Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

Lucius sat in his study room, holding his head.

In just a few days, he seemed to have aged a decade.

His long, golden hair had gained many a white, looking frail.

He licked his lips. Suddenly, he recalled that only a few days were left to the start of the School's 2nd year. Not much time was left… to do anything.

Yet, he must do one thing.

He had to.

Lucius sighed, aging a year more.

This was wrong with the magical world of his, he realized — The dead didn't stay dead.

The Dark Lord had returned even before the start of the 1st Year, along with two more equally powerful dark wizards.

Lucius had done everything since then in anticipation of this day.

Even though Draco and Darcie had been injured and faced attacks time after time, he had been keeping a distance from them.

The Dark Lord could sniff these things out of a man, Lucius knew.

If he had shown blatant care for his children, the Dark Lord would have found a way to make use of them.

No… No… Lucius shook his head.

He couldn't let anyone… anyone… harm his children.

As much as he disliked the very existence of that muggle-loving Dumbledore, Lucius knew the children were safe with him.

It was, of course, before the Dark Lord had given him the task to let the monster loose in Hogwarts.

That… thing… wouldn't differentiate between mudbloods and royal bloods…

Even if it could, could he trust the fate of his boy and sweet girl on the whim of a beast?

Lucius slumped back into the chair, held the cane, and clenched and unclenched his fingers around its handle.

"What troubles you, Lucius?"

Lucius sat up with a jolt.

His head snapped to his right.

He took a breath of relief, seeing Narcissa there.

She noticed the panic in her husband's eyes and sat opposite him, holding his hand. "Everything alright?"

What to say? Where to begin?

But Narcissa had been there with him during the 1st Wizarding War.

They had survived that together. They must survive this one together as well.

So, taking a deep breath, and perhaps aging a few months more, Lucius told her everything.

Narcissa's eyes blazed blue.

Lucius saw fire coursing in her wet eyes and knew she was thinking the same now as he had been thinking all this time.

"You should write to Snape."

Lucius opened his mouth but closed it even faster. He shook his head.

"Why?!" Narcissa was snapping, he could tell. "Snape would know what to do? Has the… Has the Dark Lord contacted him?"

"I don't know," Lucius answered. "I can't write to anyone. I feel like I am being watched."

Like most of the world right now, Malfoy Manor was also being protected by a dozen wizards.

At first, the ministry had sent a team of Aurors, whose numbers were getting shorter by the day.

Lucius knew even though he was one of Hogwarts' governors, the Aurors weren't for him, but for Darcie.

He didn't mind that.

It was that he didn't trust those Aurors.

Not to mention, Darcie had been staying in Diagon Alley since her holidays began.

So, Lucius had hired himself a team of his best bodyguards, who usually looked after the Black Market run by him in London.

Now, he didn't know if he trusted them enough.

Who he could even trust anymore in this world?

Who could rival the might of the Dark Lord and Lord Ekrizdis? Was there even any sense in denying their bidding? Was there any place where they could run off after doing something so stupid?

Lucius told Narcissa this, making her age a decade as well.

They sat there in silence. Both lost.

"Call Draco," Lucius said.

Narcissa snapped her head toward him. "You…"

Lucius frowned. "He's still my son, Narcissa," he said, biting the words. "You think, I will…"

Narcissa glared at him.

Then she sighed, put a hand on Lucius' hand, and got up before walking out of the Study with creases on her forehead.

…

"You called, father?" Draco asked.

He was wearing his black shirt and pajamas, his eyes almost sleepy.

"My son!" Lucius began, a nasty smile on his lips. "A Gryffindor… Who would've thought?"

The drowsiness flashed away from Draco's eyes.

It wasn't the first time he had heard the same words from his father this year. Nor was it the last time, they both knew.

"Are you friends with these… other Gryffindors?"

"No!" Draco hurriedly rejected, shaking his head.

"Hmm…" Lucius nodded. "Well, that's for the best. Even if you aren't a Slytherin, maybe because of some personality issue—Gods knows I didn't leave any stone unturned in your upbringing—your actions must be of a Slytherin; cunning. You are better than that lot."

"Yes…" Draco nodded, his heart thumping wildly. Did father know something? I hope not…

"Saying that…" Lucius continued, smiling, "Who among these friends you like the most?"

Of course, Lucius was asking who loathed Draco the most.

Draco twisted his lips in disgust because he knew that would please his father. "Potter."

Lucius' brows twitched at the name. "Yes, yes. Harry Potter… Not him. Who else?"

"…" Draco didn't know what to say. "I don't like anyone in that miserable building, father."

"…" Lucius didn't know how to decide. "Dobby!"

Crack!

"Yes… Master…" Dobby squeaked, taking a glance at Draco.

"Bring wine."

Dobby brought the wine and dutifully stood under the table, waiting for orders.

Lucius poured himself a drink and gulped a mouthful.

"Anyway," he said after a while. "I have something to tell you…"

Draco's mouth fell open as he heard his father's next words. "Triwizard Tournament?!"

Lucius nodded. "I don't know the details, but the ministry's starting the Tournament again," he told Draco. "It used to be a regular event, but the cowards stopped it after a few muggles died.

"This time, it will be on a greater scale, letting everyone from 2nd year onwards participate in it."

Draco felt confused for a moment. "Tournament…"

"The ministry's trying to pick the best students, through the Tournament" Lucius divulged his guess, "so that they can start the children's Auror Training from next year. Regardless of the reasons, you will participate in the Tournament."

Draco felt a surge of… happiness. Does father really…

Lucius poured cold water on Draco's thoughts.

"Not to win," he added, narrowing his eyes. "You need to make sure that Darcie comes out to be the winner. No matter the methods. It's a matter of prestige, Draco."

"… how?"

Lucius pushed the chair back, getting up.

He went to the bookshelf behind him and pulled out a black book.

For a moment, Lucius Malfoy stared at the … thing, the tips of his fingers throbbing. Then he returned to the chair and put it on the table.

"It's a diary…" Lucius said, pushing it toward Draco. "… When the School starts, give it to anyone who you think has the best chance against Darcie in the Tournament. No matter how small."

Draco touched the diary and began opening its cover without lifting it.

Thud!

Lucius slammed the cane's handle on it, shutting it before it could be opened. "Don't. Open. It."

Draco gulped and nodded. "But there will be students from other Schools in the Tournament, right?"

Lucius' lips twitched. "Let's trust Darcie against them," he said, feeling helpless. "It's the Potter that troubles me… That… half-blood! It would have been best if he never attended the School this year. Humph!"

Draco didn't know how to reply to that.

"Go." Lucius dismissed the boy. "Tell your mother that I am calling."

Draco, with a slightly shaking hand, picked up the diary… which he knew was cursed, given his father's reaction, and walked out of the Study, now fully awake.

But, he wasn't the lone person who left the Study, leaving Lucius behind.

Dobby tip-toed out of the room before silently closing the door.

His tennis ball-sized eyes were shining, his crafty mind racing.

Miss Darcie must win the Tournament, he decided. Why not? She is the only one who deserves to win it, after all.

But then he remembered Lucius' words regarding Potter — It would have been best if he never attended the School this year…

Master Lucius and Master Draco can't do anything… Dobby thought, walking to the kitchen while taking gulps of wine. As Miss Darcie's knight, Dobby must take care of this thing for her… Dobby shouldn't harm Harry Potter… No. No. But…

… Master Lucius did say…

No matter the methods!

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