Suddenly, Lucius's ears twitched, and his expression changed.
He resisted the urge to leap to his feet and, lifting his chin slightly, instructed the clerks before him.
"Everyone out. I need to rest for a while. Close the door, and don't disturb me for an hour."
The clerks waiting for their documents immediately replied respectfully.
"Yes, Director-General."
Lucius now had a special title at the Ministry of Magic. Everyone addressed him as Director-General, a subtle reflection of his influence.
Once the clerks had left and closed the door behind them,
Lucius immediately rose from his office chair and hurried to the visitors' sofa. He bowed respectfully, lowering his noble head deeply, without a trace of his earlier authority.
"My lord, you've arrived."
Shawn's seated figure gradually appeared on the sofa.
His deep, imposing gaze surveyed Lucius, a subordinate who was very useful but never quite behaved himself.
He had an important secret assignment for Lucius and was in no mood to assess his loyalty, so he said coldly,
"Drop your Occlumency!"
He activated a more advanced yet more discreet form of Legilimency.
That almost tangible gaze and unquestionable command brought cold sweat to the forehead of the bowing Lucius.
His knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor.
Lucius barely hesitated. Knowing what was best for him, he lowered his mental defenses.
He was still wondering whether he had done anything out of line recently.
But Voldemort was nothing more than a beaten stray now. Even an idiot with a head full of flobberworms wouldn't collude with him.
Could this be about helping those pure-bloods who had already betrayed Voldemort?
But hadn't Draco said the man before me had tacitly approved it?
*I haven't embezzled anything. The Chamber of Commerce dividends alone are enough to keep the Malfoy family living