"M... Master..."
Lucius summoned his courage and spoke, trembling.
"Perhaps... we could try a different approach."
Voldemort snapped his head around, and the murderous look in those red eyes nearly made Lucius drop the tray.
"An approach? What brilliant insight do you have, Lucius? Are you saying you understand ancient blood magic too?"
"No, no, of course I don't. Your wisdom is beyond compare."
Lucius hurriedly denied it, his nervousness making him speak rapidly.
"I just... just remembered something. About Muggles."
"Muggles?"
Voldemort's brow furrowed even more deeply, undisguised contempt appearing on his face.
"You want me to ask those monkeys who do nothing but play in the mud for help?"
"No! Not ask for help! It's... making use of them!"
Lucius's face flushed with agitation as he struggled to find the words, trying to make the suggestion sound more respectable.
"Over the past few years, while handling matters involving the Muggle Protection Act at the Ministry of Magic, I happened to hear Arthur Weasley-that Muggle-loving scum-mention something."
Lucius carefully watched Voldemort's expression.
"He said that over the past decade, Muggles have made a new breakthrough in their study of the human body. They call it... genes, or DNA."
"Genes?"
Voldemort repeated the unfamiliar word with a trace of mockery in his voice.
"What is that? Some new form of dark magic?"
"No, it's a... a microscopic structure."
Lucius gestured, though he only half understood it himself.
"Supposedly, Muggles believe these things are hidden in people's blood, hair, and skin. They determine what a person looks like, what talents they have, and even... even allow their ancestry to be traced."
At this point, Lucius lowered his voice further.
"They've invented instruments that can arrange these... genes without magic and read them like a book."
A deathly silence fell over the