Toppers Wallow

The two young wizards managed to be up before their guests on Saturday morning. Probably because they had spent a peaceful night together, whilst the others had been romping around the garden in the dark. They saw to each other’s needs in the shower, this time with Draco behind, soaping Harry’s tool and enjoying his willing crack. They had a quiet swim together and had started breakfast before four tousle-heads appeared peering hungrily into the row of tureens set on the sideboard. There was an amount of joshing repartee, which included Draco. Towards the end of the meal Harry looked up at Draco and found a tear rolling down his cheek.



“What’s wrong, Lover? Have I done something to hurt you?”



“No! Not at all! Just that I feel included as part of this group in a way I’ve never experienced before. In Slytherin we were always jockeying for position and scoring points off each other. I suppose I thought that’s how everyone behaved; the manor house was no picnic either. Not here though, the banter isn’t meant to hurt, nor to increase someone’s standing. It’s just harmless fun, showing that people notice and care for each other. I think I’m having another renaissance; I find myself liking it, too.”



“I lusted after the old perverse Malfoy, but I adore the new sensitive Draco. That trust you mentioned yesterday, I can feel it building every minute I’m with you. I hope you’ll be at my side when I have to face the Master’s and his minions. Your strength and love will give me the will to defeat him. I’m not sure I could go through that whole dying and living thing again.”



“What; me, strong? I fear my father greatly, but with you by my side I think I’ll find the necessary courage to confront him. Most of my life he’s been able to make me conform to his will, but I can now see more plainly how he’s trying to continue Voldemort’s legacy of evil influence; it spreads out to taint everybody it touches. Your friendship is very precious to me and I’m experiencing the support of your friends. I expected Seamus to be particularly scathing; his welcome touched me very deeply. Dean shook my hand before he left, you know, and wished me well. That was most unexpected. All I have to do now is meet Ron, I dread that, but I’ll go through with it just for you. I expect Hermione and I can form a working relationship reasonably easily, we both love books, and our potions marks were always top of the class. But Weasley, that’s another matter entirely.”



“D’you like wizard chess?”



“I was Slytherin champion, why?”



“Maybe you can channel your combative instincts that way. Ron was the Gryffindor champion … Then you can always get Ron to talk about Quidditch. You were a bloody good seeker, you know.”



“So why did I always loose to you?”



“I was just luckier I think. Maybe the friendship thing gave me an extra boost; you always seemed slightly on edge when we played. What happened to your `stick?”



“It’s somewhere at the manor. My father cursed it so that I couldn’t escape, so now I have no use for it; even if I was able retrieve it from my old home.”



“This is your home now, Draco. How about we go to Diagon Alley before we return to Hogwarts and buy you another.”



“Thanks for offering me a home here. I’d love to buy a new `stick, but it would cost half a year’s salary at my present remuneration.”



“No problem lover. You’d be surprised how much I have in Gringott’s, and it seems to keep growing embarrassingly. Let me give you a gift, firstly for loving me, secondly for coming over to the side of the light and thirdly to celebrate your new appointment.”



“No Harry, it’s far too expensive, even if you are as filthy rich as you suggest. A smaller gift, possibly, but you’re just letting your heart run away with you.”



“Malfoy! Next week I’m going to buy a spare broomstick. I would welcome your ideas about the best one available. Should you like to borrow it occasionally, I’m sure I could see my way to lend it to you.”



“Bloody hell, Potter. You Gryffindors can be stubborn, can’t you? … Oh very well then. I’d love to come and help you choose your spare broomstick. I expect you’d go anyway, now you’ve set your mind to it, so I may as well enjoy the trip. What are we going to use them for anyway? We can’t play competitive Quidditch any more.”



“We both like flying, we can do some here when the Muggles have gone. There’s even more room at Hogwarts. We could even do it outside our wards, you know; Justin has a charm that makes `sticks look like bikes, so we could pretend to be pedalling if anyone saw us.”



Draco burst out laughing. “Err … Harry … Flying bicycles are just as revealing as brooms.”



Harry giggled back. “Stupid of me really! … Just a minute! … If you can charm them to look like bicycles I bet you could make them look like hang gliders. That’d be sufficient disguise, wouldn’t it?”



“Well now, Mr Potter, those brains really do work sometimes.”



Harry bristled slightly, but Draco hugged him and smiled. “I can’t wait to try my new hang glider out. What an idea!”



“Masters, there’s and Auror here to see you. Shall I let him in?”



“Have you seen him before, Kreacher?”



“No! His aura feels all right, but I thought you’d better come and see him first.”



“Okay! Where is he?”



“At the front door.”



The three of them went to the door to see the new arrival.



“Auror Dawlish presents his respects to Mages Potter and Malfoy, begging entrance to their warded property.”



“I recognise you from the fracas at the ministry. Do come in, you’re most welcome.”



Harry offered his hand and the Senior Auror came into Magnet Cottage.



“Would you like some refreshment, Master?” Carter asked.



“I have recently had breakfast thank you, perhaps later when I’ve finished my business here. Mage Potter, I had heard you were well off, but a butler?”



“He’s a transfigured house-elf, Auror Dawlish. You see we have Muggles in the house, so his normal form might cause consternation. Winky is the other house-elf and she appears as a fat cook, I inherited them via the Black connection with Sirius. I take it you’ve come to take depositions about last Saturday’s little do?”



“Yes, among other things. Firstly I’d like to confess that I was under Imperio for some time recently. My stay in St. Mungo’s sorted that out, so I have been given the post as senior Auror. Quite a few Ministry Officials were affected whilst Pius Thicknesse was in charge.”



“We understand completely Auror Dawlish; Draco was under a similar cloud to you.”



“Thank you for your understanding. I’d like to talk to you, Mage Malfoy, first; if I might. That’ll give Mage Potter time to round up the other three from their homes.”



“Yes; I’m willing, Harry has no need to round them up as they are the Muggles staying here at the moment. Harry, may we borrow the study, please.”



“Of course, Draco, I’ll just collect a few things, and work on the table here.”



Harry spent most of the morning working on teaching plans. Billy was in the barn with Cole, except when his interview was called. Gray and Wash spent some time in the garden weeding and trimming, attending for interviews when they were asked.



The lunch atmosphere was slightly strained. Baring one’s soul to a complete stranger is never a pleasant experience and having to be decorous as well worked against the boy’s present ebullient spirits. After the meal Auror Dawlish asked if he could talk to Harry. So they repaired to the study.



“You know the Ministry will be offering compensation to the three young men, don’t you?”



“No, I didn’t; however it does seem reasonable.”



“Are you quite sure of Mage Malfoy’s change of heart, Mage Potter? I must say his outlook seems to have improved, from the reports I’ve heard about him.”



“I’m very sure, now Auror Dawlish. He and I are attached magically somehow. You know, I’ve recently found out that I’m gay, well he is too. I suppose we’ve had something going on between us for a long time, but we hadn’t recognised it for what it was. His torture and subsequent recovery here brought things sexual to a head. Whilst we were indulging ourselves our auras united. Mage Macmillan saw us and said there was an especially intense pink aura surrounding us. My feeling is that Draco’s contrary behaviour was very much influenced by his father. When Voldemort was killed, Draco saw what an evil influence that evil monster had had. I think he also experienced a renaissance on the astronomy tower when Dumbledore died at Snape’s hand.”



“Yes! I’ve read the reports about that. I’ll accept your word and that of Headmistress McGonagall, who also vouches his good name. Now about something else entirely different; you know that any Death Eater convicted of torture, rape or killing forfeits all his property, don’t you?”



Harry nodded confirmation, hiding the fact that the idea was new to him.



“Not far from here is Woodyates farm. There’s do doubt that its owner will be convicted now, so we need someone to look after the property, at least until it’s sold. I’ve had a look at the buildings and they’ll need renovation before any thought of a sale could take place. You’re the nearest mage by a long way; so we were wondering if you would keep oversight; employing the necessary people to carry out repairs. The Ministry would pay of course, but we need someone on the spot, so to speak.”



“Is there much land attached?”



“Yes! Eight or nine-hundred acres, at a guess; mostly uncared for. The orchard has been tended and the fruit is ripening well. Then there’s a walled kitchen garden and about an acre of adjacent land, which also appears to have had some attention paid to it.”



“So you’d want me to find a tenant or buyer for the land?”



“Yes I suppose we would.”



“Say I found a tenant who was willing to repair the building and bring the land back into production. Could the payment for repairs and resuscitation be set off against the rent until honours were even?”



“Yes I suppose it could. I would have to check with the Ministry first. It sounds as though you have an idea?”



“Um! Yes. How about you flooing the Minister, whilst I have a chat with a few people?”



“Okay, I’ll see if I can raise him at home.”



Harry showed Dawlish where the floo was; then went up and found Draco and Billy.



“Billy, you’re my agent here. I’ve been asked to look after Woodyates farm and see that it gets repaired. It now belongs to the Ministry, because under our laws any convicted serious felon has his property confiscated, so I’ve just been told. I also think that they’d like me to find a tenant or to sell it once it is habitable. Most of it would fall into your hands to take care of. Are you willing to take it on?”



“I’d like to look at the property first, Harry, but in principle, yes. For the right fee of course.”



“A fee has been already offered. However I’ve had an idea. Auror Dawlish says that the orchard and walled vegetable garden have had some attention, but, except for about an acre, the surrounding lands have not. What if you were to take the boys under your wing? Wash could work to get the land back into production and Gray could take over the walled garden, the tilled acre and the orchard. I’m sure some of your old workmates would help out, if the repairs are beyond your’s and Cole’s capabilities.”



“That’s all well and good, Harry, as an idea, but what about money?”



“I’ve suggested to Auror Dawlish, that rent could be offset against repairs. He says the boys are due for some compensation, and you have that income that we agreed before with Mr Cartwright. If necessary I’m prepared to supplement it as a loan, or investment. Those piles of gold you saw in Gringott’s could be put to some useful work. We could see Mr Cartwright’s solicitor to draw up the necessary legal papers.”



“Harry, you sound just like my father used to,” Draco intruded. “He would make his money work for him too. Although I’m sure you act out of altruism, whereas he acted out of acquisitiveness, looking to increase the Malfoy millions.”



“I’ll take that as a complement, Draco. Your job is to see that I don’t go down the wrong track, even if it seems to be for the right reasons.”



“You’ve been going down the wrong track for ages, Lover. At least that’s what Father thought. However, it looks as though I’ve joined you, so I’ll try my best to stop you from straying from the new direction. You should get everything in writing from the Ministry. Father had some good lawyers, you know. They always went through ministry documents very carefully. I got on rather well with one of them, Francis was his name, I’m sure he’d have a look through any agreements for you; at a fee of course.”



“Are you sure you can trust him, Draco.”



“He used to mutter to me about Father’s dubious dealings sometimes. I think he preferred to be on the side of the light, really. He had a foot in both camps, you know. Many lawyers do. Not light and dark, but Muggle and Magical, perhaps Cartwright’s solicitor may know of the firm.”



“Cole’s mum dropped by, his dad’s being very awkward about him being gay.” Billy informed them. “He’ll have to stay with me for some time, I think; so some repair work would keep him occupied when I’m painting. You know the couple with the bedridden dad, well they’re going away for a holiday and the authorities have agreed to look after him in a home, under a ‘caring for carers’ scheme. They’ve asked me to tidy and paint his room while they’re away. Cole can help a little, but he’ll be at a loose end most of the time. Wash and Gray want to get your shrubbery under control and sort the garden, but that won’t last long either.”



Auror Dawlish came from flooing the Minister; interrupting their discussion. “Mage Potter? The Ministry is prepared to accept a like for like deal, whom had you in mind?”



The ensuing discussion covered the areas Harry had discussed, and various questions were asked. The upshot was Draco flooing his lawyer friend, Francis; Billy undertaking to look at Woodyates and draw up a bill of quantities; and Auror Dawlish to get a provisional written agreement out of the Ministry. For the time being the boys were not to be told, until there was a much firmer proposal. Auror Dawlish marvelled at Harry for wanting to help the boys, but understood the sentiments behind it. He also remarked that it may help their complete rehabilitation if they could act normally in a place which embodied the evil they had been forced to endure. Draco was in two minds about this, but agreed that they should give it a go.



Auror Dawlish went, presumably Apparating away from somewhere outside the front door. Harry wanted to keep Toppers Wallow restricted to friends and Order members, all of whom held special galleons, so he had not enlightened the Auror.



Wash breezed in. “Harry, why didn’t that policeman bloke leave from where all the others did?” he asked.



Harry wondered what Wash was getting at. “That’s the entrance my friends use.”



“Come off it. When the other police lady brought Draco in, you were very surprised. I was watching your face; I don’t think you liked her. Then again your Headmistress came that way too, didn’t she? We weren’t friends with our teachers at school and especially not the head. There’s something you’re not telling us, isn’t there?”



By this time Cole had joined them. “There is, Harry. Your butler changes shape when he thinks we aren’t watching. He’s sometimes a funny little man with big ears. We’ve seen him clearing things away like that when we’re supposed to be asleep.”



“Has Billy been saying anything to you?”



“No way! When we asked him, he told us to mind our own business and not to pry into matters that don’t concern us. He got quite niggled about it, too”



“That circular place, at the bottom of the garden; we’ve had a look inside, there are no gates or hidden entrances. At least not like that one that hides the secret passage in the funny temple. We’ve heard the bangs when people come and go; how do they do that?”



“Come to think of it; Justin said an ‘open sesame’ type word when he rescued us, and the passage door opened, it sounded like Welsh to me.”



“So how much do you really remember now?” Harry asked, feeling worried.



“While we’ve been weeding your garden we chatted, trying to piece things together, like. There are still bits we don’t understand, I suppose some was when we were hypnotised by that evil bloke, but funny things happen here, too. We know you’re not bad, because you’ve helped us recover. The sex bit, Cole’s dad says is bad, but John seems to take it in his stride, so it’s not that. Then there’re you, Billy and Draco; you share beds and behave good; we feel all right around you, so it’s not that either.”



“Our mums say that we should respect you, I think they’re slightly afraid of you, really. Not nasty afraid, but like they treat the Vicar, you know … Err … Slightly wary. Then there’s that mage thing the vicar calls you sometimes and the funny gowns your friends wear. I thought the headmistress looked like a witch when I saw her first. You know, pointed hat, and flowing gowns, and she has that look, the one that all teachers have. It seems to say, I know you’re not doing what you should, so don’t let me catch you doing it.”



“C’mon Harry, you’re our friend. We won’t tell a friend’s secrets ever.”



“Okay then! Firstly go and get Cole as I don’t want to repeat myself. Billy can come if he likes, he already knows. Then we’ll have a serious discussion; right?”



The two young Muggles scampered off to the barn and brought back the other two young Muggles. Harry swore them to secrecy, and then revealed the magical truth. It was almost a repeat performance of when Harry told Billy except that Draco became involved and the two house-elves turned up in their true forms. The trio seemed to take most of the information in their stride, as it explained many of the puzzling happenings and put them in context.



Late in the evening, as Draco and Harry lay in post coital bliss, Harry explained how the revelation had occurred. Draco had been worried, but soon understood the fix Harry had been in when cornered by all the questions.



“I suppose the Statute of Secrecy has its limitations,” Draco mused. “Maybe that’s where the whole pure blood thing started. Hermione’s Mum and Dad know about magic and they’re Muggles. Your Dursleys know too, not that they approve; in a way they are just as bad as the pure-bloods, but at the opposite end of the scale. Harry, I think I’m having another renaissance, does it ever stop?”



“Probably not! We solved the Voldemort problem, now your father’s replaced him. Hermione’s invented those new mirror charms and wards. If she’s true to form there’ll be other inventions as well. Let’s have some peaceful sleep; the new discoveries will still be awaiting us in the morning.”



Harry hugged and kissed Draco, feeling a gradual relaxation into delightful slumber.