Feigning Death

Chapter Six

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucius Malfoy stared down at the pale white mask with disdain before slipping it on his face for what ominously felt like the last time. The time had come for he and Severus to do their bidding and either appease the Dark Lord, or die trying. With a qualm of unease, Lucius fastened his thick black traveling cloak around his shoulders and disapparated to the chosen location.

The night was cool and disturbingly quiet in the small muggle neighborhood and a few faint lights emanated from the house directly in front of him. Lucius curled his lip at the small, box like homes set invadingly close to one another like a row of crops. How on earth did Muggles stand to live so poorly?

Taking a deep breath, Lucius let his thoughts melt away and concentrated solely on their lambs for the slaughter. He couldn’t help the excitement and feeling of power that coursed through his veins even at the sheer thought. All of the Death Eaters had been trained to desire this feeling; it wasn’t so much the lust for blood as it was for absolute control. Still, something seemed to be lacking in the situation and Lucius was almost dismayed.

There was a small pop close-by and Malfoy turned to find himself face-to-face with Severus. He couldn’t help the sadistic grin that pulled at the corners of his mouth. How many times had he and Severus been sent out together to make their kills? Like Lucius, Snape had once hungered for the hunt. He had turned the murders into a form of depraved art. Whatever Severus felt now, Lucius was almost certain the thrill was still ablaze.

Leading them both to the house, Lucius steeled himself to be ready for whatever awaited them inside. He could feel the tension from Snape, and the anxiety to be done with their deed. Malfoy had always learned to dissociate himself from his kills, if you were impartial to the victims then you had the upper hand in dealing with your conscious. He know, however, that Snape was holding himself accountable for what was about to happen and suddenly felt a small wave of pity.

Upon entering the house, Lucius made the executive decision to make the first kill: Mrs. Pritchard and her youngest child. Casting Avada Kedavra and feeling the intense pleasure of power course through him pushed all sympathetic thoughts of pity out of Lucius’ mind and he was now zoned in on the murders.

When the flash of green finally faded, Lucius looked around for Severus and found him holding a young girl. Leaning against the doorframe, Lucius watched as Severus gently coaxed the information they needed out of the trusting young girl. Sometimes Snape could be as slippery as their serpent crest and it was with almost a look of awe that the elder Malfoy took in the scene. He had no patience or understanding when it came to children and would have taken the information by force rather than gaining the girl’s trust.

As Severus brushed past him up the stairs, Lucius continued on to the kitchen with his wand at ready. Pritchard Sr. was busy washing dishes from the evening meal and Lucius looked at him with a look of disgust. This, he thought coldly, is why Wizards are above Muggles. Malfoy would never lower himself to do this kind of servant work.

“Good evening, Mr. Pritchard.” Lucius’ voice was laced with malice and the other man jumped in fright, dropping a dish that shattered at his feet. Lucius toyed with his options briefly, remembering what Snape had said. “Do with him as you wish. I would recommend, however, that you save him for the Lord.” Grinning maniacally, Lucius raised his wand.

“Imperio!” Sparks flew from the tip of his wand and Lucius watched with delight as Pritchard’s eyes became vacant. He was now under Lucius’ control.

Leading the man back towards the stairs to wait for Severus, Lucius took advantage of the situation and toyed with the elder Pritchard. He forced him to look at the dead bodies of his entire family, knowing that even though Lucius had total control, Pritchard’s mind would still register what was happening.

Severus returned with the boy and Lucius looked over at him with surprise. He had removed his Death Eater’s mask, breaking one of the most sacred rules of the hunt. Severus hissed at him to get the father outside, but Malfoy hesitated for a moment, shock and outrage hidden behind his own mask. He tried to convince himself that perhaps it was necessary for Snape to remove the mask, but by doing so he risked the ruination of their well-devised plot.

Lucius only nodded and turned on his heel, leading the father outside. When Severus had rejoined him, he had placed the mask back on his face, using the same curse on the boy that Lucius had used with the father.

Before the two apparated with their prisoners, Lucius muttered the incantation that would cast the Dark Mark into the sky above the house. “Morsmordre”

Once awareness set in, Lucius could see that they had apparated right in the middle of the circle of Death Eaters. Voldemort was seated in a small throne before them, like a medieval king. His blood red eyes traveled over both Snape and himself before looking at their sacrifices. The Dark Lord’s viper-like face curled into the wickedest grin Malfoy had ever seen and, suddenly, Lucius’ blood ran cold.

“You have both done far better than I expected.” He hissed menacingly. “A Mudblood Slytherin and his muggle father. Release them from your control.”

Both Lucius and Snape obeyed obediently and bowed low before Voldemort. “Come here, boy!” The Dark Lord commanded and Lucius watched curiously as the boy approached Voldemort with seemingly no fear. “I too had the dishonor of having a filthy Muggle father, but your greatness is apparent and I will grant you your life if you do what I ask.”

Malfoy couldn’t help but feel dismayed as he listened. The irony of all was not lost on him and he stifled a bitter laugh with a choked cough. If Voldemort had heard him, he hadn’t paid it any attention and, for that, Lucius was grateful. He had saved Severus from certain death partly out of obligation and partly out of the knowledge that Snape was a spy for the Order. Lucius was tired of pretending that his loyalties lied on either side and knew that Severus was a key figure in bringing down the Dark Lord once and for all. Their kills tonight had been to buy them not only their lives, but some time to allow the Ministry to react. They had ultimately hoped to ruin Voldemort, but in the end all they had done was brought him another follower.

Lucius could feel Snape’s will crumble beside him and his lifelong friend seemed to slump in defeat as a result. There was nothing either of them could do as Voldemort made his proposal to the young boy.

“Kill your father and join my ranks. I will give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

 

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