Pureblood (Lucius Malfoy) *COMPLETED*

CHAPTER 24 - AN IMPORTANT TASK

It had been a few days since we brought back the horcrux. Lucius told me of how the ring appeared when I fainted on the floor, placing itself in his hand, safely enclosed in his fist as he carried me out of the cave and apparated back to the house. Now, the easy part was over - even though it was anything but easy. We had found the horcrux and we had successfully managed to bring it back without alerting any death eaters or voldermort himself. But now, it was time for the hard part - to destroy the thing.

The both of us had put off mentioning the subject, knowing very well that it was going to be hard. We didn't have the sword of gryffindor or a basilisk fang like Harry had used years ago. All we had was our wands.

Lucius placed the ring in a drawer in the bedroom. He told me not to go near it, in fear it would hurt me as the object as he described it, was full of dark magic.

Now, I'm stood in the kitchen, making a mug of tea but not really concentrating on what I'm doing as I think of a way to destroy the ring. I pick up the kettle, holding it above the mug, when I hear low whispers coming from the other room. Curious, I turn to look in the shadowed doorway to the living room, the voices gradually getting louder. "Lucius?" No answer.

I can hear light footsteps from somewhere upstairs in the house, right above me. But my eyes stay focused on the dark living room, where I hear my name being called.

"Kelly..."

I'm so dazed, I don't realise as I spill the boiling water from the kettle, about to touch my hand when Lucius shouts, "Careful Kelly!" I blink, looking at him as he rushes towards me, pulling my hand away from the kettle that seems to be frozen in the air, stopped by his magic. "I didn't..." I mumble, confused as Lucius checks my hand. "Are you okay? Did it touch you?"

I shake my head as he sighs, holding me by my shoulders. "What were you looking at?" I glance behind him at the doorway, the room now looking brighter than it did before. The noises have stopped too. I frown in confusion, Lucius watching me curiously. "I thought..." I trail off, lost in thought. "Did you call me?" I look at him as he looks back at me, equally as confused as I am. "No, I didn't. Why?"

I stare into his warm blue eyes for a moment, wondering if I should tell him or not. "No reason," I assure him, pretending as though nothing happened. "It was my fault, I thought I heard my name being called."

He looks at me and I'm starting to think he doesn't buy it when he sighs, smiling a little. "Just... be careful. Okay? I'm pretty sure you've been hurt enough this past week." I smile, nodding as watches me closely, his mouth opening to speak and then closing again. I frown, "Something wrong?"

"Erm, no. Everything's okay." He says, but I don't believe him. I raise an eyebrow, making him sigh in defeat. "Actually," he carries on, "My mark was hurting this morning, which means... he wants to see me." I feel my heart stop and the breath be knocked out of me as I stare at him. "And..?"

"And nothing," he says quickly. "I'm not leaving you here alone-"

"Lucius," I say calmly. "You have to go."

"But-"

"No, it's not an option. If he finds out the horcrux is gone and you don't turn up to his meeting, it's going to be too suspicious."

He stares at me, trying to break me with his eyes but it doesn't work, making him sigh as he pulls a hand over his tired face.

"You're not going to let me stay, are you?"

"No."

He looks up at me, his eyes filled with that familiar worried look. He had this quite often after I was traumatised by that man, always watching me silently with concern evident on his face. But he never really said anything, because he knew I didn't like it when he treated me like I was unable to care for myself. He needed to know that I could in fact protect myself if I needed to. I didn't always need him there. But the main reason was, if he refused to go, I would be secretly relieved. Because as much as I disapproved of his protectiveness, I hated when he left me. Even if it was just to go to the next room and back, I still hated it.