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Harco Empire	By : Toddy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 34417 -:- 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
- 163
- 164
- 165
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ SOME PICNIC ~~~
The Quarry People’s first help came in an unusual form. By chance the Zellers met Draco in Diagon Alley when both parties were shopping. Just to be polite, Draco invited them to take coffee with him at Fortescues. They sat chatting about what had happened and what was being planned.
“We’ve got a party of American mages using our facilities to tour Britain,” said Sigismund: “It’s something we do fairly regularly. For some reason this lot don’t want to go out on Lake Windermere, which is one of the options we offered.”
“I think it’s because they all come from the great lakes,” suggested Ignatius: “Windermere will look a bit tame to them. Also, mid-December is not ideal lake weather.”
Sigismund looked witheringly at his partner: “Anyway, our schedule means we’re looking for something to do in that area. We know that your home is not too far away. Do you have any ideas?”
“Might they be interested in visiting the village? We could show them around the church, parts of which are Norman. The chapel has that memorial to Rosmerta Nigrus, one of our ancient relations with a curious story attached to her. Then there’s the ruins of the druid temple and a bit of roman road. I daresay I could get Harry to shake their hands, other mages tend to think of him as something special. Are they keen on flora, because we have quite a few unusual plants growing in the area and in the glasshouses? I think I could persuade Horrty to take them out on to the moors, or round our woods. Perhaps they are into more active things. They could have a mock battle; we’ve found that our Aurors like to come just for the fun. It started as a training scheme, now they come just to let their tensions out. How about canoeing, the River Gryff has an exciting white-water run. Some of our muggle friends are starting a cottage industry preparing and weaving wool on water-frames. There’s even a lapidary at work too …”
“Enough … Enough. I’m sure we could sell that to them. Handicrafts, unusual plants, ancient buildings – We’ll call it ‘Experiencing Rural England’. We know the scenery’s good. Now, if we could get your pub to put on a seasonal dinner; that would really ice the cake.”
“I’m sure Richard would be only too happy to oblige with the food. The Hogwarts Reeve said he had some spare venison hanging.”
“Good … We’ll put it to them … We’ll let you know in a couple of days’ time, okay?”
“Very good! I look forward to hearing from you.”
###
Thursday night the floo flared: “Good evening Draco, that American Party thinks it a good idea; so can you lay on things for them to do?”
“I’ve talked to Richard, he can put on a venison dinner. What date were you thinking of?”
“Saturday 10^th December.”
“We have the village dance on that night so the dinner might be a bit awkward.”
“They’d like to go to church on Sunday morning, if that’s possible. Maybe we could have a seasonal lunch?”
“How about their special lunch on the Saturday. Sightseeing in the morning, handicrafts or activities in the afternoon and the dance in the evening?”
“Sounds good to us. They’re all interested in ancient buildings, and plant hunting would be fine in the afternoon. Where do you fit the handicrafts in?”
“Hmm … at the end of the plant hunting. The Mill’s quite close to the station, I suppose that’s where you’ll be staying.”
“Yes, the stationmaster says he has a train to clean, but he can leave it on the main line now, because there’s no more quarry traffic.”
“Very well, we’ll be ready for you.”
Harry and Draco took Friday the ninth off, so that they could check everything was in order.
“How many visitors are there?” asked Stewart, when they were at the quarry.
“About a dozen, that’s all the train can hold. It’s quite an elite equipage. They’ll probably have a couple of guides with them too.”
“That’s a relief, I thought there might be hundreds and we would have to be extra vigilant to stop them hurting themselves. Still, I’ll put up some barriers, I’d rather not get someone injured because they were over eager.”
“I’ll leave that up to you.”
Friday evening at nine the train drew through the station and backed into the siding. The Seers walked down the platform to greet their guests.
“You’re sure you’re the real Harry Potter?”
Harry chuckled and drew his fringe aside: “Yes, and I have the scar to prove it.”
“We’d heard you got married and there were pictures in Prophet International. Will we be visiting the church where that happened?”
“Yes … … …” The questioning went on as the guests acclimatised themselves to their hosts and vice-versa. In the end a happy party atmosphere pertained in the lounge car. The Seers wished them goodnight just before eleven and walked back in the gloaming.
*I thought it was going to be tedious. But they seem to be a likeable lot.*
*Aggie was saying that they might offer this experience to the next group too.*
*Let’s see how this lot works out first.*
A successful Saturday came and went.
On Sunday afternoon, as they waved the party goodbye, at two o’clock, Sam remarked: “We sold half of our stock, it was amazing.”
“I’ve got orders for seven Elphinite rings,” added Anthony; “And all my pendants went.”
“So it was fruitful then?”
“Yes,” replied Hermione: “They lapped up the history bits about the church and Rosmerta. Broonies and a real Ogham inscription had them intrigued at the temple.”
“Two of them swapped potion recipes with me,” added Blaise: “And they liked Gilda’s flowery essences too.”
“The plant hunters were very surprised at the variety,” put in Hortulanus, “I have some orders to send out when we harvest.”
“We’ve gotten orders for harvest fudge,” supplied Fenton: “Auntie Amis and the other pensioners are making it to her recipe. Some of Tor’s elves are making especially designed ‘Thanksgiving Boxes’ for us to send it back home.”
“They were a bit surprised about our integrated community,” put in Kreacher: “And about Hamish and I being Seneschals. Never mind being introduced to two elfin professors.”
"When we came back from plant hunting we called in at the fish farm and Marianne showed them the stew ponds,” Hortulanus informed them: “We met Michael and he showed them his generating plant and that path led directly into the Mill. They thought we were turning the wheels by electricity just for show, so Stewart pulled out the main pawl and everything stopped. He had one of the men push it back in again, after that they all became intrigued by the overhead pulley and belt system, as well.”
“So we think it a success?”
“YEAH!”
“I think it proves that the American mages aren’t as forward thinking as the British ones.”
“At least Beauxbatons is already and Durmstrang has just started accepting other races.”
~~~ BALL ~~~
Saturday the seventeenth of December was the Wizengamot Ball, so Draco and Harry accompanied two fairly corpulent ladies to the gathering.
“You look quite tired, Tor,” remarked Harry as they sat watching the twirling throng: “Is the pregnancy getting to you?”
Astoria smiled wanly: “Not really. Ginny and my nesting hormones were working overtime last week. Irrational as it may seem, we mounted our brooms and spent a day or two strengthening the wards.”
“What urged you to do that? It was quite frosty all week.”
“It started with the broonies mentioning that they would like to explore the Woodyates orchard so that they could pollinate it efficiently next spring. So we mounted up and flew over the ground. I hadn’t appreciated that it was outside the wards; of course the broonies do not like to go beyond those. Ginny and I chatted with Hermione and she gave us some pointers and some of the latest thinking. Firstly we created the orchard semi-dome and reinforced the places where it joined the main dome. It resembles one of the supporting domes on the Kyiv Cathedral. On Herms’ advice we went on to add extra detectors at each entrance to both our new wards and the present ones. It sort of ran away with us after that, because we did the same to the quarry dome; using the clock tower on the shed as a centre-piece. Then we realised that the joining tube required some strengtheners from both domes. You know how it is. Once we’d started, it sort of ran away with us.”
Harry chuckled knowingly, “Yes, Draco and I do that too. Perhaps you should be taking it a little easier. The babies – you know.”
“I agree, and we will. We’ve had a chat. Ginny has told GG that she is retiring. It was quite a strain, getting back into competitive quidditch after James was born. To be fair, she’s inherited Molly’s mothering instincts, something that seems to be less pressing with me. Herms is feeling the strain too, what with her pregnancy and the college principal’s work. I would like to carry on with my political work, I seem to have a knack for it. The result is that Ginny’s agreed to become the house mum for all the babies, so that Herms and I can continue our careers. It won’t be too hard on Ginny, because there are a number of cooing grandmothers around to help out, plus one great-grandmamma. Thus our broom flight was helping my love to get to know the village environment. Snuggling in, so to speak. We’ve included the source cave for the River Gryff, it seemed to be a good idea to safeguard the village’s water source.”
“Are you sure she’ll be happy doing that?”
“Oh yes,” Astoria laughed, “She’s running the house-elves ragged, painting walls, sorting out the nursery, new furnishings – she’s really got the bit between her teeth. Somehow Teddy’s responded to her mothering too. The relationship’s something like the one you and Molly have.”
“Yes I’d noticed that … Well … If she feels happy in that role, Draco and I’ll support her.”
“She’s not going to be entirely domestic, you know. She’ll be keeping up her flying and a number of magely families will be send their young children to her flying lessons.”
“You mean, before they go to Hogwarts?”
“Yes. Look at Teddy. You bought him a play broom and he was riding almost as soon as he was walking. Like learning to walk it is about balance and confidence. In fact it’s probably easier to fly than walk, I know of a few mages at the Manor who no longer have the use of their leg muscles, but they are still fully mobile because they use their ‘sticks.”
“So why was I so good at it? A ‘natural’ Minerva called it; when I hadn’t ridden a broom before?”
“You had. Don’t you remember telling us about the keepsake Severus had?”
“Oh yes … I’d forgotten that.”
“I reckon you learned the basics on that toy broom, just as Teddy’s learning on his. Now, there’s an interim period, usually when the child is six or seven, when a toy broom no longer suffices, but there is a need to limit the possibilities of injury. So there are junior broomsticks which are half way to the one you really learned on at Hogwarts. Don’t tell him, but Draco doesn’t have the natural instincts. His excellence comes from many gruelling exercises under a private tutor.”
“Um … I see,” Harry looked thoughtful: “I suppose not many families can afford private tuition, especially as the really rich ones mostly supported Voldie and had to pay reparations.”
“It’s more Ginny’s egalitarian background, I think. She sees it as enabling all budding mages to learn properly and get enjoyment out of it. It will, of course be extramural, and attached to the college. She’s still working on it with Dolores, so that the muggle children don’t feel left out. Their present line of thinking is that an equivalent bicycle course be offered to them. After all, road safety for muggles is very important.”
“I think I need bicycle lessons too. I tried on one of Dudley’s cast off bikes and couldn’t get the hang of it. I kept on falling off.”
“I’m not surprised. You would think that riding a bike and riding a broom needed the same sort of skills – you know – balance etc. Of course you not being brought up in the magical world wouldn’t know, but anyone with the magical gene is incapable of riding a pedal cycle. Hagrid’s motorcycle only works for him because it has been especially charmed to fly, otherwise he’d fall off at the first corner. There are exceptions, of course. We think Greg’s skill on both media might be because he’s destined to be a wand-maker.”
“That’s interesting … Um … I think I’d better go and practice some more ‘dance-me’ charms. There are a number of witches from the progressive party that I haven’t chatted to yet.” Harry waggled his eyebrows comically: “You can get away with not being mobile, most of the wizards we know are only too willing to sit-out a dance out with you. I’ve had my turn and there are a few hovering.”
Astoria smiled: “My political teaching seems to have a good pupil, Mr Potter.”
“Fine … I’m going.”
~~~ CHRISTMAS ~~~
As usual the Christmas celebration took place at Number Twelve. Falling on a Sunday there seemed to be less of the normal celebrations, nevertheless the hunt ball went forward on Boxing Day as usual. Somehow that seemed more appealing to the Seers than the Wizengamot jollifications; possibly because more of their contemporaries were able to join them. Draco also remarked that he thought of the villagers as family more than he did of the pure-blood families whom he had been brought up to respect.
Talking of respect; it was reported that Mr Warrington, Julian’s father, being of the old-school, as he called it, was very happy for his son to become a friend of the Saviour’s ward-of-court. Julian said that their family did not celebrate Christmas but, like many Scottish families, celebrated Hogmanay instead. Warrington Père said that the New Year’s celebration had a much greater pedigree than that of the upstart Christ Child. The result was, that Oddball and his lover could attend both celebrations.
Whilst enjoying the party games on Christmas Day evening Julian had imbibed slightly more wine than he should have. So he was in a confidential mood: “I know Pater approves of my friendship with Oddball, because the Ballantraes are an ancient pure-blood family. We belong to a minor clan and Oddball, being clan-chief elect, has the prospect of sitting as a seneschal when he comes of age.” Here Julian giggled: “Although I’m not sure Pater would approve of the things that we do in bed. We’ll have to be very proper when I go home. I think we might be allowed to share a room, but the beds will be narrow and heavily curtained.”
Harry chuckled: “You could always ruffle the other bed to make it look slept in.”
“Nah, that wouldn’t work. Pater always comes in to say goodnight, and to greet me in the morning. Knowing how bushed we are after our sessions, he’s bound to catch us under the same blankets.”
“Are your bedrooms cold?”
“Freezing. Pater says it builds good characters.”
“Have you heard of ‘bundling’?”
“Good one, Uncle. Nice idea. Blanket between us so no funny business should take place … Nah … He’d object to that. He might not if it was my fiancée and I’d already signed the betrothal contract. But I’m not that way inclined at the moment.”
Harry clocked the ‘at the moment’ part and wondered if it was the loquacity of alcohol or reservations about a long-lasting relationship. Then he remembered Blaise and Justin, how it had been a phase, and how both of them were now happily married.
Draco had cottoned on to his lover’s thoughts: *We cannot interfere, Lover. We can be there to pick up the pieces and offer comfort. We had to find our way and learn from it. So, as a good guardian, you must be aware but let them find their own level.*
*Am I allowed to worry, just a bit?*
*Of course. You wouldn’t be my loveable Harry if you didn’t. But don’t let it get on top of you. You know the Spirit is watching over you and those we care for. You’ve told me that, many times. So rest in the Lord and allow your charge the same kind of freedom. I know that you and I did not have that chance until much later in our lives, but we live in a much better environment now.*
*Actually, once at Hogwarts I did have a freedom of sorts, and it got me into all kinds of trouble … Still I wouldn’t have enjoyed things if I hadn’t. Thanks Lover you’ve helped me to put it into perspective.*
Julian and Oddball flooed to the Warrington house a few days later and at the start of the New Year came back to the village. They spent almost the whole day ensconced in Oddball’s bedroom and emerged smiling but quite pale.
“It was a bit of a trial, Uncle,” Julian admitted quietly to Harry, at dinner: “But we made up for it when we got back here. My prick’s a bit sore and so is Oddball’s. I think we got carried away because we felt frustrated by Pater’s restrictions.”
“You could ask Draco or Blaise for a soreness lotion, you know.”
Julian chuckled: “We already have, it was much worse earlier on today.”
*I think you’ve made quite a hit with Julian, Lover,* sent Draco.
*Jealous, are you?* Harry sent back mockingly.
*Only if you had a session with them and left me out of it.* Draco’s sending sounded wickedly sarcastic, so Harry changed the subject.
~~~ NATIVITY ~~~
All three witches had decided that they would like to share a birthing-room together, they also included Gilda Zabini. A couple of words from He-who-lived-twice soon had Saint Mungo’s being able to accommodate the quartet’s wishes. On Sunday 22^nd January John called a special prayer for the four ladies concerned and on the following morning Hermione, Astoria, Gilda and Ginevra ported and flooed carefully to the mages’ hospital before settling in.
Various reception nurses were very good natured with the fathers-to-be, even if their floo calls seemed to come regularly every hour. Exactly one month after celebrating the true Saviour’s birth, Harry was the lucky one, because Ginevra went into labour early on the Wednesday morning. By mid-afternoon her contractions were almost continuous and the baby’s head was just showing. Harry rubbed her back as the midwife coaxed the infant out of its mother’s body. One final big heave and the new-born experienced the world outside for the first time. A minute or two, and he objected to this new experience with a piercing wail.
The midwife cut the placenta and clamped it: “Mr and Mrs Blake-Potter, you have a beautiful son. He appears quite healthy and there are no aberrations.” Harry took the bundle and, with tears in his eyes, looked at Albus for the first time. He had quarter of an hour’s joy, holding the baby whilst the nurses sorted Ginevra and the afterbirth. Once she was tidy Harry presented her new-born to her.
“Look, Ginny, our son Albus. Isn’t he lovely? I hope it wasn’t too painful for you.”
“Not as painful as last time, thank you. I suppose I knew what was coming and, having been through it already, I wasn’t as frightened this time. He’s beautiful and I shall enjoy looking after him.” Almost immediately Albus started to nuzzle Ginevra’s breast. So the new mother altered her position so that her son could have his first feed.
Now it was the time for the other three pregnant ladies and their husbands to coo over the baby, shortly followed by the new grandmothers and grandfathers.
After the hullabaloo had died down, Hermione looked wistfully at Ginevra: “I’m glad you had yours first, Ginny. I’m much less worried about what is to happen with me. Thank you for letting me watch.”
Gilda chuckled: “A bit messy, but I’m thankful too.”
Astoria expressed similar thoughts and then said she felt slightly unwell.
The medi-witch came in and gave her an examination: “All seems well at the moment Mrs Blake-Malfoy, but I’m slightly worried about the baby’s position. There’s time yet for it to turn, though.”
Astoria looked at Draco: “Father recently told me about a family curse. When something traumatic happens in the lives of the Greengrass family, it may well cause the premature death of the son or daughter. I’m afraid, Draco!”
“I’ll with you, Tor. Remember that the curse was on you father’s side. Your mother’s genes may well counteract it, or even lessen the direness. We’ll all look after you if it weakens you. After all the Fluence seems to still have a job for you to do. That should work on your side, as well.”
###
Thursday came, heralded by Hermione’s waters breaking. Ronald was worried when that happened, but the medi-witch soon calmed his fears. Some hours later a beaming red-head held his new-born daughter, Rose, before giving her to her mother to feed.
Thursday night had Astoria in great pain. Because of that, the medics insisted that she be put into a private ward. Draco was extremely worried, and this was not helped by him being sensitive to what his wife was feeling through the mental link. For some reason it was nowhere near as painful for Ginevra and Harry. Astoria was given various potions which helped with the pain. At midday, one of the senior medics visited Draco at a drowsy Astoria’s bedside.
“I’m afraid, Mr and Mrs Blake-Malfoy that your baby is not able to be born in the natural way. Without going into the gory details, I would recommend that we use a caesarean section to deliver the baby. In that way I can be sure that both mother and baby have a good chance of survival. If Astoria attempts to give birth normally I strongly think that she will not only damage the baby irreparably but also herself. Because of these complications we may not be able to restore Astoria’s capability to bear more children. Although, obviously, we will do our best.”
Draco looked worriedly at his wife who gripped his hand painfully: “At least the Blake-Malfoy’s will have an heir, Draco. Remember how difficult it was to conceive this one.”
Draco gave a shuddering sigh: “Thank you doctor for being so forthright. As you say, there’s a good hope of saving both lives. I think you should go ahead with the procedure. Are you happy with that, My Love?”
“Yes, Draco. Even with all the potions inside me I can feel the pain every time the baby moves and he’s very restive at the moment.”
“Very well, Mr and Mrs Blake-Malfoy, it shall be as you’ve decided.”
“Doctor!” Astoria spoke urgently: “If it’s a choice between my child-bearing and the baby’s life, save the baby. I will be quite content with just the one.”
The doctor pursed his lips and nodded: “I shall go and scrub up. If you wish to, Mr Blake-Malfoy, you may attend the operation. Your wife may find comfort from your physical presence. I’m afraid it would be unwise for the other two witches to be there because of the dangers of spreading any infection that there might be to the other babies. I will, of course, be casting various sanitizing charms on you so that you do not inadvertently threaten either the mother’s or the baby’s health.”
Draco looked at Astoria who sent: *Please!* and conveyed how frightened she felt.
“Then I should be very pleased to support her, Doctor. Should this effect Gilda, She’s due soon.”
“The problem is more physical that medical, Mr Malfoy. Mrs Zabini is quite safe with the other two.”
Both Ginevra and Harry had listened in to the conversation and they sent supportive vibrations to both parents through their mental channels.
Both parents wondered if this difficulty was because of the curse, as did Ginevra and Harry.
The operation was slightly messy. When Draco started to feel queasy he remembered that he had seen much worse in Voldemort’s court and that helped him to give support to Astoria. After a couple of hours, they both felt it was worth all the angst, because the father held a beautiful blond baby in his arms.
“I name you Scorpius Hyperion Caesar, heir to the Blake-Malfoy family,” he said formally and then took the proffered bottle from the midwife and held the teat to his son’s lips.
Scorpius looked at his father and seemed to smile before attacking the teat with his lips.
D: *I think we beat the curse this time, Tor!*
A: *I do hope so,* and she smiled wanly at him: *I still feel weak, but my thaums are reacting as usual.*
D: *Yes, Tor. I think that’s a good sign, too.*
###
Gilda’s birthing was as uncomplicated as Ginevra’s and Hermione’s and mid-afternoon Blaise greeted his heir ‘Enrico Niccolo Zabini’.
On Saturday James’s birthday treat was to come and visit his new brother and their three friends. Not that he totally understood what his parents told him, he still managed to kiss all three new-borns, before going off to try out his favourite birthday present – a toy broomstick – under Harry’s careful and worried tutelage.
It was nearly a week before Astoria was in a fit state to breast-feed her son, although she was able to hold and bond with him in the interim. Once she was stronger the doctor came to see both Blake-Malfoy parents.
“I’m sorry to tell you both, but we were unable to save Astoria’s child-birthing facilities. You should both still be able to enjoy your sex lives, but they will never result in another child. Judging by the opposing state of your thaumic auras, I am very surprised that you even managed to produce Scorpius. Still, he is a healthy baby and a fit heir to your families’ fortunes.”
Draco had a hard time not giggling at the doctor’s misconception, but he thought it would be impolitic to tell the medic the sexual truths. Astoria agreed with him wholeheartedly.
A: *I think we’ve beaten the family curse, Dray.*
D: *So it seems; congratulations!*
Within a fortnight all four mothers were back in the village. Hermione was the first to recover and Rose became used to sharing the Chantry Cottage nursery with her two male pseudo-cousins whilst her mother attended to the affairs of the nearby college. Astoria, to cover up her anxiety, took to vigorously playing politics, but this did not cure the onset of depression. Both Draco and Harry took time out to sympathetically hold her hand when the glooms were worst. Under advice she took various potions and after three months came out of it; gratefully reaching the balanced attitude she formally held.
###
For the next three months nothing startling happened at work except for the three dads porting daily from the village to London and back. Each day one of them would be pale and haggard because he had been on baby duty most of the night. They felt that spreading the load between them helped them to maintain some sort of equilibrium and it allowed the mums to have energy enough to manage during the day. Ginevra had a rota for everything and, although they sometimes complained, the parental team were pleased that they could spend quality time with their children; she also included Teddy in this routine which pleased Harry no-end.
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