Harry nearly had to suppress a laugh when he saw how quickly Malfoy was willing to put a price for Draco's life. This would be fantastic material for taunting Draco. On the other hand, he didn't know much about life debts. Dumbledore had mentioned them once, about how Snape had owed the Potters one and he tried to save Harry's life to repay it. It seemed there were multiple ways to repay the debt, with money being the quickest. He smiled at Lucius and said, "Let me discuss this with my advisor," as he pulled Hermione aside.
"Okay, Hermione. Tell me what you know about life debts... more specifically, what we can get out of Lucius for this," Harry grinned.
"Well, the standard payment is about ten thousand, but since Draco is the first heir in line to the Malfoy fortune, then it should be raised to at least fifty thousand... at least, that's the average payment in the past few centuries."
"I'm probably rich enough to buy Hogwarts, Hermione," he said, rolling his eyes. "I don't need more money. What else can we ask of him?"
"Services, like votes on the next few sessions of the Wizengamot... heirlooms or real estate property of about the same value... we DO want to get this deal over with quickly. I'll explain later," Hermione whispered.
Harry thought for a minute. What did he want right now? Draco had been starved for a day and half, then marched through the forest for another few hours, was now lying in the infirmary, and had lost another wand. Hopefully that meant he wouldn't try anything dumb to Harry, who he believed had saved his life. Snape, on the other hand, was the accomplice, and he was getting away with it. Dumbledore would look the other way as usual while Snape would continue his petty feud with Harry, with Hermione caught in the crossfire. He walked back to Lucius and smiled.
"I already have enough in my vaults as it is, Mr. Malfoy. I am willing to settle this life debt quickly if you just perform one service for me," he said, this time unable to hold back his grin.
"And what would you have me do?"
"Get rid of Snape. You're on the Hogwarts Board of Governors, correct? See to it that he is sacked. Permanently. I don't want to see his face on Hogwarts grounds again. It shouldn't be too hard if you simply bring up what a comically poor professor he is. I'll consider the debt repaid when I see him hauling his trunks out the front gate."
Lucius considered his offer. Snape was... more specifically, he used to be... one of Voldemort's top brewers. He quickly rose through the ranks, although he never made it into the inner circle. He was a helpful ally within Hogwarts, but at the same time, obviously not good enough to keep Draco out of trouble. Perhaps he was pampering Draco too much already, as his son had nearly killed himself in his arrogance. No, keeping his seat on the Board of Governors was already enough to ensure Hogwarts would move in the direction he wanted. As for the cost, a few bribes here and there, perhaps hiring another potions master and Flooing his attorney- all in all, he could have it done for less than two thousand galleons. Five thousand, even if Dumbledore stepped in and tried to stop him. It was an excellent offer.
"Very well, Mr. Potter. I'll see to it that Severus Snape is sacked as soon as possible," Lucius told him. He shook hands with Harry and left immediately. Harry watched him exit the classroom and take his personal guard with him. As soon as they were out of sight, he closed the door again, set up a silencing ward, and burst out laughing.
"Hermione! I can't believe you did that! How did you think of it? Do the Malfoys really owe us a life debt? How do the debts even work?" He was overflowing with questions, and pride, for Hermione.
"Well, what do you want to know first?" Hermione asked, brimming with excitement at the prospect of sharing her knowledge with Harry.
"Alright, does Malfoy actually owe us a life debt? I didn't think that... kidnapping Draco would make him owe us anything."
"He doesn't, actually. It really only matters that he believes he owes you a life debt. And he only owes it to you, not to me. More specifically, he owes it to the House of Potter. That's all moot anyways, since we didn't actually save his life."
"Why? You 'saved' his life too! That's so unfair..."
"That's because you're the heir. Life debts are an ancient blood magic cast by the Ancient and Noble houses a long time ago to protect their bloodlines. Debts can only be owed to the head of house, or the house as a whole. It's created when the head of house, or heir, risks his own life, with no ulterior motives, to save someone else. The end result is more or less like a very faint compulsion charm that lasts until the debt is paid."
"Oh... I thought that it would be more powerful than that, given how eager Malfoy was to get rid of it."
"Draco wouldn't be able to act against you or your house, which could have been bad for the entire Malfoy house. The debt can also be passed down to children. If you didn't settle it, Draco's children would also be compelled to help out you and your children as well... in a few generations, the house of Malfoy would have been in servitude to the house of Potter. More than one lineage has been 'absorbed' because of that."
"Aww, it would have been better if I just said I'll keep him in debt then..."
"It wasn't real, Harry. He would have figured it out as soon as Draco opened his mouth and tried to insult you or set his goons on us or something."
"Wait, does that mean you and Ron owe me life debts? And Ginny, too?"
"You could have been racking them up pretty quickly, if you acknowledge them. Normally the heads of ancient houses aren't foolish enough to throw themselves in harm's way like you do."
"So I have to acknowledge that you owe me a life debt before it actually happens?"
"Yes, which is why I didn't want you to shake his hand. It would more or less mean you agreed that all Malfoy owed you was his thanks."
"Thanks, Hermione... with any luck, Malfoy won't notice your little trick until Snape is gone."
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