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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
- 49
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- 51
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ PRESENTATION ~~~
Monday evening had all the Dumbledorians at Number Twelve, where they took over the ballroom and partied to celebrate Blaise’s Birthday. They were slightly bleary-eyed on Tuesday morning and managed to catch up with lost sleep on the following night
~~~ GRINGOTTS ~~~
During the week Draco and Harry had an owl from Gallus asking them and the Woodyates guys to go and see him. Hermione volunteered to look after Draco’s Friday afternoon class, and Blaise offered the same office to Harry. Thus an appointment was made for that day.
Just before lunch the two seneschals cabinetted to the cottage, picked up their charges and continued to Don Galley via Number Twelve. After a quick look around 3W’s, three mages and three medallioned muggles exited to Diagon Alley on their way to Gringotts. Of course the trio were just as bedazzled as Harry had been. Harry had to admit that it had fully regained its prosperous air. Fiorello Fortescue had expanded the range and was offering savoury snacks so, for their lunch, he received six spicy orders as well as the obligatory multi-hued ice-creams to finish with. Harry had trouble in paying, as the owner wished to give him the meal. Harry insisted in covering the bill and a reluctant Fiorello eventually gave in. Afterwards the medallioned muggles were promised a longer look in at 3W’s and the Honeydukes branch, so, still staring around they went to Gringotts to call on Gallus.
He was not at his usual desk.
“Where’s Mr Griphook, please.” He asked the goblin teller.
“Supervisor Griphook is in his office Mr Potter. He’s expecting you and your unusual party; I’ll take you to him.”
They went behind the desk and up a few steps into a glass fronted office. Gallus was seated at the desk looking out through the windows at his group of cashiers.
“Mages Potter, Malfoy and company, Sir,” announced the teller retiring through the door and closing it.
“Hello all of you, do you like my new office? It is thanks to you that I was given the promotion yesterday. Justin got his father to entrust his magical accounts and investments to me, their millions are greater than the Malfoy millions ever were, even at their peak.”
“You know we’ve bought Woodyates, don’t you?”
“Yes Harry. That’s why you’re all here, Francis will be with us in a couple of minutes. Will you be insuring it through the bank?”
“Of course!”
“Good, that means my portfolio will still be worth much the same.” Gallus rubbed his hands together. “What we need to do is set up some more muggle transfer accounts for you new people,” he looked at the three choir-guys in turn: “That’ll mean you can access the money that Draco and Harry settle into the Woodyates account.”
“We’ve had a chat Mr Griphook,” said Coleman: “We have not touched the compensation money and would like to place that in the same account.”
“Call me Gallus, please. I would advise against that, instead, why not a separate joint account which only you can have access?”
“I think we’d like that too, guys,” offered Draco, with Harry nodding affirmatively: “That’s your private money, the transfer accounts are working money. Hmm … Gallus could that be a single joint account as well?”
“A business account could be set up. Those usually require a couple of signatures out of a small list. You could all be on the list and say; any two of you sign any transactions to make them legal.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” said Harry: “What do you guy’s think?
He got a positive response and they went ahead, with Draco and Harry putting equal amounts into the business account. As they were completing the forms Francis was announced.
After the usual hellos he continued: “I see you have your pens out so you can sign the agreement we finalised a couple of days ago. Let me take you through it, paragraph by paragraph, so you’re all sure of the contents … … …”
Quarter of an hour later all was signed and sealed – Draco and Harry paying the stamp duty on various documents. Not that that exceeded a hundred galleons either. On Coleman’s insistence Draco and Harry asked to see their vaults and the guys accompanied them. Gallus chuckled when he realised it was more for the ride than the inspection; however, a supervisor’s authority cleared the way. Harry was pleased to see that Draco’s vault had a respectable pile of gold in it, and the guys were overawed by Harry’s heap. Harry had to admit he enjoyed the thrill of the ride and Draco internally agreed with him. The guys were definitely a few shades paler when they reached the surface again.
“Ah … Mages Potter and Malfoy, or should I call you Black and Snape now?” It was Hubert Hangdog speaking – he was the Chief Supervisor: “Could we have a brief discussion about the forthcoming presentation, please? Hrm … Perhaps we could get one of the cart-attendants to take your friends on a tour of the vaults.”
Francis chuckled: “I think they’d prefer something more sedate, Sir. We’ve just visited our vaults.”
“Ah yes … I see … Perhaps you'd like to see the Sword of Gryffindor?”
“I thought it was in your vault, Gallus?”
“It was; however, we decided on the secure display idea. There are quite a few goblin-made objects which wizards occasionally use magically. So in the spirit of ‘Entente Cordiale’ we have grouped them together in a safeguarded display area, with special thaumic channels to the entitled user mages. I think your three young men will be the first visitors to be shown around. We intend making it available by application. Hamish has already asked for access during his magical beings’ classes, perhaps your DADA classes might find some of the artefacts interesting.”
“Thanks Gallus, will you be issuing a catalogue?”
“Hogwarts will have one, as will the Ministry. Each entitled mage and donating goblin may have one if they ask.”
“What about historical family heirlooms,” Draco asked.
“Not thought about that, Draco. We’d need an approval committee and some guidelines set down. However, I can’t see anything to block the idea, I’ll come back to you on that,” Hangdog replied.
“Some muggle museums lend items out,” Washington interjected. “We had all kinds of interesting things at school. They were booked in advance and the lesson centred around them, it brought the teaching alive, not just boring books all the time”
“Okay Washington, that’s another idea to consider, ‘relevance’ was the idea behind the collection to begin with. I wonder if the elves have special things.”
“I’ll ask our elves for you if you like, Mr Hangdog. Kreacher’s quite well read.”
“Thanks Coleman it would be very useful to have the Elder’s input.”
“There’s a plaque on the wall in our church celebrating a witch being buried in consecrated ground by us muggles. I’ve done some brass-rubbing so I could give you a copy,” Washington suggested.
“That starts a new line of thinking, perhaps it’s more in the region of Hogwarts Library. Draco, you’re supposed to be a bookworm and on good terms with Madam Pince, why not suggest that to her. She was given a number of rare goblin books and has promised to recondition them ready for preservation. I suspect that she will be doing for books what we’re doing for artefacts.” Hangdog looked hopeful.
“Hmm … That’s an idea … However, you wanted to talk about awards, I believe.”
The seneschals went with chief supervisor whilst Gallus took the others to see the new display.
The muggle trio arrived in the hall at much the same time as Hangdog released the seneschals.
“Thanks very much Gallus, it was great. We had been told about the carts, but experiencing them was much better, although we did feel a little queasy afterwards. Showing us the Gryffindor sword and being told of its recent uses was grand. Did you really kill a basilisk with it Harry?” Coleman was wide-eyed with excitement.
“I’ve met Neville; you wouldn’t think he had it in him to chop an enormous snake up with it, would you?” Graham added.
“Gallus told us about a goblin king and a wizard who’d had a dispute over it. Two quite different stories as to whom it belongs,” continued Washington.
Gallus chuckled: “I enjoyed showing you the artefacts boys. From what I understand about muggle history, perhaps you should hear the French histories about the Hundred Years War as well as the English ones. Quite different outlooks, so I hear.”
The party wished their hosts goodbye, and went out to explore the delights of Honeydukes. The muggles had drawn out a few galleons each whilst Harry and Draco had been chatting to Hangdog. They had a longer look at the 3W’s products and bought a couple each. Lee assured them they would work, as long as they wore their medallions.
“I’ve had weaker mages in the shop than your charmed trio,” he remarked quietly to Harry, as they prepared to depart from Don Galley.
Leaving the guys at the cottage Draco and Harry went back to Hogwarts because it was their duty weekend.
As with the previous week nothing untoward happened bar finding two sixth years in semi déshabillé and a loving clinch. The two were taken back to their respective dorms and reported to their heads of house on Monday.
D: *They should have enough sense not to have been caught*.
Harry agreed with that and laughingly conveyed a list places that were much more discreet. Draco added a few more and they went exploring. Not that they found anyone else ‘up-to-something’.
~~~ WIZENGAMOT ~~~
The nearer Saturday became, the jittery our two became; Hamish was in much the same boat. They cabinetted to Grimmauld Place on Friday night and hardly slept at all. They took a small pepper-up potion before going to the meeting. All the seneschals had voted a suspension of business so that the goblin contingent could be greeted properly. The presentations of medals took place in the Atrium next door to the newly commissioned Statue of Magical Brethren – this time it showed the depictions as co-operating. The statues’ heads were at roughly the same height, dragon’s wings seemed to shelter them, too. They still spouted water, but no longer could the statue cause affront to the other magical races.
In his speech Barnstaple Bogrod, alluded to the new statue, and praised the Minister about its reassembly. The cloying eulogies continued, this time directed at the three professors whilst they tried to look humble. Harry had a great problem containing his chuckles, not helped by Draco’s bumptious feelings. The Minister was next, equally embarrassing to the three, but surprising everyone by offering Hamish one of the vacant seneschal’s seats in the Wizengamot; saying inter alia, that there were another two set aside and asking the Hierophant to arrange two more suitable candidates.
The trio replied; first it was Hamish who made an excellent speech claiming that he only did his duty. Next came Draco pleading undeservedness but proudly smiling as he said so. Harry was last, he drew on the other two’s feelings, noticed how there was a new resurgence of co-operation – underlining that with a couple of tales from his first-year classes – and finally calling for all Magicals of whatever hue to continue working together for the good of the whole world, not just the magical one. Basically some of it was a re hash of his maiden speech, but with some of Draco’s erudite words substituted and the order changed. It did, however enliven the audience in the crowded Atrium.
Thereafter the main participants went into the Ministry’s ballroom and treated themselves to a feast. Draco had been trained to circulate during the cocktails, and did so without batting an eyelid. Hamish was accomplished at that kind of thing too. Harry had painfully learned how during the various formal gatherings after the defeat of Voldemort. All three acquitted themselves with aplomb, greeting friends and strangers alike. Rita was there, of course, so was Luna representing the Quibbler. Very carefully each of the trio avoided being alone with Rita and gave Luna the individual interviews she craved; knowing that their ideas would be reported in a truthful way. The trio enjoyed seeing Rita become more frustrated as the meeting went on. Both of them were excluded from the meal, but Draco managed to smuggle one of the menus out to Luna. The Quibbler’s sales rocketed thereafter, putting them almost on a par with the Prophet and well ahead of Witches Weekly. Later on, when the reports came out, the Quibbler praised Hogwarts for their environmentally friendly sewer system; whilst the Prophet went scaremongering about satraps in everyone’s drains.
Junketing over, three weary professors had a quiet time in Grimmauld Place. Grouchy and Huppert respected their need for quiet, however they did reveal something they had found in the many cellars.
“We think it goes back the roman times, Masters. Please come and look.”
They followed the two elves below ground. Their trip was well worth it. There, below the cellars, with a vaulted ceiling, was an exquisite plunge bath. The mosaics depicted a number of classical legends, not only on the walls but on the bottom of the bath. Warming spells courtesy of Draco had all of them lounging about in the water, trying to plunder their memories for the ancient myths. They did not solve all of them, but it helped the mages to gain some equilibrium after the unctuousness of the awards. At one end of the bath were two small alcoves which Draco identified as a frigidarium, with its cold plunge: and a Caldarium, with a hot plunge bath. There were two windows at each end, however they were magical ones because they were well below ground and the floor of the ballroom. The two elves promised to have the alcoves in working order for the mages’ next visit.
~~~ WEDNESDAY 28^TH ~~~
It was half term, there were no classes to conduct although most of the students were still at the academy. Half term was always around Halloween when the academy let its hair down. So there were three days before in which to prepare, and three days afterwards in which to recover. The other students were busy with decorations etc. The eighth year students had been asked not to interfere, because the seventh year students were in charge for that day. Minerva had said, during the previous staff meeting, that it was to be a learning experience for the senior grades. The Dumbledorians were quite happy not to take part in ‘childish’ pursuits and intended to make their own entertainment at the cottage.
The young professors were using the time to catch up with their marking. They were also mugging up, like other eighth years, for whichever NEWT they were going to take in December. They had also set aside time to complete Augusta’s assignment.
Draco was in his study after lunch at Hogwarts when the floo flared, it was Gallus.
“Have you given permission for your estate in Scotland to be sold?”
“I was not aware that I owned one.”
“Mmm! That’s what I thought. Right; I’ll put a block on the transaction. May I come to see you later on?”
“Yes, of course. Is there anything I can do meanwhile?”
“I think Francis should be involved, because your father’s trying to pull a fast deal by way of disinheriting you. I’ll gather the papers and bring them with me.”
“Thanks! See you both in a couple of hours, Gallus. Bye!” Draco flooed Francis.
Teatime had Gallus arrive; he and Draco took over the study. Francis apparated to Sevalbus and was shown into Draco’s study.
Harry was in the bedroom sorting clothes before Dinner not wanting to interfere in the Slyth’s personal affairs. Draco stormed in looking like thunder: “That monster of a father has no thought for anyone but himself,” he shouted, even before Harry could kiss him in greeting. “He had no right to the estate to begin with, as it was legally mine when I became of age. Not only that, but I’ve learnt that there are elves there who will have nowhere to go to when the muggle consortium takes over.”
“Calm down Draco. You’re the elves master now. We could accommodate them at Chantry Cottage, at least temporarily. It might help to free Kreacher to take his literacy classes. He says there’s quite a lot of spare elfin accommodation under the eaves. Now give me a proper welcome kiss!”
Kissing over, Draco was still fuming, throwing his decent robes around the bedroom before dressing in something more comfortable. “It seems that it became mine as soon as I became an adult in both worlds. My father wanted to deprive me of my birth-right and was in the process of selling it to a muggle consortium. Francis is unsure whether I can stop the sale; however, both he and Gallus are sure that the money will now come to me, and not to my conniving Pater.”
Harry was patiently picking up the discarded clothes, putting them back into the wardrobe or the linen basket: “We’re free tomorrow and could apparate there and see what the situation is?” Harry suggested calmly.
“What?” Draco was distracted as he pulled on his jeans. “Circe; now look what I’ve done!”
Harry looked, and saw his partner holding something small in his hand. “Well what have you done?”
“And these were so comfortable too.”
Harry took the offending object out of Draco’s hand. It was his zipper. “Are they done up?”
“Yes!”
“You’ll be alright until you need to pee. I’m sure Winky can repair them later.”
“It was my own silly fault. I was in a temper and pulled too hard.”
“Never mind that … Are we going to see the estate tomorrow?”
“Oh … Well … I suppose I ought to.”
“I said ‘we’ deliberately Lover. I can be there to calm things if you decide to blow up again. It’s not that far from Hogwarts.”
“Thanks Harry. The way I feel now, I might shout at people who don’t deserve it. Please come, you’ll steady me.”
“That’s what partners are for, Idiot. Grab your broomstick, you and I are going to play at tennis ball Quidditch before the meal.”
Draco was particularly aggressive, but the half hour of outdoor broom exercise helped. By dinnertime he was in a better mood and winning the post-prandial game of wizard chess against Justin in the Chess Club put him into an even better frame of mind. When asked, Minerva had no problems about them absenting themselves for the time required because Blaise and Hermione had agreed to deputise.
~~~ TAIGH DUINDHU – THURSDAY MORNING 29^th ~~~
“Good gracious! It’s enormous!” Draco stared at the pile in front of them.
They stood in the gravel forecourt of a multi-angular baronial tower-house. Tower-house was too minute a description. There seemed to be dozens of grey steep roofs, scores of corbelled conical turrets sticking out at the corners, hundreds of arched windows and a set of unprotected steps leading up to the first floor entrance.
“It looks like a film set,” remarked Harry.
“I think I came here once or twice, when I was about four or five. Father doesn’t like this kind of architecture or the damp Scottish weather. He said he’d had enough of it at Hogwarts to last him a lifetime.”
“Is that why he gave it to you?”
“No! Francis and Gallus said it was left to me by a distant uncle, who didn’t like my father. You know; the one whose portraits we had from Uncle Sev’s estate.”
“Um … We thought he looked like someone with a good conscience and admirable taste, when we saw him,” Harry surmised.
“I don’t really remember him alive, but he was mumbling something about a takeover a couple of days ago. I couldn’t make head nor tail of it then. Come on; we’d better go in, instead of gawping like a couple of naff tourists.”
They mounted the unguarded stone steps.
“May I help you?” A formidable woman dressed in black bombazine challenged the pair as they opened the door. She had a chatelaine of keys hanging from her waist.
“I’m Draco Malfoy, this is Harry Potter.”
“Oh, I see.” A transformation took place and an old house-elf stood there. “I’m Dorothy. Welcome Masters! Have you come to take possession? It’s a long time since a Duindhu came here. Mr Potter, what an honour to have you as a guest.”
“Thank you Dorothy. Please can you explain about Duindhu?”
“Of course Mr Potter. Duindhu is the family name of Master Draco’s Uncle Travis. Ernestina Duindhu, his sister, was Abraxas Malfoy’s wife.”
“So Draco is the present Master?”
“Yes Mr Potter. Not that we’ve had a master in residence for a long time. I had heard a lot about you from my son, you know. He went to Malfoy Manor to better himself, so he thought. He was overjoyed when you freed him; he cared a lot about you. I suppose that his last sacrifice was inevitable. I should like to see his grave someday.”
“So you are Dobby’s mother. He was very faithful; I will take you to see his grave if you like. I dug it in a quiet dell not so far from the sea, it’s surrounded by flowers.”
“I should like that, but I would need the master’s permission to leave. When Dobby was younger he used to like the woods overlooking the sea-loch, he’d bring me back bunches of wild flowers sometimes, too.” Dorothy looked very sombre.
“Dorothy, you have my permission to visit your son’s grave.” Draco looked at the house-elf sympathetically. “However, could you put the excursion off for a few days, please?”
“You sound just like old Master Travis, he was always polite; not like your father, he was obnoxious and rude; not that we saw him much, thank Merlin.”
“Yes I agree about my father. He’s been brash again, I’m afraid. That’s why Harry and I came here; to see if we can sort things out. Could you assemble all the estate’s elves for me? I wish to talk to all of you.”
“Yes of course, Master Draco. Would you like to come into the blue morning room, I’ll have my other son Dochart serve you coffee whilst I round up the others.”
Dorothy led the way showing them the dining room and ballroom en-route.
“I remember this ballroom; it seems like a dream. Lots of people in kilts, a piper, and an accordion band. Everything seemed to glitter.”
“That would be Master Travis’s hundred and fiftieth birthday, you were but a toddler then, and I was in my prime, helping my father. Both of them died three years later in a boating accident on the loch … Oh well … I suppose I’d better get the others.”
Draco sat and told Harry about the disjointed remembrances which had been awoken. Snippets of memories; of hide and seek in the garden, of glittering parties, of big four-poster beds smelling of crushed heather, of stags and seals; all recounted from a four year-old’s viewpoint.
“Excuse me Masters, I’m Dochart, which one of you is my master, please.”
“I’m Draco, of the Duindhu line, this is Harry my partner; he’s a Potter.”
“Where would you like the tray Master Draco?”
“Just here will do nicely, thank you, Dochart.”
“Master Harry, Dobby told me so much about you. Shame he’s dead, but he wanted so much to save you. My ma says we’re all to come here as you want to meet us, I hope it’s good news, my ma’s been moping a bit since she heard of Dobby’s death.”
“It’s news of change, Dochart; some will be bad, and from that will grow something new, I hope.” Harry smiled wanly.
“Like: Dobby saved Master Harry, and he in turn killed Voldemort, and that led to the new charter of rights, do you mean?”
“Yes! Something like that, but more personal.” Draco looked very grave.
“Master Draco. I’m eleven and Ma wants me to go to school, but she says I need your permission.”
“Can you read and write?”
“Erm … Only a bit … Does that mean I can’t go?”
“No. We found many elves who are not literate, so we’re putting on special classes, that’s all.”
“So I can go, please?”
“Of course, not that you’ll be far from us, because Harry is teaching DADA and I’m the potions tutor.”
“Oh wicked! Can my two mates Kenneth and Monach come as well? We’re all of much the same age.”
“We’ll see.”
Before Dochart could push his luck further, Dorothy returned with the other house-elves.
“Masters, this is my spouse, Denison; he helps around the house and repairs things. Knox and Kellie are partners and Kenneth is their son, they work in the gardens. Murdoch is our forester and this is his son Monach. These make up the entire household, but one. She’s gone out on the loch in a boat, fishing.”
The elves bowed to each of the mages in turn.
“I’m Draco Malfoy and my partner is Harry Potter. Will you all sit down please?”
The elves looked diffident and sat on the edges of the hardest seats.
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