Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Harco Empire	By : Toddy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 34430 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or films. I do not make any money from the writing of this story, just enjoyment.

Chapter List
- 104
- 105
- 106
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ CURSE BREAKING ~~~
A weekend or so later Bill Weasley came over on Sunday to eat lunch. He was accompanied by Fleur.
“Erm … Harry what did you two do to our cabinet.”
“Nothing deliberate, Bill … Why, what’s happened?”
“It disappeared and now there’s a door there instead, but we can’t open it.”
D: *Any bets we converted it into a portal when we made the McLaggen one*.
H: *Quite likely. And, as we didn’t hand them through it won’t work for them*. “We have an idea; once we’ve finished eating we’ll come with you and have a look.”
“Please … We don’t like apparating and my wife complains about soot if we floo. C’est vrai, Ma Cherie?”
“Oui!”
After the meal they ported to the Burrow and found an extra door in the focus; it had a picture of shells on it.
“Are you able to open that door, Bill?”
Bill tried it and even a couple of opening spells: “No it won’t budge.”
“Please try the one with a lobster on it?”
That one would not open either.
Harry opened the one to Laggen Lodge and handed both Bill and Fleur through. After a quick chat with Wisteria; Bill opened the portal and they came back to the Burrow focus.
“Please may I enter your house?”
“You know that you are already welcome, Harry.”
“Thank you, but I had to ask formally.” Harry opened the shell marked door.
“Zat look like our ’allway!” remarked Fleur.
“It is; may I hand you through?”
Whilst they sipped tea in the Shell Cottage’s parlour, D&H explained that they had accidently incorporated the vanishing cabinet into the portal network when they made the portal to Laggen Lodge.
“Then why didn’t it become incorporated when you made it to the Burrow first time?”
“We’re not sure … Um … Where was the cabinet in your mum’s house?”
“Next door to the portal.”
“Fine … And the other ones?”
“They’re in a little outhouse near the kitchen. They were all there, but Mum wanted the family one in the house; so we cleared out the log pile by the fireplace and moved the cabinet there.”
“Let’s go and see if they’re converted. If not, I have a theory about proximity to the portal when we make one.”
They went and had a look at the outhouse, being given a piece Molly’s homemade cream sponge on the way. The other families’ cabinets were unaltered.
Harry returned to the house and looked where he knew the log pile used to be. It was still there: “Do you mean there?” he pointed.
“The logs piled themselves back there, Harry,” Molly said: “Just after you made that portal to Wisteria’s home. We were not that worried, because we knew you’d come and sort it out when you had time.”
“That new door in the portal leads to our house, Mum. We’ll hand you through,” Bill chuckled: “Harry did that for us and introduced us to Wisteria.”
“I haven’t used the portals for about a fortnight. Wisteria’s been here a couple of times, but I couldn’t open her door to repay her visit.”
“Fleur or I will hand you through, Mum, when you’re ready to go visiting. That was all that was wrong when we couldn’t open the door to get here. Just give us a daffodil, okay.”
Draco could feel Harry worrying about not giving the McLaggens a daffodil: *It’s alright, Lover, Dean and Seamus organised it, the same day we opened it*.
H: *I thought reds couldn’t do long distance*.
D: *It seems that once a portal’s made, it becomes local*.
H: *Fine … Have they done that as far as La Maison*?
D: *Yes that’s when they tried the experiment*.
“’Arry, did you say zere is a portal at le Chateau des Sorciers?”
“Yes, Fleur, there is.”
“Zat mean we can visit chez mes parents, Mon Cher.”
“Will they be at the Apartment maintenant, Ma Cherie?”
“It does not matter, zere is a cabinet zere, it connect wiz my old ’ome, I ’ave une clé.”
“Do you wish to visit now?”
“Mais oui, ’Arry, si’l vous plait?”
“Fine, we’ll hand you through to La Maison too, and then you can go surfing at Guéthary as well.”
Fleur’s eyes lit up and Bill groaned.
D: *I don’t think Bill’s that good on a surfboard, Lover*.
H: *I remembered Fleur saying that she liked surfing, from chatting to her at the Triwizard Competition*.
D: *I don’t see why; I’ve seen him on a broom he seems good at it*.
H: *Perhaps it’s something to do with being bitten by Fenrir; werewolves don’t like water, do they*?
D: *Could be … Usually you could smell him coming before you saw him*.
H: *Yes I know, he caught me and brought me to the manor*.
D: *So he did! and then Dirtitrix had that argument with him*.
“Have you two finished communing?” Bill enquired: “My wife’s decided she’s presentable enough to go and see her parents … Not sure about me though,” he added quietly.
When they arrived at le chateau, Draco had Defrag give Bill a key before Fleur unlocked the door to the Delacour apartment. Although the décor was different D&H reckoned that the apartments were much the same size. This particular cabinet was easily capable of holding two mages and only recognised the Delacour blood. Fleur took Harry through first and then Bill – now being a very close relation – took Draco through. There were effusive greetings in French; little of which Harry understood. However, he took to listening to Draco’s thoughts and found to his surprise that the conversation could be understood that way.
H: *Draco, I can hear the dialogue in English via your mind*.
D: *Really*?
Harry heard him tell the Delacours that Harry could understand what was being said via Draco’s thoughts. The conversation was slightly stilted to begin with because Draco had to use the ‘Harry dit ………,’ formula each time. However, an invitation to take dinner was accepted and a different menu enjoyed. After sitting for a while in le Manoir Delavre’s withdrawing room the Delacours and their guests cabinetted to their apartment, and were handed through the portals to visit Shell Cottage, incidentally looking in at Guéthary and Laggen Lodge on the way.
It was later than usual when D&H retired to a chaste bed, a drowsing Harry revelling in Draco's satisfaction at being able to practice his French again.
~~~ TRAMP? ~~~
The following Saturday morning just after coffee break a very worried John appeared at the cottage door.
“Harry and Draco, I need some urgent help. Please will you come with me, I’ll explain on the way.”
It took a minute for them to put on outdoor clothes and follow the vicar, at the trot, down Almoners Row and across the village to reach Larch Wynd. This was an almost straight track following the course of an old Roman Road. Oak Farm used it for their stock and tractor movements.
“The farmer’s wife found a young boy huddling under the bridge over Pastures Beck partly sheltered by some bushes,” John explained, as he trotted, puffing, through the village: “She couldn’t get any sense out of him so she sent for me … He’s in a very bad way, cold and hungry … Mrs Renner offered him some soup … But we’re not sure he had any … Because he would not drink it in front of us … Although quarter of an hour later the mug was empty … It’s very puzzling … Because he says he needs to move north … And then says that something is blocking him … I did manage to touch him and he has the tingle … Hence thinking of you two … When that happened he was extremely afraid … And hid away in the bridge beams … It took us another hour … To persuade him to talk to us again … He said something about following the call of the lines … But I got the feeling they weren’t railway lines … He says he’s called ‘Oddball’ … At least I think that’s it … I’m afraid … He’ll die of exposure … If we cannot persuade him … To come out.” The vicar had to stop and draw in some air.
“John, save your breath until we get there, we’ve got the picture, thanks.”
They arrived to find Mrs Renner sitting on a blanket on the bank of the beck at the side of the bridge. There was a head sticking out looking at her, but it withdrew when the panting trio arrived,
“S’ alright Luv, they won’t hurt you. Ye met t’ vicar ’alf an ’our ago. T’ other two are t’ village mage un his partner; they’re into t’ old ways too.”
Here were some shuffling noises but no audible answer.
“’Ere, ’Arry Luv, come, sit by me, will ye?” Mrs Renner patted the blanket. Once he was seated she continued: “Oddball says that there’s a gate in t’ middle o’ t’ bridge, but I can’t see un, can ye?”
Harry craned his neck. There was no gate.
D: *That’s where the village ward crosses. You’re sitting outside them*.
H: *John said he had the tingle … Fine*! “Um … Does the gate tingle, Oddball?”
Harry thought he saw a negative shake of the head.
“Perhaps it pushes back when you try to cross. Did it push you into the water?”
“No!”
“I see … Do you think it might if you tried to cross?”
“Yes!”
“Does it hurt when you touch it, or go near it?”
“Yes!”
D: *Get him to describe what it feels like*.
H: *Fine!*. “What sort of hurt would that be, then?”
“Hot!”
“How hot?”
“Like it would burn me up.”
“Tell me what this gate looks like, please?”
There was a shuffle and Oddball’s head appeared: “I can’t see it with my eyes, but I can feel it with my inner sense.”
D: *I’m standing where the wards cross*.
“Can you see my partner? Is he standing where the gate is?”
Oddball’s shoulders emerged so that he could see Draco: “I didn’t get as far as that, but I should think so.”
“When we cross the bridge we feel it tingle. The vicar and Mrs Renner won’t feel it because they’re made slightly different.”
“How do you mean different?”
“It’s to do with our parents usually. We inherit the gift from them.”
“Mine were killed in a house fire. He set it on fire because they wouldn’t join him. Dad threw me out into some bushes.” Oddball started to sniff and Mrs Renner held out her hand to him.
“S’ alright Luv, we’re ’ere to ’elp ye. C’mon, sit by me,” patting the blanket, still holding out her hand.
More of Oddball emerged, he was filthy and his clothes badly torn. He tentatively sat next to her and continued to hold her hand.
“This man who burnt the house, did he have long blond hair?”
“No! He was the one who killed Aunt Jemima. It was the snake bloke who burnt the house.”
“So … Aunt Jemima looked after you after your parent’s had been killed?”
“Yes. The blond bugger got in because she couldn’t put up wards to stop him.”
D: *Possibly Voldie cursed him*.
“Would they have burned as well?”
“Yes!”
“So … Our wards burn you instead of protecting you … Um … The snake man, did he curse you, d’you think?”
“Auntie thought so, but she couldn’t lift it, she said it was more like a geas than a curse.”
“You’ve come to the right place then; I’m an expert on geas. If you like we can take it off you and put it in a safe place. Um … Why were you travelling north?”
“I have to get to school; I’m already two months late. The station people laughed at me when I went to find the platform. So I started walking.”
“Would that be platform nine and three-quarters?”
“Yes! How did you know?”
“It stopped me and a friend once, too. Not that it does so now. Two months? You haven’t covered much ground in that period.”
“No, I got lost a few times until I found the line. That’s why I don’t want to lose it again by diverting. It feels very faint at the best of times.”
“Fine … I understand … First thing to do is to get rid of the geas so you won’t get burnt passing through the wards here. Then we’ll sort out how to get you to Hogwarts.”
“That’s the place on this parchment.” Oddball pulled out a ragged piece of vellum with the logo intact, which Harry recognised.
“That was the letter asking you to join, was it? We had one too when we had to start.” Harry chuckled: “I had hundreds because my guardian kept on burning them. You see, he didn’t like it that I had magic. He didn’t believe in the old ways like Mrs Renner, here, does.”
“That’s right Luv, ye stay ’ere with me for a bit while t’mage goes un gets ’is tackle, eh? Would ye like some more soup un some fresh baked bread wi it?”
D: *I’ll go, you stay with Oddball, he’s relaxed with you. I don’t think he saw my hair*.
H: *Fine … Please bring back an amulet and a stasis box, oh … And the crimson folder with ‘GEAS’ written on it*.
Harry looked at Oddball: “My partner’s going to get the kit we’ll need to lift the geas, okay?”
Oddball nodded yes.
“Dost want to borrow me broom? I’ve seen ye riding one occasionally? It’ll be quicker.”
“Our brooms have to be especially charmed, Mrs Renner.”
“Ah Luv, Ah knows that. T’ one I meant, used to belong to me granny; she was into t’ old ways.” Mrs Renner went to her door and brought out a broom, laying it on the floor next to Draco. As he stuck out his hand the broom rose into it.
“Aunt Jemima’s broomstick used to do that. Will I be able to?” asked Oddball.
“If you have the Fluence, which we expect you have, then you’ll be able to learn.”
Oddball shown a slight smile: “That’d be nice!”
Harry loaned Draco the invisibility cloak.
“I think t’ broom likes you, Luv. It used to do that for Granny too.”
Draco sat astride the broom, swished the cloak and disappeared.
“That was quick,” remarked John: “I didn’t see him go.”
“My cloak hid him, John. It wouldn’t do for the muggle villagers to see him flying around.”
“Them’s the words Granny used to use, I ain’t ’eard ’em in a long time. I don’t know why you bother ’iding; us all knows ye ride ’em.”
“Some people are like Michael Millar, Mrs Renner; new to the place.”
“Ah … I s’pose ye’re right, but ’is ’eart’s in t’ right place. Like your mister Horrty, ’is workers ’ave been ’elping us out, ye know. Good un, that un! And yere two other friends.”
Draco reappeared, holding the items Harry had asked for.
Oddball gasped: “He looks like the one who killed Aunt Jemima, but he’s too young,” and semi-hid behind Mrs Renner’s back.
“He’s on the right side, Oddball, not need to worry. Now we’ll both need to hold your hands and place our other hands on your head, so as we can sense the geas. Once we know what it is we’ll put it in the locket,” Harry showed him the locket: “And then we’ll put that into the stasis box. That should then stop it interfering with your senses. Is that all right?”
Oddball nodded his head and looked apprehensive.
“While we’re touching you, you might hear us talking inside your head,” added Draco, “Not to worry it’s all part of the cure.”
D&H could see the young mage tense himself before nodding in the affirmative.
“Mrs Renner, do you have some more of that chocolate drink you gave us when we were on our walk, please. We’ll most likely need it after we’ve finished; all three of us.”
“O course, it’s Granny’s special recipe. I’ll go and make it.”
They got Oddball to sit quietly on the blanket and holding his hands placed their other palms back and front on his head.
H: *Can you hear me, Oddball*?
“Yes, inside my head.”
H: *I want you to answer inside your head too*.
O: *Like this*?
D: *Yes, now I want you to think back to the day your father threw you into the bush to save you from Voldemort*.
There was a pause and D&H could pick up other memories including Aunt Jemima and Lucius’s Avada Kedavra. The scene cleared. A frightened boy of eight lay speechless in the middle of a bush. He could remember his father telling him to be as quiet as a mouse until the nasty people went away and then to go to Aunt Jemima’s house. ‘I don’t think his son was here My Lord, we have searched very thoroughly,’ a voice said. Voldemort seemed to be satisfied, but to make sure he cast the geas. D&H could see the geas settling on the boy and saw where it attached itself to his soul.
H: *I need to look up a few things first, Oddball. Then we’ll cut it out and put it into the amulet*.
O: *Okay Harry, I understand. He was an evil bastard wasn’t he*?
Draco’s internal chuckle was felt: *Good thing Harry killed him, isn’t it*?
Oddball’s amazement registered: *So you’re Harry Potter. Great! Aunt Jemima told me about you. I don’t feel half as apprehensive now*.
Harry let go of Oddball and riffled through his crimson folder, reading different parts. He reconnected with Oddball and went through the procedures with him and Draco. Oddball was warned that it might hurt, but said he would trust Harry, now he knew who he was. Oddball lay down on the blanket whilst Draco held the amulet. John was given the stasis box to hold open, with the instruction to close it as soon as Draco put the amulet inside. All was set.
Harry put a palm on Oddball’s forehead and concentrated. He let his magic get hold of the geas and start to squeeze it where it touched Oddball’s soul. With a quick gesture he wrenched the geas away. Oddball did shout, but it was nothing like the scream that Glandulous had made. The geas looked like a magenta flame when it emerged outside the boy’s head. A wrapping gesture from Harry followed by pointing at the amulet had it go there. Draco then made the sealing charm whilst Harry healed the place where the geas had attached itself. He also healed the sore where it had emerged from the young man’s body. By that time Draco had the amulet in the stasis box and John had closed the lid.
Mrs Renner stood, mugs of hot chocolate in hand and a mouth open in astonishment. “That looked a nasty bit o work didn’t it? Is ’e cured now?” she asked as she handed the drinks round.
“We hope so. Oddball, do you want to try it out?”
“I’ll have to, won’t I?” He took a big gulp of his drink, stood shakily and carefully crossed the bridge. Then he came back: “It tingles like you said it did. Now I can continue my walk.”
“Hold on young man,” John laid a gentle retraining hand on Oddball’s shoulder: “I think you’ll find that Harry can get you there much faster than walking.”
“Yes we can. However, firstly you need a thorough wash, then some refreshing sleep in a proper bed, plus a couple of good meals inside you. You’ll be able to see the Headmistress tomorrow,” said Draco firmly but kindly: “I think we could find you some clothes too, bits of you are likely to be on show that shouldn’t be.” He chuckled when Oddball’s hands flew to his pubic area.
They thanked Mrs Renner for her help and hospitality. In turn she promised not to tell of what she had seen. Only then did it register that it was dusk, so the party set off for the cottage, depositing John at the vicarage and going to fill their stomachs with some Winky cooked food. Was it early dinner or late lunch? Not that it mattered too much, because later on they had some supper as well. Huddled in a loaned cloak, Oddball sat shyly with one or other of the Blakes whilst he got used to the noisy common-room atmosphere of the normal Dumbledorian weekend. The Blake that was not sitting with Oddball had a quiet word with the members; so they were careful not to overwhelm him, but be friendly too. Later on Oddball showed some prowess at exploding snap, which he said Aunt Jemima had taught him.
And then it was time for bed.
- 104
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