The Death Eater's Daughter

Chapter Thirty-Five - Family Reunion (corresponds with POTP chapters 23 & 24)

A dark-haired woman was pressing her hands against the doors of the phone booth. She looked sinister, and there was no escape. Her skeletal eyes were roaming over all four of them, and Harry got to his feet. Luci followed.

The woman gave a satisfied smile. "Hello, baby Potter."

And then, Luci recognized her as the onlooker from the café window. Who was she? And what did she want? In any case, Luci wasn't going to let anyone past these doors. She moved in front of Harry, blocking the entrance.

"Back off," she threw, and the woman cackled malevolently.

As if summoned, a large pack of hooded figures stepped up to flank her.

"I think you lot will be coming with us," she said.

"Where's my brother?" growled Luci, her voice as cold as she could make it.

Their captor laughed once more, and it echoed through her gang like a wave.

"We're very pleased you fell for that. You don't think I'd hurt my nephew, do you? Draco is just fine."

Bellatrix.

Luci's gut filled with loathing, but it was quickly pushed out by regret. It had all been staged, to get them here.

She looked to Harry before biting down on the insides of her cheeks and almost barking with fury. Then she exploded, "Am I what you want? Then take me. But you let them go."

"You think you're important?" Narcissa's disparate sister taunted with a wicked grin. "We have no use for you, though there are some of us who would like to see you dead, if for no other reason than to restore the Malfoy name... No, the Dark Lord wants Potter, and you were stupid enough to bring him here. Selfish, aren't you?"

Luci's stomach plummeted at the accusation, and she went sick with fear. Her skin prickled unpleasantly, as did her eyes, but Bellatrix had snatched her arm and pulled her from the phone booth before she had been able to speak. It was a trap for Harry, and she had led him right into it... God, she hated herself. She was so goddamn stupid. How could she have made such an appalling decision? Whatever it took - her life, anyone else's - she would get Harry out of this...

The masked group had gathered Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and all of the prisoners were being dragged down the hallway. Why hadn't they taken the wands of their captives? Luci caught a glimpse of a beautiful fountain that appeared to be made of gold. Then they were pushed into another elevator, and Harry serendipitously ended up beside her. She reached for his hand, entangling their fingers. He returned the pressure but didn't look at her. She was riddled with such guilt that she didn't know what to do with herself. She was almost pacing in place, and suddenly, she realized that she was still soaked from the Chipretta. She shivered.

As it moved, the elevator made a terrible racket. Finally, it halted.

"Ninth floor, Department of Mysteries."

They were herded directly forward, through a black door, and into a dome-shaped room. Before darkness enveloped them, Luci noticed that they were surrounded by marble, and that there were many other doors in this room. It felt much like they were inside of a snow globe. There was an eerie glow, emitted by eerie candles, and the room had begun to spin. At first, Luci thought she'd grown dizzy, but then Bellatrix demanded, "The room, please," and the rotation ceased.

A door had opened at her words, and someone was pulling Luci toward it. Her hand lost Harry's, and she suddenly felt very cold and wet again. Now they were in a new room, almost like a concert arena. Innumerable stone steps led the eye to the center of the space, which featured a strange archway with a flapping curtain. Except that there was no wind in this room...

But they were already being pushed through another doorway, before Luci could ask any questions. And her eyes fell on a chair in the farthest corner.

She tore herself away from her captor and darted straight for her brother. He seemed to be unconscious. And then she realized.

"Sleeping charm," she muttered, producing her wand. "Evigilo."

Draco awoke slowly, his tired eyes perplexed. "You came..."

Luci smiled softly. "Of course, I came. You're my brother."

"It was a trap..." he choked.

Then he noticed the other occupants of the room and asked, "What is he doing here?"

She could only assume that he was referring to Harry, but she simply answered, "It's okay, Draco."

"You're wet," he frowned.

And she had forgotten again. She dried herself with her wand, feeling like no one else was in the room, except for the two of them.

And her brother said, "He's going to kill us all."

She shook her head. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Someone laughed, deeply, coldly.

"You won't need to protect the boy from his own father."

Luci's heart stopped dead in her chest. It couldn't be... Oh, god, please don't let it be...

She turned to see that one of the Death Eaters had lowered his hood, revealing that white blonde hair, the same hair that she and Draco shared. The sharp features were contorted with some kind of gruesome glee. The gray eyes stared cruelly at her. Yet, she held them. She tried to understand her father, just by looking upon him, but she couldn't. Her flesh was crawling, her heart now pumping in shock.

The room had been horribly silent, until Draco's voice cut into the air.

"Father?"

The man's eyes left Luci's, and he turned to his son. "You are safe, Draco. Come here and join us."

But Draco was as stunned as Luci, though perhaps for different reasons. He merely gasped, "But... how...?"

Their father flashed a proud smile. "The Dark Lord has welcomed us back."

"Why on earth would Voldemort welcome you back?" Luci hissed, suddenly electric with fury, feeling as if she could breathe fire.

"Do not speak his name," scolded her father. "In order to prove my loyalty, I offered him your life in return for Draco's and mine."

She couldn't remember anything ever hurting so badly. Her head was buzzing, her eyes stinging with emotion, but she would not let this man get the best of her. After all, he shouldn't mean anything to her either.

And then Hermione's voice rang, "That doesn't prove any loyalty, you coward! It's not a sacrifice if you don't care about the person!"

But even more surprising, Draco had surged from his seat, bellowing, "NO!" and then dizzily crumbling back into the chair, holding his head.

Their father narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean - NO?"

"She's my sister and I won't let you," snapped Draco, and Luci wanted to hug him.

"How dare you speak to me that way, Draco?"

And his son stood once more. "You let the Dark Lord send me after Professor Dumbledore and you knew, you knew that I wouldn't be able to do it, and I could have been killed, but all you cared about was getting back into his good graces!"

She was overwhelmingly proud of him. But what had changed since the last time they'd seen each other?

Their father appeared uncomfortable. "That's ridiculous, Draco. You're my son. I've done nothing but protect you."

Draco stood tall and countered, "Luci has protected me! She came here to save me from you!"

Yes, thumped her heart.

"Rubbish. That Mudblood has done nothing but lie to you," growled Lucius, throwing a grimace at Luci.

And suddenly, she almost pitied him. His son had finally seen through him.

Draco was looking at her, questioning with his eyes.

She assured dotingly, "It was to keep you safe. It was all for you."

An obnoxious scoff, and their father spewed, "You can't possibly believe this nonsense, Draco. Now, join us. The Dark Lord will arrive shortly and he will take care of these worthless fools."

He had meant the four of them who had come, but Draco was only focusing on Luci and their father. He seemed hesitant, as though he was unsure of the best side to choose.

So she said clearly, loudly, "Draco, you're not a Death Eater. You're so much better than they are. You're so much... more."

He met her eyes. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, believed in him, knew that he was innately good.

But she could only continue, "You know I'm right. Remember what I told you. You have a chance to-"

"Shut up, you ridiculous girl."

Bellatrix had interrupted, but had barely finished her own sentence, as another person had entered the room.

"What have we here?"

There was no mistaking Lord Voldemort, even though Luci had never laid eyes on him until this moment.

And then Harry made a noise of pain, stumbling, his eyes slammed shut. Luci wanted to run to him, but before she could even move, Hermione was at his side. And then he was steady on his feet again. And Luci wished that she'd been the one to relieve his pain. But, no, she only caused him pain, didn't she?

She hadn't noticed that Voldemort had begun strolling toward her, and though he was unexpectedly urbane, his voice was like ice.

"This must be Lucius's lovely daughter. Yes, it's the eyes."

And then he was diving into those eyes, and she felt violated and sick. But she couldn't push him out.

"You're on the wrong side, you know. Your father must be ashamed."

She thought she heard her father laugh, in fact. But she could only focus on the Dark Lord's gaze. Her every nerve was aflame, her every defense at ready. Except that she was unbearably inert.

And then he was touching her. His cold finger against her cheek. She shuddered and managed to finally close her eyes on him. She felt like he was going to literally take a bite out of her.

But the voice that she so adored came to her rescue.

"Get away from her!"

The Dark Lord looked to Harry, and he smiled a wicked smile before taking a step back from Luci.

"So it's true? You're in love with a Death Eater's daughter?"

In love?

Luci couldn't breathe...

Voldemort turned back at her sound of suffocation.

"You didn't know?" he teased, his voice a snap of triumph.

She pressed her mouth tightly closed to restrain from crying out with emotion.

"Oh, yes, I'm afraid so," he went on.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. But she centered herself and choked, "Close your mind, Harry."

Harry met her eyes, and he looked defeated. She felt her stomach drop out.

The Dark Lord grinned maniacally.

"He was never a very good Occlumens, to my great delight. But no. I dare not venture into that territory. I have other ways of learning secrets."

Narcissa. That bitch. She had seen it. Everyone had seen it. It had been obvious, all along.

But as Luci was upbraiding herself for being so blind, she noticed Severus entering the room, and relief flooded over her instantly. Someone was following him, but she didn't care who it was. He was here, and he would save them!

"Severus, kill the boy and his... sister," said Voldemort nonchalantly, welcoming the new arrivals.

Severus stopped in his footsteps. "My Lord, don't you think that we should let them go? Lucius is a most loyal servant and they are his children."

Her father was gawking, and she didn't know why. Did he know nothing of the villain that he served?

"Lucius has failed me. The boy has failed me," the Dark Lord hissed.

"M-my son..."

And Luci was surprised that her father was surprised. But she wasn't scared anymore.

After some consideration, and a suffocating silence, Voldemort commanded, "Spare the boy. He could be of use. But we agreed upon the girl. And Potter seems quite fond of her, which certainly sweetens the pot."

She wondered how Severus would get out of this, but hadn't even completed the thought before Draco threw himself in front of her, shrieking, "No!" once more.

This astonished her more than it had the first time, but not nearly as much as when he concluded, "You'll have to kill us both!

The Dark Lord's mouth curled into a smile.

"Very well," he said, directing his wand at Draco's chest.

Luci glanced at Severus pleadingly. And then she saw the look of bewilderment reflected in his eyes, as the room next to them filled with the sound of... popping? She looked at Harry, and he appeared just as puzzled as she was.

Then, before them, stood their cavalry.

The members of the Order were throwing spells into the room before Luci was even sure of what was happening. She also noticed, to her bafflement, that a few teenagers had arrived. But there was no time to question. Voldemort was, somehow, nowhere near her, so she immediately joined in, directing jinxes into the crowd of Death Eaters. When she was sure that she had a moment to spare, she glanced around for Draco and Harry. Her brother had moved to the back of the room, away from the chaos, and she was grateful for it. Harry was simply standing there, talking to a girl with long, dark hair. Luci shook her head and returned her focus. A stunning spell almost hit her in the chest, but she dodged it just in time. Her movement sent her tumbling into another person, and she turned to see a welcome face.

"Charlie!" she beamed.

"Knight in shining armor, at your service!" he acknowledged back, with a wide grin, before returning his attention to his own fight.

Luci did the same, firing, "Reducto," at her previous assailant, and he was blasted into one of his fellow Death Eaters. Unfortunately, this seemed to anger the pair of them, and though she'd moved on to another hooded figure, the two she'd affronted had risen to their feet and were aiming at her. She incapacitated them both, but the third hit her with something that made her feel as if she'd turned to ice. The effects were brief, luckily, so she shot, "Expelliarmus," but she missed.

She was about to do something far worse to him when Molly Weasley appeared beside her.

"Luci, get the children out of here!" she shrieked.

"You got it!" Luci shouted back reassuringly. There was nothing she wanted more.

She headed for Draco, dodging people and their spells, and seized his wrist.

He gave her a quizzical look, but she commanded, "Stay still."

"Why?" he began to ask, but she had already put a palm to his head and begun the protective spell. It was the one she'd read about, the one that required love, the love that she was now certain was mutual.

"Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen..." she chanted, brushing away Draco's hands as he tried to stop her.

"What are you doing?" he was pleading.

Finally, she ceased, nodded her satisfaction, and began hauling him toward the door.

"What's going on?" her brother continued to question anxiously. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe," she answered quickly.

She blocked two spells before reaching Harry, who was dangling an opponent in the air.

She frowned at him. "Cute. Now gather your friends!"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "No way! I'm not leaving! This is my fight!"

God, he was irritating when he was determined. She wished she hadn't fallen in love with him, that she didn't care what happened to him. But as it was...

So she responded, "You can come back with me if you want, but we have to get them out of here!"

She had no intentions of letting him come back, of course. But it was the only way to get him to follow in the first place.

Except that he countered, "Ron and Hermione won't stay out of it either!"

She almost growled at him. "I don't have time to argue with y-"

And then she saw it and snapped, "Watch out!" before throwing herself at him and removing him from the path of the curse.

Somehow, his arms had ended up around her. She almost forgot all of it and went for his lips, but instead, she forced herself to push him away.

"Just help me get your friends to safety."

Then she went back for her brother, and Harry asked, "What about Colin?"

She didn't know who Colin was, but there was a small body on the ground. She gave Harry a contrite expression, but she simply continued to drag her brother from the room.

"Stay here," she said to him, once they were outside, and Draco grimaced.

Then she surged back in and grabbed Ginny's arm.

"Let go of me!" hissed the red-head.

"Nope," said Luci, tugging her out of the doorway.

Ginny was calling her uncouth names, but Luci ignored it and deposited her with Draco before going back in and seizing a boy that she didn't know.

"What are you doing?" he asked, confused. But she didn't answer.

Finally, Harry and Hermione joined them outside of the room.

"So this is the 'D.A.' huh?" asked Luci.

"What is that supposed to mean?" shot the girl with the long, black hair.

Luci stared at her. "Who are you?"

She smirked. "Harry's ex-girlfriend. Who are you?"

A sharp, dazed pain. There was so much that Luci didn't know about him.

She answered uncertainly, "Draco's sister..."

And then the boy she'd pulled from the room exclaimed, "Ron! Your face!"

"Yeah, had a little accident."

"Never mind that! Look at Hermione's hair!" said Harry's ex-girlfriend.

Luci had an urge to spit on her, but she refrained.

Another boy hissed, "Yes, that's what's important," and Luci liked him instantly.

But she had to put an end to this nonsense.

"Everyone!" she cut across them. "Listen! I need to get all of you to a safe location. You shouldn't even be here in the first place! What did half of you do - Apparate illegally?"

Ginny put her hands on her hips. "So what? I didn't break the law for nothing; I want to fight!"

"Harry's trained all of us," one of the boys said. "We know how to defend ourselves."

A small blonde girl nodded. "My Patronus is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."

Luci almost asked what the hell the girl was talking about, but she decided to disregard it. "All I know is that the Order wants you out of that room, so I'm going to get you somewhere safe. I'm asking all of you not to fight me on this."

One beseeching glance at Harry, and he agreed, "She's right; let's go."

She adored so many things about him, his leadership not the least of these. But she pushed this inkling aside, along with all of the protests that were rising around her.

She was trying to remember the way that they had come, but when they ended up in that revolving room again, Luci had no idea which door would lead them out of the Ministry. Fortunately, all of her companions were opening the doors, peering inside, and closing them again.

Soon enough, she heard Ron's voice.

"Here!" he'd beckoned, and disappeared into one of the rooms, leaving the door open.

Others were following him. So Luci took hold of her brother and headed for the door. Before she'd even reached it, she could see everyone standing in the big, white room, looking dreamy-eyed. She was dumbfounded by this, but made to enter anyway. Yet, when she was halfway through, she felt a strong tug on her arm, the one that was leading Draco.

"Ow!" yelped her brother.

Luci stepped back outside of the room.

"Why are you yanking on me?" she scolded. "Let's go."

Draco glared. "I wasn't yanking on you. It was the room!"

Stumped, Luci called in to the D.A., "The rest of us can't get in! It's locked itself or something!"

"Let me try," snapped Ginny, who Luci had forgotten was behind them, and then she moved effortlessly through the doorway.

Luci frowned. Strange. She tried once more, more forcefully this time, still tugging on Draco's arm, but again, the room wouldn't allow her all the way in.

"Luci, try coming in by yourself," advised Hermione.

One of the boys sighed, "It's so cozy."

She looked at her brother, and he returned a nervous expression.

"I'm gonna try," she said to him, "but I'll be right back. If I can even get in."

He nodded, obviously irritated, and then she stepped through the doorway once more. This time, the room permitted her, and the atmosphere wrapped its arms around her, engulfing her body in a warm sensation, just like when Harry touched her... Butterflies took flight in her stomach. The room blushed from white to pink. And so did she.

"What is this place?" she asked, feeling very nearly entranced.

Hermione declared, "You have to be in love! That's how you get in! I knew it! This is the room that we couldn't open two years ago!"

Someone else came into the room, past Luci. But her gaze had gone to Harry, who met her eyes in a brief, passionate moment that sent carnality coursing through her veins. Then there was a stab of panic, and she compelled herself to turn and march angrily from the room, even though she had no desire to leave the pleasant ambiance behind. Perhaps the object of her love wouldn't suspect... It was stupid, all of it.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Draco, when she was beside him again, but she was stripped of words.

"We'll be safe from Death Eaters in here for sure!" Ron was saying happily from inside.

But Harry countered, "Not all of us, and if we can't all get in, none of us can stay here."

Always so unselfish, she thought warmly, still not giving Draco an answer.

"He's right," Ginny had said, almost showing a redeemable quality, and then they were all pouring out of the room again.

"So?" Luci's brother prompted her.

"So what?" she replied.

"Is it true? You can only get in if you're in love?"

Hermione was trying to get Ron out of the room. He seemed averse to leaving.

"I guess," Luci said to Draco.

"Who is it then?" he went on.

"What?" she asked, distracted.

"That bloke in the States?"

But Ron had finally emerged, so she answered, "Not now, Draco. Okay, gang, we need to keep trying these ridiculous doors."

"Nauseating," she heard her brother spit.

And the members of the D.A. had returned to trying the doors in the circular room. Luci joined in, and eventually, one of them announced the discovery of a proper hiding place. They all gathered around the entrance and Luci saw that it was a long, narrow room, full of desks.

"Blimey," said a boy.

Ron added, "This place again."

"You know this place?" asked Luci.

Ron nodded. "'Course. We were here two years back, right, Harry?"

"The room is safe," came Harry's concurrence.

"Okay, all of you stay put, and someone will be back for you," Luci said to them. "If no one comes... well... then do your best to get out of here. Apparate illegally again, I guess."

Then she glanced at her brother, and she tried to tell him with her eyes that she loved him, that she needed him to be careful, that she'd be back for him. He seemed oblivious. So she turned to leave the room. But Harry trailed her.

She stopped him. "What are you doing?"

He squared his jaw. "I'm coming back with you."

"Then they'll all want to come back with me," she countered.

"So let them! We're not kids, despite what you think. You have no idea what we've been through together. The whole lot of them, except your brother, know exactly what they're doing."

Luci's mind undulated with frustration.

Then Draco said, "Just because I wasn't in your ludicrous little club doesn't mean that I'm not prepared. I've had far better instruction than you could have provided, Potter."

There wasn't time for this. Luci turned to the boy that she loved and said softly, "I don't think you're a kid, Harry."

"So?"

She exhaled in defeat. "Harry needs to come with me," she said to the D.A. members. "Hermione, you're in charge."

Voices mounted angrily, but Luci ignored them. She pulled Harry from the room and closed the others in behind them.

Then she went immediately for the rotating doors. "So we need to find the right room again."

"Don't change the subject," Harry barked at her.

She opened a door.

"There's a subject?" she questioned, unfocused.

Then she banged the same door shut, as it had been that damn Love Room again.

Harry reeled, "You don't think I can handle this fight! You think I'm some stupid kid who needs protecting!"

She had just told him that she didn't think that at all! She wheeled to face him and said hotly, "No, Molly asked me to get all of you out of there and I did what she asked, and I wanted you to stay with them because I don't want anything to happen to you, but you insist on putting yourself in danger! So damn stubborn!"

Then she turned away and, remembering their previous journey with the Death Eaters, said, "The room, please," and the door opened obediently. Pleased, she started through it.

Harry was still going on behind her. "I've always been in danger and I've always come out fine!"

She hissed to herself. "Whatever, Harry, it's your choice."

"Voldemort is mine to kill!"

What did that mean?

"You sound like you're going hunting."

"He murdered my parents! You know I have to do it," huffed Harry.

Luci sighed. "I'd be the first person to seek revenge too, but-"

"This isn't just about revenge, Luci!" he cut her off. "This is about saving the entire Wizarding world, and the Muggle world too! And I have to do it!"

"Nothing's written in stone," she answered, sick and tired of his hero complex.

After a few moments, he responded, "Well, I'm deciding to do it."

She gritted her teeth. "So noble."

"Don't patronize me!" he seethed.

Luci stopped. "I wouldn't..."

He reached her and stopped too, directly in front of her, too close for her comfort...

She pressed her lips together. "I wouldn't patronize you. I really do think you're noble. And I know you're still mad at me over... everything. But I do care about you. I just want you to make it out of this. I want all of us to get out of this, and then I can go home and you and Draco can write me uneventful letters abou-"

"You're going home?" he interrupted.

"About nothing," concluded Luci, "and of course I'm going home. My whole life is there."

Harry looked at her unhappily, and something lurched inside of her. Did he want her to stay?

Then he queried, "Who's the bloke in the States?"

Taken aback, she moved her eyes to her feet. But there was nothing to hide, so she looked at him again and answered, "No one. Who's the ex-girlfriend?"

"No one," he said too, and then he moved even closer to her.

She could hear his heart beating, and she wanted nothing more than to fall against his body...

She blew out a long breath. She couldn't let herself forget what was happening in the adjoining room, and what they had ahead of them.

"I need to get back in there. Can we do this later? Now is not the time for jealousy."

With a small frown, Harry said, "Do I have a reason to be jealous?"

Her stomach surged forward again and, this time, she lost her oxygen, causing her to blurt, "Harry, you know I -"

But she stopped herself. Did he know? Did she want him to know? She wasn't sure.

So she redirected, "His name is Josh. He's a good friend and we've been writing and Draco... assumed, I guess. But it was never like that." With a smile, she finished, "He's my Ron."

Harry grinned in relief and her skin tingled all over. How much longer could she do this - refuse to be honest with him?

"You know, I believe that you can handle anything. I just don't want you to have to," she said earnestly.

"So this is because you're worried about me?"

She smiled softly.

"You're no safer than I am," he said knowingly.

She nodded. "Yes, but I don't matter."

"You do matter," he replied ardently. "You matter to me."

She was losing control of her senses. They were erupting in all sorts of happy vibrations and she simply couldn't get them to cease this absurd behavior.

But she said calmly to Harry, "Stop that. We have to go in there and fight and you nee-"

Then something cut across her words - a loud roar. It wasn't human.

"What the hell was that?" screeched Luci, and then she sprinted off toward the room.

Harry was right behind her, and he stopped on her heels, hissing, "Greyback!"

But Luci's eyes had already fallen on the creature. "A werewolf? My god."

"He's the one who bit Lupin," Harry elaborated, and fear had touched his voice.

She attempted to catch her breath. Her terror, too, was trying to take over, even against the warmth of Harry's body alongside hers.

"And I can't convince you to go back?" she asked him desperately.

"'Fraid not."

She inhaled unsteadily. "Then you should know..."

But he had gone around her, surging forward.

"HARRY, NO!" she screamed, but he hadn't heard her.

"Shit!" she swore, and then she barreled into the room after him.