Prologue
The First Wizarding War broke out quietly. At first, aristocrats on both sides expressed their disdain for their opponents at balls and ministerial receptions. Then skirmishes began in Diagon Alley between supporters of Lord Voldemort and the Aurors. This was followed by the murders of Muggles and Muggle-borns. By June 1972, a quiet civil war was raging in England.
Abraxas Malfoy's son, Lucius, did not like going on the raids that Voldemort regularly sent his young supporters on. It wasn't that Lucius was afraid of blood, he just didn't see the point in useless cruelty. Today, feeling a burning sensation in his mark, Malfoy rubbed his forearm unhappily and went through the fireplace to headquarters, where Voldemort was already giving orders to the young people. Joining the others and pulling on his mask, Lucius listened to what Voldemort was saying.
Standing in front of a group of gathered wizards, the Dark Lord created an illusion of a map of London, pointed his wand at the projection and hissed:
"See? In this hotel on the outskirts is hiding the family of a certain Maxwell, a particularly insolent bureaucrat from the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures. This nobody is trying to prevent my loyal servants from bringing the creatures we need to England.
Voldemort assessed how well the young people understood him and continued:
"Maxwell decided that the monsters are too dangerous. Bring that slime ball to me and throw his family in the dungeon. If they resist, kill all of this worm's relatives and bring him here. I'll talk to him myself," Voldemort's eyes flashed dangerously. "I don't care about the rest, you can have fun there. This place is full of wizards and Muggles. Enjoy yourselves.
Transforming into London and gliding through the fog above the houses on "wings of darkness," the squad, which included Malfoy, quickly arrived at their destination. Without waiting for Lucius to activate the anti-apparition device and set up anti-Muggle defences, Macnair, a tall man in a silver executioner's mask, grinned and kicked down the door of the Bombarda Inn. Inside the building, there were immediately cries of alarm from frightened people.
"Seco! Confringo! Reducto!" The Devourers' spells flew at the people, and the hotel guests fell to the floor, often without even realising what was happening.
When Lucius was the last to enter the devastated hall, the main body of fighters was already rampaging on the second floor. Dust, dirt, a twisted chandelier, and bloodstains on the floor made him wince with disgust.
"Malfoy, look at the dead end to the left of the desk. There's another room we haven't checked yet," Rabastan Lestrange said cheerfully, waving his hand to the side and rushing after the others up the stairs. "Hey, Rudy, guys, wait for me!" he shouted cheerfully, clattering down the steps.
Malfoy headed for the counter and indeed saw a corner with the door to a room. Casting Alohomora, he rushed inside and froze. Near the window, a young black girl in traditional dress was frantically waving a crying child in her arms. The window was boarded up, and she couldn't escape from the room, which had become a trap.
"Please, don't hurt us," the girl begged, "we're just passing through. I'm from Africa, and I'm not involved in your war with the Ministry.
Lucius grimaced. Despite the squad leader's clear order to kill everyone, he categorically disliked the idea of harming an innocent woman with a child. But he didn't want to incur Voldemort's wrath, and that would certainly happen if Lestrange told the Dark Lord that one of the guests had survived.
"Merlin!" Lucius looked around irritably and suddenly noticed a leather suitcase standing near the table.
"Is it enchanted to make it invisible?" he asked sharply.
"Yes. It contains my things and my son's. You could even spend the night in there," the girl replied, trembling.
"Get in there, quickly," Malfoy decided with a heavy sigh. "I'll hide you in the suitcase and let you go when everything calms down. I'll send an owl to your father so he can come and get you.
"Thank you," the girl sobbed convulsively, rushing to open the trunk and run down the stairs, her heels clattering.
"My father's name is Chibuzo Inu," she shouted from below. "He'll be in London tomorrow and will be at the Ministry all day."
Lucius cast a disilluminating spell on the suitcase, then a lightening spell, and calmly carried it out into the hall. The frightened Maxwell family was already being dragged down from the second floor, and the satisfied laughter of the devourers could be heard.
"Let's go," said the elder Lestrange. "Malfoy, remove the barriers, we're apparating to base.
Outside, a jubilant Malfoy, his robe slightly splattered with blood, pointed his wand toward the entrance and shouted cheerfully:
"Inferno Flamare!"
In black wisps of smoke, the Death Eaters dissolved into the darkness of the night sky. Only the rumbling and crackling of the growing fire indicated that someone had been here...
* *
Abraxas and Lucius Malfoy were very similar. Both were tall, stately men with platinum blond hair and haughty, cold expressions, only one was mature and the other young. Now they were sitting in the office of the family manor and talking. Father and son were discussing a topic of utmost importance to their family — the curse that prevented the women of the family of white-haired wizards from having more than one child.
"The Weasleys are to blame!" Abraxas growled angrily. "The curse has been killing us for a long time. The Lord promised to lift it, and I accepted the mark of a servant, and then you had to join the Death Eaters," he looked guiltily at Lucius. "We spend a lot of money promoting the Lord's ideas, but the solution to our problem keeps getting put off. Because of this, we are doomed to behave like cowards just to preserve our lineage."
Lucius gritted his teeth angrily:
"Father, we will find a way to lift the curse, even if we have to destroy every red-haired bastard to do it.
"Old Septimus Weasley is long dead," Abraxas looked at his son, "but his descendants live on. We will have to destroy them if we want to continue to exist. The elder Malfoy clenched his fists in anger. "As long as there is even one Weasley left, the curse will not be lifted.
Lucius nodded in agreement with his father:
"The rest of the family will fall silent too. They will learn what happens to anyone who dares to cross the Malfoys.
Pouring two glasses of firewhisky, one for himself and one for his son, Abraxas leaned back in his chair and asked:
"How was today's raid? Anything unusual?"
"No, father, everything was as usual," Lucius himself did not understand why he had not told Abraxas about the meeting at the inn. "I have to go to the Ministry tomorrow to discuss some financial matters with Fudge.
***
Narcissa Malfoy, née Black, was a very beautiful woman. Tall and perfectly built, a natural blonde, she always knew her worth and behaved like a queen in any society, wherever she was. Despite her angelic appearance, like all other Blacks, she had an extremely explosive temper, which was nevertheless constantly held in check by her willpower. She could only allow herself to relax and let off steam with her husband, who invariably suffered from these outbursts but nevertheless stoically endured her fiery temper.
Lucius had always admired this combination of fire and ice that was so characteristic of his wife. They had met long ago, back at Hogwarts, and had liked each other immediately. Lucius always strove to achieve the highest in everything he did, and Narcissa liked his persistence and determination. What's more, their families belonged to the same circle, got along well and were not opposed to intermarriage. She sat silently in the living room, waiting for Lucius to come out of his father's study and come downstairs. Narcissa Malfoy had been haunted by a single desire for quite some time — to have many children. She dreamed that her new family would be rid of the curse and that one of her children would become the heir to the Black family.
Unfortunately, the proud Blacks were dying out and needed a shake-up and some fresh blood. Her cousin Sirius, the heir to the family, rejected family traditions in every way, consorting with mudbloods and blood traitors, so his mother Walburga Black was gradually losing hope that her son would come to his senses. His younger brother Regulus was too much of a homeboy and wouldn't be able to carry on the family name, especially since he was a huge fan of Lord Voldemort and would do anything for him.
So the idea of leaving the family to one of her sons seemed increasingly appealing to Narcissa. When she learned that by becoming a Malfoy, she had lost the opportunity to have several children, a storm broke out. She told Lucius more than once what she thought about it.
"Darling, I love you and I know how important the Black family is to you," Lucius justified himself. "I promise I'll lift the curse sooner or later, but let's wait a little longer. I want to be sure that everything will be all right, especially since Lord Voldemort says he'll solve our problem after he seizes power.
Narcissa's face darkened. She believed that lifting the curse was the most important thing to do, and that all the fuss about seizing power was secondary and could wait. Sighing, the young woman smiled and kissed her husband gently on the cheek.
"I believe in you, dear, don't delay. If you think the Weasleys are to blame and they must all be destroyed, then do it, Mordred, destroy them all!" Lady Malfoy clenched her fists and said harshly, "I never liked that family. Since they stand between me and my happiness, crush that mold, dear!"
"Lucius loves me, and I adore my husband. That's what matters, and when we have children, they will only add to our happiness. If only I weren't a Black!" thought Narcissa as her husband nodded in agreement. She smiled maliciously and cheerfully and left the living room, leaving Lucius alone.
***
The next day, Malfoy got ready for the Ministry of Magic in the morning. Apparating to the entrance, he entered the atrium with a dignified and measured gait. Ignoring the hustle and bustle around him, Lucius walked over to the lifts. They had agreed to meet with Cornelius Fudge, who, although only the deputy head of the Department of Emergency Situations, had a remarkable knack for business and unofficially decided many issues. For a suitable reward, of course.
Lucius regularly visited the Ministry of Magic, but this time the visit was especially important for his family. Malfoy wanted to buy some land near the manor, an ancient curse on which had recently been lifted by the Unspeakables. Lucius hoped to acquire his own unicorn farm. After all, their milk is one of the most valuable magical ingredients in existence.
For wizard children, this miraculous nectar was no less useful than their mother's milk. Having their own animals for milk and wool would help the Malfoys significantly increase their influence in magical England by selling this valuable resource at auctions, where all magical ingredients are sold for galleons.
Lucius quickly discovered that a lot of paperwork was required to obtain the necessary documents for this land, and Cornelius Fudge, whom Malfoy found in his office, knew how to simplify the process but was not willing to do anything for free.
"We need to survey the site, analyse the risks, draw up a plan," Fudge muttered. "It's quite possible that selling this land could cause problems for the Ministry in the future.
"I understand," Lucius smiled coldly. "I am willing to incur any reasonable expenses to ensure that the Ministry does not prevent us from using this land as we wish.
Fudge nodded in agreement and even hinted at his willingness to help resolve the issue a little faster. Lucius understood that Fudge was simply asking for a bribe, and he didn't mind rewarding the greedy bureaucrat. Especially since it would bind Fudge even more closely to him, because Cornelius loved money, and a bureaucrat's income wasn't anything to write home about. They agreed on a price, and Fudge rushed off to draw up the documents.
* * *
An old but far from feeble wizard named Chibuzo Inu waited for the portal to England to open. The black magician had spent several months searching his homeland for those responsible for the attack on his family and had finally resolved the issues. His enemies were well prepared, but at the last moment he managed to send his daughter and grandson to another country while a bloody war raged in his homeland. And although it ended quickly, the rivers of blood flowing through the streets of Zaira, the crowds of dead bodies and dark spirits storming the villages of his enemies would be remembered for a long time.
The Brustwers, relatives of his servants who worked in various positions at the local Ministry of Magic, lived in England. In general, the idea of resettling some of his people in this country was not a bad one. Of course, Chibuzo was indifferent to what was happening on the Islands, but he saw England as a quiet haven where he could wait out the trouble.
That is why the portal was set up in this country. However, the mage did not like what was happening there at the moment. The turmoil caused by a radical group of English dark lords seizing power, the fear and pogroms made the African worry about the fate of his relatives.
After moving to the specified coordinates, Chibuzo Inu suddenly found himself near some kind of fire. His heart sank: the mark showed that his daughter and grandson had last been here. Launching a scanning wave, the wizard received a flood of death magic responses, but fortunately, he did not notice a single familiar imprint.
"So they're still alive," the wizard decided with satisfaction. "Then why can't I sense their astral traces? It feels like they've disappeared from this world or are in some kind of fold in space... The suitcase!" Chibuzo realised. "They're in it. I remember the Englishman who studied magical creatures in Africa had one like it."
Like any object created by a wizard, it carried particles of his magic. Chibuzo Inu quickly set up a search circle, included the necromantic energy that was widespread in this place, and launched a search spell. To his surprise, the ritual pointed to the Ministry of Magic.
"So the suitcase with my family is there now?" he thought and immediately apparated to the entrance.
Taking the burnt bone tuned to his daughter's location out of his pocket, he quickly entered the Ministry's atrium.
At the same time, Lucius Malfoy took the lift to the central exit, saying goodbye to Fudge. Stepping into the hall, he was surprised to see a tall, massive African man in a strange national costume standing in the centre of the atrium near the fountain, holding an animal bone in his hands and slowly turning in a circle, paying no attention to anyone.
At that moment, the bone in the strange magician's hands pointed at Lucius and glowed faintly. The wizard raised his head and looked directly at Malfoy. The look in his dark eyes was so predatory that Lucius involuntarily took a step back. Suddenly, he remembered yesterday's events and his conversation with the black woman and her child.
"He must be her father," thought Lucius, and with some trepidation, he moved towards the black wizard.
"Hello, are you Chibuzo Inu? I am the heir to the Malfoy family, and I can tell you what happened to your daughter.
Chibuzo Inu looked at the tall, young blond man with straight platinum hair and asked sternly:
"Where is she?"
Lucius, without saying a word, took a suitcase out of his coat pocket, enlarged it with a casual wave of his wand, and said:
"She is here with the child. When we met, I had no other way to save them. As you probably know," Malfoy looked questioningly at the black wizard, "the situation in England is quite tense at the moment. Not a civil war, but something close to it.
Then Lucius handed the suitcase to the African, and as soon as it was in his hands, the bone that Chibuzo was holding flashed and showered sparks.
"So my daughter and grandson are really in the suitcase," Chibuzo Inu realised with satisfaction.
He didn't want to open it in the Atrium now, so as not to attract unnecessary attention. Even so, many visitors to the Ministry were glancing furtively at him and Malfoy.
"Thank you, young man," Chibuzo Inu said seriously to Lucius. "I am very grateful for saving my daughter and would like to continue our acquaintance. I want to hear the details. Can we talk somewhere?"
Lucius thought for a moment and decided that the Three Broomsticks was a decent place in Diagon Alley. There were booths where they could talk.
"Would a couple of hours be okay?" he asked the African. "I still have to go back to the manor to give some orders."
"All right," Chibuzo thought for a moment. "Then in two hours at the Three Broomsticks."
Lucius left the Ministry of Magic and immediately Apparated to the manor, while Chibuzo Inu went to the magical hotel where wealthy foreign wizards visiting England usually stayed. There, in his room, he immediately opened his suitcase and tapped the edge with his wand.
"Adeze! You can come up now, I've come for you.
A few minutes later, there was a rustling sound from below and the sound of heels on the stairs.
"Father!" crying loudly, the young African woman threw herself into his arms with relief. "I was so scared. It was all so sudden, I thought we were going to be killed, and there was nowhere to hide."
The girl continued her story in a confused manner:
"We were staying at this hotel, waiting for you to come and get us, but suddenly there was a loud explosion and people started screaming. I think it was the people in the lobby, and then all we could hear was the screams of the dying and the whistling of spells," she sobbed convulsively as she recalled the events. "I hid behind the door, but they broke into every room and killed everyone. I thought we were done for," her hands trembled treacherously, "but for some reason, the man who came in took pity on us and spared us. He offered us help and salvation, I am so grateful to him.
"We're meeting with this wizard in a couple of hours," said Chibuzo. "I've decided to reward him for helping you. I just need to find out what he wants. Your lives are worth more to me than a pile of galleons, daughter. And when we're done, we'll go back to Kinshasa," smiled the black wizard. "Your enemies are dead, all those who tried to harm you are dead, their bodies have already been devoured by hyenas, and their skulls will hang on poles in their home villages as a reminder of who they tried to raise their hands against.
Reassuring his daughter, he stroked her head and held her close...
Lucius Malfoy easily ran up the steps and slowly entered the Three Broomsticks, where he asked the manager who greeted him about the African man.
"He's in the first office on the right," the man bowed respectfully. "He just came in.
Lucius nodded casually and strode inside. Knocking and entering the door, he saw Chibuzo Ina sitting in a chair near the table. The elegant office, decorated with mahogany panelling, two leather armchairs and a beautiful carved table in the middle, screamed of austere luxury, where it would be so pleasant to have lunch or drink tea.
"Come in, sit down, Mr. Malfoy," Chibuzo Inu nodded to the armchair next to him. "I just arrived myself.
A house elf appeared at the table with a soft clap and squeaked politely:
"What would you like to eat and drink, gentlemen?"
The magicians placed their orders and began to converse. After a brief discussion of the weather, the situation in England and the Ministry, they gave due credit to the magnificent dinner. When they had finished, Chibuzo looked at Lucius and said:
"You know, Mr Malfoy, I am an experienced dark wizard and understand much about the art of sorcery. I see a black mark on your hand, which will soon become a slave mark or kill you if you do not confirm your willingness to live as a slave.
Lucius looked at the African in astonishment and swallowed nervously.
"And I see a curse in your aura that hangs over your entire family," Chibuzo continued. "Something dangerous for your family.
Lucius shuddered and grabbed his hand.
"A slave mark?" Malfoy looked at his interlocutor in amazement and exhaled with difficulty: "But that's just a Protean spell that allows you to summon someone from a distance, isn't it? A sign of belonging to the party of Slytherin's heir."
"No, unfortunately," the African smiled. "I can also cast a similar mark, but I would never use it on my comrades, only on slaves. It can be used to cause unbearable pain or even kill, and it also allows you to drain magic, strengthening yourself. "A useful thing," Chibuzo Inu smiled sparingly. "Especially if the servants are unaware of its miraculous properties. There is only one drawback: the recipient must want it themselves; mental coercion, spells, and potions will not work."
Chibuzo shrugged calmly and looked at Malfoy in a friendly manner:
"I can remove it from you or break the link. The mark itself will remain on your hand, and your master will think that everything is normal, but he will no longer be able to kill you, cause you pain, or drink your magic. Dealing with your family's curse will be more difficult, of course," sighed the mage, "but it is possible. Judging by the black crown in the aura around your head, it is directed at your descendants.
The African stared intently at the magical currents in Lucius's aura and continued:
"Because of the curse, you can only have one child in your family. The rest will be born squibs or won't survive at all," Chibuzo looked sternly at Lucius. "The curse was put into your family stone a long time ago, and now it can only be completely removed with the blood of all those whose family put it on you.
Lucius's face changed, and he muttered thoughtfully:
"The Weasleys, who later became the Weasley family, are quite numerous. Moreover, they are under the protection and patronage of Albus Dumbledore, the great light wizard, the victor over Grindelwald. It will be difficult to slaughter them all on our altar. What's more," Malfoy grimaced, "Arthur Weasley managed to marry a girl from the respected Prewett family, known for their battle wizards.
Pouring himself another glass of firewhisky, Lucius shook his head thoughtfully:
"The old Lord Prewett may have disowned his foolish daughter, but when it comes to the lives of her children, he will not stand idly by.
Chibuzo took a large gold ring with a huge diamond out of his pocket and said:
"Take this, young man. This artefact was created in the days of Atlantis by one of my Berber friend's ancestors. The ring will remove your connection to this curse. It acts as a filter between your family and the infected family altar. As long as you wear the ring, you will be able to have at least two children. Now give me your hand," he said, taking Malfoy by the forearm and hissing in Parseltongue.
Lucius felt a chill run down his spine from the terrifying sounds and unpleasant sensations in the mark. It seemed to him that the image was stirring beneath his skin, and the snake began to writhe discontentedly. His skin alternated between feeling hot and cold.
After a couple of minutes, Chibuzo exhaled wearily but contentedly:
"It worked, and now you are free, Lucius. Free from the family curse and the mark. If you notice that any of your children have dark magic abilities, send them to me in Africa, and I will teach your son and help him develop his talent," the black magician looked intently at Malfoy. "The sooner the child begins to study with me, the better it will be for him. But not before the age of seven, of course," Chibuzo Inu smiled. "Otherwise, you won't understand what gifts are in his aura. Farewell, Lucius, I must take my daughter home," the African shook Malfoy's hand. "Our intercontinental portal will be ready soon.
Shaking hands firmly once more, the magicians went their separate ways. Lucius did not yet realise how much this encounter would change the fate of the Malfoy family.
Tired, haggard and very pensive, Lucius returned home to the manor. The information he had received and everything that had happened to him that day had completely changed his perception of the world. The mysterious African, who exuded danger and death more than the Lord himself. His words about the curse and the mark. Finally, the gifts he had presented for saving his daughter.
Lucius, without even changing his clothes, collapsed heavily into a chair and thought: "If the mark really is a slave mark, what will happen to my father when he finds out? If the head of the family is a slave, then the whole family will be obliged to obey their master. What's more, it turns out that Voldemort is drawing our magic from the altar without any curses, since it flows through us. He is becoming stronger and more insane, because magic from different altars can always conflict with each other and have a negative effect on the mage in this case. What should we do?"
Pouring himself a glass of Old Ogden and taking a hearty swig, Malfoy continued to ponder: "One piece of good news is that if the family curse is blocked by the power of this ring, Narcissa and I will be able to have two children. There will be someone to carry on the family line, and we can claim the Black inheritance if there are no direct heirs, which seems likely. The eldest son, Sirius, is completely devoted to Dumbledore, and the youngest, Regulus, disappeared a month ago. Rumour has it that Lady Walburga, the mother of these degenerates, has stopped appearing in public and inviting anyone to her home. It's a dark story, and you can't ask the lord about it without risking a dose of the healing Cruciatus.
Gathering his strength, Lucius stood up and went to his room. After asking the house spirit to prepare his bed, he decided that tomorrow he would discuss everything with his wife and father, then he leaned back on the pillows.
Sleep came instantly.
***
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