Esclavitud *Now Complete*

Chapter 25
Title: Heroes
By: Moon of the Sea
Beta: Aine Rowan

When they arrived at the restaurant, the Maître d was smiling as if Christmas had done an about face and was here once again. Mr. George Weasley was in the house. The prominent business man was never seen at places like this. He had one of his waiters send the Prophet an owl. He wanted the competition to know that Mr. Weasley had chosen his establishment over all others. His glee was overcast by the fact that Mr. Weasley was accompanied by a Death Eater but he was sure that Mr. Weasley was probably using him as entertainment. Many of his most distinguish patrons brought either undesirables like this one or whores. He made sure that he treated Mr. Weasley with white gloves and ignored his companion. George was so enchanted by Draco that he didn’t have eyes or mind for anything else, so he did not pick up on it; Draco did.

“I hope you like the place. They say it is the best, although I don’t know about that. It is supposed to have a three month waiting period, but as soon as I called I was given a reservation for tonight.”

Draco smiled and bowed his head slightly. “You really do not get it; do you?”

“Come again?” asked George not understanding where the comment was coming from.

“You do not understand how important you have grown in our world. You go around as if you are still simply George Weasley and I think that is amazing.”

“Well, if I am not George Weasley, then who am I?” asked George trying to suppress a laugh.

“You are Mr. George Weasley, entrepreneur, inventor, businessman, and head of various social organi…”

“Wow, is that what you see when you look at me?” asked George a little put down.

“No! I do not. I get to work by your side. I get to see you joking with the children, laughing with the elves. Helping anyone and everyone you can. But, I also get to see people clear the way for you and flush just because they are in your presence. And I don’t think you get that part,” he said looking into the redhead’s eyes.

George deflated, bowing his head. “Draco, I have no idea when all of this happened. One day I was simply George a part of a duo and the next day I am Mr. Weasley. Geez Draco, in my book there is only one Mr. Weasley and that’s my dad. I really don’t want any part of this whole Mr. Weasley business.”

“But your reality is that you got into this exclusive restaurant because you are the Mr. George Weasley and the only reason I was granted access is because I came with you.”

“What? NO! That’s not true. You are the kind of guy they serve in this place. Look at you; you fit right in.”

Draco smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you for believing that; it means the world to me.”

They both smiled and felt the awkwardness of the moment. When the maître d came back and announced that he would be taking Mr. Weasley’s order himself.

“Draco, why don’t you order? I am sure you are familiar with all the fancy stuff on the menu.”

Draco smiled and picked up the menu but before he could make any suggestion, the maître d intervened.

“Mr. Weasley, I will be more than happy to assist you. May I suggest the…”

“No, as you can see I am accompanied by a handsome and very sophisticated man that is quite capable of choosing our meal,” he said finally catching on to the man’s game. “Draco,” he said giving the control back to the blond.

By the end of the meal George was very satisfied with dinner. He did not think he would like a place like this, but Draco had ordered a variety of dishes that were quite small in portions, yet together made for a satisfying meal. At the end of the meal, George was feeling a bit confident and extended his hand to touch Draco’s fingers. Draco smiled encouragingly. George flushed with the knowledge that his attentions were being well received.

“It isn’t all that difficult, you know,” said Draco staring at their joined hands.

“Sorry?” asked George a bit confused.

“You want to ask me to go back to your flat with you; don’t you?” not raising his eyes.

“No,” answered George very unconvincingly.

“It is ok; I will accept.”

“Why?”

Draco smiled, still not raising his head. “Because I have dreamed of it for so long.” He let out a short laughing puff, “I know you will be kind. Look I know where I stand and it is fine.”

“And where exactly do you stand?”

Draco brought his thumb to caress the fingers that were on top of his. “I know I am a one off, but I …”

“What? NO! Draco, you are not…”

“Please, George, we both know I am not what you need. I would never forgive myself if I were to cause you any harm.”

“How can you cause me any harm, and so help me Merlin you better not mention the Minister’s Seat, because I can assure you, there is no way I would even consider the job.”

Draco smiled at him, “Your family would never forgive me for ruining your chances of being a prominent member of our society.”

George thought about the words that had just left Draco’s mouth ‘his family’. Could he really expose this beautiful creature before him to the unwilling clan?

“My family will either accept my decision or they will no longer be a factor in my life.”

“Wow, I guess that puts me right up there with Lord Voldemort. He took one twin away from your family and now I would be taking the second half.”

“You know it isn’t like that. They have a choice…”

“George, please let’s spare ourselves and our love ones all the aggravation that is sure to lead nowhere. Just take me to your flat and make my dreams come true. Then tomorrow we will continue as if nothing happen and no one needs to know.”

“I will know,”

“Don’t sound so put off by it. Look after tonight if you still want to see me. We can meet and no one needs to know. We will be secret lovers. I think that would be so romantic,” tried the blond but George saw right through him. This beautiful creature before him had no idea how special he was. Sure George wanted to take him to his flat. Sure he wanted to devour him bit by bit. But he knew that Draco deserved better than a one off or even a clandestine affair. He would not taint the man he loved.

“Draco, excuse me while I go to the loo,” he said on his way up.

He walked to the exit and asked for his coat. He paid for dinner and then scribbled a note on a piece of paper that he gave to the Maître d and left. Draco got the note from the ghastly man. Read it and folded it neatly placing it in his pocket. Then he got up and left.

Three Months Later:

June rolled around before they knew where time had gone. Severus was adapting quite well to his role of husband. He discovered that he liked to entertain. There were people who had been kind to him and he enjoyed entertaining them. He found that cooking was as gratifying as potion making. Fridays became a night of friends. It had gone from the four of them to Minerva, Poppy, Draco, Narcissa and of course the elves. They all sat on pillows around the coffee table so Severus wouldn’t have to kneel. 1
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They were in the middle of one of these dinners when Harry and Ron were having a discussion about the likely winner of the World Cup. Harry had a fork full of rice that he was intending on feeding Severus, but every time his hand was headed to its destination it would get side track by Harry’s heated discussion. Three times Severus had opened his mouth to receive the food and three times he had closed an empty mouth. Growing crossed with the situation he took the fork and ate its content. The whole table froze. Harry looked at him fearfully and placed a comforting hand on Severus’ lower back and rested his forehead on the side of Severus’ head; nothing happen. He looked at Severus and took the fork from his hand; he filled the fork with more rice and handed it to Severus. Again Severus ate its content with no apparent retribution from the curse. Severus did not hand the fork over to Harry, instead he dug into the rice, but when he tried to bring it to his mouth he found that he couldn’t. It was a force bigger than his will was not allowing him to retrieve the fork from the rice. He nodded to Harry. Harry rubbed his back.

“In due time, love. In due time and besides you do know I love feeding you; don’t you?”

Hermione couldn’t for the life of her figure out why the curse had not punished Severus. That night Ron had to pry the books out of her hands and turn of the light, telling her that some things are not found in books.

***

On Friday night, and after the guests had left, Harry and Severus were getting ready for bed.

“He is so ready. I told Narcissa that she should start printing the plaque to go in front of his door: ‘Draco Malfoy - Potions Master’. Mark my words, husband, he is going to ace the examination.”

“Severus, have you seen my spare glasses?” asked Harry rummaging through the bedside table drawer.

“Husband!”

But Harry simply chuckled with a sly look on his face. He walked over to his agitated husband and started to pepper kisses on his face.

“I’m sorry, love, but all you do lately is talk about how wonderful Draco is. You’ve got to admit, it can be a bit tiresome,” still scattering kisses along his husbands face.

“I just haven’t found the reason why he has failed in the past. His technique is irreproachable. He is working on improving the Polyjuice Potion. You know how the voice is not…”

“… affected by the potion and Draco has come up with a way to remedy that; which will be great for us Aurors.”

“Indeed,” said Severus with equal sarcasm.

“Oh, love, let’s go to bed before we end up arguing. Thankfully, the test is tomorrow, he will pass and we will all be able to sleep better knowing that there is a new Potions Master Extraordinaire.”

Severus got into bed and turned on his side facing away from Harry.

“Severus?”

“Good night, husband.”

Harry got into bed and began to rub Severus’ arm.

Severus brought the blanket up to cover his arm and simply said, “Good night, husband.”


***

Next morning, Harry and Ron were in the locker room when they overheard two coworkers speaking.

“Can you believe he is going to try again?” said Patel.

“Doesn’t he get it?” answered Hendricks.

“You know those purebloods with their inbreeding; it gets to the point where they start popping out half witted trolls.”

They both laughed out laud. Harry and Ron smile at the comment.

“How many times has he taken the test? What? This must be like the sixth time. What does Malfoy need to get the message?”

“My grandpa is on the board and he says that Merlin himself would have to come back from his grave before a Malfoy is granted Mastery.”

Harry and Ron’s eyes open to an impossible size.

“Yeah, it’s disgusting how they got away with murder. Look at them, still living in wealth as if they had committed no crimes.”

At that moment Shacklebolt came in and ordered Patel and Hendricks out to their days duties.

“Potter, Weasley, I want you to…”

But the two friends were not listening, they were on their way out.

“Where the bloody hell do you two think you’re going?”

“They are going to fail Draco because of his name. We have to stop it,” Harry yelled back.

“Stop!” yelled Kingsley bringing the pair to a halt. “How exactly are you planning on doing that?”

“Hermione,” was the simply answer from the duo.

***

Draco and Severus were waiting in the chamber for the examination to begin. Draco had convinced his mother of staying home, with the excuse being that if she were there he would get too nervous to perform at his best. Narcissa knew perfectly well that her son was simply trying to keep her from seeing him being humiliated yet again. His professor was there and if he could pass in his teacher’s eyes he would at least get some satisfaction out of the whole useless process. The Malfoys knew very well what Severus refuse to believe, but they were determine to stand before this panel one hundred times. And have them try to convince themselves of being decent people, while failing a man just because of his name.

Severus and Draco were standing in awkward silence when they heard the chamber door open. They stood to see the people that were marching down the aisle in a single side by side row: Kingsley, Poppy, Hermione, Harry and Minerva. It was like watching the Calvary arrive. The power emitted by these wizards and witches was palpable. Severus put on a smile that made him look ten years younger. He beamed at his husband. He knew that the fear that he was squelching would never surface in the presence of these wizards and witches. Let them try to fail his student now.

“Hi, Draco, you don’t mind if we came to cheer you on; right?” asked Harry, smiling back at his husband.

Draco looked at his teacher then to the floor, “I don’t know what to say. This is so… I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say we can stay,” replied Hermione.

“Thank you for coming, but…”

In that moment, the door to the chamber opened again and the wall of people parted to give Severus and Draco a clear view of the wizard entering the chamber. To Draco’s amazement, the wizard that entered the chamber was wearing dragon hide boots and flaming red hair. Draco could not help but feel his soul thrum with hope. Once the wizard was in front of him he felt the others disperse, giving them some sense of privacy.

“Am I welcomed at this party also?” asked the red head a bit fearful of the response.

“How did you know?”

George looked to the door and everyone followed his line of vision to rest on the form of Ron Weasley. He simply smiled sheepishly at the group.

“Ron?”

“It seems you have grown on him during some kind of Friday night dinners,” answered George with a smirk.

Again, the door of the chamber opened and this time it was the rest of the Weasley Clan who entered. Arthur and Molly at the front followed by Fleur, Bill, Percy, Penelope and Ginny; George was dumfounded and stared with open mouth.

“George, close your mouth you look completely daft and I did not raise any daft children,” said Molly as she approached the front of the chamber.

“Mum, what are you all doing here,” asked George still in bewilderment.

“We got an owl. Something about the Potions Maker of the children’s hospital wing not being able to get his mastery because of his name. Now, I know this can’t be true. I said to Arthur, we have to go and make sure that is not true, dear.”

Arthur looked as if this was the first time he had heard this.

“The Potions Maker that you mentioned is my boyfriend, Draco Malfoy,” said George looking his mother square in the eyes.

“Well, I guess that gives us all the more reason to be here; doesn’t it?” said Molly looking at Draco.

Draco bowed his head, hiding his eyes in the process. George lifted his chin with a finger.

“So what do you say, my boyfriend?” asked George looking into the silver eyes, when he heard his father give a little cough and a slight movement of his head from side to side.

“Dad?” questioned George.

Arthur took a deep breath, “Son, when you find that special person in your life, you don’t give him leeway. You go in for the kill,” he said giving his son a knowing smile.

George understood his father, as sons usually do, and turned to the blond. “Draco, will you marry me?”

Draco’s eyes grew three times their normal size then he turned to look at the Weasley clan, who gave him an encouraging smile.

“Only under three conditions,” he said looking at the expecting redhead.

“Only three, you placed twenty-four conditions,” said Bill to his wife.

“I lost count of how many Penelope placed,” retorted Percy.

“Ok, love, let’s hear them,” said George feeling ahead of the game.

“First, I will never leave my mum. She goes were I go.”

George smiled from ear to ear, “OK, love, but I don’t want any complaints when I spend more time with her than I do with you. You do know how well Narcissa and I get along.”

Draco smiled knowing that George was right, he might live to regret it.

“Second, I want to adopt Lucy McNair. I tried putting the papers through but they were ‘lost’ in all the other paper work at the ministry.”

George took out a piece of paper from his jacket and handed it to Draco who took the paper and read it. He looked up at George in shock. “You already adopted her?”

“Yep, so we come as a package. You’ll have to take us both,” said George with a sense of holding the ace of spades. Draco smiled and lowered his head. Was this really happening to him? Will his mum be waking him up any minute now?

“Love, what is your third condition?” asked George bringing Draco back to the chamber.

Draco looked at the people gathered at that chamber. He rested his eyes on his professor and then looked at George.

“We all leave this place and never look back,”

Everyone took a deep breath, but George lifted his hand as a sign of having everything under control.

“Well, I guess two out of three is not bad. There is no way you are leaving this chamber without your mastery. You are going to stand before this panel and show them what an awesome brewer you are. Leave the rest to us,” said George kissing his fiancé. .

Just then the door at the front of the chamber opened. And in marched eight very sour faced wizards and witches. Not even looking at Draco, they sat and were surprised when they finally looked up to see the room full of so many people.

“Mr. Malfoy, what is the meaning of this?” asked the head of the panel.

But it was not Draco who answered but Harry, “Sir, what exactly are you referring to? We are all here to see Mr. Draco Malfoy obtain his mastery. As you may or may not know my husband…”

“A slave!” dared the one of the witches from the panel.

Harry’s magic whirled around the chamber in a menacing wind. Hermione had to place a hand on Harry’s arm signaling that she would take over from here, “A slave that is legally married to Harry Potter, the savior of our world. I wonder what the general community would say if they knew that members of this panel were less than gracious to Auror Potter.”

The witch raised her eyebrow but did not dare to answer Hermione’s rhetorical question.

“What I fail to see is why Mr. Potter would be present at a former…” but then thought best to choose his words wisely, “Mr. Malfoy’s examination,” said the head of the panel.

“As I was saying, my husband, Potions Master Severus Potter-Snape has been tutoring Mr. Draco Malfoy and is convinced of his mastery of the subject of brewing,” intervened Harry.

“Yeah, we just can’t wait to go celebrate Draco’s mastery and his engagement to my brother, Mr. George Weasley,” chimed in Ron.

The mention of Mr. G. Weasley left a sour taste in the mouths of the members of the panel. They all, in one way or the other, were dependent on George’s generosity or his position in different community boards. They signaled to Draco, who stood in the middle of the floor before the panel.


***

“Did you see their faces when they had to grant him his mastery? And you, Husband, you were brilliant. When I saw you marching down that aisle determine to see justice…”

“Aaa, Severus, I wasn’t the only one marching down that aisle…

“Husband, don’t be modest. You know that your presence made all the difference in that panel.”

“Severus, I really think that George played a more significant…”

“Yes, yes, I know he had something to do with it, but honestly husband when your magic swirled around that chamber…”

“Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?”

“Husband?” questioned the Potions Master.

“You have never paid me a compliment.”

“What in Merlin’s name are you talking about? I always compliment you,” assured the dark eye man.

“Nooooo, I am pretty positive that this is the first time I have ever impressed you.”

“Don’t be silly husband,” and thinking it best to change the subject, “Weren’t you going to make love to me? Something about having a lot of pent up anger…”

Harry pushed his husband onto the bed, knowing very well of his lover’s diversion tactics. He made slow passionate love to him for over an hour. They fell asleep in each others hands exhausted. Harry was so glad the next day was Saturday and he would be able to sleep in late. But in the middle of the night, he was awakened by Severus’ cry.

“Master, I am dying.”

A/N
I am not being mean, but I was nearing 4000 words and would have had to write so much more to avoid the cliffy. I will have the rest done before Sunday. We are almost at the end. It will be sad but it has been a great ride. Thanks for all the reviews.

Moon of the Sea
Luna del Mar