The Three Keys

A/N: I do not own any Harry Potter Characters, just the plot, my Laurel, her family and the random misc people that you’ve never heard of before...

Oh yeah, I also own my make-believe spells.

OK enough jabbering, on with the show:
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CH 26 – DRACO’S VINDICATION

Previously:

Laurel regained her composure after a second and smiled bashfully back at Harry. “Well I guess we won’t mention this then?” she ventured nervously, her thoughts on Draco now and she felt suddenly, uncomfortably guilty.

Harry was surprised and looked down quickly to hide the hurt in his eyes and focused his attention on tucking his shirt back into his pants. “Right – course not.” came his clipped reply. He went to the door and opened it, turning back to her, “Ready?”

She nodded and they left together.

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Harry and Laurel walked in uncomfortable silence back to the den, lost in their own thoughts. Laurel glanced at Harry and he quickly looked away. They were trying desperately to avoid each others eyes, but for very different reasons…

Laurel pulled her thoughts away from feeling guilty over Draco and remembered now she was supposed to ask Harry where he was staying. Her voice was shaky when she spoke. “Uh, Harry?” He turned instantly to her. “Where are you staying? With Ron?” Her eyes didn’t quite reach his when she spoke, instead they landed on his lips and she looked away completely.

Harry’s stomach dropped. He groaned inwardly, ‘DAMNIT! I knew it…Harry you IDIOT! Why did you kiss her like that?? Now she wants you to LEAVE!’ Harry tore his eyes away from her, his fists balled at his sides, face flushed with embarrassment and anger toward himself.

“Yeah,” he stammered, “I – I guess we can leave as soon as I make sure Draco is alright and that Ron’s ankle is well enough to travel on…”

“Leave? Harry…” Laurel paled, she wasn’t sure she wanted him to leave.

“Leave?” came another stern voice interrupting them, it was Maggie. Laurel and Harry both jumped and turned away from each other red and uncomfortable. They had not realized they’d walked back into the den. “Harry, you’re not going anywhere. No one is. I’ve sent an owl to Ron’s parents letting them know what has happened and that you both are safe. We’ve already spoken; Arthur apparated here while you were getting cleaned up.” Maggie folded her arms sternly, her voice was sharp. “Seems you two were not supposed to be going out to a club tonight. You were SUPPOSED to be at Diagon Alley this afternoon getting school supplies. Arthur knew nothing of going out to any club.”

Harry’s eyes widened and then narrowed dangerously as he shot a death glare at Ron. Ron glared right back, turned, flounced to a nearby chair and flung himself down, dropping his head in his hands.

They’d been caught. Of course they would be, he’d just forgotten.

Harry rolled his eyes and sighed deeply. He and Ron had been planning this night out for a while, weeks actually, and had been talking about it endlessly. They were so looking forward to having some fun, doing some drinking, general boy carousing, dancing with some pretty muggle girls and just relaxing for one night! Now they all were paying the price for Harry’s lapse in judgment. 'SHIT’ he thought, ‘This is only going to get WAY worse.’

Harry tuned back in to what Maggie was saying. “I suspect they’ll be here shortly. Arthur was stopping at the Ministry first to get the Aurors organized and out to that club.”

“But,” he began.

“No buts,” Maggie said flatly. “You’ve had a squad of Death Eaters attack you tonight. You’re safe here and that’s where you’re going to stay. Thank heavens I know Arthur very well from my many visits to the London Bureau. I should have guessed Red here was a Weasley the minute I saw him.” She cast a narrowed glance at Ron who was studiously avoiding her eyes. “Arthur was very understanding and agreed with me completely that this matter has to be held as close to the vest as possible. Arthur also informed me that you and Red seem to get into quite a bit of trouble more often than not.” When neither, Harry or Laurel responded much to her, Maggie gave them a closer look.

Harry’s cheeks were flushed and he pointedly looked down at his shoes avoiding Maggie’s glare as he walked over to Ron.

Laurel glanced at Harry for a moment with a blank look on her face and then went to Draco and melted on her knees beside him. They both seemed frazzled and refused to look directly at each other, casting quick sideways glances back and forth and looking more rumpled than when they left.

Maggie’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘I think I’ll have to have a little chat with Laurel later.’ guessing correctly why they seemed so guilty looking. Maggie shook her head, ‘Teenagers’ she thought and sighed loudly.

Laurel’s head snapped up and her eyes darted to her mom’s face at hearing the loud sigh and catching the expression there, her eyes widened and she looked away. Maggie pursed her lips and thought, ‘Mmmm-hmmm, DEFINITELY have to have a talk with her.’

Laurel gave a nervous groan and turned back to Draco. As soon as she looked at him all the confusion dissolved away and a deep sense of belonging washed over her. She felt stronger next to him, like this was where she was supposed to be, by Draco’s side.

Her finger tips lightly skimmed the new pink scar running across the lower left side of his belly, she knew a dark magic spell like the one Draco was hit with would leave a scar, much like Harry’s, but she didn’t think it would be so big; it went from just to the left of his belly button across to the curve of his side. She held back tears and looked up into his face and gave a small sigh of relief. Draco’s cheeks were pink and his breathing was deep and regular. Laurel let her hand caress his cheek and ran her fingers through his fair hair. She knew this was right. She didn’t know why, but she KNEW it was right, being with this man.

Laurel resolved that she would just have to be very careful around Harry from now on. She was beginning to guess that Harry’s spirit was so strong it affected her more potently than anyone she’d ever met before. But now that she knew this, she could prepare for it. Not let his feelings overpower her…ever again. (Laurel hoped so desperately, because she didn’t want to lose Harry, she liked him very much, aside from the annoying little fact that she found herself quite attracted to him. But, she could work on that. Laurel couldn’t and wouldn’t let that attraction get in the way of her new friendship with Harry. Because if she did, Laurel had a sneaking suspicion the results could be disasterous.)

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Harry flopped into the chair next to Ron’s and sighed. “What happened?”

Ron looked up at him and snapped, “What do you THINK happened? My mum and dad are furious! I thought my dad was going to kill me on the spot. He said my mum didn’t come right away because she was so upset she could barely speak! They can’t believe we went to a muggle club without an escort.” Ron sighed and looked thoroughly miserable. “I’m sure I’ll be grounded for the rest of my life, if they don’t decide to kill me first, and I think you’re going to be grounded right along with me.” He groaned, “We’re both going to die old, lonely and never having shagged a girl.”

Harry rolled his eyes and snorted.

“Uh, speaking of that…” Ron cast a sideways glance at Harry, his voice lowered. “Did I interrupt something back there?” he inclined his head toward the hallway.

Harry sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “Nah. Not, not really.” he lied. It would be no use telling Ron now, he knew Ron would want details and he just couldn’t talk about it yet. “I’ll tell you later.”

Ron nodded knowingly. “Right, mate.” He leaned closer to Harry and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Harry shrugged. “Nothing to be sorry for…” He watched as Maggie approached Laurel and decided to go check on Draco. “I’m gonna check on Malfoy.”

Ron nodded glumly and leaned back in his chair, eyes closed. He was so tired, he just wanted to get to bed, he didn’t care where. Once he got some sleep he could deal with his irate parents, preferably in the morning.

Harry squared his shoulders and took a deep breath to calm his raging pulse before approaching Laurel and Maggie cautiously. He watched as Laurel stood to face her mother, they were talking quietly looking down at Draco. Harry cleared his throat and Laurel jumped. He saw that and clenched his jaw, but his voice was even. “How’s Malfoy doing?”

Maggie turned to Harry, and he didn’t like the look on her face one bit. “He’s better. I suspect he’ll be just fine. Harry, I want to ask you something very serious.”

He groaned inwardly, but kept his eyes steady on her face. “Yes?”

“You didn’t mention that Draco is a Malfoy earlier, why not?”

Harry and Laurel both looked surprised and Laurel answered for him. “What difference does THAT make? Draco saved Harry’s life!” Laurel’s eyes had gone very cold and fierce looking. She stepped in front of Draco still lying on the couch, suddenly protective of him, as if shielding him from her mother’s words.

Maggie watched her daughter’s unconscious actions and sighed. “Laurel, it makes a big difference and you know it. The Malfoys are a dark wizarding family from millennia back. Lucius Malfoy, well," Maggie hesitated cautiously, "he is Draco’s father isn’t he?" 'Of course he is,' she thought bitterly, 'He looks exactly like a Malfoy.' Why hadn't she noticed that immediately? Maggie forced herself to focus, continuing on, "That is what Arthur and Ron said. And Lucius," her voice skipped for a moment, then became calm and cool, her chin jutting out defiantly, "Lucius Malfoy is a well known Death Eater." she finished, her voice uncharacteristcally harsh. Maggie's face hardened as she eyed Draco almost angrily. "I just want to make sure that this boy didn’t somehow get hurt while trying to trap Harry and it backfired on him.”

Laurel’s eyes blazed. “How DARE you accuse Draco of betraying Harry!” she yelled shrilly. “I SAW HIM with my own eyes jump in front of HARRY to PROTECT him! He told me he was going to die, and, that I should use his body to shield Harry and myself as best I could! USE HIS BODY TO SHIELD HARRY AND ME, MOTHER!!” Laurel’s voice cracked and she brushed a stray tear off her cheek angrily. “He said HARRY HAD TO LIVE. It was worth his dying, to SAVE Harry’s LIFE!” Laurel was shaking with fury now. “You have no right to judge him for his father’s sins, mother. I can’t believe you would even suggest such a thing! Besides, I looked into his eyes and I saw his…”

“LAUREL!” Maggie snapped, her voice low and warning, her eyes widened in shock.

Laurel blinked and sucked in her breath, glancing at Harry, then back at her mother. “He’s a good man.” she finished defiantly, glaring at her mother and folding her arms rigidly across her chest. “I KNOW it, and, and YOU know I’m right! And now you know it too!”

Maggie opened her mouth to speak but thought better of it. She knew if Laurel read his soul and said it was pure, then it was. Laurel would not lie about something so serious as that, nor would she protect someone so fiercely if he weren’t worth it. Maggie relented. “Alright, Laurel, alright, calm down. I still want to hear from Harry and Ron what happened, but we can wait until morning.”

Laurel huffed and glared at her mother and Harry as if challenging them to contradict her again.

Harry didn’t know what that little scene was about, but he spoke in a steady, calm voice to Maggie. “Mrs. Winters, I’ve known Malfoy, er, Draco since I was 11 and before tonight I would have told you without a doubt he was working side by side with his father. But…but Mal…Draco came to that club tonight specifically to warn me to get out, he knew there would be trouble. He knew his father was planning something and tried to get me to leave, but I didn’t believe him. I -” Harry sighed, “I believe him now. He really was looking out for me.” Harry’s gaze was level and his eyes unblinking as he folded his arms across his chest trying to look more assured than he felt.

Inside, however, Harry’s guts were churning in turmoil as he tried not to let the fact that innocent people died tonight because of him overwhelm him. “This whole thing is my fault and Malfoy was only trying to help. If I’d listened to him when he first came,” Harry’s voice finally broke, he continued in a pained whisper, looking down at his shoes, “maybe so many innocent people wouldn’t have had to die tonight. I’ll have to deal with that for the rest of my life. But believe me when I tell you that none of this was Malfoy’s fault.”

Laurel’s eyes slid closed and she looked away, her expression somber as she hugged herself, trying desperately not to cry.

Maggie’s eyes searched Harry’s face and she spoke softly. “I’m so sorry, Harry. Those of us with great powers often have to carry great responsibilities along with them. It’s never easy, but you have to let your strength and the support of your friends and family, bring you through difficult times like this.” Maggie put her hand on his arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze, cleared her throat and continued. "Well, I won’t be sending an owl to Draco’s home then. We’ll just have to see about who to contact once he’s awake.”

Maggie moved Laurel aside and bent to Draco. “Draco, can you hear me?” She touched his face gently, “Draco? Can you open your eyes?”

Laurel and Harry looked at each other for a long moment and then turned to watch Draco. Draco’s eyes fluttered and he croaked barely above a whisper and mumbled, “Laurel?...Pott...” then nothing.

“Okay, that went well,” Maggie said, straightening up. “We’re going to have to get him upstairs.” She turned to Harry and Laurel. “Look, there are dozens of muggle employees running all over this house… Laurel, I’m sorry to use the word, but please don’t roll your eyes at me right now! As I was saying, until further notice, NO Magic. Understood? I’ve got enough to explain away without you kids doing magic. That means no wand flashing, no wandless magic, nothing, until all this dies down. Okay?” They nodded. “Agreed, Red?” Maggie turned round to look at Ron.

She grinned and shook her head. Harry and Laurel turned to see what Maggie was smiling at and they both smiled sheepishly. Ron was sound asleep on the chair, head back, mouth open and snoring softly.

Maggie walked over to Ron and shook him gently. “Red, sorry to wake you, but I need your help to get Draco up to bed. After that, I promise you can go straight to sleep.” She gave him a small smile and helped him off the chair.

Ron rubbed his bleary eyes and grumbled, “Yeah, fine.”

After much grunting, groaning and complaining from a very exhausted Harry and Ron, they managed with Maggie and Laurel’s direction to get a heavy, unconscious Draco into the house elevator up to his room and then their own respectively.

Maggie put Draco in the room next to Laurel’s with Harry and Ron in separate rooms just across the hall from them.

Maggie gave Laurel a big hug and kiss, and told her not to worry about Draco they would work it out.

With one last hug to Laurel, she set off back down stairs to greet the Weasleys and some other members from the Order of the Phoenix she had sent word to. (Maggie had been a member since Dumbledore reinstated the Order a few years back.)

For Maggie, the night was just beginning, as was the ordeal the children were just about to embark on.

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A/N: I think this was a nice transitional chapter and I KNOW you’re gonna LOVE the next one! GRIN. Let me know what you think coming off of TWO hot and steamy chapters, this one is a relaxing, cool down before I rev your engines up again next chapter…Which I will. (grinning and wriggling eyebrows again.)

So, tell me what you think!

Well, all, much love and I MUST NOT FORGET TO WELCOME ALL THE NEW MEMBERS TO MY YAHOO GROUP! YOU ALL ARE WONDERFUL. IF YOU'VE NOT ALREADY JOINED, COME VISIT US HERE: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hpthreekeysfanfictiongroup/ AND SIGN UP! LOTS OF FUN DISCUSSIONS AND LINKS TO GREAT STORIES. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! LEAVE A MESSAGE AND POKE AROUND, TAKE THE POLLS, ANSWER THE GROUP DISCUSSIONS!

Cheers,

Lorett!