There, see? I told you I'd be getting back to fandom matters soon.
Did a little writing tonight for theatrical_muse. The prompt was: What is the biggest lie you ever told, and what were the consequences? Lucius had a story to tell.
Approximately 1000 words, rated G. And unbeta'd, so do let me know if you spot any problems.
The crowd was murmuring softly as I settled into the chair in the center of the room, so softly I could not quite make out what they were saying. The only person not speaking was Narcissa, who sat alone and ramrod-straight, her eyes fixed on my face. There was no sign of concern in her expression, only the vaguely disapproving look we'd long ago agreed would be her best defense should the unthinkable happen. A few seats away, Moody sat glaring daggers in my direction. The chains adorning the arms of the chair gave an ominous rattle before falling to the floor with an echoing, metallic clatter. I slumped in my seat, my shoulders hunched, my heart pounding with fear, though not for the reasons I was about to cite.
So much was riding on what happened next.
Barty Crouch stood up and approached, his face dark as a thundercloud, and the crowd grew still and tense. His voice rang in the silence. "Lucius Malfoy, you have been brought before the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters," he said curtly. "We have reason to believe you were involved in several incidents concerning the torture and murder of Muggles and wizards alike. Evidence has been presented against you by several eyewitnesses. Do you have anything to say in your own defense?"
"No."
The crowd shifted in their seats, and the sound of urgent whispering rushed across the room. Moody smirked.
Crouch seemed taken aback, but recovered quickly. "You -- you admit you were a party to these crimes, then?"
"Yes."
"I... see." Crouch's eyes began to gleam. "Well, if you have nothing to say in your own defense, this Council shall dispense with the remainder of the trial and get straight to pronouncing judgment."
"Wait!" I leapt to my feet, and the chains on the floor snaked their way around my ankles. I sat down again, throat working hard. "Wait," I croaked again, holding up one shaking hand. Narcissa's face took on the pale, pinched look it always got before she began to weep. "I admit I was involved in those attacks, but it wasn't my fault!"
Crouch narrowed his eyes. "And precisely what do you mean by that, Malfoy?"
"You are ready to accept my Mark, Lucius?"
"I am, my Lord."
I dropped my head and stared at the floor. "I -- I was under the Imperius Curse."
"Nonsense!" Moody's face flushed red as a beet. "That's a lie!"
Crouch waved Moody off with an impatient flick of his hands. He regarded me silently for a moment, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Are you trying to tell this Council that you are not responsible for your actions?"
"You do this of your own free will?"
"Of course, my Lord."
"Yes." My voice cracked with desperation. "The Dark Lord threatened my family. My son! I refused, of course I did! But he wouldn't take no for an answer!" My fingernails ached from digging them into the arms of the chair.
"I see." Doubt was etched clearly on every line of Crouch's face.
"You must believe me," I croaked. "When I refused, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named used the Imperius Curse. He c-controlled me for years." I swallowed hard, my mouth as dry as cotton.
"You have no proof of this, I assume?"
I shook my head. "Only my word --"
"Which is worthless!" Moody shouted.
"-- and the words of countless others like myself who were forced to act against their will."
"There. It is done. Welcome to the fold, Lucius."
"May my loyalty never waver, my Lord."
"So. You have no evidence to substantiate your claim, Malfoy, and freely admit to being involved in the crimes in question." Crouch turned away to face the crowd. "I believe we have heard all we need to hear. What is the Council's verdict?"
For one long, tense moment, there was no answer. Then a balding wizard in magenta robes slowly got to his feet. He looked past Crouch to address me directly. "On behalf of the Board of Governors for St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, I would like to thank Mr Malfoy for his many generous contributions over the years. My vote is for release."
Moody looked as though he could gladly murder me on the spot, witnesses be damned. A thin witch with a hooked nose stood next. "The Augustus Wilkerson Home For Orphaned and Abandoned Children is also in Mr Malfoy's debt. I, too, vote for his release."
I held my breath as the third, fourth and fifth members of the Council got to their feet to express their thanks and cast their votes. Thank you, Father, I thought desperately, my heart soaring as the sixth and seventh votes came down in my favor, for teaching me the value of patronage. It was the only worthwhile lesson the old bastard had ever imparted.
When the final vote was cast, Crouch turned to face me once again, his hands balled into fists so tight they shook. "Very well, Malfoy," he said in a strangled whisper. "This Council has seen fit to release you, though I believe it is a grave miscarriage of justice. However, it would seem I have no choice."
"Crouch! No!" Moody also sounded as though there were not enough oxygen in the room.
"You are --"
"Crouch! Are you insane?!"
"-- free to go."
The room rang with applause, and the chains binding my ankles slithered away. Narcissa was suddenly in my arms, her eyes red and her cheeks moist. Over her shoulder, I could see the murderous glint in Moody's eyes. His angry growl was only just audible over the excited chatter of the crowd.
"This. Isn't. Over. Malfoy."
"Yes. Yes, it is," I said, taking my wife's hand and leading her past the enraged Auror. "It is over. And I'm going home."
Approximately 1000 words, rated G. And unbeta'd, so do let me know if you spot any problems.
The crowd was murmuring softly as I settled into the chair in the center of the room, so softly I could not quite make out what they were saying. The only person not speaking was Narcissa, who sat alone and ramrod-straight, her eyes fixed on my face. There was no sign of concern in her expression, only the vaguely disapproving look we'd long ago agreed would be her best defense should the unthinkable happen. A few seats away, Moody sat glaring daggers in my direction. The chains adorning the arms of the chair gave an ominous rattle before falling to the floor with an echoing, metallic clatter. I slumped in my seat, my shoulders hunched, my heart pounding with fear, though not for the reasons I was about to cite.
So much was riding on what happened next.
Barty Crouch stood up and approached, his face dark as a thundercloud, and the crowd grew still and tense. His voice rang in the silence. "Lucius Malfoy, you have been brought before the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters," he said curtly. "We have reason to believe you were involved in several incidents concerning the torture and murder of Muggles and wizards alike. Evidence has been presented against you by several eyewitnesses. Do you have anything to say in your own defense?"
"No."
The crowd shifted in their seats, and the sound of urgent whispering rushed across the room. Moody smirked.
Crouch seemed taken aback, but recovered quickly. "You -- you admit you were a party to these crimes, then?"
"Yes."
"I... see." Crouch's eyes began to gleam. "Well, if you have nothing to say in your own defense, this Council shall dispense with the remainder of the trial and get straight to pronouncing judgment."
"Wait!" I leapt to my feet, and the chains on the floor snaked their way around my ankles. I sat down again, throat working hard. "Wait," I croaked again, holding up one shaking hand. Narcissa's face took on the pale, pinched look it always got before she began to weep. "I admit I was involved in those attacks, but it wasn't my fault!"
Crouch narrowed his eyes. "And precisely what do you mean by that, Malfoy?"
"You are ready to accept my Mark, Lucius?"
"I am, my Lord."
I dropped my head and stared at the floor. "I -- I was under the Imperius Curse."
"Nonsense!" Moody's face flushed red as a beet. "That's a lie!"
Crouch waved Moody off with an impatient flick of his hands. He regarded me silently for a moment, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Are you trying to tell this Council that you are not responsible for your actions?"
"You do this of your own free will?"
"Of course, my Lord."
"Yes." My voice cracked with desperation. "The Dark Lord threatened my family. My son! I refused, of course I did! But he wouldn't take no for an answer!" My fingernails ached from digging them into the arms of the chair.
"I see." Doubt was etched clearly on every line of Crouch's face.
"You must believe me," I croaked. "When I refused, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named used the Imperius Curse. He c-controlled me for years." I swallowed hard, my mouth as dry as cotton.
"You have no proof of this, I assume?"
I shook my head. "Only my word --"
"Which is worthless!" Moody shouted.
"-- and the words of countless others like myself who were forced to act against their will."
"There. It is done. Welcome to the fold, Lucius."
"May my loyalty never waver, my Lord."
"So. You have no evidence to substantiate your claim, Malfoy, and freely admit to being involved in the crimes in question." Crouch turned away to face the crowd. "I believe we have heard all we need to hear. What is the Council's verdict?"
For one long, tense moment, there was no answer. Then a balding wizard in magenta robes slowly got to his feet. He looked past Crouch to address me directly. "On behalf of the Board of Governors for St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, I would like to thank Mr Malfoy for his many generous contributions over the years. My vote is for release."
Moody looked as though he could gladly murder me on the spot, witnesses be damned. A thin witch with a hooked nose stood next. "The Augustus Wilkerson Home For Orphaned and Abandoned Children is also in Mr Malfoy's debt. I, too, vote for his release."
I held my breath as the third, fourth and fifth members of the Council got to their feet to express their thanks and cast their votes. Thank you, Father, I thought desperately, my heart soaring as the sixth and seventh votes came down in my favor, for teaching me the value of patronage. It was the only worthwhile lesson the old bastard had ever imparted.
When the final vote was cast, Crouch turned to face me once again, his hands balled into fists so tight they shook. "Very well, Malfoy," he said in a strangled whisper. "This Council has seen fit to release you, though I believe it is a grave miscarriage of justice. However, it would seem I have no choice."
"Crouch! No!" Moody also sounded as though there were not enough oxygen in the room.
"You are --"
"Crouch! Are you insane?!"
"-- free to go."
The room rang with applause, and the chains binding my ankles slithered away. Narcissa was suddenly in my arms, her eyes red and her cheeks moist. Over her shoulder, I could see the murderous glint in Moody's eyes. His angry growl was only just audible over the excited chatter of the crowd.
"This. Isn't. Over. Malfoy."
"Yes. Yes, it is," I said, taking my wife's hand and leading her past the enraged Auror. "It is over. And I'm going home."