Author's note: I randomly decided to update this fic tonight, wanting to reply to some of the reviews. However, upon opening the word document and going to write, I no longer remember what was going to happen, lol. Well, guess I'll just have to stare at it for a while and hope it comes to me. I have a general idea of where I'm going, just nothing entirely specific.
Don't forget to read and review!

Ashley: Well, if he changes, it'll be minor (I think/hope. Characters have a way of going off on their own and simply making you write them as they'd like you to) and only for a short time. Selina is bound to be treated differently, but not a whole ton, given she's not entirely happy about her position. I'm glad you like it, and here's an update for ya, lol.

italianprincess1: I thought you might have been referring to the X and Y thing, and you definitely have a point. However, it is impossible for the male to pick and chose what the sex of the child can be. They don't willingly give either, it just happens. Nor are they able to tell exactly when the female is going to get pregnant. If both of those could happen, we'd live in a crazy world full of men going "Hmm, I know you're going to get pregnant this time, and I want it to be a male/female, thus I'm going to make sure that my Y/X makes it's way in there". Sorry to be like this, I've just taken bio for 4 years (well, science was the first 2 years, but bio was a component, straight bio was the last 2 years), learning about reproduction ¾ times in high school, the way it goes is somewhat drilled into my head.

An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin (in response to your 2 reviews): Ahh, you never cease to amuse me with your reviews. And Eric rather enjoyed this one as well. I passed it along to him. He's actually quite happy that I'm making him nicer this time around, lol. And yeah, that's how it's going to work in this fic, just for the sake of doing it. After all, I'm making everyone rather evil in here; why not go to that extent?

re sm: As I said in my reply to italianprincess1, the male is responsible for the X and Y, I don't deny it, but it's impossible for them to pick and chose what they have. They can't go around going "Oh, you're going to get pregnant this time, I know it! And we're going to have a male because I gave my Y". #1 the male doesn't get to pick weather the X or the Y goes, and #2 it's impossible to tell when the female will get pregnant for sure. It's not the female's fault either, I understand that, but that's going to be how it works in this story. It's actually quite funny that you should bring King Henry VI into this, as a friend of mine was doing a project on him a while back and sent me bits of it, and as I was reading, I found he bore a striking resemblance to Eric's father (I use Eric in a lot of my fics, so his father's not always Voldemort, though it is common.), thus it's entirely appropriate that it works out that way.

A Disgrace Redeemed: Chapter 4

Upon arrival home, Loren told Melinda and Kelvin that he wished to speak to them immediately, and they all headed into his office.

"Melinda, you've disappointed me." Loren said when the three of them were seated.
"How so, father?" Melinda asked innocently.
"Don't toy with me, girl! You know very well of what I speak.
"I've always allowed you to continue this friendship of yours with that disgraceful Selina girl, and merely asked that you get close to Eric.
"And yet it seems you couldn't do that; Eric has chosen your dear friend Selina, for reasons I have yet to understand." Loren said.

Melinda hung her head.
"I'm very sorry, father."
"You had better be." Loren replied his face entirely serious.

Loren turned to Kelvin.
"And, if I heard correctly, you and Eric are still getting along just fine; that's wonderful. However, if I heard correctly, you are to be Selina's body guard of sorts?"
"That's true, father." Kelvin replied.
"I trust you are still loyal to the dark lord and I though, correct?" Loren asked.
"Yes, father, and Eric as well." Kelvin said.
"Forget about Eric for a moment, he seems to have grown rather soft. I have a plan to end this nonsense, and I need you to carry it out." Loren said.

Melinda gasped.
"You plan on ending what Eric and Selina have?"
"Let me remind you that you will speak only when spoken to in this house, but yes, that is what I plan to do." Loren replied.
"Does the dark lord know about this?" Melinda pressed.
"No he does not, and I won't have you going around and messing this up. This plan will hopefully get Eric away from Selina and attached to you, and you will not tell a soul about it, is that understood?" Loren said sternly.
"You…you have my word, father." Melinda struggled.

"So, what's the plan?" Kelvin asked, rather curious at this point.
"I want you to act like you love Selina." Loren said.
"What?" Kelvin couldn't help himself.
"Only when the two of you are alone though.
"Eventually she will get feelings for you and Eric will find out somehow. That will make the dark lord angry, and Selina will be punished, most likely by way of death.
"This leaves Eric open, and I will conveniently suggest Melinda." Loren explained.

"Father, I…I don't know if I can do that." Kelvin said.
"If you are loyal to the dark lord and myself you will find a way to do it. It will make me happy because Melinda will be with Eric, which will make us quite loyal in the eyes of the dark lord. And the dark lord will be happy as he's not happy about Eric's choice as it is." Loren said sternly.
"Very well father, I'll find a way." Kelvin said, his eyes cast downwards.

Loren allowed Melinda and Kelvin to leave at that point, and they did so, but Melinda pulled Kelvin aside when they were far enough away from Loren's office that he wouldn't hear.

"How can you do such a thing?" She asked.
"Look, unlike you, I want to be one hundred percent loyal, just like father; if this is what it's going to take, I'll do it." Kelvin replied.
"One hundred percent loyal to whom? Obviously you're going to betray Eric while doing this." Melinda said.
"If that's what it takes, so be it." Kelvin said heartlessly.
"And to think I thought you were better than that. But be warned, Kelvin, betray Eric now and when he takes over he'll do the exact same to you." Melinda warned.
"I'll have worked my way back up in his books by then." Kelvin replied, and then walked off without another word.

Melinda headed off to her room and simply sat on her bed, staring at the wall.
What on earth was she to do? She had told her father she'd keep this plan to herself, but the plan would end up in the death of her best friend.
Selina had a right to know. Eric did too.
But she couldn't say anything. It pained her to think that, if this plan worked out, she'd be Eric's wife and Selina would have died for no reason.

At Eric's house, Eric and Voldemort were having their own conversation about Selina.

"Eric, how do you know she's going to prove to be loyal?" Voldemort asked.
"How do you know she won't? Just because her father says she's a disgrace doesn't mean she is one. I'm sure Severus only sees Selina as a disgrace because she was the reason behind his wife's death." Eric retorted.
"Eric! You will not speak of my followers in such a way." Voldemort said sternly.
"I'm sorry father, I just don't see why everyone can't leave me be happy with my choice. What will it take for you to accept her? I swear I'll have whatever it is you wish done, so long as it's in my power." Eric said.
"I just wish her to be loyal. And if Severus says she's a disgrace, she probably is one. She's already proven to be weak in both mind and physical strength." Voldemort said.
"And what will it take to show she can be loyal? Do you wish her marked? If so I'm sure I can convince her to allow it." Eric asked.
"No, she will not be marked. Not at this point in time anyway. If you manage to keep her until you wed, then I may say differently." Voldemort replied.

Eric gaped.
"You don't expect us to wed? Even after you said I could have her, heal her, and marry her?"
"Well, if she continues to be as weak as she was when I dealt with her, I'd hope you'd have a change of heart." Voldemort said.
"I don't believe this!" Eric exclaimed.
"Eric, I just want you to be happy, but also to be able to have someone that will be loyal to you for the rest of her life.
"You can't just pick up any girl you see that you think you have feelings for and say you wish to wed her." Voldemort explained.
"I didn't just pick up some girl! I picked her because I've had feelings for her for a few years now and believe I can change her so that she's to your liking, if only mildly. And you've already given me your permission to have her, thus I refuse to let you go back on your word now. If you try to stop me from marrying her, I'll disown myself and leave you without an heir!" Eric threatened, and then stormed out of the room, not caring if the conversation was over or not.

Eric went back to Selina's room and sat down beside her bed, where she was once again sleeping.
He watched her as she slept and admired how peaceful she looked.
"Oh if only we were both from different families." He said softly, reaching over and gently stroking her cheek.
"Things would be so much easier."
Selina stirred a little, but did not wake.
Eric smiled a little as he saw a smile form on Selina's face in her sleep.
"Nice to know you can be happy somewhere, if not in reality. I only hope I can make you that happy here in reality as well."

Another author's note: Sorry about the short chapter, but I think I'm gonna have to end it here. I'm getting mildly tired, and my brain's just not working as to how to move on for now.
Hope you still enjoyed it, and don't forget to review! (This is starting to be one of my better fics review wise. It's got 17 reviews and this is only chapter 4, and I have another one that has 18 reviews with 7 chapters!)