chapter 32 :Lord!

Harry turned back to Lucius with a smile and the blonde relaxed slightly. It appeared his lord was pleased.

"Tell me, how are Bella and the others faring with their newfound freedom?"

Lucius hesitated only a moment. As much as it sounded like a casual inquiry, it was more of a demand for a report. Leaving anything out would result in several rounds of Cruciatus.

"Their health is much improved, my lord." he responded with a nod. "Rookwood nearly lost his leg to infection, but he's regained full use of it."

"And their sanity?"

Ah, there was the big question. Was anyone really sane after coming out of Azkaban? He feared what his master would do to him should his answers prove unsatisfactory. Still, he couldn't lie.

"They are...damaged, my lord. I believe that in time most will return to how they used to be, nearly at least. However..."

"Bellatrix." Harry said with conviction. "She's completely mad, isn't she?"

Lucius nodded. "Most of the time she doesn't even know who she is. Her every waking thought is consumed by a need to serve you. Not that it's a bad thing!" he quickly added, fearing for his life as he realized how that may have sounded. He continued after seeing only mild amusement in his lord's eyes.

"I know how you treasure her, my lord, but if I may offer my honest opinion?" After receiving a nod, he said.

"She's a danger to us. There's no telling what she may do. Should she ever be captured, it could be the end of us. Your loyal servants! Not you, of course." He paused again and Harry spoke up.

"I assumed as much. I want you to watch her on this mission as best you can. Later, you will report to me on how she behaves and I shall make my decision on her fate then. If it looks like she's going to fail or be captured, begins to willfully disobey my orders or endangers the mission, kill her quickly."

"Yes, my lord." Lucius replied with a deep bow.

Here was his chance, he thought. If his sister-in-law died, he would likely take her place as his master's favorite.

Could he kill her during the battle and make it look justified?

As if he had read his mind despite all the walls he had built around it, his lord laughed. It was odd. Not the deep velvety tones of the man he had served for years.

It was the light laughter of a child, which made it all the more frightening in a way. He fell to his knees, knowing he had been discovered and accepting whatever fate would be bestowed upon him.

"Remus," Harry said though chuckles, looking at the werewolf with a smile. "Leave us, please, and tell Binky she may open up the house again."

Remus gave a short, almost mocking, bow, smiling as well as he left the room.

"Lucius," Harry stated with mirth, turning back to the man kneeling before him, "The way into my good graces is not through treachery, deceit and betrayal. Rather it is through loyalty to me, no matter the circumstances." A small hand reached out and cool fingers stroked gently along the side of his face before removing the mask and letting it fall to the floor.

"You are loyal to me now, Lucius, but I wonder if you would remain so if you knew the truth."

"I am forever loyal, my lord." he replied automatically.

"Don't be so hasty, my friend." Harry admonished, still with the smile upon his face.

His hand moved upwards to push back Lucius' hood, freeing his hair and leaving his face completely bared to his lord's crimson eyes.

"Tell me, why do you fight?"

Lucius blinked a moment before replying. "For you, of course. For you and our glorious cause."

Harry clucked his tongue. "No, no." he said. "No useless rhetoric here. Tell me the real reasons. Don't fear my reactions and what I may do to you. I give you my word that I won't harm you for speaking the truth. Now, once more. Why do you fight?"

After a deep breath, he responded. "Power, my lord. I fight for power."

"And what will you do with this power when it is yours?"

"I will ensure my family's survival and the survival of the pureblood way of life. The Malfoy's will always be powerful, noble, wealthy and respected."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Noble goals. Goals not too dissimilar from my own. We both fight for power, independence and the ability to protect what is important to us." After a long pause, he continued in a much more subdued tone.

"If I were to tell you that I am not Voldemort, that I were manipulating you all to achieve my own goals, what would you do?"

Lucius looked stunned. "I-I don't know, my lord. It's...not an issue. You are my Lord Voldemort." Lucius was one of the few who were privileged enough to speak their master's name in his presence and he reserved that right for special occasions such as this.

What was his master thinking?

"But if I were not... You're an opportunist, Lucius. If I were someone else entirely who could and would give you everything Voldemort promised and more, without the pain, suffering, torture and threat of death, would your loyalty lie with me? Would you turn from your master and take my offer?"

"I..." He had obviously been discovered.

His master knew he would turn on him should another, more powerful, offer him a better deal.

He was a Slytherin, after all. He should take his punishment like the man he was.

"Yes, my lord. I would." There, the damning words. He closed his eyes and lowered his head.

"Good."

Wha..? Lucius' head snapped back up at the single word said without malice and without that sinister air of power that flowed so freely around him.

He was stunned by what he saw. A smiling, cherubic face with clear green eyes and a playful, happy smile upon it's lips.

Black waves fell freely to his shoulders and the black cloak had vanished, leaving him in deep purple velvet robes tailored for a child of the nobility.

It was plainly obvious the boy was not human, but no longer did he seem dangerous...evil.

"Lucius Malfoy," he spoke, his voice young and somehow carefree while maintaining an aura of knowledge and gentle power.

"My name is Harry Potter and I am a born vampire with the memories and knowledge of a First One." He held out a delicate hand for him to take and continued to smile.

"I will protect you and that which is important to you. Will you join me of your own free will?"

In that moment, Lucius knew what he had to do. He raised his hand and placed it in the boy's. "Yes, I will. My lord."

A new alliance was made.

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