Chapter 6
‘My Lord, I need to speak with you right after lunch.’ Lucius said quietly. The Dark Lord blinked at the command – for it was certainly not a request. He simply nodded though – Lucius was not one to forget his place. If something had rattled him to the point of making demands of his Lord, it was something worth hearing about.
Once everyone had eaten, and the table was cleared, Barty stood at his Lord’s direction and led the Potter boy back to his new room and warded the door.
Lucius’s pained expression as he watched the boy leave did not go unnoticed, but he stayed silent and followed his Lord to his study.
‘What is it, Lucius?’
‘My Lord – ‘
‘Just Tom, for now. Whatever has rattled you so, I feel it will be easier for you if we eschew titles for this conversation.’
Lucius sighed heavily. ‘Thank you, Tom. This is… I don’t even know where to begin.’ Lucius stopped, and Tom stayed silent, waiting for Lucius to find the words.
‘Harry Potter has been abused. Violently, and repeatedly, and unarguably.’
Tom stared. ‘What?’ he asked blankly.
Lucius abruptly stood and began pacing. ‘The- that – how – it is inexcusable! Tom, the condition that child is in! I don’t care if he is the Prophecy Child, he does not - ! He cannot - !’ Lucius let loose a roar of anger and frustration.
Tom stood and stopped in Lucius’ path. ‘Lucius.’ He said, voice cold. ‘Explain yourself.’
Lucius stopped abruptly, gulping. ‘M-My apologies, my Lord, of course I did not mean –‘
‘You did mean it, Lucius. Explain yourself.’
Lucius licked his lips, eyes darting around nervously. Had he really just told his Lord that he didn’t care about the prophecy?!
He began to pace again, altering his route to avoid his Lord. He ran his hands through his hair, scrubbing a hand over his face. How was he supposed to clear this up?!
Tom watched Lucius with a growing sense of dread. He had never seen the man in such a state. ‘Lucius?’
Lucius abruptly stopped, whirling to face Tom. ‘Tell me the prophecy. Tell me, Tom. That boy – that child… it doesn’t make sense!’
Tom’s eyes narrowed. ‘If I tell you the prophecy, what difference will it make? What would change?’
Lucius scrubbed a hand over his face again. ‘I don’t know. Something just feels… wrong. Something feels wrong here, Tom. That little boy…’
Tom watched him for a long minute. ‘Very well.’
Lucius’ head snapped up. ‘Really? You’ll tell me?’
At a gesture, Lucius sat down.
‘You understand why I do not share the prophecy freely?’ Tom asked after a pause.
‘Knowledge is power, my Lord. If someone knows the prophecy, they can try to manipulate events to control the outcome.’ Lucius paused. ‘But there are many interpretations, my Lord. Without different perspectives, who is to say what a prophecy truly means?’
Tom eyed him carefully. ‘You are correct, I do not know what other meanings there might be for this prophecy. Perhaps there is indeed something I have missed, or misinterpreted.’
Tom pulled out his wand and cast a series of wards and charms over the door and walls of his study. ‘One still cannot be too careful about who hears things.’ He sighed, licking his lips. ‘This is the prophecy as I heard it; One with the power to destroy the Enemy approaches. Born to those who have thrice betrayed, born as the seventh month dies. He will have a gift the Enemy knows not, marked by the hand of Death. Neither can be free while the other survives.’
Tom sat back, watching Lucius curiously. Lucius was clearly deep in thought, turning the words over and over in his mind. The two sat in silence for a long time, until the sun began to dip in the sky. Finally, Lucius seemed to jolt from his thoughts.
‘I would appreciate more time to consider this, my Lord, but I believe we should head to dinner. The child – Harry has not eaten since he arrived here.’
Tom’s eyebrows raised at that. ‘He has been at every meal.’
‘Yes, but he has not eaten. I am not sure why – but seeing the state of the boy this morning, I have my suspicions.’ Lucius said darkly. At Tom’s questioning glance, he continued. ‘He has been starved, my Lord. I could see every bone of his spine, every rib… and the bruises and welts, the scars… My Lord, I did not mean disrespect when I said I did not care about the prophecy – I only meant that the state of the child was unconscionable, and regardless of the outcome of the child falling into our hands – I cannot let him continue to suffer as he has. Please, my Lord, for as long as he is here… He is only a child.’
Tom gave Lucius an assessing glare. ‘What you said was unacceptable, however I understand that to see a child suffer can bring about rather strong reactions. Consider this forgiven, Lucius, but I trust you will not take such liberties again. I am your Lord, however much I allow you to speak freely with me.’
Lucius bowed deeply, relieved. ‘Thank you, my Lord.’