"TEMPTING FORTUNE"
A/N: HELLO EVERYONE, MY NAME'S RAVEN AND I'M AN HP-AHOLIC. WHEW, GLAD I GOT THAT OFF MY CHEST! I'M JUST TRYING OUT THIS FANFIC. IT'S BASED ON A ROMANCE NOVEL I READ A LONG TIME AGO, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF (REALLY IT'S NOT THAT MUSHY, THO. IT'S MORE ACTION.) IF THE BASIC PLOT SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO ANYONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT, AND IN THAT DREAM, THEY - THE MARAUDERS - TOLD ME, "IF YOU PUT MARAUDERS IN IT, THEY WILL READ." SOOO....HERE IT IS! THIS ISN'T GONNA FIT WITH THE BOOKS TOO WELL, AND IT'S SET IN THE LATE 1800'S. YA KNOW, WHEN THEY HAD HORSES AND SWORDS AND YOU COULD MARRY YOUR COUSIN?...WELL, THEY STILL HAVE HORSES AND SWORDS...THE VOICES IN MY HEAD WEREN'T TOO CLEAR, BUT I'M GONNA TRY THIS. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO IM OR EMAIL ME - VULPIXRAVEN@AOL.COM. BY THE WAY, NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE TITLE, IT MAY CHANGE.
Disclaimer: I don't own any HP characters and if anyone finds out where I got this plot idea from, please let me know.
RAVEN'S RANDOMNESS: THIS IS JUST LIKE A QUOTE FROM A BOOK/MOVIE/PERSON/SONG LYRIC THAT I PUT AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY CHAPTER I WRITE. IT'S JUST BECOME A HABIT. I DO IT FOR EVERY FANFIC I WRITE NOW. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHAPTER, IT'S JUST THERE FOR FUN. I ALWAYS DO THIS ONE FIRST CUZ IT'S MY FAVORITE:
"Guys are like roses; you gotta watch out for the pricks!"
Chapter 1 - The Wager
He sat on his horse, watching as she ran through the wind. His insides squirmed with pleasure as she noticed him looking at her and gave him an icy stare.
"Come on, Padfoot," she said to the large black dog at her feet. "Let's go somewhere a little less revolting." The dog followed her as she ran into the distance.
The man stared after her. "I will have her," he said with a malicious smirk on his face.
The man on horseback next to him laughed bitterly. "Give it up, Lord Pettigrew! You know she hates you."
She continued to run until she reached the front door of her house, McKinnon Manor, and it opened for her. She stepped inside the house. "Where is my father?"
The servant who opened the door answered her, "I'm afraid Sir Gordon left for London this morning while you were out, Miss Raven."
Raven's heart sank. "London? Did he say when he'd be back?"
"No, ma'am. Will you be needing anything?"
Raven shook her head. "Thank you, William."
William bowed and left her alone in the drawing room. Raven sank into a chair and ran her fingers through her long black hair, massaging her temples. She stayed in her room all day long, pacing back and forth.
A maid came in with a tray full of food. "Will you please eat something, Miss Raven? You've had nothing all day."
Raven was too worried to eat. She said to herself, "Oh please...for once let him win."
Meanwhile, in London..................................................................................................
"Aha!" said Sir Gordon as he collected the pile of guineas in the middle of the table.
"The cards are definitely in your favor tonight, McKinnon," said the man sitting next to him.
"They certainly are, Winthrop. They certainly are. Well," he said looking at the stack of gold beside him. It was considerably larger than what he came with. "I know when to quit while I'm ahead, gentlemen. My daughter, Raven, will have been up all night worrying about her father's fortune this evening. I best put her mind to rest."
"You have had your share of bad luck at this table, McKinnon. We will excuse you this time."
Sir Gordon nodded. "Thank you, gents. It's been a pleasure." Remus hurried over to help his uncle get up from the card table.
They were on their way out the door when they met Lord Pettigrew. Pettigrew smiled fakely. "Leaving so soon, McKinnon?"
Remus pulled his uncle along, hoping he would ignore him, but Pettigrew continued talking. "Good gracious, you act as though you have an impatient mistress waiting for you at home."
Sir Gordon stopped in his tracks and turned to face Pettigrew.
"Well, if you don't think you can beat me, McKinnon, of course we'll excuse you."
Sir Gordon gritted his teeth. "I'm at your disposal, my Lord Pettigrew."
Pettigrew smiled and took off his jacket. Sir Gordon stood opposite Pettigrew at one of the betting tables. He opened his sack full of money and put ten coins on the table.
"Ten guineas is it, McKinnon?" Pettigrew also set ten guineas on the table.
Sir Gordon picked up two small, white di and put them in a cup. He shook it and turned it over. A five and a four. Nine. Pettigrew rolled a ten. Twenty more guineas on the table, Sir Gordon rolled an eight. Pettigrew rolled a nine.
And sure enough, pretty soon all of Sir Gordon's gold was in Pettigrew's pile. A small crowd had gathered around the table.
The doors opened and a tall, striking man with dark hair and eyes ambled slowly in.
"Lord Black is here. Sirius Black," said Remus quietly to the man next to him.
"Well, there is always your house, McKinnon," said Pettigrew, slyly. "A bit old, but it would sell for a considerable amount. What do you say?"
"He's baiting him," said Remus out of the corner of his mouth.
"I'd rather face a drawn sword than a Pettigrew challenge," said replied the man, James Potter, next to him.
Sir Gordon thought for a minute and then quickly rolled the dice.
"Good throw, Uncle! This could turn the game!" said Remus, seeing his uncle's ten.
Pettigrew smiled as he rolled an eleven.
Sir Gordon's eyes widened in shock. He sat fixed to the chair and after a few moments passed, got slowly up to leave.
"Not leaving, my dear McKinnon?" asked Pettigrew with a satisfied look on his face.
"There is nothing left," said Sir Gordon, lethargically. "You have taken...everything I possess."
"Well, not exactly, *everything*. There's one more thing. She's a touch high and mighty with me, but they tell me that your daughter inherits eighty thousand guineas from a trust on her marriage. Let me be fair with you. I will wager everything you have lost so far, against your daughter's hand in marriage."
Sir Gordon's head was spinning. He sat down at the table.
Remus saw him thinking and quickly rushed to his side. "Uncle, he's baiting you!"
"Yes, and what would you have me do? Go back and tell Raven that I've gambled away the roof over her head?" He started to shake. "For God's sake, I have to win...just once against this Pettigrew!"
"Jesus Christ, Uncle, not your own daughter!"
"Don't you see? If I win, Raven will never have to know any of this happened!"
Remus sighed and looked through the crowd for support.
Sir Gordon stood up again. "My daughters hand and her inheritance against everything I have lost." He rolled the dice and closed his eyes. He opened them again, slowly. Eight.
Pettigrew took the dice and mechanically rolled a nine.
Sir Gordon fell back in his chair and let out a whimper.
"Well, the odds seem to be in my favor tonight, McKinnon. I do hope it's convenient that I call on you tomorrow. Please tell the adorable Raven to expect me."
"Poor devil. He never did know when to quit," said James to Remus.
"That bet never should have been allowed."
After Sir Gordon had slowly been escorted from the room by Remus, and Remus had returned, Lord Black stepped forward.
"My Lord Pettigrew," he strode forward and pulled a brown sack from his waistcoat, "I will throw you for one hundred thousand guineas against the house and the girl."
Lord Pettigrew eyed Black suspiciously, but nodded his head. "Done! Tonight I'm unbeatable, even by you, Lord Black."
Since Black challenged, Lord Pettigrew rolled first. He rolled a ten and let out a triumphant howl. Everyone waited in anticipation as Sirius took his time picking up the dice one by one and putting them into the cup. He shook it once and turned the cup over.
"Devil take me!" said James, excitedly.
Lord Black had rolled two sixes, a twelve.
There was a gunshot outside and everyone froze. Remus sprinted to the door. He came back in a few minutes later, pale as a ghost, and shaking his head. He collected his things and rode to McKinnon Manor.
A/N: JUST IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, RAVEN'S DOG, PADFOOT, IS NOT SIRIUS. THAT'S JUST MY WAY OF INCORPORATING "PADFOOT" INTO THE STORY. A GUINEA IS EQUAL TO ONE POUND OR SHILLING IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW. THIS STORY IS SET IN THE LATE 1800'S, 1880/1890, REMEMBER. I'M SORRY THERE'S NOT MUCH OF SIRIUS IN THIS CHAPTER. HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE KEPT A LITTLE MYSTERIOUS RIGHT NOW. HE'LL BE IN EVERY OTHER CHAPTER A LOT, I PROMISE.
A/N: HELLO EVERYONE, MY NAME'S RAVEN AND I'M AN HP-AHOLIC. WHEW, GLAD I GOT THAT OFF MY CHEST! I'M JUST TRYING OUT THIS FANFIC. IT'S BASED ON A ROMANCE NOVEL I READ A LONG TIME AGO, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF (REALLY IT'S NOT THAT MUSHY, THO. IT'S MORE ACTION.) IF THE BASIC PLOT SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO ANYONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT, AND IN THAT DREAM, THEY - THE MARAUDERS - TOLD ME, "IF YOU PUT MARAUDERS IN IT, THEY WILL READ." SOOO....HERE IT IS! THIS ISN'T GONNA FIT WITH THE BOOKS TOO WELL, AND IT'S SET IN THE LATE 1800'S. YA KNOW, WHEN THEY HAD HORSES AND SWORDS AND YOU COULD MARRY YOUR COUSIN?...WELL, THEY STILL HAVE HORSES AND SWORDS...THE VOICES IN MY HEAD WEREN'T TOO CLEAR, BUT I'M GONNA TRY THIS. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO IM OR EMAIL ME - VULPIXRAVEN@AOL.COM. BY THE WAY, NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE TITLE, IT MAY CHANGE.
Disclaimer: I don't own any HP characters and if anyone finds out where I got this plot idea from, please let me know.
RAVEN'S RANDOMNESS: THIS IS JUST LIKE A QUOTE FROM A BOOK/MOVIE/PERSON/SONG LYRIC THAT I PUT AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY CHAPTER I WRITE. IT'S JUST BECOME A HABIT. I DO IT FOR EVERY FANFIC I WRITE NOW. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHAPTER, IT'S JUST THERE FOR FUN. I ALWAYS DO THIS ONE FIRST CUZ IT'S MY FAVORITE:
"Guys are like roses; you gotta watch out for the pricks!"
Chapter 1 - The Wager
He sat on his horse, watching as she ran through the wind. His insides squirmed with pleasure as she noticed him looking at her and gave him an icy stare.
"Come on, Padfoot," she said to the large black dog at her feet. "Let's go somewhere a little less revolting." The dog followed her as she ran into the distance.
The man stared after her. "I will have her," he said with a malicious smirk on his face.
The man on horseback next to him laughed bitterly. "Give it up, Lord Pettigrew! You know she hates you."
She continued to run until she reached the front door of her house, McKinnon Manor, and it opened for her. She stepped inside the house. "Where is my father?"
The servant who opened the door answered her, "I'm afraid Sir Gordon left for London this morning while you were out, Miss Raven."
Raven's heart sank. "London? Did he say when he'd be back?"
"No, ma'am. Will you be needing anything?"
Raven shook her head. "Thank you, William."
William bowed and left her alone in the drawing room. Raven sank into a chair and ran her fingers through her long black hair, massaging her temples. She stayed in her room all day long, pacing back and forth.
A maid came in with a tray full of food. "Will you please eat something, Miss Raven? You've had nothing all day."
Raven was too worried to eat. She said to herself, "Oh please...for once let him win."
Meanwhile, in London..................................................................................................
"Aha!" said Sir Gordon as he collected the pile of guineas in the middle of the table.
"The cards are definitely in your favor tonight, McKinnon," said the man sitting next to him.
"They certainly are, Winthrop. They certainly are. Well," he said looking at the stack of gold beside him. It was considerably larger than what he came with. "I know when to quit while I'm ahead, gentlemen. My daughter, Raven, will have been up all night worrying about her father's fortune this evening. I best put her mind to rest."
"You have had your share of bad luck at this table, McKinnon. We will excuse you this time."
Sir Gordon nodded. "Thank you, gents. It's been a pleasure." Remus hurried over to help his uncle get up from the card table.
They were on their way out the door when they met Lord Pettigrew. Pettigrew smiled fakely. "Leaving so soon, McKinnon?"
Remus pulled his uncle along, hoping he would ignore him, but Pettigrew continued talking. "Good gracious, you act as though you have an impatient mistress waiting for you at home."
Sir Gordon stopped in his tracks and turned to face Pettigrew.
"Well, if you don't think you can beat me, McKinnon, of course we'll excuse you."
Sir Gordon gritted his teeth. "I'm at your disposal, my Lord Pettigrew."
Pettigrew smiled and took off his jacket. Sir Gordon stood opposite Pettigrew at one of the betting tables. He opened his sack full of money and put ten coins on the table.
"Ten guineas is it, McKinnon?" Pettigrew also set ten guineas on the table.
Sir Gordon picked up two small, white di and put them in a cup. He shook it and turned it over. A five and a four. Nine. Pettigrew rolled a ten. Twenty more guineas on the table, Sir Gordon rolled an eight. Pettigrew rolled a nine.
And sure enough, pretty soon all of Sir Gordon's gold was in Pettigrew's pile. A small crowd had gathered around the table.
The doors opened and a tall, striking man with dark hair and eyes ambled slowly in.
"Lord Black is here. Sirius Black," said Remus quietly to the man next to him.
"Well, there is always your house, McKinnon," said Pettigrew, slyly. "A bit old, but it would sell for a considerable amount. What do you say?"
"He's baiting him," said Remus out of the corner of his mouth.
"I'd rather face a drawn sword than a Pettigrew challenge," said replied the man, James Potter, next to him.
Sir Gordon thought for a minute and then quickly rolled the dice.
"Good throw, Uncle! This could turn the game!" said Remus, seeing his uncle's ten.
Pettigrew smiled as he rolled an eleven.
Sir Gordon's eyes widened in shock. He sat fixed to the chair and after a few moments passed, got slowly up to leave.
"Not leaving, my dear McKinnon?" asked Pettigrew with a satisfied look on his face.
"There is nothing left," said Sir Gordon, lethargically. "You have taken...everything I possess."
"Well, not exactly, *everything*. There's one more thing. She's a touch high and mighty with me, but they tell me that your daughter inherits eighty thousand guineas from a trust on her marriage. Let me be fair with you. I will wager everything you have lost so far, against your daughter's hand in marriage."
Sir Gordon's head was spinning. He sat down at the table.
Remus saw him thinking and quickly rushed to his side. "Uncle, he's baiting you!"
"Yes, and what would you have me do? Go back and tell Raven that I've gambled away the roof over her head?" He started to shake. "For God's sake, I have to win...just once against this Pettigrew!"
"Jesus Christ, Uncle, not your own daughter!"
"Don't you see? If I win, Raven will never have to know any of this happened!"
Remus sighed and looked through the crowd for support.
Sir Gordon stood up again. "My daughters hand and her inheritance against everything I have lost." He rolled the dice and closed his eyes. He opened them again, slowly. Eight.
Pettigrew took the dice and mechanically rolled a nine.
Sir Gordon fell back in his chair and let out a whimper.
"Well, the odds seem to be in my favor tonight, McKinnon. I do hope it's convenient that I call on you tomorrow. Please tell the adorable Raven to expect me."
"Poor devil. He never did know when to quit," said James to Remus.
"That bet never should have been allowed."
After Sir Gordon had slowly been escorted from the room by Remus, and Remus had returned, Lord Black stepped forward.
"My Lord Pettigrew," he strode forward and pulled a brown sack from his waistcoat, "I will throw you for one hundred thousand guineas against the house and the girl."
Lord Pettigrew eyed Black suspiciously, but nodded his head. "Done! Tonight I'm unbeatable, even by you, Lord Black."
Since Black challenged, Lord Pettigrew rolled first. He rolled a ten and let out a triumphant howl. Everyone waited in anticipation as Sirius took his time picking up the dice one by one and putting them into the cup. He shook it once and turned the cup over.
"Devil take me!" said James, excitedly.
Lord Black had rolled two sixes, a twelve.
There was a gunshot outside and everyone froze. Remus sprinted to the door. He came back in a few minutes later, pale as a ghost, and shaking his head. He collected his things and rode to McKinnon Manor.
A/N: JUST IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, RAVEN'S DOG, PADFOOT, IS NOT SIRIUS. THAT'S JUST MY WAY OF INCORPORATING "PADFOOT" INTO THE STORY. A GUINEA IS EQUAL TO ONE POUND OR SHILLING IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW. THIS STORY IS SET IN THE LATE 1800'S, 1880/1890, REMEMBER. I'M SORRY THERE'S NOT MUCH OF SIRIUS IN THIS CHAPTER. HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE KEPT A LITTLE MYSTERIOUS RIGHT NOW. HE'LL BE IN EVERY OTHER CHAPTER A LOT, I PROMISE.