Willow had to clamp down extremely hard on her mental shields as Mr. Malfoy stood up to shake hands. Though her grandfather didn't offer any names, she already knew them. Lord Lucius Malfoy, his wife Narcissa Malfoy, formally Black, and their son Draco Malfoy. Willow had been informed about this family when she was still in the hospital.
As Lord Malfoy came forward with his hand extended, Willow knew she couldn't touch him. Though the Wicca would never want to touch the monster, it was more to do with her faulty shields. The California redhead would like to think she was fully recovered from her ordeal that landed her in the hospital, but knew she was only at seventy to eighty percent. If she made physical contact with Lucius Malfoy, her magic would act defensively and destroy him.
The young witch looked at the outstretched hand and then back up to the creepy man, formulating a convincing lie. "I'm sorry sir, but I have been exposed to a lot of deferent magics this morning that I'm unfamiliar with. If we made contact, your magic would overwhelm mine and possibly case me harm."
Mr. Malfoy paused to study the young girl for a moment, then smiled and nodded his head. "I don't fully understand the problem Ms. Potter but, then again, I'm no Mediwizard ether. I'll simply say hello." Luscious said with a carefree facade.
Willow was glad she couldn't read his emotions at all. Her quickly erected shields where working. "Well, it was a pleasure meeting all of you but I was on my way to collect some sandwiches and juice to take to the Quidditch Pitch for lunch. My brother Harry and his friend, Ginevra brother Ron, are down there flying on brooms. Draco is welcome to join us if he wishes."
"Thank you dear, but he'll have to decline. You see I had some last-minute business to discuss with your grandfather before tonight's party and then we need to go shopping. Draco doesn't really have time to socialize right now." Lucius explained.
"That's fine Lord Malfoy, maybe some other time. If you will excuse me, I need to go see about those sandwiches. It was nice meeting you." Willow said. She turned back to Hermione and Ginny then motioned for them to head out the Parlor.
Victor was happy to see Willow getting along with Ginny and Hermione. He wasn't very happy about the Malfoys showing up unannounced. He knew how important this party was and a lot of old Pureblood families where not happy with the guest list.
After the girls had left Victor addresses the American Aurors. "Would you both excuse us, I really do have private business to discuss with the Lord Malfoy."
Aurors McGee and Todd both got up and left to check the perimeter of the manor and make sure the wards where all in place.
"Now that we are free of unwanted ears and the inferior, we can discuss the future of your house and what influence it can gain with a proper match for your grandchildren." Lucius said with a superior tone, all of his fake pleasantries forgotten.
Victor's mood began to worsen the more Malfoy talked. Not only had this man entered his home uninvited, but now he had the audacity to speak to him as if Victor had no choice but to listen. The older Wizard comely waved his wand, erecting a privacy ward, and then returned to his armchair. Lucius returned to the sofa to set next to Narcissa.
"Victor, it is paramount that we use the opportunity given to us to ones again gain control of the Potters vast wealth and political power, in hopes of further are agendas. Your indiscretions, no matter how unsightly, have ultimately led us to this fortunate situation. We need to ensure the loyalties of the future descendants of young Harry and Willow threw proper wedding matches." Lucius said passionately.
Victor took a moment to gather his thoughts and calm down. Malfoy's causal insult did not go unnoticed. After is infidelity with Muggles were made public, he was been forced to endure a lot of ridicule from the old crowd. He hadn't really cared of course as most who made fun of him had in fact done worse than he. Casually mentioning this fact was all it took to shut most of them up. Malfoy had done far worse than anyone else but had no shame about it whatsoever. It was the fact that Victor had been caught, rather than the fact he had done wrong, Malfoy found funny.
Victor looked across the table to Malfoy and asked. "I have thought this threw myself. I have a few ideal matches for Harry but no one available really stands out for Willow. What do you propose Lucius?"
"If your granddaughter was of purer blood, I would have offered my own son Draco. How it stands know though it will take two or three generations before Harry or Willow's decedents can marry back into the grater old families such as my own. I do have a few ideas though, if you're interested?" Malfoy stated.
Victor's patience was being tested greatly. Even if Malfoy were willing to offer his son, Victor would never allow Willow to marry Draco. The boy himself looked shocked that his father would even make such a claim and Mrs. Malfoy gave her husband a questioning look.
After the bigot Malfoy spoke of his ideas, and the reasons why, Victor wanted to strangle the fool. The purposed matches for his grandchildren where both appalling. Whitehall had never meet ether the boy or the girl but if they were anything like their families, they would be spoiled, mean, rude, and stupid. The most horrible part was that Malfoy wouldn't even be telling him the idea if he hadn't already run it by the old families and they agreed. If that truly was the case, then this would be really hard to fight.
"As well thought out as the idea is, Lucius, your forgetting a few things. I'm not the sole responsible party for my grandchildren's wellbeing. I'm their legal Guardian, but the Guardian of their Magical Rights is the Vampiress Drusilla. She would have to agree to this as well and I know she will hate the idea. Another factor will be Dumbledore and his flock. They will also be in attendance tonight and will mostly try to form matches with children from Light Magic families." Victor reminded Malfoy.
"Whose fault is that Whitehall? Had you been more selective of the guest list we wouldn't have that particular obstacle. As for the Vampire, it won't be too hard to get her to agree when your grandchildren have no objections to the matches. Will just make the magical contracts ironclad so they can't be broken if Harry or Willow get cold feet." Lucius said.
"I had to allow Dumbledore's flock in. If I had attempted to completely leave them out the Americans would have thrown a fit. They could say it was proof of some sort that I was once a Death Eater and taken my grandchildren from me. You're correct that if both Harry and Willow agree to the matches Drusilla will allow them, but nether child would ever willingly agree. I have never meet them, but I can guess there type and both proposed matches would never interest ether of my grandchildren." Victor said.
"There are ways to get Harry and Willow to agree. We can't outright enchant them, but we can persuade them by magical means. We just have to make sure no one notices what's happening until it's too late." Lucius said.
"Need I remind you that this house is under the diplomatic protection of the A.R.W.K., and any law that is broken will be judged by them not England. The American Aurors will be present at the party for security and will scrutinize all gifts and artifacts that guests bring. Auror Gibbs will also be present and will tolerate no foolishness from anyone of the old crowd." Victor explained.
Lucius didn't miss the look of rage in Whitehall's eyes as he mentioned Gibbs. This could turn into an interesting evening indeed.
"I understand your concerns Victor. I have a foolproof plan that will allow us to get magical artifacts on your grandchildren that will help them make the right choice about the matches. Tonight, when you help Harry get ready for the party you will give him a ring of my making. Narcissa will come over to help Willow and give her a hair pin that I've also enchanted. This enchantment is very subtle but powerful and doesn't count as mind control. No one could dispute a magical contract based on the enchantment alone." Lucius boasted.
Victor stood and walked towards the fireplace deep in though. He didn't want to do this horrible thing. He had learned the hard way how much the path of good and evil could take away. If his grandchildren ever found out what he did, they would hate him forever. They were all he had left, and he couldn't lose them. Three dead sons and one dead daughter for a mad man's ideology that refused to fade away. If the Wizarding World didn't wake up soon it would ultimately destroy itself.
He wanted, more than anything, to protect Harry and Willow from the political stupidity that had ultimately killed all his children. If he were honest these matches could help in that regard, but it would come at a high personal price. His grandchildren would live but would want nothing to do with him.
He saw no redeeming quality in Harry's match. That girl was horrible and that was that. All she had going for her was blood and money and Victor no longer cared so much about those. Willow's match was not completely unsalvageable. Though the boy was a complete Pureblood Extremist, much like his own sons had been, Willow was smart enough to manipulate him into something at least presentable. Perhaps, if his own sons had been matched with better Witches they would still be here, and he would have more grandchildren. Instead all he had where three tombstones, two widows, and grandchildren from a daughter he never knew.
He turned to Narcissa. "You're fine with helping Willow get ready for the party." He asked as he gave her a once over glance.
Narcissa put on her best fake smile and said convincingly. "Yes Victor, it would be an honor to help her get ready and help to make sure the match succeeds. After all, tonight is about insuring are sides continued superiority over those of lesser blood and the strength of your line."
Victor gave a small frown as he thought of a small problem. "You realize that if you help Willow tonight you will also have to help Ms. Granger and Ms. Weasley. It was already decided that they would simply barrow clothes from Willow for the party. You will also have to do a good job as not to rouse suspicion from the Americans. I myself will be helping Mr. Weasley as he will be borrowing clothes from Harry."
Narcissa went stiff. "If I must so be it. Though I don't see how I could make that Mudblood or Blood Traitor presentable for Magical Society. I find it a little funny about the Mudblood being entertained at tonight's party in your manor however." She said hotly.
"Why is that mother? I don't see anything funny about that girl being her, dirtying the place, and socializing with decent magical folk." Draco said arrogantly.
"The last time a Mudblood attended a party at this manor, they were the entertainment. It was during the war and she was very reluctant to be here." Narcissa answered.
Victor watched as little Draco paled, though he tried not to show discomfort. Perhaps there was still hope for the boy. If he could somehow get out from under his parents, he could grow to be a decent human being.
Victor had to turn away from the Malfoy family, so they didn't see his facial expression. Being reminded about his sons' activities during the war hurt.
He was the one responsible for the way his sons turned out. He had praised Voldemort's ideas and mocked Dumbledore's. He decided not to personally fight, only give money, so as not to truly bloody his hands. His sons knew this. They proudly told him the day they signed with Voldemort and became Death Eaters.
His decisions had bought him nothing but pain. The day of the party that Narcissa mentioned he made sure he was away. Victor didn't want to see what his sons had become. The old Wizard was so ashamed, he didn't even know the pore girl's name. Just another missing person in a long list of missing people.
He had thought he paid for his sins the day he buried his sons, but this was far worse. He sons where gone but his grandchildren where still here and there was nothing he could do. All his political power and all his family money was tied into the Dark Magic families. If he went against them, he would lose everything and, with all the evidence they had against him, he would spend the rest of his life in Azkaban.
Victor had no true allies in ether the dark families or the light families. If the light families could, they would take his grandchildren away from him in a hart beat.
'No' Victor thought. 'I have to fight this battle alone. It's up to me to fined away to protect my grandchildren. Even if it means my life. My precious daughter Lily, I never had the joy of meeting you, I promise to do whatever it takes to protect your son and daughter. I just hope I still have the strength for one long uphill fight.'
Victor turned back towards his unwanted guests and said reluctantly. "All right, in the interest of our ideas and way of life, lets prepare for tonight."