Author's Note: This takes place after the Department of Mysteries incident in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I just wanted to write a little something to wrap up this story, and what better way to do that than to write the ending of Lucius's and Fudge's business relationship?

Lucius tried to keep himself calm, despite being bound by Dumbledore's rather strong Anti-Disapparation Jinx and despite being surrounded by enemies. He didn't want to think about the possible consequences of tonight's disastrous failures. And he most definitely wasn't going to show any weakness or fear.

Lucius suddenly caught sight of a familiar face.

It was the face of Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. He was looking completely horrified, no doubt because of his recent discovery that the Dark Lord was indeed back. His controlled, well-structured make-believe world had just been violently shattered.

Despite his current predicament, Lucius was able to smirk slightly at the sight of Fudge. At least the night would have one bright light. It was so nice to finally see Fudge being bought down by so many pegs.

Fudge looked at the captured Death Eaters. His eyes widened and his face paled when he caught sight of Lucius.

Lucius held his head up high and looked straight into Fudge's eyes. The stare down did not last for long. It did not take long before the Minister looked away. So pathetic. So weak. So lacking in challenge.

Lucius then felt one of the Aurors grab his left arm. The arm with the Dark Mark on it. Lucius turned and sneered at the man. To the Auror's credit, though, he did not react. He merely said, "Mr. Malfoy, you are under arrest."

Thank you, Mr. Obvious, Lucius couldn't help thinking.

You just had to love the formalities of everything, even the arrest of a Dark Wizard.

Lucius didn't fail to notice, however, the look that passed between the Auror and Fudge. Fudge looked at Lucius, then back at the Auror, who nodded his head in understanding. It looked like Lucius wasn't going to escape from one final conversation with the current Minister.

The Auror magically bounded Lucius's hands before leading him away from the other captured Death Eaters and into an empty room. Lucius was then made to sit in a chair. Chains magically appeared, binding Lucius to the chair. The whole time, neither man said anything.

"The Minister will be with you shortly," the Auror said simply, before leaving the room and locking the door behind him.

Lucius took several deep breaths, trying not to think about how the Dark Lord was going to react to all this, trying not to think what could possibly happen to Narcissa and Draco because of all this.

It wasn't long before the door opened and Fudge walked into the room. There were a couple of Aurors behind him, but the Minister motioned for them to wait outside. They did so, with some reluctance. Fudge, though, notably did not close the door behind him, allowing the Aurors to keep him in their sight.

Fudge was still looking very pale and very shocked. He was trembling slightly as well.

"Lucius," he gasped, "tell me there is an explanation for all this. You're under the Imperius Curse, aren't you?"

Lucius winced slightly. The Dark Lord had been very angry with him over that. No, Lucius couldn't use that excuse again, not with his Master being back at his full strength.

"No, Cornelius," Lucius sneered, for the first time ever calling the Minister by his first name but only to mock him. "I'm not under the Imperius Curse. I never was."

Fudge was taken completely by surprise. "But, but," he stammered, "what about all that information you gave me about the Death Eaters during the last war? What about those two Death Eaters you told me about that had forced that Muggle-born witch to perform magic she didn't have the skills for?"

"Those two Death Eaters were nothing but fools that had caused me a bit of trouble," Lucius replied. "As for all the other information that I gave you, I told you just enough to keep you interested, no more."

"But why? How could you have deceived me like this?"

Lucius sighed and rolled his eyes. Was the other man really this clueless? Apparently he was. That was why Lucius had chosen him in the first place, after all.

"Oh, stop looking so hurt, Cornelius. Isn't it obvious? I was just using you the whole time in order to get what I wanted. By the way, I truly appreciated all the favors that I received from being your friend."

"But why me?" There was now obvious anger in Fudge's voice.

Lucius resisted the temptation to roll his eyes again. "Because I knew that you were nothing more than a fool and a complete and utter idiot," he sneered. "I knew that you would be so easy to manipulate. It really was pathetic how easy I was able to get you to fall under my control. I didn't even have to use the Imperius Curse. What a shame. I really am quite fond of using the Imperius Curse, you see. You really were no challenge at all for me. I have to admit, at times you absolutely bored me. I really had to struggle to keep smiling at you."

The anger on Fudge's face was now clear. "Well," he snarled, "it will be me who will get the final laugh, not you. You will be the one rotting in Azkaban."

"Do you still not get it?" Lucius asked mockingly. "The Dark Lord is back. And you have been denying him this whole time. In fact, you have done nothing but make life miserable for the people that tried to tell you the truth. I am not the only one who has been ruined tonight. You have been ruined as well. Do you honestly think that the public is going to want you to continue to be their Minister after they hear about what has just happened? Instead of preparing everyone for the Dark Lord's return and the coming war, you have hurt them by pretending that everything was just fine. They will not have much time to defend themselves before the Dark Lord strikes. Oh, my poor dear Fudge, you have made a mess out of everything by listening to me this whole time.

"It really is ironic, though, isn't it? You came into power because of me, and now I am the reason for you losing that power. I suppose it is only fitting that we fall together." Lucius then began to laugh. This was the only thing that he still could laugh about.

For once in his life, Fudge didn't know how to reply. He felt too angry to reply. He felt too betrayed to reply. He felt too much like a fool to reply.

Turning abruptly, Fudge walked out the room. "He's all yours now," he snapped at the two Aurors that had been standing guard. "Make him suffer. Make him suffer dearly for everything that he has done."

Lucius's mocking laughter, however, continued to echo in Fudge's head. And it would be a long time before the laughter would finally go away.