Bad Faith: A Harry Potter Fanfic
Warning: Manipulative!Malfoy-oh, wait, we expect that of him.
Summary: Lucius and Cornelius enjoy a private little chat.
Disclaimer: You all know full well to whom the characters belong. (If you don’t, why are you reading?)
The fireplace was made of rough stone; the windowless walls were covered in a dull wine-red cloth. The room’s only ornaments were a Flemish tapestry of respectable antiquity depicting a dragon hunt and the mounted head of a white hart. The furnishings were sparse: two comfortable chairs in front of the blazing fire and a sideboard near the door holding decanters and glasses. Altogether the small room looked more like it belonged in a hunting box than in the Manor proper. The anti-eavesdropping spells fell into place as Lucius shut the door with a wave of his wand.
The first time that Lucius had invited Severus to this room for a nip of his best brandy and a little very private talk, Snape had registered the lack of reflective surfaces with one sweep of those black eyes. Severus always afterward insisted, with ironic courtesy, on standing (coincidentally, with both parties’ hands in sight) until his host had seated himself.
Cornelius, far less suspicious, trotted happily to the pulled-out chair, letting Lucius linger behind him to pour the brandies.
Lucius sheathed his wand silently and poured.
Handing one glass to Fudge, Lucius sank down in the facing chair. The two men were silent a moment, savoring their first sips. Then Lucius said reflectively, his eyes on the brandy in his glass, “To return to the matter we had touched on earlier-the situation at Hogwarts really does require firmer handling than Albus Dumbledore was providing. My own heir is there, you recall; he reports that the headmaster had done nothing effective about the Chamber of Secrets and its monster. It’s clear that the old man is simply a bit past it, coasting on his past reputation.”
Fudge shifted uncomfortably and said, “Well, I can’t quite agree with that, Lucius.”
With an effort, Lucius stilled his jerk of surprise. His brandy swirled but did not spill. Fudge continued, “Working with him as I have, I know that Dumbledore’s always been one to play his cards close to his chest. A little closer than one might like, perhaps, but that’s just his way. No doubt whatever steps he was taking were effective enough, but simply not noticed by your boy. I’m very concerned at Dumbledore’s suspension by the governors, very. Of course it’s your right, but I’m almost tempted to register a Ministry protest.”
Lucius studied the other wizard and hastened to provide agreement. “Draco’s young enough to miss subtleties, this is true. And I’ve been on the Hogwarts Board of Governors long enough to gain some appreciation of Dumbledore’s, ah, inimitable style. I suppose that with my own boy there and possibly endangered- there’s no guarantee, after all, that the monster might not harm Purebloods by its sheer proximity-I’ve simply been overly impatient for a more aggressive solution. Such as yours, Cornelius. Removing Hagrid, as you did, seems the least of the steps that could be taken, and I’m surprised that the headmaster apparently never considered that solution. Of course, if the monster requires its conspirator to let it out each time, your action will have stopped the attacks entirely. Do you anticipate that result, or do you think the monster might still be able to escape?”
Fudge squirmed and started to ramble about the importance of the Ministry being seen to take steps. Lucius listened with apparent rapt interest and encouraged Fudge to enlarge upon the problem of boosting morale; the portly little wizard expanded under the joint influences of Malfoy’s attention and his brandy.
While he nodded and murmured appropriately, however, Lucius was thinking furiously. Fudge was no Occlumens; he should have had neither the strength of will nor any skill to resist the spell outright. Moreover, he hadn’t seemed to notice anything, and Fudge had never before shown signs of the craftiness it would have taken to dissemble ignorance of Lucius’s attempt. Had someone then invented a shield against the spell? If so, a do-gooder such as Dumbledore might well have decided to protect the Minister of Magic against external influences. Lucius allowed his absorbed gaze to slide away from Fudge’s face to his body, checking discreetly for a protective amulet. Nothing obvious-but then, there shouldn’t be.
Lucius’s mouth went a little dry as he considered that such an amulet might be spelled as well to warn of or record any attempts against the minister. If not to warn Fudge directly (though why not?), to notify the amulet’s maker. Bones was too straightforward to set such an indirect trap, but Dumbledore might be devious enough….
However, there was another and perhaps more palatable possibility. The grimoire had suggested that a victim could be influenced by only one caster at a time. So had someone else already cast the spell on the minister, Lucius’s attempt might have had no effect at all. But should that prove the case… then casting the counter curse might have an interesting effect indeed. And the counter curse was entirely legal, and indeed, arguably commendable. Moreover, if Fudge were instead protected by an amulet, casting the counter curse would enable Lucius to claim that he’d never intended the effect to be permanent-a poor defense, but better than none.
Lucius nodded to himself. Fudge took it for agreement with his interminable nattering and smiled at him. Lucius smiled in turn and rose gracefully, gesturing with his snifter. “I’ll fetch the decanter-we can both use a drop more.”
Summary: Lucius and Cornelius enjoy a private little chat.
Disclaimer: You all know full well to whom the characters belong. (If you don’t, why are you reading?)
The fireplace was made of rough stone; the windowless walls were covered in a dull wine-red cloth. The room’s only ornaments were a Flemish tapestry of respectable antiquity depicting a dragon hunt and the mounted head of a white hart. The furnishings were sparse: two comfortable chairs in front of the blazing fire and a sideboard near the door holding decanters and glasses. Altogether the small room looked more like it belonged in a hunting box than in the Manor proper. The anti-eavesdropping spells fell into place as Lucius shut the door with a wave of his wand.
The first time that Lucius had invited Severus to this room for a nip of his best brandy and a little very private talk, Snape had registered the lack of reflective surfaces with one sweep of those black eyes. Severus always afterward insisted, with ironic courtesy, on standing (coincidentally, with both parties’ hands in sight) until his host had seated himself.
Cornelius, far less suspicious, trotted happily to the pulled-out chair, letting Lucius linger behind him to pour the brandies.
Lucius sheathed his wand silently and poured.
Handing one glass to Fudge, Lucius sank down in the facing chair. The two men were silent a moment, savoring their first sips. Then Lucius said reflectively, his eyes on the brandy in his glass, “To return to the matter we had touched on earlier-the situation at Hogwarts really does require firmer handling than Albus Dumbledore was providing. My own heir is there, you recall; he reports that the headmaster had done nothing effective about the Chamber of Secrets and its monster. It’s clear that the old man is simply a bit past it, coasting on his past reputation.”
Fudge shifted uncomfortably and said, “Well, I can’t quite agree with that, Lucius.”
With an effort, Lucius stilled his jerk of surprise. His brandy swirled but did not spill. Fudge continued, “Working with him as I have, I know that Dumbledore’s always been one to play his cards close to his chest. A little closer than one might like, perhaps, but that’s just his way. No doubt whatever steps he was taking were effective enough, but simply not noticed by your boy. I’m very concerned at Dumbledore’s suspension by the governors, very. Of course it’s your right, but I’m almost tempted to register a Ministry protest.”
Lucius studied the other wizard and hastened to provide agreement. “Draco’s young enough to miss subtleties, this is true. And I’ve been on the Hogwarts Board of Governors long enough to gain some appreciation of Dumbledore’s, ah, inimitable style. I suppose that with my own boy there and possibly endangered- there’s no guarantee, after all, that the monster might not harm Purebloods by its sheer proximity-I’ve simply been overly impatient for a more aggressive solution. Such as yours, Cornelius. Removing Hagrid, as you did, seems the least of the steps that could be taken, and I’m surprised that the headmaster apparently never considered that solution. Of course, if the monster requires its conspirator to let it out each time, your action will have stopped the attacks entirely. Do you anticipate that result, or do you think the monster might still be able to escape?”
Fudge squirmed and started to ramble about the importance of the Ministry being seen to take steps. Lucius listened with apparent rapt interest and encouraged Fudge to enlarge upon the problem of boosting morale; the portly little wizard expanded under the joint influences of Malfoy’s attention and his brandy.
While he nodded and murmured appropriately, however, Lucius was thinking furiously. Fudge was no Occlumens; he should have had neither the strength of will nor any skill to resist the spell outright. Moreover, he hadn’t seemed to notice anything, and Fudge had never before shown signs of the craftiness it would have taken to dissemble ignorance of Lucius’s attempt. Had someone then invented a shield against the spell? If so, a do-gooder such as Dumbledore might well have decided to protect the Minister of Magic against external influences. Lucius allowed his absorbed gaze to slide away from Fudge’s face to his body, checking discreetly for a protective amulet. Nothing obvious-but then, there shouldn’t be.
Lucius’s mouth went a little dry as he considered that such an amulet might be spelled as well to warn of or record any attempts against the minister. If not to warn Fudge directly (though why not?), to notify the amulet’s maker. Bones was too straightforward to set such an indirect trap, but Dumbledore might be devious enough….
However, there was another and perhaps more palatable possibility. The grimoire had suggested that a victim could be influenced by only one caster at a time. So had someone else already cast the spell on the minister, Lucius’s attempt might have had no effect at all. But should that prove the case… then casting the counter curse might have an interesting effect indeed. And the counter curse was entirely legal, and indeed, arguably commendable. Moreover, if Fudge were instead protected by an amulet, casting the counter curse would enable Lucius to claim that he’d never intended the effect to be permanent-a poor defense, but better than none.
Lucius nodded to himself. Fudge took it for agreement with his interminable nattering and smiled at him. Lucius smiled in turn and rose gracefully, gesturing with his snifter. “I’ll fetch the decanter-we can both use a drop more.”