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When I wake up, Marvolo is already gone. Thank Merlin, it would have been too awkward to wake up by his side. I wonder just how early he wakes up. When I arrive in dining room, Marvolo is already sitting in his chair with a copy of the Daily Prophet open in front of him. I greet him with a kiss on the cheek as it is quickly becoming a habit and serve myself.
"You may want to read front page article, it is quite amusing." He passes me the paper and serves himself some food.
Yesterday's article on the Ministry Ball was a tasteful piece by some new reporter. Today Rita has gotten the spot light it seems. Even the news of Lucius's appointment as the Minister of Magic has been pushed to the second page. Upper half of front page has two pictures, one of Marvolo kissing my hand and other of us dancing. 'Forbidden Love or Marriage of Convenience', the title proclaims in bold letters.
Rita reports all our interactions during the ball and how we don't behave like a couple forced to marry. She further speculates that we may have been lovers for a long time. She gives my unknown location the summer before my fifth year and my frequent absences from public eye in fifth year to support her theories. Apparently I broke the prophecy because I did not want to harm my lover. And Lord Slytherin gave up the war because he wanted me more than he wanted victory. She, then, goes on to entreat the wizarding world to support our true love as we have both given up a lot to be with each other.
I cannot decide whether to be amused or angry. Then I decide to be amused as she is fixing my public image for me. I look up to see Marvolo staring at me waiting for my reaction.
"She has quite an imagination. But I don't think many people will believe this rubbish." I tell him nonchalantly.
"On the contrary, majority of population will believe it as it certainly sounds better than that their Ministry surrendered because they were losing spectacularly. It helps to increase our popularity as well." I nod my understanding that I will be acting the loving consort when in public.
On second page there is a small article on Ron Weasley's behaviour and how Weasleys had just been using me for my money.
"Can I visit Weasley twins today; I don't want them to get caught up in public backlash against the Weasleys." I ask Marvolo.
"I thought you were estranged from the Weasleys." He asks for clarification.
"From rest of the family, yes; But the twins are like my older brothers, I am also the financial backer in their joke shop, which I had not the chance to visit yet."
"You can I go, but I want you to take a pair of guards with you. There are a lot of people out there who would like to harm my consort." He says reluctantly.
"Of course." I agree immediately. I will just need to distract the guards when I want to talk to the twins privately.
"Then Rudolphus and Rabastan will be here to escort you in an hour. The Malfoys are throwing a dinner party to celebrate Lucius's accession to the Minister. Be ready by six in evening." He stands up and looms over me.
He retrieves a box from his robes, hands it to me. "Wear that and I want to see you in the Slytherin colors."
"As My Lord commands." I smile at him coyly.
He gives a grunt and bends over to snog the life out of me. I respond eagerly, trying to get as close to him as possible in my sitting position and sigh in frustration when I am not able to get much contact with his body. He gives a breathless laugh.
"Who will believe, you were a virgin just few days ago, you little minx. Just wait till tonight, my little serpent." He whispers huskily in my ear, bites my ear lobe and leaves. Damn, I need to learn how to control my body better. I cannot fall for him before he falls for me. I won't make myself vulnerable to him. I move to my bedroom and pick up one of the books Remus had brought me yesterday.
Mimsy informs me that Rudolphus and Rabastan Lestrange have arrived. I sigh; it is my lot in life now to be surrounded by murderers. The Lestrange brothers seem to have recovered very well from their Azkaban vacation. They both stand up and bow before me when I enter the parlour just off the reception hall.
"Good Morning My Lord! Congratulations on your bonding. I am Rudolphus and this is my brother Rabastan. Lord Slytherin has appointed us as your guards for foreseeable future. Please, call on us whenever you leave the Slytherin Manor." Rudolphus greeted me.
Thank Merlin I am not dealing with another Narcissa Malfoy.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. If you don't mind me asking, Rudolphus, are you not affected by your marriage bond, with your wife being in Azkaban?" I ask him curiously, leading them to the floo. I can sort of feel Marvolo's emotions at back of my mind when he is feeling something keenly. The bond is also supposed to alert me if he is ever endangered.
"Oh no My Lord, our bond dissolved when she failed to provide me with an heir within ten year time frame as mentioned in our betrothal contract. I am waiting for political turmoil to rest before divorcing her. As Lord Lestrange I need to provide an heir for my line, so I am looking for a bride." He seems amiable enough and Rabastan is the silent type.
"Have someone in mind already?" I ask for the sake of conversation.
"No My Lord, The Ministry confiscated a lot of our fortune at the end of last war. So not many pureblood witches want to marry into our family. But I don't care much about the blood status; I just want someone who can provide me with a strong heir." Interesting; I have beginnings of a new plan in my mind as I floo to the Leaky Cauldron after Rabastan.
Rudolphus soon joins us. People in the Cauldron have recognised me by now. A few people look like they want to come and greet me. Twin glares from the Lestrange brothers and no one bothers me as we make way from the inn to the Diagon Ally.
The twins shop seems to brighten the whole Diagon alley. One display case is filled with different prank items, but it is the other which catches and holds attention of every passerby. The twins have somehow managed to contain fireworks in a huge display case. It displays an ever going show of colorful fireworks. A lot of children are attached to that display window.
"That is Harry Potter." A small girl cried as we entered the shop. A hush fell over the shop and the Lestrange bothers flanked me.
"Harry, let's move to our apartment, Verity look after the shop." Fred leads to the back of the shop and up the stairs. As soon as the door shuts behind us, I am engulfed in two pair arms.
"We missed you – "
" - Dear Brother – "
" - how are you?"
They sound uncharacteristically serious for the twins.
"I am good as you can see." I say to reassure them.
"Well then – "
" – dear brother – "
" – why did you – "
" - not tell us – "
" – that you were – "
" – meeting your beau – "
" – last year, we could – "
" – have helped you – "
" – escape from your – "
" – adoring fans." They finish with a flourish.
I laugh, they will never change, I think fondly. I introduce them to the Lestrange brothers. We sit awkwardly with tea cups as I did not want to talk to the twins in front of my guards.
"You can cast privacy wards around yourself, my Lord. We will just play chess." He motions towards the chess set on a nearby table and moves there with Rabastan.
I thank him gratefully and erect a privacy bubble around us.
"We are sorry, Harry. We did not know anything about the order's plans or we would have informed you." Fred began immediately.
"I know, Remus informed me. And I am sorry for my lack of trust in you guys." I should have had more trust in them. They have always been there for me.
"We understand, Harry. After all it is our family that betrayed you. Remus informed us a little about your plans. We want an in on any plan you may need us for." George says this time.
"Do you know, that Bill is dating Fleur Delacour."
"And from what we have observed, "
"it is serious too, and Fleur loves you,"
"after your heroic rescue of her sister."
"Now imagine how disappointed she will be"
"to learn that her boyfriend did "
"something so despicable to you." They finish with identical smirks.
"That information is quite useful. Thanks guys. But I need your full prankster abilities for a plan of mine. I want Moody in permanent resident mental ward of St. Mungo's. I want him so paranoid that he would have a breakdown in some public place. That way Dumbledore won't be able to pull some strings to get him out."
"That sound like our kind of plan Harry. And we have a lot of products that need test subjects. Timing his breakdown will be the tricky part. But we will think of something." They seem excited.
"Be careful guys, I don't want anything to be tracked back to you." Being caught can have serious consequences. This was not some school yard prank.
"Don't worry Harry, We will be careful."
"Can we have Dobby for help? He can deliver our products undetected."
I call for Dobby and tell him of the twin's proposal. He is vibrating with excitement and seems ready to work. I spend some time just catching up with the twins before returning to the Manor.
I am ready for the dinner party at the Malfoys. I have chosen a flimsy green robe with heavy silver under robes and grey pants. The box Marvolo gave me in the morning contains a heavy platinum chain with a brilliant square solitaire emerald pendant. It is a simple yet elegant piece and color matches my robes perfectly. Soon Marvolo arrives and hands me a box of the Honeyduke's chocolates.
I tear eagerly into the box and munch on one. I moan a little when honey filled inside hits my tongue. Marvolo clears his throat and I look at him annoyed. Why is he interrupting my chocolate time?
"Do I not get any chocolate?" he asks.
I choose a piece and hand it over to him reluctantly, holding the box close possessively. He refuses to accept the piece.
"I don't like my chocolate like that." He pulls me close and kisses me, tasting chocolate in my mouth with his tongue.
"If I can eat chocolate like this, then you can have a box daily." He says looking down at me with lust filled eyes.
I put a mock frown on my face, "You drive a hard bargain sir, but if it gets me my chocolates then you have got yourself a deal." I inform him with a serious face.
He laughs, "Come one Minx, we have to go. We are already late."
The dinner is a boring affair. Everyone wants to talk politics, but no one wants to contradict Marvolo in anyway. Rudolphus entertains me with the talk of quidditch for some time. I notice that a lot of death eaters seem much more polite to me than the ball yesterday. What changed in a single day, surely they don't believe Rita's article. But from Lady Parkinson's fawning over me it seems that they do, Morons.
After dinner everyone moves around the ballroom talking in small groups. Marvolo keeps his arm around my waist as he moves from one group to another. While Marvolo is talking to dowager Lady Longbottom about some Wizengamot issue, Neville approaches me nervously.
"Hi Harry, how are you?"
"I am fine Neville. You?
"I am good, are you returning to Hogwarts this year?" He asks in a near whisper.
"No Neville, Remus is home schooling me though, so I will be sitting for NEWTs at the Ministry." I inform him.
"You are lucky, Remus is a good teacher. Have you seen Malfoy?" he points towards Draco who seems to be holding court with his Slytherin buddies. All of them seem to be hanging onto his every word.
"He is going to even more insufferable this year. I pity the Hogwarts students who will have to put up with him. Without me there, the task of deflating his head falls to you, Neville." I give him an encouraging smile. Neville has come a long way from timid, shy boy I met in my first year.
"I will try my best Harry." He promises. Soon Susan Bones joins us as her aunt joins Marvolo and Lady Longbottom. We spend some time discussing DA and just catching up. Then Marvolo and I move onto next pair of sycophants who want to suck up to Marvolo.
I am tired and annoyed by the time we return home. Marvolo immediately pulls me into his arms and kisses me when I move into his bedroom in my night robes. Hmm We can still finish the day on a pleasant note.