Chapter 5

 

Ti la so fa mi re do and they were back to Knocturn Alley. Harry had decided it was too dark and late to find Goyle or search for Crabbe. It was obvious that Mortfidèle would not be finding them any sooner than he would and might look closer to home for support. Planning on returning there during daylight some other day with some way of tracking large primates Harry arrived with Lucius at Malfoy Manor four hours later than when Narcissa was expecting him.

 

The lack of sleep and fruitless assassination mission left him irate. And somewhere on the trip he had started thinking about his father’s sister and it occurred to him that he should’ve played the sympathy card and forced her to take him with her. It would have been the simplest ploy to get close to Bianca and protect her from Mortfidèle. But he had been too disgusted in her stupidity and cautious of having anyone magical around him while he was trying to wipe out Voldemort’s forces and Mortfidèle’s possible contacts. However, after seeing even what the dumbest of Death Eaters could do to hide once they knew they were being hunted he found himself disheartened. Might be better to live with Bianca and wait for them to attack her. It is inevitable anyway.

 

Feeling that he had reacted emotionally to a potentially fortuitous chance Harry was sitting in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor berating himself.

 

“Achelous, I want to apologize for the unfortunate turn of events tonight,” Lucius broke through his dark thoughts. Harry looked up at the man where he was standing in front of him not having changed out of his forest wet and dirty robes.

 

“Next time you will give me details of what we’re walking into. We will plan and not fail. I have to admit that tonight was unbelievably bizarre and I don’t know how much of that was your fault. Sit down, I need to plan some things.”

 

Lucius took a seat next to him but sat in it as if he weren’t the owner of the house but a school boy expecting his teacher’s reprimand. “If you would like to refresh, I have a room prepared for you.”

 

“Thank you, but right now I want you to tell me if you have made progress in having a letter sent to me from Hogwarts?”

 

Lucius visibly relaxed. “Yes, Achelous, you will be pleased to know that Mathilda Robeck, another governor, will be visiting tomorrow to audit the admissions lists of the last few years. It has been a standard practice to keep track of what kind of students Hogwarts is taking in. It shouldn’t create waves.”

 

“Don’t count on that. Dumbledore will be wise to it. He’ll expect she is coming to see if a letter has been sent out to, what do you lot call my sister? The peace herald?”

 

“Yes, and the girl-who-lived. Even so, he will think Mathilda is a mere gossip trying to get ahead in the Ministry circles with privileged information. He will not expect that she is looking to match the letters sent out to the list in the book recording magical births.”

 

“What reason did you give her for your interest?”

 

“I am ashamed to admit that I fueled a favorite conspiracy theory that Dumbledore picks potential wizards and witches every year and trains them elsewhere as his personal army.”

 

“You’re kidding,” Harry laughed. “They believe that even now?”

 

Malfoy sneered, “Any fool who has met the man should know he doesn’t need such subversive tactics to create unquestioning followers. He can make them sway to his will without trying. But it served our purpose so I pretended to be part of those secretly working against Dumbledore’s personal army.”

 

“Not too far from the truth is it?” Harry grinned.

 

“In another place and time, yes. I found myself oddly out of place.”

 

Harry hummed in agreement realizing when Mortfidèle’s return became known to Dumbledore he would suspect every Death Eater alive for aiding him. It would make Malfoy’s usefulness to him that much reduced. It was problem he needed to fix. Somehow he needed Lucius to ingratiate himself to Dumbledore, to gain his trust.

 

“Achelous, if your name is not in the book, what will you do?”

 

“I will board the train and wait at the doorstep until they let me in.” Harry shrugged.

 

“Do you believe that will work?”

 

“It will be my only choice if I am not in the book. I can’t avoid Dumbledore’s notice whether I am suddenly discovered in the lists or if I inexplicably show up at the castle gates. His eye will be on me. What matters is that I am there to protect my sister.” Harry wisely left out mention of the horcrux hidden in Hogwarts or the fact that Voldemort would be going back to school that year as well.

 

“Loyalty to family is important.” Lucius nodded in agreement. They sat in silence for a bit before Lucius invited Harry to clean up again.

 

Harry accepted and found a bedroom prepared for him with a hot bath running. Taking his time to relax and freshen up he took advantage of the Malfoy hospitality. It was very late, almost early morning; he wondered how upset Narcissa was with them.

 

There were two sets of robes waiting for him as he came out of the shower wrapping a towel around himself. One set that would fit Harry Potter and another that Neville the muggle could wear. Having told Lucius not to reveal his secret identity to Narcissa he chose to stay as the muggle and after dressing in the silver and mauve robes made his way back to the drawing room. Passing a mirror he found the robes to gaudy for his taste but maybe Lucius thought it befit his station. Of course, on a wizard like Dumbledore, they would practically be dull by comparison to the rest of his wardrobe.

 

As he walked down the corridors to the drawing from on the first floor he passed a bedroom and heard a frantic whispered conversation inside. Lucius’ voice made him stop and pay attention.

 

“Narcissa, stop. What has possessed you?” Lucius’ sotto voiced demand came through the crack in the door. Harry magically hid himself for good measure.

 

“Tell me he can defeat him. He has to be able to. Why do you follow him? What does he want? You’ve never told me. But I don’t care, just tell me he can kill that demon,” Narcissa begged in hysterics.

 

“Who ‘Cissa? What’s made you go to pieces?”

 

“Mortfidèle,” she gasped in a terrorized whisper. “He’s back. Lucius, not again, please.”

 

Harry heard her crying become muffled as he looked through a crack in the door to see Lucius put his arms around her; he couldn’t see anything of her but the top of head where she had buried it in his shoulder. He wondered why Voldemort blamed his Death Eaters for abandoning him; they were more afraid of the things he did to them than the wizarding world was. Yes, but then there were fanatics like the Lestranges.

 

“The kind sorcerer gave me his word he won’t let even Mortfidèle’s shadow fall on you,” Lucius spoke in an affectionate tone. “I have seen him summon divine beings of legend, ‘Cissa. You cannot understand his power. He will keep you safe. He remade me in his magic and I have seen what he is, we can trust him.”

 

“But what does he want? The supremacy of purebloods? Triumph of dark magic? What? I don’t want another master for one of your causes, Lucius, I do not care!”

 

“You have never said this before to me.”

 

“You would’ve killed me if I had, but something in you has changed. Please, Lucius, tell me what is happening.”

 

“He wants our loyalty and to protect his family. He also wants the defeat of the Dark Lord and Mortfidele. That is all I know ‘Cissa.”

There was silence in which he heard her crying cease and Harry thought to move on but Narcissa spoke again.

 

“After you left, someone knocked on the door. I thought you had returned and sent Dobby to open the door. Lucius, it was Mortfidèle.”

 

Harry’s heart skipped a beat before he heard Lucius’ shout “What!”

 

“He wants us both. He has claimed the Dark Lord’s place. He touched my mark and made it burn like the old days.”

 

“Did he harm you?” Lucius asked in a voice choked with anger.

 

“He reminded me of my place,” she answered bitterly.

 

“Is he here?”

 

“No, he has gone to look for the others.”

 

“We must tell Achelous now!”

 

Harry heard Lucius move toward the door and stepped back. But before his thrall could burst through Narcissa called him back.

 

“Wait, how can we trust him?”

 

“I trust him, Narcissa, and you will too. Speak to him, tell him the truth, he has fought him before and won. I will find him and bring him.”

 

Harry did not wait and ran quietly to the end of the corridor in the direction he had come from. Once again he held himself from reacting to what he had heard, needing to gather all the information he could. Lucius’ romp in Africa had cost him, he cursed in his mind. Mortfidèle had come too close for comfort.

 

He saw Lucius slam out of the room and head toward him his wand drawn and a wild look on his face; Harry had truly underestimated how much Mortfidele frightened the Malfoys. If other Death Eaters felt the same way they wouldn’t think twice about following his orders and obey for fear of him.

 

“Lucius,” Harry called revealing himself from under the charms.

 

“Akhnum!” Lucius hissed and a triple twisting beam of blue light shot from his wand.

 

Harry blinked and it was upon him. The curse split hitting his head, chest, and abdomen. He felt the corrupting effect of excruciating pain of skin, muscle, and bone disintegration before his body cooled and the curse shrank back as if burned into the palm of his hand where it sat as a coiled azure snake.

 

“Get a hold of yourself, Lucius!” Harry roared; throwing the dark magic he had pulled off of himself on the floor where it crackled and slunk by his feet.

 

“Achelous?” Lucius ran toward him. “Forgive me, in the dark I thought you to be Mortfidèle, he’s been here!”

 

“Next time use something less lethal when cursing people in your own home!” Harry snapped. “He came for your wife?” he asked more calmly.

 

“Please forgive me, Achelous. I let my fear overrule caution. Yes, while we were away hunting for those blasted buffoons he came to my home. Narcissa can tell you more, she spoke with him.” Lucius turned to lead him back to the room.

 

“I will find her and speak to her. I need you to go put the Avery father and son under the imperius and search your estate for Mortfidèle, get your houselves to search with you and report to you ever minute what they have found. If you run into him do not duel him, summon me.”

 

He saw Lucius hesitate, “Achelous, I haven’t told ‘Cissa much about you. She is skeptical and Mortfidèle tortured her again. Please be patient with her and forgive her manners. I will bear whatever punishment you deem if you’re ill received by her.”

 

Harry gave him a furious and superior look. “Mortfidèle could be hiding in your manor and you are blithering about being nice to your wife?” Malfoy looked chastised but Harry still continued coldly, “Hesitate again at my command and I will reduce you to a creature unable to wash its own shit.” Lucius turned tail and went off to do as told and Harry swept to Narcissa’s room.

 

Entering the room he saw her sitting on the edge of a love seat angled away from the doorway. A silk night gown covered robes she had probably worn for the dinner. Unlike his memories of Narcissa from his time, this one had curled her hair which fell freely on her shoulders.

 

Her fingers clenched her wand and were white from how hard she was holding on. He saw her attempt to hold the pureblood bred composure but it wasn’t even skin deep. Her eyes took on a wary look at the azure snake of dark magic at his feet.

 

“Your husband tried to curse me. He thought I was Mortfidèle. This is simply the trapped curse. It won’t harm you.” Harry assured her coming to sit down at the edge of the bed inviting her to sit back down on the love seat.

 

“I have heard of your from my husband, kind sorcerer,” she said his name as if it were a question. The effort it was taking her to act normally was obvious.

 

“Your husband shouldn’t have adopted a name for me given by the ladies fair. Please call me Achelous.” Harry tried to temper his irritation.

 

“My husband seems to be in awe of you. He says you can summon divine beings. Is it true?” she asked with real interest. In another place and time she wouldn’t have betrayed her emotions so clearly. The pureblood way is to look bored or superior, anything else is weakness, he thought sarcastically.

 

“I can, but they are not my servants. They are nice enough to aid me when I need it.”

 

Narcissa bowed her head and when she raised her eyes to him they seemed too vulnerable for a Malfoy or a Black, which she was both. “And you, Achelous, will you help us and kill Mortfidèle?”

 

Harry let the silence stretch until she fidgeted and realized she’d given away her nervousness. Something in her manner had behooved him to employ those magicks that had come to him as he had grown older. With a movement of his eyes, an unspoken incantation and he was palpating her inner self, the nature of her will, the soft intangible things that dictated her.

 

If he wanted that was where he could use his insidious magic and increase her desire to confess her secrets. She was holding something back. She was afraid but not nearly as helplessly afraid as she was pretending. There was a surety in her mind, a secret weapon somewhere.

 

“Narcissa let that be the last time you try to play me. You are a beautiful woman and I am a man, but don’t think for a moment that you can seduce me with that act. I can see your heart; you have some other assurance against Mortfidèle than me.”

 

She didn’t know the kind of magic he had used and when she whispered ‘legilimency’ as if that explained it he waved her off impatiently.

 

“Are you an occlumens?” he asked.

 

“Yes, I was occluding my mind. How did you know?” she betrayed herself, unaware that he was already affecting her subtly. Confess, confide, trust.

 

“You do not need to know. And since you obviously did not trust your husband was telling you the truth of my power and tried to deceive me I will give you an object lesson.” He called his terrible power and fell on her soul like a boiling wave looking for her secrets, her misgivings, her pain, her happiness. He wanted to understand her before he enthralled her and he overwhelmed her with the presence of the secret magic hidden in the Department of Mysteries.

 

Mortfidèle had wounded her; she was bleeding as he was inside her very sense of self where she was fighting against letting her pain show. She wanted freedom; she was caged, answering to one master after another. She was undoubtedly a dark witch; rationalizing evil and dark magic by need for survival. She feared Mortfidèle and Voldemort terribly, but shockingly he saw her bowing to a kindly smiling Dumbledore. That is who her assurance was, she worked for Albus Dumbledore.

 

Then he saw something that made his blood cold even as the smothering heat of his mysterious magic surrounded him. He saw himself through her eyes, but not as Neville or Achelous but Harry Potter. He saw himself lying down on the cot in Privet Drive with a dark expression on his face talking to her.

 

Stunned, Harry withdrew, finding the graceful woman had collapsed on the love seat.

 

“Oh, do I have questions for you.” Knowing that if she was truly in Dumbledore’s employ he would have his own magic working in her he set to weaken it.

 

Phials flew to his hand from the pouch he carried. In the dazed witch’s mouth he poured the Unctuous Unction, the Veritaserum, and the two potions besides to weaken the will and mind. Last he sat next to her and took her listless hand seeking Dumbledore’s brand of magic that inclined people’s thinking a certain way and predisposed them to acting in ways favorable to him.

 

His invasion into her heart and soul had left her frayed and he could easily feel the foreign magic against his own, as if it were his fingers brushing against a rough surface. He untangled the latent spells simply banishing them than working to understand how they were made; he didn’t have the time.

 

Then he woke Narcissa and she began a tale of answers.

 

π

 

“So Narcissa, when did you meet Harry Potter and why?” he asked, his polyjuiced eyes cold.

 

“Another one of Dumbledore’s errands,” she derided, wincing from the wounds Mortfidèle had left on her. Harry made a mental note to heal her after he had his answers. “He sent Severus to me, like always, with his oh-so-subtle hints and nuggets of half useful information.”

 

“He likes to tease,” Harry agreed.

 

“You’d think he was a woman,” Narcissa commented. “The boy’s blood was found somewhere it wasn’t meant to be. Dumbledore wanted me to check if he was still with the muggles he’d left him with. If I found the Potter boy I was to find out if he was possessed or otherwise under magical influence.”

 

“Where was the blood found?” Harry demanded harshly, his heart racing.

 

“I do not know. I don’t think I am meant to know what I do either; I wheedled this much out of Severus. Until Dumbledore is certain that Harry Potter is not an unwitting threat he doesn’t want him close to the girl and their aunt. Severus gave me the polyjuice for Jamie Potter and the lie-easy potion. It is not the first time I have had to masquerade as her to draw pursuers from her. Dumbledore is not too concerned that I put myself at risk for the girl who lived and her aunt,” she finished bitterly.

 

“So you went to Harry Potter’s home polyjuiced like his aunt?” he did not hide his fury but Narcissa was affected too heavily by the potions and his other dark charms to notice.

 

“I did. Those animals keep him in a cupboard.” Narcissa tossed her head angrily, for a second surprising Harry. “If I didn’t have to act like the perfectly light Jamie Potter I would have boiled the pigs in their own blood for treating a child that way,” she vehemently cursed.

 

“But he is just a squib. I am surprised you care.” Harry commented half heartedly unable to believe that he had been fooled by Narcissa in his aunt’s guise. The lie-easy potion was complex and powerful enough to hide all physical tells of a person, and he had fallen to its trickery.

 

“A child is a child, Achelous. I punched the vile woman who Dumbledore made his guardian. I have never punched anyone in my life, it was satisfying,” she purred and Harry glimpsed the dark witch under the cultured exterior.

 

“What did you find about Harry Potter?” he asked, curiously pleased to find Narcissas so strongly in defense of his true self.

 

“Very intelligent and cautious. Oddly confident for a child neglected but it shows strength of will. He made me feel thoroughly stupid in my Jamie Potter impression. The limits of what I could reveal to the boy that Dumbledore put on me made it difficult to gain his trust. But he is affectionate and I was able to gain some ground in his heart, he will see me again if Dumbledore makes it necessary. I may just go to curse that Petunia woman again and get him a decent meal,” she fumed.

 

“Was there anything besides your indignation at his treatment,” Harry asked with a wry smile, off balanced by Narcissa’s maternal attitude.

 

“He seemed too quick to be under the imperius. I did not detect a wizard or witch in the house. I don’t believe he is under anyone’s influence. Dumbledore will need another theory to explain why the boy’s blood was wherever he has found it.” She stopped in a thoughtful manner and began again with a very serious expression. “Also he looks exactly like James in his first year. I was shocked when I saw the son for the first time, and I think he noticed my fear. The last thing we need is James Potter coming back to life to become the scourge of Death Eaters once again. Not for anything did he duel and survive the Dark Lord so many times.”

 

Harry put that interesting bit of information about his father in the back of his mind, trying to think of all the places he had lost blood recently.

 

“Have you reported to Dumbledore?”

 

“No. When I came home, Lucius told me to expect you, and later Mortfidèle arrived.” The fear returned to her eyes and she hugged herself.

 

“Does Lucius know you work for Dumbledore?”

 

“No,” she said panicked. “Dumbledore promised me he’d keep Lucius out of Azkaban if I spied for him, after the Dark Lord fell he has only called me when he has needed someone to double for the girl-who-lived or Jamie Potter.”

 

“And you think that even if I fail against Mortfidèle, Dumbledore will stop him for you?”

 

“He has to, he owes me,” she said desperately. “He must feel some loyalty towards me even if he blackmailed me into serving him. But now that I have felt your power I don’t doubt you. I don’t know why you would choose us for your followers but my bones are shaking from your magic.” She had bowed her head as she spoke not in awe but resignation; she understood she couldn’t resist him. “If I have to follow anyone I am happy that it is you our dear and closest friend.”

 

Ah! The Unctuous Unction is still working. A half-smile tugged his lips realizing he had her even without having enthralled her yet. He fed her the antidotes for the potions he had used on her and waited till she remembered that he wasn’t her ‘dearest and closest friend’ but a stranger.

 

Her face haggard from fear fell to bleak desolation as memory came back to her. She guessed well enough that he had bewitched her to reveal her secrets and there was nothing she could do about it.

 

“Can I ask you to be kind, Achelous, as you were to my husband?” A lesser woman would have begged but she asked with a certain broken dignity.

 

“You are in a terrible place, Narcissa. You are marked by Voldemort, my enemy, you can be controlled by Mortfidèle, also my enemy. And you secretly work for Dumbledore, who isn’t my enemy but doesn’t share my goals. I know that you will do cruel things on Mortfidèle’s orders to people I care about so I can’t allow you to live. My only other resort is for you to serve me like your husband does; but how will I know you are loyal to me when you have so many masters to answer to?” Harry left the question in the air knowing as his thrall she would have no choice in the matter, but was curious what the cunning witch would say.

 

He saw her stand with a slight arch in her back that thrust out her breasts covered in robes and silk nightgown she ran hand through her curled hair making it halo her fine featured face and her deceptive gray eyes – she looked like bad news that you never wanted to leave. Walking to him she traced his chin with her manicured nails: the invitation obvious.

 

“Kneel on the bed,” he told her not leaving her eyes, not missing her suggestive smile.

 

She climbed the bed with a little difficulty which she tried to hide. Her leg spasmed once but she managed to perform the act in a sufficiently alluring manner.

 

“Take off your night gown,” Harry ordered and finally showed her what he was thinking on his face. Her sexy smile fell as she realized she had made a grave mistake. Still she reached with a hand to take off her nightgown but couldn’t hide the agony the movement provoked.

 

“I was expecting a better argument for how you would be loyal to me than an offer of your body. Do you really expect me to believe that you would follow me more steadfastly because you spread your legs for me?”

 

An ugly look of defeat washed over her beautiful face and she hung her head so that her hair veiled her. A single shudder through her back told him she was weeping.

 

“If you knew me better you’d understand how badly you insulted me with your act; that you thought I would actually take advantage of a desperate woman,” his words were cold but said kindly.

 

A slicing charm from his wand split her night gown down her back; she didn’t even react when he peeled it off of the robes she was wearing underneath. He took extra care when pulling it from her side where he knew Mortfidèle had cursed her. She had been wearing the nightgown to hide her wounds, but even if Harry had not magically invaded her mind and soul, the line of blood showing from her ankle to under her arm was obvious enough. The poor witch hadn’t even noticed in her fear that blood was seeping through.

 

“I am impressed that you held on so long speaking to me and even tried to seduce me with these injuries. Lie down.” He guided her gently to her side and placed her arm so that he could see the line of blood through her soft yellow robes. Cutting down the length he peeled aside the robes enough to see the damage while ensuring her modesty.

 

From under her armpit ichor oozed from bubbled black flesh like a fault line all the way down to her ankle. Her smooth skin stood out in harsh contrast to where Mortfidèle had cursed her.

 

“I know this curse. There is not a cure. It will heal just enough to let me live but it will never stop bleeding. He wanted me to remember what he could do to me,” she explained evenly.

 

Harry arched a brow at her dramatics trying to remember if the counter curse was something discovered later in the time line or was simply something hidden away in tomes not commonly known. Harry felt movement before he heard it and saw Lucius enter the bedroom, a look of contained horror on his face at Narcissa’s wounds. The husband and wife exchanged an unreadable look.

 

“The curse, was it the-?”

 

“Yes,” Narcissa answered before Lucius could finish asking. Lucius’ hand went to his temple in a show of unusual worry and he turned away. “Do I disgust you now?” she asked with a bite.

 

“Enough,” Harry intervened before the couple could launch into an argument. He touched the top of the infected and leaking wound making Narcissa whimper and clench her eyes shut. “Hush, it will be over soon.”

 

With his left hand cupped and sitting on one edge of the cursed flesh he brought the wand to touch on the opposite side. A near viscous and frothy looking light coiled out of the wand swirling over the wound and cupping into his left hand. Pooling the spell between wand and hand Harry drew down from Narcissa’s side to her foot; wherever his hand and wand passed the swirling light washed away the curse leaving fresh smooth skin in place.

 

“There, you are as enchanting as ever again, Narcissa.” He guided her hand to touch her healed side. Forgetting any sense of propriety she sat up feeling down her side, a teary eyed expression of disbelief and elation on her face.

 

Harry gave them a moment to celebrate and Narcissa to clothe herself. In the meantime he thought of the choices he was going to give her.

 

π

 

“We did not find him anywhere, Achelous. He must have left to find the others. Narcissa, did he say anything?” Lucius turned in the love seat to look at his wife who was much refreshed.

 

“He was going to contact those who haven’t been confirmed dead. He said the Dark Lord was weak and unworthy of our loyalty anymore. He is the new Dark Lord. And strangely he ordered me to find out everything I could about the brother of the girl-who-lived, Harry Potter.” She shot Harry a glance remembering he had interrogated her about how she knew the boy. Lucius gave him a meaningful look as well, in his case knowing the implication of Mortfidèle’s question.

 

“Do you think he knows, Achelous?” Lucius asked catching Harry’s repressive glare too late.

 

“Know what?” Narcissa looked between the two.

 

“She is not yet in my service, Lucius,” Harry explained as Lucius closed off his expression from Narcissa scrutiny realizing he had betrayed his master unknowingly. “Leave us, your wife and I have to settle our relationship.”

 

The dark wizard stood and turned to his wife, “Remember his kindness, ‘Cissa.” With that he nodded to Harry and exited the room. Narcissa looked embarrassed and out of depth.

 

“I have misjudged you, Achelous,” she began not looking at him. “I am sorry for insulting you. You were generous when you had all the right to take me as I offered, and you were forgiving in healing me when you could have left me cursed as punishment for my audacity. Thank you.”

 

“That cost you, didn’t it?” Harry asked, accepting her apology on face value.

 

“I am tired of living under the yoke of one powerful wizard after another, so it galls me that I am indebted to you. But I am thankful, by Merlin, for your healing and respect.” The prideful dark witch was back and Harry was attracted to how she admitted both her anger and gratitude with honesty.

 

“Why do you think Mortfidèle is interested in Harry Potter?”

 

“I cannot guess, the child is intelligent and not easily fooled, he threw me out of his house when I was feeding him ill conceived lies. But that is hardly a talent to attract both Dumbledore’s and Mortfidèle’s attention.” She looked to him askance, knowing he had the answer to the implied question.

 

“He’s a sweet child; kissed me to soften the blow of rejecting me until I told him the truth. It would be a shame if either Dumbledore or Mortfidèle put him to their own uses,” she pressed, thinking she had some advantage, watching him with intent gray eyes.

 

Harry laughed, never thinking she would be advocating for him. “I will tell you but first you have to join my circle.”

 

“Do I have a choice?” she asked all but hiding the bitterness.

 

“You made a choice long time ago to be the kind of person you are, Narcissa. You supported muggle born cleansing and the spread of dark magic. No, you didn’t join the ‘cause’ like your husband did, but you believed in it until Mortfidèle forced you to commit yourself and do the dirty work.

 

“You made your choice, for worse, and that is why you are here today so don’t you dare blame me. The people you work for mean me harm, which leaves me two options, either you die, or you join me and I insure your loyalty. So choose: death or obedience to me.”

 

There was sweat on her brow; fear and disappointment were painted on her face. “You will protect me from Mortfidèle?”

 

“I have promised Lucius, yes.”

 

She nodded. “What is it that you want, Achelous, power?”

 

“No. I want to save my family and destroy the dark lords because they have targeted me. That should be your goal too if you want freedom from the stupid choices you made.”

 

She swallowed her pride and nodded again. “What about my family, will you protect us too while saving your own blood?”

 

“If you join me you will be one of mine Narcissa, but this guarantee is only to you and Lucius. It is up to you to reeducate Draco so he doesn’t join one of the Dark Lords when he grows up. If he does he will die by my hand, I promise you that.”

 

“How can I join you when you tell me that? He is my son!” she shouted.

 

Harry’s eyes stayed cold. “If you join me you have a chance to save him. If you don’t I will kill you this instant and it will be up to Lucius to save Draco from the wrong path, and when Draco chooses to join my enemies, I will kill him as well. This is again what you have done yourself, Narcissa.”

 

“What of Dumbledore? He will expect my loyalty too.”

 

“You will spy on Dumbledore for me, and you will give him every reason to believe that you repent your dark past. I have no more time tonight, make your choice now.” Harry had looked at the time piece sitting on the vanity to realize that his potion would be running its course in a few minutes and he would revert to his true body.

 

She scoffed, “The choice is death or you. You give me the same options as Mortfidèle and the Dark Lord.”

 

“Yet, I will protect you which even Dumbledore didn’t offer you. Choose!”

 

There was a moment of suspense before she bowed. “I will follow you, Achelous.” Her pride was broken.

 

He smiled pleasantly, an expression she missed. He could’ve enthralled her and never given her a choice but he was curious what she would choose of her own accord, and not he knew. It would make enthralling her that much easier. Taking out his shrunk clothes he returned them to the proper size setting them on her bed. She watched perplexed but unquestioning. Time ran out and his skin began to bubble from the change. He smirked as her confused face turned to shock.

 

He stood in the adult clothes and turned his back on her to change into a shirt and jeans that suited his eleven year old body that much more. Finally he reached for his circular glassed and perched them on his nose giving Narcissa a cheeky grin; she had a most common expression of bewilderment on her face.

 

“Well hello Aunt Jamie, who knew two can play the polyjuice game,” he greeted.

 

“You?” she gasped. “Lucius!”

 

‘Sorry, we’re not done Jamie.” Harry smiled predatorily and summoned the secret magic from Department of Mysteries. It flowed into him and through to her in one uninterrupted boiling wave. Knowing where her insecurities were and what commanded her will and emotion he reached for it, making himself her savior, and submitting her reason to his own. She was his in five heartbeats.

 

When Lucius burst into the room, Narcissa was kneeling in front of Harry, kissing his hand. “My lord, thank you,” she said with emotion.

 

“She has joined us?” Malfoy asked happily.

 

“Yes she has. Narcissa, do not call me anything but Achelous, I don’t like to be worshipped. Stand up,” he ordered.

 

With reverence she stood up and came to stand behind him as they both faced Lucius. She put a hand on his shoulder and Harry looked up to see her so far tense and weary face was alight with the power he had filled her with and she was serene.

 

“You are right, Lucius, he is kind. I met him as Harry Potter once, I was wrong to fear you.”

 

“It’s alright.” Harry patted her hand on his shoulder, curious at her possessives.

 

“Lucius, call Dobby, dinner has to be served. That depraved bitch of his aunt doesn’t feed him.” Then she turned to Harry. “You should rest, Achelous, it must be past your time to sleep.”

 

Lucius arched a questioning brow and shared a confused look with Harry.

 

Oh hell! I’d struck her maternal instincts before I had even enthralled her, she will be impossible now, Harry realized, groaning.

 

“Achelous, please allow me to teach that creature a lesson. I hope she isn’t part of the family you want to protect,” she asked as if the idea was unthinkable.

 

Yeah, this is going to be interesting.

 

“You want to boil her in her own blood, right?”

 

“Slowly,” she amended with a homicidal glint in her eye.

 

“Let’s eat first.” Harry sighed following Lucius out the door with Narcissa’s hand firmly on his shoulder.

 

π

 

The wand in his hand shook as foul smoke curled from the corpse at his feet and his face was pulled in a grimace of loathing. Entering Avery Jr.’s soul was a vile experience and he shuddered from disgust. Even Lucius was less repulsive; the man had stayed above the more degenerative practices.

 

“Achelous,” Lucius called him in a whisper, too afraid to speak up.

 

They were in the Malfoy Manor dungeons. Harry had attempted to enthrall Avery Jr. but had lashed out torturing him from the inside out; burning, twisting, and rending for a half hour until the pile of muscle and bone was left smoldering unrecognizable as once having been human.

 

“Did he scream?” Harry asked.

 

“He didn’t stop screaming for even a second,” Narcissa answered, pale and having thrown up.

 

“Lucius, you will remind me to tell the dead Avery Jr. has passed over. They will hound him as he deserves.”

 

“Yes, Achelous.” Lucius bowed, terrified.

 

Harry strode over to where Avery Sr. was standing under the influence of mind and will weakening potions, but not so much that he didn’t understand what had just happened. Looking up into the man’s face Harry could see that he knew how to carry himself, giving off an air of a muggle general. His heavy set shoulders and broad face made for a commanding presence.

 

“Was the father as bad as the son? Did he,” Harry couldn’t find the word in near apoplectic rage for a moment, ‘defile innocents like his son?” he spat.

 

“Avery Sr. led the celebrations and taught how to strike fear in our victims. He was the Dark Lord’s right hand in that endeavor,” Lucius answered honestly for fear of attracting his lord’s anger if he said anything otherwise.

 

But Harry was glaring up at the old Death Eater, a classmate of Voldemort’s, with hate maddened eyes.

 

“You will die for siring a wretched demon like your son. But before that you will obey me, helplessly, unwaveringly, and if I can help it with mind blinding agony. When you are done I will create hell on earth for you and not let you escape it as quick as I let your son. You will suffer, I swear it on my children’s heads. Oriri Atrox!”

 

Earth erupted in the dungeon, rock tore out and trapped Avery Sr. as he tried screaming. Golden strands of the terrible power flowed from Harry’s wand and came out of the undulating earth like spear headed chains and pierced his heart and eyes. Avery Sr. flailed a ululating howl tearing out of his throat as the mysterious power suppressed his will and mind with all vengeance. Harry left him his memory so he would know in every moment that he was his tool and be in endless torture.

 

When he released him, Avery Sr. fell on all fours, whimpering “Master, master, master,” and bleeding on the concrete floor.

 

“Go to your home, wait for Mortfidèle. Join him and spy on him, report to me directly. Get out of my sight!”

 

Π

 

Narcissa draped a cloak over him that fit his young body as he stood in the doorway of the Malfoy Manor. Lucius waited attentively and Narcissa hovered behind him where she felt was her place, at his beck and call.

 

“Lucius, go where Mortfidèle can’t find you or Narcissa. Also make a public appearance; I want you back influencing your contacts in the Ministry. Find me all the remaining Death Eaters, anyone Mortfidèle is likely to call to his side.”

 

“Yes, Achelous.” Lucius kneeled showing more submissiveness than what Harry liked but he understood he had frightened his thralls.

 

“Narcissa, you will return to Dumbledore. Tell him how your meeting went with Harry Potter before you knew he and Achelous are the same. You must tell him that Mortfidèle has returned and has claimed himself the Dark Lord. Do not tell him he is interested in Harry Potter.”

 

“As you wish, Achelous.” Narcissa bowed like her husband.

 

“Both of you try to find where Dumbledore is hiding my sister. We have to protect her. Mortfidèle believes I am a squib but for some reason command the wizard who has killed the Death Eaters. He is wary of me. Hopefully he will come after me before he goes after my sister, but she needs to be protected. Lucius, it is up to you to convince the Minister of Magic to send Aurors to protect the girl-who-lived.”

 

“Ludo is gullible, it will be easy to influence him. Do you wish me to tell him of Mortfidèle?”

 

“Ludo?” Harry asked not knowing who Malfoy was referring to.

 

“Ludo Bagman is the Minister of Magic, Achelous.”

 

“Now that’s just fucked up,” Harry muttered, shaking his head. “Yes, if he won’t react stupidly and refuse to believe you, tell him.” Just come to me so I can save Sirius, Harry sent a silent prayer, heartily wishing he didn’t have to balance his godfather’s life against others and especially his newfound sister’s.

 

Harry saw Narcissa hesitate on speaking next to him and he nodded encouraging her.

 

“Do you know where Dumbledore found your blood? You might be in danger if he finds out your power. He won’t think you a light wizard because you have killed so many,” she worriedly questioned.

 

“No, I do not know. If you can find anything from Severus, that will help. When I show up at Hogwarts it will be suspicious enough. Hopefully he didn’t find blood at a damning place.” He stood contemplating for a moment. “I am desperately tired now. Thank you for your hospitality, stay safe.”

 

“Achelous, may I escort you? If Mortfidèle is after you it won’t be safe to go to a muggle house,” Narcissa quickly put in.

 

“I can take care of myself.” Harry gave a perfunctory smile to ease her mind.

 

“Please,” she insisted, and Lucius nodded adding his silent vote to her request.

 

“Fine, let’s go.” He grabbed her arm and apparated straight into his warded room.

 

Π

 

The room seemed smaller with two people in it. The table for potions, the writing desk, reading chair, and, of course, the bed took much of the floor space. Harry motioned her to sit and divested himself of the usual things he carried. Mentally too old to care that a woman was in the room with him he changed into clothes for bed. He looked over his shoulder to find that she had politely chosen to inspect his potions while he undressed.

 

“So, perfectly safe. Please, go home now, I want you and Lucius at a safe location before tomorrow night.” He said this as he noticed dawn already peeking through the window. He hoped the woman Lucius had sent to Hogwarts would find his name in the book. It would be relatively easier showing up at the school with an invitation instead of without one, even if both ways his reception would be suspicious.

 

“I just wanted to make certain.” Narcissa came around and folded down the covers on his bed.

 

Resigning himself to the treatment Harry got in and before he could pull up the sheets she was already tucking him in. Then she waved her wand and a cool breeze began circulating in his room, making him thankful for the covers even if it was summer. The wind relaxed him as it played on his face and he felt his eyelids droop.

 

“May I return the favor,” she asked quietly, turning off the electric lights.

 

“Sure,” Harry said yawning, having no clue what she was talking about.

 

Then he felt lips press to his brow and realized Narcissa had left him a kiss like he had when she came to him just earlier the past day as his paternal aunt. He smiled in amusement.

 

“Thank you, Narcissa, goodnight.”

 

“Sweet dreams, Harry Potter,” she whispered near his ear, her hair brushed against his cheek before he heard the crack of disapparation and she was gone.

 

Π