HP: Bad Intentions

"Ahem... Mrs. Worley, may I have a word?"

Blake's voice halted Mrs. Worley mid-step as she was about to be gently nudged away by her daughter, Cassandra, a bright blush on her face.

Cassandra turned to Blake, suspicion clouding her face.

'Does he enjoy my mother's endless questions? What is he really up to?' The thoughts left her with a distasteful feeling.

"Oh, Blake," Mrs. Worley responded lightly, "what's the matter? If it's nothing urgent, I should go inside to help my husband. It seems like Cassandra can't wait to be alone with you." She winked knowingly, earning a gasp from Cassandra.

"Mom!" Cassandra exclaimed, unable to believe her mother's teasing.

Mrs. Worley shot her daughter an amused glance. Cassandra's face held a rare mix of surprise and embarrassment, something Mrs Worley hadn't seen before.

If Blake was stopping her from leaving, she'd oblige—she wouldn't mind observing this fascinating dynamic a bit longer. Cassandra, meanwhile, gave Blake a dark look, uncertain of what he had in mind.

Blake's tone was gentle but firm. "Cassandra, your dad's been inside for a while now. Aren't you concerned? Maybe you should go check on him?"

Cassandra and her mother both blinked in surprise. Sending Cassandra away? Cassandra clenched her fists, indignant.

'Is he trying to talk to my mother alone?!'

 With a huff, Cassandra nodded. "Fine, I'll go check on him."

And with that, she walked through the enchanted brick wall, entering the room beyond.

Mrs. Worley stood amazed. Her fiercely independent daughter had actually listened to someone else. Cassandra was rarely obedient to anyone, least of all her father, and here she was, calmly heeding Blake's suggestion. Her mind raced.

'Could Blake truly hold such influence over my proud daughter? Cassandra has to see him as a figure strong enough to respect and trust.'

Blake noticed Mrs. Worley's curious look as Cassandra disappeared into the next room. He smiled gently. "Mrs. Worley, thank you for allowing me a moment of your time."

Mrs. Worley was pleased with his politeness; few people dislike courteousness, after all. "Not at all, Blake," she replied, still intrigued. "If there's something on your mind, please feel free to say it. Is this about Cassandra?"

Blake shook his head. "No, actually, this has nothing to do with Cassandra."

"Oh?" Mrs. Worley raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.

"See," Blake began, "I've been studying herbalism and conducting some experiments over the past year. Recently, I found a way to create specific mutations in certain herbs. These mutated herbs hold enhanced properties, even developing entirely new effects." Blake's tone remained calm and serious.

Mrs. Worley's brows rose. 'A young student creating mutations?' Blake saw her scepticism but continued undeterred.

"I've experimented extensively in a safe environment at school, and I've managed to produce several types of mutated plants."

He reached into his bag and handed her several pouches of seeds. Each bag contained seeds, specifically those of the Poisonous Tentacle, carefully bred and stored.

Mrs. Worley accepted a bag and poured a few seeds into her hand, expecting to see ordinary Poisonous Tentacle seeds. However, her eyes widened upon noticing their unique colouring and texture.

"These... these aren't normal Poisonous Tentacle seeds," she whispered in amazement. "These are mutated!"

In herbalism, acquiring even one mutated seed was rare, nearly impossible. Yet, here she held a whole pouch of them. As she dug into the pouch, she found every seed was indeed mutated. Mrs. Worley's excitement turned to disbelief as she inspected each bag Blake had given her, her awe deepening.

Blake explained, "Yes, I planted them in a controlled area at school last year. Aside from the Poisonous Tentacle, I've mutated Devil's Snare, the Whomping Willow, Mandrake… I can show you three unique mutations for each one and have documented methods to consistently create these variations."

Mrs. Worley stared at Blake, finally comprehending her daughter's admiration. The young man standing before her had achieved something remarkable in the world of herbalism. If what he said was true, then she understood why Cassandra respected him so.

'A talent like his could indeed "conquer" anyone.'

Trying to mask her amazement, Mrs. Worley smiled. "If you're willing to bring these precious seeds to me, I imagine you want more than just my admiration. What exactly do you have in mind, Blake?"

Blake, sensing an opportunity, responded confidently, "I'd like to form a partnership with the Worley family in this venture. Your family has extensive herbal connections, and these seeds could help strengthen your business's position, especially since I heard it's currently facing some challenges."

Mrs. Worley's gaze sharpened at the mention of her family's situation. She nodded slowly, understanding Blake's proposal. "These mutated herbs could indeed be a game-changer," she murmured, considering the idea.

"Alright, let's talk terms. But if you want my daughter," she teased with a wink, "that may require some negotiation with her."

"Ahem!" Blake choked on his words. Was she really offering her daughter as part of the deal? Recovering, he replied,

"No, no, Mrs. Worley, nothing of that sort. I'm only interested in a partnership."

Seeing his surprise, Mrs. Worley chuckled. "Just teasing, Blake. Alright, what do you envision?"

Blake leaned forward, his voice confident. "I want to expand my research with the proper resources and funds. If we partner, the herbs will become available to an exclusive network, and the Walley family can distribute them as they see fit."

Mrs. Worley considered the offer carefully. "Alright, let's discuss this further. You clearly have talent, and if this turns out as you describe, then I think we'll have a very prosperous relationship, Blake." Her voice held genuine respect now, a far cry from the scepticism she'd felt earlier.

Meanwhile, inside the other room, Cassandra stood nearby as her father continued his magical interrogation of the suspects. Mr. Worley looked up, noticing Cassandra's annoyed pacing.

"Cassandra, darling," he began, "must you wander about so anxiously? It's distracting." Mr. Worley had been carefully managing the magical situation but now felt the tension in the room shift with Cassandra's entrance. To prevent her from seeing anything too unsettling, he had been stalling the interrogation.

Cassandra sighed, her expression a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment. "I didn't want to come in here either. The place reeks." She huffed in frustration, glancing toward the door she had come through.

"Blame Blake! He actually dismissed me so he could talk to Mom alone!"

Mr. Worley's eyes widened at her words. "Wait. He dismissed you?" he asked, surprised. "Are you certain it was him and not your mother?"

"Yes, Dad," Cassandra replied, crossing her arms. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Mr. Worley let out a dismayed sigh. "My dear daughter… Even I can't convince you to listen to anyone. But Blake… he can?" A bittersweet feeling washed over him. The realization that his little girl was no longer just his own filled him with an unfamiliar blend of pride and sadness.

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