Toppers Wallow

On Friday after lunch Dean and Seamus came to see our pair.



“We’ve had a chat with Richard, Minerva and the Hogwarts kitchen-elves,” Dean explained. “Some time ago, Richard had toyed with the idea of turning the old stables, at the rear of his pub, into a dance area. He’d managed to get the stalls cleared out and piled at one end, but then he saw a wane in that type of entertainment and went no further. We had a look at the place and Minerva sent us four third-years to tutor. So with Richard’s permission we set-too and he now has a functions room. At least that’s what he calls it. We had a lot of fun using the old wood and making long tables out of it. With the remaining wood we conjured up stacking chairs to match the ones John has at the parish hall. Those, plus the ones John says he will lend to us, will mean we can seat a dozen-score people. That’s nearly half of the student body.”



“Kreacher, Winky and the rest of the elves got together,” Seamus continued. “They’ve made a sort of food tunnel from magnet cottage. It’s a magical one, not a physical one. It ends up in a servery at the rear of the back room, so the Hogwarts elves can deliver stuff directly there, like they do at the school tables. The idea is; that designated people collect the food for their table of eight from a hatchway. Then it doesn’t matter if Muggles get mixed with us, as it will look as if Mavis’s kitchen is making all the food and sending it along their cellar passageway.”



“It will make Richard’s accounting much easier,” added Dean. “The dining room will be exclusively Mavis fed, the functions Room completely Hogwarts fed, and only the back room will be served by both, but from different ends. Mavis’s helpers with Winky and Hyacinth are having a great time devising new menus which both kitchens can produce. We also have an idea for keeping parts your house more private, we’ll show you sometime this weekend. We had a lot of fun doing Richard’s place up, but we feel as though we could sleep for a week now.”



“Thanks for keeping us up-to-date,” said Draco. “You can show us what you have in mind once the third-years are settled in.”



The two practical partners returned to Toppers Wallow and the professorial pair returned to their learners.



§§§§§



On Friday after dinner; as could be expected, the Smiling Ones were at the head of the queue to use the portals to get to Magnet Cottage, complete with music stands and instruments in their cases. Once inside their room, they marvelled at the way the beds were placed partly under the eaves, dumped their night clothes and scooted off to Hamish’s with concentrated practice in mind. Harry promised someone would call them when chocolate was ready.



Dean and Seamus showed our pair what they had in mind. Firstly; a wall partitioning off a small part of the ‘L’ shaped living area, thus extending the entry passage at right angles. Secondly; an idea to re-form the barn into three double flatlets for DS Members to use, or to be let to suitable magical beings.



“I think you are getting as bad as your father,” Harry joshed, as they climbed the stairs to our pair’s bedroom. “Every time we see you, you want to pull the insides of the barn to pieces and rebuild it.”



Seamus looked slightly hurt. “At least, us wanting ter rebuild has a basis of sense. Me Old Man just does it on a whim.”



“Don’t get so up-tight, Lover,” said Dean, hugging him. “They’re only pulling your leg.”



“Sorry Harry, Draco. I guess we’re working too hard. I’m feeling quite worn at the moment.”



They were now inside the owners’ bedroom. Draco was standing next to Seamus and put his hand down inside Seamus’s trousers. He squeezed and tickled for a minute, but there was no physical reaction.



“You must be tired if you can’t even rise to the occasion. Take the evening off. We’ll look after the students,” Draco suggested



“Great! We can finish strengthening the side galleries at church.”



Draco still had his hand round Seamus’s tender bits, so he squeezed.



“Ow! That hurts!” Seamus wriggled, unzipping himself in order to try to pry Draco’s digits from his dong.



“I shall continue to grip until I have a promise of absolute rest from both of you,” Draco stated flatly.



Harry caught on and stood close behind Dean; reaching round and holding him in a similar grip. Dean was not as tired as Seamus and started to expand under Harry’s ministrations. Harry altered his grip and started to stroke, whilst Dean fumbled around behind himself, trying to access Harry’s pubic area. Harry shared thoughts with his mate and Draco pushed Seamus towards Dean. Harry undid Dean’s flies, took Seamus’s hand a placed it on Dean’s boner.



“Now go to the spare bedroom, lock the door and play with your mate, he needs it; look.”



Draco felt some stirrings beneath his grip, and slackened it; allowing Seamus’s expanding short-arm to appear.



“If necessary we’ll magically enclose you in the room. Do you understand?”



“Yes Daddy Draco. We’ll be good little boys,” squeaked Seamus in a peculiar falsetto.



Just to make sure our pair followed D&S to the bedroom and magically stripped them of all their clothes.



“Do we have to lock you in?”



Dean shook his head negatively with his lips round his partner’s appendage, causing Seamus to groan in delight.



Going back downstairs, the two professors conducted the usual welcome chat with their students; explaining what they were to do and introducing Gregory with his mixed team of helpers; then asked if there were any questions.



“Professors, may we use pool please?”



“At any time when you are not required elsewhere, you may.”



Almost the whole room decanted towards the water, stripping completely as they went. Only a bookworm and two chess players were left.



Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Draco beat him to it.



“Isn’t it grand to see youngsters with no inhibitions? After all, the DS Members have indulged. No need to worry, little can come of it, if we keep a gentle eye on things.”



Harry scowled at his mate; then shrugged. “Are we going to join them?”



“Us in the nude, chasing cavorting couples round the garden is not my idea of fun, thank you. Besides professors have to exude a certain amount of decorum … Look at the dong on that one!”



Harry looked and admired; then turned to Draco. “Do I get the whiff of double standards in your make-up, Lover?”



Draco continued ogling. “Not really. I can look but nothing else. We have a sacred duty to our charges, and having sex with them is definitely out, so are other kinds of manipulative behaviour.”



“That’s rich! Coming from a prefect who had his henchmen hold me down, stripped me and tossed me off until I came,” Harry bantered.



“You said you enjoyed it?”



“So would that one over there, he’s almost waving it at us.”



“Oh yes! So he is.” Draco schooled his face into a disapproving scowl and glared at the young man.



“How do you do that?”



“What?” asked Draco, still scowling.



“Think one thing and look just the opposite. I always give myself away.”



“You managed to play dead pretty convincingly in the battle of Hogwarts; you fooled everyone including Voldie.”



“That was easy; I just breathed very slowly and thought relaxation. But you lust after the bloke and put him off at the same time.”



“Mmm? I suppose I must. Blame my father, Malfoy pride, Slytherin politics if you like. All a good training ground for hiding one’s true feelings and being able to lie like a trooper … Just look at the bum on that one.”



“I’m not looking; the other one is still waving his prick around.”



“Well stop staring at him, you’re only encouraging him and I know you agree that our charges are not fair game. It’s you who taught me so.”



“Okay!” Harry sighed. “I get the point, how’s my censorious grimace coming along?”



“Very well. He’s just jumped back in and is swimming to the other end with a very red face … The one with the curves is bending down, nice rosebud. Look!”



“I don’t think he’s displaying for us, Red-face has swum back and is having a good ogle.”



“Oh yes, so he is. How far do we let them go?”



“Do you fancy sitting awake in the dorm they are sharing, all night? My dorm was experimenting with each other at this age. Neville got very upset when he caught Dean and Seamus in the same bed, first time.”



“I can imagine! I reckon Luna’s bringing him out of his shell though.”



“Maybe! You know, they came and asked me about hetero sex and protection. They were very bashful when I went into details.”



“Really? You never told me about it.”



“No, I didn’t. I had only just got to know what we did in bed from Billy. It was the first time I knew about condoms, too; Ron wanted to borrow one. Very embarrassing!”



“Did he return it?”



“Ee-ew!”



“Quite! Now that escapade is something you must tell me about when we’re in bed. I can feel you getting hot, so it’ll put us in the right mood for some personal entertainment, later.



Francis arrived. “Hello you two, have you got a room for me please?



“Nice to see you; how long for.” Harry smiled a welcome.



“A couple of weeks, please.”



“The one upstairs do you?”



“Mmm, thanks. I’ve given up my flat in town. I got a very good price as long as I could move out quickly. I miniaturised all my furniture and will move into Lawton House in a couple of weeks’ time.”



“Lawton House?”



“Yes! Next door to Foley’s Ironmongers. The old solicitor has sold me his practice. You both knew I wanted to get out of the rat race; well I have … Oh yes … Draco! Did you know your father is suing Gringott’s for the loss of the sale money? He’s doing through the Muggle courts, claiming that you were still a minor when the transaction was made. He’d be laughed out of court if he tried it through our legal system, because you’re deemed an adult at seventeen here.”



“How do you know this?”



“The firm I worked for were briefed by the Malfoy Estate. They wanted me to take the case, but I claimed conflict of interests and had a blazing row with one of the partners. The result was; I resigned slightly earlier that I would have done.”



“Conflict of interests?”



“Yes! I can hardly support your claim and the opponents as well, can I?”



“Had I better pay you a retainer, to make it proper?”



“Well … Mmm … I’ll offset it against the rent for the temporary accommodation for me and Washer. We’ll make a paper transaction, but I’ll claim my fees off the defeated party. You know, they don’t have a leg to stand on. Even if the transaction was made before you majority, they were legally bound to keep it for your benefit.”



“Will I have to appear in court?”



“Probably not, Draco. We might just have to prove you exist by producing you. It won’t be for ages yet, these civil proceedings take ages to appear on the lists. Meanwhile I hope to pursue the Lord of the Manor title for Harry. It’s a new area of law for me and very intriguing. I’m unearthing all kinds of unrepealed laws. There’s a lovely one that requires all practitioners of magic to be licensed by the Thane of Woadyeates. This, if I understand the old Anglo-Saxon correctly, refers to the lord of the manor, here. Licensed is not quite the right translation, it implies letting your approval be known by public announcement. Slowly that meaning has changed over the years to become our ‘licence’. It’s a pre Christian law, peculiar to this area and might just throw a new light on the Rosmerta Nigrus incident.”



“So you’ll need a retainer from me then?” Harry gave Francis an amused smile.



“May I bill you in Anglo-Saxon please?”



“Okay! I’ll pay you the old British fee. I believe a side of beef is about right.”



“May I have it in platefuls please? I’m not sure I can accommodate half a beast in my room at the moment.”



The trio were still giggling when the Smiling Ones appeared in the room.



“Elder Kreacher says that it’s chocolate time.”



“Is it that the time? This is Francis our legal eagle. These are our newly found wind band; they wowed the participants at Griphook’s do a couple of days ago.”



General handshaking took place and Francis repeated the tale of the old law, to the Smiling Ones and the gathered students.



“So we must be the Thane’s minstrels,” chortled Septimus. The quartet gave a quick fanfare to mark the statement.



This started much pseudo-medieval joking in which the students joined. Net result: Harry’s story was adapted to suit the genre, with Francis as the Lord, Harry as the Bard and Draco his duly licensed magician. Justin even managed a glamour to make everyone’s apparel equally suitable.



After seeing their charges into their dormitories, our pair sneaked a peek into the spare bedroom. Dean and Seamus were fast asleep, nose to tail, in almost the same position as when they had been confined. Carefully H&D covered their friends to insure their warmth. Once in their own room and in bed, Harry re-told Draco about his first adventure in sodomy. How it was sparked by him not knowing what a rubber was, and the consequent frolicking. As could be expected, Draco wanted a replay with him in Harry’s role and Harry playing Billy. They even managed to wake up in the middle of the night for the rematch.



§§§§§



Harry and Draco took over the organisation in place of Dean and Seamus after a short argument, extracting a promise that the practical pair would only reinforce the side balconies and nothing else. The day went seamlessly with a lively feed back session after tea. Draco’s story was also told in middle ages guise. He digressed somewhat, giving Harry some headaches in producing illusions of the tortures described. Their audience loved it.



§§§§§



Next morning was the morning of the Harvest Home. Neville woke Harry and Draco with their robes and instructions for the day. Once dressed, they descended into a packed living-room and patio. Luna, Ginny and Daphne were dressed in diaphanous green, to match the three green cloaked men who were our pair and Neville. Kreacher presented an enormous basket of produce for Harry to carry, and two sheaves of corn, wheat for Draco and barley for Neville.



Whilst the students and DS Members walked to church; the official party hung around listening to the bells.



Billy was the organiser. “When they change from ‘Plain Bob’ to ‘Grandsire’ that’ll be our signal to move off … Yes … there it is. Now let’s go.”



Harry led off, with the two sheaves immediately behind him. The girls had big bunches of autumn flowers and behind them came the wind band with Seamus and Dean on sistrum and side drum. The tune was more solemn than when they danced for the spoiled crops, but it still had the lilt that made Harry’s feet swing along. They used the west doors of the church. As they entered, the tune altered into Mr G.J.Elvey’s tune of ‘St.George’s Windsor’, the instrumentalists and organ played the first verse as the procession started up the aisle.



The green men headed this parishioners’ procession bearing their harvest gifts, as the rest of the congregation joined in the hymn: ‘Come ye thankful people come’. Harry’s basket and the sheaves were placed reverently at the foot of the altar and the girls flowers in vases round the lectern. Harry, Draco, and Neville helped John to place everyone’s gifts round the altar, leaving just enough room for the conducting of the service. As the choir was now in the back balcony, Harry’s group were given seats in the sanctuary. He felt very conspicuous, but was soon overawed by the atmosphere of thankfulness and praise. They sang all the favourite harvest hymns: Wir Pflügen and Golden Sheaves to name but two.



John’s address was quite short: “We must be thankful for the gifts God has given us. Not only in the bountiful harvest we have received, but in the abundance of talents and people to exercise them. Most of us are accustomed to the old ways, and have readily welcomed one of their chief practitioners; he sits as a green man with his colleagues amongst us. We have been blessed with an increased choir and talented instrumentalists. We have also been blessed by an army of small workers who, by and large, stay out of the limelight. We see them not as they really are, but as facsimiles of ourselves. God’s children should never be despised, or need to hide themselves. I ask Carter, Winifred and Dorothy to come forward.”



Harry felt alarm, guessing at what was about to happen, so did Draco. The inner voice pleaded calm and gave reassurance to both of them. ‘Greeks and Romans are the same in God’s eyes,’ it whispered.



“You all know these helpers from Magnet Cottage; at least you think you do.” John added. “Now is the time for their true selves to be known. Elder Kreacher is a respected teacher, Beldam Winky is a very talented cook and Beldam Dorothy has charge of a small army of domestics.”



As their name was mentioned each elf resumed their proper form.



“Praise God for the different talents and gifts he has given us, no matter what parcel he wraps them in.”



John spoke with a commanding ring in his voice and a visage of ecstasy; then the choir broke into ‘Praise, O praise our God and King’ in a very beautiful choral anthem setting. Half way through the singing stopped and the wind band and strings took over, elaborating the theme wonderfully. Their cadence led back into the choir’s voices for the final glorious verse.



During this space of music Harry took in the surroundings. The smell of the produce was delicious, fruit and vegetables lined every ledge and accessible cornice. Samantha’s ladies had made colourful tableaux in flowers. He glanced up to the side gallery at the students, who all had awed faces. He looked over at the three shining elfin faces sitting next to the girls. He glanced at the bright faces of the servers sitting next to him. He experienced an enormous feeling of overwhelming joy, and via his mental connection to Draco understood his partner was feeling the same sentiments. As the choir sang the final, ‘For his mercies still endure, ever faithful, ever sure.” The whole congregation seemed to be united in one experience of God’s love.



He silence that followed was deep and prayerful. John’s voice rose out of that feeling as the versicles and responses swelled at the beginning of the consecration prayer. The Sanctus was the true outpouring of the congregation’s loving devotion. The dispensation of the bread and wine took much longer than usual, despite both church wardens being licensed to administer. However, the loving prayerful atmosphere was continued by soft motets and instrumental pieces until everyone had finished.



At the end of the service the loving quietude seemed to flow out with the congregation into the village square. By arrangement with the authorities, Dan had cordoned off the roads. Out of the doors and gardens close by came people carrying brightly adorned tables, chairs of all descriptions appeared. Dean’s and Seamus’s group had their newly made tables appear. The DS Members went into the pub and soon reappeared carrying enormous harvest pies which were placed strategically around the open air dining room. Casks of Butterbeer, cider and Fleurwine were set up. Students who had attended before quickly picked up conversations with counterpart Muggles; people wandered from table to table chatting, plate in one hand and tankard in the other.



Kreacher had overcome his diffidence and was sitting with Dolores reading a story book to some of the younger children. He altered his intonation so that each character had its own voice. The children giggled and clapped as the incidents unfolded, smiling at the good characters and hissing at the bad ones.



The main meal was finished but the fraternising wasn’t. Urged on by Dean and Seamus, the musicians started to play lively dances. Mr Foley rose and started calling the figures and Hamish joined him. The throng responded by clearing a space in the centre and joining in the the jigging, not minding mistakes or alternative steps one bit.



The pies were still there, steaming deliciously, inviting the participants to cut a slice and spoon its contents onto their plate, and then wander off to chat or be inveigled into the dance. As one pie finished so it was replaced. Sometime during the proceedings fruit replaced vegetables as the filling, and later on still, scrumptious cream filled cakes replaced the pies. Urns of tea, coffee and chocolate, replaced the empty casks and the joyful uproar continued unabated. As the evening drew in George and Percy appeared, Harry greeted them knowing what this presaged.



Their fireworks were a fitting end to a perfect day.