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zelda_queen) wrote2010-07-29 11:30 am
Child of Grace: Chapter 21 - In The Forest Of The Night (Part 1)
Link: What the hell? You just left me locked in here for days on end!
ZeldaQueen: Well yeah, you would have run away otherwise. Oh, don't glare at me! I left you food, didn't I?
Link: Let's just get this over with.
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 21: In the Forest of the Night (Part 1)
ZeldaQueen: *sings* Evil will find her!
Holly and Blaise along with Draco, who insisted on going, thankfully all fit under her Invisibility Cloak.
Link: Well that was an awkward sentence
They would have taken Luna, too, but there wasn't enough room for four people.
ZeldaQueen: As implied by the fact that you just said there was just enough room for three
Not to mention the fact that she still slept in the Ravenclaw dorms, and they didn't want to increase their chances of getting caught by sneaking all the way there and then to Hagrid's hut.
Draco was not exactly thrilled with the idea of a visit as he and Hagrid had never really seen eye to eye, both literally and figuratively. It wasn't that they had quarrelled or anything of a similar nature.
ZeldaQueen: No, he only sneered at Hagrid and condescending called him a servant and referred to him as "a bit mad"
Come to think of it, Holly honestly couldn't remember if they ever talked to one another,
Link: So why wouldn't Malfoy like him?
but Hagrid disliked Draco's father greatly and was slightly wary of the son.
Link: Oh, never mind
ZeldaQueen: Of course. It's all on Hagrid's side. It's not like the Malfoys look down their noses at him and call him things like "that lumbering oaf" and do their damndest to get his pets killed and get him fired, for the pettiest reasons
Link: You're taking this pretty well
ZeldaQueen: I'm saving my outbursts for later in the chapter
Link: Ah, I see
As such, the blond had never ventured down with them before, not even when Holly and Blaise still went to have tea with the giant man, and the grey-eyed boy had always been a bit sceptical when the girl said it would be perfectly fine if he did. However, Draco was going now, despite his unease, and Holly appreciated the gesture.
ZeldaQueen: Because, of course, everyone caters to the Sue
Link: Okay, who wants to bet that we're going to be shown examples of Malfoy acting like a complete dick to Hagrid, throwing this whole "Draco doesn't hate Hagrid!" thing to pot?
The three knocked on her large friend's door just after nine that night.
ZeldaQueen: At the same time?
The man opened it with his crossbow in hand and Fang at his hip before realising who it was. He quickly led them inside, shutting and bolting the door. They whipped off the cloak, Hagrid starting when he saw Draco, who he obviously hadn't expected. However, he soon seemed to forget that the blond was even there. It was like his mind was in another place entirely.
ZeldaQueen: Well done, suethor. You took Rowling's lovely work, which showed us that Hagrid was scared and paranoid through dialogue and little details, and drained it of all that, reducing it to a laundry list. Well done
Hagrid brought them boiling mugs of water, having forgotten the tea bags, as they sat. Fang, who instantly took to Draco, was slobbering all over the blond's lap, despite his attempts to get rid of the hound.
Link: Knowing this lot, "attempts to get rid of" probably amount to "kicking it in the head"
ZeldaQueen: Poor Fang, even he can't resist the Sue
Holly was just opening her mouth to speak when there was another loud knock at the door. The three Slytherins instantly threw the cloak over themselves and backed into a distant and shadowed corner.
It was Dumbledore at the door, and an odd grey-haired man with a lime-green bowling hat was with him. Holly instantly stiffened at the revolting feel of the stranger's mind. On the other hand, Draco inhaled sharply, distractedly gazing at the man.
ZeldaQueen: Ah yes, because a twelve-year-old girl with no direct involvement with wizarding politics is easily able to get a bead on the Minister in a tight place. And how lovely of the suethor to just reduce his position to that of black and white, hmm?
'It's the Minister! Cornelius Fudge!' he thought rather loudly in her direction.
Link: (Sue) "Gawd, not that loud! My...mental head!"
Holly got the message, her mind jumping back to the conversation.
ZeldaQueen: That must have looked funny
Link: I have a feeling that canon will be bastardized
ZeldaQueen: Me too. So, in preparation, I have brought with me a copy of Chamber of Secrets, for comparison
Link: Where on earth were you storing that book?
ZeldaQueen: ONWARD!
Fudge said shortly,
Link: As opposed to saying tall-ishly?
"Bad business, Hagrid. Very bad business. Had to come with all these attacks on Muggleborns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act." He fingered
ZeldaQueeh: Gyuah!
his hat, which was in his twitching hands.
Hagrid paled significantly and turned beseechingly to the headmaster. "I never. You know that I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir…"
The headmaster frowned at Fudge. "I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." His eyes flashed, and Holly felt the buzz of power.
Link: What, is she getting high off of it?
ZeldaQueen: (Holly) "Like, wow man! Totally riding the surf here!
Incidentally, in canon, Dumbledore just says the line. Why the hell do suethors always feel the need for him to go on with secretly having auras of power and whatnot?
"Look, Albus. Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something – the school governors have been in touch-" Fudge nervously stated.
Link: *peering at book* And it looks like Fudge is more uncomfortable in canon than this overblown "I'm so nervous" routine
The professor interrupted him, "Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." His eyes were practically glowing, and the air crackled ominously.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, this is just stupid. The book just says "his blue eyes were full of a fire Harry had never seen before". Simple and effective. This just reminds me of Rose Potter, which is not a good thing
Fudge avoided looking at anyone, suddenly finding the tabletop very interesting. "Look at it from my point of view. I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out if wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back, and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty-"
Hagrid's eyes were impossibly wide. "Take me? Take me where?" He started as realisation sunk in.
But Fudge cut in before he could say anything else. "For a short stretch only. Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution." The Minister wouldn't meet the larger man's eyes. "If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology-"
Hagrid's mind screamed one word, 'Azkaban!'
Link: So he's thinking Azkaban instead of outright saying it, like in canon. How is that different?
ZeldaQueen: It gives a chance to show how impressive the Sue is, what with her non-canon telepathy and all
And Holly almost fell to her knees with the force of it. She only managed to keep her feet due to the fact that both Draco and Blaise quickly latched onto her, supporting her weight. She steadied herself after a moment, missing out on part of the conversation.
ZeldaQueen: Is this supposed to be better because she's being all over-reacty? Harry wasn't collapsing every two second. He didn't needs to use Hermione and Ron as human support beams
However, another rap at the door interrupted the assembled group, and Holly had been too preoccupied with what was occurring in the hut to even notice someone else approaching. Draco stiffened and let out an audible gasp.
ZeldaQueen: Whereas Harry gasped in canon. Holly's Just Too Good for that
"Already here, Fudge," Lucius Malfoy stated, his mind typically shielded.
ZeldaQueen: GOD DAMN YOU, SHUT UP ABOUT THAT TELEPATHY! Link, help me out here!
Link: You're doing just fine on your own
Yet, Holly could still sense that it oddly did not match his dismissive mannerisms.
ZeldaQueen: ...She's not. The suethor's really not...
Link: Looks like she is
"Good, good-"
Hagrid furiously interrupted the aristocrat, "What're you doin' here? Get outta my house! Already bad enough that your…" he trailed off, realising that he had almost revealed that the three Slytherins were present.
Link: How nice, making Hagrid look like he's being unnecessarily over-the-top
ZeldaQueen: And we see the start of Holly referring to Lucius as "the aristocrat". Which is stupid
Lucius' eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out the rest of the giant's sentence. "My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your… er… did you call this a house?" He sneered, his thoughts once more not really matching the feeling he was trying to project. His mind was filled with nervousness and dread, despite his icy mask.
ZeldaQueen: I face palmed here. Hand to God
Link: You don't have to tell me. I'm sitting right next to you!
He carried on after a second, "I simply called at the school and was told that the headmaster was here." The aristocrat absentmindedly fingered
ZeldaQueen: STOP USING THAT WORD!
the top of his cane.
Dumbledore's eyes continued to blaze, something strange passing through them.
Link: Like gas?
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?"
The gentleman's blank face didn't falter, but his emotions churned, filled with a strange sort of resolve. "Dreadful thing, Dumbledore, but the governors feel it is time for you to step aside." The blond took out a long roll of parchment. "This is an Order of Suspension – you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I am afraid we feel you are losing your touch." Lucius felt like he was the one that was really losing his touch, but his resolve seemed to buoy again.
ZeldaQueen: I'm going to lose it
Link: Hang in there!
"How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn't it? At this rate, there will be no Muggleborns left as Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school." He visibly clenched the top of his cane, mind whirling once more.
Lucius was a complete contradiction, and his thoughts were all over the place. He knew that if the headmaster left, the school would be in danger, and it was obvious that he didn't truly desire that. The gentleman didn't want Dumbledore to leave, but he was giving the headmaster an order of dismissal.
ZeldaQueen: OH COME OFF OF IT!!!
Link: So, here in the books it looks like Lucius is genuinely being sarcastic and aloof. And it looks like he's the one who blackmailed everyone else into agreeing to this. So, if he really didn't want to get rid of Dumbledore, why would he do that?
ZeldaQueen: I'm sure it'll turn out that it was someone else's fault, he was forced to, yadda, yadda, yadda
Holly was understandably confounded, attempting to discern what exactly was going on. Beside her, Draco trembled, watching his father with a sickened expression. The girl focused more fully on the aristocrat, trying to understand his mind, his motivation. However, none of it made any sense. At least, it didn't until she caught a single, fleeting thought.
'For my son.' And Lucius' determination firmed completely.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, this is very vaguely in character. As the last two books showed us, Lucius's one redeeming quality was that he truly cared for his wife and son. But why would Malfoy be in danger? This just...gah!
She exhaled suddenly, comprehension flickering across her features. From underneath the cloak, Holly squeezed Draco's hand in hers. She mentally tried to convey her discovery, but his thoughts were too chaotic for it to get through.
Link: So she cares more about Draco than the fact that Dumbledore's being taken away. Lovely
In the meantime, things only seemed to degenerate further. Hagrid instantly jumped to the headmaster's defence, and Fudge surprisingly did, too. The eyes of the Slytherins darted back and forth between Draco's father and the Minister like a Bludger with two Beaters. Lucius simply sneered and coolly replied to every accusation, his mind filled with steely determination.
ZeldaQueen: But of course we don't actually see these defenses, since the suethor couldn't be bothered
After several moments, it seemed as though Fudge had finally had enough of the gentleman.
Link: Ah yes, just fed-up impatience from the Minister. No worry or concern that Malfoy's being a douche. I see
"See here, Malfoy, if Dumbledore can't stop them… I mean to say, who can?" He rubbed his hand across his sweaty forehead.
Lucius' eyes froze for an instantly, and he once again tightened his grip on his cane. "That remains to be seen, but as all twelve of us have voted-"
Hagrid furiously inserted himself,
Link: - in Malfoy's -
ZeldaQueen: LINK!
jumping up and causing the entire hut to shake, "An' how many did yeh have ter threaten an' blackmail before they agreed, Malfoy, eh?" He shook an enormous hand at the gentleman, who immediately stepped back, alarm flashing across his face.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, that's just a stupid addition. Stop trying to make Hagrid look like a big meanie for not liking the guy getting Dumbledore arrested. It's not working
Instantly, Lucius seemed to come back to himself, adding smoothly, "Dear, dear, you know, that temper of yours will lead you into trouble one of these days, Hagrid." He quietly added with a strange tone to his voice, "I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all." He was filled with loathing, but Holly was unsure if it was directed at Hagrid or himself.
ZeldaQueen: *headdesk*
Link: Hey, I know it's been going on for awhile, but what's with the bold?
ZeldaQueen: *head still on table* No idea
The vague hint was lost on both Fudge and Hagrid, though Dumbledore seemed to catch it. The elderly professor gave Lucius another, much more appraising glance, one which the other men missed due to Hagrid's reply.
ZeldaQueen: Did you get that? Lucius is just really Sweet and Caring
The giant man screamed back, "Yeh can' take Dumbledore! Take him away, an' the Muggleborns won' stand a chance! There'll be a killin' next!" He looked like he fancied nothing more than the chance to hit the aristocrat.
ZeldaQueen: WHAT THE HELL? Hagrid is making a legitimate point. By Holly's own admission, no one without telepathy should be able to know that Lucius isn't being a smug, sarcastic bastard. And the suethor continues to dump on him. Oh look, it's Hagrid's fault that Fudge didn't see Lucius being nice! Oh look, Hagrid's so mean, wanting to hit Lucius! Gah!
Thankfully, Dumbledore inserted himself in front of the gamekeeper. "If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside," the headmaster assured, despite vehement protests, and his eyes burned into Lucius' grey ones.
Something intangible passed between them in an instant, but it was once more lost on the Minister and Hagrid.
The headmaster spoke the next part carefully and clearly, not wanting anyone to miss a word. "However, you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
Holly knew without a doubt the comment was directed at her.
Link: Well that's nice, arrogant bitch
ZeldaQueen: Given how little she's thought of Dumbledore thus far, I'll rip my hair out if they dare go on about how she's so loyal and brave
Lucius tried to dismiss him with a wave, but it seemed to fall flat.
ZeldaQueen: That's a nice way of putting it. In the book, Lucius mockingly bowed, rudely commented on Dumbledore's running of the school, and makes fun of Hagrid's concern that the students will die
Silence ensued for a moment, only to end when Fudge indicated that it was time to go. Dumbledore and the blond stared at each other for a second more before moving to the door.
Hagrid, however, dug in his feet at the exit. "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'." He paused as Fudge goggled at him. "Oh, an' someone'll need ter fee Fang while I'm away."
Link: "Fee" Fang?
ZeldaQueen: Great mongooses, suethor, you have no excuse this time! That sentence was from canon! Couldn't you have been bothered to read the book?
With that, they left. Lucius lingered for a few seconds, taking several deep breaths. He steeled his shoulders before sweeping out and shutting the door firmly behind him.
Draco stared numbly after his father, his face frozen with shock. He slipped free of the cloak, standing in front of the closed exit and simply gaping. Unexpectedly, he sagged forward, barely catching himself on the door. He leaned heavily against it, resting his head on the wooden surface between his hands.
"He didn't mean it," Holly finally concluded, coming up behind him and placing her hand on his shoulder. "He was forced into it, Draco."
ZeldaQueen: Yet again, what horrible people. Hagrid was wrongly arrested. Dumbledore was forced out of school. The monster of Slytherin is going to be free to run around and eat people. And what are they worried about? Draco's daddy acting weird
Draco didn't reply. Blaise gazed at Holly, not quite sure what to do. Yet, it wasn't like she knew either.
Everything just seemed to be coming undone around them. Students were once more being attacked. Lucius Malfoy was acting exceedingly bizarre. The Ministry was now involved. Hagrid was being taken off to Azkaban.
Their best and only suspect was gone.
Link: Oh, don't act like you care about that, you selfish little bitch!
Even worse, so was Albus Dumbledore, their only chance for salvation.
ZeldaQueen: Then why didn't you go to him for help before, when you actually had potential leads???
Link: And we get more of the "it's all just an act" routine
ZeldaQueen: I felt a great disturbance in the Spork...like ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
das_mervin cried out in fury and then exploded
Onward to: Chapter 21: In The Forest Of The Night (Part 2)
Back to: Chapter 20: True Or False (Part 2)
Return to: Table of Contents
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Oh, and she updated recently--next chapter is out, and she's officially finished fourth year. NOT looking forward to the next one, because that features Umbridge, someone that the Slytherins were clearly in league with because it was giving them an edge over an opponent. *groans*
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My prediction: It will turn out that the Slytherins were only working with Umbridge to go undercover and find out what's going on. Despite the fact that they continue to pick on and belittle other students, Holly will be hypocritically hurt and angry that Ron, Hermione, and Neville would DARE be suspicious of her or try to find out information from her.
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And oh. Oh my god. How is.. I mean...
Why do she think "It's all an act" constitutes as a legitimate excuse?
Is Lucius so deep into pretending he's a total asshole that he can't let his apparently warm and fuzzy side come out? Why would he pretend to be a total asshole if he could get whatever he wanted with his apparently abundant wit and charm? He's fundamentally an awful human being; he gave a little girl a very dangerous object with full knowledge that it would, one way or another, result in massive damage to the Muggle population of Hogwarts and result in bad publicity for Dumbledore. The only thing that makes him remotely redeemable is that he genuinely loved his son.
So in this sap-fest, when he's apparently A Really Nice Guy, why does he still pour on the sarcasm and sneering it makes no sense do you not understand how ACTUAL PEOPLE WORK.
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And I'm not sure exactly what's up, but I'm willing to bet that it'll turn out that Lucius was FORCED to hand over the diary and medallion or something. I'm personally infuriated by what happens to Voldemort.
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Isn't that a good thing? If you think he's probably the guilty party, you should be happy he's being taken away! Yeah, Hagrid's allegedly her friend, and she's apparently been having tea off-screen with him, but when it comes down to it, she's not upset that Hagrid is being thrown into Azkaban, but that they've ran out of leads!
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Shouldn't that be the other way 'round - the Sue latching on to them, leeching off them?