CHAPTER 7

DRACO MALFOY'S PLEA

It seemed as if Will had just curled up in his blankets when early-morning sunlight burned his eyes. He motioned to pull the blankets over his head, mumbling nonsense, but there was just air to grab.

''OY!'' A voice yelled. He felt his ear grow hot and he finally, but blearily opened his silver eyes. Looking down at him was a familiar, curly-haired someone.

''ASH!'' Will yelled, leaping out of bed and hugging her.

''WILL!'' she screamed, hugging him back.

''Oh God!'' Will gasped. ''How did you-?''

''It's sort of complicated.'' Said Ash, sitting down next to Will.

''Try me.'' Said Will, hopelessly smoothing back his bed-hair.

''No.'' said Marcus at once. His hair was already neatly combed and he was already dressed in dark red robes. ''Morning.'' He said, genuinely to Will.

''Morning dad.'' Will said. ''Why can't she-''

''She can tell you.'' Marcus said. ''Just over breakfast.'' He smiled then walked off. The two of them followed Marcus to the kitchen.

Ellen was sitting beside Marcus and a man with a heavily scarred face and long, red hair he had pulled back into a ponytail who was chewing on what looked like a raw chicken leg was sitting beside him. Will stared worriedly. Was Ellen ill? Who was that man?

''Mum!'' Will practically screamed. ''Are you-''

''Yes, yes, dear, I'm fine.'' Said Ellen, with a yawn. She smiled at him and he and Ash took seats opposite them.

''Will, this is Bill Weasley.'' Marcus introduced. Will looked up as did the man who was savoring the raw meat. Bill reached a large hand across the table and Will shook it.

''Are you-'' Will began.

''Yes, I am.'' Bill said. ''I am Ron Weasley's brother. And now, for the first time in my life I have to say I'm ashamed to admit it.''

''You have sympathy for me, already, Mr. Weasley?'' Will asked, astonished.

''Of course 'e does!'' said a woman with a heavy French accent. Will looked up to see the most beautiful woman looking back at him. It seemed all the air had been sucked from his body. She had silvery-blonde hair that fanned gracefully with no wind and large, beautiful blue eyes. Her skin shone moon-bright. ''My Bill iz a great 'onorable man! He 'as seempathy for everyone zat deserves eet!'' she came out from behind the kitchen counter and Will discovered that she was large with child, however her beauty wasn't affected by pregnancy.

''Will.'' Said Bill, smiling, as his woman kissed him on the cheek. ''This is my wife, Fleur.''

''Pleasure to meet you.'' Will grinned stupidly and was jolted back to reality by a hard kick in the shins. He didn't acknowledge it.

''So-'' said Ellen, casually as she spooned eggs onto her plate. ''-What brings you both and Belisandra here?'' she asked.

''Who's Belis-'' Will began, but he needn't an explanation. At that moment a girl with long hair, blue eyes, and moon-bright skin just like her mother dashed into the room. Although, she didn't have blonde hair, hers was fiery red, however she still looked as stunningly pretty as her mother. At a quick glance, she was about the same age as Will and Ash, but dressed in what seemed, for a twisted burial of a dark, dank freaky, rock star. She wore a long, floor-length black skirt, a bright green full-fishnet shirt and over that an artfully ripped up black-jean jacket with countless chokers and bangles, her long fiery red hair was pulled back in to two circular pigtails that fanned out like palm-trees. The fishnet shirt read MAJIK in scraggly, bloody black letters. She was ashen-faced and carrying what looked to be half-a-rubber chicken.

''Belisandra!'' Fleur cried, scandalized. Will couldn't blame her. She contrasted greatly with everyone in that room.

''Don't shout, amour.'' said Bill. ''It will only exist to upset the babies.''

''Oui.'' said Fleur, sitting down next to an empty chair.

''Belisandra! What on Earth are you-?'' Bill began heatedly. Then he paused. ''No! You didn't try to-'' the young girl skidded to a halt.

''-T-try to re-re-do Uncle George's joke stuff? Yeah, I did.'' She said, her voice was a pleasing mixture of French and English accent.

''But Uncle George specially told you not to!'' said Bill, pulling out a chair for his daughter. (Apparently this fashion was typical for Belisandra).

''But since when did George start abiding by the Rules? God, you both-'' she looked at her mother who was patting her swollen belly. ''-said I was most like George! Not Per-''

''All is forgotten!'' said Bill, briskly, piling eggs onto Belisandra's plate. Belisandra smiled and poured herself some orange juice, then looked at Will curiously.

''Ash, you never told me who he is.'' Beliandra said keenly, tapping her fork lightly on the plate as the adults engaged themselves in a conversation concerning the Ministry of Magic and some extremely intelligent Nifflers, who supposedly could speak Russian. Ash swallowed a forkful of eggs and nodded.

''Yeah, Sandra, this is Will Malfoy. Will, this is my cousin, Sandra.'' Ash introduced.

''Malfoy?'' Sandra asked, scooting up on her seat. ''You're Draco's son, right?''

''Not son.'' Will said coldly. ''His offspring.''

''So you hate him?'' Belisandra leered at Will.

''Course I hate him!'' Will whispered in anguish. ''I hate ever bone in his body!''

''That's good!'' said Sandra. ''Can I insult him?'' Will nodded, a smile curving on his mouth; Ash the same way. Sandra began a spew of words she wouldn't dare speak of in her parents' company. Of course she had forgotten, that Bill and Fleur were both sitting at the same table and to stop the flow of insults (no matter how accurate Will thought them to be) Bill compensated by stuffing large forkfuls of egg into his daughter's mouth.

''Ash, you still haven't told me what you're doing here.'' Said Will, after several minutes of strained silence. That and about a million other unanswered questions swirled around in his head.

''I believe all of us can explain it to a point.'' said Bill, curtly, taking a bite out of the raw meat again. ''You see- when my brother, Fred was murdered, by Draco, Fred's eldest boy, Geoffrey took his little sister and himself to Sojourn & Colks – to Geoff's favorite Uncle in particular, Uncle Ron. For nine years, Ron lived as if Geoff and Ash were birthed children, from his wife, Hermione. Then, last night, I was over for a chat with my brother. Fleur wanted a rest, so I took Belisandra with me. It was then, I discovered, by a distressed sister-in-law, Fred's real Will, and the fake Will of Fred. Ron had been living by the fake Will, which dictated that 'Geoffrey and Ashley be left under the care of Ron and Hermione Weasley', whereas the real Will said, 'May my children, Geoffrey and Ashley be left under the care of Bill and Fleur Weasley'. It was then, that Geoffrey had a row with me. He said he wished to stay with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione. He said that his Father's wishes did not matter to him and I allowed him to stay with them. He seemed to favor Ron over me anyhow. But Ash wanted to come with us. The separation from his sister has been crushing on Geoffrey, but Ash feels as if she's been liberated. Now, me and Fleur are Ash's guardians, but after we took Ash from Sojourn & Colks we were invited by an old friend, Marcus Flint to have breakfast. After he explained about you, Will, Ash just had to come see you. She was having kittens about him ever since he left, she told me.'' Bill explained, taking a sip of his coffee. Ash blushed.

''Uncle Bill!'' she said, embarrassed.

''Don't you 'Uncle Bill' me, Ash!'' Bill said playfully. Every laughed except Ellen; whose laughter would have reverberated off the walls. Instead, she paid no attention to Bill and was sifting through a small china cup. An irritated sigh escaped her lips.

''Marcus.'' She said, putting an emphasis on the 'cus' of his name. ''I told you to buy more last week.'' Marcus pinked and dropped his fork.

''I know, dear.'' Marcus quavered, watching his wife swell up with annoyance like a balloon. ''Bu-But the Phoenix Feathers were reasonable priced-''

''Phoenix Feathers!'' Ellen screeched, her eyes growing smaller with rage. ''You purchased those with our Galleons!''

''Now, now Ellen.'' Said Bill standing up to the aide of Marcus. ''Phoenix Feathers are quite lucky and extremely valuable-''

''Phoenix Feathers – real – yes, but the pawns in Diagon Alley sold by peddlers and in their shops – I think not!'' Ellen said, flaring up at Bill. ''The only pure Phoenix Feathers ever to be put into Diagon Alley were those of Ollivander! Even Warren Zabe's aren't as valuable! And he's been the wand-maker since Ollivander disappeared over a decade ago!'' she burst out.

''Now, Floo Powder is something we all need!'' she continued, leering at the two frozen men. Fleur could only bring herself to nod as her back was being particularly devilish. The three children just looked on in amusement. ''Nobody bothers watching the Floo Network anymore! Not since its Department was destroyed. So, Floo Powder is ultimately one of the safest ways to travel!''

''Oh don't get your knickers in knot, Ellen!'' said Marcus, standing up. ''I've got a few extra Galleons to my name, I'll buy some today! We should go to Diagon Alley today anyway. They are supposed to go ff to school in two days.''

''Good!'' said Ellen, she rounded on the children who all shrank closer together for fear of her rage. ''Do you all have your book lists?'' she asked, her tone kind once more.

''Yeah.'' Said Will. ''It's in my bedroom, mum.''

''Uncle Bills has ours, Mrs. Flint.'' Said Ash. Ellen rounded on Bill who presented her with two pieces of yellowish parchment as Will ran down the hallway, coming back dressed in a clean, gray T-shirt and a pair of extremely baggy blue jeans, clutching a piece of yellowish parchment. Ellen nodded then Marcus turned and directed his wand at the empty fireplace.

''Incendio!'' Instantly the fireplace roared with life. Ellen gave Fleur a pinch of Floo Powder first, seeing as she would be the most difficult as she was carrying a child. Fleur disappeared in a whirl of green flame after a heavily accented – ''Die-egg-on Azee!'', Bill shouting ''Diagon Alley'' just before Fleur entered the hearth.

Will was given a pinch next and Ellen was hissing tips to him.

''Don't stutter, dear! You might end up somewhere in Vietnam for all we know!'' She told him, Will's trainers now touching the stone of the hearth, his hand poised to throw the powder into the flames.

''Or Tunisia. Remember Samuel Brigham?'' Marcus asked.

''Well Susanne Dorbane got 'erself in a few tight spots.'' Bill pointed out. ''Poor women ends up in Estonia when simply meaning to go to her mum's house, and in Belgium when meaning to just stop by St. Mungo's!''

With that Will threw the powder into the flames and shouted-

''DIAGON ALLEY!'' He disappeared in a whirl of green flames and felt as if he was being thrashed against other Wizarding fireplaces. He kept his eyes tightly shut, the whirling made him feel sick, and then he was thrown rather harshly onto the hearth of a quite empty Leaky Cauldron.

Fleur pulled him to his feet and beat the soot off his clothes gently and kissed his stinging nose. Then she pulled him roughly away from the hearth as Sandra slid out from the hearth and onto the floor, Fleur pulled her up and then dragged her to the side, beating the soot off of her daughter's clothes as well. Then Bill came, holding Ash's hand tightly and fussing over the soot. Ellen and Marcus came, both of them ashen-faced.

They all stumbled ungainly to their feet. Fleur mumbled something to Bill about feeling light-headed. Bill patted her arm. Will looked at the pub. It looked as if it had been forgotten. As if not many people stopped in for a firewhiskey or White Russian. They just went passed it all to go to Diagon Alley. The tables were slightly lopsided and everything wasn't very well-kept. Dim candlelight softly illuminated the pub.

''Come on dear.'' Said Bill warmly. ''You three don't mind shopping in Diagon Alley by yourselves, you do?'' he asked them.

''No.'' Sandra said instantly, Marcus have Bill a reproving look, but Bill held up in free hand.

''Marcus, don't worry. They'll be alright.'' Bill said, comfortingly.

''Fine.'' Marcus sighed. ''But I'm getting them to Diagon Alley.'' He held his wand aloft and the innkeeper, a large, heavyset man with dark hair and thick eyebrows looked up at him, his milky eyes illuminated by the soft candlelight.

'' 'Ello Marcus.'' The man said in a gravely, deep voice, revealing a few crooked teeth. ''A firewhiskey on the house, then?'' he asked, bending down and retrieving a tall glass from the shelf.

''No Frey.'' Said Marcus. ''I'd love to, but I've other matters of business to tend to.''

''Aye.'' Frey said heavily. He looked at everyone, but then quickly looked again, staring at Will.

''Marcus!'' he gasped softly. ''Good Lord… How did you – Why on Earth did you-''

''I didn't do anything, Frey.'' Marcus told him. ''He-'' Frey walked out from behind the ancient counters and looked down at Will, gripping his hands. Will looked back at him; his gaze hard and unmoving.

''Will-'' he said hoarsely. ''Good Lord…. Marcus-'' he looked up at him hungrily.
''-Have you seen these?''

''Seen what?'' Marcus asked. Frey walked back behind the counters and retrieved a thick scroll of aging parchment. He unrolled it hurriedly and Marcus stared. Bill and Ellen grabbed one end of the parchment, Marcus holding on to the other.

''That bastard.'' Marcus said, quietly. ''Good Lord!''

''What?'' Will asked fearfully. Marcus shifted his elbow to give Will the parchment.

''NO!'' Ellen shouted, scandalized. ''PLEASE! MARCUS! NO! DON'T GIVE HIM IT!''

''He has the right to know Ellen!'' Marcus said rashly to his sobbing wife, putting an arm around her. ''You can't protect him forever Ellen. No matter how badly you want to!'' he argued.

''HE'S YOUR GODSON!'' Ellen yelled. ''YOU CAN PROTECT HIM FOR HOWEVER LONG YOU WANT!'' Marcus ignored his wife and handed Will the parchment. Frey led Marcus and Ellen to the bar, insisting that they have a drink, and Bill was sitting with Fleur. Ash and Sandra bunched closer to Will and read the parchment:

WILLIAM LUCIUS MALFOY
20 THOUSAND GALLEON PRICE
ON RETURN
WHETHER IT BE A BEATING HEART
OR A LIFELESS BODY
BY WISHES OF DRACO MALFOY

Below it displayed a black and white photograph of Will, staring starved back at them.

Will shook his head and swallowed hard.

''He wants me dead or he wants to kill me.'' Will said, his voice breaking like ice. ''That's all.''

''Do you think-'' Ash began.

''No.'' said Sandra at once. ''No one we know would be that thick, Ash. Marcus wouldn't do it. He wants what's best for you, I mean really, right?''

''Course he does.'' Said Will. ''My father wants to kill me. Ever since I refused to abide by the Society I was born in to.''

''You did?'' Sandra asked, shocked. Will nodded.

''And now, he wants to kill me.'' Said Will. ''He wants to kill me.''