Love by Numbers
...and... - part 2
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ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Love
by numbers
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Chapter 8
- …and… - part 2
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>That
day, after his classes ended, Draco picked up some things from his dorm room
and went to the astronomy tower. While he needed a place where would not be
disturbed by anyone he had to settle for the tower so that he could say that he
used it to do some thinking. Going to one of the dungeon rooms would be
preferable, but the portraits would probably report his behavior as suspicious,
especially once he started casting the privacy spells. So, going up to the
portrait-free astronomy tower he placed a series of locking, silencing,
repelling, anti-locating and anti-monitoring charms around himself, hoping that
no students would come to the tower until after dinner. He also placed one very
useful ward that convinced the Hogwarts\' wards that all the magic he was doing
was merely a simple warming charm. Now nothing would distract him. With that
done he cleaned the space around him of any distracting objects and settled in.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Inside
his privacy bubble not a sound could be heard and not a breeze moved the air.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Next,
he placed a crystal ball in front of him and downed a concentration potion.
Looking into the center of the ball he cleared his mind and forgot about his
surroundings, reaching out with his mind into the ball. It was not a thing done
easily, hence – the use of the potion.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Finally,
after an immeasurable amount of time he reached the person, or rather creature,
he needed to talk to. He knocked on the metaphorical door leading into the mind
of the Dark Lord. Another small eternity, and the door
opened.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"I
assume you have a good reason to call on me, young Malfoy?" In this plane
the voice had no hissing quality about it, which Draco had to admit was a nice
change.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Yes
sir. Things are progressing, and I believe Potter is ready to say goodbye to
his distraction, and to learn that I\'m on his side. Dumbledore plans to officially
reveal my turn to the \'light\' over the next week, and I would prefer it be done
before and in such a way that would leave no possibility for doubts about my
allegiances. If there could be an attack in Hogsmead
during this weekend on Potter and his friends, while I was around to help protect
him – and preferably get seriously wounded in the process – that would be most
convincing. Especially if the attacker was my own father…
And if it were possible to – despite my sincere attempts to intervene – injure one
Josephine de la Pagerie
her injury shouldn\'t be of any real severity."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Why
ever bother with such small detail?"
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"I\'m
aiming to reduce Potter\'s emotional preoccupation with the wench to the minimum,
sir. I don\'t want him to spend weeks worrying and guilting
over putting her in danger, that would defer
everything. I just want her and her family scared enough to return to
Harry free to feel thankful towards me."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Are
you sure he will?"
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Yes.
If I take a curse aimed at him or one of his friends, Ron
could be the least trusting out of his friends, and that would be a good way to
stifle any opposition of his."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>font-family:Verdana\'>"Fine.font-family:Verdana\'> It will be done."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Thank
you, sire."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Is
that all?"
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"I
think you might want to limit my godfather\'s access to this plan, sir. From the
way he has been acting towards me after my \'turn\' I suspect he is playing
double."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"I\'ll
look into it."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"If
it turns out I\'m right, sir… ?"
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>font-family:Verdana\'>"Ah, Malfoys and their love
for rewards. If
you are right you will be rewarded."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Sir,
I wouldn\'t presume to ask a reward for doing my duty."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>font-family:Verdana\'>"Of course."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"It
is just that if his loyalties are questionable I cannot use him to convey any
information and cannot rely on his assistance. If I could have a different way
of overcoming the limitations that are placed on me in Hogwarts…"
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"And
what can be done to help you with your task?"
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>font-family:Verdana\'>"A poltergeist, sir."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>"Most
bold... Malfoy, if you are right and if you show real
progress in your assignment I will consider providing you with one. Till
then – you may go."
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Draco\'s
metaphorical form curved in a deep bow and with a "Thank you, sire,"
he disappeared.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Back
at the astronomy tower Draco opened his eyes, straightened his stiff limbs, put
away the crystal and erased all traces of his charms. It has been two hours
since he climbed up here, and a quick spell told him that no students tried to
enter the tower during that time – his time-choice was right.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>He
downed an energy potion to counteract his exhaustion – one of the many reasons
this sort of communication was reserved for special occasions – and went down
to dinner.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>He
had to admit that he was still a long way off to getting into the Dark Lord\'s
favor, especially after the disgrace of his father\'s failure strained
would eventually get there.
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>A/N:
I know, short. On the bright side - I\'ll be putting up "…conquer"
soon - especially if people review - and you\'ll see what happens. :-)
Love you all! :-)
ltr;unicode-bidi:embed\'>Review
please!