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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
- 223
- 224
- 225
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ SALVATION ~~~
Harry and Draco arrived back at their home to find Hermione waiting for them.
“I have all the Malfoy papers for you, Draco. The Wizengamot clerk said that they were no longer needed and gave me an authorisation for the auror department to release them.” She handed over a large box: “There’s no statute of limitations in our world, so the clerk said, but he would make an exception for a leading Wizengamot member. I think he was overawed by your recent knighthood.”
Draco nearly dropped the box, it was so heavy: “Just papers in here?”
Hermione giggled: “’Fraid so. There was a room full, so I miniaturised them.”
“Thanks. All I have to do is find a place to put them,” he replied ruefully.
“I could make a special archive at the college, if you like. Bookworm would love to sort them out and catalogue them. They’d be in a restricted section, and you would be the authorising agent. We already have three or four family archives stored under such rules. The catalogue is available to the graduates, but the family head has to give permission.”
Draco chuffed: “Seems like a good idea. I really don’t fancy sorting out a large roomful of papers, just now. Perhaps you could let me know of any research on thaumic bonding; especially if there are ways of breaking or replacing them. My father had a bonded, I think, kobold. How that pact was made and sustained might have bearing on Knob’s good health. Hmm … You might find an interested party in Jason Carrow. He says he’s studied a bond which his great uncle Aloysius had with a kobold called Cain.”
“The whole subject is new to me. I wonder if we could find a bursary for Jason to do some more research, if he wanted to. I’ll have a chat with a couple of my contacts. Then I’ll talk to Jason once I have some possibilities.”
~~~ WIZENGAMOT ~~~
At the next Wizengamot meeting Hubert came to share a lunch table with Harry and Draco.
“We’ve got a bit of a problem at the bank, Seers. I’m rather hoping you can help us out.”
“We’ll try, if we can,” replied Harry, despite Draco’s internal urging to be cautious.
“Have you heard of blood contracts before, Harry?”
“No?”
“I have,” put in Draco: “Nasty things. The equivalent of paper Imperious hexes. Almost impossible to negate. They’re a form of contract sealed thaumically with blood. They usually have a nasty penalty if the contract isn’t fulfilled. Am I right Hubert?”
“I’m afraid so! It’s the Boles again, been up to their naughty tricks. They made a blood contract with our Grooly Clan. They’re ultra conservative and supervise the goblin penal colony … …”
“… … Let me guess. It concerns our rescue of Gandy and Knob, doesn’t it?”
Hubert sighed and smiled grimly: “You guessed correctly. You kept it quiet, as I expected you would do, but news of things like that have a habit of leaking out. The Groolies started searching for answers after part of their domain was disrupted by a lava eruption. Something not too unusual that far down in the earth’s crust. However they caused their kobolds and their captives to excavate the area once it had cooled down. Surprisingly they could find no remains of the gaoler or his prisoner. Their next line of enquiry had them searching the labyrinth nearby in case they had escaped and were sheltering from the flow. Again there were no results. That puzzled them for a time until they heard of a fortuitous rescue. Need I say more?”
“We understand,” replied Draco: “What were the terms of the blood contract?”
“A price for the freed captive and recompense for a captured kobold. Although that last requirement is being claimed under a collateral damage clause.”
“How much?” asked Harry.
Draco gasped when he saw Hubert’s sorrowful expression: “I’m guessing again, but a life for a life?”
“Erm … I’m afraid so. The head of the family is incarcerated. Even if he were available, I doubt that the Grooly Clan would accept tainted goods.”
Harry looked pale: “Would they not accept gold or other precious items.”
“Possibly, that is if the Wizengamot had not levied their fine. Even if an arrangement were made to pay it over, it would probably be regarded as tainted also.”
“What would happen if it was not fulfilled?”
“The reactionary clans would band together, demanding the repudiation of the peace pact. They’d use the excuse of mages not holding to a contract. The moderates in the Gynulliad would side with them despite an abhorrence of the contract’s terms. Their argument would be that the family head should not have signed such a document. But, as he did so, so his family is bound to the terms. That would put us progressives in the minority. Heaven knows what the political repercussions would be like.”
D:*Give them the two nasty Bole cousins.*
H:*You mean condemning two people to whatever punishment the Clan wants to dole out?*
G:*I was listening in. I’ve had a look at Verrucous’ and Plautus’ auras. They’re almost entirely black. I looked at Caius’ too. He’s dark-grey and likely will need watching all the time.*
A:*What else are you going to do with them? Keep them imprisoned? If so, where? Now we own Elm Tree Cottage we need to ward it. That would exclude at least two of the Boles, automatically.*
D:*If their minds are very much like Dissendium’s and Willibald’s. You weren’t sorry when they had their insides ripped out. At least these two will be alive and useful.*
H:*I s’pose so.* Harry still did not sound convinced.
“I’m sorry if I shocked you by my revelation,” said Hubert.
“We were having a mental consultation, Hubert. I agree, it is a shocking revelation,” replied Draco: “Is there a time limit?”
“They have yet to deposit the documents. I’m sure we could raise certain queries as to their validity and points of law. Hmm … Probably a month. You sound as though you might have a solution.”
“Possibly. May we get back to you? I take it that you’d like to keep it low key if possible. No big fuss, no challenge to the entente-cordiale, Yes?”
“Quite so! I dare say we could introduce some legislation into the Gynulliad that would limit such contracts in the future. Enough of the moderates were appalled by the clauses. Even if they blame the participants for signing it.”
“We understand you, completely. However Harry’s a bit worried about this idea.”
“I am … Um … I wonder if we might meet one of the Groolies? I’d like to find out about their thinking when they insisted on the clauses.”
“The collateral damage clause is just the normal section of many contracts, Harry,” replied Hubert: “I suspect that there was a feud or other bad feelings underscoring the life for a life clause.”
“Maybe if I can understand that, I will feel happier. I can understand the politics of keeping things away from the machinations of the Wizengamot and the Gynulliad. They tend to blow things up out of all proportion to the problem.”
“Quite so,” Hubert smiled: “At least you’re not screaming about the injustice of it.”
Harry chuckled: “I’m not Hermione, you know. I have a feeling that the Groolies may have a grudge against the Boles. It’s in the interests of the entente cordiale to address those wrongs if at all possible.”
Hubert nodded in agreement: “I’ll have a chat with Georgas Grooly, he’s the clan chief. His politics may be dyed-in-the-wood, but he does listen. If you approach it from how the contract can be fulfilled angle you’ll get a hearing. Don’t do a Hermione on him, or he’ll bristle and clam-up.”
“Thanks. Got the idea.” Harry gave Hubert the thumbs up.
Meanwhile Harry and Draco decided to have a go at Caius.
~~~ SORTING ~~~
They went to Elm Tree Cottage and, as they entered the cellar were met by a stream of abuse from Plautus and Verrucous. They noticed that, although Caius postured and growled, his cursing was non-existent. Harry cast Silencio hexes on the two older cousins and Draco addressed Caius.
“We would like you to accompany us, please Caius.”
Caius realised he had not been hexed and stopped growling: “Why should I?” He still scowled.
“Because we would like to tell you something privately.”
“Can’t you tell me in front of my cousins?” He was wriggling in a peculiar way, as though someone was holding him.
“No. That wouldn’t be wise. It could be advantageous to your freedom.”
“But I want freedom for my cousins too.” The wriggling abated.
“One at a time, Caius. We’ll sort them out afterwards.” Draco could see that the youngest cousin was intrigued, but wary.
“I think you want to get me alone so you can torture me?”
“We could easily do that here, couldn’t we?”
“I s’pose so, but you could just be saying that.”
“I’m prepared to give a mage’s oath that you will not be harmed.”
“So I’ll be able to go free then?” The wriggling recommenced.
“No! We will retain your wand and you will still be inside our custodial wards, but you’ll have greater scope to move around within the building.”
“So I’ll be upstairs?”
“No! In other premises belonging to us, some distance away.”
Caius gave a furtive glance to his two cousins who looked at him threateningly and seemed to mouth obscenities, although, as they were still under the silence hex, they could have been threats.
Draco noticed what was going on: “The proposals we intend to make need a quiet atmosphere and space for consideration. I doubt this present atmosphere would be conducive for that.”
Caius showed a hint of a brief smile: “You say I’ll not be harmed?”
Harry intervened: “I am aware of Draco’s antecedents, and that a death-eater’s turncoat son might not be trusted to keep his word. However, you know my reputation for honesty and rectitude. I can certify you will not be harmed when in our company. Conversely you will not be able to harm anyone either. Does that satisfy you?”
“Mmm … Yes-s-s … I s’pose it does.”
“Very good! Circumcingo vobis iniciam!” Draco pointed at Caius: “You may come out and get dressed.”
“What was that that you cast? I’m not coming out until I know.”
“It’s the auror protective custody charm, Caius,” relied Harry: “I did say that you would not be harmed. It provides a protective ward around you as well as preventing you causing harm. The idea is simple but the application very complicated.”
“How so?” Caius questioned as he came out of his cage.
“A normal ward stops something evil entering from outside. A simple arrest ward stops the enclosed person from harming anyone outside. This charm also has an element of restraint in it too. Now the charm Draco cast has to carry out both functions and leave the person inside enough room to be comfortable when exercising, eating and all the normal bodily functions.”
“I was never much good at ward casting,” said Caius, getting dressed: “So … I’ll take your word for it, even with my limited knowledge I can see the convolutions.”
Draco noticed that Caius kept well away from the cages Verrucous and Plautus inhabited; drawing Harry’s mental attention to it. Both of them noticed the two prisoners stretching out to try and grab their youngest cousin.
H:*Thanks … He’s watching them covertly. He’s sussed they want to grab him. I wonder if they’ve done that before.*
D:*When you lift the Silencio, could you add a mild Confringo? Their cages’ bars are quite close to the door upstairs.*
H:*Yes!*
Caius settled into his clothes and tidied his hair in the small hanging mirror: “I’m ready. What next?”
“Finite Silencio! Confringo minibus! Follow me upstairs, please!”
The surprised older cousins flew to the back of their cages and the trio passed up the stairs. Once the prisoners got back their wind they started shouting curses. Not that they were very audible in the kitchen. However the theme appeared to be directed at Caius. It was more like reminding him that family was the most important. Harry mused about that message.
“Why did you blast my cousins, Harry?”
“Because they were going to grab you. I presume, to stop you leaving.”
Draco touched Harry’s hand. D:*There’s more than that, Lover. He’s scared of something thaumic happening.*
Something of his musings clicked. Harry looked at the cousin: “Have you heard of touch compulsions, Caius?”
“Yes … How did you guess?”
“I’ve not heard of those,” remarked Draco.
“They’re very obscure,” explained Harry: “Dark, of course, blood made, consanguine and needing to be regularly renewed, usually on a daily basis. Do I take it, Caius, that if one of them had touched you, they could have forced you to stay, or worse?”
“Yes!” Caius shuddered: “Almost an Imperio. Because I was the youngest it was to ensure I kept to the family mores. A sort of protection so I was not led astray. Only they used it in a different way. Not that our family traditions were all that good to begin with. I can still feel a slight compunction even now.”
“Fine … Grab hold of my hand and we’ll apparate away from here.”
Harry also grabbed a puzzled Draco’s hand: “Apparemus!”
They landed outside the forest bothy.
“Why did you do that, Harry,” Draco demanded.
“Because the thaumic atmosphere in Elm Tree Cottage was restricting Caius’ reactions.” He looked at Caius: “Am I right?”
As they entered the bothy Caius heaved a big sigh of relief replying: “And how! It’s been ten or eleven years at least since I was placed in their protection, maybe even fifteen, I forget how long. Ever since before I left Hogwarts one of them has always been with me, forcing me to do things I wouldn’t normally have done. At the academy I learned to think for myself and to question our family ethos, as many of my contemporaries were doing. Father and I had many heated discussions about it. Just before he went into battle, he placed the blood compulsion on me, for he said I was too young to understand. It was for my protection and the continuance of family traditions in case anything went wrong, I was told. He did not survive the battle, but my older cousins did. They’re at the dark end of the family and I’m almost sure that the Seignior has influenced them somehow. Not that they ever let on.”
“We suspected that that might be the case.”
“That iniciam ward you cast, Draco, seemed to lessen the Imperio effect. Is it possible to exorcize it entirely?”
“Blood curses are extremely difficult to counter, Caius.” Replied Harry: “Especially when the perpetrator is dead. Much easier if the caster wills them to cease. I’ve studied geas extensively, that’s where I came across the blood compulsions like yours. It’s usually easier to alleviate their demands than to negate them entirely. However I will look into it if you would like me to. Can you feel the compulsion now?”
“It’s sort of at the back of my mind. Nothing like when I had to battle hard in that dungeon.”
“I noticed you wriggling down there.”
“Was it so noticeable? I had an inkling that I might be able to get away. So I tried to push it down.”
“I want to try something, Caius. I’m going to lift the Iniciam ward briefly. Tell us if the compulsion grows greater. Do you understand?”
“You trust me that much, Draco?”
“We need to find out. I think you want out. So it’s worth the risk.” Draco chuckled: “Besides, Harry is here too, he’s been auror trained. I doubt you’d get very far.”
Caius giggled: “There is that, too. However I do want to get out of the compulsion if possible. It felt like a lead weight when I was with them. So you have my word I’ll not escape.”
“Very good! Finite Iniciam cantimne!”
Caius shuddered: “It’s there and stronger, but not really compelling, yet.”
“Very good. Circumcingo vobis iniciam! I’ve put it back again.”
H:*You know, with that around him, the village wards would let him through.*
D:*Should we take him to Pastures Cottage, then?*
H:*It’s a bit risky, his victims might want to do him over.*
D:*What about the catharsis theory?*
H:*You have a point. Let’s put it to him.*
Caius was looking anxiously at them: “Has something gone wrong? Only you went silent.”
“Sorry. We have special mental powers that allow us to converse spiritually. That’s what we were doing. We forget occasionally when we’re with others.” Harry smiled comfortingly: “In this house you are exposed to malign possibilities. What we would like to do, is to get you behind some strong wards. However they exclude people with malign intentions. To be frank with you, I suspect the blood compulsion might be such an impediment. However, with the Iniciam ward around you that masks it somewhat. So we feel that you could be acceptable to the wards.”
“Yes please. Uncle Lucian is still around, he’s definitely a satrap.”
“He’s under arrest for blackmail at the moment, Caius.”
Caius grimaced: “Good! But he’ll wriggle out of it somehow. I hope the case against him is strong.”
“Even if he’s convicted and put away, others may take up his cause.”
Caius chuffed: “All the more reason for me being behind strong wards. What kind of place would I be living in?”
“That’s where we’re a little unsure. The ideal would be to put you with your former colleagues. They have a suitable cottage in our village.”
Caius grinned: “You’re worried that they’ll take their revenge, aren’t you. I think I owe them that. It’d help me to quiet my conscience.”
“Are you sure?”
“Come off it! I’m gay, they’re presentable. I’m probably a bottom by inclination. Not that my cousins would let me indulge that way. We had to be macho and always top. Erm … Will that kobold be there too?”
“Yes … Why, would that be a problem?”
“No. The other way round, an incentive!”
“You fancy him, do you?”
Caius blushed: “Erm … Yes!” he whispered ashamedly. He got worked up when you had him messing with me. That dong of his has been the subject of all my recent wet dreams. I keep imagining what he could do with it inside me.” Caius looked down, then he adjusted himself. “Merlin’s balls, I’ve gone hard just thinking about him. You must think me debauched. Sorry!”
Draco chuckled: “I can see the attraction, but he’s not my type. Harry fulfils all my dreams.”
Caius shook himself, and stared at Draco open mouthed: “B-b-but, you’re married and have a kid. So’s Harry and he has three.”
“Genetic heritage, Caius. Strong thaumic genes should not go to waste, so we made an arrangement. All the children are truly ours.”
“Mmm … I’d heard whispers … I also know of a couple of pure-blood families with a similar arrangement, but they kept it low key.”
Harry burst out laughing. When he recovered he said wryly: “Me, Saviour of Magicdom, Boy who lived twice, recently knighted seneschal, keep anything private?”
“Well you’ve put up a pretty good smoke-screen, so far. You keep me safe and I’ll keep your secret safe … Deal?”
“DEAL!”
“Mmm … What about the others I’m going to meet, do they know?”
“Yes. We just don’t shout about it. We let other people make up their own minds.”
Caius smiled: “I wonder exactly how many other pure-blood families have such arranged skeletons hiding in their cupboards. If you could expose them maybe you wouldn’t have to hide your leanings as much.”
Draco grinned: “Fancy doing some research into it?”
“Let’s get me settled first, then I might.”
“Fine! Grab my hand and we’ll go see the Meadow-landers.”
“Meadow-landers?”
“Seamus’ and Dean’s nickname for the five who intend to live in Meadow Cottage. Apparemus!”
They landed in the forecourt of Meadow Cottages, slightly out of breath.
“That was a bit risky, wasn’t it?” asked Draco: “Caius might have bounced off.”
Harry grinned: “Well, he didn’t. So that proves the theory.”
Caius shook his head: “So it was an experiment?”
“Sort of. I was seventy-five per-cent sure it would be all right.”
Draco grinned at Caius: “You’ll just have to get used to his callous disregard of danger. It’s what won us the war against Voldie and his minions, and it’s got us out of many scrapes since.”
Caius grinned back: “Out of the frying pan into the fire,” he shrugged: “Exciting wasn’t it. If you can, just tip me the wink when it’s imminent next time. Then I can either grit my teeth, or go and hide.”
Further joshing was halted by Raucous appearing in the doorway: “What’s he doing here?” he spat out.
“I’ve come to make amends.”
“Are the other two with you?”
“No way! I hope I’ve escaped their surveillance. Is Knob around?”
Jason had appeared behind Raucous: “I suspected you were only doing things to please them. Why?”
“Ever heard of a blood compulsion, Jase,” Harry asked.
“No. Doesn’t sound very nice. Compulsion … you mean like Imperio?”
“Same idea, but kept alive by touch between consanguine relations.”
“That explains a few things I noticed. Yes, Knob’s around here somewhere.”
“Did I hear someone mentioning me?” The kobold came round the corner of the cottage. He had very obviously been gardening: “Oh! Caius! Why are you here?”
Harry noticed an increasing bulge beneath Knob’s gardening apron, and another below Caius belt. He chuckled: “I think Draco, you and I are playing matchmakers today.”
Jason looked at Harry quizzically: “How so?”
“Have you paired off with Hunk, yet?”
“Yes, and Rous has got Cred, why?”
“That left Knob on his own then.”
“Oh! I see! Caius, really?”
“He’s the most presentable of the lot of you,” stated Knob stoutly: “Not that any of you are ugly, by any means.”
“All right, but I want some revenge, first,” stated Raucous.
“Want to fuck me, do you?”
“You’d let me?”
“I was prepared to let all of you do it; if that would make amends.”
Credulous had also been gardening, and appeared, trowel in hand: “Mine’s the only hole you’ll plough from now on, Rous. Have you already forgotten what you promised last night, so easily?”
“No … But …”
“… But nothing, you’re mine. We’ve all been talking about forgive and forget. So practice it. It’s not as though we’re pure and holy, is it?”
Unctuous appeared with a spade in his hand. He saw Jason was there and went to stand by him, draping a muddy hand around his shoulders: “We’re paired too. Vengeance might be appealing, but as we were given a second chance, so we should extend it to Caius. After all, he was never the one who issued the peremptory orders, was it?”
Caius looked around the company with a surprised stare: “Why so forgiving?”
“Blame it on Draco and Harry, if you like,” Jason ventured: “Blame it on all the people who support them too. In just a few days, we have met with such kindness and help. As far as I can make out, most of the company have passed through the fire. Not literally, but anguish of spirit, of mind or of body. They understand what it’s like and yet they’re not bitter. Their experiences urge them unselfishly to make things better. How can we withhold that from someone whom our two leaders present to us?”
Jason came over and clasped Caius by the shoulders: “That is why you’re here, isn’t it?” looking straight into Caius’ eyes.
Caius gulped: “Yes! At least I hope so. Draco’s cast a ward around me to lessen the effects of the blood compulsion. Harry’s going to see if it can be negated.”
Jason smiled compassionately: “We have a geas on us, as you probably know. Harry’s working on negating that too. Meanwhile Knob has volunteered to help us to alleviate the symptoms. You may not know it, but you were helping too.”
“I knew my two cousins had a hold over you, just as they did over me.” Caius turned to Harry: “You’re not going to send me back, are you?”
“Only if you want to and that wanting isn’t caused by the compulsion. If it behaves anything like a geas then the pressure starts to build after a few days.”
“No I don’t want to go back into their clutches ever.”
“Good!”
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