The Contract

Thank you Michael for going back over this AGAIN for me... ***Kisses and Hugs***





Chapter Eighteen – Flight





Molly and Arthur looked to one another as Ron rambled down the stairs. “Hermione is going to stay with Gin…”



Just as his parents began rushing across to the fallen young man, a yelp flew out of the young man’s mouth. “What the Bloody Hell is he doing here?”



“Ron, I don’t know yet. Come help me get him on the couch.” Arthur said.



“Move, dad, I’ll get him.” Ron rolled the blonde to his back and bent to pick him up. Draco screamed as his weight settled against his wounds. Quickly, Ron rolled him to his stomach.



Meeting his father’s gaze, Ron pulled the robes up just a bit to show the long, bloody wounds, which disappeared abruptly at the top of his thighs. “What the…?”



Arthur thought about it for a moment, drawing his wand he muttered, “Finite.” And the glamour was removed. With a nod from his dad, Ron pulled the robe up a bit more; the extent of the punishment was revealed.



A shriek from the doorway showed Hermione. “Is that… Draco?”



“Yes, dear, please stop yelling.” Molly told Hermione.



“Ginny told me just a bit before she dozed off. She said that Lucius punished both Harry and Draco.” Looking up at Ron, she continued, “Oh God, Ron… Where is Harry?”



Molly put her arm around the shaking girl, “Hermione, dear, we don’t know yet. All we have so far is a beaten child who has asked for our help. Please settle down for a moment, or I will be forced to stun you.” There was no hint of a joke passing between them. Molly was serious.



“Arthur, call Kingsley and Snape. We need to report what has happened to the authorities and if necessary, take him to St. Mungo’s.” Nodding, He did as asked.



Ron could not stop staring at the wounds. When he finally realized that Hermione was staring at Malfoy’s bum, he covered it with the robe. Gently turning him on his side, he scooted a bit and laid the blonde head in his lap. Although he knew under ordinary circumstances that this would be something he would never do, this man was bonded to his best friend and less than an hour ago had promised not to hurt Harry again. For the moment, he would give him the benefit of the doubt.



It took more than a quarter hour for the two men to arrive. Remus, seemingly ever close to Severus these days, was the third one through the Floo. Kingsley was returning to the Floo to call for additional help from the Ministry.



“Mr. Weasley,” Snape asked, “why is my Godson’s head in your lap? What has happened now? I thought everything was turning out well.”





Ron glared at the man. “Professor, when everyone who needs to be here is here, I will answer your question. In the mean time, I ask that you remember you are a guest in my parent’s home and not treat me as though I am at some fault here.” Ron was miffed at the accusatory tone of the voice behind the question. But also knew that if he exploded as he wanted to that he would be as much at fault as the greasy-haired bat.



Severus did a double take at the boy’s words. He sounded so… adult. Severus said nothing else. Hermione winked at Ron.



Tonks, Shacklebolt, Madame Pomfrey, and several others were now crowded around Draco and Ron. With a quiet Enervate, Draco’s eyes opened and he immediately realized where he was laying. Groaning from the pain in his back and from laying on the floor, he coughed. “Why am I in your lap ,Weasley?”



“Because I didn’t want you to put on a freak show when you realize you are surrounded by Aurors and Healers to find out how bad you are hurt, who hurt you, and where the Bloody Hell my best friend is.”



“Ronald Weasley, that is enough!” Molly’s voice cut across the room. Draco winced.



Arthur’s voice was the next he heard, “Son, tell us what happened to you. How did you end up here?”



Nodding and closing his eyes for a moment, he told of what happened when the Weasleys left. Every detail, including the collar and Dobby, was told from the floor and Ron’s lap. Not that he was comfortable, but at least as long as he lay there, he knew he would not hurt any worse. When he finished, he looked into the blue eyes of Harry’s best friend. The tears falling silently with his own. Answering the unspoken question, he said quietly, “Dobby took him somewhere safe. I don’t know where.”



Hermione, having listened to the story, retreated to the kitchen to make tea, assuming they were in for a long night.



Kingsley Shacklebolt, lead Auror for the Ministry of Magic, stood in a shocked silence for a moment. The quill and parchment keeping up with the words from Draco paused in anticipation of continued conversation. Coming out of the shock, his deep booming voice a bit higher than normal, he asked, “Mr. Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, injured you?” Draco nodded. “May I see the supposed injuries?”



With a last apologetic look at Ron, he nodded yes. “Weasley, can you help me up? I don’t think any part of me doesn’t hurt and I don’t want to fall again. That would be terribly embarrassing and I have already ruined my reputation as it is.”



Wincing as he sat up, Ron stood shaking each leg for a moment before reaching a hand to the man on the floor. When he was finally on shaky feet, he put his arms up on Ron’s shoulders to steady him.



Before Ron could start to hitch up his robes, Draco leaned closer to Ron and whispered, “You may not want your mum to see this. If they look as bad as they feel, then they are going to be bad.”



With a sly grin, Ron whispered that the family had already seen his skinny bum. But aloud, did as asked.



“Ronald Weasley, I have had six sons so there is nothing that boy has that I haven’t seen before. And if you will remember, I have already seen these alleged injuries.” Her scathing comment may have started addressed to her youngest son, but was aimed at Kingsley.



With a nod, Ron reached around the blonde and raised his robes to reveal the damages. Hermione had returned to the room and let out a sob of sympathy. Ron felt Draco wince as the material brushed his lower back, rising higher to show his shoulder blades and bruises from his father’s hold on him.



Madame Pomfrey met gazes with Severus who looked livid. A voice was heard from the Aurors, “That’s enough Ron, give him some decency.” It was Tonks, Draco’s cousin. Her voice did not crack, there was no humor hiding anywhere, only a cool, calm voice that was on the edge of anger.



“When you allow me, I believe I can give him a potion to at least help with the pain.” Madame Pomfrey offered. With a nod of assent, she moved forward and offered the blonde the vial. “There you go now, just drink it all.”



The potion was effective immediately. Standing without support, he looked deep into Ron’s eyes. “Thank you.” A nod was all he got in return, but Ron did not move away from him. Turning to the group at large, he asked, “Now what happens?”



Tonks moved forward, “Draco, you are seventeen, correct?”



“Yes.”



“Then it is not child abuse. However, the extent of the injuries can easily be assault with intent to murder. Would you like to press charges on your father?”



Draco took a moment to consider all the options. His voice was calm when he answered, “Yes, I believe I would. Can you arrest him immediately? I mean, there was no witnesses other than Harry, and I am not sure he would be willing to testify.”



Ron crossed his arms. He leaned over to Draco and said with a smirk, “Ginny saw it too.” Draco turned his head so fast he wrenched his neck. “That has to be what she was so upset about when she Flooed in late.”



“I think it is, yes.” Hermione agreed. “But what about Harry?”



“Dobby took him somewhere safe. I promised to call for him when I got situated and figured out what happened to the bond. So what do I need to do now?”



“We have your written statement. But we need to document the extent of your injuries and perhaps have you put your memory in a Pensive.” Kingsley answered.



“If I give you my memory, will I still retain it?”



Severus answered, “Yes, you will. But it will be more of a shadow rather than a memory as such. The finer details will not be available to you, but the act itself is there.”



“What do you think I should do?” He asked his Godfather.



Considering for only a moment, he said, “You are a man now, Draco. Where are your responsibilities?”



Without hesitation, he answered, “With Harry.” Ron decided he had made the right decision.



“Then you have the answer you need. You have received your inheritance on your birthday?” Draco nodded. “Then there is no possibility of his being able to take your name or birth rite away from you. Do what you think best.”



Turning away from Severus, Draco looked at Kingsley, straightened his shoulders, held his head high and told the crowd, “I will go to Saint Mungo’s Hospital to be diagnosed and treated for the beating I had at the hands of Lucius Malfoy. Afterwards, I will go with you to the Ministry of Magic and give you my memories of the incident, so you may formally charge Lucius Malfoy with everything you can think of.”



Taking a moment, he turned to Ron, “Would you go with me? I know you don’t like me, but right now, I don’t have anyone else.” Severus cleared his throat. “I do have you, but I need you to help Hermione research the Bond. Ron, will you go?”



Ron rolled his eyes before agreeing to go. Before the group left, he asked Hermione to find out what happened with the bond and make every effort to contact Dobby to check on Harry.



And with a “One…Two…Three…” They felt a familiar tug behind their naval of a Portkey.