บท 4: A Bed Time Story (Lucius POV)
Lucius Malfoy POV:
I had taken to the study once again, my situation post the fall of Voldemort was precarious at best. That bastard Dumbledore and his mudblooded dogs were still hounding me post-trial. There were allegations that I, the champion of the old ways and most noble wizard in Britain, had bribed my way into escaping Azkaban. Frankly, it was preposterous. I had simply called in a few favors among old friends, greased the wheels where they needed to be greased, and told the truth. I may not have been brainwashed by Voldemort, but to say I hadn't been at least "somewhat coerced" would be asinine. He held power, and what was I to do in the face of that? The Malfoy family is always one of great importance, but it isn't always one of the strongest wizards.
My finances were not in the state they once were after they had seized what they called "ill-begotten gains," but after securing a few contracts to help "rebuild," the fool Dumbledore had even let me keep my seat on the educational committee in charge of Hogwarts. With a little bit of work, my friend Severus was now the master of potions and would eventually be the one to make sure that mine and the actually gifted children of the future would be able to find an education under the headmaster. I had plans in the works to try and remove that man from teaching, but with a victory over the Dark Lord and the destruction of the pure-blooded coalition, we are in no place to stage any form of coup. Though the Daily Prophet isn't necessarily in my hands, a few interesting pieces could still be placed in the headlines to slowly whittle the faith of the public. Rodolphus Lestrange used to make comments about Dumbledore being Grindelwald's "Head-Master." If the man wasn't batshit insane, he would have been quite the satirist. Maybe the Prophet would allow him to work from a pen name straight from prison.
"How about you tell the kids a story?" Narcissa interrupted. She was still as beautiful as the day I met her, but the babes and the stress of her family being thrown away without a key had hurt her tender features. "The children are but six months old, they would not be able to understand a word of what I tell them."
"The children are exhausted, it would be good for them to remember their father outside of his work."
I could never argue with her. She knew exactly what to say to beat me in an argument. I wonder if I have gone soft with her. I left the study and headed to the nursery.
I entered and sat in the large chair that the house elf had prepared ahead of time. The wretched creature would occasionally not mess up. In two cribs ahead of me lay my children. On one side, Draco, who had been in constant need of attention since birth. Narcissa would complain of how he would wail if anything was taken from him or nothing was given. Though he lacked the stoicism that a Malfoy needed, his belief that he deserved everything was what was to be expected of a child of his class and stature. The older twin was quite different. There was no fuss from my daughter Seras. She had a pair of inquisitive eyes and appeared to understand everything around her in a way that shouldn't be possible. There were many child prodigies in the history of the Malfoy family, and I hoped that this would continue with her. Severus had told me that she might be a natural Occlumens and might one day become a Legilimens of his caliber. I shiver at the thought of him reading my mind, and to have a daughter able to do the same thing against my opponents would be an incredible tool. Narcissa came and stood at the door. She had brought me a book of stories, but I would tell no such drivel. If I was to tell them something, they should know it to be useful no matter how young they are.
I sat by the fire, its flickering light casting long shadows on the walls of my opulent manor. I had chosen a tale filled with caution and a lesson crucial for their survival.
"Tonight, I will tell you a story of power, betrayal, and the fall of the Dark Lord. It is a tale that carries an important lesson about whom we choose to trust. Before you were born, there was a great and powerful wizard named Lord Voldemort. He was a visionary, seeking to restore the wizarding world to its rightful glory and protect our traditions from those who sought to dilute our magical heritage. Not everyone, however, saw the wisdom in his vision. There was an old, senile wizard, Albus Dumbledore, who opposed him. Dumbledore pretended to be a benevolent and wise leader, but in truth, he was a master manipulator, weaving his web of lies and deceit.
"Dumbledore gathered followers, people who were swayed by his false promises of equality and justice. He formed a group called the Order of the Phoenix, and together, they sought to undermine the Dark Lord's efforts."
My gaze hardened as I looked at my children, continuing the story. "The Dark Lord's reign was powerful and fearful. But there was a prophecy, a prediction that a child would be born who had the power to defeat him. Dumbledore took this prophecy and used it to manipulate events, ensuring that a baby named Harry Potter would become a symbol of resistance against the Dark Lord. In a terrible turn of events, on a fateful night, the Dark Lord went to eliminate this threat. But through a series of unforeseen circumstances, he was defeated. The story spread that Harry Potter, an infant, had vanquished the Dark Lord. How he did it is still unknown, but Dumbledore must have planned it. Dumbledore is not to be trusted. He is a master of manipulation, willing to sacrifice anyone for his grand schemes. He portrays himself as a beacon of light, but beneath that facade lies a heart of darkness."
"The lesson here," I concluded, "is to always be wary of those who wear a mask of goodness. Not all who appear virtuous have your best interests at heart. Trust must be earned, and even then, remain vigilant. The world is full of those who would deceive you for their gain."
Narcissa gave me a slight smile and gestured for me to leave the room. Draco had fallen asleep almost instantly, but Seras seemed to be digesting what I had told her. Maybe at least one would remember the lesson I taught today. I had told them what needed to be said, and they would one day take it to heart. They will hear this story their entire lives. I will make sure they hear the correct version. With that, I stood up and left the room. I told the elf to make sure that he cleaned properly and to keep the children asleep. I rattled my cane at the creature to make sure he remembered why he followed the orders. Hopefully, the coming months would allow me more of a respite.
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