The Gryffindors gaped.
"But I'm afraid I must." Kodachi calmly replied to her friends, setting down the teacup she'd been holding on the tray by her bedside. "My line has certain value, and..."
"Did they just say you're leaving Slytherin?" Harry interrupted.
Kodachi looked at her guests. Drawing her legs up closer to her chest she indicated for them to sit at the now empty space at the foot of her long bed. "Please, you have to have a bit of scheming explained to you, or you won't understand."
Dazed, the students all took their seats.
Kodachi started to settle herself more comfortably into her pillows, then began. "Draco has decided that he is my enemy. Whatever else I do, he has made his choice and I must either react appropriately or fall victim to whatever schemes he plans in future."
"We'd help." Harry offered.
"Surely you don't think..." Hermione was saying.
"Please don't interrupt." Kodachi very gently scolded. After getting a chorus of "sorry's" from her guests, she remarked. "Yes, miss Granger, Draco could not do anything to me for some time, until the stain of this mess had died down. But during all that time his resentment would seethe and he would find ways to blame me for all his loss of reputation. I have seen many do this before. When he struck at me again, it could be months from now, but it would be worse than before, only more private and harder to pin blame. Mister Potter, I thank you for your offer. It was very brave, and I believe I shall even take you up on it."
"What do you mean?" Melody inquired, voicing the whole group's question.
"My explanation is thus." Kodachi continued. "As before, Draco considers himself my foe. I shall require several means to protect myself. Some I won't go into detail on, save to mention I shall be cautious and study many countercharms for curses."
"I'd help you there." Hermione promised. She'd been meaning to devote more to the study herself.
"Thank you. I should be... pleased, to have you aid me. I know of your scholarly skill and your group's considerable reputation. But as I was saying, a defense is simply not enough. I must reduce his power to harm me."
"You're not going to attack HIM? Blimey!" Ron blurted, looking pale.
"Do you think Headmaster Dumbledore would agree to it? Hardly." Kodachi reproved him mildly. Then she got the idea to take this conversation, going nowhere, and turn it around somewhat. "Tell me, mister Weasely, what makes Malfoy powerful?"
"He's rich, floating on cash, and call me Ron."
"Ron." She nodded. "Exactly. Now being rich by itself does nothing. His family spends that wealth, buying influence and power. It is with influence that Malfoy becomes protected from severe discipline here at school. It is influence that gives his cronies passing grades, and the source of the clout he uses to talk back to prefects, pretend injuries, and behave above the rest of the students."
"So what are you saying?" Harry asked, quite puzzled where this could be going.
Kodachi sighed, feeling as if explaining to children. "Great wealth can be fought with greater wealth, which I do not have access to at this time, or by... influence. But far more than mere money, it is reputation that buys influence. Because of the fear and respect that is held for his family, Draco can do as he wishes most of the time."
"Yes, I can see that." Harry agreed.
"Makes sense." Ron shrugged. Hermione just nodded, while the two Slytherins looked bored.
"So I merely injure his reputation." Kodachi concluded.
See other episodes by Lionheart
(Posted Sun, 15 Jun 2003 01:15)
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