"I forbid you to marry that girl.
"What?" Draco had just apparated to the parlor of Malfoy Manor, after successfully returning Ginny to their flat, and was shocked that these were the first words from his father. Ginny had given him to understand
"She's going to get us all killed. Lucius began to pace Ðat least until Narcissa came up to him and laid one small white hand on his shoulder.
"Let's all sit down and have some tea and discuss this." Narcissa ushered her husband and son towards the tea tray. Things were never good when Lucius was agitated.
"Father, I love her. I know it's terribly inconvenient.
"Oh, yes terribly. His mother muttered. Pouring her son a cup she fantasized about slipping him some poison, quite easy to do, just enough to make him understand the meaning of inconvenience. How her son got entangled with that muggle-loving, impulsive
"Well, if you must marry her, wait until after the war, or lock her up in the dungeons. You cannot allow her to drag you under.
Narcissa almost smirked at her husbands' waffling Ð except part of her was too furious. Perhaps this Weasley girl had entranced her husband too. Locked up in a dungeon indeed. Perhaps it was time to remind Lucius of just what chains felt like Ðand perhaps she had better pay attention to her son. She couldn't afford to lose the thread of this conversation.
"I can't do that. " Draco's voice cracked. "I want to behave properly. I hate having to come after her. I hate knowing she thinks the fate of the world, of Potter, is more important than us. I could forget about her if it was just Potter she supported Ð but it's her entire family. I can't make her forget her family.
Narcissa crumbled a biscuit between her fingers. She hated seeing Draco so pathetic and so blind. Quietly, she wiped the crumbs on the napkin and waited.
"If I prevent her from fighting, she'll blame herself if anything happens to them.
"Draco, if I have to, I will lock you up. I allowed you to stay back from this war because, well we're not fanatics.
Narcissa nearly snorted. What did he call Bellatrix?
"Father, Ginny wants our help. We won't be the first to change our mind. Snape
"Don't talk to me about Snape. Lucius snapped. "He thinks he's changed his spots Ð but all those years stuck at Hogwarts, he remained quite the sadist, torturing his students. From Death-Eater to Professor, well I have no plans to limit myself. That is why we joined Voldemort, you know. He promised to expand the limits of our power.
"He won't be able to keep that promise. I don't believe in Dumbledore, or St. Potter, but I don't believe in Voldermort, or Crabbe, or Goyle.
"Morons fill the ranks of both sides, Draco.
"Enough. Narcissa's voice was cool and crisp. "What we need is a quick end to this conflict. A decisive confrontation between Potter and the Dark Lord. It doesn't really matter who wins, we just need to have a cover story for both sides. Talk to Potter and Dumbledore. Tell them you'll take Potter to Voldemort. He'll pretend to be your prisoner, but perhaps he wasn't thoroughly searched Ð let the blame for that fall on someone else. They fight and after that we rewrite history.
"That's brilliant, Narcissa. Lucius turned to his wife and kissed her.
"It's not enough. Draco muttered. "Potter has to win. Ginny would never give up fighting.
"Why would you want to ally yourself with an idiot?" Lucius asked dumbfounded at the stupidity of Gryffindors, and his son who adored one.
"She's not an idiot. She's an idealist.
"Fine. We'll poison Voldemort beforehand. Narcissa spit out. "We'll make everything easy for Potter so delivering the final blow will be as easy as opening a chocolate frog card. Will that satisfy you? Do you have any suggestions for how we save my sister, who will want revenge when her Master is torn from her? What will you do for the parents of your friends?
Draco was silent.
"You're a Slytherin all right. Selfish to the core. I see you believed what all the world said about us. So the world will be saved by a spoiled brat too afraid to lose his girlfriend, and too heartless to care what happens to the rest of us!" Narcissa sighed. "Oh sit back down and have another cup of tea. We still have much to plan.