So, better to play along. For now.
Groaning as though in defeat, Harry hung his head and let his muscles relax.
"That's it," Lucius' voice encouraged him, soft inside his own mind. "Your tie, Harry. Yes..."
Harry felt sick to his stomach at the thought of baring himself before the likes of Lucius Malfoy, though really, he knew it oughtn't be so difficult to obey. What did it really matter? It only proved what a sadistic arsehole Lucius Malfoy was.
Or, it proved that he had misjudged Harry. Lucius wanted answers, he'd said. He probably thought that humiliating Harry would get him some. Idiot. Samhain alone should have told Lucius that that wouldn't work. But then, Lucius never had been the sharpest knife in the drawer...
Moving sluggishly--like the monster in the Frankenstein movie he'd once caught on the telly--Harry lifted his fingers to his school tie and began to fumble with it.
Lucius laughed, low in his throat, Harry's wand almost dancing through the air as he directed Harry's every action.
Or so he thought.
The tie fell, snakelike, to the ground. Harry wished with all his heart that it was a snake, but he knew from experience that a substitute would do him no good at all.
And even looking too fixedly at it would probably alert Lucius to the fact that Harry was only pretending to be caught in the grip of Imperius.
He started to undo his buttons, fumbling over those as well, his every motion somewhat slow-witted.
"Such work Severus went to," breathed Lucius in mock awe as Harry's chest came into view. "Who would have guessed that just a few short months ago, you were skewered -- straight through in some places? Why, your skin looks perfect, Harry. A shame it was all for nothing." He flicked Harry's wand again. "Take that shirt off completely."
Lucius kept speaking as he watched Harry obey him. "Now, your Parseltongue magic being dependent upon a snake, that's very interesting, but I doubt it's the only secret you possess. And I will know your secrets, Harry, all of them, before I inform the Dark Lord that I managed to lay hands not just on Draco, but you as well. Oh yes... it wouldn't do at all to have him subjected again to those bizarre bursts of magic you seem so prone to." Stepping forward, Lucius tapped the tip of Harry's own wand all along the boy's bare shoulders. "I can see why your uncle thought you a freak. I can see why he locked you in that cupboard."
I could grab that wand right now, thought Harry. I could grab it and turn it on him...
Without a snake to cast with, though, what good would that do? Lucius would simply overpower him and grab the wand back, and Harry would have lost the precious advantage of surprise. So he simply stood still, his expression slack-jawed and brainless, as Lucius taunted him about his helplessness.
"Nothing to say, Harry? You were quite vocal on Samhain, as I recall. But then again, you're under a powerful curse. I suppose I shall have to release you from it if I want some answers. Pity I haven't any Veritaserum on hand. Lost my supplier, don't you know. Hmm. Well, no matter. If you won't tell me what I wish to know, Draco most certainly shall. And speaking of Draco..."
Lucius traced the wand along the waistband of Harry's trousers. "I suppose it would discomfit him too much if you were to disrobe further. Pity. But, there's time enough for that later. Mmm, yes, I'll save that performance for the Dark Lord's pleasure. In the meantime, I cannot have you misbehaving while I converse with Draco."
Lucius flicked the wand toward a high-backed chair in the corner. "Sit down, Harry," Lucius' mind voice urged. "Just have a seat and pretend you aren't a filthy little half-blood with no notion of proper manners..."
Harry struggled against the voice even as he obeyed it, fearing that in his pretence he might actually fall too deeply under the real spell. Focussing on his Occlumency should help, he thought. The fire would ultimately keep his mind free. Free to strike when the moment was right.
"Oh, how marvellous," said Lucius, smiling. "We can get along."
Lucius seated himself and crossed one leg over the other, the pose careless. But it was a pose; Harry sensed that at once. He'd seen Draco do this too many times... pretend to be at ease when he wasn't.
"I suppose it's fortunate that Draco's insipid betrayal has you following him around like a puppy. Though, I admit that when Aran firecalled to complain about my son, I'd no idea fate would favour me so completely as to deliver you both into my hands."
Lucius smiled smugly as he flicked Harry's wand. An elaborate porcelain cup of fragrant, steaming tea appeared at the end of the large, low table. He sipped at it delicately.
"I should have known that I could count on Dumbledore's utter ineptitude to supply me with an ally in the form of a ridiculous Defence professor. Thank Merlin some traditions don't die. So convenient having a sympathetic ear inside Hogwarts, especially when I need an escort to so much as enter the place. Aran serves very nicely indeed. Yes, the wards raise no objection to my presence just so long as a professor has invited me to Floo through." Lucius suddenly laughed.
"Once again, you and Draco have been most helpful. Did you imagine that your silly defiance in Defence class would cost your your life, Harry? It's all turned out so well, I almost feel guilty punishing Draco." Lucius smiled in a way that showed Harry he wasn't regretting it in the least. "Alas, he certainly didn't meant to be helpful when he betrayed me on Samhain, so I'm letting him consider his choices carefully. Dear me. I do hope he doesn't become too terribly ill from all those bites."
Harry hoped he didn't mean venom when he said that.
"But he's likely had enough time by now," drawled Lucius. He clapped his hands once more and the elf appeared. "Gibby, go fetch Master Draco from the pit. But as I'm certain he's soiled himself, get him into clean clothes. And not by just freshening the ones he's in. In fact, destroy those clothes." He smirked at Harry. "It wouldn't do at all for him to arrive with a Slytherin crest. Gibby, shrink some of my things to fit him, but take care to select nothing with a snake - no embroidered borders or embossed buttons."
"Yes, Master Lucius," Gibby gibbered before disappearing once again. "Exactly as you wishes."
"Poor Harry," drawled Lucius. "You're like a helpless babe, aren't you? You've no magic unless a snake is at hand. Or a drawing, even. Such a pity we didn't conduct this little interview at the Manor, where all my best art is."
His tone was entirely conversational, as though they were chatting about nothing more serious than the weather in Wiltshire this time of year.
Harry pressed his lips together and kept a carefully neutral expression on his face while he Occluded.
"But then, there was that wild magic you exhibited earlier," mused Lucius, the fingers of one hand stroking his own chin. "Most odd. I didn't see any snake images nearby then."
"No matter. Draco will tell me what I want to know," he went on after a moment. "Draco Snape, of all things. Honestly. What is the world coming to?"
Lucius sipped at his tea, though he kept Harry's wand pointed all the while. "No doubt you're sitting there thinking noble thoughts of Draco. Or would, if you could think past the power of my spell, that is. Ah, Harry..." Lucius made a tsking sound. "I happen to know Draco a great deal better than you ever will. His running off to Dumbledore after Samhain was really very predictable, when one considers it. It's all quite simple: you looked like the better prospect at that moment. But now? Oh, you don't look like a good prospect at all. Do you, now?"