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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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- 254
[Note: “x-x” = speech & ‘x-x’ = thoughts & *x-x* = telepathy & #x-x# Parseltongue]
~~~ TRIPLE PORTKEYS ~~~
At Raven’s Rock, not only were the locals riding the gondola to see the Cabin and the view but, after partaking Parish Lunch, Dumbledorians were riding down to see the new territory. Whilst most of the Smiling ones had returned to their hotel duties, Crassus came back to the Okruh; with him were a couple of magely friends from their Ukrainian musical contacts. They sought out Harry and Draco.
After introductions Crassus started: “Halyna and Pavlo have taken over his parents’ house in Simferopol and are doing it up. Did you know that the Crimea has always had a booming holiday trade, Seers? Not only muggle but magical as well.”
“Yes,” agreed Pavlo: “There was a small magical community where our house is and others in most of the resorts, both inland and by the sea. This is the biggest Okruh, some like our house we just single residences, others in groups. Each community had a triple reciprocating portkey booth, forming part of a triangulated system of transportation. The one here was crucial but, like all things magical has not been used for some time.”
“Each community had its specialities,” explained Halyna: “Here was the produce market, linked to the Gringotts branch in Simferopol. The other two links were to Sevastopol with its fish market, and Alushta for jewellery. They in turn were linked to the double booth at Yalta, south of us. The Sevastopol links carried on towards Odessa and the Alushta links went to Fedosiya and beyond. Naturally, Simferopol had links going north, eventually ending up in Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk, but to travel there you had to know all the intermediate booth names as well.”
“That sounds a bit complicated.” Harry frowned.
“It was, but much quicker than normal transport and less dizziness than apparating.”
“What exactly is a triple reciprocating portkey?”
“The triple refers to three destinations from each booth. Reciprocating portkeys are an identical pair, if you used one going south, say, the other would travel north, with or without anyone attached. Sometimes there would be a queue for a particular destination but it would soon clear. Like the floo-queues at rush-hour in the British ministry building.”
“So-o-o … You would like to reactivate them all?” surmised Draco.
“That is a possibility – long term – however we would like the Crimean network re-opened, mainly because of the potential tourist trade.”
“That’s where we come in, Seers,” added Crassus: “The cabin has possibilities of becoming a tourist hotel, linked to the main resorts and to Gringotts in Simferopol. It also has possibilities for parents visiting the new school, when things are quieter, off season. If there were a way of adding rooms with that glorious view over Ozero Endryu, that would be the cream on the cake.”
“New school, Crass?”
“Draco, stop being coy; you know how the grapevine works, just as well as I do. Now what’s it called … Err … Sophie something …”
“… Sophiamonastir, Crass.”
“Thanks, Pavlo.” Crassus smiled at his friend.
“Fine … I understand … Now, where is this complicated booth supposed to be?”
“Near the ferries, Harry.”
“Ferries?”
“Yes the one to St. Vladimir and from where the school one used to leave. About a quarter of an hour’s stroll along the shore road from here.”
“Perhaps we should have put the gondola terminal there?”
“No Harry, the hypotenuse would have been too long and there is no suitable outcrop of rock. You remember remarking about it when we caught the ferry back yesterday.”
“Fine … Let’s go and see this booth then.”
The walk was very pleasant along the tree shaded lakeshore road; in due course they reached the ferryman’s cottage.
“Going across the river?” he inquired as he came out of his front door.
“Not yet … We’re looking for the Portkey booth.”
“Right … My father said it was good for trade. Are you going to open it up?”
“Just looking to start with, but maybe.”
“Let me show you where it is.”
“Thanks!”
Draco thought the building looked like an octagonal mediaeval market cross. Two of the arches were open and the remaining ones walled up. A few Scourgify charms had the old leaves and other decomposing litter cleared out and a gaping ferryman’s family watching the process. The internal survey began.
The structure proved to be a nonagon. There were pairs of blocked arches, divided by the two open arches and a small room with a stone door carved on its inner face. Each enclosure was divided and marked with two incised circles, one of which had a plinth in its centre. Over the enclosures were labels: one with a fish outline and ‘C E B’, another with a crown and ‘A N Y’ the last was a purse with ‘C I M’ inscribed, each label had the equivalent Cyrillic letters above them.
“That’s ours,” remarked Pavlo, stepping into the circle and picking up a circular portkey from the plinth: “It has the purse depiction on it.” He disappeared.
“Impetuous as usual,” Halyna shrugged her shoulders: “It’s a good thing I checked our end before we came out.”
There was a slight clink and another portkey appeared on the plinth. Almost immediately it vanished.
The empty circle started to glow and Pavlo reappeared: “It works, Darling. This is the one from here.” He carefully replaced the original disc on the plinth: “The secret is to touch the plinth until you want to leave. In replacing the portkey keep contact with the plinth until you have set the portkey down.”
Draco was wandering around the enclosure peering at the baroque architecture, as he passed the stone door it turned into wood. Draco opened the door and went inside, closing the door behind him.
Pavlo saw what happened and turned to Harry: “I see you have goblin permission Holovny’y Magister – very privileged – no wonder Crass thinks you can find the missing mages. We normal magisters and vidmas are not allowed inside the mines, not that we really want to go; each race to his own, I say. We get along alright co-operating for mutual gain – for instance the jewellery shops in Alushta were goblin run, and this market supplied them with food.”
“It still does,” put in the ferryman: “A small market still meets here on Tuesdays. I daresay the growing terraces on the mountainsides could be re-opened if there was a need for more produce.”
Draco reappeared out of the door accompanied by Lamellas.
“Draco tells me you want to open up the Portkey system again.”
“Yes, Lugo, at least in this area; is your shop still open in Alushta?”
“Sort of … We went there a couple of days ago sorting ore with Bertie. We haven’t opened the outer shop door for ages.”
Harry had wandered over to the crowned enclosure. Firmly holding the plinth he picked up the round portkey and polished it slightly on his gown: “This has a crown on it. What we need to do is see if the one near the goblin shop is still intact.” He carefully set the portkey back before releasing hold of the plinth.
“Why not come with me, Harry,” Lamellas suggested: “I’m sure your magic could open the door, I used to like using the portkeys; they were less cumbrous than our phaeton system.”
“Fine … Why not.”
Inside the wooden door was a narrow spiral staircase, at the bottom of which was a single phaeton. That took them to the headquarters rank. Lamellas chose another whose arch was labelled with a crown. It took them to the Alushta shop. Once upstairs in the main shop the goblin moved various boxes which had been placed in front of the door. Meanwhile, Harry was lubricating the bolt, hinges and lock.
Third go, and the lock clicked. The bolts required tapping with a hammer to start them off, but slid easily thereafter. Both of them grabbed the handle and heaved. They ended up sitting on their bottoms with the handle in their hands, but the door had opened two or three inches. A quick ‘Reparo’ had the handle fixed, and grasping the edge of the door they prised it open.
The shop faced into a small square. A fountain trickled water in the middle and, where it had overflowed, weeds grew in the cracks between the cobblestones. Harry counted five buildings at their end of the area and six along each side. The other end had two pairs of houses divided by an ornate archway.
“That leads to the muggle city, Harry. It should also house the triple portkey booth. This fountain used to squirt much higher; there was a return charm on it so that the bowl collected most of the water. The charm must have worn out or the outlet has become blocked.”
They applied cleaning charms inside the archway and looked for the labels above the double-circles. One of the portkeys wobbled and fell off its plinth and Harry grabbed it without thinking. Whoosh – and he was in a dark cupboard somewhere. Lumos had him find the plinth under a crown, where he placed the portkey. Slightly worriedly he cleared that circle of old rags, held the plinth and stepped inside. Picking up the portkey he left go of the plinth and was standing in front of a laughing Lamellas. Harry replaced the portkey quickly and pushed himself out of the circle.
“Well, how was Yalta, Harry?”
“No idea, I ended up in a dusty old cupboard full of rags.”
“That was their speciality – the clothes market – there should be a garment portrayed on the portkey.”
“You can look if you like, I’m not risking it.”
“Later, possibly; this is the one we want. It has a carrot on it.”
“Fine!” Harry stepped into the circle and held the plinth, followed by Lamellas; fingers on the portkey they let go of the plinth.
Three blinks of an eye had them at the ferry booth.
“What happened to you?”
“Harry decided to have a look at Yalta for a change,” replied Lamellas laconically: “But he thought the garments were a little old-fashioned for his taste.”
Harry then had to explain what had happened. Whilst he was doing so there was a clink in the Sevastopol recess. They looked in and there was a live fish flopping around. Quickly, the ferryman’s wife filled a bucket with water and put the fish in.
“Feeling adventurous again Harry?” chuckled the goblin.
“No it’s your turn, Lugo,” Harry smirked back.
Draco peered into the bucket, “The fish isn’t looking too good, perhaps it’s a salt-water variety.” He shrugged: “I imagine someone is looking for it. Shall I take it back?”
The others nodded so, holding the bucket in one hand, Draco stepped into the Sevastopol ring. He reached out a finger to the portkey and was gone.
~~~ C E B ~~~
“I told you not to mess around in here, you little imp, now you’ve dropped our supper and it’s slid off into a corner.”
Draco beheld a fisherwoman, shaking her youngster.
“Hmm … Is this what you’re looking for?”
The mother jumped and let go of the child, which looked at Draco, screamed and ran off.
“W-w-who are you? How did you get in there? You’re not one of them Glags are you?”
“No … Be calm … I mean no harm … Do you know what this is?”
The woman peered into the bucket: “Our dinner, I think … Least it looks like the one I caught earlier.”
Draco handed over the bucket: “That’s not quite what I meant. I was referring to this odd shaped room.”
“Are you sure you’re not a Glag?”
“I’m a magister, is that what you wanted to know?”
“Sh-h-h, not so loud. You’d better come to meet me Mam.”
Draco followed the lady out into a small dead-end dock and into a downstairs room. An old lady sat in a rocking chair by the fireplace.
“I’ve got the fish, Mam, Kellert had been playing with it.”
“I see you’ve found a man too, girl; handsome as well. Well young man what are your intentions towards my daughter?”
“I’m already married, Vidma. I was trying out the portkey from the Okruh.”
“Well, well … So it still works … Have you got any potatoes?”
“The market is the day after tomorrow, Vidma. You or your daughter would be most welcome.”
“Not her, she’s a squib, but young Kellert is beginning to show the signs. So Magister, you’re not from these parts are you?”
“No Vidma, from England on a mission to find the lost practitioners.”
“You won’t find any here, Magister, there’re just two Fluence families left. See if you can find my daughter’s husband, please. I think you’d better go; in case the snoopers are around.”
The woman looked up from preparing the fish: “We’ve not seen snoopers for five or so years, Mam.”
“Exactly … It probably means we’re due a visit soon. Go, young man, find the lost ones, this time we’ll fight back.”
“Thank you Vidma, good-day,” Draco gave a slight bow.
“Polite too, don’t forget your bucket.”
Draco picked up the now empty bucket, bowed again and walked back to the booth to touch the portkey.
“Where’s he gone, Mam?”
“Back to the Okruh, Girl. I’ll watch the fish cook whilst you scrub the booth out. I’ve a feeling we’re going to be seeing visitors. Oh, and make sure that brat of yours doesn’t play with the tokens in there. He’s of an age when he might just disappear.”
~~~ O K B ~~~
“You smell of fried fish – Brought any mint rock back for me?” was Harry’s way of greeting Draco: “How was the seaside?”
“No beach, just a private fish dock. Two families, only saw one, husband lost, wife a squib, witch an old granny, grandson has possibilities but too young yet.”
“That was concise!”
“Thanks … Oh! and they might come to buy potatoes on Tuesday.”
“I hope they bring sea-fish to trade,” added the ferryman, it’ll be a nice change to fresh-water ones.”
Excitement over! Pavlo and Halyna bid them goodbye and went into the booth. Lamellas used his door and the seers walked back towards Raven’s Rock.
PICNIC
Once at Ravens Rock our pair found that Trephine and the boys had arrived with Leonid mobiliarbussing a large hamper.
“We saw you down here and it’s such a nice evening we thought to have dinner by the lake,” Trephine explained: “Now Taros, it’s time for your party piece.”
“Yes Auntie, Accio picnic set!”
A folded table with a number of stools inside appeared at Taros’s feet. Meanwhile Leonid had opened the hamper and was laying out the contents on its folded back lid, propped up on a bit of the rock. Table laid; five people sat around it eating and chatting. Harry and Draco told of their exploits and Trephine how well the boys had worked.
“Are the portkeys only for those with the Fluence?” asked Leonid.
“A practitioner might bring a non-magical close blood relative. So the old vidma might bring her squib daughter. If he is showing enough magic her son might bring her through also. You could take Oxana and Taros his Mother or father. All goblins are able to use them.”
“That reminds me, we haven’t seen any elves.”
“Those have all disappeared with their arrested masters and mistresses. We’re not sure why; possibly because of the bonds of service.”
“So, we may find them when and if we find the missing practitioners.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s quite possible; although they might be hiding somewhere. Same as the goblins just stayed underground and avoided the Glags; not that we know if those nasties are aware of other magical beings. They only ever seemed to home in on human practitioners. How are the hunters doing?”
“One of our guys reported back to say that Brother David is taking his time. He’s tending the wounded satrap with muggle remedies. Our guy thinks the satrap is playing up so as to delay being put inside. The whole expedition has a feeling of unwillingness from both captor and captured. He’ll report back again tonight.”
“Are you staying tomorrow?”
“Yes Auntie, unless one of our wives tells us of an emergency or our guy says they’ve found the Glags hideout.”
“Good, we can visit Sophiamonastir.”
“Can we come please, Auntie?”
“You have family work to do, that must come first. If our plans work out, you will be attending full time later in the year.”
The boys looked rebellious.
“You wish for another night of penance?” Draco smirked at them.
“No thank you,” replied Leonid: “Once was enough. We’ll do our duty to the family, won’t we Taros.” The last words were as firm as the look Leonid gave his friend.
Taros shrugged: “I suppose so.”
H: *Leonid’s learning to take charge – five points to him.*
“How many villages are there in your Okruh, Auntie?” asked Draco
“Seven … Why do you ask?”
“Just musing on Arithmancy; I noticed that there were twenty-one houses at Alushta, including the shop. Our Square in London has twenty-seven and Godric’s Hollow has one-hundred-and forty-seven dwellings containing a total of five-hundred-and-sixty-seven inhabitants. So, I suppose each of your villages have three-hundred-and-forty-three residents in eighty-one houses.”
“That’s the ideal, yes. But we have to take into account those whom the Glags have taken, as well. Nothing is quite that exact, but it averages out.”
“What are they talking about, Harry?” Leonid asked quietly.
“Arithmancy, I think.”
“What’s that?”
“A branch of magical learning to do with numbers; most of its beyond me. Draco and Hermione have the brains to deal with that kind of thing. I gather it has to do with threes, sevens and thirteens. They add, multiply and divide the numbers to create what they say are significant numerals. I should leave it alone until you’re a little deeper into magical learning.”
“Why don’t you know?”
“Each mage has a speciality, mine has always been defence against the dark arts or DADA for short. Now I seem to have added healing to that. Draco is superb at potion making, something I don’t have the patience for. He’s also a great Legillimens.”
“A what?”
“He can focus on and listen to other people’s thoughts; that is if they are not using Occlumency, I can do that now, but it was a very hard set of lessons. I still shudder when I remember them. Occlumency is now part of the advanced DADA course”
“This occul-whatever-it is; does that stop him listening in?”
“Probably not, but you must remember we are the strongest mages since Merlin Arthur and co. If you need to learn it, I can teach you. However, in the normal run of things it’s not a required element of magical education. A lot depends on the strengths of your magic. Between the four of us Seers we can do anything, but each has special gifts. For instance, I can see magic with my eyes closed, but I must be linked to one of the others in order to do so. Some charms are so powerful that we have to draw strength from each other. I did that from Draco when we apparated your mother and the car from Kyiv. It was an experiment which brought us to the Glags notice. So, we probably may not try that again; at least when there are nasties in the vicinity. Back to your question, Occlumency blockings and Legillimens probing are a bit like fighting. The contest depends on the strengths and agilities of the opponents.”
“Oh! That’s why we have to go to school, isn’t it?”
“Yes! You learn basic charms and we test you to see where you need extra help. The tests also find what aptitudes you possess so that together we can polish them. The idea is to make you a useful member of magical society; a society that works for the good of the whole of the Creator’s world. Unfortunately, some mages go off the rails and that’s where my DADA comes in handy.”
“Just as another example, boys,” added Draco: “Griswold and Selwyn are great with machines and in the gondola, you can see is the result. I could never have thought through the problems. They made a thaumometer for us to use, Harry got it working.”
“Yes Love, but you understood their instructions better than I ever could.”
“We work as a team … See … And now it’s time we walked back to your home and to bed.”
“Thank you, Draco. I was about to make the same remark.”
“My pleasure, Auntie!”
H: *She’s remembered our names at last.*
D: *That’ll make ‘the bird’ happy.*
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