Birthday Celebrations

It was Sossogenese who woke the Duumviri again. He came to say that he had heard they were going to move away from Malfoy Manor. He asked if he could accompany them.

D: ‘I thought you had a ladylove?’

S: ‘Yes I did. We had our fun last night; then she nearly had me for breakfast this morning.’

H: ‘That was considerate of her, newlyweds ought to share meals together, how nice.’

S: ‘Not when I’m the main course it isn’t.’

H: ‘Oops! Yes I quite agree.’

D: ‘I reckon you’ll be quite a challenge for Hagrid.’

S: ‘He’s the Magical Creatures’ Curator isn’t he.’

H: ‘ Yes! How do you feel about living in a tower for a couple of days?’

S: ‘It’ll be a change from always seeing everything from foot level. I’ve eaten enough rat to last me for a week anyway. After the warm shower, would you mind too much if I slept on you bed, please?’

D: ‘As long as you promise not to scare our personal-elves.’

S: ‘They know me already.’

H: ‘We take it that you think our bed is a safe place to hide out?’

S: ‘That had crossed my mind, yes; then again, it will be a reminder for you to take me with you, as well.’

Sossogenese had his morning wallow in their warm shower water and slithered off to bed. He was fast asleep by the time the duo were dressed.

H: ‘He looks very fat, doesn’t he?’

D: ‘Probably all those rats he ate.’

Harry and Draco were the first down again. Two pink fluffy negligees floated in for their breakfast. Blaise was next, making polite bows to the two pink clouds, he nearly did the same to the Duumviri, but Draco threatened to throw his porridge at him if he did. Ron was last, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. Then he saw his pink chiffon beloved and nearly poked his eyes out in disbelief. He quickly recovered though, kissing Auntie’s hand, a la Blaise, and bussing Hermione thoroughly.

“I looked into your room before I came down, to see if you were ready. There was a snake asleep on your bed. Is he your joint familiar?” Blaise enquired.

“He acts familiar with us,” Draco replied, “But not in the way you mentioned. I have known him most of my life as we had a joint curse put upon us. With Harry’s help we broke the spell – he can speak Parseltongue, you know. That brought the curse’s maker down on us. We had a fight with her in the trophy room and she lost. Auntie Bellatrix now lies burnt and secure in the family vault.”

“You killed your own aunt, Draco?”

“She was a nasty piece of work, Blaise; and very close the mighty monster. In fact she made a curse and it rebounded upon her. My brother Harry has a very nifty line in mirror shields, she aimed a curse at me, so he showed her what it looked like.”

“That sounds useful. Would you show me how to do it, please, Harry?”

“The one I used was a Duumviri shield. I dare say, with our combined brains, we can adapt it for everyone else. It’s not like your normal semi permanent shields; it is short lived and designed for a specific individual. So mine had to protect Draco from a Bellatrix spell. It was curious in another way too, I used Draco to focus it, as I was under my invisibility cloak at the time. So he seemed to be making two spells.”

“Is that how you held the shield and destroyed one of the protector curses, boys?”

D: “Yes Mother.”

H: “Sorry to have told you a lie Mother, but we thought it best that you saw Draco by himself, first.”

“Forgiven Harry! Yes, I would have reacted differently and probably hexed you. As it was, you fooled Bella, so it all worked out for the best.”

“I get the feeling you were here for other purposes and that your auntie was an added bonus?”

“Yes Blaise, there are some objects which you-know-who has hidden in various places. If we find and destroy them, it will make killing him in the final showdown that much easier.” Harry though he had put that diplomatically, and allowed Mother a glimpse of the truth as well.

“You will be part of a bigger team, Blaise; including Neville, Anthony and Susan who are to be your fellow officers. Your joint main task is the defence of Hogwarts and its pupils. Although we’re part of the team, we also have this search and destroy mission to complete. That bad man has been very secretive about the things we seek, and we are being equally secretive about destroying them. Please don’t ask further, as we are unwilling to disclose anything more, mainly because it would put you in greater danger,” Draco added.

“Fine … At least I can guard our beloved school whilst Neville comes to Harry’s party. It won’t weaken the team’s presence there.” Blaise adopted a businesslike stance. “I’ll tell my folks that we’re going away for a fortnight; give them the idea of a holiday somewhere but not be too specific. Is that how you want me to play it?”

“Someone once told me that the best lies are the ones with a grain of truth in them. Hogwarts is hardly a holiday, but you will be going away.”

“We’ll make a Slytherin out of you yet, Harry.”

Draco and Harry said that they wanted to check some of the protectors, and also to add Hermione, Ron and Blaise to the grey recognisors. Uncle departed to the library, leaving the two ladies, Ron and Blaise in the morning room.

“Hermione, did I hear you saying yesterday that you were researching a communication spell?”

“Yes Auntie, not that we were applying ourselves too diligently; why do you ask?”

“I seem to remember my Mother talking about daffodils and talking privately, she also showed me some small enamelled flowers resting in a china flower bed. She said something about it belonging to her Auntie Gertrude. I had the feeling that the people wore them on their garments.”

“I saw a small book called ‘Garden Receptors’ in the Library yesterday, it seemed to be about making model flowers. Perhaps that has something to do with it.”

“It’s worth looking at, Blaise … Auntie, could we look at your enamel flower garden please?”

“Yes of course, my dears. I’ll ask Gondolum to bring it to us.”

Said elf was on the ball and had it on the cleared morning room table, almost as soon as they had asked him. Whimwham brought the book to his master soon afterwards.

On the table sat a squat porcelain vase-like receptacle. Instead of an open space inside it, there was the depiction of a dozen small flat daffodils on slightly convex filler. Where the trumpets should have been, were holes, and in each hole was a large pin with a narcissus like enamel flower on its top. In the centre and integral with the dome was a much larger daffodil with a delicately proportioned china flower. All round the edges and rim were a multitude of raised ivy vines, appearing almost to be alive.

Blaise stuck his head in the book but failed to make much headway apart from agreeing that the book did refer to the vase of enamelled flowers. Hermione had a go, and got no further. It was Ron who had the first break through, when he noticed slight colour variations and petal dispositions on each flower. He matched the flowers to the holes and he noticed a slight change in the vase’s aura. When he called their attention to it the others were unable to see any difference, even when they rearranged the flowers and then put them back. Ron was adamant that he could feel the Aura change.

“Ah! Here! Look!”

“What is it Blaise?”

“It says the receptor can only be worked by the person whose aura recognises it. At least I think that is what it says. Have a look Hermione?”

“That’s probably why Great Aunt Gertrude could work it, but the rest of us could not. I really thought it was a fairly childish plaything. Maybe Ron has a compatible aura,” suggested Narcissa.

“These pages have drawings of the flowers, look.”

“The charms all resemble each other, but there are subtle differences, and a blank space.”

“It looks as though I have to make the charm as I present the flower to each one of you, that blank space is for your name.”

“Well done Ron. The language is archaic, but it does seem to be as you say.”

“Those flowers look as though they could be lapel badges or tie pins for a man, and possibly pin brooches for a lady.”

By this time Ron had the book and the bowl of flowers in front of him. “The language is strange and the writing odd. The book seems to be talking directly to my brain, more than forming words for me to read. Perhaps that is how Harry feels when Sossogenese and Draco are chatting. It’s weird!”

Ron read on, mouthing the words silently. “Right! I think I’ve got it. Err … Blaise would you be the first guinea pig, please?”

“Yes; why not. What do you want me to do?”

“I’m going to give you one of the flowers; the red spotted one seems to fit you. We both hold it as I make the charm, then you pin it into your lapel. Okay?”

The two of them did as Ron suggested. The he explained, “The louder you shout the quieter is the communication – that’s what I think the ‘Reversirio vocum’ means. So if you whisper I should be able to hear you clearly. To draw my attention you touch the flower, then again you touch it to break communication. At least I think that is what those words are telling me.”

Blaise touched the flower and a small glow appeared in the corresponding hole of the mock garden, which Ron touched; seeming to hear something.

“That bit works,” Ron observed. “Blaise, will you go out into the garden, please, but keep in sight of Hermione. Darling, will you stand at the French window, so you can see both of us and pass instructions if needed. Okay? Blaise, touch it off and when you get to your garden place touch it on again, please.”

The glow went off and the two helpers placed themselves as Ron had instructed. The hole glowed and Ron touched it.

“Hello Blaise, can you hear me?” Ron whispered.

“You’re talking inside my head, was the reply coming out of the trumpet of the middle ceramic flower.

“OK! Blaise, will you go to the Library and talk to Uncle. Switch off now and switch on again when you get there.”

Ron called Hermione over to him, chose the flower with light blue stamens, made the charm and asked her to go to the swimming pool patio.

Red glowed. “I’m in the library and I’ve told the Professor about the experiment.”

“Ask Uncle to speak to me please?”

There was silence.

“Did you hear what the Professor said, Ron?”

“No. Maybe it only works for just the person I gave it to. Please wait; Hermione is calling me.” The light blue was glowing. “Hello Hermione?”

“Ooh! It’s funny hearing you inside my head.”

“Hello Blaise did you hear Hermione?”

“No, but I heard you talking to her when you said hello.”

“Please stay where you are but switch off. The pin should vibrate when I call you, then you must touch it on, understood?”

“Okay!”

“Okay!”

Ron tried that experiment and it worked. As he was puzzling how to connect Hermione to Blaise, Narcissa pointed to some ivy leaf decorations round the edge of the bowl, one of which appeared to be loose. Ron wiggled it a little and it came off, it had two downward facing spikes.

“Hello you two, I am going to try and have you speaking to each other.”

Once plugged in, the device allowed a three-way conversation. Next Narcissa was presented with the flower tinged pink at the petals’ bases and she went off into the entrance hall. Communication was established successfully. Ron put the two way communicator vine back and a three way one became loose. As expected, Narcissa was included in the group. Uncle was next; he had a dark blue stemmed flower. There were a few more experiments which proved that Ron had to be within ten feet of the bowl, in order for the system to work: That the Duumviri only needed one golden pin and Draco seemed to be the better receptor: That everyone could talk to Sossogenese as long as the duo were included: That the effective range was just over a mile: That the bubble cut down communicating by ten percent: Most importantly, that after two or three hours, Ron started to show signs of fatigue, so an end to the experiment was called. By that time it was lunch break.

Afterwards, Hermione, with the help of Linux, devised a harness so that Ron could carry the bowl. They also found out that it didn’t drain him if no use was being made of the system, as well as that, they could take them off and wear them again without Ron having to re-charm them, as long as they used the original one that had been presented to them.

Mid afternoon, before teatime the company decided that they would go to Hogwarts for dinner. However, as the afternoon was hot, there was time for a long swim in the pool. This was followed by a valedictory tea on the terrace. Harry saw Narcissa and Draco plotting, when he tried to probe, Draco sent him nursery rhymes. Then a green and Red snake wriggled by, asking Harry if he had seen Sossogenese. The convoluted explanations and telling the hungry female that Sossogenese was not for eating took his mind off the Malfoy plots.

There were various delays to do with tents and clothes, most of which emanated from Draco or Mother. At last, with promises to be back soon, the party mass Apparated to just outside the school gates; using the same confusion-of-numbers excuse to avoid Ministry interference. Once they had arrived safely Uncle Apparated back to the cottage, not wishing to meet any other people just yet.

§§§§§§

Tonks met them at the gate, and Neville appeared out of his patrol bubble. To avoid long explanations, which would soon have to be repeated anyway, Draco and Blaise were introduced as the Slytherin part of the team.

Neville looked at Harry askance. “That’s not the whole truth, is it, Harry?” he whispered, as they walked up the driveway.

“It’s a long story, Neville, and we wish to tell it as few times as possible,” replied Harry.

Hagrid was next, and received much the same explanation, being introduced to Sossogenese.

“He’ll make you a nice pet, Harry;” brought forth a stream of susurrating swearwords from the snake. Harry and Draco felt as though they had a sea storm going on in their heads.

“Ah! Mr Potter, Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley; please accompany me to my office forthwith,” was the greeting from the Headmistress. “Perhaps Mr Longbottom would take Mr Zabini to your common room.” She was slightly put out when Sossogenese accompanied them, raising her usual questioning eyebrow, but saying nothing else.

“Do sit down all of you … Half an hour ago I received a very handsome eagle owl, with a rather intriguing anonymous message attached to it. I shall read it to you. ‘Dear Headmistress, I enclose herewith a Gringott’s bank draft. I think it should cover the salaries of four new junior members of staff and their living expenses. This is in recognition of their hard work in making me feel secure and loved.’ … I don’t suppose any of you know who might have sent this, do you?” The faintest hint of a smile passed over the Headmistress’s serious face. “I had known of the appointment of three new junior staff members, but who the fourth one could be, escapes me entirely. Let alone the mysterious donor.”

D: ‘I bet it’s Mother, just the sort of thing she would do.’

H: ‘See if you can glimpse the handwriting.’

D: ‘No use, she’s folded it up.’

H: ‘So that’s what you two were plotting while you were sending me nursery rhymes at teatime.’

D: ‘No; that was about birthday presents. Come to think of it Mother is devious so she probably had a subplot or two going on. She was a Slytherin too, you know.’

H: ‘So some of your deviousness is nature not just Slytherin nurture. Do we brave it out?’

D: ‘She’s got to know sooner or later. .’

“Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy; do I sense a certain change in you? Possibly more, than just having made new friends?”

The duo saw two grinning faces on the betrothed pair and realised they’d been caught having another private conversation.

H: “Um … Yes … Professor … You remember the instruction in the Pensieve, about partnership. Well … It went a lot further than we had imagined.”

D: “The trio found me at Professor Snape’s hideaway cottage and we all tried our best to become team mates. Un … the Potions Professor had given me much the same message that Harry’s instructions had, so I was prepared.”

H: “Our next step was to go and destroy the Horcrux, which as you had surmised, quite rightly, was nearby.”

D: “Through that, Harry became infected with a freezing spell and I was told to heal him. The process was very, very personal. Through that, we developed an extremely close relationship.”

H: “In short, we undertook a ceremony and became Duumviri. Our relationship has deepened even further since then.”

“Well now! I suppose that was one of the possible solutions, and probably the best one too. I take it, by your last statement Harry, that you share intimate relations?”

“Yes Headmistress, very personal ones.”

“Well … I cannot separate two Duumviri; neither can I plead lack of funds. So I bid welcome to our fourth member of the junior staff. I hope you’ll live up to everyone’s expectations, Mr Malfoy.” McGonagall offered her hand to Draco.

In shaking it he said, “Thank you Headmistress. I think you should know that our little team managed to find and destroy another Horcrux. It was hidden in one of my father’s trophies. We have also been learning many new protector wards and how to destroy them. Uncle, for that’s what we all call Professor Snape now, has helped us to discover one or two other useful things, especially in the way that a Duumviri’s strength can put up almost impenetrable wards. He was a Duumvir with the late headmaster, that’s why Hogwarts is so safe.”

“It was, until you managed to circumvent it young man.”

“I am truly sorry. Harry and I would like to add some more wards here if you would allow us to. Our complete union is likely to have made us stronger than the Albus/Severus one, they were distant relations, you see.”

“Well now that explains a lot. Where is Severus now?”

“He’s gone back to his cottage to come to terms with his loss and the way it was caused. We’re going to look in occasionally to make sure he’s alright. He says he needs to be alone for a few days.”

“Mother needs to be alone after the fuss we caused too.”

“Mr Potter I’m not up with this. Have you been adopted, or do you talk of Mrs Weasley?”

“It’s nothing official, Professor. Duumviri are closer than twin brothers, so, ipso facto, Draco’s mum has become mine. Our team has another safe house in Malfoy Manor now. There is also one Death Eater less.”

“My! You have all been busy, haven’t you? Which Death Eater was it?”

“My nasty Auntie Bellatrix ... She inadvertently helped us to destroy the Hufflepuff’s relic, and most of my father’s other trophies too.”

“Well done, she was a formidable opponent. Who else knows?”

“You are the first outside our little family and Blaise Zabini.”

“Do I take it that he is your candidate for the Slytherin Officer?”

“Yes Professor.”

“He’s a very capable young man. Listen to him; he knows much about the African Duumviri tradition too. As for enhancing the school’s wards, how do you know what to look for?”

“That’s another skill we’ve all learnt, Headmistress. And Ron has a special secret communications system that we’re just learning about.”

“Well Miss Granger, I see you and your Fiancé haven’t been idling either. Do I take it that you’d like a teach-in before your party?”

“Yes please Professor, some time tomorrow possibly?”

“My thoughts exactly, Mr Weasley.”

§§§§§

When the quartet arrived in the junior staff common room, they were met by looks of awe.

“I hope you don’t mind guys, but whilst you were with Herself I gave a brief to my new colleagues.” Blaise looked partly worried and partly confident. “I covered Duumviri, Auntie’s death, new wards and communications, oh; and Malfoy Manor’s status as a safe house with a marvellous library, plus a brief résumé of Sossogenese’s love life.”

“Thanks a lot Blaise; it saves us repeating much the same as we told McGonagall in the office.”

Blaise looked pleased and relived at the same time.

Naturally the other members of the team plus Tonks and Lupin had lots of questions. Harry found some of them quite embarrassing; Draco however, managed to treat them lightly, much to his brother’s relief. The questions had died down to an acceptable level by the time they went to the great hall for dinner. The four new junior professors were highly embarrassed when they were given places at one end of the high table.

H: ‘They’ll think we’re putting on airs and graces.’

D: ‘Perhaps we should give them a royal wave?’

H: ‘Do be serious. We have to build up team relationships.’

D: ‘I am serious now and I agree with you.’

After the uncomfortable meal the team went back to their common room. Blaise mentioned that he would be happy to replace Neville so that Neville could have his birthday party.

“It won’t be much of one,” remarked Neville, after he had thanked Blaise. “My grandmother doesn’t like parties and my folks are still in St Mungo’s”

Impulsive as ever, Ron suggested that Neville join them at the Burrow. “After all we have a spare room in the tent, and Mum always makes more than we can eat.”

With a little more persuasion Neville agreed and went to floo his grandmother. Meanwhile Draco apologised for their separation at dinner. Sossogenese and the personal-elves were introduced. Harry soon developed a headache as the flowers were used to talk to the snake via his head. To help Harry the reptile pleaded tiredness, curling up in one of the room’s wide window ledges and surreptitiously enjoying the view below. Harry thanked Sossogenese quietly a little later on.

Neville came back, saying that his Grandmother had agreed; next it was Ron’s turn to get tired as the other members of the team had continued to practice with the daffodils. Professor McGonagall came to see them. After she had tested the orange trumpeted flower she had been given, the duo asked her to come and talk quietly in their room.

Harry started, feeling uncomfortable about what he was saying. “Um … Professor … Much as we are flattered by being on the top table, we felt very uncomfortable.”

“We feel that it separated us from our other team members,” continued Draco. “We are, to some extent also students. So we wondered if a side table could be introduced, where the eight of us could sit, and not on the podium.”

“It might be useful in term time if the order members sat with us too, as we find meal times a place for discussing ideas and team building,” Harry added.

“Ah yes, I see your point. I’ll have our house-elves sort that out for you ... I see you have developed personal-elves too; I know Mr Longbottom and Mr Goldstein have theirs here too. We need one for Miss Bones.”

H: “What about Winky, a witch to look after would help to cure some of her feelings of hopelessness.”

D: “Let’s ask Sempra and Dobby what they think.”

‘Pop/pop’ “Good idea Two-masters”

“I was worried about her drinking.”

“We’ll go and persuade her to volunteer, shall we?”

“Yes please Sempra.”

“Dobby, could you find us a cup of cocoa each please.”

“Yes Master.”

“Personal elves are so much easier to manage than the house-elves. The school ones are always bringing up tradition. I bet your side table request will produce a whole army of ‘yes-buts’ and ‘not-the-way-we-do-it-here’s’. Albus used to moan about it too. In the end, after a tussle they realise that the head’s word is law. That’s one of the perks of being headmistress,” McGonagall finished laconically.

This more personal side of McGonagall was quite new to the Duumviri. And they chatted with her about domestic things to do with the manor and the cottage; eventually asking that she not reveal the changed status of Malfoy Manor for the time being. She replied that the Duumviri status of Albus and Severus ought not to be common knowledge either, mainly for security reasons.

“Thank you for the cocoa, Boys; I suspect you have much to do.” The headmistress gave them a slightly naughty smile when she left.

After her departure the brothers had a silent conversation about what they had been learning over the last few days. Ron and Hermione were drawn in to a verbal chat. In the end, they agreed that the communication, defence and shield charms should become general knowledge to the defenders, but that the detection and destruction of ward charms should be limited, just the headmistress becoming privy to them immediately.

Bath and massage, had two brothers nestling and proving that the headmistress’s smile was quite correct in its assumption.

§§§§§§

In the morning Melanie served breakfast for ten, whilst the enlarged team chatted over some of the previous days events at Hogwarts.

Susan quietly thanked the Duumviri for making Winky available; it seemed that they had hit it off from the start. Dobby and Sempra were pleased also, adding that Kreacher now seemed morose more that malevolent.

“I suspect he knows of Bellatrix’s death, Sempra. He was hoping to go to her, but I wouldn’t give him any clothes, as we don’t want the whereabouts of the secret headquarters revealed. Make sure he doesn’t blurt anything out, please, Sempra.”

“We’ll see what we can do Master Harry.”

After breakfast the area was turned into a training ground with Ron and Hermione as instructors. The officers split into two shifts, Neville and Blaise bubbling out for the morning patrol. Two other Order members came in to learn with Tony and Susan.

After Melanie cooked a private Company lunch; Tonks, Lupin, Blaise and Neville were inside practicing and the others on patrol. Blaise and Hermione had worked out how ordinary witches and wizards could use the mirror shield, so that was added to the curriculum.

§§§§§§

The duo went to see McGonagall, telling her about the revealers, and giving her a personal copy of the ward chart. The rest of the morning was a thorough inspection of the protectors around Hogwarts, and a discussion about where extra wards should be made. Making those wards and strengthening some of the others was the Duumviri task for the afternoon. At dinner the team were all seated together on a low side table, they chattered about things learnt and the laughable mishaps during their tuition.

One of the problems about the mirror defence was how to un-hex yourself, when you had been the perpetrator of the jinx, as had happened to Auntie Bellatrix. The team agreed to work on that problem tomorrow. Neville and Blaise had found a way of making a small hole in the bubble, through which a very carefully aimed spell might be sent. Only the mirror shield was capable of returning the spell into the bubble, as normally the bubble was revolving and so a trace-back hex would bounce off its surface and not through the hole.

As there were only a few more protectors to be made the following morning; a scratch Quidditch match was arranged for the afternoon. Harry and Draco as opposing Seekers had great fun, they used their minds to confuse each other; their roughhousing had new twists too. Lupin proved to be a tolerably good goalkeeper and Harry’s side won by two points. In the end the duo’s minds were so linked that they grabbed the Snitch simultaneously, nearly pulling its wings off in the process, so a no Snitch score was declared for that day, both teams collapsing in laughter at the Seekers’ impasse.

“A new first for Quidditch, I think?” observed McGonagall, as she had been the umpire.

After dinner the duo made a bubble patrol, it was more like a trip down recent memory lane. Most conversations were triggered by a familiar landmark and started with: ‘do you remember when I …’ and they relived a skirmish or a hoax. One brother found it interesting to hear the other’s real thoughts about the incident. It led to a greater bond of friendship as each had enough of the other’s makeup in him to really empathise. Many of the reminiscences ended with apologies and a hug of forgiveness. The Duumviri were quite misty-eyed by the time their tour of duty was finished.

§§§§§§

Some time in the small hours of the night Draco awoke to find his partner thrashing around in some sort of nightmare. Draco tried the mental communication to see what was wrong, but Harry was not responding. Draco tried to hug his brother; all that happened was that Harry pushed him away. Draco was beginning to worry; he knew their telepathy only worked when both of them were willing, but Harry seemed to have erected a mental barrier. Eventually Harry’s contortions brought him into some semblance of consciousness. He looked at Draco, gasped, shot out of bed and went to the bathroom.

‘So that’s it,’ Draco thought: ‘I wonder what caused his indigestion?’ and settled back to give Harry time to evacuate himself. Twenty minutes later Harry had not emerged. ‘It must be a bad bout; I’ll go and see if he needs anything.’

“Go away; I don’t want to talk to you.” Was the response from behind the closed door?

“Harry; are you feeling ill? What’s the matter Love?”

“Don’t call me that; you can’t love me after what I did.”

“Harry; you’re not making sense. Tell me what’s wrong? Please?”

“Just go away, I feel dirty.”

This was too much for Draco, so he magically opened the door and went in. Harry was sitting on the loo, but the lid was down. Draco’s dearest partner sat nakedly sobbing and hugging himself. Draco’s automatic reaction was to go and hug his partner to relieve the distress. Harry wanted none of it and tried to fight him off, scratching and flailing all round him. Something was obviously very wrong; lacking any other inspiration Draco used Immobulus to freeze his mate, carrying the cold sobbing body back to the warmth of their bed. Then Draco changed Immobulus into a loose Incarcerous making sure Harry had some leeway under the bindings.

“Right, my loving Mate, what’s this all about?”

“You can’t love me. I’m a murderer. I’ll contaminate you!”

“Have you had a bad dream or something, Brother?”

“Not really. I killed a woman two days ago, perhaps you remember.”

“Who? Auntie Bellatrix? That wicked old witch. She deserved all she got.”

“Yes but when I get into tight spots someone always gets killed. Sirius and my parents and …”

“Shut up Harry!” Draco had to shout to still the beginnings of a Harry rant. “Those things have no bearing on our love for each other.”

“Yes but I loved my parents, they got killed. I loved Sirius and he got killed. If I hadn’t hexed Bellatrix, you’d have been killed. Go away; I can’t bear the thought of you being killed. Don’t get close to me, I’m a living jinx.”

“Harry Potter, listen to me. Listen to me carefully. I am most definitely not going to go away. I love you, you love me. We’ve been bound together magically and in other pleasurable ways. Don’t you dare suggest other?”

“Yes but …”

“I won’t listen to your excuses. If you have nightmares, I’m here to comfort you. If you get hexed, I’m here to heal you. My life would be miserable without you. So I won’t let you push me away. Okay? So you get the horrors about causing someone’s death. At least you acted. If you remember I was too scared. Had you not acted in the library, I would have been dead, so you broke the mould. Do you hear me, you broke the mould!”

That last statement had Draco screaming at Harry. Draco undid the bindings and collapsed sobbing onto Harry. Who stunned, automatically hugged Draco to him. Their door burst open; Ron led the troops in brandishing his wand, with Blaise a very close second.

“What’s happening?”

The Company fanned out, looking for Death Eaters behind every form of concealment.

“You seemed to be having a battle. There was an awful lot of shouting.”

Harry blinked: “Uh … Um … It’s all right you guys. I had a terrible nightmare and Draco had to shout at me to bring me round.”

Draco was red eyed and shaking, so was his Brother.

“Are you quite sure?” Ron was peering intently at them.

“Yes Ron,” Draco replied. “I hope we don’t have many more of these dos. Thank you all for coming in to defend us. We both feel much better knowing that you responded so quickly. Sorry to have disturbed your rest. Perhaps it will be your turn next and we’ll break in ready to defend you. Please go back to bed; I think the storm has passed. Thanks for being so alert and concerned.”

The Defence Company filed out looking slightly dazed.

“Can we talk rationally, Lover?” Draco asked Harry.

“I’m still worried about you and the others. People get drawn into the personal fight between me and Voldemort. And all I manage to do is get them killed or maimed.”

“It’s not just your fight Love. We don’t want that monster ruling the world. I know it might be nice to imagine your horrible relations as slaves for a change. But the whole Muggle and magical world, all dancing to that madman’s tune is too terrible to contemplate. You and I have a major role to play, we know that. However there are many right-thinking people on the same side. Not just because you make them, or influence them, but because they choose freely to fight for justice and freedom.”

“Even then I feel responsible …”

“Responsible for my feelings towards you? Don’t you dare talk such tosh! It’s my eyes that see your beauty, my hands that feel your skin, my libido that makes me want you.”

“Okay! Okay! I get the message. Don’t shout. The others will be coming in again and I’d rather they not catch us in flagrante.” Harry kissed Draco firmly.

Draco realised Harry’s barrier had gone and the lascivious messages so revealed. So Draco shared Harry’s loving feelings and they started to do something about them.