Innocence and Arrogance

Isabelle's Fury

I'm in the drawing-room early the next morning. My father will not get a moment's peace for the rest of the time he remains here. He's going to rue the day he ever said my stubbornness was a blessing. I intend to show him just how deep I can dig my heels in.

Voldemort enters the room soundlessly, producing a chair next to me. I wait till he settles in, resting his chin on tented fingers, "I assume there is something you'd like to talk about."

"As usual your presumptions are correct," the masks are on again, the wall put back up. That's fine. I've come with a wrecking ball. "I'd like to discuss your plans for Draco."

I get a side-glance, his lips twitching as if he finds the topic of conversation humorous, "I should have suspected he'd share with you."

"We don't have any secrets."

My father actually grins at this, one finger pressing into my temple, "None?"

I slide my gaze over to him, maintaining the same bored look I shared with the fire, "I am not here to discuss the interworking of my relationship."

"Aren't you? Haven't you come to plead for the boy's life?"

"Plead is too strong of a word. I've come to explain my recollections of the night."

My plan is a rather simple one. Start off with facts and reason. Even my father can't deny the truth when it is laid out before him. I'll escalate from there, pushing more each day. My father might have a sly tongue, but so do I. If I do this right, keep my head; he'll give me the permission I need without even realizing it.

This seems to pique the Dark Lord's interest. He leans forward a little, readjusting so he's turned towards me, "By all means."

"As you know, part of the plan was for me to get Harry to give Lucius the Prophecy. That obviously did not work," I scan over his face, looking for any signs of change, any hints to help me along. He gives me nothing. "I was unable to possess Potter."

"Yes, I too felt the other entity inside of the boy," my father nods, lost in thought. "Quite interesting."

I have a sneaking suspicion the reason why my father was unable to possess the boy is much different from my reason. It didn't take me long to figure out that there was a way for me to hear Harry's Prophecy even with the orb smashed. Severus was more than willing to help and Trelawney really stood no chance against my curse. She was practically spilling her guts the second I entered the room. Some people are too feeble-minded for their own good.

That part of my mind is hidden to my father though, just like so many other parts. He doesn't get to know, not unless it comes to that. He wants it too much. Giving it too early, if at all, could be disastrous.

"Yes, yes a complete anomaly," I grit out. "What I'm saying is that the blame is not entirely on Lucius."

Voldemort chuckles, cold and lifeless, "Draco is being given the chance at a position of great revere, Isabelle."

"He doesn't see what you're doing," I argue.

The red eyes side into slits, looking more snake-like than ever, "And what exactly do you think I'm doing?"

"Lucius failed and you're punishing his son."

There is no waver in my voice. I know his game. There's no point in trying to hide and deflect. Getting right to the point is my best route here. I don't have the time or patience for the workaround. I'm here to knock down that haphazardly constructed wall. If power is to be shared, glory to be had together, it shouldn't have ever been built in the first place.