The Greedy Frog
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Hey, I Ruin Stories Chapter 18
🕑 Added 2024-05-01 13:53:41 +0000 UTCChapter 18: The Big Bad Wolf
[Dawn of Monday — Somewhere in Ayrshire Hills]
They say this place is haunted. Spirits roam the castle that I just crossed, wails are heard during the middle of the night.
Makes sense considering what I was here for.
It was barely dawn, light had not even fully seeped in. The cold was pretty unbearable for me and the vision around the place was horrible.
Nothing was visible for miles. The place being mostly human covered meant I couldn't even use magic freely. I recall Dumbledore warning that there are some sort of apparitions, not dementors but apparitions that roam and check if a wizard uses magic in front of humans.
Simply put, trouble will follow if you use magic in human lands.
But how was this lunatic living here if magic was forbidden?
I didn't know where it was, so I waited —waited near the cliff.
A minute passed, then two, then ten before I heard footsteps behind me.
It was a perfect setup for a murder. A normal man sitting at the edge of a cliff with no human nearby and with barely any visible light.
One push and gone.
But no, neither was I normal nor was the man standing behind me stupid.
“Why near human settlement?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Dark Arts can be difficult to mask, but when masked properly it can go much more unnoticed than conventional magic.” The man spoke from behind, displeasure audible in his voice. “Which I still would have preferred my son being unaware of.”
“He was able to save grace and his family’s name and yet you blame me.” It made me laugh, turning my head back ever so slowly. “You wound me, Lucius.”
The man stood in his familial black, green and silver clothes —looking regal. But well, it was all looks. He was more of a dog.
Previously for a dark lord —still a dog of his— and now wagging his tail behind me.
But other than Lucius, someone else caught my eye. And she caught it good.
Yeah.
She.
Blonde, tall, a great slender figure with pale —too pale— skin which would have looked freaky, but not on her. And to top it all off, her blue eyes shone even in the dark.
She was a beauty.
“Your wife, I suppose?”
She was wasted on Lucius. I recall the man never even paid any attention to her.
“She is.” He said, “She had an obligation to come as it involves our family. Draco is too young to have been involved —unfortunately you had already involved him.”
“I hope you will not drag our son into this mud so soon, Lord Safar.” Oh her voice was cold, pleasant but cold. “He is still only a child.”
But then she looked at me funnily, “Lord Safar.” She said, “I hope I am not mistaking the title.”
I knew what she meant, of course I did.
She was devilishly racist.
“Lord, huh?” I showed a smirk. “I suppose you can call me that. Although we have different titles for the head of the pureblood families.”
“Such as?” Lucius asked, somewhat curious.
“Does not matter now, does it?” I asked, “We are in your place. So, Lord would suffice.”
Truth was…
I didn't know what would be an alternative for Lord, at least in the sense of ‘Lord of a House.’
And secondly, I was no lord. But they were never going to fatcheck me.
If they did… It didn't matter.
“But it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Narcissa.”
Her eyes widened as I neither greeted her as Mrs, nor by her surname. But as the lady of the house and while using her first name.
Even Lucius seemed annoyed but what could the man do?
Curse me? That would be a disaster for him given he had seen what I can do with the dark magic of others.
“So, where are we going?” I was curious. “If we were to go to the castle, we left it behind and ahead there is nothing but the damned cliff.”
The man though said not a word and simply walked forward, standing right next to me.
Even closer to the edge, dangerously close. One misstep and there would be a new lord for the house of Malfoy.
“Jump.” He said.
“Pardon?” Was he stupid? “I think I didn't hear you properly.”
“Jump.” He repeated and without a second of wait, he did what he asked me to do —jump straight from the cliff and into the rocky spikes underneath.
I nearly tripped and fell as well from the shock but stopped myself.
“Follow me, Lord Safar.” Narcissa, the only pretty member of the house Malfoy said. “You will reach it if you follow behind.”
That didn't sound so promising.
But like the madman prior, she walked near the cliff, closed her eyes —Oh she was definitely afraid of heights— and lept from the cliff.
They weren't asking me to commit triple suicide, were they?
I had to walk closer to the edge and look down.
Nothing.
I could see nothing. There was still no light and the height was too high for my vision to notice anything.
I wouldn't die even if I jumped. I didn't mind breaking a few rules and not using magic to save my life. But if it is a trick… Draco better be prepared to be fatherless.
Unfortunately, I didn't have much time. It was about to be morning soon. The sun was to rise any moment.
So, with almost no time —I had to jump. Jump and hope for the best.
Fortunately.
It wasn't a death trap.
…
…
{Lucius Abraxas Malfoy}
“What did Draco get himself into…” Narcissa asked again. No, this time it was a question to herself. “Where did this man even come from?”
“Middle East.” That was also all I knew. “And knows too much for someone that had never been previously here.”
“You said he even knows about Snape’s connection?”
And I was curious how he knew it all. “He does.”
These were questions that we probably were not going to get an answer for anytime soon.
“For a straight moment I thought you wanted to take me to the afterlife with you.”
He had followed and landed on his feet. Most fell on their faces on the firstjump.
“And this is disgustingly abhorrent.”
He… had a point.
Mush, dead creatures and the smell of rotten flesh surrounded the place.
“He is here.” I made sure that he knew, “Watch your step and your tongue. He is not like me, he is not a simple wizard.”
I did not look at him, but I could feel his smirk.
“More like a trapped rat now.”
My heart dropped and I could see Narcissa shaking as well.
If he heard of this, we would be in trouble greater than explainable.
“Do not… dare speak of him in a demeaning manner.”
“That I will decide after I see him.” He said with a fool’s bravery. “Though losing to a child puts his reputation on the same level as a rat to me.”
“Careful…” I warned, but there was no point in arguing with a fool.
“Move.” His expression changed faster than ever, “We haven’t gotten the whole day.”
He was in a rush, but he-who-shall-not-be-named does not entertain people.
“Call him.” He said, his voice unamused. This was a sudden change of his personality and it felt far different to what he previously showed. “If he can come out.”
“He… cannot.”
That was true. He was not in a state where he could walk freely.
“Then take me to him.” He walked close, “And I can promise that you will be the ones receiving the benefits as well.”
That was…
I do not know. He had kept his word till now, but I could not find any reason to trust him either.
“Just at no cost make him angry, or disrespect him.” Otherwise it would cost us our lives. “He is someone our house cannot offend.”
This time, surprisingly, he nodded.
“Lead.”
And I did, walking straight then taking a left and then left again. Traversing the moss tinted walls of the maze, a path only the inner circle members knew and it was upon my request that Narcissa was allowed entrance despite her not being a part of the inner circle.
The place was filled with traps, capable of killing even the finest wizard and the magic around the place changed the exit every few moments.
But there was a way to traverse it and I had it memorized.
Soon, after walking for minutes, we came in front of a series of statues.
“Magic radiates from this place.” He made the observation and most who were skilled in the Dark Arts would have felt the same.
“Careful.” I warned him once again as his action had consequences not only for him, but for us too. “Not more than one person is allowed to enter at a time.”
He stood in front, and gave us a slight glance.
“Then what are you waiting here for?” The audacity of this bastard. “Scram.”
“You—” My fists clenched on their own, a sense of anger boiling down.
But it all vanished just as quickly as it spawned. I couldn't dare to show anger here, not in front of him, ever.
And it was made certain when I heard his voice.
“LeT hIm In LuCiUs MaLfOy.”
The voice was low, sharp and fear inducing.
“It's definitely not the statues talking.” The fool meanwhile muttered like an idiot. “So, it's from in between them, I suppose?”
“LeT hIm In.”
“Y-Yes, master.” There was nothing I could do. Anger, annoyance meant nothing when in front of him and his voice.
Narcissa stood quiet, she always did. Never once did she speak in front of him unless asked to.
“I will be waiting outside, master.” I made sure to let him know of my allegiance to him. “Ready to serve at just a single command of yours.”
“SeNd HiM tO mE.”
But he was not interested, he was interested in the darned man in front of me.
“Let's go, Narcissa.” I could sense her nervousness, I felt the same.
She stared straight for a minute before giving me any sort of affirmation.
“Y-Yes, let us go.”
But I hope… I truly hope that this man, this crazed one does not cause any more trouble for us.
But… but something tells me that it is rather stupid of me to even assume he wouldn't.
I just hope that this sense is wrong.
I truly hope.
…
…
The two left with their tails behind their legs. The one they were scared of was not in any state to punish them, or maybe they didn't know.
He might have some spell or binding to make them fear him, but it doesn't matter one bit. It didn't matter before, it doesn't matter now, nor will it matter ever.
So, what does matter?
“CoMe HeRe!”
The voice from near the statues.
“I have heard of you.” I have heard a lot, “Tales of your meteoric rise and fall. You had a short reign but people still fear taking your name. So, you sure did achieve something.”
This man in his prime would have been a terrifying foe. Even now he is probably protected by curses that could harm anyone that tries to offend him.
“WhAt dO yOu WaNt.”
He certainly knows who I am. I refuse to believe that he hasn't been inside Lucius’ mind to figure out about me.
“I want to help your cause.”
Not a lie.
“I want to help you get back what you had.”
“WhY wOuLd YoU wAnT tO dO tHaT?”
Of course.
He couldn't enter my mind and Lucius did not have enough knowledge about me.
“Because by doing so I too will achieve something.”
The voice went quiet, trying to figure me out.
“WhAt?”
“You want your power back, your authority back and your body back.” He had issues, I had solutions.
“AnD hOw ArE yOu GoInG To HeLp My CaUsE?”
“I have a way, but for that… I need your help too.” I had issues, he had solutions.
“Do NoT tWiSt YoUr WoRdS.”
“I am not.” I assured him, “I will help you, so I want your help in return.”
“YoU cAnNoT hElP mE!” He hissed, “AnD I shAlL nOt HelP yOu!”
He was not going to agree so easily. That was a given.
“Oh, but I can.” There were so many ways. “I can help you with your two biggest issues.”
Once again, the voice went silent.
“You lack the power you once had, and that is because you do not possess your body.” I could guess what he looked like behind the statues. “And your following that was once mightier than that of Dumbledore is now crumbled and locked away.”
“WhAt Do YoU wAnT?” He asked once again, and this time, I decided to give an answer.
“I have the same issue as you.” I gave him a somewhat honest answer. “Potter.” I told him, “He is my issue.”
“PoTtEr…”
“Harry Potter, the boy who was promised and the one that ruined everything that you had.”
The vile presence, his dark presence grew stronger, as if furious.
“Ah, He ShAlL DiE… He ShAlL sUfFeR! WiTh YoU oR wIThOuT yOu!”
“Then my help will quicken your plans.” He was never going to win alone. “I want Potter to not be an issue anymore, and for that I need your help. You know just as well as me that while you might win, it will be not without difficulty as long as Potter and his supporters are around.”
I could hear the hisses around me.
“I simply want you to help me with Potter and his people.” He needed people, he knew that well. “With Quirrell gone, you need someone to be in Hogwarts, spying and moving the pieces for you.”
“SnApE…”
“You know just as well as I do that his commitment is shaky at best. He did love Lily after all, and as much as hates James, he loves Lily more and Harry is just as much a son of James as he is of Lily.” I walked closer towards the status, “Rest you are smart enough.”
“HoW dO yOu ThInK yOu CaN hElP mY cAuSe? HoW aRe YoU gOiNg To GeT mE mY bOdY aNd My PeOpLe?”
“I have ways for that, you should have no worry about that.” He knew that I wasn’t going to hurt him, at least not yet even if I could.
Why? Because he also understood that I knew a lot, possibly too much and with that I could have had an army against him so far. Even Dumhledore would have been standing alongside me if I tried.
But I was alone, I was trustworthy —at least if by a little.
“WhEn?”
“Sooner than you expect.” It has to be soon.
“StAy ThErE!” He ordered as I was a little too close to the statues.
“Do not worry, I am not here to cause you any harm.”
“HaRm?” He was definitely going to say something that I couldn't harm him even if I wanted —which was only half true— but I didn't have any intention to harm him either.
“I can guess the current state of your body, and yes I know a bit more than Lucius and his lackeys.”
“WhAt—”
“The Horcruxes.”
A chill ran down my spine, a form of Dark Arts, a presence strong enough to flare my own dark senses triggered the moment I said that.
“CaReFul… ThOsE wItH sUcH kNoWlEdGe ArE eItHeR dEaD oR wOrSe OfF tHaN dEaD!”
“I mean no harm. I am simply trying to convey that I know some things but I have no reason to reveal them. I am on your side and will be on your side since our goals are the same.”
I stood just an inch away from the statue. “So let me help you and you help me in return.”
The voice went quiet. The Horcruxes had been the last nail in the coffin he was left with no choice —no better choice.
“YoU bEtTeR kEeP yOuR wOrDs.”
As those words echoed around my ear, the statues moved sideways —revealing a dark and shadowy figure, small and grotesque.
“FoR I tAkE nO lIeS!”
Before me was the most well known dark lord of Britain and the most evil one.
“Of course, Lord Voldemort.”
Voldemort, the Dark Lord.
And the one who was far less fearsome than people gave credit for.
After all, no smart or strong man would have accepted my proposal.
But he did.
