Chapter Fifty-One: The Weasleys' Plan
George, Ron, Theo and Percy plan damage control.
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Lucius watched Winky appear with the items the curse-breaker had requested and forced himself to not feel useless and wretched. At least his love and affection for Hermione had proved to be genuine. He was worth something if his dark, twisted and much abused soul could do some good and help to stop the progression of his adopted daughter's curse.
He knew he was partly, if not wholly to blame for Ginny's possession by Tom Riddle's diary. Truthfully, he hadn't known it was a Horcrux, but that wasn't an excuse. He hadn't known the damage it could do, but he had felt it's Darkness. He had known that. He couldn't deny it. The diary had called to him and in his fear of what it might make him do, or cause Narcissa and Draco to do, he'd thrown it away. He'd never considered that it might have then infected someone innocent with such evil. He wondered now if the diary was responsible for his actions? Perhaps Tom Riddle had already been working on him, via the Horcrux and the Dark Mark, forcing him to assist in expanding Riddle's sphere of influence. There was so much that was unknown about Horcruxes. And Dark Magic. Dumbledore's prejudice had infected the wizarding world as a whole, and wizarding academia hadn't studied it and its effects as a result. That was a weakness that was now revealing itself. But all these thoughts that he knew he's have to share with Kingsley, Severus and Minerva aside, he was responsible in some way for the plight of Hermione and Ginny. He was to blame. He had to ensure he made full recompense, above and beyond what he'd already done.
He sighed softly, and stroked Hermione's hair. At least he could pour his love onto his daughter, his beloved, unexpected daughter and help ease some of her pain.
Narcissa cuddled closer to her husband's side as his face narrowed once more in focus upon Hermione. The blonde beauty could feel Hermione's pain coursing through her, and through her soul bond to Lucius, she knew that he was pouring more and more of himself into their daughter to ease her pain. She worried if that would increase the Darkness that already dwelt in Lucius. If he was giving of the best of himself, what was going to happen to his soul? But, she brushed that fear aside. It was foolish and she knew that the more good he did without thought to his own soul's condition, the more benefit would reverberate back to his soul. He himself would be healed by his attempt to heal her. Magic worked on intent, especially when it came to Soul Magic that was bound so strongly with instinct and emotion.
Arthur watched with pride as his first-born settled down to research and calculations. His belief in his son's abilities allowed him the comfort to know that if it was possible for a solution to be found that Bill would find it.
Next, Arthur's gaze moved over to his youngest child. Ginny didn't really look like a child, not in the dress she had on and especially not with the sneer that graced her features and the scorn that blazed in her eyes. It was as though a mask had been removed to reveal the true Darkness that dwelt within the red-head. It was so obvious that although she was held by Kingsley's bindings that prevented her speaking and escaping that her faculties were fully present, and they were those of contempt and hatred. He wondered how he had missed such Darkness in his beloved daughter.
Arthur sighed and turned to look at his wife, who was now sitting dejectedly on a conjured chair, Fleur seated on a stool by her feet, holding her mother-in-law's hands. Molly's Darkness too seemed much more on the surface. There was no way that they as a family could brush away the deep Darkness that covered them. There was no hope now that it would fade away with some gardening and herbology. Not after this. Arthur suppressed another sigh that threatened and made his way to his wife. He placed his hand on her shoulder and kissed her on her hair. "We will pull through this," he said firmly. "Bill will do what needs to be done and the curse will be broken." He could hear his own conviction in his voice and he did his best to comfort his brood.
The Wealsey patriarch looked at his three sons and future son-in-law, their faces tense with emotion. "Once the curse is broken though, we as a family will have to face our Darkness. There's no use crying over spilled milk, what is done in done. But when we know that Hermione is going to be okay, we must work on our issues as family. And we can only pray that the Malfoys and Severus will be lenient with Ginny. Her Darkness cannot be ignored, but I can only hope that they will not insist on Azkaban for her."
Theo met Arthur's words with a nod of agreement. He had tied his future with that of the Weasleys. He had to now accept all the challenges that that decision entailed. The dark-haired wizard looked over to the Slytherins in the Infirmary. "I'm sure that no-one wants this to go further than it already has. If things can be hushed up, it will be. Lucius and Severus both are bound by their desire to ensure the Order and the Ministry are not brought into disrepute by their inability to control the actions of those so closely tied to both institutions. Ginny's past association with Harry especially is public knowledge. For that reason alone it is imperative that nothing more than has already been circulated at the Ball gets out."
Arthur frowned at these words, but he could see clearly the political ramifications.
George too was frowning in concentration. Eventually, once silence had fallen for a while, the red-head spoke up. "I think it is best that at least some of us go back to the Ball. The more of us that stay here, the more the gossips are going to have things to talk about."
"Curse the bloody gossips," said Ron furiously. "That's our Hermione and Ginny in there in case you'd forgotten."
"Of course I've not forgotten, you moron," said George, equally furiously. "But your little Lav-Lav amongst others will be revelling in this. We have to ensure that it is all hushed up as quickly as possible. Think of it as damage control. By the looks of it, Hermione is at least stable right now. Bill's going to be a while with his calculations. Let's go do something positive while we wait. I'm sure we can be summoned back here in minutes as the Malfoys were."
Percy frowned but nodded. "George is right. It is hard. I love Hermione like a sister. She is one of the very few who understands how I feel about knowledge and learning. And Ginny's our baby. Losing Fred was bad enough. I'm not ready for more of this family to disintegrate. But the mob downstairs are like blood-thirsty wolves. They will have this turned into a blood-bath if they can. And you can bet anything you want that the Prophet is going to do a spread in tomorrow morning's paper."
Ron cursed furiously.
George tugged his younger brother's arm. "You're part of the bloody Golden Trio. Act like it. Come on. Let's go ensure Lav-Lav's told that it was nothing too serious. Yes, Ginny threw an unknown hex at Hermione, but Madame Pomfrey fixed her in minutes. No one else is allowed here, so no one can refute this. The rest have retired to the Headmaster's rooms to discuss the matter. But it is nothing serious. No one else knows that anyone other than the Malfoys and the Weasleys left the Great Hall. Bill's presence here is an unknown. So is Harry's. Let's ensure us going back to the Ball makes them think what we want them to think. If the parents stay with Ginny that's only to be expected."
"George is right," said Theo quietly. "And if I join you, after everyone knowing that I've been going out with Ginny, they'll suspect that it was storm in a tea cup. The usual nonsense of students making a mountain out of a mole hill."
Percy frowned. "It would help if we could get Professor McGonagall and Kingsley to return to the Hall too. At least for a short while."
They boys' discussion had been closely followed by Fleur, Molly and Arthur. Now, Fleur stood up and moved towards the magical barrier. "If I can get through, I'll tell the others what's being planned by you. I'm sure at least one of them, if not both will make an appearance at the Ball."
Fleur matched action with words, and with the most gentle of pushes, made her way through the barrier and into the Infirmary. The others outside listened as she explained what had been decided.
Kingsley nodded at the end of her monologue. "Severus and Lucius can both ensure that Ginny's held securely. I'm sure I can be fetched if I'm needed instantaneously. Minnie, shall we? It would be best to ensure things aren't brandished all over tomorrow's papers. There'll be enough drama as it is even with the altered story we plan to circulate."
Minerva McGonagall sighed. "Agreed. But the last thing I feel like doing is talk politely about nothing at all with a roomful of people."
But, the plan was sound. And after everyone had retired to a chamber next to the Infirmary to rearrange their finery and ensure they looked the part, they made their way to the Great Hall. Minerva and Kingsley flooing to the chamber just off the Great Hall, while the four young men walked down the stairs, ensuring that all the students still around saw their descent.
A/N: Love it or hate it, please let me know what you think.