Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 165
- 166
- 167
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ STEAM & RAILS ~~~
The first Saturday in March Harry had been approached by some of the older muggle residents.
One of the doffed his cap: “Maister Potter, Sir?”
“Yes?”
“We seen that ye wuz openin’ up th’ quarry agin.”
“Yes, but on a small basis, nothing like the grand scale the previous quarry lessors worked.”
“Ah! That’s what we thowt. Ye wouldn’t be lookin’ for some more ‘ands, would ye?”
“That depends. It’s being worked on a different basis now. Something like a co-operative.”
“Ah! We’d ‘eared that too. Ony we’re getting’ under t’ missus’s feet, sithee. We can manage on t’ golden ‘and-shake that the previous owners gave uz. It were real gradley; then it should ‘ave been, since we bin workin’ there since we wuz boys.”
H: *Draco, come to me please?*
D: *See you in a minute, meanwhile I’m listening in.*
“You obviously have something in mind.”
“Ah, we do. ‘Ardy ‘ere ‘as a cousin who works for t’ Grumblewell Council. ‘E says that they’m in a bit o’ a fix; ‘cause they’re insisting that t’ building contractor face t’ new-build ‘ouses wi’ stone. Now t’ contractor wuz ‘hopin to get dressed stone from t’ quarry. So now, sithee, ‘e wants to back out o’ t’ deal and use bricks.”
“So, you thought that maybe you could offer the contractor a deal, yes?”
“Ah, that’s reet. We’d ‘eared that ye worked on some profit-sharing basis wi’ t’ little men in t’ fields and now ye’ve got some bigger ones workin’ in t’ quarry. Bah gum, they’re bloody clever at it too. We wuz wachin’ ‘em split a big block. Put their chisels on it, muttered something and, clean as a whistle, it wuz, reet down t’ cleft.”
Hardy spoke up: “Me Granddad sez that there wuz a little railway which worked up t’ face. It went in zigzags so’s to gain height. The last lot o’ owners put crushed stone down o’er it and ran them smelly dumper trucks. Ah reckon that t’ lines are still down below it all; though in what condition tis ‘ard to tell. T’ last owners didn’t want big blocks, just coarse chippin’s so any blocks that come out were just left where they were. Wi’ Dodo’s and Festy’s skill at splittin’, we could offer a good price t’t’ contractor.”
Draco had arrived: “So you’ve been talking to our two goblins then?”
“S that what they are? Well-well, more of t’ old ways appearin’. They does it by magic, does they? Ah, we bin talkin’ to them. They said t’ come and talk t’ ye. Them young-uns in t’ sheds also said ye were approachable. So, we’re ‘ere.”
“How far do you want to commit to our peculiar co-operative?” Draco saw them looking blankly, so he went into a description of how the trust worked.
“So, we’d be fed and looked after by ye, sounds like a good idea t’ us.” Hardy looked at the others who nodded affirmatively. “Specially as we’re gettin’ on a bit. Ah think you got yoursels a deal.” Hardy spat on his palm and held it out to Draco.
D: *What do I do?*
H: *Spit on your palm and shake hands, it signifies that the deal is sealed personally.*
D:* Eew! All right then.* Draco spit on his palm and offered it: “It’s a deal!”
Hardy shook: “Deal dun!” and then looked at Draco quizzically.
“Oh … Hmm … Deal done!” Draco hoped that his grimace looked like a smile.
All the men nodded affirmatively, and, in the end, both of the mages had to spit-handshake all four of the muggle quarrymen.
H: *Scourgify!*
D: *Thank you. I can still imagine the slime, even if it’s not there.*
H: *Um … Me too. We can wash hands later, just to help our psyches make sure.*
“There used to be a loading ramp in t’ quarry flat. Th’ owd owners just ignored it. If we did it up, we could run t’ waggons up and load on t’t’ contractor’s lorries floor t’ floor.”
“Ah, next door there’s a sunken bit so t’ lorries can tip int’t’ waggons. Ah think there’s lines still there too.”
Accompanied by his mate, Dardanellus rolled up: “Have you done the deal then?”
Four voices answered “AH!” and nodded
Two other voices answered “YES!” and also inclined they’re heads.
D: *They’re very polite, apart from the disgusting handshake, aren’t they? This inclining our heads is just as Mother taught me was the correct way to greet equals.*
H: *They obviously respect the old ways. Um … I thought that all the goblins used fire-staffs.*
D: *So did I, but I saw Dodo splitting the rock, what he said sounded a bit like Welsh. So I asked him. It’s Brythonic they use with rock and they use their chisels to channel their thaums. Something like our wands. He said they use fire-staffs for rough work and chisels for fine. I suppose it’s something like us using fingers and then you using your prick to hex Griswold.*
H: *He seems to have made a friend in Michael Miller.*
D: *Hmm … So he does.*
Next was Mothering Sunday. Naturally the new dads made a big fuss over the new mums. That included Andromeda and all the various grandmothers not forgetting the new great-grandmamma.
~~~ DYKES ~~~
The following Saturday [11^th March] had a short Wizengamot session. It was mild so, after lunch, Draco and Harry wandered along Oak Lane intending to go out to Pastures Farm. As they left the village boundary, they crossed a newly timbered level crossing and paused to look along the track. Towards the quarry they could see two figures, one of whom appeared to be lying down on the track, the other one seemed to be jumping up and down. Curiosity piqued, the Blake males altered course and went to see if the person lying down was unwell and needed help. As they grew closer it became obvious that both people were quite bulky and the one that was bouncing had big wobbly bosoms to match.
"Ah … You must be Jock and Tim,” said Draco going forward with an outstretched hand.
He was met with a suspicious look: “And who might you be? You shouldn’t be walking on the track. You’ll have to get out of the habit, or you’ll be run down when we start running trains.”
Harry chortled and did a little side-step: “Is that better?”
“A bit, but don’t let the gaffers catch you.”
Harry chortled again: “I think that we are the gaffers you refer to. I’m Harry and this is Draco my partner in everything. Dodo and Festy said that they were going to ask you to help.”
“Oh!” Said being scrambled up and stood: “I’m Tim, Timothea really.” She was almost as wide as she was tall, and it wasn’t fat. Her dark hue was not from dirt either, it was obvious that she came from Afro-Caribbean stock.
She grabbed Draco’s hand and shook, almost lifting him off his feet. The other gobliness had come over and did much the same with Harry. However, she was white-skinned underneath the dirt
“Jock was right though. We have ter stop bad habits before they start.” Tim answered in an Irish accent.
Draco answered: “We’re very glad to see you’re looking after our putative railway.”
“Why were you lying down, Jock?” asked Harry.
“I was sighting the line. It has to be properly level. Many of the joints have dipped so Tim packed that one temporarily lifting it slightly then she was jumping on the sleeper to get it back level. Once we’ve done a length or two, that’s when we get our fire-staffs out and pack the sleepers properly. With stone blocks the job is harder but longer lasting.”
“We had a truck out, now the bridge is in,” added Timothea: “It was almost like riding a boat in rough seas. Okay fer waggons, no good fer people.”
“So, you intend taking people out as well, we thought it was for stone for Dean’s and Seamus’s building work.”
“Oh dear. Have we overstepped the mark?” Jocasta’s face fell: “And Griswold said he’d teach us about driving the steam engine.”
“Not necessarily,” Harry put in quickly: “Tell us your ideas.”
“The Stamps, d’you call them, said that you had had some tourists and might be getting more. That got us thinking that maybe we could offer them rides. With the upright steam engine at the front it could pay. Muggles seem to like little steam railways and both of us have driven mine carts before. Of course, we wouldn’t be going anywhere near as fast as that.”
“We agree,” chuckled Harry: “We’ve ridden on one inside Gringotts quite a few times. They’re scary. Ginny and her mate don’t like them at all. You’d think a quidditch player would be used to speed and sharp manoeuvres. Tor says the mine goblins use them inside the new mining academy.”
“Oh! So, you know Astoria then?”
“My wife,” added Draco, proudly.
“Oh … But I thought … Oh … Ginevra?”
Harry chuckled yet again: “You two love each other, Dodo and Festy do. Draco and I share a bed, as do Tor and Ginny. Only we’ve come to an arrangement. We work as a quartet to all intents and purposes. All Magicals know about thaumic bonds so the stick-in-the-muds think we are two couples one way, whereas we we’re actually two couples the other way. The bond unites all four of us, but we have fathered children the normal way, with the help of a little green magic. See?”
“So that’s what Dodo was mumbling about. It’d get our folks off our backs, wouldn’t it dear?”
“Yes Lover. Please tell us more.”
Suffice to say they stood nattering and explaining until it was well after dark. Then our two invited the two new goblinesses to dinner; afterwards introducing them to the Dumbledorians and friends present.
~~~ INSPECTION ~~~
Monday morning and coffee break, Harry had just sorted out who was going to take which assignment and was preparing to dictate his weekly report for the previous week. There was a pop and Robbie appeared.
“Douglas says there’s an important looking muggle bloke asking to see the proprietors of the little railway.”
“Thanks, Robbie.” H: *Draco, are you available?*
D: *I’ve just started an important potion, so I’d rather not.*
A: *I’m available, Harry.*
H: *Thanks Tor, see you at the cottage in a couple of minutes.*
“Thanks Robbie, Tor and I’ll come to see him. Do you think you could tell the four goblins at the quarry, please?”
“Bobbie’s already doing that. I’m going to tell Michael and Griswold.”
“Fine, tell them that we’ll walk there so as not to raise the muggle’s suspicions.”
“Okay,” pop.
###
Once in the village, Astoria and Harry wandered over to the station and were invited to take coffee in Marilyn’s kitchen.
There was an official looking gentleman also imbibing the beverage. He stood, offering his hand: “I’m Captain Jeremy Lightfoot, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of railways. I had been to visit the ‘Ratty’ and thought I’d pop in and see how your railway was getting on.”
Harry shook hands: “How d’you do, I’m Harry Potter and this is Astoria Malfoy, we’re directors of the Blake Trust and therefore, we suppose, represent the proprietors.”
Jeremy shook hands with Astoria, explaining: “This is not an official visit, I understand from our legal boys that you have kept the records going. However, I must say that the previous proprietors seemed to have escaped official notice. Therefore, I thought that, as I was in the area, I pop round and acquaint myself with your set-up.”
Harry had a ‘Spirit-prompt’: “We have only recently taken over the responsibility, so we would welcome any ideas as to how we operate successfully. We started out thinking to transport stone for some builders, who have a dozen or so houses to erect, and quite a few more to keep in good repair. But then the two ladies who look after the track had an idea for using the steam engine for passenger trips for tourists.”
“Something like the Ratty then.”
“Um … I’m not sure what you mean by the Ratty.”
“Sorry, railway shorthand, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Light Railway operates from the coast on the other side of the Lake District to you. So, you should not be poaching passengers, as far as I can see. Perhaps we could take a trip?”
Just then Harry hear a faint chuffing sound and the unmistakable toot of an engine’s whistle. So, he invited Jeremy to come and see.
~~~ RIDING ~~~
The little party moved out of Marilyn’s kitchen and through the gate between the house and the goods-shed. The Captain seemed not to twinge when he passed into the village dome, so Astoria assumed that the muggle had no evil intent. Mentally mentioning en-passant to Harry that he smelt of lemons.
Across the bus stop area was the start of the path to the village. Apart from a kerbed edge, it ran level and parallel to the recently-laid narrow gauge rails. Upon the line sat the coffee-pot steam-engine with Jocasta and Griswold on the footplate. Behind the engine was what Harry thought looked like some of the wooden settees from the snug at the Farmers arms, only, instead of feet, the lower edges of some wheels were just visible below the side boards. It was obvious that the wheels were located under the seats of the carriage, because the floor was almost at ground level. There was a seat facing forward, being back to back with another one. Those two were mirrored at the other end of the short carriage. In effect there was a centre compartment, with two sedan ones at either end. Harry reckoned that the twelve-foot-long coach would hold a dozen people comfortably. It also had a roof supported by four corner posts with fancy wrought iron spandrels. Triangular outer arm-rests formed the carriage sides to give it longitudinal stability.
“I see you have knifeboard carriages, Mr Potter. The Ffestiniog Railway has some of those, however theirs are longitudinal. A very good idea, they keep the centre of gravity low, especially on rough track.”
Harry nodded, taking in an obviously newly crafted piece of woodwork. Behind the carriage was another wheeled box-like structure with unglazed windows and a door opening. Timothea climbed out of this carriage and solemnly handed Harry a piece of paper. Harry glanced at it, reading:
‘Found it at the back of a shed and did some hasty ‘Reparos’ and ‘Scourgifies’ – should work OK – didn’t come off the rails getting here.’
Smilingly, Harry introduced the Captain to the crew.
“We only have one engine, Sir,” said Griswold: “So O.E.S. holds good.”
“Um … Griswold … O.E.S?”
“Sorry Harry! One Engine in Steam, a system that ensures no other train occupies the passenger running line for safety’s sake, you see. I suggest we return to the depot first.” Griswold showed the Captain a long piece of wood with what appeared to be a large key on the end: “The staff ensures that the points remain locked for the main line when we work passenger trains, Sir.”
“I like that, good old railway belt and braces safety. Lead on, Mr Griswold.”
Harry realised that the engine was at the quarry end of the little train. He also realised that the four of them could easily inhabit the centre open compartment, because each inner bench seat had been provided with two small cushions. On the side they had entered was a hinged rail which, when closed, formed a rudimentary door. On the other side the waist-high walls were intact with no door apertures. Harry and Douglas chose backward facing seats, whilst Astoria and the Captain claimed the other two cushions.
Leaving Marilyn and Argus to look after the station the little train chugged carefully beside the river path, and under the bye-pass bridge. The track-bed at this point ran parallel and close to the now disused standard gauge line that led to the quarry, but their line veered off keeping company with the footpath until it entered the quarry.
Whilst under the bye-pass bridge Harry sensed how close the edges of the wards were. He also realised that their railway, being narrow-gauge, could more easily follow the contours and that there was a curving gentle slope downwards beside the river, whereas the standard gauge railway builders had had to create a low cutting to reach the quarry floor.
The line they were on passed behind the canoe shelter and over the return leat, curving on top of an embanked piece of the quarry floor which gave fine views of the Gryff Force. The line divided, one part entering what Griswold called the loco-shed, however they travelled on the other one outside the outbuilding. On the opposite side to that, one of the zigzag lines descended to meet them and he saw the four quarrymen stop pushing their skip and wave at them. They never met the zigzag line because their train had come to rest alongside a very newly laid platform.
“This the end of the passenger line, Captain,” observed Timothea: “As you can see the mine lines are joined to the engine run-round so as not to conflict.”
“Thank you. I should like to look at your braking system, please.”
Griswold came up: “We use axel calliper brakes, Captain. Held off by the engine lever and the guard’s lever; either of which can activate an emergency stop. If the train parts, weights bring the callipers closed. It’s rather like the old chain brake but slightly more sophisticated.”
“Perhaps you would like to demonstrate.”
They arranged for the coupling to be undone and the engine pulled away, the carriage followed briefly until the weak link on the chain snapped and the carriage juddered to a halt.
“Mmm … I see … quite effective. How many carriages do you envisage in a rake?”
“We have frames enough for another three. That should be sufficient not to strain our little engine. It is possible to load a pram or a wheelchair in the centre compartment easily, if needed. As you see, the carriages have very low floors.”
The Captain chuckled: “Another safety box ticked, then?”
They watched Jocasta easily move the little guards-van by hand, using the loop to put it at the engine end of the small train. After that, the engine used the loop to gain the place where the brake-van had been; effectively reversing the equipage. On the way back the Captain wanted an emergency brake test as they were going up the slope. It was unspectacular. The train came to rest quickly and did not run back when the engine was uncoupled. Satisfied, the Captain asked them to continue the journey.
They passed by the path/platform they had used to board and turned left onto the river-bridge. Just after the bridge Griswold stopped the engine and came back.
“We have three loaded skips at the other terminus. We will bring them back with us so that you can test the girders for deflection.”
“Thank you. I see you have thought out the possibilities carefully. How fast can you go?”
“The engine is governed not to go faster than fifteen miles per hour, but we prefer about twelve maximum.”
“I would like you to go as fast as possible on this straight.”
“Very well, but I must send someone forward to ensure no traffic uses the level-crossing half way along.”
Douglas volunteered and set off at a trot with both red and green flags in his hand. Five minutes later they saw him wave then green flag, so Griswold set the train in motion. Harry found the ride quite exhilarating, being that close to the ground made the speed seem faster than it actually was. They whizzed past Douglas and then applied the brakes. A couple of minutes later he re-joined the train. Going forward, they stopped again on the approach to the road section.
This time Timothea came to talk to them: “We intend ter observe a five mile an hour speed limit on the road sections. This first crossing has not yet been re-laid so we will crawl across it. Thereafter we have managed to re-configure the permanent way. This crossing is our next main task.”
“Does it cross a busy road?”
“It used ter, so I’ve been told, but the steep hill it led ter has been closed ter vehicles, so we are on local roads serving just the houses. The villagers are all aware of the track.” Timothea chuckled: “In fact, they all mucked in ter help rejuvenate the track and its surrounds. It’s almost like driving though a flower bed in some places.”
They crept over the crossroads, rocking and bucking, but nothing derailed. Somehow word had got around and, from then on, there was a continuous band of well-wishing observers lining the road as far as Mr Cartwright’s old builder’s yard. That was not too tidy, having weeds and piles of rubble all over it. Harry explained that they had planning permission to build a dozen houses here, and that was the reason for resurrecting the railway, once they had arrived at the newly cleared terminal platform close to the churchyard.
Whilst they were watching the guards-van and the engine running-round, the Captain remarked: “Once the crossroads tramway is repaired, I would have no hesitation in passing this for passenger use. Not that I have any jurisdiction to deny you running trains anyway. Do you intend to run some Easter Specials during the forthcoming holiday?”
A:*Seems like a good idea.*
H*Um … Yes,* “We hadn’t really thought about it, Captain.”
“I should consider it seriously; many preserved railways make good money on those occasions. It helps to refurbish the bank balance after the closed season.”
Timothea and Jocasta individually hand shunted three loaded skips behind the guards-van. They were obviously very heavy, so Harry and Douglas went to help them.
“They’d be easy ter move by magic,” Timothea whispered: “But he’s a muggle.”
Harry chuckled his acknowledgement and bent his back into pushing the waggon.
John appeared: “Harry, you didn’t tell me you were going to run a passenger service. Not that I object. Is it possible to have a ride, please?”
Chuckling, Timothea went to the van and threw a cushion at him. He caught it and joined the others in the central compartment.
Once the skips were coupled up the acceleration was much slower and Griswold was very cautious when applying the brake, not that there were any mishaps. They came almost to a stop at the Pastures Farm Road-crossing, but there was nothing coming. By arrangement they stopped before the river bridge. The Captain withdrew some instruments from his briefcase and set them up on the wall beside the bridge. There was a laser beam aimed at the underneath of the bridge. Once everything was set up, he had Griswold run the train backwards and forwards over the bridge a few times. Afterwards the inspector packed the instruments away and came forward smiling.
“Well within the safety parameters. Do you have a weighbridge, please?”
“There’s one by the loading bank.”
“Good, I should like to know exactly how much the train weighed.”
They returned to the quarry and very slowly onto the mineral lines, here the riding was definitely uncomfortable. Each of the skips were weighed and then they used volunteers to fill the carriage to capacity and that was weighed. Griswold, the Captain and the two rail-goblins had a session with pen and paper.
Timothea came back grinning: “The Captain thinks we could easily take twice as many skips over the bridge without risking any damage. As fer passenger vehicles, if we had more, they wouldn’t all fit on the bridge ter make it unsafe. He agrees that seven carriages are the maximum we should safely take.”
A:*That’s arithmantic, Harry.*
H:*Most things we do seem to turn out that way, don’t they?*
A grinning Jocasta let out a big sigh of relief: “We passed muster easily.”
This time they used the engine to shunt the skips into a siding; afterwards coupling it up to the small train.
“Where’s the train-staff gone?” enquired Griswold worriedly.
“The quarrymen borrowed it and have gone to collect another carriage from the shed.”
They waited and heard the distinct signs of carriages being moved by hand. Looking down the line they saw two more brightly-painted carriages being pushed towards them. The quarrymen had one and they were close-followed by the Smarts and Ramsbottoms.
Sylvia was walking in front holding the staff rather like a wand. She came up to Harry and whispered: “I’m worn out I’ve been performing copy-transfiguration charms ever since he arrived.”
Harry smiled: “They look superb,” he commended quietly and then more loudly: “Do I presume everyone wants a ride?”
Sundry affirming exclamations greeted his question. So, everyone set-to hand-shunting the carriages and coupling them up. Jocasta was very careful about adjusting the brake chain couplings and then they were off; pausing briefly to look at the Gryff Force and then at the waterwheel. As they came to the Filches station the big service train had just arrived and was disgorging a number of passengers. The Captain wished the magely party well and alighted from the small train in order to travel back to his office via the national network.
The bus was there, waiting to take people to Great Grumblewell. Everyone admired the little train and quite a few enquired about when it would be running. Naturally the returning villagers asked if they could have a ride. Quite soon every seat was taken, thin people managing to sit four a side. Shopping bags proved difficult until Douglas pointed out that the flat roofs could be used as in the very early days of railways and produced a pair of step-ladders. Luggage fixed on by discreet sticking spells soon had the passengers settled and a joyful throng moved off sedately. John, Astoria and Harry occupied one of the sedan compartments,
The train and its occupants were making such a noise that the residents of Ribbon Mill Lane came out into their back gardens to wave. At Pastures Crossing the train stopped and a few residents alighted there. They were easily replaced by others wanting to have a ride. Around the corner and into Oak Lane there was another stop for the villagers furthest away from the station. There was no need for stepladders because one of the mages unstuck and levitated the required packages from the roof. They rode very carefully over the crossroads and accelerated slightly to reach the builders yard. There, there was a general reshuffle, this time it was accompanied children going to meet their working parents from the big train. Someone had had a good idea and brought along a candle in a glass jar because it was growing dark. The village grapevine soon started to work and, at the two unofficial stopping places the new hopefuls awaited with their illuminations and either boarded or handed over a makeshift lantern to a passenger without one. The train now resembled a giant glow-worm as it snaked along the track.
Arriving at the station well early for the big train, Griswold made an announcement:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the engine will have to go back to the quarry to put on water and run-round. If anyone likes to accompany us, they would be most welcome.”
About a third decided to stay but the rest piled back into the carriages and off they went. There were no end of hands to help with shuffling the guards-van around whilst the engine slaked its thirst and then the merry throng snaked back to the station. As before the big train came in and the Great Grumblewell bus passengers were equally intrigued by the candle-lit train.
Off the overloaded little train went, with another batch of luggage on the roofs. Deposited passengers were replaced by others and a further two round trips were made. The fourth train was not too crowded. Most of the villagers, who wanted to, had had a ride. However, a surprise awaited the train-crew at the station. Rumours had spread around Great Grumblewell and people had come back on the bus, equipped with candles and lanterns. In the end another five return trips were made before the clientele petered out.
Later in the evening, Douglas daffodilled Harry: {What do I do with this money I’ve collected?}
“Please explain?”
{People asked to buy a ticket, and I replied that we did not sell them. However, I suggested that they might like to give something towards the operating costs. There’s about three hundred in pounds and a little less in galleons, although they’re worth more.}
“Fine … Um … Give it to Bertie. It looks as though we’d better start a train account as part of the Smarts fund. Thanks for telling me.”
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