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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
- 116
- 117
- 118
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ MOUNTAINOUS ~~~
Alexandrou was interviewed by Minerva and duly tested for his aptitudes. A number of private classes were arranged for him and he soon began to show his strength and prowess. As Ollivander had predicted, Alexandrou had an affinity to earth thaums as well as water charms. He stayed at Hogwarts during the weeks and inhabited a room at Well House at the weekends; Petunia and Vernon having taken quite a shine to him. His contra basso voice added depth to the harmonies whilst singing in church too, that made him a hit with the Smiling Ones and Hamish. Somehow he and Oddball were drawn together, too.
###
There had been much heartache during the previous term. NEWT’s students worrying about exams and then about the jobs they were applying for. The junior Dumbledorians’ results were awaiting them when they arrived back from Draco’s expedition. There was more heartache in the Blake family too. Draco had to present his doctorate thesis to the board and then it was passed on to the examining body. Called to London to face the assessors he had had a sleepless night previously and had to take a pep-up potion in order to be alert. He need not have worried he gained his Doctorate and then was offered membership of the Guild of Potioneers.
A week later Harry and his group of experimenters presented their papers on the use of defensive Imperio. This was a new concept and so an ad hoc committee examined them. The usual examiners were there, plus Kingsley and a member each of the Department of Mysteries and Magical Law Enforcement. Harry’s group found out that the easiest way was to demonstrate what was meant and so they went into the Aurorbunker. The Assessors accepted the idea once they understood what was meant, however a long debate took place as to what circumstances would warrant its use. Harry’s group had already thought about this and they produced an auxiliary paper outlining their ideas. By and large the committee accepted the propositions and then placed an item on the Wizengamot’s order paper. Harry’s group then had to explain the concept all over again to the whole Wizengamot. After some debate the new licensing law was passed and a control sub-committee of the Watch Committee set up. As well as getting their doctorates the group were the first people to receive licences to use Defimperio
###
There were two separate birthdays to celebrate before the next incident. Hermione and Blaise hosted celebratory dinners when they reached twenty-two.
###
Saturday 27^th October was the beginning of the half term. D&H had booked holiday from the Ministry quoting the forthcoming portal making at Halloween/Samhain. Their idea was to create a French triangle between the Chateau, La Maison and the chalet. To that end they intended to take three days to travel the intended route in order to find a suitable half-way stage. However, that was not to be.
There were a number of friends sharing a picnic lunch in the patio at Chantry Cottage which included Francis, Hamish and Dolores. Ginevra was there looking slightly worried with, of course, Astoria who was paler than normal. Harry drew Draco’s attention to the fact.
H: *It looks as though they’ve recently had an argument, doesn’t it*?
D: *I can risk offending them*. “Hey, you two, have you had a spat, or something?”
“Not really, Draco; Astoria’s in bit of trouble and I say we should tell you. However, she says it’s family business and should stay there.” Ginevra stared meaningfully at her mate.
Harry stood and went to hug Astoria’s shoulders: “We’re family too, Tor; you know. It must be serious if Ginny’s calling you Astoria.” He shook her gently, but in a friendly way. Astoria burst into tears.
Five minutes later her sobbing ceased. Harry smiled and remarked gently: “At least you should tell me now, even if only in recompense for my soaked shirt.”
“Mmm … Sorry … It’s Grandmamma!”
There was a pause whilst everyone held their breath.
“She thinks she’s being targeted by satraps. She’s getting on now and behaves a little like Aunt Petunia does sometimes … You know … Every stranger’s an enemy, type of thing. So we tend to proverbially pat her on the back and then ignore her whims. I went to stay at her house over the weekend … You know … give her a boost by saying everything’s okay. As far as I could see it was. But I’ve got this niggle in the back of my mind. She lives all by herself except for her elves, it’s not really good for her, but she can be very obstinate too.”
“How about, two or three of us go over and give her wards a spring-clean?”
“You’ve got this portal making planned, haven’t you? You don’t want to tire yourselves out before that.”
“That’s on Thursday morning, Tor; we could go over on Sunday after lunch, no probs. Where does she live?”
“In Vienna, it’s the old family palast called the Grunrasenhof.”
“Vienna, Austria?”
“Yes!”
“Oh!” Harry looked at Draco quizzically.
“We could port to the chalet, but it’s too far to floo.”
“Why not take a train,” suggested Douglas: “Swiss and Austrian railways are very good time keepers. We were looking up a trip for a gent going from Geneva to Vienna. The train stops at Lausanne, across the water from your chalet, one change in Zürich and he was getting a sleeper.”
“What d’yer mean, a sleeper, aren’t they those wooden planks under the rails?”
“Yes they are, Seamus. Just to confuse things ‘sleeper’ also refers to a train with beds in it. In Europe many major cities have these connecting them daily.”
“That’s fascinating; Dean and I were wondering if there was something interesting ter do during the holiday, weren’t we Love?”
“I was watching some electric trains with binoculars a couple of days ago; they were on the other side of the lake. They move much faster than our old school steam train. I looked up one of the train numbers and it was from Geneva in Switzerland to Vienna in Austria.”
“Austria!” exclaimed Francis loudly, “Merlin, I almost forgot to tell you, we’ve uncovered a Black property there; one that was well hidden in the mountains a few miles west of Salzburg. I have a suspicion that Lucy’s using it as his headquarters, if not that, then as a staging post.”
“We can’t have that,” said Justin vociferously: “Anyone wants to volunteer to oust Lucy from his mountain eyrie?”
Most the Dumbledorians in the room indicated positively. After a little discussion a dozen decided to accompany them: Ginevra, Astoria, Harry, Draco, Dean, Seamus, Hermione, Ronald, Justin, Susan, Michael and Anthony. A number of others said they would apparate over from the chalet if required once a homing beacon had been set up.
Douglas went off to see if he could book berths and Francis went off to find paperwork and a map.
“If this is within range we ought to make the portal there and not complete the triangle. Then we can maintain vigilance.”
“Yes Harry … Hmm … Tor does your Grandmamma have a spare set of cabinets.”
“No idea, Draco. There’s lots of stuff in the cellars, so it’s possible. Why?”
“Connect her in, like we did with WWW, or Shell Cottage.”
“I could pop in to visit her regularly if that happened. It’s difficult for my parents; they only have the yacht to live on. Owls can find them but floos are out and apparition is difficult,” Astoria giggled: “Ginny and I’ve landed in the water more than once.
“We were close though,” added Ginevra with a smile: “They picked us up almost immediately.”
“Live on a yacht?”
“Yes Susan. Voldie turned them out of their ancestral home in Wales, killing a number of the family in the process. He made it unplottable and we have not yet found the entrance. He wanted to kill my parents but they escaped onto our yacht and made that unplottable as well. It’s possible your father is using their house as his British base, Draco.”
“Hmm … Quite likely … That’s something else we must add to the list.”
“Let’s deal with the place we can trace first, eh Lover?”
The conversation continued for about half an hour before Francis returned with some parchments and maps.
“I have here the equivalent of deeds for a remote chalet in the Mountains west of Salzburg. It is only accessible on foot or by apparating. I’m not sure about its security from malign influences; however, it will accept the Black heir and his consorts through the wards. In a way, the very isolation is its own protection, that’s why there’s a suspicion that Lucy could be using it. I have written down the apparition co-ordinates for the chalet and for a secluded level place clear of the wards, so that you may take a backup squad, but not be detected; just in case it’s infested with malcontents.”
Francis showed Draco and Harry the maps and where the co-ordinates would place an apparator. There was a map of Europe on which Francis had marked the present positions of Harco properties and then there was a more detailed map, just covering the chalet in the west and this new mountain retreat in the east. The next was a detailed map of the Salzburg hinterland and then two plans of the property, one showing the estate and another, the building itself. An hour was spent poring over the plans until Douglas came back.
“The Nacht Zug clerk was as pleased as punch. They had a party booked in half of one of their carriages and had not filled the other half. Now your dozen can have the other half – you’re in luck we booked you in doubles and at party-rate; organiser goes free. I booked it to the Harco account, is that right Draco and Harry?”
“Yes, perfectly alright …”
“No it isn’t … We’re paying our own way,” interrupted Justin.
Harry scowled comically at his double-barrelled mate: “The free one gets divided up into equal shares, okay? Deal with Kreacher about how you pay the money in.”
“We’re coming too, Harry. At least a contingent of us is.”
“So do you want sleeper berths, booking, Kreacher?”
“No thanks, Douglas, we’ll get there the normal way. I’m already in touch with Otto the Palast Hauptdiener. It’s as Astoria says, The Duchessa keeps worrying about her isolation and it leads to fantasies about being attacked. Otto has heard on the elf-vine that your mountain hut has unsavoury tenants and mistreated elves, so it would be worthwhile cleansing it.”
“So tell us more.”
“You know very well, Harry; that I can’t. We keep our master’s secrets even if it kills us; thus they cannot reveal what goes on there.”
“Yes … Sorry. Fine … then what’s our timetable, Douglas.”
“All that’s booked is the 22.33 from Zürich main station on Sunday evening. That gets you in to Vienna Westbahnhof at 08.09 on Monday morning. I can obtain day tickets for you from Lausanne to Zürich and there’s an hourly service at six minutes past each hour taking two hours and twenty minutes.”
“So we could leave just after eight in the evening,”
“Could we not go earlier so as to see some of the sights? Maybe have dinner in a lakeside restaurant.”
Douglas produced a red covered book and started noting times and looking at a map about halfway through it. Harry peered over his shoulder and saw columns of numbers, with names he did not recognise down the left hand column. Quarter of an hour passed.
“Well now,” started Douglas: “There are two scenic routes which you could take; both go over mountains and besides lakes. I would recommend both, but the second one, from Interlaken to Luzern, would not be that interesting in the dark. Now the first bit from Montreux to Spiez involves a change halfway from a narrow gauge railway to a standard gauge one. You could take an hour’s side trip to Lenk but you wouldn’t see much. You’d be better making the best of the light down the valley to Spiez. There you can catch the fast train direct to Zurich which would give you just over three hours in which to have dinner. I dare say there might even be a dining ship where you could eat a meal. Or maybe go to a lakeside restaurant, there are plenty to choose from.”
“That sounds good and Montreux is nearer; shall we go for that route?”
The others indicated positively and so it was decided. Ginevra and Astoria left to go and see the Duchessa; saying that they would see the rest of the party at the lakeside chalet on Sunday afternoon.
###
The Sunday service at St. Godric’s usually contained prayers for the elderly and infirm, many of whom resided in the parish alms houses, Grandmamma Lily was added to that list.
There was no idling around after lunch at the Farmers Arms, because a party of ten mages ported to Chalet Cadmus. Half-past one had them on a couple of dinghies crossing Lac Léman. They waved goodbye to the englamoured elves who were taking the craft back and had walked up to the station in reasonable time to catch the narrow gauge train which was standing near some arches at the back of the station. It became obvious that Douglas knew what he was doing. He had booked them in the front of the train in an observation car. Not behind the engine as would be expected, because that was in the middle of the train. The result was that they had wonderful views of the approaching line and the mountainous countryside. It was called The Golden Pass Train.
They set off climbing into a tunnel, upon emerging the sun was on the other side so they imagined that the train had travelled in a semicircle under the city. Climbing as they went through delightful suburbs with houses seemingly higgledy-piggledy scattered on the hillside. The approach to Fontanivent station was a semi-circular but in the open this time, the same occurred after they left Sonzier. Stopping at Chamby they spotted a steam engine, although it appeared not to be working, there was also a wonderful panorama of Lake Geneva. Another curving tunnel had them at the end of the zig-zags; looking down on Chamby station, before taking off into the hills. During the early part of the journey, they had many views over Lac Léman, firstly from one side of the carriage and then the other as they climbed the double S bends out of the city.
There was a long and reasonably straight tunnel before arriving at Montbuvon, where they stayed for five minutes awaiting a connection from the chocolate train. Some of those passengers joined their carriage and told them that they had been tasting gruyere cheese as well as visiting a chocolate factory. The scenery had been excellent so far, it became stupendous thereafter, with conical mountains, rushing rivers and high bridges.
Arriving at Zweizimmen they found an equivalent standard gauge train waiting to take them down the lush wooded valleys into Spiez. Where there was an intriguing wooden sculpture there of what appeared to be a crashed carriage. From the previous five-minute change, they only had nine minutes before their intercity train was due. What surprised them was that it was quite tall.
On boarding they looked for their seat numbers and found that they had to climb a short set of stairs. This train had two decks; the lower one seemed not to be reserved. It was dark by now, but their elevated position helped them to see some of the lighted towns as they passed through. On approach to Bern they were amused to find a station named Wankdorf and in the hilarious comments missed an announcement at Bern main station. They were concerned when they set off back the way they came, but a kindly gentleman said it was normal procedure. Upon reaching the amusing station they took a different line to the one they had arrived on. The rest of the journey was smooth, fast and uneventful.
###
Now they were in Zürich, they had had enough of movement for a while and so after a stroll around the city’s bright lit shopping streets, admiring the floodlit twin towers of the Grossmünster and ogling the Ganymede statue; the company opted for a lakeside restaurant with views of lights twinkling along its shores. The food was expenxive, but well worth the attack on the Harco credit card.
A couple of hours later, the baroque Hauptbahnhof welcomed them at nine forty-five and after a quick wander through the atrium, which used to be the platform area, they went into the modern section to find their train. Draco read the carriage numbers off until they came to theirs. They were a little surprised when they found their carriage labelled for Budapest. The helpful attendant explained that the other party was going there, but the train called in Vienna first.
The compartments had two bunks each, one above the other and could be joined in pairs, so the four girls took the first pair and the boys the other; with Draco, Harry, Dean and Seamus sharing. The attendant found out what time they wanted waking and enquired off the menu what they would like to eat for breakfast; which then caused an earlier revision in waking times. Whereas Harry was accustomed to switches for lights and other functions Draco was not, the same happened with Dean for Seamus. Draco, Arthur-like, marvelled yet again at the way muggles managed to live without magic.
Sleeping on a train is an art, one that they were unfamiliar with, despite Draco’s escapade earlier in the year. However, they did manage to rest, even if some noises woke them.
Coffee, orange juice, meat-spread and cheese, brown bread and a croissant made up their breakfast upon waking. Trips to the end of the carriage for a shower and toiletry needs were supplemented by washing at their own washbasins, so by eight o’clock they were spruced-up and ready to alight when their train drew into Wien Westbahnhof.
A large taxi took them all to Grandmamma’s residence at the Grunrasenhof.
###
It was not a grand palast on the Ringstraße but in one of the quarters behind it. Mariangaße was unprepossessing and lined with small shops occasionally interspersed with grand entrances; it was at one of these that the taxi stopped. Justin, having had the presence of mind to obtain some Euros, paid the driver and they ascended a couple of steps to push open two beautiful polished wood and glass doors. These led into the foyer of a coffee house, but it was through another elegant door that they went.
Inside a servant in black livery met them: “Oh it’s you, mistress Astoria and your guests.” Said servant reverted to being an elf, older than Kreacher, but still retaining the house livery.
“Hello Otto, this is Harry Potter and … … …”
Otto nodded his head reverentially as each person was introduced and then led them up a grand marble staircase which doubled back on itself. It was lined with statues and pictures. That took them to the ballroom situated over the coffee house. It was an elegant room in the rococo style and had a balcony encircling it one floor up. The next flight led them there.
“Hmm … Otto …?”
“Yes Master Draco?”
“The portraits aren’t moving.”
“No Master, they don’t. This part of the house is where muggle tourists visit or we let the rooms out for functions and conferences. We have a Mozart concert tonight and a Strauss ball arranged for this Saturday, all in period costume, of course. The old house has to earn its keep, you know. The Mistress has kept to the business plan the late Duka laid out. In fact, she has enhanced it and increased the charges due to inflation.”
H: No wonder she worries about strangers*.
D: *I agree; it would be so easy for satraps to pose as tourists*.
Otto led them to a door in an alcove containing comfortable looking bench seats.
“As you can see this door is unobtrusive in this dark corner. Thus we try to hide the one we require; it will only open to those who have been handed through already. Therefore, masters and mistresses; that is my next task.”
After Otto had shaken their hands and welcomed them to the Grunrasenhof they ascended another flight of stairs, partly arranged above the other set. However, this set of portraits did move and either stared haughtily, waved or make a decorous obeisance. He led them along a corridor and into and elegant drawing room, announcing each guest as they came through the door.
D&H had been expecting a rather gaunt lady with snow-white hair and a stiff demeanour. Instead, the Countess was bouncy and plump, the white hair and chiffon dress were there; no formal handshake or bow; it was a hug and a kiss on both cheeks.
“How nice of you all to come, I do hope you’ll be staying for our ball on Saturday?”
D: *Sounds interesting*.
H: *We should have recovered enough, and if she’s connected …*
“We’d love to, Duchessa, but we have a few tasks to complete first.”
“Of course, and I’ll feel much better when you’ve updated the wards. Astoria was saying something about being connected through. I’m not quite sure what she meant.”
Astoria gave Harry a meaningful look and he twigged that the old lady had already had it explained: “It all depends on whether we can take possession of the Schwartzberg, Duchessa. If that is possible then we can make it a staging post for Astoria and her friends to visit you. It also means that you could visit our various houses, if you wished to.”
“Where’s the nearest one?”
“On Lake Geneva, at the moment.”
“That’s too far away for a vanishing cabinet to work, Astoria. Why did you ask for one to be made ready?”
“If I might answer that, my lady,” Draco smiled and continued smoothly: “It would lead to the Schwartzberg which, being near Salzburg, is within range. Harry and I hope that in connecting that mountain chalet to the one on Lac Léman we could therefore create a through link.”
The Duchessa looked mischievous: “I like that young man, Astoria. He’d make you a good husband, you know.”
Just as Astoria, hands on hips, was about to retort the Duchessa burst out laughing: “The only problem I see is unhitching him from the current hero of the wizarding world … Now, come along, we have ‘kaffee und kuchen’ awaiting us in the morning room. I believe the chocolate cakes will boost your next endeavours, children.”
The coffee smelled heavenly, much better than the stuff served on the train. It was easily surpassed by the enormous selection of mouth-watering pastries, cakes and chocolate confections on show on the long sideboard.
“It’s an advantage having a coffee-house within the premises,” remarked Otto, when he was asked to pass on their thanks: “Their chefs will be providing the food for the ball, and refreshments tonight. Each business fortifies the other. Herr Shankar and his brother are squibs and we feel duty bound to help them if possible.”
They followed two or three more flights of stairs to arrive in a small rooftop garden. Two or three wrought iron chairs and a table were complemented by urns containing flowers. Harry and Draco carefully checked the co-ordinates and, joining hands with their friends, mass-disapparated.
~~~ SCHWARTZBERG ~~~
When showing the Blakes the secluded outside apparition area on the map, Francis had chosen the place carefully and they found themselves in a small pine girt clearing. Harry and Draco went on a reconnaissance using Francis’s map, the duple and the invisibility cloak. It took just over two hours to fly, sneak and walk around the perimeter, fleshing out the map into actual terrain. When the two of them returned they found the others had set up camp and Kreacher was waiting for them.
“Why the tents, Kreacher?”
“As it’s a Blake residence, we elves were not refused entrance. The house-elves there are very badly treated. We’ve brought the worst ones out and the ladies are treating their wounds in the tents. We’ve substituted our personnel for the missing ones; that lot of ruffians can’t tell one of us from another. Best of all, the resident elves recognise Harry as their true master and will co-operate in anything he proposes.”
“We had a chat with the Hauptdiener,” added Phealey. “He says that the satraps are there and awaiting orders from the Seignior. They are quite grumpy because he hasn’t arrived when he said he would, and have been elf-hunting to pass the time away. That’s why there are so many injured.” He added: “They have overheard that the satraps are to raid a ball soon, perhaps it’s the one planned for Saturday.”
“How many are there?”
“About twenty, Draco,” Pullet informed him.
“Not enough for us to overwhelm them, then … Hmm … I wonder?” Draco had a mind-meld with Harry.
“Well that’s an unusual idea. I’ll come along with you under the cloak, as back up.” Harry turned to his little army. “Justin, would you glamour Draco to look like his father, please. He’s going to go in and tell them that the attack is postponed and that they are to meet here in a week’s time. Then he’ll order them to apparate away. After that we’ll let you in and we can secure the place; Okay?”
“Love to, Harry, what a spiffing idea!”
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