Abused

Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Chapter 5: Bonding - And A Board Meeting

That evening, the pair had dinner at a quiet restaurant, where Lucius finally asked Harry to bond with him, and the young wizard gladly accepted the proposal of the man he had come to love.

The bonding ceremony was held in the University chapel with the professors, and old and new friends attending them. Lucius had managed to contact the ‘Allies’ and Remus, arranging to sneak them all out of England. Remus took James’ place for the ceremony… at both Harry and Lucius’ request. Draco and Susan stood as witness for Lucius, and Neville and Luna did the same for Harry.

Seeing the happiness in the young man’s eyes, Remus couldn’t deny him anything. For all the misery in his life, Harry deserved what he had found, and the werewolf was glad to play the role that either James or Sirius should have been there to fill.

Afterward, the foursome and their U.K. friends stayed behind with the lycanthrope while Lucius took his new husband on a honeymoon where Harry could walk barefoot along the black sand beaches of Hawaii. Not that they left much time for that, as the pair seldom left their cottage for anything other than meals.
~*~
The final year of their studies was upon them, and each one made concerted effort to be the best in their courses. Fortunately for the school, each of the young people were in different classes, else things might have become difficult.

After graduation, Lucius decided that they should see something of the world before returning to the uproar that would surely herald their arrival in England.

They spent the next year wandering from place to place, playing tourist. Everywhere that Harry had once mentioned wanting to go, or things he had wanted to see, they did. Even Draco had to admit that the muggles had some pretty decent places to visit.
~*~
The Australian sun shone down like honey on the group relaxing around the hotel pool when the blonde began to chuckle as he lay on a deck chair beside his companions, "I thought father was going to AK all of us when we showed him our 'tattoos'."

The black-haired man across from him laughed, "Yeah, Drake. Whoever thought that one Lucius Malfoy would take offense to being called a 'Death Eater'?

The redheaded woman beside Draco shook her head, "But whoever thought that our oh-so-submissive pal would think up a prank like that?"

Across from her, blue eyes rolled, "Come off it Sue. After all these years you can't claim you didn't know Harry has a sense of humor. What surprised me was that the prank had to do with Death Eaters at all. He's come a long way in the last five years."

"Are you four gossiping about me?" A second black-haired man joined the group, shoving his step-son's feet aside to sit down, as the other smirked.

"Yep... although we haven't yet gotten to yours and father's bedroom antics."

"And I suggest you not even go there, Draconis." A lazy drawl came from behind the blonde. "You wouldn't like it if I started in on your lack of silencing charms, now would you?"

Susan blushed, and smacked Draco, "You told me that you'd put up the charms, you dolt!"

Across the way, Luna grinned at her, "Never rely on a man for the silencing charms, or everyone within range will know your business. That's why I always double check Nev's and my room."

Harry smirked from his seat beside Draco, "Do you want to check ours each night, Luna?"

The brunette laughed at him, "Hell no. It would be more fun to listen in. I always thought it would be hot to eavesdrop on gay lovers."

As the eldest of the group conjured up another chair, he said, "I suggest you find another pair to listen in on then. You might not like my reaction to being overheard."

She wrinkled her nose at him, "Aw, come on, Luc, you know I'd never sneak. You know too many nasty curses to make it worth my while."

Enjoying the sun, Lucius Malfoy closed his eyes, but asked, "Are you ready to go back yet? It's been a year since your graduations from University, and we've done some of the traveling that Harry wanted."

The wizard mentioned moved from Draco's chair to his bond-mate's. "I know I want to deal with the old fool before he can slip free of his justified punishment. Thankfully Lysander, Remus, and Kingsley have been keeping us up to date with what's going on. Besides, it's going to be fun watching everyone's jaws drop at what has become of our shy Neville and Loony Lovegood."

Draco grinned, "Not only that, but Amelia Bones is going to die of shock seeing her goody-goody niece in black leather and attitude. And the odds on what an old fool and the Weasels are going to say when they see my ‘new’ step-father is good for top-of-the-line seats at a Rolling Stones concert."

Even Harry had to laugh, "Yeah, that's going to be some show. And if it weren't for all of you..." his voice trailed off, remembering the pain and terror of more than five years before.

Lucius leaned forward and put his arms around the younger man, "Don't, Harry. Don't bury yourself in those memories. You're not that helpless, unloved teenager anymore. You have all of us to help you through whatever gets handed your way."

The black-haired man leaned back into the warm embrace. "I know, Luc, and I don't have to just sit there and accept what gets dished out either. I have choices."

Lucius looked around at the young people. "I talked to Kingsley Shacklebolt. It seems that there is a Board of Governors meeting in two days… and an Order meeting at Grimmauld Place a few days after that. Would anyone care to ‘spoil’ their parties?"

Susan snickered, "Only if we can appear in the matching leather ensembles for the Order meeting!"

Harry nodded, “Sounds good to me, but we’re going to need formal robes for the Board meeting. On top of that, Luna and I need to decide who will represent our additional seats.” He smirked, “I know who I want. Luna?”

The Ravenclaw grinned, “I thought about asking Hannah Abbott. I know she’s Hufflepuff, but she has the wits to handle it.”

Luc inquired, “And who did you have in mind, Harry?”

His husband snickered, “Beth Blackwell. I thought it would be ironic as she’d be serving in the seat for the House of Black.” Lucius chuckled, and admitted that the elderly healer would love a chance to put her two knuts into the Hogwarts education system. The results to Lucius' suggestion came back unanimous. They would return to England.
~*~
Albus hadn't been happy when Remus insisted on moving into Grimmauld Place five years earlier, and caring for it until Harry returned. The old man had figured on sneakily selling off the moth-eaten old relic and pocketing the proceeds, but he couldn't find a valid excuse to get the werewolf out of town for any length of time. And Remus wasn’t stupid enough to tell the old wizard that he had authorization from Harry’s estate manager to reside there.

Oh well, it would still make a good place to hold Order meetings, although they were far less frequent since the demise of the Dark Lord. Mostly it was of people checking to see if any of the others had found Harry Potter... or who his Secret Keeper might possibly be... Except he couldn't get in! Someone had changed the wards on the mansion, and they refused to let the old man even onto the property.

After returning from Harry’s bonding, Remus had contacted Gringotts about it, and was told he could, if he wished, allow the old man access, but that Mr. Potter had specifically wanted him banned from the place... for Remus' own protection. With the thought that it was Harry's way of caring for him, the werewolf let the wards stand, and refused to even let Dumbledore know he could change things.

Albus had tried to use his political clout to get the Dursleys released from their sentences, but whoever had been named Potter's guardian obviously had more political power than the old man. The Headmaster was even beginning to have problems with the Board of Governors regarding courses and school policies that were archaic. Dumbledore wanted everything left as it was, but the Board in flux and looking to meet the new members expectations. He couldn't see why the sudden wish for change, and the only item for which he had to give thanks was that Lucius Malfoy seemed to be perpetually out of town. He hadn't bothered the old man in several years.

Severus Snape was waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was something in the air that made him very edgy, but to his own amazement, a private message from the Board insisted that he was one of the teachers they wanted to keep on for the future. He suspected that Binns was on his way out, as well as Sinistra, Trelawney, Slughorn, Vector, and Filch. Rumor also had it that Albus Dumbledore might be looking at his last year as Headmaster. From the sounds, whoever was on the upcoming Board had it in for the old man... and Snape couldn't really blame them. He figured the old man planned to ask him to take his rightful place on the Board to counteract whoever was requesting the dismissals, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to save the old man’s ‘fat’ from the fire this time. He'd been doing it for too long with nothing to show for his efforts.
~*~
The Manor elves were thrilled to see the Master back, and even more thrilled to find that he had bonded to Master Harry. Harry had quickly become a favorite with the house elves when he kept raiding the kitchen to prepare snacks for his friends all on his own, instead of requiring the elves to do it.

The next morning the house elves served breakfast at a table in the conservatory before everyone went to dress for the Governor’s meeting. At Lucius’ suggestion the dress robes were in their familial colors. Eventually, when they decided to claim the Founders’ seats, Harry, Neville, Susan, and Luna would wear their 'other' ancestral colors.

It had been fun watching Draco’s face when he called Harry ‘Gryffindor’s heir’ and Harry laughed at him. “Sorry Draco. I may have pulled Godric’s sword from the hat in my second year, but I’m not his Heir.” He waved toward his housemate, “Neville is the true Gryffindor Heir, but everyone thinking I was gave him a measure of protection over the years.”

The blonde frowned, “But then…” He snorted, “Don’t tell me you’re a Hufflepuff at heart.”

The dark-haired wizard chuckled, “Not a chance. The Sorting Hat knew who I was from the start, but you had reminded me of Dudley, so I refused to accept the idea of being sorted into Slytherin.”

The blue eyes were startled, “Y-you…”

“Are Slytherin’s Heir. Yes, Draco, I am,” Harry answered him softly.

The blonde rolled his eyes, “No wonder Voldemort couldn’t even beat you as an 11 year-old. And after he was restored, it wasn’t the idea that he had your blood… but that you had his, wasn’t it?”

The Gryffindor nodded, “There was no way he could win against his own. I figured that out and that’s the reason I covered for Snape so he could do the deed. I only wish he had taken credit for the kill. I sure as hell didn’t want it.”

“So when did you find out about the other Heirs?” Draco inquired.

Harry smiled, “Christmas, Sixth year. The four of us were the only older students left at the school and we just got together, and really got to know each other… Although I had suspected that Neville was the Gryffindor Heir since just after my godfather died. It was something that Dumbledore told me about how the prophecy could have fit either of us… until the Dark Lord marked me when he killed my parents.”

Lucius strolled into the room, and Draco had to pick Harry’s chin up off the floor. The aristocrat smiled at his husband’s reaction, and leaned over to whisper in his ear. Harry blushed at the words whispered to him. Pushing Luc away, he growled, “Don’t tell me things like that… or we’ll never make the Board of Governors meeting! I’d much rather apparate back to our room and lock the doors for the rest of the day.”

Draco rolled his eyes, “Father, you’ve created a sex maniac!” The older blonde laughed, “Don’t worry about it Draco. At least he’s MY sex maniac.”

When the others joined them, Lucius brought out the portkey that would take them all to the Board chambers. Each one touched it, and Luc activated the portkey.

The young people found themselves in a large, ornate room with a round mahogany table in the center of it. Around the table were placed fourteen comfortable chairs, evenly spaced. Lord Malfoy led them around the table, and at different places, stopped, placing his hand on the back of the chair and announcing a Family name. The first one was ‘Bones’. They watched as Susan’s name appeared in gold letters in front of the seat. “Cool,” Harry whispered.

Luc continued on with ‘Wilton’, ‘Longbottom’, and ‘Lovegood’. Almost back at the beginning, he smiled and said ‘Potter’. Harry grinned back at him, and took his place at the table. To his pleasure, Lucius went to the next seat and took his place.

Quietly the older man said, “This chamber is designed in such a way that there is no need to raise one’s voice to be heard.”

At that Susan inquired, “So what seats are for the Black and Dyfed families?”

Luc chuckled, “The seat for the House of Black is beside me, and the seat for the Dyfed family will be found to the right of Neville. When the four of you decide to reveal your heritage the Founders’ seats will appear, and you'll need delegates for your Familial seats.” The ‘pop’ of new arrivals silenced the man as he had agreed not to let anything slip regarding his companions.

“Well, well, Lucius. I hadn’t heard that you were back in the country.” A stocky redhead approached him, “But who are these children?”

Harry eyed the man warily as the blonde snorted, “It can wait until the others arrive, Clarence. You know how much I detest having to repeat myself.”

Soon another man and two women appeared, taking their places at the table. Finally Lucius stood, “I bid you welcome. Before you ask I will introduce my companions by Family. First is Bones, represented by Susan, niece of Amelia.” The young Hufflepuff stood and bowed to the others.

“Next is the Wilton family, guided by my son, Draco.” He too, stood and bowed.

“The Longbottom family, and its heir, Neville.” Like the others before, the young man acknowledged the older Board members.

“For the Lovegoods, I introduce Luna, daughter of Lysander.” She gave the others one of her loopy grins.

Having agreed beforehand to keep their bonding confidential, Lucius finally said, “And lastly, for the Potters, I give you Harry, son of James.” The tall dark-haired man beside him stood, and merely observed the others before saying, “I bid you greeting.”

Lucius gave him a brief smiled in approval of his reserved actions. His young husband was going to show them what he was truly made of… instead of the naïve ‘Boy-Who-Lived’ they were expecting.

He also knew that the older members would attempt to influence the five young people who had now joined their august body. Fortunately, even Neville had gained a sense of his own worth while at University, along with Harry’s total trust in him. Lord Malfoy couldn’t help but be proud of all of them.

“My young associates, I give you Aithne Russell, Mavis Graham, Darren Thwaite, and Clarence Churchill.”

One of the women spoke up, “You haven’t managed to convince the heir of the Snape family to join us yet?”

Lucius shook his head, “You know Severus. He’ll do it under his own power, and in his own time. My only concern is that Dumbledore will convince him to take his seat in order to stop the old man’s dismissal.”

Aithne frowned, “Is that possible?”

The blonde chuckled, “With the old make-up of the Board… yes. But with our newly seated members, Albus Dumbledore doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of surviving the cut.”

The other woman, Mavis, spoke up. “What about you, Mr. Potter? You spent so many years under his mentoring, wouldn’t you side with him?”

The emerald eyes glimmered, “I am afraid, Madame, that you are mistaken about the Headmaster’s influence over me. Had it not been for Lord Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore’s negligence would have cost me my life. I have no sympathy for what happens to that manipulative old man.”

Clarence Churchill frowned, “Don’t you have any sense of loyalty to the headmaster?”

Harry glared at the man, “No more than he had for me. If you had had someone force you into risky situations as young as eleven, you wouldn’t be so fond of him either.”

After a discussion about what had been done while the others were away, the older members disappeared... but not before Harry raised a hand and murmured a few words. He turned and frowned at Lucius, “You do realize that you have a snitch in the group?”

His husband met his eyes, “What do you mean, love?”

Harry shrugged, “The bald one… Churchill? I’ve seen him before, roaming the halls of the school. The other three I’ve never seen before. I think he probably reports the Board’s business to Dumbledore.”

Draco listened thoughtfully. “You know father, I think he’s right. It’s rather odd that the only Board member I ever saw at Hogwarts, other than you, WAS Clarence Churchill… and he always seemed to be coming from the Headmaster’s office the day AFTER a Board meeting.”

Harry chuckled, "Well, he won't have anything to report this time. I replaced his memory of us with that of spending time in a brothel in Knockturn Alley."

Susan snickered, "Remind me to never piss you off. You have a really nasty sense of humor when that happens.

Upon their return to the Manor, Harry contacted St. Mungo's. Smiling pleasantly at the receptionist, he said, "Would you please tell Healer Blackwell that Lord Malfoy and spouse would like her to join them for dinner this evening? Dress is informal."

Blushing at the attention of the handsome young man, the girl stuttered that she'd have the healer contact them as soon as she was free. Harry thanked her and closed down the floo connection.
~*~
Beth appeared at seven, and grinned at them. "A dinner invitation with the Malfoys that is less than formal? I just couldn't resist."

Harry bowed, and escorted her to the table. "We had something to discuss with you... and Miss Abbott. That's why she has joined us also."

Dinner went well, but with an impeccable set of manners, Harry didn't broach the subject until they were halfway through the meat course. "Actually, Healer Blackwell, I would like to request that you be my representative for one seat on Hogwarts' Board of Governors."

She looked up, startled, "But Harry, don't you want to be there?"

He laughed, "I already am, Beth, but I am responsible for two seats... as is Luna, and we'd rather have the extra voices in council."

Hannah spoke up, "Luna, is that what you want from me?" As the Ravenclaw nodded, the other woman smiled, "I would be honored. What Family will I represent?" Luna grinned, "You'll be seated for the Dyfed family, my mother's clan, while I am seated as the Heir of the Lovegood Family."

Watching from across the table, Beth Blackwell finally said, "You know I'm a bit old for this, don't you?"

Harry chuckled, "I figured that you've probably got things you'd like to see changed... as well as to one-up an old fool. Can you possibly resist that?"

The grey head shook as she laughed, "Nope. So what Family am I being seated as?"

The young wizard replied softly, "As representative of my godfather's family... the Blacks."

At the name, Beth's brows rose, "You don't play penny-ante with power, do you, boy?"

Harry snickered, "Nope. And the more power I have, the less Albus Dumbledore can get away with.” He glared at her, “And you’re the only one who is going to get away with calling me ‘boy’!” Harry returned to his amiable expression. “Lucius tells me that there are a possible 14 seats, but that two of them haven't been filled in more than a generation. He didn't tell me which families though. As it stands right now, the eight of us will end up representing a total of twelve families... including the Founders’ Seats."

Lucius spoke up, "The unseated Families are Snape and, believe it or not, Weasley. By tradition, the seats are filled when a member of the Family becomes a Master of their chosen field. Severus could be seated, but has always refused, and the only member of the Weasley family that could qualify is Charles."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, he has his Mastery in Dragon-handling. Although I'm not certain why Bill hasn't yet received his in curse-breaking."

That was something Beth Blackwell knew about. "I have your answer to both, gentlemen. Arthur and Molly Weasley will not allow Charlie to take the seat as they feel it should rightfully go to Bill." She smiled, "On the other hand, Bill hasn't received his Master's status because he doesn't want the damned seat on the Board, and feels his parents would force him into it."

At that Harry chuckled, "So it's not only me. One of their own is preventing them from gaining the clout that Arthur and Molly feel they should have. Good for Bill!"

Beth nodded, "By the way, Harry, I have a message I was to give you the next time we met. It says 'Don't tar us all with the same brush!' Do you understand?"

The emerald eyes glowed, "From Bill, I take it." Beth nodded, and Harry replied, "I'll have to get in touch with him."

Draco rolled his eyes, "You mean we'll still have Weasleys around?"

It was at that point Lucius stepped in, "You might find that pair rather enjoyable, Draco. They didn't seem to inherit the 'Prat's Disease'... or the greed of the rest of the family."