"Harry Potter?" Draco Malfoy asked, his mind reaching back, trying to pull forth something, anything to latch onto.
"My sister didn't kill his parents." Narcissa said, her normally silvery voice briefly retaining a trace of the timbre the Blacks were known for. Her face folded into a moue, not wanting to think on that.
"Close enough. She killed his godfather, Sirius Black. While cackling louder than a banshee, I might add." Granger's voice was cold
"No justice for that, I'm afraid," Draco said gravely. "Still, we were discussing the people we ought to murder preemptively. If you're willing to take Bellatrix off the list... well, a war is a war." At this Draco smirked, "I can't say I have been overly fond of the madwoman, aunt or no." Softly and gracefully, Narcissa nodded as well, before taking a sip of tea.
"She's a curious choice for someone you can 'trust', isn't she?" Granger asked.
"Predictable is the watchword, not trust." Since when do Slytherins trust anyone? Draco thought wryly. "In this case, she makes admirable cannon fodder. As would Moody, should the converse arise."
"You just plan to drop them into the heat of battle?" Granger demanded, her voice implying hands on her hips that didn't exist... quite yet, at least.
"They're most effective there. Can't order either of them, or ensure compliance in any other shape or form. They're both a bit mad, you know." Draco said, almost idly. As usual, his facade was an effective artifice - an edifice carved in stone, keeping his private thoughts walled well back from prying eyes.
"I... think," Granger blinked, swallowed, and continued, "I hope I can talk Harry out of killing Bellatrix in cold blood." With a chill in her heart, Granger looked over at the rest of the Dark contingent, her eyes nearly instantly finding the abyssal depths of the person who she knew she wouldn't be able to talk Harry out of murdering.
[a/n: I lied! Sorry, this was another cliffie too good to lose (izzit apparent who I'm talking about?). I know, I'm addicted. OTOH, I write quickly! Show some love and write a review!
Up next: they'll finally finish discussing the plan. I hope. ]
