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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
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[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ HEADMASTER ~~~
During the last week in August Harry took Teddy to Diagon Alley. They were buying the books that the young man would need for his first year at the Academy. There were two or three children of mages who lived in the village, so a party was made up. Because Harry was with them, they got certain extra courtesies extended. Just over halfway through the trip they descended on Fiorello Fortescues; being forewarned he had reserved an exclusive alcove for them. Going around in a group also had advantages for Harry. By and large mages were reasonably polite. As he could be seen to be talking to one parent or another, even answering questions from the excited youngsters, no-one had the nerve to barge in and demand things of him. Wanting to be like his godfather, Teddy bought a snowy owl from Eeylops. He wanted to call it Hedwig but, Andromeda explained that it might pain his godfather. So, remembering his Brythonic lessons with Aunt Tor, he called it Dillonwen.
###
Tuesday 1^st September had a procession of village mages going through the Posterns to Gringotts and then walking to Kings Cross Station. Harry had ensured that their luggage went via the floos to the special waiting room reserved for the magicals who might cause comment if seen by muggles. There, the luggage was picked up by its owners and taken on board. The village youngsters managed to obtain a compartment to themselves, thus the loneliness of travelling and wondering what lay ahead was assuaged by having their friends around. Even so, they all had smudged faces and were coughing by the time the train left the Gasworks Tunnel. They had all crowded through the open window to wave goodbye to the parents and guardians, it was a bit of a squeeze and difficult to sort out in the darkness of the tunnel. Steam trains not only puff out steam but a lot of sooty smoke; hence the problem. They thought it hilarious and indulged in an amount of soot-based face-painting.
~~~ SAMHAIN ~~~
As usual for Samhain the seers attended the fire jumping and afterwards obtained three pairs of pre charmed cabinets. Astoria had ascertained that it would be easier if they charmed them up first before installing them. So, using the phaeton system, they moved away from the portal system and set up the cabinets in a line situated at four different waystations. The first phase was to ensure the operated as they should. The second phase was to convert them into portals and check that they worked. The third phase was to create the possibility of postern-links out of the portals.
They were surprised how easy the process was, not that it did not temporarily drain them of some thaumic ability. Once charmed the cabinets were miniaturised and placed in stasis boxes, then taken to their new homes. Draco took one to Cerroverde, Ginevra took on half of Draco’s set and one half of Astoria’s set to Guéthary. The next two halves of pairs Astoria took to the cupboard in the chalet leaving Harry to take just one cabinet to Montecristo.
Once he arrived Harry checked that his fellow sages were in place: *Three, two, one: FACIMUS POSTICA!*
There was a rumble and the cabinets melted away leaving doors in their place. Whilst still shaky the two girls cast charms on to the doors of the intervening cupboards so that only the seers could see them. It was the same charm that pertained at the Kaiser Wilhelm door to the Tabernacle. Meanwhile the two boys had checked that the multi-link worked. That done they retired to the cottage, drank some of Winky’s fortifying chocolate and collapsed, hugging into bed.
After church and the parish lunch; whilst Ginevra looked after the children, Astoria took the Dumbledorian professor/tutors through the system. Draco was next, showing Pedro, Gratian and Estéban the new posterns. Harry, having gathered the Italian professors together after their siesta, was the last seer to show a party through. Kreacher was introduced to the system and he arranged for the corps of elves to help the teaching staff to take their luggage, and settle-in, to their respective areas.
~~~ MONDAY 2^ND NOVEMBER ~~~
Bobby woke Harry with a mug of coffee: “Your shower is on, My Lord Count,” he said mockingly. “Your head-masterly attire awaits you on the sofa and in half an hour you have your first meeting of the Academy Council. As for your notes, Cardio has put them in a folder on the breakfast table.”
Harry almost did a ‘Molly’ wandering around distractedly. Bobby sponged his master down, dried him and made sure that every zip was done up and all the buttons were in the correct buttonholes. He also insured Harry drank the calming potion that Astoria had found in Draco’s home-lab.
Filled with the potion’s confidence Harry swept into the dining room giving a fair impression of bat-wings Snape.
The professorial staff rose from their seats: “GOOD MORNING, HEADMASTER.”
“Um … Good morning to you all! Thank you for responding so promptly. Please sit.”
Harry sat and sipped from his orange juice for a few seconds, opening the folder and looking at his notes; all the professors’ eyes were upon him.
“Well now … This is the first meeting of the new College Council. For the time being I have asked Cardio, my steward, to be the recorder of minutes. Does that meet with your accord?”
Nods and murmurs of assent.
“I gather by your reports about numbers that the biggest group of students we can expect in any one class is fourteen. Is that still correct?”
More nods and murmurs of assent.
“Fine, that means we can run the whole establishment as one. With none of the time-consuming transfers. As you know the Dumbledorian Professors will now be joining us permanently. It will lessen your load, because some of their tutors will take your students for the subjects not at present covered.”
“What subjects are those, Headmaster?” asked one of the professors, bristling.
“Practical magic, for instance; they will be learning on the spot, so to speak. Then again; some of the Cerroverde tutors will conduct equivalent classes with the students, when you have the undergraduates and adult learners. I know that most of you are already discussing joint syllabi.” Harry knew that two or three professors were being very protective of their domains and hoped to jolly them into co-operation.
“Please explain?”
“YES DO?” came murmurs of support.
“This business of sharing classrooms will now cease because we no longer have to crowd into one establishment or the other. Professor Thomas has more work to do at Montecristo so his classroom will be there. As you know this was a new subject at Hogwarts a few years ago, under the ‘building for peace’ initiative. It has now become a standard part of their curriculum. Professor Thomas’s students will use the postern system to reach here on the days allotted. Also, you may remember our earlier discussions about helping the adults who, because of previous repressive regimes, have not reached their full potentials.”
“Do you know which days will be allotted, Headmaster?”
“Not yet Professor Belzoni, we have yet to work out the timetable. I suggest we use the bead-and-box system, but if anyone has a better way, then I am happy for us to use that one. I expect we will be carrying out that exercise around teatime, after siesta.”
“Have you allocated the classrooms, Headmaster?”
“I would prefer you to come to friendly agreements about who will have which one, Professor Sismondi. Obviously the Herbology classroom ought to be at Cerroverde, because of their enormous variety of plants under their special dome. In the same way Professor Malisous’s DADA suite should have a warded practice room attached. Also, the Potions Laboratory should have access to its store beneath the professorial stairs. I had thought that the classroom facing the bay should be reserved for visiting professors, but that is still open for negotiation.”
“Very wise decision, Headmaster, we will all have equivalent classrooms overlooking the quadrangle, in both establishments.”
“Thank you, Professor Lomenta. The visitors’ one will be the first classroom to be used by Professor de Duindhu for his occasional Magical languages class.”
“Do you have any particular order of allocation arranged yet, Headmaster?”
“Starting inland and working towards the bay; is a suggestion, Professor Tamerlane. But it can be done piecemeal to suit any other arrangements. We could hold a lottery to see who goes first if you like; then no favouritism will be shown. I suggest, when we remake the timetable you take into consideration the days when you will not be resident; you may well find that lessons can be arranged with little conflict. Between now and coffee break I would like you each to make a verbal report on your enrolled students and a brief outline of your teaching scheme. Five minutes for presentation and five more for discussion. Between coffee break and luncheon ,we will pair up and allocate classrooms. Having done that we will create timetable availability boxes for the subjects but not the level to be taught, that should come from the beads, or whatever, in the afternoon.”
“What about a professorial common room, Headmaster?”
“I suggest the lounge next door, Professor Tamerlane.”
“But that is your private domain, Headmaster.”
“No longer, Pedro, our dressing rooms have been turned into a small day room, not much larger than any of your sitting rooms here. That will be sufficient for myself and the other three seers when we are in residence. In the same way this dining room will act as common property for meetings, but not only of this faculty but other organisations as well. The Dumbledorian Cabinet and the Tutors Group intend to meet here regularly too.”
“Do you intend to designate houses following the Hogwarts pattern?”
“Good question Professor Ladino, one which I have no set mind upon. There are no ‘four great founders’ so that rules that kind of formation. I get the feeling from the various students I have met so far that there is a lot of sentiment for the area from which they hail. However, I suspect that that would result in too much fragmentation. In the same way I would like to integrate the various national groups, if at all possible. I would suggest that we hold fire to see what groups amalgamate.”
“Why not use your four mages names.”
“We’re not into self-aggrandisement, thank you.
“It’s nice to know that. How about letting the groups use the four quarters of the quadrangle informally?”
“You mean call them by the four points of the compass?”
“As a preliminary measure I suggest we put students of one year on two adjacent tables for eating purposes, trying to mix the nationalities and sexes equally.”
“As it is, they will be sharing common rooms on that basis as well … … …”
Harry wisely shut up, having got the professors talking to each other. He took note of the ideas that surfaced, occasionally asking leading questions to turn the conversation away from one-up-man-ship when it reared its ugly head. He could see alliances forming which could enhance the smooth running. He built up a rapport with Cardio so that the recording was in a positive style, with each professor’s efforts being recorded as helping towards the general wellbeing.
Somehow Harry managed to sort out who would be available on which day casting the box-making spell and then double checking that no one was left out or hogging all the favoured times. A couple of adjustments were made by appealing for fair play and backed by enough other teaching staff to persuade the antagonists to relent and call a truce.
By and large Fawkes was pleased with the way Harry had conducted himself even if it was unconventional. After lunch everyone retired to their rooms, coming to life again at teatime and tackling the timetable fabrication with aplomb. Within two hours the automatic quills were writing out the individual students’ schedules.
~~~ TUESDAY 3^RDNOVEMBER ~~~
Cardio acted as the student welcoming agent, making sure that each scholar was issued with a Saint George, thus overcoming possible language problems. He also had those who would become residents shown to their rooms. Quite soon it was time for the welcome feast.
Remembering Albus’s short speeches Harry made his brief: “I welcome you all to the Mediterra Academy. Some of you will be resident here in Villa Montecristo and some of you will be using a postern to arrive from Castillejo Cerroverde each day. Certain classes will be at Cerroverde thus giving the residents here a chance to sample the postern system. You will also have noticed some older mages present; these will be taking post graduate study courses within the joint establishment.” Harry went on to briefly introduce each professor stating the courses they would be supervising. Each professor stood enabling the students to see them. Harry then wished them: “Buon appetito,” and sat.
Cardio had arranged pairs of tables with place names to contain students of the same year. This enabled the professors to perambulate, giving out each student’s lesson plan and answering any pertinent questions.
~~~ WEDNESDAY 4^TH NOVEMBER ~~~
This was a relaxed day with no proper lessons. Each professor took a group of one table’s occupants on a tour of the Villa and of Cerroverde where they saw the relevant classrooms. The dwarves were hosts for lunch and in the afternoon the Iberian students liaised with the Italian ones about common room arrangements at the Castillejo. Basically, each year had a common room at each establishment attached to the sleeping arrangements for the residents. As not all the bedrooms were used at each academy; at least two bedrooms were converted into day rooms for the visiting students.
Harry managed to leave those arrangements to his team and have a day in London with Mackenzie and Malcolm; being brought up to date and preparing presentations for both the Watch Committee and the whole Wizengamot.
~~~ THURSDAY ONWARDS ~~~
In the late afternoon Harry visited each classroom; having tea at Cerroverde and dinner at Montecristo. The professors had taken the table idea to heart. No one sat at the high table; each professor or tutor presided at one of the student tables. Harry wandered from one to another chatting with the students and answering questions. He noticed that the participants were making great efforts to befriend their fellows from different cultural backgrounds, much to Fawkes’s and his approval.
On Friday, the three of them made their presentation to the Watch Committee and obtained their approval to present it to the whole Wizengamot.
~~~ GOBLIN GODSONS ~~~
The presentation was about an incident on September the first and the school train.
Harry and Draco had been busy at the Ministry and left it to the other Dumbledorians to supervise the security. The pre journey checks found nothing untoward and once all the students were on board the train set off on its journey. Justin and Susan were the senior leaders and had carried out some spot checks as the ride progressed. As previously the train stopped to pick up water at York and the usual external check was made – all appeared to be proper.
Once the train reached the place of the ghostly fallen tree the rearmost coach seemed to give off sparks and the two Dumbledorians holding that particular ward collapsed followed by the rest of their fellows. Of the Dumbledorians in that carriage the only three not affected were Ganymede, Probert and Selwyn.
To begin with they sought to ‘Enervate’ the collapsed people, but other considerations soon attracted them away from that task. The rear connection was blown away and a number of Satraps entered issuing binding hexes. Grabbing their fire-staffs the Godsons formed a phalanx by the connection to the rest of the train. One of them held a mirror-shield whilst the other two fired offensive hexes using their mind meld to fire around the edge of the shield. Two of the Satraps were set on fire and one of their colleagues ‘Aquamenti-d’ them before taking his singed mates out through the back door. This left another three satraps inside.
Slowly the three goblins edged their way down the carriage. Seat by seat they altered the ward-protector until only one bay was left. Unfortunately for the satraps one of them thought a death curse might give them victory … It did not … It rebounded on one of them and, in the confusion the godsons captured the other two. Ganymede ‘Accioed’ the pieces of the blasted end door and set about repairing it. Selwyn, who had studied up to medi-aid NEWT level in Poppy’s magi-medic class set about resuscitating the collapsed mages whilst Probert built some stronger temporary wards.
There were no further attacks and the equipage continued unmolested. Naturally there was an enquiry which took place during the remaining part of the journey. Goblins, being of a stronger disposition, used their persuasive powers on the two live satraps. After the malcontents had stopped screaming; they became very co-operative. It seems that the Seignior had used a muggle airgun to shoot a pellet of immobilising gas through the open window. What he had not reckoned on was the slightly different constitution of the goblins who were not therefore affected.
Once the School was reached, a full report given to the headmistress. Later on, she made some recommendations to the Wizengamot office. It was those that the security trio now wanted to present to the Wizengamot.
On Saturday the awed seneschals heard of the three young goblin aurors’ antics, and the positive results thereof. There was a vote of thanks carried and the Watch Committee was given a certain remit.
###
Five weeks following that meeting a number of important dignitaries appeared at the Sunday service at Saint Godric’s. The congregation buzzed, many of the muggles had not seen Wizengamot members in all their finery before.
“I am not preaching a sermon today, Friends.” John informed the assembly: “Our illustrious visitors wish to make a presentation. Will Selwyn, Ganymede and Probert please come forward into the chancel?”
Three puzzled young goblins came forward.
“It is only right that those who have shown outstanding bravery in defence of their comrades be recognised,” started the Wizengamot Chairman: “In our society there is an award that recognises such acts. It is my privilege as leader of our community to make such presentations. Ganymede Griphook you have been awarded the Order of Merlin.” The chairman placed the medal over Ganymede’s head and round his neck. An equivalent presentation took place to Probert and Selwyn.
Presentation over, John took them to the altar rail and made a personal blessing on each of them. As the stunned trio returned the congregation started to applaud them. When time came for communion to be taken, they were called to the front and received before any of the congregation did. The three goblins had sore hands after the end of the service because everyone wanted to shake their hands. They were also slightly tipsy after the parish lunch because many people also wanted to buy them a drink.
“Harry, why didn’t you warn us?” asked Ganymede whilst sipping his second sobriety potion.
“I wanted it to be a nice surprise. After all you spent three days enduring Poppy’s ministrations. That gas had a delayed effect on your metabolisms, didn’t it?”
“It was a bit painful, but we’re better now and still a little cross with you about it.”
“Don’t be, please? I was just as surprised as you were when they presented me with mine.”
“But you did much more than us.”
“Not really. Just think what would have happened if the satraps had got into the rest of the train?”
“Oh …! Yes.”
“There’s a political reason as well,” added Draco: “It’s important that people from other races are included in the honours system and recognised as leaders. Kreacher as a Wizengamot member and our two elfin professors, keep their end up, and now you three and Hamish represent the goblins in the hierarchy.”
“So, we’re political pawns, are we?”
“No Selwyn, the honour is well deserved. You showed your metal in defending all magical people, not just the mages. There were other goblins and elves on that train, weren’t there?”
“Okay, okay. Dad’s over the moon about it. We’re to be presented to the Gringotts Governors next weekend; that sort of underlines the importance, doesn’t it.”
“Yes! It does.”
###
Harry was present along with other seneschals when the Godsons were presented to the Gringotts Governors. There were more congratulatory speeches and then Barnstable stood.
“Normally we don’t give out medals and today is not an exception to the rule. However, we believe in a more practical demonstration of our community’s gratitude. As you may have heard Gringotts sometimes offers bursaries to magicals. Normally these are to give the recipient time to study further. However, it seems that all three of you are already engaged in a very worthwhile job, which has possibilities for study and promotion. This time the bursaries will be commuted. On your behalf we have bought Oak house. This is our recognition of your services to the magical community.” Barnstable chuckled: “I understand that the Wizengamot’s part of this is to pay for the renovations. They will bring it up-to-date and decorate it to your satisfaction.”
The three were so overcome that they could only blubber their thanks then and there. To give them credit; they did sit down the following day and write cogent thank-you missives.
During the reception afterwards someone asked where Oak House was.
“It’s the e-shaped house that faces the train-halt at the end of Oak Lane. It’s slightly peculiar because it used to be three cottages but was converted into two. The conversion was not too successful. It would be easy to put it back as it was.”
“If you did that, would we still be able to visit internally?”
“Yes Probes, it’s just a matter of not blocking the two doors that were made when it was converted. We think that they were two large families and needed more child-space. There was a granny-flat included too.”
Dean came along and clapped Selwyn and Ganymede round the shoulders, grinning at Probert: “There’s plenty of room for three normal sized families, for when you get married.”
“Who said we were getting married?”
“So, you belong to our lot do you?” Dean indicated Seamus, Harry and Draco.
“We’ve had our games, but no!”
“Good, because there are three quite attractive goblinesses who would be most disappointed if you were.”
The Godsons coloured-up and looked at their feet.
Draco looked mischievously at them: “So-o-o, you’re withholding information from your Godfathers, are you?”
Selwyn looked up sharply: “I didn’t know we had to have your approval … Oh … You bugger … You’re having us on, aren’t you?”
“I’ll admit they’re very nice … And we get on well together … But we haven’t told our folks yet,” offered Ganymede.
“Don’t worry, we won’t spread it around. However, the way you go to them each time they enter a room and then stay there staring into each other’s eyes is sure to give the game away soon.”
“I didn’t realise we were so obvious.”
“Well, you are.”
“Do they come from good families,” asked Draco: “Because if they do, now is the time to ask their parents’ permission to court. Seeing as you are magical heroes with good prospects.”
“Are you joshing us?” Probert accused.
“Honestly … No … I know how our pure-blood parents’ minds work and assumed that your families held to the same tenets.”
“Sorry for misunderstanding … Mmm … Draco has a point guys.” The three godsons went into a huddle.
Not that anything happened just then, because the three goblinesses were not present at that particular function.
###
Things settled to something like normalcy thereafter. It was obvious that the joshing episode had not put off the three courting couples, but nothing official was stated. Christmas came and went in its normal rush. However, there was time to relive the Christmas stories through their children’s eyes as well as enjoying their glee at receiving presents. As before, the Dumbledorian pseudo uncles and aunties enjoyed helping the Blakes’ kids with their snow escapades. One of those entailed James – being the big boy of the family and showing off – taking an extra-long toboggan ride and ending up in the River Gryff. That definitely took away his bumptiousness, but not for long,
~~~ PRINCIPALS ~~~
Before the Christmas holiday was over Harry had a summons from Minerva. When he arrived, there were two other people in the office. One he recognised, she was Olympe Maxine, headmistress of Beauxbatons, the other he had never seen before.
“Ah Harry, come and sit down. Welcome to our cosy coterie, Olympe you have already met, this is Gerhard Kota the Headmaster of Durmstrang.”
Harry shook hands and murmured the expected greetings.
“Before you ask, we heads’ of schools occasionally meet together and now you have established a new one, we though you should be included …”
Harry drew in a breath to protest.
“… I’ll have none of your feeble excuses, Harry. You have achieved something that has been worrying us for some time. Notably, the Mediterra Academy. We were rather hoping that you could show us around. Olympe is intrigued by your transport system and Gerhard had never heard of cabinets until he saw some for sale in the Weasleys’ shop.
“Very ingenious contraptions,” added Gerhard: “I used your posterns after my shopping trip in Diagon Alley. You see; Flourish and Blotts prepare special orders for me at the beginning of each term.”
Harry had a quiet moment with his fellow seers and agreed with them that the two head-teachers should be allowed through at least some of the portals. The quartet posted to Gringotts and then ported via the Chateau to the Chalet, where they accessed the combined schools’ postern system via the private door. The principals were impressed with what they saw and, inter alia, met some of the professors too. After that they sat in Montecristo’s dining/board room and discussed other scholastic items. Not that Harry said much, apart from asking pertinent questions because he was still bedding himself into this new group.
###
Then it was New Year with the usual shenanigans and a WWW Firework display.
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