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The Prophecy of Absconditus	By : AndromedanQueen Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 1570 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Penname: Page of Cups

AOL Screen Name: AndromedanQueen

Title: The Prophecy of Absconditus

Pairing: Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter/Blaise Zabini

Rating: R

Summary: Wherein Ron is the good one, Harry�s a lil� tyke, Blaise isn�t a drunk, and Draco�s just a Malfoy.
Disclaimer: One day I was sitting on the train and the idea of Harry Potter suddenly came to me. Being the marvelously brilliant person that I am, I scribbled down the idea immediately in hopes that I would write an immensely popular seven book series. I can tell when one of my ideas is genius after all, and . . . oh, hell. If I were J.K. Rowling, I wouldn�t be wasting my time with fanfiction. I�d be writing the sixth book.
Chapter Fifteen: Weasley Manor

"What's the plan?" said Harry. "Are you going to walk up to the door, give them a ring, and say, 'Hello, Grandmum. I was in the area and thought I'd drop by. These are my friends, the Mages. We're on a quest to destroy Voldemort. Any ideas?' "

"Actually, there are better chances that the house elf or servants will attend to us upon arrival. My grandparents don't concern themselves with answering doors."

"Of course they don't," said Draco. "Why bother when there's someone else to do it for them?"

"Not all of us grew up with servants, being pampered, spoiled, and showered with the best money can buy," said Blaise. "Some of us know the real value of money. Some of us don't equate money with love."

"Some of us grew up with parents who knew how to control that alcohol intake, too."

"Leave him alone, Malfoy," said Harry. He swept before Blaise and placed a hand, palm down, against Blaise's chest. "He isn't worth it. Let's just get this over with before we kill each other. Maybe then we won't have to deal with him ever again."

Ron felt his temples pulsate in rhythm with his heart, which beat hard against his ribcage with a strength almost painful. The corners of Draco's lips pulled down and tightened, his head angling toward the ground. A faint pink blush crept into the apples of his cheeks and he jerked away when Ron's touch first fell upon him.

"Don't," said Ron.

"I know I didn't have the best upbringing. Do they always have to remind me?"

"Harry's right. Let's just get through this and then you won't ever have to use one tolerable word with them again."

"I want this to be over."

"Me, too."

"Where is this manor of yours?" said Blaise.

"We're getting close. See that hill up ahead?"

"Yeah."

"There."

"Then let's pick up the pace. My calves are killing me and I could use a nice cup of tea."
*
An overzealous, bouncy house elf opened the door followed by a man with a comb over in a black suit. Short words passed between them, and the man sent the house elf to scurry away.

"Mr. Weasley," said the man, stepping aside. A large entrance hall featuring candelabras and chandeliers came into view. Bronze decals ornamented the furniture, doorways, and decorations. Blue crushed velvet covered the chairs with a quality luxurious enough for a Malfoy to be proud of.

"I'm here to see my grandparents," said Ron, brushing by the man. He didn't notice the way Harry gawked at him, or the smug grin that formed on Draco's lips at Ron's tone. "Don't just stand there. Announce me and be on with it."

"Yes, sir," said the man, giving a short bow. He walked off down the corridor and turned out of sight.

"I'm starting to see where that prince thing comes into play," said Blaise. "You certainly have no qualms about ordering servants around."

"It's his job. How else am I supposed to treat him?"

"Just because we're servants doesn't mean you need to treat us like slaves," said Harry.

"I'm starting to see where that slave thing comes into play," said Draco. "Someone's taking your comment personally. Nice pronoun use, Potter. Didn't know you considered yourself a servant."

"Technically, Hero Veriatice was a slave," said Blaise.

"Next thing we know, Potter's going to be crusading with Granger about house elf treatment, and expand to include servants of every kind."

Footsteps broke through their conversation -- the high clicking of heels tapping against stone. Blaise pulled Harry away, and Harry glared at Draco with enough malice to stun one with a softer exterior. The patter grew louder, like a light rain turning into a downpour, and a woman came into view. Her deep auburn hair was tied in a complicated knot, which hung at the nape of her neck. Freckles splashed over her pale cheeks, and her chin came to a squared angle. Full, red lips puckered at the sight of the boys, and her cerulean robes battered against the ground as she joined them.

"Stewart said you were here," she said. "Darling, is that a Malfoy in my home?"

"He's okay," said Ron. "I wouldn't bring him here if he wasn't."

"Just what is this all about?"

"It's a long story, but I'd like to tell you it with Grandfather if that's possible."

"Of course."

Her puckered lips smoothed out and separated, revealing perfect, white teeth. She wrapped an arm around Ron's and guided him in the direction from which she came. Draco, Harry, and Blaise exchanged glances before following, keeping their distance.

Turning down a hallway, she walked to a dark oak door and rapped on it with her knuckles. Long, bronze fingernails tapped against Ron's forearm as they waited. Giving Ron another smile, she knocked a second time.

"Maddock, darling, Ron is here to see you."

"Doris, can't you see I'm busy?"

She rolled her eyes.

"I can't see anything, Maddock; I'm not in the room."

"Then come in."

Turning the knob, she opened the door causing light from the gas lamp to pour through the crack and illuminate the corridor. Shadows scampered along the stone walls and flagstone floor.

"There, now. Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Ron's here to see you."

"Who?"

"Ron. Your grandson."

"Which one's Ron?"

"The yoe you like."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let the boy in!"

She motioned for Ron's entrance, glanced to the other boys, and then motioned for them to enter as well. She gave Harry and Blaise warm smiles as they passed, but narrowed her eyes at Draco, and kept watch on him as he sat next to Ron on one of the plush sofas.

The study was spacious, much larger than the Gryffindor common room back at Hogwarts. Portraits of various Weasleys through the years hung upon the walls, and Harry's eyes fell fast to one of a young version of Arthur Weasley, followed by two boys who must have been his brothers. The names beneath were Richard and Dane.

uld uld anyone like some tea?" she asked.

"Yes, please," said Ron.

"Tea all around, Doris," said Maddock. "Now, Ron, what is it that you wanted?"

"Well -- er -- I'm here for a little research. We all are."

"Research?" said Doris. "What for?"

"Who is we?" said Maddock.

"Ron and the rest of the boys, dear."

"Rest of the boys?" Maddock looked away from Ron and around the room, almost jumping out of his seat to see Draco, Blaise, and Harry staring back at him. Ron caught Harry's eye, shrugged, and gave him a weak smile. "Where did you come from?"

"They came with me," said Ron.

"Doris, you said it was just Ron. Which ones are you?"

"They aren't Weasleys, dear," said Doris.

"Who are you?"

"Er -- well -- I'm Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Nonsense! Harry Potter's dead."

"Not Catherine's husband, dear," said Doris. "The other one. James's son. The one who sent You-Know-Who away the first time."

"Nonsense! That Harry Potter's only a lil' tyke."

Ron buried his face in his hands and said, "Here we go again."

"He was a baby sixteen years ago. He's Ron's age."

"Which one's Ron?"

"I'm Ron," said Ron. Maddock stared at him looked back to Doris.

"Don't you read the Daily Prophet?" said Doris.

"Course I do. I do the crossword every day."

"Maddock, Harry's seventeen now. He and Ron go to school together and Ron's the grandson you like."

"Why do I like him again?"

"Because he hasn't yet embarrassed the family name."

"He's Arthur's, then."

"Yes, Maddock."

"All right, then. Thanks for that, Harry."

Harry looked around, his eyes wide. He leaned toward Ron and said, �I didn�t say anything.�

�He�s thanking you for getting rid of You-Know-Who.�

"Oh,� said Harry. �Voldemort isn't really dead." Ron winced as did Doris, but Maddock didn't seem to notice. "In fact, he's back. That's why we're here. For research on how to defeat him."

"Well I don't know how to defeat him. If I did, he wouldn't be around anymore."

"No, Grandfather, you misunderstand. You see, that's Blaise Zabini --"

"You a drunk, too?"

Blaise swallowed, his eyes growing wide. "No, sir."

"And this is Draco Malfoy."

"Lucius's boy," said Doris.

"Isn't Lucius dead?" said Maddock. "Saw that the other day when I got my Prophet. I like to keep up with the news every now and then. Long article about Hogwarts being under siege, too. Suppose the Death Eaters finally got the right idea of where the Mages are."

"So did we," said Ron. Maddock blinked and motioned for Doris to bring him his tea.

"Took you long enough. So that's what you're really here about, is it? About time you developed your power."

"You've known all this time?" said Ron. "And you didn't tell me?"

"Had to be a Weasley, didn't it? That's what the four manors were built for. Don't they teach you anything at that school anymore? Back in my day, anyone and everyone was looking for the Mages. Knew everything there was to know. When I taught, there wasn't a detail left out."

"We were taught in a rush," said Draco. "Phoenix did what he could."

"Phoenix Malfoy?"

"He's teaching Pureblood Ancestry and Mythology," said Ron. "They reinstated the class and Phoenix is our Professor, but because of the siege, we didn't have much time to learn the story or much about who we are. I knew you had a lot of documentation back to the days of Cane Weasley and I thought, well, what better place to research."

"You thought?" said Draco. Ron elbowed him below the ribs.

"Then you've come to the right place. Let's have some tea and talk about this. I'll tell you what I can, but my memory isn't as good as it used to be."

"You don't say," said Draco. Grabbing at his chest, Harry started to cough, and Blaise looked between the two, holding back laughter. Across the room, Ron caught his grandmother's eyes and shook his head, grinning. She added sugar to a cup of tea, handed it to Ron, and mussed up his hair.

"We don't need you to tell us much," said Ron. "I was hoping we could go through the library and your files. We need to find everything we can about Absconditus, the building of the manors, and what Malfoy City has to do with it."

"Malfoy City?" said Blaise.

"Four hills, four manors, all sitting on the four corners of Malfoy City," said Ron, arching an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you haven't connected that yet. Even I got that far."

"Malfoy City," said Maddock, shaking his head. "Gregorian Malfoy was the vainest little bugger to ever come from that line, Lucius and Antony included. We've always called it Perdere, and that's how I'm going to refer to it. Keep up if you don't want to get left behind."

"Then let's start there. With Perdere."

"We'll start with the Slytherin split. You know the story of Cane and Terence Slytherin, I assume."

"Yes," said Ron. "Risika Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin had four children. The oldest were twins named Cane and Terence. Sick of being referred to as two of the Hogwarts babies, they disconnected themselves from the family and started their own lines."

"And built their manors," said Maddock. "According to their surviving journals, Cane and Terence were followers of the Mage myth. Alecto --"

"The oracle," said Harry. Maddock nodded.

"Alecto prophesied that Mages would study at the greatest school of magic together as descendants of the founders and their own lines in a time where the future of magic was uncertain. Up until then, there was no respectable school of magic. Hogwarts was the first major school, and with its creation, Cane and Terence felt that it would relate to the prophecy.

"Cane was a Seer. He foresaw the land that became Perdere and the four hills which stood upon the four major points of direction. With the name change, Cane took the West Hill and Terence took the South. In another vision, he saw the North and East Hills belonging to the Zabini and Gryffindor line to complete the circle of Mages. Aeneas Gryffindor originated what became Potter Manor in the seventeenth century. Cronus Zabini originated Zabini Manor.

"At the time, Per was was still unclaimed land, and the brothers bought it. They named it Perdere for 'The Lost City' in reference to Absconditus. Many scholars believe the entrance to Absconditus is hidden under Hogwarts grounds, but I believe it's under Perdere.

"Cane's journal is in the library. You'll want to take a look at it. Has some valuable information."

"All in good time," said Doris. "You four can hunt and scavenge around the library all day tomorrow, but I want you to get some sleep. You look absolutely dreadful."

"Doris, let the boys do what they want."

"Maddock --"

"Actually, I am knackered," said Ron.

"So am I," said Draco. "That trip was more than I could handle."

"Then we sleep tonight and get up early tomorrow to research. Cane's journal should be a lot of help," said Harry.

"Thanks, Grandfather," said Ron.

"Any time," he said. "Now you listen to Doris and get off to bed. And if you have any questions tomorrow, just come and see me. I can clarify some things for you or if you need help finding a book --"

"Don't worry. We'll get you. Goodnight."

"Good night."

Ron stood with the other three and followed Doris out of the study.
*
Maddock burst into the spare bedroom set up for Ron and Draco when any normal human being would be asleep. This was what Ron liked to call Quidditch Time, as Harry was notorious for waking the entire Gryffindor team at hours like this when the sun was a longed-for novelty. Luck shined on their side for a small part; Draco and Ron chose to sleep in separate beds the night before. Some things were acceptable in the Weasley family, like associating with Muggle-borns, but any scandalous relations were to be kept behind closed doors. Family doors weren�t closed enough.

The sun shone on the horizon as the servant, Emma, set breakfast before them.

"Going to set right to work, are you?" said Maddock.

"We don't have much of a choice, do we?" said Harry.

"May as well," said Ron, glancing at Harry. "We can't afford to waste any time. There's loads to look up, and once we're done here we have to stop by at the Zabini, Potter, and Malfoy Manors."

"We're going to the Potter Manor?" said Harry.

"Of course we are. We need a rounded research."

"Does anyone live there?"

"No one's lived there since your grandfather," said Doris. "Too many strange things went on there for him, I think. Moved out not long after James was born."

"Couldn't have a little furies tarnish his reputation is what it was," said Maddock Weasley. "Harry was a vain little chorus girl. Thought very highly of himself. Didn't care who he had to step on to get to the top. Once the furies started coming around Potter Manor, he moved right out. I miss that man."

"Maddock, he tried to kill you," said Doris.

"I know, I know. But what does it matter? The past is the past. Let bygones be bygones. Toast?"

"No, thank you," said Harry.

"When did Harry's grandfather try to kill you?" said Draco.

"I'll tell you the story later," said Ron.

"You knew?" said Harry.

"Of course I knew. He's very fond of the story."

"Harry was like a brother to me," said Maddock.

"See, Caleb Strauser was Minister of Magic at the time. He was about to retire and my grandfather and yours were thought to be the best candidates to take over. Your grandfather, in a desperate attempt to guarantee his success, sent my grandfather an illegal dragon egg on the verge of hatching by owl post."

"Such a cute little thing. I loved that dragon. Shame the Ministry took it from me," said Maddock, peeling the crust off his toast and staring at an unknown point across the room.

"It almost took your hand off," said Doris.

"Yeah."

Draco arched an eyebrow and looked to Ron. He shrugged.

"And just think," said Harry, "we have Fudge for minister now."

"Fudge?" said Maddock.

"Yes, dear," said Doris. "Cornelius Fudge. The Minister of Magic."

"The boy who almost got a 'T' in my Pureblood Ancestry class?"

"Yes, dear."

"Who voted for that idiot?"

"We need to get started on our research," said Draco. He stood from the table and motioned toward the doorway with his head. Doris nodded, brushing a strand of auburn hair out of her eyes and adjusting her robes.

"If you need anything, boys, just let me know."

"We will," said Ronogetogether they headed for the door, leaving Maddock behind and Doris to explain where and when Cornelius Fudge took office.
*
They sat in the library of the Manor. Ladders scaled the walls of books and after deciding that this might take forever, they split up sections of the library. Doris came by minutes ago with files of information and documents that Maddock thought would prove useful. Draco kissed the folders; they were the notes and documents from his Pureblood Ancestry class.

Blaise flipped through documents dating back to Rilian Alcor, the great-grandfather of Ryan Alcor. The papers were worn, yellowed, and bent at the edges, but magic sealed the fibers together and made the ink remain vibrant. Next to Blaise, Harry helped weed through the piles of papers and decide what was useful and what wasn't. Draco picked through the pile, looking through maps and sketches.

Sitting before Ron was a book bound in twine -- the journals of Cane Slytherin Weasley. Magical enchantments kept the book whole like in the older documents. Not all of the charms were complex; Ron remembered learning some of them last year when discussing magical doctrine and law in Charms.

"Ron," said Harry, "try to understand that I mean this in the best way possible, but your family is crazy."

"Why do you say so?"

"Just thinking of you grandfather at breakfast, and from these papers, I don't think he's the craziest of the lot."

"Probably not."

"So, explain something to me. I'm looking through these ledgers, and you have this Manor here full of books, and furniture, and, well, you must have once had money, right?"

"We did come from the Slytherin line. Malfoy and Weasley started as one."

"Right, so . . . what happened?"

Draco snorted, choking on his tea, and began laughing. Ron glared at him and tapped his fingers against the table top.

"It isn't funny!"

"I'm sorry, Ron. You're right. It's not."

"What's not funny?" said Harry.

"What happened to the Weasleys� money."

"Am I prying?"

"No," said Ron, "it's just . . . it's all the damned Malfoys' faults. Sometimes I wonder if my father only hates yours because he's an insolent and irritating pretty boy or if he's feeling the inbred Weasley wrath."

"Probably that one," said Draco.

"The Malfoys and Weasleys used to have a strong alliance," said Blaise. "They come from the same line. Only now do the Weasleys say that they put too much faith into the Malfoys. Sometime in the fifteenth century the Weasleys went into a business deal with the Malfoys and ended up filing bankruptcy --"

"In an attempt to get more money," said Draco, laughing. "The Malfoys remained untouched by the 'business deal.' It was a con."

"Yeah, and once our family lost its money and its merit, the Malfoys stole all the money that was invested and left us broke. The only reason we kept the Manor was because it's privately owned and there were no outstanding debts."

"It's really quite funny when you think about it," said Draco.

"So," said Harry, "you mean that a large sum of the money the Malfoys have belongs to the Weasleys?"

"Something like that. There�s a reason the Malfoys focus on the Weasleys� poverty so much. Not that the Malfoys have any money anymore. We lost most of it when Father went to Azkaban. I'm just as poor as you lot now."

"Wait . . ." said Ron, pulling the journal closer to him. "Look at this."

Draco peered over his shoulder while Blaise and Harry stretched over the table.

"I can't see," said Blaise.

"Neither can I," said Harry.

"What is that?" said Draco.

"According to Cane's captions, it's a map of the dungeons below the Manor."

"What's the big deal? Malfoy Manor has dungeons and a map, too."

"But look at this. There's an alcove over here," said Ron, pointing. "Cane marks that they built into a magical barrier that couldn't be passed. They tried to build around it and found a vault door. It's marked right at that alcove. See? That can't be normal."

"Wait . . . Malfoy Manor has one of these, too. I've seen it. There's a weird crest on it, too. Father told me to stay away from it."

"Cane mentions the one at Malfoy Manor. See."

Draco took the book from Ron and followed to where he pointed.

Terence and I explored what are to be our dungeons again today. The contractors tried to break through the door but were thrown off by a magical seal. Another has been found beneath Terence's Manor. We've suggested Aeneas and Cronus search beneath their Manors as well. They do not care the way Terence and I do. We think this could be the way in.

I had another vision yesterday of the vault door opening. There was something scrawled on the door in red. I think it was blood. Terence tells me I'm being morbid, but I know there's something strange about it. We've searched for Absconditus and Seeing led me here. We're so close.

"And look," said Ron. He flipped the page and tucked in against the binding was a folded piece of parchment. Blurred lines of ink smeared by hurried hands shone at them.

"What is it?" said Blaise. Harry glanced up from the journal, which he had turned around, and now looked at the map with Cane's accompanying entry.

Cane's handwriting as deciphered on the parchment read:

Found written documentation of Alecto's Prophecy of the Four Mages. Said, 'Only their blood in a new life will unseal the city.' Same blood as blood on vault door?

"Now we're getting somewhere," said Draco, passing it to Blaise.

"We don't need to do anything else then, do we?" said Harry. "We know where this vault door is. We have a map. All we need is Ron's blood. He was Ryan Alcor. That should get us in."

"What do we do once we're down there, though?" said Ron. "We still don't know how to work the fountain. I say we stick with the original plan. When that's finished, then we can try the vault door."

"What if we don't find anything?" said Blaise.

"Try the vault door anyway," said Harry.

"Heuys,uys," said Blaise. His fingers were shaking as he bent down, taking something between his fingers. "I think I found something that may be useful."

Spreading the parchment out on the paper, Ron saw the lines scrawled over it in a familiar handwriting. Instead of a perfect rectangle, two of the edges were frayed as if torn from the rest of the parchment. It held a sort of diamond shape, the frayed sides stretching to an elongated triangle point. Flipping it over, Blaise showed them Cane's note on the back.

Tucked in the creases of my vault door. Terence found another piece tucked into the creases of his vault door. Aeneas and Cronus also found pieces. They form some kind of map. Could this be Absconditus?

"That's -- er -- very interesting," said Draco.

Ron flipped the parchment over and stared at the map piece.

"That's my handwriting," said Ron.

Harry stared, and then ripped a spare piece of parchment off his notes, flipped it over, passing it to Ron.

"Write something. Write your name."

"Which one?"

"Ryan."

Picking up his quill and dipping it into the inkwell, Ron touched the tip to the parchment and scrawled out, 'Ryan Alcor.'

"It is his handwriting," breathed Blaise, staring between the two pieces. Draco snatched the pieces, moved into the direct light of a gas lamp and compared.

"Does anyone feel like this became more real?" said Harry. Blaise licked his lips and nodded.

"It's a perfect match," said Draco. "I can't see a single difference."

"Now we're getting somewhere," said Ron.
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The Prophecy of Absconditus