The Death Eater's Daughter

Chapter Twelve - Stupid Little Beat

A few days later, Luci had another surprise visit. She had changed into her pajamas and was just crawling into bed when the fireplace popped, and a severe voice inquired, "Miss Keegan?"

Luci nearly exclaimed, but bit down on her tongue. Then she shook her head at him, wrapped a blanket around her barely-clad body, and strolled over to sit next to the hearth.

"Severus," she acknowledged. "How goes Death Eating?"

He scoffed and answered, "I thought you wanted each of us to mind our own business?"

"Indeed, I did. So what brings you to my fireplace?"

"I always find it interesting to hear what Potter is up to," his head replied with a sneer.

"I wouldn't know," Luci said. "He keeps to his kind, and I keep to mine."

"The kind you're keeping to is not your own."

"You don't have to remind me," she spat.

"As long as that doesn't get around..." he trailed off.

"Severus," sighed Luci, "why do you find it so improbable that I can handle things just fine on this end?"

"It is not your capability that I doubt. I am concerned with Hermione Granger's clever perception."

She pursed her lips. "Somehow, I don't believe you. But what do you mean?"

"Those three brats seem to always discover knowledge that is meant to be kept... undisclosed, and it is my job to ensure that you are doing everything in your power to conceal such knowledge."

He seemed bored, but Luci pried, "Hermione and... Ron and Harry?"

"Quite," he burred. "I see you're on a first-name basis?"

She ignored him and fumed, "Well, let me put your mind to rest. No one suspects a thing. I don't talk to any of them. I see the Order at meetings only. And Draco is making tremendous progress with his class materials. If I do say so myself, I'm doing a really fucking superb job pretending to be someone I'm not, and you have no reason to be concerned about anything."

She gave him an insolent scowl, he jeered in amusement at her frustration, and she huffed.

"Very well," he said, like he always did. "Nothing further to report then?"

"Oh, and everyone hates me, you'll be thrilled to hear, just like I really am a Death Eater. Now, are you gonna tell me what shenanigans you've been up to?"

There was almost a twinkle in his eye, but he merely concluded, "Good evening, Miss Keegan," before disappearing.

Luci stomped back to her bed and threw herself beneath the covers, growling aloud.

God, what an infuriating man! I'd like to just punch him in that arrogant face and... She sighed aloud. She couldn't think of many people that she didn't want to punch in the face right now, and she figured pretty much everyone felt the same way about her.

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August was dragging by very slowly. All of the Malfoys were still pretty much keeping to themselves, and so, it seemed, were the Hogwarts students and the members of the Order. This was just fine with Luci, because she intended to avoid Harry entirely until he went back to school. And it wouldn't be long. She had done remarkably well.

Meals had been her only concern. Most of the time, she would chat with Draco, and on a rare occasional visit, her beloved Fleur. But other times, his laugh would pierce her ears and she would find herself briefly captivated before prodding Draco for information about Quidditch to take her mind off of it. Luci thought that the sport was so unbelievably dull that she could vomit, but her brother loved it, and he would happily describe his past games to her in detail. But even after all of her feigned listening, she didn't think she'd be able to repeat any of it.

At night, when everyone had gone to bed, Luci had begun to find that sleep was eluding her. So she'd taken to reading in the drawing room, where she had the space to spread out multiple books at once and could keep the light on early into the morning hours without anyone noticing. And though she had devoured dozens of books, she still felt no more capable of protecting her brother than she had when she'd arrived here.

This particular evening, she was skimming through a book called Advanced Protective Spells, and she'd just come across a lovely incantation that claimed superior protection. However, it could only be forged between two people who loved each other. That was certainly not the case for Luci and Draco, and it never would be. Nonetheless, she was memorizing it, just for safe-keeping, and chanting aloud, "Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen..."

Out of nowhere, she heard a floorboard creak spookily and she jumped, turning in fear.

And though it was only Harry, the rush of adrenaline refused to subside.

She called his name uncertainly.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"No, it's okay. Come on in." She waved her hand in invitation. She didn't want company, but she knew that this was his house, and she wasn't about to prevent him from coming and going as he pleased.

Harry pivoted and, to her surprise, came into the room and seated himself on the empty couch. One of her late nights of studying had never been interrupted before, and she found she begrudged it. For more reasons than one.

Still, wondering why he was up so late, she asked, "Can't sleep either?"

He shook his head, but didn't meet her eyes. She realized that her feet were in view and suddenly wished that she'd accepted all of Fleur's offers for pedicures.

"Do you want me to make you some tea or something?"

She didn't know why she'd asked. It was what would help her sleep, if she were capable.

"No, thank you," he answered, and he met her eyes for the first time in so long that she couldn't remember, bringing back that discomfort she thought she'd been rid of. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, I'm just refreshing my memory on some things," she replied. She wondered if her face was as red as it felt.

Harry nodded, but she couldn't read his expression. He seemed uneasy. Certainly, he didn't trust her, and she thought to herself that he probably shouldn't anyway.

"But it's also a dreadfully boring book and should help me to fall asleep," she adding, hoping to lighten the mood. God, she was such an idiot.

He fumbled with his hands, pressing his fingernails into his palms, looking away again. She thought it was totally adorable and berated herself.

"You are a man of few words, Harry Potter," she forced herself to laugh, and assuming that he was not here for conversation, she turned back to her book to distract herself.

But then he spoke up again. "Can I ask you something?"

The tone of his voice made her feel unexpectedly as though she would tell him anything. And despite the fact that she feared his question, she closed the book and said, "Of course."

"How well do you know Draco Malfoy?"

Shit, she thought. This was what she'd dreaded, and she knew that it couldn't possibly be a safe topic. After a moment of consideration, she decided upon a vague but truthful answer. "He's really not that bad, Harry. He's made mistakes, just like the rest of us."

Not surprisingly, he twitched in irritation. "Everyone seems to want to defend that slime."

Luci winced at the comment, and she wasn't sure why. Lately, she could feel her brother getting under her skin. She would have to remedy this. She couldn't stand how susceptible she was to other people.

"Sorry. I hate him," Harry was saying, but he didn't sound sincere in regard to the apology.

She shook her head. "He isn't too fond of you either. He's combative; you have a temper. It's no wonder the two of you can't get along."

"You think I have a temper?"

She knew he had a temper, so she glanced significantly at him.

"Yeah, okay, but he provokes me."

"I have no doubt."

"So you expect me to just put up with him and let him stay in my house?"

Luci frowned, averse to wandering into dangerous territory.

"Do you have any idea the things I've taken from him?" continued Harry, when she'd simply looked at him.

She had heard numerous stories, mostly from Draco himself. But it didn't bother her, what these two boys did with their anger towards one another. "Yes, I do, actually, and I know the things that you've done right back to him. You're not innocent."

Harry's mouth went agape, and she sighed remorsefully. "Listen, I understand that you're upset about him being here, and I want you to know that I'm keeping close watch on him. He isn't a threat to anyone. He's scared and alone and you're doing a good thing by letting him and his mother stay here." She paused, swallowed hard. "And me."

"No one really asked me."

Ouch. Should it really hurt that much to hear it?

"I know," she managed, "but you haven't kicked us out, and that says something wonderful about you."

"It's what Dumbledore would have wanted," he shrugged. "If that weren't the case, I would kick them out."

Them? What did that mean? She'd have to scrutinize every single word later. For now, she responded, "Somehow, I doubt that." Then she hesitated, and momentarily, went on, "He would be very proud of you, you know. Dumbledore, I mean. For this, and for... lots of things."

Harry looked down at his lap, and then said in a vulnerable tone that stunned her, "I miss him."

Suddenly, she wanted to hug him, and she didn't understand it. So she simply sighed, "I know you do. We all do."

"You knew him too?" Harry asked, meeting her gaze, curious.

He still hadn't opened her birthday present. She felt slighted, but she nodded and answered, "Certainly not as well as you did, but he was good to me."

"He was good to everyone," Harry said bitterly. "Even people who didn't deserve it."

Was he implying that she didn't deserve it? A flash of anger sparked, but she pushed it away and said instead, "Perhaps he knew something about those people that you didn't know."

Harry cleared his throat. "So what brought you all the way here from your Ministry?"

"Oh..." she said, taken aback by the change of subject. She'd have to make this indistinct, quick, uninteresting. "Well, what's going on here affects all of us, and they basically wanted someone to report back to them and keep them informed."

"But you're an Auror, right? Wouldn't they give you a little more responsibility?"

"I'm here to help, as well," she smiled. "We Aurors are great at multi-tasking."

"I think I'd like to be an Auror."

"You'd be terrific at it." She meant it. She could see it in him. Or maybe Dumbledore was the one who could see it in him...

"If I live to see the end of this year, that is," he went on, confounding her further.

"You will live to see it," scolded Luci hastily. She needed him to defeat Voldemort so that Draco would be safe and she could go home.

"How do you know?"

"I have a feeling," she said, but it sounded more like a question. She regrouped and continued, "You didn't survive in the first place to die in the end."

Harry paused thoughtfully. "Well, one of us did - me or Voldemort."

He was being unexpectedly candid, and Luci didn't know what to make of it. She was unnerved by his presence, yet, she wanted him to confide in her even more so, and yet again, she knew that she shouldn't know him any better than this.

"The Prophecy?" she asked, though she knew the answer.

He nodded, a sad expression on his face.

She shook her head, and found herself saying again, in her mind, Poor kid, and then remembering Dumbledore's words and, more than that, his conviction.

"His name doesn't bother you?" asked Harry, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Who? Voldemort?"

"Yeah."

She shrugged. "No, his name doesn't really have the same stigma in my country. I guess it's just not as close to home. It's really only a word anyway, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's only a word," he agreed.

"Voldemort will be looking for you, especially now that no one stands in his way, as far as he's concerned. That's why you're safest here and at Hogwarts."

"I'm leaving tomorrow," he said suddenly.

Luci frowned. Why on earth was he telling her this? "May I ask why?"

A few moments passed, and he had yet to answer, so she spewed quickly, "It's none of my business. I shouldn't have asked."

Harry finally looked up. "No, it's just that-"

"It's okay. No one will hear from me that you're leaving, but you don't have to tell me your reasons. We hardly know each other."

He glanced at his hands again.

"You're going by yourself?"

A nod.

"No Ron? No Hermione? Not even Ginny?"

A shake.

"All right, I can see that you don't want me asking questions," she gave up.

"It's just so much pressure," he blurted abruptly. "Dammit."

Luci was floored. She said hesitantly, "Whatever it is, you don't have to do it alone..."

"Yes, I do," he said firmly.

"Why?" she asked. She would never do anything alone, if she could help it, and she didn't understand why anyone else would either.

"When I care about people, terrible things happen to them. If everyone stays away from me, they'll be safe."

Luci's mouth fell open at this, but Harry had already stood hurriedly and stepped towards the door.

She stood too. "Harry."

He turned back to face her, and her stupid little heart skipped a stupid little beat. She ignored it.

"This is war," she said, in the gentlest tone that she could muster. "There are casualties, and they've happened to be people that you loved, but, in no way is any of it your fault. You need to know that. You can't walk around with that kind of guilt inside of you."

Harry simply muttered, "Thanks," and continued out onto the landing.

"If there's anything that I can do for you, you'll let me know?" she called, moving after him.

He appeared to nod, but had kept walking.

"Oh, and Harry?"

He finally turned again, and Luci could feel it - something had changed between them.

"Please be careful," she almost choked.

His brow furrowed, as if he wondered why she cared enough to say such a thing. She wondered, herself.

And then he was gone.