"You will not disparage my plans. Every detail is in order. Months of preparation will not be squandered because you're having feeble second doubts."

"I understand that, Lucius, but it doesn't make it right. Going behind the Dark Lord's back to accomplish the one task that he has failed at so many times will not find us in his good graces. I find it hard to believe that he will be thankful when we bring him…"

"Harry Potter," Lucius loudly interrupted. "He will reward us greatly when we bring him Harry Potter."

"How can you be so sure? How can you be sure he will not have us tortured and killed for bringing him his greatest desire shrouded in our secrets and schemes?"

Lucius eyed the man before him with complete and utter distain. If it were not for his gullible, trusting features and his quiet and bendable demeanor, Lucius would have found someone else for the job. However, because of those very characteristics, it had taken little convincing for Dumbledore to take the man on as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Now that Lucius had someone planted inside Hogwarts, his plans could commence. The fact that Morton MaCrae had questions and doubts this late in the game was of little consequence. MaCrae would do what needed to be done or he would die. Lucius knew it was that simple. He would see to MaCrae's death himself if it came to that.

Lucius elegantly rose from his chair and walked to the front of his desk. Leaning back against the polished wood he folded his arms across his chest and spoke in a menacing tone.

"If the Dark Lord finds it within himself to be so angry as to have us tortured and killed, his irritation with us will be short lived once we hand over to him another little prize."

MaCrae looked up into the stormy eyes of Lucius Malfoy. He could feel Malfoy's confidence rolling off of the man in waves. MaCrae had known that to trust a Malfoy was foolish, but he also knew that to refuse one was deadly.

"Another little prize? Is there something you have not told me?" MaCrae asked knowing that it was folly to think Malfoy had shared all his secrets with him.

"Oh, MaCrae….there will be another turned over to our Lord. I'm almost more excited about his demise than Potter's," Lucius answered in a dreamy, silken voice.

"Who?"

"That's enough, MaCrae. You're to worry about convincing everyone at that poor excuse for a school that you are nothing more than an innocent, quiet spoken, somewhat inept defense teacher. You just keep your eyes on Potter and watch for my signal. I will worry about the other one. He is for me to take care of. I have been looking forward to his downfall for years."

With that said, MaCrae rose from his chair, gave Lucius one final, skeptical look and quickly left Malfoy Manor.

Lucius returned to his desk chair, leaned back and sighed with contentment. He was much looking forward to finding himself in the very good graces of the Dark Lord. He was a member of the inner circle, yes, but he wanted more. He wanted his Lord to be immensely pleased with him and to find him irreplaceable. He wanted to be the Dark Lord's right-hand man, the one that the Dark Lord would council with. Yes, his Lord would be angry that these plans were not shared, but what would be gained would out weigh the danger of his wrath. The Dark Lord would finally get his time with Harry Potter. No insipid Quirell, no Fawkes or Dumbledore, no brave Gryffindors to interfere. Just Harry Potter, the Dark Lord and a horde of angry Death Eaters.

An immense smile came across Lucius Malfoy's face. Harry Potter would finally see the end of his miserable existence, the Dark Lord would be restored to his full height of glory and another would be exposed as a traitor. Life doesn't get any better than this.