Lucius Malfoy had apparently arrived at Hogwarts by Apparition.
That meant if he wanted to leave, he would first need to walk beyond the boundaries of Hogwarts' anti-Apparition wards.
Which made things very convenient for Lewis.
As Lucius reached a secluded path outside the castle grounds and prepared to Apparate away, a flash of white light suddenly erupted nearby.
The next instant, Lucius was thrown violently to the ground.
He had initiated Apparition, only to feel as though he had slammed into an invisible wall.
The spatial backlash hurled him backward.
"What is going on?"
He looked around in confusion.
"Did Hogwarts expand its anti-Apparition wards? Since when?"
What he did not know was that Lewis had cast Dimensional Anchor.
Lucius tried to move to another spot and Apparate again.
At that moment, a Disarming Charm struck him squarely.
His wand spun through the air.
The impact sent him crashing into a tree.
Lewis dropped his invisibility and stepped out of the shadows, calmly picking up both Lucius's wand and the battered diary.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy."
Lucius pushed himself upright, rubbing his bruised chest.
"I know you."
"Lewis Green."
"Why are you following me?"
"Do you realize what it means to attack an adult wizard?"
Lewis waved dismissively.
"Relax. I don't mean you any harm."
"I simply have something I want to discuss."
He held up the diary and gave it a casual shake.
"It's a topic you probably won't enjoy."
The moment Lucius saw the diary in Lewis's hands, his face turned ashen.
He immediately understood.
This boy had come specifically for that item.
And that was a very serious problem.
The diary was the very object he had slipped into Ginny Weasley's cauldron.
It had become the key to the entire Chamber of Secrets incident.
The scandal had spiraled so badly that even his own son, Draco Malfoy, had nearly died.
Lucius had already sacrificed Dobby to reclaim the cursed object.
And now it had been taken from him once again.
If Lewis knew anything—
Lucius forced himself to remain composed.
"Very well, Mr. Green."
"What do you want?"
"In consideration of your role in avenging Draco, I'm willing to satisfy your demands as best I can."
Lewis shook his head.
"That's not the sentence I wanted to hear."
"Try again."
His tone remained polite, almost sincere.
Lucius's stomach dropped.
This boy clearly knew far more than expected.
Still, he attempted another angle.
"All right. This diary is important to the Malfoy family."
"How much do you want for it?"
Lewis sighed theatrically.
"Still not the right answer."
"Lucius, Lucius…"
"What have I done to deserve such disrespect?"
"I came personally to speak with you."
"That was me giving you an opportunity."
"Yet instead of recognizing my goodwill, you continue to waste my time."
He lifted the diary again.
"You were right about one thing."
"I did kill the monster in the Chamber."
"But there's one important detail you failed to mention."
"I also personally defeated the Heir of Slytherin."
"And in the process…"
"I learned some very interesting things."
Lucius's expression collapsed.
The color drained from his already pale face.
The boy knew.
There was no point pretending otherwise.
After a long silence, Lucius lowered his head.
"You've won, Mr. Green."
"My apologies."
"I should not have tried to deceive you."
"Please tell me what you want."
He understood the situation perfectly.
The thirteen-year-old standing before him was no ordinary student.
This was the same boy who had slain a chimera and earned a First Class Order of Merlin.
Now he had killed a basilisk as well.
Lucius was disarmed, unable to Apparate, and completely at Lewis's mercy.
And if there was one thing the Malfoys excelled at, it was knowing when to surrender.
Lewis smiled.
"Excellent."
"Now that you're being sensible, let's discuss business."
"No need to be nervous."
"After all, I'm one of Draco's classmates."
Lucius swallowed hard.
The implied meaning was unmistakable.
Your son is within my reach.
Behave yourself.
Then, to Lucius's surprise, Lewis casually tossed the diary back to him.
Lucius caught it instinctively and stared in confusion.
Lewis asked calmly:
"Do you know what this object really is?"
Lucius opened his mouth to lie.
But the instant he met Lewis's eyes, he felt as though he were staring into the gaze of a dragon.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Comparable, perhaps, to Lord Voldemort himself.
Lucius abandoned all thought of deception.
"This diary was given to me by the Dark Lord."
"He described it only as a powerful Dark artifact."
"Nothing more."
Lewis narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing else?"
Lucius shook his head rapidly.
"Nothing."
"I swear on the honor of the Malfoy family."
Lewis nodded.
His telepathic probe confirmed Lucius was telling the truth.
So Voldemort had entrusted the diary to the Malfoys without ever revealing its true significance.
That meant Lucius could still be used.
Lewis spoke softly.
"Do you realize this diary nearly resurrected Voldemort?"
The diary slipped from Lucius's fingers and hit the ground with a thud.
The revelation struck him like a curse.
But Lewis was not finished.
"I personally fought the entity within."
"It contained the memories, emotions, and magical power of a young wizard named Tom Marvolo Riddle."
He flicked his wand.
Glowing letters appeared in the air:
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
The letters rearranged themselves.
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT.
Lucius trembled visibly.
Lewis continued.
"This diary absorbed life force from children."
"First Ginny Weasley."
"Then Ron Weasley."
"It reopened the Chamber."
"It attacked multiple students."
"Your son was among the victims."
Lucius stared at the floating words, horrified.
As a member of an old pure-blood family, he knew what a Horcrux was.
And he immediately understood the magnitude of the danger.
Lewis folded his arms.
"Voldemort isn't dead."
"At least, not entirely."
"I saw him personally last year, attached to Professor Quirinus Quirrell's head."
"Then I used Harry Potter's protective magic to burn them both to death."
Lewis's tone remained conversational.
Lucius, however, felt a chill crawl down his spine.
This boy spoke of killing as casually as discussing the weather.
Then Lewis asked the question that shattered whatever composure Lucius had left.
"What do you think Voldemort will do to the man who destroyed one of his soul fragments?"
"And to that man's family?"
Lucius visibly shuddered.
No one understood Voldemort's punishments better than he did.
Lewis added quietly:
"And this diary nearly killed Draco."
That was the final blow.
When his own life was threatened, Lucius could remain cautious.
When Draco's life was involved, he became far more willing to act.
"What do you want from me?" he asked hoarsely.
Lewis waved a hand.
"Don't misunderstand."
"I have no intention of exposing this."
"Your death at Voldemort's hands would be inconvenient for me."
"At least unless you give me a reason."
Lucius straightened slightly.
"What can I do?"
Lewis's expression grew serious.
"For now?"
"Nothing."
"Voldemort will return."
"Dumbledore knows it."
"I know it."
"My estimate is two to three years."
"Until then, continue living as Lucius Malfoy."
"When he returns, answer his call."
"Become one of his trusted followers."
Lucius looked alarmed.
"But he trusts no one."
Lewis shrugged.
"Even Voldemort can't do everything himself."
"He will need competent servants."
"Why shouldn't you be one of them?"
He let the words sink in.
"Remember this."
"Because of your mistake, he lost a Horcrux."
"You are already his enemy."
Lucius looked suddenly older.
After a long silence, he raised his head.
"One final question."
"You and Dumbledore…"
Lewis smiled faintly.
"I'm merely a student at his school."
"His Order of the Phoenix."
"His grand crusade."
"His adventures."
"They have nothing to do with me."
"I have my own ideals."
"My own goals."
Lucius bowed deeply.
"Then please allow the Malfoy family to contribute to your ambitions."
Lewis laughed.
"I appreciate the offer."
"But not yet."
"If I need the Malfoys, I'll contact you."
"Don't be surprised when that happens."
He tossed Lucius's wand back to him.
Then, with a soft crack, Lewis vanished.
Lucius stared in shock.
He had Apparated.
At thirteen.
And more than that—
The anti-Apparition barrier that had trapped him had disappeared the moment Lewis left.
Which meant the restriction had not been Hogwarts' wards at all.
Lewis alone had created it.
Lucius tested his own Apparition and found himself back at Malfoy Manor.
Standing in the entrance hall, he remained silent for a long time.
At last, he murmured to himself:
"This Ravenclaw prodigy…"
"…is even more terrifying than the Dark Lord was at his age."
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