Lucius Malfoy’s expression is solemn, a bitter cold wind seems to freeze his throat. It took some effort to open his tightly closed lips, he seemed surprised. As he said woodenly, “Very brave … Draco… I mean that little wizard.”
Felix carefully examined his face.
The wind began to blow again, and the black shadows of the trees swayed in the empty space between them. After a moment of silence, Lucius said softly, “I know a bit of information, the Malfoys are always well-informed …”
“… About a few months ago, one late night during the Quidditch … World Cup, the Dark Mark on the arm suddenly awoke from its slumber, something that had not happened for more than a decade… … Some people were terrified, they approached me to talk about it, and I … comforted them.”
Felix looked at Lucius with interest. So, he already knew about Voldemort’s anomaly? He must have been scared to death for a long time … Quidditch World Cup, is he talking about those Death Eaters who falsely claim to be subjected to an Imperius Curse, thus escaping punishment?
So this is why, when he handed an olive branch to him at that moment, Lucius obediently took it?
“The dark mark on the arm?” Felix asked, “I recall it only appeared over the victim’s house, as a sign of Death Eater malice?”
Lucius shivered. As he met those calm blue eyes, he couldn’t help but think back to what had happened at the Quidditch World Cup. It was this same man in front of him who had teased hundreds of wizards with absolute dominance … His magic seemed to be limitless, penetrating through the chest of the man beside him through a long-distance… Every time he woke up from a nightmare, he pondered about one thing, what if the owner of the blue eyes wanted to deal with him that time?
His posture became more and more humble, and his body looked shorter.
He whispered, “This is a hidden secret. The Dark Lord marked loyal followers with a mark that served as a means of contacting them … and those followers would be treated differently by the Dark Lord and given the privilege of contacting him.”
Felix nodded, that made sense. In the wizarding community, there were fewer means to communicate with someone who’s away instantly, mainly because for wizards, distance is no longer a concern; Apparition and Floo powder solved a majority of the distance issues.
But during the outbreak of war, wizards’ need for instant communication and intelligence transfer had increased dramatically, and each camp employed different means. As far as he knew, the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic always acted collectively, seeking to gain an edge with their regional advantage; the Order of the Phoenix used Patronus to deliver messages; as for the Death Eaters’side, he had previously been unclear …
So it’s using the Dark Mark?
“In that case, each Death Eater’s arm was branded?”
“Not really … it was for those who were ‘ loyal’ followers,” Lucius emphasized the words again.
“How do I interpret the word ‘loyal’?”
“… The Dark Lord only cares about useful people.” Lucius lowered his head uneasily, making it impossible to see his rapidly darting gray eyes, “Those who are skilled, those who have status, those who have money, or those with special skills … like Severus Snape.”
He glanced up quickly as Felix stared at him expressionlessly, and he hurriedly lowered his head again.
“Severus?” Felix repeated slowly.
“Yes … Yes, when he was at school he displayed an extraordinary talent for Potions, far more than I did, and more than any other member of the Potions Club at the time. The Dark Lord valued his talent and wouldn’t let him participate in the operations all the time, as he would provide precious potions from the rear … Later, it just happened that Slughorn retired and Hogwarts was in desperate need of a Potions class professor, so the Dark Lord arranged for him to enter the school and spy Dumbledore’s every move.”
Felix nodded slightly, he knew about it, Dumbledore vouched for Severus after the war, proving that he was his undercover agent. But now a question is, the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix, who first and who second?
His gut feeling tells him that there is a shocking secret lurking.
“When did Severus join the Death Eaters?”
“At an assembly before graduation, the Dark Lord personally convinced him.”
After a long silence, Felix spoke up: “We’re off-topic, apart from that time, has there been any abnormality in the Dark Mark after that?”
“There have been several times one after another … with a burning sensation at intervals …”
“Hmm.” Felix said, “It’s like a bad signal from a muggle phone?”
Lucius froze for a moment and said, “You’re right Mr. Hap.” He knew what Muggle Phone is and what a bad signal means.
“So, one more thing left, let me see what the Dark Mark looks like on your arm …”
Lucius jerked his head up, he had avoided mentioning Death Eaters and associating himself with that word in the previous conversation. But now he had to make a decision.
“Lucius …?”
After a moment’s hesitation, he shakily lifted his cuff. On the inner side of his left forearm, there is a light red pattern that looks like a birthmark. It looked very faint, making it impossible to tell exactly what it looks like. If it were placed somewhere else, people would be convinced that it is an early symptom of dragon pox.
Felix repeatedly compared it with the information in his mind and finally saw a few familiar shades from some distinctive patterns.
“Normally … in the days when the Dark Lord reigned, it was bright red, like blood. After the disappearance of the Dark Lord, the mark faded, but now the faded mark has started to become visible again. We had suspected, once again, that he was preparing for his reign …”
Lucius said with a distant look.
“So, you’ve decided to choose a side?” Felix looked at him with a smile.
Lucius’s thin lips quivered, and he didn’t speak.
“Just kidding, of course, you can have it both ways, and place bets on both sides – like you always do. The future depends on no one, but, Lucius, unlike Voldemort, I have enough regard for people, I hope we can come to an understanding later.”
“Perhaps a message from you could save the life of someone I know, and I look forward to that with great anticipation and pay my respects in advance to you.” Felix straightened his body and said in a cold tone, “Take these words to heart so that the lightning won’t fall on you.”
“If that day comes when the Dark Lord returns …” Lucius said with difficulty under great pressure, “I am certainly, certainly willing … to …”
“Willing to what?”
“… to contribute to the cause of justice, Mr. Hap.”
Felix gave a satisfied smile, “Look on the bright side, maybe he’ll never come back, and you’ve just promised a blank cheque.”
“Oh yes,” his tone lightened again, “I saw a broker entering Malfoy Manor, does he work for the Malfoys? I’m interested in that… It looks like you have your own set of rules, without adding some extra, unnecessary magic …”
…
Clouds obscured the moon as Lucius Malfoy stood still, the image of Felix Hap silently disappeared in his mind, just as he had done at the Quidditch World Cup, without any semblance of forewarning at all.
He breathed a long sigh of relief, today’s events had been so chilling that even with the partial promise he didn’t feel any safer – a shiver ran through him at the thought of messing with the Dark Lord right under his nose, and no one knew better than he did how scary he was. It is a good thing that he only had to reveal some insignificant information, and he used this excuse to convince himself.
At this moment, he wished more than anyone else that the Dark Lord’s return plan would be aborted, but people like him would never pin their future on vague ‘hopes’.
As long as he is cautiously worked, he will obtain a ticket to the future securely.
No matter who loses and who wins!
He cursed in a low voice in the middle of the night. He should write to Draco when he gets back and asks him to come home for Christmas. It is time to teach him properly, all he knows is to tangle with that Potter in school all day and constantly losing…
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