Yaxley pleads his case.

Hyperion Greengrass was in a right foul mood. His Lord was refusing to allow him permission to fetch his daughters until both he and his wife explained exactly what had happened in the ballroom earlier.

“My Lord, it is all an unfortunate misunderstanding, I assure you. Daphne is just upset at the husband we have chosen for her. She will come to accept him in time.”

Voldemort considered the elder Greengrass impassively but Marlene was not fooled, her Tom was livid. While he respected and adhered to Pureblood rules and manners of courtship, even he had standards.

Marcus Flint would not be acceptable for his daughter’s only friend.

Hermione would never forgive him.

“Perhaps, there might be another suitor for Daphne? She is such a lovely girl, spirited and intelligent. Have you looked elsewhere, Hyperion?”

Hyperion glared at Marlene, but the glare his Lord was giving him, made him temper his ire.

“Of course, My Lady. It’s just not many suitors are willing to take on such responsibility. Daphne is a handful, and doesn’t exactly adhere to certain Pureblood standards.”

“Such as?” Voldemort asked silkily.

“Well, she’s very opinionated and much too independent. She actually told me she’d slit her wrists before she ever capitulated to a betrothal contract. It’s completely scandalous, My Lord.”

Voldemort just raised an eyebrow, and gazed over at Marlene who, to her credit, kept her face neutral but her eyes were blazing in amusement.

“So, you felt it was necessary to reprimand your daughter in front of all those in attendance tonight, disrespecting your hosts? What did you hope to accomplish?” Voldemort demanded of Celia.

“I have no excuse, my Lord. Daphne is completely willful and disrespectful, and I’m afraid I lost my temper with her.”

Marlene blinked a few times but said nothing. Voldemort was about to speak when a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Marlene stood to answer it and wasn’t surprised to see Corban standing there.

“I am sorry to interrupt, My Lord, but I would request a moment if I may?” Yaxley directed his full attention to his Lord, who nodded and waved his hand, allowing Yaxley to enter. Marlene smiled knowingly and Corban just gave her a look of amusement.

The witch never missed much, even when they were kids.

“What can we help you with, Lord Yaxley?” Voldemort offered, watching one of his most faithful followers bow formally and take a seat.

“I am here to request that I be allowed to submit a formal petition for Miss Daphne Greengrass, My Lord.”

Celia and Hyperion both were gobsmacked, while Voldemort just steepled his hands calmly. “This is unlike you, Corban. Please explain to me why you would make such a request?”

Yaxley sighed and glanced over at Daphne’s parents, who were watching him closely. “Your daughter is a remarkable witch. She is bright, intelligent, well-spoken, fierce, independent and only wants to be given the choice in whom she marries. Apparently, due to her sister’s medial condition, which you’ve used as a bargaining chip against her, that choice will be vacated.”

Hyperion paled, while Celia gasped in shock. Voldemort’s eyes narrowed in anger as he turned towards Hyperion and snarled angrily, “You’d best explain yourself to me, Hyperion. You nor your wife, mentioned anything about a curse on your youngest daughter, nor the fact you are using her as a way to bring your eldest daughter in line.”

Celia started crying, but no one in the room much cared for the witch’s histrionics.

“My Lord, the Greengrass family had a curse placed on it some time ago. Every few generations the curse activates, and we don’t know why, or how to cure it—but our beloved Astoria is afflicted. We have used much of our own wealth to find a cure, but we’ve had little success. Daphne is her sister’s only hope. A good match will restore our family coffers and hopefully help us find a cure.”

Voldemort was incensed, while Marlene just sat there impassively. “So you mean to sell your elder daughter off in the hopes that a cure can be found. And if it can’t? You’ve condemned both daughters to a life of misery.”

“My Lord...” Celia sputtered but one look from her Lord shut the woman up.

“How do you feel about this, Lord Yaxley?” Voldemort inquired smoothly.

“I have come to care for Daphne, my Lord, and if she can’t have her choice of husband, at least I can provide her with the ability to make her own choices in life.”

Voldemort smirked with amusement. “You are her Professor, Corban.”

“Yes, My Lord. I have asked Headmaster Snape to relieve me of my tenure, so I may formally court the witch. With your permission of course, and with the blessing of her parents.”

Hyperion scowled. “You are too old for our daughter, Lord Yaxley. Why would we give permission to a known philanderer?”

Yaxley glowered, but it was Voldemort who answered. “If you are willing, Corban—I would like to see your intentions where Miss Greengrass is concerned. If they are as you say, I will give my support.”

Yaxley nodded and went to kneel in front of his Lord and opened his mind while Voldemort looked through his memories of his interactions with young Daphne. When he was satisfied, the Dark Lord broke eye contact and smirked at his old friend.

“I never thought I’d see the day that you, Corban, would give your heart away. She is truly an excellent match for you and I wish you all the luck in the world. Something tells me you’re going to need it.”

Hyperion gasped in outrage, while Celia looked ill. “My Lord! You can’t be serious?”

“Do you doubt me, Hyperion? Do you think that Lord Yaxley could fool his own Lord?”

Hyperion paled. “No, my Lord! I would never presume to think such a thing.”

“And yet you question me.” The Dark Lord snarled, “or perhaps there is another reason you wish for this union with the Flints? Something you haven’t shared with me?”

Hyperion paled even further. “No, my Lord! I have been completely honest.”

Voldemort didn’t waste a moment, and turned his wand to Celia and silently cast a ‘leglilimens’ when the woman made eye contact. The Dark Lord entered the woman’s mind and found quickly was he was looking for. When he broke eye contact the woman was sobbing and pleading with her Lord to spare her husband. Voldemort turned on Hyperion and cast a ‘crucio’ and the man screamed in terror and pain.

Thankfully, Marlene had thought to cast a silencing charm when Corban had walked in, or else the entire Manor would be hearing the man’s screams.

“You disgust me, Hyperion. Using your own daughter as a bargaining tool. Selling off her virginity for your own benefit, knowing what awaited her at the end. Marcus Flint raping her and killing her!” Yaxley shot up off his feet in rage, but Marlene held him back. “Just so you could collect her inheritance left to her by her great-grandmother.”

“My Lord...please!” Celia begged but Marlene had heard enough. She went over to the woman and placed her hands on the woman’s face.

Suddenly the room became dark and Marlene’s eyes turned black as night.

“You have betrayed your own daughter, Celia Greengrass, flesh of your flesh,” Marlene’s voice had changed, deepened and echoed like lightening through the room. Her face morphed into something otherworldly and Celia screamed in terror. “You have betrayed the vows you took as a woman, a mother. You do not deserve mercy.”

In a flash, the woman screamed as her essence was pulled from her like a sieve. Yaxley watched in horror as Celia Greengrass fell to the floor, dead. Voldemort smiled evilly at his witch and looked over at Hyperion, who was watching with dread and fear. Marlene turned to her Lord and grinned menacingly as she morphed back into herself.

“You will have nothing to do with your daughters, Hyperion. You have lost all right to them.” Gazing tenderly over at Corban, the man bowed his head in supplication. “Do you still wish for her, Corban?”

“Yes, My Lord, My Lady. I will take care of her and give her a good home. I know I’m not a young wizard, but I am strong and will protect her with my life.”

Voldemort nodded. “We wish you luck. Hyperion will agree to the betrothal or he will forfeit his life. As for Marcus and Archibald Flint, I will leave that to your discretion Corban. I would hope you might find some interesting way to deal with them?”

Corban chuckled evilly. “Of course, My Lord. I might know a spell or three.”

Voldemort chuckled and Marlene smiled, walking over to the wizard and kissing his cheek. “You are a good man, Corban Yaxley.”

Corban blushed but nodded, and walked out to see his little love and hopefully get her to agree to marry him before she murdered him.