A God Among Kings

“You’re the expert - I imagine you had ample opportunity to observe delusion working at the Minister’s office,” Lucius smirked conspiratorially.

“I wouldn’t say they’re delusional, somewhat easily manipulated perhaps, but delusional is a stretch.”

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t aware, but I’ll be sure to remember that.”

Lucius bowed. “Exactly. Although… I suppose if you were delusional, you wouldn’t know it.” 

“I don’t know, I’d like to think there’s a line. To a certain point a person knows they’re delusional, they simply can’t stop it.”

“House elves? Anyone can tell the difference between a party organized by a wizard or witch and one where they let the house elf in charge of selecting the color palette, Rodolphus.”

“Are color palettes incredibly important to an anniversary party?”

 "Judging by your acid pop addiction, you just don’t look like a child anymore" Narcissa chuckled. 

“I’d say it would be quite relieving to attend a party that I didn’t have to organize every tiny detail, but we both know I will end in charge of preparing everything since you and Bella are so very busy.”

Rodolphus waved his hand. “Nonsense, that’s what house elves are for, you won’t have to plan a thing. Simply enjoy the festivities.”

“Indeed.” Carolyn let out a heartily laugh. “Well, I think I’ll leave you alone. I’ve bothered you long enough,” she said, smiling widely at Rodolphus. 

“It’s been a pleasure. If there’s anything else, you know where to find me.”

Mundungus nodded, letting the bunny smuggling comment go. “Well, then, I bid ya good day, Mr… Not-a-Tourist,” he said, with a small smirk on his lips, bowing a little his head before reaching for the bundle with his ‘bunny’.

“Lestrange.” He provided, taking a step backwards. “Good day.”

“Impossible, I’d say.”

“Impossible.”

Lucius paused. “Neither.” he admitted at last, “Try ‘entertaining a dear brother-in-law for a lark’. You could have just told me to stop, you know, you didn’t have to accuse me of doing such ridiculous things. Do you ever believe your own lies in the slightest?”

“But I’m so amused, why would I stop you?” He laughed. “No, I’ve never believed my own lies. What’s the point? You know it’s a lie.”

“I’m sure I’ve no idea what you’re referring to, I’ve always been a model citizen…”

“Does telling yourself that help you sleep better at night, or have you been lying to yourself so much you’ve actually begun to believe it?”

“The old dance, once over again.” Carolyn shrugged her shoulders, chuckling softly, amused. “That would be… unfortunate.” Not that she cared. “Would you be out of a job?” she asked Rodolphus, but more like a joke than an actual question.

Rodolphus laughed. “Possibly. If their new pick for Minister decided someone else would be a better speech writer. Which is unlikely, let’s face it.”

“Please, I’m expressing my deep concerned for the safety of our fellow wizards.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Lucius Malfoy?”

“Well, I’m glad I could get a laugh out of ya,” Mundungus said, his voice light, and no indication that he was either lying or taking offence at that. He extended his hand—a small, rectangular card held between his fingers. “In case you find yourself looking for a bit of a laugh again, or something else that one may want from shady blokes around these parts,” he said, adding a small smirk at those last words.

Rodolphus took the card and flipped it between his fingers before tucking away. “It’s been a pleasure, Mr. Fletcher, should I need your particular brand of bunny smuggling I’ll be sure to find you.”

“That would be such an easy win. Where’s the challenge?” Carolyn commented, chortling softly. “Sounds likely, though. Probably what will happen. Unless things get seriously worse.”

“If things start getting seriously worse, they’ll start calling the Minister incompetent, saying he should be the one sacked. So let’s hope that’s not the case.”

Narcissa smiled, sweetly this time. Rodolphus was good to her sister and she couldn’t picture Bella with anybody else but him. “A decade already? I remember your wedding as if it were yesterday.”

“Well nine years, if we’re splitting hairs, but that’s close enough don’t you think?” Rodolphus shook his head with a smile. Despite his protests in his youth, Rodolphus had long since accepted he could never have found someone else to be his equal and his partner. “You and I both. Have you seen any of the pictures recently? I look like a bloody child in them. I suppose our next anniversary will call for a celebration.”

Carolyn could only nod in agreement. “If things keep going the same way, they won’t last much longer, even the most resilient of them.” Hopefully, she thought, she couldn’t wait to win the bloody war and leave everything behind. “Well, I suppose we will find out soon enough who’s going to take the fall.” Maybe someone they wanted to get rid of, in that case she might have to start to subtly hint and press the issue. 

“I’d be willing to bet fifty galleons it’ll be some mid-level up-and-comer. No one big enough to be missed by the higher ups, but big enough to lower levels to be an example. I doubt they’ll be the actual guilty party, but that’s not my call to make.”

“Getting rather chilly, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps it’s just the chill of your cold little heart.”