"He wants to be seen with the 'heroes'," Harry reasoned, a disgusted look in his face.
"Precisely," Dumbledore replied. "I simply wished to inform you beforehand, so you're both aware of his intentions. What you choose, however-"
"We wouldn't back Fudge, Professor!" Harry said loudly. "We would never!"
Dumbledore smiled thankfully at Harry, before looking over at Blake, whose expression hadn't changed.
"Blake?" Harry said, confused.
"Professor," Blake began. "I've already asked the Ministry for Auror protection for my home. If I go against Fudge now…"
"But you've already asked Dumbledore for the Order's protection!" Harry said, confused.
"And what happens when the Order's needed elsewhere? And - respectfully, Professor - most of the members of the Order that can actually fight will be needed elsewhere. If he came, they wouldn't even be able to buy a second for my mother to escape! The Aurors are trained - they'll-"
"What're you saying? You're asking people to die for you?" Harry asked, shocked.
"No, I'm not!" Blake said, recoiling. "I'm saying that I need protection for my mother! She doesn't have magic, she can't even try to defend herself!"
"And you think if Voldemort shows up to your house anyone stands a chance?" Harry exploded. "So what, are they just fodder while your mum gets the chance to run? What about the children of the people in the Order and Aurors? Don't they want their parents to live too?"
"Speak with sense, Harry," Blake snapped. "With that logic, am I just meant to leave my home unprotected? Am I just supposed to leave my mother defenceless? Should we go tell Dumbledore and the Order and the Aurors to go home, just because they might die fighting? What're you even saying?"
"You're being selfish!" Harry retorted angrily. "How much-"
"I don't give a f*ck if I'm being selfish! You're not the one with a brother and mother to protect! I am!"
Harry's expression shifted, and Blake immediately regretted how he had phrased that. But I'm not wrong, a small voice said in his mind. He's being stupid.
"That's enough, both of you," Dumbledore said quietly. "As I said, you're both free to choose what you wish to do, and I would never hold one's desire to protect their family against them, and neither should you, Harry."
Harry glared at Blake, who returned the gesture, before turning to Dumbledore.
"If you want to recall the members of the Order from my house, that's fine, Professor. I won't take it personally," he added on pointedly, before walking out of the room.
/
"What did he want?" Zabini asked during lunch. "And why's Potter been glaring at you?"
"Nothing," Blake said dismissively. "He's just being stupid. Got upset when I told them I don't want to reject Fudge and the Ministry?"
"What d'you mean 'reject'?" Tracey asked. "They want you to be a model for them?"
Charlotte snorted.
"I guess," Blake said, annoyed. "I asked for Auror protection last night." He produced the small note that came with the newspaper this morning.
Blake Renshaw,
I understand. Consider it done - it'll be our most trusted on the team. And as for your other request - I agree. I'll be in touch.
Bones
"Other request?" Daphne asked.
Blake managed a grin.
"Secret, unfortunately. But either way, if Fudge realises, and I reject him, he'll definitely remove it. I'd rather have a group of loyal Aurors protecting my home than random Order of the Phoenix members."
"True," Zabini agreed. "Potter'll probably come round later. Don't worry about it."
Blake resisted the urge to snort at that. He'd leant over the tears that Zabini was horrible at trying to comfort people, but he appreciated the attempt nevertheless.
The next day, after everyone had gotten off the train, Blake was looking around for Connor, when he felt someone tug at his robes.
He turned quickly, hand already on his wand.
"Oh, Astoria!" He said, relaxing with a smile. "What's up?"
"Why aren't you talking to my sister properly?" she asked, trying to sound serious, but her face giving away her sadness.
Blake's smile faltered at once.
"I - I'm not, Astoria. We're both doing f-"
"I know what happened," she said accusatorily, her voice shaking. 'You kissed her at the Yule Ball, and then you've basically been pretending she doesn't exist ever since!"
"That's not-"
"Do you know what a marriage contract is?"
"Huh? I do… but why-"
"The Death Eaters did attack us at the Quidditch World Cup," Astoria interrupted him.
"What?"
"My parents and Daphne beat them, and unmasked them. One of them was Malfoy. The adult one," she clarified.
"They wanted to hand him and his people over to the Ministry, but they threatened us," she said, beginning to cry. "There's a marriage contract that they have, between our families. Blood magic, and our family already signed decades ago. He said that if we didn't let him go, and if we told anyone, they'd invoke it, and get Daphne or me married to Draco Malfoy. That's why we didn't say anything."
Blake felt sick.
"Daphne knew why you were upset," Astoria continued, sobbing now. "But she didn't want to risk it. Malfoy said he would know if anyone told, but we didn't know if he was bluffing. We don't know what the contract says. But that's why. And you didn't even think to ask!" she finished in a shrill voice, before running away, towards Daphne.
Blake watched her go, looking at Daphne, trying to catch her eye. He wanted to say something, make an apology, promise if he knew he would've fixed it, but as they made eye contact, he felt his mouth close, his throat constrict. Daphne just gave him a small, sad smile before she turned away to leave.
"Blake?" a voice from behind him said uncertainly. It was Connor, who, for once, wasn't smiling.
"Are you… are you okay?"
"Yeah," Blake said, his chest feeling tight. "I'm fine."
/
Later that day, Blake was awake at 3am, scroll on his desk, quill in his hand.
What do I even say?
He cursed at himself. He'd been sat here since he'd gotten home, and he still hadn't written a word. F*ck it.
He began writing.
Dear Daphne…
/
MID JULY
Blake was sat at a cafe in Central London, nervously tapping his foot as he stared at his watch.
We said 12 o'clock. It's 11:59 right now…
Just as the clock struck 12, the doorbell rang, and Blake almost got whiplash from how fast he spun his head.
Daphne looked around the cafe, searching for him, and he quickly pretended, for some unknown reason, as if he hadn't seen her, turning back around in his chair until she took a seat.
"Oh, uh, hi," he began, wincing at his own words. Idiot.
Daphne just smiled.
"Hi."
"You look nice today."
For once, she wasn't wearing robes, or any wizard attire, instead opting for a simple t shirt and jeans. If he didn't know any better, she could've passed as a normal Muggle girl.
A really beautiful Muggle girl.
"Muggle clothes are nice," she responded, eyes flickering over him.
"You look nice too."
"Thanks," he said, before sighing. "Ok, let me get straight to the point."
She looked at him expectantly.
"Daphne, I…"
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