Whispers of a Raven by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 25

Narcissa Malfoy was pensive. Her dreams notwithstanding, the past two days had seen a flurry of activity within her home. The Dark Lord's followers had been coming and going frequently as they searched for the mysterious Lord Peverell and Lucius, much to her amusement, was growing ever-more irritable when they failed to find the man.

It was quite the sight to see her husband lost and not knowing what to do, and this was the most he had been at home for several years.

He would claim that he was using the manor as a base to oversee the efforts to capture Lord Peverell, but Narcissa knew better.

Lucius was scared.

She had learned quickly at the start of their marriage that he was, beneath the veneer of cunning, a coward when it came to confronting those of superior ability.

In truth, people feared to oppose him because of the Malfoy influence, but they did not fear him as a man. Lucius had merely cultivated the beneficial relationships that meant he was all but untouchable, but when it came to men like Peverell who seemingly cared little for such things, Lucius was no threat.

And here he was, cowering in his home because he feared the man would come for him next.

The thought brought a smirk to the woman's lips, and she entered the parlour room he had commandeered for the past day or so under the guise of carrying out menial tasks.

Oddly, Lucius was listening to the radio as he paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, muttering under his breath.

"No luck in finding him then?" she questioned as she fluffed the pillows on the sofa.

"Does it look like we have found him?" Lucius snapped irritably.

"With your current demeanour, I suppose not," Narcissa replied.

Her husband scowled at her but said nothing, pausing as an unfamiliar voice blared from the wireless on the table.

"River here, and I bring you good news regarding the attack on the unnamed muggle street in London two nights ago."

Lucius growled as he stared malevolently at the device, his breathing quickening as the broadcast continued.

"The final body count is in, and I can confirm that twenty-three of You-Know-Who's idiots in masks have been killed. It took our agents some time to clarify this as, let's just say, their body parts were strewn around like offal in a butcher's shop."

The host laughed at his own quip, and two other snickers could be heard in the background.

"My Co-Host, Rapier, has more on this. Rapier?"

"Ah, River, it is a joyous occasion when we can deliver such news, and I have more. It has been reported that the so-called Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is nowhere to be seen. Now, I would hope that such a man with long and luscious blonde hair would be leading from the front in locating the scallywag responsible for such a brilliant attack, but alas, I have it on good authority that he has not been able to peel his backside off the throne."

"A case of the browns?"

"I expect so, but I would hope that such a trivial thing would not keep our rat-faced enforcer from carrying out his duty. We of course, wish him well and a speedy recovery. This next song is dedicated to him."