Renaissance

A/N: Standard disclaimers and warnings apply. And thanks so very much to Mamacita-san and refuz2luz for the beta!!!



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5.



In furious whispers Ron and Hermione were still talking about the shocking discovery of the mysterious Anna’s identity as the small family said their goodbyes to “Uncle Blaise” and the group headed inside.



Harry, on the other hand, was transfixed by Malfoy’s transformation and the easy happiness that existed between parent and child.



“I was so worried when I didn’t get an owl from you this morning. You never forget to write me,” the little girl pouted.



“I’m sorry Anna. It won’t happen again. I had a rough night,” Draco explained, placing a hand on her small shoulder. “And then I rose rather early this morning.”



Anna frowned. “Was it…you know…because of the attacks? Were you hurt?”



Draco shook hir head and quickly reassured her, “No, it wasn’t because of what’s happening. I went to do some business in Muggle London and was…detained by a couple of thugs. They were more stupid than dangerous, I promise. Then I went home and Helene and Lars sent me to bed with nary an evening brandy or game of chess,” sie added with a jaunty half-grin. “I fell right asleep, darling. I’m so sorry I forgot my nightly letter.”



A small hand reached up and squeezed the larger one on her shoulder. “It’s all right—as long as you’re okay, that is.” Anna looked up and sharp grey eyes assessed Draco’s condition. “Promise you won’t worry me like that again?”



Draco bent and kissed the girl’s hair. “I promise. Even if it’s just a short note, you’ll have an owl every morning.”



A beautiful smile grew on the tiny face and Harry understood just what Zabini meant, that Anna would be devastated by Draco’s loss. Very clearly sie was the sun of her galaxy.



Harry stifled a grin as the reassured child smiled shyly at her parent and the rectangular case sie’d reclaimed from Zabini. “Would you like me to help carry your bags, Vama?” she asked, all innocence and kindness.



Draco smirked, though hir eyes were with bright with laughter. “You’re not fooling anyone, Anna. Goodness, such transparency! What is Slytherin guile coming to these days?”



Anna giggled and held out her hands anyway as the case was transferred. She popped the latch right there and carefully lifted out a half-dozen fat white roses in a cut-crystal vase. Her pink rosebud mouth formed a small O as she held the flowers aloft. “They’re so pretty!”



Draco smiled. “Not half as pretty as you, Petal.”



Anna smiled broadly at the compliment as her friends drew closer. “They’re from our greenhouse. Vama grows them just for me. Aren’t they lovely?”



“They smell so nice!” One of the girls in Ravenclaw colours nodded, leaning over the flowers to enjoy their fragrance better.



“Mmmhmm,” Anna agreed. She drew one of the flowers from the vase and stroked its soft petals across her friend’s cheek. “See, Oonagh, they’re really soft too.” She looked up at Draco imploringly, some silent request passing between them. Sie sighed and nodded then took out hir wand as Anna removed all the flowers from the vase.



With a wave of hir wand sie transfigured the larger urn into a single bud vase; with another wave, one became five. Sie bit back a grin as Anna clapped happily and shared her treasure with her friends. “Thank you, Vama!” she beamed as the other girls sighed and admired their gifts.



“You’re welcome, love,” sie answered, holding the last vase with two roses for hir child. “Now why don’t you take the rest of what’s in there and head off to the Commons? I’ll come find you after I meet with the Headmistress.”



Anna nodded and fished a warming tin from the bottom of the case. It was spelled to keep the contents perfectly fresh, if the smell emanating from the container was anything to go by.



Her eyes grew wide. “Gingerbread! Meggy, look, Vama brought me gingerbread!” She opened the tin to reveal dozens of Galleon-sized hearts with melty white icing piped around the edges. Anna lifted one out and placed it on her friend’s tongue like a communion wafer, then laughed at the girl’s blissful face.



“Meghan loves gingerbread almost as much as you, I know,” Draco chuckled, then waved the girls off. “So go and enjoy it. I’ll see you later, darling.”



Anna stretched up and kissed hir cheek, taking her flowers in hand and leaving Meghan to porter the tin of gingerbread, probably not the best idea since she managed to slip herself two more biscuits before offering the tin to the rest of their friends. “I love you, Vama,” Anna called out as the girls, happy with warm gingerbread and fragrant flowers, flounced away.



“The same, Petal,” sie called after her. “And Meghan, don’t eat all of Anna’s biscuits!”



The girl blushed and swallowed. “I won’t, promise. Thanks, Mer. Malfoy!”



“Thank you, Mer. Malfoy,” the other girls chorused as they took off down the hall.



“I doubt Professor Flitwick will be so grateful, Mer. Malfoy. Little Meghan Collier will be bouncing off her common room walls all night if those stuffed cheeks are any indication.”



The visitors turned to face the Headmistress, whose twinkling eyes belied her stern countenance.



“Minerva.” Draco smiled, holding out hir hands.



The stony mask fell away and the Headmistress smiled, placing her hands in hirs. “It’s good to see you, Draco,” she said with genuine pleasure, a surprise to the Aurors. “And so well protected.” She nodded to the security detail. “Auror Potter, I hadn’t expected to see you again so soon but it is a pleasure, as is seeing Aurors Granger-Weasley and Weasley. I wish it were under better circumstances, however.”



The three nodded, not wanting to offend their former House Mistress but wary of being a greater presence in light of their prickly charge’s demands.



It seemed she understood and nodded back while waiting for an introduction to the Anderson agents.



“This is Paul Anderson and Soren Christiansen of Anderson Security Systems. They’re my personal guards for the time being, and Mr. Anderson is head of the teams we’ll have in place for the festival as well.”



The Headmistress looked each man over carefully. “Pleased to meet you, gentleman. I trust you will act to the best of your ability in keeping both Mer. Malfoy and our students safe in light of these horrendous attacks?”



“Of course, ma’am,” Paul answered. “Mer. Malfoy is a friend as well as our employer. We take hir well-being very seriously.” He winked at Draco and Harry bristled as the blond coloured slightly. “And your students, well, we’re not taking any chances with them either.”



“Good. Now let us proceed to my office. There are some details I wish to review before the festival.”



The visitors followed her past the gargoyle and up the staircase to her office, but the Aurors stepped back when Paul and Soren went inside. “We don’t need to sit in on your meeting, Minerva, and there’s some Auror business we should attend to while we have the chance.” Harry inclined his head toward a small meeting room across the hall. “We can wait there until you and Ma—Mer. Malfoy have concluded your affairs.”



“That’s fine, Harry. Call for Dobby if the three of you need anything.”



Draco nodded at the three as the aged Headmistress took hir arm. “Soren will come for you when we’ve done here.” Sie inclined hir head. “I appreciate your...discretion, Potter.”



The thinly veiled reference to Hermione’s penchant for jumping into conversations and the inference that it was likely she wouldn’t be able to hold her tongue in a meeting with the Headmistress was mildly annoying, even if Harry did appreciate Draco’s acknowledgement that he was trying to make it easier for everyone to get along. He shrugged and herded his friends into the sitting room, calling immediately for Dobby since they’d missed lunch while touring the festival venues.



“So Malfoy has a kid. Didn’t see that coming,” Ron said around a mouthful of ham sandwich. “She’s at least eleven, so sie was what, fourteen? Fifteen? You think he, sie uh—you know—that sie’s the one wot were up the duff?” He snickered at the idea and nearly choked.



Harry slapped the ginger man’s back and grimaced as crumbs flew from Ron’s mouth. He’d had years to get used to it, but still Ron’s table manners were atrocious.



“We can’t know for certain until we check the records, but it makes sense that sie was the birthing parent,” Hermione answered, sipping her tea. “Merlin, it must have been so hard for hir.”



“Aw, Mione, don’t go feeling sorry for the git!” Ron stuffed another whole sandwich into his mouth. “Mpmh, fee whus a righ’ liddle shi’ back den.” Ron swallowed his mouthful as his wife glared. “Sorry.”



Hermione rolled her eyes. “Just finish chewing and swallow before you start talking next time, Ron. Anyway, it’s true sie was awful in fifth year with that Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad, but maybe that’s part of why sie acted that way. Sie was so wrapped up in pure-blood this and pure-blood that back then, and being an unwed parent carries a horrible stigma in those circles. Sie must have been terrified of what hir parents would do.”



Harry tapped his chin. “Maybe, but how’d it happen if sie was only fifteen? I thought triarii didn’t manifest until they were magically mature.”



Hermione shrugged. “Usually, but there are exceptions to every rule, Harry. It’s possible sie manifested early.”



Harry sat back with his sandwich. “Still, pregnant at fifteen.... And who’s the other parent? We need some definitive answers before we can make any conclusions. That Malfoy has a daughter adds a whole 'nother dimension to our investigation. We need to locate the girl’s other parent and determine whether or not they have a motive to be involved with the poison-pen letters and/or the murders.



“With Anderson and Christiansen here I’d say Malfoy has adequate security while on the Hogwarts grounds. We never planned for more than one on this detail to begin with. I’ll stay here and I want you two to go back to the Ministry and learn all you can about our mysterious Anna.”



Hermione nodded, making notes on her Signatus. “She’s an adorable little girl in any case. I wouldn’t like to see her caught in the crossfire.”



Ron agreed. “She did seem a sweet little thing, even if she’s a Malfoy. It must be the other parent wot makes her that way. She was even sharing her treats—unheard of for a Malfoy.”



Hermione giggled. “Oh stop, Ron. Malfoy was very kind. Sie obviously knew hir daughter wasn’t going to eat all that gingerbread. You’re just jealous; I saw you eyeing that tin.”



Ron grumbled as he stood. “All right, Harry, we’ll head off now and add whatever we find to the reports for Monday.”



“I’ll see you Monday, then.”



Harry sat and his thoughts and attention drifted as he considered the charming little girl and her va...vamar, Harry remembered the word for a triarii parent. Whose daughter was she? Had they been in love with Draco? What had happened to them? Why was Draco raising hir daughter alone? And why was it that only those close to hir seemed to know about the little girl? His musings were cut short by a knock on the door followed by the entrance of very welcome surprise.



“Remus! What are you doing here?”



The werewolf came in and hugged Harry before sitting down. “I’d just called for Dobby to bring me a cup of tea and he asked if I might want to join Harry Potter for a cup in the Headmistress’ sitting room instead, so here I am. It’s good to see you, Harry. What brings you by?”



Harry smiled. “It’s great to see you too! Actually I’m here with Draco Malfoy—”



Harry broke off as Remus chuckled. “Well, it’s about time, Harry. We’ve been waiting for you two to stop dancing around each other for years!” He settled himself in his chair and prepared a cup of tea. “Tell me all about it. How long have you been together? And which was it, did sie tell you about hir long-standing crush or did you finally realise that it was misdirected passion and a need to love that was fuelling your animosity? I want all the details so I can gloat to Severus. You know he wagered twenty-five Galleons that you two wouldn’t come together until you were at least thirty, and I can’t wait to collect!”



Harry blinked as Remus nearly crowed with delight.



He blinked again as Remus’ face fell.



“Oh damn,” the werewolf sighed. “You didn’t mean you were here with Draco to mean that you’re here with Draco, did you?”



“Uh…no,” Harry said awkwardly. He huffed out a breath and pulled at the collar of his navy Auror robe, which was suddenly rather tight and uncomfortable. “The Ministry’s assigned a team to guard hir, with everything that’s been happening.”



Remus frowned. “Sie’s all right, isn’t sie?” he asked intently.



Harry was surprised by the intensity of Remus’ concern. “Yes,” he answered tentatively. “Well, generally speaking. None of this is easy, I’d imagine. Sie’s receiving threats, and with these murders....”



Remus’ eyes flashed iridescent amber as he growled, and Harry’s own eyes widened.



“Sorry.” The older man shook his head at Harry’s shocked expression. “It’s just...the murders, some of the things happening here at Hogwarts…I’m a bit on edge these days. And the thought of Draco or Anna being hurt—” he growled again— “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to them.”



Harry’s brows rose to his hairline. “You know Anna?”



Remus chuckled. “Of course I do, Harry. I’m her DADA instructor. Besides, she’s my godchild.”



Harry was relatively sure his jaw had bounced on the floor. “Her—her what? You’re her—but it’s Malfoy, and—”



Remus cocked his head and smiled a little. “Don’t look so shocked, Harry. Draco is very dear to me. I think of hir very much as I think of you. Sie’s my cub every bit as much as you are. Anna is hir child and part of my pack. Draco named me her godfather to honour that bond.”



Harry was reeling. “But—but you’re—and Draco’s a—during third year—sie hates—”



Remus sighed and placed his teacup in its saucer. “I’d like to think, Harry, that you’ve outgrown the prejudices you had at thirteen as well. You’re neither of you children any more. Draco has grown up. Sie’s learned to think for hirself after blindly following hir father’s dictates for years. Sie’s lost hir family to a madman’s genocidal bid for power over the Wizarding world. Sie’s fought to rebuild hir family legacy and make positive changes in our society. For that matter sie had the courage to admit sie was wrong and fight beside us in the war. Sie brought to bear all hir talent and skill to destroy our enemies, some of whom sie once called friends, and to save lives, including mine.



“Now tell me, Harry.” Amber eyes bore into green with an incredible strength of will. “Are you really going to dismiss such a person because of hir House affiliation at a school you attended more than a decade ago, because sie tattled on you when you were eleven and bullied you when you were fifteen, because sie made a mistake and didn’t trust the right people when sie was a frightened sixteen-year-old? I expect better of you, Harry,” he said, heavy disappointment weighting his voice.



Something clenched painfully in Harry’s chest and he looked away.



“You really think there could be something between us?” Harry asked quietly after a long, uncomfortable silence had passed.



“See hir as sie is, Harry. Be brave enough to look past the silly Gryffindor and Slytherin divisions to the strong, courageous, principled, giving someone Draco has become and, yes, I think there could be something wondrous, something truly magical between you.”



On the surface the notion was ridiculous. Him and Draco? But a part of Harry hummed with pleasure at Remus’ words. He thought back to the charge he’d felt with Draco in his arms—something magical indeed.



Before Harry could make an answer, Soren was coming through the door. “They’re done in there. Mer. Malfoy’s staying for dinner and a Renaissance Youth meeting, then heading home. We have people stationed at the cottage for the night, but what about your team?”



Harry snapped back to himself. “I-I need to discuss it with Mer. Malfoy, but with your people in place and my team on alert I think we can get by with just one Auror on duty tonight.”



Draco stepped regally into the room. “I’m amenable to that plan, Potter, as I don’t see the need for an Auror presence anyway. Since I can’t seem to get rid of you, however, I suppose limiting the number of your staff traipsing about my cottage will have to do,” sie drawled.



Harry bit back his retort and took a deep breath. He held it for a count of ten, then exhaled slowly.



Remus chuckled and Draco raised hir gaze to meet the werewolf’s eyes. “Remus!” sie smiled and for a moment Harry felt the strange jealousy that that expression was never turned his way. It flared as the blond crossed the room and kissed the aged Marauder in greeting. “How are you? And tell me, what’s this Anna tells me about an entire lesson devoted to Wrackspurts?”



Remus paused a moment, fixed Harry with a telling look and squeezed his shoulder, then moved to Draco’s side and the two went into the corridor arm in arm, chatting amicably like the close friends they evidently were. Soren was already on his way and Harry moved to follow, but Paul held him back.



“What?” Harry shrugged off the restraining hand brusquely.



“You want hir,” the American said baldly.



Despite himself Harry blushed. “I—”



“Don’t deny it. I know the face of desire and I’ve seen how you look at hir. Seen how you act when I touch hir,” Paul said more firmly. “I’m not your competition, Potter; what Draco and I had is long over. But sie is special to me. Draco is an amazing person and deserves better than someone who’s going to toy with hir and hir daughter’s hearts. If you can’t be serious then don’t bother, because if you hurt hir you’ll answer to me. Super Auror and Hero of the Wizarding World or not.”



Harry sighed. Had he missed the memo about it being “meddle in Harry’s love life” day? “Warning duly noted,” he sniped, and pushed his way past the smirking American agent and headed for the Great Hall.



When he got inside he nodded at Soren, posted at the door, and looked around, realising he hadn’t been here since the re-opening of Hogwarts after the war. A lot had changed in seven years, though the greatest shock was the mix of colours at every table: Ravenclaws with Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs with Slytherins. Yes, there were definite House tables, marked by the banners hanging on the walls behind them, but the students were so mixed in with each other that obviously those divisions didn’t count for much. The point was brought home when Anna (definitely a Slytherin) stood and waved Harry over to the Gryffindor table. “Auror Potter, come sit with us!” she called cheerfully, and Harry was reminded that he’d never quite managed to be comfortable with the way all eyes in the room turned to him when his name was mentioned.



He pasted on a smile for all the gawking and whispering children and made his way to a seat across from the chubby-cheeked Ravenclaw who liked gingerbread. “Er—thank you, Anna,” he said, seating himself beside her awkwardly as her parent chuckled.



“Not quite what you’d expected, eh, Potter?” A blond brow perked as the Auror’s discomfort faded.



The volley wasn’t spiteful, Harry realised quickly. It was a test…and an invitation. “The seats are a bit lower than I remember.” Harry grinned back and the brow rose further as banter, not baiting, ensued.



“Yes, well, not all of us can be gangly half-giants, Potter,” the blond mage teased.



“Don’t mind hir.” Harry winked at the girl beside him. “Sie’s just jealous that hir feet still dangle sitting at these tables.”



And then the most wondrous thing happened. As he waited for some cutting retort (though he hoped for more playful banter), Harry saw the Malfoy mask completely fall away and one of those winning breathtaking smiles was turned on him. And Draco laughed. A clean, ebullient sound that lifted Harry’s spirit and warmed his heart. “Touché, Potter. Pass the carrots, if you please. There may be hope for me yet if I eat more vegetables.”



Harry gave the dish to Anna to pass down. “Send those back this way when you’ve finished, Malfoy. Maybe if I get enough I can get rid of these.” He tapped his glasses and Draco winked.



“I’d say those were a front, Potter, since you always seemed to see the Snitch just fine when we played.” Malfoy tucked a stray lock behind Anna’s shell-like ear. “Have I told you, Petal, that Perfect Potter here beat me to the Snitch every single time Slytherin played Gryffindor? It was uncanny.”



“Every single time except for that year you got me banned,” Harry threw in without heat.



Malfoy wrinkled hir nose slightly and waved the comment away. “Yes, yes, there was that.”



Anna giggled. “You got him banned from Quidditch? Vama, how awful!”



“Well, I was an awful little boi then, what can I say, Anna?” Malfoy shrugged but a tiny grin tugged at the side of hir mouth.



“Sie’s incorrigible,” Harry chuckled.



“I know.” Anna sighed with fond exasperation and dramatically rolled her eyes.



“You were a Seeker?” asked one of girls he recognised from the steps earlier.



“Youngest Seeker in a century and undefeated in all his years of play.” Malfoy answered for him with a touch of admiration.



“But you’re so tall!” the curly-haired brunette protested.



Harry shrugged. “I wasn’t always. I shot up a bit between my fifth and sixth year, and quite a bit more after that. Actually, Mer. Malfoy and I were about the same size until fifth year, which is why sie was my best competition. We were both skilled and light and wicked fast on a broom.”



“Though you always managed to be that much faster,” Draco huffed with a small moue of frustration.



The sight of the mage’s full pink lips plumped and pouting nearly eroded Harry’s self restraint. He had never been so moved to kiss someone in his life. Had they not been in the Great Hall with all eyes on them and Draco’s daughter between them, he probably would have grabbed the blond mage and ravished hir mouth then and there. The Auror coughed and tugged at his collar as he struggled to regained control. “Uh, I guess,” he croaked, and blushed as Draco quirked a brow in question. “Back then. But you’d probably fly circles around me now.”



A small, pleased smile was his reward. “Well, we’ll have to see about that, won’t we, Auror Potter? I don’t fly much these days, but the chance to trounce you might entice me onto the pitch.”



“Ooo! Before the relay races on Sunday? Please, Mer. Malfoy?” another girl wheedled.



“Despite all my protestations that I would never lower myself to partake in such a plebeian exercise, it seems Chloe here will not relent until I agree to debase myself.” Draco sighed dramatically. “Very well then, I will attend the Hogwarts Open House on Sunday and participate in your silly relay.” Sie inclined hir head. “And maybe there’ll even be a game of one-on-one for the Snitch, if Auror Potter will oblige me?”



Harry agreed with a grin and a wink for the glowing Chloe, who was nearly bouncing in her seat.



“See, Meggy? I told you the owls would work,” she didn’t quite whisper to the girl next to her.



Malfoy brandished a finger. “Ah yes, the owl brigade. Chloe, my dear, I’m sure that Professor Lupin, as your House Master, has already made mention of this, but let me say again that monopolising the entire parliament of school owls to overrun my offices with invitations and pleas for my attendance at the Open House is an inappropriate use of school resources. As amusing as it was watching my staff trying to chase them all down, it won’t happen again, will it?” sie admonished with hir question.



Chloe hung her head. “No, I guess not, Mer. Malfoy,” she agreed dejectedly.



Draco reached over and ruffled her hair. “There now. I admit it was a rather brilliant plan, much more effective than a Howler. I may try it myself one of these days when I need to annoy someone into submission.”



Chloe looked up at hir lighter tone and smiled wickedly at the adult mage’s smirk. “Really?”



“Really.” Draco nodded. “Though you should know, my dear, I’d planned on coming anyway. It was to be a surprise for the infamous synergistic quintet.” Sie winked at Chloe’s gobsmacked expression.



“Mer. Malfoy!” she whined. “Why didn’t you tell us? Now we have detentions cleaning the owlery without magic all next week!”



Draco chuckled. “And ruin my surprise? Absolutely not.”



Harry tried valiantly to keep from laughing at the five near-identical pouts turned on Draco; tried and failed. He snorted and nearly spewed his pumpkin juice all over the table. “You’re outnumbered, Malfoy. Give up!”



“All right!” the blond threw up hir hands. “I promise to make it up to you and not keep secrets that might land you in detention should you try to thwart my plans.”



A kiss from Anna and a hug from the girl on the opposite side, and the magnate was forgiven. They all turned back to their dinners and ate heartily while Chloe told how she and the others had bribed and cosseted the school owls until they could convince them to deliver the girls’ letters first, then, with a heavily researched duplication spell (since copying spells weren’t part of the first years’ curriculum), made animated flyers to announce the Open House and beg the elder Malfoy to attend. They’d unleashed the owls on the Renaissance Foundation offices every other morning of the past week. And sleeves fluttering, elegant hands weaving and waving, Draco described how the descent of 150-some tawny owls on the executive floor first terrified, then harassed hir senior staff. By the time the pudding course arrived Harry had fallen completely under the quintet’s spell and it was with some reluctance that he and Draco departed for the Heritage Youth meeting.



“They’re adorable,” Harry chuckled as he and the triarii made their way to the fourth floor. “But are they always so—so—”



“Lively? Frenetic? Overwhelming?” Draco’s eyes shone as sie smiled gently at Harry. “Absolutely.” The mage sighed. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything, Potter. I enjoy watching them act like children, even with their incessant chatter and silly pranks. Childhood is a precious time and they’re living it just as they should. I—” sie paused and looked at Harry— “we never had that, were never allowed to really be children. I don’t begrudge them their youthful exuberance.”



Thinking of the unnaturally poised and reserved child he’d met in Diagon Alley and the starved waif who’d lived in a cupboard under the stairs, Harry nodded and reached out a commiserating arm to pat Draco’s shoulder. It was the blond who stiffened this time at the electric contact.



Harry drew his hand back quickly. “What was that?” He clenched his fists to keep from reaching out again to the now shivering blond.



Draco looked up at Harry through lowered lashes. “Resonance,” sie answered hoarsely.



“Resonance? Wha—”



Sie shook hir head and pointedly looked around the seemingly empty corridor. “I haven’t time to remedy your woeful lack of cultural enlightenment, Potter. Go pester Lupin later if you must know. Now let’s get to this meeting. I don’t want to keep the students waiting.”



Confused by the return of a disdainful Draco, and angered by the curt dismissal, Harry nearly shot off a nasty retort, then recalled the mage’s surreptitious look around the hall and belatedly remembered that they weren’t really alone. Paul and Soren were Disillusioned and very nearby. Whatever was happening between them, he was certain Draco didn’t want an audience when they discussed it. Harry knew he certainly didn’t.



He nodded and was relieved to see the grey eyes soften. And knew he’d guessed correctly when shortly after sie led Harry to a small alcove near the Commons and later Draco called out to hir invisible guards, asking them to go on ahead. “I’ll be there shortly, but there are some things I need to review with Potter first.”



“‘kay, stay alert.” Paul nodded and he and Soren took off.



“Draco, about—”



The blond held up a stalling hand. “Later, Potter. I really did want to speak to you about what’s going to happen in this meeting.”



At the serious tone Harry nodded. “All right. I thought it was just a Renaissance Youth meeting, though.”



Hir creamy hand flattened and tilted back and forth. “It is and it isn’t,” Draco answered. “Renaissance Youth meetings are usually held fortnightly with Youth Mentors in attendance. The students meeting tonight requested my presence alone. And before we go another step, Potter, I must have your word that you will hold the identities of these students and whatever is said tonight in strictest confidence.”



Harry frowned. “You know I can’t do that, Malfoy. If something’s said that might have bearing on my investigation—”



“Dammit, Potter!” Draco spat. “These are children seeking reassurance. The last thing they need is Big Brother breathing down their necks!” Draco huffed out a breath, calming hirself. “Look, I think having you in the meeting with me will do them all a lot of good. Frankly, they and their families are rather disheartened by the Ministry’s lack of response to the murders, and seeing the DMLE’s most decorated Auror is now on the case will go a long way toward reassuring them.”



The Auror’s eyes widened. “It’s all triarii meeting tonight,” Harry said finally understanding. “But why would you care whether or not they believe the Ministry is acting with their best interests at heart? You’re the one who’s hired all this private security and—” Harry trailed off before he could admit to something he’d overheard following Malfoy at Transcendence.



Sie sniffed. “I could care less about the Ministry’s reputation, Potter. What I do care about is making sure these young mages and their families are safe and feel that way. They want to believe in the Ministry, that their government cares and isn’t turning a blind eye to these murders because of stupid biases.”



“Fine.” Harry was still uneasy with the inference that Draco didn’t believe solving the murders and protecting everyone was DMLE’s chief concern.



“Oh, don’t look so put-upon, Potter. You know as well as I do that it’s only the public sentiment brought to bear by the press that got the Powers That Be to assign a team of competent Aurors to solving these murders. Those bumbling idiots Wainwright and Ricks would still be on the case otherwise. And only my very public position makes me worthy of a protection detail.” The mage crossed hir arms over hir chest, daring Harry to deny it. “Sexism is an ugly thing, Potter, but sticking your head in the sand isn’t going to make it go away. There are certain elements at the Ministry who are firmly invested in maintaining a Muggle-oriented heteronormativity and would like nothing better than all us confusing genderfucks to die out, painfully or otherwise. Wake up.”



“Heteronormativity? Nice fifty-Galleon word there, Malfoy,” Harry threw out quietly, still processing what sie’d said.



The blond smirked. “Yes, well, ‘happily hetero’ doesn’t quite cut it in more erudite company.”



Harry chuckled, then sobered as Draco added, “Don’t think you’ve yet escaped their campaign either, Potter. The factions that are waiting for you to outgrow your ‘experimentation’ phase and settle down with your storybook princess and 2.5 children aren’t exactly patient people.”



Harry pulled a face. “I’d like to see them try. I did my part; I finally have control over my own life. I’m not likely to give it up any time soon so some chronicler wanting a heteronormative narrative can make my life into a bestselling bodice-ripper.”



“Good on you, then.” Draco smiled hir approval. “And I see you like that word.”



Harry smirked. “I’m planning on trotting it out to confuse Hermione with my expanded vocabulary soonest chance I get.”



The magnate crinkled hir nose. “Hrmph. Granger-Weasley. Bright witch, but really, Potter, she shouldn’t be in the field.” Draco freed hir hand. “Don’t get your knickers twisted. I’m merely saying her talents would be better put to use elsewhere.” A long, slender finger tapped against hir lips as sie shrugged. “Maybe as a profiler or something.”



Harry said nothing, as he’d often had similar thoughts. He jerked his head toward the empty hall instead. “Now what about these students—why the secrecy?”



Draco nodded as grief and hir concern for the students settled heavily on hir shoulders. “Few of these students are on the Heritage Youth rolls…yes, I am aware that all the victims worked with us in some way or another. That’s why I don’t want these children’s names listed anywhere. Not at Renaissance Foundation and not in your reports. These are children, Potter, children! Cam…at least sie’d reached hir majority. None of these children have. They’ve all manifested early, and their age puts them at even greater risk.



“You know as well as I do that this monster is out there taking down capable, fully trained mages. What chance would a child barely trained in defence have? And before you go trotting yourself and the DA out as examples, let me remind you that you might have faced him, but even you didn’t outduel Voldemort at eleven.”



“True. I see what you mean. But as young as eleven? Manifesting that early…is that normal?”



The mage snorted. “Haven’t you cottoned on yet, Potter? Normal is what you make of it. But triarii bois and gyrls have been known to manifest as early as five. Premature manifestation just means they grow into their bodies in slow stages, just as most everyone else does. Early manifestation is unlikely, but not unheard of. Now, do you swear to keep their identities secret?”



Harry held out his hand. “I promise.” After a gravid moment, Draco shook it and the jolt shocked both into a meeting of longing gazes. Harry held on as Draco relaxed to let go, savouring the tingle that was now becoming familiar with the energy that thrummed beneath his skin and smiled.



“It’s—”



A deeper shock coursed through him as the blond laid a finger over his lips. “Ask Remus, Potter,” sie said regretfully, shaking hir head. “Then come talk to me.”



The mage pulled away and turned into the hallway, with Harry following. Midway down they nodded to the posted sentries and entered a small group study room where yet another surprise lay in wait for Harry.



There were eight worried young faces of varying ages around the table, one which was familiar to Harry.



“Anna?” He questioned the young blonde’s presence.



“Hi, Auror Potter,” she said quietly, firmly holding the hand of the boi beside her.



Resolved to get a straight answer later from Draco, who’d carefully schooled hir face to be blank, Harry shook his head and smiled uncertainly. “No, Anna,” he chided gently, “I told you at dinner—it’s Harry, okay?” He looked around the room and met the eyes of each child. “I’d like for all of you to call me Harry.”



Anna smiled with a reassuring squeeze for her friend and nodded at Harry. “Hi, Harry.”



He inclined his head. “Hi, Anna. Would you like to introduce me to your friends?”



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Triarii-specific Terminology:

Vamar: Parent, usually shortened to vama, or vam

Veru: Triarii spouse





Chapter 4 Review Responses

Thank you all for the reviews! They are greatly appreciated!!



Justmine25: Thank you, hope this chapter didn’t disappoint!



ndturnquest: I’ll do my best, thank you for reading!



Rakel: Poor Ron, he really did look foolish didn’t he? Okay maybe not so poor Ron. He doesn’t often have my sympathies. I think he’s too belligerent and really stubborn. He’s in for a rough go. Harry won’t have as far to go in gaining a surer footing. And more on Anna as we go!



thrnbrooke: Here goes, and 6 is on the way!



applesauce_N_soysauce: Okay so now Draco is interested, as for the twist…well there’s more. Hope you’ll stick around to find out what’s next!