The Death Eater's Daughter

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Loyalties

Downstairs, Luci learned that Ginny and her parents had taken Ron to the hospital, and Remus and Tonks must have still been upstairs with Harry. Draco and his mother were the only two remaining in the kitchen.

"Hermione's okay," she said to them.

"We have no interest in the well-being of a Mudblood," replied Narcissa coolly.

"Our interest is why you tripped over yourself to get to Potter," Draco chimed in, his eyes narrowed accusingly at her.

Luci had been expecting this.

"He was hurt. The trip was a clumsy accident. I was only trying to help."

"You were frightened," observed Narcissa.

She swallowed hard. She was still frightened.

"Blood is frightening."

"You've gone soft," said Draco, in disgust.

What was wrong with him? He was as soft as she was. Was this for the benefit of his mother?

Luci scoffed, "I've always been soft! Look, unlike the two of you, I have concern for others. That's all. Don't make it more than it is. You know where my loyalties lie."

They both simply stared at her.

"You know where my loyalties lie," she repeated, and then declared, "I've lost my appetite," and hurried to her own room, where she sealed the door and combusted from the intensity of her emotions.

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She must have cried herself to sleep. There was an insistent knocking upon her bedroom door.

Luci moved from her bed and checked herself briefly in the mirror. Her eyes were still slightly puffy, but hopefully, no one would notice.

"You're needed," said Ginny callously, when Luci had swung open the door.

Luci frowned at her and shook her head.

"Just follow me," spat the girl.

Even with that scowl on her face, Ginny was still stunning, and Luci hated her in that moment.

"Ginny, it wasn't what it looked like -" she started.

But Ginny cut her off, "Shut up. Liar."

"Fine," Luci gave up, not caring anymore if Ginny knew, or if Hermione knew, or even if Draco knew. The only thing she cared about what was that Harry would be okay. He'd be okay, wouldn't he?

She was wordlessly following the redhead, two doors down, into Harry's room.

He laid there, his body still, his chest bare. He looked... beautiful. Except for the gaping, bloody hole in his left pectoral muscle. She forced her eyes away from him.

Molly had been saying something to her.

"Sorry?" Luci asked, trying to slow her pulse.

The woman sighed. "We'll be taking turns," she repeated. "Every fifteen minutes, the ointment needs to be applied directly to the wound. We'll be doing three- to four-hour shifts each. Yours starts at seven this evening. But I need to show you what to do."

"He'll be okay, then?"

Tonks, Remus, and now Alastor were also in the room, and the latter said, "The glass penetrated his pleural cavity, but it didn't pierce his lung, so we simply need to heal the tear."

"Why not take him to the hospital?"

Molly sighed as though Luci was the stupidest person alive, and Remus answered patiently, "Harry is a little too... conspicuous right now. We can take care of him here."

Luci nodded in understanding as Molly was demonstrating the application of the salve. She was unable to take her gaze from Harry, his messy hair falling into his face, his naked chest rising and falling slowly...

Stop it, just fucking stop it, she swore at herself.

She thought that this might be the first time that she'd seen him without his glasses, which were lying on the nightstand next to him. It made him look different. But he was still the boy of whom she'd grown so fond. God, she missed him...

"Alright?" asked Tonks.

Luci nodded, ripping her eyes back up.

"Got it then?" Molly queried, giving Luci a wary glance.

"Yes," she answered. "How's Ron?"

Molly bit her lip. "We're unsure, as of yet. The Healers will take good care of him. Be back here at seven."

And suddenly, seven o'clock seemed like a million years away.

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During the next few days, Luci looked forward to her shifts, watching over Harry. She read books, mostly, and applied the salve like clockwork. But when she was sure that no one was looking, she would simply gaze at him. She might as well, she allowed herself, because he would never belong to her, and this would probably be as good as it ever got. She often wanted to run her fingers through his hair, or over his chest, or along his jaw line. But she wouldn't let herself go that far. It would have been slightly creepy, anyway.

One evening, as her watch was coming to an end, and Ginny had entered to take over, Harry made a small noise. Luci, from near the end of the bed, and Ginny, from the doorway, both looked at him hopefully.

A moment passed, and he muttered, "Luci."

Luci's stomach flip-flopped, and she wasn't sure what to think of it.

She turned to Ginny, who was glaring coldly.

"It's nothing," Luci assured her, trying not to grin like an idiot. "He's not even conscious, look. He just... knows I'm here, maybe."

"Well, I'm here too," snarled the redhead.

"It's nothing," repeated Luci, and then she marched past Ginny and out of the room.

Behind her own closed door, she released a long breath and giggled to herself. She was certain that it was nothing, just like she'd said. But... it was something...

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The day that Fred and George brought Ron home from St. Mungo's was the day that Harry regained full consciousness. Molly informed Luci that her assistance with the salve was no longer needed, as Harry could now apply it himself.

And Luci was disappointed. Not that he was better, of course. She was thrilled that he was better. But those hours had been her time with him. And now it was over. Now he'd go back to ignoring her, and she'd go back to pretending that it didn't tear her apart.

On another note, Hermione had been seeking Luci out lately, to discuss academics mostly, and Luci had to admit that she enjoyed the brunette's company. She was so bright and creative, and it was stimulating. With Ron and Harry back in her life, she wouldn't have time for those things anymore.

So Luci would have to go back to spending time with Draco, who was still mad at her for caring the least bit about Harry. She'd tried to explain to him that it had been instinct, the sight of blood, the impulse to help someone in need. Her brother had commented that it all seemed a little dodgy to him, and had been cross with her ever since. He was spending most of his time flying around the Quidditch pitch by himself, but when they saw each other, he was curt. So Luci wasn't looking forward to having all of those hours with him again.

But Christmas was nearing, and she hadn't finished the pocket watch yet. So she took this time, instead, to visit Dumbledore's office on one final occasion. She'd been able to come and go fairly easily, with the school being closed, and this trip was no exception.

"Ah, Luci, I was beginning to think you'd grown frustrated and returned home," the portrait greeted her.

"You have no idea," Luci muttered, coming in and having a seat. "But I'm still hanging in."

Dumbledore nodded understandingly. "Might I help in any way?"

"No," she sighed. "Just with finishing the watch for Christmas."

"Is Christmas here already? Hmm."

"A few days."

"Well, then, we'd better get to it. I've saved some particular favorites. In the cupboard."

Luci stood, laid the pocket watch open on the desk, and went to retrieve those favorites from the cabinet. They had been doctoring the watch much like a pensieve, liquefying the Headmaster's antic dotes and pouring them into its face. They'd tried one other method, using vaporized thoughts, but this one seemed to work better.

"Which ones?" she asked the portrait.

"The three up front there," he indicated with his blackened hand.

She took the trio of vials that stood in a line by themselves and brought them to the desk. Removing the cork on the first one, she tipped it gingerly into the watch's spinning face. The liquid gave its usual swirl, settling in, before declaring, "Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."

"A nice one," she told Dumbledore.

He smiled.

She'd been impressed with all of his quotes. The Headmaster had always chosen things that he'd said to Harry in the past, things that the boy could use, things that might encourage him. Luci hoped that they would.

The second vial revealed, "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

"Wow," breathed Luci.

"Does it strike a chord?" asked the portrait.

She shook her head. "I don't have any friends, I'm afraid."

Dumbledore chuckled. "We both know that isn't true. Perhaps they are simply far away at the moment."

"Yeah, I'll say," Luci grumbled, uncorking the third tube.

"Last one," she said to the Headmaster. "Cheers!"

It churned in the watch's face for longer than any of the others had, before they heard the words.

"I am not worried, Harry. I am with you."

Luci gasped. "Did you... say that to him?"

"Indeed."

She shook her head, musing, "You have such faith in him."

"I do," nodded Dumbledore. "Do you think my faith misplaced?"

"No," answered Luci slowly. "Sometimes I just forget what he means to this world, that he's not just a boy, that he has this terrible burden on his shoulders..."

She didn't want him to be their hero. She wanted him to be able to... well, to see the world through the eyes of someone who doesn't have to save it.

She sighed, and gestured toward the watch. "I think it's finished, except... well, maybe I could engrave it with something? Something meaningful?"

Dumbledore furrowed his brow, considering.

Meanwhile, Luci closed the pocket watch and turned it over. Then she rolled up her sleeves and took out her wand, positioning it over the smooth gold flipside.

"Mmm, hmm," nodded the Headmaster, after a few moments.

"What would you like?" she asked him.

The portrait smiled broadly. "Let it say... Dumbledore's Man."

She frowned up at him. "What does that mean?"

"It means that Harry has never let me down. He'll know."

Nodding, she created the inscription and put her wand back into her pocket.

"It's done. Do you think he'll like it?"

"I am certain," encouraged Dumbledore.

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It wasn't but a few days later when Bill and Fleur arrived for Christmas, with Charlie in tow, much to Luci's delight and relief. She'd been missing Harry like crazy and feeling sorry for herself, and needed desperately to take her mind off of it.

Everyone had gathered in the kitchen to meet them, except for Ron and Harry, who were confined to bed by Molly. When Luci had heard the commotion and come down, her eyes fell straight on Charlie. He grinned, and she squealed and headed straight for his arms. He lifted her, twirled her once, and put her back on her feet.

"It's good to see you," he was beaming.

"Not as good as it is to see you!" she nearly cried. "How have you been?"

Charlie seemed to notice what Luci had been oblivious to - that everyone was staring at them.

"Come on, I'll tell you everything," he said, leading her from the kitchen.

"Fleur!" called Luci on her way out, and the stunning blonde met her gaze. "We need to catch up too!"

Fleur gave her a nod and a smile over the noise.

Charlie took Luci to the drawing room, where he hugged her again, asking, "How are things? Is it awful?"

She couldn't help grinning, because he was here, and she could tell him all truths. So she sat down on the couch and said, "Yeah, it's awful."

He plopped down next to her. "I'm sorry. What's been going on?"

"Later, later. What about you? How's JoAnn? Why isn't she here?"

"She's good," he smiled. "But we didn't think it was time yet for her to meet my mad family."

Luci scrunched up her nose, recalling her mention of JoAnn to Molly.

"What?" Charlie asked.

"Your mom. I didn't realize that she didn't know about JoAnn, and it kind of came out of my mouth. I'm so sorry."

He pursed his lips hesitantly, but then replied, "It's alright. It's not that I don't want them to know about her. It's just that... she's kind of... adamant about not wanting children, so we want to be sure we're in it for the long haul, before I have to break that to them."

"Oh, god, they'll be crushed," laughed Luci.

"Exactly!" he grinned. "Maybe I can avoid that for awhile longer, and just explain to Mum that JoAnn had other holiday plans. She's sure to ask why I'm keeping things from her."

"But you love her? JoAnn? The long haul is a possibility?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Yeah, of course."

"I'm so happy you're here," she squeaked. "Have you been busy with the dragons?"

"Always," answered Charlie. "It wasn't easy to get time off, but I needed to be here. It's hard enough, with Percy missing holidays. I don't think Mum could handle it if we were both absent."

"Why doesn't Percy come?"

"He doesn't get along with any of us much anymore. I think he's made some bad decisions while working at the Ministry. It was a surprise to see him at Bill's wedding, actually."

"Hmm," pondered Luci. "He's a strange guy, but it's family, y'know? He should be here."

"Good luck convincing him of that," he grumbled, and then, "So what about you? Do you all just sit around here in this gloom?"

"Pretty much, yeah," she sighed. "I try to teach Draco what I can, and I read a lot. All of the kids have been playing Quidditch upstairs. Hermione built a pitch."

"Clever, that Hermione. I bet they're loving that."

"To an extent," Luci shrugged. "I ruined it a bit for them, I think, by begging them to let Draco play. Now there's a lot of squabbling, but I think everyone has a good time, overall."

"What about you? Are you having a good time?"

She released a short laugh. "I wouldn't say that."

"How come? Just boredom?"

She bit her lip. Okay, there was one thing that she couldn't tell him. So she just said, "Mostly. Homesick too, and unwelcome here, and lots of things. Just trying to survive."

"Well, I'm here now, for a few days, at least, and we can hang out."

"Yes, you're here now," smiled Luci.

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At dinner, she heard all about Fleur's honeymoon with Bill. She even got a few details that she would have liked to have not heard. They had been in a "tropical paradise," apparently, but Fleur complained of the bugs and the humidity. When Luci asked her if she'd return, she stuck up her nose and declared that they would stay in Europe for future excursions.

It was good to have Fleur back, drama and all.

Later that night, Luci was getting her mother's Christmas package ready to mail the next morning. She was sending some Muggle photos of Grimmauld Place, Hogwarts, and other places she'd visited, as well as a lovely gardening manual she'd bought from a bookstore up the street.

It occurred to her that perhaps, while she was at the post office, she could send a letter to Percy, to ask him to come for Christmas. It would make Charlie happy, and she would love that.

So Luci sat down at her desk, deliberating what exactly to say to Percy Weasley, a boy she'd only met once and didn't particularly like. She feared that she hadn't made a very good impression on him, having claimed to be dating two of his brothers. But he had shown interest in her. Perhaps, if she nurtured that interest, just a little bit...

Dear Percy, she wrote slowly with her silver quill.

Your entire family is here for Christmas, and I have discovered that a Weasley gathering just isn't the same without you. I feel as though we didn't get a proper chance to get to know one another, or to thoroughly discuss our roles at the Ministry. Therefore, I would love it, and so would everyone else, if you could join us for the holiday. You can find us at the address below.

Yours,

Luci

P.S. I'm no longer seeing Fred or George. Please do not mention this to them, as it was a difficult break-up for all of us.

She laughed aloud at the ridiculous letter. She thought that it might persuade him though. Her only task now was to stop in at Hogwarts and ask Professor Dumbledore if he was willing to put the address on the letter. She was not the Secret Keeper and couldn't reveal their location.

But this could wait until morning.

Luci crawled into bed, feeling just a little bit happier than she had in months. Charlie and Fleur were here, and at least the two of them cared that she was alive.