The Only Answer
Title: The Only Answer
Characters/Pairing: Lucius, implied Lucius/Siobhan
Rating: PG-13 [GASP]
Summary: Lucius has lost something dear to him, and there is only one way to get it back.
Warnings: AU, Implied Older Man/Younger Woman [student age]
A/N: Lucius POV companion shot for "Sins of the Father". Contains spoilers for upcoming chapters, but not like you couldn't have guessed anyway ;)
He remembered the first time he had seen her.
At the train station, seeing the boy off to his last year at school. He’d been humouring one of Narcissa’s lectures while he allowed his eyes to drift through the masses - and there she had stood, watching him.
He’d expected the young girl to blush, embarrassed at being caught, but instead she had flashed him a smile. Confident, mischievous; that smirk he had now grown so accustomed to.
Now, that smile was fading.
He wanted to believe the smile had vanished completely. That entrancing devilish smirk had not played across her lips since their last kiss. To think that she might smile for someone else - it caused his pulse to quicken as jealousy pounded through his veins.
Yes, he had power over her - the fact that she knew what he was and he still walked free was a sign of her unceasing loyalty, devotion, submission - but that power was not absolute. She would not return to him as long as he remained a servant of the Dark Lord.
It would be far too foolish for Lucius to walk away from the Death Eaters; he would be killed as soon as he could be found. He had never understood the romantic notion of dying for love. If he were dead, there would be no point in winning her affections, and she would simply be left distraught. There was no logic to sacrificing himself.
No, there was only one answer.
‘Someone’s found the boy, Malfoy. He’s close to the Dark Lord… preparing to finish this war.’
‘How close?’
‘Somewhere in southern Wales. In the whereabouts of the Olde Castle. He’s been staying in the woods - moving about, of course - it’s why nobody’s been able to capture him. But in the general vicinity. Those friends of his - Granger and Weasley - recently showed up at Hogwarts. We reckon he’s ready to make his move, and sent them back. He might be making some final preparations… he knows something. If the Dark Lord is not notified of Potter’s immediate proximity…’
‘He could very well be defeated by the boy. Yes, I understand.’
‘Only three people - ’
‘Yes, I know who they are, Yaxley. Leave it to me. I will see to it that the right people get this information.’
The first two people entrusted with the knowledge of the Dark Lord’s whereabouts were Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange. Severus Snape was the third.
Lucius found it ironic that such a man was privy to such information. After all, Bella was clearly one of the Dark Lord’s favourites - at least, one he could find the most use out of - and she despised the greasy-haired professor. As far as Bella was concerned, Severus Snape was not to be trusted, likely a spy for the Order. If anything else, his loyalties did not lie with the Dark Lord.
Lucius rather agreed with his otherwise despicable sister-in-law. Snape was not to be counted on to protect the Dark Lord. The man had ulterior motives, whether they were his own or Albus Dumbledore’s.
As it were, Lucius needed to pass along the information concerning Potter, and he knew that if Severus Snape was fed the report, it would surely not find its way to the Dark Lord.
As he walked through the grand doors of the Entrance Hall, Lucius was quite aware of the pounding of his heart inside his body. Such a consciousness was a rather rare occurrence.
His eyes scanned the Hall fleetingly - it was just after lunch, and students were about. He had, of course, intended this timing. The smallest chance that he might see her…
She was hard to miss of course. She was off to the side, walking alone, her eyes somewhere else, distracted and saddened. Lucius watched her a moment, knowing that he would have spotted her even if she had been in the middle of a bustling crowd; her curly red hair that had tumbled across his own sheets on so many occasions, her milky white skin he had caressed so often with his lips.
As his eyes rested on her, she seemed to feel it, because she looked up and their eyes met. He could see shock on her face, but it lasted only a moment before she was visibly hit with a wave of disgust and regret.
Lucius felt an impulse to go to her, but knew that would seem suspicious, particularly since he’d have to move rather quickly if he was to catch up to her now as she moved briskly in the opposite direction.
Instead, he heaved a frustrated sigh and headed down into the dungeons for his appointment with Severus Snape, whom he found waiting in his dark and dingy office.
‘Lucius, how good to see you.’
‘Spare me the pleasantries, Severus. I’m here on business.’
‘Oh?’ the greasy-haired man replied with heightened interest, snapping his office door shut.
‘I’ve received information on the location of Potter.’
‘And you come to me with this information, why?’
‘You are one of the only three people with access to the Dark Lord’s hideout - regrettably, as I have shown ‘recklessness’ in the past, I am not one of them. Otherwise I like to believe I would be one of the honoured - ’
‘And why don’t you go to your sister-in-law? Surely -’
‘Bellatrix is a wanted Death Eater, it is much safer to speak with you, and certainly easier to find you. Potter is very close to the Dark Lord - ready to strike. If the Dark Lord is not alerted to this at once, he could very well risk his destruction.’
The man called Severus was silent, eyeing Lucius suspiciously, before speaking slowly.
‘And here I was, thinking that Bella had poisoned your trust of me.’
‘This is a war, and I trust that we are on the same side, Severus.’
‘I know exactly what you think of me Lucius,’ Severus said shrewdly. ‘So you will forgive my suspicions. Perhaps you hope to prove to the Dark Lord that I am disloyal when I fail to deliver this information.’
‘I know that you will do with the information what you must.’
Lucius spoke delicately, his grey eyes focused intently as though inviting the other man into his mind, betraying something hidden within his words, buried within his thoughts. Severus stopped and observed him with keen interest, unsure if he could believe what the loyal servant of Voldemort was trusting him with.
‘It’s the girl, isn’t it?’ he said with biting amusement.
‘I haven’t the faintest idea of what you’re referring to, or what it has to do with - ’
‘Tell me, Lucius, do you love her?’ Severus sneered. ‘Has the little slag managed to win your black heart?’
Lucius felt stab of anger in his stomach, and he drew his wand on Severus, barely conscious of the action. Severus sneered at the point of the wand in his face.
‘My, my - touchy subject?’
‘I thought I would demonstrate what might happen to you, should you insult my honour.’
‘Is it really your honour that you felt I was insulting? Or were you defending your precious lass?’
Lucius narrowed his eyes; the stress placed on the professor’s purposeful last word was unmistakable.
‘I’ve taught her for nearly seven years now, you realise? Yes, definitely a unique young women. I believe she rather detests the Dark Lord’s agenda - I imagine she’d want nothing to do with any man in the Lord’s company…’
Lucius felt his anger pulsate, but remained still, suffering his colleague’s verbal torture. After all, it was not a lie that he and Snape were on the same side of this war; the man remained an asset to him for the time-being.
‘I wondered how long it would be before she discovered the truth about you. However, I must admit mild surprise at the hold she has taken on you - I can see the desperation in you. Last time I witnessed that pathetic fear in you was at the end of the last war. But that was over your life, your reputation. Not a nice piece of arse.’
‘Do you always talk about your students this way?’ Lucius asked, biting venom in his feigned composure as he pushed back the urge to throw down his wand and hit the man with a closed fist.
‘Usually, no,’ Severus admitted. ‘But, there are always exceptions, I imagine. For instance: do you always fall in love with your mistresses?’
‘This discussion is over, Severus,’ Lucius said shortly. ‘Potter is in Southern Wales, near the Olde Castle. We have reason to believe he is preparing to attack. I’ve passed the information onto you, and as such, it is off my hands. Do with it what you must.’
‘I’m sure you hope I will.’
Characters/Pairing: Lucius, implied Lucius/Siobhan
Rating: PG-13 [GASP]
Summary: Lucius has lost something dear to him, and there is only one way to get it back.
Warnings: AU, Implied Older Man/Younger Woman [student age]
A/N: Lucius POV companion shot for "Sins of the Father". Contains spoilers for upcoming chapters, but not like you couldn't have guessed anyway ;)
He remembered the first time he had seen her.
At the train station, seeing the boy off to his last year at school. He’d been humouring one of Narcissa’s lectures while he allowed his eyes to drift through the masses - and there she had stood, watching him.
He’d expected the young girl to blush, embarrassed at being caught, but instead she had flashed him a smile. Confident, mischievous; that smirk he had now grown so accustomed to.
Now, that smile was fading.
He wanted to believe the smile had vanished completely. That entrancing devilish smirk had not played across her lips since their last kiss. To think that she might smile for someone else - it caused his pulse to quicken as jealousy pounded through his veins.
Yes, he had power over her - the fact that she knew what he was and he still walked free was a sign of her unceasing loyalty, devotion, submission - but that power was not absolute. She would not return to him as long as he remained a servant of the Dark Lord.
It would be far too foolish for Lucius to walk away from the Death Eaters; he would be killed as soon as he could be found. He had never understood the romantic notion of dying for love. If he were dead, there would be no point in winning her affections, and she would simply be left distraught. There was no logic to sacrificing himself.
No, there was only one answer.
‘Someone’s found the boy, Malfoy. He’s close to the Dark Lord… preparing to finish this war.’
‘How close?’
‘Somewhere in southern Wales. In the whereabouts of the Olde Castle. He’s been staying in the woods - moving about, of course - it’s why nobody’s been able to capture him. But in the general vicinity. Those friends of his - Granger and Weasley - recently showed up at Hogwarts. We reckon he’s ready to make his move, and sent them back. He might be making some final preparations… he knows something. If the Dark Lord is not notified of Potter’s immediate proximity…’
‘He could very well be defeated by the boy. Yes, I understand.’
‘Only three people - ’
‘Yes, I know who they are, Yaxley. Leave it to me. I will see to it that the right people get this information.’
The first two people entrusted with the knowledge of the Dark Lord’s whereabouts were Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange. Severus Snape was the third.
Lucius found it ironic that such a man was privy to such information. After all, Bella was clearly one of the Dark Lord’s favourites - at least, one he could find the most use out of - and she despised the greasy-haired professor. As far as Bella was concerned, Severus Snape was not to be trusted, likely a spy for the Order. If anything else, his loyalties did not lie with the Dark Lord.
Lucius rather agreed with his otherwise despicable sister-in-law. Snape was not to be counted on to protect the Dark Lord. The man had ulterior motives, whether they were his own or Albus Dumbledore’s.
As it were, Lucius needed to pass along the information concerning Potter, and he knew that if Severus Snape was fed the report, it would surely not find its way to the Dark Lord.
As he walked through the grand doors of the Entrance Hall, Lucius was quite aware of the pounding of his heart inside his body. Such a consciousness was a rather rare occurrence.
His eyes scanned the Hall fleetingly - it was just after lunch, and students were about. He had, of course, intended this timing. The smallest chance that he might see her…
She was hard to miss of course. She was off to the side, walking alone, her eyes somewhere else, distracted and saddened. Lucius watched her a moment, knowing that he would have spotted her even if she had been in the middle of a bustling crowd; her curly red hair that had tumbled across his own sheets on so many occasions, her milky white skin he had caressed so often with his lips.
As his eyes rested on her, she seemed to feel it, because she looked up and their eyes met. He could see shock on her face, but it lasted only a moment before she was visibly hit with a wave of disgust and regret.
Lucius felt an impulse to go to her, but knew that would seem suspicious, particularly since he’d have to move rather quickly if he was to catch up to her now as she moved briskly in the opposite direction.
Instead, he heaved a frustrated sigh and headed down into the dungeons for his appointment with Severus Snape, whom he found waiting in his dark and dingy office.
‘Lucius, how good to see you.’
‘Spare me the pleasantries, Severus. I’m here on business.’
‘Oh?’ the greasy-haired man replied with heightened interest, snapping his office door shut.
‘I’ve received information on the location of Potter.’
‘And you come to me with this information, why?’
‘You are one of the only three people with access to the Dark Lord’s hideout - regrettably, as I have shown ‘recklessness’ in the past, I am not one of them. Otherwise I like to believe I would be one of the honoured - ’
‘And why don’t you go to your sister-in-law? Surely -’
‘Bellatrix is a wanted Death Eater, it is much safer to speak with you, and certainly easier to find you. Potter is very close to the Dark Lord - ready to strike. If the Dark Lord is not alerted to this at once, he could very well risk his destruction.’
The man called Severus was silent, eyeing Lucius suspiciously, before speaking slowly.
‘And here I was, thinking that Bella had poisoned your trust of me.’
‘This is a war, and I trust that we are on the same side, Severus.’
‘I know exactly what you think of me Lucius,’ Severus said shrewdly. ‘So you will forgive my suspicions. Perhaps you hope to prove to the Dark Lord that I am disloyal when I fail to deliver this information.’
‘I know that you will do with the information what you must.’
Lucius spoke delicately, his grey eyes focused intently as though inviting the other man into his mind, betraying something hidden within his words, buried within his thoughts. Severus stopped and observed him with keen interest, unsure if he could believe what the loyal servant of Voldemort was trusting him with.
‘It’s the girl, isn’t it?’ he said with biting amusement.
‘I haven’t the faintest idea of what you’re referring to, or what it has to do with - ’
‘Tell me, Lucius, do you love her?’ Severus sneered. ‘Has the little slag managed to win your black heart?’
Lucius felt stab of anger in his stomach, and he drew his wand on Severus, barely conscious of the action. Severus sneered at the point of the wand in his face.
‘My, my - touchy subject?’
‘I thought I would demonstrate what might happen to you, should you insult my honour.’
‘Is it really your honour that you felt I was insulting? Or were you defending your precious lass?’
Lucius narrowed his eyes; the stress placed on the professor’s purposeful last word was unmistakable.
‘I’ve taught her for nearly seven years now, you realise? Yes, definitely a unique young women. I believe she rather detests the Dark Lord’s agenda - I imagine she’d want nothing to do with any man in the Lord’s company…’
Lucius felt his anger pulsate, but remained still, suffering his colleague’s verbal torture. After all, it was not a lie that he and Snape were on the same side of this war; the man remained an asset to him for the time-being.
‘I wondered how long it would be before she discovered the truth about you. However, I must admit mild surprise at the hold she has taken on you - I can see the desperation in you. Last time I witnessed that pathetic fear in you was at the end of the last war. But that was over your life, your reputation. Not a nice piece of arse.’
‘Do you always talk about your students this way?’ Lucius asked, biting venom in his feigned composure as he pushed back the urge to throw down his wand and hit the man with a closed fist.
‘Usually, no,’ Severus admitted. ‘But, there are always exceptions, I imagine. For instance: do you always fall in love with your mistresses?’
‘This discussion is over, Severus,’ Lucius said shortly. ‘Potter is in Southern Wales, near the Olde Castle. We have reason to believe he is preparing to attack. I’ve passed the information onto you, and as such, it is off my hands. Do with it what you must.’
‘I’m sure you hope I will.’