Chapter Eight
“Maybe we should dump glitter on everyone’s head. I haven’t done that at a ball in ages,” Sirius said as he looked out over the ballroom in Black Castle.
The ball was due to start in a few hours and Andromeda was overseeing the final preparations done by the house elves.
“If we trade with Fred and George, I think that we can get enough glitter to cover the entire ballroom,” Harry said thoughtfully.
“Oh definitely, they have a bunch of glitter although I don’t know where they are keeping it,” Ron said, munching on some fancy snack.
“Sirius, I will castrate you,” Andromeda threatened. “You aren’t twelve anymore. You need to act like an adult and play nice with everyone.”
“You should learn the fine art of backhanded compliments and cutting one liners. Andromeda is really good at it and it’s a very upper class skill, but still insults people,” I suggested.
“Or just stick to hanging out with your allies,” Ron said.
“Don’t do that. This is a crucial point. After the World Cup, everyone is scared. We need to strike the fine balance of validating that fear and convincing people to support us against Voldemort but not scaring everyone so much that they end up laying low out of fear or running away to Europa,” Hermione said.
“Listen to the children Siri. And don’t try running away to get out of this,” Andromeda said.
“We should probably head back to The Burrow to get ready,” I said.
We had come over at Andromeda’s request to go over some last minute details of politicking and to drop Harry off. As Sirius’ heir, he would be standing with Sirius and Andromeda to greet everyone as they arrived because it was important that they showed strength and that the future of House Black was secure.
The Burrow was a den of chaos when we got back. Molly was comforting a panicking Percy who appeared to be trying to decide between two pairs of formal robes.
“I think the gray with orange accents looks more mature and stately, but is it too bland?” Percy asked.
“It’s fine. Now go get changed, make sure Fred and George are on track and go tell Charlie that he cannot wear sleeveless robes to show off his new scar at a formal gathering,” Molly instructed, shooing him upstairs.
“Oh good, you children are back. Ron, put your robes on and come back down here so I can make any adjustments. Zo, I think that Ginny is trying to charm one of the dresses you gave her to our House colors. I’d appreciate it if you and Hermione went to go help her.”
“Of course,” I said, dashing upstairs.
Ginny was crying over a splotchy purple and orange dress that appeared to be slightly singed at the hem.
“Hey, hey, hey, we can fix this,” I consoled her.
A half hour and several spells later, Ginny’s dress was a stylish gray dress with orange accents the color of her hair.
After that, it was a rush of preparations and Molly trying to feed us while we were getting ready. Finally, we lined up by the fireplace only five minutes after the ball had started.
When we arrived, Sirius, Andromeda and Harry were lined up in the Floo Room, greeting guests as they came in.
“Having fun mate?” Ron asked.
“I’m going to have a smile permanently locked onto my face by the time this is done,” Harry complained.
“Come and find us once you’re done with greetings,” I murmured as we moved into the main ballroom.
There were only a few families who had already arrived, mainly close political allies of Andromeda.
“Remember, represent our house well and don’t cause any trouble with your friends. You are here to make alliances, not start feuds,” Lady Longbottom was saying to Neville as we approached.
“Yes Gran,” Neville said obediently.
“Good, now off you go. If you need me I’ll be on the mezzanine,” she said, walking off.
“Everybody has been refreshed on our goals?” Hermione asked.
“Yep,” Maggie said.
“Good, let’s see. Ron and Ginny, you two pair up. Hermione and Neville, you two can pair up. Maggie and Luna, you two work on wandering together and overhearing stuff rather than actively participating in conversations. I’ll stick with Percy for the first bit and then work with Harry once he’s done playing host,” I said. “Remember to dance with people, dances are great for having whispered conversations.”
“All good. Let’s go,” Ron said.
As more and more families began entering, it became rapidly noticeable that the atmosphere was more tense than at other events I had attended. The first person to approach me was Daphne Greengrass, who came over with her sister in tow while Percy and I were talking to Lady Longbottom.
“Daphne, Astoria, how are you?” I asked politely. Astoria was a shy girl who usually stuck with Peony Parkinson at society events rather than engage in the juvenile politicking that Daphne so loved.
“We are well, Zo. Would you care to dance?” Daphne asked.
“Of course,” I said politely. “Lady Longbottom, please excuse me.”
“Of course,” Lady Longbottom said, smiling and wandering away.
“Astoria, why don’t you talk to Mr Weasley about his new job?” Daphne suggested, indicating that her sister should stay with Percy while we danced.
“What’s this about?” I asked as we moved onto the dance floor.
“I was regrettably separated from my father during the attack at the World Quidditch Cup. He was speaking with friends, you see,” Daphne began.
“Ah,” I said as we twirled.
“I was aware that he shared political leanings with those friends, but did not believe they were so close as to consider each other friends,” Daphne murmured. “Those muggle children were only a few years younger than Astoria.”
I had been unaware that Lord Greengrass was a Death Eater and it appeared Daphne hadn’t either. No wonder Daphne was so shaken up. Everyone knew how protective she was of her little sister.
“What do you need?” I asked, in a businesslike manner without the comfort or pity that Daphne so disdained.
“Astoria and I can’t stay at home. My father prioritizes our family and family image above all else. If we leave, he will try to get us back but will not involve the Ministry as he would not wish our absence to become public knowledge. Any friends of the family would be persuaded to return us if we sought shelter with them, and so I believe it would be in our best interests to seek aid from the other side of this coming war” Daphne explained.
“So you want my help,” I concluded.
“And I’m willing to join you in exchange so long as Astoria remains uninvolved,” Daphne said as the dance ended and we moved off the dance floor.
“You don’t need to, of course I’ll help anyways. I already have several plans I’m working on to shelter those who Voldemort might target, including young children whose parents or older siblings wish to join the Order of the Phoenix. We can talk later about various options, somewhere that isn’t so public. Do you need to leave your house immediately or can it wait until after summer break is over?” I asked, my mind whirring.
“We’re not in any danger. Our parents have never hurt us, but I cannot stand by what they are doing,” Daphne said, picking up a goblet of water.
“Take everything you want with you when you leave for school. With the Triwizard Tournament, plenty of people will be staying over winter and spring break. I’ll definitely have something figured out by the end of school. We can talk more once we’re at Hogwarts,” I said.
“Thank you, Zo. I’ll be forever in your debt,” Daphne said.
“That’s really not necessary,” I said awkwardly.
“It is. You should know, I have been speaking with some others who are similarly hesitant to side with the Dark Lord and I am not alone in my feelings. You should talk to Theo Nott,” Daphne said. “Now I better go get Astoria before Weasley bores her to death.”
As soon as Daphne left, Harry popped up at my side.
“Christina Dolohov kept asking me about my summer plans and giving me very significant looks that either meant she was talking about something else entirely or flirting and given I once walked in on her and Maria Mulciber making out in a secret passage, I’m pretty sure it’s not the latter,” Harry said, grabbing some small snack of a plate floating by.
“I think there’s a large group of young wixen who wish to join us rather than Voldemort. Dumbledore sent me an owl talking about recruiting other kids, but I didn’t think he meant this. Keep talking to people. If they imply they are interested, say that if they would like to become closer friends, please owl me once we are back in school and we can set up a time to have tea,” I said. “I’m going to talk to some others, you go check in with Hermione.”
I picked up a goblet of juice and wandered over to where Theodore, Blaise and Anthony were in conversation by one of the shadowy pillars perfect for discreet discussions.
“Zo, you look simply stunning,” Blaise greeted with what was probably supposed to be a flirtatious smile. It came off as rather adorable.
“Blaise, charming as always. Anthony, lovely to see you,” I said.
“You as well.”
“Theo, Daphne said you wished to speak to me?” I asked.
“Indeed, would you care for a stroll along the mezzanine?” he asked.
“I’d be delighted,” I said, taking his arm.
“You may have heard, my father was killed during the Quidditch Cup Attack. As such the mantle of Heir Nott falls to me,” Theo said.
“My condolences on your father’s passing,” I offered.
“Mother is quite distressed, but we’ll manage,” Theo said, waving off the subject. I would imagine that Mrs Nott was more distressed that she wasn’t the one to do the deed after all of her plotting to kill her husband, but I didn’t politely bring that up.
“Grandfather is getting on in years and believes that he’ll pass shortly after the turn of the millennium which would leave House Nott to me. I’ll be frank, do you believe that this coming war will continue on after we graduate school?” Theo asked as we sat down on a bench in the gardens
“It’s possible, why do you want to know?” I asked cautiously. Out of the Slytherin boys in my year, Theo was probably the one I was closest too but that didn’t mean I trusted him.
“I’ll be expected to become a full Death Eater after I finish Hogwarts. My grandfather went to school with the Dark Lord and was a Death Eater although he’s too old now. I will be expected to contribute to the cause both financially and politically as Heir even before I reach my majority,” Theo said.
“I see. And why are you telling me this?” I asked.
“Because the Dark Lord is wrong. Not only is his whole ideology morally wrong, it’s also strategically stupid. I have been doing research and the claims about muggleborns are blatantly untrue. If you got rid of all of the muggleborns and halfbloods, our society would die out because of inbreeding within a century. As it is our country has way too small of a population after the last two wars and the noble families only marrying amongst themselves. We need the new blood that muggleborns have.”
“I mean maybe if the Dark Lord wanted to take muggleborn children to be raised in the wixen world as soon as they showed magic I might agree. But he wants to kill children. And from what my grandfather said he was smart as a young man but has become increasingly mentally unstable ever since and is the biggest threat to the future of Albion,” Theo said, gesturing wildly.
“Well, I very much agree,” I said, not the kidnapping and forcibly integrating children part but I didn't say that.
“So I want to be a spy for you. I can pass you all of the information that I get so you can help defeat the Dark Lord,” Theo said.
“Theo, you’re fourteen. A literal child. I can’t ask you to spy for me, it’s too dangerous. If you want, I can shelter you somewhere until the war is over” I said.
“First of all, we’re the same age and I know that you and your friends are going to be leading this fight, you’ve made no secret of it. As it is my options are giving up and joining the Dark Lord, joining the Dark Lord as a spy for you or running to Europa and hiding out until this is over. I won’t run and I want to do the right thing,” Theo said.
“Have you thought about this all the way through for at least a week’s time?” I asked, biting my lip.
“I’ve been thinking about it was revealed that the Dark Lord wasn’t dead and I made up my mind after the World Cup,” Theo said determinedly.
“Alright then. Play up the pureblood supremacist act. If anybody asks, seem slightly hesitant and scared but say you are determined to serve Voldemort once you come of age. Don’t contact me for the rest of the summer in case your mail is watched. We can meet up once Hogwarts starts and I’ll have a more concrete plan,” I instructed.
“Thank you Zo,” Theo said, getting up.
“Don’t thank me. I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this,” I sighed.
Theo escorted me back to the ballroom, where I met up with Ron for a dance. He confirmed that lots of kids were seeking an alternative to joining the Death Eaters.
“This is good, but we did come here to politick. Let’s go talk to Lady Ravenclaw. She’s generally moderate politically and her eldest granddaughter is due to be starting Hogwarts next year,” I said, as we moved through the crowd.
Lady Ravenclaw was probably scarier than Professor McGonagall. After asking us a variety of questions, she told us that House Ravenclaw wouldn’t join the Order of the Phoenix but would ally with the Order.
At midnight, the ball began to wind down. Families either left to go home or to continue political discussions in a more private setting. Molly rounded us all up and we flooed back to The Burrow. She gave us strict instructions to be in bed within the hour and sent us upstairs.