Insominia, I need to get some sleep, also taking on the Potter/Black/Bones/Malfoy/Longbottom power bloc was essentially political suicide, live and learn eh? Enjoy!
Lucius Malfoy was not one to get angry over the caustic ramblings of the sheep commonly known as magical kind without due reason; truthfully the more the fools worked themselves into a tizzy over the inanity of their pathetic voyeuristic lives the easier it was to manipulate them to behave in his favor.
In the words of every opportunist in history, waste not, want not after all.
Unfortunately for a certain publication aimed towards tween and teenage witches said caustic ramblings now involved his precious daughter and the wizard he fully intended on her wedding... years from now of course. The problem he was running into oddly enough came down to a printed question mark.
'Witch Weekly's' article on Dancia and Harry's relationship was little more than wild speculation, wrapped in a veneer of professionalism, served with a side of steaming bullshit.
The problem was that they never once stated that what they were espousing was the truth, only that it could possibly be the truth, and with a healthy dosage of question marks thrown in after said statements, none could claim they were stating the truth, only speculating on it.
Normally, this hedging of the line protected the idiots who spoke ill of their betters, hiding behind the curtain wall of legalities as they pontificated on matters outside their station, content with the knowledge that the rule of law would protect them.
Normally, that is.
Witch weekly was a subsidiary of the Daily Prophet, the chief editor for both publications, one Atticus Marksworth, was now seated before Lucius, Lord Black, Regent Bones, Lord and Lady Longbottom, along with Andromeda, Bellatrix, and Narcissa.
The portly man came to consciousness slowly, when he realized he was restrained he began panicking, when the rooms lights brightened enough for him to see who was standing before him he did the only reasonable thing he could.
He pissed himself.
Avoiding the putrid puddle spreading around the feet of the man bound before him Lucius spun his cane as the serpent head came loose and then aimed the now revealed wand directly under Atticus' throat.
"Hello, I am Lord Lucius Malfoy, as it turns out you and I have much to discuss."
At the same time things in the Ravenclaw common room were significantly less...hostile, if not any less intense.
"So you and Harry are dating?" Cho asked Dancia who paused, sighed, and nodded.
"Yes, it was a very weird night involving being tricked into getting rather drunk and behaving below our station for a time but yes, we are now dating."
Cho smirked at that and much to Dany's discomfort stood behind her and pulled her into a hug, "That is just...precious..."
"Back off Chang I have enough hormone driven fantasies running through my head as is, if we are throwing you into the mix I'll never be able focus on classwork."
Harry stated this while being followed by Hermione and Luna, both witches snickering at his dry delivery as they sat down at the table Dancia and Cho were standing before.
"Oh, do I interest you that much Harry?"
Harry, having grown up surrounded by Alpha witches in most of his formative years simply stated, "Am I attracted to the gorgeous Asian witch feeling up my girlfriend who is obviously not bothered by her attentions in the slightest all while being a hormone driven teenage wizard? Is that what you are asking?"
Cho was silent a moment before releasing Dancia while muttering, "Oh he is good."
"The best," Dancia said with a smirk as she moved forward and plopped down into her seat, Cho sat next to her after a moment but rather then being clingy she pulled out a quill, ink pot, and a stack of parchment before meeting Dany's curious gaze.
"Su can tell you about it later, but unfortunately when you are the heiress to a Hong Kong trade conglomerate your work is never done."
Padma snorted at that while rolling her eyes, "Tell me about it, Parvati was the first born so she was the one stuck with the marriage contract with the bloke twenty years her senior, which is just... ugh, whatever she's happy about it so I will not say anything further on the subject. I in turn inherited the family head status which means..."
"A myriad world of politics and unwanted responsibility?" Dancia asked with a knowing look of annoyance.
Padma nodded decisively at that, "Precisely."
The Ravenclaws soon acted like, well, Ravenclaws, and focused on their work when Dobby popped out beside Dancia, blinking rapidly she accepted the letter from her smallest friend and cracked the wax seal. Harry and Hermione were staring at her in worry before she finally let out a tired sigh and let her head hit the table muttering inaudibly for a time before Cho decided to take matters into her own hands and pulled the snow haired witch up while raising a single eyebrow.
"Pardon? We didn't catch any of that," Dancia met Cho's gaze a moment before tossing the letter on the table. Harry picked it up, brow furrowing slightly before handing it to Hermione who read the short message in confusion.
"Dearest Daughter, Fear not for your reputation, the perpetrator for the foul rumors following you and your intended has been taken care of and is now well aware that we are willing to crush her like a beetle if she ever crosses the line again. Love you always mummy and daddy."
Dancia was...caught in a weird place, her parents had...parented, but in the process inadvertently denied her desire for due vengeance...
Harry titled his head to the side while asking, "What's wrong, this is a good thing right?"
Dany huffed before nodding, "I suppose, I just wanted to met out justice myself, I feel almost...cheated..."
Harry stared at her a moment, then leaned forward kissing her, a moment later he leaned back and smiled brightly, "Better?"
Blushing brightly Dancia nodded as she dropped her head on his shoulder earning giggles from the surrounding witches as she muttered, "Yup... You're good at this boyfriending thing Lord Potter."
He smiled in turn while running his hand through her hair, "I can't take credit for it honestly Lady Dancia, I just think 'What would Sirius do?' and then I do the direct opposite."
Dancia couldn't help it, she broke out laughing which soon dragged all her friends into hysterics.
It was one of the most blissful moments in her entire existence, and in the trials following years ahead, would provide plentiful patronus fuel.