Chapter 174: Pansy Parkinson
"So, I'm even more curious now—what exactly were you trying to achieve?"
Phineas looked at Daphne, his eyes sharp with interest.
"If you're honest with me, I wouldn't mind speaking with your father to resolve the damage you've caused your family."
The Greengrass family was favored by the Pureblood Council. If Phineas could tie them to the Black family's banner, it would be a significant gain in his power struggle against Rich and Lestrange. With that advantage, even the Selwyns—currently his allies—might be overshadowed.
But Daphne remained silent, lips pressed together, eyes defiant.
Phineas could only shake his head. This so-called "eldest daughter" was on the verge of dragging her entire family down before she even understood the magnitude of her mistake.
Turning Harry against several pure-blood families wasn't necessarily fatal. The Potter family, though powerful, consisted of just one member—easier to manage, a tempting prize. But not all families were eager to fight over it.
Daphne's real misstep was her lack of discretion. Instead of targeting one or two factions, she had provoked nearly all of the established pure-blood families. Only weaker, unaffiliated families like the Weasleys and Longbottoms had escaped being undermined by her.
That was the true blunder—offending everyone.
If she had only clashed with a few, the Greengrass family could have weathered it under the Pureblood Council's protection. But with this level of outrage, even the Council might side with Potter, leaving Greengrass to face the consequences alone.
"What's going on here? Daphne, who bullied you?"
A new voice rang out from the doorway—high-pitched, imperious, and unmistakably domineering.
Phineas turned his head. He wasn't surprised by the voice or the girl who entered. The moment he saw her, he could only think of one comparison: a pampered poodle.
He knew it was rude to use such a word for a young woman, but no other description seemed to fit. She carried herself with overconfidence, her posture exaggerated, her features sharp and haughty.
Seeing her, Daphne's panicked expression eased slightly.
"Pansy…"
The girl Pansy glared around the compartment. Everyone inside, except for Phineas and Astoria, looked visibly uncomfortable. That only made her angrier. She locked eyes with Phineas, the only unfamiliar face in the room.
"You! What did you do to them?"
Phineas raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"I could ask you the same thing. Who are you?"
The girl lifted her chin like a swan preparing for battle.
"Pansy Parkinson!"
"Parkinson?" Phineas echoed with mock confusion. "Ah, as in the Parkinson family of Perseus Parkinson—the disgraced former Minister for Magic?"
Perseus Parkinson had served as Minister for seven years, from 1726 to 1733, before being forced out. He had misunderstood the public mood and tried to pass a bill outlawing marriage with Muggles. The backlash from peace-seeking citizens had been swift and unforgiving.
That stain had clung to the Parkinson name ever since. Phineas, of course, had brought it up deliberately.
Pansy flushed in fury. That name—Perseus—was practically forbidden in her household. And now this boy had said it in front of everyone, without hesitation.
She opened her mouth to retort, but Phineas cut her off coldly.
"Did your parents not teach you to keep quiet and avoid offending people you can't afford to cross? I used to wonder why Daphne—eldest daughter of the Greengrass family—would stoop to being someone else's pawn. But now that I've seen you, it makes perfect sense."
He gave a humorless laugh, then continued with biting sarcasm.
"Only the Parkinson family would be so bold as to think they don't need the Potters. Because you're not qualified. Even though the Greengrass family has declined, it's still a sworn house, protected by the council. Your Parkinson family? You may have more resources, but politically, you're nothing but an outcast."
Technically, the Parkinsons weren't a small family. Producing a former Minister was no small feat. But they had a fatal flaw—willful blindness. They ignored the shifting politics, failed to align with others, and acted independently. That arrogance had cost them their seat in the council and the respect of many houses.
Now, seeing Pansy, Phineas finally understood the strategy behind her family's actions.
They wanted to isolate the Malfoy family—to drive them away from the other pure-blood lines. If Phineas hadn't stepped in to defend Draco, the Malfoys would've been thoroughly ostracized.
Then the Parkinsons could swoop in, offering Draco a lifeline—through marriage.
Phineas could already see Pansy's expression: the way she stared at Draco, like a starving dog eyeing a fresh steak. There was nothing subtle about it.
He sighed and shook his head.
That was the Parkinson family's style—gain support, wealth, and influence through forced alliances. They never considered whether their bloodline had anything to offer.
For a marriage alliance to work, either the other party had to be desperate and weaker—or foolish enough to be blinded by beauty.
But the Parkinsons didn't have the charm to pull off the second option.