I Am Lacerta - Reposted for the Watty Awards 2011

I Am Lacerta Chapter 31

I Am Lacerta Chapter 31

.. But merely seconds after I had fallen asleep, Cissy came rushing downstairs and woke me up roughly. 

"Lacy.. please Lacy wake up.." she shouted as she shook me, and my eyes snapped open.

"What's happened - who's died?" I shouted, still half-asleep. Usually Cissy would roll her eyes at this comment, but when I saw her she looked queasy with fear. I jumped up, straightened my clothes then looked at her and saw her shivering.

"Oh my God - what's happened Cissy?" I asked quickly and pulled her into a hug. She was in such shock that her temporary walls fell down and she fell to pieces with it, as she cried into my shoulder. I rubbed her back soothingly and made cooing noises, but she eventually straightened herself up. 

She put on a fake, watery smile and when I asked her again what was wrong, she simply replied, "I'm fine, I'm fine, darling. I just needed to get that out of my system."

"We'll talk about this later. Now, why the hell did you wake me at this un-godly hour?" I asked jokingly, but all the colour flooded out of Cissy's face. 

"Oh, oh! Oh God.. quickly Lacerta, up - to the Grand Reception Hall!" she directed me, pushing me up the stairs. 

When I was inside the room, I gave her a funny look. I couldn't immediately see anyone in here. Then a voice said:

"Ah, Lacerta. What kept you?" he asked. "I had expected you to return to here immediately." he snapped.

"Oh, I went to a small cafe to think about who to send to the giants and met Kitty Low's sister.. we got into a scrap of trouble-" my eyes flickered down to my legs where I now had my "Low" scars "- I managed to stun her but she was a really good fighter. I then came back here as quickly as I could." 

"Why didn't you kill her?" he asked acidly.

"I'm an assasin. I only kill when I'm required to-"

"That's not really a death eater way of thinking is it Lacerta?" The Dark Lord cut across me, his eyes flashing with rage.

"N-no. I guess not.." I said sheepishly. He glared at me for a few minutes - I think I may have a permanent burn mark in my forehead from him - before changing the subject completely.

"So - who did you eventually choose to go to the giants." he asked. 

"Oh well I thought that Macnair, Paley and possibly Lucius-" I said, changing my plan as it seemed to make more sense, but then I saw Cissy's head snap up at the sound of her husband's name, her eyes pleading with me not to send her husband to parlay with giants..

"-but then I remembered Lucius was probably needed here to help infiltrate the ministry.. so maybe Avery." I finished and saw Cissy grin in the corner of my eye.

"Yes, Lucius is needed here. His job at the ministry really restrains him.. but it's helping bring it down I guess. Macnair is good at duelling, Avery is a good leader, Paley has a very stragetic mind, a bit like yours... good job, Lacerta." he said and I beamed at the complement. "So you're leaving tomorrow for Hogsmeade?" 

"Yes, my Lord. But I will come down often to see you." I stated and he nodded briskly.

"Oh, OK. I just wanted to inform you I would be staying here a few days. You look like you're about to pass out from sleep deprivation. Go." he snapped and I bowed low and kissed the hem of his robes. 

"Thank you my Lord. I will see you soon." I said while backing out of the room. I walked back down to my room and jumped onto the bed again. I fell asleep after a few seconds, but my dreams were anything but sweet..