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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
- 45
- 46
- 47
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ TRIBULATIONS ~~~

On Saturday 5th, none of them were up early, but by ten everyone had breakfasted and by half-past they were at Woodyates and out into one of the near fields. They tried a number of charms but they were not very effective.
“In principle we’re being destructive,” stated Draco: “We’re making holes in the ground; that’s destructive. We do it to kill the weeds; that technically is negative; even if we intend making things grow from the newly turned ground.”
“Yes, but surely, the positive result outweighs the negative process,” suggested Gregory.
“Draco has a point,” said Hamish: “We’re talking about the process not the result. Therefore, a hex is appropriate. That explains what I thought was a mistake in the book. Let me try again.”
Hamish cast the revised hex and a deep groove appeared lifting the earth. Then Pullet cast a turning charm.
“That looks like a proper furrow,” said Graham: “All we have to do is get it to go in a straight line.”
It took many trials before something like a straight furrow appeared just before lunch. Over the meal they discussed the problems.
“At the moment,” said Graham: “In the time it took us, with a decent tractor I could have covered six times the area. One person, not four, the maths favours the ordinary way not the magical.”
“For the defence, I would add,” put in Coleman: “That you nearly overturned that tractor on David’s farm, the first time you tried. You didn’t even manage half an acre. Admittedly the mages half acre is a mess, but it’s well turned over.”
More banter took place with the result that more trials took place in other presently unproductive fields. By the end of the day Graham admitted that the rate of ploughing by four mages equalled that of one farm-boy and a tractor. Despite being weary, the pool was used that evening before dinner, with the usual indoor pursuits thereafter. This time the trio of muggles added to the party. On Saturday evenings this became the pattern for the next few months.
~~~ SUNDAY 6^th ~~~
Cracks of apparition heralded the other Dumbledorians on Sunday morning, well in time for the service. Hamish was using the four bunk room and saw the members congregating in the practice ground. On asking why they were here he was told about the invitation to attend church. He said he would come along with them. Unbeknown to the others he had been chatting to Coleman and once inside church the young man delivered some music books into the goblin’s hands. During the service it became obvious why, because Hamish had a very melodious voice.
“Good sermon Vicar,” said Hamish as they left. “I look forward to many more. One of the problems with Hogwarts is that there is no regular worship there. I think I have found the answer to my prayers. We goblins have always liked to praise our creator, and this seems an admirable way to combine our talents. Young Cole is an excellent ambassador for the choir and found me the relevant music. Unfortunately, your Wednesday evening choir practices clash with another needful lesson at the College.”
“Perhaps you would like to talk to our Organist cum Choir-mistress?” John wandered off with Hamish.
After the service Draco and Harry had a quiet chat with John, explaining about Gregory’s new duties and introducing him.
The rest of the party stopped off at the school field and a ‘mages versus choirboys’ [most were young men] football game took place. The churchmen regained their defeat from the previous Sunday; Coleman being nimbler than Draco. Thence into the back room at the Farmers arms for a shared lunch and a proposed time at Harry’s place for various afternoon recreational pastimes.
The Farmers Arms was more crowded than usual, so some of the farmers joined the magical party in the back room. David and the others knew about the new ideas and wanted to give our pair advice on how they should run their soon-to-be acquired property. The pair listened attentively and tried to remember those things that they thought most useful.
A leisurely dinner was followed by cabinetting back to Hogwarts for professors and students, except for those who were now working.
Like the Saturday programme this set the pattern for the next few months.
~~~ MONDAY 7^th ~~~
On Monday Harry had sixth-years to test; finishing up with the other group of seventh years. This group included Mordant, the rest were better at their defensive spells, with the exception of Mordant, but he demonstrated perfectly the ones he had learnt on Thursday last. That pleased Harry very much and awarded him extra points, to the astonishment of the other students.
Harry asked Ginevra and Astoria to come and see them after tea.
“You’re not chasing us for homework already, are you Harry?” were Ginevra’s introductory words as they walked through the door.
Draco’s eyes narrowed and his lips tightened, remarking tartly: “If it were, Miss Weasley, you should be calling him professor.”
“Yes Gin-dear, Draco’s right,” supported Astoria, side-hugging the Weasleyette shoulders: “But I suspect this is a more personal interview. Let’s not start feeling obstructive until we find out what this is about.”
“All right Tor … I understand … Sorry boys, but I feel a bit uptight.”
“Um … I’m feeling quite tense too. Perhaps you would like to sit down. Astoria’s correct; this is about personal things.”
The girls sat, and accepted some tea and a biscuit from Pullet, who retired afterwards.
Astoria had piercing eyes and an intellect to match: “I think we should get one thing straight from the beginning, Harry. Ginevra is not willing any longer to marry you. Since before the battle we have been in a loving relationship.”
Harry let out a long hissing sigh: “Thanks, Astoria; that was one of the things that was worrying me. Draco and I are in the same situation, if for less time than you two.” He looked at Ginevra: “I would like us to remain friends if possible, Ginny. I enjoyed your company before the battle, but now, it seems, both our preferences have changed.”
It was Ginevra’s turn to sigh in relief: “Thanks, Harry; I’m happy to stay friends also.” She shrugged ruefully: “Although what Mum will say, I don’t know.”
“We’ve both been Molly-nagged before; another one won’t be all that different.” Harry chuckled. “Ron knows about me and Draco so he might leaven the awkwardness a bit.”
Draco giggled slightly: “That business about timing might be slightly erroneous, Harry. What about our escapades in the Leaky Cauldron?”
A relaxed Ginevra looked curious: “You never told me about that, Harry?”
“No … Um … You see …”
“… It was part of our schoolboy explorations,” interrupted a slightly red Draco: “You know … When we all are more interested in our own sex … … …” Draco continued to give a potted history of what happened, carefully avoiding the bits about the innkeeper’s and fairies’ involvement.
There was some joshing repartee which included a tasteful description of Astoria’s and Ginevra’s first explorations.
“I’m glad we got that out of the way first,” started Astoria: “As you have probably heard, us two are hoping to take over Bathilda’s Cottage not far from yours, Harry.”
“Yes I know the one, Hermione and I had a set to with Nagini there last year. We probably caused some damage. We’ve recently been told that it belongs to the Weasley family by inheritance.”
“Yes it does. So us two want to take it over. The whole place needs a heavy refurbishment. Unfortunately, the local builder has gone out of business.”
“He’s retiring to southern Spain, Tor.”
“We would like to use the washing and toilet facilities at your cottage during the holidays, Harry; whilst we attempt to do the repairs ourselves. The facilities at Bathilda’s old cottage are primitive to say the least,” suggested Ginevra.
“Of course you may. How are you getting on there?”
“We’ve cleaned it up a bit, but there are various structural things that need doing, especially the plumbing. Greg’s going to do the painting for us, once the building work is done,” Astoria observed.
“Who are you getting to do that work, Ginny?” Harry looked hopeful.
Draco mimed fishing at him.
“That’s the problem. Tor’s dad gave us the money but, as we said before, the builder we thought we’d use has shut up shop.”
“Did you know Dean and Seamus are good at this kind of thing?”
“Yes! But we daren’t ask them. We think they wanted to buy that cottage.”
“They did, but they’re using the double flat at my cottage for now … Phealey?”
Pop: “Yes Master?”
“Are Masters Dean or Seamus here?”
“Master Dean is attending a tutorial, I think.”
“When he comes out would you ask him to come to see me, please.”
“Yes, Master,” pop.
“While we’re waiting shall we have a tutorial?” asked Draco: “Then we can legitimately say why you were here.”
“Killing a number of birds with one stone, so to speak,” Astoria giggled: “Very well, I’m not sure I wrote this down correctly … … … …”
“… … … … and I think those are reasonable goals for both of you.” Nearly an hour later there was knock on the door, and one of the elves announced Mage Thomas and Mage Finnegan.
“Dean?”
“Yes Harry?”
“Tor and Ginny would like you to do some work for them on their cottage.”
“Wow! Great! Yes, we’d love to. Wouldn’t we, Love?” replied Dean.
Seamus nodded eagerly.
“Tor’s dad gave us the money, but old Cartwright’s retired,” explained Ginevra.
“No probs Darlings; just leave it ter us, Greg and the trio. Just show us what yer want: Dean-luv’s ace at plumbing.”
“Oh good! That’s what we most need. There’s a filthy old loo in the backyard; we daren’t sit on it in case we catch something.” Astoria mimed holding her nose and wafting away smells. “The sink needs doing too and an upstairs bathroom putting in.”
“Usual three up and two down with a scullery attached, is it?”
“Got the idea in one, Seamus; we think we should make the back bedroom into the bathroom,” suggested Ginevra.
“If you build out over the scullery, you can still have your three bedrooms, you know.”
“Come and show us what you mean,” asked Astoria.
“Right you are me darlings. This weekend all right?”
“Care to come and share lunch with us?” suggested Harry.
“We’d have to get McG’s permission to leave school.”
“Come with the mass cabinetting on Sunday. A lot of the Dumbledorians go to our church then.”
"That’d be a new experience for us, Gin-dear, wouldn’t it?”
"Seems like a good excuse, I doubt she’d refuse such a request.”
“Say that you’d return with the mass-cab in the evening if she’s worried about your safety.”
“D’you think we could do that each weekend?” Ginevra gushed.
“Best not to mention it first time Gin dear. However, I’m sure that we could spend some of half term there if Ma Molly could collect us.”
“That’d give us time to make the place reasonably habitable, too,” added Dean.
And so the matter was settled and all six went down to dinner.
Afterwards Draco and Blaise went to the first meeting of the Chess Club whilst Harry, Justin and Hermione conducted tutorials.
~~~ TUESDAY 8^th ~~~
This day brought the lessons Harry was the most worried about. The first half of the morning was reasonable, because it was the sixth-years. After coffee, were the returnees, Hermione was to take the DA Members whilst Harry took those others, amongst whom were Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson. Those two were particularly scathing and tried their best to disrupt the class. Eventually in desperation James Cadwallader aimed a Silencio at both of them. Harry pretended he had not seen it for quarter-of-an-hour whilst he finished testing the others. Eventually he came round to the two furious but silent Slytherins.
“Why are you two not speaking?” he asked, trying to look surprised. “You seemed to making a lot of noise beforehand … Oh, I see! Someone cast a silencing spell. If I agree to take it off you, will you consent to be tested, as all the other students have been?”
The pair glared at Harry for a few minutes before nodding their heads in agreed mortification. Harry just pointed a finger at them and silently lifted the restriction.
“Uh … How did you do that?” Pansy asked. “Where’s your wand?”
“I don’t need one any longer, Miss Parkinson. Neither do I need to say the words of a spell, I can just think them. You’ll find Professor Malfoy has the same ability.”
“That turncoat!” Theodore spat. “He should be slowly fried over hot coals for abandoning his father’s side.”
Pansy pulled at Theodore’s sleeve.
“What?” He looked at her, showing his annoyance.
“Theo, think for a moment. It’s Potter’s partner you’re talking about. No wands; how would anyone get near him?”
“I bet each professor’s wand is stuck up the other one’s arse. Pair of nancies!” Theodore’s face screwed up in disgust.
The other students made sharp intakes of breath, and Harry knew he had to deal with the situation quickly.
“Mr Nott! I presume you came here to learn DADA, not to vilify me or my partner. However, if you wish to withdraw from the class make that decision now. For, if you stay, you will dance to my tune.” Harry thought ‘Tarantallagra’, pointed and Theodore danced. “You will be silent when being instructed, as you were a few minutes ago, or you will find yourself in the dark.” Harry thought of an area of black surrounding both Slytherins ‘nox’. “I shall do my best to enlighten you.” He thought ‘lumos’ and the pair reappeared.
The other students had had worried smirks on their faces as the procession of harmless spells were cast; now they started giggling.
“Am I understood, Miss Parkinson?”
“Y-yes, P-professor.” Pansy was wide eyed and quivering.
“Mr Nott?”
“Err … Err … Yes … Professor.” Theodore looked defiant, but Harry ignored it.
“Well then, I’ll start by testing you first, Miss Parkinson.”
Pansy had to nudge Theodore a couple of times when he was being tested, but Harry took them through the various tests, finding them reasonably proficient.
Once the tests had been concluded; Harry turned his best smile on and looked at the complete group. “You may not know it, friends. But I was given an Emeritus NEWT in Transfiguration, and a master’s degree in DADA, so I do have the knowledge that I wish to pass on to you. Don’t forget that I taught Dumbledore’s Army too and that now includes some Slytherin members. Now let’s sit down and work out what you will need to know for your delayed NEWT’s in the New Year.”
Quietly, at lunchtime, Harry told Draco of the little contretemps and how he’d handled it.
“Careful of Theo, Harry; he’s known to hold grudges. He may still be wondering if we're suspicious about him and Juicy and who salvaged his boat. If it was him he will have guessed it was us and feel doubly chagrined.”
“It’s only Minerva who thinks it was him. Our bet’s on Cassius.”
“Yes, I know, but Minerva also has grounds for suspicion, so let’s hedge our bets. I had the seventh-years today and Mordant nearly blew himself up. He’s the Slytherin equivalent of Neville. I’m going to have to do extra sessions with both of them, I think.”
“How about the late afternoon, today? You said you’d take me for my potions lesson then. You could add them to the list, just as you joined in with Septimus and co on Thursday. That’ll get us both learning again.”
“Right, you’re on, you don’t make quite such a mess as the others. Most of that was from Uncle Sev’s attitude towards you, I think.”
“Let’s see shall we? I have to learn to read instructions more carefully, too.”
Harry had the same group after lunch for one period. This time he set them to writing out the defences they were unsure of, wanted to practice, or wished to learn. During the scratching of quills, he started thinking about what to teach the DA group who were next on the timetable and made a few notes of his own. Pansy proved co-operative, but Theodore was still a little surly when he handed in his paper. However, Harry had no further trouble that day.
The DA group had a double period split by tea break. Whilst drinking their tea, Seamus reminded them that this Saturday was the monthly dance in the Church Hall.
“This time we’ll be able to enjoy it,” Ernie said.
“Are all of you coming?” queried Harry.
Enthusiastic nods all round.
“What are we going to do for beds? Quite a few of them are already allocated.”
“Not to worry Harry. Neville and Hannah, Ernie and I are staying at the Vicarage,” Lavender volunteered: “Greg’s got himself a room at Woodyates, so Hamish can have the single room. That means four girls can sleep in your guest room. The three boys can sleep in the barn attic; that is, if Blaise joins us.”
“Of course I am.”
“We’ll cabinet after dinner here,” volunteered Seamus: “Then we’ll all eat Saturday lunch in your new patio. Dinner at the dance, Sunday lunch at the Farmer’s Arms and Winky’s agreed ter do a buffet breakfast each morning, at Chantry Cottage.”
“What if I object?” asked Draco, folding his arms.
“Then we’ll sweet-talk Harry.”
“Maybe you won’t get round me that easily,” Harry smiled grimly, taking his lead from his partner and folding his arms.
“Then we’ll try a little blackmail,” said Dean mischievously.
Dean and Seamus whispered in Harry’s and Draco’s ears.
“You wouldn’t?” Harry tried to look serious.
“Refuse us and see?” said Seamus, winking.
“Okay! Okay. However, there is one stipulation; that a few of you volunteer to help me with my Imperio study.” Harry was grinning enough to let them know that he had appreciated the big joke right from the beginning.
There was silence whilst they thought about it; Justin was the first to indicate he was amenable; then Blaise said he would like to help.
“Please Guys, one from Ravenclaw would be nice, then we will have all the houses represented.”
The Ravenclaw people went into conference and Anthony came out as their champion. The result was that those three spent the last period of the day with Harry, discussing the idea and then trying out things on the two dummies.
Whilst the students were doing homework, practising Quidditch, or the latest fad - Hex Tennis, Draco took his quintet of students into the lab, setting Harry a solo potion and getting Mordant and Neville to work as a pair; Phealey and Pullet were a cooperative also. In the more relaxed atmosphere Harry found he could cope better, occasionally having to ask about obscure words, special instructions, or substances. The elfin pair proved to be apt learners and without the pressures of class the other pair performed better too, not setting fire to themselves, though they did make a bit of a stink at one time during the class. Draco was relaxed enough to laugh with them, show them what went wrong and then let them try again.
~~~ WEDNESDAY 9^th ~~~
On Wednesday evening their roles were reversed when Harry and Hermione supervised the Duelling Club; Draco, Blaise and Justin held tutorials. Tuesday evenings were set aside for staff meetings, thus leaving Thursday evenings free for private study. The young professors hoped to cabinet to the cottage on Friday evenings, unless they were rostered for weekend duty at the academy.
When not on Homework duties between teatime and dinner the new teachers held tutorials. Two of which were Tuesdays for the joint Potions group, and Thursdays for the Joint DADA group. Much marking was done whilst supervising the homework groups except when an Augusta week was upon them – that was when they had classes in tutoring. As well as taking classes the rest of their weekday time seemed devoted to preparation and private study. Weekends relaxing became an absolute necessity if they were to remain sane.
That first full week Astoria and Ginevra managed to wangle a weekend away and so joined the prof/tutors/DA in their cabinetting on Friday evening.
~~~ SATURDAY 12^th ~~~
Saturday morning had the two Seneschals cabinetting to London and attending the Wizengamot. Dean and Seamus accompanied them because they were witnesses in the first trial.
First on the order paper was the trial of Albert Runcorn. There were a number of charges because a number of misdemeanours about muggle-born mages had been noted whilst he was a Ministry employee. Whilst these were being investigated he had absented himself from his post and [somewhat reluctantly, it turned out joined Lucius Malfoy’s new band of satraps. Having impersonated the man, Harry felt slightly sorry for him. This was born out when the Prior Incantatem charm was applied; showing no deaths or major injuries resulting from the actions of his wand. He was ordered, on probation, to work for the Muggle-born Rehabilitation Group for five years and his wand was magically proscribed except for domestic charms.
After that mage had been taken away, Harry stood: “Madam Chairman. Please could you explain why Mage Runcorn’s trial was held before those of Mage Mulciber and his associates?”
“Yes, Seneschal Black & Potter. They are taken in date order; some of Mage Runcorn’s traceable and admitted crimes dated before those of Mage Mulciber. The Aurors Department are still investigating the people concerned and, as you can see on your order paper, they are applying for a number of Veritaserum Diktats with regard to their enquiries.”
“Thank you, Madam Chairman.” Harry sat and the next business got underway. The Diktats were debated and granted just before the afternoon close of business.
Back at the cottage the two mages had a swim before changing. They enjoyed the village dance, dining on the refreshments and deepening their friendships with the local muggles. Bushed, it was a sexless night’s sleep for both of them.
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