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beren_writesTitle: Defence, Pretence, Offence - Chapter 44/70 - More Friends and Family
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles (LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
New chapters will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
"Merlin save me from Gryffindors," Draco said in a very dramatic fashion as Pansy and Greg walked into the room.
"That may even be beyond the great man himself," was Pansy's comeback. "Given your behaviour I'm beginning to think it's too late for you anyway."
"A valid observation when you don't understand our motivation," Draco replied and smiled; it was always fun talking to Pansy.
"Care to explain?"
"Sirius Black was causing an anomaly in the fabric of the universe that could have resulted in anything from an explosion big enough to destroy a building to a reaction that would have ripped a hole in reality itself. We either had to resurrect him or kill him properly. Both were as unknown as each other, so we chose the more favourable outcome."
Pansy looked at him for a moment, her mouth slightly open. If she had been anything but a Slytherin, Draco was sure the words "you're kidding" or something equally as inane would have been falling from her lips.
"You may wish to explain that to Snape in the near future," she finally said; "he's been frantic."
"He made two second years cry," Greg added.
"That is worried," Draco agreed.
"How is making second years cry any different from his usual behaviour?" Harry asked.
"There are lines Snape does not usually cross, when you are not in the room that is," Pansy said. "He has made many a first year cry, but then that's a very easy thing to do even without trying, second years, however, not a usual occurrence."
"I'll have to take your word for it," Harry replied.
Pansy grinned at that. Draco couldn't help enjoying the ease with which all those he cared for interacted now.
"Hermione asked me to bring you these," Pansy said, walking over and depositing the pile of papers she was carrying on the bedside table next to Draco. "She didn't think the others would let her bring them in."
"What are they?" Draco asked, reaching out and taking the top one.
"All the information on the idiocy in the Ministry to do with Sirius Black," Pansy said and Draco moved the document he was holding so Harry could see it before Harry did anything stupid like try and sit up, "and various ideas we have been working on to put them in their place."
Draco quickly scanned the parchment in his hand. It was the details of the trial date and the charges Sirius had to answer.
"Bureaucrats to the last man and woman," Draco said, letting all his contempt coalesce in his tone.
"It will be a media spectacle, a waste of time and money, but at least once it's done they won't be able to try anything else," Pansy agreed.
"My thinking exactly," Draco said.
"But what if they fix the trial?" Harry finally voiced what Draco was sure had been bothering him since Hermione had revealed what was going on.
"We will make sure that can't happen," Draco promised.
"Fudge tried to have my wand broken because I saved my cousin from Dementors," was Harry's immediate comeback. "If I scared him, Sirius must positively terrify him."
"And Dumbledore has already made sure the imbecile can't play any ridiculous games," Pansy explained. "Fudge tried to move for a closed trial, but it will be in front of the whole Wizengamot."
"Relax," Draco said as he felt Harry starting to get worked up, "we've got this."
"Now that you're both awake, yes, we definitely have," Pansy agreed.
"I take it Fudge was insisting on the trial date even though Harry will be a key witness?" Draco checked.
"Of course," she replied.
"He'll wet himself when he finds out you woke up," Greg added in an apparently delighted tone.
Draco allowed himself some smug satisfaction at the thought.
"The problem will be making sure the court believe Harry and Sirius," he said as he went through the possibilities in his head. "It doesn't matter who else testifies if we can do that."
"What about Veritaserum?" Harry asked.
"They would just claim Sirius was resistant to it," Draco replied.
"And since it doesn't work on Hecatemae ..." Pansy added.
"It's doesn't?"
Draco felt the surprise coming from Harry.
"It works using the magical centres," Draco replied and added yet more to his list of things Harry still didn't know about himself, "and yours don't function like anyone else's, hence you are resistant to it."
"Oh," was all Harry said.
"There was a famous case involving Clementine Drowsy, a Hecatema from America," Pansy said. "It's admissible in court in some places over there. She failed all the test questions by lying outrageously."
"How do you know this and I don't?" Harry asked.
"Apparently she didn't want to be there and was quite vulgar," Draco explained. "It's one of those naughty stories children whisper and giggle about and embellish with every telling."
Pansy and Greg nodded in agreement.
[Wonder if the knowledge transfer works in the other direction,] Harry commented silently, [because I could really do with all this trivia.]
"When did this happen?" Harry asked out loud.
"Eighteen something or other," Greg said, "I remember that much."
"So is there anything else we could use that is allowed in court?" Harry asked.
"Not that I know of," Pansy replied with a shrug.
"We just have to make sure that all testimony is heard," Draco decided. "As long as Harry and Sirius get to give full statements they will be believed. It's legal games we have to guard against."
[They didn't believe me before,] Harry said.
[You're not a boy anymore,] Draco reassured him, [you're a man and you've proven yourself too many times. Fudge has failed and everyone knows that. What we have to watch out for is political games.]
Only a feeling came back and Draco knew Harry didn't like the uncertainty, but then he was a Gryffindor. The courts were a Slytherin playground.
"Tell us everything we need to know," Draco said simply and prepared to let Pansy do all the talking.
* * *
The next two days were full of eating, sleeping and visits from friends and family. It had been when Narcissa visited that Harry had felt the most guilt. Draco's mother hadn't stopping hugging Draco for five solid minutes. She had briefly hugged him too, but his shields were less than stellar at the moment, so that had been it.
Sirius had been in three times and each time Harry was struck by how much younger his godfather looked. This was not the man who had been stuck in Azkaban. It was as if dying had restored what imprisonment had stolen. Harry could see so many more reflections of the boy from his parents' photo album.
Each time Harry spoke to Sirius it just made him more determined to do everything to make sure the Ministry could do nothing against his godfather.
"Gentlemen," Madam Pomfrey said as they packed up what few things they had in the room to finally leave her domain, "I am allowing you to leave on one condition and one condition only. Neither of you are to attempt anything more strenuous than reading. You may not return to teaching, you may not travel, and you may not get any silly ideas about Quidditch, the Ministry or saving the world in any way, shape or form. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," they both said in perfect unison.
"Good," she said.
[I think we really scared her this time,] Draco commented and Harry could only agree.
"Now I will expect you back here Friday morning," she told them, "at which time we shall reassess if you may return to light teaching duties for the last week of term."
"We'll be here," Harry promised, "and, Madam Pomfrey, thank you for putting us back together again."
"Yes, well, someone has to," the school healer replied in her usual concise tone, but she was smiling just slightly. "Now be off with you, you are cluttering up my hospital wing."
"Thank you," Draco added as they left. [Quick, before she changes her mind,] he added silently to Harry.
It was the middle of the morning, so classes were in full swing and they made it back to their room without meeting anyone. Harry had to sit down as soon as he was inside. He was much stronger than when he had woken up, but he was nowhere near full strength. Draco seemed to be improving faster, which was somewhat frustrating.
"You have more to deal with than I do," Draco said, picking up on his thoughts, "and the magic went through you."
"Still annoying," he replied, because there was no point in arguing, especially since Draco was right. "At least I'm not draining you anymore."
The blood bond should have dissolved as soon as the ritual was ended, but according to what Hilde had told them, something about their connection had kept it going while they slept. It had only released when they had begun to wake up.
"I initiated the blood bond, I had the power to end it," Draco said. "For once that was all on me."
There were so many things Harry could have said to that, but didn't. They had had this discussion a time or two already and he never won.
"Do you think Madam Pomfrey will let us go back to teaching next week?" he asked instead. "I feel so guilty with everyone covering for us."
"She will if she thinks we're up to it," was the very practical response. "I would say 'stop worrying', but when has that ever worked?"
"I still can't believe we were asleep so long," Harry had trouble remembering it was December. "I haven't done any of my Christmas shopping."
Draco laughed.
"Of course you would think of that," he said, still laughing.
"And Sirius' trial is only a week and a half away," Harry added and Draco sobered.
"Well at least with time on our hands we can prepare for that," Draco told him. "Now I know I read something while we were researching you-know-what about testifying in front of the Wizengamot. I didn't pay any attention to it at the time because it wasn't relevant, but Madam Pomfrey did say we were allowed to read."
Harry went to stand up.
"You're staying here," Draco said before he could climb to his feet.
"But..."
"No buts, you need to rest. I'll go to the library and do the leg work, you can be my note taker."
"I can sit down in the library as well as I can sit at our desk," Harry pointed out.
"But I'm pretty sure the reference is in the Restricted Section and that's hard on you on a good day. It's not as if we can't have the exact same conversation with you here and me there as we could with both of us there. It will just be easier this way."
Harry frowned; he didn't like Draco doing all the work.
"Do not make me call Madam Pomfrey," Draco added.
"You wouldn't."
"Try me."
Harry pouted and then sighed in defeat.
"I hate you sometimes."
"Only when I'm right," Draco said and grinned. "Now what do we say?"
"Draco knows best, always listen to Draco," Harry dutifully said, but rolled his eyes for good measure.
Draco walked over and gave him a kiss, which made him feel a little better.
"I love you, you Gryffindor idiot," Draco said. "No moving further than from here to the desk, okay?"
"I promise," Harry agreed, which probably illustrated how much the walk from the hospital wing had taken it out of him.
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles (LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
New chapters will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
"Merlin save me from Gryffindors," Draco said in a very dramatic fashion as Pansy and Greg walked into the room.
"That may even be beyond the great man himself," was Pansy's comeback. "Given your behaviour I'm beginning to think it's too late for you anyway."
"A valid observation when you don't understand our motivation," Draco replied and smiled; it was always fun talking to Pansy.
"Care to explain?"
"Sirius Black was causing an anomaly in the fabric of the universe that could have resulted in anything from an explosion big enough to destroy a building to a reaction that would have ripped a hole in reality itself. We either had to resurrect him or kill him properly. Both were as unknown as each other, so we chose the more favourable outcome."
Pansy looked at him for a moment, her mouth slightly open. If she had been anything but a Slytherin, Draco was sure the words "you're kidding" or something equally as inane would have been falling from her lips.
"You may wish to explain that to Snape in the near future," she finally said; "he's been frantic."
"He made two second years cry," Greg added.
"That is worried," Draco agreed.
"How is making second years cry any different from his usual behaviour?" Harry asked.
"There are lines Snape does not usually cross, when you are not in the room that is," Pansy said. "He has made many a first year cry, but then that's a very easy thing to do even without trying, second years, however, not a usual occurrence."
"I'll have to take your word for it," Harry replied.
Pansy grinned at that. Draco couldn't help enjoying the ease with which all those he cared for interacted now.
"Hermione asked me to bring you these," Pansy said, walking over and depositing the pile of papers she was carrying on the bedside table next to Draco. "She didn't think the others would let her bring them in."
"What are they?" Draco asked, reaching out and taking the top one.
"All the information on the idiocy in the Ministry to do with Sirius Black," Pansy said and Draco moved the document he was holding so Harry could see it before Harry did anything stupid like try and sit up, "and various ideas we have been working on to put them in their place."
Draco quickly scanned the parchment in his hand. It was the details of the trial date and the charges Sirius had to answer.
"Bureaucrats to the last man and woman," Draco said, letting all his contempt coalesce in his tone.
"It will be a media spectacle, a waste of time and money, but at least once it's done they won't be able to try anything else," Pansy agreed.
"My thinking exactly," Draco said.
"But what if they fix the trial?" Harry finally voiced what Draco was sure had been bothering him since Hermione had revealed what was going on.
"We will make sure that can't happen," Draco promised.
"Fudge tried to have my wand broken because I saved my cousin from Dementors," was Harry's immediate comeback. "If I scared him, Sirius must positively terrify him."
"And Dumbledore has already made sure the imbecile can't play any ridiculous games," Pansy explained. "Fudge tried to move for a closed trial, but it will be in front of the whole Wizengamot."
"Relax," Draco said as he felt Harry starting to get worked up, "we've got this."
"Now that you're both awake, yes, we definitely have," Pansy agreed.
"I take it Fudge was insisting on the trial date even though Harry will be a key witness?" Draco checked.
"Of course," she replied.
"He'll wet himself when he finds out you woke up," Greg added in an apparently delighted tone.
Draco allowed himself some smug satisfaction at the thought.
"The problem will be making sure the court believe Harry and Sirius," he said as he went through the possibilities in his head. "It doesn't matter who else testifies if we can do that."
"What about Veritaserum?" Harry asked.
"They would just claim Sirius was resistant to it," Draco replied.
"And since it doesn't work on Hecatemae ..." Pansy added.
"It's doesn't?"
Draco felt the surprise coming from Harry.
"It works using the magical centres," Draco replied and added yet more to his list of things Harry still didn't know about himself, "and yours don't function like anyone else's, hence you are resistant to it."
"Oh," was all Harry said.
"There was a famous case involving Clementine Drowsy, a Hecatema from America," Pansy said. "It's admissible in court in some places over there. She failed all the test questions by lying outrageously."
"How do you know this and I don't?" Harry asked.
"Apparently she didn't want to be there and was quite vulgar," Draco explained. "It's one of those naughty stories children whisper and giggle about and embellish with every telling."
Pansy and Greg nodded in agreement.
[Wonder if the knowledge transfer works in the other direction,] Harry commented silently, [because I could really do with all this trivia.]
"When did this happen?" Harry asked out loud.
"Eighteen something or other," Greg said, "I remember that much."
"So is there anything else we could use that is allowed in court?" Harry asked.
"Not that I know of," Pansy replied with a shrug.
"We just have to make sure that all testimony is heard," Draco decided. "As long as Harry and Sirius get to give full statements they will be believed. It's legal games we have to guard against."
[They didn't believe me before,] Harry said.
[You're not a boy anymore,] Draco reassured him, [you're a man and you've proven yourself too many times. Fudge has failed and everyone knows that. What we have to watch out for is political games.]
Only a feeling came back and Draco knew Harry didn't like the uncertainty, but then he was a Gryffindor. The courts were a Slytherin playground.
"Tell us everything we need to know," Draco said simply and prepared to let Pansy do all the talking.
* * *
The next two days were full of eating, sleeping and visits from friends and family. It had been when Narcissa visited that Harry had felt the most guilt. Draco's mother hadn't stopping hugging Draco for five solid minutes. She had briefly hugged him too, but his shields were less than stellar at the moment, so that had been it.
Sirius had been in three times and each time Harry was struck by how much younger his godfather looked. This was not the man who had been stuck in Azkaban. It was as if dying had restored what imprisonment had stolen. Harry could see so many more reflections of the boy from his parents' photo album.
Each time Harry spoke to Sirius it just made him more determined to do everything to make sure the Ministry could do nothing against his godfather.
"Gentlemen," Madam Pomfrey said as they packed up what few things they had in the room to finally leave her domain, "I am allowing you to leave on one condition and one condition only. Neither of you are to attempt anything more strenuous than reading. You may not return to teaching, you may not travel, and you may not get any silly ideas about Quidditch, the Ministry or saving the world in any way, shape or form. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," they both said in perfect unison.
"Good," she said.
[I think we really scared her this time,] Draco commented and Harry could only agree.
"Now I will expect you back here Friday morning," she told them, "at which time we shall reassess if you may return to light teaching duties for the last week of term."
"We'll be here," Harry promised, "and, Madam Pomfrey, thank you for putting us back together again."
"Yes, well, someone has to," the school healer replied in her usual concise tone, but she was smiling just slightly. "Now be off with you, you are cluttering up my hospital wing."
"Thank you," Draco added as they left. [Quick, before she changes her mind,] he added silently to Harry.
It was the middle of the morning, so classes were in full swing and they made it back to their room without meeting anyone. Harry had to sit down as soon as he was inside. He was much stronger than when he had woken up, but he was nowhere near full strength. Draco seemed to be improving faster, which was somewhat frustrating.
"You have more to deal with than I do," Draco said, picking up on his thoughts, "and the magic went through you."
"Still annoying," he replied, because there was no point in arguing, especially since Draco was right. "At least I'm not draining you anymore."
The blood bond should have dissolved as soon as the ritual was ended, but according to what Hilde had told them, something about their connection had kept it going while they slept. It had only released when they had begun to wake up.
"I initiated the blood bond, I had the power to end it," Draco said. "For once that was all on me."
There were so many things Harry could have said to that, but didn't. They had had this discussion a time or two already and he never won.
"Do you think Madam Pomfrey will let us go back to teaching next week?" he asked instead. "I feel so guilty with everyone covering for us."
"She will if she thinks we're up to it," was the very practical response. "I would say 'stop worrying', but when has that ever worked?"
"I still can't believe we were asleep so long," Harry had trouble remembering it was December. "I haven't done any of my Christmas shopping."
Draco laughed.
"Of course you would think of that," he said, still laughing.
"And Sirius' trial is only a week and a half away," Harry added and Draco sobered.
"Well at least with time on our hands we can prepare for that," Draco told him. "Now I know I read something while we were researching you-know-what about testifying in front of the Wizengamot. I didn't pay any attention to it at the time because it wasn't relevant, but Madam Pomfrey did say we were allowed to read."
Harry went to stand up.
"You're staying here," Draco said before he could climb to his feet.
"But..."
"No buts, you need to rest. I'll go to the library and do the leg work, you can be my note taker."
"I can sit down in the library as well as I can sit at our desk," Harry pointed out.
"But I'm pretty sure the reference is in the Restricted Section and that's hard on you on a good day. It's not as if we can't have the exact same conversation with you here and me there as we could with both of us there. It will just be easier this way."
Harry frowned; he didn't like Draco doing all the work.
"Do not make me call Madam Pomfrey," Draco added.
"You wouldn't."
"Try me."
Harry pouted and then sighed in defeat.
"I hate you sometimes."
"Only when I'm right," Draco said and grinned. "Now what do we say?"
"Draco knows best, always listen to Draco," Harry dutifully said, but rolled his eyes for good measure.
Draco walked over and gave him a kiss, which made him feel a little better.
"I love you, you Gryffindor idiot," Draco said. "No moving further than from here to the desk, okay?"
"I promise," Harry agreed, which probably illustrated how much the walk from the hospital wing had taken it out of him.
