Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Freedom Bound in Chains	By : TaintedSensibly Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 58477 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Harry Potter characters. I did not make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
New Relationships
Draco and Harry drifted in and out of sleep. The room was too foreign and open, every shadow and sound making Draco's eyes pop open and Harry tense. Between the intercontinental portkey and ending up in a mansion with Draco's birthparents, they needed sleep desperately. Beyond exhausted, they clung to each other in a bed too big and soft.
Pulled from a restless sleep, Harry's eyes fluttered open. The low-level anxiety he'd developed as he tried his best to learn the manners that Narcissa had begun to teach them still clung to his mind. “Others will look down on you and Draco if you do not act as a Malfoy should,” she'd said. Draco was so amazing! Harry didn't want to be the reason someone thought bad of Draco. “Love you so much,” he whispered half-asleep, staring into Draco's shadowed face inches from his own.
Draco touched their foreheads together and stroked Harry's cheek. The devotion in those sleepy eyes made his heart ache. “Shhh. I've got ya.”
Feeling safe once more, Harry drifted off once more.
Draco continued to gently pet the boy's face with gentle caresses. He tried to close his eyes, but a maze of museum-ready rooms and unending corridors filled his mind. Lucius had taken them on a tour of the manor after dinner, and the place was impossible to wrap his mind around. There was a fucking ballroom, and it had been connected to a formal dinning hall three times as big as the “small” dinning room they had eaten in. The hall had the longest table Draco had ever seen and could sit ten people on either side with an additional two at each end!
This room had made a major impression on Draco, and he kept going back there in his mind. It was the darkest room they had been shown. The table and chairs had been almost black, matching the wood flooring. Even the enormous rug under the table and chairs had been darker, made of pale grey, brown, blue, and green – a dark honey-comb pattern. The furniture had looked heavy and ominous compared to the furniture in other rooms; each chair had been thick with high backs and carved tops.
It didn't matter that everything in the room was massive and the room itself was one of the biggest Draco had ever seen, it still made Draco feel claustrophobic. Partly due to the shadows filling every corner and crevice, which not even two brightly lit silver chandeliers hanging above the table and Lucius's spell for light had been able to banish.
But it hadn't just been the darkness that had made Draco's skin crawl. The trapped feeling had come from the massive windows that mostly filled two sides of the room. They were made with a thick criss-cross frames with dozens of square panes, which gave the room the feel of one large cage.
The enormous stone fireplace that had paralleled the long side of the table had added to the creepy feel of the room. It was made from the same pale stone as the pillars scattered throughout the room. (It was these pillars that were the source of the many shadows.) The fireplace had a huge marble piece on top with what had looked like two tunnels with no end etched onto it. Devil faces had been sculpted along the mantle to add to the dark aura. Inside where the fire burned, a crest – the Malfoy crest, Draco guessed – had been carved deep into the stone.
Lucius's words still echoed in his mind. “Many dinners have been hosted in this very room that have changed the course of the world.” Draco could believe it. He could easily picture Lucius making people cower here as they sipped at their soup and ate careful little bites with their little forks.
If all that wasn't enough, a stone half-wall at the end of the room behind the head of the table had hidden stairs from view. Lucius had explained that all the food-stuff for a feast would be brought there, to what he called a cellar, for quick and easy transport to the table. Stepping into that cramped, low-ceiling space with curved arches and more pillars, it had been like stepping into the Hold once more. It had taken Harry wrapping his arms around him and filling the bond with – protective love – to get Draco to snap out of it and climb back up the stairs after Lucius as if nothing were wrong.
The dinning hall had also been connected to the second floor. A second stone staircase tucked into a corner had led up to a narrow hallway with a four guest rooms, in case they were needed after a particularly festive ball. The other end of the hall led to a wider corridor that ended at the large marble staircase and the lighter side of the house.
Beside the ballroom, dinning hall, guest rooms, and cellar, they had seen a sitting room, a parlor, a receiving room (which was the room with the traveling fireplace), a hall of portraits, a two-story library, Lucius's office, Narcissa's sun room, the master suite, several half-baths, and a kitchen with a second basement cellar – this one called a pantry.
Lucius had explained there was also an attic and a basement potion lab, but he felt those weren't necessary for the boys to see. Head already spinning, Draco hadn't pushed. Tomorrow Lucius had promised another tour, this time of the grounds. Draco could just imagine how much land that was going to include and nearly felt like giving up.
Making a soft sound in the back of his throat, he rolled onto his side and spooned Harry. Curling his legs toward his chest, he forced Harry to do the same and practically wrapped himself around the smaller boy. It felt like the Hold all over again: trapped in a cage with people who had power over him, this time more elaborate and harder to escape.
True, Lucius and Narcissa hadn't hurt them. - Yet. - But if they did, they were Draco's biological parents, what could he do to stop it? Run away? When magic would track him and Harry down and bring them back? Draco wasn't stupid. No one would stop Lucius from putting them in one of those cellars if he grew angry. Not to mention the creative and subtle things possible with magic.
The only way Draco could defend them was by being clever as all hell and his deadly magic, which should have been enough, but the problem with his magic was that he could only hurt the Malfoys if they got close enough to touch him. Draco was very aware of the fact that Lucius hadn't gotten close since Dumbledore's office. Even Narcissa kept a “polite” distance.
Considering all this, the only things keeping Draco relatively calm were the fact that the Malfoys were obviously anxious about his opinion of them and seemed to value him. He felt confident that as long as that was the case, he could use their emotions as leverage and some degree of protection.
He also remembered the rule in the guardianship contract that if there was “abuse” Tonks would be able to take them and keep them. But Draco had no idea what “abuse” meant. Did it mean blood drawn? Did it mean near death? There were a million ways to torment a person that didn't leave a mark. He wasn't going to depend on that clause protecting them. There was also Dumbledore and Remus. Draco was certain they wouldn't tolerate Harry being hurt, but neither of them had wanted them to go with the Malfoys in the first place and they hadn't been strong enough to stop it.
Another reason Draco found it hard to sleep was the thought of Voldemort coming back. It was knowledge that hovered in the back of his mind constantly since his talk with Remus in the their little kitchen in Lusio. Voldemort would be out for Harry's blood, and the Malfoys had ties to that evil. Instead of making him want to stay away, Draco had an interesting thought. From what he'd learned from Remus (and the Malfoys themselves), the Malfoys were very powerful. If he could steal them from Voldemort, it would add another level of protection around Harry. Draco would not fucking let anyone touch his Harry!
Sleepless, mind spinning in circles, Draco stared dully over Harry's head at the moonlight and shadows sliding along the wall. He wasn't about to fail the only person to truly love him, who didn't want to control him or use him for some reason of their own. Harry cherished Draco, and Draco would spend his life protecting that whatever it took.
Tucking his face into the crazy mop of Harry's hair, Draco held the boy tightly and tried to rest. A memory shifted to the top of his racing thoughts:
“Just make somethin' up til we fall asleep.”
For a long minute, Harry sat silently in his arms, but then he began to talk. “There was a boy. He was a Prince. He, um, he had snow white hair and grey eyes.”
Draco smirked and held the boy tighter. “I like this story.”
Harry tilted his head back to smile up at him before snuggling back down into Draco's body, their two thin blankets wrapped tightly around them both. “The Prince. He was in a big castle. He lived there. It was so big and white. There were big rooms that had gold floors and gold ceilings. And there were tables and tables of food. Big roasts and potatoes and everything. There were even pies and cakes! Chocolate and lemon. And he would go outside and ride horses. They were white like his hair. They would run and run. The wind would blow in his face. It was like he was flying. . .”
Draco held the boy tight and let himself fall away into the painfully beautiful story where Draco was a prince.
… and he slept.
…
Severus silently climbed the spiral staircase to the Headmaster's office. He didn't bother knocking. He strode calmly into the room, knowing the Headmaster would be waiting. Sure enough, the ancient wizard was stepping off the second staircase that led to the Headmaster's sleeping quarters. He was dressed in peach-colored robes with bright eyes behind shinning spectacles despite the fact that it was just going on six in the morning.
“Severus, good morning!” Dumbledore smiled happily at him – As if Harry Potter wasn't even now sleeping in Lucius' clutches... If he had even managed to survive the night.
“Headmaster,” Severus returned evenly. He felt a twist of pleasure when he saw Dumbledore's smile dim. Nothing took the wind out of the old man's sails faster than when he was denied a reaction.
“What brings you this fine morning, my boy?” Dumbledore stepped over to his massive desk and settled into his padded desk chair. “Tea?” A wave of an age-knotted hand and a silver tea set with steam rising from the pot appeared on the wooden surface.
Severus moved to the chair facing the desk and sat. “No. Thank you. I've already had a coffee.”
Dumbledore's bushy eyebrow raised. “You were up early,” he noted, fishing. He would not come straight out and ask why Severus was there. It wasn't his way.
Severus slid his hand into his inner robe pocket and retrieved the folded letter inside. He passed it to the Headmaster without explanation. Dumbledore took it, his expression not changing a bit. It took him no longer than a moment to read Lucius Malfoy's brief yet direct message.
“When were you going to tell me the brat was taken by Lucius-Bloody-Malfoy?” Severus asked calmly, yet inside he was on fire. His vow to Lily's corpse burned inside his soul. - Failed her. Can't fail her son. Not again.
Dumbledore leaned back, hands folded across his thin stomach as he met Severus's glinting, dark eyes. “Things happened very quickly, Severus. As soon as the boys arrived, the spell concealing Draco's identity shattered. Whoever stole the poor child from his family used a very creatively altered version of the Fidelius Charm. There was no possible way for me to keep the knowledge of Draco Malfoy's location from his parents. Not without serious consequences, as you can well fathom. The best I could do was force a co-guardianship with Harry's legal guardian, Andromeda Tonks. They have decided on an alternating residency schedule, and of course the Malfoys demanded to host the boys first.”
“And you did not inform me yesterday why?” Severus began to tap his fingers on the desktop.
“I wanted to reflect on the shocking events.” Dumbledore's smile returned as bright as ever. “And I figured breakfast would be soon enough to share the news. And so it has been!”
Severus lifted an eyebrow but otherwise didn't react. “Potter is not safe with Lucius.”
Blue eyes gone hard, Dumbledore looked at him from over his glasses. “He cannot harm Harry without damaging his son.”
“He asks me to research potions that could break their bond,” Severus countered with a glare. “Draco will not protect him long.”
Dumbledore had the audacity to laugh. “My boy, Draco will protect him always, bond or no, and Harry will do likewise.” Settling back again, he began to pour his tea. “I saw their bond with my own eyes, Severus. It was very strong. Those boys are bonded by magic, mind, and soul. There is no way to break it without at least some damage to Draco. Lucius will not risk it.”
“I am glad you are so confident,” Severus snarked, fingers drumming faster. “Regardless, what about this request to spy on you for more information about where Draco came from and what he may have experienced since his abduction? He may not be able to harm Potter, but knowing too much could still give him too much power over his mind.”
Dumbledore grew quiet and brooding as he sipped his tea. Severus let him think. He was thinking himself. There was nothing good about this situation that he could see. The Potter brat must have been cursed by more than just the Dark Lord; his luck was just too horrible. Or maybe he was being forged by fate into Severus's punishment. Thinking of it that way, Severus felt like it made karmic sense. He'd grown complacent, and now he was suffering the agony of helpless worry over a child he hated and yet was driven to protect.
“I would prefer Lucius to be curbed,” Dumbledore finally spoke. He did not meet Severus's eyes. Instead, he spoke toward the window as he watched the sun rise. “There is no way of stopping him from getting the information he seeks. If he suspects you are not being forthcoming or helpful, he will go elsewhere to get what he wants. Therefore, answer his summons. Be useful. Get into his confidence. Mitigate his power where you can, but do not jeopardize your position. We will need some way of monitoring Harry's wellbeing and safety while he resides there. This is the perfect opportunity to do so.”
“You are asking me to spy on Lucius Malfoy,” Severus stated coldly. “The man is infamous for his cruelty and intelligence. He is no mad Dark Lord, Dumbledore. This could well get me killed.”
Dumbledore turned and faced him, his expression soft and filled with a compassion that made Severus literally feel nauseous. “I have the utmost faith in your judgement. If you feel the risks outweigh the benefits, I will say no more on the subject.”
Without a word, Severus stood and left Dumbledore in his office. Black robes swirling around his legs, he strode toward the safety and comfort of his dungeons, a pair of twinkling faded-blue eyes and vibrant green haunting every beat of his pounding heart.
…
Narcissa had dressed strategically for the meeting with her sister. She wore a simple dark blue blouse with ruffles along the shoulders and silver buttons up the bodice. Silver and blue embroidery decorated her short sleeves, and her hair was secured in a black lace net at the back of her head. Her long skirt fell to the floor, a perfect black. Black for the Noble House of Black and deep blue for the Noble House of Malfoy. She represented the past and future of both Noble Houses, and that made her superior in all ways.
Hands folded demurely in front of her, Narcissa stood by the small table she'd had the elves prepare in the receiving room. She and Andromeda would have to work together, but that didn't mean she had to let the woman roam around the house. Andromeda would remain in the room she arrived in and would get no further.
At exactly twelve o'clock, the fire flared and Andromeda smoothly stepped from the green flames. She wore a white lace and cotton summer dress with the traditional long sleeves and her dark hair woven into a single thick braid looped once around her head. Her expression was polite and aloof just as Narcissa's was - as they'd both been taught. Narcissa mentally bared her teeth in a smile at her sister's dress color, white to her dark. She was making her own statement.
“Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat,” Narcissa spoke softly, gesturing to the small table.
She waited for Andromeda to take a seat before sitting with her. An elf appeared with a steaming pot of tea and poured for them. Narcissa had chosen their second best tea set; second best to flaunt their wealth and yet refusing the best set as a statement of her guest's unworthiness.
Unbothered, Andromeda lifted the delicate cup and murmured polite words of gratitude for the invitation and compliments on the tea. “How are the boys adjusting?” she asked, her dark eyes watchful and intelligent in her heart-shaped face.
Narcissa took her time sipping from her cup and setting it down before answering. “They are taking a tour of the grounds with Lucius. I believe they are going to have a picnic lunch, so I regret you will not be able to see them today.”
Andromeda's lips curled into a cool smile. “Of course. I am pleased they are having such a nice outing. The weather is lovely this time of year.”
“It is,” Narcissa mirrored her empty smile. “As to their future, we plan on giving the boys a traditional education. Elocution and diction, manners, dancing, riding, fencing, maths, language, history, and business.”
Except for the lessons in business, which Lucius would teach the boys, Narcissa was trained in all the other subjects. It was the wife's job to train and raise the children. She had been dreaming of having her own while she'd still been a child herself, and she would always grieve the precious years she'd lost with Draco.
Andromeda set her tea down and linked her fingers politely on the table edge. “I see no reason to protest that arrangement. They will of course continue their dancing, maths, and language lessons with me, as well as science and a subject of their choice.”
Narcissa sipped her tea, gazing at her sister with a hint of disdain. “It pleases me that you value education, even though you do not have a fully rounded curriculum for the children in mind.”
A wide smile broke across Andromeda's face. “Children must have time to play, after all.”
Narcissa would have glared, but she refused to be baited out of her polite mask. “May I inquire into your place of residence?”
“My husband, daughter, and I live in a small townhouse near Diagon Alley in London.”
Andromeda took her cup and lifted it. The conversation was forced to pause as the elf refilled and prepared her cup. Andromeda took her time adding cream and sugar, a smile still playing about her thin lips. Her arched, dark brows lifted slightly to show humor as she looked at her sister coyly from under her lashes.
“It is a modest three bedroom,” she continued. “The boys will make the guestroom their own; Nymphadora's room will serve as the guestroom while she is at school. It will be cozy, but I am certain I can provide a healthy environment for the boys in addition to furthering their education.”
Narcissa felt rage crackle along her nerves, like ice cracking over quick water. How dare Andromeda! Draco was her purpose, her life! And Andromeda dare imply the environment at the Manor would be unhealthy?
Andromeda's expression sobered, done toying with Narcissa for now. “Have you considered your strategy for reintroducing the children to society?”
Narcissa answered coldly, “We have not decided as of yet. Lucius and I will floo you by the end of the week to discuss possibilities.”
“I would like to request having the boys for my visitation period next weekend.” Andromeda's smile widened when Narcissa's hand froze, her tea cup a few inches from her lips. “I'd also like to exchange weekly letters with the boys. Of course, I will encourage them to do the same with you when they are with me.”
Blue eyes icy, Narcissa set her cup down with a sharp click. “That is acceptable, however...” Narcissa shed her mask to let the fierce fury of a mother shine through as she met her sister's surprised eyes. “Do not treat me as the younger sister you knew, Andromeda. I am a woman unknown to you. I am capable of things you cannot fathom, and if I think for one minute you are toying with my son in some game to get to me, I will rip you apart.”
Andromeda set her cup down and met her sister head on. Her smile was gone, her brows lowered in a thunderous glare. “They will be my children as much as yours, Cissa. I will not have you train them to bow to sociopathic monsters with melodramatic titles.”
Narcissa stood, her skirt rustling. Glaring down at her older sister, she gave a ice cold smile. “Headmaster Dumbledore promised me copies of the children's medical records. I also plan on having our personal healer examine them both. As per the contract, I will make sure you get copies of both reports.”
“I look forward to it.” Smiling once more, Andromeda gracefully stood and reached into a folded pocket in her skirt. She removed a sealed letter and set it carefully on the table. “For the boys. Thank you for the tea, Narcissa. Let's do this again sometime.”
Narcissa said nothing as her sister moved to the floo and disappeared. Staring down at the letter, she was tempted to destroy it, but although her hatred burned as strong as ever for her sister, she would not let Andromeda come between her and her son. If she destroyed the letter, Andromeda would be within her rights to destroy Narcissa's, and Narcissa was not willing to risk the only means of communication she'd have with her son when he was away.
…
Lucius strode into his office after having taken the boys to Narcissa in her sunroom for afternoon lessons. Pulling his riding gloves from his hands, he carelessly tossed them on his desk and scooped up the scrolls that two owls had delivered that morning while he'd toured the grounds with the boys.
A reluctant smile tugged at his lips as he recalled the children's awe and trepidation when they had come face-to-face with the large Arabian horses for the first time. Agrippa and Caelius were twin stallions who had turned two that spring. They were beautiful: gracefully shaped with solid white coats and dark intelligent eyes. They were at the age to be sold and broken, but Lucius had not been able to part with them. It seemed like fate now. The two were perfect for the boys.
Agrippa was much more energetic, long legs prancing, as the two young stallions and their mother, Juno, were summoned by Lucius's spell. Much to Lucius's pleasure, Draco had immediately pushed Potter toward the more calm Caelius, claiming Agrippa for himself. Draco had not been afraid of the large animal, but he had been wary and careful. Not so of Potter; the dark-haired boy's expression was terribly open and had displayed his awe and fear clearly.
At least Potter was obedient, even if he was timid. He hadn't balked when told to mount. In fact, he followed every order directly, even as he was clearly afraid of making a mistake. Draco was the complete opposite. He was extremely hard to read and obeyed only because he chose to. Lucius was acutely aware that his son could become less complacent at any moment, those watchful grey eyes constantly calculating the costs and gains of compliance. Eventually, Lucius would be on the losing end of that scale.
It was strange to be simultaneously proud that his son was independent and strong-minded and also deeply regretful that Draco wasn't as malleable and open as Harry. Still, Lucius had enjoyed teaching the boys the basics of riding. They had listened attentively, and Draco had immediately set out to test the signals Lucius had taught him to direct Agrippa. Potter, however, had been content to sit passively and let Caelius decide where to go and when. Fortunately, Caelius preferred to stay by Agrippa's side, and Potter hadn't fallen behind during the tour of the grounds.
It had definitely been interesting, but now was not the time to reflect. Drumming his fingers against his desk, Lucius forced his thoughts from the children and back to the matter at hand. He settled in his desk chair and unrolled the first scroll. It was the medical results from Madam Pomfrey at Hogwarts. He frowned at the information contained within, and he reminded himself to confirm the appointment he had scheduled tomorrow with their personal healer.
The second scroll was much longer. It contained Lupin's accounting of his experiences with the boys from first contact onward. It was a strictly factual retelling, but he was grateful for that. It had been hard enough to read the details of Draco and Harry's condition after being rescued from the Scourers; he did not need a descriptive narrative.
Slamming his fist down on the desk, Lucius sat forward, platinum-blond hair curtaining his rage-twisted face. It infuriated him that the Scourers had all been killed during the rescue... Infuriated him that his son's abductor was still out of reach! He needed to stand over the broken bodies of the ones who dared touch his son! And yet he was denied agin and again.
Forcing himself to take deep breaths, Lucius carefully set the scroll aside to give to Narcissa later. Head resting against the chair-back, he folded his hands across his stomach. Summer sunlight spilled through the office window, warming his skin as he gathered his thoughts.
Lupin's was a very intriguing tale, but it left out a lot of information. The person whom Draco had been living with when Lupin had made contact with the boys had not been Draco's abductor. The boys, in fact, had only come to live with the Muggle recently and had already been together when they came to live with the man. So where had they been before that? How did they meet in the first place, and where? The medical report revealed Draco had possessed the remnants of significant wounds older than the Scourers's attack, and Potter's body still showed the effects of longterm starvation. What exactly had happened to them?
Suddenly, the Malfoy wards whispered along his mind. “Lottie.”
“Master?” a small voice squeaked.
Lucius turned cold eyes toward the creature cowering in the center of the room. “Professor Snape is arriving by floo. Please show him here.”
The little elf disappeared immediately.
Lucius sat back with a sharp smile, pleased his letter had made an impression. Snape was a Halfblood coward who had hid behind Dumbledore to escape prison, but he was also talented and easy to manipulate if one was clever enough. Lucius wasn't above using any tool at his disposal, and Snape was going to help him untangle the truth from the lies.
Dumbledore clearly had plans for Potter. Whether it was sentimentality for the child who had won the war for him or something more, Lucius was uncertain, and that was unacceptable. The fact that the boy had defeated the Dark Lord certainly made things more complicated, but that did not change Lucius's obligation toward a child being raised by the Noble House of Malfoy.
Besides, if Pomfrey had accurately measured the bond between the children, then it was clear there would be no possible way to part the children without harming Draco. Harry Potter was indeed Draco's twin; their magical signature was as blended as if they were conceived together, split from the same egg. However, that did not mean there might not come a time where the results of breaking the bond would be preferable to keeping the bond in place. Snape could be useful to him there as well.
The office door opened. Lucius remained seated and smiled as the man swept in, wearing all black robes and a scowl. Snape's hair was lank and oily as it was every other time Lucius had met him. His skin was pale but unnaturally so, as if he avoided sunlight on purpose. With a hawk-like nose and thin lips, he was not an attractive man.
Lucius would have overlooked him completely, but Snape had genuinely impressed him with his intelligence and intuitive grasp of magic, and it was undeniable that he was a true genius when it came to potions. Snape may be a Halfblood, but Lucius suspected Snape's magical heritage was formidable to produce such talents.
The man bowed his head slightly and took a few steps into the room. Long, dexterous fingers slipped into his robe pocket and retrieved the letter Lucius had pinned. A quick flick and it landed neatly on Lucius's desk. Voice surprisingly deep and melodious, Snape said, “I'm here as requested. What exactly is this tome of unparallelled knowledge?”
Lucius sat back, smug. “Why, Professor Snape, it is a pleasure to see you. Please have a seat.” He gestured expansively toward the chair across from him. “Would you care for a drink?”
Snape sneered and crossed his arms, unsociable and unmannered as Lucius remembered. “I do not have time to waste, Mr. Malfoy. Why did you summon me here with such a mysterious lure?”
Lucius sat straight, pinning the younger man with a hard look. With a wave of his hand and wandless magic, a thin leather-bound book that looked near to falling apart slid off one of the nearby mahogany bookshelves and settled gently in the exact center of Lucius's desk. They both stared at the book a moment before Lucius spoke.
“Damascius's Difficulties and Solutions of the First Principles written at the turn of the sixth century. It was thought to have been destroyed. Only a few replications are known to exist, all in private collections. This, however, is the priceless original.”
Snape stepped closer toward the desk as if pulled on strings. His eyes stared hungrily at the ancient manuscript.
Smiling coldly, Lucius casually set his hand atop the book. Immediately, Snape's eyes lifted. “It's only yours if you fulfill your end of the bargain, Snape.” He tipped his head toward the chair across from him. “Now, have a seat. We have much to discuss.”
Snape stood stiffly for a moment more, but his eyes darted back down to the ancient book, and he folded gracefully into the seat across from Lucius.
Lucius lifted his hand to reveal the book once more and sat back. He watched Snape thoughtfully. The man watched him back, patient as he must be when he made complicated potions. Satisfied that he had his undivided attention, Lucius began, “There are two things you can provide for me before this priceless book is yours. First...” He offered the other man a cold smile. “Just how much does Dumbledore trust you, Professor Snape?”
Snape's face went blank. “Dumbledore has come to rely on me for more... questionable tasks,” he finally answered. “But he is not one to share confidences.”
“But you have some knowledge of what has occurred,” Lucius challenged, drumming his fingers on his desk once more.
Snape gave a single nod. “I do. I was summoned to Potter's Muggle home when it was discovered he was missing, and I was persuaded to use my talent for Dark Magic in an attempt to find him. When I failed, Dumbledore turned to others to track the boy. I was curious how one could succeed where I had failed, so Dumbledore has kept me somewhat informed.”
Lucius chuckled. “So prideful, Professor.” His fingers continued to drum. “And now Potter is back.”
“Do you seek revenge?” Snape asked quietly.
Lucius's fingers stilled and his smile grew, his eyes going silver. “Oh no. Nothing as ordinary as that, Professor. I merely seek to understand and protect my charge. Potter is now in my custody, twin-bonded to my son, Draco.” Lucius was watching very carefully, but Snape's expression had revealed a split second of surprise before blanking again. Snape had not known. “What did you learn at Potter's Muggle house?”
Snape eyed the precious book for a second before answering. “It was the home of Lily Potter's Muggle sister. Dumbledore erected Blood Wards to keep Potter safe from retaliation the day after the Dark Lord's fall. Potter had lived there until he was lost.”
Lucius frowned but he didn't interrupt. How exactly did one lose a child?
Eyes shifting to the side, head tilting so more of his oily bangs shadowed his face, Snape spoke softly, as if revealing a deep secret. “They detest Potter and are terrified of magic. It was... not an optimal environment for the boy. The uncle eventually sold him on the Muggle blackmarket for three thousand pounds.”
Lucius felt his eyes narrow as his hand drew into a fist.
“That was half a year before Dumbledore even knew he was missing. By the time I was ordered to find Potter, all I could tell was that he was overseas,” Snape finished. He reached for the book.
Lucius tapped the desk, causing Snape's reaching hand to freeze. “I want you to return to that house and bring me those Muggles.”
Snape's expression folded into a condescending sneer. Without another word, he stood.
Lucius's voice became low and compelling. “Come, Professor. You must despise them as much as I. They abused a magical child. Think of it. We will be co-conspirators in a just cause. And if you are concerned about being discovered, I would hardly turn you in if I am going to participate as well.”
Glaring, Snape demanded, “Is this the price for the tome?”
“No.” Lucius held his eyes. “Just an invitation of friendship. My price for the book is for you to research ways to dissolve a twin bond without hurting the individuals who hold one and to learn Dumbledore's plans for Potter if possible.”
“You plan on separating your son from Potter,” Snape stated, glare softening with curiosity. “Then why care about avenging the boy? Why care what Dumbledore has planned?”
“They abused a magical child and sold him for three thousand pounds,” Lucius repeated, staring Snape dead in the eye. “Think on that, Professor. As for Dumbledore, Potter is my foster-child and I will know what that old man intends.”
Snape stared for a moment more before turning and leaving the office in a swirl of black robes.
Lucius sat back with a smile. Snape would be back, and if Lucius were very lucky, he'd bring the Muggles with him.
Chapter end.
A/N: The Malfoys are interesting to write, that's for sure.
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Freedom Bound in Chains