Gypsy

Chapter Thirty Eight

I could feel the fat Healers eyes on my neck as I was hastened towards Malfoy, as if the speed Riddle was determined to walk at would assist in erasing what I had just heard. The blond Wizard in question, who we were so quickly converging on, had glanced up momentarily from the Witch he was speaking with, taken note of my face and now had a curious frown on his face.

"What did that Toad say to her?", referring of course to Healer Andrews.

Before Riddle could reply, I yanked my wrist out of his grip and snatched up a glass of Fire Whisky from a floating serving plate, and downed it in one. A ungodly sound left my mouth at the burn of it, firing down my throat like...well...fire.

Bloody hell, I coughed in some general direction, much to the horror of Malfoy's companion Witch. I took a moment to properly inspect her, there was something extremely familiar about her pinched lips.

"This is the one to whom you are mated?" The lilt of French in her accent gave her away, Walburga's cousin. She was exactly what I would have pictured for a future Wife of the great house of Malfoy. Tall, slim and decidedly blond, with a pointy nose and squinty eyes. She wasn't unattractive, actually quite stunning, but there was a distinct 'asshole' air about her. "She will have to remain in the dungeons when we are Wedded my Love," her hand ran down Malfoy's arm and I felt the fire from my drink burn my oesophagus.

A bark of laughter left me and I snatched up another glass before Riddle could stop me, I held up a hand in his face and gulped this one down with must less difficulty. "I think we can both agree I deserve this drink...", one of his perfect eyebrows raised in shock, but he didn't stop me.

Malfoy shook off his fiancés hand, "obviously we are not engaged." He wasn't speaking to his now red faced bride-to-be, but me. I shrugged and went to grab another glass, the floating platter seemed to sense that I needed it and kept dodging Riddle's attempts to grab it. I almost laughed at the attempts his High Wizard Wanker made to stop it, a cat chasing a silver mouse. 

My new glass was moments away from my mouth, when it shattered. I glanced at Riddle annoyed, his face was a blank mask. "Marry her." I waved my hand in the general direction of... "What's your name? Your cousin failed to label you anything other than 'horrible'". At the horrified look of the Witch I added, "don't worry, she's dead now. Rather a relief actually, she was very awful."

The Witch gaped like a fish for a moment, then stormed up to me. "My name is Allegra, you really should learn some manners. My cousin was a Pure blood, and no matter her offences against our Lord, she deserves respect in death." She sneered at me, "and furthermore despite what Abraxas say's, we are to be married. I have a contract." She sounded triumphant, who would want to marry a monster...

"Yes and I am sure you will be happy, and have many pretty little Pureblood children." In the background I watched Riddle stiffen, clearly he had hoped I wouldn't make a fuss out of the apparent eventuality of my sterilization. "Isn't that right Lord Voldemort?" I met his eyes, mine no doubt slightly hazy from the delicious whisky. I glanced over at Malfoy, "what's wrong Lord Malfoy?" My voice deceptively sweet, "you didn't consider how exactly you'd pass on your... Lineage... if your pet Nymph has been de-wombed?"

Allegra let out a disgusted noise, and took a step back from me. "It can still breed? Abraxas, I must insist that I be the only one to carry your children. This oversight must be taken care of, we cannot allow her to grow her kind."

I nodded sarcastically in agreement, "absolutely, could not agree more Allegra. I think we will get along just fine. You bare the future generation, and I will sit in my tiny dirty room and await my Masters cocks."

That Witch does a truly amazing interpretation of a fish... The fishy Witch in question, apparently over my insolence, stormed of in a flurry of green robes. My new best friend, the drinks tray, bumped up against my back and I snatched another glass and swallowed it in one, now very pleasantly buzzed.

"Tell me Lord Voldemort, when they scoop out my insides, and of course return me to you. Will the Ministry keep my bits in a jar, or do you think they will just burn them?"

"Sweet Merlin Tom, what the hell happened?" Malfoy was very pale, as was Riddle.

"Healer Andrews decided to remind me about the Laws surrounding Creatures, in particular the reproductive one." His Lordship curses and ruffled his hair, the people around us who were not-so-subtle in their eavesdropping shifted away, Riddle's power was crackling.

"Fuck." Malfoy walked up to me, I wobbled a little bit at the quick movement. His hands cupped my cheeks, "we won't let them do it."

I smiled, sadly. "You won't have a choice Malfoy, neither will your Master. I'm guessing Riddle approved this law, which means he can't be seen to go against it." I pulled my face from Malfoy's hands and looked at Riddle. "Correct?"

Malfoy looked between myself and Riddle, apparently now understanding that his Lord's silence meant I was correct. "Tom, no."

Riddle bared his teeth in frustration and stormed over to Malfoy, he gripped his arm and pulled him to the side.

"For fucks sake, this is not the place to discuss this. Look around Abraxas." The blond looked around, finally seeming to notice our audience. The now released Wizard nodded sharply, "yes My Lord."

Mollified somewhat, Riddle relaxed and so did the crowd around us.
"We will discuss this later, I have to speak to the masses, now behave". Having no idea if he was speaking to myself or Malfoy, we both nodded. The Prince of Darkness seemed pent up enough to explode, and I didn't fancy being in the crosshairs.

Glancing at us both once, Riddle, now satisfied, made his way to the front of the room. People began whispering excitedly and converging towards him. I watched as Riddle smiled and waved, like a good Dictator, and rasing his wand to his throat began his speech.
"Greetings esteemed guests, friends and colleagues." A great flutter of bashful hand fluttering and tilted glasses were sent Riddles way. I gagged internally and the externally as I realised Healer Andrews had slunk closer to where I was standing, now Riddle had moved away he apparently felt safe to do so.
My attention diverted when Riddle continued.

"It is my pleasure to welcome you all to another Purification Ball. Although this one, as I am sure you have heard, is slightly different to the previous years." There was a titter of confusion, but nobody dared interrupt. "Recent developments have required reassessment of current laws and legislative actions that are currently in place." Ever the diplomat, he smiled beautifully at the crowd and clenched his hand around the Elder Wand, a subtle reminder to those who might protest. "The previous custom of pairing off" selling "the Muggleborn men and women who have recently completed their magical education, will no longer be enforced by my administration." This time there were a few protests, I watched Riddle's eyes take note of who dared object. "Silence..." Eerie quiet hit the room, a collective breath hold that only released when he continued speaking. "This change in the Law will not impact any current matches, and I encourage you to teach your children how to woo their chosen the old fashioned way". Several in the crowd laughed, god he is good, declaring a law abolished was no easy feat.
"Despite this recent change I encourage you to all socialise with one another, you might find you enjoy the chase". Again another laugh, then Riddle waved his hand at the large doors and they opened.

"Here come the slaves..." I mumbled to nobody in particular. An odious voice responded however.

"Perhaps when I remove your reproductive organs I will accidentally slip and cut your vocals."

Rolling my eyes, and almost fully inebriated and thus lacking in tact, I turned towards the Toad Wizard. "It really does show how much you understand the female body, if you believe there is any way your Masters would believe you slipped from my vagina to my throat with your wand". The little man looked uncomfortable, his Veela slave looked gleeful. She was sporting a decent bruise on her face, one that wasn't previously there. "You really are pathetic. I bet in a world where Lord Voldemort didn't allow psychopaths power, you'd probably still be rubbing your crotch to the thought of that Witch in Hogwarts who rejected you."

Healer Andrews face went bright red, I kept expecting Malfoy to intervene, apparently he wasn't as bothered by my insolence unless it was targeting him or his Lord.
I moved closer to the Toad, my face an inch away from his. "Run away little man", I looked briefly at the Veela, she still had a secret smile.

"Healer Andrews." The large form of Malfoy cut in between myself and the furious red man, who's face calmed considerably once his view of me was blocked. Completely uninterested in listening to Malfoy sweet talk the Toad Wizard, I wondered off in search of food.