"..."
In the dim cabin, a deathly silence spread like a plague.
Deep blue Incendio burned fiercely, but those kneeling on the ground didn't feel even a trace of warmth from it.
Previously... wasn't it said that everything would be forgiven?
The Death Eaters present who are still here all managed to escape the trial from ten years ago, after the war's end, using various means and reasons to slip away from the Ministry of Magic, whereas the die-hard ones like Bellatrix Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, Barty Crouch, and Sirius Black were all locked up in Azkaban by the Ministry of Magic, becoming the Dementors' daily food.
To be honest, most of the people present had spent a few days in that hellish prison, experiencing the feeling of having happiness sucked away by the Dementor...
But looking at the blue flame before them, almost everyone couldn't help but think of the same thing—
By Merlin, they'd rather have a passionate French kiss with a Dementor right now.
"Tap, tap, tap—"
William slowly paced back and forth at the entrance of the cabin, the sound of his hard-soled boots striking the iron plate echoed like it was tapping on everyone's hearts, "Don't worry, this is merely a Magic Flame that tests the soul. As long as you remain loyal to me, then..."
Silence lasted again, the juice from pickled herring dripped down the tail onto the ground, releasing a stench.
"What, none of you dare to move? ...It seems that you all... betrayed me?"
A meaningless question, anyone knows that escaping that trial meant spending money or betraying a comrade.
They are well aware that, to the "Dark Lord," either would mean betrayal.
"Master."
Finally, Lucius, kneeling at the front, raised his head and hesitantly stood up. His normally pale skin looked even more ashen now. Under everyone's gaze, he trembled as he spoke, "Master, I pledge my loyalty to you. You can use all the resources of the Malfoy family..."
"Nonsense, even if you didn't say it, it would still all be mine. Step across,"
William waved his hand to cut off Lucius's long-winded speech, his eyes glowing blue through the flames as he faced those bloodshot silver-grey pupils, unable to resist curling his lips into a smile filled with malicious amusement, "Or perhaps, you have other ideas? Like... becoming the new leader of this useless rabble?"
The group referred to as the useless rabble said nothing in response, instead, they lowered their heads even further, secretly glad that someone else was taking the lead. After all, no one knew exactly where "Voldemort" drew the line on betrayal, and none of them wanted to be the first to step into the limelight.
Lucius certainly didn't want to either; he wouldn't have, had Draco not been here.
"No, Master..."
Upon hearing William's "proposal," Lucius's hesitation turned to horror, and he quickly waved his hands to deny it.
"Very well, I like young people with courage,"
William didn't give him a chance to refuse. With a flick of his wand, a long, low platform rose in the cabin, placing Lucius on the other side, separated by a cold flame. William leisurely set his wand in front of him, "Then I accept your challenge, raise your Magic Wand..."
"No, Master, I didn't mean that—"
Lucius immediately fell to his knees, clearly practiced in such an action, his head almost touching the ground, and his body bent like a shrimp.
"Dad—"
Draco, whose brain was still somewhat frozen, looked up just in time to see this scene and instinctively wanted to say something, but was immediately silenced by Narcissa covering his mouth.
"Yes, Master, he's my child,"
At the sound of Draco's voice, Lucius seemed to remember the reason he stood up, and he spoke quickly for fear of being interrupted again, "Ten years ago, I left your organization to preserve a living force. We've been lying low for so many years, waiting for your return. But the child... the child is innocent..."
The man racked his brain but could not find a more suitable word for a long time.
"And so?"
"So, so I hope you can spare Draco, Narcissa and I will be at your service..."
Malfoy's voice was slightly hoarse. From the moment William saw Draco at Malfoy Manor, he had worried this scene might happen. He had even arranged for Draco's transfer before Christmas, to Durmstrang, far from the United Kingdom, but safer than staying in that damned castle.
However, he hadn't expected Draco to disobey his instructions that day and trespass into the dining room.
Luckily, until the end of the banquet, William hadn't mentioned this matter, which led him to believe the other party had no intentions towards it. That's why he gave in to the boy's pleas tonight and brought Draco to the circus for a break. After all, he hadn't known that William would appear—
Or that he would come halfway up and take his son down...
Who knew how much he wished he could strangle himself for agreeing two days ago to bring the boy to the circus when he saw Draco appear with the Dark Lord?
"Of course..."
William nodded.
"!"
Lucius's eyes brightened slightly, and he quickly looked up, his disheveled platinum hair falling across his eyes.
"If he is loyal enough, he will be safe."
"..."
That was equivalent to saying nothing.
"Is it because the Ministry of Magic is too accommodating, that you have this delusion?"
William's voice sank as he raised his Magic Wand and pointed it at the man through the flame, "Crucio."
"Ahhhhhhhhh——"
The piercing scream made everyone who had secretly raised their heads lower them again. Yes, this was the familiar feeling they had. A meeting of Death Eaters without a few Unforgivable Curses or Dark Arts would have made them feel like something was amiss.
"Now, pick up your Magic Wand, or come to my side, you have only these two options."
Watching the half-dead Lucius, William stopped the charm, glancing down at the others who were sneakily watching this side, flashing a standard smile and showing eight exposed teeth, full of a "sunny, cheerful, positive" vibe.
Finally, after a period of silence and seizing a momentary distraction from Narcissa, Draco Malfoy stood up and hurriedly ran to Lucius's side, helping his father, who was weakened from the Crucio, to stand.
"You..."
Sensing movement, Lucius struggled to open his eyes.
"Dad,"
Draco raised his head, staring into the flames before him, his voice trembling slightly, "I'll take you across."
"...All right."