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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
- 105
- 106
- 107
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ AWARENESS ~~~
Oddball had been assigned the single visitor room. He woke up to find clothes of different styles and colours hanging all-around the room. His own rags had disappeared and there was an elf sitting knitting on a seat nearby.
“Erm … Hello?”
“Good morning Master. Do you wish for breakfast here or downstairs with the others?”
“Downstairs I think. Do you know where my clothes went, please?”
“Those rags were too far gone even for Reparo, Master. These are all yours.”
“I didn’t have any more and I don’t recognise any of these.”
“Probably not Master, the Dumbledorians contributed to your wardrobe. I can use the refit charms once you have them on. Will you shower first?” The elf held up a towel.
For a minute Oddball wondered why she was offering him the towel and then realised that he had been sleeping naked: “Thank you.” He rose and grabbed a couple of boxers before going into the small bathroom.
He emerged wearing the pair of boxers that were his size. The elf was standing there with a measuring tape. She measured him all over; casting the results on a small knitted dummy.
She touched her ring onto the Dummy: “Factus ad imaginem homnis!”
The dummy grew until it resembled Oddball’s shape and size. She picked the dummy up and touched as many of the nearest garments as she could with it, saying: “Trado moli!” As she did so the attire shrank or grew to his dimensions. Oddball realised that the clothing had been grouped so that each cluster could be altered with one touch of the dummy. Even so it took twenty-one charms to have them all converted. Once that had happened the dummy shrank back and the elf placed it in her knitting bag.
“Will that be all, Master?”
“Yes thank you? That was a marvellous demonstration of magic.”
“Thank you, Master. Under the new régime we are encouraged to try out new ideas openly. Professor Seneschal Flitwick hopes to start a thaumic tailoring course soon and I’m the designated tutor. Isn’t it great?”
“I’m very pleased for you. I think you’ll do well. Thank you very much … Erm … What do I call you?”
“It used to be ‘come-here-you-dirty-little-insolent-pup’ but we’ve shortened it to Chudlip, that’s much nicer, don’t you think.”
“Yes, much nicer, it sounds slightly oriental now. It matches the sari you’re wearing. Thank you again for remaking the clothes.”
“It was fun … Good morning Oddball!” pop; and she was gone.
###
Oddball stared at the place where Chudlip had been for a minute or two; then, shaking his head in bewilderment. chose some of his new clothes and dressed. When he entered the living room some of the people there greeted him, or waved, or nodded. Neither over-effusive nor too stand-offish; he felt welcome and gravitated towards Harry.
“Morning Oddball, sleep well?”
“Yes thank you … Erm … I met a small person called Chudlip. Was she real? She went pop and disappeared.”
“Chudlip is an elf, Oddball. She’s real, and the designated tailoring professor. What she did is called apparating; we can do it as well, but it makes a louder noise. You’ll learn how, when you get to school.”
“Oh! Thanks … Err … Who do I thank for the clothes? Chudlip said they were a gift from Dumbledorian, who is that?”
Harry chuckled: “We all are Dumbledorians; it’s what we call our group of friends. Everyone wanted to help so we hit on the idea of a piece of clothing each. Do you want to make a thank-you speech? I shouldn’t if I were you, we like helping people. Draco and I will let them know quietly how grateful you are.”
“Yes please … Erm … There doesn’t seem to be any breakfast except juices and coffee.”
“Winky will get you some if you like. On Sundays we just sip a juice to get our vocal chords working before going to church. Then we have a big meal at the parish lunch afterwards. It’s up to you.”
“I’ll follow your custom. Am I allowed to come to church?”
“Of course, if you want to. When we get there I’ll introduce you to some of your classmates-to-be. We’ll have a chat to the Headmistress after lunch. She says that there are a couple more people who have not yet turned up, so don’t be too worried about things.”
“Erm … Will I need a wand and books?”
“Probably … See that guy over there, he’s called Gregory, he’s the wand-maker’s apprentice. He’ll sort you out a wand. As for books there’s a fund for helping out guys on low incomes, so that’ll sort that.”
“I’m not a low income guy, Harry,” remarked Oddball, smiling ruefully: “I’m a nil income one.”
“So? All the more reason for using the fund. C’mon we’re beginning to move off to church.”
Harry found a mixed group of first-years and introduced Oddball to them. He stayed with them until after lunch.
###
During the meal D&H sat with Minerva and related the story to her.
She accioed the list of no-shows and looked at it: “There are only three missing; Amanda Humpitt, she’s female so doesn’t count, Gorgonzola Netherfield, female as well; and Rodney Ballantrae, now there’s a good Scottish name.”
Draco sniggered: “He’s contracted it: ‘OD’ from Rodney ‘BAL’ from Ballantrae and then doubled the last letters.”
Minerva chuckled: “Well that’s possible, the Tailoring tutor-to-be has shortened hers to Chudlip. Malkins and Twillfits are jointly funding her post and offering placements next school year. She’s made me a gorgeous tartan sari for the next Wizengamot Ball.”
D: *I can’t wait to see it*!
H: *Don’t be so scathing*!
D: *Minerva and slinky do not fit together, do they*?
H: *You have a point*.
“Ah yes … Parents deceased – Voldemort. Only remaining relative deceased – Seignior. Property held in chancery until seventeenth birthday. Needs guardians appointing then the fund will release enough income. Judging by the list of property there’s not much, so he won’t attract avaricious guardians-to-be; if any.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Minerva.”
“Do you remember being resentful when you found you couldn’t go to Hogsmeade when your friends could?”
“Yes … Now I understand.”
“It’s more complicated than just that Harry,” put in Draco. “The Wizengamot has to appoint two guardians. Now, if the estate is well-heeled, various impecunious or corrupt seneschals will want to become the guardians. Thus they can milk the estate for the expenses for looking after the ward-of-court. I’ve heard tales of luxury holidays and estates being signed over. Father thought to have one once, but then he didn’t want all the difficulties of looking after another rebellious teenager, so he let the Lestranges have a go. The boy was a bit peculiar and was killed in one of the first death eater attacks.”
“Um … could we offer? Say as Trust officers, then no-one could accuse us of fiddling the books, could they?”
“Hmm … One of us could, the other ought to be female. We know what those fuddy-duddies are like.”
“How about Mrs Renner, she’s the granddaughter of a mage and Oddball trusts her.”
“Slow down you two. See what Rodney thinks first. I think he ought to ask Mrs Renner. If you do she’ll yes; just because you’re the village mage.”
“She’d feel under a moral duty to say yes if he asked her, too … Hmm … Horrty might get an honest answer from her. Then if she’s willing and Oddball is, he could ask her formally.”
“You would have to swing it through the Wizengamot as well. She’s a muggle.” Minerva glanced at her papers: “So was his mother; that would be a useful argument, especially if Harry was the other guardian to be.” She smiled at Draco: “I’m afraid some of them might think you were trying one of your father’s schemes, if you did. However, that is for the future. His more pressing needs are for a wand and a learning outfit. Are either of you available tomorrow to take him to Diagon Alley?”
“I’m available in the afternoon, Minerva.”
“Good … If he stays here tonight we can put the hat on him at breakfast, that’ll give my Reeve enough time to find him a bed in whichever Dormitory whilst he attends whatever class his housemates are in.”
“They’ll be with Pullet doing DADA balanced by Neville now he’s taking the first-years for Herbology,” Draco informed them.
“The governors thought it would be a good way of letting Pomona retire gradually,” remarked Minerva: “Neville will stay as their teacher and slowly move up the school year by year; taking on more responsibility as he does so. It gives him time in Augusta’s greenhouses too. He already does the plant hunts on the moors with all the students. Pomona’s Arthritis starts to hurt if she walks too far. Potions help but don’t cure. She’s much older than I am and I’m beginning to creak.”
“Fine then … I’ll collect Oddball after lunch and take him through the portals.”
“Hmm … Harry … He’s not a Dumbledorian.”
“I know … But if I’m to become his guardian he’ll be like family, same as Aunt Dromeda and Teddy. Teddy’s been to look at the sea a couple of times. He says he likes the sand at Laggen Lodge because it makes better sandcastles.”
“Don’t I know it,” Draco half smiled and playfully grimaced: “I had sand everywhere when we came back from the Scillies last week, most uncomfortable.”
###
To make matters short: Horrty went to see Liza Renner and she was willing; Oddball liked the idea of her being a guardian and was awed that Harry wanted to be; Minerva’s scribe-elf contacted her counterpart at the Wizengamot and prepared all the paperwork [vellums] needed for the application. Oddball was just as overwhelmed by Diagon Alley as Harry had been when he went there first time. He chose a great horned owl because he said it looked like Harry – dark feathers on its head with rings round its eyes that looked like spectacles. Oddball wanted to call it Harry but the owl-witch said it was inappropriate, so he settled for Harriet instead. Because Minerva’s elfin helper had been diligent they visited the Ministry as well and deposited the necessary guardianship parchments with the Wizengamot secretary.
When the Wizengamot met to discuss the application there were some quibbles about a muggle being made a guardian. Agent Astoria had been doing her homework and produced a list of guardians whom the Wizengamot had appointed, and that showed a number of muggles. She then showed them Liza’s family tree, showing connections to at least five pure-blood families. An appeal for alternative sponsors fell on deaf ears so Harry and Liza became Oddball’s official guardians until his seventeenth birthday. He was sorted into Ravenclaw, which was the house Liza’s grandmother had been in – It also stopped Harry and Draco feeling jealous about his choice of house. Oddball also struck up an older-brother type of friendship with Teddy and, during the holidays, quite often walked to Oak farm to see Auntie Liza and help with the sheep.
~~~ HOLIDAY? ~~~
Academy and Aurorbunker/forensics followed each other in and orderly procession until, a month after Justin’s twenty-first birthday. On Saturday the twenty third of December the Hogwarts Express marked the beginning of the holidays. Having safely delivered the students to their parents D&H retired to Number Twelve hoping to have a little rest.
Not so, Molly and Narcissa had other and grand ideas.
The London house was decorated from attic to basement, only the occupants’ bedrooms were left uncluttered. As previously, by Molly’s imperial order; D&H retired to the solar and, aided by scrivener-elves and a squadron of owls, wrote cards to send to friends, party members and political allies. Even a few went to their Wizengamot opponents too. That chore finished they sat and read the equivalent number of cards as they were received, giving them to the elves who arranged them tastefully in the dining/ballroom according to Narcissa’s meticulous directions. The establishment ate a light meal around the scrubbed kitchen table that evening, surrounded be delicious smells of food being prepared for the morrow. Some peace pervaded the house before porting to St Godric’s for midnight mass.
###
In the morning D&H rose early; they were joined by Teddy and Oddball in creeping around their London domicile so as not to disturb the others. The first floor Landing had the Christmas tree in its window, suitably lit so as to impress the neighbours. Teddy had to be restrained from opening the presents beneath it. The Boudoir and the Tapestry Room on that floor would comfortably hold all the guests expected for the Christmas dinner. The actual meal would be taken in the dining/ballroom on the ground floor. That room smelled delightfully of polish, berries and the elegant evergreen adornments. Although one wall seemed slightly bare.
The family ported to the cottage and to church for the morning service and then back to Number twelve. It was an enlarged family gathering because the Delacours were there as well as the McLaggens. Two very excited youngsters attended, watched over by Aunt Dromeda. Of course all the ones who had been present last year were included; so the dining room was quite full. As before Draco carved and Harry served, swapping roles for the pudding course. Afterwards the sated guests trundled carefully through the hall into the withdrawing-room it was quite crowded so the younger ones sat on the floor.
It was then that Narcissa sprung her surprise.
“My family and fellow mages, I was looking through some Black family records and I found a plan which did not seem to match up with reality. Not being totally conversant with the symbols I asked Dean and Seamus to explain them to me. They looked and agreed with me that the record did not refer to the actuality. So we made an exploration and this is what we found. ‘Revelio Fornice!’”
Part of the wall between the drawing room and the dining room seemed to shrink inwards. It then split in two and withdrew into itself, revealing a wide elliptical arch which made the two rooms into one. She explained that it was originally used for accessing the light refreshments during a ball. Draco also drew Harry’s attention to the closed partition across the dining room, thus making a very comfortable area for them all to congregate in. Later, Narcissa reassured Draco and Harry that this was reversible so as to accommodate smaller groups of people. Some shifting of furniture took place in order that the group could be all one. Many of the previous year’s games were repeated plus a couple of new ones. The entertainment finished around the grand piano, with Dolores accompanying various people as they sang. Most of the songs had choruses in which the whole party could join. Oddball said he was tone deaf, but was quite content to sit with a dozing Teddy on his knee.
###
The following day was elf rest day in Godric’s hollow, because the ‘family’ decamped to le Manoir for a French take on Boxing Day. The decorations glittered gold and crimson and had fruit attached. The fare was lighter and suited the digestions of the participants. However, one item looked so luscious that all were tempted by its richness. After the honey roast ham and interesting salad came the dessert: a Bûche de Noël. The chocolate log was scattered with icing sugar and decorated with raspberries. What D&H thought were the surrounding mushrooms were actually made of meringue. Around the edge of the silver platter were decorated chocolates. Both Oddball and Teddy had to be dissuaded from eating too much. Narcissa’s warning looks kept Harry’s and Draco’s enthusiasms in order too. Ronald was decidedly green by the end of the repast and sat quietly whilst the less vigorous intellectual games were played.
###
Wednesday and Thursday had D&H at the Ministry on the emergency auror team; not that too much happened, apart from things like kneazles up trees etc. So it was Friday when they went to inspect their joint Christmas present to each other.
A late breakfast and a port to Laggen lodge had them awaiting Berwyn’s return from the lobster pots. As he went to deposit his catch he dropped them off at the shipwright’s workshop.
“Hello Mr Potter, come to collect your sloop, have you?”
“Yes please.”
“Alf’s having a couple of weeks off; then he’ll start refitting the other one. She’s in the cradle so we can launch her once you say you’re satisfied. Are you going to rename her? It quite often happens when a new owner has her refitted.”
“What was she called before?”
“Cirrus, after those streaky clouds which warn you of a storm to come and give you time enough to find shelter.”
“That sounds like my dead Godfather. I think he’d like our boat to be called Sirius after him.”
“I will notify the coastguards about it for you. There are a new set of papers anyway and Alf removed the old names when he was repainting her. I have a number of letters here, which style would you like?”
D&H went and chatted to the McLaggen brothers and they chose some that looked traditional. Whilst they were chatting Alf came over.
“That’s a good name, I doubt Neptune will get too angry with you. Make sure you give him a good drink o champagne too, when we launch her. I’ll fix the letters on her whilst you inspect her innards.”
D&H followed Alf and walked around the beautifully painted sailing vessel; admiring the finish and noting that the auxiliary screw was inset so as not to impede too much the sailing qualities of their boat. Leaving Alf fixing the letters, they climbed the moveable steps which had been parked by the cradle and vaulted over the rail on to one of the side decks. They walked aft and down a couple of steps into the cockpit, shaded by a canopy and windscreen. This had a well-padded seat at the back behind the wheel and Draco tried it out to see if one could steer sitting down. It was possible but the forward view was partially obscured by the main cabin. Behind the seat was a skylight into the aft cabin, but it was not possible to look in through the frosted glass. Behind that was the counter with a dinghy secured on it. They noticed that the gunwale walkway on each side had the possibility of padded cushions making longitudinal seats, long enough to sleep or sun-bathe on.
They turned around and slid back the hatch, descending the steep, narrow steps of the companionway – Hagrid would definitely not fit. This brought them into the main saloon. On one side was the galley, open to the saloon, and on the other a dinette whose table would let down and make a double bed. Forward of that was the small shower and the next door opened into the forward cabin; this contained a trapezoid double bed fitted into the prow of the vessel. It resembled the one in the prow of Justin’s boat. The cabin had a wardrobe and a chart chest of drawers. The two mages turned, went aft down a low, narrow side-passage leading from the saloon into the aft cabin with two single beds and a wardrobe, there were drawers beneath the beds. The toilet was on the other side to the passageway; separated from it by the central engine compartment.
D&H marvelled at the ingenuity employed to utilize every bit of useable space. This included a trapezoid table to fit between the beds in the aft cabin; the two mages reckoned it would sit four comfortably. Draco had to have the fridge explained to him as well as the wind generator, happily whizzing round on the mast-head. That gave Harry a brief glimpse of an Arthur-like attitude from his lover towards things muggle.
They found that the companionway was hinged. Once lifted, it gave access to the small auxiliary engine plus the various tanks for fuel, gas and fresh water; stored under the floor of the main saloon.
Alf appeared looking down the companionway: “Is it to your satisfaction?”
“Yes thank you. We were admiring the finish and the ingenuity of using every bit of space, especially the fore-cabin. So if we used the two cockpit mattresses we could sleep eight, yes?”
“Arr … I’ll show you how to rig the cover, so’s to give the people aloft some shelter.”
It was made with waterproof canvas and resembled a mini-marquee, draped over the boom with vertical sides to waterproof the rails. It incorporated the canopy over the steering position.
This was a proper sea-going vessel, bigger than the one they had used before. Now they wanted to see how she handled in use. But first she had to be put in the water and then there had to be a naming ceremony.
“If we towed her to our island, she would be a hulk, wouldn’t she? Only we rather fancy having our friends there.”
“I should chat to a mermaid first, though,” Alf said with an enigmatic smile.
D: *He doesn’t think they exist. I think we should take his advice though*.
H: *Are we going to enlighten him*?
D: *Better not, you keep him talking. I know the call*. “I’m just going up top, Alf”
“Okay!”
“Whilst Draco’s gone, will you show me where the gas turns on for the kitchen, and advise me on the various procedures with the engine, please?”
The companionway was lifted out of the way, and Alf showed Harry the gas bottles and the two-way valve. He also demonstrated the guards on the cooker and told the mage of the correct freeboard in the pans to stop them spilling. The fridge controls, and the electrics were explained, the batteries shown and the engine controls. It took time, and Draco was finished chatting to the mermaids well before Alf had finished his instruction.
D: *They want to chat to you too*.
H: *Fine … You get Alf to instruct you about the water and the loos*.
D: *Why do I get the naff job*.
H: *Because I’ll be cooking, you do want to eat, don’t you? I’m used to the muggle devices that use gas and electricity, you aren’t*.
D: *Point made! At least I can understand water flows and valves*.
Draco engaged Alf whilst Harry went below the jetty to chat with the mermaids.
###
“Your purple partner has told us what you want to do. Neptune says he wouldn’t do it for anyone but you. He also suggests a magnum of bubbly at least.”
“I think we could manage that; does he want a formal invitation to the ceremony?”
“You never know with him, like the sea he’s unpredictable,” replied a merman.
“He rather likes the McLaggens because they respect the ecology of his domain,” ventured another mermaid: “He was most pleased when you sent the Seignior packing, because those minions of his trawl everything out and kill all of it. It’s not as though they eat it, either,”
“Neptune says that you aren’t to worry about Keplin Tarn, the kelpie no longer lives there,” this mermaid giggled: “He was a grumpy old fart anyway.”
Harry chuckled: “I hope you meant the kelpie and not Neptune.”
The merpeople let out peals of tinkling laughter when one of them suggested that their monarch could be crusty too.
“Well,” said Harry smiling: “If he’s in an okay mood tell him that he would be most welcome.” Then he nodded: “As would all of you, too.”
That got him a chorus of thank-yous which dissolved into bubbles as the merpeople went away. Harry clambered back up the slippery stairs where Draco and Alf were waiting.
“So you did talk to them then.”
“Yes Alf, we took your advice.”
“Arr … I wasn’t sure if you knew the ancient lore, or not. Seeing as you came wi’ the McLaggen boys, I s’pected you might. Now the boss, he doesn’t hold wi’ that kind o thing, so’s I keep me counsel, see.”
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