Кассандра Клэр - Draco Dormiens

"Oh, yes. Draco's explained everything to me and it all makes sense. When — when the Plan is put into action, those who are loyal will be rewarded."

"That's right. And are you one of the loyal ones…Amanda?"

"I'm loyal to Draco," she said stoutly.

"Are you?" he said meditatively. "Come here for a moment, my dear. I want to show you something." He stood up and went to the bookshelves, and Hermione followed. He took down a fat green book called Epicyclical Elaborations of Sorcery and opened it, flipping through the pages. "Have you seen this book before?" he asked.

"No," said Hermione, who had a strong feeling that if she had looked for this book in the Hogwarts library, she would have found it in the Restricted section.

"Look at this," said Lucius, laying the book down on the desk and showing her an illustration. It was of a man, a full-grown wizard wearing elaborate robes. He held a wand in his left hand. His right hand, in fact his whole right arm, was encased in what looked like an elaborate metal glove, ending in a carved, pincer-like extremity that looked very nasty indeed. Hermione swallowed hard.

"Is that…some sort of weapon?" she asked, pointing at the picture.

"That," said Lucius, looking fondly at the book, "is the Lacertus Curse. A very advanced form of sorcery, in which a metal arm crafted by Dark magic is grafted onto the arm of a living human man."

"For what purpose?" asked Hermione.

"When the arm is grafted onto a human being, it becomes a powerful and selective sorcerous weapon. In essence, its touch destroys any person who is nonmagical."

"It kills Muggles," said Hermione flatly.

"And Mudbloods," said Lucius. "Itś very effective that way."

She looked at him. He was looking pleased, as if he were showing her a picture of some nice begonias he had planted, and not of a terrifying weapon.

"You're going to put this spell on Harry Potter," she said dully.

"Not me personally," said Lucius, shutting the book with a snap. "Voldemort. I will, of course, assist him."

He was giving her that look again. The one she didn't like. Hermione began to back towards the wall as Lucius moved towards her.

"Once the Lacertus Curse is on him, our Master will place him under the Imperious Curse. Think how it will look, the great Harry Potter going around using Dark magic to slaughter Muggles and half-breeds. Many will come running to Voldemort for protection. And he will give it, at a price."

They were right up against the bookshelves now and Lucius placed one hand on either side of her torso, effectively pinning her to the wall. She was torn between the desperate urge to shove him away and the equally desperate urge to find out more about what they planned to do to Harry.

"Why Harry?" she said, and quickly amended herself, "Why Harry Potter? Why doesn't Voldemort just kill Harry Potter and put the arm on someone else-someone he won't have to use the Imperius Curse on?"

"To bear the Lacertus Curse is deadly," said Lucius. "It drains the energy of the bearer and kills him slowly. So Harry will die, but he will die in our Master's service. An irony I am sure you appreciate. Now hold still, you stupid girl, I'm trying to kiss you."

Hermione gaped at him. "But you're Draco's father," she said.

"And therefore in an excellent position to assure you that you are far too good for him," said Lucius breezily.

"You don't even know me," said Hermione, pushing his hands away.

"That," said Lucius, "is about to change."

And he reached for her again, this time getting a firm grip on her waist. Hermione tried to elbow him, but he skipped nimbly around her. He was quite fast on his feet for such a tall man.

Something rushed by Hermione's head, stirring her hair.

THWACK!

"Yeeow!" yelled Lucius. He staggered backward, clapping a hand to his temple, which was running with blood. A heavy brass candlestick had flown through the air and clipped the side of his head with impressive force.

"Who threw that?" Lucius looked around wildly. "Where are you?"

Another object came sailing through the air-a china paperweight in the shape of a lizard. Lucius ducked and it smashed into the wall behind him.

Hermione realized she was grinning.

Draco.

"Do you have a poltergeist, Mister Malfoy?" she said loudly, over the sound of crashing glass, as an invisible someone upended the drinks tray in the corner.

Lucius said a number of rude things. It was easy to see where Draco had gotten his extensive vocabulary of swear words.

Epicyclical Elaborations of Sorcery suddenly flew into the air and made straight for Lucius' head. Lucius reached around, grabbed Hermione, and shoved her in front of him. The book struck her in the shoulder and fell to the ground.

"Ow," she said reproachfully, glaring at Lucius. He was pale and sweating, and he had one hand clamped over his chest. For a second she thought he might be having a heart attack. Then she realized he was holding something protectively in his closed fist.

The study was silent. She had a feeling Draco had probably gotten it out of his system at this point.

Lucius lowered his hands and Hermione saw something glitter on his chest. She was about to say something, when she realized he was staring over her head at the door. She followed his gaze and saw Harry and Narcissa standing in the doorway.

Harry was looking at her anxiously. Narcissa just looked blank.

"I brought the dress you asked for, Lucius," she said. She was holding a bundle of material in her hands.

"Thank you," said Lucius, with an admirable amount of calm considering that he had just been attacked by unseen forces and was still bleeding from his temple.

He put his hand up to his head now, and as he did so, Hermione caught sight of the glittering thing on his chest again.

It was a circular glass pendant, hanging on a fine gold chain. The glass was very clear, and in the center of it Hermione could see something suspended. Something that looked like….a tooth.

Weird, she thought. But then, what about Lucius wasn't weird?

Across the room, her eyes met Harry's. Get me out of here, she thought at him fiercely.

Harry came striding over and took her hand. "I think Amanda might like to lie down before the reception," he said. "Can I take her to…." He broke off, looking awkward. He had been about to say "my room", but Lucius and Narcissa didn't seem the sort of parents to want their teenage son's girlfriend sleeping in his bedroom.

"Her room?" Lucius finished. "No. Your mother can escort her. I need you for a moment, Draco."

Harry looked at Hermione helplessly. She squeezed his hand and went over to Narcissa, who immediately turned and led the way out of the study. Hermione trotted behind her. Narcissa said nothing until they reached a narrow oak door, which she pushed open, revealing a small bedroom. It had the stone walls that Hermione was getting used to in this place, but the bedspread was a pretty one with a design of blue flowers.

"This is your room," said Narcissa. She handed Hermione the bundle of material, which was cold and silky to the touch. "And this is the dress."

"Um. Thank you," said Hermione.

Narcissa looked at Hermione consideringly. "Wait," she said. Then she turned and left the room, reappearing a moment later with a pair of fancy silver shoes and a box. "I thought you might want these," she said. "And the reception is at four."

She left again, this time closing the door behind her. Curious, Hermione opened the box. It appeared to hold cosmetics. Odd, she thought. Most witches just used Lip-Reddening Charms and the like.

She put the box and the shoes down on the bed and started to take off her T-shirt.

Then something occurred to her. She lowered her arms slowly.