Lucius

Yes, indeed, I'm back! I've finally found a very nice, new beta who has worked her fine magic on the bumps that were in this chapter: Soprano in Shadow. As before, MagicAlly has also improved formulations and made sure that the story sounds genuinely British.

I'm so happy and would certainly send both of them a decorative box of Honeydukes finest chocolates if only I knew how!

Lucius

Five people were gathered around the lifeless form of Ron Weasley. He had shown up in the wee hours with a sickening crack near the Hogwarts gates, incomplete, and thankfully unconscious.

A seasoned Healer was meticulously slowing down Ron's heart, which was working all too well, losing him too much blood. She did her best to also shield the gruesome sight from view. Another member of the Department of Magical Transportation arrived and reported to the assembled, "I've located the boy's lost part. The ear is still connected to the missing half of his throat."

The Healer didn't even look up from her work on the open-ended vessels as she acknowledged him with a short question. "You didn't move it?"

"Of course not. I've only closed the trachea and the oesophagus and then concealed the whole fragment. The larynx is intact, and so is the left collarbone." He bent down and proffered his elbow. "I can bring you there."

"And his arm?"

With a 'Bugger!' the junior Healer left the scene again, and the elder one shook her head. She shifted her stance, working her back, thereby giving free view on Ron's open skull. Splintered tendons and tissues ended in mid air, and there was far too much space where the collarbone should sit.

Blanching, Hermione jolted backwards and was violently sick before she even reached the first tree. Harry's face turned green from sickness, but he swallowed it down twice before he joined Hermione.

Molly and George, while less outwardly impressed by the view, fretted around nervously, more distracting than helping.

With a friendly tone, yet keeping a professional distance, Tonks confirmed to them all that the squad was doing the right thing. "Just let them do their job."

The medics had to Apparate Ron back and forth a few times to reassemble him. Finally, Ron's body was complete, and George signed half a dozen forms for the Ministry before the three Weasleys, Harry and Hermione went up to the hospital wing.

:*:*:*:

She woke up slowly. She felt so well rested and enjoyed stretching and yawning thoroughly before she wanted to open her eyes. The last she recalled was Severus handing her a Dreamless Sleep potion, which explained her current state. Why had she needed it? Oh yes, Draco and Ron had been fighting! Ron? Yes, their crazy flight from the Draag Stone home. She could still feel the exhaustion lying heavy in her bones.

Now Ginny also recalled eating Severus' stew. It had been delicious, albeit too chili-hot for her brother. She smiled at the thought, and her hands roamed the sheets and bedclothes to find Severus. The smooth material felt exquisite to her touch, and the room had a very nice flowery smell this morning. She turned to the left, stretching like a cat and bright light passed through her eyelids...

Just a moment! This is all wrong! Our bedroom has no morning sun.

Waking up rapidly now, she tore open her eyes. The room appeared foreign to her. Silken bedclothes and lace on the pillow covers didn't belong to Spinner's End any more than fancy, flowery wall paintings of fairies and unicorns. The sun stood high, and its light filtered through exquisite cream curtains she had never seen.

Where is my wand?

"Missus awake now?" a high-pitched voice asked. Fully awake, Ginny jerked her head towards the end of the room, where a house elf stood, waiting obediently, head bent, one tiny foot wriggling.

House-elf, pure-blood, superiority, Ginny's mind provided, and she lifted her chin just a bit. "What is this place? Where is my husband? Where is my wand?"

"Missus is not to worry," the elf answered.

"Oh, but thanks," she replied tartly. "Who are you, and who is your master?" she demanded to know, coming forward strongly. Her situation was hardly the elf's fault, but they were duty bound to represent the view of their masters whom Ginny did not like much for leaving her clueless with just an elf for company.

"I is not sure I is allowed to tell. Master not give instructions," the elf answered, bowing noncommittally.

Ginny decided from the sound of the elf's voice that it must be a female. She inspected the room, the bed clothes and the pillowcase the elf wore. She did not see any family crest or monogram or any hint of the owner. "Am I imprisoned? Who brought me here?"

Like a mantra the little creature repeated, "I is not sure I is allowed to tell. Master in hurry. Not give instructions." She pointed to the bedside table. "Masters left spelled parchment for Missus."

"Spelled parchment? Oh, a message."

Ginny picked up her wand and read the brief note. Half of it was Severus' handwriting, although it lacked the perfunctory stiffness he used when commenting on their essays. The first address started with 'Gin', which was crossed out.

My love,

S.S.

Another missive was added in a scrawl close to Draco's handwriting.

Ginny,

This is the best we can do. I've arranged for Draffy or Pukey...Ginny cringed...to attend to your needs. Order whatever food and drink you like as soon as you wake up. You are allowed your wand. Don't leave this house.

The signature was missing, and the last sentence was distorted as if written in great hurry. Or in pain, her troubled mind supplied. If the missive is genuine at all, yet another voice in Ginny's mind suggested.

Despite all precautions, someone could have secretly observed them last night. They might have taken Draco and Severus captive and forced them to write this. It sounded like a cruel plan to separate her from Severus and keep them both in anxiety and agony. And, once their scheduled time passed, in pain and... death.

The elf interrupted her thoughts. "Missus is to have lunch, master ordered. I is arranging it. The bathroom is prepared for Missus." She indicated a door with her spindly arm.

"Forget it!" Ginny told her dismissively. "As long as I have no proof this parchment is genuine," she fiddled with the parchment in front of the elf's eye, "I'm not touching anything." She took it up again and read it through once more. This time the letters disappeared after she had read them. She dropped the empty parchment. Now she had only her memory left. Again, there was no telling if this was good or bad.

Soon after, she was forced to the bathroom anyway, irritated by the fact that the elf followed her inside. "I know how to use a toilet, thank you!" Ginny burst out.

"I is not to leave Missus," the elf apologized.

Growling inwardly, Ginny reasoned with herself that the elf might be of more use if it wasn't distressed.

The bathroom was kept clinically clean and well stocked, providing a fresh toothbrush as well as decadently fluffy, thick towels, slippers and a nightgown. The water had no smell or colour indicating it had not been tampered with. There were several taps to the bath, reminding Ginny of the prefects' bathroom at Hogwarts. A decadent, steaming bubble bath was in stark contrast to the quick, lukewarm showers at home. The scent of lavender would soothe her nerves but keep her alert. Whatever her true situation, it would not be any worse for cleaning off the grime of the previous day.

The elf appeared relieved to see her complying. "I scrub Missus' back, I is skilled at massage, Missus will like," she offered.

Soaking and stretching and then allowing the elf to spoil and massage her skin with oils of Lady's Bedstraw gave Ginny time to think. She wasn't used to elves, but had some knowledge of their weaknesses.

Dressed in the gown provided, she scanned the food laid out and told the elf, "If you want me to eat breakfast―or lunch," she amended after a glance outside, "you'll have to prove to me it isn't poisoned."

"Missus is not being poisoned," the elf simply declared.

"Says who? I cannot trust you," she answered in an equally neutral tone. "Bring me two unopened bottles of butterbeer and two glasses!"

If the elf was astonished she did not show it. She left again for a few seconds only. "Butterbeer is coming shortly."

A knock at the door, and another elf brought the desired drink in, bowed deeply and left. "You are to drink before I do," Ginny told her servant.

The little creature's eyes widened in shock. "Pu.. I is not to drink. Never. Elves do not drink Butterbeer. I is to punish myself for disobeying master and mistress."

"If you're ordered to serve me, you will obey me now," Ginny told her amiably, inwardly smiling that she knew the elf's name now. She washed both glasses carefully and poured generously from both bottles into both glasses. "Your master can apply Legilimency upon you to see that I forced you. Cheers."

Ginny insisted Pukey tasted all food, and she selected plain, dry or fat food as it would be difficult to spike with a potion. Once encouraged, the meagre creature showed a hearty appetite. Taking up the delicious, soft French brie, Ginny recognised the pattern on the plate from a meal Draco had brought from home before their wedding.

Soon enough the drink loosened the little servant's tongue. They were in a summer resort that the family didn't normally frequent in the cold season. However, Pukey avoided confirming that barbecues and summer parties have always been the only use of the place by taking a deep gulp of butterbeer.

She spoke with fear of her 'master' and her 'mistress'. Then there was the 'young master' who recently confused her, to say the least.

Her stomach filled, Ginny asked, "Is there a library?"

"Missus is probably allowed into―hic―the blue parlour. Lots of volumes of spelled parchment. Follow me."

There were several shelves of books, most of questionably – or unquestionably – dark contents. Some books were bound to their shelf with chains. If her host or kidnapper wanted to lure her, this would not be the way! A whole shelf held only books in a foreign language, and judging from all the accents, it was possibly French. Again, this fitted in to what she knew of the Malfoys: Draco had mentioned French lessons, and he had helped the pupils who spoke romance languages.

Ginny settled down with a notebook on Crafty, Clandestine Cantrips. Pukey stayed close, fidgeting. "You can sit down, you know." The offer brought another bout of agony into the elf's face, but since she swayed a little from the drink, Ginny insisted. "You are of no use to me if you pass out."

Now there was nothing to do but to wait. Ginny had taken the empty parchment with her and considered it again and again. Where was Severus, and in what state was he? If they had fallen into a trap, what would happen to her, and what to Draco and Severus? If it wasn't a trap but a genuine call, what did the Dark Lord plan to do in the middle of the day?

Coming to no conclusion, she stood and began to pace the room, taking her time at the mullioned doors to the porch.

After a while, Pukey remembered her task. "Would Missus stay away from the window? I is not sure Missus is allowed. Master not give instructions."

"Oh, were some... guests not allowed to look outside?"

"I is not talking of master's business. I is a good house-elf."

"I'm sure you are. There isn't much to see through these thick curtains anyway." Ginny replied lightly. She had already identified a tiled area and some grass surrounded by a thick, high hedge, efficiently cutting off the scenery beyond. There was a large, brick-built rotisserie with a monstrous copper flue. The rotary spit leaning against it would make a formidable weapon for a Muggle.

Ginny sat back down and picked up the scrapbook again.

After three quarters of the way in, the writing changed. Ginny went back one page to see the title, My own little hexes. Its owner had already expanded the booklet. Neat handwriting, she noticed. All the capital letters and the small g's and f's were flourished as in her grandmother's letters. The ink flow was steadier than even Hermione managed, which meant the author had used a never-out quill. It had to have been a well-to-do person then, as well as one with malicious intent. All the spells were nasty, disgusting or downright cruelly painful.

A few were similar to the non-traceable ones Severus had taught her, however some would take effect with some delay, a variant Ginny had no experience with. She memorised three of them, trained the wand movements carefully and felt the required twitch although there wasn't a victim at hand. Not yet.

Imagining a fight, her thoughts wandered back to the day before, the rocks and how she had killed the two men. Both had enjoyed their power over others, especially over witches, Muggles and, in Missile's case, their under aged charges. He'd never have approached a teacher's wife, like Ginny, oh no. He had kept himself to the smaller girls.

Once alarmed, Ginny and Millicent had lingered close to the changing rooms, but he had found chores that took them to the kitchens or the infirmary. Their deaths were not unwelcome, but that she had been the one to kill them! Five years ago, the thought of killing Hagrid's roosters had agonized her; now she was a double-murderer. How long would the sound of their crushing skulls follow her in to her dreams? She was glad that she had no image to accompany the sound.

Then she had spent hours with Ron, the first link to her family in weeks. At the Burrow and at the Draag Stone, he had been genuinely interested in her wellbeing. At Spinner's End, her new home, however, she had not known him. Of course Ron had never liked his Potions professor or Defence teacher Severus Snape, but hadn't she told them all what she had seen? Had they not yet talked to Dumbledore or entered Severus' study? Not even Remus? Could they still not believe her? Then indeed, this was not her family as she had known it.

Ginny practically felt relieved that she had not had the chance of a short conversation with her mother, Charlie or Harry. However, that thought made her feel distanced and very alone.

Despite Ron's injury they had conducted an amiable conversation and exchanged feelings as well as valuable information. They were all worried about her, and especially her mum was sensitive. Ron was still seeing Hermione, although Ginny didn't hear details. Harry had no confidence in himself, and he was nervous about Severus in particular; Severus, who fought on the same side. Oh, the irony of it!

Severus...

A sudden thought crossed her mind: what if Severus had placed her here to get rid of her, if there wasn't anyone else involved at all? Had he been mad at her yesterday? Replaying the evening back home and Ron's uncooperative bouts had Ginny pacing again.

She was in a bad mood, frightened from not knowing and brooding over the past events when an urgent voice called her from the corridor. "Mrs. Snape? Ginny? Where are you?"

Pukey was equally shocked as Ginny. "This is not master and not master's mentor. I is not instructed..."

"Theo? I'm here in the blue room." Despite Pukey's protest Ginny opened the door to let a dirty and anxious Theodore Nott in.

"Quick, we must leave. Take everything. Remove all traces," he urged her. "You, elf, Pukey, isn't it? The whole house has to appear as if no one has been here. We must hurry!"

Ginny and Theo rearranged rooms and grabbed Ginny's belongings while Pukey went to banish the rest of breakfast and the used towels.

Suddenly the entrance door opened, and Lucius Malfoy's voice boomed through the house. "Elf! I request aid. Here immediately!" All four went white as chalk. Theo caught Pukey, but Draffy slipped through the door.

"Ginny, activate it!" While pushing a Portkey into Ginny's hand, Theo cast an "Obliviate!" at the elf. The last they saw was a puzzled house elf; the last they heard was Draffy's desperate yelling.

:*:*:*:

"We made it!"

Another garden house, this one a lot smaller and not as neat. "We're in our place now," Theo explained. "Professor Snape is coming to our house. He'll not be in the best shape."

"What is this all about? I wake up in a place I've never been to, I have the barest missive from Severus and Draco, and now you abduct me. Or save me... I don't even know which. Well, considering it was Lucius Malfoy, I assume you saved me," she conceded.

A grin brightened Theo's face for a second before he sobered. "My father, Draco and Professor Snape were called to free the last prisoners in Azkaban. Snape and Draco took a long time to arrive, causing the Dark Lord's anger and Dad's suspicion.

"The freed prisoners are allowed home immediately, but the members of the liberation squad have to report to their master. Snape, sorry, Professor Snape, was a bag of nerves imagining Malfoy senior free to roam his place and unaware of your status. Dad arranged that I got Draco's Portkey together with mine, and... here we are." Theo's voice or demeanour revealed nothing of what he thought of their master.

Ginny kept an equally neutral face asking, "The Dark Lord's anger? Are you saying he punished Severus before sending him off?"

"The professor appeared as though he had been," Theo answered, his head bent. "Tardiness is one way of disobedience."

Ginny wanted nothing but to go home, but Theo objected. "They will come here first."

It wasn't that, which drew Ginny home, though. She wanted to check on the healing potions. Last time Paul Nott had taken some from Severus' stocks and had not known them. Theo still refused to let her go or accompany her there. "They will come here, trust me. And, I shudder to think what the professor would do to me if we splinched."

It was Ginny's turn to concede. "All right then. Do you have a potions lab here?" Theo nodded in surprise. "Let's see then if we can brew some remedies for them."

They went to the main building and descended into the lab. It was very tidy; however, the equipment was stacked too neatly to be in regular use. Ginny concentrated hard and came up with three lists of ingredients. "These are three potions . Let's check if we can make at least one of them, and if possible more than one batch."

Ginny frowned over the state of the ingredients in the cabinet. This lab could not have been used for at least a decade. Some herbs had lost their colour and much of their fragrance, some jars contained not-identifiable, sluggish goo, and many hessian sacks were covered in cobwebs.

Sheepishly, Theo apologised for the situation with a note that the whole Nott family wasn't exactly famous for potions.

"I see." Ginny considered the two skin ointments worth trying. She would have to compensate for a few items and perused the few books there but with little success.

She jotted down the procedure for one ointment, replacing and substituting ingredients here and there.

"Care to brew this one? It's hardly O.W.L. level, I think."

Theo had never yet brewed anything that hadn't gone down the classroom drains in the end, and the resulting mark had been all that mattered. He doubted his abilities on step six. They ended up cutting and grinding all of Ginny's ingredients first so that she could help Theo while her own cauldron was to simmer for half an hour. Happy for a concrete task, they began.

They missed the chime announcing the men's return. Soon the house filled with shouts from the men. Theo almost botched his potion while shouting back up.

"WATCH it, stir steadily! This is FIVE... SIX."

The door burst open, and a haggard but relieved Severus Snape stood on the threshold. "... EIGHT... NINE... " He collapsed on a stool, head in his hands.

"Don't worry, Severus. We'll finish this and bring it upstairs. Go have a drink and rest," she ordered. When he came to hold her tight instead, Ginny felt she had to steady him. He left reluctantly when Paul Nott fetched him.

Half an hour later, Theo and Ginny tended to Draco and Severus. Paul Nott had prepared some drinks and a snack.

"It's not the best texture," Ginny excused the slightly crumbly ointment. "Some of the stocked herbs were old. Severus, I had to replace wild ginger roots with cultivated ones that were dry as dust and quite grey. I added a dash of juice of swallow-wort to cope with the viscosity and the too brown thyme. Was that right, Severus?"

"I'd take anything at the moment, as long as you offer it," Severus said tiredly. Seeing her shocked expression he corrected himself. "Don't worry, swallow-wort was a good idea. It explains the heat on the skin. Comfortable in winter." Trying to bait her he added, "I was a bit afraid you might have added Adder's Root."

"WHAT? How befuddled do I look, adding arum when you might have an open injury. It's an insult, and you do not have freckles!" she mocked him back, glad to see his mood rising. From the corner of her eye she saw Paul Nott shrugging to his son and wife who had finally arrived. Not a single potion fan in the Nott's household, it seemed.

All the time Draco hadn't said a word. Not even the last jibe had reached him.

When they could not prevail upon the Notts' hospitality any longer, Draco looked positively pale, even greenish. "I'd better head home...whatever awaits me there. I don't need a commemorative plaque on your house, Severus; just remember me as a friend."

Contrary to what one would expect from the resolute woman, Brenda Nott shrieked. "There must be something we can do!"

"Should someone go with him?" Ginny asked in concern. "I'd do it, but I'm no match for Malfoy senior."

"You are the last person I would send!" Severus exclaimed, grabbing her hand and pulling her on to his lap. She smiled but stood quickly when his face became contorted in pain.

"It's all right," Draco placated them. "If I come with moral support now, I'll be worse off the first time I face him alone." Thinking a bit more he started hesitantly, "I... maybe..." he waited for an encouraging nod from Mrs Nott. "I think I don't mind an invitation to dinner tomorrow...if it's not a burden."

Paul Nott stood resolutely. "You are right, although we will make that tea –considering you have to head off to school. Wait, Draco. I'll owl your parents right now. Athena!" He moved to the desk and fetched quill, ink and parchment. A majestic eagle owl arrived and perched on the backrest behind Nott. "Good girl... Here, take this to Lucius. Express delivery, DON'T linger, DON'T go for a hunt!"

The bird soared away. "She is reliable and very fast as long as there is no rabbit on her way. Draco, wait ten minutes before you follow." Draco nodded and went outside, Theo in his wake.

Considering his guests again, Nott continued, "I'd like to invite you two as well. It will be best to get things straight immediately. If you agree, that is." He turned to Severus.

With a bow Severus accepted.

Ginny gulped. Meet Lucius Malfoy? She was pleased to note that Mr Nott raised his eyebrow. He explicitly asked for her comments, a consideration no other Death Eater ever showed to her. "I take it you have a history with Lucius?" She nodded and swallowed. "How do you feel about it?"

Nervous now, Severus took Ginny aside. "I... I possibly should have asked you first."

"Indeed," she snarled. Reminding herself of his last hours she met him halfway, adding, "but you're excused. You are still healing."

A growl escaped Severus before he found proper words. "So: how do you feel about it?"

"We heard his voice in the summer house. It went right through me. Give me a reason why I want to repeat that so soon."

"Lucius will inevitably hear about... us. Do you want it delivered through the Mulcibers, or possibly at the Malfoy's?"

"No, thanks," she replied pointedly. Aloud, she announced, "We gladly accept your invitation. Thank you, Mr Nott."

"I'll be most pleased." He bowed. "One more thing we should get straight then. I'm Paul, and this is Brenda. As Mrs Snape you are entitled to be on first-name terms with us." Grinning boyishly, he added, "Lucius will be most pleased, I'm sure. See you tomorrow around half four."

A/N:

1) Please do not make me, the innocent author, responsible for the name a foul-tempered eight-year-old Malfoy boy once selected for their newly acquired house-elf!

2) Friar's Cowl or Adder's Root, Arum maculatum, is poisonous when digested by causing tissue swelling. I assume it had best not come into contact with blood, either. However, its starch has been used in Italy to remove freckles from the face and hands. This is what Ginny refers to.