Blackgrave Manor

Blackgrave Manor

Chapter 10.

"I . . ." Narcissa said helplessly. "I was looking . . ." She stared at the floor, her dress, anywhere but Lucius' eyes. Her dress was coated in a thin gray film, rather like this house, this entire dreary Muggle city.

"Yes, you were looking for me, I know. Couldn't you have waited? You must be able to see I'm working, darling."

"But . . . you . . ."

"Oh, you want your wand?" Lucius sighed. "Really, dear, if you'd just thought to ask one of the staff we could all have been saved a great deal of trouble. It's in your writing-desk in our townhouse, second drawer on the left, next to the photograph of Draco and his great-aunt."

"I haven't been home yet," said Narcissa. "I wanted to . . . to talk to you." Maybe she could persuade Lucius to leave without her. If he went away she wouldn't have to look at the shadows that hovered about her vision. Everything would be quiet and peaceful and safe again. She might even still be able to help Hagrid break the curse.

"And what exactly did you wish to say to me?"

Narcissa didn't know. She just wanted Lucius to go away-- but she had to give him a reason. Lucius never did anything without a reason. "It's about that person. That-- "

"What person?" Lucius stared at her blankly.

"The . . . Mr. . . . Dursley," said Narcissa. She could feel the tears rising in her eyes.

"Vernon Dursley? You wanted to talk to me about him?"

"Yes," said Narcissa. A tear spilled onto her cheek.

"Darling, really, I have no idea why you're crying. Pull yourself together and attempt to produce a coherent statement, if you please."

"But you and the Dursley, you-- " Narcissa choked on a sob.

"The Dursley and I?"

Narcissa nodded and pressed her sleeve to her eyes.

"You mean . . .?" asked Lucius. "Oh, by the colour of the Mark, love, you can't possibly still be having hysterics. You know perfectly well that embarrassing and humiliating the man simply increases the chance that the spell will be effective."

There was something on her sleeve, Narcissa noticed. Not just dust and railway dirt, but a piece of fluff, a bit of fur . . . A feather. It was one of Iris' feathers. Narcissa clutched it, hoping that it would give her strength.

"That's right, darling. Breathe."

"But you're here," Narcissa protested. "Why are you at his house?"

"I've explained this to you before, you realize. It's a two-part ritual. First we must bind the man to us, then we must link ourselves to his home. The resulting resonance will overpower even the strongest wards."

Narcissa heard a footstep on the stairs. It must be Hagrid, wondering where she was. Perhaps if she kept Lucius talking he wouldn't hear the noise. "But how will you bind yourself to this building?"

"With an object linked to our own home, naturally. I have just the thing in my pocket."

Narcissa saw Hagrid appear in the hallway outside. "And when you've overpowered the wards?" she asked, praying that Lucius wouldn't look around.

"Why, then, when Harry returns home he will be entirely at my mercy. I do so dislike interference with my plans, and the boy is dreadfully meddlesome. I may use the same ritual to control him . . ."

"Yeh schemin' little rat-haired snake!" cried Hagrid. "If yeh get yer hands on Harry Potter, I'll, I'll drown yeh in yer own slime!"

Lucius turned around slowly, letting his wand fall out of his sleeve. "If you've quite finished?" he asked. "Because if so, I humbly suggest-- Glaciet."

Hagrid's hand, which had been reaching through the doorway to grab Lucius' robe, stopped. It was quite literally frozen in midair. As Narcissa watched, thin, silvery ice coated the rest of his body, his thick, soft hair and beard frosted over, and ice slowly rose past his lips and nose to his flashing black eyes. Hagrid was all ice now, all gray.

Narcissa screamed.

"Now that you've got that out of your system, dear, shall we continue our little discussion?"

"But-- but you can't. Hagrid-- "

"-- Won't even notice the change. Control yourself, darling, please."

"But . . . He isn't . . . You haven't . . ."

Lucius sighed. "You have chosen a truly inappropriate moment for this scene. Please contain your protests until such time as I am not conducting a clandestine operation in the center of a Muggle enclave."

"I . . . Hagrid . . . He's my friend!"

Lucius produced his wand once more. "Darling, you know I prefer you as your lovely and vivacious self, but we simply do not have time to waste. If you do not intend to cease this unfortunate behaviour"--

Narcissa had no such intention--

"I will have no other choice." Lucius casually waved his wand. "Imperius!"

Narcissa floated happily in the soft mist.