Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Harvest Moon ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

“Do you get the feeling you're being watched? Because you are.” Someone chuckled, looking deeply into the black scrying mirror. “I'll add you to my collection soon.”

A singsong voice drifted through darkened hall ways, seeming to curl eerily around every piece of wood and stone.

<i>One little, two little

Three little whores dead

Soon to be four and more

Little whores dead.</i>

Maniacal laughter shattered the quiet night.

***

Draco and Hermione glanced at each other. This would be trouble on an epic scale if Lucius was seen as a suspect and all evidence, though circumstantial, pointed directly to him. Hermione frowned. It was too pat, too easy and frankly too sloppy to be something the elder Malfoy had orchestrated. Lucius Malfoy was anything but stupid.

“I hadn't expected to find you here, Father,” Draco said after reassembling his scattered wits.

“Nor had I expected to find you here wanting to question me,” Lucius said, one elegant brow lifting briefly. “Particularly not with Miss Granger in tow. I expected she'd run screaming from a place like this.”

“I do what's needed during an investigation, Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione said, sounding more than slightly miffed.

“I'm sure you do, Miss Granger,” Lucius said, looking her over as though she were something he was contemplating consuming at his leisure. “Why did you need to question me? I was in the middle of . . . something.”

That much had been obvious, Hermione thought. For once, Lucius Malfoy looked vaguely disheveled. His clothes looked as though they'd been donned in haste. His hair was only slightly mussed but enough to make him look somewhat more human rather than a being carved from ice. She had to admit, even if it was only to herself, Lucius Malfoy was a gorgeous man.

Draco gave Hermione a pleading look and she rolled her eyes. She understood that look. A child, even an adult one, just did <i>not</i> want to know about a parent's sex life. It would be up to her to do the questioning. She sighed heavily and gave him the “you owe me your firstborn for this one” expression before collecting herself a bit.

“Is there somewhere more private where we can continue this?” Hermione asked, looking at Lady Tazura.

Lady Tazura's eyes narrowed for a moment as she thought it over. “I'd have to put you in one of the “Scene” rooms, I'm afraid. There isn't any other place that's private.”

“Fine,” Hermione said, wanting to get this over as soon as possible. She certainly did <i>not</i> want to know about Lucius Malfoy's sexual inclinations to this extent but it seemed that she had no other choice.

“Room 315 then. I believe you know the way, Lucius,” Lady Tazura said with a small smile.

“I do,” he said, inclining his head to her slightly. “Follow me, Miss Granger. We can make quick work of a task you obviously find distasteful.”

He turned around without waiting for an answer and strode out the door.

Hermione rose and with all the dignity she could muster followed him, catching sight of long blond hair whip around a corner she picked up her pace a bit. Damn it, he was not going to leave her behind like this. She had a job to do. Even though she doubted he would tell her anything of value, every lead had to be followed to its conclusion.

They had come back around into the main foyer and from there a hallway led to a magnificent marble and oak double staircase. Hermione stopped and stared at it for a moment while Lucius was being detained by one of the staff for a moment. Admiring everything from the beautifully and obviously hand carved balustrade to the stunning blue and gold mosaic tiles running along either side of the white marble steps. It was truly a piece of art. She hadn't heard Lucius return to her side.

“It's beautiful, isn't it. The marble was imported from Italy and the mosaic tiles are gold veined lapis lazuli. The banister is of course English oak. I'm surprised that you would enjoy such a thing, Miss Granger.”

“Everyone enjoys beautiful things, Mr. Malfoy. It just depends on the individual's sense of what's beautiful to them.”

“I must agree with you there, Miss Granger,” Lucius said, mounting the steps. She trailed after him, watching as his long fingers caressed the wood of the staircase as though it were the flesh of a lover. “I personally prefer beauty I can touch or that at very least has a dimensional quality to it. For example, I find Picasso's work to be overrated at best but Michelangelo's marbles were always stunning to me. There is such a depth and life to them, you expect them to breathe at any moment.”

Hermione's eyebrows quirked up. It was so odd to her to hear Lucius Malfoy speak in this manner, so intense and passionate about something he obviously enjoyed. She wondered vaguely what other things he might find the same passion and enthusiasm for. She shook her head to clear it. This was a murder investigation and at the moment the man walking in front of her was a possible suspect. She had to remember that and keep her wits about her because the elder Malfoy was a master manipulator.

When Lucius stopped rather abruptly Hermione almost ran into him. He reached around the door to the darkened room and flipped a switch on the wall. Faint red lights came up in the room and he stepped aside.

“Ladies first,” he said, bowing elegantly to her and extending a hand into the room.

“Why do I feel this is more of a “welcome to my parlor” moment than a courtesy?” Hermione said, but stepped into the room anyway then stopped a few paces from the threshold and stared around at the place. Iron banded human shaped cages hung from the ceiling as did a plain metal rod suspended by a long chain. Racks of various instruments lined the far wall along with what looked like padded benches and a huge X shaped cross stood in one corner. The only real furniture in the room was a large, overstuffed leather chair set in a small alcove with steps leading up to it.

“I'm guessing it would be rather difficult to do an interview from the Master's chair,” Lucius said thoughtfully. He turned and pulled one of the padded benches over to her. “Unless you'd like to conduct this standing, I see no other choice in here.”

She sat gingerly on the bench, gods only knew what kinds of bodily fluids it had on it and she resolved to have her suit cleaned immediately after leaving here.

“Miss Granger, don't look so disgusted. Everything in here is well cleaned after each use. Now, what did you need to ask me about?” he said, wandering leisurely around the room.

“I needed to ask you what you know of Dawn Morris.”

“Dawn Morris?” Lucius frowned for a moment. “Ah, yes, Dragonfly. What of her? I've not seen her here for a few weeks. Though if I recall correctly she was supposed to be under contract until the end of next month. I was rather disappointed considering she's an excellent submissive.”

“Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione said very seriously. “She was the woman found murdered on your property.”

Lucius shook his head and laughed a little. “I'm sorry, Miss Granger, I don't believe I heard you correctly.”

“You heard perfectly well,” Hermione said.

Lucius suddenly leaned heavily against the nearest wall. “My gods, I didn't even recognize her,” he said. He closed his eyes for a moment and seemed to collect his wits. “I take it I am suspect considering she was found on my property.”

Hermione nodded. “That and you were the last person to see her here alive.”