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Act III - Birth Of The Demon
Chapter 31: The Fall Of The House Of Malfoy
What a difference being in a different country could make! Had this been Britain, Fudge would probably be midway painting this as yet another glory-seeking attempt on Harry's part coupled with some kind of insane conspiracy against removing his biggest supporter, the Malfoys, out of the equation. Knowing the fool, he probably thought that too. Unfortunately, the fickle winds of fortune were in his favour this time, so all he could do was manage a soft word or two requesting Draco Malfoy to be let off easily.
The old Harry Potter would've accepted it. But as he was now, going easy on him was the last thing on his list.
Lady Santos was a rather attractive witch. With her olive complexion giving her a perpetually tanned look and her coppery hair falling all over her shoulders, she looked like someone in her early twenties, and not a mother of a twenty-one year old. She looked so unlike Devereaux that Harry guessed they were either half-sisters, or someone had dumped a bucket full of hair-colouring potions.
She had been the one to keep the disaster from turning her son's wedding into a Malfoy scandal. Harry had guessed it was because Narcissa was of Rosier heritage, and aunt of the bride, but he had been wrong. Like any other pureblood, she loved seeing one of them go down. She just didn't care to share the venue with her son's wedding.
That, he could understand. What he couldn't, was why she had requested the Spanish Minister of Magic to open the Atrium for all aggrieved party members to convene together and conclude this giant mess engendered by Draco Malfoy.
The Atrium, unlike its British counterpart, was built like a futuristic cathedral. As Harry stepped inside, his gaze immediately shifted skyward, climbing a set of colossal white pillars along a towering curtain of glass, ascending two hundred feet to a vaulted ceiling, where circular spotlights blazed pure white light. Suspended in the air, a network of catwalks and balconies traversed the heavens, dotted with black-and-white visitors that moved in and out of the upper galleries and stood at the high windows, admiring the lagoon below. Nearby, a glass elevator slid silently back down the wall, returning to earth to collect more guests.
And it was buzzing with reporters. Quite naturally, they drew to him like a shark after blood.
That was alright. He knew how to deal with them now.
"Senor Potter," asked a reporter. "Cual es tu opiniΓ³n sobre Draco Malfoy?"
Harry thanked whichever deity was responsible for his translation charms still working fine. His Death-powers did not allow any foreign magic to last on him, even if they were for his own betterment. He wasn't sure why Lady Santos had agreed to reporters and paparazzi being present, but he would be damned if he didn't take advantage of this.
"He's nothing," said Harry, deciding to go the blunt route. "Honestly, I blame his parents more than him at this point."
He ignored the death glares Narcissa was sending at him.
"Oh?" asked another, this one in English. "And why's that?"
"Classic case of parents being too focussed on being social than actual parenting. It's no secret that Imperiused Death Eater Lucius Malfoy has the ear of the Minister. Draco has a firm belief that his father can get him out of anything. In reality, he's just a nuisance that I couldn't be bothered about if not for the fact that he keeps coming at me."
"What would you say is the main reason behind this antagonism?"
Harry gave her a half-shrug. "He has always been delusional that we are arch-rivals or something. He even followed his father's footsteps and claimed the weak-minded fool defence and tried to blame it on Fleur Delacour. Why the British Wizengamot suffers such fools is beyond me."
"Ooooh, spicy," said the reporter, a female with obvious irish roots. "That will sting. Can I quote you on that?"
Dumbledore would have probably said no. Sirius would've congratulated him for having the balls to speak his mind.
He decided to emulate his godfather this one time.
"Of course."
The first reporter chuckled predatorily. "Out for blood, Senor Potter?"
"Nope. Only honour this time. But we've yet to see what happens, so you might want to check back later."
There was a whole crowd of people witnessing the judgement. As the Rosiers were the ones to issue the invitations, it fell upon them to call upon the respective families to the occasion. Sirius was away on a DMLE mission, so Andi had come in his stead. She was absolutely annoyed at being pulled away from work at such short notice but absolutely entertained at seeing her 'kid' sister and her spawn being given a reality check in front of a world audience. Joshua had popped in via portkey, as had the Diggory's and the Changs. Given how the entire fiasco involved Harry, Joshua had thought it prudent to bring Percy along as well.
Lucius had of course, heard about what happened, and instantly portkeyed there, while the Parkinsons had left the previous day itself, not willing to subject their daughter to that embarrassment for another moment. Apolline Delacour was already present, and Harry had spotted a couple of black suits walking around her, preparing for an intense defamation lawsuit against the Malfoys. Narcissa, on the other hand, was still in denial, with Lucius foaming in the mouth.
The Spaniards did not have a Chief Warlock. Instead, the issue was decided over by a panel composed of Antoni Pizarro, the Minister of Magic himself, and Amaia Rodriguez, the Director of Unidad De Operaciones Especiales, the Special Operations Department. The Guardia Real, Or Royal Guard, enforcers of the Ministry of Magic, their equivalent of the British DMLE, was all over the place, keeping track of the entire thing.
But even that couldn't stop the entire situation from devolving into a nonsensical shouting match. Amos Diggory was utterly apoplectic at Cho's behaviour, and publicly cast her out, claiming that her tentative ties to House Diggory were torn asunder by her infidelity to Cedric's memory.
The Changs, on the other hand, sought out a word in private with Harry, and Daphne was quick to latch on his arm during the negotiations. Lord Chang, a consummate businessman, was too quick to cut losses by offering indentured serfdom to House Potter for Cho for a period of five years to House Potter after she passed Hogwarts.
Cho, now a weeping wreck, was quick to agree with her parents. Harry wondered if this was Fate having a mean sense of humour, given how every single person that was mean to him ended up working for him. First Percy Weasley, and now Cho Chang. Come to think of it, even Fleur had been mean to him last year, and she had ended up working for him too. Luckily, Daphne was there to save the day.
"Lord Chang," began his cunning fiance. "I'm certain you know exactly what kind of response your daughter's actions demand, so I'm not going to dance around things, and be mercenary about it."
The Chinese man crooked an eyebrow at that, and Harry couldn't tell if he was offended or pleased at her bluntness.
"Your daughter attempted to not just snatch Harry Potter for herself, she intended to break my impending engagement with him. Just by that action, she committed a felony against the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter, and Greengrass. And just in case you're unaware, my engagement was to happen to Harry James Potter, son of House Black, yet another Most Ancient and Noble House. And your solution to this transgression is to offer your daughter in service to House Potter, and force me to regularly face, forgive my French, the hussy that tried to snatch my intended from me?"
A light sheen of sweat appeared on Lord Chang's brow.
"So, I'm going to be very blunt about it, Lord Chang. For your daughter's transgression, this is what my fiance wants."
She passed him a piece of parchment. Harry didn't know what was written on it, or exactly when she had prepared it but he knew better than to voice his question. The mind of Daphne Greengrass was a byzantine thing, one that he had gotten first-hand experience of the previous day.
"This is⦠quite large," said Lord Chang, wiping the sweat off.
"And yet a fraction of what you'd lose if three Most Ancient and Noble Houses filed lawsuits against you. The Wizengamot is very protective of its Founding members, Lord Chang, as I'm sure, you know. Of course, if you want an alternative, I have something in mind."
And then she handed him a second parchment.
"You sign fealty to House Potter for the next five years, and get it to China, alongside all the riches that it offers. Rare magic, business opportunities, you know, the usual."
"I cannot accept that," said Lord Chang. "A backdoor into China is an option we keep for families marrying into our family, Miss Greengrass. If Lord Potter were to marry my daughter β"
"My fiance would not accept your daughter even as a concubine, much less a wife, even if she was the last woman on Earth," Daphne all but snapped. "Signing fealty to House Potter will make you part of the Potter-Black-Greengrass Alliance, and give you more than marriage to any House will ever grant you. And if you think any House worth their salt is going to marry your daughter after what she did, then you're a bigger fool than I thought."
Harry winced. There was blunt and then there was this.
"Or, I suppose, if you don't want to, we could return to the monetary compensation package from earlier. Unless you'd have the lawsuits instead. Your preference, really."
Stab.
Twist.
Anger flashed on Lord Chang's face. "For someone that claims to be the victim, Miss Greengrass, you have no problems ruining other families. My daughter, for all her offences, did not end up doing anything."
"Only because⦠somebody foiled it midway," said Daphne. "And make no mistake, if your daughter succeeded, it wouldn't just be a felony. She'd have been tried for Line Theft from three Most Ancient and Noble Houses. I don't think House Chang has enough gold in its vaults to pay for that. So you see, my fiance is being quite magnanimous."
The man stared at Daphne with frightening intensity, before his gaze flickered on Harry's surprised features only to return to hers. "And⦠this was all your fiance's plan, you say?"
"Yes," said Daphne with a straight face.
Lord Chang studied her carefully for a long moment. Finally, he let out an extremely refined snort and stood up. "Fine. I suppose we have no choice. I will talk to my solicitor and get it drafted."
"Before the Winter Solstice session," Daphne put in. "I have a strong feeling that the upcoming session will be quite⦠exciting. Wouldn't want you to miss it."
"Fine," said the man, standing up and giving the two of them the traditional bow, before leaving. Harry looked at Daphne for a full five seconds and asked, "what the hell was that?"
Daphne smiled like a cherub and said, "Payback."
"But I thought you promised Cho β"
"No attacks on her person for trying to blackmail you, yes. But she was the brains behind that bludger attack, and she was trying to get her claws on you. Did you really think I'd just forget all that?"
Harry shook his head. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
Daphne grinned. "Don't worry, Harry. It's my job to make sure my husband stays safe from these gold-digging hussies. Though if you want to demonstrate your appreciation," her cheeks went pink. "Perhaps a kiss?"
Harry laughed and indulged her.
With the entire 'Cho Chang' issue taken care of, it was Malfoy's turn to be forced through the grinder. Joshua was of course, quick to 'accuse' House Black for Draco β a Black scion, publicly defaming his daughter in front of the world audience. He even made a big show of wanting to cancel the ongoing plans for the wedding, claiming that House Black did not have control over its members. Everyone knew that it was bullshit, but in Joshua's own words β little games of protocol were how you did business with people you did not get along with. Tedious, yes, but generally less trouble than a duel would be.
Acting in a similar vein, Andi, acting as the Black Regent, offered Draco in service to House Greengrass for a period of three years. Draco snapped and tried butting in, but Narcissa held him tightly within an iron grip.
Luckily for Draco, Lucius was quick to refuse that. Unluckily for Lucius, Joshua claimed that after knowing Draco's improper intentions, the last thing he wanted was to take the boy into his territory, even as a slave. Instead he threatened House Black over a potential defamation lawsuit, or pay the required financial compensation. Andi pushed for Draco to subject himself to House Black's judgement.
It was like Joshua had told him before. Justice wasn't about right or wrong. It was a mask used in power plays, an excuse to get others into trouble, a ploy to weaken enemies.
"Draco Malfoy," said the Minister of Magic. "Are you willing to let House Black judge the severity of your transgression, or be judged by our Nation's laws?"
The ferret was lacking his usual swagger, the public display of fear exuding out of him felt as good as whatever punishment he was about to receive. Narcissa Malfoy was still openly denying all of this, so two Guardia Real soldiers were placed on either side of her, restraining her from interfering with justice.
"Iβ¦" He began. "I β I β"
"Why not have your father choose it for you?" Daphne offered, complete with a wicked laugh. His betrothed had a wicked streak a mile wide. Harry would've to remember that.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, and whispered something to his ferret son, before stepping back, sending death glares in Harry and Daphne's direction. Almost subconsciously, Harry entwined his arms around Daphne's waist and pulled her closer.
He enjoyed the way she blushed and smiled shyly at the same time.
"I β I am a Black by blood," Draco stammered. "I am young and innocent, and whatever I've done, I repent for it. I will accept the Black judgement."
Bad move, Harry thought. If Lucius was thinking that Andromeda Tonks, by virtue of her muggleborn beau and her profession as a healer, would go for a lesser punishment, he was dead wrong. Harry loved his aunt Andi to bits, but there was a reason that woman was gutsy enough to spit in the name of the Black family, with a sitting Lord Black in place, and elope with a muggleborn and still remain in Wizarding Britain. In Sirius's own words, the woman was a nicer and nastier version of his mother Walburga Black.
Lucius was about to find that out firsthand. And if Draco thought that wording would help his case against the Black judgement, he was dead wrong. He had seen Sirius suffer through it, when he had gone against the Charter. His heart had been true, and he had come out bearing the mark of the Black Lord. The Jaguar judged him worthy, which was why even the goblin shared that sentiment,
Draco on the other handβ¦
"By virtue of the authority given to me by the Lord of Black," Andromeda intoned, raising her wand and pointing it at Draco.
"IUDICATUS FAMILIAS."
Narcissa's shriek of despair was lost in the middle of the sudden sound, like a heavy curtain stirred by strong winds. Nothing erupted out of Andi's wand tip, but instead, its shadow lengthened and something with paws and tail leaped at Draco's shadow, twisting it, morphing it, as Draco threw his head back, and dropped down to the floor, writhing in agony, as Magic as black as its name judged him for his actions. Every single person in the vicinity unconsciously moved back, as Draco's shadow extended, forming the shape of the familiar Jaguar β the Black Family totem, before leaping back into the shadow of Andi's wand.
"From this day forth," said Andi, her eyes flashing. "I declare Draco, son of Narcissa Black, as Blood-Traitor to his kin. Neither he, nor his spawn, shall ever claim the Jaguar. You are a Black no more."
This time Narcissa actually had to be restrained by the soldiers. Percy Weasley, who had been mugging his way through all such legal trivia, was quick to point out that every single knut drawn from House Black under Draco Malfoy's personal tab would have to be reimbursed within thirty working days. Seeing Lucius go all cadaverous made Harry's day.
Harry marvelled at the irony that the one to cast Draco Malfoy, quintessential pureblood, was none other than Andromeda Tonks, who was cast out of the family two decades ago.
But that wasn't the end of it all.
"Regent Greengrass," said Andi in her most formal and snobbish voice. Harry wondered if all pureblood children were taught to behave like that. "Draco Malfoy is no longer a Black. Whatever transgressions he has committed, are his and House Malfoy's to bear. House Black takes no responsibility for his actions, and will not support him in any endeavours in the future."
Percy, after consulting with several notable attorneys present at the scene, accused House Malfoy on behalf of House Potter for his attempts to besmirch the reputation of the future Lady Black, and Fleur Delacour β a protectorate of House Black and House Potter, a move that Apolline Delacour was quick to join hands with β and demanded restitution against such a clear case of 'Criminal Conspiracy' and 'Defamation'. The alternative was, of course, to risk an Oath of Enmity from three Noble Houses of the British Wizengamot, and House Delacour of France. The restitution, as per Spanish Law, was a financial penalty equal to one-tenth of the value of the monies and properties of the offending family.
To each House.
That, or fight their way through defamation trials conducted on Spanish lands under Spanish law. As Griselda Marchbanks had so aptly put it back then, they could agree on an out-of-court settlement before things became more complex and a hell lot more expensive.
Lucius chose the former.
The Malfoy's ability to bribe their way through the legal system was crippled for good. Unless Sirius was wrong, Lucius Malfoy had made tremendous withdrawals citing all sorts of frivolous reasons under Draco's tab over the last decade and a half. To return all of that, plus the financial penalties to be restituted to the other Houses, and the reparations for breaking the infidelity clause in Draco's betrothal with Pansy, the Malfoys were now down to a mere fraction of what they once were. Lucius Malfoy was part of Death Eater Central, and with his biggest supporter crippled, Voldemort's ability to wage war would be adversely affected. All because of Draco's little plan. The only other Houses that could fund Voldemort were the Selwyns, the Notts, the Rosiers, the Wilkes and most of all, the Lestranges.
Luckily, Theodore Nott seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, and anyone with eyes could see that the Rosiers were all but ready to jump ship to join House Greengrass. The Selwyns would of course do their own thing, and Nott's father was going to have a hard time holding the reins. Wilkes⦠was difficult to say, and House Lestrange was currently dormant with all its members locked in the highest security wing of Azkaban. Deprived of money, resources, reputation, and cast as Blood traitor from their sole gravy train, the Malfoys had been successfully marginalised. Harry's cheeks hurt slightly from holding back the smile. That the Malfoys had been bested at their own game in front of the world audience would make waves by the time it hit the local papers.
So much mayhem because of the actions of one silly, egotistical little prat.
Harry chuckled internally, and hoped that he wasn't turning into a budding Dark Lord Potter.
The best part of it all was his grand idea of asking Andi to arrive with Dobby. Seeing his old employers ruined like that was bound to give the dotty little thing a kick. Still, Harry wasn't ashamed to admit that seeing that scary, face-cleaving grin on his maniacal face felt creepy as hell.
That this happened before Cornelius Fudge's own eyes with him unable to stop it would raise questions about his competency from fellow supporters. That the counsel in question on Harry's side was Percy Weasley, only made it worse.
"I told you, Harry," Daphne whispered into his ear. "My retaliation will be glorious."
It was.
Then a nasty thought came to him.
"Daphne?"
"Mmmm?"
"You knew they were about to blackmail me with this."
"Mmmhmm," she purred in acknowledgment, pushing herself further against him. "I told you. I kept track of everything they did."
"Like Draco's plan of displaying it in front of everyone?"
"Of course," she said smugly. "Draco is obsessed with me. There's no way he'd not release the memory, especially this close to our wedding."
"So you knew what the memory was."
This time Daphne stiffened just a little. "...Yes."
Harry looked at the events happening before his eyes. Percy Weasley was corroborating with Apolline Delacour's seasoned lawyers and drafting legal contracts for the Malfoys to sign. Flipping his wand out, he cast a privacy ward around them, and added a quick Muffliato, just to be certain.
"You took a great risk with Fleur's life."
"I had safeguards in place."
"No," said Harry, still not looking at her. "You didn't."
Daphne looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that you found the evidence, and you realised what Fleur was. What she did in her past. And you decided to let Cho and Malfoy bring it up, and reveal it to me. You bet on the fact that her past would tear my relationship with her asunder."
Daphne stayed silent.
"Even in the worst case scenario if you failed to prevent Malfoy from messing things up, Draco would still be trampled by Apolline Delacour's lawyers. That memory would've proven nothing, and instead, Malfoy would've faced another defamation suit. That is, if she even let the bastard live long enough."
He turned and met her eyes, telling her that he saw through his scheme. "That's what you were angling for. To reveal Fleur's horrible past."
Daphne met his eyes. "And what of it? She is aβ¦ you know what." She looked into his eyes searchingly. "But it makes no difference. You β you already knew."
His expression didn't change. "I did."
"You knew what she was, and you stillβ¦"
"Still?"
"Still went for her."
Harry let a lul build in the conversation, and then said. "Yes."
Daphne looked away, a small scowl forming on her lips. "May I ask why?"
"If you are asking if I'm just giving her second chances like Albus Dumbledore, you can stop worrying."
"I would've, if not for the fact that you are still with her, knowing what she is."
"She's a monster alright," he admitted, shocking Daphne. "But one I can predict. I despise her for what she did, but I suppose, being a monster myself, I just understand her a bit better than you can."
"Stop saying that," snapped Daphne. "You're not β"
"A monster?" Harry asked softly. "I am. Oh, I might not turn into a rabid creature or a soul-sucking succubus, but I can still kill people with my touch if I'm in control. I can get no more angry at a veela for preying on humans, than I can at you for eating beef. It's part of our nature. For veela, us humans are prey."
He laughed. Even to his ears, it sounded cruel.
"But that's not the only thing about Fleur. I've seen it in her, the way she tries to be human, the manner in which she defies her own nature to seek my happiness, even if it means sharing me with you. I know how much the two of you despise each other, and believe me, if Fleur wanted to seduce me away from you, she'd have done it."
Daphne froze at the surety in his voice. It wasn't arrogance, just a fact. And just like that, Daphne realised how serious the situation was.
"Harry," she said, a little pleading in her voice. "You can't tell me you don't find it fishy."
"I do," said Harry, looking at Apolline Delacour from afar. "I just think⦠you're looking at the wrong person."
"Harry," Daphne pleaded again. "The Delacours are bad business. Her motherβ¦"
"Is a snake, I know it. We've met."
Daphne blinked.
"She has plans," Harry went on. "Plans that Fleur doesn't want to be a part of. Plans she'll be forced to be part of. Plans that explain why Apolline has allowed her dear daughter to live in Britain, away from her reach. Plans that have something to do with⦠me."
He took a steadying breath. "You really want to help me out, Daphne? Then stop playing these games. Instead, get me a piece of information without anyone being the wiser."
Daphne shivered, and whispered. "What is it?"
Harry never once looked at her face, his eyes fixated at Apolline Delacour. "I want everything you can get me about a group that calls themselves⦠The Cabal."
AN: Sorry for the slight delay. Update Schedule for this month - 8th. 10th. 17th. 20th. 25th. 29th.
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