7. Rowing Back
"What did you do?" Lucius hissed dangerously low.
Severus couldn't help but gulp involuntarily. It was the first time he had ever seen his normally always calm and stoic friend become angry and agitated. And by Merlin, it wasn't a pretty sight.
His white blond hair was seemingly flying around the air as if electrically charged, his grey eyes had changed to a dangerous steel-like silvery grey and his long fingers were clenched into angry fists. Almost as soon as Severus had finished his sentence, Lucius had tried to lunge himself at the Potions Master only to be restrained by an equally angry and agitated Narcissa.
"You betrayed our family, Severus!" Lucius raged. "My family! What in Merlin's name were you thinking? Were you even thinking at all?" Lucius' hands were flying through the air, all social pretence of elegant aloofness forgotten. "The consequences of your actions will be disastrous, beyond repair!"
Backing away slowly in suspicion Severus raised his hands in an appeasing manner. He could understand that Lucius felt defrauded, but the way he phrased his sentences was a little excessive. It wasn't as bad as Lucius made it out to be. If they played their cards prudently, there might even be some advantages and positive side effects to Severus' actions. Severus would just have to make Lucius and Narcissa see reason.
If he wasn't cursed and evicted from Malfoy Manor before he could even try.
"Now, now, Lucius, it is not as bad as you imagine it to be." With his hands still raised in an appeasing manner Severus tried to smooth talk his actions. "Think about it." He implored.
"If you play your cards prudently, this might turn out to be the best that could happen to you. If everything will turn out how I imagine it to you will never regret that Potter decided to become a woman." Severus sighed lowly and averted his gaze. "Believe me, Lucius, there was nothing else I could have possibly done. I'm bound by an oath to protect Lily's child the best way I can." Severus stressed his predicament. "And the best protection for Potter simply is becoming the Dark Lord's daughter."
Lucius merely huffed angrily as he allowed his wife to pull him down on the couch next to her. Lucius was still burning with anger, Severus didn't need to look into Lucius' mind to know that his friend was seriously contemplating on cursing him. It was time to intervene. He didn't need any more stress on his body and mind.
Not to imagine what his Lord would do if he arrived late, bruised and battered to Potter's adoption and change.
"And how exactly could this help me, Severus, to know you were finally able to fulfil this thrice dammed oath to this dead woman?" Lucius snarked angrily, his grey eyes shining like silver with the rage burning in them. "It is my son who will suffer thanks to your actions. My family!"
Lucius threw his hands in the air and had the context been different, Severus would have smirked at his ruffled appearance. "Think about it. My son, my only son and heir might have to marry Potter!" Lucius raked his fingers through his long, white blond hair and glared at Severus crossly. "I don't care for what you were thinking might be best for you! This is awful!"
Severus could only sigh. Lucius could be quite narrow-minded when he didn't want to see something. He could be blind to the truth even with his eyes open and the truth staring right back at him.
"Potter might the solution to all of your problems, Lucius." Severus reiterated yet again. Perhaps if Lucius kept quiet for some moments, Severus might have the time allege his reasons. "Draco is already seventeen years old. Per custom you would want him married before he turns twenty. In other words, you have less than three years to find a suitable wife for him."
Severus paused and regarded his friend intently. He may not be a pureblood himself, but he knew enough to notice the predicament Lucius was in. "I know you have had in mind several young women, but none of them fulfilled your expectations." Ridiculously high expectations. "I know you only want the best for your son and for your family. It will be difficult to find the one perfect woman. But think about it. Couldn't Potter be the solution to your problems?"
Wordlessly Severus poured himself a cup of tea. He would have preferred another glass of red wine, but he still had important work to do. Severus could see that he had caught his friends' attention, albeit quite grudgingly. It was the first step. If he played his cards right, he might come out of this tricky situation quite gloriously.
Frankly he wondered when his life had become so twisted and complicated. It had been easier and more predictable before.
"You remember last month, Lucius?" Severus asked lightly. "The horrendous and painful ritual our Lord made some of his followers and himself go through? It was a blood purifying ritual." Severus ignored Lucius' startled wide eyes as well as Narcissa's horrified gasp. "All traces of muggle heritage and blood have been annihilated. The Dark Lord as well as I and some others are purebloods." It felt great to be a pureblood, nothing bound him to his bastard of a father anymore. "Our Lord's blood is free of anything dirtying it. He is everything he ever wanted to be. And Potter will be, too."
He wearily brought his hand to his temples and carefully started to massage them. The very thought of the blood purifying ritual sent shivers down his spine. It had been horrendous and for nothing of this world would Severus do it again.
"Potter will be blood-adopted." Severus tried to explain what should be obvious. "He will receive a combination of the Dark Lord's and a female Death Eater's blood, however, the majority of the genes will be the Dark Lord's." Severus didn't dare to imagine whose blood would be additionally chosen. The selection wasn't overwhelming. "With the Dark Lord and all of his followers being pureblood, Potter will be as well. He will be pureblood and his magic inclined to the dark." A sly smirk crossed Severus' features. "Potter will be better suited for your son than most other pureblooded heiresses could ever be."
Severus leaned back in the chair and a small sip from his cup of tea. Yes, Potter might be just the solution to all of their problems. Severus could remember quite well how anxious Draco's parents had been when he had reached his seventeenth birthday. With a lot of expectation they had asked whether he would like to invite his girlfriend so that they might get to know her.
Imagine their horror when Draco had told them he was single.
In had been quite the uproar in Malfoy Manor. Every Malfoy heir had married before he had reached his twentieth birthday. There were held high expectations to those who wished to become the new Malfoy Mistress. She had to be of a pureblood family, of good and beautiful appearance, very educated, intelligent and pure in every imaginable way, she had to be understanding when she was to keep quiet and when she was to speak up, she had to be able to dance, be able to sing or draw or play an instrument and so on. The list was endless.
To Lucius those were understandable requests and expectations. The Malfoy name was very important in the wizarding world and it was to be kept this way. A marriage with the wrong woman could easily ruin this high held status. If she was unable to present and represent the family in the proper way, she might ruin business relations and scare away possible new business partners. If she was a disgrace to the Malfoy Family she would be unable to connect with other important women.
Draco's parents had been highly worried when their son had told them that there was not one female student at Hogwarts who he wished to marry or even lay his hands on. Draco was quite uptight when it came to potential bride candidates – thanks to his father's strict education. It was a well-known fact to everyone that Malfoys would not marry because they were in love. Love might develop over the course of time spent together. No, Malfoys married because of their reputation.
And this was the key to the solution of all their problems.
Severus placed the cup of tea on the table, stippled his fingers and regarded Lucius intently. "What candidates does Hogwarts offer you, Lucius?" Severus asked sardonically. "From the Scared Twenty-Eight only Parkinson, Greengrass and Bulstrode are in Slytherin. Parkinson is beneath your standards for physical appearance and the Greengrass girls are too meek to make an impression on other families."
Severus would scoff at the image of Astoria or Daphne entering a room together with Draco. They would be overshadowed by Draco's mere presence.
"Bulstrode isn't pureblood and even if she was, she would be unsuitable." Severus couldn't help but cringe at the mental image. "The Carrow twins are too young, Abbott is a Hufflepuff and half-blood, Weasley is a blood-traitor and Flint, Longbottom, Macmillan and Nott only have heirs."
Severus took another sip from his herbal tea and glanced at his friends. They were trying to mask their worry and resentment, but didn't need to use Legilimency to notice their troubled emotions.
"Draco would not marry any of those girls as none of them reaches the high standard expected from a typical Malfoy bride." Severus scowled as he remembered the trouble he had had with those girls throughout the last years. "Their education has been lax, they do not know any more what it means to be considered Mistress of an important pureblood family. They are only interested in amusing themselves, in gossip and in a spectacular sex-life. None of them is truly interested in your son or your family."
He sighed lightly before he let his gaze wander over his friends.
"As soon as Potter has become a woman, he will be educated from the beginning." Severus needlessly explained. "Potter knows nothing about being a woman and eve less of being a pureblood woman expected to become a Mistress."
Severus inwardly rolled his eyes. It was peculiar that he had to explain the significance of Potter's gender change to his normally sharp witted and intelligent friends. "The Dark Lord wishes for the prefect pureblood daughter." Severus accentuated yet again. "He will only allow the best to educate and teach her. I know for sure that the Dark Lord wants you, Narcissa, to be one of those teachers. You will be able to mould her, to create a masterpiece, a true gem out of a rock."
The expression in his friends' eyes was disconcerting. Lucius' grey and Narcissa's blue eyes were filled with an internal struggle. Anger and resentment were battling fiercely against honest interest and growing intrigue. They were starting to reconsider their possibilities and consider their future course of actions.
Finally.
"Potter will not only be able to be mended and formed, he will be the possible best spouse you can think of." Severus took another sip from his tea and regarded his friends. "Don't forget that Potter will become the Dark Lord's daughter. Whoever manages to befriend her will rise in our Lord's graces. Our Lord will be the one to decide who will be the one deserving of his daughter's attention and who will be the one to be honourable and respectable enough to be friends with her."
Honestly thinking about it Severus suddenly realised he wasn't even exaggerating in the slightest. His Lord would soon become very possessive and protective of Potter once he had the body of a female. Especially should Potter look a lot like the Dark Lord. His deceased daughter had been a spitting image of her father. Should Potter inherit most of his genes, the Dark Lord might transfer some of his feelings for his dead daughter to Potter.
It was a dangerous game for all involved but it had to be played. "Now imagine what would happen if Potter was to marry." Severus followed the train of thought. "Her husband and his family would rise in the Dark Lord's graces automatically. His family would be bound to our Lord for eternity. They would benefit from his protection and the favouritism. No one would be able to go against them as going against them would be the same as going against our Lord." Severus shuddered, his gaze dark and dangerous. "And this would be suicide."
Playing one of his trump cards Severus calmly poured himself another steaming cup of tea, placed it to his lips, took a small enjoyable sip and then leaned back into his armchair in a relaxing manner.
"Your family would stand above all the others." Severus shamelessly coaxed. "You would be almost equal to the Dark Lord."
He could see the small traces of greed seeping into his friends' eyes. Indeed, power and influence were the two things that would ever bait a Malfoy. And to imagine the power and influence they would relish once their Lord had won this war it was too good to be true. But even while his friends were daydreaming about their possible perfect future a small trace of suspicion and fear still remained in their eyes.
"You do know that our Lord will not let any passing man marry his daughter." Narcissa reminded him needlessly, her lips pressed to a thin line in worry. "He will be rather selective about who the happy chosen one is going to be."
Her voice was weak and filled with an unknown fear. This was one of the rare moments for Severus to experience Narcissa solely in her role as a mother. Her heart was filled with worry and fear for her family. The dream of Draco marrying their Lord's daughter and benefit from utmost protection this way was nice and pleasing. But what would happen if Draco asked for Potter's hand in marriage and the Dark Lord refused?
It would be most humiliating to say in the least.
A light snort and a dismissive role of eyes greeted her fearful question.
"You're right, Narcissa." Severus readily agreed. "The Dark Lord will be most elective about who will be the lucky one to marry his daughter. But," Severus emphasised his words with a smooth motion of his hand. "Just as Potter would be the best choice for your son, Draco would be the best choice for our Lord's daughter." Severus smirked darkly. "There nearly no competition to your son."
Raising his hand in a mock demonstrative manner Severus counted their possibilities.
"We have the Zabinis with Blaise as a potential spouse." Severus started his tale. "The Zabinis are a dark family, but they have never supported our Lord openly. They always tried to keep a low profile, to fool the world into believing they are neutral and don't care for the war." Severus scowled at such foolishness. No one with half a brain cell believed the Zabinis to be neutral. "Our Lord lets them do as they please but he isn't too satisfied with them."
Severus leaned back and huffed in disdain. "Do you really imagine he would let his daughter marry the heir of a family who would never openly support him? I don't think so."
Pausing shortly to let the information sink in Severus raised a second finger.
"Then we have Theodore Nott. Nott is the heir of a dark family that borders very closely to be considered a neutral in the public's eyes." Severus shrugged, some even considered them to be light. "He is quiet and studious. But that is everything positive there is to say about him."
Severus scowled darkly. "He lacks the expected wit and cunning streak every Slytherin should possess. He is lame, can't stick up for himself nor for anyone else. He never acts in public, never speaks until being asked for his opinion and lives up to his image of a weakling." Severus would have snorted at the mere thought of Nott being chosen as Potter's spouse. "I once witnessed the Dark Lord asking one of his followers if they knew for sure that Nott was a boy as he wasn't acting like one." Severus smirked evilly. "I don't think our Lord would allow his daughter to marry someone who couldn't defend her against the smallest of evils."
Two fingers were raised this time.
"Then we have Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe. But honestly, do you expect me to even say something about them?" Severus glowered in disgust. "They are the lowest in our Lord's graces. They lack wit, cunning, intelligence, fitness, appearance, power and influence. They can't offer anything that might change our Lord's opinion about them. He will under no circumstances let his daughter marry one of those two idiots." Severus almost threw his hands in the air in exasperation. "The Dark Lord wouldn't punish his daughter in such a cruel way."
Now several other fingers were raised.
"There are several other families who would be able to present suitable heirs, the only problem is they are all childless." It was a shame and would lead to a dangerous and difficult future. "Bellatrix and Rudolphus although both of true dark families and fierce supporters of our Lord would have good chances but they have no don't have children. Rabastan doesn't have children either and even if he had, our Lord wouldn't let his daughter marry any of them. Rabastan isn't married and illegitimate children are a taboo for our Lord. Regulus died without having been married and childless, the same goes for Crouch Jr."
Taking his hands down Severus leaned back in his chair again. He tried to take a relaxing breath then Potions Master looked at his friends sternly.
"There are other Death Eaters and some of them are married and have children. But to be rather honest I don't see them as any possible threats." It wasn't exaggerated adulation but the plain truth. "They aren't influential enough and don't possess any power."
Severus smirked sleekly. "Draco on the other hand has everything our Lord would wish for in a son-in-law. He is powerful, influential and protective of those he cares for. He acts in public and is willing to support him no matter what will happen."
Severus crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. "And Draco has you. Your family has been friends with and followers of our Lord from the very beginning. If he had someone similar to an adviser it would have been your father, Lucius, and now you and I. And seeing as I have no heir, Draco will be the best choice."
He could see the understanding and comprehension dawn in his friends' eyes. It was a possibility, an honestly good possibility that Draco would be the one chosen to marry Potter. And seeing as there was already a marriage contract between their families working on bringing Draco and Potter together the probability was only increased.
And this marriage could save them all.
"What you said is true, Severus, but there is something else bothering me." Lucius objected icily. "It might be that Potter will be mouldable once he is a woman. But that isn't enough for me."
Lucius' eyes were gleaming with anger and his nose flared. "I expect that my son's bride to-be has the highest grades regarding academic achievement. Furthermore I expect good manners, interest in politics, economy, arts, dancing, and much more." Lucius' eyes flashed dangerously. "She would be the future Mistress of this family. She has to excel in everything."
His agitated gaze swept through the room restlessly. A slim layer of sweat appeared on his forehead and his hands suddenly were clammy. Horrendous thoughts were crossing his lightly troubled mind each sending more and more shivers down his spine.
"I don't want my family and my family's name to be tarnished, Severus." Lucius hissed dangerously. "Potter is nothing more than an average student. He excels in nothing except for Defence against the Dark Arts and he chose the easiest subjects a Hogwarts student could take."
Lucius leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "I could understand the decision to take Care of Magical Creatures if Potter was interested in animals and creatures but to choose Divination when his family doesn't have a gift for seers is unacceptable." Lucius huffed airily. "Ancient Runes and Arithmancy would have opened him every door, Divination won't."
Lucius' hands were making restless movements through the air. The Malfoy Patriarch wished dearly to express his inner thoughts and struggles but he didn't want to offend Severus in any way. And with what he was about to tell him, Severus might very well be insulted.
"Potter has no competence for conducting a conversation or entertaining. He is interested in nothing more than spending time with his friends and planning how to spend his free time." Lucius' eyes narrowed to sharp slits. "He excels in Quidditch but couldn't dance to save his life. How is this supposed to help us, Severus?" Lucius huffed angrily and threw his hands in the air. "A Malfoy Mistress who outdoes her husband in playing Quidditch but looks like she was wrestling while dancing on each official gathering they have to attend?"
The last sentence caused Narcissa to flinch. Narcissa had cursed thousands of times all those evenings that she had had to spend in the presence of some unimportant and uninteresting man conversing about nothing but hot air and having to endure that they stared openly at her figure. It was disgusting.
To imagine Potter in a woman's body attending those gatherings would surely be a hilarious sight but would inevitably tarnish their family's reputation.
"And finally there is the problem with Potter's appearance." Lucius' eyes narrowed and his expression was pinched. "I don't want to offend you, Severus, seeing as you shared a deep bond with the boy's mother and you still care more for her than for a normal friend." Severus' eyes narrowed equally. Lucius was walking on thin ice.
"I don't think Potter's appearance will match ours or even Draco's expectations." Lastly declared. "Should Potter keep his father's looks, his hair and his whole body frame will be less than satisfactory."
Lucius paused. "And should he keep his mother's appearance, his appearance would be unsuitable as well." Lucius raised his hands in defence but it did little to appease Severus. "I know most people considered her to be beautiful but to be honest, I never shared their appraisal." Lucius sucked in a sharp breath and shuddered. "Her face was plain, her appearance nothing extraordinary but worst of all was her red hair. There has never been a red-head in the Malfoy family and Potter won't become the first!"
A small chuckle greeted Lucius' outburst. Surprised that his friend had taken the offence on his long time crush so well Lucius and Narcissa could do nothing more than wonder what caused his good mood and mirth.
Severus snorted and rolled his eyes. He wouldn't kill Lucius, the Dark Lord would be most displeased. "Thankfully there are different tastes and preferences, Lucius." Severus commented lightly though he wished nothing more than to curse the arrogant bastard. As if Narcissa was the most beautiful woman gracing the Earth. "I won't take offence, Lucius, even though I think your dislike for her is sparked by this grudge against the Weasley family. Especially if the worst offence to your taste is her red hair." What a stupid reason to consider someone unworthy of one's attention. "And still Potter's appearance won't be any problem."
Taking his wand into his hand Severus started playing with it unconsciously and caused Narcissa and Lucius to keep their attention solely on him.
"As I told you before Potter will take over the Dark Lord's genes and therefore our Lord's appearance." Severus explained and tried valiantly to refrain from rolling his eyes. "He won't have red hair, Lucius, and he won't have James Potter's body frame."
Severus leaned back and considered the other problems. "As for Potter's grades and his lack of interest in politics and anything of actual importance, those are problems that will easily be fixed." Severus hazarded a guess. "With the Dark Lord's genes Potter will change in more ways than just his appearance. His inborn abilities and talents will change and his interests will with due time. He will become the Dark Lord's daughter in every single aspect, after all."
Smiling lightly at a strange and most hilarious thought that suddenly crossed his mind Severus still looked intently at his friends.
"And personally I can't imagine our Lord in a Quidditch match, now, can you?"
At first startled by the strange thought both Lucius and Narcissa soon joined Severus in his chuckling. It was true, with the Dark Lord's genes, abilities and talents Potter would turn into a fine young woman. And with Narcissa's tutoring and help Potter would even become a very suitable and respectable pureblood heiress.
Severus sobered up quickly. "There is one last positive aspect to Potter becoming a woman. This way, Draco might finally be able to overcome his Potter-obsession." Severus scoffed and finally couldn't refrain from rolling his eyes.
"To be frank I've enough of Draco comparing everything to that boy and always complaining about him. The way he was going on and on about him, one might think he was in love with him." Severus inwardly grinned at his friends' scandalized expression. "I assure you if Potter had been born a woman, Draco would have fallen for him on the first sight." Severus shrugged lightly. "With Potter becoming a woman Draco could still be obsessed with her and it wouldn't cause any problems. He would be able to pursue her and court her to his heart's desire. Nobody would say anything against Draco falling for the Dark Lord's daughter, after all."
Visibly calmer and more composed Lucius and Narcissa were quietly thinking about everything Severus had told them. He was right, they couldn't deny this. And the advantages this move would bring them were just too good to be true. But even though he was currently a lot calmer Lucius was still a little angry at how easily Severus had decided to influence their son's future without consulting with them first.
"You should have told us nonetheless, Severus." Lucius admonished him. "The way you acted wasn't proper."
Severus couldn't help but roll his eyes again and waved his hand dismissively.
"How would this have helped you?" He asked neither too sharply nor too dismissingly. "The Dark Lord wanted me to take care of Potter. It is my duty to keep him alive."
Severus sighed and shrugged a little. "I could have come to you first, but at what cost?" Severus asked disarmingly. "I couldn't have known whether Potter would agree to become a woman instead of choosing to rather die. What would have been the point in arguing several hours with you about something that very well might never happen?"
He leaned back and regarded his friends intently. "Potter could have died during this time." Severus confessed openly. "He is currently only alive because I put him into a magical healing sleep. Had I come and asked for your consent first, I would not only have forsaken Potter's life but my life as well. The Dark Lord would have easily killed me for failing my duty!"
This thought stung. It was true, they had wanted Severus to ask for their consent first but not at this price. Smiling guiltily at Severus Narcissa nervously fidgeted in her chair.
"Should we tell Draco?" She asked uneasily. "He should be informed that he might have to marry the Dark Lord's daughter as there is a marriage contract between our families. Should he find out later he might react badly to it." Narcissa worried her lips doubtfully. "He will feel we betrayed him in the worst way possible."
Lucius hummed consentingly but shook his head in a negative. His hands tipped the small couch table unconsciously before him. He knew what his wife played at but it wouldn't work out this way.
"No, we won't tell him." Lucius objected neutrally. "Draco should meet Potter unbiased on his own terms and without any bad intentions. If he meets Potter in his female form without knowing of the marriage contract it would be for the best." Lucius argued thoughtfully. "If they meet on their own terms it would be for the best."
Severus nodded in agreement even though he could still see the resentment Narcissa was trying to battle down. She just loved her son too much to hide something as important as that from him.
She would have to keep a firm grip on her emotions so that she won't give away this secret.
"You can come by and visit Potter in one week if you wish." Severus proffered neutrally. "Potter will need some time to accommodate to those change and will be gravely weakened for the first few days. You could start Potter's training before he meets Draco so that Potter won't act too much of a fool when he meets Draco for the first time in his new body."
With a quick wave of his wand Severus suddenly noticed he would be late if he didn't leave immediately. Rising from his position in the chair Severus walked over to the still lit fireplace. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Narcissa and Lucius following him.
"This sounds good to me, Severus." Lucius agreed agreeably. "But you should ask our Lord first. I don't think he would be too pleased with you and us should we meet his daughter without his consent." Lucius paused and smiled faux pleasantly. "And you should talk with him about something else, too. I may approve of your course of actions now, but I won't be the one to tell our Lord that his daughter is the subject of a magically binding marriage contract." Lucius smirked evilly. "This honour is all yours."
Even though he was trying very hard Severus wasn't able to suppress the flinch and the shudder torturing his body. This was going to be a painful meeting Severus was sure of it. Their Lord might even approve of this marriage but he would still be rather displeased with Severus about hiding this possibility from him and putting him into this situation without being able to do something about it.
"Thank you, Lucius." Severus reciprocated evenly. "I will be holding my phials of pain killers and headache potions in readiness. I might need them soon." Severus inclined his head in farewell. "Good evening to you, Lucius, Narcissa. Make sure you contact me and the Dark Lord before you come by and visit Potter."
This night was going to become hell. Potter was going to be in so much pain due to his transformation and the Dark Lord would make sure that Severus would stay by Potter's and later his female version's side during the whole process. In the background he could hear the stifled laughter and chuckling from his two friends.
Well, sometimes his life truly sucked.