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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]
~~~ CLEANED OUT ~~~
Having passed his test Teddy was eager to go to Abdulmuralla. First he checked with Hermione because she had miniaturised her parents’ car some years ago. Naturally Teddy was still protective of his new machine and did not want to harm it. Together they went to see Griswold who, as usual had a number of engines and motors in various states of repair.
“I have this old engine which I intend taking apart. It still runs, after a fashion, but I need parts of it for making repairs to three others. Why don’t we practice on this?”
The first time Teddy cast, the charm reduced the engine into its separate pieces. However, a quick ‘Finite Incantatem’ put that to rights. With Hermione, he worked on his flourish and on the second go the ‘Reducio’ managed to miniaturise the engine. After ‘Engorgio’ the engine still worked. Teddy had three more goes, each of them perfect. Only after that did he try it on his motorbike. It worked perfectly on that too.
Next was packing. Teddy just threw everything into his trunk and hoped for the best. Ginevra was furious with him and upturned it.
“Now pack it properly, Teddy.”
“Why? The elves will sort it out when I get there.”
“You should have more consideration for them than that. Do you want me to get Hermione involved? You know how she thinks about mistreating elves.”
Teddy grimaced and threw up his hands: “No … Please … No! Just show me the packing charm and I’ll do it right.”
Ginevra forbore from asking him why he had never learned it previously and patiently taught him the charm. After that, all was plain sailing and he used the newly learned shrinking charm on his effects as well as on his motorbike. By then, it was dinner time, so Teddy decided to post/port the following morning.
###
Arriving at Abdulmuralla Teddy was met by Yago.
“Hi. I thought you were bringing your motorbike?”
“It’s in this case, I miniaturised it.”
“I didn’t know you could do that with machines.”
“Hermione showed me how and I practiced on an old motor that Griswold had. Do I suppose you have a special place for it?”
“Yes. Originally you would have had the guest room, but Estéban has commandeered that for his use. I happened to mention it to one of the Gringotts goblins and he said that he had an idea. The upshot was that Gabby came by with some of his mining trainees. They’ve excavated you a room in the concierge apartment. I hope you don’t mind sharing a common-room with Estéban and me? Also, Carlos and Johann join us there when they’re around.”
“Not at all. Five people in a lounge will be a doddle compared with the scrimmage and noise in Hogwarts common-room.”
“We do eat together there as well, you know. If you want to be private there’s space enough in your bedroom with a desk and a couple of easy chairs.”
“Sounds great. Show me, please?”
They walked down the passage away from the concierge desk, where it turned right, there was a door ahead.
“This store is where you can put your motorbike.”
“Thanks.” Teddy opened the door, opened the case and took out his motorbike: “Engorgio!” and it swelled to its proper size. Just to be sure he kick-started it. It purred into life, so he switched it off. Partly because of the noise reverberating around the hall, and partly not to pollute the living area with exhaust fumes.
“That window at the end opens fully, Teddy. So if you turn your motorbike round its exhaust can vent.”
“Thanks. Not that I envisage having it running in here. Now where’s this room Gabby dug out?”
“Here!” Yago opened a newly painted door. It faced the return of the passage at right-angles to the bike store door.
Teddy was surprised. He had envisioned a dark cave-like structure. Not so, this room was twice as big as his bedroom at Rose Cottage. One wall was set at a shallow diagonal and contained a large window. Beneath this, but square to the room, was a commodious desk with bookshelves on one side. The fitted wardrobe was enormous and the bed voluminous. This was no cave, the walls were smooth and square, painted a light green. The two easy chairs were deep enough to curl up in with his favourite book. He saw a very pleasing pied-a-terre; with a wonderful view of the Spanish mountains and, he thought, in one corner, he could make the outline of the Alhambra in distant Granada.
“I didn’t expect this!”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Quite the reverse, this is some pad! Problem is; I shall spend too much time staring out of the window instead of working.”
Yago chuckled: “You’ll get used to it. I thought much the same when I came here. I’ll leave you to sort out. When you come out, the next room is Estéban’s, then comes the one that Carlos sometimes uses with Johann. Thereafter is the common-room and at the passage’s end are the ablutions. See you later.” He closed the door quietly.
Teddy wandered around the room opening drawers and peering into the wardrobe. He heaved a sigh of contentment and stared out of the window, taking in the glorious view. He was shaken out of his reverie by two pops.
“I’m Leon, Mordomo of Abdulmuralla, Master.”
“Hello, I’m Teddy Lupin.”
“This is Naches, he will be your personal elf, Master. He has recently finished his domestic course at Mediterra Academy.”
“Hello Naches. Is this your first assignment?”
“Yes Master. I’m a bit nervous, as well.”
“Well, this is the first time I have had a personal elf too.” Teddy grinned: “So we’ll work it out together. Okay?”
Naches relaxed slightly: “Yes, thank you, Master.”
“Is there anything else you require, Master?” Leon asked.
“No thank you Leon. No doubt Naches will fulfil all my needs.”
“Very good!” Pop: and Leon was gone.
“Now Naches. All the elves I know call me by my name which is Teddy. We’ll just use the Master title for formal occasions. Okay?”
“Yes, thank you, Teddy. Now how can I help?”
“I suppose we’d better unpack my chest and put things away. If you do the clothes, I’ll have a go at the books and study items. If we pile the other things on the bed, we’ll decide where they go afterwards.”
“Yes Teddy. There’s a small cabinet in the bathroom for your ablution items, as well.”
“Thanks.”
It took about an hour before everything was stowed to Teddy’s satisfaction. It had included changing drawers for various items, dependant on their size.
His next visitor was Estéban: “Welcome to your new home, Teddy. Would you like to look around the Cantera now, or tomorrow?”
“Cantera?”
“Sorry, Spanish for quarry. All the legalities have just been accomplished so we can start planning the Motocross area.”
“I think tomorrow, please? I suspect it will be an all-day job.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s not quite next door is it?”
“No! But you can side-along me there, can’t you?”
“I could, but I only do that in emergencies because I quite often throw-up, afterwards. The other reason is that we’ll be dealing with muggles, and we cannot let them know about magic. Thirdly, I’d like to have a quick survey of the water leats.”
“You have a point … Good … We’ll make a day of it … Err … Can I come with you on your inspection, please?”
“Okay! Let’s have some lunch first.”
On the ball; Naches found them some lunch and then asked if he could come too.
“Don’t you have other duties, Naches?”
“Does that mean you don’t want me along?”
“No. Just checking that you are not required for anything else.”
“As your personal elf, Teddy, I am at your command. If you allow it, I’d like to see all the aspects of your endeavours.”
“All right, I’d love to have you along.”
It took Naches ten minutes to have the remains of lunch cleared up and the utensils clean. Then the trio set off. First the reservoir’s filters had to be cleaned of floating debris. Then they set off following the main leat. At certain places debris had gathered and, as there were no muggles around [apart from Estéban], Teddy used ‘Waddiwasi’ to clear the accumulation out of the way.
“Will you teach me that one please, Teddy?”
“Of course! I don’t imagine you were taught it at the academy. It is part of the construction syllabus.”
“We were taught ‘Anapneo’, but that’s for blocked drains.”
“I don’t know that one,” Teddy chuckled: “So we’ll swap roles, and you can teach me.”
Estéban also received an education about how thaums were used, including proper pronunciation, intent and flourishes.
What the engaged experimenters had not noticed was a single silent snooping satrap.
He had been drawn to place by the thaums leaking from the un-warded site. He decided that, to try to attack two obviously strong magicals would be tantamount to suicide. So he just kept watch. As far as he was concerned, he saw a mage teaching an elf some water charms; without realising the significance of the undefended channels to the water supply of Abdulmuralla. His remit from the Seignior was to watch for a fortnight and then report back. Only if something startling happened was he to disturb Lucius’s planning of the next raid. Two young magicals learning how to unblock drains, was obviously of no great importance. Besides; he was hoping to get inside that rather shapely young mage’s trousers. Lost in his daydreams about Teddy’s arse he failed to see the magical party move on.
The duo practiced a few more leat-cleaning charms for real, and then the trio took another, more scenic, route back to Abdulmuralla. They arrived back nicely in time for dinner, afterwards Yago taught them Escoba, a Spanish card game with, to Teddy, an unfamiliar deck of cards.
~~~ CANTERA ~~~
Breakfast completed it took a little time for Teddy to ‘Ascendio’ his motorbike to the place where Estéban kept his. That gave Naches time to clear-up and join them. He adopted a muggle glamour and rode pillion behind Teddy. Firstly, they had to navigate the narrow pathway and then a rough track. Quarter of an hour had them on a metalled single-track local road. This again, connected with others and, after many twists and turns, onto a broader road.
“This is the road that leads up to the Cantera entrance,” shouted Estéban, on a straight stretch where they could safely, if briefly, ride abreast.
The road rose in a continuous gradient until the summit. Just before it dipped down Estéban slowed down. On the left were a rusty pair of gates. One of them was immobile with young trees straying through it. The other lay at forty-five degrees to the horizontal; hanging from its post by a twisted top hinge. A narrow path led through the opening. It was along this that Estéban took his mechanical steed. The track they now followed was made of compacted gravel and snaked upwards in double S bends until they arrived at what had obviously been the quarry’s offices. They were now half-tumbled shells. Estéban ignored these and roared towards some hanging vines on the cliff’s face. He disappeared. Cautiously, the magical pair approached the vegetation only to find that it masked the entrance of a level tunnel.
The tunnel was about two hundred yards long and ended up outside another set of decrepit buildings. At least these had some semblance of roofs, even if their windows and doors were broken. There were also some skeletons of quarry machinery and screens with piles of graded stones beneath them.
“We can leave our bikes here.”
Estéban wheeled his machine into one of the buildings.
“Will they be safe here?”
“No-one’s ever interfered with mine.”
“Oh! Okay.” Nevertheless, Teddy locked his and set the alarm.
As they walked out of the building there was a roar and another bike came out of the mouth of the tunnel. Estéban waved at its leather-clad driver, who returned the salute; parking his bike next to theirs, inside the building. Divesting himself of helmet and outside leathers a figure strode towards them.
“Meet Javier, he’s the leader of the bikers’ group. This is my friend Teddy.”
Teddy shook the hand of a darkly Hispanic male. Javier, Teddy surmised, was about the same age as Estéban.
“Hola, are you the one with magic?”
“Yes.” Teddy scowled at Estéban.
Estéban shrugged: “He visited me many times at Cerroverde. One day he joined me for a meal and Luiz popped in to serve us. Nigel had to explain, after getting the seers permission.”
“Can I relax, Teddy?”
“Yes, Naches. Naches has recently been assigned my personal elf, Javier.”
Javier watched in surprise as Naches transformed.
“A servant, is he?”
“Sort of. He’s just left the academy and we’re just getting to know each other.”
“So he’s like Luiz then?”
“Luiz is my father, err … can I call you Javier?” Naches looked questioningly at Teddy, who nodded.
“Of course. Glad to meet you.”
“My father is Mordomo of Hacienda Spyridon. That’s a different sort of call to being a personal elf, Javier. Personal elves know all their masters’ secrets and care for them deeply. According to what my course tutor told me. This is my first assignment, so I’m still finding out.”
Javier chuckled: “So we’ll find out together, because I don’t know much about your magical world.” He saw Teddy looking worried: “It’s all right Teddy, I know how to seal my mouth. Estéban’s told me of the ban on knowledge leaking out. Now! Are we going on a tour of the site, or not?”
“Going on a tour! This way. We’re going to look at the middle section.” Estéban marched out.
Firstly, they followed a track which Teddy thought had railway-sleeper marks in it. After some few hundred yards it curved right and Estéban stopped.
“This grassy area on the left could be used for people with tents. I’ve swum in the pool beyond, it’s quite deep, but the sun’s reflection from the rocks keeps the temperature pleasant.”
He pointed right but to the left of the continuing track at some dilapidated huts. “Those were the miners’ houses at one time. We could resurrect them as chalets to let.”
“That’ll take some doing,” remarked Javier, “But some of the brethren work in the housing industry.
“We have a building team too,” added Teddy: “They’re looking for projects.”
“Erm … I didn’t think illusions kept out the rain very well.”
Teddy grinned at Javier: “I think you’ll find that what you refer to as illusions are really pretty solid.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it!”
Teddy did not feel that it was right to push it. Besides they were just entering another short tunnel. The floor of this part of the quarry was very uneven. It looked like a number of man-sized ant hills which had been scattered around at random.
“I think this could be made into the scrambling section,” observed Estéban: “I’ve got a couple of wrecked bikes in this store. They still work, but it won’t matter too much if they get bumped or scratched. Javier, if you take pillion with me, Naches can ride with Teddy.”
They were wrecks. The seat padding was ripped, the handlebars we kinked, and when they kick-started them, it was obvious that the silencers were almost shot. Nevertheless, the pairs mounted up and Estéban led off. Teddy had not really realised what scrambling was about. He and Naches followed two more experienced bikers as they roared up slopes and down hair-raising gradients; through twisting alleys and along the edges of steep drops. To begin with Naches was frightened and gripped Teddy hard. After a time, both of them got the bug, and started to enjoy the adrenaline-rushes as they took hair-raising risks.
In one place they splashed through a shallow lake and then up a narrow valley. At the end of this was what appeared to be an engineered ramp. Estéban revved up and took off at a great speed, and only just managed to get the pair of them to the top. Teddy had a go and, having a slightly lighter passenger made the top easily.
“Well done!” Javier congratulated: “I didn’t think we’d make it.”
“Criticising my prowess, are you?” Estéban mocked: “You can take charge for the next bit then.”
“Where too?”
“The top of the knoll.” Estéban pointed directly upwards.
“It’s too steep.”
“No, it isn’t. The track spirals round the edge.”
“Alright!”
Spiralling round the edge was no misnomer. The climb was fairly gentle, however there were places where the cliff fell away, and there was a sheer rock wall on the other side of their two-foot wide pathway. Not for the faint-hearted. The danger eased as they surmounted the curved summit.
“We’ve followed the old narrow-gauge railway line to the summit,” Estéban told them: “If you look down you can see the track we followed. At one time there was a bridge over the valley, the abutments are still visible. Now if you look on the other side, you can see a zigzag path going back down to the lake. What I’d like to do is reinstate the bridge, then we can use the zigzags.”
Teddy looked quizzically at Naches and mimed an arch.
Naches realised what Teddy was thinking: “We could. Have you got a spare scarab?”
“A couple, actually.”
“What are you two mumbling about.”
Teddy tried to look innocent: “Wouldn’t it be fun to go down the zigzags.”
“Not today, Teddy, it’d take too long to get there.”
“No, it wouldn’t.”
Estéban had been around magicals long enough to realise what Teddy was thinking: “I suppose we could. Have you charmed that bike?”
“It’s too complicated, I was thinking of apparition.”
Estéban grinned at Javier: “Practical thaumic demonstration coming up. Do you want to go first?”
Javier looked askance: “Err … No … I think I’ll see you do it, before I chance it.”
“Very well. Naches, will you take me please?”
“Is that alright, Teddy.”
“Yes, he wears a scarab at all times. I’ll charm Javier.” Teddy looked at the puzzling Spaniard: “For this exercise you are to ride pillion with me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! First, I have to give you this scarab. You must wear it touching your skin. After I have charmed it, the charm will only fit to your aura. From then on, it will only respond to you, and any magical helping you.”
Javier looked dubious: “Err … Okay … Will it hurt a lot?”
“Only a slight tingle!”
As Javier put the scarab on, he jumped, because there was a crack and the other two disapparated.
“Where have they gone?”
“Over there, on the other side. That’s where we’re going in a minute.” Teddy started waving his wand around and uttering the charm.
“That felt like the charge from a magneto. I’ve felt those before, on an old bike I once owned. Now what?”
“Sit on the bike, grip it with your knees and hug me; making sure there’s some skin contact between us.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. Apparemus!”
“Madre di Dios! That was something. I’m beginning to think that maybe you’re not an illusionist. I feel a bit queasy.”
Teddy was sipping from a flask: “Have a nip of this, it will help.”
“Thanks! Err … may I be in charge going back, Estéban?”
“If you wish.”
Teddy looked hopefully at Naches who firmly shook his head.
It was quite exciting going down the zigzags. Teddy was more cautious that Javier, who used his boots to skid them tightly round each corner. By the time they were at the bottom Teddy had begun to get the knack, then Javier took them splashing through the stream that ran from the lake. They followed a more sedate route back to the store and put the bikes away.
“I have our lunch miniaturised in your paniers, Teddy,” ventured Naches: “Where do you want to eat it?”
“By the lake would be nice.”
“Okay! I’ll meet you there.” Pop.
“Where’s he gone?”
“To get lunch ready.”
In the ten minutes that it took to walk to the lake, Naches had set up by the lake. No sit-on-a-rug picnic this. A large sunshade, deck chairs and table complete with cloth and proper utensils. Javier stopped when he saw it and gaped.
“Madre di Dios! Where did this come from?”
“It was miniaturised in my paniers, Javier.”
“Is it safe to eat? It won’t just fade away when I try.”
Naches giggled and offered him a sausage roll.
“Mmm … Tasty! Thanks.”
Thereafter all four of them enjoyed their picnic. It was not grand. Naches had thought not to overawe Javier with gourmet dishes, but it was filling and flavourful. Whilst eating, Estéban described his plans for a racing circuit. Afterwards whilst Naches was absent dealing with the leftovers, they walked back to the mine buildings, with the priest pointing out where the track would be.
“Most of it is on the other side, but there’s one snag. It needs a tunnel to connect to this bit and complete the circuit. Gabby said he would come and advise us this afternoon and it’s about time he arrived. He sent me this, Teddy, and said you would know what to do with it.”
Out of his pannier he produced a homing beacon and gave it to the mage. Teddy set it up and five minutes later there was a crack and Gabriellus appeared:
“Got any settler, please, Teddy?”
Teddy got out his flask and Gabriellus took a swig.
“That’s better, thanks. Now where is this tunnel you want making?”
“Will you ride pillion behind Teddy, and I’ll take you there?”
They passed through another short tunnel on a broad compacted stone road. Much better that the tracks they had previous followed. This part of the quarry was broad and its reasonably levelled surface had some large ponds in it. Teddy could quite easily see why Estéban wanted this for the racing circuit. The road made a chicane between three ponds, passing round the furthest with a ‘U’ bend of more than 180°. Then it ended abruptly at the quarry face.
“This is where I’d like the tunnel, please, Gabby?” Estéban pointed at a spray-painted arch: “I have looked on the map and there is only four hundred metres to the middle section of the quarry. I imagine the were aiming to dig it, but then work ceased.”
Gabriellus stared at the high rock face: “I can see why you would want a tunnel.” He strode forward and examined the various strata that had been exposed. He even licked some of it: “Is it possible to see the other side?”
“It’s a long way back!”
“Could you do that jump thing, Teddy?” asked Javier.
“Care to be side-alonged, Gabby. I saw the destination a couple of hours ago.”
“Why not?” Gabriellus grabbed hold of Teddy and they disapparated.
Ten minutes later there was a crack and Gabriellus appeared by himself.
“Where’s Teddy?”
“Playing at being a Bwca.”
“What do you mean …” Javier stopped what he was saying because Teddy’s hand appeared out of the rock; slowly followed by the rest of him.
“The strata are constant, Gabby. I could sense no faults or grikes, nor are there any voids worth mentioning.”
Javier was staring at Teddy: “Err … Did you just walk through that rock, Teddy, or was it an illusion?”
“I’m what is called a metamorphmagus, Javier. There are very few of us, even in the magical world. That means I can alter the molecular structure of my body. So much so that I can pass through many solid objects as long as they are inanimate. A living being’s molecules are not compatible. Let me show you.”
Javier had a five-minute demonstration of Teddy’s powers. As well as changing his hair colour he mimicked each person present.
“Madre de Dios!” Javier sat down on a stone and wiped his brow on his sleeve: “Okay, okay! I really believe that you wizards can build houses too.”
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