The weeks following the invitation were a bit odd - I did more dance practice, and made sure to include Sarah in these practices. Oftentimes we would discuss various things that were hot on the current political landscape, as shown in the prophet and as said by word of mouth in Hogwarts, but eventually we settled into a more relaxed routine.
It isn't like we'd get too much better by hyper-focusing on one or two things, we decided. We were plenty good at doing the basic ballroom dances, and it was doubtful we'd be asked to do more. We could, of course, do more. That, for now, would not be the focus.
When I was asked about the 'why', I gave her the simple deflecting response of "We've decided to focus on the basic movements for now. Once we've mastered a few basic dances, which use all the forms of movement, we'll move on to advanced things." It was a good deflection, and how you were taught in dance academies in my last life.
Mastering a form of movement makes dancing in that form much easier. It was true for all forms of dancing. This, of course, is including verbal dances. When I really tried to verbally joust with Sarah, my past life and all the experience born from it shined through.
I still took bad arguments, to get her sense more acutely honed for 'I have an advantage to press here' but for the most part I showed her how to keep up with a superior opponent, verbally. What was most important is her being able to give the illusion of being of similar level to whomever she's talking with.
That's something any politician can do, and it's also something they respect if you can do it decently.
Something I'm sure helped was the fact that the discussions often led themselves. I would take a position and knowledge place I knew was highly defensible to the average Pureblood and guided her (through lots of trial and error) to the best possible conversation path.
Often I would bait poor responses or unfavorable ones with simple tricks, like "Don't worry about me, you can tell me how you actually feel about…" or similar. Very common ways and tricks used by people to test if you actually knew anything about 'the game'. Previously I'd been giving her more general knowledge, and while she'd understood… she never had to apply it before now, and was quickly learning why there is no replacement for experience.
It was two weeks before the Ball when I ordered our dresses. They were very similar, but as close to opposites on the color scale as I could allow with our color pallets. Mine is a white and sky-blue, while hers was White and a lighter shade of Bronze. The Dresses arrived a couple days after they were ordered, along with the shoes - heeled ballroom affairs - and jewelry. All of that was simple, complimentary bits of jewelry. Children don't need elaborate junk.
I showed her how to apply 'proper' makeup, and then we practiced, on three occasions in our 'full regalia.' and three times in just the dresses and heels. I drafted Cedric and Adrian to help us dance with male Partners, too, in this time, though I only let Cedric see us fully dolled up, since he wasn't going to be able to make it to the ball, for certain. Adrian's family almost certainly wouldn't show up but may be contacted for some reason.
His reaction was suitable enough for what we needed.
"Wha..?" He started, as we entered the room, mouth agape. "Who are you and what have you done with my bookish friends?" He asks jokingly. "I'm afraid they don't dress up quite as nice as you, and are a bit shorter.." he says and I slap his arm in a friendly way.
"Prat. We need help dancing, and you're to help. I told you to dress up, I suppose you'll do." I tell him, joking right back. He was in a set of formal robes, last season's styles, but close to what we'd see at the party. Wearing formal shoes as well, which I'm told are killer on the feet (though not so much as heels).
I took a seat and waved them together. "I'll be watching for the first half hour, then we'll break and go over what we can improve on, then I'll go for thirty and we'll break again. Then me and Sarah will dance for thirty and then we'll be done for the night. Any detail isn't too small. We really need to nail this." I say commandingly.
"Yes Ma'am!" Cedric says snapping a jaunty salute to me, while Sarah enters her 'politician' mode.
"Well, Cedric." She says in her cool, practically frigid voice. "How do you feel about the recent laws on cauldrons, and the standard size of their handles? What are your impressions on how this might affect the quality and safety of brewers?" She asks and Cedric goes wide eyed at her perfect enactment of a Pureblood princess, before settling into a cocky grin of a Pureblood prince.
"Well, I personally think them a travesty, a waste of parchment. Honestly, how will the Hogwarts students get their hands around a handle which is six-and-three-quarter's centimeters? I suspect no less than twenty first years will need new cauldrons next year due to dropping the unwieldy things!" He says, and so they go. For thirty minutes, talking about recent events while dancing a few variations on the Waltz, a Foxtrot and then a more generic simple wind-down to end their numbers.
I did the same with Cedric, then with Sarah. In between we did simple deliberation, how to handle Cedric's style of talking, and how to handle mine. Things we did wrong (Cedric didn't probe enough. I didn't let enough out, so people didn't bite. Sarah was a bit too obvious when she was trying to bait, letting out just a little too much.)
What do I learn from the night in the end?
Cedric is good at dancing, but not so great at politics. He's too honest, which isn't a bad thing. It just made him more likable, to me, but to the more hardcore old politician types, well, he'd be eaten alive. He'd never be a master of the room, he just was too nice.
Sarah was good at both, but didn't know how to handle really sudden shocks of new things. This could be fixed in time.
I was also good at both, but didn't know how to 'tone down' my game to be comprehensible and playable for people who are very below my skill. I had a 'vibe' of 'very skilled speaker' - or so I'd been told. Compared to them, I guess I was okay?
I still got two points in Etiquette and politics in those last couple sessions, and five in dancing. But, it was all too quickly time to go out for the ball.
The night of, we were dolling up. It wasn't anything too intense, anymore. Nothing more than a practiced set, now. It still took two hours, but it was far faster than the just-over-three-hours it had been a couple weeks ago. As I finished putting my jewelry on, I cast the finishing spell - one to give my skin that 'radiant glow' most muggles would get from a good day at the spa.
Basically it was a very minor enchantment to enhance all good looking things to a person, while also making my skin and clothes look like they were fresh from a trip to the spa and cleaners. I flicked the spell onto Sarah as well, seeing her clipping her last bracelets on.
"Well, this is different. Where did you learn this trick?" She asks, fluffing her hair in the mirror, clearly happy with the effect.
"I learned it from my mum. She insisted I learn it before I come to Hogwarts - something about pulling out all the stops for really important occasions." I tell her, double checking myself in my own (conjured) mirror. "I think my first truly political foray is as good a time as any to really go all out, don't you?" I ask, jumping a bit as I remember the pin the Greengrass' sent. I hand it to Sarah, so she can find the best place for it. It's a very nice looking pin, and I made sure she knew not to poke me with it. My hair is quite voluminous, so it's not hard to find a spot to put it in. Once it's placed (as a supportive pin for the clips holding my hair in place, which is in a fancy formal updo) I smile at her.
"Well, I think it's a shame not every witch knows it... I know I don't know how to do it. I know you'll be telling me - soon - how to do it though." She says a bit pointedly. I sigh, but nod.
"Of course. Are you ready to head over to the Great Hall, to meet up with Daphne?" I ask, and she nods. I take her arm and she gets a light dusting of red on her cheeks, which I think is adorable! Then I led her on down and out of the tower.
Most of the castle was busy playing some game or another. Most of the youngest playing tag, or hide and seek. Middle years were playing board games outdoors, or were just walking and talking. Any way you cut it, people were outside of the castle, and this means I didn't see them. It being the weekend before a break for the holiday was pretty convenient. Those that did see us stepped aside, muggleborns in clear shock or, sometimes, understanding. The few purebloods we passed gave us bows or curtsies.
As I was closing in on the destination the first person who broke the rule crossed my path, rather rudely.
"Oi, lads, looks like we got a princess, all dolled up!" the masculine voice snorts derisively. "Where do you think you're going?" A familiar voice asked me, and I turned to the voice, sighing. How had what was a decent way to start a friendship turned to this? I remember what our relationship status was, having reviewed it not a week ago.
Cormac Mclaggan -6/10 - Feelings towards you - Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Desire, Betrayal.
"We're going to a Solstice Ball, Cormac. I apologize for not having the proper time to continue this conversation - perhaps when I get back..?" I try.
"Oh, funny you think you're going anywhere. I didn't say you could leave, and I don't feel like stopping this conversation, traitor." He tells me, and I blink. If anything he was the one who'd betrayed our trust and offers of friendship, no?
I then noticed he'd drawn his wand, as he finished the sentence. Formal dresses, in the style of wizarding culture, don't have sleeves. Thankfully my Wand Holster was top of the line, and as such it could be invisible. It currently was. On my right arm, you couldn't even see the indent caused by the staps, my skin-tight gloves were quite good at hiding it.
"Really, you don't want to start something right now, Cormac. We don't have time, and if you cause us to be late, it could be quite a poor showing for the heir of the house, no? I really have our best interests in mind. If you won't let me continue unassailed, however…" I trail, a threatening lilt in my voice.
To stop a bully, thief or even an assassin from trying something, show you're willing, and able to fight back. They usually back off.
"Threats? With what weapon? No I think I'll do whatever I please, here." He gloats, bringing up his wand, slowly and gloatingly.
I eject my wand into my hand as he starts and whip it up, catching his spell - a petrifier - and fling it into a wall with a duelists shield, then begin my spell-chain to disable an opponent. He is knocked out and tied up mere seconds later, having been frozen in shock. I flick my eyes to his gang - a few other third years - and loosely tilt my head.
"And you?" I ask, and the three boys raise their hands in defeat. I shoo them off with my wand.
They run off, leaving Cormac on the floor.
"I'm sorry you felt betrayed, Cormac. If you'd come at any time to our study group, we would have welcomed you. Instead you stayed away and resented us for not giving an invite. Well, consider the open door policy officially closed, to you and all others. I still hope, at least you'll get more loyal friends." I tell him, pushing my wand back into the holster, and retake Sarah's arm. Then I keep walking, right down the hall.
I processed the Observe I'd cast, and was saddened by the results.
He - so far as I know - is presently the weakest (according to stats) member of his year. He hadn't even put in effort to improve. If nothing else, I hope this gave him incentive to improve himself, if only to best me someday.
He's not 'evil' - just misguided, spoilt and horribly adjusted to reality. Many evils had been born from such starts, I hoped he would prove to beat the stereotype. Show he could be good in spite of his situation.
It wasn't four minutes later we arrived in the entry-hall.
"Daphne, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much of the annoying politics will I be dealing with, today and tomorrow?" I ask nicely as we're in the carriages out to the edge of the ward-boundary.
"Tonight? Expect a good eight or nine. We have all kinds of families attending, Everyone from the Malfoys, Notts and Corbins to the Longbottoms, Bones and Shafiq clans. You and I are the only neutrals of our age who will be present, though I suspect some other Neutrals will make it, the Travers, for example, are always up in the air, with their business and the Davis family usually shows up, but sometimes is occupied." She tells me. I groan. A grade-A clusterfuck, then. I'm ornamented with a hairpin which will mark me for every single pureblood in the room.
They'll try to make me or break me, for the potential alliance.
Thank god I have experience and the skills to stand up to their bullshit. I glance at Sarah, who fidgets nervously under mine and Daphne's examination.
"Well, I think I'll be fine. Try to keep an eye on Sarah for me, when I can't? I wouldn't want her to get verbally abused. I've only had a few months to really work with her, and while she's good, she's not quite pristine in all her pureblood etiquettes and so forth, considering how different they are from the norm for her. She does know the basics, though." Which are 'treat everyone like they're 3+ stations Higher than you and only call them 'm'lord' or 'm'lady' as appropriate. Exceptions include them telling you not to. That is all. Curtsey and offer hands to males, palm down. Only curtsey (but deeply) to women. Bow your head a touch as well. Etc.
"Of course. If I read papa's intentions right, we want you to come out smelling like a rose, no matter the final choice." She says, I smile quietly, and nod.
"Why?" Sarah asks. Daphne and I share a look.
"We're two of three Druidic Neutral houses left. We're just ensuring the Neutrals are safe - as it were." I tell her, and Daphne nods.
"Basically it's to make us look a lot better as a faction, then it is anything else. If she is genuinely impressive enough, even with our help, then she'll probably get the check-mark. The Malfoy family and the Nott family are the other two, but the Notts are losing to the Malfoys, and they know it. They'll probably do what we're doing, but for Malfoy." Daphne says, and I see Sarah's head spinning as the gears align all this information.
"Basically just follow the rules and keep your head on straight, like me and Cedric taught you to, and you'll be fine. Ask me - or Daphne - all the questions you have for us later - after the party." I tell her, then look at Daphne sharply.
"And you did dodge my question of how Politic-y it'll be after-the-fact." I tell her. She grins, and if grins could cut, I'd have a large gash right now.
"No one knows. How impressive will you be?" She tells me and I 'harrumph' and kinda flop in my chair in rather unladylike manner.
"Suppose I'll be more impressive than everyone else, if I have a say." I tell her, and her predatory grin widens.
"I look forward to it." She tells me.
"Good." I close the conversation. Time to focus, people. Showtime in 5.
As expected, the decor for the event was a decadent, though tasteful, show of wealth and power. Light colors were abundant, no one I'd see had a color darker than a smokey-grey, except for the occasional formal black overcoats, from the more 'modern' dresses at the party. Most were wearing traditional robes, simple finery and patterning.
Spring was not about how extravagant you could be, it was a show of taste. Summer balls, those were where you went over the top. Summer or Winter, really.
As I walked in about, though, greeting the people I'd yet to meet, and exchanging quick hello's with those I did know, I was recovering from a mental shock.
Eight "Awakened" were here. Two upstairs. Probably the Greengrass Couple. I checked the ones in this room - all six of the others. Lord Malfoy, Lord Nott, Madame Longbottom, Madame Bones, Lord Shafiq and a lady who was introduced as Lady Davis. There was no Lord Davis here, so I guess he was busy?
After introductions, the awakened watched me, subtly, as I went through the room. More than once did I catch one looking me over, when I turned. For some, like Lord Shafiq, it was a friendly thing. Proud. For some, like Lord Malfoy, it was more of annoyance, like I had a slight smell he didn't like.
As the linchpins of the room were eyes on me, no one was paying Sarah any mind. It was clear from the occasional glance no one had any clue who she was, they didn't single her out, at all. They didn't seem to know she was Muggleborn, though, in her formal Spring ball-Dress, similar to all other Pureblood women in the room, and her perfect posture and greetings.
Huh, I figured everyone would be able to tell. I guess her slightly nervous aura was being ignored as 'first formal function' or such. Maybe they thought she was from some minor house, like the Clan Gronan or Thabe? Hair and eyes looked similar enough for the norm, I guess.
Whatever.
Greetings were quickly done, though. It only took 20 minutes to work through the sixty-odd bigwig Purebloods and the twenty-some children who had either managed to escape Hogwarts, or were just slightly too young for it, and were being introduced to the 'who's who' ahead of time. Gotta love politics!
The 'children' were, for the most part, obviously bored. Except for the sole Sixth Year, who was from the Corbin Family, and was currently discussing… The proper depth of runes when carved in Granite? How did that come up?
I found myself gravitating to a small cluster of older women - Lady Narcissa Malfoy and Reagent Agusta Longbottom having a chat, while Lady Mellissa Carmichael chimed in occasionally. I was drawn to this cluster as it was the 'most powerful' in the room which I could approach. It was showing I wasn't intimidated by the big kids on the block.
"Good evening, ladies." I say, striding up as they finish their last topic of the latest perfumes. Sarah, slightly behind me as my gait widened a touch to seem 'in command' of the situation. "How is the evening finding you, as we wait for our host to arrive?" I ask, a very standard opening, one used to gain a foot in the group. I'm allowed my unspoken request.
"Well, it's going quite kindly for myself presently. I'm surprised, though. Your family is not well known for coming to events such as this - where is your father?" Lady Malfoy asks. I smile politely at her as she not-too-subtly is asking to 'speak with my manager'.
"He is presently at home, I suspect. I came as the sole representative of my family, tonight, with his blessing of course." I tell her. My riposte of 'I'm more than enough for this' keenly gets through for her.
"Oh? Indeed? Well, I suppose I've just been curious as to what your family's impressions of the recent laws proposed are. Would you have any idea on those?" She asks something I shouldn't know, really. 'You are, in fact, not enough'.
Too bad papa never really hid this bit from us. So I knew all about it.
"Well, for the most part the laws are really circular ways to get a change which is a long tangent from the true goal of the policy. You just have to read the bylaws and amendments to the laws that are passed and you can see the true purpose. I don't think we need many new laws, but the ones proposed by the vast majority either will destroy something we need to keep - our traditions - or they will remove any basis for the rules in the first place, and our moral High-ground as the second oldest Magical country still standing with their original traditions and intents, behind China." I say. This is a standard line I know and toe actively. The neutral stance just makes sense in my mind. Narcissia has almost imperceptibly paled, realizing I actually know something about stuff. "Both of these are extraordinarily important to retain. We all saw what happened to Japan, Germany and France fifty years ago, at the end of the War. If we lose our high-ground and can't change in the ways we need to access the newer magics and study them, then we'll lose all face we have on the international scene. Then we'll lose our lead in magic, and then we'll fall behind. When this happens, we'll be a laughing-stock. Like Russia was around the first world war." I conclude. Lady Longbottom nods at this. I continue, ignoring this. "On the flip-side, if we lose our druidic traditions in this transition, then we lose what keeps our magic special. We will lose our edge and fall down to the level of a normal country. Both cases are bad endings we seek to avoid. What of you, lady Malfoy? Perhaps you can change my mind, or give me something to think about?" I ask. I'm very direct, and blunt with my statements because it will throw her off. Also, applying a blunt force instrument to most Purebloods will shatter them.
Lady Malfoy is made of sterner stuff, it turns out.
"Well, I think if we change our basis, like France and Germany have, we'll open up to more magic, while retaining the old magics, as you say. The international community would respect the change, and willingness to grow with the times. We're already something of a joke, with our outdated ways and lack of modern magical advances." She replies. "I can see we agree on the changing of the ancient druidic traditions of the Isles. Truly, the only places which can boast any similarity are China and Egypt, all other countries have inferior Wizards, it would seem, due to a lack of proper culture." She continues, but Lady Longbottom lets out a merry chuckle, cutting Lady Malfoy from continuing.
"If you're so bent on changing our international face, then we may as well change the roots of the tree, too. We can move to enhance ourselves at our core with some changes and getting rid of useless traditions." She comments and so we have the trichotomy.
You can sample and steal the best ideas - as the dark families want to do - but keep your base magical rituals and so forth the same as they've always been. This is very conservative, and is exactly what Magical China does. However, Magical China, while having the Strongest average 'peak' wizards, also has the lowest average for 'weak' wizards. Very… tricky to manage.
You can, on the flip-side, take that new magic, all of it, good and bad, and put it in your traditions, culling the older stuff which isn't quite the same due to the minute shifts in astral bodies and continents over the millennia they've been in play. This is a very liberal - forward facing ideology. This is what Germany and France and Japan did after World War 2. They have since produced slightly-above average wizards very consistently. Only a few stand outs in either direction have been produced in the last sixty years from any of the countries. This is the risk of the new power - losing your chance at Magical titans like Dumbledore, who could surely swat the whole of the Magical Auror office of Germany, with little to no help.
Or you can be the middle. Reject all change until it's proven it will improve quality of life. The Grey. My family. The issue with this is if you don't change, you stagnate, and that which stagnates too long invariably dies. We have to moderate exactly which side wins which debates very carefully. What is allowed in and what is cut off? We've managed it for hundreds of years. Neutrality, in the 20th century, though, has been dying.
You're either for massive changes right now, or for sampling them and slowly integrating the big stuff over time. There is no "Change this bit right now and slowly integrate this other bit" like what we want. All one way or another.
And so, we hate it. No power and no responsibility. I suppose it's because there's been two massive powerhouses and names for the Light and the Dark since. Dumbledore and Harry Potter for the Light and Grindelwald and Voldemort for the Dark. No neutral representation in Europe. No. There aren't any magical titans who fall into the neutral bucket. I think cutting off useless stuff makes sense, but I would want to keep tribal knowledge of how it works so we can reference it later. The Light doesn't even want that much to be kept.
Our discussion would go around, with each of us rewording our statements at least 10 times each, before we ended it with a consensus to see who's side won in the votes, then.
We all know, of course, I'll be thirty or forty before a choice is made. Such is the political machine when not in, or recovering from, a war.
It was fifteen minutes after I'd finished talking with Lady Longbottom and Lady Malfoy when Lord Greengrass appeared, and announced the dancing was to begin, now, and that we'd feast after, at eight-o-clock. The Ball, he announced, will end at Nine PM.
As it was Five PM, we had three hours of Dancing ahead of us. I opened with Sarah, as was expected, since she was my guest. I then traded with an older man - probably fourty or so, who was dancing with his son or nephew. I took the older man as my Partner. I recalled him to be Lord Omar Shafiq. I couldn't remember his relation to the boy he had with him, but the boy seemed flustered, dancing with the man, and was more than happy to trade.
"Ah, young Aubrey. I think the last time I saw you, for any length of time was when you were two years old. Your father had you for the day, and you were toddling around the ministry. How have you been?" He opens with (what I know to be true, though he may not know this) story. That had happened.
"I've been quite well. Father has been very kind to me over the years, and Mother is happy helping the others grow well." I reply simply, smiling as he shifts the dance suddenly to a much more complex dance-set.
"Ah, your siblings, yes. How are they? I'm afraid I've yet to meet either!" He says, twirling me about. I let out a slight giggle.
He's a very skilled dancer.
"Well, I suppose they're alright. They bother me regularly for details on Hogwarts, as I'm sure you can remember happening when you were young?" I ask. The Shafiq Clan always had 4 children per generation.
"I certainly do remember, yes. Make sure to scare them properly into studying. They'll thank you later." He tells me with a wink, before passing me off to the next dance-partner. Then the next, and the next.
Six or so dances later, I am saved when I get picked into Daphne by some luck. After a short (Half the normal time) dance, we go off to get a drink from the 'children's table' of drinks.
Tastes like Alcohol, looks like alcohol, feels like alcohol, not at all is it alcoholic and it can't get you drunk. Wonderful stuff. The only reason it wasn't everywhere was it was really hard to make and it is extremely expensive.
A show of wealth, power and status. That's what this is.
Most adults prefer getting drunk, anyways. The reason being 'sometimes it's better that way'. I understand, though I still gave them the blank look of 'okay, but I don't get it' that most children would at such a statement.
I glanced at the massive clock, near the drinks and saw it had nearly been an hour of nonstop dancing, sprinkled with light conversation. No one had overtly probed me after my power play, but no one had anything personal to lead with like Lord Shafiq did. So my dancing was mostly quiet testing of skills and maybe a minor quirk at social skills.
One had tried my knowledge, asking what I knew about the vanisher - advanced Transfiguration or Charm - depending on who you asked. I call it a Transfiguration, as my ability calls it one.
Of course the vanisher was sixth-year level work, so they'd looked like I hit them with a fish when I provided an eloquent answer to their question in a way beyond what a normal Sixth-year would say.
Lord Carmichael should know better than to try something like that on an unknown entity. Pretty sure, though, that he wouldn't be trying again. Not after that, hah.
"How's it going, Daphne?" I ask quietly as we survey the room, or glasses of 'wine' in hand. It's an imitation white wine.
"So far so good. You've been very good so far. You messed up, a little on Lord Carmichael. He looked too shocked. It got a lot of attention, which while it could be good the end result is probably pretty bad. Not that you can't back it up, but now everyone else is going to go a gear up on you, since you've shown you're playing above their initial level for you." She tells me.
That's a good thing, I think. Forcing a gear-up out of them would be the best way. "I'll try to force them to work harder than. I got the feeling that they were using me as a sort of island away from politics and such. Now they can't do that. I'll need to make them work." I tell her, and see her finish her cup of wine, and get another. I smile.
"Let's just watch, for now. Sarah's been getting passed around as they try to figure out where she's from. She never used her last name, so no one knows. She's playing coy with it so they assume what they like." Daphne tells me and I nod.
For the rest of the glass of wine (10 or so minutes) I watch Sarah, she has two dance partners in that time. Lord Shafiq's Nephew (Which I figured out in my third dance, when I heard someone ask as they dance, and get the reply) and the Sixth-Year Corbin boy.
Lady Carmichael had been his previous partner, and was subtly disappointed as her Husband joined her again for another dance. He, too, was disappointed in short order.
Heh. This disappointment spread from them while Sarah danced with the Corbin boy. I stood and took Shafiq's Nephew as his last partner and he finished dancing, and she went to get a drink.
Back to the game. I have an hour and a half to impress. I walked the walk and talked the talk. Now I need to prove it wasn't a fluke. I'm a player. I will be respected.
It was an hour of lightly playing the field that the next notable thing happened.
Lord Greengrass was my dance partner, now.
"Ah, Aubrey. I've heard much about you from my Daughter. She gives such glowing reports at every turn. Your dealing with her, and the other heirs… sublime, by her own rationale. How do you feel about your accomplishments in the field of war?" He asks. He tells me something I already know, giving it the impression he feels the same.
He might not. I play the game.
"Well, I feel I've done well, but not flawlessly. I lost the McLaggan heir, and he is now an enemy of myself, personally. This could be blamed on himself, or his… situation, but I will take blame, for I was not proactive in ensuring he was pacified, or at least a non-factor with no care either way. As it stands, we'll never see eye to eye." I tell him of a failure, instead of a success. I am humble, in this way.
"Of course, that's to say nothing of your victories. You've got a number of Neutral-Dark and Neutral-Light kids around you. You've even reached into the Light-side a bit more deeply, helping the Potter Heir. He clearly needs it." He tells me. I nod.
"He didn't know who, what or how important he was. I made sure he was informed. The benefit of being first on the scene is already paying out. Of course, aside from being a friend I hope to have an ally there. Of course, playing so close to some of the players, like Dumbledore…" I trail off. I'm baiting.
He takes it, in return for me taking his, I guess. "Dumbledore is dangerous. He's about the overall greater of the ultimate good. 'What will result in the best long term result?' Yes. Playing where you are is dangerous, but it is also a wonderful highlight to your personal skill. You have the power and knowledge, clearly, to enforce your will. We respect this. The Blacks are diminished, and the Pervell family has fully died. You can guess the implications there." He tells me, and I have, already.
The top-dogs for assassination and enchanting are gone. There's an opening, now. Only one other family has dibs on the Assassination field, and the Black market as a result.
The Greengrass family. But they only have daughters, so they won't hold it, long without some convoluted marriage agreement. They don't have the social power to peel that out though.
Politics, how I love you. How I utterly hate you. End of line Clauses!
"The Hawthorne Family is probably the only, other than the Potters or Bones, who could take the Pervell spot, and Potter is set for it, as the closest relative and with their family magic" he says, breaking the pause.
I realize then, we're inside a small ward, just large enough to cover us two. Of course, our conversation is wholly private.
"Potter already has the spot of the Ward Masters of the Isles. They're the only ones who know the secrets to Fidelius. They also are the only ones who can produce a competitive ward to the Legendary works of Egypt's pyramids and the ancient Chinese Monasteries." I continue his line of thought for him. Elaborating. "Bones have been the masters of personal defense - regularly producing top-tier duelists and Aurors for the last few hundred years. Taking the top spot would also be bad. I think you forget, the Weasleys could slot in, if they managed to get lucky. They're rebuilding their wealth. Look at the two eldest sons -in very lucrative and rewarding work." I tell him.
"Work which pulls them from Molly. She never did match her siblings." He sighs. This may sound an insult, but it's a well known cold truth.
Gideon and Fabian Prewett, which was Molly Weasley's Maiden house - were part of Mad-Eye's War Squad. She was a below-average witch, at best, who was known for being controlling and overbearing. Purebloods winced at her manner, and attitude in general. She drove the Heir of her house away, and the Second followed as soon as he could. No. You do not call Molly Weasley a good Pureblood in any serious high-society.
Arthur, though? The man was very respected. He had single handedly kept the house together and never broke his word. Also, so many sons means they can take their wives names, so the end of line clauses can be overcome with a Weasley marriage. Ron? Fred? George? Even Percival could have a change of name.
They were poor now, but they had the one commodity every Pureblood house like Greengrass and Davis needed.
A man which wasn't tied to his last name.
It was a bit backwards to thank the father for the thing, but that's how Wizarding Britain (and indeed most of the world) worked. A Patriarchy. Not ideal, but we'd live. I have a long life to change this, anyways.
"Hmm, I suppose you're correct. The Hawthorne Family, along with the Greengrass' have been sitting in the obscure middle ground. You've become merchants, and we've become researchers. Not the top of our fields, though. There's always interesting openings." I tell him, but then smile up.
"I think artifice is all well and good, but I would prefer replacing the Prewetts in their field - breaking wards and curse's. A siege mage, when needed. A curse-breaker when not." The Weasley family was angling for this with a Curse Breaker and a Dragon Tamer, but they had no prodigies. No Titans of Magic. They would be moved aside, irrespective of family magic they may have.
For the giant hole in British houses and specialties allowed for much, much growth into a spot. I figure papa is taking a risk, all but naming me heiress to the name, meaning I couldn't be married off. It was likely because in the game, as it were, I was a hot topic. I was well known to anyone who'd been to or had a relative / child / etc in Hogwarts last year as a genius, rivaling Dumbledore in his youth, and besting various records set by previous students.
"A risky maneuver." He says, his tone of voice serious. "If you fail…" He trails off, hinting at the destruction to family reputation, that could cause.
"I won't fail. I've worked myself into the floor. I've specialized and I all but have it in blood-contract that the Potters will assist me with my goals. If I had the Greengrass family as well, then we'd have three of the strongest, in the political sense, names on the same page." I tell him. He nods, smiling.
"Good, we're on the same page. Daphne was also correct. You've worked the game well. We can indirectly temper Dumbledore, even, if your reach with the Potter is as great as you say. Potter and Dumbledore must, by their nature, work together." He compliments, and I nod along.
"Of course, Dumbledore has already foreseen this and is working me - or attempting to - already. We've struck an accord, of sorts. We… understand each other." I tell him. "I stay out of his way, and don't break or ruin his stuff, and he'll let me do as I see fit. Should destruction come to the isles, and I have a choice, I'd like to be part of those who destroy it." I tell him. He nods, a bit more happily.
"Good!" He says happily, his magic, momentarily flickering, and opening to my senses slightly. His status as awakened now… communicating? Allowing me some information on him.
He's solidly 'light aligned' as far as it goes, though he seems taken aback when he closes down again, moments later.
"Are you sure your family is Neutral? You feel brighter than Bones, at times, does. She's a Light witch from a Light family. My family hasn't ever been big in Dark Magic, so we register light, but you.. You feel like you've been doing powerful light magic, or attunement, for awhile... " he mutters. I smirk.
"I started neutral. This is part of why Dumbledore is willing to let me be. To be so light, as you say, and be evil would be hard. It's a slight insurance." I tell him, and he nods.
"If you engineered it, it was brilliant, of course, even if you didn't you've played your hand well." He tells me. I smile and nod.
"Was there anything else? I think I should go and save Sarah, since it looks like Nott wants to take a crack at breaking her." I tell him, seeing Nott hungrily eyeing her.
"I suppose our dance can conclude. It's only fair to honor your wishes, as the guest of honor. Oh, and if anyone asks, we were discussing the rose-bushes out front. The trick to keeping them so vibrant is a mixture of Murtlap essence, if they really grind into you" He tells me, and I feel the personal ward dissipate.
"Well, it's been a pleasure dancing with you, Lord Greengrass." I tell him, in a formal tone.
"And you, Miss Hawthorne. May your pastures be ever full." He replies.
"May your orchards be fruitful." I reply. Our ending a traditional closing from Druidic families. If you didn't like how it went, you would word it differently. Each house had different words. Very few, aside from Druidic houses, knew what they really meant.
After all, we had to have a way to code things.
I glance at the clock - I have forty minutes left. I'd just been told I'm the guest of honor, which means I've won the battle of people between me and Malfoy, who, I admit was very impressive tonight.
I walk calmly to Sarah, tuning out the noise around me, to just hearing the shuffle around me and the light swishing of my dress.
My feet make no noise. Sui Leviosa is still the single best spell I've ever mastered.
"I suppose we have one more full-length routine before we wind down. Want to put on a show, M'lady?" I ask. She grins, and waves to Daphne who smiles as well.
"Yes, let's," Sarah says, taking my hand and dragging me to the floor. I guess we're dragging someone else in and doing a four-person show?