Fear Itself

Fear Itself
a ficlet set in the TSH AU
by Elle

Elan peeked under the table. Fritz wasn't there. He checked behind the heavy door. Fritz wasn't there either. Where could his cousin be? Elan couldn't let him win; that would be unacceptable. Perhaps inside the closet? He opened the door quickly.

"Found you!" he cried out, as his cousin leapt out.

"Lucky guess!" Fritz protested, clearly displeased at being found so quickly.

Elan smirked. "Fortune smiles on me," he said, quoting a line from the book he was reading.

"Hide and seek is boring, cousin. Why don't we have some real fun?" Fritz said with a glint in his eyes that made Elan worry.

"If this has anything to do with Father's office, don't even think about it. I'm not getting in trouble again because of that, thank you very much," Elan said haughtily. He could still clearly remember every word of the lecture he had received the last time he got into trouble with Fritz. "Anyway, everything you'd call interesting is under locking charms," Elan finished.

"How could I have a coward for a cousin?" Fritz asked, looking up at the sky. He was a year older then Elan and was now taller, so he had no fear of Elan punching him.

Elan bristled under this insult, but he called to mind what Father had told him earlier that morning. "I know that Elizabeth's foolish little brat is coming for a visit today. I will be very displeased if he convinces you to do something stupid again. Think for yourself; you are smarter and better then that disgusting little toad any day." Elan really didn't want to disappoint his father, especially now. Father was taking a short trip to oversee some business in China, and Elan was hoping he'd be taken along. Father hadn't given any definite answer, and Elan was sure that if he behaved well, he'd be allowed to go too. After all, he was almost nine; he was old enough to help his father.

"Call me what you like, but I'm going to China with Father soon. That's far more interesting then anything you could think up," Elan bragged, smirking happily.

"China?" Fritz asked, and he couldn't help but look impressed. "Well, that's nice. Father took me to Germany for a whole week once," he countered.

"Sprechen Sie Deutsches?" Elan mocked in a bored tone.

An ugly look of hatred filled Fritz's face for a moment. Then he shrugged, as if he didn't care. "Well, bring me back something nice from China. Let's go explore the cellars. You are allowed to go there, aren't you?"

Elan thought for a moment. His parents had told him he was to stay out of a lot of places, but they hadn't mentioned the cellar. He supposed that wouldn't be a problem. If they hadn't forbidden it, it must be permissible. A pang of conscience told him it was logic like that which always got him into trouble when it came to Fritz. Perhaps he should play it safe.

"I'll ask Mother if we can go," Elan said.

"You're such a nancy boy," Fritz said scornfully. "You have to ask Mummy for every little thing. You're just a baby. You should be playing with Draco, not me," Fritz mocked.

All of Father's cautions went out the window. All thoughts of China, of being grounded, or anything else at all was forgotten. Elan Octavio Malfoy would not allow himself to be shown up by anyone! "Let's go," he said shortly.

The two boys crept into the kitchen and down the dark staircase. It was not nearly as exciting as Elan had thought it might be. All the cellar had in it was boxes of food and supplies, piled up in neat rows, and boxes of items in storage.

"There isn't anything that interesting here," Elan complained in a bored tone.

"Your house is boring," Fritz returned.

"Well so-orry," Elan snapped, drawling the second word. "Next time you should get yourself thrown into a dragon's cave. You'll find that pretty interesting."

"I'm still here and bored," Fritz whined.

"Well, we could play hide and seek down here," Elan suggested.

"All right. I'll hide first since I'm the guest," Fritz agreed in a snooty tone.

"I'll give you until one hundred," Elan said by way of agreement, even though it was his turn to hide. He covered his eyes and began to count. He heard Fritz's footsteps fade away. In his own house, he could find Fritz much easier, and then he'd be able to rub it in the git's face.

Elan finally finished counting and began searching the dusty cellar room by room. One thing was sure, it was a lot more interesting playing down here; there were so many places to hide! The dust made his eyes water a bit, but he didn't give up. He'd find his cousin soon enough.

As he moved into the next room, he was amazed by all the junk. Shelves, cabinets, cupboards! It appeared to be mostly old furniture. There was the cradle he'd slept in as a baby. More boxes were stacked on the shelves and piled in orderly rows. Elan heard a slight rattling sound. One of the closets was moving! Fritz must be trying to scare him. Well, he'd show that prat. He opened the door.

A snarling wolf leapt out at him! Its eyes were yellow, its fangs were long, and its breath was horrible. Elan let out a scream and tried to back out of the room. A shout of terror in French came from the hall, and the door slammed shut. Elan tugged on the handle, but it didn't move. He was trapped!

The wolf began to circle him, growling hungrily. Elan promptly grabbed the first thing that came to hand, an old broomstick, and whacked the wolf as hard as he could. The wolf howled in anger. Taking advantage of the distraction, Elan began to climb a stack of boxes, trying to get to the top of the closet the wolf had been hiding in. It was tall; perhaps he could find safety up there. He felt the wolf grab at the leg of his trousers. With a grunt, he pulled upwards and felt the fabric rip. He kept climbing until he reached the top.

He could still hear the wolf panting and snarling below him. He looked over the edge and down to the ground. It was clawing at the bottom of the closet, clearly trying to get to him.

"Father!" he screamed. "Mother! Anybody! Help!" How in Merlin's name did a wolf get in here? Would anyone be able to hear him? He snapped his fingers for a house elf, but his hands were too sweaty. He was doomed.

Over and over again, he screamed for help as the wolf tried to reach him. It tried to climb up the boxes as well, but Elan pelted it with jars from the shelves and kicked the boxes down to the floor. It tried to hide, but Elan wasn't coming down from the shelf till someone came and saved him.

The wolf threw itself against the closet, shaking Elan's perch. Boxes stacked on top of the closet fell down on him. Elan held on for dear life as he swayed back and forth. Pain flashed at him as he banged his head, nearly blacking out. His head hurt so badly! He lay there, unable to move, screaming for his parents. The top was still too high for the wolf, but would it find a way to reach him? Elan weakly realized that he was trapped.

What seemed like hours passed. Elan screamed till he was hoarse, but no one seem to come. Was he going to die? The wolf kept clawing at the cupboard and howling, terrifying Elan to no end. He'd never see Mother or Father again; he'd never play with Draco again; he'd never go to Hogwarts; he was going to die!

Suddenly he heard something in the hall. "Elan!" called a voice. It was Father! Elan tried to cry out, but all that came out was a pitiful wheeze. The wolf howled. Elan smiled, in spite of his pain. Father would hear that!

A moment later, Father dashed into the room, and the wolf was instantly gone. In its place was -- himself? -- lying dead on the floor, blood in a big puddle around his body. But wasn't he here? Elan was so confused, which only added to the pain he was already in.

Father let out a gasp and fell to his knees beside the body. "Elan...." he whispered, cradling the body's head. Elan knew it couldn't be him. Who was that body? He didn't understand what was going on. Where had the wolf gone? He couldn't be dead; death couldn't involve this much pain! He tried to speak, to move, but every attempt made him dizzy and nauseous. His voice was gone from all the screaming. He could only watch helplessly as his father bent over the wrong person.

Father was crying? Father was the strongest person in the world, he couldn't cry! Yet there were tears running down Father's cheeks. He was frantically casting spell after spell, his voice shaking with rage and sadness, clearly trying to help the body. "Father," Elan weakly called, but his voice barely carried.

With a loud crash, Mother ran through the door. "Lucius, have you found him?" she breathed and then let out a blood-curdling scream. "ELAN!" she shrieked.

The body blurred for a moment and became a tall pale wizard with red eyes, blood-stained robes, and black hair. The wizard laughed maniacally, and Elan noticed that the wizard was holding a hand -- his hand!

Mother moaned and leaned against the wall. "No, please don't take my boys. You took Reg, you took Bella; don't touch my children, I beg you!" she whimpered, terror in every word.

Father had blinked away his tears. He got to his feet. "It's a boggart, Cis," Father said, his voice shaking. "It's not real."

"Please, please don't hurt my children," Mother begged.

"Cis, it isn't real. The Dark Lord is gone. You can banish it," Father repeated.

"Riddikulus," Mother wept as she lifted her wand. Nothing happened. The man continued to advance. Father stepped between them, and the wizard shifted into the form of Elan's little brother Draco, lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

"Riddikulus!" Father roared, and the fake Draco leapt up, covered in cherry ice cream. The thing, whatever it was, then turned into Mother, in chains and ripped clothing, looking hopeless.

"Riddikulus!" Father said, and that form of Mother laughed and asked if he liked her costume for the party. The real Mother was leaning against the wall looking pale. Finally, the tall pale wizard came back.

Elan saw fear on Father's face, but another intonement of "Riddukulus" changed the scary wizard into a wispy pale form that barely seemed visible. Elan also could have sworn he heard the sound of a crying baby nearby. Father managed a harsh laugh as he forced the wispy form back into the closet and closed the door with his wand. Elan smiled faintly, whatever that creature was, it was gone now.

Father gently helped Mother up, kissing her on the cheek to make her feel better. "It's over now, darling," he kept saying. He helped her into a chair and then started turning over boxes. It seemed to take forever, but finally Father had reached the top of the cupboard where Elan was half-covered by boxes.

"I have him, Cis! He's alive," he heard Father say as he cleared away the boxes that had fallen on top of him. In a moment, he was in his father's arms. "Are you all right?" Father asked, looking concerned. Although Elan had not been held for a long time, and ordinarily would have been mortified to be treated like a baby, he didn't mind this very much. He just shrugged and leaned his head against his father's shoulder.

"You are safe now. I swear it, nothing is going to hurt you now," Father whispered. Elan locked his arms around Father's neck and held on tightly. He didn't plan on letting go too quickly.

Mother shakily got to her feet and covered Elan's cheek with kisses. "You are alive, oh my darling little boy, my sweet treasure," she kept saying.

"He's been hurt, Cis," Father said, noticing his injuries for the first time.

They walked up the stairs, carrying Elan away from the dark cellar and all the horrors it contained. The light began to hurt Elan's eyes as they reached the ground floor, and he buried his face into Father's robes. He was in so much pain, but he knew that he was safe now. That was all that mattered. Before he knew it, he had been laid on a couch, and Mother was sponging his forehead.

"Quite a nasty bump to the head. Well, this should help him," Father commented.

Elan was then forced to drink a nasty tonic. "There's a good boy," Mother said encouragingly. It made his head feel better, and Elan soon found himself able to open his eyes in the light. He was in the sitting room, his head on Mother's lap. Father was standing next to her.

"What was all that?" he asked very softly, his voice still hurting. Father took his hand.

"That creature is called a boggart. It's a shape shifter. They're not overtly common, but they can be fairly nasty. It's gone now, so don't worry. I'll have the rest of the house checked by evening," Father assured him.

"I was so scared you wouldn't find me. I screamed and screamed for so long," Elan whispered.

"Hush, now. Just rest. What's important is that you are here, out of harm's way," Mother urged, cuddling him in her lap.

"No thanks to that cowardly, loathsome, pampered idiot," Father seethed, frowning darkly. "If it wasn't for the clock, we wouldn't have known for hours. He locked the damn door! He left our boy to die in there! He didn't even bother to tell anyone what happened! I have tolerated this cosseting of that unpleasant little worm for long enough. Don't think I've forgotten how it's always his fault when my Elan is in trouble, Cis. Since it's obvious his own parents have no idea how to control their children, perhaps it's time I set the boy straight myself," Father said in a low dangerous tone. Elan knew that when Father's voice grew quiet like that, it was a very bad sign.

Mother nodded in agreement. "Just don't kill him. Your cousin might not appreciate it," she advised.

Father shrugged. "I'll try my very best, dear, but don't hold me to anything," he answered.

Father walked out of the room. "Mum, how'd did you know to find me?" Elan asked hoarsely.

"The clock, dear. It had you pointed to mortal danger. We found Fritz playing and asked where you were. He told us the cellar," she informed him.

Father returned, looking even stormier. "I told that brat to sit on the stairs and not move till I returned. Now he's gone. This is the end of it," he said curtly. He snapped his fingers, and a house elf appeared.

"Bring Fritz to me now," he commanded. The elf bowed and disappeared in a loud pop. "This disobedience ends here," Father muttered, half to himself.

A second later, the elf returned, dragging along a very disgruntled boy by the hand. "Let me go!" the boy demanded.

"You are in no place to give orders, boy," Father said coldly.

Fritz pulled his hand away from the elf and folded his arms stubbornly. "I don't have to listen to you," he said audaciously. Elan didn't know what Father was going to do, but at this point, he really didn't care. Fritz had shut the door on him. Now he would suffer for it. Father would make Fritz pay for this, and Elan wanted to watch.

Father took Fritz by the ear. "Oh, but that is where you are wrong. Yes, you do have to listen to me, and yes, you will obey me. I am your cousin, and I am an adult," he said smoothly.

"OW! You're hurting me! I'm telling my father," Fritz complained. Father smiled thinly and produced his wand. Elan grinned. This was most entertaining.

"You don't have to worry about telling your father, boy. I'll make quite sure he gets a full report of your activities," Father drawled. "Besides the bad influence you've been on him, this is the second time you've endangered my son's life. I cannot tolerate this. Someone needs to teach you a lesson, and it's obvious that no one else is willing."

Fritz looked a bit nervous, though he tried not to show it. "It was just a joke," he said.

"A joke, hrmm? Do you see anyone laughing?" Father pressed. "Do you see me laughing? It is not funny when people get hurt, boy." Elan nodded. His head was still throbbing!

Fritz shrugged anxiously. "I didn't mean for him to get hurt."

Father whacked Fritz across the face with his wand. "Are you all right, Fritz?" he asked in a fake, sugary-sweet voice. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt."

Elan bit back a giggle as Fritz stamped his foot. "Stop that! You aren't my father; you can't do this to me. I want to go home," he said, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Quite right I'm not your father," Father said darkly. "I would've straightened you out years ago."

Elan shivered in spite of himself, knowing what Father meant by "straightened out." He keenly remembered the boils curse; he hadn't been able to sit down for two days.

Fritz's eyes grew wide as he realized that he wasn't going to be able to wheedle his way out of trouble this time, and that his mother wasn't here to save him.

"What's the matter, boy? Nothing to say? No smart-arse comments this time?" Father asked.

Fritz shuddered. "You, you can't!" he stammered, looking petrified with fear. Elan smirked; his cousin didn't look so brave now.

"I most certainly can," Father corrected. "Your parents put me in loco parentis while you are here, and that reminds me: I believe you deserve some punishment for putting my son up to going into my office two years ago."

"P-please!" Fritz begged.

"Calm yourself, boy. I won't be giving you that punishment."

"Really?" Fritz asked in a more hopeful tone.

"Elan can take care of this himself," Father said as he sat down on the couch next to Mother. "He's the one who will deal with you." He handed Elan his wand. "Here, you'll need this," he said.

Elan took it, feeling the power that lay in the smooth wood. Father would sometimes teach him the words to a spell, but he knew he was NEVER allowed to touch Mother's or Father's wand without it being given to him directly. He may have done a lot of mischief with Fritz, but he'd never dared try to use a wand. Father had sat down with him when he'd first begun to walk and explained that a wand, even in play, could hurt people very badly, and that if he ever found that Elan had tried to use one, the consequences would be "very severe". By giving him the wand and telling him to cast a hex, Father was placing great trust in him. Elan's shoulders swelled with pride!

Fritz looked like he wanted to run away, but there was no way out of the room. The door was closed, and Fritz was trapped. Elan gloated.

"Since he caused you get a hexing, it only seems fair you get to hex him," Father said calmly. Fritz didn't answer, he was too busy trembling.

"Sounds fair to me," Elan answered happily.

"I suppose you remember the Boils curse?" Father asked.

"How could I forget it?" Elan asked.

Father smiled. "Well, now it's your turn to cast the spell. Point the wand and repeat after me. Furunculus!" he said.

Elan concentrated. "Furunculus!" he snapped, happy to see a jet of blue light strike Fritz in the face.

"Well done, Elan, and on your first try!" Father said approvingly.

Fritz squealed with pain, tears running down his cheeks. Elan started to hand Father's wand back to him, but was merely waved on. "You are doing fine," Father said.

Elan decided to try again. He was enjoying making Fritz squirm. This time he aimed for the chest. Although the blue light wasn't as strong, Fritz still yelled in anguish, making Elan laugh. Now he knew what it was like to be defenseless and in pain, all alone with no one to help.

Elan leaned forward and tried to cast the spell once more. "Furunculus!" he said, but nothing happened. Elan suddenly felt weak and dizzy. He staggered and would have fallen had Father not steadied him.

"I think that's enough fun, Elan. You aren't at your full strength, and I don't want you hurting yourself," Father said softly, laying him back down on the couch.

"As for you," Father said, far more menacingly, "perhaps this will remind you how to behave." He took back his wand and strode over to the boy who was lying on the floor blubbering, his face and arms covered with enormous pus filled swellings. For the fourth time, Father cast "Furunculus!"

Fritz leapt up with a scream, clutching his backside. He was really bawling now and was in quite a state of hysteria.

"Now, you may sit in the corner and wait for your parents to come," Father said serenely.

Fritz was crying as he staggered to the corner. He tried to just stand there, but Father glared at him until he sank down to the floor, wailing in pain. He cried and carried on until Father cast a Silencing Charm on him.

Mother had been silent through his whole exchange, calmly reading a book, but she gave Father a rueful look. "Elizabeth and Stephan aren't going to like this, Lucius," she reminded.

Father shrugged. "The truth hurts, but worry not. I know how to deal with my relatives. Anyway, no one does that to my son without payback, right Elan?" he said brightly, giving the boy a one-armed hug.

Elan grinned. "Of course" he said. A strange look crossed Father's face. "I am not pleased with your behavior. You should have told someone where you were going. But I think that you will have to rest off that injury. Spending tomorrow in bed is enough of a punishment, especially after all you've seen. I somehow doubt you will go looking for trouble again for a long time," he said.

Elan nodded. "Yes, Father," he said softly.

Father ruffled his hair. "However, I am proud of you that you managed to keep your head and save yourself. You will make a wonderful wizard and a great man someday."

Elan hugged his father tighter. "I love you, Father," he said.

Father bent down and gave Elan a kiss on the forehead. "I love you too, my son. A true Malfoy, every drop of him," he said proudly.

"Especially the mischievous streak," Mother reminded.

Father took Mother's hand and kissed it. "I think that comes from both sides, dear," he bantered back. Elan leaned back happily. Life was good.

Cousin Elizabeth arrived a few hours later. Elan was now sipping tea on the couch, and Mother was telling him his favorite story and feeding him sweets. Fritz was still sniveling in the corner, which was music to Elan's ears. He had enjoyed every minute of his cousin's punishment and had been almost sorry that there hadn't been more.

Father was sitting in an arm chair doing some work, but Elan caught him glancing up and checking on him every few minutes, as if to make sure he was still there. After what Mother and Father saw, it was clear they wanted to be reassured everyone was all right. Even little Draco had been brought downstairs and was happily listening to the story.

"Erin knew that the only way Duke Alexander could be saved was to find the Golden Crown, but if the Count Nicholas found out what she was doing, her family was doomed," Mother was saying when the doorbell rang. A moment later, Elizabeth walked in, taking in everything.

"Good evening- Lucius, why is Fritz so upset?" she asked, her pretty face creased with concern and confusion.

Father smiled comfortingly. "Nothing to worry about, Elizabeth, dear. Fritz and I had a... discussion. I think after he calms down, you'll appreciate the improvements I made to his character. Consider it a gift," he said smoothly.

Elizabeth looked even more confused. "What did you do to him? He looks terrible!" she asked, clearly not understanding.

Father's smile never faded. "Well, Fritz had a bad habit of misbehaving and leading my boy into trouble. Today, it went too far when Fritz convinced Elan to go down to the cellar without telling me. When they found a boggart, Fritz ran out of the room and shut the door, leaving Elan trapped inside. Instead of running for help, Fritz merely went back to his toys. If it weren't for the clock, the situation would be grave indeed. So after Elan was safe, I decided it was about time I stepped in," he explained.

Elizabeth's face went pale. "Lucius, I can't tell you how sorry I am. Fritz can be a bit naughty at times, but he really didn't mean to be such trouble-" she began, but Father cut her off.

"Don't make any more excuses for the brat. His behavior needed serious improvement," Father lectured.

Elizabeth didn't look too happy with Father. "I don't ever lay a hand on your son when he is at my home," she said, bending down to comfort her son.

"Have you ever needed to?" Father pressed. "Has Elan ever misbehaved at your home and risked Fritz's life?"

"I don't want you ever touching my son again!" Elizabeth said defensively.

"Then do something about him before something worse happens. Elan could have died because of your son's actions. You may disapprove of my methods, but they work. Do you think everything will work out so well the next time Fritz gets a bright idea?" Father demanded.

Elizabeth didn't answer the question, but she looked very embarrassed. "Well, I promise I'll have a talk with him when I return. Again, I apologize for what happened. Come along, Fritz," she said coldly, looking quite angry.

Taking a handful of Floo powder, she cast it into the fireplace. "Bathory Castle," she said, taking herself and Fritz home.

"Wager she'll let him off easy again?" Mother asked after they left.

Father shrugged. "Oh, I think Fritz will be a more thoughtful person for what I did, regardless of any punishment she inflicts. Suffice it to say, Elan will not play with the brat again in any case. He has his schoolmates; he doesn't need that stupid little boy. And somehow I doubt Fritz will ever want to set foot in this house again," he said with a chuckle.

Elan nodded. He never wanted to see his cousin again. He smiled to himself. He had the best father and mother in the whole wide world!

Finé