Sir Harry J Potter GCOM

Apologies for the long wait – been on holiday.

### JOINT ACCOMMODATIONS ###

Draco giggled and went over to the bed, bouncing and testing its softness. Following that, the two mages explored their domain with its steeply sloping walls. Two comfy armchairs sat near the fire, a settee under the panoramic window, and a big joint desk on the opposite side of the room to the bed. There was a walk-in wardrobe plus numerous bookshelves. The adjoining bathroom had a loo and a corner washbasin, the mirrors behind which were set at right angles so you could see yourself as others saw you. To complete the suite there was a two-man shower of ample proportions. Draco came out first and sat sideways on the sofa looking pensively at the view over the roofs of Hogwarts, Harry joined him and they both sat staring and musing. Eventually Draco broke the silence:

“I wonder if the other rooms are like this.”

“Blaise and Justin will love it,” Harry proffered.

“Why?”

“Didn’t you see them quietly holding hands?”

“Really? I’m glad for Blaise, the others used to rag him about his homosexuality; not that any of us haven’t experimented both ways. What was Seamus like?”

“We enjoyed it while it lasted. Cho was alright too, but I got nowhere near Ginny bar kissing. I think I was her trophy boyfriend. Perhaps I’m bi.”

“Hmm … I know what you mean. I’m not sure either. However at some time I shall be expected to sire a Malfoy heir. Oh well, that’s a long way in the future. Shall we go and see if Blaise and Justin have a double, too? If they haven’t maybe we could swap.”

“Yes Let’s!” Harry sprang up and almost ran to the door.

He knocked on the door opposite.

“Come in!” Blaise called out: “Isn’t it great, we have a double.”

Harry and Draco looked at each other and burst into uncontrollable laughter. Their two slightly dishevelled friends sat on the bed and wondered what had caused all the hilarity.

When he had stopped laughing Harry proffered: “We have a double too, we were hoping you had two singles. If you had we thought you’d like to swap.”

“So you know then?” asked Justin hesitantly.

“If you hold hands in public, everyone knows,” put in Draco: “Not that it matters that much in Wizarding circles. Being Mages we’re in a minority to start with, so we understand other minority groups. I don’t see why Muggles get so up-tight about it; they can’t change their genes either.”

“See! What did I tell you, Justin?” Blaise gave his lover a quick peck on the cheek. Then he looked craftily at Harry: “I can recommend Draco, Harry he’s ace in bed. You can tell me later whether he’s better than Seamus.”

Draco picked up a chair cushion and threw it at his fellow Slyth. “Who says Harry and I are going to do anything, Lecher? We’ve both been with girls, as you well know.”

“Going with Pansy doesn’t count, Draco, she’s been with everyone in Slytherin and half the other houses too. Even I fell for her whiles.”

“And me,” added Justin: “She consoled me after the snake incident. Maybe I wouldn’t have succumbed if I wasn’t in shock.”

“Sorry I frightened you.”

“No need Harry, I now know that you were calling it off.”

“Perhaps I should apologise too, Justin. After all, it was me that brought that thing into being.”

“Let it rest, Draco. If you hadn’t, Harry may not have realised his gift and the whole school would be dead from the basilisk’s stare. Strange how seemingly unconnected things all add up to make a whole.”

“Not if you learn Arithmancy it doesn’t.”

“Okay, Okay, I know I’m a dunce, don’t rub it in.”

“I know something that you aren’t a dunce at.” Blaise made a grab for the Huff.

At the same time someone called out: “Harry, where are you. Ooh! I say, doubles.”

“Well we won’t be able to keep anything quiet now; Miss Spread-it-around is here.” Harry shrugged ruefully and then called out: “Lavender, we’re in here.”

Justin and Blaise shuffled apart slightly as Lavender walked in.

“I’m sharing with Hermione. We’ve got singles and the walls don’t slope like yours do. What’s above this – never mind – Hermione says to remind you the feast starts in five minutes – we’re on the floor below.

“Fine! We’ll be down in a minute, tell her.”

Lavender still stared round so, to avoid any more questions, the four boys rushed into their respective bathrooms to tidy their hair, not that it made much difference to Harry’s.

“When we have time I think I’ll try and tame that mane, if you’ll let me, Potter.”

“You can try. Aunt Petunia cut it very short one day, but it was exactly the same the following morning. I got thrashed for using magic. Not that I knew I was then.”

“When I was young, Mother thought I looked sweet in ringlets. The elves spent ages curling it but it was straight as a die by the next morning, not that I objected. I think she secretly wanted a girl.”

Both of them were giggling as they descended into the luxurious common room. Everyone was seated, waiting for them.

Hermione had one of her sergeant-major looks:

“We’re going to be organised – look out,” whispered Harry as the entered.

Draco nodded his head and smirked: “Pansy looked like that when she was giving us orders,” he replied quietly.

“Listen up, all of you,” Hermione started: There is a new side door close to the professorial dais on the Slytherin side. The Headmistress says we are to use that. We are not to go in until the sorting has taken place. The Headmistress feels that there would be less chance of mayhem taking place. So we will go in, in reverse order, So that Harry and Malfoy are the last to appear and will have seats at the top end, Okay? Michael and Seamus will lead off, splitting when they get in and moving down each side of the table. Please leave a space for my Ron, Coach Hooch asked to see him.”

Hermione got some ragging, but they went along with her suggestion. A smiling Ronald joined the party just as they were about to enter, but had no time to tell them his news.

### GREAT HALL ###

Hermione’s bit of theatre obtained louder gasps than Minerva’s had. There were boos and angry shouts as well. Harry grabbed Draco and pulled him by the hand into the centre just in front of the dais.

Harry applied a ‘Sonorous’: “Draco Malfoy is under my personal protection and that of my fellow eighth-years.” The Hall took a minute to quieten, so he repeated what he had just said and continued: “The Wizengamot decided late last night to give him a chance to redeem himself. I challenge any one of you to say that he or she has not made a mistake for which they feel ashamed and need other people’s forgiveness. We have to try to heal our society now, not continue old hates and prejudices. Draco Malfoy is trying not to be as obnoxious as he was, but if we start name calling or worse, it will drive him back behind his smirking mask of indifference. Remember he is under all our protection, not just the eighth-years.”

Draco and Harry walked back to their table in almost silence.

Minerva tapped her glass and stood: “Welcome to the New Year at Hogwarts; I’m afraid that Sir Harry stole some of my thunder. Be it known, however, that all my staff support his statement and will not brook any untoward gestures towards Mr Malfoy. In the same way we have two new third-year students in the form of the Griphook twins. The hat has sorted them into Gryffindor house.”

The twins stood and were identified by name.

“As you May know,” Minerva continued: “Coach Hooch has been made Wizengamot Chairman.” There was some applause. “As she will have duties away from the school, Sir Ronald is therefore appointed as her assistant coach. In the same way Sir Harry will be assistant tutor to our new DADA Professor, Mr Kingsley Shacklebolt. Thirdly; as I have been confirmed as Headmistress, Dame Hermione will become my assistant tutor in Transfiguration and Professor Sinistra is now Housemistress for Gryffindor in my place. We all know of Mr Filtch’s strictures, so – let the feast commence.”

As they ate, several of the eighth-years congratulated the three on their appointments and various Gryffs came over with the same in mind; most of them indicating that they would support Harry’s stance about Draco; there were one or two from the other houses, only Slytherin held aloof..

Harry sat next to Hermione: “When did McG offer you the job?” he whispered.

“That dinner, before you told us about our appointments. McG suggested I keep it quiet until Hooch became Chairman. I’m glad she did, otherwise I’d have had to put up with a sulking boyfriend,” Hermione whispered back.

“Very wise!” Harry smiled, wondering if everyone had a touch of Slytherin guile in their make-ups: “Do you think she’s grooming us for taking over?”

“I could think of much worse jobs, couldn’t you?”

“Um … I’d rather set my heart on becoming an Auror, but Kingsley says I have to do the Magical Tutoring NEWT’s course.”

“Same for me. Don’t forget that now Mad-eye’s dead the Aurors have no trainer.”

“Nice idea, but that’s at least four years away, if not more.”

“So? Get you qualifications now – you made a very good teacher in the DA. Build on your strengths – flying, DADA and teaching … Look out, McG’s hovering.”

“Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ronald; once you’ve finished dinner perhaps we could talk in my office, please. ‘Golden Snitch’ should gain you entrance. I’m sure Messrs Finch-Fletchley and Finnegan wouldn’t mind escorting Mr Malfoy whilst you are with me.”

They all indicated that they would, Draco scowled for a few seconds and then shrugged: “Shall I set up the board for when you return, Weasley?”

Ronald looked askance and then put a weak smile on his face: “You’re on, Malfoy.”

“I’ll challenge the winner,” said Justin.

Both Ronald and Draco gave him the thumbs-up.

### HEADMISTRESS’S OFFICE ###

“Come in and sit down please.”

Harry looked around: Minerva had replaced some of the machines with ones of her own. The chairs now had green tartan over-covers, but the rest of the office seemed much the same. Two new portraits watched them as they seated themselves: one with a twinkle and the other with a sneer.

“You’re all going to have very busy lives. Most Saturdays will be taken up with Wizengamot meetings, so I have arranged for one of the examiners to take your Magical Tutor’s course on a Sunday afternoon. Yours and all the eighth-years courses will take place in the late afternoon and early evening, which will mean that your homework periods will be mornings and early afternoons; interspersed with your duties as tutors and official duties elsewhere.”

“Headmistress; I’m not booked on the tutorial course.”

“Your Grandmother has indicated that she thinks you should, Neville.”

“Oh, I see.” Neville looked crestfallen, Harry knew what being steamrollered felt like and quietly sympathised.

“Just between ourselves,” Minerva continued: “Pomona is getting on a bit, so you might have to deputise for her. Her back is very painful sometimes, so I shall ask her to let you handle some of the first to third-year students as part of your training. She has a soft spot for you, Neville, so it will be a way of giving her some respite without hurting her feelings.”

Neville’s eyes lit up: “Ooh, thanks.”

Hermione gave Harry a meaningful look.

“Have you been to the top of your tower, yet?”

“Not yet Headmistress, why?”

“I think when we are like this and being Wizengamot Fellows as well as Tutors, you should call me Minerva, just as the other professors do. Well now, the top of your tower is charmed to look and feel like the normal slates, however if you wear one of the medallions I gave you, you may automatically pass through the wards. It is a charm exactly like the one the Weasley twins put on your garden roof, Harry. The point is, that this vase is a permanent Portkey between here and Grimmauld Place and vice versa. It matches one that is there. They are magically charmed so that as one is used in one direction so the other flies to replace it. Rolanda and I would be most pleased if you were to offer us the use of your Portkey, please.”

“Um … Yes Head … Minerva. You both know where my house is. I’ll tell Kreacher to have guest room two put at your disposal, as and when you need it.”

“That’s very kind of you, Harry. I must admit I was hoping that you’d make the offer. It will make our lives much easier. I find it quite tiring to use a Portkey, but much better than flooing or apparating. Who is covering the knight’s place at the trials?”

“Kreacher volunteered for the remainder of this week and I am on duty next week,” said Neville: “Hermione follows me and then Ronald; then we start all over again with Harry and Gallus. We’ll have to adjust the dates once we know when Mrs Malfoy comes up, because Harry is a witness for the defence.”

“Judging by the way things are progressing at the moment it may well be the half term break when Narcissa’s trial takes place; so that might make your schedules easier.” Minerva smiled thinly: “Thank you for coming; don’t forget you are due at the Staff Meeting tomorrow morning – it’s a working breakfast. Harry, would you collect the medallions in please, keeping one back for each of you and a couple of spares for anyone who might need them, at your discretion. Hermione would you stay behind, please? Then we could go over your teaching plan for the first-years. Oh yes; use ‘Albus’.”

All but Hermione departed for the guest tower, puzzling over what Minerva had meant by her last remark. It soon became clear when they opened the outer door to the guest tower. There was a gaping hole where the floor had been. What they had not noticed in their hurry to get to the feast was that there was a covered bridge between the tower and the rest of Hogwarts. The floor of which had now withdrawn into the tower; like a draw-bridge, and leaving a gap of some eight feet. It now showed them its underside, forming an impenetrable barrier flush with the tower’s wall. Whilst they gazed at the ground a few storeys below Neville cottoned on and waved his wand:

“Albus!”

Harry had expected creaking and clanking of chains, but no; there was a whoosh and the bridge was intact.

### EIGHTH YEAR TOWER ###

As they opened the inner door to the foyer Blaise met them.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“Yes, fine,” replied Harry: “McG wanted to check schedules with us. We were a bit surprised about the bridge though.”

“Yes. It closed as soon as the last of the party crossed it; we haven’t been able to get it to go down. Not that we’re really fussed; we’ve been exploring since then.”

Neville closed the door and they heard the whoosh as the bridge resealed itself.

“The tower is split in halves,” Blaise explained: “And most floor dividers are at right-angles to the one above. So many floors have a spiral and a quarter of steps between them; some of the taller rooms have a spiral and a half. Come and see what’s below.”

They followed Blaise down the central spiral stairs. The first door led into a library. Most of the walls were lined with shelves full of books, plus wings of freestanding units. Under the only window, which faced away from Hogwarts, was a slightly curved desk with a few chairs. Draco sat on one of the chairs.

“Hello Potter, we’ve had a quick look at some of the titles. Everything we need is here plus quite a few that used to be in the restricted section. Funny thing is that most of them look the same as the ones that were in the Manor’s library.”

There was a pop and Grouchy appeared: “Hello Masters, perhaps I can explain. Some time ago, before that monster returned, Master Lucius’s father put a relocation spell on your library in case there was a fire or other disaster. He told only Master Albus’s predecessor. We elves suspected something was there but didn’t know what it was until Voldemort’s curse hit the Manor. That’s how Huppert and I escaped. We were in the library dusting when the curse came into effect; so the relocation charm relocated us. We’ve placed the books in the same order Master Harry.”

“Thank you, Grouchy. Has Master Draco given you any trouble?”

“He has no hold over us now, Master Harry, thank Merlin. He used to be vicious sometimes, usually after his father had beaten him badly.”

“I see … Um … Malfoy, you have to apologise to Grouchy and Huppert.”

“Malfoys never apologise to elves.”

“They do now, Malfoy; especially to my house-elves. Don’t forget that Sir Kreacher is a member of the Wizengamot just as Gallus Griphook and Bertram Bogrod are.”

Draco looked at Harry in amazement: “I wondered what that goblin was doing sitting in a knight’s place. I’d heard of new laws but not realised how far reaching they were.” Draco folded his arms and looked stubborn.

“I’m waiting, Malfoy …” Harry looked stern and fiddled with his wand.

“S’not fair! I’m not even allowed a proper wand.”

“I’m still waiting!”

“Must I?”

“Yes!”

There was a long pause whilst the two protagonists eyed each other. Draco mused on the fact that life was unfair, thinking of all the reasons why he should not apologise. Then he remembered that he still had to prove himself reformed and that Harry was now in influential member of the Wizengamot, in a position even higher than his father had ever attained.

By this time Harry was sitting and had called Grouchy to stand next door to him. Harry was amused at all the facial expressions on Draco’s face now he had lost his mask of indifference. He found the more open Malfoy’s behaviour quite attractive.

Draco looked seriously at the pair opposite him: “I Draco Malfoy apologise to Grouchy of the house Black, for any injury or insult that I have caused him. --- There Potter, is that good enough?”

“I think so. Now Grouchy, you are to treat Master Draco as you would a guest in one of my houses, but only if he is civil and non-aggressive towards you. If he fails you are to use elf magic on him and spank his bottom, as I’ve been told you used to do when he was two years old.”

“Yes Master Harry” Grouchy smiled: “Does that hold good for Huppert too?”

“Yes, but only when Master Draco has apologised to her before witnesses.”

Draco looked cross and resigned at the same time, the others laughed at his predicament; going out of the door going down one floor further. There were two doors this time. One led into a well equipped potions laboratory, with a store off it. The other door led into a room resembling the one that the DA had practiced in. It appeared to be double height; thus explaining the lack of a door opposite the library.

Led by Blaise they then returned up the stairs to the common room. Huppert was there serving hot chocolate and biscuits. Harry thanked her, and everyone followed suit. She was quite flustered by the time she had finished.

Draco came in and sat down. He frowned as he saw the rest of them tucking in. Then he saw Huppert, blushed and, looking furious, rose to go out.

“Are you not hungry?” Harry asked maliciously, putting on an innocent face.

“You know what’s wrong, Potter!”

“In that case I must insist that you do what you have to and have some refreshment as a reward.”

“Merlin’s ears, Potter, you’re a hard taskmaster.”

“Perhaps, but you have to show our world that you have reformed. Now is a pertinent time for that demonstration.”

A stony faced Draco sat back in the chair and stared embarrassedly around the room. Because he had made a fuss everyone was staring at him.

“Oh; very well then,” he sighed deeply: “I Draco Malfoy apologise to Huppert of the house Black, for any injury or insult that I have caused her. Now may I retire, Potter?”

“After your chocolate and biscuits and the game of chess you promised to Ron.”

“Merlin’s balls, Potter, you want jam on it don’t you. Oh, alright then,” Draco looked defeated and picked up his mug, wandering over to the chess board.

Both players used the pieces to get rid of their aggressive frustration; Ronald because he had not overcome his hatred of Draco despite his outward equanimity; and Draco because of Harry’s intransigence about being polite to elves. Needless to say it became a very noisy game and kept an enthralled audience mesmerised for just over an hour until Draco admitted defeat.