Chapter 741
Visitor on a Rainy Night
Chapter 741 Visitor on a Rainy Night
Lucius now regrets killing Barty Crouch Jr. as much as he felt when he did it.
He thought it was a good idea to cooperate with Dumbledore—after all, Voldemort was most afraid of Dumbledore back then.
After all these years, the Death Eaters' power is practically nonexistent. Even if the Dark Lord were to be resurrected... so what?
The Malfoy family will always be on the side of the winners. As long as Dumbledore defeats Voldemort, he can still enjoy his current life by choosing the right side in time.
Even after Crabbe, Avery, Yaxley and the others were all imprisoned in Azkaban, he could take the opportunity to accumulate more wealth for the Malfoy family, just in time to earn back all the Gallon he had bribed the Ministry of Magic over the years!
He had a brilliant plan, and he was sincere in his cooperation with Dumbledore... but who could have predicted it?
First, a group of cultists barged in, preventing him from notifying Dumbledore to arrive at the monastery in time. Then, Voldemort actually escaped!
That Dark Lord, even alone, was enough to make the entire magical world tremble. Especially now that he has recovered and has no one to hold him back, he seems even more terrifying than before!
Although they all wore masks when they gathered that day, Lucius didn't expect Voldemort wouldn't recognize him.
However, his name was not among those imprisoned in Azkaban, leading Lucius to suspect that Voldemort already knew who had betrayed him!
Hiding in this ordinary Muggle community, Lucius dared not put down his wand for a moment. He imagined the Dark Lord suddenly bursting into his house, and cold sweat slid down his temples, soaking the collar of his expensive silk shirt.
“I made a fatal mistake, Cici,” Lucius said in a hoarse voice. “I knew all along that to that man, a traitor was more hateful than an enemy… but before, I was too angry, and I made an irrational judgment.”
“It’s not your fault.” Narcissa helped her husband sit down, placed her hand on his shoulder, and gently comforted him. “They abandoned you first… Why didn’t you go to Dumbledore? You’ve taken refuge with him, so he should protect us.”
“No…no…” Lucius swallowed hard. “Have you forgotten how the Potters died? And the Prewitt family…Dumbledore can’t protect them at all. Leaking the information to him will only hasten our deaths!”
Thinking of Snape, who was right next to Dumbledore and whom he didn't know why, Lucius felt his hands and feet turn cold, as if he were lost in a vast ocean with a rickety ship creaking and leaking beneath his feet.
In the past, the best way to hide would have been through the "Loyal Heart Mantra".
However, the Potters and Voldemort themselves proved that the idea that having the Faithful Charm guarantees safety is a huge mistake!
Narcissa suddenly released his shoulder, walked to the cabinet, and stuffed the hidden Galon and other things into the dragon skin trunk.
“Then let’s go!” she whispered, biting her lip. “France, Africa! Or even further… The Dark Lord has many important matters to attend to; he can’t possibly travel across the ocean to hunt us down!”
A bolt of lightning struck outside the window, casting the shadows of the trees onto the curtains, making it look as if a menacing monster was lurking outside.
The sound of rain pattering down filled the air, and Lucius involuntarily shivered. His pupils trembled as he glanced at the window, then at his resolute wife, and suddenly reached out and grabbed her slender wrist.
“It’s time to go… You and Draco go!” he said, his voice trembling. “I’ll stay!”
"Are you insane?!" Narcissa trembled, a flash of anger crossing her pale face. "You think this is heroic? If only we escape, it proves you're the one who betrayed him! That man will tear you to pieces!"
“Cici!” Lucius said in a low voice, “You know, I have no way to…”
He paused, reached out and grasped his left arm, and at that moment, he felt as if the Dark Mark had become scorching hot.
“Even if he cuts off my arm, he’ll still find a way to find me. But you…you’re not Death Eaters. If you escape far enough, he won’t find you so easily…He won’t hate you the way he hates me…”
“Lucius Malfoy!” Narcissa shouted angrily, her chest heaving violently.
“Think of Draco, Sissy, think of Draco…” Lucius’s voice held a hint of pleading: “You have to do it for him… for our son… to live on with him…”
Thinking of Draco, Narcissa immediately calmed down. She no longer objected, but tears quickly welled up in her eyes. "Pack your things," Lucius said softly. "After today, we'll separate. You won't be able to return until it's completely safe..."
He gently stroked Narcissa's golden hair, his voice tinged with reluctance, and softly whispered his words of advice:
"Throw away the communication pea; I've heard that these things can be eavesdropped on... You can keep the friend list, though, just don't use the location tracking... From now on, even if I suddenly contact you, don't trust me easily..."
A tear slid down Narcissa's pale face.
Just as she was about to speak, a voice suddenly rang out—
"Ding-dong-ding-dong-"
The doorbell rang from downstairs, startling Lucius so much that his lips turned blue.
Narcissa also shuddered, but quickly realized what was happening and whispered, "It can't be that person, he would definitely just barge in... It must be one of the Muggle neighbors around here, I'll go down and check."
“Wait…” Lucius grabbed her, stood up, and reached for the candlestick: “You stay here, I’ll go check.”
He opened the study door, and just as he was about to step out, he turned back to look at his wife:
"Hold your wand tight... If anything goes wrong, Apparate immediately... and go find Dumbledore!"
Narcissa nodded vigorously, her wand sliding into her palm, which she gripped tightly.
Lucius clattered down the stairs.
Narcissa, her heart pounding, quietly approached the bedside. In the darkness, she was like a translucent ghost radiating a faint glow.
"squeak--"
Downstairs, Lucius opened the door.
"Ah, Mr. Schultz, I'm so sorry to bother you so late."
Their chubby neighbor stood at the door, flashing a warm smile and calling out loudly:
"But this gentleman said he's your friend, but he accidentally forgot your house number, so I brought him over... Hmm, you know each other, right?"
He stepped aside, and in the cold rain, a black umbrella was slightly raised.
Under the umbrella, Dumbledore's eyes gleamed with a gentle yet sharp light in the rainy night. The hem of his robe was soaked by the rain, but it did not diminish his majesty in the slightest.
“Good evening, Mr. Schultz,” Dumbledore’s voice cut through the rain, calmly saying, “I think we should talk.”
(End of this chapter)