"It is old-fashioned," Orion admitted. "However, think about it. You've already admitted that you see yourself and Bellatrix maintaining your acquaintance for quite some time. Bellatrix certainly seems to have attached herself to you. Thus, the distasteful part of an arranged marriage is eliminated. We could come to an agreement that gives you the opportunity to marry into the Black family and gain a legitimate surname and place in society. A marriage contract would be profitable."
"These things are true," said Harry very diplomatically, "but I think it might be too early to make such an arrangement. "She has more than a year of school left."
Orion smiled. "I'd be concerned if you had jumped too eagerly. Perhaps you are a better match for Bellatrix than I am able to know. We can talk of this some other time."
"Whatever you say," Harry said, displaying a relieved smile.
"As I said earlier back in your apartments, Mr. Ashworth," Orion continued, "you are to be the authority at Hogwarts. If you tell Bellatrix to do or not do something, you should expect to be obeyed as if you were me. I don't need her doing something rash and getting herself killed. Aside from that, you know your role in this whole campaign against Voldemort. Try to sniff out other students the dark lord has recruited or may consider for recruitment. Either exploit them as best you can for our purposes or try to get them out of the mess. Some of them may not be past redemption, though the number may be fewer than we'd all prefer." Unconsciously, he glanced back toward the room where Romulus Malfoy was still drowning himself in spirits.
"Right," said Harry. "I'll carry on and wait to hear from you."
"Good," said Orion, holding up his wand. "Don't forget to owl me your personal information. Also be sure to keep an eye on Dumbledore. If he figures out that Tom is on the loose, he'll undoubtedly begin his own campaign. It would be useful if we could coordinate our efforts without having a direct, official connection." He then disapparated, leaving Harry standing alone in the hall outside of the private dining room.
Harry stood there, wondering which of his assignments was more important to Orion. Babysitting potential Death Eater candidates or keeping Orion apprised of Dumbledore's actions? If Harry had learned one thing from Orion Black, it was that politics was a subtle art. Harry looked back toward the dining room. Romulus had been out of sorts since he had learned that his son was pretty much a confirmed Death Eater. Harry didn't know what to do. What was one supposed to say to such a parent? Sorry, about your son joining a terrorist organization. Let me know if I can be of help. That didn't seem very comforting.
Feeling like he should at least not leave Romulus alone, Harry walked back into the room and sat down, grabbing a spare tumbler. "Pour me one?" he asked Romulus.
Silently, Romulus picked up the bottle of firewhiskey provided by the innkeeper and poured Harry a glass, his hand trembling ever so slightly. Harry sat and sipped the firewhiskey, thinking about the Voldemort situation, and ironically, even his upcoming classes. Homework still had to be assigned and marked, after all.
"The fool!" Romulus barked. "Silly fool!"
"Sorry?" Harry asked even though he knew about whom Romulus was speaking. It was just that Harry didn't know how else to reply.
"What did he think a dark lord could give him?"
"Glory and power, I imagine," Harry offered.
"No follower of a dark lord has power or glory," Romulus scowled. "If that ghost of a professor could teach history, maybe more people would know that."
"I guess," Harry said, reflecting on his own experiences as a student of Professor Binns. It was true that the professor had never really taught about dark lords-at least not about dark lords who weren't involved in goblin rebellions.
"Lucius will ruin the Malfoy name," Romulus whispered. "He'll pour our money into the dark lord's frivolous pursuits, make my manor the dark lord's, and risk the lives of my family in the dark lord's war."
"How fortunate that you control the Malfoy fortune and assets," Harry said. "It doesn't have to be unless you allow it."
Romulus nodded. "You speak truth, Harry. I am Lord Malfoy and the House of Malfoy will not bend knee to the dark lord. Not while I am alive, anyway."
"Problem solved," said Harry, trying to sound cheerful, but not overly so. "Eventually, Lucius may learn the error of his ways and stop following the dark lord."
"It may already be too late for that," Romulus sighed.
Harry did not really want to say it aloud, but secretly, he agreed.
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