Toppers Wallow

On Sunday morning whilst getting ready to go to church, our pair were surprised at the number of students who came through the portal from Hogwarts in order to attend the service.



John’s sermon was about going out of your way to help others. H&D immediately thought about Michael Miller and, in swapping thoughts, missed the rest of the address, only coming to their senses when the congregation rose to say the creed.



At Lunch, Griphook invited them to attend his family’s house blessing on Thursday evening at nine.



“I’m afraid it won’t be as grand as yours, Harry. I’m quite happy not to have the same kind of fireworks that you had. Hamish will be having his cottage blessed before that, but he says you have a group tutorial booked at the same time.”



“We know we can come to yours, thank you for the invitation,” Draco answered. “We’ll have a chat to the students concerned in the tutorial and see what they think.”



“If it’s any help, they would be welcome too.”



Harry had looked in his diary. “It’s the Smiling Ones, Our elf-assistants and you, Draco. There’ll be no problem with them, I should think.”



Hamish, who had been sitting nearby, smiled. “Those four are a little dismissive of Muggles, so it would do them good to see a serious ceremony with humans involved.”



“Three of them have their regular lesson on Monday so I’ll ask them then,” Harry put in. “No doubt Mordant will go along with whatever arrangements his friends make.”



When time came to pay the bill, the publican was quite hesitant.



“What’s the problem, Richard?” asked Harry.



“Our cook said she was over-faced with all the work for the Sunday lunches, so Hyacinth and Winky volunteered to help. Once Mavis had become accustomed to the appearance of her helpers they formed a team to produce the best menu variety the Farmers Arms has ever had for many a year. Quite a few of the dishes were made in your kitchen, Harry, from your ingredients. I thought we could keep the books straight, but it has become a nightmare. Our other regulars have had main courses from your kitchen; your group have had sweets from ours. I’m going to have a headache trying to work out who gets paid for what. Just to really muddy the accounting waters; the same variety of starters seems to have been made in both kitchens.”



Draco was silent for a minute, thinking. “Firstly, charge everyone the prices quoted. Secondly put the money into a pool. Next take off your normal percentage profit plus Mavis’s wages. Once that’s done give Mavis and Winky the total number of dishes, and get them to work out how much came from each kitchen and then divide the money up on that basis. Give our share to Justin and we will decide how to divide it up.”



“Thanks Draco, that system sounds reasonably workable. What about Winky’s and Hyacinth’s wages?”



“They are already covered by other means, Richard. They work under an entirely different system,” said Harry. “Just to make it easier, do a paper transaction for our combined bill, and give us the difference, or vice versa and we’ll pay the difference.”



“Mmm … Yes … That’s even easier. I’ll sort the other regular bills first. You know, if many more people come on Sundays, I’m going to have serious problems accommodating you all.”



“Perhaps we’ll just bring the choir and the booked class in future. Something like the numbers we had last week. That will ease your accounting problems. However I’m sure Winky and Hyacinth would still be able to help regularly, that is if Mavis wanted them to,” Harry suggested.



“Mmm, that would make things more manageable. The extra menu variety is very welcome; I’ll chat with Mavis and her helpers; then let you know. Thanks for the offer.” Richard bustled off looking slightly less fraught than he had been.



Later on Justin reported a profit of nearly twelve galleons, and asked what to do with the money. On asking Winky where the ingredients came from, she said that the Hogwarts kitchen-elves had made most of the dishes. So Minerva was consulted.



“We would have had to feed them anyway, Justin. Therefore we require no payment, in fact, the drain on our resources was less than we expected.”



Harry became involved, wondering if there was another way of accommodating the overflow, or repatriating them to Hogwarts for the meal.



“I think part of the fun is eating away from school, Harry,” Minerva replied.



“Okay then. We’ll serve them on our patio for the time being and, once it’s ready, at Milkwood. Perhaps the school house-elves could arrange the food facilities.”



“Let’s try that next week, Harry. It seems a workable solution.”



The conversation wound on with Dean and Seamus becoming involved. Eventually the parties concurred that if Hogwarts food was served at the Farmers Arms; each alternate week’s clear profit should go to a Muggle and a magical charity in turn, because both Muggles and magicians would have contributed to the extra cash. After talking to John, Justin and he agreed that the magical amount would go to the comforts account of St. Mungo’s, and the Muggle amount to Christian Aid.



As was becoming usual, John was involved in the ethics debate around Harry’s brief statement. The two lovers went upstairs showered extensively and made mad passionate love before going to sleep in a close embrace.



§§§§§



They entered their apartment in time for school coffee break as usual on a Monday morning, so it wasn’t until Lunchtime that the pair were due to eat with the rest of the college. As they walked in to the great hall a silence descended upon the students and they all stood up. Even the short walk from the side door was quite unnerving. As the pair took their places Minerva tapped the side of her glass goblet, not that there was any real need because all eyes were already on the top table.



“Professors Potter and Malfoy, the school would like to congratulate you on your marvellous new portal charm.”



The student body broke out into cheers. Harry wanted to curl up in embarrassment and sagged, trying to sit down and hide behind the table.



‘You can’t sit down, Lover. Stand up and smile at them.’



Harry looked at his Mate in surprise. Draco had put on his best noblesse-oblige face and was gripping Harry’s elbow hard. Harry had little choice but to do as Draco bid him. Eventually the noise died down and Minerva’s glass could be heard again.



“Professor Potter, please will you call a blessing on us and our food.”



“Um … Oh … Lord, we thank you for this food and for our abilities to help others.”



“AMEN,” came back from the assembly, who sat down and commenced the usual hullabaloo.



Draco could feel his lover’s embarrassment at being singled out. ‘That was great; I’ll do the next one, if there is one. I’m sure Hamish and Filius will take their turns as well.’



Harry looked at his mate and smiled his thanks, too full of emotion to articulate his words properly. Draco understood, because he could feel his mate’s internal turmoil.



That afternoon, at the end of the seventh-years lesson, Harry asked the three Smiling Ones to stay behind. As the other class members left he noticed Mordant waiting outside the door for his friends. Harry beckoned him in.



“It’s about Thursday evening’s group tutorial,” Harry began, watching their eager faces fall into disappointment. “We’ve been asked, that is you four, Draco, myself and our two assistant elves, to attend two blessings of two houses in Godric’s Hollow. One will be Professor Holderness’s and the other a great friend who works for Gringott’s bank. There’ll be a mixed congregation of Muggles, magicians, goblins and elves and our vicar friend John will conduct the two short services.”



“Is that the clueful vicar everyone’s talking about, Professor?”



“Knowing the Hogwarts rumour mill, yes; I imagine it is, Septimus.”



“Ooh! Can we use your portal too?”



“Most definitely, Honorius! There’s no point in going through Apparation dizziness to get there any longer. Is there?”



“Is it really golden framed and glowing?”



“No, it isn’t, Crassus. Why not come along now, to our rooms, and see it?”



“Does it hurt to go through?”



“Mordant, there isn’t even the slightest tingle.”



Draco was already in the apartment when Harry and his four followers arrived; Phealey and Pullet were hanging around, too. Harry thought Mordant was a little disappointed at the two ordinary portraits, so he took the party for a quick stroll towards the church. As they passed they were intrigued by Bagshot Cottage, remarking about it being the residence of the author of ‘A History of Magic’. As could be expected, John saw them and came out to greet them. As he was introduced, the usual first-time tingle took place and the Smiling Ones jumped as they shook hands.



“What was that, Professor?” Septimus asked, shaking his hand in the air.



“I suggest you go and look in your copy of ‘Rites of Priests and Wizards’ when you get back. I’d like a two page essay on your conclusions from all of you, on what is necessary when the proponents first enter each other’s houses, plus the correct first drink ceremony. You can also describe the attributes of a priest who would give that tingle. You may collaborate, but I need to see separate essays by Thursday afternoon, before we leave to come here. Okay?”



“YES PROFESSOR.” The Smiling Ones looked slightly subdued; in compensation Harry took them to see the Rosmerta Nigrus commemorative plaque inside the church.



They were not too late back, Harry apologised to the student whose tutorial it should have been, and conducted that and another shorter one in order to be ready for dinner. When asked, and true to his word, Draco called the blessing before everyone sat.



§§§§§



On Tuesday evening, after a squeaky session in bed, Harry remarked to Draco on how well their two assistants were doing.



“Yes, Lover. Both of them attend at least one potions lesson for each year. It’s like a crash course in two subjects, because I know they attend one session or another of all your DADA ones too. On top of that, the increase in their reading abilities astounds me. Maybe we should put them forward as fit to do OWL’s this December coming and NEWT’s in June next year. Just in the two subjects, mind.”



“Good idea, they’ll have tutor qualifications if they get through. It’d be good to have some elves in teaching posts.”



“They do that unofficially in my classes, anyway. They have the kind of mind that understands what the ancient potions writer was intending. Phealey’s helped Neville no end. And then, when I’m starting to grow short tempered, Pullet seems to sense it and goes to help the floundering student before my outburst becomes vocal.”



§§§§§



In Wednesday’s Duelling Club Theodore got out of hand. His opponent was a Gryffindor who was mirror-charming his every move, therefore Mr Nott became thoroughly agitated. He tried a Serpensortia of much the same kind that Draco had done to Harry much earlier in their careers. Harry cast an attention calling charm at the snake and started to reason with it in Parseltongue, whilst Draco Levicorpus’ed Nott. That left him suspended in the air, thus giving Harry time to calm down the angry snake. Only when Theodore promised to apologise to the snake was he allowed to regain the floor. Mr Nott looked daggers at the pair after making his ungraceful apology. Knowing Theodore, Draco felt that he was planning some sort of revenge, warning Harry of the same.



§§§§§



Thursday evening; four curious Smiling Ones knocked on D&H’s apartment door. In their hands they had Harry’s assignment. He had a quick look through, making sure to ask each one a question about his writing, and then saying he was satisfied and would mark them properly later.



“Will we miss dinner?” Septimus asked. “If so we’ll ask the house-elves to make a package up for each of us.”



“Who’s saying grace tonight?” asked Mordant.



“Madam Sprout is,” answered Harry. “Don’t worry about food; we’ll have some at each house we go to. So leave some room for the second blessing at Griphook’s, all right?”



“YES PROFESSOR!”



“Did you say ‘Griphook’, Professor? Is it the same goblin who came to Professor Holderness’s class last week and told us about Gringott’s?”



“Yes Crassus. Sometime next year we’ll be going to their museum to see some of their collection of magical objects of which certain witches and wizards have use.”



“Will the dragon still be there? The one he said you and Professors Granger and Weasley rode?”



“No Septimus. You have already met that dragon in your ‘care of magical creatures’ classes? Her name is Orcas and she helped us defeat the attack on the centaur herd.”



“Oh yes … Professor Hagrid says you can talk to Dragons.”



“Yes, they use Parseltongue the same as snakes.”



“Is that the same language you used to calm Theo’s snake down?”



“Quite correct.”



“You need to watch that one. He was muttering in the Slytherin common room afterwards, about doing you some mischief.”



“Thanks for the warning. We thought he was planning something. We’ll keep a sharp lookout.”



“If we hear any more, we’ll let you know. Not that he confides in us anymore. We don’t care, really. It’s much more interesting to be on this side of the fence. We don’t have to watch what we say with you; you accept apologies, he just festers.”



“Do be careful with him.”



“It’s much easier now we have learnt the mirror defence from Professor Weasley. We had a great time last Thursday playing hex tennis. Mort had to see Madam Pomfrey afterwards because his arse got singed.”



The three Smiling ones cackled in glee, whilst their mate looked defiant.



“It’s all right for you lot, you didn’t get burnt.” Mordant said in mock indignation, rubbing his behind.



Harry was smiling complacently. He then looked puzzled. “I thought you faced each other in Hex tennis. Why were you running away?”



“We were playing double fireball, and I chased a long shot from Crass. Hone sent the other ball after it. He says he angled the shield towards Set, but I still have my doubts.” Mordant scowled at Honorius.



Honorius put on a false air of innocence and the whole group redoubled their laughter, professors included.



“That’s what we meant about being on the side of light. Professor Snape would have given us detention and made harsh comments, even if we had dared to say things like that in front of him.”



“Despite his nasty demeanour, he was on the side of light and Voldemort killed him for it. I was there, hidden, and saw it happen,” said Harry. “Afterwards we found out that Severus Snape was a double agent acting for the light because he was in love with my Mother. As you know; Voldemort killed her and my father, too.”



“Oh! We wondered why he’d had such a good funeral; that explains things.”



By this time they had passed through the portals, Magnet Cottage and were nearing Granary Cottage. John’s procession was coming the other way.



“What’s that thing with smoke coming out?” Septimus whispered.



“It’s a thurible or censer. It contains smouldering incense, the smoke represents our prayers,” Draco answered. “The Muggle in the robes holding it is called a thurifer.”



“Why the candles?” asked Honorius.



“They represent the light of Christ,” was Harry’s sotto voce answer.



“What’s he sprinkling on the doorstep?”



“Holy water.”



“We use that in some of our potions, don’t we, Professor?”



“Exactly tame sort of stuff that we use, yes” answered Draco



As the doorstep had come first; so each room was blessed in turn, as before. Hamish had deliberately taken Harry and Draco aside and taught them the hymn, so they were able to lead their four charges in it.



As Harry had predicted, there were refreshments available, though of a savoury starter kind only. When their charges asked why, the professors admitted they were puzzled, too. Things became clearer when they went in procession past Magnet Cottage to Willow Tree House. Blessing over, everyone went into the parish marquee which had been set up on the sizable lawn. The rest of the buffet dinner was laid out there.



As well as the repast, a goblin string trio played baroque music on a little stage, receiving polite applause at the end of each piece. The Smiling Ones were enthralled by what they heard and sat close by listening intently, lost in a world of musical meaning.



The leader of the trio saw their rapt attention. “Do you play?”



“Yes. Only our student friends think we’re a bit odd, they all like pop music. So we practice well away from them.”



“What instruments?”



“We’re a woodwind quartet.”



“Have you got your instruments nearby?”



“Sort of!”



“Go and get them, please. We have a piece of Mozart for wind band and strings which we’ve been dying to try out. I have the parts here in my music bag.”



Septimus came and asked Harry if he could use the portal. Harry went with him and helped to carry the instruments in their cases back to the marquee.



Almost as soon as the enlarged band of musicians started, everyone stopped talking. Despite lack of rehearsal, the sound emitted had a beautiful poignancy. There was a lively middle section with bassoon and cello doubling in jaunty jumping rhythms, followed by the sort of slow finale that only Mozart could write. The Smiling Ones were astounded at the amount of applause they received. Thereafter the string trio and the wind quartet alternated, allowing the players time to relax with their friends.



Hamish was over the moon. “I have a short piece here for wind band which takes up the themes of the motet the choir will be singing at Harvest Home. Do you think you could play it for us?”



“We’d need to practice and Friday is packed with lessons.”



Harry and Draco were part of the group. “You could use our foursome bedroom over the weekend if Hamish can find you a practice room.”



“We had nothing special booked, except some more practice, so that wouldn’t be difficult,” stated Honorius.



“You could use my front room, or even the covered patio where I rehearse our choir. The acoustics in the front room are dead, there’s more resonance from the hard surfaces in the patio,” Hamish suggested.



“All right!” Septimus looked at his friends, who nodded. “We’d love to come. It’ll be nice to have our music appreciated instead of ridiculed. Dead acoustics help us to hear each other when we practice.”



Hamish took them to meet Dolores.



Whilst they were gone, Draco and Harry mingled; eventually finding Porlock and his family.



“Haven’t seen you since the attack on the bank. How are things?” enquired Draco.



“You’ll probably be seeing more of me here,” replied Porlock. “I’m taking on an agent’s job in the Village. We’re going to take over running the Post Office.”



“That’ll be great! Are you hoping to expand the trade?”



“Yes! We have had one or two ideas, but nothing is set in concrete yet.”



“Try a newsagent line. Some of the Muggles were saying that they don’t get a proper service from the one in Grumblewell,” Harry suggested.



“Maybe an agent for Flourish and Blotts,” added Draco. There’ll be a college of Hogwarts situated here, fairly soon.”



“Thanks for those ideas, Friends. That supports the feelings I had.”



“Get the Muggle bank to allow you to be their agent too. The villagers dislike the idea of going into Great Grumblewell to do business.”



When they came back the Smiling Ones were living up to their unofficial name.



“That’s great, Professors. There’re Goblins who like our music, and now a group of Muggles who perform it as well.” Septimus was jiggling in glee. “We’re glad we came. We weren’t quite sure before, but we came just because you asked us.”



Lying in bed later, after the squeaks had died down and in the resultant quietude, Harry and Draco marvelled at the new talents discovered and wondered where things would lead.