The Contract

Chapter Forty Five -- Press Conference





Mornings were usually hectic anytime that many Weasleys were in the house, but when Draco woke, he quickly lost his temper at Harry when he was refused ‘permission’ to return to the school and be a part of the Press Conference.



“No! I won’t have you put yourself and our children at risk! It isn’t going to happen.” Harry finally ranted at the blonde. “One, if anything happens to you, I could not ever live with myself. Two, that goblin will literally remove the skin from my body. Three, I can’t watch out for you, our children, and still pull this off. I am going out there to destroy Albus Dumbledore.



“He knows my weaknesses. YOU ARE MY WEAKNESS! What if he decides to hurt you? He will destroy me just like he planned! Don’t do this – please, I can’t lose you again.”



“Harry James Potter, stop yelling at me!” Draco commanded. For the first time since the relationship started, Harry did not even consider going to his knees to assume the position again. He did stop pacing, crossed his arms and waited for Draco to continue speaking. “Don’t talk to me like I am your property. I love you. We are partners. My entire life, I have been taught how to handle the press. You need me.”



“No. I will not… No Draco. Strangely enough, my entire life, I was taught to please you. I learned to play instruments, dance, and use the correct forks so I don’t embarrass you. And guess what? I was taught how to talk to those vultures too. So I would not make a mistake. He taught me too well. He thought he was teaching me to be a servant, and instead, he was creating someone who can handle ANY situation. I learned my lessons well, and you will have to trust me.”



“I want to GO!” Draco screamed at him.



Harry crossed his arms and stood still. “No. Absolutely not. I cannot live with myself if anything happens to you because we have broken the mold of the person Dumbledore created and Lucius Malfoy tried to destroy. He will not take my inheritance, my life, my love or my children. This man has been setting this up since the day he killed Grindelwald. I have to believe he could either foresee this or the man is a time traveler, I don’t care which theory is right.



“Draco, please. When we were in your quarters and I wanted to see what the commotion was, you asked me not to go. You told me you were scared and just wanted to leave. I didn’t question you, it was the one time in my life I let go and simply trusted that you knew what needed to be done. Now I am asking you for that same trust. Just trust me.” Harry had crossed to Draco as he spoke. Their eyes gazing deep into the other’s as the words seeped into the thick skull covered with blonde hair.



He took a deep breath before blowing it out. “Harry, please, understand that I don’t want to be left behind. I love you.”



“I know that and I love you too. Which makes this all the more reason to trust me. Please.” His voice had a low timbre to it that made Draco’s heart skip a beat. “Its bad enough when I purged the filth from this home and removed the Order’s protective spells and had to replace them with my own to keep you safe. I didn’t even think, when I was doing the cleaning that the entire world would be able to see this home.



“All I wanted was a safe place for you and the babies. For my family. I removed Dumbledore’s Fidelius Charm and our home was restored to the views of the world. Hermione thinks I have added a spell that won’t let anyone who seeks to do us harm enter the home. Don’t you see? I do things to protect you without realizing what I am doing. I can’t protect you out there!”



“Harry, why can’t you understand? This is important to me.”



“Not as important as your safety is to me. No matter what happens out there today, I cannot think of you and be able to deal with those people today. You have to be safe. You have to bring our children safely into the world, regardless of what happens. Whether you can protect yourself or not, I will feel responsible. It’s not a chance I can take. Please, Draco, go back to the Horde today and stay there until this is over. Do it for me.”



Closing his eyes, he agreed. “But when you come home, and you had better come home, you will worship this bloated body of mine, give me a blow and hold me until I choose to waddle out of bed. Is that clear?”



Harry kissed him and agreed. Draco left with Garen shortly thereafter.







The Aurors were at the gates of Hogwart's in full force. Professor McGonagall had requested Madame Bones bring a contingent to assist with ‘crowd control’ as she expected more than a thousand reporters and photographers for the Press Conference. The Wizengamut was expected to be there as well, in full, to listen to the accusations and see the presented evidence against two of their own. The children under seventh year were not allowed to attend, and those in seventh year were to be on alert for any signs of sabotage or revenge against Harry Potter.



No one had yet to see Dumbledore or Scrimgeour.



The two men were now fully aware of the Mistress of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She sealed them in the Headmasters office. She sealed the fireplace from the Floo network. She dampened the room of the ability to use magic. Except for the allowance of House Elves to clean their clothes and provide them food, they were the equivalent of Muggles trapped in a tower.



: They will stay that way until my human and his love return to me.







The grounds were covered in snow at least a foot deep when the Potter crew arrived. Hundreds of people were waiting for his arrival. While they had wanted to have the meeting on the front lawn, with this amount of people, Professors McGonagall and Snape decided that the Quiddich pitch would work better. When Harry entered the pitch to cheers and applause, he was a bit overwhelmed. Ron and Sirius flanked him while Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie and Percy followed closely behind, their wands clutched tightly in their hands.



When Harry stepped up on the stage, a hush fell across the crowd. Turning to Ron, who nodded, then Sirius, who gave him a discreet thumb’s up, Harry began to speak.



“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming out on such a cold winter’s day.” The wind howled through the stadium. With a thought, Harry raised his hands in the air and clapped them once. Immediately, the stadium was enclosed in what could only be called a bubble. Warmth and quiet met this action, although murmurings quickly spread.



“I apologize, my hands were cold and I couldn’t hear myself speak. As I was saying, thank you for coming today. As each of you are aware, I have been wronged. My life has been one large game to the man who calls himself Dumbledore. From a time before I was born, he has manipulated the laws, our scholars, my parents, and each of you in his quest for power.



“You see, my father is a direct descendent of Godric Gryffindor. His legacy goes back to the time before Hogwart's. While I am pleased to know my heritage, with it brings this type of behavior from others. Throughout history, the Gryffindor line has been hurt and kept from being able to claim what is rightfully theirs.



“The vaults under Gringott’s currently hold only a small portion of the monies available to me upon my inheritance. While most witches and wizards come into that inheritance at the age of seventeen, my parent’s wills were manipulated to prevent this for me.



“Only after my eighteenth birthday, will I be eligible to inherit the monies and titles of my birthright. This is due to a series of events which was put into play before I was born…” Harry went on to tell all he knew of Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy’s scheme.



“Of course, they had not planned on the fact that Draco Malfoy would be carrying my children and giving birth to my legacy. They both assumed that I would be the one to carry and give birth to the Malfoy children. Had that happened, my rights, titles, and money would have been turned over to Albus Dumbledore.”



Gasps, screams, and muttering met these words. Rita Skeeter knew part of it, but also acknowledged that there was much more.



“My children, due the first of February will be the Potter heirs. They will be the most powerful, wealthy, and undoubtedly handsome children born. Their papa, Draco Malfoy is currently being kept safe from prying eyes and anyone who might wish to hurt our children until this is resolved.”



“I will now take questions from the crowd.” And he did. He answered questions for almost an hour before deciding that there was enough information out there.



He looked around the stadium. “Because of the way in which this has played out, I find myself in a bit of a problem. I cannot marry Draco, because I will forfeit my inheritance. I cannot give up my inheritance because my children will one day need it. I will not turn my back on my responsibilities now, just as I haven’t in the past.



“I killed Lord Voldemort for you. I did what the prophecy said I must. I lived in horror and pain throughout my childhood so my mentor could steal my life. I ask you now not to allow this to continue.



“I ask you now that the laws which gave him guardianship over me be rescinded.



“I ask that you allow me to marry my love and still be a part of this world.



“I ask that you prosecute the ones currently being held in the castle by the Mistress of Hogwarts for child abuse, manipulation of the Wizarding Laws, concealing true documents while creating false ones as replacements.



“I ask that you rescind any laws which Albus Dumbledore convinced you were necessary for our world’s survival.



“I ask that you impeach Scrimgeour for attempting to use his place of trust to cause me, my love, and my unborn children harm.



“I ask that you, here and now, allow me the life which I have earned by doing what you needed done. I have never wanted anything more in my life than to settle down with my family and be part of something bigger and more wonderful than I have ever known.”



As he stepped down from the stage, the crowd watched him walk to the center of the pitch. “Mistress?” He asked loudly. “Bring them to me. I must have the two you hold in your offices. These people will keep me safe from harm, which they could otherwise cause. I ask you now to do this for me.”



The thunder rolled for a moment as his words were carried to her heart. He, once again, shared his magic to aid her in his request. It took several seconds to gain enough power to unleash her magic and bring them from the castle.



Fawkes swooped in singing a happy tune.



Rufus Scrimgeour was dropped, unceremoniously onto the grass at Harry’s feet. When he stood and looked around, he bellowed, “ARREST THAT BOY!”



The Aurors pointed their wands at the Minister of Magic.



It took several seconds before another man was dropped at Harry’s feet. The man was old and bearded, but his eyes were deepest black, not twinkling blue.