The Death Eater's Daughter

Chapter Three - A Most Sordid Arrangement

Severus Snape's dungeon was easily found, after specific directions from Professor Dumbledore. As Luci took the narrow stone staircase onto a cold sublevel, the castle quickly went from majestic to ominous. She shuddered.

It didn't help that her stomach was churning with nerves. She was very aware of her next destination.

A knock and a frosty grant of entrance, and Luci was standing before Severus again, gazing around at his office. It wasn't well lit, so she was squinting into the shadows, trying to see what lined the walls. It appeared to be numerous glass jars holding what she assumed were potions ingredients. The clock behind the desk read at almost eight. She thought it unsettling that Severus was able to work in this environment, whereas, Luci had become immediately dispirited by the atmosphere.

The man had yet to speak, but when he finally looked up from his work, he inquired, "Have a nice chat, did we?"

"I wouldn't say 'nice,'" answered Luci. "All of this is far from nice, don't you think?"

"You will learn," he said dryly, "that life is far from nice."

"God, I thought I was pessimistic," she muttered quietly, but he heard her and sneered in response.

Then he stood slowly and said, "I'm afraid that your situation will shortly grow worse."

And she gulped, because she knew that he was right.

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It wasn't more than a few minutes later when Luci found herself standing next to Severus, in front of the door of a splendid mansion. She felt renewed hatred for the Malfoys, knowing that, all these years, they had been blessed with money, while she and her mother had struggled for every dime. She would probably never stop resenting it, or blaming her father.

One knock on the large wooden door brought a thin blonde woman before them. Her face was lined with weariness, but there was definitely a beauty. She glanced down her nose at Luci, made a repulsed noise, and moved to usher the pair of them into the manor.

Once inside, the three of them simply stared at one another, assessing. Finally, the blonde woman snarled, "A most sordid arrangement."

"Perhaps," commented Severus, "but a compulsory one."

The woman sighed. "And your name?"

Luci blinked, surprised by her lack of information. "Luci."

"Narcissa," she contributed in return, giving Luci a distasteful frown and adding, "The nerve she had to dishonor the name."

"Please," huffed Luci, "it was merely a tribute, and an undeserved one, at that."

The woman scoffed.

And Luci returned the sound. "Look, I'm here because you people can't make good decisions. So deal with it."

Narcissa threw her head back, stunned. "How dare you sp-"

"Ladies," interrupted Snape, "can I leave you alone with one another or do you need a chaperone?"

They both glanced at him and answered in unison, "No."

"To the last bit," added Luci.

"Very well. I will be in touch." Then he leered, turned his back, and threw over his shoulder, "Play nice."

Luci grimaced, and Narcissa made a retch of loathing.

Then the door was closed, and the woman was in Luci's face.

"Listen to me, you stupid little bastard child!"

Luci took an instinctive step backwards in shock. She couldn't speak, but it didn't matter, as Narcissa had continued on fervently.

"I don't know what to believe, but I'll tell you one thing - I don't trust you. This is all because I love my son, and Severus says that you can protect him. But don't go getting any ideas of weaseling your way into this family. We don't want you, blood or not. So you will stick to the agreement - keep an eye on Draco and continue his studies, but do not even think about telling him any of this!" Then she gagged slightly and concluded, "You Half-blood filth."

Having never been treated so badly in her life, Luci had only been able to stand there, her jaw agape. But at this last comment, her senses awoke once more, and her temper flared.

"Fuck you," she spat. "You listen. We both know which one of us is more powerful, so speak to me like that again, and my wand goes up your ass, understand?"

The tall woman's eyes widened.

"I don't want to be here any more than you want me here, but family is family, whatever you believe about it. You will not order me around, and you must show me some respect, if you want any of this to work. We are on the same side, and we both want Draco to be safe. So just show me to my room, and I'll stay out of your way until your son arrives."

Brows still raised, Narcissa simply answered, "Third floor, first room on the right."

The first room on the right appeared to be a servant's quarter. Angry beyond her control, Luci stomped in and slammed the door behind her. After sitting on the meager bed and crying with fury for what might have been half an hour, she took a look around.

It was a minuscule area, furnished only with the pitiable twin bed. The bare floor and walls were hard, cold, gray stone. There were no windows. Yes, a few weeks here with this woman, in this prison, would be unbearable.

It drove Luci crazy when people didn't like her. She didn't know why it mattered to her, but it did. Though, considering, she couldn't blame Narcissa Malfoy at all. She might, too, hate an illegitimate child, if her husband turned up with one. It must have been quite an upset. And however much Luci hated being hated, especially being called such rotten names, she couldn't say that she would have behaved any differently.

Obviously, she had no better handle on her temper than Narcissa. She had spewed swear words at the woman, after all. But it hadn't surprised Luci in the least. She had always been easily angered, saddened, discouraged... Her emotions had been a detriment to her for as long as she could remember. She hoped that, someday, she'd be able to stay calm when her soul was raging. But, for now, she would simply pretend. She had become very good at pretending.

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The time at Malfoy Manor passed in a painfully slow fashion. Luci did her best to stay out of Narcissa's way, and the Malfoy matron did the same, having Luci's meals delivered to her room. They only saw one another in random passings through the corridors. It was a very large house, and though Luci stayed mostly to her room, she often found that she was able to take solace in the library down the hall.

She took to reading every book she could find on protective spells. She had learned an enormous amount in her Auror training, but the education was fairly generalized. She needed specifics now. She needed to focus on this task and get it over with, so that she could go home.

Luci tried not to brood, but she was still having a terrible time with her anger. She loathed the situation, and she was growing more forlorn every day. She'd written letters to Josh, Amy, Kristen, and her mother already, but had yet to receive responses. Her only option had been Owl Post, and it took ages. She had traveled with her cell phone, but she couldn't pick up any service inside of this mausoleum. She was entirely alone.

She had tried to talk with the house elf who delivered her meals, but he was very reserved and grumpy. He had certainly been seasoned by a life of slavery to this horrible family, and she felt sorry for him. He seemed to appreciate her kindness, but had no interest in being a companion of any kind.

Entirely alone.

Then, after more than two weeks had passed, the day arrived.

It was the first visitor since Luci had come here. Not even Severus had made an appearance. The sound of the doorbell nearly knocked her off the edge of her bed, where she had been writing.

She hurried down the stairs, just in time to scurry up behind Narcissa as the woman opened the front door.

"Draco!" his mother blurted, opening her arms wide, receiving Severus and the boy.

Luci peered around her to see more clearly, and her throat closed up instantly. Her brother was awe-inspiring, with some sort of tangible air of royalty about him. He was tall and thin. She had an urge to touch him, to make sure that the identical white-blonde hair and the identical pale skin were real, real like hers were. But she also hated him. Hated him because he was the one that their father loved.

"Is anyone else here?" Severus was asking.

Narcissa was shaking her head, but her attention seemed to be focused on Draco. As was Luci's. But the woman was downright obsessing over him, smoothing down his hair and touching his flushed cheeks.

She finally asked him, "How are you?"

"Fine. Don't nettle, Mother." He was scowling at her. Luci wanted to see him smile. Was it anything like her smile? She had no idea they'd look so much alike. Wouldn't it be evident that they were related? Wouldn't it be nearly impossible to keep this secret? But then she remembered how very oblivious human beings can be, and she felt slight relief.

"Thank you, Severus," Narcissa had breathed, ignoring her son's protests.

Severus had merely given a small tilt of his chin in response.

"So it's done?" she went on, turning Draco's head from side to side. He tried to slap her hands away.

Severus grimaced at this display and assured, "Albus Dumbledore is dead."

Luci had been expecting the news, but her heart still dropped ten stories. She wanted to cry, to scream, to strangle Severus, just for doing what had been asked of him. But instead, she stood perfectly still, unaffected, putting on her show.

"I am very proud of you, Draco," Narcissa was praising.

Luci wanted to strangle her too.

Then Draco turned his head away. Professor Dumbledore's instincts had been accurate, after all. The boy hadn't been able to go through with it.

"Severus?" asked his mother, fearfully.

"I was forced to do it myself," the Professor answered.

He appeared impassive, as he always seemed to, but Luci knew that he was simply putting on a similar show. He had been very close to Dumbledore, and it must have been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. She pitied him. This was Luci's response to his confession.

Narcissa's response went, "But... but the Dark Lord will not accept this!"

"No, I suspect that he won't," concurred Severus.

The woman's face distorted in panic. "But he'll kill us both! What are we to do, Severus?"

"I assume, by now, that the Secret Keeper has revealed to you the location of the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix?"

It took Luci a moment to realize that he was directing the question to her, especially because he already knew the answer. She met his gaze and nodded.

"Narcissa, you are to take Draco to the Headquarters. The Dark Lord will not find you there."

Narcissa's mouth went agape. "There must be some mistake! They would never allow us in!"

"Arrangements have been made. They are expecting you."

"I will not congregate with blood traitors who work against the Dark Lord!" she screeched in protest.

"Very well," replied Severus, "but he will soon find you and I do not expect he'll be very forgiving."

Narcissa looked terrified again. To Luci's surprise, the woman's eyes turned to hers.

Luci took a small breath and warned, "I can only protect him to a certain extent if we stay here."

"Protect who? Me? Mother, who is she, anyway?"

The sudden emergence of her brother's voice startled Luci briefly. It was so lovely. These accents... she really could listen to them forever.

"She is here to see that you survive," Severus was explaining.

Draco gave Luci a cynical glance. "No one can protect me now."

Despite his cool expression, he had sounded frightened. So Luci returned what she hoped was a reassuring look and answered, "I can. And the Order can."

He narrowed his eyes at her. She couldn't tell if it was distaste or distrust.

Severus then cut in, "I must go. The Dark Lord will be expecting me."

He turned again to Luci. "I can only presume that I will be wanted for murder. Therefore, contacting me may prove difficult at first. I will contact you. See to it that I can reach you by Floo."

She only nodded once more.

Narcissa reached out for his robes, a gesture of desperation. "Severus, you will defend Draco to the Dark Lord? You will tell him that all of the Malfoys are loyal to him?"

Not all of us, thought Luci to herself.

Severus continued towards the door but replied, "Yes, but I don't know what good it will do."

The woman made a cowardly sound.

"You will be safe with the Order. Go there tonight."

She nodded.

Severus turned back abruptly and added, "And you must make your repentance obvious to them and conduct yourselves as though you are no longer serving the Dark Lord. You will not spy on them, cause any trouble, or draw any unneeded attention to yourselves. Is this understood?"

Draco and Narcissa shared a look that Luci couldn't quite decipher.

But Severus had comprehended. "You will do these things, or they will be rid of you, and you will be easy prey. It is your choice. You will see to it that they remain... inconspicuous?"

This last bit had been intended for Luci, and she answered, "I will do my best."

Somehow, though, she thought that keeping Narcissa out of trouble would be very difficult indeed, and if her son was anything like his parents...

"What about my father?" came that voice again.

Narcissa bobbed her head eagerly.

Severus glanced at each of them, and then Luci thought he might have also looked in her direction. "He is safe in Azkaban... for now."

He paused for a moment. "And see to it that you sever all contact with Bellatrix. She is devoted to the Dark Lord and will betray you."

Narcissa almost hopped upwards in indignation. "She's my sister!"

"She is first, and foremost, a Death Eater," scolded Severus.

"We are all Death Eaters!"

Not all of us, Luci thought again.

"Yes, but the Dark Lord is not so displeased with others of us," Severus said.

The woman appeared upset at this comment, but Draco declared, "We will regain his favor, Mother."

Luci's stomach sank. The Headmaster had known her brother very well. And she found that she did not want to know him at all.

"Yes," Narcissa had murmured.

Severus had added, "In time. For now, you will take shelter with the Order."

Then he made his way out of the manor, leaving the three of them alone.

Suddenly, Luci had no idea what to do with herself. But the decision was made for her, when Narcissa gave her a sickened exhale and led her son into an adjoining area.

Luci, deserted in the foyer, merely sighed and turned to follow them.

Their backs were to her, but she proclaimed, "We need to leave here in the morning. Will the two of you be ready?"

Neither of them turned to look at her, but Narcissa answered quietly, "If we must."

Luci nodded to herself. "Eight, then. See you at eight."

Then she returned to her room, where she was unable to keep herself from fixating on the fact that she had just met her brother for the first time and, much to her dismay, he really was a Death Eater.

And she hated him for getting himself into this, and therefore, dragging her into it. But the hatred was mingled with curiosity. They did look so much alike, and perhaps it was because of this that Luci felt some kind of connection between them. But she promised herself that she wouldn't get attached to this boy. She knew, from experience, that her emotions dampened her courage and muddled her thoughts. When she and Mark had been attacked, it had resulted in a knee-jerk reaction on her part, and then disaster, when the only boy she'd ever loved had turned his back on her. Because of what she was.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Draco, except to remind her that she must stay detached, and that sometimes, keeping your identity a secret is the best path.