Securing The Future
Title: Securing The Future
Character(s): Draco Malfoy & Ginny Weasley
Prompt: persuasion
Word Count: approx. 800
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Notes: Written for the weekly drabble challenge at the FIA Forums.
It was Terry Boot who approached her, wearing his sensible Ravenclaw tie. He beckoned to her in the corridor, and she stopped and cocked her head, wondering why he had any reason to talk to her.
“You’re a pureblood,” he noted, and she nodded.
“Are you open-minded?” he asked, and she nodded to that, too.
“Well, then. Tonight, in the Arithmancy classroom, at nine o’clock, there is a meeting for those who wish to preserve our kind. We’re recruiting, you might say, and someone mentioned your name. If you’re willing to attend with an open mind, and not judge us, we would like to see you there.”
Ginny blinked.
“Who brought up my name?” she questioned, eyeing him carefully. “And who’s ‘we’?” She would never have suspected that behind his reasonable and rational exterior Terry Boot was a supporter of the pureblood cause.
“There’s more of us than you think,” was all he said, and then he nodded curtly at her and went to Charms.
The room was full of students who Ginny would never have suspected might be intrigued by pureblood extremism: Ernie Macmillan and the Patil twins, Vicky Frobisher and Eddie Carmichael.
When everyone was seated Draco Malfoy took the stand. His tie was loosened, his hair falling in his eyes; he sat perched on the desk haphazardly, nodding at the newcomers. “Welcome,” he said, and then he began.
He was a fascinating speaker, with his drawl and casual air. He drew you in with his informal demeanor, but his words were sharp and caustic. He drew diagrams, spouted numbers, but never grew overemotional. He shrugged when he mentioned the horrors that might result from Muggle intermingling, as though they meant nothing at all-the dilution of magical blood, the dissolution of traditions, what might befall the Ministry. He lectured on how halfbloods marrying Muggles would debilitate society; he explained gently that Muggle-borns might seem as though they belonged, but that once they left school it would become apparent who was rightfully a wizard and who was not.
“Trust me,” he said. “I know.”
Some stayed afterwards to sign up and receive information on future meetings; others left, shaking their heads in disgust. Ginny stayed seated, ruminating.
It sounded wrong, but she couldn’t help but see his point. What if one day Muggle-borns ran the Ministry? How could a government who knew nothing of being magical run things? It would never work!
Also, if the current half-blood population married other half-bloods, the magical genes would strengthen. The magical population would rise. In a few centuries, today’s half-blood families would be on their way to pureblood status. It was a brilliant idea.
And there was more! The meeting had gone on for nearly two hours of clear-minded, levelheaded discussion-and it had all made sense.
She sat there for over an hour, thinking things through. Every argument Malfoy had made was easily countered by one of Harry’s, but, then, the same was true vice versa--Harry's arguments were easily met by Malfoy's.
It seemed it was more a question of choice. Would she believe Harry’s theories or Malfoy’s? Who seemed more right?
“Hey. Weasley.”
She looked up, and saw Malfoy smiling at her-more of a smirk, really, but the agreeable kind; he wasn’t looking to intimidate her.
“Ready to go?” he asked, and she looked around and saw the room was empty but for the two of them.
She stood and nodded, apologizing for having stayed so late.
They walked in companionable silence down the corridor. Malfoy watched as Ginny continued to ponder. She had her lips pursed and her forehead furrowed in thought; she was endearing, he thought, in a redheaded, freckled sort of way.
When they reached the point where they would part, they paused.
“Think it over, will you,” he suggested, shrugging. “Your friends might make us out as mad, but we’re only trying to secure the future, you know.”
“I know,” she said, and she smiled weakly at him and waved as she turned down the hall on the right.
She was nearly around the next corner when he called her name; she stopped and saw he hadn’t moved from where she’d left him.
“Even if you don’t come back for the next meeting,” he began, his voice echoing in the empty, moonlit corridors, “would you like to get together sometime?”
“Are you asking me on a date, Malfoy?” she asked, taken aback.
“And if I am?” he retorted.
“Well…that’d be okay, I suppose.” She ducked her head and grinned.
“Fantastic. Next Sunday, at two. Dress nicely,” he replied with satisfaction, and just before he disappeared she caught a glimpse of his devil-may-care smile.
Walking slowly away, she felt her cheeks burn in pleasure. She and Malfoy-that was a smart move. Securing the future, that’s what she was doing.
In a strangely pleasurable way.
Character(s): Draco Malfoy & Ginny Weasley
Prompt: persuasion
Word Count: approx. 800
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Notes: Written for the weekly drabble challenge at the FIA Forums.
It was Terry Boot who approached her, wearing his sensible Ravenclaw tie. He beckoned to her in the corridor, and she stopped and cocked her head, wondering why he had any reason to talk to her.
“You’re a pureblood,” he noted, and she nodded.
“Are you open-minded?” he asked, and she nodded to that, too.
“Well, then. Tonight, in the Arithmancy classroom, at nine o’clock, there is a meeting for those who wish to preserve our kind. We’re recruiting, you might say, and someone mentioned your name. If you’re willing to attend with an open mind, and not judge us, we would like to see you there.”
Ginny blinked.
“Who brought up my name?” she questioned, eyeing him carefully. “And who’s ‘we’?” She would never have suspected that behind his reasonable and rational exterior Terry Boot was a supporter of the pureblood cause.
“There’s more of us than you think,” was all he said, and then he nodded curtly at her and went to Charms.
The room was full of students who Ginny would never have suspected might be intrigued by pureblood extremism: Ernie Macmillan and the Patil twins, Vicky Frobisher and Eddie Carmichael.
When everyone was seated Draco Malfoy took the stand. His tie was loosened, his hair falling in his eyes; he sat perched on the desk haphazardly, nodding at the newcomers. “Welcome,” he said, and then he began.
He was a fascinating speaker, with his drawl and casual air. He drew you in with his informal demeanor, but his words were sharp and caustic. He drew diagrams, spouted numbers, but never grew overemotional. He shrugged when he mentioned the horrors that might result from Muggle intermingling, as though they meant nothing at all-the dilution of magical blood, the dissolution of traditions, what might befall the Ministry. He lectured on how halfbloods marrying Muggles would debilitate society; he explained gently that Muggle-borns might seem as though they belonged, but that once they left school it would become apparent who was rightfully a wizard and who was not.
“Trust me,” he said. “I know.”
Some stayed afterwards to sign up and receive information on future meetings; others left, shaking their heads in disgust. Ginny stayed seated, ruminating.
It sounded wrong, but she couldn’t help but see his point. What if one day Muggle-borns ran the Ministry? How could a government who knew nothing of being magical run things? It would never work!
Also, if the current half-blood population married other half-bloods, the magical genes would strengthen. The magical population would rise. In a few centuries, today’s half-blood families would be on their way to pureblood status. It was a brilliant idea.
And there was more! The meeting had gone on for nearly two hours of clear-minded, levelheaded discussion-and it had all made sense.
She sat there for over an hour, thinking things through. Every argument Malfoy had made was easily countered by one of Harry’s, but, then, the same was true vice versa--Harry's arguments were easily met by Malfoy's.
It seemed it was more a question of choice. Would she believe Harry’s theories or Malfoy’s? Who seemed more right?
“Hey. Weasley.”
She looked up, and saw Malfoy smiling at her-more of a smirk, really, but the agreeable kind; he wasn’t looking to intimidate her.
“Ready to go?” he asked, and she looked around and saw the room was empty but for the two of them.
She stood and nodded, apologizing for having stayed so late.
They walked in companionable silence down the corridor. Malfoy watched as Ginny continued to ponder. She had her lips pursed and her forehead furrowed in thought; she was endearing, he thought, in a redheaded, freckled sort of way.
When they reached the point where they would part, they paused.
“Think it over, will you,” he suggested, shrugging. “Your friends might make us out as mad, but we’re only trying to secure the future, you know.”
“I know,” she said, and she smiled weakly at him and waved as she turned down the hall on the right.
She was nearly around the next corner when he called her name; she stopped and saw he hadn’t moved from where she’d left him.
“Even if you don’t come back for the next meeting,” he began, his voice echoing in the empty, moonlit corridors, “would you like to get together sometime?”
“Are you asking me on a date, Malfoy?” she asked, taken aback.
“And if I am?” he retorted.
“Well…that’d be okay, I suppose.” She ducked her head and grinned.
“Fantastic. Next Sunday, at two. Dress nicely,” he replied with satisfaction, and just before he disappeared she caught a glimpse of his devil-may-care smile.
Walking slowly away, she felt her cheeks burn in pleasure. She and Malfoy-that was a smart move. Securing the future, that’s what she was doing.
In a strangely pleasurable way.