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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
- 118
- 119
- 120
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ CONNECTIONAL ~~~
D&H had a cautious check outside the gates, just to ensure that Lucius had not left any booby traps and then returned to the chalet.   The sun was shining directly on the rear of the house and a couple of screens had been opened to create a draught proof part of the veranda. Within this some small crisp-linen draped tables had been set with enough chairs for the mages to sit informally. Some of the elves wandered around with teapots, others with cake stands so that the guests could choose what to have.
“We did not sleep too well on the train, Schnauzenhund,” Harry explained: “So we will have a rest afterwards.”
The idea of trains had to be explained and then the idea of sleeping carriages. Whilst this was happening D&H realised how isolated the Schwartzberg really was. After a couple of hours’ nap in their rooms the company felt refreshed and descended for an early dinner before cabinetting to the Grunrasenhof.
Seats in the front rows had been reserved for them in the ballroom, which had a stage set up at one end of it. The players were all dressed in early Victorian costumes befitting the period the muggles expected. The elves had transformed and wore splendid scarlet and gold uniforms, with Otto the grandest of them all. However, he was outshone by Grandmamma who had put on a beautiful silk costume and positively glittered with jewellery. She acted the gracious hostess and also as an announcer.
H: *Should we have dressed like the performers, or compliment Grandmamma*?
D: *Our neat lounge suits fit in well with the muggle audience. Don’t tell me you wanted to stand out? That’s most un-Harry-like*!
Harry decided not to reply to that jibe.
Once the audience was seated the orchestra began with the overture to ‘Cosi fan Tutte’, this was followed by ‘The Queen of the Night’ aria and Leperello’s catalogue song. The first half finished with Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Draco remarked that it appeared to be a fairly standard Mozart repertoire. The interval was longer than expected. The audience were served with refreshments and they were not just drinks. They also could wander around the other rooms on that floor, each of which had a themed display, Habsburgs, The Siege, and the two composers to mention some. The second half of the concert was a Strauss family bonanza ending up with the audience clapping in time to the Radetzky march. It was wll after ten when it was over, and judging by the expressions on the muggles faces, it had been a great success.
“How often do you do that, Grandmamma?”
“Once a week with occasional extras thrown in. The balls are once a fortnight but there are occasional specials. We have an excellent reputation in the city for providing a good show, aimed at an upmarket clientele. One or two of the better cruise boat companies include us on their itinerary, too.” She chuckled: “We can undercut the opposition because we don’t have to pay the waiters’ wages. And I can pretend to myself that I’m giving grand soirées. This one will have paid half my wine bill for the year.”
Draco looked slightly shocked: “How very commercial of you.”
Grandmamma roared with laughter: “Obviously your father did not let you into all his secrets. I bet Kreacher is looking after the Blake fortune just as commercially as I do.”
Harry chuckled: “Think of all those rents Francis told us about, Draco. Then there’s the interest paid by Gringotts plus what the various farms earn.”
“Okay, okay, no need to rub it in. Francis was telling me about various Malfoy/Snape incomes from investments that he had sorted. That still seems far removed from Grandmamma dressing up and being nice to muggles.”
H: *Careful … You’re letting the old Malfoy show*.
D: *Hmm … Sorry!*
This conversation chuntered on whilst the two of them cabinetted back to the Schwartzberg, undressed and retired to bed. However more interesting personal happenings stopped that topic once the pair had stripped and were lathering each other under the shower. The aftermath was enjoyable too.
~~~ INSPECTION ~~~
Harry was up first on Tuesday and opened the curtains allowing the low-level sunlight to stream in. That awoke Draco who joined his lover on the balcony. The whole vista seemed to sparkle with fresh dew and the air had an especial flavour to it.
“That pool down there looks swimmable.”
“It’s the sun glinting on it; anyway the distances in the mountains are deceiving.”
“After breakfast I fancy going for a walk and we’ll see.”
“Mmm … Good idea … we had better wear boots, that dew looks quite heavy.”
“Fine, we ought to see some more of the estate. When we went round inspecting the wards we were too intent on not being seen to take in the surroundings.
So after they had eaten the pair set off, some of the others were going grass skiing and said that they might join them later. The estate seemed to be set out in giant steps. Each step held a good sized set of almost level fields, in some of which grazed the bell wearing cows. D&H had an ongoing discussion as to whether these steps were man made or the result of successive decreasing prehistoric water levels. Whichever they were, the steep divisions held many wild alpine plants. Around the estate was a forest of pine trees which gave the air a delightful scent. Autumn was represented by interspersed patches of golden birch leaves and other woodland bushes. The bushes formed a tidy edge between the forest and the fields and occasionally intruded into the steep divisions.
Not that every division was wild, because they noted an obviously trained thicket of blackberry vines on one of them. Another had squashes, pumpkins and gourds decorating it. Reminding them of the harvest decorations that the elves had placed on the front steps. The slopes that were less steep had fruit trees on them, and on one or two lower south facing slopes they noted some hardy grape vines.
Draco stopped suddenly and pointed carefully: *I think that’s a marmot*.
H: *He must be on sentry duty, because I can see the furry backs of others in that slight hollow*.
D: *Oh yes, I can see them now. Uh, oh. There’s a predatory bird swooping down*.
H: *The sentry’s whistling a warning and they’re scuttling away*.
D: *That sentry was lucky. Another half second and those wicked looking claws would have had him*.
The eagle or hawk seemed to scream in frustration, touched down briefly and then flapped away.
D: *Could you understand any of that*?
H: *Not really, it’s owls with whom I can communicate. I expect he was swearing, something like my lover when he gets frustrated*.
D: *I don’t swear*.
H: *Yes you do; quite colourfully, too … Do you want to wait and see if those marmots return? I think the girls would find them cuddly*.
D: *Well they aren’t. I’m told that they have strong claws for digging with, and the males use them against their rivals when the mating season comes around*.
They waited for about ten minutes but the squirrel-like creatures did not reappear.   Draco also kept an eye on the frustrated bird and nudged Harry when he saw it stooping. That marmot was not as lucky, because they could see it dangling from the bird of prey’s claws.
###
Continuing the hike, they came to a confluence in the stream they were following. Looking around, they saw another steeper but stepped valley climbing away; so they decided to follow this. The steep dividers here were not cultivated and a flock of birds chattered and argued over the autumnal red berries. Hips and haws, berberis and honeysuckle were the plants that were producing this abundance. One particularly steep divide had them stopped, panting at the top. Looking around they spied one of the elves gathering large yellow thistle heads and asked him why.
“Carline thistle heads provide a basis for a restoring winter beverage which we make, Meisters.”
“I see you have other leaves and berries in your scrip.”
“Yes Drameister, the plants in these fields provide various potional ingredients.”
“Why are there so few flowers in the fields below?
“Those are cut twice to make hay, Harmeister. Up here the season is shorter and the cows graze during the summer. Erm, perhaps you could help me. One of the professor elves has asked for Knapweed, it’s a term I’m not familiar with.”
“Centuraea nigra is the Latin nomenclature.”
“Thank you, Drameister I now know what to pick.”
The Blakes climbed a further two levels noting the leafless autumn crocuses in the grass and chatting to another elf who was gathering edible fungi.
“I’m hot, I could do with a dip in the pool.”
“Well its way down there,” Draco pointed: “But we cannot see it.”
“Follow that trail through the woods, Meisters, it’ll take you there by the quickest route. There are red spots on the trees, we find we can get turned round in the thickets. Don’t follow the blue dots, it’s a lovely walk but you’ll get lost once dusk falls.   We used to take a summer picnic when we followed that one, it is worth the effort, but you need ten hours of daylight.”
“Thanks, we’ll reserve that for next year.”
The red marked track they followed was charming. Dark and mysterious in one place, revealing a delightful mountain view in another; there were rushing waterfalls and zigzag paths down small precipices, a clearing full of thyme that smelled heavenly and sheltered sun baked flat rocks that just begged for someone to nakedly lie on them. One would think that descending would be cooling, but they were still hot and sweating when they arrived in the vicinity of the pool, and still ached to have a swim.
Before they got there Draco stopped Harry and pointed: *Chamois*!
H: *I see it, and its herd browsing in the stunted pines below*. Harry took a step and trod on a rotten branch which snapped. The chamois pricked up its ears and looked in their direction, quivering in anticipation, so D&H froze.
Half a minute later there was a shout and a number of splashes below. The alerted beast and its followers darted away; jumping between the rocks. Harry felt slightly cross and stomped down to the water’s edge, stripping off his clothes as he did so. A slightly amused Draco followed on, picking up his mate’s discards. Harry bomb-shelled into the water almost on top of Michael.
“Why did you scare the chamois off,” he demanded.
“We’d been watching them for nearly quarter of an hour, and we’d heard there were hunters around. Then we heard a branch snap and thought it was them. Those beautiful creatures don’t deserve to be shot at.”
“I think you misheard the elf, Michael, I think he said predators,” said Anthony.
Draco had undressed and jumped in: “You only have yourself to blame, Harry. It was your foot that snapped the branch. So don’t take it out on Mike.”
Both Harry and Anthony glared at Draco whilst the others laughed.
Draco shivered: “This water’s somewhat parky.”
“You could try a heating charm.”
“I don’t advise it, there’s quite a throughput of water. You’d wear yourself out just making it a degree warmer. The effort’s not worth it. Just swim energetically that’ll keep you warm. Beside the fish might not like it.”
“What fish,” Michael tried to peer through the shine on the water.
“The big silver one that’s eyeing up your cock as though it’s a juicy worm,” suggested Anthony.
Justin, who was nearby, stretched out an arm and nipped Michael’s prick. There was a flurry of splashing and swearing whilst everyone else laughed.
“That’s not funny.”
“We’re just getting our own back for a certain person who wanks too loudly on the train. Honestly, the noise you were making sounded as though we had a steam engine on the front.”
“Were you dreaming of Romilda again? That’s a Vane hope, she has her eyes set on someone else,” Justin chuckled.
“Well, I can dream, can’t I? You’ve no room to talk Juicy, Susan’s already hooked you.”
… … … … And so the banter went on as they swam, dried, dressed and were taken back in a rope-drawn carriage for a late lunch. The ride back was decidedly chill because, whilst they were swimming, the plume of cloud trailing behind one of the peaks had filled out; hiding the sun and the wind had increased in strength.
###
Walking and swimming had definitely enhanced their appetite so they concentrated on the meal and on each other around the oval table. Coffee was taken to the drawing room and Anthony looked out through the window:
“Hey Guys, look at this, it’s started to snow.”
There was quite a blizzard outside so they unanimously voted to stay indoors. Draco and Hermione mooched around the library noting books that they were sure were not available in the Black and Duindhu libraries. Ronald and Justin sat absorbed at a chess table with Harry and the others playing various other board games. At around dinner time the cabinet clicked and Grandmamma sallied forth in an evening gown.
D: *I’d forgotten we’d asked her*.
H: *Stand still and I’ll cast a glamour on you*.
D: *Thanks, I’ll do you afterwards*.
So it was that two properly dressed pseudo grandsons intercepted the Duchessa and gave her a guided tour of the chalet, whilst the others hurriedly donned their glad-rags. Hermione and Susan then commandeered her ladyship whilst Draco and Harry went to shower and dress. The dinner was a success and Grandmamma entertained them with stories from her past for a couple of hours before she departed.
###
The hot tubs, do you intend to use, Schwartzmeisters?”
“Hot tubs, Schnauzenhund?”
“Yah Meisters, in the basement placed; for use after being outside, they are excellent.”
“Show us please, that sounds intriguing.”
They followed their Hauptdiener into a cellar and under where the main hall was. There were a number of wooden barrels with steam coming out of them. They were about four feet tall and two foot six round. Each one had a chair height step on its outside and an equivalent one on the inside. They learned that if you climbed in and sat down an attendant elf would wrap a heavy towel around your neck and then drape it over the open top of the barrel. Once enclosed, the attendant twirled some taps and amount of steam was let into the barrel causing the participants to start to sweat. It was not uncomfortable and every pore was cleansed by the heat. The only uncomfortable part was the tepid water that was sluiced over them just before leaving.
Delightfully relaxed the participants wobbled upstairs and crawled into bed.
~~~ ALPINE ~~~
Wednesday morning arrived; added to the scent of the flowers on the balcony was another aroma. Draco disentangled himself from Harry’s sleepy clutches and went to investigate. The valley was transformed, pristine snow covered the ground and a number of chuckling Dumbledorians were sitting in it. In reality they were trying out skis for the first time and finding out how uncontrollable they were. Harry joined Draco giving him a big morning kiss.
“That’s not for us today lover. We have to conserve our energies for tonight.”
“Hmm … C’mon, I promise we’ll rest this afternoon.”
Harry chuckled: “Your horns are showing.”
Draco chuckled back: “I’ll let you play with my tail if you say yes.”
“Fine, let’s go and get shivering cold.”
“I aim to wrap up well.”
“Not too well or you’ll not be able manoeuvre.”
They snatched breakfast and joined the merry throng. The snow was slippery and they fell down a number of times. Just before lunch Hans said that they could try the easy slope if they wanted to. Of course everyone did. Again the Quidditch players outshone the others because riding a stick had ingrained into them the kind of balance needed. It was more a matter of transferring that skill into their legs and feet. In the end they made it down almost to the pool by a number of easy slopes. The rope worked cart was not there to pick them up. However, the rope, with a number of loops dangling from it was in motion. That was a new skill to learn; hanging on to the loop and allowing the rope to pull you up the slope.
“How does it work, Hans?”
“There’s a treadmill and one of the cows plods in it; taking turns. They get fat and lazy in the byre in winter, so a little exercise does them good. It also increases their milk yield slightly.”
After the meal was over Harry indicated that he and Draco wanted to rest.
“We agreed to go to Grandmamma’s and see the sights of Vienna. You can ride round the Ringstraße and see all the sights. That should be restful enough,” urged Anthony.
Draco put up an objection and was contradicted by Michael and Susan so the pair gave in and cabinetted to the Grunrasenhof. They thought that taking one of the horse-drawn carriages but decided they all wanted to be together and the cost rather put them off. Grandmamma suggested the trams which, if carefully chosen would give them a circular tour.
Day tickets were available, which they could use on other routes. They made their circular tour in the tram looking at all the grand buildings. D&H opted to ride on other tram routes seeing more of the city. The others decamped and went to look at various public buildings. The pair got as far as the Schönbrunn Palace and sat in the forecourt at a café drinking tea, deciding that they had not the energy to explore the vast complex. Taking a different route to reach the Grunrasenhof.
The others had not arrived back so they had a quiet dinner with Grandmamma and went to lie down in their mountain refuge.
Just after eleven they were woken by Astoria.
“We had a great time and ended up in the Prater. The muggles have come up with all kinds of machines to give you a thrilling ride. Which one of you am I taking to the Liechtenstein witches?”
“It’ll be me,” said Draco: “Why Liechtenstein?”
“It’s within apparating distance of both here and the chalet. They’re part of the chain we used to use to get around Europe.”
“Very well, lead on, Tor. I’ll call you, Harry, just after midnight.”
“Fine, I’ll wander down to the cupboard prior to that.”
Harry showered and dressed before organising the elves to have chocolate ready. At five to midnight went into the designated cupboard.
D: *Harry, are you there*?
H: *Receiving loud and clear*!
D: *Very well, then …*
D&H: *FACEMUS PORTAM**
There was a shudder and Harry wandered out into the chalet with his hand in the Hauptdiener’s, who set about serving the revivifying brown stuff.
“Thanks Schnauzenhund. Please will you hand Kreacher through to the Schwartzberg? Then you and he will organise the others.”
“Yah, Harmeister, with pleasure.”
D&H sat recovering quietly on the balcony overlooking Lac Léman whilst the bustle of introduced Dumbledorians went through the portal and explored their new domain. By one o’clock things had calmed down enough for two very tired mages to wander back to the mountain retreat and flop down in their bedroom. In passing they noted that the vanishing cabinet had disappeared, but its door now had replaced the one in the hall. So they supposed that their experiment had been successful.
~~~ MORNING ~~~
More snow had fallen overnight but the sun was bright. D&H did not fancy fraternising yet and they had a good excuse not to; so they sat on their balcony watching the antics of another set of skiing beginners. Schnauzenhund served them a late breakfast where they were. He was marvelling at the extent of the network his domicile was joined to. D&H had the impression that the Hauptdiener and their Reeve had taken to each other because it seemed that the elf in charge of their mountain retreat had been introduced to everyone. They also noticed that their elves here now had a new uniform.
In the end they opted for a quiet visit to the Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens. Joining an English speaking tour of the palace and then mooching around the enormous grounds. There were many muggles there but, none of them knew them and they found the anonymity very refreshing.
“Now I see what you meant about hiding away Harry. Somehow, even with our close friends I feel as though I’m on show. Here no-one takes any notice of us except for a few pleasantries.”
“I bet we could do the same in Paris. I’d probably be worried in muggle London, just in case a satrap was around.”
“Mmm, I feel the same too. Perhaps we could take a boat out.”
“Tomorrow, please. I’ll be in a better mood to concentrate. I’m enjoying the world washing over me, at the moment.”
“Very good … Let’s do that at the Lodge then.”
“You’ve just reminded me of something. Shouldn’t we be visiting the merfolk?”
“Oh yes. We’ll call by their place as we go out.”
Harry chuckled quietly: “Maybe we’ll need another rest day afterwards.”
###
In the evening they ported to Laggen Lodge and boarded the Sirius; staying tied up to the short pier overnight. As they were eating breakfast Seamus and Dean appeared.
“May we join you?”
“If you wish, why are you here?”
“On the same errand that we expect you wish to fulfil – meeting the merfolk.”
The two newcomers sat down and had some toast and coffee. Another pair appeared.
“Hi Gin, Tor. What brings you here?”
“We hope to meet someone … Ah … There they are.”
Draco looked out to sea, there were three heads bobbing in the waves. He recognised Stormwave and Clamshell waving to them. The other head waved back as well.
“I don’t recognise that merman.”
Astoria giggled: “Probably because she’s a mermaid called Coral. She’s the one we’re visiting with.”
“Um … have you got shell’s as well?”
“We told you just over three months ago, Harry,” Ginevra looked cross: “We’re a red couple too.”
“Are you sure you told us Ginny? I cannot find it within our corporate memory.” Draco looked puzzled.
Astoria chuffed: “I thought you hadn’t told them, Ginny, but you insisted you had. I bet you told one of your Quidditch team mates instead.”
Ginevra shrugged: “Oh well, you know now,” and lifted her dress over her head. She was wearing nothing beneath and, once she had put her dress down she jumped into the water. “Coral says they have made a booth for us in the bay.” Ginevra swallowed the gillyweed that Astoria gave her and waited for her girlfriend to join her.
The boys took the hint and ate their gillyweed imagining it to be an extra helping of bacon, joining their friends under the waves. Clamshell explained that the other merfolk were helping Neptune rescue some victims of a collision in mid Atlantic. Thus the various sexy sandwiches, this time, had humans on the outside and merfolk on the inside.
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