Arc 1: The Awakening
Chapter 9: The Web of Influence
Year: 1960 – Age 8, Blacktorn Manor
POV: Cassius Arcturus Blacktorn
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Power is not simply about magic. It's about control. It's about bending the world to your will, one piece at a time.
The world, like a chessboard, waits for the right player to move the pieces.
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The last few years have been nothing but preparation.
I have laid the foundation. I have ensured my future is set in stone—unmovable.
The Blood Pact is a start. But now, I must build the network, spread my influence through the veins of the Wizarding World like a disease, until no corner remains untouched.
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Mother always told me that knowledge was the key to power, but she never spoke of the right knowledge. Knowledge that could be twisted, turned, bent into shapes that served you.
I've learned what she never taught me. I've studied not just the arcane tomes, the magical rituals, but the world's most dangerous game—the game of politics.
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I sit before the fireplace, watching the flames dance, as the letters on my desk wait for my attention. A stack of parchment, each one carrying an invitation. An opportunity. A thread in the intricate web I'm weaving.
Each letter is an invitation to a new alliance. A new connection. It's time to spread the Blacktorn name further.
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The first letter is from House Avery. A minor but influential family in the Ministry, their wealth is growing steadily, and their bloodline runs deep with ancient magic. The patriarch, Percival Avery, a man with no ambition beyond preserving his own wealth, is easy to manipulate. I can use him. A marriage alliance with their daughter will open doors, increase my power.
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The second letter is from House Greengrass. A more prestigious family, their influence is firmly planted in the upper echelons of society. The Greengrass lineage is not just old; it is one of the most revered in the Wizarding World. A marriage to one of their daughters would elevate my status, make me a power player in the highest circles. But their patriarch, Arcturus Greengrass, is a cautious man, and I cannot afford to push too hard. Patience is the key here.
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Then, there's House Malfoy.
The Malfoys are wealthy, and their influence is well-known. But there's more to them. They crave power, though they hide it behind a façade of refinement and purity. They are ambitious, just like I am. But unlike the others, they are not easily controlled.
I smile darkly at the letter. The Malfoys will not be a simple pawn in my game. But they are an ally I will need.
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I've already made my move.
The invitation has already been sent. The first thread has been cast into the vast network of power. And soon, they will be mine.
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I spend the next few days focusing on refining my own skills, my magic. I will not simply be a pawn in anyone's game. I will create my own rules, my own path. But to do that, I need to ensure that I am above reproach—untouchable.
I've been studying the Dark Arts, perfecting the rituals and curses that will protect me, ensuring that no one can challenge my power. Not the Ministry. Not Dumbledore. Not even Voldemort.
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The days turn to weeks, and soon, I receive a response from House Avery. They have agreed to meet. The path is set. I have already arranged the details. My first major step toward securing the Blacktorn legacy is underway.
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But I know that in this world, nothing comes without cost.
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As I sit in the family library, the shelves around me heavy with knowledge, I allow my thoughts to wander.
I think of my siblings, if I can even call them that.
My brother, Lysander, is a fool. He does not have the foresight, the ambition, the cold ruthlessness I possess. He is weak, a mere shadow of what he could be. He does not understand the true nature of power.
And my younger sister, Adara, is naive. A dreamer. She cares only for the trivialities of the world, for the beauty of it, while I see only its flaws. She doesn't understand what it takes to survive.
They will not be part of my game. They are nothing but obstacles to my grand design. If they stand in my way, I will remove them. They are expendable.
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Mother's voice echoes in my mind, reminding me of the family's ancient codes, our traditions. But those codes are just chains that bind the weak. I will break them. The world is mine to shape, not some stale legacy.
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The meeting with House Avery is set. It is time to make my first move.
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The Blacktorn name will rise from the ashes. From this humble manor, I will reshape the entire Wizarding World. And they will bow to me.
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