Fic: Children of Hope (4/4)
Title: Children of Hope (4/4)
Author: airmidm
Rating: R
Characters: Greg Goyle/Tracey Davis
A/N: Full header is on Ch.1. Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3
***--Chapter Four--****
June 2000
Stone Walk, Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland
Looking out over the cliffs surrounding his ancestral home, Greg wondered- and not for the first time - if he'd known then what he knew now, would he have changed anything? Would he have spent so long lost in the drugs and alcohol, attempting to drown and/or silence his own pain? Would he have come back when he did? Was everything worth the fight they fought after his return? Had it been enough? Did Maeve regret all that she'd been put through when she'd refused to go into hiding- to be safe- while he and Blaise took care of their problems?
Yes? No? Maybe? He just didn't know.
Lost in thought, he didn't hear her approach.
"Val?"
He turned, smiling when he saw Maeve holding a very sleepy Aoife in her arms. At nearly two, their daughter was a constant source of joy for he and Maeve, even when she and Aries (Draco and Ginny's son) managed to find trouble and raise hell. He reached out and took her, settling her against his chest. "Is Da's girl sleepy?"
She nodded, her tiny little curls bouncing as she stuck her thumb in her mouth.
Tracey chuckled. "She was a mite upset that Gin and Aries had to leave. Draco and Padma owled from Germany, they'll be back this evening. Gin wanted to get home and let Narcissa know."
Greg nodded, idly patting Aoife's back. "We've making good progress, haven't we?"
She nodded, leaning into his side and wrapping an arm about his waist. "We definitely have."
They both turned to look over the grounds, thinking over all that had happened in a relatively short time.
Potter had unexpectedly lost his life a year ago, though Greg had to give Padma and Kingsley credit for their ability to explain just how it was unexpected to be blown to bits by wards the idiot never should have gone near in the first place. If said wards had been tweaked by himself, Blaise, Callista, Bill Weasley, and George Weasley, that was mere happenstance. At least the way they saw it anyway. Had Potter not tried to break Stone Walk's wards after being warned against such actions than he got what he deserved and nothing more. In fact, officially, Greg and Astrid hadn't even been in the country during Potter's Folly, as it was widely known.
As a result, the Ministry had been left without a leader and thanks to the extensive group of Purebloods and sympathisers, Kingsley had been installed as Minister of Magic while Padma took over the Department of Mysteries. Shortly thereafter, most of the Purebloods that Potter had imprisoned were released, once the news was leaked that Potter and his sidekicks had falsified documents, bribed and/or threatened Wizangamot members and Ministry officials. Greg credited Luna for that, since she had taken over for her father and made The Quibbler into a genuine news source (though she refused to leave out the wild stories that it had always been known for). But, Luna hadn't been content with that, going further (and utilizing the Weasley family gossip and files that Padma may have left unattended) to mount a smear campaign against Granger and Ronald Weasley that would have impressed even Rita Skeeter.
"Why don't we get our tired girl tucked into bed?" Tracey suggested.
Greg shook his head a bit to clear his mind and grinned. "That depends on whether Mummy and Da get to have a nap as well."
She laughed. "Angling for a baby brother for the princess then? Worried that Gin and Draco will get too far ahead of us?"
Greg huffed, enjoying the laughter his actions garnered - from both of his girls. "As if we could compete with the Weasley fertility, how many new Weasley's are there now?"
Tracey laughed even harder, unable to answer.
"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt."
Laughing lightly, Greg smiled at Pansy over Tracey's head. She was looking quite reluctant to step out onto the balcony. "You aren't, Pans. Come on out here with us. Is everything okay?"
Pansy joined them, plucking Aoife from him and bussing her cheeks, much to the little girl's delight. "Everything is fine. I just thought I'd stop by, catch you two up on my Liason efforts and of course play with my very favourite girl."
Shaking his head, Greg studied one of his oldest friends as she cradled his daughter. The Pansy that had exited Azkaban was a far cry from the Pansy that had entered, though Greg had to admit the 'new' Pansy was just as ruthless as she'd been before. Now, though, there was a vulnerability that hadn't been there before. That vulnerability was utilized in her efforts as the official British Ministry Liason position she'd requested from Percy (the new Head of the Muggle Relations Department) and Kingsley. She visited not only the British Prime Minister, but other Muggle Head's of State and had instigated many new laws, treaties, and programs. It was because of her that there was now a unified primary school system for all children whom showed an aptitude for magic. It was their hope that by integrating the children at a younger age, that there wouldn't be any more 'civil wars'. Aoife, Aries, and the rest of the brood of children that had been born of their group truly were the 'Generation of Hope'. It would be them that lead by example, showing that Purebloods weren't evil even if they did run the Wizarding World - as it had always meant to be.
Pansy blurted, "I'm pregnant," startling, if her expression was any indication, even herself with the declaration.
Tracey very nearly squealed. It was a reaction that Greg had grown used to as of late, one only heard from one of the women (and if they were all together, the whole lot of them) when a new pregnancy was announced. He had decided that it was something inherently female, something they learned at a young age. It was so unlike Tracey to react so loudly to anything (well outside of the bedroom anyway) and he couldn't help but smile - even as he backed away slowly, knowing it was wise to retreat now or else be subjected to talk of breastfeeding and other horrifying subjects.
"Congratulations, I'll have to track down that husband of yours and congratulate him as well," he said, nearly to the door. "In fact, I think I'll do that now. Where is Theo?"
Pansy and Tracey were grinning wickedly.
"He's inside, with the liquor," Pansy said teasingly. "He's a bit shocked currently. Go, run away, Greg. Leave the baby talk and such to us."
He was Slytherin enough to take the offer of escape, though he did hold his arms out for his daughter. "I'll take Aoife, Maeve. We'll give Theo a practical parenting lesson."
Pansy passed her over, sighing. "Good luck with that. I think he's still convinced that I'm joking."
Greg winced, making a mental note to tuck Aoife in before knocking some sense into Theo. It was obvious that his lack of euphoria hurt Pansy's feelings. He kissed Pansy's cheek. "I'll knock sense into him for you, Pet. If I can't then I'll Floo B, George, and the rest. You two get comfortable, put your feet up, and chat. I'll send Luthien out with tea."
Tracey put her arm around Pansy, shooting him a grateful look over her shoulder. Greg blew her a kiss and left her to comfort Pansy, something he was horrid at. He looked down at his curly-haired, green eyed baby girl. "What do you say, A leanbh na páirte, should we go knock some sense into your Uncail Theo?"
Aoife laid her head on his shoulder and yawned. "Sleepy."
Amused, he made his way towards the gentleman's lounge, rubbing her back and knowing that she would likely be sound asleep before they got there. Still, it was on the way to her rooms so it wouldn't hurt to get Theo's sorry arse up and away from the alcohol.
He pushed the door to the lounge open with his foot and then rolled his eyes. Theo was sprawled in one of the chairs, his feet up on the table and had a whisky bottle in hand. He whispered, in deference to his sleepy daughter, "Put that down and get moving, Theo."
Aoife lifted her head just enough to say, "Uncail, me sleepy."
"Leanbán," Greg murmured soothingly. "Let's get you to bed." He glared at Theo. "Move it, Nott."
Theo's brows shot up and he set the bottle down as he stood. "I'm moving, I'm moving."
Greg didn't say a word to Theo as they walked through the house, or when they tucked Aoife into bed and left her in the care of Moire McManus, or even when they walked outside and into the gardens. He didn't quite know what to say that wouldn't irritate Theo. He wasn't stupid enough to think that all of his friends were fully prepared to be a parent, some more cautious than others. Hell, if he hadn't been secure in the thought that Maeve would be there to boot him in the arse if he mucked up, he'd have been just as wary as Theo was. But where to start?
"Theo," he finally said, once they'd walked a good distance from the house, outside the walls. "Pansy isn't joking around."
Theo sighed, running a hand over his face. "I realise that, Greg."
Greg knew that if anyone was moreso a man of few words than he himself was, it would be Theo. He had always been one of the quiet Slytherins, always watching and weighing every situation carefully before doing anything or saying anything. He also knew that Theo, having been raised mostly by an older, cold man with a miserable outlook on life had an adverse effect on his friend. "You'll be fine you know. If Draco and I can manage than anyone can."
Much to Greg's surprise, Theo actually laughed. "With Ginny and Tracey fully prepared to hex at the slightest misstep, you've both been trained up properly."
Normally, such an accusation would be met with vehement denials, if only for the sake of his pride. But, it was the truth, a truth that right now Theo needed in order to come to terms with his impending fatherhood. Greg just shrugged and said, "And Pansy will do the same for you. Just wait until you're about six months in and she's craving odd and sometimes disgusting food at midnight. You'll find yourself Apparating to the nearest all night shop for something or the other."
Theo chuckled, looking a bit more settled with the situation. "I do remember Draco going to France for those chocolates, what were they?"
"From La Boutique Michel Cluizel," Greg offered ruefully, "Ginny had a fondness for the Single Plantation chocolates."
Theo turned, tipping his head to the side and Greg damn well knew he wasn't admiring the view. He was silent for a long time and Greg waited him out. "We did the correct thing, didn't we?"
"What?" Greg exclaimed, confounded at the unexpected question.
"Not the 'riding the world of Potter and regaining Pureblood control'," Theo replied, still refusing to look at Greg. "That was the only acceptable course of action. What I meant was, did we move quickly enough or did we allow Potter to reign for too long."
It was a question that Greg had asked himself often enough after seeing the affects Azkaban - even sans Dementors- had on his friends, his family. Even though he knew it was ridiculous, he couldn't help but feel that if he'd not been lost in his own misery so long that more could have been done, before his friends had been imprisoned. Maeve had reassured him that they had acted as soon as they could, but he still was weighed down by the guilt. "I've had it reiterated dozens of times that we couldn't have done anything."
When Theo turned back to face him, his expression was hard and cold, the picture of the utmost determination. "Then we'll just have to raise our children, the true Generation of Hope, so that they won't face what we did. They'll rule the Wizarding World uncontested. No upstarts like Potter will be allowed to gain even a foothold. We must redouble our efforts. I'll not have my son or daughter experience one moment of discomfort, of war."
Greg's brows rose. He wasn't sure quite what Theo thought that they could be doing that they weren't or hadn't already done. The Ministry, Wizengamot, and economy were in their control. The International Confederation of Wizards was full of fellow Purebloods willing to assist their efforts (and in return gain Britain's help in returning Pureblood superiority in their own home countries). The Muggle governments nearly begged for an audience with Pansy. They ran the bloody primary school and Hogwarts. They controlled the media, as Blaise's wedding present to Luna had been The Daily Prophet. What more could Theo want?
"We reinstate the Wizards' Council."
"Without all the infighting and incompetence, I hope," Greg quipped, his mind already working through the possibilities. It was a good idea, one that had been tentatively brought up and that would give them another source of power. The question had always been how to run both the Council and the Ministry- which had only been formed to replace the old Council. Well that and how they would fill the Council since it could only be attended by the eldest of each of the founding families, of which many were no longer in existence.
Theo pulled a small book from his trouser pocket and tossed it to Greg. "All my ideas are in there. The Council can only be made up of the oldest bloodlines as you well know, but there is a provision for establishing other families if there is reason enough to replace dead or disgraced lines."
Greg flipped through the book, scanning the vast amount of notes penned in Theo's neat hand. He had no objections. "I suppose you'd like my backing for your bid for Chieftainship?"
He didn't wait for Theo's response before he added, "You've got it."
Greg knew that with this final piece of the puzzle in place, their victory and continued reign was secure.
Author: airmidm
Rating: R
Characters: Greg Goyle/Tracey Davis
A/N: Full header is on Ch.1. Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3
***--Chapter Four--****
June 2000
Stone Walk, Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland
Looking out over the cliffs surrounding his ancestral home, Greg wondered- and not for the first time - if he'd known then what he knew now, would he have changed anything? Would he have spent so long lost in the drugs and alcohol, attempting to drown and/or silence his own pain? Would he have come back when he did? Was everything worth the fight they fought after his return? Had it been enough? Did Maeve regret all that she'd been put through when she'd refused to go into hiding- to be safe- while he and Blaise took care of their problems?
Yes? No? Maybe? He just didn't know.
Lost in thought, he didn't hear her approach.
"Val?"
He turned, smiling when he saw Maeve holding a very sleepy Aoife in her arms. At nearly two, their daughter was a constant source of joy for he and Maeve, even when she and Aries (Draco and Ginny's son) managed to find trouble and raise hell. He reached out and took her, settling her against his chest. "Is Da's girl sleepy?"
She nodded, her tiny little curls bouncing as she stuck her thumb in her mouth.
Tracey chuckled. "She was a mite upset that Gin and Aries had to leave. Draco and Padma owled from Germany, they'll be back this evening. Gin wanted to get home and let Narcissa know."
Greg nodded, idly patting Aoife's back. "We've making good progress, haven't we?"
She nodded, leaning into his side and wrapping an arm about his waist. "We definitely have."
They both turned to look over the grounds, thinking over all that had happened in a relatively short time.
Potter had unexpectedly lost his life a year ago, though Greg had to give Padma and Kingsley credit for their ability to explain just how it was unexpected to be blown to bits by wards the idiot never should have gone near in the first place. If said wards had been tweaked by himself, Blaise, Callista, Bill Weasley, and George Weasley, that was mere happenstance. At least the way they saw it anyway. Had Potter not tried to break Stone Walk's wards after being warned against such actions than he got what he deserved and nothing more. In fact, officially, Greg and Astrid hadn't even been in the country during Potter's Folly, as it was widely known.
As a result, the Ministry had been left without a leader and thanks to the extensive group of Purebloods and sympathisers, Kingsley had been installed as Minister of Magic while Padma took over the Department of Mysteries. Shortly thereafter, most of the Purebloods that Potter had imprisoned were released, once the news was leaked that Potter and his sidekicks had falsified documents, bribed and/or threatened Wizangamot members and Ministry officials. Greg credited Luna for that, since she had taken over for her father and made The Quibbler into a genuine news source (though she refused to leave out the wild stories that it had always been known for). But, Luna hadn't been content with that, going further (and utilizing the Weasley family gossip and files that Padma may have left unattended) to mount a smear campaign against Granger and Ronald Weasley that would have impressed even Rita Skeeter.
"Why don't we get our tired girl tucked into bed?" Tracey suggested.
Greg shook his head a bit to clear his mind and grinned. "That depends on whether Mummy and Da get to have a nap as well."
She laughed. "Angling for a baby brother for the princess then? Worried that Gin and Draco will get too far ahead of us?"
Greg huffed, enjoying the laughter his actions garnered - from both of his girls. "As if we could compete with the Weasley fertility, how many new Weasley's are there now?"
Tracey laughed even harder, unable to answer.
"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt."
Laughing lightly, Greg smiled at Pansy over Tracey's head. She was looking quite reluctant to step out onto the balcony. "You aren't, Pans. Come on out here with us. Is everything okay?"
Pansy joined them, plucking Aoife from him and bussing her cheeks, much to the little girl's delight. "Everything is fine. I just thought I'd stop by, catch you two up on my Liason efforts and of course play with my very favourite girl."
Shaking his head, Greg studied one of his oldest friends as she cradled his daughter. The Pansy that had exited Azkaban was a far cry from the Pansy that had entered, though Greg had to admit the 'new' Pansy was just as ruthless as she'd been before. Now, though, there was a vulnerability that hadn't been there before. That vulnerability was utilized in her efforts as the official British Ministry Liason position she'd requested from Percy (the new Head of the Muggle Relations Department) and Kingsley. She visited not only the British Prime Minister, but other Muggle Head's of State and had instigated many new laws, treaties, and programs. It was because of her that there was now a unified primary school system for all children whom showed an aptitude for magic. It was their hope that by integrating the children at a younger age, that there wouldn't be any more 'civil wars'. Aoife, Aries, and the rest of the brood of children that had been born of their group truly were the 'Generation of Hope'. It would be them that lead by example, showing that Purebloods weren't evil even if they did run the Wizarding World - as it had always meant to be.
Pansy blurted, "I'm pregnant," startling, if her expression was any indication, even herself with the declaration.
Tracey very nearly squealed. It was a reaction that Greg had grown used to as of late, one only heard from one of the women (and if they were all together, the whole lot of them) when a new pregnancy was announced. He had decided that it was something inherently female, something they learned at a young age. It was so unlike Tracey to react so loudly to anything (well outside of the bedroom anyway) and he couldn't help but smile - even as he backed away slowly, knowing it was wise to retreat now or else be subjected to talk of breastfeeding and other horrifying subjects.
"Congratulations, I'll have to track down that husband of yours and congratulate him as well," he said, nearly to the door. "In fact, I think I'll do that now. Where is Theo?"
Pansy and Tracey were grinning wickedly.
"He's inside, with the liquor," Pansy said teasingly. "He's a bit shocked currently. Go, run away, Greg. Leave the baby talk and such to us."
He was Slytherin enough to take the offer of escape, though he did hold his arms out for his daughter. "I'll take Aoife, Maeve. We'll give Theo a practical parenting lesson."
Pansy passed her over, sighing. "Good luck with that. I think he's still convinced that I'm joking."
Greg winced, making a mental note to tuck Aoife in before knocking some sense into Theo. It was obvious that his lack of euphoria hurt Pansy's feelings. He kissed Pansy's cheek. "I'll knock sense into him for you, Pet. If I can't then I'll Floo B, George, and the rest. You two get comfortable, put your feet up, and chat. I'll send Luthien out with tea."
Tracey put her arm around Pansy, shooting him a grateful look over her shoulder. Greg blew her a kiss and left her to comfort Pansy, something he was horrid at. He looked down at his curly-haired, green eyed baby girl. "What do you say, A leanbh na páirte, should we go knock some sense into your Uncail Theo?"
Aoife laid her head on his shoulder and yawned. "Sleepy."
Amused, he made his way towards the gentleman's lounge, rubbing her back and knowing that she would likely be sound asleep before they got there. Still, it was on the way to her rooms so it wouldn't hurt to get Theo's sorry arse up and away from the alcohol.
He pushed the door to the lounge open with his foot and then rolled his eyes. Theo was sprawled in one of the chairs, his feet up on the table and had a whisky bottle in hand. He whispered, in deference to his sleepy daughter, "Put that down and get moving, Theo."
Aoife lifted her head just enough to say, "Uncail, me sleepy."
"Leanbán," Greg murmured soothingly. "Let's get you to bed." He glared at Theo. "Move it, Nott."
Theo's brows shot up and he set the bottle down as he stood. "I'm moving, I'm moving."
Greg didn't say a word to Theo as they walked through the house, or when they tucked Aoife into bed and left her in the care of Moire McManus, or even when they walked outside and into the gardens. He didn't quite know what to say that wouldn't irritate Theo. He wasn't stupid enough to think that all of his friends were fully prepared to be a parent, some more cautious than others. Hell, if he hadn't been secure in the thought that Maeve would be there to boot him in the arse if he mucked up, he'd have been just as wary as Theo was. But where to start?
"Theo," he finally said, once they'd walked a good distance from the house, outside the walls. "Pansy isn't joking around."
Theo sighed, running a hand over his face. "I realise that, Greg."
Greg knew that if anyone was moreso a man of few words than he himself was, it would be Theo. He had always been one of the quiet Slytherins, always watching and weighing every situation carefully before doing anything or saying anything. He also knew that Theo, having been raised mostly by an older, cold man with a miserable outlook on life had an adverse effect on his friend. "You'll be fine you know. If Draco and I can manage than anyone can."
Much to Greg's surprise, Theo actually laughed. "With Ginny and Tracey fully prepared to hex at the slightest misstep, you've both been trained up properly."
Normally, such an accusation would be met with vehement denials, if only for the sake of his pride. But, it was the truth, a truth that right now Theo needed in order to come to terms with his impending fatherhood. Greg just shrugged and said, "And Pansy will do the same for you. Just wait until you're about six months in and she's craving odd and sometimes disgusting food at midnight. You'll find yourself Apparating to the nearest all night shop for something or the other."
Theo chuckled, looking a bit more settled with the situation. "I do remember Draco going to France for those chocolates, what were they?"
"From La Boutique Michel Cluizel," Greg offered ruefully, "Ginny had a fondness for the Single Plantation chocolates."
Theo turned, tipping his head to the side and Greg damn well knew he wasn't admiring the view. He was silent for a long time and Greg waited him out. "We did the correct thing, didn't we?"
"What?" Greg exclaimed, confounded at the unexpected question.
"Not the 'riding the world of Potter and regaining Pureblood control'," Theo replied, still refusing to look at Greg. "That was the only acceptable course of action. What I meant was, did we move quickly enough or did we allow Potter to reign for too long."
It was a question that Greg had asked himself often enough after seeing the affects Azkaban - even sans Dementors- had on his friends, his family. Even though he knew it was ridiculous, he couldn't help but feel that if he'd not been lost in his own misery so long that more could have been done, before his friends had been imprisoned. Maeve had reassured him that they had acted as soon as they could, but he still was weighed down by the guilt. "I've had it reiterated dozens of times that we couldn't have done anything."
When Theo turned back to face him, his expression was hard and cold, the picture of the utmost determination. "Then we'll just have to raise our children, the true Generation of Hope, so that they won't face what we did. They'll rule the Wizarding World uncontested. No upstarts like Potter will be allowed to gain even a foothold. We must redouble our efforts. I'll not have my son or daughter experience one moment of discomfort, of war."
Greg's brows rose. He wasn't sure quite what Theo thought that they could be doing that they weren't or hadn't already done. The Ministry, Wizengamot, and economy were in their control. The International Confederation of Wizards was full of fellow Purebloods willing to assist their efforts (and in return gain Britain's help in returning Pureblood superiority in their own home countries). The Muggle governments nearly begged for an audience with Pansy. They ran the bloody primary school and Hogwarts. They controlled the media, as Blaise's wedding present to Luna had been The Daily Prophet. What more could Theo want?
"We reinstate the Wizards' Council."
"Without all the infighting and incompetence, I hope," Greg quipped, his mind already working through the possibilities. It was a good idea, one that had been tentatively brought up and that would give them another source of power. The question had always been how to run both the Council and the Ministry- which had only been formed to replace the old Council. Well that and how they would fill the Council since it could only be attended by the eldest of each of the founding families, of which many were no longer in existence.
Theo pulled a small book from his trouser pocket and tossed it to Greg. "All my ideas are in there. The Council can only be made up of the oldest bloodlines as you well know, but there is a provision for establishing other families if there is reason enough to replace dead or disgraced lines."
Greg flipped through the book, scanning the vast amount of notes penned in Theo's neat hand. He had no objections. "I suppose you'd like my backing for your bid for Chieftainship?"
He didn't wait for Theo's response before he added, "You've got it."
Greg knew that with this final piece of the puzzle in place, their victory and continued reign was secure.