[ Lucius Malfoy POV ]
After bidding farewell to his wife, Lucius Malfoy apparated directly into the study he reserved for conducting business at Malfoy Manor.
The green flames in the fireplace flickered quietly as he knelt before them.
"Fawley. Nott. Greengrass," Lucius said softly, dropping a pinch of Floo powder into the fire. "I require your presence immediately. There are… developments that must be discussed without delay."
The flames died down once the messages were sent.
Lucius rose slowly and took his seat behind the heavy oak desk, steepling his fingers together as he allowed his thoughts to drift back to the conversation that had taken place only hours earlier.
[Flashback ]
"My Lord," Lucius said with a respectful bow.
"You will hold a meeting with Fawley, Nott, and Greengrass," the Dark Lord instructed calmly. "Inform them of my return. Reveal only what you believe necessary… but ensure they understand that I will intervene personally when required."
Lucius inclined his head.
"As you command, my Lord."
The Dark Lord's red eyes narrowed slightly.
"Dumbledore and his followers have done considerable damage to our world. Their obsession with restricting knowledge has crippled the wizarding population. Power should be pursued, not feared."
Lucius remained silent.
"I have observed something most… interesting," the Dark Lord continued. "Arthur Weasley has enchanted a Muggle automobile. A blatant violation of the International Statute of Secrecy."
Lucius allowed himself a faint smile.
"Yes, my Lord. The Weasley boy is quite enamored with that contraption."
"Precisely," the Dark Lord said softly. "And we will use that to our advantage."
Lucius straightened slightly.
"I want Fawley to file a complaint through the **British Ministry of Magic**. A fabricated report of failing Muggle-repellent wards in a wizarding settlement. The report should claim that a wizard was nearly injured as a result."
Lucius nodded slowly.
"Once the complaint is filed, he will issue a maintenance notice," the Dark Lord continued. "The boarding window for the Hogwarts Express will be shortened… and moved earlier."
Understanding dawned immediately.
"The platform wards," Lucius said carefully.
"Yes," the Dark Lord replied. "I want them to fail as soon as possible. Preferably after most of the students have already boarded."
Lucius allowed himself a satisfied smile.
"Then Harry Potter and Ron Weasley will miss the train."
"And the boy will resort to the flying car," the Dark Lord finished calmly.
Lucius bowed his head.
"A brilliant plan, my Lord."
The Dark Lord's attention shifted.
"As for Nott and Greengrass, their role is simple. Escalate the resulting breach of the Statute. Involve the International Confederation of Wizards representative stationed in Britain if necessary."
Lucius nodded.
"And the newspapers?"
The Dark Lord's lips curved slightly.
"Every article should ridicule Arthur Weasley. Emphasize his negligence. Blame his son for disregarding basic wizarding law… despite being a pureblood from one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
Lucius allowed himself a quiet chuckle.
"You may take your revenge as well," the Dark Lord added. "I am certain you have not forgotten the embarrassment that man caused you."
Lucius's eyes flashed coldly.
"No, my Lord. I have not."
"And Damien Greengrass," the Dark Lord continued. "He should cooperate willingly. After all, Arthur Weasley's raids damaged several of his businesses."
Lucius nodded again.
"However," the Dark Lord added softly, "if he refuses… inform him that I can remove his daughter's blood curse."
Lucius froze for a brief moment.
"And if he still refuses?" Lucius asked quietly.
The Dark Lord's voice turned colder.
"Then you will inform him that the Greengrass family will cease to exist."
Lucius bowed deeply.
"It will be done, my Lord."
At that moment the Dark Lord turned toward another man standing quietly nearby.
"Borgin, my friend."
Lucius glanced toward **Caractacus Borgin**.
The old shopkeeper from **Borgin and Burkes** did not look particularly frightened, which irritated Lucius greatly.
Even in the Dark Lord's presence the man appeared… composed.
*What leverage does that old parasite possess?* Lucius wondered bitterly. *Even the most loyal Death Eaters tremble before the Dark Lord, yet this relic stands there as if discussing business over tea.*
The Dark Lord spoke again.
"You still possess the Vanishing Cabinet connected to Hogwarts… do you not?"
Borgin's eyes widened.
"My Lord…"
Sweat appeared on the old man's forehead.
"Yes… yes, I do."
Lucius's own eyes widened in surprise.
"I will be taking that cabinet," the Dark Lord said calmly. "You will prepare a suitcase enchanted with a Traceless Extension Charm to transport it."
Borgin swallowed.
"Of course, my Lord."
"And you will construct another Vanishing Cabinet," the Dark Lord continued, his voice becoming colder. "One that will connect to a location your choosing Lucius."
Borgin nodded quickly.
"It must be a newly acquired one so that none shall associate it with us. The secret base shall be known only to those I permit," the Dark Lord finished. "No one else is to hear of it."
The room fell silent.
"Yes… my Lord."
- End of Flashback -
The Dark Lord seemed… different.
Lucius leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
Saner.
Not that endless rage and fury had consumed him during the later years of the war, but the cold brilliance Lucius remembered from the early days of the Knights of Walpurgis.
Back then, the Dark Lord had been calculating, patient, and terrifyingly intelligent.
If this continues, Lucius thought quietly, then the tide may finally turn in our favor.
His thoughts were interrupted by the fireplace flaring bright green.
A Floo request.
Greengrass.
Lucius raised his wand slightly and gave permission.
Moments later the flames surged upward and Damien Greengrass stepped out of the fireplace, brushing a stray fleck of ash from his immaculate robes.
The man stood well over six feet tall, broad-shouldered and imposing. His blond hair was neatly combed back, his green eyes sharp and observant. A trimmed golden beard framed his jaw, and his white-and-gold wizarding robes marked him unmistakably as the head of the Greengrass family.
"Lucius," Greengrass said smoothly, glancing around the study of Malfoy Manor. "Your invitation was quite timely."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"What matter requires such urgency?"
Lucius regarded him solemnly for a moment before speaking.
"The Dark Lord has returned."
Greengrass froze.
The room fell silent except for the faint crackle of the fireplace.
Lucius continued calmly.
"He has also chosen to extend you… both a deal and an opportunity."
Greengrass slowly folded his arms.
"And what opportunity would that be?"
Lucius's lips curved into a faint, cold smile.
"The opportunity," he said quietly, "to rid the British Ministry of Magic of Arthur Weasley once and for all."