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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
- 231
- 232
- 233
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# = Parseltongue]
~~~ SCHLOSS ~~~
Kurt led them up a double curving ramp that lifted them the equivalent of one storey. Entering in through grand double doors they beheld a spacious hallway with wide stone spiral stairs at the far end. On their left was a counter with some glasses and decanters plus a couple of plates with welcoming snacks on them. Behind the counter was a short elf dressed in a cook’s uniform.
“You must be Verbrannt,” observed Caius, as they were served their drinks
“Yah mein Graf, burnt the toast and had my legs burnt for doing it.” Then she collapsed in laughter before capering around on her short legs.
Harry perceived, with a shudder, that she had no feet and her ankles were missing too. In place of shoes she had some affixed pads to walk on.
Kurt observed Harry’s shudder and whispered: “She didn’t burn the toast, or any other food, mein Seer. The previous Graf wanted her to dance, but she was clumsy. Most of us are. So they heated up the cooking stove and put her on it, so my father says. The Graf’s mother was furious and rescued her. They had to amputate the badly burned bits.”
Harry whispered back: “My uncle could make her two prosthetic feet and ankles, if she would like it. He made some for elves with no legs and they seem to work fine.”
“I’ll ask her at an appropriate time, mein Seer. Thank you. Perhaps you could persuade the Graf to name my sister.”
Harry nodded: “Caius I believe you have another naming ceremony to carry out.”
An elf with shining golden hair appeared, she was humming softly. Caius recognised the tune as an ancient lullaby and joined in.
“She looks like sunlight personified and sings beautifully,” remarked Graf Caius, as he put his hand on her head at the end of the song: “So she shall be named ‘Sonnet’.
“Thank you mein Graf; that is a lovely name.” Sonnet curtsied and then picked up the dirty glasses and plates; presumably popping away to the kitchen.
Kurt stayed with his mother whilst Faulpelz showed the mages around. There were four rooms on the ground floor. The kitchen was one, equipped with staging so that Verbrannt could reach. They moved next door and the Hauptdiener explained that long table in the dining room could be split into smaller individual tables for smaller parties, or when after dinner card games were being played. Nearby was a very comfortable-looking lounge. Harry noticed the cunning way in which the round outer walls had been accommodated. He also realised that this was a round tower-like castle. What had been a library, followed. Shelves and a big desk were there but few books. Most of them had been on the Nazi’s banned list and had been impounded and burned. However, the Hauptdiener failed to explain how the confiscating ruffians had gained entrance to begin with. Not that he was pressed for an answer.
The upper floors were less interesting. Each containing five ensuite bedrooms, described as guest bedrooms and reached by a short central landing leading from the stairs. The roof was accessible from the same centre stairwell; being almost flat. However, the screening trees stopped any views from its castellated parapets. There was also a smaller turret situated on one side of the entrance block which could be gained by a narrow walkway above some unexplained roofs.
D: *There must be the Graf’s suite of rooms under there. Situated over the barbican entrance. *
Their first assay into that tower was to climb up another storey to where the flagpole flew the Graf’s standard. There were views from this, however all they showed were the tops of even more trees.
H: *That haze over there, is probably where Berlin is. *
The descent inside the entrance tower, was more interesting. Children’s and elves bedrooms on the top floor, followed by bathrooms on the next floor down, with the master bedroom below that. Beneath that, the floor over the entrance housed a very spacious living room.
H: *I could see us living here, quite easily. *
D: *It’d make a good retirement home. *
H: *We’re a bit young for that, at the moment. *
D: *No harm in dreaming. *
On the ground floor the Graf’s tower contained a small office that led to the space behind the drinks counter. However, they descended yet one more time.
H: *This looks like a dungeon. Though there are no racks or prison bars. *
“This was the worst task, mein Graf. It was a place that we elves shunned. The previous Graf owned a kobold …”
“… Don’t speak any further about it, Faulpelz. I can see you’re becoming agitated. I perceive my two seer friends are also reliving the delights of a dungeon. You did well to get rid of whatever was down here.”
“We buried their remains reverently, mein Graf.”
“Thank you.”
This time they ascended the central main stairs and into the dining room where a small table had been laid out for dinner. Whilst they were eating, they discussed the building.
“I don’t see myself living here,” observed Caius: “Visiting and going to see Berlin, or a quidditch match at Durmstrang, probably. It’s going to be a drain on my finances. I think I should put it on the market.”
H: *It might make an hotel. It’s close enough to Berlin. Crass and his wife still want him out of the aurors. *
“Possibly not, Caius. Don’t be too eager to throw away your inheritance. We have an idea of how you might make it pay.”
“Tell me, please?”
“Although you haven’t seen them yet, we have a number of small hotels in or near the main tourist cities. With a suitable connection to Berlin city centre, this place would make money.”
“I don’t see myself as an hotel proprietor; I’m not that hot at admin. Knob would hate that dungeon; it’d remind him of a life he wants to leave behind.”
“We might have a solution for you. There are a couple of recently wed Dumbledorians who would like to run an hotel. We’d need to sort out the legal problems. Would you like to talk to them and see if that would work?”
“I think I know the two you’re talking about. They’re part of the group you call the ‘Smiling Ones’. Crassus and Thomasine are the only two who are not running one of your hotels. I sat with them a couple of weeks ago for Sunday lunch. We got on quite well. They were telling me an amusing story of you being kidnapped, and how they found out you were gay. I think it was to ensure that I didn’t feel side-lined by my sexuality.”
It was obvious that Faulpelz had been listening to the conversation, because he had a worried look when he served the coffee in the lounge, afterwards.
Draco guessed what the worry was: “Faulpelz, no doubt you know what we were discussing. If the hotel idea takes place, you will have extra help if necessary. We would connect you to our network so that the Graf could visit you regularly. I imagine that the guests will be much better behaved than the previous ones. They will be more interested in seeing the sights in Berlin than torturing elves and muggles.”
Caius caught on: “You would have a family living here all the time, they would be my agents because my main home is in England. Erm … Draco, I’m not sure I can steer a boat.”
“Whatever happens you would want to visit regularly, wouldn’t you?”
“I suppose it’s my duty, but then Knob would be left behind, wouldn’t he?”
“Only for an hour or two.”
“I didn’t think we could apparate this far. Besides, it’s not my favourite mode of travel. I have been known to vomit afterwards.”
“We could use the posterns and portals,”
“I’ve used the posterns before. What are portals?”
H: *Tell him, he is vouched for, after all. *
“Our private far-reaching network of cabinets. You’ve met Estéban before, haven’t you?”
“A couple of times, yes?”
“Well … Using the portals … It takes him about five minutes to travel from his church in Spain and he’s a muggle; albeit charmed and wearing a scarab.”
“Like the Smarts and Yates, you mean?”
“That’s right … Hmm … Faulpelz, does this establishment own a set of disappearing cabinets?”
“Yah, mein Seer. In store we have a set, unused for many a year.” Faulpelz grinned wickedly: “The owners had no need to escape quickly, it was their guests … and they weren’t offered the facility.”
H: *There’s a spare space at Kaiser Wilhelm for a normal portal. Remember what Ivanova said about the Tabernacle portal being the magical four and only us being able to see that portal. *
D: tersely: *Yes … I had remembered. * Now with a smile: “Perhaps you would like to show us where the cabinets are, Faulpelz?”
“Yah mein Seer. Am I in order to reveal family secrets mein Graf?”
“I’m learning about them too, Faulpelz. So … lead on.”
Between the door to the office with a counter and the kitchen door was an alcove whose other door led into a small store into which two cabinets were crammed.
“They were kept here, mein Graf, because of the proximity of the chimney from the basement boiler. It would therefore keep them dry and stop mildew forming.”
D: *Ideal for setting up, don’t you think? *
H: *Yes! If they work, we could create a postern into the city. I’m sure Kreacher could find us some more post-elves. *
D: *Only when it becomes an hotel. *
H: *Fine! Come to think of it there’s a Gringotts branch in Berlin. *
D: *We were told of it when Vienna was being set up. That would be a better option. *
Draco asked for them to be brought out. Then the two seers tested them, finding them in perfect order. Then Harry volunteered to apparate to Durmstrang with a miniaturised cabinet in his pocket. From there he used the posterns and portals to reach Kaiser Wilhelm. Meanwhile Draco manoeuvred the cabinet back into the store; watched inquisitively by the Graf and his Hauptdiener.
H: *I’m in position.”
D: *Very good! Three, two, one: *
D&H: *FACEMUS PORTAM! *
“Where’s the cabinet gone?”
“It’s this door now. It leads to Kaiser Wilhelm and the rest of the network. Once Harry has come through, I’ll show you. Remember that knowledge of this this is covered by your sworn oath.”
“I hadn’t expected it not to be. Of course; my elves are automatically bound not to reveal what their master cannot.”
“It’s more about outsiders than the incumbents. You’ll need to have a charmed scarab.”
Whilst he transited Harry had picked up a few interested observers one of which was Kreacher. He handed them through the new portal.
“Here you are Draco, five new scarabs.”
“Thanks, Kreacher, on the ball as usual! Meet Faulpelz the Hauptdiener of Schloss Buhler. This is Kreacher our Reeve, Faulpelz.”
As they shook hands Kreacher remarked: “I see you have an unfortunate name, too. Before you quiz me on it. It’s a Reeve’s privilege to call his masters by their given name.”
“Does that mean you’re taking over governance of the Schloss?”
“No way. Your position here is safe. You’ll become part of the governance committee and meet the other equivalent office holders. Now, would you like to show me round? I expect you’ll have a lot of temporary visitors in the next few days. They’ll all be wearing scarabs like these. I’ll charm yours, you can charm your family ones. Draco will charm Caius’s, won’t you.”
Draco smirked: “You know, Faulpelz, I think I’m a slave to my Reeve’s wishes.”
Faulpelz was up to it: “Of course mein Seer, we elves always know what is best for our masters.”
Draco chuckled and continued to charm Caius’s scarab.
A number of Dumbledorians started to arrive, handing each other in. Kurt and Sonnet took groups on guided tours. Learning, incidentally, of the wide range that the portal system covered.
Two of the visitors were clerical. Taking an evening off from parish duties Timothy and Olwen came to look at the new addition.
Olwen took Faulpelz aside: “Has this abode been blest?”
“I have no idea, mein Pfarrer. It was built hundreds of years ago. I am of the twenty-first generation of my family, all becoming Hauptdiener in turn.”
“Perhaps it might be an idea to renew it.”
“Your prayers would purify our castle from some of the nasty things the previous Graf ordered.”
“Nasty things?”
“Yes. Torturing and death.”
“That confirms it then. The castle must be re-dedicated.”
###
By midnight all the rooms had been blessed and special prayers said in the dungeon for the repose of the tortured souls.
As had been forecast all the scarab holders wanted to visit and Caius brought Knob over. It took a little explaining to Faulpelz and his wife, that Knob was not a kobold, and that he supported the light.
When visiting the dungeon, Knob exclaimed: “This hasn’t the oppressive atmosphere that I expected.”
“Probably because Pfarrer Olwen blessed it yesterday.”
Dudley and Millicent were in that particular party.
“Do you remember that musical video we watched some months back, Dear?”
“We’ve seen quite a few. Which one were you thinking of?”
“It took place in Berlin. Usual romantic twist, but they didn’t marry. Both of them had it off with a bi Graf.”
“You mean ‘Cabaret’.”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“So?”
“This cellar would make a great setting for that club. I can almost imagine a small stage over there with the MD singing ‘Fiddle-di-dee-di-dee two ladies’ and ‘If only you could see her through my eyes’.”
“I bet it was the Hauptdiener saying ‘Wilkommen’; that set you off thinking that.”
“Yes, I suppose it was. Tell you what, let’s set up a screen here and have a showing.”
“I think I know the isolating charms; but do they have an electricity supply.”
“Dean can sort that out, I’m sure.”
“Okay, let’s try it out.”
Dudley’s request caused the building team to descend on the schloss. The elves had kept it clean; but much redecorating had to be done. Gregory came over to advise them on the renovations, his artistic eye was useful. The ambience avoided making it too modern, and the paint scheme was designed to bring out the schloss’s beautiful architecture. When the bedrooms had been partitioned many years ago, little thought had been given to their character. So, a number of false arches were emplaced to continue upstairs, what had always been apparent in the reception rooms downstairs.
Dudley’s request for electricity had given Dean a chance to experiment. A number of years ago the mages had managed to isolate this form of power, so that electricity and thaums no longer interfered with each other. His idea was to install Solar panels on the roofs. The problem was that the roofs were conical. He managed to section some muggle panels to fit and then devised a way of turning them to face the sun, rather like the windmill at Somerford was always facing into the wind. Hermione’s scholars had found out that thaumic particles were part of the solar wind, and this stream was used to ensure that Dean’s panels always faced the sun. Somehow this direction finding even worked when it was dark, thus the panels were in the correct place when sunrise occurred.
In order for the practical students to participate in the renovations some form of transport had to be provided. Victor had found a pair of cabinets in Durmstrang’s attics and suggested that these might be charmed to make a postern from that academy to the schloss. The seers were dubious; but agreed to an experiment. As cabinets, they worked perfectly, however the trick was to convert them into posterns. Hermione posited that because the original charm was the one that took most thaumic energy; and must have been performed at an equinox; the conversions would not require as much. Draco proposed that they make them into portals first, and then altered them a second time. This worked, despite the fact that they were working away from one of the equinoxes. Ginevra and Harry made the first stage leaving Astoria and Draco to finish the conversion. Nevertheless, the seers were quite tired after the experiment. The result was that they decided that seven weeks away from the equinox was the maximum time they could use transit-thaums in future. Dean and Seamus were happy because their teams could now post via Les-Lacs and Durmstrang very easily.
~~~ DISTRACTION ~~~
Now the seers had other responsibilities. They were delightful ones and included a week in the Scillies partly on Sirius and partly at the Hermitage. This was their special time with their children and when the younger ones tried to charm everything with their new wands. Not that they were very successful, bar the ones their older brothers had shown them.
Next duty was less pleasant, that of going to Diagon Alley to buy the requisites for four young mages first year at Hogwarts. Four because Enrico Zabini accompanied them. Blaise and Gilda were working overtime at their shop. They had developed a line in potions kits, the contents of which were based on the course requirements for that particular level. Because they were made up in advance it was easier than fulfilling individual orders for each family. It also helped the parents who were not well versed in potions ingredients.
Naturally, this outing included rides on the gallopers. Although Gwydion was eager James acted aloof.
“That’s for children,” he sniffed.
“So?” Isn’t that our gang, over there, riding?”
In the end they all had three goes each. After the second ride they sat and enjoyed one of Fortescue’s specials. Lily missed out on the third ride because the females in the group had wanted to be fitted for new winter outfits. Something that the male contingent did not want to indulge in. Instead, they spent some time in Quality Quidditch Supplies looking at the latest broomsticks and other Quidditch equipment. That included Harry buying another Quidditch box, as well as ones for the first timers. Then, with time to spare, the male children had their third galloper ride. Even Draco deigned to join Harry on one of the hippogriff effigies, especially as Astoria was not there to tut at him about proper decorum.
As he dismounted from the gallopers Draco saw someone he recognised: “Good afternoon, Theodora, you wouldn’t be looking for me, would you?”
“Good afternoon Potion-master, yes I was.”
“By your tone, I suspect that you are here on official business.”
Theodora smiled: “Yes Draco, I need help again. We have encountered as new poison, invisibly smeared on some door-knobs. When the Auror concerned gripped the handle, it appeared to hex him. He’s in St Mungos in great pain and his hands are one big blister. The blister is slowly creeping up his arm and we need an antidote quickly.”
Harry could feel his lover’s interest mounting as Draco started asking questions: *Go on. I’ll look after the kids. *
*Hmm … Thank you …* Draco wandered off listening to Theodora’s answers.
Harry had known his lover was taken with the idea, because he had not been grumbled at about calling the children, kids.
A: *So I shall grumble instead. *
H: *Fine! Point made. I suspect I will be without a cogent partner for a few days. *
A: *Par for the course! *
As Harry had predicted, Draco wandered around in a thoughtful funk for the next few days. Twice he had stayed at the Ministry lab, because a potion needed tending in the middle of the night. Three times Harry had had to stop his lover wandering off to the Ministry in the nude. Each time that happened, Harry washed him under the shower and ensured he was properly dressed. Draco was completely out-of-it, quite often having to be fed by hand, making his fellow seers incarcerate him to make sure he received some nourishment. They had even ambushed him in the laboratory as he sat distractedly at his desk scribbling ideas on his shirt cuffs. Once, Harry suspected his partner was not carrying out his ablutions. So, he took a set of clean clothes with him. Draco smelled of stale sweat and splashed ingredients. Nothing could attract Draco’s attention away from what he was doing.
Harry looked quizzically at Theodora and they both shrugged, miming holding their noses.
“There’s nothing for it then. Exuero Te! Lavabo Te! Sicco Te!”
Only after he had been cleansed and dried did Draco become aware of his surroundings. He shook his head, saw Theodora looking at his naked state, and blushed. Then he saw Harry and growled at him.
“Why am I naked and being exhibited to all and sundry?”
“Theodora is not ‘all-and-sundry’ she’s seen you naked before, when you’ve splashed dangerous potions on your clothes.”
Draco spluttered: “But there are the other lab assistants ogling me.”
Harry chuckled: “You only have yourself to blame; they were avoiding your close proximity because you stunk to high heaven. Now get dressed in these clean clothes.”
Still blushing Draco snatched the garments from his lover. Tee-shirt and pullover he put on, but then had an idea so, bottomless, he wandered over to his desk. Amid laughter, Harry dressed his lover’s bottom half as Draco looked through one of his apothecaries.
~~~ STEAM TRAIN ~~~
A few days later it was September the First. Draco was at the laboratory sleeping over again.
“Ginny and Harry, will you look after the children?” Astoria asked, with an exasperated sigh: “I’ll go and fetch my missing husband. He’ll be furious if he fails to see his son off on his first Hogwarts Express. If we do not show a united family, then that will fuel rumours of a split. We know what Rita’s like, don’t we?”
Harry nodded, and he and Ginevra set about organising the children and their luggage. To some extent they were helped [hindered?] by James and Gwydion who tended to act like mother hens. Not only with the family’s children but Enrico Zabini and Jasmine Longbottom.
Just as they were entering the underground passageway, Percy and Audrey turned up with their daughter, Molly. So, they joined the party.
As reported; it was a still and chilly morning and the steam from the engine hung around like fog. Young Molly heard her grandmother’s voice and ran off to find Cousin Hugo. At much the same time Scorpius heard Draco muttering to his wife. So, his son ran off through the gloom in the direction of his father. Gwydion stayed with Harry and Ginevra, still herding the younger siblings together. Thus, when they found the Malfoy-Blakes through the murk, they were standing together, and Harry received a distracted nod from Draco in acknowledgement of his greeting. Astoria merely grinned and shrugged.
Scorpius hugged his mother and shook his father’s hand before walking smartly over to the group of his friends. They mounted the carriage together, but once James and Gwydion had found the others a vacant compartment, they departed to join Fred Junior; Kiernan Finnegan’s son, Connolly and Fenella Johnson; plus, their other mates. Two carriages down they made a happy chatter group, recounting their holiday adventures. Meanwhile the fresher’s group, having waved goodbye to their parents set about, on Scorpius’s insistence, practicing the various charms they had been taught, as soon as they were clear of the tunnels. They felt safe because Aunt Hermione had told them that, once moving, the train was covered by Hogwarts wards, so they would not be accused of using under-age magic.
Back on the platform Teddy watched the departing train and did not turn around until the last wisp of steam had vanished from the tunnel’s portal. He had a slightly forlorn but well-kissed look about him as he hurried to catch up with the departing adults. Draco had already disappeared, restrained to a trot by Astoria’s admonitions. Ginevra and Harry sauntered with Lily who was dawdling and looking a bit peeved.
“Why couldn’t I have gone with them, Daddy. I know all the charms they learned from Dewi and Jimmy?”
“But can you make them work yet, Darling?”
“I got one to work … sort of.”
“Yes, you did. But who had to put the result right?”
“You did!”
“Could your brothers perform the charms?”
“Yes, because they’re older than me.”
“Exactly! Their thaums have matured enough to be able to make them work.”
“That’s not fair!”
“Do you think Jimmy and Dewi can do the kind of charms that Ginny and I can do?”
“No … But you’re special.”
“Fine … Can they do the ones that Teddy does?”
“No! They’re still learning.”
Harry could see this developing into a convoluted argument, and he could feel Ginevra’s amusement through the link.
H: *Fine … You do something. She’s half your daughter as well. *
G: *Try a different tack. *
“Yes, and so are we. Won’t it be nice to be the leader of the pack, now you’re moving into the top form at school?”
“I’d rather be with my brothers in the bottom form at Hogwarts.”
“So, you don’t like Hugo, or Lucy, or Violet, or Roxanne, or Samuel anymore?”
“Course I do! They’re my friends.”
“If you joined your brothers then you’d have to leave them behind, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes … I s’pose so!” Lily looked glum, but when Teddy caught up with them, she smiled wanly at him and held his hand.
“Are you sad, Teddy?”
“Not really, Harry. There’s a bit of a hole, but I’m also looking forward to going to Abdulmuralla. A bit of each really.”
“So, you’ll be with your close buddies then?”
“Yes, but not in the way your expression seems to suggest. We are close, but not bed-close anymore. We’ve sort of grown out of it. I doubt we’ll be visiting the mermen anymore, but you never know. I think I love my mates like I love you and Ginny, not forgetting Grandmamma. I know you’ll be there for me and I’ll do things for you that a stranger wouldn’t. My friends have taken girls out, but I don’t think they’re a stuck on any one, like I am with Vicky. Anyway, I’ve got my bike lessons with Estéban and Mr Charlton to worry about. The test’s not far away.”
###
A fortnight later it was Teddy’s turn to celebrate. He had taken a few muggle driving lessons on his new motorbike with Mr Charlton, but Estéban had been his main tutor. The result was that when he took his driving test, he, unlike his uncle Ronald, had passed first time, and, without having to confund the examiner.
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