35 Riddle's Diary

Abraxas didn't say anything when he spotted the words, however, he was no longer in the mood to drink or play. The old wizard left the chamber and hurried out of the drawing room, with Riddle's Diary still tightly clutched in his hands. Before leaving, he barely remembered to make sure that Draco wouldn't tell anyone about the dark artifacts or the notebook.

Draco didn't question his grandfather. He already suspected that the man wasn't strictly on Voldemort's side, so this event could positively influence the future. Anyway, leaving the Horcrux in Abraxas' possession was a lot more reliable than having Lucius guard the item. If, later on, the events of the Diary coming into Ginny Weasley's possession slightly deviated, who could guess whose hands the book would end up in?

Zosar was quietly sitting on Draco's shoulder. Although he was only aware of a few fragments from the future, since Draco kept thinking about the situation so intently, he also figured out a few bits and pieces.

• So this is the item that we must destroy? •

Draco raised his hand to stroke his familiar's feathers and nodded. He was also no longer in the mood to play – he had to find out, what his grandfather would do with the Diary.

"Can you enter father's study undetected and listen to their conversation?"

• The manor's wards aren't strong enough to affect me, so I should be able to help. •

Zosar readily agreed. His body suddenly burst into fire and the magical bird disappeared without a sound.

'It's good that after the bonding his powers grew quickly,' Draco thought to himself. He brushed a few stray feathers off his shoulder and went back to lay on the couch.

---

Abraxas didn't waste a minute. Seeing that his son was not at home, he took out the communication mirror and demanded to see the younger wizard right then and there.

From his father's expression, Lucius could tell, that now wasn't the time to argue. He tacitly agreed and hurried out of the Ministry, where he had been waiting for a meeting with one of the candidates for the Minister of Magic position - Cornelius Fudge.

Millicent Bagnold's term would only end next year, however, everyone was already preparing for the elections behind the scenes. Although it was rumored that Albus Dumbledore would be offered the position, Lucius doubted that the man would accept it, as he would have to leave the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Father, what was so urgent? I had important business to discuss wi-," Lucius started as soon as he arrived, only to see Abraxas pacing back and forth in the study. He didn't manage to finish his words when the older man raised his hand to silence his son and picked up an inconspicuous black book from the table.

"Son, explain to me – what do you think this is?"

Lucius felt like he went back in time to his childhood when his father scolded him for various incidents. He carefully looked at the item in Abraxas' hands.

"A book?" He hesitantly asked, his eyes full of confusion and uncertainty. Had his father called him back for this thing?

"A book? A book!" Abraxas suddenly erupted, unable to control his anger any longer. "It's alright if you are stupid enough to hold dark objects underneath the drawing room's floorboards, where all of my liquor was stored before! It is a bit protected, I agree. And it's not like all of them are strictly forbidden by the Ministry, so we could get out of it with a few fines and slightly damaged reputation. However! Storing the Dark Lord's soul remnants where anyone could see, is like daring people to come and throw you into Azkaban at any moment! Do you know the consequences of having this book? Do you even know what this even is?"

Lucius suddenly remembered. He had been given this book by the Dark Lord and was told to carefully guard it inside his manor. His Master even forbade him from writing in it. At that time, Lucius flipped through the book a few times, but couldn't find anything interesting as all of the pages were blank. There was only an unfamiliar name written at the back.

Although the blond man was doubtful, whether this book was important, he still hadn't dared to disobey the Dark Lord's orders and placed it with the items in the drawing room, forgetting it entirely.

As for storing forbidden objects inside his house – Lucius forgot about that too. He placed them there when the war was still going on, in order to make it easier to take some of the objects on raids when his Master called for him abruptly. After the Dark Lord's fall, Lucius concentrated on his political career and raising his family's reputation, so that matter was completely forgotten. Since house elves were forbidden from entering the chamber even before it was changed from liquor storage to dark artifacts storage, they also didn't clean the place or otherwise reminded their master of its existence.

"Hold on," Lucius suddenly remembered something. "You said that this is the remnant of the Dark Lord's soul?"

The Malfoy family, like many other 'dark' families, studied various types of magic. Soul magic wasn't an exception, as it was closely tied to Dark magic - actually being its branch. The father and son were, thus, naturally aware of what the Dark Lord has done with his soul.

Although no normal witch or wizard would dare to mutilate their soul under normal circumstances, a lot of people were interested in the topic of immortality. So, Horcruxes weren't a secret for old purebloods.

"This means that he is alive…" Lucius whispered and lifelessly dropped into one of the couches. He carelessly brushed his hair back, not caring about the fact that they got tangled and messy. Feeling too many complicated emotions, the younger wizard took out his wand and summoned a glass of strong firewhiskey.

"Yes, your Lord is still alive," Abraxas snorted derisively and also sat down, taking one of the glasses and quickly emptying it out. He uncaringly threw the Diary on a table and leaned back on his couch. The old wizard's demeanor was very serious, completely unlike the playful side which he tended to show to his grandson.

"Are you sure this is it? That this is his soul?" Lucius asked as he cautiously observed the black notebook, as though it would leap over and bite him at any moment. His wand was still tightly clutched in his hand while the other nervously tapped the glass. "Wait, can he hear us now?"

Abraxas silently stared at his son, feeling a bit speechless. You held this thing hidden in your house for a decade and now you are suddenly worried that the Dark Lord will come out to curse you when you found out what this book actually is?

"He can't hear us. The soul fragment has to feed on emotions to become more powerful and that is done when a witch or a wizard constantly uses the item."

Lucius calmed down after hearing his father's words and started to think rationally. Soul magic was a branch of Dark magic and Horcruxes were soul parts. Of course, they would need to absorb strong emotions in close proximity to become more active and powerful! After all, Dark magic was cast with emotions and soul rather than a magical core. Right now, this item didn't pose any danger whatsoever.

"The important question is whether we should get rid of it or keep it. Actually, no. Keeping it poses danger to the family. Even if we store it in Gringotts, future generations could come across this thing and become possessed by the Dark Lord's soul part. On the other hand, if we throw it away - when, not if - someone picks it up and the Dark Lord revives… It won't be a good outcome too. If he somehow comes back and finds out that we knew but didn't do anything - that would be a disaster." Abraxas mused out loud.

Lucius listened without interrupting. It was one thing if he discovered the Diary eight years ago when the Dark Lord fell. At that time, he would have done everything in his power to revive his Master. Other Death Eaters were still not apprehended, trials were only ongoing and people still feared Voldemort's power.

Now, however, when almost a decade has passed since the Dark Lord's fall, Lucius had to think about what was best for his family. After all, those who were sent to Azkaban eight years ago were already insane. Even if they weren't - they would be on their way to insanity.

The Dark Lord's forces were nonexistent and Dumbledore's faction was on the rise. Lucius also had a good standing in the Wizarding World and didn't wish to, once again, disguise himself and go off to torture and scare people on the streets, like some thug. Those were his youthful days and he long since made up his mind to forget about it.

"So we should destroy it?" The younger man finally asked quietly.

Abraxas observed his son feeling that he has really grown up.

"We have three options. One, make all of this known to Dumbledore and leave him to deal with this matter. Two, destroy the book directly. Three, hide it somewhere remote, where no one would be able to find it. However, if the Dark Lord actually comes back, the first option would become a huge risk, since Dumbledore would have our family firmly in his hands. As for the second one… Again, if He ever came back, you wouldn't be let off for your failure to guard the soul piece. After all, with that mark on your hand, he would know your location no matter where you've gone."

Lucius nodded. "So we are left with the third option."

Abraxas agreed, "Yes, but there's actually no rush. I will take the book back with me to France and ward it off somewhere remote, yet within my reach."

"But if we destroy this book, then this soul piece would travel to afterlife and so would the Dark Lord's spirit, which should be wandering somewhere else. Wouldn't this option be safer?" Lucius asked after thinking for a moment.

"Who told you that this piece of the Dark Lord's soul is the only one trapped in some object?" Abraxas snorted. His blue eyes piercingly stared at his son when he asked, "Did He give anyone else any of the objects and told them to guard them carefully?"

Lucius' face paled, while his eyes widened with realization. Without saying anything, he entered his mindscape and carefully sorted out distant memories. Malfoy family's talent was Mind Arts, so when they wanted, they could perfectly recall past events. After almost ten minutes passed, he finally said:

"Bella once bragged about Dark Lord entrusting her with something important. Other than that, I cannot recall anything. A lot of times He had meetings one-on-one, so who knows whether more people have His soul somewhere in their homes."

Abraxas nodded thoughtfully. "Our family is old and rich. Seeing that He entrusted you and, possibly, Bellatrix with the soul pieces, we can make a conjecture that he only gave them out to his high-ranking and very loyal officers."

Lucius was already aware of what father wanted, so he directly said: "I will ask around about this matter. Don't worry, I know how to be careful."

"I know of your capabilities. After all, I raised you. However, don't say anything to that gloomy man. What's his name?.." The older wizard tapped his fingers on the armrest, trying to stir up his memory.

"Severus Snape?"

"Yes, that man. He's in Dumbledore's pocket," Abraxas said with certainty.

Although Lucius was doubtful, he still agreed to keep it secret from Severus.

---

When Zosar returned from his spying mission and recounted everything to Draco, the boy's only words were:

"So that's what happened."