Chapter 4

"Daphne?" Astoria Greengrass peered round the door of the family library.

"Did you know that Aunt Dahlia is here? Grandfather has sent for us."

Her sister looked up. "That can't be good."

Astoria shrugged. "It could be worse. At least she doesn't have Pansy with her."

Daphne knew her sister loathed Pansy; she suspected it was due to the fact that both girls lusted after Draco Malfoy. She stood up, and shook the wrinkles out of her silken periwinkle robes.

The two sisters would have been almost identical if not for their eye color: both were blonde, but while Daphne had deep blue eyes, Astoria's were hazel. Yet they were of equal height, with an ethereal beauty that turned heads.

Daphne led the way to the sitting room where their grandfather and paternal aunt awaited them, careful to betray no sign of nervousness.

Titus Greengrass was nearing ninety but showed little sign of mellowing as he aged. His features might have been carved in stone.

In contrast, Dahlia Greengrass Parkinson was all sweetness and light as she smiled at her nieces…a smile that immediately put them on alert.

"Your Aunt Dahlia," Titus said deliberately, "wishes to discuss your futures. She seems to feel I have been remiss in not establishing marriage contracts for you already."

Dahlia looked alarmed for an instant. "Not remiss, Father," she said cautiously. "Merely…perhaps it is time to prepare a list of desirable matches for the girls? I have been busy negotiating with the Malfoys for Pansy."

Astoria scowled.

"Have you succeeded?" inquired Titus.

"Not yet," Dahlia admitted. "However, I am convinced it will take place soon."

Titus smiled thinly. "If you and Pythias Parkinson are deluding yourselves that the Greengrass vaults will shore up Pansy's dowry, you can think again."

Dahlia's smile faded. "But it would be a very advantageous match! Especially now."

"Ahhh, you mean we should abandon our position of neutrality?"

"Of course we should!" Dahlia leaned forward. "What is the point of it? First, a neutral position only results in having both sides against you. And second, third, and fourth, the Dark Lord would never countenance neutrality! You're either with him or…you die. You know this, father!"

"I do." The old wizard nodded. "But you are presuming he'll win?"

Dahlia looked astounded. "Well of course he'll win! Who is there to oppose him? A failing old man, and an underage boy?"

Hermione Granger stomped down the stairs in her parent's house. "Who took the books from my desk? Those are very rare and valuable!"

Thomas Granger scowled at his daughter. "You know we never touch your books!"

"Well, they were there yesterday. Now they're gone!"

"We haven't seen them," Julia Granger denied. "Is it possible that they…somehow returned to the place where you borrowed them?"

"No, they're mine now. Professor Dumbledore said so."

"Perhaps you should write and ask him?" her mother suggested.

"How?" Hermione was exasperated. "I haven't an owl!"

"You made your choice," her father reminded her. "You selected that cat, and you aren't allowed two animals at school."

Hermione smiled smugly. "I believe Professor Dumbledore might make an exception in my case. I'm one of his favorites!"

"That ought to make you popular."

"I don't care about popularity, as long as I have Harry and Ron."

"Ron?"

Her brother looked up to find Ginny watching him de-gnome the garden.

"Have you heard from Harry?"

"Nah." Ron wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "You know Dumbledore said we shouldn't write. He needs time to recover from what went down at the Ministry."

Ginny bit her lip. "I know that's what he said, but maybe he's wrong. Maybe Harry needs to hear from friends?"

"Dumbledore knows best, Gin."

His sister sighed. "I guess you're right."

Neville Longbottom carefully aligned his new wand and cast Aquamenti. The water drenched his plants easily, and Neville grinned in delight.

No one would call him a squib now! He reached up and touched the slight bump where his nose had been broken. He could have it reset, but the truth was he rather liked the bump. He believed it gave his face character, and it also served as a reminder of the greatest adventure of his life.

He glanced up and saw his grandmother's owl Archimedes winging in and…he carried a letter! Harry had responded.

"What do you think is going to happen to us?" Astoria asked her sister.

"I'm not sure," confessed Daphne. "I thought maybe Grandfather would make us leave the country."

Astoria shook her head. "Why would he? It's not like he'd be worried about our safety!"

"No," agreed her sister. "But as it stands, we're assets. Pureblood witches he can use as bargaining chips to create alliances and gain favors."

"He might do that," Astoria nodded. "What I'd like…is to marry Draco."

"I know." Daphne tried to sound sympathetic, although she couldn't imagine what Tori saw in Draco Malfoy.

"I don't want to marry anybody else!" Her sister's mouth set in a stubborn line.

"You will marry anyone Grandfather picks," Daphne pointed out. She knew Astoria was convinced the Greengrass sisters would have many marriage proposals because of their undeniable beauty.

Daphne was unsure. Yes, they were very pretty, but pureblood heirs did not select potential brides based on their looks, but on what advantages they could offer their husband's family.

In that case, Astoria was handicapped by her health, and Daphne by her heiress status which required her to continue the family line. And those were very big handicaps indeed.