Birthday Celebrations

Hermione and Ron informed the duo that the rings were helping them to share feelings, not as graphically as Draco and Harry, but quite enough to feel emotions, approval etc.

At breakfast they told Uncle about that revelation, at which he smiled secretly.

D: ‘He knows they’ve been at it, look at his smile.’

H: ‘Yes. He’s found out in the same roundabout way that we did.’

The big discussion over breakfast was about the place and timing of the Apparation to the precincts of Malfoy Manor.

“There’s a small hidden hollow in a wood about a quarter of a mile away from the walls of the estate. I know my father had wards put up on the estate’s walls, and then another set around the inner garden,” Draco stated.

“Are we going to take the tent there? If we did we’d have to ward it.”

“I think that that amount of magic so close might draw unwelcome attention to us. Perhaps we should Apparate straight from here and back each time.”

“We should hide the direction coming back, in case someone tries to follow.”

“I’m worried about my brother, if he Side-Along-Apparates me; that will use up his energy. Draco has to be the leader of this expedition as he knows his way around. Therefore to have a base nearby might be better. We could Incognito scout from such a place, too.”

“Taking the tent with us would give Draco his full potential for the second day, as the first day will only be exploring.”

Sempra was serving. “Masters, before my family was evacuated from the Manor, I was promised to Melanie. That promise still holds good, once I claim her she must become a house-elf to my master. If you take the tent along I can come too. I know she wants me to claim her, as she wants to get away from that terrible place. Being your house-elf means that she could then disclose what is happening in the manor house. Would that be useful?”

“Thanks Sempra, we’ll bear it in mind. I’ll let you know what we’ve decided.”

“Thank you Master Draco.”

“Will you be coming Uncle, we were rather hoping you would.”

“I think I ought to look after my newly adopted family, Harry.”

“Good. You can have Draco’s old room in the tent. Chetrum’s made some alteration charms in there; now you have a small private bathroom attached to it. It’s where the store used to be, we had nothing in it so it was going spare anyway.”

“Thank you Harry. I’ll thank Chetrum when I see her next. However no decision has been taken yet about using the tent. Apparating there will be no problem if we all go together. Harry I take it you can Apparate?”

“Yes Uncle, Tonks taught me three months ago.”

“Mmm! Ronald; can you do it now, without Splinching your eyebrow or any other part of you?”

“Yes Uncle, Tonks took me through it lots of times when she was teaching Harry.”

“Good! Firstly I want to see both of you Apparate inside our wards. The Ministry cannot see in here, same as in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts. Then, if I’m satisfied, we can all go together under our own steam. Those buffers at the Ministry won’t be able to tell one of us from any other, that partly solves the energy problem. However the tent idea has many merits, especially about scouting.”

“Uncle, how far away would we have to be to set wards without alerting the household?”

“Ah, I see where you’re going with that, Hermione. Draco, do you know of a nice hidey-hole at least three miles away?”

“Err … Yes Uncle there are two … The best one is a small copse with a pool, about three and a half miles north west of the manor. I used to sneak out and swim there when it was very hot.”

“I thought you had a proper swimming pool near the house?”

“Err … Well … I used to like to go skinny-dipping. I wasn’t going to show off my things to the family and guests.”

Harry, Hermione and Ron had a quick giggle.

H: ‘Well now, I thought you were so very proper before I met you.’

D: ‘That’s what I wanted most people to think.’

H: ‘I wonder what other interesting pastimes you had.’

D: ‘I might just tell you one day.’

H: ‘That skinny-dipping would be a nice pastime for the two of us.’

D: ‘I’ll hold you to that, Lover. A victory skinny-dip; when we’ve destroyed this one.’

H: ‘Lovely! Are we asking the others to join us?’

D: ‘A nude Severus, eew! Ron and Hermione maybe. ‘

H: “I take it we’re all happy about the tent and Draco’s nude pool?”

D: ‘I’ll get you for that, Potter!’

“YES HARRY!”

D: “Good. I’ll draw you all a little map and a sketch of what it looks like.”

Draco made parchment and started drawing. Various questions were asked about size of the landing area, direction of approach, and other relevant details. Then Sempra was advised and the tent packed up. Five big bangs and two small pops later they were there.

§§§§§

The copse had an almost impenetrable thicket on the outside and the dense screen of trees continued all round the pool. The clearing faced south east, situated at the back of the pool and was partly shaded by two tall beech trees. Whilst Uncle, Hermione and Ron set up the tent and sorted things, Draco and Harry went to work on the dome of protector wards. Uncle came and inspected them after a while and was surprised at their strength and complexity.

“We’ve left a slightly larger than double bubble sized hole between those two Pine trees with an outer shield in front of it.” Draco explained to the others, “So, if you look straight at it magically, there is no hole there. To approach you have to fly along the outside of the inner wards at right angles to the hole then execute a quick ninety degree turn. Next you swoop down to water level and up to the space between the beech trees before landing. Any other approach will set fire to your clothing. If you have to Apparate straight in, use ‘Potfoy’ as the entry word. Anyone chasing you will be subject to Reducio.”

“Wow! That sounds great.”

“Harry will show you the edges of the hole.”

“Please touch me every one.” Harry asked. He used the Secretus mode to make the revelation.

A dark red glowing circle appeared between the pines.

“Now I’ll show you the edges of the outer ward … As can you see, it is attached at the top of the inner ward so you can either fly in level or from the ground. The advantage from the ground is that the natural hedge further out hides the edge of the shield, so you would disappear behind the hedge and be completely invisible thereafter. We Quidditch players could do it with aplomb as the dive takes you very close to the ground. However the side entrance would probably be easier for Uncle and Hermione. Now you’ve seen where the edges are, if you use the password they will show just for you and anyone you happen to be touching. Please try it; you can switch the revealers off by adding Finis.

Everyone took out their brooms and had a few tries; arranging not to be outside the wards for more than a few seconds before returning.

When they were all satisfied Draco took over. “Malfoy Manor is just left of that distant oak tree framed between the pines, almost a straight run from here. Once we’ve had coffee, Harry and I propose to have a look in a double bubble. Then Ron and Hermione could have a look, or perhaps Uncle would like a go first?”

“I’m happy for you younger ones to do the scouting, I’ll go out just before lunch after Ronald and Hermione return, then we can all discuss what we have seen and devise ways of avoiding or subverting the wards.”

Dobby served the coffee and biscuits. Sempra came in when Dobby was clearing away.

“Masters, this is Melanie, your new house-elf, she’s a very good cook.”

Melanie shied away from Draco and was wary of the others. Draco made a point of shaking hands with her, the others followed suit except for Hermione, who gave her a quick hug.

“Are these for real Sempra?”

“Yes Melanie, I told you so.”

“I’m not going to get beaten?”

The chorus of ‘no’s’ startled her.

“Sempra; why don’t you and I go and talk quietly to Melanie.”

“Yes Mistress, but not about clothes; please?”

“Okay; not this time.”

The odd trio went into Hermione’s room.

§§§§§

As Sempra had found them a deckchair each; Uncle and Ron shared the shell communicator between them and sat in the sun playing Wizard Chess by the pool. Harry and Draco made their bubble and went off scouting.

“Let’s land here Harry, under those high bushes and then Finis. We should be able to light the wards Secretus then make another bubble to fly round the protection to see if there are any entryways. There must be at least one as Father used to Apparate from inside the grounds.”

The duo landed, lit the wards and flew off on a reconnaissance. There were three Apparation holes in the outer dome one of which would fit a double bubble easily. They noted it but did not venture inside. Harry drew the miniaturised chart out and Draco noted down the various protections revealed. There were no dark screens in this outer dome, but there was at least one identification ward. Their hour was nearly up when they landed to clear the revelation charm, re-bubbled and headed for home.

Before Hermione and Ron went out, Draco explained where the hidden hollow was, so that they could reveal the protectors with little chance of being seen. He also told them where the big bubble hole was. He additionally showed them where Harry and he had not explored thoroughly. Uncle listened in so, when the older wizard went out, Draco had no need to reiterate the positions.

When the two betrothed returned they had found another hole and a gate with some curious recognition protectors on it.

“There are four almost identical ones and another two, as well as all the normal ones we expected from the duo’s report … Uncle, when you go out would you mind looking at them, they’re mainly grey in colour.”

“Of course I will, Hermione.” Severus took of in his own bubble.

His four students set about creating a three dimensional model of what they had seen and discussing the problems and their possible solutions. Uncle was back sooner than expected, he was smiling broadly. He reported as they all sat down for lunch.

“Narcissa has slipped up badly I think. Four of the grey wards are automatic entry ones all geared to the Malfoy family; one of them looks brand new. The other two are for Bellatrix and myself, I was always counted as a friend of the family, wasn’t I Draco?”

“Yes Uncle, so was Auntie, the old bitch. Why four for the family, we’re only three? Mother, Father and myself.”

“Those recognisors have automatic update charms geared for increases in the family when they occur. I expect your Duumvir brother has now been included; so three of us could walk in unannounced. I tried mine out, the gates opened automatically as I approached and no house-elf appeared, neither did a signal go back to the house. I did a quick tour of the estate, the garden elves cowered but took no other notice, and then I walked out again and got into my bubble.”

“That confirms what Melanie said, Uncle. She said her old mistress had made no alterations to the household or the wards,” Hermione confirmed. “She also said that your Mother, Draco, was forced to use only two or three rooms, as the rest were shut up under dust covers.”

“That’ll make things much easier then. I’ll ask Melanie which rooms my Mother is using so we can avoid them.”

“Melanie mentioned that your auntie visited quite often, springing surprises on the elves, and then chastising them for not being alert. Actually she used stronger words for chastising.”

“I can imagine. That’s my Auntie Bellatrix’s style exactly. She uses extreme chastisement just for kicks, as I too well know. She’s a really nasty old baggage … Sempra?”

“Yes Master Draco?”

“Would you ask Melanie to attend us, please?”

Melanie was still wary of Draco, so he went out of his way to praise her cooking of lunch. Malfoy charm worked overtime and obtained good results because Melanie told Draco of his Mother’s daily routine in minute detail. After the house-elves had left; a debate took place as to whether Draco should contact his mother before or after destroying the Horcrux. It was decided that the Horcrux came first; as Mother might just well be forced to tell Auntie about a visit from her supposedly dutiful son.

Draco and Harry were first out in the afternoon; landing not too far from the gate.

“Why don’t you try to see if the new recognisor accepts you, Harry? If the gate opens as you approach, we’ll know it’s all right. If it stays shut, then twenty yards from the gateposts you can turn round and we’ll bubble in.”

Harry quibbled slightly, but then fell in with his brother’s suggestion. The gates did open, so the duo walked through together. Draco started to conduct Harry over the grounds, going carefully when in sight of the windows of the rooms his mother was using. The Duumviri sat in a summerhouse and secretly lit up the inner wards. The pair walked off intending to make a circuit to find any special aberrations.

Harry began to feel Draco’s building unease. “I think you’d better tell me about it, Brother.

Alarm spread through Draco. “Must I, it’s about what Auntie did to me.”

“It’s not just that is it?”

“No! It’s about snakes too.”

“Let’s sit on that shady seat; if you get into a state like this tomorrow you may not be able to function properly; so sit down and tell me what’s troubling you.”

“Well Harry … You know what I told you about Auntie playing with me?”

“Yes?”

“Well Brother Dear … I wasn’t quite truthful … Erm … Father keeps a snake pit and Auntie had a favourite which did her bidding. Erm… Oh dear … Well when we were in the nursery she’d call the snake. She’d Immobulus me, strip me, then get the snake to do it … You know.”

By this time Draco was very agitated and red. Harry just hugged him and tried to project calm plus understanding. Draco grew less anxious.

“The snake used its mouth, like we did, and its tail went into my behind.”

Draco burst into tears, so Harry hugged him. As well as feeling Draco’s horrors, Harry could sense that there had been some enjoyment too and his new brother felt ashamed of that as well. Harry had to admit to himself that the thought gave him a slight frisson also.

Draco recovered somewhat: “I think she held some sort of Imperio on me because, no matter what I was doing, once she said the dreaded words, I went to the nursery automatically. My big worry is that if I meet her again and she said the words, I would meekly go to the nursery and wait meekly to be snake-raped.”

“Oh Draco, how terrible! We’ll have to think of some way of dealing with it. Firstly can you remember the exact words she used – don’t say them out loud – write them down?”

Draco made parchment and wrote: ‘Now my little Dracokins, time to play in the nursery.’

“Are you sure that’s exactly what she said?”

“Yes Harry, I used to turn cold as soon as the first few words were spoken.”

Harry had an idea. “Is that why, a couple of years ago, you became so upset because I could speak Parseltongue?”

“One of them, yes. Why?”

“Do you think the snake liked what it was doing?”

“No, I don’t think so. It always seemed to be trying to get away from Auntie.”

“Was it always the same snake?”

“Yes! I only have to close my eyes now and see it quite plainly.”

“Let’s go and talk to it, see if we can come up with an idea to nullify Auntie’s scheme.”

Draco became alarmed again, Harry could feel his twin’s churning thoughts, but his brother’s will was building to overcome them.

“Yes! Let’s try,” he whispered.

Harry took things easily, bolstering Draco’s resolve and letting Draco go at his own pace. Once at the pit, Draco pointed out the relevant snake. Harry sat on the side of the pit and looked intently at the reptile.

H: ‘Draco, listen to me inwardly, then you will understand what the snake and I are saying’ .

D: ‘Yes Harry, I’ll think things to you, if I need to ask it something.’

H: ‘Try to think of it as a person, snakes are extremely proper, so I shall be polite too.’

By this time the snake was staring at Harry. ‘Do you wish to communicate with me young man?’

H: ‘Good afternoon, I am Harry Potter and this is my soul-mate Draco Malfoy. We would like to talk to you, if you wouldn’t mind?’

S: ‘Good afternoon Harry Potter, I am Sossogenese, I have already met your soul-mate many times, but never in auspicious circumstances. I was unaware that he was a Parselmouth, but I had been told of your prowess?’

H: ‘He does not speak our tongue. We are Duumviri and therefore can communicate within our minds, so he can hear our conversation within his mind.’

S: ‘I have heard of that rare occurrence and am very pleased to meet two of your persuasion. How may I help you both?’

H: ‘My soul-mate as told me of the unfortunate circumstances of your previous meetings and wishes not to continue them. However there maybe a possibility that he meets his aunt soon, and that possibility might include her trying to create another episode of those circumstances.’

S: ‘I too, would not like a recurrence of my being forced to perform those services which are abhorrent to me. Is there any way that your soul-mate could avoid such a meeting?’

H: ‘We will be trying to avoid this. However, the lady in question has a habit of appearing suddenly and without warning. There is some business which we must undertake within the Manor, which would work against that lady’s confederates. If she surprises us; then she may try to make her nephew and yourself act against your wills, as a way of forestalling our actions.’

S: ‘I understand. However when the lady created her double ‘Imperio’ there was a set formula which she used on your soul mate, which once uttered forced me to do her disgusting will, as well as your soul-mate to become the victim.’

H: ‘My soul mate has written those words down for me. We felt that it might be dangerous to utter them inside the Manor boundaries.’

S: ‘You were very perspicacious; because, if you had spoken the words, the curse would have been resurrected. I believe that the victims of such a curse can work together to cancel it, but I am unsure of the mechanics thereof.’

H: ‘We have a wise professor who might be able to help us. With your permission we will consult him.’

D: ‘That means I will have to explain to Uncle, does it not?’

H: ‘Yes Soul-mate, it does.’

S: ‘I understood from you that your soul-mate did not speak our language. I understood his statement and his worries.’

H: ‘Perhaps we communicate via our minds rather than in the words we speak. I hear what you snakes say in the language that I already know; maybe my using Parseltongue is just a means to an interpretive end.’

D: ‘I think, Sossogenese; that my soul-mate’s brain translates for us. I would like to apologise for my aunt’s wilful acts and my being part of something that neither of us wanted. My soul mate persuaded me to visit you, and I admit I was afraid that seeing you would somehow cause the curse to work. I will overcome my horror of telling someone else, if by doing so we can rid ourselves of the curse.’

Harry listened outwardly realising that Draco was hissing at Sossogenese.

S: ‘I look forward to our next meeting, once you have consulted your professor. Goodbye!’

The duo wished Sossogenese goodbye with the small formal bow that snake’s so much admired. They created a bubble, found the hole, and went back to camp.

“What kept you, we were wondering if your auntie had caught you, or something?”

“Sorry Ron. Sorry Hermione and Uncle, but we hit a snag and were talking to a snake about how to sort it.”

“Good thing you can talk Parseltongue, Harry.”

“Yes. So can Draco using my mind. It was quite odd having a three-way conversation in my head.”

“Uncle, we need your advice on how two victims of an Imperio can lift that curse by acting together. Sossogenese assured us that it was possible.”

“I take it that Sossogenese is the snake. Perhaps I should know the details Draco; I imagine it is something between you and Sossogenese?”

Draco went very, very red.

“It’s about your aunt and that curse you told us about, isn’t it Draco?” Hermione suggested, going to put an arm round his shoulder.

Draco went to shove her off, but Harry held one of Draco’s hands tightly, pushing a feeling of comfort through the link. Draco relaxed, still with Hermione hugging his shoulder. Then hesitantly he told his tale, as he did so his soul-mate could feel the tension draining out. Even when Ron played dense and asked for clarifying details, Draco managed to make a light reply.

Once Ron understood he went over to Draco. “Oh Mate! How awful! We want to help you, you only have to ask.” Ron held and patted Draco’s other hand.

Harry felt Draco’s extreme embarrassment melt, then came an awe that all of his new friends really cared, and the waterworks opened up. Harry found a handkerchief in his soul-mate’s pocket and did an expert mopping up job as Draco clung on to the proffered hands, drawing strength from his mates.

Severus sat looking pensive, then suddenly got up, went to his room, and returned with a small black bound book.

Once the sobbing had died down Severus showed Draco the page where the counter-curse started. Draco invited Hermione to look over his shoulder, and the pair of them worked through the archaic language; occasionally asking Uncle the meaning of a word.

“There is a big problem; this counter-curse has to be said simultaneously by both parties.”

“Does it say in which language?”

“No Uncle.”

“So if Sossogenese and you use Harry’s head, and Harry speaks at the same time as the snake, it will probably work. I think Bellatrix was very cunning, because she knew you didn’t speak Parseltongue, and supposed there was no way of breaking the curse.”

“But will it work, Uncle?”

“I think it will. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“What about that much magic so near the house?”

“Both of you are accepted persons, you will be expected to perform magic at times, so there should be no problem. I have been reading about your resurrected Secretus and that, as an addition to the words, should make no one aware of the counter curse being performed unless they are right above you.”

“It was Ron’s and my turn to go out next; how about us hovering over you in the bubble, keeping watch?”

“Thanks Hermione, we’d like that.” Draco looked relieved.

Harry and Draco bubbled out to the hidden hollow. Just before they landed they told Hermione, who brought the shell with her and Ron in their bubble. With the four of them concealed, Hermione gave the shell to Draco; then she and Ron bubbled off. Draco and Harry used a side gate and walked carefully over to the snake pit. Bowing to Sossogenese, Harry explained the position, the words of the counter-curse, and the brothers had one or two practices with the snake.

When all was set, Draco had the bubble pair check there was no one in the vicinity, then Harry started a quick count down. The counter-curse was not too long and there was a small flash as it finished. Sossogenese slid over towards Draco, without communicating. Draco was alarmed when the snake’s head reached his knees, then Sossogenese winked, and gave a sibilant laugh of relief.

D: ‘Well, well! A snake with a sense of humour, no offence meant Sossogenese.’

S: ‘None taken; Draco. I feel like a new snake, I think my libido has been loosened. Now where’s that beautiful turquoise and crimson filly, who was propositioning me a few weeks ago. Goodbye friends.’

Harry and Draco bowed to the departing snake, watching fascinated as Sossogenese curled seductively round the lady snake in question. Draco gave a ‘thumbs up’ to Ron and they all met in the hidden hollow a few minutes later. Harry and Draco took the shell in their bubble. Ten minutes later Ron and Hermione bubbled up, having timed things so there was no danger of the two bubbles being too close. Then they went back through the hole and continued their patrol of the inner wards.

At dinner the five of them discussed the events of the day, including the fact that opposite the Apparation holes in the outer wards were equivalent ones in the inner defences.

“Makes our protection seem over much, doesn’t it?”

“Not with Auntie Bellatrix screaming behind you trying every hex and curse she can remember, it doesn’t.”

“If she does, I hope she doesn’t duck to the water. Having her clothes burnt off in front of us might be some poetic justice.”

Ron’s sally had them all giggling.

The newly found inner wards were categorised, modelled and the strategy for tomorrow discussed. At Draco’s prompting, Harry yawned and said they were going to have an early night.

H: ‘What’s this all about, Brother?’

D: ‘Remembering what Sossogenese and I did; has me all itchy.’

H: ‘Oh really? I thought I had detected some enjoyment in amongst all that turmoil.’

D: ‘Yeah well. It was being forced and doing it with a snake that was the problem.’

H: ‘Now; we’ve practiced one of those things already.’

D: ‘I’m game for the final fulfilment if you are?’

H: ‘Once each please. We’ll be magically stronger tomorrow, but we don’t want to be physically weak.’

D: ‘Spoilsport! Although I do see your point; that was the reason for retiring early.’

Bathing together and then having the side by side massage with ‘Rose Seduction’ put the Duumviri in just the right mood for antics in bed. In the end, they enjoyed what they were doing so much that second helpings were indulged in, followed by eight hours of snuggled, comforting sleep.