(GoF) CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Blackmail
It wasn't easy to lie to Fred and break away from the group. He had seen Aleks watching her, had seen the way she locked up in response, and his deep, brown eyes were filled with concern for her.
"I've got to go to the loo," she told him, throat dry and scratchy, feeling hot and feverish all over. "Catch up with you in the Great Hall?"
She hated lying to him. It made her feel sick and queasy. She had promised never to lie to him. But what choice did she have? He would never let her go to see Aleks alone.
He didn't seem to love the thought of her going off alone, but he couldn't exactly tell her she couldn't use the washroom, either. "You okay?" he asked her instead. "If you want to just head back to the Tower—"
"I'm fine." Another lie. The words tasted all wrong. "I'll be right behind you."
And with a reluctant nod, he continued on toward the Great Hall. As soon as he was out of eyeshot, she slipped back towards the room Aleks had mentioned.
And there he was.
"Ellie Black," he said in a cold, menacing voice as he reached behind her to close the door. "Lovely as ever."
He doesn't know for sure, she told herself as her heart hammered in her chest. He's just seen the articles. He doesn't know where Sirius is. He's bluffing.
"What do you want?" she growled at him.
"Oh, many things, beautiful—many things. But first, I'd like to show you that I'm quite serious about my threats—and that I have proof."
With that, he pulled a magical photograph out of his pocket. Ellie stared down at it in horror as she processed what it was: a moving image of her and Sirius together, in the backyard of the little cottage they'd shared in Eastern Europe, playing with Buckbeak.
"But… you never followed me. We only ever met on Main Street. How—"
"Of course, I followed you. Followed you all the way here, too, and then followed Daddy all the way to his new hideout. Been keeping tabs on him ever since."
That was it—she was done for. Not only did he know where Sirius was, but he also had proof that she, her mother, and Dumbledore had lied about her whereabouts that summer.
"Now, then," he said, clearing his throat. "My demands are simple enough. I need you to spy on two boys for me—Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory."
She stared at him, half-horrified and half-bewildered. This was what he was blackmailing her for? Spying on boys? "But… why?"
"Use your head, sweet Ellie—or should I say Emma?"
She'd almost forgotten giving him that stupid, fake name. Clearly her efforts had been in vain there.
"The Triwizard Tournament," he explained impatiently. "I have it on good authority that they'll both be chosen, and I'm going to need you to report back to me on their strategies for winning. I hear you're already the best of friends with the Boy Who Lived, but that you're on the fence about dating this Diggory. That'll need to stop, of course. You'll have to date him for real."
"But…" She was struggling to keep up. "It's one witch or wizard per school. Harry isn't even of age. Surely—"
"I have a feast to get to, Ellie; I'd really rather not waste my time explaining anything I don't have to. My demands are simple enough, aren't they? Remain friends with Harry Potter, date Cedric Diggory, report back to me, and your little secret stays secret."
"I can't date Cedric. That's not happening."
"Fine—date Harry, then. But you'll need to dangle the carrot for Diggory somehow—enough that he keeps you in the loop on his tournament plans."
"I can't date Harry, either!" she snapped impatiently. "And I can't spy on my friends. And I—"
"I'm sorry." His voice was icy-calm, and sent shivers down her spine. "Were you under the impression that this was some sort of negotiation? I have an owl sitting in your Owlery at this very moment, Ellie. I could have Daddy back to Azkaban and Rita Skeeter writing fresh articles about you, complete with photographs, in a matter of hours. And the victims don't stop there, do they? Mummy lied to the Ministry for you, too—even Dumbledore himself. Isn't that right?"
God, she hated him. She wasn't sure she had ever hated anyone as much as him—maybe not even Voldemort.
"I'm told you and your little band are going to put on a little show tomorrow night," he continued. "Sounds like the perfect opportunity to announce to the school that you've chosen a new beau. Wouldn't you agree?"
Her heart was starting to sink. What could she do but say yes? It would be cruel—not only to herself and Fred, but to Cedric, too. But what was the alternative? Sending Sirius back to Azkaban, and quite possibly Dumbledore, her mother, and herself along with him?
"Are you going to hurt them?" she asked. Her voice was softer now—more resigned. "If I do this for you, will you use the information to hurt Harry and Cedric?"
His bright blue eyes glinted at that, but his smile was as calm and collected as ever. "Of course not, Ellie. I'm just looking to make a little money on the betting table."
When Ellie and Aleks emerged from the empty classroom, she saw with a heavy heart that Fred was approaching them. The second he saw Aleks, his gaze turned murderous.
"What the hell did you do to her?" he demanded, closing the distance between them in a matter of strides and grabbing Aleks by the fabric of his cloak. "Answer me!"
Aleks, of course, only chuckled—even when Fred threw him against the back wall. "I see the hesitation now," he told Ellie, ignoring Fred altogether. "Your heart belongs to this poor bloke, doesn't it?"
Fred punched him at that—so quick and sharp, neither Ellie nor Aleks could stop it. She had seen him throw a punch before, of course—just over a year ago, on the Hogwarts Express, when Draco Malfoy had tried to insult her virtue. But this was different. This was… harder.
"I'd suggest you get your little pet under control, Ellie," Aleks told her dryly when Fred released him. He wiped a trickle of blood away from the corner of his mouth, looking rather bored. "Unless you want to throw away the exciting opportunity I've just offered you."
"Just go," she growled at him through clenched teeth. "You already have your answer."
She'd said yes, of course. She'd find some way around telling him the full truth; she could never endanger Harry or Cedric. She wasn't even entirely sure he was right that they'd both be chosen as contestants; as far as she knew, Harry had no plans of even entering.
"Very well, my sweet," said Aleks with a smirk. "See you soon."
And with that, he left.
Fred stared at Ellie, looking every bit the definition of a man possessed. His chest was heaving, and his eyes were murderous. "You said you had to go to the loo."
She bit her lip as she forced back the tears. At least she could tell him the truth, right? Surely he'd understand that she had no choice? "He has photos, Fred. Photos of me and Dad from the summer. He knows where Dad is hiding. If he goes public, it'll mean Azkaban for him, Mum, maybe Dumbledore, maybe even—"
He punched his hand into the wall even faster than he had punched it into Aleks' face. She wasn't the only one blinking back tears now. "What did he ask you to do?" he asked, voice darker than she'd ever heard it.
"He… wants me to spy on Harry and Cedric. Says they're both going to be picked for the Tournament. I know—doesn't make sense to me, either."
"That's it?" he asked, blinking down at her in confusion. "Just… spy on them? How would he know if you were lying? How would he—"
"That's not it. He says I have to date one of them. Keep close with the other."
He shut his mouth at that. He stared at her for several seconds, utterly silent. And then, suddenly, he started laughing—actually laughing.
"Well?" he asked between laughs. "Which one did you choose, then? Already been there once with Harry, but there's always time for a second round, right?"
"This isn't funny, Fred. Don't—"
"Isn't it? We finally find a way to be together, and it lasts one day? One day, Ellie, and you're literally being forcibly made to date someone else? Because I find it pretty damn hysterical."
She understood his pain; she really did. She felt it every bit as much as he did.
But he wasn't being fair. He was making her feel worse.
"Fred," she whispered, shaking her head. "I don't like this, either. I don't want this. But you know I don't have a choice."
Whether it was her tone of voice or the tears that had finally started to fall from her eyes, his expression softened at that, and his laughter died.
"I know," he said then, reaching out to take her in his arms. "We'll figure it out, El. We'll figure it out."
But she wasn't so sure they would.
I know, I know—it's heartbreaking. But every great love story comes with its share of obstacles, doesn't it? Drop those reviews to share your (probably enraged) emotions, and check back in soon to see just how bad things are going to get before they get... hopefully better?
