#cunningviper

Dear Mr. Malfoy, 

What kind of hair emergency?  The same as last time or different?  A simple counter-jinx should work as it did last time.  If it doesn’t work, let me know and I can recommend a potion.

Ash had been surprised when Lucius had sent her an owl saying he needed to speak to her urgently.  Worried about him, she arrived at the location he had mentioned in his owl.  The location was a bit off the beaten path, but Ash didn’t mind meeting him there.  For a second, Alastor’s warning came to mind about being careful and how anybody could be in line with the dark lord.  But Ash was more concerned about Lucius than herself.  

Ash waited and waited.  She stood in front of an abandoned house, a thrill of fear raced down her spine.  Why would Lucius ask to meet in this location.  Maybe Alastor was right.. maybe this was a trap.  Maybe she shouldn’t have come to meet Lucius Malfoy alone in front of this run down house.  She was just about to turn and go, when Lucius apparated.  She looked at him, his face and body shrowded in shadows.  She couldn’t see him well, but he wasn’t moving towards her and he wasn’t speaking.  Ash frowned.  “Lucius, what’s wrong?”

He stepped closer to her, into a little more light. His jaw was tightly clenched and his eyes were bloodshot and there were bags under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days.  

“Lucius?”  

Malfoy shook his head.  Ash was worried.  She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around the man.  He was much taller than her, but she tucked him into her arms like she would have a child and Lucius didn’t resist.  

“It’s okay..” She said softly and kissed the top of his head.  “You’re safe now.  Just tell me what happened.”