Chapter 14
Abraxas waited in the atrium of the Ministry to register for his International Portkey to Paris. The plan was simple, he would pretend to be on a business trip in France, the Malfoys were known to own vineyards in the south of France so no one would question his substitution, Tom and he estimated that making several illegal Portkeys could be dangerous so they limited themselves to one he would use when he reached Bordeaux after taking another Portkey at the French Ministry.
The people in the atrium were mostly families on holiday in their second residence today, he noticed, some obviously going to work in their finest clothes.
An artificial voice echoed in the Portkey office, "Paris, France, Portkey number five, departure in three minutes" He made his way to gate number five where a simple door handle rested on a table, another woman joined him and bowed her head, he greeted her in the same way.
Travelling by Portkey had always been something he despised, but it was the only form of transport that worked over long distances.
He landed in the French Portkey office and smiled, he had always had a soft spot for that country and the architecture of the Ministry was a real marvel, the stained white window creating the vaulted ceiling and the forged iron creating flower shapes that climbed the walls and ceiling. It was so much more welcoming than the British Ministry.
"Bienvenue au Ministère de la Magie française" (Welcome to the French Ministry of Magic) A new artificial voice echoed in the hall.
He spotted a secretary behind desks giving information to other travellers and walked towards her. "Excusez moi Madame, pouvez-vous m'indiquer à quelle heure le Port-au-Loin en direction de Bordeaux partira ?" (Excuse me Madame, can you tell me what time a Portkey leaves for Bordeaux?)
The young woman nodded, "Bien sur, laissez moi un instant je regarde dans nos programmations," she leafed quickly through her book, "Le prochain part dans seulement un quart d'heure” (the next one leaves in fifteen minutes)
Abraxas nodded and smiled as he made his way to the waiting area, "Parfait, je vous remercie" (thank you very much) He remembered having to accompany his father on some of his travels. Chrysotome Malfoy had been a bad-tempered man, impatient and self-entitled. He used to make terrible scenes in the Ministries he travelled through, to have a Portkey made especially for him when he needed one, but in the end he rather avoided using Ministry Portkeys, preferring to make illegal ones, but for the sake of appearances he used the legal channel a few times a year.
A few minutes later he was in Bordeaux, and the heat was impressive. He visited his residence, which overlooked his best vineyard, put on a show so that most of the people who worked here could see that he was indeed here, and locked himself in his office, insisting that under no circumstances was he to be disturbed.
He took the galleon they used to turn into a portkey and pronounced the word that would activate it “Soul” and for the third time that day he felt the sharp hook at his navel.
The temperature in Brittany was very different to Bordeaux. It rained at the start and he almost felt like he was back in England. He made an umbrella with his magic wand.
The Broceliand or Paimpont forest was full of magic, he could feel it in his bones, according to Tom, he didn't need to find the passage that would lead to the elves' refuge, they would find him first, so he decided to enjoy the privilege of discovering the legendary forest.
Some trees were truly magnificent, he would need at least two other people to circle their trunks, and their branches were twisted and reached impossible heights, he followed a small river that followed a winding path, he walked carefully over the roots and rocks that littered the ground, he hadn't felt so relaxed in years.
"We did not expect an old man to be the emissary of the Dark Lord," a voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned, his eyes widening in surprise, the elf facing him was a man, in his thirties if he had to put an age on him, but he knew how subjective ages were in their world.
What was most striking about the man were his cat's eyes, with vertical pupils in his striking white eyes, he also had an impressive pair of white horns in the middle of his black hair, making him look truly intimidating. His clothes were simple, a white cotton tunic and trousers with some silver jewellery.
He smiled, "The Dark Lord, as you call him, is a year younger than me, and I thought he didn't look his age." At least Abraxas' soul was whole.
"You don't call him Dark Lord?" The stranger asked.
He sighed, "I think of him as a friend first."
The elf tilted his head, "Despite everything he has done?"
Abraxas thought about what to say, "If Dumbledore has already contacted you, you must have a terrible image of him. And you wouldn't be wrong, he has done terrible things, but I have great hope that one day he will come to his senses".
"He came to this place a few weeks ago, he was very respectful, unlike Albus Dumbledore, he did not enter our land and only asked if he could send an emissary to represent him, but even though we felt something was wrong with him, he is not complete" Abraxas felt his blood freeze. "Are you telling me you want to fix him?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes, I have found a way to... fix him."
The elf nodded, "What do you want from us?"
Suddenly several new elves surrounded him, he stifled a shiver, they all looked ethereal with their high cheekbones and feline eyes and their eyes all glowing unnaturally, they were truly spirits of nature with their wild and fierce auras. "Nothing, just don't ally yourself with Albus Dumbledore, if there is a war to be fought and if we win it, you will have a place in society without fear of being hunted. Tom, Voldemort would not stand up for your rights, we want more than anything a world where all magical beings and creatures work together".
Whispers echoed around him and their spokesman, the black-haired elf raised his hand and the calm returned, "You don't want us to fight with you?"
"Not if you don't want to, you have been hidden and at peace for centuries and we don't want to disturb your peace," he said honestly.
A blue-haired woman with silver eyes and horns stepped away from the group, "His offer is genuine, I can feel it.
Another joined her, a blond man with orange eyes and horns: "The other one lied about something"
The black-haired elf sighed, "Thank you, we all felt that Albus Dumbledore's emissary was hiding something"
Abraxas stifled a laugh, "Dumbledore's intrigues caused him to make critical mistakes. Elves can't lie, but you can't lie to an elf. "I have no idea what they could be lying about."
A female voice echoed behind him "We will only follow the side the Half-Elf has chosen" He turned to face the woman and took a step back in surprise, she had bright green eyes and horns with fiery red hair, she could have been Lily's sister or mother.
"Who?" His mind added the last missing piece: "Oh...Lily...that's why he wanted her on our side so much...how did he know?" He breathed out in astonishment.
The woman spoke clearly and firmly, "Lily Evans is not an elf, she carries our blood and was the subject of a prophecy among our people, we must follow the side she chooses or doom will fall upon us. Albus Dumbledore's emissary assured us that she was with them, but... it was as if he believed what he was saying while lying, it was really strange and left us confused".
Abraxas' mind was spinning at full speed, "Wait... did he say 'with them' exactly?" They all nodded and he felt the ground give way beneath him, and it was only thanks to the woman who looked like Lily that he didn't fall down "They're going to abduct her, today, even now, it was their plan all along".
Angry cries echoed through the forest and the woman looked at him intently, "So she was never on their side?"
He shook his head violently "No, she is with us, she is the key to saving Tom, without her he will lose his mind, we can't lose her, I can't lose her," he whispered brokenly.
Lily was a ray of sunshine in his life, his son was more relaxed, Narcissa had found a true friend, the Selwyn's owed her the birth of their second child, Bellatrix was free of an unwanted pregnancy and Tom could be saved from himself.
The red-haired elf shouted over the cacophony, "Listen, Dumbledore tried to deceive us and now they are going to attack the child of our prophecy, we cannot let this pass, it is time we returned to the magical world".
Cries of agreement answered us and the black-haired elf took his hand, "My name is Siorus Ivory, we will travel through the air, it will be uncomfortable for you, Abraxas Malfoy, but it is the quickest way".
He nodded, "I don't care."
Suddenly he felt his entire body being compressed into tiny, unconnected particles that inexplicably stayed close together and miraculously never drifted apart. When he landed, he was slightly dizzy, but as soon as the Manor appeared in his vision, he focused all his attention on the situation and hurried towards the entrance, a small army of elves thought to have been extinct since the twelve centuries behind him.
It was eerily quiet in the manor, the silence was unnatural and everyone could feel that a great deal of magic had been released, he led them through the corridors, noticing that they were armed with daggers and some with bows and he could feel the magic swirling around them. He followed the feel of the magic and when he reached the floor where his office was, he could hear shouts and angry rants.
The corridor of his office was completely destroyed, there were scorch marks everywhere and several smoking holes in the walls, the double door had somehow disappeared, four bodies lay motionless on the floor, most likely dead.
He saw his son and his wife in the office, protected by a huge shimmering green shield, with Tom and Lily lying unconscious beside them.
Dumbledore and his friends cast curse after curse, but to no avail, for the shield didn't even seem to be affected by them.
They hadn't heard them coming and were completely at their mercy. Slowly, some of his companions raised their hands towards each member of the Order. Under his fascinated gaze, vines began to grow, discreetly wrapping themselves around the legs of their enemies. Dumbledore was the first to realise something was wrong and turned, but it was too late. The vines tightened around his body, causing him to lose his wand.
Abraxas was furious, "How dare you attack my home?" he hissed.
Dumbledore eyed the elves warily, defeat etched on his face, "We both know this is more Voldemort's home than yours."
The Malfoy patriarch was tired of trying to make the world understand that Tom was no tyrant, and the Horcruxes were not making his task any easier. "Yes, it is his home, it is mine and Lily's, and you broke into it and tried to kill us without provocation, there is nothing more dishonourable”
Moody tried to free himself from the vine that was also covering his mouth, but the blonde-haired, orange-eyed elf spoke in a menacing voice, "Careful, I could set you on fire in a heartbeat," the man growled, but did not move.
"Voldemort is a threat to this world, his actions are evil," Dumbledore continued.
Abraxas nodded, "Yes, they are, I never said he was a saint, but he is my friend. I took him under my wing during our years at Hogwarts when he was just an abused Muggle-born boy from a poor orphanage. You may call him evil, but I know him better than you do, Dumbledore, you never gave him a chance.
"What about Lady Fawley and Lord Macmillan?" Fleamont Potter asked, his face haggard and tired, "Why kill them?"
"They're not dead, and I have every hope that Tom will see the error of his ways soon enough." He only hoped that he and Lily weren't dead.
Dumbledore frowned “How can you hope to reason with him ?”
Abraxas took his time before answering, if his suspicions were correct, and Merlin hoped he was, then Tom had reabsorbed his Horcruxes, but there was nothing to stop him from making them again... Unless Dumbledore knew, Tom would not risk making Horcruxes again if he knew Dumbledore would dedicate his life to destroying them. It was a risky plan, but he couldn't let Tom lose his mind again.
The Malfoy Lord gave the former Headmaster a weary look, "Tom has always had great difficulty with emotions, his own and others, he couldn't deal with them, so he tried to run away from them," then his expression turned reproachful, "And I remind you that every summer you sent him back to that horrible orphanage, you were practically playing Russian roulette with him, London was being bombed and he risked dying every second. This dangerous cocktail of fear of death and inability to express himself led him to make questionable choices. He made Horcruxes."
Dumbledore blanched and swallowed, "These are abominations”
"They are, but don't pretend that you yourself are free of sin Dumbledore, think of your sister Ariana..." Dumbledore's face fell, Abraxas grinned. "As I was saying, Tom's Horcruxes have severely affected his psyche, his paranoia has increased and he is rapidly losing control. I had to do something, and I hope it worked."
He sighed, his son looking at him intently and Narcissa... Narcissa was crying over Lily's body and Abraxas felt his heart stop.
"Floppy, take them to the dungeons..." He asked his elf before hurrying towards Lily, his mand chanting a litany of 'no, no, no, no'.
"She has no pulse!" Narcissa was in tears, Lucius was pale and held her.
He pushed them away "Move, move"
"When I got here after hearing noises I saw her jump in front of our Lord... she was hit by an Avada, father..." Lucius breathed out, looking defeated.
He felt like he was losing his balance and fell to his knees, "Her necklace, where is her necklace?" He frantically searched her body before finding it in her left hand and suddenly he could breathe again.
The small shaped star necklace was broken in her hand, tiny pieces of it were deep in her skin, he cast a diagnostic spell and almost cried when he saw that she had a weak but beating heart. The necklace had been imbued with drops of the draught of the living dead, perfect to fake a death.
"Merlin's beard, how?! I saw her get hit!" His son was astonished and Narcissa was still crying, but in relief.
Abraxas took a long breath, "She made it happen, Tom needed her to think she was dead."
"Did you plan this all along?!" His daughter-in-law cried, "Risking her life so he could heal his torn soul!" He nodded and she let out a frustrated cry, "You could have told us! Why put such a burden on the shoulders of a seventeen year old?"
"It wasn't meant to happen like this! But it turned out for the best, even better than I had hoped. She is brilliant," he whispered.
A hand rested on his shoulder, it was the red haired elf "We need to talk to her".
He nodded, "The cure for the drought is in my laboratory."
"I'll get it, I need to think," his son muttered, looking warily at the small group of elves.
He nodded absently and approached the unconscious form of his friend, he took his pulse praying to feel one and released the breath he was holding, Tom had survived and he was whole again.
"Who are the dead?" He asked Narcissa.
His daughter-in-law was sitting in his office chair, her dress stained with blood and torn in one place, she had a cut on her cheek but otherwise seemed to be fine. "Vance was killed by him, Lily killed Euphemia Potter and according to Lucius, before he passed out, he also killed Dedalus Diggle and Kingsley Shacklebolt in his rage," she looked at Tom as if he were a new person. And perhaps he was.