Bloodties Chapter 8: Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

Bloodties

Chapter 8 of 14

Rhea Silvia

“Why would I lie, Potter? You can’t possibly imagine I enjoy the idea of Granger being my cousin?”

Alternate Universe Hogwarts Castle 11,544 Words 14 Chapters WIP

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“Give Astoria your wands.”

“Why? Why should we listen to you?”

“Draco, I’m beginning to understand your point.” He smiles. Daphne tends to think not-too-badly of the Gryffindors, but also leaves them strictly to themselves. “Because we’ve already done so ourselves, Mr. Weasley. And because the news you are going to hear is of a somewhat disturbing nature, and I’d rather none of us is tempted.”

“Please, Harry?” And he knows Astoria’s an absolute imp, knows she’s been practicing that smile for years, knows exactly what effect it has. They buckle, Weasley last, hand over their wands and take their seats at the other side of the table. It’s fairly crowded, though both Daphne and Blaise have turned traitor and taken the couch, leaving him with only the Gryffindors for company. Astoria, all six wands in hand, goes to sit in front of the fireplace.

“We’re here. We’re wandless. So, tell us whatever it was you wanted to talk about.” Potter’s on the edge. Potter, bastard, has no bloody right to be on the edge.

“Draco?” And if he doesn’t tell them, Blaise will. And grin at him, later.

“Potter’s told you why Granger’s been kidnapped, I take it?”

“He said you told him she’s Voldemort’s daughter.”

Morgana! These fools are… He’s going to have to win their confidence, now of all times. “It’s true, Ginevra.”

“You’ve got to realize, Malfoy, that we’ve no reason to believe you.” Ah, Potter’s trying to be rational. How nice, and how extremely stupid, considering he knows Potter believes him.

“Why would I lie, Potter? You can’t possibly imagine I enjoy the idea of Granger being my cousin?”

“For more reasons than one, he doesn’t.” Blaise smirks at Daphne, who, godsdamned ice-queen, pretends she’s not just said it.

“Maybe you think we’ll not hunt for her.”

“Isn’t that ridiculous? I hardly think you’re pleased to hear that she’s their child. And since I haven’t told you where she’s being held, I fail to see why you would stop searching for her.” Sit down, Weasley. Sit down and shut up, and let me see whether anyone will make use of Daphne’s ‘accidental slip’.

“What reason?” There you are, Ginevra, right on cue.

“Hmm?” Blaise says, lazy, half-shut eyes and indolence.

“What reasons does he have for not wanting Hermione as a cousin?”

“I really don’t know. She’s far preferable to the company he’s kept in the past.”

“D’you remember what Parkinson did when Lucius was released? Absolute disgrace.” Thank you, Daphne. Now we definitely have Potter’s attention.

“Why are you comparing Hermione to Pansy Parkinson?”

He stays silent under Potter’s speculative suspicious gaze, and Blaise waits till the Weasleys are looking at him as well. It is important that they look at him. They won’t trust him if they do not see his face. No reason for them to trust him even so, but they will. “The Dark Lord wants him to marry her.”

“WHAT?”

“Sweet Circe, if you must scream, do it where the rest of us needn’t hear, won’t you, Weasley? I don’t see why you’re so surprised.”

“Why does he want this?” So, you’re not interested in her, are you, Potter? Not like Weasley is.

“It’s Aunt Bella and the Dark Lord, Potter,” he says, reckless.

“Somebody must have asked them,” Potter says. Why is he playing along?

“I cannot understand why this puzzles you,” Blaise says, “especially you, Ginevra. Surely you’re familiar with the concept? ”

Potter looks at Daphne, at Astoria, at Blaise, at Ginevra, at Daphne again, then at him. “Tell me.”

“It makes political sense,” he mutters. “And, well, the Dark Lord’s…”

“A jumped-up fool,” Daphne declares. Everyone turns to gape at her. Blaise shoots him a small warning glance. “What? He calls himself Slytherin’s heir, but really, all that means is some Gaunt married a Slytherin girl about ten or twelve generations before Riddle was born. They were a tired old line, gone to the Crups, and he’s not even a pureblood.”

“I thought all purebloods…”

“Oh, no, Potter, that’s not it at all. Most of us just found it convenient to not register much of a protest during the first war. This time may be rather different. At any rate, most of his followers are pretending, just like he is. And blood-purity hardly equates power. I grant you’ll find some aristocrats, like the Lestranges, or our spoiled boy’s parents. But… well, Potter, you’d be more welcome at a wizarding soiree than he would. He can force the doors open, but he’s trying to gain an invitation.”

“Marrying up?”

“Yes, Potter.” Finally. “His daughter has Black blood in her. That family’s older than Hogwarts. He wants her to marry me, so that he can form an alliance with the Malfoys.”

“And that’s why you want to help us?” Pretty little Ginny Weasley, fingers nearly touching Potter’s wrist. Not helping her brother at all, though Weasley is staring like he’s been attacked by out-of-control Bludgers. What fascinating little games he can play with her, but now’s not the time. “So you don’t have to marry Hermione?”

“Among other things,” he drawls, standing, “which concern you not at all, Ginevra.” Daphne gathers their wands from Astoria. Blaise inclines his head at Ginny Weasley, sure to have spotted the possibilities. They stand at the door, waiting for him. It has seemingly gone well, till now, but they know how dangerous this game is that he’s trying to play, though they don’t yet know just what it is, and they know that he hasn’t secured Potter’s assistance yet. “But I am not lying to you.” If Potter agrees, the others will follow suit. He needs Potter to agree.

“I know,” Potter says, almost unwillingly, and this round is won.

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Latest 25 Reviews for Bloodties

35 Reviews | 5.0/10 Average

0/10

genrou

hmmmm i wonder how things will progress from here.

0/10

genrou

i dont know if its because i just ate so my processes are being directed to my stomach instead of my brain but im finding a number of things in this fic hard to follow. i feel as if i keep missing a number of things that are not being said directly and i assume im suppose to be able to follow. or it might be because of the pov.

0/10

magenpie

Interesting that Voldemort knows that both Lucius and Narcissa recognize greater claims on their loyalty than service to him. Promising start I think!