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[Harry Potter] Malfoid Stories

Harry: are you going to behave now?

Lyra: if I say yes would you spank me again?

Harry: nope

Lyra: then no! How dare you?!

Harry: someone wants another lesson?

Lyra: maybe
This is why it's important to determine what counts as reward and what as punishment. You don't want to be giving rewards for bad behavior.
 
So, I've been seeing floating around stuff with Malfoid doing a Roshidere/Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian thing, where she admits her feelings in Parseltongue, not knowing Harry is a Parselmouth. As amusing as it is, it has two serious problems, the first being that Malfoy isn't a Parselmouth, and the second being that it is publicly known that Harry is.

However, I would posit that a sufficient divergence during the events of Chamber of Secrets could resolve both these issues. For the latter point, what made Harry's status as a Parselmouth public knowledge is Malfoy casting Serpentsortia during their Dueling Club duel. It wouldn't be farfetched at all to have Malfoid... not cast that spell. Her not being a Parselmouth is somewhat trickier, but can be resolved by having her get her hands on Riddle's diary and almost possessed by him. As I have noted previously, this would be a good catalyst to begin Lucius's character arc, and it seems plausible for the Parselmouth ability to transfer from Riddle to her if she is almost possessed.

Thoughts?
 
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Malfoid: Flirt 21 New
In the library, Hermione was bent over her notes after classes, quill moving in quick, precise strokes, one foot tapping under the table in a steady rhythm. Ron appeared at the end of the aisle, hesitated, then drifted closer. She rolled her eyes without looking up.

"No Daphne?"

"She's got a club meeting." He shifted his weight. "Can… can I sit with you?"

She sighed through her nose. "Yes."

He sat, scooted the chair in, then scooted it back a fraction as if he had changed his mind about the distance. "…So. Still mad—?"

"Not mad."

"Right. Stupid question." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… um. Charms homework? We did work on the Point Me charm. That might be useful for Harry?"

She tapped her quill once against the parchment. "…Sure. Let's learn it and teach it to him."

Ron's shoulders dropped. "Yeah, yeah! Then we can teach Harry, and Lyra, and Daph—"

Her head came up. The scowl was immediate. He coughed into his fist.

"Ah. I mean, yeah."

Pansy dropped into the chair across from them with a soft thump, looking exhausted. She pushed her hair back with one hand. "Geez. Granger? Give me your notes for Charms."

"What?! Why should I?!"

"Because I've been running the rumor mill all day trying to make it so that Potter doesn't look like he entered himself into the Triwizard for glory, so you owe me. I mean, people think you could fool the bloody thing. You."

Hermione's foot stopped tapping. "Why couldn't I fool it?!"

"Compare yourself to Dumbledore and ask that."

Ron leaned in, elbows on the table. "Hermione, please? Just hand them over? I'll—I'll do your chores!"

"I don't have any chores you can do."

"Damn. Always works back home with Ginny…"

Her glare sharpened. He winced and pressed his palms together, half-prayer, half-plea.

"I'll get Os in Charms. Promise. I'll follow your study plan and not complain. Really."

She held the look a moment longer, then sighed and slid the notes across. Pansy took them with a muttered "Thanks" and began copying at speed, the tip of her tongue just visible between her teeth as she waved her wand over the parchment. Hermione stared in shock.

"What charm is that?" Hermione asked.

"The Copy and Paste. My father does a lot of accounting. Saves loads of time." Pansy hesitated, wand paused, then added, "I can teach you it in return and we'll be square?"

Hermione's mouth twitched. "…Pansy? I take back most of the bad things I've ever said about you."

"What things?"

"Exactly. Teach me the spell and I take almost all of it back."

Pansy shook her head and wrote the instructions on a spare scrap of parchment. She handed it over. Hermione's grin was immediate and slightly alarming.

"Eesh," Pansy muttered, leaning back. "That's a scary look on her face."

"Not the scariest," Ron said under his breath.

"But in any event… hopefully Potter and Lyra won't have to go through a lot of bollocks. Well, any more than necessary." Pansy groaned and slumped lower in the chair. "I don't even know why I'm doing it. She's so… ugh."

"What do you mean?" Hermione leaned in, interested despite herself.

"I mean, she's your friend," Ron said. "Aren't you happy she's happy?"

"She's so obnoxiously happy. Singing to herself, and writing 'Mrs Lyra Potter' in her books."

"Ugh." Hermione made a face. "I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad Harry is happy, but that smile of his when he thinks no one is looking? It's… weird. And he barely broods anymore, even with all this. He barks orders and acts commanding."

"I mean, you're supposed to be the bossy, nagging one."

"Exactly. That's my whole thing."

Ron looked between them, then rubbed the back of his neck again. "…Did… did you two just become friends?"

Both of them went red.

"No!" Hermione said, too quickly.

"G-go snog Daphne for a while, Weasley!" Pansy snapped, ears pink.

"Eesh. Sorry I asked," Ron muttered.

Ron gathered the notes—Hermione had mastered the Copy and Paste charm with insulting ease—and headed for the library doors, stewing as he went. He did like Hermione. But Daphne… Daphne he deeply cared for. She was fun. She was caring. Conversations with her did not automatically turn into arguments.

And yet he did kind of like the arguments with Hermione. Ugh. He couldn't love two girls. He wasn't his ancestor Charlus Weasley with three wives. One already sounded exhausting.

He turned a corner and bumped into someone solid.

"Oh, sorry—"

"No, my fault—"

Ron looked up. Viktor Krum looked back.

"Y-you're Viktor Krum!"

Krum's smile was small. "Yes. You are… Harry Potter's friend?"

"Y-yeah! Yeah, heh, small, small world!"

The laugh came out awkward and strange. Krum's smile stayed polite in the way of someone who had met a great many desperate fans. Ron was not desperate. He only had one Krum action figure, thank you very much. Seamus had the full Team Ireland set and they just argued and fought and planted firecrackers all over for some reason.

"Erm… I am… how you say… not so good with English. The librarian is out. Would you help me find some… books?"

"I…" Ron paused. He glanced back toward the table where Hermione and Pansy were already arguing again. If he had been using the Lightbulb Thought Charm, one would have appeared over his head glowing like the sun.

"I can help… but Hermione over there is a lot better. She's also Harry's friend. Come on!"

He guided the bemused Quidditch star back to the table. Pansy's jaw dropped. Hermione looked up with mild surprise.

"Hey, Hermione. Krum—"

"Viktor, please."

Ron held in a fanboy squeal by force of will.

"Viktor here needs some help finding books. His English isn't the best, not that we hold that against him! Think you could help him out? You're the cleverest witch around, after all!"

It was bare-faced buttering her up. She might not appreciate it nearly as much as he hoped-He was the Quidditch fanatic and she barely tolerated the sport. But Ron knew Hermione: she had all the instincts of a librarian and a teacher combined. And a need to help while also showing off.

She smiled politely.

"I would be happy to!"

"Ah, good." Viktor sat. "I was concerned. You are friends of Harry's and he is competitor—"

"He didn't even want to be in the Tournament, really!" Ron continued, "He's gonna do his best but he's all fair and square! Just like the rest of us, Hermione especially!"

Viktor sat beside Hermione. Ron took the other side. He smiled.

"So… what do you say? Help us out?"

Hermione was trying not to smile. It was a better look on her than anger, any day.

"Well, in the interest of international relations, I would be more than happy to."

Pansy sighed. "Always have to make it so pretentious."

"I'm being polite, Pansy. Try it yourself, you might like it."

"Me?!"

They were arguing again within seconds. Viktor turned to Ron, questioning.

"They… friends?"

"Yeah, but they'd never admit it."

"Ah. Means they are real friends when they are girls."

"Oh, your country too, huh?"

---

Fawkes preened himself on his perch in the Headmaster's office, unbothered. His master Dumbledore paced in stark contrast nearby, his every wrinkle tense in worry and concentration. Moody stood near the desk, leaning on his cane, expression grave. But then, it almost always was.

"Not a trace of who used the magic to Confound the Goblet," Dumbledore said. "The wards don't record any disturbances. Even the extra protections we added did nothing."

Moody grunted. "Hell of a problem, Albus."

"Indeed. Any theories?"

Moody rested both hands on the cane and considered. "A few. An Imperio'd house-elf is keyed into the wards. Could get through, put the name in. The Confounding would require an actual spellcaster, already tied in."

"That's all the teachers."

"Aye. I've questioned everyone. None says they were near the Goblet at the time. All have alibis backed up by eyewitness testimony."

"So… Someone else, or someone is lying," Dumbledore considered.

"Snape?" Moody growled the name. Dumbledore shook his head.

"I know Severus. He wouldn't do this."

"His past—"

"Is his past, Alastor. But I know him. And so do you."

"Hrmph. I trust you, Albus… to a point. But if he was able to fool You-Know-Who… who's to say he couldn't fool you, too?"

Dumbledore paused. He let out a long sigh.

"This is something I have considered, Alastor. But unless there's any actual proof?"

Moody grumbled. "Not yet. But a former Death Eater is always the prime suspect, Albus. You can't expect me not to be thorough. I also investigated Karkaroff."

"Appreciated. But Karkaroff has tried to rebuild his life and disown the Dark Lord entirely. We also know his whereabouts. Ruling him and Severus out…"

"Then someone else keyed themselves into the wards. Or someone isn't who they say they are."

"…Polyjuice?"

"Possible." Moody sipped from his flask. "It would be complicated to maintain the supply, though. The ingredients aren't cheap. But it would also require a wizard or witch who could successfully fool everyone, and the wards of the castle. That's a very, very short list. And the ones who could do it are either dead, 'former' Death Eaters," he said that with a sneer, "or in Azkaban."

"I trust you checked that out?"

"You know me, Albus. The warden's a friend of mine. They checked everyone for Polyjuice, glamours, even Animagi—three times. They found nothing."

Dumbledore frowned. "Imperio?"

"Also possible. But the eyewitness statements would contradict that as well." Moody hummed. "There's also motive to consider."

"Yes. The most obvious is to try and kill Harry during the Tournament."

"Which is what I'm operating under."

"However…" Dumbledore's frown deepened. "It doesn't seem like Tom's modus operandi. Harry defeated him, broke his entire power base, reduced him to less than a ghost. If anything, he would want to personally inflict harm on Harry. Take his revenge." He sat in his chair and sighed. "Ego is a chief driver of everything he does."

"True. But he might not be able to do much more than arrange pieces on the board. As you said, he's reduced to next to nothing. No allies who would come directly to his aid… but one."

Dumbledore's expression turned grim. "Pettigrew."

"He hid as a rat for thirteen years. He knows secrets about Hogwarts nobody else does. And he has nowhere else to go but back to his master. If he was that good… it's possible he got in and did this on behalf of Riddle."

"Still… arranging the pieces on the board rather than directly…"

Moody shrugged. "He'd still be showcasing his power, the ability to get at Potter even when so weakened. And you can be sure he would have his agent or agents arrange things."

"Agents?"

"If we're crossing off Snape and Karkaroff, there's also Malfoy. He's been in and out, and he was behind the chamber incident. With his connections in the Ministry, there's a lot he could do to ensure Potter dies in the Tournament." Moody's frown deepened. "Even use his daughter."

Dumbledore was silent and thoughtful for a moment before he answered.

"…Lucius is many things. But I saw the man after it was discovered it was a basilisk. He was horrified at it, at the thought of losing his daughter. And the romance between Harry and Lyra is… too organic for Lucius to have pushed it. The man's reactions to it were too natural, too true to be staged." Dumbledore hummed. "Lucius will do things to gain Tom's favor, we know this. But he would not risk harm to his daughter."

"Hrmph. Maybe he's better at concealing things than you know."

"…Also possible. But until we have more evidence, we're still stuck with job one."

Moody nodded. "Keeping Potter safe. I'll handle it."

"I know you will, Alastor. That said… it is entirely possible Tom did curse the DADA position. So watch yourself as well."

Moody's grin was dark. "I always do."

He turned and headed out. The door shut behind him. Dumbledore remained at the window, studying the stars, frowning deeply in thought.
 
Malfoid: Flirt 22 New
In the Slytherin common room the fire burned low and the lake pressed dark against the high windows. Homework was spread across the low table. Around them the usual evening noise continued—low conversations, the occasional scrape of a chair, someone laughing near the far hearth.

"Ugh." Pansy slumped back. "You owe me so much for this day and the next several days. Probably the entire term."

"You have done well, Pansy. But hopefully Skeeter's article will help smooth things over a bit."

"Did you have to threaten her with death this time?" Tracey asked.

"Mmm. No. You need to build up to these things or the threats lose their effectiveness."

"I dunno. Every time you threaten me you're still dead scary."

"Well, I usually keep it silent. That can be quite effective, just the implication."

Tracey muttered to Daphne, "And her 'I'm going to hex you to pieces' look."

Daphne nodded.

"What was that?" Lyra asked.

"Oh, nothing!" Tracey said cheerfully.

Lyra turned. "Are you all right, Daphne?"

"Ron has not pledged his undying love for me. Am I perhaps doing something wrong?"

"You just started dating," Millicent said. "Seriously, slow down."

"True, but there's also Granger. He seems torn between us." Daphne rubbed her chin. "I could have her eliminated… but he would be unhappy. And honestly, I do rather like her."

"Seriously?!" Pansy said.

"You like her?" Millicent asked.

"I measure myself by my foes and she is formidable. She has some kind of hold over his heart due to fighting for their lives and the school on a number of occasions. That kind of bond is difficult to compete with. Hmmm." Daphne looked thoughtful. "In which case, perhaps I need to fight alongside Ron against mortal peril. That way we're at least on the same level."

Much staring followed. Tracey, who was used to this, simply went back to her homework.

"Your sense of humor gets more and more disturbing," Pansy said, deadpan.

"Who says I was joking?"

Millicent sighed, a bit enviously. "Still… having a boyfriend who had slain monsters or braved dangers… I envy you two."

Lyra's expression went smug, then softened. "I'm sure there's a formidable wizard for you, Millicent."

Pansy and Tracey stared. Millicent actually flushed.

"…You're not being sarcastic?" Pansy asked.

"Why would I? A true queen uplifts her handmaidens, does she not? So we can destroy all who oppose us. And it's true. Daphne and I have found… exceptional wizards, only the best. Well, the best and Weasley, I suppose."

"I see them as equally important," Daphne said. "Hero and loyal lancer. Arthur needed Merlin. Slytherin needed Gryffindor."

Lyra sighed. "I bow to your superior wisdom in this case, Daphne. And… let's be honest. Slytherin hasn't exactly been impressing with the wizards in our year."

Theodore Nott approached with Pike and Bletchley. The low murmur of the common room thinned as people noticed. Lyra sighed.

"Case in point…"

Theodore stepped in front of her and leaned in, one hand braced on the top of her chair. The remaining conversation nearby stopped.

"Seriously, Lyra, haven't you played with Potter's heart long enough?"

She regarded him, unimpressed. "You keep holding to this delusion that you somehow have a claim to me?"

"Our fathers allied our houses. My father said that that means we'll be married one day."

"Then you're as foolish as your father. I've made my choice."

He snorted. "And what do you think will happen to your little boyfriend when the Dark Lord returns?"

Lyra was silent. The room had gone properly quiet now.

Theodore smirked and looked around. "What do you think will happen to all of you traitors to your house, when he comes back? You'd think you'd start cozying up to the right people…" He reached out to try and touch Lyra's cheek. "Maybe I'll put in a good word for you if you—"

Millicent grabbed his wrist and twisted it hard. He yelped as he put him into a lock. Crabbe and Goyle came up from behind Pike and Bletchley, who went pale as the two larger wizards brandished their fists. Pansy, Tracey, and Daphne drew their wands. The silence held.

Millicent pulled Nott back a step. Lyra rose slowly, glaring death into his eyes. Her voice was low and deadly.

"If you even think of touching me again, Nott… I'll make sure you'll never be able to use your hands again. Is that understood?"

He grit his teeth. "You—gah!" Millicent twisted his arm behind his back. Pike and Bletchly thought about moving to help, saw Crabbe and Goyle scowl, and thought better of it.

Lyra narrowed her eyes to thin slits.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."

"…Y-yes!"

Lyra leaned down and held a hand to her ear. "Hm?"

"Y-yes! Yes, I understand!"

"Good." She nodded. Millicent let him go. He rubbed his wrist and slunk off. Crabbe and Goyle glared until Pike and Bletchley followed, only loosely, as though unsure of their allegiance.

Conversation began to return around them, cautious at first, then ordinary. Lyra turned to her physically strongest minions and nodded.

"…Thank you, Millicent, Crabbe, Goyle."

"…We'll always have your back, Lyra," Goyle said.

"I mean, we're never gonna follow that prat, are we?" Crabbe added.

Goyle shifted. "So, uh… Lyra? Think you could… help us with some girls too?"

"If… if you could?" Crabbe said.

Lyra smirked a bit.

"I shall consider it."

The two boys grinned. Millicent scoffed.

"What, you're already looking outside your House?"

"Well, maybe," Crabbe admitted.

"Why're you so upset, Millie?" Goyle asked. Millie flushed.

"I'm not!"

Pansy rolled her eyes.

"Look what you've done, Lyra, Daphne."

"Love is in the air," Daphne said sagely.

"So that's what that smell is!" Tracey laughed.

Lyra sat again and reached for her quill, but her gaze drifted as her friends and allies bickered. She looked out into the Black Lake, an endless dark abyss lit only by lantern fish and the distant magical lights of the merfolk.

She tried not to consider it, but it had been hanging in the back of her mind from the moment Harry had asked her out:

What would happen to her if the Dark Lord returned?

What would happen to her family?

What would happen to Harry?

She felt warm, happy that he had finally seen her as a woman, that he cared for her. But if the Dark Lord returned…

She shivered.

He might never come back. The thought was treasonous to everything she had been raised with. It filled her with hope. A dangerous hope.

And if he never came back, she and Harry…

But what if he did?

"Lyra?" Pansy asked. "You all right?"

"…I'm fine, Pansy. Just fine."

She lowered her eyes to the parchment in front of her and did not look at the lake again.

---

In the fourth-year Gryffindor boys' dorm, Harry was about to nod off to sleep when he heard a low vibration from his trunk. He reached through the curtains, rummaged, and found the mirror Sirius had given him. It buzzed against his palm. He nearly tapped it with his wand, then stopped.

He shook his head, pulled on the Invisibility Cloak and his slippers, and slipped out. Ron's snoring followed him until the door closed. He made his way down through the common room, out through the portrait portal, and into the empty classroom he had used before. Only after he had cast Colloportus and Silencio on the door did he tap the glass twice.

Sirius's face appeared.

"Hey, Harry. You secured the room?"

"Definitely."

"Heh. Moody's been rubbing off on you, huh? I was afraid you might answer immediately in your dorm."

Harry shrugged sheepishly.

"Heh, well, you know. Constant vigilance! So what happened?"

Sirius made a face. "Remus is dealing with a werewolf inspector. They come from the Ministry to make sure he's in a secure place for his transformations. It's pretty horrible, and having a convicted felon in his home isn't exactly going to help his case."

Harry frowned. "Is he in trouble?"

"Dumbledore's made them lay off a time or two. He'll be fine. I also had to hide his money. The 'werewolf inspectors' can get handsy."

"Geez… it's so horrible."

"Yeah. But Remus will be all right. Let's talk about you. The Tournament."

Harry winced and explained. Sirius listened, nodding now and then, asking a quiet question when something needed clarifying, and otherwise let him talk until he was finished.

"I know you'd never put yourself in on purpose. Not that you could, no offense."

"No, no, I get it," Harry sighed. Sirius grinned.

"Hey, don't worry. Moony and I are putting together a training program. Plenty of useful spells and tactics. You're gonna be just fine, no matter what they throw at you. How's the public reaction?"

Harry winced. Sirius made a sympathetic noise.

"That bad, huh?"

"A lot of students think I'm trying to steal Cedric's glory," Harry sighed, "Lyra's been running damage control. She even came with me when I did an interview with Rita Skeeter."

"Damn. How did that go?"

"Well, she made Rita write with one of her pens."

Sirius whistled. "Impressive. She knows how Rita operates. That's going to be a big help, Harry. Rita could make your life hell if she wasn't restrained."

"Yeah… yeah, Lyra's really…" Harry flushed. "She's… amazing."

"…And now you're feeling guilty over the prank."

"I… is it even a prank anymore?"

"Heh. Sometimes they work out in ways you never expect."

"I just… she drives me crazy, but she's… she actually might care about me."

"Well, that's women for you, Harry. That said… how do you feel about her back?"

Warmth filled Harry's chest. He flushed again. "Really… really good. I mean, most of the time."

"Well then. Never let her find out it was a prank, Harry."

"I… I mean, I feel guilty about it—"

"Try not to. Sometimes they work out perfectly. But if you're going to tell her? Only do it under one condition."

"What's that?"

"When you're married and have seven kids."

Harry choked. He went pale and bright red at the same time.

"You—surely you can't be serious!"

"I'm always Sirius. And don't call me Shirley."

Silence. Harry stared at his godfather.

"…How long have you waited to make that joke?"

Sirius grinned. "Far too long, Harry. Far, far too long."
 

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