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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
- 176
- 177
- 178
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ EXPANDING ~~~
In July Harry was discussing with Kingsley various case reports at the end they shared a coffee and some biscuits.
“Tracey and Michael did very well in their review-board interviews, especially Tracey. Problem is that there’s no money to pay for extra posts so her promotion is being held,” Kingsley informed Harry: “Michael needs more time in the job, he’s not as sure of himself and his talents as Tracey is. She has good leadership qualities and it’d be a shame to lose her.”
“Good!”
“Err … What …? It’s not like you to gloat over someone’s failure to advance themselves. Is it personal?”
“Yes very, but not between her and me. With this budding Iberian Academy looming I was at my wit’s end wondering how to cope. On top of that the Italians could do with something similar, but they’ll take longer and much effort to persuade. I have sufficient funds and income not to need the Captain’s salary you pay me. So I’ll resign.”
Kingsley looked shocked: “But you can’t. We need your honest oddball outlook when we have these awkward investigations. I can think of at least a dozen cases which would not have been detected in the last year, but for you asking that certain question. We need you Harry.”
“What I don’t need is the day to day responsibility of sorting rotas and sorting out minor personal relationship problems. Nor do I enjoy the mountains of paperwork involved. I’m willing to stay on in some sort of advisory or review role if that will help, but not as a salaried minion. Therefore Mr Security Advisor I hereby tender my months’ notice as your employee, in accordance with my contract. I shall put it in writing and have it on your desk by this evening. I must say that I am feeling greatly relieved already. Especially as you confirmed that Tracy has the necessary leadership qualities.”
*Well done my Son. The next step is already looming.* Fawkes flew in and peered menacingly at Kingsley.
“Shall I ask Tracey to come and see you, or does it have to be ratified by the Watch Committee?”
A change came over Kingsley face as Harry finished the last sentence. He now looked crafty: “I suppose I shall have to accept it then. However, you did say you would act as an advisor, didn’t you.”
“Y..e..s?” Harry answered carefully.
“Good! In a couple of days, when I’ve chatted to some people I’ll come back to you about it and we’ll set up some kind of mechanism. As for Tracey I shall need to consult various people too. Just keep your resignation quiet for a few days please.”
“Fine, but I’m telling my family.”
Kingsley chuckled: “My bet is that they’ve been listening in already. After all, our conversation attracted Fawkes, didn’t it?”
“Fine! Just five days, until the weekend when I meet the Dumbledorians. I’d rather they knew it from me and not from scurrilous Rita.” Harry left the office feeling quite light hearted.
With Harry safely out of the way Kingsley went to see Arthur to tell him the news.
“We suspected he would, didn’t we,” replied Arthur mildly: “So now we can get on with the next stage of the plan. I’ll call a meeting of the interested parties in two days’ time. If you’re happy with that.”
Kingsley replied positively and left to complete the paperwork needed.
Thursday lunchtime, Draco was in one of his funks about a new potion so Harry dined alone at Fortescues. It so happened that Glandulous Dendron wandered into the restaurant.
“Is this place free Harry?”
“Hello Glandulous, of course. It is a bit crowded here. I welcome the company, Draco’s gone all silent on us, as he often does when working on a difficult problem.”
Glandulous chuckled: “So I’m a Draco substitute, am I? My congratulations on defeating Lucius’s machinations yet again. Do you think he’s given up in our islands?”
“With him, I’ve stopped double guessing. I just react where and when it’s needed.”
“Hmm … That’s going to be a little more difficult now, isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?” replied Harry cautiously.
“Shall I say that I had a chat with Kingsley and Arthur yesterday?”
“So they’re trawling for guidance are they? I expect they told you something that is not out in the open, yet.”
“Something about someone who is willing to act in an advisory role did come up in the conversation, yes.”
“I see! So this lunch has more than just friendship on its agenda, yes?”
“Do you remember old Somersby?”
“The one who asked all the awkward questions in the Watch Committee and then didn’t understand the answers, do you mean?”
“The very man. Well he’s retired, thank Merlin, and now we’re looking for another Inquisitor. Someone who WILL understand the answers and can advise us what they mean.”
“Do I get the feeling that I know what’s coming next?”
“Quite probably. The person chosen would need to be independently minded, and a seneschal of good standing, as well as having the support of most of the Wizengamot members. Being on the Watch Committee sometimes means that you have to withstand the blandishments of the less scrupulous, so to have a more than adequate income is a good insulation. It just so happens that you fit the bill on all counts. Especially as we are not allowed to appoint a Ministry employee.”
“I’m not so sure about being called an inquisitor, though.”
Glandulous chuckled: “Remembering a certain lady who usurped the title are you?”
“Yes, and she was deviously evil too.”
“We’d expect you to be devious too. Not in a wicked way, but in the way you asked questions. I understand that when your soon-to-be-ex colleagues have a suspect who is giving them the run-around, they call for Our Harry.”
Just then Harry noticed a large sparrow sitting on the edge of the table, pecking at an overlooked sandwich. He scowled at it and it seemed to shrug its shoulders.
*That’s you, isn’t it, Fawkes.*
*Of course. Just ensuring you make the right decision.*
*Which is to accept, isn’t it?*
*I do wish you didn’t put so much horseradish on your beef sandwiches. I suppose it’s because you like the exciting challenge of hot things. The Inquisitor’s job would suit your talents admirably.*
*Fine … I give in.* “Sorry for the inattention, Glandulous, have you met Fawkes before?”
“The phoenix who visits you sometimes, yes, but I cannot see him now.”
It was Harry’s turn to chuckle: “Like the rest of us he can also dissemble. He was complaining that I like too much horseradish in my sandwich. Thing is. He’s mistaken, it’s your sandwich he’s eating.”
“I thought that bird was too big to be a cheeky sparrow. He can have it, I’d discarded it because of the horseradish, anyway.”
The sparrow coughed and immediately took a large slurp out of Harry’s water glass. Fawkes then discarded the disguise and flamed the remains of the sandwich out of existence before flying off in a huff.
“I hope I haven’t annoyed him?”
“No, Glandulous, you haven’t. I rather liked finding out that even he can make mistakes, too. As to the question that caused the thoughtful silence. I feel I must accept. That’s why Fawkes was really here. He’s the Seers’ guide and was urging your suit.” He shrugged: “So you and Kingsley have your man.”
“I see you understand the politics of the situation.”
“I have two good Slytherin tutors in Astoria and Draco, you know.”
Glandulous merely inclined his head and took a long drink out of his cup.
*What was that?* came Draco’s sending.
*I’ve been offered your old job, Drakey.*
*But you’re not hot at potions.*
*Not that one, think back to the Pink Toad’s time at school.*
*Maybe I’d rather not. I was in junior inquisitor mode then, something I still regret.*
*Exactly!*
There was a pause: *Oh … So you’ve got old Somersby’s place then. Congratulations. I take it that you’ve accepted. Definitely a feather in the Blake family’s hat, very influential.*
*Not much choice really. Fawkes got indigestion ensuring that I took it.*
*How did that happen? Better tell me later, the potion is just going critical.* Draco cut out of the mental exchange abruptly.
Harry and Glandulous chatted inconsequentially over their sweet course before parting amicably.
###
That afternoon Harry was in a good mood whilst taking the Aurors class in the Aurorbunker. He had managed to add Carlos in, although some of the instruction was a little above his head. Afterwards they had a private session to sort out what was not understood. Wandering through Diagon Alley afterwards they had great amusement when the passers-by clocked two Harry Potters. George looked slightly sad when they went into the shop to use the portal. However he soon perked up and started planning how to use the look-alikes in some prank or other. Thus, for most of August, Carlos was a companion of Harry’s.
“All we need to do now,” Ginevra remarked with a smirk: “Is find a look-alike for Draco … Mmm … Scandinavia would be the best place to start, I think.”
“I can tell them apart, even if you can’t,” quipped Draco.
“By the colour of their eyes?”
“No! By the size of their pricks. Harry leaves Carlos way behind in those stakes.”
“So you’ve been looking then.”
“So have you. It’s not as though anyone’s shy in the pool is it?”
“Point taken!”
~~~ MONDAY 1^ST SEPTEMBER ~~~
Carlos had been asked to accompany the Auror/Dumbledorians on the Hogwarts express. Of course the seers were there unobtrusively patrolling the platform. Harry was there in his new capacity as Seneschal Inquisitor. Michael was the Auror in charge of the train’s security.
“Mr Potter!”
Harry looked round to see who was calling him. He noticed two overalled figures beckoning to him. Accompanied by Carlos, Harry went towards the engine and greeted the enginemen.
“Do you and your twin want a footplate ride?”
“Um … What?”
“To come on the engine like you have done in previous years.”
“Um … Thanks … We’d love to … Um … Carlos is a Spanish friend not my twin.”
“You could have fooled us. I imagined you were like the Weasley clan; will one of them be taking over later?”
“Quite probably. Sorry we’re not the same clan; there’s only one of each of us, but my wife and I have already started on a family so maybe there’ll be a Potter clan one day, you never know.” Harry was unsure where that last statement had sprung from.
“There are three of them,” added Carlos: “so far.”
“Congratulations! Boys or a girls?”
“A boy named James, after my father, his brother, Albus and the youngest is my daughter, Lilly.”
“I’ve got a couple now. We reckon two’s enough trouble and expense.”
“Not got around to thinking of expense yet, they’re not that old. Although the nappy bill is quite high.”
“There’s the guard’s whistle. Hop in please.”
Carlos and Harry secreted themselves in the corners of the tender, where they would not get in the way of the fireman, who had to work hard for the first twelve miles until they reached the first summit at the aptly named Potters Bar. Then he could relax slightly and show the two guests various sights along the line.
“Are we likely to see any more ghost trees, do you think?”
“I hope not. At least your driver didn’t stall the train.”
“The gradient’s not too bad against a down train there. However on an up train if you lose your feet at Cockburnspath it’s very steep. Did you know we got a bonus for keeping that job going? It really helped with the first set of kids clothing.”
Carlos had never travelled on a steam train before and was overawed by the industry on the footplate. By the time the train stopped to take water at York Harry was feeling slightly peckish. So he excused himself, proposing that Draco and an englamoured Probert replace them. This was acceptable to the engine-crew so Carlos and Harry retired to the comfort of the dining car – a new addition to the train, based on the mages’ experiences on their honeymoon. It was also the refuge of the adults on the train, away from the overexcited students.
On the upgrade after Berwick they were attacked again. Such was the efficiency of the protectors that the aggressors received their own hexes back; quickly quelling any further demonstration of the Seignior’s evil will. From the dining car, which was situated at the back of the train, a section of the auror party flew out to encapsulate the downed satraps, taking them back to auror headquarters.
Because of Draco’s non-video charm the unaware muggle train crew reported vandals throwing stones, but no damage sustained. After the Glasgow water stop Zacharias and Michael were offered places on the engine; not that any more vandalism took place.
Once in Hogsmeade and the Academy the adults stopped in the great hall’s gallery for the sorting feast and then retired through the portals.
However the four seers stayed behind with Carlos. For them it was easy to regain their beds in whichever house they fancied. Using the beds in the apartment they conducted a couple of lessons for Pullet and Phealey. The girls did much the same too. It was part of their remit as visiting dignitaries and added variety in the students’ curriculum. On Saturday the quintet took a stroll around Loch Dhu [the black lake] telling Carlos of the adventure of Justin’s boat.
“I’d like to see that island where you rested afterwards.”
“Fine. We’ll borrow Minerva’s launch and take you there.”
Minerva was willing, the tide was favourable, and so they took a picnic with them. It was warm so they sunbathed on the silver strand afterwards. Carlos had, by this time, become used to their preference for no clothes. They lay, eyes closed, idly chatting when a wave of water washed over them, at least it seemed like it. It was accompanied by a shout of laughter. They sat up hurriedly. There in the water, with their tails poised ready to make another mini-tsunami, were five mer-people, holding bunches of gillyweed. Draco recognised four of them: Maeve and Morgan, Nigel and Nora. The other one introduced himself, in the usual embarrassing way, as Arioso.
*But I’m not a very good swimmer,* complained Carlos.
*It’s not your swimming prowess that is most important,* explained Arioso: *No need to worry, I’ll look after you.*
And look after him, Arioso did; very pleasurably to begin with. Thereafter the males swapped partners a couple of times. Carlos was presented with a shell afterwards.
~~~ OCTOBER ONWARDS ~~~
Heroics and blessings over for a time, everyone returned to their places of work or study. Harry and Draco spent fifteen evenings overtime catching up with their reports, so that Harry's replacemt had a clean sheet. After that they and settled in to the following weeks of comforting routine when everyday life calmed them down. Each seer being responsible for James in turn.
One Sunday at the normal monthly meeting of the Dumbledorians, a number of new members were proposed and received: they included Gilda and Pansy who had been overlooked by accident so that was rectified; ensuring that all married couples were both members. Order Members like Minerva and Hagrid had never joined, instead becoming Praetors.
###
The end of the month had the new Dumbledorians jumping the fire and the seers charming more pairs of cabinets. Harry was puzzled why so many were being sold.
“It’s simple really, Harry,” Lee explained: “That they were so effective in hiding people away in the first war was that; once the family had escaped, they destroyed one of the pair so that the death-eaters could not come through.”
“That’s why an extant pair were so rare,” put in Draco: “George has been working on a charm that allows the remaining one of an old pair to be connected to a newly made one.”
“Fine … I see … Because Lucy scares people, they want to have an escape.”
“There’s more to it than that, Harry,” suggested Lee: “Draco has developed a hex that blocks the cabinet to anyone but the nazar holder. Note that nazars are not the same as scarabs, only being permissive to the cabinets concerned. This allows Dumbledorian families to connect in to the nearest safe point. It’s been greatly enhanced by the recent work of the ward team using the phaeton network. That catches places well away from the portal system.”
~~~ TUESDAY 11^TH NOVEMBER ~~~
Astoria’s birthday was a relatively demure affair on board the Greengrass private yacht. It was moored in Venice in order that the Dumbledorians and guests could have easy access. The celebration cruise in the Adriatic lasted the whole weekend ending back at Palazzo Pevrello with a masked ball on the Sunday night. Needless to say, there were many bleary eyes at work on the following Monday morning.
~~~ END OF YEAR ~~~
Christmas was hectic as usual, by that time Timothy had become used to the peculiar parish and John was now back as his old relaxed self. Isabel now had two mouths to feed but it was not too onerous because various parishioners helped out as well. Harry had arranged a rota so that during the week either Timothy or John had at least one meal away from the vicarage every day. Kreacher managed to help surreptitiously with the domestic arrangements and in the end Isabel had a little more time to indulge in her much loved pastime. Along with Hermione she spent many happy hours sketching the flora and fauna surrounding the many estate houses.
~~~ JANUARY 2009 ~~~
During this month Harry, Draco and Kingsley carried out a job audit on the aurors. Harry was gratified by the way Peter covered the Auror’s job reports, making everyone’s tasks that much easier. Harry had remarked about this to Kingsley; so over the next few weeks they secretly monitored Peter’s competence; slowly feeding in tasks of greater complexity. They were agreeably surprised by his acumen and capability. They also saw that he realised his limits and was not afraid to ask for help or pass the problem on to someone with greater authority and/or experience.
After the children’s combined birthday party Harry got down to business.
~~~ TUESDAY 10^TH FEBRUARY ~~~
As a result of the job audit a number of interviews took place. Harry arrived in Kingsley’s office to find a goblin sitting there.
Harry, I’d like you to meet Malcom Malisous, he’s the commander of the goblin brigade of Guards. He and I have been working together unofficially, but now with the new rapprochement we hope to do so officially.”
They shook hands and murmured the usual pleasantries.
“I imagine I have to do some political work in the Wizengamot to further this aim.”
Malcom smiled: “I have been talking to your fellow seer, Astoria. I do believe that she has a draft bill to present to your Progressive Party’s next meeting. You may know, that I have the ear of Glandulous, so his party sees no objection to the proposal.” His smile broadened: “I think he sees it as a boost to the pure-blood family-support ideas that they hold so dear.”
Harry nodded knowingly: “Something that is ingrained in Goblin culture too … Um … Malisous … Um … Could you be a distant relation of Mavis the Malicious we heard about during our History lessons?”
“Yes, but the mages misspelt our family name for political reasons. Like your honourable ancestor is called Godric the Grief-giver in our histories.”
“I see … So why are we here?”
“Malcolm and I thought it might be a good idea if we worked in tandem. Last week I sat in on one of his promotional interviews, so this week he is returning the compliment.”
“Fine by me, so who’s first?”
“Peter Smith – Administrative assistant. His manuscripts are on top of the file.” Kingsley handed Harry’s notes to him.
Peter was called in:
“We have been scrutinising your work recently, Peter and we feel that as Harry’s admin assistant you coped well after he left,” said Kingsley after the usual politesse.
“That’s only because Mackenzie and his team make it easy for me.”
“Perhaps, but the overall output from your workstation is of a very high quality. We feel that you should take on more responsibility. As well as having a rise in salary we intend designating you as Mac’s aide de camp thus freeing his hands to increase his input into auror work. Harry, as you may know is doing some work on international co-operation on our behalf.”
“So he can teach at AMIC, do you mean.”
“Yes, that’s part of it, but Harry’s quartet have already started work as our magical ambassadors and the Wizengamot wants to back their initiatives. Our being in the European Community means that we have to pull our weight in that arena and the Seers’ team has given it a head start with their activities on their train tour and by their actions since then.”
“We think that Lucy is likely to attack another European target,” said Harry: “And we want to be able to respond quickly whenever he strikes, therefore we need to build bridges with other European centres of thaumaturgy.”
Various other questions and answers followed until Peter agreed: “Yes … I see … All right … Thank you for offering me this opportunity … I’d be a fool not to accept; wouldn’t I?”
Kingsley and Harry let out sighs of relief and Malcolm nodded amiably.
~~~ INTERVIEW ~~~
Ronald was one of the next ones to be called in.
“Thank you for your leadership in the various battles against the Seignior,” Kingsley started: “The Wizengamot Watch Committee has asked us to offer you a job with us.”
“Thanks, Kingsley … Isn’t that great, Harry?”
“Wait for the rest of it, Ron,” Harry smiled at his friend.
“Oh … So there’s a catch, is there? I s’pose I should have guessed.”
“Harry’s taking on a wider field of activity within Europe, with Peter as Mac’s aide-de-camp, here. However, as you may have heard, Harry is now designated as the Watch Committee’s Inquisitor. Because of your dickey hip active duty is not really suitable any more is it?”
“No … But I’m not sure why you’ve asked me here. So what is it?”
“We would like you to join this team as Aurorbunker Supervisor and were wondering who might be a suitable replacement to ease some of your ward-supervision burdens and work with Hermione.”
“That’s easy, Zac has taken over Herm’s’ job now and Probes is shit hot. Then Monach passed his warding exam with flying colours. I had found it difficult warding in the field because my leg still plays up.”
“Will it be too much for you in the Aurorbunker?”
“No. I’ve been helping out when not in the shop. My wand work is good and Harry keeps me up to date. We’ve got some elves at the shop now so I was beginning to feel superfluous.”
“Yes, that bit of information hadn’t escaped me, hence the offer.”
“So I’ll be training the troops then?”
“That’s right and reporting to Mac’s as his assistant. The Goblin Brigade’s tyros will also be training with us from the new term.”
“You will need an assistant too.”
“Who’ll that be?”
“He hasn’t accepted yet – so we can’t tell you.”
“Erm …” Ronald glanced diffidently at Malcolm: “Would you be happy with someone from another race?”
“Why so hesitant? You know the policy. Besides which it would keep Hermione happy too, wouldn’t it?” Harry grinned and received a couple of chuckles back.
“I know he only passed his NEWTS last year, but Kenneth has shown a lot of promise when working out in the DADA room. He managed to understand those very complicated auror defences when we challenged him with them. That’s why he applied to become an Auror. I know you couldn’t take him on because of certain people’s objections, but he’s now inventing new pacification charms. I think that as my assistant we can slowly wear down the engrained resistance. He’s a wonderful dueller too. At Hogwarts he won the duelling cup three times.”
“You already have goblin boys in your set-up,” remarked Malcolm: “So why not some elves?”
Kingsley nodded and glanced mischievously at Harry: “I expect the Inquisitor would have my ears if I refused. I have already heard good reports about the young elf, so let’s give him trial. Two of the crusty aurors have retired recently, they were not up to scratch with their timed responses. Luckily they realised that they were becoming a liability and handed in their notices. Malcolm found them a couple of jobs as security guards.”
“I know who you mean. Can Probert not be found a job? At the moment he does his ward work voluntarily. He was bloody good sorting out the wards at Cerroverde. We hadn’t met any that you could actually walk on before and he remade them perfectly; adding strength where the thaum-anchors’ magic had dissipated due to aging. He quickly picked up the making of medallions and has a few variations to discuss with our four seers.” Ronald looked sly: “I’d heard a whisper that someone else attached to the ward team was receiving remuneration from the goblins. It would look bad if we were not paying our whack, wouldn’t it?”
Kingsley chortled: “Beaten you. Both Probes and Monach will be receiving salaries. It’s already arranged. Ganymede and Selwyn are already working as trainee Aurors and have the necessary honours in NEWTS.” He then smiled impishly at Harry: “You’ll have all your cherished godsons on the team, now; won’t you?”
“Only Selwyn is my godson really, Draco is Probes’, and Hamish stood for Gay. They are such a tight friendship group that we seem to be regarded as their joint godfathers by everyone, including them. The other two were worried that Probes didn’t want to come with them, but as a ward team member that gets round the problem.”
“You being their godfather twice over, was one of the main political reasons that helped us to start working together,” added Malcolm
“You had me blushing at that ceremony, you know.”
“Yes Ron, but you still blush at the drop of a hat.” Harry thumped his mate lightly on the shoulder.
“Okay you two, before you start wrestling on my office floor; we will appoint Probert officially to the Warding Team, with a day off each week for postgraduate studies during the next three years; just as we’ve done with his friends and many others. Okay?”
“It’ll be only two and a half years, because they’ll soon be completing their first year.”
“Better still, we get their full employment half a year earlier.” Kingsley rubbed his hands together in satisfaction: “Now for the next one, Gentlemen.”
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