![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
batsutousaiTitle: Abandon
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
batsutousai
Beta:magickmaker17
Pairings: Harry/Tom(Voldemort)
Warnings: This will have slash(Guys on guys, ppl.).
Disclaim Her: My computer is falling apart before my eyes and I haven't the money to fix it… T.T
Key:
Mind-speak
:Parseltongue:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 30
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lucius?"
Lucius glanced up at the group of calm students, Harry in the lead. "Yes, Mr Potter?"
Harry merely scowled at the title. "We were wondering if we could demolish any of the rooms in the Manor."
It took all of Lucius' training to keep from gaping helplessly. Tom, however, turned to frown at Harry. "What have you five got up your nasty little sleeves?"
"Harry's idea!" four voices called at once, earning their owners each a glare from said teen.
"That I expected."
"We want to set up a place to duel," Harry explained calmly. "Gryffindors verses Slytherins. Gin's our referee."
"And can Miss Granger actually participate?" Lucius inquired, rejoining the conversation, as his gaze travelled over to the pregnant witch.
"Madam Pomfrey says that I can still do things like duelling for another month and a half," Hermione said coolly. "Anyway, someone has to show your son he's not the best."
Lucius stared at the witch, annoyed, while everyone else laughed and Tom smiled. He turned to his son suddenly. "If you lose, I'll be very upset, Draco."
Draco sobered quickly. "Of course, Father."
"Now, really, Lucius. That's hardly fair." Tom chuckled. "He's up against Harry Potter."
Lucius scowled at the Dark Lord. "You're betting on the Gryffindors, then, my Lord?"
"Of course I am."
"Would you two care to watch?" Ginny asked, smiling widely. "Perhaps bet some money."
"Yeah, I'm sure Gin'll hold it for you," Harry said mischievously.
"That would, actually, be quite entertaining," Tom decided, standing. "Lucius?"
"The Minister is supposed to arrive within the hour," Lucius replied tightly.
"Point?" Harry made a face at the Malfoy Head. "No one here gives a rat's arse about how the Minister feels, Lucius. Have one of the house-elves lead him to us."
"Intimidation. Crafty," Theodore murmured.
"How is that intimidation?" Hermione wanted to know, even as Lucius stood and motioned for them to follow him from the room.
"We're showing that we're a force to be reckoned with. We're all just seventeen, and you're pregnant. What will the Minister think of the children of tomorrow now?" Draco replied sharply.
"The Minister doesn't know our sides, Draco," Harry cut in softly. "It's hardly intimidation."
"Your actions today will make him think tomorrow," Ginny supplied. "He doesn't know our sides in this war right now, but, once he does, he may just re-think his support."
"Everyone already knows Harry's a force to be reckoned with, though," Hermione argued.
"But not how much of a force," Ginny replied, eyes sparkling evilly. "Only a select few know."
Harry shrugged. "And none of them are you guys, sorry to say." Then he sped up to walk with Tom, leaving the four students staring at his back in shock.
"This must have something to do with all the times he went missing last year," Hermione grumbled under her breath.
"He went missing a lot last year?" Draco turned to look at the brunette witch curiously. "Without an explanation?"
"Yeah," Ginny stepped in. "And we couldn't follow him, since he always took his Invisibility Cloak."
"Wonder what he was doing…"
"Don't we all." Ginny kicked at the ground. "It was annoying."
"Here we are," Lucius said, ending the two conversations his guests had been having, one out loud, the other mentally. "This room is actually meant to be used for duelling practise. The Death Eaters use it sometimes."
"It'll have to do," Harry decided, pulling laughter from his friends and a glare from Lucius. "Right. Dray, Ted, left side. Herm, you're with me on the right. Tom, Lucius, I'll leave it up to you two to conjure chairs for yourselves. Gin, stand near them and give us a go when all is in order."
"Making us do work," Lucius grumbled clearly as he conjured a chair next to the one Tom had already made and was sitting in with a smile.
Ginny flashed the two adults a bright smile while the combatants prepared. "Hey, Tom, could we get you to duel with Harry next, if there’s time?"
"Why?" the Dark Lord wanted to know.
"Because I want to see how you would both fare." The red-head shrugged before turning back to the duellists. "Two-on-two, or one-on-one with seconds?"
The four traded looks before nodding. "One-on-one with seconds," Draco called out as Theodore and Hermione stepped back to give Harry and Draco room.
"This way, I don't have to duel at all!" Hermione called cheerfully.
"I should lose on purpose," Harry replied, watching Ginny.
"Not funny, Harry."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Since we don't know when the Minister will be here, keep it clean. Legal spells only."
"Define legal?" Draco requested sweetly.
"I refuse to get into a political debate with you, Draco Malfoy, so stuff it," Ginny shot back, getting a laugh from everyone.
"And no bringing animals into this," Harry cut in, giving Draco a dirty look.
The Malfoy heir shrugged. "It was hardly to my advantage, now was it?"
"You want Harry calling a snake out on you?" Hermione wanted to know.
Draco paused. "Right, then. No animals. And no cheating."
"Oh, like beginning before the count's up?" Harry teased, smirking.
"Why make that rule?" Theodore asked, frowning at Draco's back.
"Because if I can cheat, he can cheat, and, this time, he will," Draco growled back, eyes on Harry.
The green-eyed boy nodded. "Perfect. Gin, whenever you're ready."
Ginny nodded seriously. "Bow," She ordered. Both young men bowed formally, eyes on each other. "Wands at the ready. On my count. One…Two…Three!"
"Silencio! Protego!"
"Stupefy!"
"Incendio!"
Draco jumped out of the way of the shot of fire and the two paused, staring at one another. Harry had a glittering shield up around him, which had made Draco's Stunning Spell shoot off to one side. Draco was glaring at Harry silently.
"Accio Draco's wand," Harry said finally. The Malfoy's wand flew into his hand and he pocketed it, nodding as Theodore and Draco traded places.
"Bow," Ginny called. The two traded formal bows. "Wands at the ready! One… Two…"
-~*~-
"Do you hear shouting?" Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, asked Arthur Weasley, who'd been sent to help him instead of an Auror (much to Fudge's disgust).
Arthur cocked his head slightly, listening, but it was the house-elf who was leading them to where the Malfoys were who answered the question, "The young Master Draco and his friends were duelling out of boredom, Minister."
"Alone?!" Arthur cut in, shocked. Albus had mentioned that both Ginny and Hermione were also believed to have left with Draco Malfoy two nights ago with Lucius Malfoy.
"No, sir," the elf replied calmly. "Professor Brutùs and Master Lucius were to watch the duel."
"Hardly makes me feel better…" Arthur muttered under his breath.
Fudge frowned in concentration. "Brutùs?"
"New Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts," Arthur volunteered. "My daughter seems to like him, apparently they met over the summer while she was visiting Harry. My son thinks he's horrible and a Death Eater."
"That's a very serious accusation," Fudge pointed out in a serious voice.
"Of course. But, you know kids these days. Any teacher they don't like's a Death Eater out for their blood," the red-haired man forced his voice to remain light. "He's probably just a very secretive fellow, like Snape."
"We's here, sirs," the house-elf said suddenly, stopping before a closed door. It opened the door enough to let them all look in.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Finite! Accio Theodore's wand!"
"Why do you keep using the Summoning Charm?!" Theodore shouted as his wand slipped into Harry's hand.
"It doesn't knock you back into Dray?" Harry shrugged and tossed the two Slytherins their wands, flicking his own wand at Draco to end the Silencing Spell. "And we have guests."
Everyone turned to look at the two men at the door. "Dad!" Ginny squealed before running over and hugging her father tightly, much to everyone's amusement.
"Arthur. Cornelius." Lucius nodded to the two as he stood with Tom and started towards the door. The rest of the students followed them.
"Ah, Lucius, wonderful seeing you again. Simply marvellous. I trust…ah…You-Know-Who hasn't been controlling you lately?" Fudge gushed, taking Lucius' hand and pumping it enthusiastically.
"Not a peep," Lucius assured him. "I don't believe you know Professor Marcus Brutùs? Or Theodore Nott?" He introduced the two, stepping back so Tom and Theodore could also shake hands with the Minister.
"Of course, of course. And here's your son, Draco. And Harry! My dear boy!" He pulled Harry into an exuberant hug.
Man's worse than I remembered. I bet a two-year-old could get him under Imperio, Harry thought to Tom darkly as he stepped away from the Minister. "It's nice to see you again as well, Minister. This–" he motioned to Hermione. "–is Hermione Granger. I don't believe you two have met before."
"Wonderful to finally get a name to go with such a pretty face, my dear," Fudge said happily, shaking Hermione's hand.
"Shall we adjourn to the sitting room?" Lucius inquired coolly.
"Brilliant idea, Lucius. Brilliant idea. Of course, you should probably lead the way…"
Hermione, Ginny, and Harry all stayed back with Arthur, who was frowning at them. "To the Malfoy residence? Really." He shook his head.
"Draco's not a bad person, Dad," Ginny insisted.
"Once you get to know him, he's actually really nice," Hermione agreed. "And even Lucius isn't such an arse."
Harry shook his head at Hermione. "Arse. Really. I thought you didn't curse."
"Shut up."
"Professor Dumbledore didn't tell me you'd also gone, Harry," Arthur continued in a low voice.
Harry shrugged. "I don't suppose he wanted anyone panicking."
"They found Ron, you know," Arthur added seriously, frowning at the three students.
Hermione and Ginny both pointed at Harry. "He did it."
"Did what?" Fudge asked as they entered the sitting room.
Harry shrugged. "A bit of art in the Hogwarts entrance hall."
"Art?" Theodore snorted.
"Well, I thought it was rather fetching," Hermione said softly, seating herself on a couch next to Theodore.
"Hermione!" Arthur turned on the Muggle-born witch, wide-eyed.
"This," Harry cut in firmly, "is a family discussion that we should save for another time, unless..." His gaze travelled over to where Lucius sat in his favourite arm chair. "Lucius would let us borrow the drawing room to clear the air?"
"As long as there is to be no demolishing or hunting, I have no problems with that," Lucius replied evenly, liquid silver eyes throwing hexes at Arthur.
Harry nodded seriously. "That, I can promise. Mr Weasley, Ginny, Herm, if you'd please." He nodded to the other three men in the room as the three he'd just named stood to leave. "Minister, Lucius, Marcus." The three men nodded in reply before Harry led his small group from the room.
"That boy's matured!" Fudge exclaimed in shock.
Theodore and Draco traded smirks.
-~*~-
“Please, sit,” Harry offered diplomatically as he shut the drawing room door behind him. Arthur sat in a nice armchair while the two girls sat across from him on a two-person couch, which Harry then took the arm of, next to Hermione.
“You shouldn’t sit on the arm, Harry,” Hermione chastised the teen.
“What Lucius doesn’t know won’t make him mad,” Harry replied, grinning.
Arthur smiled. “Very true. But–” His smile disappeared. “Explain yourselves.”
“Ron got Hermione pregnant,” Ginny said by way of explanation.
Arthur froze, staring at the three in shock. “Pregnant?”
“Got her drunk and pregnant on her birthday,” Harry agreed, leaning back in his make-shift seat and sliding an arm around Hermione’s shoulders to hug her gently.
Hermione turned to scowl up at her long-time friend. “Blunt much?”
“Not really, no.” Harry smiled lightly before glancing back over at Arthur, who was shaking his head. “Mr Weasley?”
Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to believe this, personally, but I don’t appear to have that choice.” He shook his head at the three teens. “But, still, tacking him up in the Entrance Hall with an Unstickable Charm was a little over the top, don’t you think?”
Harry slid a hand over Hermione’s mouth, successfully shutting her up, as he leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “Art, Mr Weasley. It was art.”
“That was not proper art,” Arthur pointed out calmly, meeting Harry’s eyes.
“Define ‘proper art,’ sir. As far as I am aware, a pregnant witch is not art, and that is what Ronald has made. In retaliation, I have created my own art, and that just happened to be my ex-friend hanging in the Entrance Hall. The unforgivable in return for the unforgivable.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. “And the message?”
Harry knit his brows in confusion. “What message?”
“You didn’t leave the message proclaiming the ‘art’ from ‘The Future Death Eaters’?”
“What?! No!” Harry looked horrified. “Great Merlin, no! I’d never associate with Voldemort!” He hid his smirk at Arthur’s flinch.
Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
Stuff it, Tom.
Tom laughed in Harry’s mind as a knock came on the door.
“Come in!” Ginny called, as Harry was still pulling off horrified while covering Hermione’s mouth to keep her silent and Arthur appeared to be considering everything he’d just heard and seen.
Tom stepped into the room and cocked an eyebrow at the eldest Weasley. “Tormenting students? Really.” He shook his head with a sigh as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind himself.
Arthur narrowed his eyes and stood slowly. “I do believe the Headmaster will be quite pleased to learn that you’re hiding out at a known Death Eater’s home.”
“Only if he finds out,” Tom replied, eyeing the wand pointing at his chest with boredom. “Lower your wand.”
“Mr Weasley, don’t attack him,” Harry said softly, standing himself. “He’s not worth it.”
Four sets of eyes shot to look at the green-eyed young man. “Not worth it?” Arthur repeated blankly.
“How many times must I vouch for Marcus before the Order believes he is a good man?” the Boy-Who-Lived inquired in a soft voice, watching the red-headed wizard.
Arthur didn’t get a chance to reply as a terrified shout sounded through the house. The five traded looks.
“Front hall,” Tom murmured.
“Ginny, Hermione, Harry, stay here,” Arthur ordered as he turned to follow Tom out of the room.
“Ginny, Hermione, stay. I’m coming with,” Harry shot back, sliding through the door and quickly catching up with Tom before Arthur could speak again.
Arthur sighed as Ginny and Hermione sat back down with annoyed looks. “Fine,” he muttered before running after the two wizards.
-~*~-
Harry couldn’t help but laugh. Both Theodore and Draco snorted, obviously fighting insane laughter. Fudge looked horrified, as did Arthur. Lucius and Tom both looked very passive.
Ronald Weasley was hanging from the ceiling by one leg, which had been caught in one of the Manor’s defences.
“Oh, Ron, you idiot!” Harry finally managed before glancing at Lucius. “Let him down.”
Lucius scowled at the younger wizard for a long moment. Harry cocked one eyebrow at the man and the Death Eater waved a hand at the hanging figure. Ron was slowly lowered to the ground.
“Now then, Mr Weasley, would you kindly inform us as to why you’re here?” Tom asked softly, leaning down slightly so his eyes were closer to Ron’s level, where he sat on the floor.
“Hermione!” Ron shouted suddenly, having caught sight of the very girl he’d come for.
“Oh, for Merlin’s sake, Ron! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?!” Ginny shouted, stepping between her brother and Hermione.
Ron scowled.
Harry knelt before the other boy. “Why did you come here?”
“To get Hermione out of this house,” he spat.
Harry rose an eyebrow at the red-head before turning to Hermione. “Herm, do you feel unsafe here?”
Hermione blinked a few times in surprise. “Of course not! I love it here!”
Harry turned back to Ron. “She doesn’t need saving, Ron. You may return to the Burrow. Try not to splinch yourself on the way.”
“Wha–?“
“Goodbye, Ronald,” Hermione shot at the boy. “You’re not welcome here.”
Ron glanced up at the four adult wizards. Lucius and Tom were both glaring at him. Arthur looked furiously upset. Fudge just looked confused. “But–“
Harry leaned over and put his mouth next to Ron’s ear. “Leave, Ron. If you remain any longer, you will not leave unscathed. I’m not the only one who’s furious with you, and I can’t promise they'll have the same level of control as I. Clear?” He leaned back to meet Ron’s eyes.
The red-haired wizard looked terrified. “Did you just…”
“No, Ron, I’m not threatening you, I’m merely making a point.” Harry stood slowly. “You did a very stupid thing and now you’re faced with the consequences. Grow up.”
“Now, Harry…” Tom started softly.
“I’m not threatening him, Marcus. I am forcing him to see the reality of the situation,” Harry replied, eyes never leaving Ron’s. “Leave, Ron. For the last time.”
Ron narrowed his eyes. “Death Eater,” he spat before disapparating with a ‘crack’.
Harry cocked a mental eyebrow at Tom among the gasps from the other people in the room. Well, what do you know. Ron’s going to start the rumours for me.
Harry…
Harry turned to look at everyone with a strained smile. “Excuse Ron, please. We three are in the middle of a slight fight, I fear.”
“Ah, of course.” Fudge nodded understandingly, settling a hand on Harry’s shoulder gently. “These things happen, my dear boy. I’m sure it will pass.”
“I hope so,” Harry replied sadly.
Arthur frowned. “Molly and I will be sure to have a word with Ron before the end of break, Harry.”
Harry nodded. “Thank you, Mr Weasley.”
Fudge took a quick look at his watch. “Oh, and I need to head back for the Ministry. I have a meeting, I’m afraid.” He sighed sadly.
“Of course, Minister. We understand you have a busy schedule,” Lucius agreed. Everyone else nodded.
“Yes, yes. Arthur, we need to leave.”
Arthur gave the two Gryffindor girls hugs and Harry a firm handshake before nodding to the Minister. The two disapparated with nearly simultaneous ‘crack’s.
“We could have wiped their memories of you being here, Harry,” Draco pointed out in the silence.
Harry’s sad smile turned into a full-blown smirk. “Ah, but, if we did that, my Christmas presents from Molly would be delayed, and we can’t have that.”
Everyone laughed.
-
-
A/N: That was, actually, a reasonably okay chapter, once I got past the wall. *rolls eyes*
~Batsutousai ^.^x
Abandon & Reclaim Series:
Abandon the Prequel: Sixth Year
Abandon Chapters:
01 || 02 || 03 || 04 || 05 || 06 || 07 || 08 || 09 || 10
11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20
21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28 || 29 ||30
31 || 32 || 33 || 34 || 35 || 36 || 37 || 38 || 39 || 40
41 || 42 || 43 || 44 || 45 || 46 || 47
Reclaim Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten
Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen
Epilogue
Side Stories:
Ginevra Weasley & Theodore Nott
Minerva McGonagall || Minerva McGonagall (again)
Author:
batsutousaiBeta:
magickmaker17Pairings: Harry/Tom(Voldemort)
Warnings: This will have slash(Guys on guys, ppl.).
Disclaim Her: My computer is falling apart before my eyes and I haven't the money to fix it… T.T
Key:
Mind-speak
:Parseltongue:
Chapter 30
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lucius?"
Lucius glanced up at the group of calm students, Harry in the lead. "Yes, Mr Potter?"
Harry merely scowled at the title. "We were wondering if we could demolish any of the rooms in the Manor."
It took all of Lucius' training to keep from gaping helplessly. Tom, however, turned to frown at Harry. "What have you five got up your nasty little sleeves?"
"Harry's idea!" four voices called at once, earning their owners each a glare from said teen.
"That I expected."
"We want to set up a place to duel," Harry explained calmly. "Gryffindors verses Slytherins. Gin's our referee."
"And can Miss Granger actually participate?" Lucius inquired, rejoining the conversation, as his gaze travelled over to the pregnant witch.
"Madam Pomfrey says that I can still do things like duelling for another month and a half," Hermione said coolly. "Anyway, someone has to show your son he's not the best."
Lucius stared at the witch, annoyed, while everyone else laughed and Tom smiled. He turned to his son suddenly. "If you lose, I'll be very upset, Draco."
Draco sobered quickly. "Of course, Father."
"Now, really, Lucius. That's hardly fair." Tom chuckled. "He's up against Harry Potter."
Lucius scowled at the Dark Lord. "You're betting on the Gryffindors, then, my Lord?"
"Of course I am."
"Would you two care to watch?" Ginny asked, smiling widely. "Perhaps bet some money."
"Yeah, I'm sure Gin'll hold it for you," Harry said mischievously.
"That would, actually, be quite entertaining," Tom decided, standing. "Lucius?"
"The Minister is supposed to arrive within the hour," Lucius replied tightly.
"Point?" Harry made a face at the Malfoy Head. "No one here gives a rat's arse about how the Minister feels, Lucius. Have one of the house-elves lead him to us."
"Intimidation. Crafty," Theodore murmured.
"How is that intimidation?" Hermione wanted to know, even as Lucius stood and motioned for them to follow him from the room.
"We're showing that we're a force to be reckoned with. We're all just seventeen, and you're pregnant. What will the Minister think of the children of tomorrow now?" Draco replied sharply.
"The Minister doesn't know our sides, Draco," Harry cut in softly. "It's hardly intimidation."
"Your actions today will make him think tomorrow," Ginny supplied. "He doesn't know our sides in this war right now, but, once he does, he may just re-think his support."
"Everyone already knows Harry's a force to be reckoned with, though," Hermione argued.
"But not how much of a force," Ginny replied, eyes sparkling evilly. "Only a select few know."
Harry shrugged. "And none of them are you guys, sorry to say." Then he sped up to walk with Tom, leaving the four students staring at his back in shock.
"This must have something to do with all the times he went missing last year," Hermione grumbled under her breath.
"He went missing a lot last year?" Draco turned to look at the brunette witch curiously. "Without an explanation?"
"Yeah," Ginny stepped in. "And we couldn't follow him, since he always took his Invisibility Cloak."
"Wonder what he was doing…"
"Don't we all." Ginny kicked at the ground. "It was annoying."
"Here we are," Lucius said, ending the two conversations his guests had been having, one out loud, the other mentally. "This room is actually meant to be used for duelling practise. The Death Eaters use it sometimes."
"It'll have to do," Harry decided, pulling laughter from his friends and a glare from Lucius. "Right. Dray, Ted, left side. Herm, you're with me on the right. Tom, Lucius, I'll leave it up to you two to conjure chairs for yourselves. Gin, stand near them and give us a go when all is in order."
"Making us do work," Lucius grumbled clearly as he conjured a chair next to the one Tom had already made and was sitting in with a smile.
Ginny flashed the two adults a bright smile while the combatants prepared. "Hey, Tom, could we get you to duel with Harry next, if there’s time?"
"Why?" the Dark Lord wanted to know.
"Because I want to see how you would both fare." The red-head shrugged before turning back to the duellists. "Two-on-two, or one-on-one with seconds?"
The four traded looks before nodding. "One-on-one with seconds," Draco called out as Theodore and Hermione stepped back to give Harry and Draco room.
"This way, I don't have to duel at all!" Hermione called cheerfully.
"I should lose on purpose," Harry replied, watching Ginny.
"Not funny, Harry."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Since we don't know when the Minister will be here, keep it clean. Legal spells only."
"Define legal?" Draco requested sweetly.
"I refuse to get into a political debate with you, Draco Malfoy, so stuff it," Ginny shot back, getting a laugh from everyone.
"And no bringing animals into this," Harry cut in, giving Draco a dirty look.
The Malfoy heir shrugged. "It was hardly to my advantage, now was it?"
"You want Harry calling a snake out on you?" Hermione wanted to know.
Draco paused. "Right, then. No animals. And no cheating."
"Oh, like beginning before the count's up?" Harry teased, smirking.
"Why make that rule?" Theodore asked, frowning at Draco's back.
"Because if I can cheat, he can cheat, and, this time, he will," Draco growled back, eyes on Harry.
The green-eyed boy nodded. "Perfect. Gin, whenever you're ready."
Ginny nodded seriously. "Bow," She ordered. Both young men bowed formally, eyes on each other. "Wands at the ready. On my count. One…Two…Three!"
"Silencio! Protego!"
"Stupefy!"
"Incendio!"
Draco jumped out of the way of the shot of fire and the two paused, staring at one another. Harry had a glittering shield up around him, which had made Draco's Stunning Spell shoot off to one side. Draco was glaring at Harry silently.
"Accio Draco's wand," Harry said finally. The Malfoy's wand flew into his hand and he pocketed it, nodding as Theodore and Draco traded places.
"Bow," Ginny called. The two traded formal bows. "Wands at the ready! One… Two…"
"Do you hear shouting?" Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, asked Arthur Weasley, who'd been sent to help him instead of an Auror (much to Fudge's disgust).
Arthur cocked his head slightly, listening, but it was the house-elf who was leading them to where the Malfoys were who answered the question, "The young Master Draco and his friends were duelling out of boredom, Minister."
"Alone?!" Arthur cut in, shocked. Albus had mentioned that both Ginny and Hermione were also believed to have left with Draco Malfoy two nights ago with Lucius Malfoy.
"No, sir," the elf replied calmly. "Professor Brutùs and Master Lucius were to watch the duel."
"Hardly makes me feel better…" Arthur muttered under his breath.
Fudge frowned in concentration. "Brutùs?"
"New Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts," Arthur volunteered. "My daughter seems to like him, apparently they met over the summer while she was visiting Harry. My son thinks he's horrible and a Death Eater."
"That's a very serious accusation," Fudge pointed out in a serious voice.
"Of course. But, you know kids these days. Any teacher they don't like's a Death Eater out for their blood," the red-haired man forced his voice to remain light. "He's probably just a very secretive fellow, like Snape."
"We's here, sirs," the house-elf said suddenly, stopping before a closed door. It opened the door enough to let them all look in.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Finite! Accio Theodore's wand!"
"Why do you keep using the Summoning Charm?!" Theodore shouted as his wand slipped into Harry's hand.
"It doesn't knock you back into Dray?" Harry shrugged and tossed the two Slytherins their wands, flicking his own wand at Draco to end the Silencing Spell. "And we have guests."
Everyone turned to look at the two men at the door. "Dad!" Ginny squealed before running over and hugging her father tightly, much to everyone's amusement.
"Arthur. Cornelius." Lucius nodded to the two as he stood with Tom and started towards the door. The rest of the students followed them.
"Ah, Lucius, wonderful seeing you again. Simply marvellous. I trust…ah…You-Know-Who hasn't been controlling you lately?" Fudge gushed, taking Lucius' hand and pumping it enthusiastically.
"Not a peep," Lucius assured him. "I don't believe you know Professor Marcus Brutùs? Or Theodore Nott?" He introduced the two, stepping back so Tom and Theodore could also shake hands with the Minister.
"Of course, of course. And here's your son, Draco. And Harry! My dear boy!" He pulled Harry into an exuberant hug.
Man's worse than I remembered. I bet a two-year-old could get him under Imperio, Harry thought to Tom darkly as he stepped away from the Minister. "It's nice to see you again as well, Minister. This–" he motioned to Hermione. "–is Hermione Granger. I don't believe you two have met before."
"Wonderful to finally get a name to go with such a pretty face, my dear," Fudge said happily, shaking Hermione's hand.
"Shall we adjourn to the sitting room?" Lucius inquired coolly.
"Brilliant idea, Lucius. Brilliant idea. Of course, you should probably lead the way…"
Hermione, Ginny, and Harry all stayed back with Arthur, who was frowning at them. "To the Malfoy residence? Really." He shook his head.
"Draco's not a bad person, Dad," Ginny insisted.
"Once you get to know him, he's actually really nice," Hermione agreed. "And even Lucius isn't such an arse."
Harry shook his head at Hermione. "Arse. Really. I thought you didn't curse."
"Shut up."
"Professor Dumbledore didn't tell me you'd also gone, Harry," Arthur continued in a low voice.
Harry shrugged. "I don't suppose he wanted anyone panicking."
"They found Ron, you know," Arthur added seriously, frowning at the three students.
Hermione and Ginny both pointed at Harry. "He did it."
"Did what?" Fudge asked as they entered the sitting room.
Harry shrugged. "A bit of art in the Hogwarts entrance hall."
"Art?" Theodore snorted.
"Well, I thought it was rather fetching," Hermione said softly, seating herself on a couch next to Theodore.
"Hermione!" Arthur turned on the Muggle-born witch, wide-eyed.
"This," Harry cut in firmly, "is a family discussion that we should save for another time, unless..." His gaze travelled over to where Lucius sat in his favourite arm chair. "Lucius would let us borrow the drawing room to clear the air?"
"As long as there is to be no demolishing or hunting, I have no problems with that," Lucius replied evenly, liquid silver eyes throwing hexes at Arthur.
Harry nodded seriously. "That, I can promise. Mr Weasley, Ginny, Herm, if you'd please." He nodded to the other three men in the room as the three he'd just named stood to leave. "Minister, Lucius, Marcus." The three men nodded in reply before Harry led his small group from the room.
"That boy's matured!" Fudge exclaimed in shock.
Theodore and Draco traded smirks.
“Please, sit,” Harry offered diplomatically as he shut the drawing room door behind him. Arthur sat in a nice armchair while the two girls sat across from him on a two-person couch, which Harry then took the arm of, next to Hermione.
“You shouldn’t sit on the arm, Harry,” Hermione chastised the teen.
“What Lucius doesn’t know won’t make him mad,” Harry replied, grinning.
Arthur smiled. “Very true. But–” His smile disappeared. “Explain yourselves.”
“Ron got Hermione pregnant,” Ginny said by way of explanation.
Arthur froze, staring at the three in shock. “Pregnant?”
“Got her drunk and pregnant on her birthday,” Harry agreed, leaning back in his make-shift seat and sliding an arm around Hermione’s shoulders to hug her gently.
Hermione turned to scowl up at her long-time friend. “Blunt much?”
“Not really, no.” Harry smiled lightly before glancing back over at Arthur, who was shaking his head. “Mr Weasley?”
Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to believe this, personally, but I don’t appear to have that choice.” He shook his head at the three teens. “But, still, tacking him up in the Entrance Hall with an Unstickable Charm was a little over the top, don’t you think?”
Harry slid a hand over Hermione’s mouth, successfully shutting her up, as he leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “Art, Mr Weasley. It was art.”
“That was not proper art,” Arthur pointed out calmly, meeting Harry’s eyes.
“Define ‘proper art,’ sir. As far as I am aware, a pregnant witch is not art, and that is what Ronald has made. In retaliation, I have created my own art, and that just happened to be my ex-friend hanging in the Entrance Hall. The unforgivable in return for the unforgivable.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. “And the message?”
Harry knit his brows in confusion. “What message?”
“You didn’t leave the message proclaiming the ‘art’ from ‘The Future Death Eaters’?”
“What?! No!” Harry looked horrified. “Great Merlin, no! I’d never associate with Voldemort!” He hid his smirk at Arthur’s flinch.
Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
Stuff it, Tom.
Tom laughed in Harry’s mind as a knock came on the door.
“Come in!” Ginny called, as Harry was still pulling off horrified while covering Hermione’s mouth to keep her silent and Arthur appeared to be considering everything he’d just heard and seen.
Tom stepped into the room and cocked an eyebrow at the eldest Weasley. “Tormenting students? Really.” He shook his head with a sigh as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind himself.
Arthur narrowed his eyes and stood slowly. “I do believe the Headmaster will be quite pleased to learn that you’re hiding out at a known Death Eater’s home.”
“Only if he finds out,” Tom replied, eyeing the wand pointing at his chest with boredom. “Lower your wand.”
“Mr Weasley, don’t attack him,” Harry said softly, standing himself. “He’s not worth it.”
Four sets of eyes shot to look at the green-eyed young man. “Not worth it?” Arthur repeated blankly.
“How many times must I vouch for Marcus before the Order believes he is a good man?” the Boy-Who-Lived inquired in a soft voice, watching the red-headed wizard.
Arthur didn’t get a chance to reply as a terrified shout sounded through the house. The five traded looks.
“Front hall,” Tom murmured.
“Ginny, Hermione, Harry, stay here,” Arthur ordered as he turned to follow Tom out of the room.
“Ginny, Hermione, stay. I’m coming with,” Harry shot back, sliding through the door and quickly catching up with Tom before Arthur could speak again.
Arthur sighed as Ginny and Hermione sat back down with annoyed looks. “Fine,” he muttered before running after the two wizards.
Harry couldn’t help but laugh. Both Theodore and Draco snorted, obviously fighting insane laughter. Fudge looked horrified, as did Arthur. Lucius and Tom both looked very passive.
Ronald Weasley was hanging from the ceiling by one leg, which had been caught in one of the Manor’s defences.
“Oh, Ron, you idiot!” Harry finally managed before glancing at Lucius. “Let him down.”
Lucius scowled at the younger wizard for a long moment. Harry cocked one eyebrow at the man and the Death Eater waved a hand at the hanging figure. Ron was slowly lowered to the ground.
“Now then, Mr Weasley, would you kindly inform us as to why you’re here?” Tom asked softly, leaning down slightly so his eyes were closer to Ron’s level, where he sat on the floor.
“Hermione!” Ron shouted suddenly, having caught sight of the very girl he’d come for.
“Oh, for Merlin’s sake, Ron! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?!” Ginny shouted, stepping between her brother and Hermione.
Ron scowled.
Harry knelt before the other boy. “Why did you come here?”
“To get Hermione out of this house,” he spat.
Harry rose an eyebrow at the red-head before turning to Hermione. “Herm, do you feel unsafe here?”
Hermione blinked a few times in surprise. “Of course not! I love it here!”
Harry turned back to Ron. “She doesn’t need saving, Ron. You may return to the Burrow. Try not to splinch yourself on the way.”
“Wha–?“
“Goodbye, Ronald,” Hermione shot at the boy. “You’re not welcome here.”
Ron glanced up at the four adult wizards. Lucius and Tom were both glaring at him. Arthur looked furiously upset. Fudge just looked confused. “But–“
Harry leaned over and put his mouth next to Ron’s ear. “Leave, Ron. If you remain any longer, you will not leave unscathed. I’m not the only one who’s furious with you, and I can’t promise they'll have the same level of control as I. Clear?” He leaned back to meet Ron’s eyes.
The red-haired wizard looked terrified. “Did you just…”
“No, Ron, I’m not threatening you, I’m merely making a point.” Harry stood slowly. “You did a very stupid thing and now you’re faced with the consequences. Grow up.”
“Now, Harry…” Tom started softly.
“I’m not threatening him, Marcus. I am forcing him to see the reality of the situation,” Harry replied, eyes never leaving Ron’s. “Leave, Ron. For the last time.”
Ron narrowed his eyes. “Death Eater,” he spat before disapparating with a ‘crack’.
Harry cocked a mental eyebrow at Tom among the gasps from the other people in the room. Well, what do you know. Ron’s going to start the rumours for me.
Harry…
Harry turned to look at everyone with a strained smile. “Excuse Ron, please. We three are in the middle of a slight fight, I fear.”
“Ah, of course.” Fudge nodded understandingly, settling a hand on Harry’s shoulder gently. “These things happen, my dear boy. I’m sure it will pass.”
“I hope so,” Harry replied sadly.
Arthur frowned. “Molly and I will be sure to have a word with Ron before the end of break, Harry.”
Harry nodded. “Thank you, Mr Weasley.”
Fudge took a quick look at his watch. “Oh, and I need to head back for the Ministry. I have a meeting, I’m afraid.” He sighed sadly.
“Of course, Minister. We understand you have a busy schedule,” Lucius agreed. Everyone else nodded.
“Yes, yes. Arthur, we need to leave.”
Arthur gave the two Gryffindor girls hugs and Harry a firm handshake before nodding to the Minister. The two disapparated with nearly simultaneous ‘crack’s.
“We could have wiped their memories of you being here, Harry,” Draco pointed out in the silence.
Harry’s sad smile turned into a full-blown smirk. “Ah, but, if we did that, my Christmas presents from Molly would be delayed, and we can’t have that.”
Everyone laughed.
-
A/N: That was, actually, a reasonably okay chapter, once I got past the wall. *rolls eyes*
~Batsutousai ^.^x
Abandon the Prequel: Sixth Year
Abandon Chapters:
01 || 02 || 03 || 04 || 05 || 06 || 07 || 08 || 09 || 10
11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20
21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28 || 29 ||
31 || 32 || 33 || 34 || 35 || 36 || 37 || 38 || 39 || 40
41 || 42 || 43 || 44 || 45 || 46 || 47
Reclaim Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten
Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen
Epilogue
Side Stories:
Ginevra Weasley & Theodore Nott
Minerva McGonagall || Minerva McGonagall (again)
.
