I am feeling inspired today, which is why I uploaded this chapter on the same day as the last one! Consider it a treat after waiting for a whole year for chapter 31.
I hope you enjoy reading Chapter 32, and please let me know your thoughts in the review section. Your reviews give me motivation and keep the story going.
I hope i won't take long in writing and uploading chapter 33.
And now, enough with my rambling, enjoy !
Chapter 32
Her eyes slowly fluttered open, her pupils re-adjusting to the light coming from the chandelier that was hung in the middle of the room. She was surprised to find herself laying on a very comfortable bed, and before she could even attempt to enjoy it, her memory of what happened prior came back to her. Her eyes widened, and she swiftly sat up, only to find two wands pointed at her, carried by two very angry classmates of hers. She knew better than to look for her own wand in the pocket of her dress, knowing that for sure they had disarmed her.
"Stay right where you are and don't move!" The brunette said loudly and furiously, her eyes piercing at hers. Her only hope was to attempt to claim innocence and obliviousness, and so she held up her arms and shouted "What in Merlin is going on here?! Where Am I?! Why am I here?"
"Cut the act Miss Greengrass, we heard you in the forest and saw you try to disarm Orion. Except, it wasn't Orion, but it was me instead. We sensed from the start that you were a death eater, and removing your glove confirmed that!" Draco growled angrily as he then muttered a spell that had invisible binds restrain so she couldn't move away from the bed.
Daphne then closed her eyes and breathed nervously, she then opened her eyes and lowered them to look at her exposed arm and was disheartened to see her dark mark visible to all. At that moment she knew she had failed, and that her family was now doomed for certain. A lone tear escaped her eye, and she looked up at Draco and Hermione, defeated. She then dared to ask, "What are you going to do to me now?" her voice shivering.
"That is none of your concern at the moment." Draco hissed at her and then looked at his girlfriend "Hermione, please, go and tell Neville and Ginny up here to your room, and then go to Orion and explain to him everything that happened. Make sure none of the guests notice anything, we will tell the family everything after the ball is over."
Hermione nodded and ran out of the room, with Daphne's eyes following her as she left. As the door closed with a thump, the black-haired girl looked up at Draco again, she sighed and said "Malfoy, you more than anyone must understand why I did what I did-
The blonde raised his hand and interrupted her "Nothing excuses what you did Daphne, you could have come to us, told us you were being threatened by Voldemort-"
Daphne winced at the mention of his name "Do not say his name! And for your information, I was threatened first and foremost by your father, rather than by the Dark Lord himself. You don't understand! He has my father! He didn't even let me see him, he says he has him locked in the damp dungeons, which he won't survive with his lung infection if I don't get him out of there! He will torture and kill him if I don't hand Orion to him tonight! He will also find my sister and do the same to her!" The girl was now in hysterics, her head bent down as she sobbed.
The blonde's eyes softened at the sight and slowly he understood the truth and the severity of the situation at hand. He knew his father better than anyone, and he slid into the floor as he realized what Lucius has probably done. He was certain Hermes Greengrass was already dead. A sick man who lost all of his fortune was of no use to him, nor to Voldemort, especially when he knew too much. Imprisoning him would kill him as well, so he knew that his father wasted no time and cast the Avada Kedavra on Daphne's father a long time ago.
"Daphne, do you have a family tapestry at home?" Draco Malfoy knew that most of the sacred twenty-eight had their family trees hung on the wall, and he also knew that the tree marked the birth and death of family members almost as instantly as any of these events happen.
Daphne stared at him, confused to see him on the floor, looking at her with such a somber gaze. She answered warily "Yes".
Draco then knew that a mere glance at that tapestry would confirm the worst "Is Greengrass Court warded, or can I go in?"
Daphne shook her head no and answered "I don't know. Gringotts confiscated the house when my father's debts grew out of control. My sister and I are staying at the Parkinsons' for the holidays, who have offered us a room at their house after Pansy begged them to."
Draco decided that it was time to let the Duke in on everything. With his power and connections, he knew that he would obtain permission to enter Greengrass Court. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Neville and Ginny into the room. He looked at his best friend and told him "We must tell Uncle Sirius everything as soon as possible, before the sun comes up."
Ginny looked at him strangely while Neville approached him and asked "What is it? You wouldn't involve anyone unless something serious happened. Hermione told us what occurred in the forest, but I sense there is something else."
Draco knew better than to devastate the girl just yet, so he stupefied her and turned around to face Neville and Ginny, then proceeded to recount to them his speculations.
A couple of hours later, after the ball finally came to a close, the Black family along with Abraxas and Draco Malfoy, Remus Lupin, The Tonkses, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and the two Weasleys were all gathered in Sirius' expanded study. Daphne Greengrass remained in Hermione's room, blissfully asleep after being given a sleeping draught. Draco had already thoroughly explained the situation to everyone, and so they were all trying to see what the next course of events should be.
"I say we have that girl tell us where Lucius is right now! We need to end this once and for all!" Cassiopeia said angrily, her eyes red with rage.
Sirius sighed and said while refilling his glass with fire-whiskey for the umpteenth time "Aunt Cassiopeia, as much as I would love to have my hands around that bastard's throat right now, I know for sure that the place would be heavily guarded by death eaters. Plus, it is most likely not their real hiding place, but rather a decoy. Lucius would expect us to go there in case the girl failed, and he most probably is ready for us."
"Sirius is right, Voldemort's forces have been on the rise since before I came back to England. I know for certain that he has a huge number of werewolves at his disposal, as well as vast number of other magical creatures, not to mention his loyal death eaters." Remus answered as he took a swig of liquor.
Orion stood up at this and growled "I cannot just sit by and watch as Voldemort gets his way once more! Daphne's family is in danger as we speak! Susan already died for me, I won't have anyone else die for me!" Draco then rushed to his friend and sat him back down "Ori, we will find a solution, one that doesn't involve your stupid arse going to Voldemort by yourself like a sacrificial lamb."
Hestia also rushed to her son "YOU are not going anywhere! Not if I have any say on the matter! I have suffered enough heartache as It is." She hugged her son close as they sat together on large leather sofa next to Draco and Hermione.
Abraxas then stood, his cane prominent in front of him "I will contact my relations in Gringotts and have Greengrass court's tapestry checked before sunrise. Meanwhile, I think Astoria Greengrass' safety is now of utmost importance."
"I shall handle that godfather. I will personally go to the Parkinsons and escort the girl here." Sirius stood up as well as Remus joined him "I will come with you."
"Me too." Ted said and the three of them left the room. Abraxas then turned to Draco and told him "Take care of your brother, you know how distraught he is right now, rightfully so. Make sure he does nothing rash."
"Of course, grandfather."
The manor now housed the full living Black family, with Melania and Druella each retreating to their designated chambers to rest. Cassiopeia, with her vast knowledge with the Dark arts, went to the outskirts of the manor to fortify its wards as much as possible, with the help of Nymphadora and Andromeda. Narcissa's nerves were a wreck at the mention of her ex-husband's nefarious scheme to hand in her son's closest friend and kin to the Dark Lord, and so she was given a calming and sleeping draught by Walburga so that she can sleep the night. Ron, Ginny and Luna took their leave after making sure everyone was okay, while Neville stayed behind to help Draco calm Orion. And finally, Hestia and Hermione sat with a sobbing Daphne Greengrass, who has just found out that her father was dead. Abraxas had come back earlier and relayed the news upon them all. Hestia then wasted no time in waking up the poor girl to inform her of her father's demise. She knew that someone who had suffered so much deserved to know the truth, so that they could mourn.
A few minutes after Abraxas' arrival to Hampshire Manor, the men came back with Astoria Greengrass. The Parkinsons were reluctant to hand her over, for the rumors of her late father's involvement with Voldemort had reached them, however, the Duke's threats were more than convincing to let them release the girl to him. The Parkinsons were pureblood elitists after all, but were never exclusively enrolled among Voldemort's ranks, and were yet to be asked or threatened to do so. So, to them, angering the Duke of Hampshire would be of much bigger consequence. Astoria was then led to the Hermione's chambers where in turn, she was told of her father's fate and joined her sister in her tears. It would not be easy for the girls to overcome the fact that they had become orphans, with nowhere to go.
Hestia sat next to the younger girl and rubbed her back "My dear, I lost my brother and my parents during the last wizarding war. I know how hard it is to lose someone close to oneself. But the least consolation I can offer is that you and Daphne are more than welcome to stay with us here."
Daphne then looked up at the duchess with bewilderment, her eyes blurry from the tears "How can you still offer me shelter after what I have done? I was going to deliver your only son to the Dark Lord! Surely you must hate me now."
"Oh my dear, I could never hate you. I resent what you did of course, but I know the circumstances behind your actions very well." She then stood up and said "I will call the house elves to prepare a room for you both. Hermione, do you mind staying alone with the girls?"
"Not at all, Mrs. Black" she said as she watched the youngest Greengrass scurry towards the bed to hug her sister.
Lucius Malfoy watched the sun come up as he sat in the armchair of the old Gaunt house. 'The Greengrass bint must have failed. The idiot.' He then turned around to call upon Rabastan Lestrange to fetch Astoria Greengrass from the Parkinsons'. Half an hour later, he came back into the room, flustered.
"Where is the girl, Lestrange?" Lucius growled as he stood up to face his brother in law.
Rabastan replied sourly "The Blacks have her, the blood traitor Sirius Black managed to take her."
Lucius was furious at that "And they just gave her to him! What did you do with them?"
"I am not to touch them Malfoy. The Dark Lord will be approaching them soon, we need their galleons. Mine can only help so much, and you've been disowned and left with nothing." Rabastan then came closer to the blonde and threatened him "Raise your voice at me one more time Lucius, and you will lose whatever favor you have left with our Lord. You have no galleons and have failed our Lord once again, I don't doubt that soon enough, you will be pushed out of his inner circle."
Lestrange then turned around and left the room, leaving Lucius' cries of rage echo.
And that's chapter 32 for you folks! I hope you liked it ! Pleaseeeeee let me know your thoughts in the review section. Your reviews make me look forward to writing again, so please don't deny me your thoughts and ideas on the story. Also don't forget to like and follow the story so you get notified every time I upload.
As always, I hope you enjoyed reading.
Love you all
xoxo
Cleo26.