The Death Eater's Daughter

Chapter Two - The Brave New World

She had changed her mind. She didn't want to go.

She had somehow hoped that Dumbledore would change his mind, as well, deciding that he didn't need her, after all. But when his second letter arrived, full of instructions, she knew that it was a done deal.

Josh had gone back to normal, to Luci's immense relief, and he and Amy were helping her pack. She'd be leaving in three days, the plane tickets already booked, the plans already confirmed with Dumbledore. She couldn't back out now. And this just happened to be the moment when it hit her.

Tears immediately began to sting her eyes and she sat down miserably, covering her face with her hands.

"What is it?" asked Amy, plopping down beside her.

"Should it really be this complicated?" Luci muttered.

"Everything is complicated with you," contributed Josh.

She glanced up at him, and he was smiling.

"I know," she groaned. "What am I gonna do when I'm over there freaking out and I don't have any of you?"

"Write to us," Amy suggested.

Josh shook his head. "Just count to ten, like always."

Luci nodded. "They'll think I'm crazy, all the crying I do, all the..."

"What?" he nudged, "voices in your head?"

"Something like that."

"Eh, they're strange over there," commented Amy. "All bottled up and stuff. Not the least bit in touch with their emotions. Do you think you'll need this?" She held up a Remembrall.

"Doubtful," Luci answered, frustrated by Amy, who was only being herself - bottled up and not the least bit in touch with her emotions.

Josh, however, was entirely the opposite. He spent the rest of the afternoon consoling Luci, hugging her frequently, making her feel increasingly guilty for rejecting him. And as he was leaving that evening, he whispered one last reassurance, "Just count to ten," and then added with a knowing grin, "or punch a wall."

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It had been a long flight. Luci had dozed through most of it, attempting to avoid jet lag and to push her tearful departure from her mind. It had all flooded back, however, when the plane had touched down, the compartment filling with noise and movement.

Luci gathered her belongings and followed the throng of travelers off of the plane and into the Heathrow airport, all the while, remembering the expressions on the faces of her friends and her mother. Her heart ached. The atmosphere felt different. And her heart ached some more.

After shuffling through customs and retrieving her trunk, she searched for the man that Dumbledore had described. He was allegedly tall, with dark hair and pointed features. But when she laid her eyes on him, she realized that Dumbledore's depiction had failed miserably. This man had thick curtains of greasy black hair falling into his sallow face, and he wore black robes, along with a sickened grimace. Muggles were gaping unashamedly at him, and Luci's only thought was to get both of them out of here, as quickly as possible.

"Professor Severus Snape?" she asked, approaching him. He was certainly tall, and as she was quite small, she had to crane her neck to look into his face.

"Indeed," said the man.

Then she remembered that she was supposed to ask a security question, something each of them could have only been told by Professor Dumbledore himself.

"Do you have the password?"

"Persephone," he answered, and Luci suddenly missed her cat. "And yours?"

"Fawkes."

He gave her a curt nod, the locks of black hair falling forward. "Very well. Follow me."

She fell in step behind him, and she couldn't help feeling that he wanted nothing to do with her or this situation. It was possible that he was the coldest person she'd ever had the misfortune of encountering. And she wished, more than ever, that she hadn't decided to come.

Then, to her dismay, she found that Severus Snape was leading her into the women's bathroom. She began to protest, but he raised a hand to silence her. So she simply kept her head down and continued in after him, whereupon he guided her into a stall, accompanied her, and took her arm.

They had Apparated swiftly, and they now stood before a set of large iron gates. Each side displayed a winged creature that Luci thought looked disturbingly like a pig. She registered that the sun had fallen, but her eyes had moved to the real vision. The majestic castle of Hogwarts loomed up ahead, and she only realized that her breathing had ceased when Severus interrupted her thoughts.

"Ahem."

She inhaled, turning to him.

"Shall we?" he enquired.

He stepped forward, pushing the gate open, and allowing her to step through. He followed, and then took a rapid speed towards the castle. Luci had to practically jog to keep up with him.

"I will take you to the Headmaster's tower," Severus said firmly. "But do pay attention, as you may need to know the route in the future. If we are spoken to, you are merely a student. Ravenclaw, I presume."

Luci nodded, but at this point, she half didn't care about Dumbledore or being able to find the tower. She simply wanted to roam the building freely, exploring. She was in awe at the size of the place, the splendor of it.

As they continued, she found herself tripping over her own feet, because her head was lifted, adoring the turrets. It was dark, but somehow, the entire place glowed with... magic, certainly. The late May warmth enveloped her, the glow bathed her, and it was glorious.

Eventually, they came to the enormous oak doors that would lead them into the castle. They climbed the steps, and Severus tugged on one of the handles. The first door swung open, and they stepped, as a pair, into the foyer. Luci felt adrenaline shoot through her, and perhaps it was the castle itself, or perhaps it was merely the creepy candlelight playing over the marble at her feet. She closed the door as quietly as she could and started up the staircase, after the man who seemed to be in such a hurry.

The moving portraits followed her with their eyes. She smiled at them, hoping to prevent any suspicion. She prayed that they wouldn't come across any inquisitive students or professors. To her relief, while a ghost would sail by every now and again, the corridors seemed empty. Where was everyone?

Finally, Severus stopped, directly in front of a large, stone gargoyle. When Luci had caught up with him, he commanded, "Sugar quill," at the statue.

The gargoyle made a very obvious leap to the left, causing Luci to leap, as well, in response. Then she watched curiously as the wall behind the figure began to split, revealing a spiral staircase.

"I will take your trunk," offered the Professor. "When you have concluded, please come to my office, in the dungeons. We will travel from there."

Luci looked at him questioningly. She suddenly felt very apprehensive, to go wandering around in an unfamiliar castle. Of course, she'd never entered any castle before, so that was something too.

"Also, I have been instructed to deliver this to you."

He removed a small bronze medallion from his robes and handed it to her. It hung on the end of a long, black rope, and she looped it around her neck.

"What is it?"

"A Professor's Pass," the man answered. "It will allow you access to this School."

"Why do I need access?"

Severus looked down his nose at her. "I am only the dispenser."

"But don't you need it?"

"I will make due for the time being."

"Okay..." she said hesitantly.

"That is all," he said briskly, and then he hurried away from her, dragging her trunk in his wake.

What a very strange man, Luci thought to herself as she looked around to make sure that no one else had appeared. Then she stepped forward onto the flight of stairs. She was preparing to take another step when the staircase began to rotate upwards. There was no need for her to move at all! She almost laughed aloud at the ingenuity of it.

Shortly, she reached a door with a griffin knocker. She stood there for a few moments, contemplating the insanity of all of this. Just that morning, even if it had been the wee hours of that morning, she had been in her own country. Now she was inside of a castle, preparing to spend the next few months watching over someone that she'd never even met. Her doubts swam to the surface again. She had been miscast in this role. She just wanted to go home.

But instead, she forced herself to tap the bronze knocker confidently.

"Please come in," called a tired voice.

Luci took a deep breath, and then she pushed the door open slowly, poking her head through.

Professor Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk, carefully cleaning his half-moon spectacles. When he'd replaced them on his nose, he looked up at her and said, "Ah, Miss Keegan. Very nice to see you."

She frowned, feeling suddenly as though he expected her to be far more proper than she actually was.

"Hello, Headmaster."

"Please have a seat." He gestured to the chair on her side of the desk.

She didn't know why she was so nervous, but as she sat down, and his keen blue eyes studied her, she felt even tenser.

"Superb timing. The entire castle will be having their meal in the Great Hall."

"And you don't join them?" asked Luci.

"In most cases. This evening, I have more important matters. My, you haven't grown much taller, have you?" He smiled kindly, and Luci tried to relax, remembering how fond she had always been of him.

They had only met once before, after Melissa Keegan had contacted Dumbledore about Luci's strange behavior. Following numerous visits to doctors, one of them had finally suggested that Luci's mother contact a school over in Europe. The Headmaster had known precisely what was ailing Luci, and informed Melissa that her daughter was a witch. When the woman was shocked beyond words, Dumbledore had inquired about Luci's father. It was the Professor's turn to be shocked when he'd heard the name of Lucius Malfoy. Melissa explained that he was simply a man that she'd loved when she was very young and that she had known little about him. Dumbledore, finding the situation unique and worthy of some special attention, had made a trip to their home in Arizona. Luci remembered being all of fourteen years old when she'd met the old man. It hadn't been long before that she'd attempted suicide, and she recalled her mother's relief at this man's presence, his assurances, his explanations. Somewhere inside of her, she had been relieved too. Comforted, even. And she evoked those feelings now.

The Headmaster had continued, "I realize that this situation has greatly disrupted your life, but I am very grateful that you've come. We all appreciate the sacrifices you have made in order to assist us."

Luci was listening, but her attention had been drawn to the Headmaster's blackened right hand. It made her stomach turn slightly, and she wondered what could have done such an awful thing.

"Why are we being so formal?" she asked, pulling her eyes up to his.

"You are angry with me. I thought it best to be impersonal."

She pressed her lips together before responding honestly, "I'm not... angry. I just don't wanna be here."

"I am well aware, and I ask your forgiveness for my insistence. I believe that you are a very important part of all of this."

"All of what? The war between good and evil? I'm only here to keep an eye on my brother."

"Perhaps, for now."

"Actually, I resent having to put myself in danger for someone that I don't even know," she added recklessly.

At this insolent comment, Dumbledore's bright blue eyes merely twinkled. This aggravated Luci even more so, and she huffed in reaction.

Then he smiled softly and said, "You are free to go at any time."

She released a faint growl. "You know I'm not going anywhere," she answered in defeat. "I just... wish I weren't in this position. That the members of that side of my family weren't raging idiots. That's all."

The Headmaster chuckled.

It was a good time to bring it up, and she leaned forward expectantly. "Sir, may I ask... what happened to your hand?"

He sighed deeply. "Luci, our world has been plunged into very dark times, full of very dark magic, beyond our wildest imaginations. The enemy is stronger than I had expected."

"Someone did this to you?"

"Inadvertently, yes."

"But... how?"

"We have more pressing issues, I'm afraid. Instructions, rules, et cetera."

"Right," Luci agreed reluctantly. She was disappointed, but she sat back again anyway, willing to let it go.

"Now," he began seriously, "you will wait with Narcissa Malfoy in her home until Professor Snape delivers Draco. That is, assuming that all goes according to plan. The location where you will be hiding with the pair of them is called number twelve Grimmauld Place. It can be found in London, only by those to whom I've revealed the location, and was previously the home of Sirius Black."

"The murderer?"

"That is a long story. The unfortunate man was framed. Regrettably, he passed before his name could be cleared. But moving along. He left the house to his godson, who currently owns the residence and is a student here at Hogwarts. He will be staying with family for most of the summer, before his last term here at school. I think, however, that the current arrangement is to relocate him to Headquarters in mid-July. He and your brother... Well, let's say that they've never got on well together."

Luci furrowed her brow at him. "Who are we talking about?"

"Harry Potter."

She sucked in a sharp breath. She wasn't sure why she was surprised. She knew that Professor Dumbledore had always had some kind of relationship with the well-known wizard. But simply to confirm, she ventured, "The Boy Who Lived?"

"The very same."

"I see. And he and Draco...?"

"Alas, mortal enemies. In fact, just weeks ago, they had a very nasty row. Mr. Malfoy would never have survived, had Severus not appeared in the nick of time."

"Harry Potter tried to kill my brother?"

"It's all a bit of a misunderstanding. But there is no time for that now. I am meeting with him shortly - Mr. Potter, that is - and think it best for us to have wrapped things up beforehand."

"Okay," she sighed, irritated by his evasiveness. "What else do I need to know?"

"Grimmauld Place is being occupied by The Order of the Phoenix, an assembly whose sole purpose is to battle Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I am sending you in with the cover that you are an Auror reporting for your own Ministry. The members of the Order have been informed of your true assignment, but none of the children must discover this."

"Children?"

"Molly and Arthur Weasley have seven children, three of whom will be residing with them. Bill, the senior of the siblings, is a member of the Order and will know your identity. Hermione Granger will also be joining the younger siblings, as far as I know, as she is one of Harry's closest friends. And, of course, your brother is counted among them."

Luci raised an eyebrow. "Full house."

"Indeed."

She had more questions than she knew what to do with. How was this possibly going to work? How was she possibly going to keep so many secrets? And why couldn't she get any fucking details from any of these people?

And then she remembered one of those details, one that was quite essential.

"And Draco's mother... how much does she know?"

"Severus had the unfortunate task of informing her before I contacted you. She reacted poorly, but she has since agreed to take you in and to keep your confidence, if only to protect her son. There is certainly something to be said for a mother's love, whether a Death Eater or not."

"So I can be fairly candid with this woman?"

"I would not recommend it. She will not be friendly towards you. Once more, she does not know what I have been planning with Severus. She believes that Draco will succeed in murdering me, and that Severus has called upon you to protect him. She does not, and cannot, know that I am involved. She is also unaware of the agreement to hide all of you with the Order, a group of people she certainly despises."

This seemed a very ill thought so-called plan to Luci. "And if Draco does succeed?"

"I realize that you know very little of your brother. Having had him in my school for six years, I have, however, learned a great deal. He has been pruned to follow in your father's footsteps, but this is not really in his nature. I believe that he will do what he has been told, up to the telling moment, and then he will fail to make an attempt."

Luci knew that the Headmaster was rarely incorrect in his intuitions. Nonetheless, she found his hopes to be extremely misplaced. She, too, had always been one to give the benefit of the doubt, but the Malfoys were a nasty bunch.

"So Severus will then lead Draco home to his mother? And I'll take them to the Order? And that's all? What will you be doing?"

Dumbledore met her gaze, and his eyes were somber. She had never seen them that way before. It scared her.

She managed, "What is it?"

He forced a sad little smile before answering, "It is essential for Severus to ensure his believed alliance to Lord Voldemort. Should Draco fail, Severus has been instructed to kill me himself."

Luci nearly tumbled over herself as she shot up from her seat.

"WHAT?!"

He didn't speak.

"He can't do that! I won't let him! You can't let him! This is ridiculous! Even Voldemort must know that you're more powerful than Severus, that you would defeat him if he tried such a thing!"

"Sit down, Luci."

His calm enraged her. "I most certainly will not! Tell me you're not going through with this!"

By this time, her palms were on the desk, and she was leaning over it, yelling into his face. Her breathing was coming heavy, and when he gave her an easy compassionate expression, she suddenly realized what she was doing.

She backed away.

"I'm sorry. That was... really disrespectful. I just..."

She sighed and slumped into the chair again.

"Luci, you will not be able to talk me out of this. I am an old man. I have lived a splendid life. Now it is time for another generation to live, to do wonderful things. Draco, though he is unaware, as of yet, is capable of enormous brilliance. Lord Voldemort will be furious if I am not killed, and since your brother will be unsuccessful, it must be done by another hand, a hand that I trust very much. Otherwise, Draco will be in far greater danger. Surely, Voldemort will be angry at your brother's failure, but much less angry than if I had been left alive."

Luci blinked. His rationale made absolutely no sense to her. "This is all to protect Draco? One life for another?"

"One life for many others," corrected Dumbledore.

She raised an eyebrow.

He took a shallow breath. "You've read about the Prophecy, yes?"

"Of course."

"Then you know that Harry Potter is not merely The Boy Who Lived. He is also the only match for Lord Voldemort. Assuring that Severus stays within the enemy's camp can also assure Harry's success. Harry's success assures the survival of the Wizarding world."

"I see. All for the greater good." But it still made her want to throw up.

"Precisely."

The tears stung at her eyes now. "But... such a devastating loss to the Wizarding world too..."

Dumbledore practically beamed at this. "Why, thank you, Luci."

"It's not just lip service."

"I know."

They stared at each other for a moment.

Then he continued, "For Narcissa and Draco, you must keep up appearances at all times. You must let them think that you are a Death Eater trying to infiltrate the Order. This is the only way that they will trust you."

"But... that's insane."

"Nevertheless," he said firmly. "Though I want to ask you, if you can be of any assistance to Harry, please do so. If this is possible without "blowing your cover," so to speak, that would be preferred. But please remember that his victory is of the utmost importance. I know that your only task is to protect your brother, but if anything comes up... you understand?"

She didn't entirely, but she nodded. She supposed that she would have to play both sides, and she could only hope that it was a task that she could accomplish.

"Also, if you could deliver a few things for me... anonymously?"

Luci tilted her head questioningly. "Of course..."

"This is a key to my office," he informed, handing her a small black box. "I have enclosed a brief letter beneath the lining. The second item..." He removed a gold watch from his robes. "This has been mine for many a century. It is a very unique item, and I would like Harry to have it, after I'm gone. Perhaps it can mysteriously appear at the foot of his bed on Christmas day?"

"Yes, it can," she agreed. "You... care a lot about him?"

"He is a special young man. You will see."

"I have no affection for my brother, but this kid did try to kill him. I'm not sure I'll like him very much."

"It was a mistake," explained the Headmaster. "He used a spell of which he did not know the consequences. And it is true that he is easily angered, but he does have a wonderful nature."

Luci sighed. "A temper is something that I can understand. So, yes, I'll do all of this. But when can I go home?"

"When there is no longer any danger from Lord Voldemort," was his straightforward reply.

"But that could be... never..." she choked.

Dumbledore shook his head. "I have faith in Harry. If, however, he does fail, that is when you may return home."

Her stomach sank heavily. She would be here for a long while. And it had been far too long already.