Lucius gave him a cautious nod.
"I agree." Parkinson said.
"As do I." Selwyn confirmed.
Wilkes nodded and rapped his knuckles on the table. "Agreed."
Gibbon hurriedly nodded. While Crabbe and Goyle exchanged a look before mumbling their own agreements.
Avery simply looked bewildered, sensing that there was a way forward that had been agreed but not understanding what it was. Not for the first time Lucius wondered how he had ever been sorted into Slytherin. The others were frowning but Yaxley caught Lucius's eye and gave a small inclination of his head in acknowledgement.
"Speaking of the Dark Lord's Mark…" Lucius redirected the conversation.
"You've spoken with Snape?" Wilkes asked bluntly.
"Yes," Lucius nodded, "he has confirmed that Dumbledore believes the Dark Lord to be a wraith; that Peter Pettigrew has likely sought out the Dark Lord for protection against Black and is working to restore him to a body."
"Is Pettigrew capable?" wondered Avery. "I don't recall him being anything special for all he was part of Potter's little entourage."
Lucius thought that was the kettle calling the pot but he refrained from saying anything.
"Perhaps we should search him out and offer to help?" Travers suggested.
"An excellent idea," Lucius commented, "if you wish to incur the wrath of the Dark Lord." He raised an eyebrow as Travers grew purple in the face with anger. "Surely, you cannot have forgotten that every mission by the Dark Lord was a test for the individual assigned to lead it?" He flicked non-existent lint from his robes. "The punishment for someone interfering in someone else's mission especially one which was planned by the Dark Lord himself was quite brutal."
There were more than a few nods.
"So we wait?" demanded Travers. "What if Pettigrew falters?"
"Then we will discuss the matter again," Selwyn said firmly, "but Lucius is quite correct; unless Pettigrew approaches us on behalf of the Dark Lord, we must assume his lack of contact has been ordered by the Dark Lord."
"But Pettigrew will be garnering favour while we appear to have abandoned him," complained Jugson.
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "And how long will that favour last? Just how useful is Pettigrew to the Dark Lord? He's a wanted man; a fugitive with a price on his head. And Merlin help him if Black gets to him first."
Jugson seemed mollified.
"But…but our Lord will be angry with us!" cried Avery almost wringing his hands in despair.
"For not realising that he was still alive? For not seeking him out as Pettigrew has done?" Lucius nodded slowly and carefully. "Perhaps. However, he cannot kill or maim us all when he returns if he wishes to regain the advantage that was lost when he…disappeared."
"We should do more. If we cannot help Pettigrew directly then why don't we show the Dark Lord that we are still loyal?" Travers pressed.
"Yes!" Avery declared. "Splendid idea!"
Lucius didn't allow the smile to cross his lips. "What do you suggest?"
Travers looked at him steadily. "The World Cup is set near muggles. It wouldn't be hard to do a spot of muggle-baiting in our old uniforms."
"Count me in." MacNair drawled. "I haven't killed a muggle in ages."
Lucius had always believed MacNair was an amoral sociopath. He didn't even believe MacNair cared anything about the agenda just so long as he got to kill and torture.
"I'm happy to volunteer too." Rowle said.
"Any other volunteers?" Lucius asked.
"You won't volunteer yourself, Lucius?" Travers sneered.
Lucius held his hard gaze with one of his own. "I have no doubt that Black will attend the cup final with Potter and that I will be called upon to attend as family. I believe it is in our best interests for me to ingratiate myself and my son with the House of Black." He waited a beat. "There is no point losing a valuable source of intelligence and wealth, after all."
The others accepted his position.
"Besides, Travers, I'm sure you will do well in leading this effort," Lucius flattered him while deriding him at the same time, "and will not require me."
"What about the rest of you?" Travers asked bluntly. "Who else will take part and show their loyalty to the Dark Lord?"
Selwyn glared at him. "Watch your tone, Travers! He is not back yet and you are reliant on our sponsorship and support within the Ministry or have you forgotten?"
Travers started to go purple again.
"Too many of us will provoke too much notice." Nott contributed. "A small strike team is best. It will be written off by Fudge as bad form but not serious. However, we can all honestly say to the Dark Lord if asked that we supported you all in your efforts."
"Although no doubt he will favour those who did take part." Lucius slid in slyly.
"I shall go!" Avery immediately volunteered.
Jugson also rose to the bait beautifully. "I will go too. Five should be enough, eh, Travers?"
Travers nodded unhappily.
"Then if we are in agreement, let us adjourn." Lucius said. "Some of us need to prepare for the Wizengamot session." He smiled. "I believe when Dumbledore finds out who Lord Black is there will be quite a floor show."
That provoked a few titters of laughter and they filed out obediently, Lucius catching Parkinson and asking him to remain a moment.
"Dinner on Friday, Lucius?" Nott offered before he stepped out.
Lucius inclined his head. "I'll owl the arrangements." Yes, Nott – older than most of them, very intelligent and cunning – was a superb ally. He had always regretted Draco not cultivating more of a friendship with young Nott.
Parkinson looked at him expectantly. "I assume this is about the arrangement?"
"Black has ordered it dropped. He's stated that all the children will have the right to choose their own spouses." Lucius confirmed. "My deepest apologies, Charles."
"It's a shame but not unexpected after what I heard today." Parkinson's dark eyes met his. "I'll tell Pansy or rather I'll tell her mother to tell her. Girls, you know!"
Lucius smiled tightly, thanked Parkinson for being so understanding (and wondered what that would cost him in future) and saw him to the floo. He returned to the breakfast room and sat down next to his wife who was eating a late breakfast of Eggs Benedict.
"Results?" asked Narcissa, sipping her tea.
"Most are with us; they don't wish to lose power to a halfblood who would just as soon as kill them as have them as a follower." Lucius said candidly. He paused. "Travers will be a problem."
"Your plan?"
"I'm certain Lord Black will be grateful for intelligence of any suspected Death Eater activity." Lucius said. "He, no doubt, will pass such information to the relevant authorities." He sighed. "Someone will have to get Avery out of it though; his vote is too easily obtained for it to be wasted by him being thrown into Azkaban."
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