章 24: The Weight of Bloodlines
The reason for that was simple. I'd given Arthur Weasley a wind-up duck as a gift a couple Christmas' ago, and he adored the little toy. He played with it in his shed a lot according to his children. Ever since, I'd gotten him duck-themed muggle things like ties, socks, and shirts with duck shapes and patterns on them for Christmas. He seemed to like them, which was nice.
"Fred, George, I didn't expect to see either of you," I said, giving the twins grins.
"We decided-"
"That a party was a better use of our time-"
"Then sitting around in a stuffy castle doing homework," the twins replied, speaking in sync.
"You're doing better with that speaking in tandem thing," I said, giving the duo a thumbs up in approval.
"Don't encourage them!" Mrs. Weasley harrumphed good naturedly. "I have no idea how they snuck out of the castle and into Hogsmeade like that to use the floo in the Three Broomsticks!"
'They must have already found the Marauder's Map, then,' I mused with interest. 'I knew it happened in their first year, but they've done it quite fast already. How many times have they gotten detention in just a couple months?'
Dinner was amazing, as usual. No matter my opinion on Mrs. Weasley's personality, there was no denying she was an excellent cook. Of course, I ended up eating too much and getting stuffed. I would regret it, I knew I would, because this always happened, but I couldn't help it! The food was just too tasty and there were always mountains of leftovers.
As I sat and chatted with the Weasleys after dessert, I couldn't help but think about the ridiculous blood purity stuff that'd been brought up earlier by Hurricane Molly.
Up until about a century ago, you were considered a 'Pureblood' if both your parents were magical. Half-Bloods were those who had one magical and one muggle parent, and Muggleborn were, obviously, witches or wizards who had no magical parents and came from the magical world.
Then Grindalwald came, and that damned wretch who started World War 2 from the shadows made up the whole 'Blood Purity' movement. Mostly by accident. See, old Grindy believed that magicals should rule Muggles. Simple as that.
But some of his followers in the Knights of Walpurgis, those of older lineages, went further, and drew up entire charts and diagrams on 'how pure' a person had to be in order to call themselves magical. Muggleborns were better than Muggles, obviously, but they were below Halfbloods. And Purebloods with long lineages would, naturally, dominate the new society Grindelwald envisoned.
The Knights of Walpurgis wanted to create a magical caste system based on how 'pure' their magical lineage was. And from there it spiraled out of control into the hideous ideology Voldemort had used to bring the wealthy elite of Wizarding Britain under his banner less than half a century later.
Joke was on them, though. Most so-called Pureblood families had a lot of Halfbloods and Muggleborn who'd married into them in the past. If they didn't, they'd cause the lines to Squib out due to inbreeding. And yes, being a Squib was due to witches and wizards intermarrying too often and too closely.
My parents were first cousins. Just as both of their parents had been, thanks to my great-grandparents being idiots and buying into Grindelwald's Blood Purity nonsense.
So, yeah, all my problems could be laid at the feet of my ancestors. I'd made a vow to desecrate their graves when I discovered that fact, and even considered hunting down Gaunt's Ring just to summon their spirits using the Deathly Hallow attached to it and torture them, since being summoned to the living world apparently caused the souls of the dead great distress. According to the tales, at least.
But no, I wasn't going to touch that hot mess with a ten-foot pole. No way in heck was I getting involved with the chaos that was Harry Potter's life. Well, maybe a little. Just a smidge. Enough to get what I wanted.
I'd be staying away from the Horcruxes and Deathly Hallows, though, unless I felt it was absolutely necessary to intervene. Which I hoped wouldn't come to be.
"You alright there?"
I was shaken out of my thoughts of murder, revenge, and inbreeding by Mr. Weasley, who was looking at me in concern.
"Mmm, just a bit tired," I said. It wasn't even a lie! I was feeling tired and a bit bloated from the rich dinner and dessert I'd stuffed myself with. Mr. Weasley noticed and gave me a small, knowing smile and wink.
"Too much excitement, eh?" he chuckled.
"Sounds about right," I replied, and then fought back a yawn.
"Perhaps we should start wrapping things up, then," Arthur said, raising his voice a little so he could be heard over the hubbub of his family.
That earned him a chorus of groans and protestations from the red-headed children, but the patriarch of the Weasley family held up his hands to silence them.
"Now, now, everyone, I know you don't like it, but that's just how it works," he said apologetically.
When I got back home (thanks to a certain helpful House Elf popping me back to the flat), I put my presents down and got ready for bed.
"That was fun," I murmured to myself, yawning all the while as I snuggled deep under the sheets.
I would have to repay the Weasleys somehow. That was something to think about for later, though. Right now I had to slip into a food coma.
....
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