Disclaimer- No, I don't think these things are really necessary. However, I think it is so much fun to see how creatively authors can word: "Hey, guess what you morons? I don't own this. If I did, why would I be writing here?"
Hmm… I guess that was my disclaimer for the prologue. No, really, I don't think you all are morons. You did click on my story, didn't you? Hmm… maybe that's not the best way to judge a person's moronic tendencies. Well, maybe I just love you because you clicked. And I'd love you even more if you reviewed! *hint, hint, hint*
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"Lucius, I hate to ask…but, Molly and the kids…" Arthur Weasley said, trying to explain himself. Lucius watched him trying to sputter it out. It was probably the Slytherin spirit that made him do this, since Arthur was his best friend. But that didn't mean he didn't enjoy watching his friend squirm.
"Arthur, Arthur. What's a million Galleons between friends?" Lucius said finally. Arthur looked a tad bit relieved, but he was still nervous. He knew that he would have to find a way to pay Lucius back eventually, as his friend would always remind him of his debt subtly, if not outright. No, although Lucius' Slytherin qualities would not allow him to openly annoy Arthur, but subtle torture was another matter.
"A lot of money." Arthur muttered. Lucius smirked.
"Where else will you get it, Arthur? Gringotts? You know that you have borrowed so much that they won't loan any more."
"Well, then. A loan from you, perhaps?"
"Arthur, you could never pay me back." Lucius commented truthfully. Inside, he was glad. He was moving the conversation in the direction he wished to.
"I could…some way." Arthur said, trying to think of something. He thought of his children. Fred, George, Ron and…
"That's it!" Arthur said. Lucius looked at him, an eyebrow raised questioningly.
"Yes, Arthur? Or are you just talking out loud to be annoying?"
"You haven't arranged a marriage for young Draco yet, have you?" Arthur asked, and Lucius smiled inwardly. It was arriving at what he wanted with a vengeance!
"No. Isn't this off the topic, Arthur? Or is there a reason you're asking?" Lucius asked innocently. He knew exactly why Arthur was asking, but didn't want to give this away.
"You wish to preserve the Pure blood, don't you?" Arthur asked, hoping to get a reaction out of Lucius. But he never could.
"Yes." Lucius said. Arthur cursed inwardly. If he didn't know any better, he would swear that Lucius was able to read minds.
"Well… my daughter, Ginny. She and Draco could…" Arthur fumbled with the words. He disliked what he was proposing, just because he was giving something away. He could have been a Slytherin for his shrewdness, but the Hat had felt the need to put him in Gryffindor for some odd reason.
"I see. So you are proposing that your daughter marry my son?" Lucius said softly. He knew how Molly would react to that, and wouldn't want to be in his friend's shoes when he told Molly.
"Why not? They are good friends. There isn't anything I can see that would hinder their friendship." Arthur said, defending his suggestion. He was even seeing the downside of this now. But, the idea was growing, and he was reassuring himself that it was a good idea.
"Very well. But you must sign a contract." Lucius smiled, knowing he had gotten what he wanted. Whoever said Slytherins weren't manipulative was a Muggle.
"What?" Arthur asked indignantly. If he hadn't known better, he'd have thought Lucius had planned this! Seeing his friend's smirk, he knew with a sinking feeling that he had.
"A contract, Arthur. Surely you know what they are. Although with your family, you may not." Lucius commented. This was a long-standing joke between them, and he didn't expect Arthur's fiery reaction.
"Fine. I'll sign the Goddamn contract. But you'll regret it." Arthur said, pretending to be angry. His act was so believable that Lucius thought that he was serious.
"I won't, Arthur. Just sign it." And with a wave of his wand, Lucius had summoned the contract. Arthur read it furiously, and signed it. He grew tired of acting.
"Molly will be very angry with me about this, you know." Arthur stated calmly.
"Go on with the act, Arthur. You got Molly to marry you by pretending you were a Muggle-loving idiot. She knows differently now, but keep up the act for everyone else. And, Arthur, I do believe that you'll want to make her think that I forced you into it. You may be, er, sorry if you don't." Lucius suggested. Arthur's eyes widened as he nodded.
"I'll do that."
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Hi hi. I am posting the story all together. I had to put the story on again because ff.net deleted it. This means that I need to find some chapters that I don't know where they are…
Oh, well. Goody for me, huh? That just means that this will go higher on the list!
(Oh, and sorry the prologue is so short. I didn't feel like making it longer)
I'm going to shut up now. Review. And that's an order… hehe
~Lili
And, a few notes, so as not to confuse my friendly readers:
*Arthur isn't a Death-Eater
*Lucius is a… very slippery person, so no one knows where his loyalties are…
*the Malfoy family helped the Light side in the Final Battle
I think that's about all.
