"Oh, good, Netra, you're home!" Mrs Mitran said as Netra stepped out of the fire, smiling as though she hadn't just been in a fight with her daughter hours before. "And you've gotten your school things, too! Wonderful! Sit down, your Appa and I have brilliant news!" she exclaimed, pulling Netra to the brown settee in front of the fireplace.
I can't seem to escape a mention of this stupid engagement, can I.
"What is the news?" Netra asked, turning to her father with false cheer.
Her father unfurled the roll of parchment that was sitting on the armrest beside him and handed it to Netra. "You are now engaged to Sirius Orion Black the Third. Your wedding will happen once you both graduate."
Scanning the document, Netra realized she was indeed correct in that her parents did not make the contract magically binding. So, she proceeded with the next step of her plan.
"I don't think we should."
Her mother's to her words was instantaneous. "Netra Ahalya Mitran, the Blacks are a pure, rich English family that can trace their lineage back centuries! We have been lucky enough to seal a match with their heir and there will be no backing out of this marriage!"
"Yes, but I don't think Sirius will be a welcome part of the family any longer, is what I'm saying. It wouldn't be wise to stay in an arrangement that's doomed for failure," Netra said calmly.
Her parents had to believe that changing the marriage was their idea, not hers, because otherwise they might not even do it. All Netra needed to do was push them in the right direction.
I can do that. I hope.
Her father raised an eyebrow, "Getting the Blacks to accept our terms was quite easy," he mused. "Easier than expected, at least."
"That doesn't mean anything!" her mother snapped. "We all know you are not fond of the Black heir, Netra! This match is a good one. I even got the time of that boy's birth—we will be going to the astrologer tomorrow to check if this match is a good one."
Netra's eyes widened. I can use this! This match is very much not a good one; Sirius is gay for Merlin's sake!
"If Dr. Vivek says we are not going to be a good match, you'll change the contract, right?" Netra asked hopefully.
Mrs Mitran stared at her daughter, not expecting her to be compliant. "Oh, dear, you worry too much!" she exclaimed hugging Netra. "It will all work out, you will see! But yes, of course, if for some reason Dr. Vivek agrees with your nonsensical notions, then I will make sure Walburga will not force her son on you."
Netra beamed.
"Hm... of course, he has a brother, but that Malfoy child is also an heir... or maybe that younger Lestrange—you are roommates with his sister, Alice, so that will work nicely..."
✧༺ ༻∞
"Born November 3rd, 1959... What is this boy's name?" asked Dr. Vivek, twiddling with one of his magical contraptions.
The Mitran family was at their astrologer, Dr. Vivek's, office. It was a nice, if stereotypical place. The smell incense was everywhere and the room was lit with candles. The walls were covered with red and gold wallpaper—colours that traditionally bring luck. The table that the four of them were sitting at was currently covered with Netra's birth chart and an incomplete one that Dr. Vivek was working on.
"Sirius Orion Black the Third," her father, Ajay Mitran, supplied.
Dr. Vivek frowned. "Officially, is the number spelt out or written in Roman Numerals?"
"Roman numbers."
"Mmm... the numbers do not align," Dr. Vivek said, shaking his head. "The boy has a life path number of eleven and the soul urge number is seven. It will be hard to make this marriage work happily when your daughter's life path number is five and soul urge number is one."
Mrs. Mitran furrowed her eyebrows, "What about their charts?"
"Hm... The Scorpio-Cancer match is good, but that is only the sun sign. Their moon signs are not very compatible and his Venus is with Rahu... No, no, no this will not do. This match is not good at all. He is not the type to settle down with a girl and she needs stability. This match will not work," Dr. Vivek said decisively.
Mr. Mitran scowled, "Are you quite sure?"
"Yes, yes indeed. Only if you wished your daughter and this poor boy unhappiness would you have this match. I myself would change it immediately."
Netra had to hide a smile. Now that Dr. Vivek put it like that, there was no way her parents would let this marriage play out.
✧༺ ༻∞
The elder Mitrans went home sullenly, upset that their beautiful plan would not hold. Netra, on the other hand, couldn't be happier.
Now all I have to do is make sure it's Regulus they choose. I'm pretty sure Malfoy is engaged to one of Sirius' cousins, but I'm not sure about Rabastan Lestrange. Regulus may be more appealing to my parents, considering the Black family's prestige, which I can use.
"Why are you arranging a marriage?" Netra asked hesitantly.
"It's clear our usual approach has not been working out," Mrs Mitran replied simply, in a rare show of openness. "When your father and I realized we were going to have you, we agreed to have a fairly hands-off approach. We would allow you to have your interests as long as you were willing to learn western and traditional music—it was just luck that most of your interests revolved around that. Why did you think we didn't protest when you tried being on the Quidditch Team even though most pureblood parents would? Granted, I was pleased when you quit," her mother mumbled under her breath.
Netra had nothing to say to that. She had wondered the same thing herself.
"You've disappointed us, so we're trying something new," Mrs. Mitran said simply.
"However, we will give you a choice, seeing as you were correct about that elder Black," Mr. Mitran interjected.
His wife glared at him. Evidently they had not agreed on that.
Ignoring this, Mr. Mitran continued. "Currently, there are not very many eligible purebloods out there. Unfortunately Lucius Malfoy is taken by Narcissa Black. Seeing as Andromeda Black ran out on Evan Rosier, his family will be expecting a tighter betrothal contract, but if you insist we can negotiate. Then, there is ... Cadmus Avery," her father said, his distaste evident. "The Avery family... is not preferable."
Netra had to struggle not to laugh. The only reason her father didn't like the Avery family is because Cadmus Avery's father almost succeeded in marrying her mother.
"After that, there is Rabastan Lestrange and Regulus Black, the only two others left without a betrothal."
"We would like to be on good terms with the Black family," her mother interjected hopefully.
Dear Merlin, I don't have to do any work! This is brilliant!
"Well that works out perfectly, because Rabastan Lestrange is a prat," Netra said.
And a legal adult, seeing as he's five years older than me.
"Netra!" her mother scolded.
Ignoring this, her father said, "I'm quite sure it won't take any work at all to convince Walburga that it's Regulus we want—no one wants to marry the spare."
Having come to a decision, the three Mitrans set out to changing the marriage contract, replacing every mention of Sirius to Regulus and changing the terms, seeing as she was no longer marrying the heir to the Black family fortune.
"There!" Mrs. Mitran exclaimed, twenty minutes later. "There's no way Walburga will refuse this!"
I am so glad this worked out.