skull.
"It's not poisoned. I couldn't harm you, even if I wanted to, thanks to the geas the Ministry put on me." Lucius stands in the doorway, watching Ron.
"Geas? But that's--"
Lucius gives Ron a very tiny smile. "Dark magic, yes. Among the darkest, for it constrains the free will of another. But...there are different rules for the Ministry. As I'm sure you know." He nods toward the glass. "It's a hangover remedy. It will help somewhat, though be prepared; it--"
Ron grabs the glass and drains it. He almost spits it back out. "This stuff is disgusting!"
"Yes, I'm afraid it's quite vile. I do have breakfast ready; tea will help."
"Thank you." Ron swings his legs over the side of the bed and starts to get up before remembering that he'd gone to sleep naked. Fortunately, Lucius has already gone into the kitchen, giving Ron time to pull on a pair of pajama bottoms. Lucius sets a plate in front of him as he comes in.
"Thanks," Ron mutters. The food is good, as usual; Ron had been quite surprised to discover that Lucius could cook fairly well. After a few bites, Ron sets down his fork. "Look...about last night..."
Lucius shrugs. "You didn't take me against my will. You didn't use force or magic to coerce me."
"No...but that doesn't make it right." Ron stares at his eggs.
"Master..." Lucius pulls out a chair and sits. "You own me. Provided that you do not permanently injure me, the terms of my sentence permit you to do as you wish with me. You had every right, and, if you recall, I didn't protest." He stands again. "Next time, however...if I may make a request, Master, I would ask that we use the bed."
Ron turns. Lucius is smiling; slowly, Ron returns the smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
* * *
Ron's supposed to leave for Ireland in the morning to investigate a series of recent attacks rumored to have been initiated by former Death Eaters. He's tired, but he'd wanted to pick up some things in Diagon Alley before leaving. As he's leaving Flourish & Blotts, he hears someone calling his name.
"Ron!" Harry waves to him as he's coming out of Quality Quidditch Supplies, followed, as usual, by a gaggle of adoring fans. Ron hears someone whisper, "That's Ron Weasley; he's Harry Potter's best friend, you know!" Before he has time to be annoyed, Harry's grabbed him and pulled him into a quick, rough hug.
"How're you doing--God, it's been ages!" Harry grins. "What's all that then? I didn't realize you were such a big reader."
"Oh...most of these are for Malfoy. I'll be away for a bit--all the stuff going on in Ireland, you know?--and I figured I should leave him something so he doesn't get too bored."
Harry raises his eyebrows. "This is supposed to be punishment, you know. Not that it's enough, but still."
Ron shrugs "Yeah, but he's got the place in good enough shape that when he's done the cooking, there's not much for him to do." Besides get fucked or suck me off, of course. "I figure it's better to get him something to read than to have a bored Death Eater on my hands."
"He cooks? Really? It's like pulling teeth to get Draco to do it--and he's not very good at it. We've had to hire Dobby to do the cooking until Draco can manage not to burn toast...but if that hasn't scared you off, you should come by for dinner sometime. It's been ages, and I know Ginny'd love to see you."
"I'd like that," Ron says, "but it'll have to wait until I get back. Things are kind of busy now." He's suddenly annoyed with Harry. Sure, easy for you to go off and play professional Quidditch and leave the rest of us to clean up this mess.
"Oh, sure, yeah." Harry bounces on his toes a little. "I just...well, we don't see you often enough, and we miss you."
Ron narrows his eyes a little. "Oh? Funny, I had the distinct impression that you didn't want to be around me much after you found out I liked shagging men." Even as he says it, he knows it's not fair. Harry asked several times if Ron was attracted to him, but he'd accepted Ron's "Are you mental?" and laughed and never said any more about it.
Harry looks hurt by Ron's accusation. "You know that's not true, Ron. Have I ever once given you a hard time about...about that? I mean, I did say you maybe should have told Hermione, but since she's not really speaking to me much these days, I'm not going to hold that against you."
"Yeah...I'm sorry." Ron stares down at his feet.
"D'you ever wish we could go back?" Harry asks softly. "Have everything be like it was, only with no Voldemort?"
Ron has to think about that for a moment. Before, he had Harry and Hermione and his family. Now, he has money and space to himself and...Lucius. "Sometimes," he tells Harry. "but we can't go back, so I don't like to think about it." He reaches out and touches Harry's arm lightly, pulling away the instant Harry glances up at him.
"Sorry," Ron says again, though this time he's not sure what he's apologizing for. "Listen, I'll be in touch--I'll send Pig as soon as I get back from Ireland, okay? I've got to go now, though."
"Yeah." Harry runs a hand through his hair and gives Ron a smiles that's mostly unforced. "Be careful, Ron. "
As usual, Lucius has dinner waiting for Ron. He never eats with Ron, always waiting until after his master is finished. Normally Ron's fine with that, but for some reason, tonight, he wants company. "Have a seat," he tells Lucius.
After a moment's hesitation, Lucius pulls out a chair and sits. "I trust that I have not displeased you, Master?" he says.
Ron shakes his head. "Not at all. I just wanted to talk. I'm going away for a few days. I think I can fix the lights so you can turn them on and off, like I did with the stove. And those books over there are for you, in case you get bored or something."
"That is thoughtful of you, Master," Lucius says. "Will you be away long?"
"Why--are you going to miss me?" Ron asks, not-quite sneering at Lucius. "I don't know. It depends on how long it takes to round up the friends of yours who've been causing a lot of trouble in Ireland. The trick'll be finding them." He smiles, the expression devoid of humor. "I'd ask you if you had any idea where a couple of Death Eater holdouts might be hiding, but I don't suppose you'd tell me even if you did know.
Lucius arches a pale eyebrow. "You don't know where they are?"
"Not exactly...no."
"As it happens," Lucius says, "I am of the opinion that my former comrades should share my fate, so I see no reason to hide any information from you. Alas, I fear I don't know where they could be found, though you could always...well, no. Never mind."
Ron had always hated that; Hermione did it to him all the time, starting to say something and then stopping, as though she thought he was too thick to get it. "What?"
"Well, there are ways...but those spells are classed with the Dark Arts, so you wouldn't want to use them, I'm sure."
"At this point, if it'll keep any more people from getting killed, I'd try damned near anything," Ron says, glaring at Lucius. "What's the spell?"
Lucius steeples his fingers. "Blood calls to blood. Depending on how long it's been--naturally, it won't work as well if too much time has passed--you can use blood to recall any lingering impressions from the site of a violent death. It works best if the blood is from the victim, but if that is not possible, there are other ways....I can't demonstrate, of course, but I can describe the process to you. If you wish, that is, Master."
Ron drums his fingers on the table, thinking. Finally he nods. "Yes. Tell me what you know."