The Mary Sue Virus - Chapter 51 - Figured Out

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. The dam is no more! *happy dance* So the build begins... Nan, are you still sure I have carte blanche on this one? ;)

Title: The Mary Sue Virus
Chapter Title: Figured Out
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: 18+
Warnings: Graphic Sexual situations, Oral, Angst
Disclaimer: The recognizable characters in this work of fiction and the world it is set in are the property of J.K Rowling and Warner Bros. Pictures. The original characters are the property of Dazzledfirestar, Nanaea, Madapple and Polywolly, and are not to be used without the permission of those individuals. I am not making any money from this and it is purely a flight of fancy for the purpose of entertainment.

Breakfast seemed to slink by for the girls the next morning. Hyacinth looked a little more wistful than the girls were used to. Azalea yawned happily, having finally gotten a full night’s sleep. Issobell was pushing her toast around her plate lazily. Rowena was far quieter than normal. “I need help.”

 

“Okay.” Azalea sipped her tea. “What’s up?”

 

Rowena moved across the distance between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables faster than she ever had. With barely a breath to interrupt she explained about the letter Draco had received, and the Malfoy family dinner that she was now ‘requested to attend’. She spoke so quickly that a few times, Hyacinth had told her to slow down and repeat what she’d just said. Finally, she got it all out. The looks on her friends’ faces weren’t very encouraging. “What am I going to do?”

 

“Well,” Issobell reached across the table and patted Rowena’s hand. “We’ll figure that out.”

 

“Did they actually use the word ‘interview’?” Azalea frowned as Rowena nodded. She stayed silent for a long time, and Rowena was about to ask her why it was important when she stood and started to collect her things. “I think we should go to the library.” The others looked at her, mouths hanging open. “What?”

 

“I think that’s the first time you’ve ever voluntarily wanted to go to the library.” Hyacinth smirked a little.

 

“This is important.” Azalea’s frown deepened, but more because of her friends’ reaction to her suggestion than anything else. “Something about the wording doesn’t sit right with me. I’m sure the library has some old dusty book about arcane pureblood traditions.”

 

“More than likely.” Issobell yawned and started to gather her things too. “We should get going then, before she comes to her senses and bolts for the quidditch pitch.”

 

Azalea stuck her tongue out as she stuffed the last of her stuff in her bag. Rowena patted her shoulder. “I appreciate this.”

 

“Hey, anything we can do to get you through this as easily as possible, we’ll do.” Azalea slipped an arm around her friend’s shoulders.

 

Rowena watched as something dark passed behind her friend’s eyes. She thought best to ignore it for the time being. Her own mind was coming up with enough dark and horrible thoughts to keep her busy for ages.

 

The girls settled at a table in a deserted part of the library. Something told them that, if it hadn’t been for Madam Pince’s efforts, this corner would be dusty, and strewn with cobwebs. It didn’t look like many people were doing research on arcane wizarding rituals. Actually, Rowena was having trouble figuring out which class might call for such things… History of Magic, maybe, if Professor Binns was more creative minded. A few of the books were so old, they actually creaked when opened. The Ravenclaw made a note to check back here for potions and spells that the Death Eaters might be using. She lifted her eyes from the book in front of her when Hyacinth made a small noise.

 

“Umm… well…” Hyacinth’s gaze flashed from the book to her friends and back again in turn. “I think I may have found something… but I’m sure even the Malfoys don’t do this anymore… it’s really, really archaic… like the dark ages…” She was babbling.

 

Rowena didn’t take that as a good sign. She reached for the book, pulling the heavy volume across the table. Her eyes scanned the page, searching for something horrible enough to make Hyacinth blush the way she was. It didn’t take long to find it.

 

The prospective mate for an heir in pureblood families was generally interviewed before the marriage contract would even be offered.

 

“That’s not so bad.” Rowena didn’t want to keep reading. Something told her that if she kept reading, she’d regret it. Three sets of eyes were locked on her as she stalled. Finally she sighed heavily and lowered her gaze back to the book.

 

The interview would consist of assessing moral standing, family background, intellect, and breeding. This usually occurred over a meal, giving the family a chance to observe the prospective mate in a social environment, making sure that she could properly conduct herself.

 

Assuming the mate meets these standards, a secondary phase would commence. The prospective mate would be inspected by the head of the family in whatever way he deemed fit.

 

Rowena nearly fainted. Inspected? By Lucius? “I think I’m going to be sick.”

 

Azalea got up, and helped her to her feet. “Come on, let’s get you some air.” The redhead walked her friend all the way out of the castle and to the lake before Rowena even looked up.

 

“What am I going to do?”

 

Azalea sighed. “I don’t know.” She patted the brunette’s shoulder. “We’ll keep checking. Maybe there’s a loophole or something that Draco can do…”

 

Draco… Rowena shook her head. Had he known what this could mean? Was that why he’d been so distracted when he told her about his dinner? He had to know something. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

 

“Maybe…” Azalea searched for a good reason. If it had been her, she’d have been tearing him a new asshole right at that moment. “Maybe he thought it’d be easier for you to find out from us… or to find out for yourself.” She shrugged.

 

“It’s not.” Rowena was going pale again, and starting to feel dizzy. She took a few deep breaths and lied back against the soft grass.

 

“Yeah. I know.” She heard footsteps approaching behind them, and assumed it was the other girls. She was slightly surprised when it wasn’t.

 

Draco motioned for her to come over before he got to close. “I went to the library, looking for her. Ironmonger and Widdershins nearly tore my head off.”

 

“As well they should have.” Azalea’s eyes flashed angrily. “You should have told her, Malfoy.” He took a step back, suddenly nervous that some of the aggression that Haverty showed on the quidditch pitch was going to be turned on him. “You owe her one hell of an apology.”

 

“I just thought…”

 

“That it’d be easier for her to find out for herself? Yeah, I tried telling her that. She isn’t buying it. And I’m not either.” Azalea took a deep breath. “We only found a rough idea of what she’s in for. Tell her the truth, Draco.” He flinched, and she wasn’t sure if it was because she’d called him out, or because she’d used his first name. “Tell her everything.”

 

He nodded slowly and made his way over to where Rowena was sitting. She’d sat back up, and had been watching the exchange between the two of them. He sat down beside her, and she watched as Azalea headed back into the castle. “I’m sorry.”

 

“Why didn’t you say something?”

 

“I…” He fumbled with his tie a little. “I don’t know. I’m looking for a way to get you out of…” he sighed heavily, falling back and staring up at the brilliant blue sky. “This isn’t going to go well, Rowena.”

 

She sniffed a little. “Yeah, I kind of figured that much out for myself.”

Comments

[ladydeathfaerie]

hmmmm. inspected by Lucius. somehow.... never mind. i'm sick like that.

here's hoping that the lot of them can find a way out of this for Rowena.

good chapter, honey.

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

You know... we're probably on a fairly similar page about what Lucius has in mind.

We'll see what they can come up with. :) I'm glad you liked it.

[ginevrasm.livejournal.com]

I think I'd be too ill to make that dinner, were it me. Or maybe not. There's a certain fascination with Lucius. Like playing with a coral snake.

Poor Rowena...Can't wait to see how this pans out.

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll admit, Lucius does hold a certain fascination. lol But a 24hr flu bug might just be floating around if it were me going to that dinner. lol

We'll have to wait and see what kind of loophole (if any) the group can come up with. :)

[nanaeanaven]

Oh shit.

My mind is suddenly filled with ... no. You know what. I'm not sure I want to give you any ideas. LOL! This does NOT bode well. Somehow, somebody's got to find a loophole. Otherwise ... I'm fucked. *giggles*

And no, I haven't changed my mind. I'm a big girl. I can handle it. I swear. I'm just not too convinced that Draco can. Besides, I seem to remember something about agreeing to tag Lucius if the story required it. Either way, things should be interesting. ^_^

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

Huh... I'd forgotten about you volunteering your services on the Lucius front. *evil grin*

It will definitely get interesting, I'm sure of that. But maybe we've all judged Lucius too quickly. Maybe he just wants to know if you're a natural brunette and... okay, I don't buy it either. ;)

[manic-olive.livejournal.com]

Well, here's the wind up. . .

evil cliffie, evil evil evil

Is it horrible for me to admit that I thought "Lucky Rowena" before the plot pulled me in?

Draco has more than a bit of explaining to do, I think.

Nan says she can take it - so, pour it on Daz. . .

*snerk*

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

lol No, it's not horrible. I've been thinking "Lucky Rowena" since this whole idea occurred to me. lol

Draco will be doing some serious explaining, there's no doubt about that. Hopefully we won't have to go too long before another update presents itself. :D

And yeah... she's so in for it. (after all, she missed the Death Eater meeting. ;))

so far

[mystiedaze.livejournal.com]

I have read your story over the course of two days. I am a big Harry Potter fan and my crush is Draco. This is a wonderful story. I am totaly thrilled with it.

Snape needing someone and admitting it...ahh made my heart ache.

George doing what he does best protecting not just the wizarding world but someone he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

Oliver the pefect gentleman treating his woman as if she were fragile and made of glass. Her pedistal is around some where I am sure.

Draco (my love) having to pretend to want to be in the "family business". Wanting to keep his love from his family for as long as possible (till this mess was taken care of). Now to figure out how to protect her from his family.

I can't wait for more.

Re: so far

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much for wading into this behemoth of a fic! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and it was worth the time. :)

Hopefully there will be more soon, assuming these boys play nicely. :D Thank you so much, again!