"Why are you telling me all this?"
Voldemort was a little puzzled. In his view, Lucius could have kept this part hidden.
"Actually, my father hoped I would tell you this greatest secret of the Malfoy family a long time ago—ever since he learned you intended to make a name for yourself in the Muggle world," Lucius said frankly.
It was clear that revealing this secret had lifted a great weight from his shoulders.
"That was starting last summer, right?" Voldemort asked.
Lucius nodded, confirming that it had been then.
"You're very close to the Queen?" Voldemort asked, lowering his head as he toyed with his wand.
"When she enlisted during the Second World War, my father was there to protect her. At the time, the two of them were very... close."
The hand twirling his wand paused. Voldemort frowned at Lucius.
No, if you're going to say it, just say it. What was with that pause?
For a moment, it had seemed to add a different kind of meaning to an otherwise ordinary statement.
"Nothing happened between them. They were just close friends."
Seeing Voldemort's expression, Lucius hurriedly added that.
Voldemort rolled his eyes. If you hadn't said that, I wouldn't have read anything more into it.
"All right. That's what I thought, too."
Voldemort waved a hand, indicating that he had no need to learn about Senior Abhu's love life. "Senior Abhu wanted you to do this, and you've said you want to share this connection with me, it seems. Is that right?"
"Yes."
Lucius let out a long breath, then hurriedly added, "Dark Lord, I ask that you use this connection with care. It involves the Malfoy family's reputation and future."
Voldemort nodded solemnly. He understood what Lucius meant.
If this came to light in the Wizarding