It turned out that chess was a great reason for carrying the notebook around and scribbling in it. He told everyone that he was interested in improving his chess skills. He'd even written Hermione about his new found passion in the hopes of impressing her with his initiative and to smooth some of the tension between them. She didn't write back, but she did send him a book on chess strategies. That had been his best gift that year by far. He'd read a suggestion that going over old and classic matches could improve his game.
So, he told his family that he had taken to writing out the games in order to study them. His mother praised his dedication to such an intellectual skill. After that no one questioned him on having the book or writing in it. He found it quite convenient not to have to run to his room any time he needed to send data to his Lord. It also allowed him to be more detailed in his observations. Draco said that Voldemort was pleased with his intel, and he had every intension of staying in his Lord's good graces.
When he wasn't reporting information or playing chess with Draco, he strategized. He'd started another notebook which he hid in his room. He'd managed to charm it so it would only show chess moves should anyone but him look at it. It was there that he listed the strengths and weaknesses of each of his family members. He didn't want to be seen as a child or looked down upon due to his family. He would be prepared when the war was won. He would have a plan in place to lead his family into the glory it deserved.
*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*
Voldemort looked over the information that had been so meticulously gathered by the Weasley boy. He was turning out to be far more useful than he'd anticipated. He'd honestly not expected much from the boy. When Draco had proposed the idea, he'd thought it was a fool's errand. Considering that the Malfoy heir's mission was basically to die for his father's ineptitude, he saw no reason not to indulge the child's idea. It would either lead to the young man's demise all the more quickly or cause Potter to mistrust his allies. Both were desirable outcomes, so he'd agreed to the plan. He'd never imagined that Weasley would be so adept as a spy. It was enough to cause Voldemort to rethink Draco's usefulness. Perhaps he could be the acolyte that his father never managed to be.
He appreciated the Weasley boy's attention to detail. He recorded anything and everything that could be of use. He included his own opinions and speculations as well. He was proving to be quite insightful. The boy had yet to observe an Order meeting, but the intel he was relaying about the Order members themselves was invaluable.
One such observation was the topic of discussion of his current meeting. It was a rather small affair in the Malfoy's drawing room. He'd requested the attendance of the Malfoys, Lestranges and Greyback. That amounted to only four people at the moment. Draco sat stiffly next to his mother while a house elf poured their tea. Bellatrix sat to their left and closest to her Lord. While Greyback tried to get comfortable in the small chair he was given. After a moment he gave up, stood and brought a larger chair back to the table.
Voldemort sipped his tea as he waited for the assembled to settle. "I have been made aware of a situation that affects your families," the dark wizard started. "It would seem, Bella, Narcissa, that your half blood niece has fallen in love with one of Greyback's progeny." Both women gasped. The fairer of the two reached for her sister's hand which she grasped.
"Andromeda's girl?" Narcissa asked in shock. She'd never seen the girl herself. She'd stayed away from the entire family after her sister had been disowned. She could see Bella's eyes glaze over with hatred.
"Who?" the demented witch demanded. "Who is the little slut sniffing after?"
Greyback fixed his eyes on his Lord clearly interested in hearing this as well. Although he was near certain who this erstwhile pup was. "Remus Lupin," he guessed.
"Right you are, Greyback. The woman is apparently in love with the Order's pet werewolf," he confirmed. "Now such a union cannot be allowed to happen, of course. I believe that we will soon receive intel that will aid in capturing the both of them. We are here today to discuss what will become of them after they have been apprehended."
"They must be put down, My Lord," Bellatrix quickly stated. "The girl is a stain on this family and the dog is just…"
"Now, now, Bella," the dark wizard interrupted. "I do appreciate your enthusiasm, but she is a Black. It grieves me that such a noble house has fallen to this."
"My Lord," Draco said evenly. "Our family has indeed fallen on hard times. It is something that weighs on me. I would be most grateful, my Lord, to hear your council on the issue." He was no fool. If the Dark Lord brought them here to "discuss" their options, it meant he already had a plan.
A smile spread across the snake like visage. "Draco, I appreciate your faith in me," he said before addressing them all. "Much magical blood has already been spilled and much more is yet to spill. It will be a difficult, but necessary culling to insure the future for our people. That doesn't mean that we should be wasteful. The half blood is at the beginning of her breeding years. Perhaps some of her blood, your blood could be preserved. If she was to bare a child to a pureblood father, well, within a few generations, the majority of impurity could be bred out."
Draco noticed that both his mother and aunt stiffened at this little plan, but had the good sense to allow the wizard to continue. "My sweet, sweet Bella. It has always concerned me that you were denied the opportunity at motherhood. Your husband and brother-in-law still need an heir. Perhaps you could offer up one or the other to father the half blood's first child. A child of your own. One that you could raise to bring glory on the Black and Lestrange houses. Would you like that, Bella? Would you like a baby of your own?" The man's voice was soft, almost comforting. He reached out to cup the crazed woman's cheek, and she leaned into the touch. No pureblood woman was immune to the need for, longing for, desperation for children. It was their primary duty, trained into them since birth. Women gave men heirs. Even Bellatrix, despite her madness, her brutality and power, even she had desperately wanted a child. Her opportunity stolen by Azkaban. "I would rule the baby legitimate and yours alone. The girl will be nothing more than a surrogate, a borrowed womb for your children. Would you like that, my sweet Bella?"
"Yes," the word fell from her like a sigh.
Voldemort smiled affectionately at her. "You always please me, Bella. You will take custody of the woman then once she is captured. You will arrange for her to be bred. You will choose the father of your children."
"My Lord," Narcissa interrupted timidly. "Will our men be returning soon? Should I start making arrangements for their lodging and tending?" she asked although they all knew there was only one man she was concerned about.
"Yes, they shall all return before the New Year," he answered. Voldemort looked to Grayback who to this point was only mildly interested in the conversation. "Now that leaves us with the pet wolf. He is yours, Greyback. I shall defer to you on how he will be dealt with."
Fenrir knew that this was simply a show. He knew the Dark Lord couldn't care less for his wolves as long as they fought when he needed them. He certainly didn't care for Lupin. "I shall take him, my Lord. Perhaps I can make a proper wolf of him yet. And if I can't them my men can always use him for sparring practice. Either way he will be useful to us," he said.
"Good, good. I shall summon you once their capture has been arranged. In the meantime, make your own preparations for your new charges," he commanded. Voldemort quickly dismissed the meeting and skimmed once more the wealth of information coming from his own pet Weasley. Yes, he was proving to be quite the find.
*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*
Ron smiled later that day as Draco filled him in on the meeting. It was the day after Christmas. The mood was still quite jovial, although a bit more relaxed. People grazed on Christmas leftovers, examined their gifts and caught up with one another. He could see Remus and Tonks talking quietly in a corner. It really hadn't taken long for him to guess what was going on there. It was obvious that Tonks was mooning over Remus, no pun intended.
It wasn't that he didn't like them. In fact, he did. A lot. It was just that they were a risk to everything he wanted in life. He believed that the Dark Lord would improve their world. So, he was really only doing what was right. Besides, from what Draco said, they weren't even going to be killed. Hopefully they'd be given the opportunity to see the error of their ways and be able to rejoin society in time. It was a better option than the ugly death Dumbledor seem determined to promise everyone. This ragtag group had no chance against the dark army.
It was a thrill though, knowing that he was about to take two pieces off the board. That he would be responsible for removing two key members of the Order. It felt….it felt…well, thrilling, beyond thrilling, arousing almost. He imagined he'd feel even better once the deed was done. He'd have to make sure Draco told him everything afterwards.
He knew the Dark Lord was pleased with his work. He was finally proving what an asset he could be. He wasn't useless, he wasn't stupid, he wasn't lazy. He was observant, he was cunning, and he was strong, and everyone would see it. He was Ronald fucking Weasley and soon no one would ever look down on him again.