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Chapter 392: The Mark
Chapter 392: The Mark
Lucius Malfoy's expression was stern, and a chilling wind seemed to freeze his throat. It appeared to take a great effort for him to part his tightly closed lips. He said woodenly, "Very brave... Draco... I mean, the young Wizard."
Felix carefully examined his face.
The wind began to pick up again, and the black shadows of the trees swayed on the open ground between them. After a moment of silence, Lucius softly said, "I know a bit of information. The Malfoy family is always well-informed..."
"...About a few months ago, during the summer... one night, the Dark Mark on my arm suddenly awoke from its dormancy, something that hadn't happened in over a decade... Some people were very frightened. They came to me to confide in me, and I... comforted them."
Felix looked at Lucius with interest. So, he had known about Voldemort's resurgence for a while? He must have been living in constant fear... The Quidditch World Cup, was it a collective catharsis for the Death Eaters who claimed to have been under the Imperius Curse to avoid punishment?
And when Felix extended the olive branch, Lucius seized the opportunity to align himself?
"Dark Mark on the arm?" Felix asked. "I thought it only appeared above the houses of the victims, as a symbol of the Death Eaters' evil?"
Lucius shivered. Meeting those calm blue eyes, he couldn't help but recall the events at the Quidditch World Cup. The person standing before him had toyed with hundreds of Wizards with absolute superiority... His magic seemed boundless, piercing the chests of those around him from a great distance... Each time he woke from a nightmare, one question haunted him: what if those eyes turned on him?
His posture became even more humble, his body seeming to shrink.
He whispered, "It's a secret. The Dark Lord marks his loyal followers as a means of communication... and those followers, in turn, receive special favor from the Dark Lord, granted the privilege to summon him."
Felix nodded, understanding. In the wizarding world, methods for constant communication were limited, primarily because Wizards' mobility was so strong, with Apparition and Floo Powder solving most distance issues.
But during times of war, the need for instant communication and intelligence sharing surged, and each faction adopted different methods. As far as Felix knew, the Ministry of Magic's Aurors always acted in groups to gain a local advantage; the Order of the Phoenix used Patronuses to send messages; and as for the Death Eaters, he had never been clear...
So, they used the Dark Mark?
"So, every Death Eater's arm is branded with a mark?"
"Not quite... only the 'loyal' followers", Lucius reiterated his earlier statement.
"How should I understand the term 'loyal'?"
"…The Dark Lord only cares about useful people." Lucius lowered his head uneasily, his rapidly moving gray eyes hidden from view. "Those who are powerful, influential, wealthy, or possess special skills… like Severus Snape."
He quickly raised his head to glance at Felix, who stared at him expressionlessly. Lucius hurriedly lowered his head again.
"Severus?" Felix repeated slowly.
"Yes... yes, in school, he displayed exceptional talent in potions, far surpassing me and any member of the potion club at the time. The Dark Lord valued his abilities, often keeping him in the background to provide valuable potions... Later, when Slughorn retired and Hogwarts needed a new Potions professor, the Dark Lord arranged for him to join the school to monitor Dumbledore's every move."
Felix nodded slightly. He knew this; Dumbledore had vouched for Severus after the war, proving he was a spy for the Order. But one question remained: who came first, the Death Eaters or the Order of the Phoenix?
Intuition told him that a staggering secret lay hidden here.
"Severus, when did you join the Death Eaters?"
"During a gathering before graduation, the Dark Lord summoned him personally."
After a long silence, Felix spoke: "We've strayed from the topic. Apart from that, has the Dark Mark shown any other abnormalities?"
"Occasionally... intermittent burning sensations..."
"Hmm." Felix said, "Like when a Muggle electronic device has poor signal?"
Lucius paused, then said, "You're right, Mr. Heap." He knew what Muggle electronic devices were and understood the concept of poor signal.
"Then, there's one more thing. Let me see the appearance of the Dark Mark on your arm..."
Lucius suddenly lifted his head. Throughout the conversation, he had avoided mentioning the Death Eaters and tried to dissociate himself from that term. But now, he had to make a decision.
"Lucius...?"
After a moment's hesitation, he hesitantly rolled up his sleeve. On the inside of his left forearm, there was a faint red mark that looked like a birthmark. It was very blurry, making it hard to discern its exact form. If it appeared elsewhere, it might be mistaken for the early symptoms of dragon pox.
Felix compared it with the information in his mind, finally recognizing some unique shapes.
"Under normal circumstances... during the Dark Lord's reign, it was bright red, like blood. After the Dark Lord's disappearance, the mark faded, but now the faded mark is becoming more prominent. We have also suspected that he is preparing for his return..."
Lucius turned his head away and said, "So, have you decided which side to choose?"
Felix smiled at him. "Just a joke. You can always hedge your bets and play both sides—just as you've always done. The future is unpredictable, but Lucius, I am different from Voldemort. I value certain people, and I hope we can reach an understanding."
"Perhaps a piece of information from you can save the life of someone I know. I look forward to it and express my gratitude in advance." Felix straightened up, his tone cold. "Keep this in mind, or thunder will strike you."
"If the Dark Lord ever returns..." Lucius said under immense pressure, "I, of course, of course, would... would..."
"Would what?"
"Contribute to the cause of justice, Mr. Heap."
Felix smiled in satisfaction. "Let's think positively. Maybe he will never return, and you'll just be writing a blank check."
"Oh, by the way", his tone lightened, "I saw a broker entering Malfoy Manor. Is he working for the Malfoy family? I find this very interesting... It seems you have your own set of rules, without adding any unnecessary or extra magic..."
...
The clouds obscured the moon, and Lucius Malfoy stood silently, his mind replaying the scene of Felix Hep's silent disappearance, just as he had done at the Quidditch World Cup, without any warning.
He took a deep breath. The events of the day had been intense, and even with some assurances, he didn't feel any safer—thinking about operating under the Dark Lord's nose made him shudder. No one understood the Dark Lord's terror better than he did. Fortunately, he only needed to provide some inconsequential information, and he used this to convince himself.
At the moment, he hoped more than anyone that the Dark Lord's return plan would fail, but a man like him never placed his future on vague 'hopes.'
As long as he was careful, he would secure his place in the future, no matter who won or lost.
After a while, he muttered a curse. He would write to Draco as soon as he returned, asking him to come home for Christmas. It was time to educate him properly, always getting entangled with Potter at school and losing every time...
(End of Chapter)
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