Chapter 7: Consequences and Blood.
As the sun began rising, Jakob had not found any restful sleep. "Jake? You awake?" Pansy inquired, peering curiously through the curtains that concealed him.
"Yeah... I'm up," he replied, clearing his throat. "You go ahead and get ready, I'll be out shortly," Jakob added, his gaze drifting towards the ceiling above his bed frame.
He contemplated the uncertainties of the day ahead, aware that within a few hours, he would learn whether his plan had succeeded or if he would be boarding the train back home.
"A-Alright, I won't be long," Jakob heard Pansy say, her voice quivering with the same nervousness that gnawed at him. What if this plan wasn't as foolproof as he had believed? What if they discovered his blood? What if...
Jakob forcefully shook his head, determined to dispel these toxic thoughts. He rose from his bed with deliberate slowness, the eerie silence of the room making him yearn to hear her morning humming melody to soothe his nerves.
They got ready in silence, exchanging quick glances and brief smiles of reassurance. When they were finished, they stepped out of the room together, taking extra time as they walked through the dormitory corridor that felt longer than usual. Walking side by side, they fully embodied their Slytherin and pureblood personas, their faces devoid of emotion, their steps resonating with purpose.
Just before rounding the corner to the entrance of the common room, they halted, sharing one last meaningful glance before they entered.
As Jakob gazed out at the sea of Slytherins engaged in animated conversations and speculation, he couldn't help but wonder. They all knew already?
"Do you think they will be expelled?"
"You think someone framed them?"
"Of course, they will try to blame someone else, and I bet it will be a Slytherin."
The voices grew louder, and it became evident that the students in green and silver had no intention of concealing their thoughts. Jakob and Pansy stood still, their eyes darting around the common room as they were drawn into the vortex of various conversations.
Jakob's search finally led him to his destination. He turned his gaze and spotted Draco, seated in a chair at a nearby table, engaged in an intense whispering conversation with Theo.
As soon as Theo noticed Jakob and Pansy approaching, he nodded in their direction. It took a moment, but eventually, Draco recognized them, too, and a visible sigh of relief escaped him.
Attempting to appear confused and walking at a normal pace, Jakob and Pansy made their way toward their friends on the couch.
The four exchanged greetings as the two newcomers took their seats. Draco exchanged a subtle glance with Theo, who responded with a nod of understanding.
After this unspoken communication, Theo gestured for Pansy to follow him, and they gracefully stood up from their seats. Together, they departed to join Tracey and Daphne, who had just emerged from the dormitory corridors, their faces reflecting genuine bewilderment in response to the ongoing commotion.
"Is it finished? Did it go according to plan?" Draco asked, his voice barely above a whisper. A quiet chuckle escaped Jakob, his raised eyebrow silently questioning whether his abilities were genuinely being doubted.
"And here I was, concerned that you might get caught," Jakob replied with a grin.
Draco shot him an affronted look. "Why would that happen? By the time the professors found out what went down, I was already back in the castle."
Jakob leaned slightly forward, "Did anyone see you?" Draco shook his head, casting a wary glance around to ensure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation.
"You?" he inquired shortly after.
Jakob had to contemplate carefully. If he disclosed to his companion that the Gryffindor girl had spotted him, the blonde boy would probably make her life hell before lunchtime. Yet, if he opted not to inform the Malfoy heir and she reported him to the professors, it would damage his friend's trust in him, maybe even beyond repair.
With only a fraction of a second to decide, the Quade heir carefully weighed his options. After a brief moment of deliberation, he shook his head. "No one saw me," he asserted, rising from his chair.
Draco also rose from his seat, and the rest of their group, standing a bit further away, joined them as they made their way out of the Slytherin common room. With hearts pounding heavily in anticipation, they ventured towards the Great Hall, fully aware that their plan was reaching its climax.
As the group of Slytherins proceeded to the Great Hall, Jakob's eyes discreetly scanned the castle floors for any signs of dried blood along the way. He wrestled with the uncertainty of whether he even wanted to find what he was looking for or not.
Upon reaching the entrance, Jakob remained tense, uncertain whether there was evidence linking him to the scene the previous night or not. However, he was fully aware that the truth would come to light in a matter of minutes.
Jakob and Draco kept their distance. Draco and Pansy settled with Crabbe and Goyle, while Jakob took a seat beside Daphne, Tracey, and Theo.
"Good morning, Miss Greengrass, Miss Davis," he greeted them, his attempt to appear casual masking the urge to discreetly check if they were being watched from the professors' table.
In response, his fellow Slytherins greeted him in various ways. Jakob couldn't help but notice a subtle hint of surprise on the Greengrass girl's face when she realized he was sitting with them. When their gazes briefly met, she promptly transitioned into a more indifferent expression, redirecting her attention to the paper before her.
Uncertain if he was truly sensing the weight of watchful eyes on him or if it was simply his own paranoia, Jakob decided to strike up a conversation with Daphne.
"Hey, Greengrass?"
"Yeah? What's on your mind?" Daphne replied without lifting her gaze from her Daily Prophet.
"I've heard you're rather skilled in Potions, and I was wondering if you'd fancy the idea of an arrangement of sorts?" This question earned him a perplexed expression from the young witch." What type of agreement?"
Jakob was about to respond when he sensed a presence looming over him. He turned slowly to find Professor Snape standing there. The dark-haired professor was looking down at him with an impassive expression. Jakob's eyes briefly darted behind him, spotting Draco trailing along, the latter displaying a distinct lack of interest in the situation.
"Heir Quade," Snape spoke, his voice stern and authoritative.
"Professor Snape," Jakob greeted, rising to his feet and offering a small but respectful bow.
Without further words, the professor turned and started making his way out of the Great Hall, a clear indication for Jakob and Draco to follow, which they promptly did.
They trailed behind their mentor through the majestic hallways. Jakob's gaze wandered to the paintings adorning the walls and the imposing pillars above in an attempt to distract himself from the coming situation.
Their journey led them to a pause before a magnificent golden gryphon, which marked their destination.
"Iced mice," Snape declared, and the Gryphon obediently stepped aside, revealing a well-worn, spiralling staircase that unmistakably led to the headmaster's office.
"Let's go," Snape stated in a dispassionate tone as he gestured for the two Slytherins to lead the way.
The dark-haired boy started ascending the stairs, with the blonde closely following. As they moved past him, Snape sighed, briefly revealing a hint of concern as he anxiously watched the two boys before following them up the stairs.
Upon reaching the summit of the staircase, they encountered a solitary, grand wooden door. Snape raised his hand and was about to knock when a voice from within called out.
"Please enter, Severus." The door swung open widely, revealing more extensive assembly than Jake had expected. Dumbledore and McGonagall were both present, with Hagrid in a corner, clutching a damp handkerchief he used noisily. A palpable sense of tension permeated the room.
There were five chairs in front of the headmaster's desk, with three of them occupied by the Gryffindors. To Jakob's astonishment, their parents were also present, standing solemnly behind them.
Across the room, Lucius and his father stood side by side, their penetrating gazes fixed firmly on Jakob and Draco. It sent a sinking feeling into Jakob's stomach as he struggled to grasp the significance of this situation. There was something in their stares that he couldn't quite decipher.
All eyes were locked onto them, with the Potter parents displaying concern, the Weasley mother shooting Draco a withering look, and the Weasley father appearing bewildered beside his wife.
The final child had only his mother by his side, her face twisted in anguish as if on the verge of tears.
Uncertain about their next move, the two Slytherins remained still, with their head of house behind them.
"Please, have a seat," Dumbledore implored, extending his arm to indicate the empty chairs. Jakob and Draco exchanged a glance before slowly approaching and taking their places.
As they settled in, Jakob instinctively moved his chair closer to Draco's, creating a gap between the Gryffindors and Slytherins.
"Are you worried that sitting beside me might clean you from some of your snake-like filth?" Harry questioned with a disgusting glare directed at the Quade heir.
"Harry James Potter!" his mother's voice thundered as she frowned disapprovingly at him. Lord Potter, who stood alongside his wife, remained silent, his expression conveying impatience as he looked toward the headmaster, eager to bring the conversation to a close and move forward.
"Not at all," Jakob replied, displaying no signs of being insulted. "I merely have a preference not to sit too close to a blood traitor," he added, sitting beside Draco, who wore a smug grin in response.
Shocked gasps reverberated throughout the headmaster's office, coming from both professors and parents as they stared at Jakob in disbelief.
"Mr. Quade, such language is unacceptable here, and regrettably, I must deduct 10 points from Slytherin," the headmaster declared firmly. Jakob was about to respond when a familiar voice spoke up instead.
"Dumbledore, stop the nonsense. Are you dragging us here just to take points from my son's house for stating the bloody obvious?"
The Potter parents' otherwise composed demeanour gave way to a surge of anger. "How dare you defend your son's accusation that the Potters are blood traitors, Lord Quade?" the Potter patriarch thundered, and the fiery Weasley woman standing behind the red-headed boy joined in.
The situation swiftly descended into pure chaos. Lucius and Thomas shouted angrily at the Weasleys and Potters. Yet, Jakob couldn't help but detect a subtle, amused smirk on his father's face.
Snape remained silent, observing the unfolding spectacle stoically beside Lucius. Mrs Finnigan had reached her breaking point, now sobbing openly, and her son trying to gently console her by placing his hand upon hers, which rested on his shoulder.
Ron and Harry exchanged shocked glances, staring in disbelief at their parents, Lords Quade and Malfoy. They had never witnessed their parents behaving like this before, leaving them utterly bewildered and unsure how to react in such a tumultuous situation.
Professor McGonagall valiantly attempted to quell the escalating chaos, but her efforts proved futile as yelling continued to escalate.
Amidst the turmoil his comment had created, Jakob seized the moment to gather his thoughts.
So far, no accusations had been made against him. The Gryffindor parents weren't directly pointing fingers, and his own father remained firmly in his corner. This lack of concrete evidence left Jakob uncertain about his situation.
"Enough!" Dumbledore's thunderous voice resounded through the room, immediately capturing everyone's attention. The previous seething anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by an uneasy silence.
"Let us all remember that there are young children present in this room, and act accordingly," the headmaster sternly admonished. His gaze swept over the Potter parents and the Weasley family, who displayed slight regret for their earlier behaviour. However, when he directed his authoritative look at Lord Quade and Lord Malfoy, it was met with nothing but defiant stares in return.
The headmaster, casting glances between the two Slytherin boys, sighed deeply. He reclined in his throne-like chair, intertwining his fingers as he addressed them.
"Do you boys know why I have summoned you here this morning?" he inquired, his gaze shifting from one to the other.
Speaking on their behalf, Jakob replied with a nonchalant shrug,
"No."
Dumbledore nodded, "There was an incident last night where dear Hagrid here," he motioned to Hagrid, who sat on an unnecessarily large stool, still mourning the loss of his hut, "lost both his home and his dog, Fang." Jakob maintained a feigned lack of interest, though inwardly, frustration brewed. Draco, too, appeared unimpressed by the news.
"May I speak, Headmaster?" Jakob requested, to which the headmaster allowed with a nod. Jakob then turned his attention to Hagrid.
"I offer my deepest apologies for the destruction of your home and the loss of your pet," he said, bowing in respect. Hagrid responded with a slight nod of gratitude. Jakob then shifted his gaze back to the headmaster. "But how exactly are Draco and I involved?" he inquired with an innocent tone.
"Because you did it!" Jakob spun around to face a furious red-headed boy whose eyes bore into him with rage.
"Slandering the heir to the ancient and noble House of Quade like this could land you in Azkaban, boy," Lucius snarled. A hand suddenly clamped down on the Weasley child's shoulder, and he glanced up to see his father's worried expression and stern demeanour as he attempted to give the Malfoy patriarch a death stare.
However, Lucius only returned a smug smirk, as the law favoured his side, a fact known to both adults.
The uncharacteristic display of fear and concern on his typically brave father's face, as he broke eye contact with Lord Malfoy and silently appealed to the headmaster for assistance, made the youngest Weasley boy understand the gravity of the situation.
Ron quickly recoiled in his chair, fearing that if he spoke again, he would be the one shipped off to Azkaban, not the two Slytherins he had first hoped would face that fate.
"Thank you, Lord Malfoy," Jakob acknowledged, offering Lucius a respectful nod, which Lucius returned. Jakob then redirected his attention to Ron, concealing any amusement at the redhead's evident anxiety. "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with your name. And can you provide any proof that I was actually there?" he inquired.
Before the youngest male Weasley member could respond, Harry interjected, saying, "His name is Ron Weasley, and as for proof, you challenged me to a duel behind Hagrid's hut yesterday. You set up a trap for me and my friends." Harry rose from his chair before he continued his valiant speech, prompting the two Slytherins to exchange eye rolls.
"If you doubt my word, Headmaster, I can drink the truth potion or show you my memories," Harry proclaimed confidently, portraying himself as some kind of white knight.
Dumbledore glanced at Jakob and Draco, but before Draco could say a word, Lucius silenced him with a sharp glare.
"Truth potion or memories viewing? This is beginning to resemble a Ministry hearing," he remarked with an amused chuckle directed at Thomas. The Quade patriarch merely snorted in response and looked at Harry like the boy was a disgusted insect. His expression turned icy as he snapped, "Sit down before you utter any more foolishness, boy."
"I won't tolerate you speaking to my son that way, Quade," James seethed with anger as Harry reluctantly resumed his seat.
At this point, Snape, who had been ominously quiet up until then, interjected, "Memories can be unreliable, and some can resist even the most potent truth potions. That's why these methods are rarely employed in interrogations nowadays," he stated coldly.
Dumbledore slowly nodded, weariness etching his expression. "As you all can now see," he began, "we have no concrete proof regarding the origin of the fire." Jakob felt his heart returning to its normal rhythm, a sense of relief washing over him.
"Are you telling me that you convened this meeting solely to have Lord Malfoy and me listen while our children are accused of something for which you have no concrete proof?" Thomas gestured to Lucius, his anger palpable in his voice.
"Everyone will witness the lengths to which you and your 'light' faction are willing to go to persecute innocent boys simply because..." Dumbledore halted the speech by raising his hand, causing Thomas to frown in confusion.
"Unfortunately, one individual was apprehended that evening while running in the halls in a distressed state," Dumbledore began, providing a clarification that left Thomas glaring at the headmaster.
Dumbledore's intent gaze bore into Jakob, who did his best to keep a poker face and not give in to his nerves.
It can't be her. They caught someone else. Prayed the Slytherin boy silently.
"Miss Granger, you may step inside."
Damned it!
Jakob feigned a look of casual interest at the door the headmaster had gestured towards. Still, his mind raced with strategies to resolve this predicament. Like a movie playing out before him, he carefully considered every detail concerning the girl and the situation. What could he do or say to persuade her not to reveal what she had witnessed? Time was of the essence, and failure was not an option.
As the doors swung open, the bushy-haired girl hesitantly entered, her expression a mix of bewilderment and distress. It was evident that she would rather be anywhere else. Dumbledore gracefully waved his wand, and a chair materialized between Jakob and Harry.
Harry subtly shifted his chair closer to Ron, a move not lost on Jakob. However, the rest of the room remained fixated on the apprehensive girl as she made her way towards them.
As she approached, the Quade heir took a calculated action, fully aware that he might have to answer for it later, but he saw no other choice. It was better than having her reveal his secret to everyone.
When she sat down, she briefly glanced at the Slytherin boy beside her, who responded with a genuine smile.
"Hello, Miss Granger. My name is Jakob Quade, heir of the noble and ancient House of Quade." Jakob extended his hand to his left, awaiting her response. After a moment of hesitation, she grasped his hand, and they shook solemnly. Ignoring the puzzled looks from onlookers, Jakob offered her a reassuring smile.
Dumbledore, taken aback by the abrupt manner in which the young heir had introduced himself, cleared his throat. "Miss Granger," he began, and Hermione forced herself to look up. "No need to be alarmed, my dear," continued Dumbledore kindly, "you are not in any trouble. We only need you to answer a few questions."
Granger nodded, ready for Dumbledore to begin, when Ron interjected, "Not in trouble? She was out after curfew."
Jakob wasted no time seizing the opportunity. "And you still wonder why we call you a blood traitor? She belongs to your house, and I've seen for myself how intelligent she is. Even so, you make her life difficult and are willing to sacrifice her just like that without a second thought."
Jakob had the full attention of the room. Even Dumbledore was momentarily left speechless by what he had said to a Muggle-born.
Finnegan struggled to stifle his laughter but failed. "You do realize that she's a Muggle-born?" He asked, eagerly anticipating Jakob's horrified realization and expecting him to try to take back his words.
However, Jakob surprised them all with his confident response, "Yes, I do, and she's still better than any of you blood traitors." He sneered at Finnegan and gave the girl beside him a reassuring smile.
Fully aware that he was treading dangerous ground, Jakob avoided glancing in the direction of his father or Lucius. He knew he'd have to explain himself later. They would understand... Right?
Draco, who sat to his right, stared at him in disbelief. He had always known the Mudblood girl was clever. Still, he had never expected Jakob to openly acknowledge it like this. This situation felt strange and unfamiliar. The blonde had spent much time with Jakob but had never heard his best friend speak about Mudbloods in such a manner before. Something was clearly amiss. Why would Jakob say things like these with their fathers in the same room?
Dumbledore, who had been momentarily speechless, seemed to have missed deducting any points from the Slytherin boy despite hearing the repeated use of the term "blood traitor" twice.
Instead, the old man's eyes now twinkled with amusement, and he motioned for Granger to continue, but not before giving Jakob a small approving smile.
The Gryffindor girl glanced shyly at Jakob before resuming her story. "My classmates were locking me out of my common room," she began, gesturing with a nod towards the three mortified Gryffindors who had been caught in their misdeed. Her voice trembled as she continued, providing more details about the incident.
The Potter and Weasley mothers shot their sons a look of utter revulsion, appalled at hearing how they had treated the poor girl.
After a few minutes of recounting her experience, the Gryffindor girl took a deep breath and continued. Her eyes darted around the room, occasionally glancing at the accused Gryffindors as she spoke with a mixture of anxiety and determination.
"I then started to search for a prefect or a professor who could help me," her voice wavering slightly.
"But then I heard some muffled sounds. It sounded like the voices were bickering or arguing, but I couldn't see anything. I tried to follow the sounds, and it led me out the gate and towards Hagrid's hut." She gestured toward Harry, Seamus, and Ron, who sat there uncomfortably. "I knew that the voices belonged to those three, and then suddenly they were visible." Her gaze briefly fixed on them before she continued.
"I saw something strange coming off them, like an invisible sheet or barrier of some sort," she tried to explain, her expression troubled as she didn't know how to truly describe it.
"And then they hid behind the hut. I turned to walk back inside the castle, but that's when I heard the screaming, and I saw that the hut was on fire." The room remained silent, absorbing her every word.
Granger paused, the entire room waiting with bated breath. This was it. Had she seen Jakob running away? Had she bumped into him in the castle?
Hermione Granger paused, the entire room holding its collective breath. All eyes were on her, and the questions loomed. Had she seen Jakob running away? Had she bumped into him inside the castle?
Her gaze briefly flicked to Jakob. He responded with an encouraging smile, silently urging her to continue. Hermione felt a tentative smile forming on her lips for the first time, a glimmer of newfound confidence. She turned her determined eyes toward the headmaster.
Raising her head a little higher, her expression still tense but resolute, Hermione continued her account. "I was scared, so I ran back into the castle. As I reached the grand staircase, a poltergeist named Peeves startled me. I panicked and ran back, and that's when you found me, headmaster," she concluded, her voice steady.
The headmaster's gaze remained intently fixed on the girl when she finished speaking. "So you didn't encounter anyone apart from the other professors or myself while inside the castle?"
"No, Headmaster," she answered, shaking her head in confirmation.
Dumbledore sighed and turned his attention to the two Slytherin first years.
"Can you two tell me what you were doing at the time of the incident, around 10 o'clock?" he queried.
"I was with Pansy Parkinsson, helping her with a potion homework all evening," Jakob calmly replied.
"And I was playing gobstone with Theodore Nott," Draco continued.
Dumbledore nodded slowly in response. "And can they attest to this if we ask them?"
Both boys nodded in response.
"Good," the exhausted headmaster intoned. "I assume you have no objection to me casting a Prior Incantato spell to ensure you were not using your wands at the time?"
Both of the boys complied, revealing their wands. When the spell revealed nothing inappropriate, the headmaster smiled tiredly at the two boys.
"I apologize for taking up your time. You are excused." Jakob and Draco rose and made to leave with their fathers. Right before they reached the door, Jakob stopped and addressed the headmaster.
"Headmaster, I hope you ensure that such allegations aren't easily dismissed."
The headmaster gave them a courteous nod and a friendly smile as the two fathers and sons stepped out of his office.
As the two Slytherins descended the stairs, their fathers close behind, Draco cast a concerned look at his friend. He could discern that Jakob was in for a rough time based on his behaviour in the headmaster's office.
Jakob attempted to offer his blonde friend a reassuring smile, but this time, it lacked its usual conviction and faltered. Witnessing this, anxiety crept up within Draco, intensifying his own concern.
The four continued down the hallway and descended the grand staircase, entering the hushed corridors of the castle. The tension in the air was almost suffocating, and Jakob knew that his punishment was imminent.
Suddenly, the Quade heir felt his father's hand grasp his hair, yanking him back abruptly. A cry of pain escaped his lips as searing agony shot through his body, tears threatening to well up in his eyes.
"Lucius, I need to have a word with my... son. I'll see you at the gates," Thomas declared in a grim tone, casting a disdainful glare at his own flesh and blood.
Lord Malfoy nodded shortly and gave Draco a rough shove forward. The young Malfoy glanced back at his best friend with a fearful expression, torn between wanting to shield Jakob from harm and heeding the subtle warning shake of Jakob's head as he tightly gripped his father's hand.
In the end, Draco reluctantly shut his eyes and turned away, unable to intervene.
"Father, I need to..." Jakob began to plead, but his words were cut short as Lord Quade kicked open a door and forcefully pushed him inside. Jakob stumbled into the room, his heart racing and his instincts taking over as the older man drew his wand.
Slamming the door shut behind them. Thomas waved his wand around, casting spells to seal the door and ensure their conversation remained private.
In that tense moment, Jakob understood that the repercussions of his actions regarding the mudblood were about to escalate far beyond what he had initially expected.
Turning around, Lord Quade acted in a split second, his hand shooting out to grasp his son by the throat.
"You have the audacity to label others as traitors when you behave like one yourself?!" Thomas roared, delivering a forceful blow that sent Jakob sprawling to the floor.
Jakob tasted the warm, metallic sharpness of his blood as it began to fill his mouth. Hearing his father's footsteps approaching, he rolled onto his back.
He raised his hands in a feeble attempt to halt the unfolding attack. "Father, please! You must listen to me!" Jakob pleaded desperately, but Lord Quade appeared resolute, refusing to acknowledge his son's words. Instead, Thomas seized his son's robe, hoisting him off the ground so his feet dangled a few centimetres above the ground.
"Tell me why I shouldn't disinherit and expel you from the Quade family." Without granting the thirteen-year-old boy a moment to respond, his father callously flung him towards the unforgiving stone floor.
A sharp pain shot through Jakob's hand as it absorbed the impact, a sickening snap resonating within him. Terrified, Jakob watched Thomas raise his wand, its tip pointing threateningly at his broken form.
In a desperate plea, Jakob's voice reverberated across the room. "Because she saw me!"
His father paused mid-motion, his eyes narrowing as he searched for an answer in his son's gaze. "What?" he questioned, confusion evident in his voice.
"She saw me, and I had to do something to make sure she wouldn't tell anyone what she'd seen," Jakob replied, holding his broken wrist close to his chest.
Frowning, Thomas waved his wand, and Jakob closed his eyes and braced himself for the curse or whatever punishment was about to befall him.
However, instead of pain, he felt a pair of hands lifting him to his feet. "Sit," his father ordered, gesturing toward a conjured chair. Jakob nodded and took slow steps to the chair, still holding his injured wrist protectively.
He quietly took his seat as Thomas materialized another stool and sat directly across from him, his penetrating gaze fixed on his son.
"Now, you will tell me everything that occurred," he intoned gravely. Jakob nodded and began to explain what had really happened. "I started the fire and burned down the half-giant's hut. Draco and I needed to rise in rank quickly, so we devised a plan. We decided to burn the hut down and frame the boy who lived."
Thomas understood Jakob's motives. He was a Slytherin himself and nodded in agreement, gesturing for his son to continue.
"We thought it was foolproof, but I should have known that the Potter boy would have something like an invisibility cloak. I told Draco to make a beeline for the woods and back to the Slytherin common room to avoid any possible sightings. I managed to duck out of sight and pick up the cloak before diving into a thorny bush, not exactly a pleasant experience."
Thomas's lips twitched, but he remained silent, listening intently as Jakob continued.
"When I ran back into the grand staircase, I saw that Mudblood, and she saw me. I was covered in blood, and I threatened her that if she told anyone, I would make her life hell. Her eyes were red, tear stains streaking her cheeks. I could tell she had been crying, and this wasn't the first time I had seen her like that."
Thomas reclined in his chair, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "You thought that by being friendly with the Mudblood, you could gain her allegiance," he stated. Jakob gave a sombre nod in reply.
"I wanted her to keep quiet, and I suspected that she had been subjected to constant bullying, which heir Potter further confirmed by moving his chair away from hers in the headmaster's office while everyone was staring at her," Thomas looked slightly surprised by that revelation. Not even he had noticed that small act from the blood traitor, yet his son had.
Taking a breath, Jakob continued, "with no one standing up for her, I figured that making her believe I could be her new friend was the best way to achieve my desired result."
"So what you said about her in the headmaster's office..." Thomas began, but Jakob interrupted him.
"It was to protect me and Draco. I made a mistake, and he doesn't know. I wouldn't have uttered those awful words if I hadn't believed they'd work, Father, I swear."
There was a brief moment of silence, and then Lord Quade did something quite rare. He burst into laughter. It was a joyous, hearty laugh that reverberated around them through the empty, deserted classroom.
"Thinking like a true Slytherin," Tomas said as he stood, brushing away the dirt from his son's robes while helping him to his feet.
Jakob froze, unaccustomed to this unexpected display of care from his father, who hadn't shown this level of affection in years.
"You thought this situation through and pieced it all together. Hell, you even managed to fool me. No one else has pulled that off except your mother. She would be proud of you," Thomas praised.
Jakob let out a sigh of relief, his pain momentarily forgotten as he basked in the pride reflected in his father's smile.
"Don't worry about Lucius; I will have a talk with him," Thomas affirmed, though more to himself than to his heir. The old man visibly relaxed, a sense of relief washing over him. He was reassured that he had not wasted thirteen years raising a son who would eventually turn his back on the family's values and legacy.
"You must never speak of this to anyone and make sure that the mudblood is aware of your true sentiments toward her and her kind," Thomas instructed sternly.
Jakob nodded in affirmation of his father's command. "Yes, father."
Thomas then shifted his gaze to his son's injured wrist, which had noticeably swollen. The skin had turned an angry red and was tender to the touch, indicating something was broken.
Noticing the fracture, it dawned on the older man what he had done in his rage-filled temper. He took in Jakob's condition, with the thirteen-year-olds black robes covered in dust and a laceration on his temple that had started to seep blood, allowing it to trickle down his chin and mix with the deep crimson droplets from a cut on his lip.
"Let's make our way to the Hospital Wing before I leave with Lucius," Thomas suggested. Responding to his father's words with a faint but appreciative smile, Jakob understood that this was Thomas's way of making amends.
Together, they opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Thomas turned his gaze towards his heir again, a faint smile on his lips.
"You should speak with Heir Malfoy – he will understand."
"Of course, I will explain everything," Jakob replied, though he was not entirely truthful.
His father seemed pleased with his response, nodding in approval. They were about to set off for the Hospital Wing but stopped short as Professor McGonagall and Hermione Granger crossed their path.
Jakob locked eyes with Hermione, noticing the confusion and fear in her gaze as she observed the wounds he had sustained. She quickly averted her eyes to the floor before continuing down the corridor with Professor McGonagall. Thomas, however, couldn't contain his disdain.
"Mudbloods, Blood traitors," he muttered under his breath, his face contorted in disgust as he shook his head in frustration. "Salazar would roll over in his grave if he saw this," he said before continuing, with Jakob tailing closely behind him.
As they entered the hospital wing, Jakob's injured wrist received prompt attention from Matron Poppy Pomfrey. She inquired about the cause of the injury.
Thomas responded by giving the healer a stern gaze, declaring it a family matter that should remain private. He also suggested she focus on her duties rather than prying into other wizards' affairs.
The healer began diagnosing the Quade heir with her wand, carefully assessing his injuries. However, Matron Pomfrey abruptly stopped her examination when her wand emitted a stream of glowing green smoke precisely at the boy's injured lip. She recognized this magical indicator all too well. It signified a recent injury inflicted by physical force. Her heart sank at the thought of someone, especially a family member, harming their own child in such a manner.
Despite her internal anger and frustration with the oppressive laws of the Wizengamot that allowed such actions among Pureblood families, she knew her hands were tied.
The laws permitted Pureblood parents to employ corporal punishment on their children, and she had no authority to challenge or intervene in such matters. With a heavy heart, she insisted that the boy needed to be monitored and provided the necessary treatment for his injuries.
Seeing his son's frown, Thomas understood that Jakob had more pressing matters to attend to than lying in a hospital bed.
He instructed Matron Pomfrey to heal the wrist and nothing more.
After the treatment, the Quade father and son prepared to leave. When the time came for them to part ways, Thomas offered his hand in farewell.
"Remember to excel in your studies and avoid getting into trouble like this again," Thomas cautioned his son. Jakob nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of relief.
"I promise that next time, I won't leave a trail." His father nodded approvingly, and they went their separate ways. A triumphant smile spread across Jakob's face despite the pain of his still-broken lip.
"I did it," he whispered softly to himself. "I won."