Father Time by mrsmcclnt

A Step Back

“Where do your loyalties lie, Lucius?”

“With you, my Lord, always.”

“Really? And what of your family?”

“They are loyal to you also, my Lord.”

(silence)

“Is your loyalty to your family stronger then your loyalty to me, Lucius?”

(silence)

“No, my Lord. My loyalty to you is strong, for it keeps my family safe.”

(silence)

“Good answer. A much better response then what your wife gave.”

~*~*~*~*~


As his eyes began to open, he got a clearer view of the open sky above. He could tell it was nearing nightfall from the varying hues of red on the horizon.

That was when he realized that he was lying flat on his back.

“What the devil?” He sat up, but he did so too quickly and fell back to the ground, heaving uncomfortably. “Take it easy, old boy,” he muttered to himself. Yet his body did not obey. His stomach spasm, relinquishing all of what was inside. When he was done, he reeked of bile and looked very undignified. Yet despite his uneasy appearance, he straightened himself and made a dizzying attempt at walking to a nearby bush. There, he found a satchel and his wand lying amongst the shrubbery.

“Merlin, what’s happening?” He tried to steady himself once more but ended up on all fours in the bush. That’s when his eye caught a glimpse of his name floating listlessly in the wind on a piece of parchment.

Dear Lucius,

He snatched it out of the air before it flew into the grassy field. As he read it, he could feel a new flood of turmoil washing over him from every word in the letter. Each wave of emotion brought him back into focus as he remembered why he had come. He felt his strength renewed as his sense of purpose returned to him.

He went to the satchel and made a quick check of the things he packed. The history book and map were there along with the Time-Turner he needed. “Now I’m ready.” Lucius Malfoy pulled himself together as he set out on his mission. He referred to his map to get his bearings then got underway.

After a few miles of walking, the twinkling lights of a small town came into Lucius’ view. “This is more like it,” he said as his ankles painfully swelled within his shoes. He leaned against a tree at the village’s perimeter for some much needed rest.

As he took a moment to rest his feet , he looked around to survey his surroundings. “From the looks of my predicament I must be in the right place, but-?” He noticed that the commoners in the village were wearing a different style of clothing that he wasn't accustomed to. “Where in time am I?”

Thinking back on his hasty departure, he deduced that he must have turned his Time-Turner back one flip too many. He had been in such a hurry that he hadn’t paid attention as the hourglass moved.

He went back to his satchel to re-read the letter and gather his thoughts. “Well, it’s of no consequence. As long as I’m back, I can prevent things from moving forward. I'll just have improvise, that’s all.” As he slipped his shoes back on, he realized that he needed to make an immediate change. “This won’t do.”

He pulled over his hood to secure his identity, then casually walked into town so that he could scope out some new attire. Within moments, he saw a man of his stature in a vibrantly colored tailored suit. “He does have good taste,” Lucius whispered. “It’ my colour too. But under the circumstances, I need something a little more demure. I could get robbed in that thing.”

He waited patiently as his next option came in the form of a manservant – the servant of the gentleman in the nice suit. His outfit was not as flamboyant as his master’s, but it did fit into Lucius’ plans.

“This will do nicely.” Staying hidden, he followed the young servant around the corner into a deserted alley. Moving with stealth, he then stunned the help and stripped him of clothes and belongings so that he couldn't be identified.

“Your Master is too good to you,” Lucius told the unconscious body. “In my world, a fine tea cozy or kitchen rag would be sufficient enough clothing for any servant in my house.”

After he hid the young man, he made his way back onto the street, blending into the crowd like a chameleon in a tree.

Feeling slightly exhausted, he re-read his letter again to regain his vigor. Being mindful of the time, he decided on his next course of action. “If I am in the right place then I need to go this way.”

As he walked a few blocks down the road, Lucius became suspicious of some sudden movements he’d noticed behind him. As he turned a corner and double backed to investigate, he could see that the figure was doing the same thing.

“I suppose he would send for me sooner or later.” But, he wasn't ready to leave just yet.

Taking evasive action, Lucius made a few quick turns down different alleyways. Then he whisked through a shop to head out the back onto another street at the opposite side of the building.

“Excuse me. Pardon me,” he said to the pedestrians as he hurried down the street.

He swooped around another corner then back down another path. After a few more blocks, he no longer sensed the presence of whoever was tracking him.

He turned another corner to look down the path. There were no sudden movements or hurried footsteps as there were before.

“That should do it. I guess I lost him.” He felt confident that he was off the tracker’s radar, but to be certain, he went into a nearby inn to see if anyone would follow behind.

As he stepped inside the establishment, he was astonished at the clean appearance of the place. He looked up to the sign and began to chuckle to himself.

“This can’t be the Leaky?” He laughed.

As he got further in, the old familiar sounds and smells of the place greeted him as they always did when he dropped in.. “This must be how it looked before it was overrun by Mudbloods.”

Still keeping an incognito profile, he made his way to the bar for a seat. “What can I get you, dear?” asked the bubbly old woman.

Not certain of what he should order, since he wasn't in his own time, he looked into his neighbor’s plate to see what was edible. “I'll have what’s he’s having,” Lucius said.

“Good choice, love. The boar’s head is particularly good tonight.” The woman wobbled off into the kitchen, leaving Lucius feeling resentful of his choice.

As he made himself comfortable, a voice from his side sent a chill down his spine. "Well, look what the Kneazle dragged in."

Lucius felt his insides turn uncomfortably. After all the ducking and dogging he had done, the tracker had still managed to catch up.

But Lucius, being Lucius, kept his charm and a cool smile on his face despite feeling as though the bottom had been taken out from under him. He took a sip from his drink then turned to his tracker, exuding all the charisma he could muster.

“Kneazle? You say that as if to imply that I’m some sort of rat.”

“Well, if the shoe fits, Lucius. But then again, we both know those aren't your shoes you’re wearing.”

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