The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Dinner Party

1960

With progress in the Wizarding World welcoming muggle-borns and their families into the fold, came the panicked feelings of those resisting change. If a muggle-born had the same right to magic that purebloods had then why did the pureblood families still hold so much power? Would it wane with the coming change? Would half-bloods have their status challenged as well, be thrown down to walk on the ground with muggles as well? 

Fear like that made recruitment easy for the Dark Lord and his cause. Crowds fell for his promises of a new world where wizarding kind no longer had to live in secret, where they would be recognised for their strength and be able to take their rightful place at the top of the world. 

For his most loyal, the Dark Lord would throw lavish dinner parties to entertain and celebrate their steps towards the first great wizarding war. A rebellion to be celebrated for ages to come. 

Champagne flowed continuously in a pyramid of glasses in the centre of the Malfoy Manor ballroom. Dobby had outdone himself on the elegant and imposing decoration. He had received a smile and a thanks he would never forget from his mistress. 

The Lady of the house scanned the room with a straight spine. Having her lover and her husband in the same didn't give her a sense of comfort, but she didn't watch Tom, Victoria's eyes were on Walburga. She believed in her own superiority so she followed the cause without much love for her Lord. Walburga had hated Tom since they were children but the strain in their friendship put Victoria on edge. 

"We never get to hang out anymore." Enoch Nott flung his arms over Victoria and Obsidian’s shoulders, reeking of fire whiskey. "It's all, save the world this, and you're a shit father that. I want to hang out with my friends again. You people appreciate me." 

"Maybe you should be a better father," Victoria said with a smirk, turning her attention back to him. "And then maybe your wife wouldn't nag you about it." 

Enoch let out an obnoxious groan, leaning most of his weight onto her shoulders. 

"And I assume his Dark majesty is the perfect father," he drawled, his face rolling over to squish against her's. "Just making you dinner and teaching little Malfoy how to throw a quaffle. Arse." 

"You should drink less," Obsidian sighed, a grimace in his lip as he shrugged Enoch from his shoulders and attempted to pull him from Victoria's. "You're being disrespectful to your Lord and his Lady." 

"Yes," Enoch said, nodding as he leaned heavily on Victoria without a care for Obsidian’s glare. "Sometimes I forget that our Tommy would kill us on a whim now. It's sad." 

Victoria nearly choked on her wine at the nickname. She couldn't imagine how Tom would react to Enoch acting like his school self. Her eyes travelled to find her husband but a cold chill ran across the back of her neck. A woman with a shine in her eyes clung to his arm, giggling like a love struck child. It wasn't fair for her to be jealous, after all, she had decided to spend her evening next to her lover over him. Victoria clenched her jaw and turned back to Enoch, hoping for a distraction. 

"You know, Mulciber and I have been on quite the spree," Enoch continued, tapping Obsidian in the chest with an outstretched finger. "Fourteen new recruits, six of which work in the ministry. They'll be changing legislation and pushing the dream. The Dark Lord clapped me on the shoulder and said I'd been a good boy." 

He got a small chuckle from the Dark Lady, his rambling just what she needed. She tried to keep her eyes on him but that woman's laugh rattled in her ears like a caterwauling charm. Her annoyance grew gradually to a point where Enoch's stories could no longer hold her attention. Tom looked thoroughly entertained as the woman pushed her goblet towards him, encouraging him to drink from it.