Reading Time:
37 Minutes

Chapter Five:

Harry followed Neville into the Gryffindor common room with Hermione in front of Neville and Ginny bringing up the rear. He’d been nervous about coming back all morning and had barely been able to eat any of his breakfast because his stomach was in knots. It wasn’t that he was afraid of a confrontation with Ron, but it felt like the end of something that had once meant the world to him.

And that hurt.

The thing was that Ron had become someone that Harry just couldn’t trust or depend on anymore. Between his jealousy and his temper, he too often wasn’t someone Harry wanted around. The fact that he genuinely had more fun and understanding from Draco Malfoy over the weekend than he’d gotten from Ron all year said a lot. Harry wasn’t blind or deaf. He knew that Ron was whispering things behind his back. He knew that he’d become a hypocrite who had become good friends with Seamus Finnegan, all while getting mad at Harry and Hermione if they even thought about making new friends. Although Ron would probably say his friends were acceptable because they were Gryffindors.

“There’s the traitor. I don’t know what you’ve done to Ginny, but you’re gonna pay for it, Potter.” Ron sneered, and Harry just huffed while Ginny stepped in, fist clenched and glaring at her brother.

“Harry didn’t do anything to me, Ron! We wanted to make sure it was safe to come back. We were worried about getting in trouble with Umbridge for leaving, but once Professor McGonagall said she was gone, we decided it was ok to come back today. She said as long as someone checked us out medically, that we could come back today, and that’s what we did. It’s not my fault that you threw a temper tantrum like a toddler.”

Ron immediately drew his wand and pointed it at Harry while Dean Thomas ran out of the common room door. “See! You’ve done something to her. She never would have been ok with hanging out with a bunch of Slytherins before. You, though, I should have known that you’d turn dark at some point, what with the sorting hat wanting to put you in Slytherin House. I bet this was all a plan to spy on us, Light Wizards. You’re nothing more than an evil, dark, scumbag, Death Eater wannabe.”

“Ronnikins, I think you’ve lost the plot.” Came from the stairs as Fred and George came down and immediately started pushing their way to where Harry stood.

“Just because Harry didn’t run away from Malfoy’s place like you did,” Fred started, with George following up. “Doesn’t mean that he’s a Death Eater.”

“He’s also not the only one offered a different house by the sorting hat,” Hermione growled, moving to stand beside Harry and taking his hand in hers. “Besides that, I’m not sure that all of the Slytherins are evil. Some may be future Death Eaters, but surely they all aren’t.”

“You’ve poisoned Hermione against me, too!”

“Nobody has poisoned me against you, Ronald,” Hermione spat angrily and flipped her bushy hair over one shoulder before straightening her spine. “You’ve done that all on your own. The fact of the matter is that I opened my mind and asked relevant questions when the opportunity presented itself to me. As a result, I became friends with one of them and then he… we… Well…” Hermione lifted her chin, and Harry squeezed her hand in support.

“I’m dating a Slytherin. Have been for a bit. I found out that he’s a perfectly nice bloke and we have a lot in common. This weekend gave me a chance to get to know some of his friends, and I found that they’re not so bad once you get past, well, the past. We talked like adults and worked things out. They apologized, and so did I. Now I have more friends than I’ve ever had before.”

Ron raised his wand again, his face bright red with anger, and Seamus, standing just behind his right shoulder, whispered in his ear. “Stupefy!”

“Protego!” Harry shouted, stepping in front of Hermione just as another spell was called out from behind them.

“Expelliarmus! Accio Ronald Weasley’s wand!” Came from behind them, and Harry turned to see McGonagall standing in the doorway holding Ron’s wand in her hand with an angry scowl on her face. “Ronald Weasley! What do you think you are doing, pointing your wand at your friends and casting spells on them!”

“They’re no bloody friends of mine! I don’t make friends with dark, Slytherin-loving, traitors!”

“I don’t know what is going on, nor do I care. Fifty points from Gryffindor and two weeks of detention with me.”

“That’s not fair!” Ron shouted, stomping his foot. “They’ve been gone all weekend without permission. How many points are they losing us, and how long is their detention? I bet none, ‘cause you favor Harry over the rest of us. We all know that he’s your little pet!”

“A month of detention and a hundred points from Gryffindor. I don’t know what has come over you, Mr. Weasley, but I will not tolerate this nonsense. With me right this moment! We are going to see the Headmaster about your attitude.”

“Professor McGonagall,” a third-year student called hesitantly. “Is… Did Harry and Hermione cost us points, too? Is… is Ron right?”

McGonagall paused, and Harry thought she’d just barely held back a sigh before she addressed the young girl. “No, Prudence, Ronald is not correct. While we didn’t approve of them leaving the castle, there were extenuating circumstances that led them to believe they needed to leave.

“After that, we were aware where they were because Mr. Malfoy sent a letter immediately to let us know where they were and who was with him. This included the two adults there to chaperone. The headmaster, Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick, and I discussed it and permitted them to stay where they were without anyone getting in trouble as long as they were back by today, and they had a healer see them. It’s my understanding that Lord Barrows came and checked them all out personally. So, the only person in trouble is Mr. Weasley.”

With that McGonagall led Ron from the room while Mercury Barrows, who was sitting on a sofa with his girlfriend Alicia Spinnet, spoke up. “I told all of you things would be fine,” he chided, shaking his head. “I wasn’t just pulling things out of my arse.”

“Thanks, Mercury.” Harry shifted through the crowd, pulling Hermione with him as he looked for a place to sit. Kit Bitterwood moved to the floor, waving them over. Eager to spend time with the upper years, who were often more open-minded, at least those in Barrow’s circle, Harry and Hermione took over the vacated love sofa. “I won’t ask you details, but you both are ok, right? I mean, besides that bullshite Ron just pulled.”

When the twins came over and leaned on the back of the love seat they were sitting on, Harry found himself relaxing. He liked the twins a lot and was concerned that the ending of his friendship with Ron would damage his friendship with them.

“Ronnikins has never been able to control his temper, and I don’t think that he even tries. Don’t worry, Harry. As far as we’re concerned, you’re still family and our friend. If you say Malfoy isn’t that bad of a bloke, we’re willing to give him a chance. Same for you and your Slytherin, Hermione.”

“Theodore Nott,” Hermione said with a shy smile. “I think with the death of Lucius Malfoy that you’ll see a new side to Draco. Theo explained a lot about their home lives to me, and I am glad they’ve both found a way to escape their parents. Knowing what I know now, I get why some of them are the way that they are. Not that I think what they do is ok, but I think it’s more like they’re caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Draco even apologized to me and gave his blessing for our relationship. That was a big deal to all of them, not only because as a whole they look at Draco as their leader, but Theodore and Draco are really close, like brothers more than like friends. It’s because Lucius is Theo’s Godfather. Fortunately, Snape and Lord Barrows both mentor Theo, which gives him some positive role models that he can look up to and go to when he’s in trouble.”

Mercury nodded in understanding before giving his thoughts on the topic. “You know, Dad says that the house system here at Hogwarts was never meant to be this adversarial. It was initially meant to be a way to sort like minded children together to help with their transition to being away from home for so much of the year. Over time people like Dippet and Dumbledore changed it into some kind of battle between good and evil. They act like no one from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw has ever gone bad. Sirius Black was a Gryffindor.”

“Sirius is innocent,” Harry blurted with a scowl on his face. “I don’t know why they haven’t announced it yet, but the DMLE has Peter Pettigrew. Sirius never got a trial and I don’t know why they still haven’t given him one yet. My guess is Fudge is stalling because he knows his seat is hot already with the information that Voldemort really is back coming out. Add on the fact that my Godfather was never given a trial and is innocent, well I can’t imagine that he’ll hold onto that seat. We just have to hope that someone good gets elevated to Minister. Someone like Madame Bones. I just hope that Voldeyfarts doesn’t go after her too. I don’t know who is behind her, but I have a feeling that they’re nowhere as good as she is. ”

“I am going to make sure my father knows all of this,” Mercury promised, looking disgruntled. “Especilly the part about Amelia Bones. He and she are good friends because they were at Hogwarts together. He’s going to be irate. He already feels bad for not staying in Britain for the first war with Voldy.”

“He was trying to protect you, Mercury,” Alicia inserted passionately, grabbing her boyfriend’s hand. “Your father is a good man. He took you to America until the war was over, both because of your statuses as werewolves and because of how young you were. I don’t blame him at all, and no one with half a brain would blame him either.”

“He’s staying and helping us this time. That’s what matters to me. The past is the past and can’t be changed.” Hermione offered quietly as she leaned against Harry. “Theodore says that he’s been conversing with Draco, which is the best thing that he could do. I know that he will have Sirius, Severus, and this Dragon Guardian, but I hope that your father sticks around. I don’t think that Draco can have too many positive male influences after what Lucius put him through.”

“I think Dad is going to be more of an overall mentor to their group since there are so many boys in Draco’s circle that need someone that they can trust to go to. He’s been talking to Blaise and Theodore, too. I think he plans to reach out to Gregory and Vincent to see if they’d like his help.”

“I can’t imagine they wouldn’t. I mean, they have officially left home and sought sanctuary with Draco. Neither one of them has siblings, nor are their fathers the kind to take their sons betraying ‘the cause’ in any way that could be considered good. I think that Theodore said one of their mothers is of Malfoy descent, so that would put her within Draco’s purview. I don’t know anything about the other one, though.” Hermione mused, tapping a finger to her chin before her stomach grumbled, betraying her hunger. Alicia giggled when her stomach soon growled too. Mercury stood and pulled up Alicia before motioning to the others.

“Enough heavy conversation. Let’s go to lunch before Licia and Hermione’s stomachs eat themselves out of hunger. Then after maybe we can get some pick up quidditch games going.” Harry whooped his approval in the idea and practically pulled a giggling Hermione out behind him.

Later that same day a grinning but exuberant Draco, his Nimbus 2001 leaning on his shoulder as he made his way back to the dorm rooms.  Next to him was Goyle who seemed to be trying to work himself up to asking something, which was why Draco had slowed his footsteps to give his friend time to work up the courage. Draco knew Vince and Greg’s reputations.

All brute no brains and the emotional depth of a teaspoon was what people thought of them. The reality was that Greg was sensitive, and their go to person when it came to creatures of any kind. Vince was super funny in a dry and sarcastic way once you learned his sense of humor and had a passion for ruins, but had a father that convinced him he was too stupid to take such a challenging class. Therefore Draco had been helping him self-study and was going to insist that he pick up the class next year after he took the OWL for the class over the summer.

“Drake, what with your dad being dead, that would mean that you are my mum’s Lord, right? So, say something was happening and she wanted to leave, could you help her?”

“I could,” Draco promised, steering his friend toward the lake where they could sit and talk. Draco used the time it took to get there to get his thoughts in order.

“I would need to look into a place for her to stay, which I do have an idea about. My cousin Sirius has mentioned his childhood home a few times, but insinuated that someone is using it for something. The way he talks about it, he’s not that thrilled with them being there. I’ve been considering going to the Dragons and having them change the wards for me so that only I can get in for the moment.

“The only reason I haven’t is that I don’t know who is in there, and I don’t have someone to watch over it and get it back in shape. I need someone who runs an exemplary household and knows how to work with the house elves in a respectable manner. Do you think that would be something that your mother would be interested in? It would be a lot of hard work. From my understanding, the house has been neglected for quite a while and is in horrible shape.”

“I think mum would love that. She takes great pride in how our home looks, even if Da is never satisfied. And she loves our house elves. She’d take them with her if there was any way to do so. I don’t know if that’s possible or not, though.”

“How many are there and who exactly do they belong to?” Draco asked quietly, trying not to clench his hands. Draco knew from previous conversations with Greg and from seeing the abuse with his own eyes that Lord Goyle treated his house elves terribly.

“We have two, and they both belong to mum. Da isn’t allowed to own house elves because of the abuse his father was sanctioned for when he was a child. The House Elf Council came down on our line hard because one of the elves died because of the abuse, and another was permanently crippled. If we don’t do something, Mum is going to be sanctioned too, even though she suffers too.”

“Can you tell me what is going on, Greg? I need details if I am going to legally challenge their marriage.”

Eyes trained on the lake, Greg started telling Draco just what was going on in his home. At first, it was halting and spoken so quietly that Draco could barely hear him, even though he was right next to his friend. The longer Greg spoke, though, the angrier Draco got and the more he wanted this to be fixed immediately. When his friend stopped, Draco couldn’t help but wrap his arms around his sensitive friend, who was trying to hide the tears running down his cheeks.

“It’s going to be ok, Greg. I will take your mother in as well. She can have the run of Grimmauld Place. I just need to get whoever is in there now out. Technically, I need to talk to Sirius because I refuse to give away his birth home and kick out whoever is there now without speaking with him. The way he spoke about the whole thing involved a lot of half-speak and talking around things creatively.

“There are other things I will need to do, and I am sure I do not even know all of them yet, but I will take her in at any time. Let me speak with Sirius. I believe that I am able to floo him at any time, and then I can send off some letters. Why don’t you go in and contact your mum and see if she is even willing to leave, ok? Or better yet. Use Apollo as a go-between for now. Did you ever have your own personal attendant elf?”

“Mum wanted Wodbey to be my PA Elf, but Da wouldn’t hear of such a thing. He said only pansy-arsed little fuckers had PA elves. Wodbey mostly helps me when I am at home, but we don’t have that bond.”

“OK, so I will plan to take in those elves, and then I will officially give you Wodbey as your PA Elf. Who is the other elf? Was that your mum’s PA Elf?”

“Yes, Mossy,” Greg said with a definitive nod. “My understanding is that is the only reason she was allowed to bring two elves. One was to be hers and the other was to be her firstborn child’s elf. But Da got in the way, and the House Elf Council doesn’t know about it yet.”

Nodding, Draco stood, brushing grass off his robe and holding out a hand to help Greg up. “OK, let’s go inside and talk to Sev and see if we can use his floo to make calls. I know that Sirius was planning on staying at the cottage today, but was going to the other place tomorrow for a few days. So, I need to catch him before he leaves. We’re going to save her, Greg. I will find a way, trust me.”

“I do, Drake, I do. You have my loyalty for this forever. I know that it’s not common anymore, but you know I like history. I want to pledge to be a vassal to you once I am old enough to do so. If I had a sword, it would be yours forever, I swear it on my magic.”

Before Draco could speak, a heavy blanket of magic settled over him and Greg as the magical oath was accepted by Lady Magic. Smiling, Draco slapped Goye’s shoulder. “Well, G I would say that Our Lady is on board with your wish. I will be honored to have your sword, even if it’s imaginary.” Then, turning toward the castle, Draco shifted the conversation and happily talked shite with his friend, who was a fervent Tutshill Tornados fan while Draco supported the Falmouth Falcons.

Later, after a lunch that saw the group of Slytherins and Gryffindors huddling together at the Ravenclaw table with Luna, to her pleasure, Draco sat down and wrote his letters.

The conversation with Sirius hadn’t happened because he hadn’t been around. Apparently, there was some kind of emergency, and he’d headed to Grimmauld Place per Zeus, who seemed immune to the restrictions of the fidelius spell. It was something that Draco made note of to talk to Gragin when he went to see him the first Saturday of the summer.

Fortunately, he had been able to talk to Leonore Goyle, nee Robin, whose mother had been a Malfoy and a cousin to Abraxas from the French line of Malfoys. So, while Leonore was close enough for Draco to act as the Lord of her Birth House, he and Goyle didn’t count each other as cousins. Belatedly, Draco realized that this would also keep the woman safe from his own mother, whom he knew would not be a positive influence or supporter of her leaving her husband.

It wasn’t as if Lucius had never beaten his wife, because he had. The difference between the two women’s circumstances was that Narcissa gave as good as she got, and it wasn’t unusual for her to instigate the abuse toward Lucius.

Frankly, neither of them was a good partner to the other, and Draco knew that the only things he could take from his parents’ marriage were everything not to do in a relationship. It wasn’t unusual for them to ship Draco off to stay with Abraxas when Draco was small, when they were going through a particularly volatile patch.

Shaking himself out of his parents’ mutually abusive relationship, Draco pulled out a roll of parchment and started his first letter.

Dear Cousin Sirius,

Something has come to my attention that I need your help with. Gregory Goyle, one of my oldest friends, came to me today asking for help with his mother, who is a Malfoy via his great-grandfather Elwin, who was my great-grandfather Roman’s brother. Elwin had a girl named Inga who had a daughter named Lenore Bryony Robin, who is my friend Gregory’s mother. She is living in an abusive marriage. Her husband Ram is a horrible man and isn’t even allowed to own house elves himself because of the abuse known to be dished out in his line.

I was thinking that I need a second house for those I want to help but do not want at the Cottage. I’m not saying that Mrs. Goyle is one of those people because, honestly, she is a beautiful,  sweet, and loving woman who takes care of her son to the best of her abilities. There are two house elves that I will take in, and most likely have to pay the Dragons or the Elf Enclave for healing before they can begin performing duties.

I know that you said that there is an organization in the place that you can’t tell me about. I have a feeling that I know who it is because Father has told me a lot about the war and Dumbledore’s organization of ‘blood-traitors’. If we are talking about the same organization and my eventual talk with Dumbledore goes well, then I am more than willing to let them use one of my other properties as their headquarters.

If you have the time tonight or tomorrow. Can we please set up a floo call using Severus’ floo? I would like to get Lenore out before Gregory has to leave and Ram realizes that his son isn’t coming home, ever again.

Also, if you or anyone you know would be willing to help us get her out, I would be ever thankful.

Your Lord and Cousin,

Dragonis Abraxas Arcturus Black-Malfoy Emrys

P.S. When can I get away with shortening that because it’s a mouthful and I hate it!

The next letter was written to Gentleheart. Draco knew that he needed to get the changes to Grimmauld Place started if he wanted to have everything ready for Lenore by the time that Greg left school for the summer. Draco was well aware of how much danger she would be in if she were still in that home.

The same could be said for the two house elves, although that was an easier undertaking because the elves could break the bond and take up one with him anytime they wished. He guessed, though, that if they were as loyal as Draco’s own elves were, there was no way they would leave before Gregory and Lenore did.

Mentally, Draco made himself a note to discuss the new house elves with Zeus and Hera, who would be overseeing them, and then started on his letter to Gragin Gentleheart, his account Manager.

Accounts Manager Gragin Gentleheart,

I am in need of a second house that I can put people in who need a safe place to stay, but I don’t know want in my personal home. My cousin Sirius has mentioned his birth home, Grimmauld Place, in previous conversations insinuating that someone is using it after guilting him into letting them. I want this changed.

I don’t know who is using it, but there is really only one option I can think of, unless there is a second secret light organization my father was unaware of during the last war with Voldy. If I am right, I don’t want a secret organization using this townhouse as a headquarters while it is also a place where people are living. Especially given that I don’t know or trust all of the people in this organization. The few names I can be certain are in it, I question their ability to be kind to those of us switching sides.

I need to know if the Dragons can go in and lock the wards down to just me and my cousin Sirius Black until I decide whoever else needs access. Then I want the wards checked out to see if they can hold Draconic war wards, if they do not already. I’d also like the contents of the house checked out for any black magic or harmful magical items. This was a Black family property, and my only interaction with my Aunt Walburgah was not a positive one. I have no doubts to there being things in the home that are harmful and should not be accessible to those fleeing the Dark Lord.

Lastly, I understand Great-Aunt Walburgah has stuck a portrait of herself on a wall in the front area of the house that spews filth and abuse at anyone she doesn’t approve of. I want it to be removed, even if you have to take the whole wall down. I didn’t like her as a child, and in my opinion she has already done cousin Sirius harm in her living life. I am not willing to let her heap more abuse on him in her portrait life.

As always, I trust you and your fellow Dragons to do best by me. May your horde multiply beyond your dreams and your enemies quake at the sound of your name.

In Our Lady’s Name,

Lord Draconis Abraxis Arcturus Black-Malfoy Emrys

Earl of Avalon

P.S.  I may need a third place for this secret organization to be a headquarters. I do not know if I have something suitable, and have not looked at either the Black or Malfoy properties yet to have any clue, as you know. Could you do that for me and give me a recommendation? I’d want the wards on that property reviewed as well and possibly upgraded.

P.P.S. I still have to speak with Sirius about this Grimmauld Place. I have sent him a letter, and I am awaiting his response. So, do not take this as an official request. Either I will send you another letter when it is, or I will send him to come see you.

One that was done, Draco made a trek up to the owlery to send off the letter for Gentleheart with Harry’s owl Hedwig, who looked rather bored. The snowy owl was on a perch high up in the rafters with Draco’s own owl, Archimedes.  Calling them both down, Draco attached the letter for Sirius to his own owl sending it off on its way after some treats and scratches. When Hedwig just barked at him disgruntled, Draco gave her some scritches and treats before sending her off on her assignment as well.

Then before heading back to the dungeons to begin his letter to Lord Barrows to thank him for his assistance, Draco headed up to Griffyndor tower to hopefully talk to Harry and Mercury. He needed to let his soulmate know that he had borrowed his owl for business correspondence and to ask Mercury if he could use his owl for the letter to his father.

He admitted silently to himself that he didn’t really need to use either Hedwig or Mercury’s owl. The letter to Lord Barrows could wait, and he could have used a school owl for the letter to Gringotts, but that wasn’t what he wanted to do nor was it what he felt that he should do. Draco and Sterling Barrows had talked more than once about The Thunder’s plans should Draco unexpectedly gain his Lordship. He knew that while Draco appreciated his guidance and assistance that Draco felt they could use his help better in other areas.

Draco felt, and Sterling had agreed, that it would be safer if their friendship was kept more distant. Afterall Draco only knew the older man because his mother and Sterling were on the boards of a couple of charity organizations together. They were also members of the same prominent gardening club, which was how Narcissa had made most of her non-Death Eater friends, unknown to Lucius.

Behind the scenes, Sterling Barrows would continue to correspond with Draco and Theo, with the occasional letter to Blaise and possibly writing Vince and Gregory if they were interested. Daco really wanted to get mentors for his two friends, and thought maybe Drew Barrows would be a better mentor for Greg because of their shared love of magical creatures. Vince was very much a question, though, and so for now, Draco had agreed that Sterling might be the best option.

Trudging up to the Gryffindor common room door, Draco conversed with the Fat Lady, asking to speak with Harry and Mercury Barrows. It took a while to sweet-talk her, but Draco knew from his prefect work that she was able to convince with a little flirting and a few complimentary words.

Eventually, the door opened, and both stepped out looking fresh out of the showers from their games. “Come to congratulate the winning team again, Dragon?” Harry asked teasingly, and Draco just gowered for a moment before shrugging and grinning good-naturedly.

“I won the morning rounds, so I’m happy. I have resigned myself to having my arse kicked by you anytime we are rival seekers. Don’t think that means i won’t do my best to make you work for it though, Potter! No actually, I needed to tak to you both about your owls, but first…”

And before Draco continued, he stepped forward and tugged Harry into a hug, resting his chin on the smaller boy’s shoulder as he inhaled his scent. Closing his eyes, Draco let himself enjoy the hug, hoping that no one would see them who would spread rumors quite yet. When Mercury snickered, Draco drew back, blushing for having forgotten the older boy was even there for a moment. From the blush on Harry’s cheeks, he had also forgotten.

“Aah, young love,” Mercury teased, and Draco smiled. On a spur-of-the-moment decision, he showed the Barrows Heir the Infinity Bond mark on his arm.

“It showed up during the battle while my father was trying to kill me. We agreed to try being friends first and work up to a relationship, but today I have found myself missing his presence at my side.”

“That isn’t unusual, actually,” Mercury said and looking around rolled up his own sleeve and showed the mark on his own arm. It wasn’t an infinity bond, but was a soulmate bond mark showing that Mercury Frederick Barrows and Alicia Maria Spinnet were soulmates with three hearts encircling the words. This mark signalled that Mercury and Alicia had been soulmates for three lifetimes.

“That is amazing!” Draco congratulated with a happy smile. “Many blessings for this life and all of those to come. “I am hoping that Harry and I can help to make checking the book of souls commonplace again. Did you check the book or did you begin dating and the mark appeared? I know that it can happen either way.”

“Father and Uncle Drew took me to the book at Gringotts on my 15th birthday as per tradition. Then Alicia’s grandmother, who is the head of her house, took her to the book a few months later, and the mark appeared. We’re both thankful for the mark and the listing because otherwise, she most likely would have been kicked out of her family because of my status as a werewolf.”

Draco nodded understanding. The werewolf issue was something the Thunder had down to work on in the future when they all had taken up their seats within the Wizengamot. “Mercury, I wanted to ask you if i could borrow your owl to send your father a letter. I’m still trying to be careful about who knows I am speaking with him on a personal basis. Plus, I send Archimedes with an important letter to my cousin. Harry, I also wanted to let you know that i sent Hedwig to Gringotts with a letter for Gentleheart. An issue has arisen that needs to be handled before we leave school.”

“Of course!” Mercury said with a serious nod. “I actually have a letter to send to dad. If you wouldn’t mind both going, I’ll go up and get it. That way, they both can go out at the same time.”

“I dont think your request is too much to ask, Heir Barrows,” Draco said with a formal half bow but Mercury just waved a hand.

“My friends call me Mercury, and I am hoping that we can become friends. Even if it has to be in secret until you and Harry come out of the closet, so to speak.”

Draco opened his mouth and then closed it, hoping that Mercury would ignore the tears gathering in his eyes. The Barrows family was one of the most well-respected neutral families in Britain. Draco knew what it meant for the son of a confirmed Death Eater to get their open approval and friendship. There was a time not so long ago in the past that he thought something like this would never happen.

He didn’t know if this would have ever happened had Lucius lived, but he certainly was smart enough to know turning this offer down would be social suicide. Therefore with a deep breath and a frustrated swipe of his eyes, Draco held out his hand to the future head of the Barrows family. “I don’t have the words for how honored I would be to call you my friend. Harry and I are going to discuss when we want to make things official soon, I hope. While this is very new to us, there are things going on around us that will make keeping this a secret very hard to do. Anyone that is willing to stand by us during all of the chaos and anticipated howlers is much appreciated.”

“Well, count me in as a member of your cheering squad then,” Mercury said before heading back through the entrance leaving Harry and Draco to talk.

“So, you have co-opted Hedwig, huh?” Harry said, grinning, and Draco snorted. ”It’s probably a good thing that you sent her out. I haven’t needed her recently, and I have a feeling she was getting bored.”

“Have you gone up there recently? She was snuggled up awfully close to Archimedes…”

“IF that lathario bird of yours gets cooties all over Hedwig…”

“It’s not Archimedes fault that he’s a very attractive owl. He is a Black-Malfoy, you know.”

“Not an Emrys?” Harry joked, and Draco made a face.

“It isn’t that I am upset or turned off by having the Emrys Lordship. I’m not. I’m honored. I just don’t know what the Hel i am supposed to do with it, and I hate how long it makes my name. I sound like some pompous jackass, even more than I normally sound. How do you feel about all these people becoming aware of our friendship relationship?”

“I think that we both have a lot going on right now. Most would say that the last thing that we need is the pressure that will come from us being together. Honestly, I say they’re wrong and the best thing that we can do is to just let it be. I don’t know about you but the last thing that I want is another secret that I have to keep. So, I say that we just be us. We hold hands when we want to. We don’t hide and let the rest of the world just react how we will and try our best to not care.”

Draco considered Harry’s words, and eventually nodded his agreement. “OK, I agree. I’ll talk to my lawyer about having some kind of statement made about both our infinity bond as well as my Lordships. Hopefully they will balance each other out and the prophet will realize that pissing me off right now might not be the best thing to do. I have more than enough money to buy that rag and force it to be respectable again. Eat dinner with me at Slytherin? You can bring Hermione. I’ll warn Theo she might come.”

Before Harry could do more than agree, Mercury came out with the letter. Draco gave Harry another quick kiss to the cheek before admitting he had two more letters to write before dinner and taking off.

On his way to his dorm, Draco stopped by his Godfather’s office to get permission to borrow his raven Poe to send a letter. Severus had found Poe as a baby bird and raised him. After getting to Hogwarts he’d found out that ravens were actually a magical breed that like owls were seen in both the magical and muggle world. Because they were also highly intelligent, Severus, had trained Poe, named after Severus’ favorite author, to carry his mail.

Back in his room, with Blaise and Theo both out with the others, Draco pulled out a new parchment and started his letter to Lord Barrows.

Sir,

I hope that you do not find me using your son’s owl inappropriate. I did get his permission first, which is why Bowie is delivering a letter from Mercury as well.

I wanted to thank you for your assistance last weekend in checking everyone out. It helped to have a weekend of peace at the Cottage before having to face my peers at Hogwarts once more. I have no regrets about going, but I do have conflicting feelings about my father’s death. There is a part of me that is relieved he is dead, while the part of me that is Lord over my own Houses now is horrified by the disloyalty.

I did go to see the Dragons as we discussed on Friday morning, and I want you to be one of the first outside of my inner circle to be notified of my lordship results. As expected, I gained Lordship over the Houses of Black and Malfoy, but unexpectedly, I also gained Lordship over the House of Emrys. I always knew that it was a possibility, but I thought it was a much slimmer option than it obviously was. I am not sure what pushed me over the edge, because it did not come up the first time. To be honest, I am more than a little overwhelmed by it, Sterling.

They’re saying that I share a Magical Soul with Merlin Emrys! What am I supposed to do with that? How can I possibly be a suitable heir to someone as great as him? What am I supposed to do with it? They say that it is only reactivated in times of great need, but I just… I don’t know what to do, sir. (Sorry, I know you hate sir, but I am stressed and it is what came out.)

I also wanted to let you know that I have taken in most of my inner circle in one way or another at the cottage. That includes Theodore, whom I know you plan on forming a mentorship with once he is out of Hogwarts. If he has already reached out to you, then ignore this and chalk it up to my mother hen ways. If he hasn’t, though, could you reach out to him? I am worried about him.

The last I heard was that his father is in critical condition in St. Mungo’s. Thus far, every time I have tried to approach the subject, he has pushed me off. I am hoping that he will be more open with you about it. From recent personal experience, I know that his head and heart must be a mess.

I have also officially granted sanctuary to Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, and Harry Potter. Potter is also my soul mate. We share a soulmate bond. (Your son was the first to hear that out of my circle, apologies.)

Have you heard anything about a trial for either Peter Pettigrew or Sirius Black? If not, can you push it? Let me know what I need to do to make you my proxy for a bit, that is, if you don’t mind doing it. Sirius is going to do it on the long term, but I’d like to ease him into things and I am not sure dealing with the arseholes in the Wizengamot while he is getting mind healing is the smartest thing I could do.

I am also going to reach out to my lawyer for an update. So, do not be surprised if Gloria reaches out to you also. Once more I appreciate all of your assistance in the past, present, and future. Harry and I are going public with our relationship and fuck all those who will have a problem with it. So, wish us luck.

Yours faithfully,

Lord Draconis Abraxas Arcturus Black-Malfoy Emrys

Earl of Southport

Madame Thistlethorps-Stewart,

I am going to begin this letter with my most sincere apologies for not writing to you before now. I got your letter Saturday afternoon, but I am just now getting a second to respond, and that shames me.

I can only imagine what you are thinking of me at this moment. If it is that I am much too young to be taking on all of these responsibilities at once and am overwhelmed, then you have hit the nail on the head. Regardless, it does not speak very highly of me, and I know it.

To catch you up on everything that has transpired since last Thursday night:

• • Thursday evening we had to go to the Department of Mysteries to make sure that Harry Potter and his friends didn’t die at the hands of my father and his fellow Death Eaters.
  • While there, I renounced my father and admitted that I was there to be on Harry’s side
    • At that time, I got an infinite soul mate bond mark on my wand forearm. Although I wouldn’t know this until the next day.
  • Also, while at the DoM, one of my house elves (on my orders) saved Sirius Black’s life, and because of that, my father fell into the Veil, killing him. (We assume, does anyone know what really happens with that thing?)
  • At that point, my house elves began transporting my circle of friends and me out, along with Potter, his friends, my cousin Sirius, and a former professor who was there. Those who were taken out of the DoM were
    • Myself
    • Sirius Black
    • Blaise Zabini
    • Pansy Parkinson
    • Theodore Nott
    • Daphne Greengrass
    • Gregory Goyle
    • Vincent Crabbe
    • Harry Potter
    • Hermione Granger
    • Ronald Weasley
    • Ginny Weasley
    • Luna Lovegood
    • Neville Longbottom
    • Remus Lupin
  • Everyone was taken to the Cottage that I inherited, and we worked to set it up as a sanctuary.
    • Almost immediately upon getting there, Ronald Weasley began pitching a fit. Former Professor Lupin eventually created a portkey and sent him wherever Ronald requested. (I am assuming either to his home, known as the Burrow, or Hogwarts.)
  • Later that day, as it was after midnight when we reached the Cottage, I got a letter from my mother advising me that after 24 hours, she was going to go to Gringotts to see the Dragons about me being disowned from both the Houses of Black and Malfoy. I am including a copy of this letter for your records.
  • I almost immediately went to Gringotts to claim my titles and found out that I have the following Lordships
    • House of Black via my mother, Narcissa Malfoy, nee Black
    • House of Malfoy, via being my birth house, and the Lord being recorded as deceased officially.
    • House of Emrys, Earl of Southport (I am not happy about this, Gloria!)
  • We returned to Hogwarts today (Sunday) in order to finish off the last week of school. They did offer to let me not return, but everyone else had to, and I felt I needed to return.
  • Today, after returning Gregory Goyle approached me about rescuing his mother, who is of Malfoy descent.
    • I have already set things in motion to get this done.

A couple more items I need to let you know. It has come to my attention that one of the houses I have control over may be being used by a secret light organization as a headquarters. I am not happy about the location they are using because I feel as if it is too big for their purpose. Plus, I do not want people living in the same place that this organization is using. So, the organization has to leave.

What happens after that is up to Albus Dumbledore. After a conversation with several people, including my cousin Sirius and my godfather, I am open to changing my mind about Albus Dumbledore. If this happens, I am also open to offering them a new location to use as a base of operations. I do not know where that will be. Gentleheart is researching it for me.

I recognize that we need to meet, but can it be after I am done with school? That will be the last day of June. I am sure that I have displeased you, and I offer my most humble of apologies, truly.

One thing I need you to look into is what it would take to open that sanctuary I wish to have Rubeus Hagrid run, please. I have decided for sure that I want to do it, and need your brilliance. (Yes, I am kissing arse in hopes that it helps lessen the lecture.)

I am sure I am forgetting something… Oh yes. Right. Harry Potter and I are going public with our soulmate bond. I was hoping that I could get a release on my houses, also to try and balance out the hatred that will come my way for sullying their savior.  Can you see both notifications happen?

I know I had something else, but I don’t remember what it is. So, expect a last-minute frantic letter later once I remember. I appreciate you being willing to take me on because of my age, and I am sorry I am not doing well thus far with it. If you need me to find someone else, please just give me time to do so before you drop me.

Sincerely,

Lord Draconis Abraxas Arcturus Black-Malfoy Emrys

Earl of Southport

Flopping back in his chair, Draco arched his back and stretched his arms over his head, trying to work out the kinks in his back and hands. “Are you done?” He heard and immediately shrieked. This sent his two best friends into giggle fits as Draco glowered at them. After casting a tempus spell and seeing that it was almost dinner time, Draco decided to talk to the Robin Elves the next day and stood heading over to Blaise’s bed, where they seemed to have perched just to watch him write letters.

“Did the two of you really sit here and watch me write letters?”

“We were a little worried that Pansy would storm in here and do something ill-conceived if we left you alone. We’ve been playing a Muggle game called rummy while we waited. Is there anything that we need to know?” Theo asked as Blaise straightened the cards and put them back in their box.

“Umm, I am taking Lenore Goyle and Gregory back into the house of Malfoy. I am setting up one more sanctuary house and maybe another house for… something else. Oh, and Mercury Barrows not only said that he would stand behind Harry and me when we came out, so to speak, but that he wanted to be my friend.”

Scrunching up his nose, Draco leaned against the bedpost of Blaise’s bed, rubbing his back. “I know there was something… Oh yes. I invited Harry and Hermione to sit at the Slytherin table tonight. I do not know if you and Hermione were ready for such a thing. If not, it’s ok, we can put space between you. Harry and I have just decided that we don’t want to hide this because we already have too many things that we are trying to keep secret.”

“No, no, that’s ok. Hermione and I decided basically the same thing. The world is a dark place right now, and maybe it needs more young love. If you’re done, let’s head to the Great Hall. It’ll be dinner by the time we get there. Suddenly, I am starving.”

The three of them left their dorm room, with Blaise making jokes about needing to pick up a Gryffindor boyfriend or girlfriend to stay with the newest trend. Thus, Draco and Theo spent the rest of the walk throwing out increasingly worse suggestions until finally someone suggested Professor McGonagall sending the three of them into peals of laughter. As they headed into dinner, Draco found himself thanking Merlin for the loyalty of his friends. They really were the best in the world.

Adam Lambert as Mercury Frederick Barrows

Robert Downey Jr as Lord Sterling Barrows