This chapter is where things are gonna start getting interesting now with the changes that I have planned. In this chapter you'll see Ursa protesting, Ursa matchmaking and Lucius interfering.

Slytherin Tactics

Much to Ursa's horror, it didn't take her long to find out what her fathers plans were with Buckbeak. Despite writing to her father and pleading with him to listen to reason on the matter, Ursa got no response from him and instead heard from Draco in the Great Hall that her father planned on having the Hippogriff executed. Just the way that Draco had gleefully spoken about what her father planned to do to an innocent creature made Ursa's skin crawl. How dare Draco mock the animals fate when it was his fault that this was happening?

After Ursa did get a response from her father about Buckbeak, he confirmed her worst fears and said that no matter what she did, he was going to have the creature pay for what it did to Draco. In response, Ursa had tried writing to her mother in an attempt to have her reason with Lucius, but Ursa figured that she should've known better than to try and convince her mother otherwise after Buckbeak had hurt Draco. If there was one thing that anyone knew about Narcissa Malfoy, it was that if you messed with her children, you were messing with her too.

What annoyed Ursa the most was how Draco was milking every bit of his injury. Ursa had seen Draco act like that before whenever he wanted special treatment at home, and he was making it work for him at school too. She hated how people were just letting Draco act the way he was because he clearly wasn't as injured as he was making himself look, though Ursa knew that people did not want to question the seriousness of Draco's injury with the fear of having to deal with Lucius Malfoy. But Ursa was willing to take her father head-on if it meant convincing him not to execute Buckbeak.

"I can't believe that your father wants to have Buckbeak executed. It's just… wrong," Hermione sighed as they sat in the library one night.

"That's my father for you," Ursa muttered.

"I just don't see why this is necessary. Couldn't your father just have Buckbeak removed from Hogwarts and taken to some kind of Hippogriff enclosure? Why does he have to be executed?" Hermione said.

"Because, Minnie, if there's one thing that my father loves, it's showing off his power. Power is intimidating, and with the kind of power that my father is displaying, it does not make people want to turn against the Malfoys," Ursa reasoned. "Plus, I'm sure that my father is only resorting to execution because it is what Draco wants. If Draco wanted otherwise, then perhaps my father might have decided to be more merciful, or as merciful as he can get."

"This is all your stupid brothers fault," Hermione scowled. "He was the one who insulted Buckbeak after Hagrid told us that Hippogriffs were sensitive creatures. He was asking for a retaliation like that."

"When have you ever known my brother to listen to an authority figure that he doesn't respect? The only teacher that Draco listens to around here is Snape," Ursa said.

"Snape only cares about your brother because he's a Slytherin. I bet you that if Draco was in any other house, Snape wouldn't give him the special treatment like he does," Hermione insisted.

"I think you mean that Snape only cares about Draco because of his connection to our family. Even if Draco was in another house, Snape would still probably give him special treatment," Ursa corrected.

"Whatever," Hermione grumbled. "Did you know that your brother managed to use his injury as a way to get the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match pushed back?"

"No I did not, though it doesn't surprise me to see Draco use his injury to get out of something like that," Ursa replied.

"This whole thing is just too horrible. Ursa, you have to keep trying to get your evil father to change his mind and spare Buckbeak. He doesn't deserve this fate just because your brother is an idiot," Hermione said.

"I know. But Minnie, there's only so much that I can do. Haven't I told you enough just how little my father values my opinion?" Ursa asked.

"Well, then try and use your inner-Slytherin or something. You might be a Ravenclaw, but you do come from a family of Slytherins," Hermione suggested.

"I suppose that you do have a point, and I most certainly am not ignorant to the Slytherin qualities that I do possess," Ursa stated.

"Then please use them to save Buckbeak," Hermione pleaded.

"I mean it when I say that I am trying my best, Minnie. But there is only so much that I will be able to do," Ursa said.

"I know, but you're the only one who will really be able to do anything," Hermione pointed out.

Although Ursa certainly didn't want the pressure of a living creature on her shoulders, she knew that Hermione was right and that if there was anyone who could talk her father around executing Buckbeak, it would be her. But it was definitely going to take a lot of convincing, and this would have to be one of those rare times when Ursa would have to put her Slytherin hat on and use those qualities for good.

~*•°•*~

As well as trying to prepare a defence for Buckbeak, Ursa spent some of her time living up to her promise to tutor Marcus. Ursa certainly wasn't a stranger to tutoring, since up until her sixth year she had tutored first years in every subject. Now that Ursa's schedule was pushing her to the limits, she decided against tutoring first years. Now she was tutoring a seventh year, which might seem strange to some but Ursa had naturally already read ahead of the content so she could help Marcus understand the basics of what he needed to know.

They spent most of their time studying underneath the Quidditch stands, which was certainly unformattable for Ursa since she had caught more than a handful of people doing non-Quidditch related activities under the stairs during her time as a Prefect. Their studying generally consisted of Marcus getting confused with the most simplest things, which irked Ursa to no end. Then somehow Oliver Wood would get thrown into their conversations, and Ursa was beginning to notice how Marcus would make any excuse to talk about Wood. So it really was a challenge for Ursa to get Marcus' head in the in the game.

"Alright, so in order of their placement, list the astrological signs," Ursa ordered.

"Oh fuck," Marcus muttered. "Um, Aries? Tortoise? Geronimo? Don't know and uh, don't care?"

Ursa groaned, "No! The zodiac signs in order are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. We've been over this like ten times!"

"It's not that easy to remember!" Marcus argued.

"I could remember it by the time I was five!" Ursa exclaimed.

"That's easy for you to say when you come from a family that names people after fucking stars," Marcus remarked.

"Alright then, what star am I named after?" Ursa questioned.

"Um… Ursula?" Marcus replied.

"No!" Ursa grumbled. "Your I don't know how many greats-grandmother Ursula Flint is Ursula on her own. She was a Flint who married a Black. I am a Black and my star is Ursa Minor and or Ursa Major."

"I didn't realise that Astronomy meant memorising so many stars and patterns," Marcus muttered.

"That's exactly what Astronomy is you dummy!" Ursa snapped.

"Hey, I didn't accept your help so that you could insult me," Marcus growled.

Ursa sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated. I've tutored plenty of first years before I've tutored you and they never knew what I was talking about. I'm just taking my frustration out on you and that's not fair."

"What's there to be frustrated about?" Marcus asked. "You're not the one who's clawing their way to graduate."

"I'm frustrated about Draco," Ursa stated.

"What about him?" Marcus wondered.

"This whole Buckbeak situation. The Hippogriff most certainly does not deserve to be executed because my brother is an idiot and I am trying everything I can to talk some sense into my father so that he will spare the poor creature," Ursa explained.

"Your brother has always been a bit of a git," Marcus pointed out. "But hey, I have no problems with using it to my advantage."

"Like getting out of having to play against Wood first?" Ursa pointed out.

"I'm a Slytherin, Malfoy. We're probably the most opportunistic of the four houses. I saw an opportunity to better our chances, so I took it," Marcus said.

"What more of an advantage could you need than the Nimbus 2001s that you gave up your Seeker for just so that Draco would be on the team?" Ursa asked.

"Hey, the deal didn't go down the way that you think it did," Marcus argued.

"Then how?" Ursa crossed her arms.

"Your damn father said that if I didn't let your squirt of a brother play Seeker that he'd get Snape to kick me off the team. Quidditch is all I have so there was no way that I was gonna let that happen. So then I made the deal that I'd let his kid on if he hooked us up with the broomsticks," Marcus explained.

"Using Slytherin tactics to get one-up on Lucius Malfoy? I'm impressed. Maybe there's hope for you yet," Ursa teased.

"Oh, like you've never used your Slytherin side to get something that you want," Marcus snapped.

"That's what I'm trying to do to get my father to quit being an evil monster and spare Buckbeak," Ursa said.

"It's times like this when I can hardly believe that you're actually a Malfoy. All your brother has been talking about in the Common Room since the Hippogriff attacked him is how he can't wait for it to be executed, while you're trying to do everything you can to save it," Marcus remarked.

"It's called doing the right thing, something that Draco was raised to do the exact opposite of," Ursa muttered.

"Yeah, your brother is a pain in the butt," Marcus agreed.

"Hey, don't go acting like you're all innocent too, you meathead," Ursa snapped. "Only an ass sneaks out of having to play against his biggest rival."

"I was presented with an opportunity and I took it," Marcus argued.

"And I'm sure that Wood loved that," Ursa said sarcastically.

Marcus scoffed, "Who cares what Wood thinks? It's about time that something didn't go his way. I mean, he got Potter. I just got stuck with your squirt of a brother who can't even stay focused enough to spot the snitch when it's right next to his bloody ear!"

"You did get Nimbus 20001s for it," Ursa reasoned.

"Yeah, only cause your evil father threatened to kick me off the team," Marcus scowled.

"Well, at least my father did that to your face instead of just being a chicken about it," Ursa remarked.

"Hey, I went to Wood and told him myself," Marcus argued.

Ursa narrowed her eyes, "Really, and how did he react?"

"He was pissed. Serves him right. Then he started going off on how I was being unfair and that they weren't prepared for Hufflepuff tactics," Marcus said.

"It is unfair," Ursa interjected.

"Anyways, if Gryffindor's team is as good as everyone says it is, then they should be able to handle any house at any given time," Marcus stated.

"Ah, I see," Ursa pursed her lips. "You chickened out because you're scared of losing."

"I am not! Slytherin has won the Quidditch Cup for three years in a row and it is not going to end now. I bet you anything that we would've won last year as well if they hadn't bloody cancelled Quidditch," Marcus declared.

"I don't know, their team is said to be the best its been in years," Ursa reasoned.

"Please," Marcus scoffed. "They're nothing without Potter. Don't you remember how they had no Seeker after he murdered Quirrell and they suffered their worst defeat in years? Wood was so freaking depressed after that, I heard he tried to drown himself in the shower. Apparently that's how he handles defeat. Pathetic, really."

"You seem to take great pride in making Oliver lose," Ursa commented thoughtfully.

"Of course I do. He always gives me that damn smirk whenever he blocks my goals and I just love wiping it off his damn face," Marcus proclaimed.

"I don't know, his smirk is pretty attractive. And he's muscular. Who wouldn't want a muscular boyfriend?" Ursa remarked.

"So what? He's still an ass," Marcus said.

"Aha!" Ursa grinned. "You just admitted that you find Wood attractive."

"I did not! That is not what I said. Don't twist my words, Malfoy," Marcus glared at her.

Ursa sighed, "Marcus, one of these days you're going to have to put your big boy pants on and face the fact that you're only so competitive with Oliver Wood because he has been your greatest challenger, which you can't help but admire because not many people have been able to take you on like Wood does. You hate the fact that he does it, but for some inexplicable reason it gets you all riled up in a way that makes you want it more. And you don't want to face that fact that maybe somehow you have some twisted feelings for him but don't want to accept them because you've convinced yourself that Wood would never return them."

Marcus just looked like he'd been punched in the face.

"What? You might act like you hate him but you don't. You just hate him cause it's what comes natural. It's like my brother and that Hermione Granger girl. You guys only hate each other because it's what you're supposed to do but if you were given the chance to be friends, you would get along great," Ursa stated.

"Wow, you must be on some crack, Malfoy. I don't know where you got it, but I'd sure as hell like some," Marcus said.

Ursa rolled her eyes, "I'm being serious, but you can choose to live in denial all you want."

"I am not in denial. I have no hidden feelings or whatever bullshit you think I have for Wood. I hate him, he hates me. That's it," Marcus snapped as he began to gather his things. "Thanks for the study session."

"Come on, Marcus. I realise that this might be a lot for you to handle but you're better off just accepting the reality than letting it eat you up inside before you end up doing something that you regret like declaring your unadulterated love for Wood on a crowded Quidditch pitch," Ursa argued.

"That would never happen because I have no feelings for Wood whatsoever. Any feelings that I have for Wood are what you have invented in that delusional Ravenclaw mind of yours," Marcus growled. "I'm out of here."

"Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, Marcus," Ursa called out as Marcus left the room, and she was pretty sure that he had given her the finger on his way out.

There was definitely something about Oliver Wood that always seemed to get under Marcus' skin. Ursa might be completely off-based by suggesting that he had some kind of feelings for the Gryffindor, but in Ursa's experience that was more likely the probable cause of Marcus' unnecessary hatred of Oliver Wood. At least thinking about that gave Ursa some time to distract herself from everything that was going on.

But with another tutoring session gone, Ursa's mind went straight back to Buckbeak, because she was equally determined to save the Hippogriff just as she was to help Marcus pass his N.E.W.T.s.

~*•°•*~

The first Hogsmeade trip of the year always brought excitement to the students at Hogwarts. Ursa rarely actually went to Hogsmeade, but for this first trip of the year, she had more than enough reason to go. After trying her best to convince her father to spare Buckbeak, Ursa was just about ready to give up on the matter until her father ordered a meeting at Hogsmeade on the day of their first visit for the year. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to try and talk some sense to her father, Ursa was all-too happy to agree to meet him in one of the private spots at the Three Broomsticks.

So on the weekend before Halloween, Ursa made sure to look her best and planned on giving her father no reason not to take her seriously. While her friends planned on exploring the village, Ursa would be seeing her father in private at the Three Broomsticks. Once she arrived, that was where Ursa headed before the landlady of the establishment, Madam Rosmerta, escorted her to one of the private rooms.

"Your father is in there, Miss Malfoy," Rosmerta said.

"Thank you," Ursa smiled politely before entering the room.

It was a nice and cosy setup, but Ursa could tell that her father was hardly pleased about the setting. But she was certainly eager to find out why he had insisted on meeting her here, so Ursa wasted no time in starting the conversation.

"Hello, Father. You are looking well," Ursa greeted him.

"Let us get down to business, Ursa," Lucius said, gesturing for her to sit down with him.

"Why is it that you insisted on meeting with me in person to discuss whatever it is that you wish to discuss with me?" Ursa wondered.

"Your mother thought that it would be appropriate if we handled this conversation face to face, since you clearly have enough to say if your letters are anything to go by," Lucius replied.

"And what is it that you wish to discuss?" Ursa questioned.

"It has become apparent to your mother and I that you seem to care a great deal about the fate of that wretched Hippogriff that attacked your brother," Lucius stated.

Ursa sucked in a deep breath, "I care because this is a matter of what is right and what is wrong, Father. While I understand the need to assert our dominance in society, I do not believe that ordering the assassination of a creature is the best way to do that. That has the same equivalent of us calling a muggleborn a Mudblood in public, it's not a good look. Surely there must be another way for you to show your power without the risk of besmirching the image that the family has worked so hard to preserve?"

"You are a good speaker, Ursa. Clearly your time in Ravenclaw has honed that skill," Lucius drawled. "And you may have made a few points in your argument."

"I did?" Ursa stammered.

"Yes, you did. I am willing to suspend the Hippogriffs trial and even spare it if you are willing to do something for me," Lucius said. Here we go.

"And what would that be?" Ursa asked with a sense of dread.

"I want you to have dinner with the Flints over the Christmas holidays," Lucius stated.

"The Flints? As in, Marcus Flints family?" Ursa clarified.

"Yes, them," Lucius nodded.

"Why?" Ursa asked.

Lucius scoffed, "Come now, Ursa. Surely you should be able to figure out why I would want you to meet with them."

Ursa sighed, "You want us to discuss marriage."

"That is correct. You are nearly seventeen, Ursa. It is time that you start seriously considering your future beyond Hogwarts. As I have said, your mother and I were already betrothed by the time she left Hogwarts, so it does not matter if your suitor is older than you," Lucius said.

"But you'll cancel Buckbeak's trial if I agree to this dinner?" Ursa checked.

"It will all have to depend on how the dinner goes. If you keep an open mind and behave yourself, I will take back my orders," Lucius answered.

"If me meeting with the Flints will change your mind, then I guess I'll do it anyways," Ursa conceded.

"Excellent. But remember, Ursa. If that dinner does not go well, I will have that Hippogriff executed and make sure that you are the first to know that you were responsible," Lucius threatened.

"Of course, Father," Ursa just about spat out. I wouldn't expect any less from you.

"Then we are done here," Lucius declared as he got up to leave before giving Ursa one last look. "But from what Draco tells me, it shouldn't be that hard for you to feign interest in Marcus Flint. I will see you at Christmas, Ursa."

With a frustrated sigh, Ursa gathered her things and left the Three Broomsticks in a hurry. After he impromptu visit with her father, Ursa barely had any interest in entertaining herself with Hogsmeade now that she had to seriously entertain the thought of marriage. Of course her father would find a way to bribe her into doing something for him to change his mind. Ursa should've known better than to think that he'd just change his mind without there being something in it for him. That was always how her father worked his deals, and Ursa had been foolish to think that he would be different with her.

"Bloody meddlesome father," Ursa muttered.

As Ursa left Hogsmeade with a scowl on her face, she couldn't help but notice what appeared to be a stray dog wandering around. Come to think of it, Ursa could've sworn that she'd seen the same dog near Platform and ¾ before her departure for school. The dog had been sitting outside the train station, almost as if it was waiting for someone. Ursa had approached it, but the dog quickly ran away. But surely this couldn't be the same dog? Most dogs looked the same, right?

Nevertheless, Ursa tried approaching the stray dog for what she assumed to be the second time. This time, when the dog noticed her it gave a rather cranky growl before letting out a harsh bark. For a second Ursa thought that the dog was going to come at her, but instead it just turned around and ran off.

"Well, that was rude," Ursa commented. "And strange. This is why I prefer cats."

Deciding to just let it go, Ursa headed back to the carriages to wait for their return back to Hogwarts. One thing that Ursa would not let go was whatever the impending doom that a dinner with the Flints would bring. Regardless of how it ended, Ursa could not see things turning out well for her. But if it meant saving Buckbeak, then she was willing to do whatever she could.

So, it seems like Ursa's managed to talk her father around for the time being, though not without any ulterior motives from him. Ursa also seems to have met a familiar stray, which may or may not come up again. And what's this? Ursa playing matchmaker? But first, we'll just have to see how her dinner with the Flint family goes and if she'll be able to hold it together for one night to save Buckbeak.