Runaway Wizard 53
Here's another chapter. Things are moving along nicely.
Title: Runaway Wizard
Chapter: 53
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: Except for the few original characters, all characters in this story are the property of J. K. Rowlings, who has kindly allowed me to play with them.
Warnings: Probably a little of everything. Fighting, Living on the streets with everything that entails, Spanking, Bondage, Blood, Gore, Bad Language, and Pissy Snape.
Parings: H/D eventually
Beta: 50ftqueenie Brit picker: purpledodah
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Draco and Harry apparated from the Weasley's backyard into the Grangers then walked around to the front door to knock like 'civilized' wizards. Draco insisted although Hermione said that it would be ok for them to apparate into the lounge.
The door was opened by Hermione's mother and Draco flustered her completely as he bowed over her hand, kissed the air above it and presented her with a bottle of 25 year old brandy. “Thank you for having us over. I would have brought wine but, as it is only lunch, I thought the brandy would be nicer.”
Harry smiled at Mr Granger over Draco's shoulder and was a bit astonished to see that the dentist was a well set up man of about forty. He was in good shape, broad shouldered and narrow hipped.
“Mr. Granger, so pleased to meet you.” Draco walked smoothly into the entry hall and shook hands with him. “Harry, don't stand there blocking the door.”
Harry started and hurried to get out of the door so that Mrs. Granger could close it.
“I'm sorry.” Harry managed a smile for the couple. “Thank you for having me in your home. It's very nice.” He managed a bow and a smile, suddenly feeling very awkward as he realized that he was about to ask Hermione to put herself in harms way, again. “Hermione, how are you?”
“I'm fine, yourself? Oh, and I wanted to show you something I found in one of the extra books I brought home. After lunch, if you don't mind?” Hermione gave Harry a speaking look to which he nodded.
“That would be nice. Did you finish Ancient Runes yet?”
As the talked they made their way through the house into the front lounge. It was a bit formal and obviously only used when they had guests, it was much too neat to be a living space.
Harry took a chair and Draco absently pushed a foot stool over for him then took the other chair and put his feet up on the stool too. Many people would have thought this much too casual for a formal occasion but in the wizarding world, Draco was establishing his claim to his spouse. It wouldn't have been more plain if Draco had stood in the middle of the room and shouted. Hermione smiled at the by play and led the conversation into safe channels.
They talked about the wedding ceremony and Mr. Granger, call me Dan, asked about the whole reading the contract thing.
Draco settled to answer. “There aren't any religious ceremonies in wizarding society, there's too many religions and someone is sure to be insulted. There are Druids, Pagans ... well, to Christians, they're pagans, but ...” He sighed. “You see?” They all nodded. “So. And our traditions go back early enough that the reading of the contract is most important of all. In fact, Christians read the bans on the church steps three times and that was it for many years. The religious ceremony only came about in ... the late 16th century? I'm not sure. But the 'in the church' nuptials wasn't original to the religion. Our ceremonies are more binding than a few words said over our heads by some bored man who'd rather be at the Local.”
Harry sighed, “Draco, I'm sure they're not all that way.”
Draco smiled back. “I know. That was just ... me being snarky. Sorry.”
Dan shook his head. “That's ok. I understood the sentiment. So, you mean that ... you've sworn a ... what did you call it?” He glanced at Hermione.
“A wizards oath, Daddy. And, yes, they did. You saw the glow, that was the sign that the oath had bound them. It was so romantic. I was so pleased for you both.” She turned to smile at Draco. “You are ok, right?”
Draco saw the concern in her eyes so he just chuckled slightly. “I'm so abused, it's just awful. He makes me have breakfast in bed, buys me expensive chocolates and ... frankly, dotes on me. Just horrible.”
Hermione laughed. “Oh, yes, and I suppose you just abhor him.”
Draco raised an eyebrow. “Did you say adore? I'm sure you did.”
The elder Grangers watched this byplay with amusement and led the conversation back to questions they'd been wanting to ask. Hermione was reluctant to answer questions as she wasn't sure what she should tell and what not. Draco, on the other hand, was well versed enough that he knew, so she let her parents ask.
Harry, who had made sure by asking Lucius, helped with explanations by beginning, “Hermione didn't understand part of what she was told because no one explains anything right. She's allowed to tell you anything, it's just that you're not allowed to pass it on to just anyone. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings; they all can be told, as long as they can be trusted not to tell tales ... out of school, so to say. So just ask anything and we'll answer as best we can, or say we don't know.”
So they spent most the next two hours answering questions, finally Emma exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, look at the time. The roast will be ruined if we don't eat at once. Hermione, come help me.”
She jumped to her feet and hurried into the kitchen. Dan followed her with Hermione, Harry and Draco trailing behind.
Dan motioned to the dining room where the table was already set and said, “Take a seat, we'll have the food out in a moment.” He grinned. “I'm sure the roast is fine. It might be a bit over done but it won't be dry. Excuse me.”
Draco eyed the table for a moment then went to the foot of the table and took the seat at the right hand side. Harry took the head of the table and took the seat on that right hand which put Hermione next to him with Emma and Dan at foot and head respectively.
The food was brought out and Harry was pleased to see that they had roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, green beans and roasted root vegetables. They turned their conversation to dentistry, of all things. Draco was very curious about the procedures that Hermione had hinted at in idle conversation.
Dan remarked, “We usually discourage this sort of discussion at table because it's ... not the sort of thing we like. We prefer to keep business at the office but ... as you're curious, we'll let you ask questions, it's only fair, after all.”
So Draco found out about crowns and fillings, drills and dentures. He shuddered in horror, laughed in amusement and generally enjoyed himself.
Then the question of why wizards didn't get cavities came up and Draco explained, “I'm not sure I understand exactly how it works but there's a simple tooth cleaning spell that prevents them. There are some that can't be bothered to use it, in fact, I don't think they brush their teeth or clean them in any way. But exactly why it works, I couldn't say.”
Emma turned to Hermione. “You don't use it, do you, dear?”
“No, I always brush. Twice a day.”
Emma got that look, distant and a bit dazed, that Hermione also got when she was thinking hard. “I'd like to do a bit of an experiment, if you don't mind?”
Draco just smiled. “Of course not. Unless ... Harry?”
Harry grinned at him. “I'd like to see what she's up to. Interesting. I think I have an idea of what happens but ... I'd like to keep my thoughts to myself for now. Don't want to prejudice the results.”
They finished their meal, discussing this and that, with a very nice treacle tart which Harry proclaimed, 'Excellent!'
After clearing away which Hermione did by magic they went downstairs into a small lab that Hermione admitted that she and her mother used for several things, including making cosmetics. Emma got out a box of slides and gave one to Harry, Draco and Hermione instructing them to lick it. Draco watched as Hermione provided the example of what was wanted then both he and Harry licked their slide. Emma took them and dropped some stain on each one. Dan suggested that he also provide a sample so both he and Emma made slides as well.
“It won't take long for the stain to work. Have you ever seen a microscope Draco?”
“No, but micro is small so I assume that it shows very small things, much as a telescope shows far away things.”
Emma beamed, “Exactly. So ... the stain should have worked by now. I'll just take a peek.”
She looked into the microscope, examining each slide in turn. “Well, Harry, would you like to take a look?”
Harry examined all the slides too, admitting that he'd loved the only biology class he'd taken. “Well, there's a significant difference in the samples. There's one bacteria missing in mine and Draco's. Is it the one that causes cavities?”
Emma nodded. “It's the prime cause, there are several but that specific bacteria is the worst. And there is a significant increase in beneficial varieties.”
Draco was practically dancing in impatience. “What are you talking about? Germs? What's a germ?”
He was given a quick explanation of germs, bacteria and viruses by Hermione and told that some germs were actually beneficial.
Draco reacted just as Hermione feared, scoffing at the thought that something live was in his mouth. Hermione just sighed and pointed at the microscope, “Well, see for yourself.”
Draco peered into the microscope and then gagged. “Ugh! Merlin's balls, that's in my mouth?” Draco swallowed several times. “That's disgusting. I clean my teeth after every meal and that's still ... I think I'm going to be ... excuse me.” Draco made a dash for the door with Harry right on his heels.
Emma looked after him in dismay. “Oh, dear. Hermione?”
Hermione just followed after them while Dan reassured Emma that Draco was just shocked and a bit unsettled. “He'll be fine, dear, Hermione will fix it.”
In the upstairs halfbath, Draco was trying hard to keep his gorge down. Harry was rubbing his back while he fumbled for a stomach calming draught. Draco managed to drag one out of a pocket and down it. “Oh, Merlin, that was humiliating.”
“Never mind, love, I'm sure Hermione understands. Emma is a scientist and wouldn't even blink at you getting sick.”
Hermione's voice made them turn to look at her. “Other than to be a bit upset that you were unnerved. You ok?”
Draco nodded. “I'll be fine in a moment. Stomach calming draught always works. I apologize.”
Hermione waved his apology away. “Don't worry about it. It's fine. I was a bit sick too, when I realized all the stuff in my mouth. But it's all natural. I want you to teach me that charm, though. And what about solstice, while we have the chance.”
Draco settled back on the commode, the only place to sit, but Hermione scowled. “I refuse to have this discussion in a toilet. Only bad things can happen.” Harry snickered a bit at the obvious reference to the troll and Myrtle's girls room. “Stop that, you idiot. We'll go into the guest room and Draco can lay down for a while. I'll play hostess and make tea.” She pointed up the stairs. “Up the stairs, first door on the left. Be back in a sec.”
Hermione smiled at her mother, who was making camomile tea, “It's ok, Mum, he was just ... well, you know how it is.” Emma smiled back and just handed her the pot.
Hermione took the pot and put it on a tray with three cups, saucers, spoons and a sugar bowl. Emma nodded her approval before saying, “Tell Draco that I'm sorry he was upset. Scientific inquiry is no excuse for upsetting a guest.”
Hermione just laughed. “He apologized to me. It's not done to cause a scene in someone's house in wizarding society. It's all forgotten. I sent him up to lay down for a while. I'll just take this up and sit with them until Draco feels better. Don't worry about it.” She smiled at her mother before heading up the stairs with her tray.
She carried the tray up to the guest room and pushed the door open with her foot. “Harry, if you would, please?” She put the tray down on the stand that Harry conjured out of a slipper under the bed. “Thank you. Here, Draco, I know that the draught has probably settled your stomach but this is good too.” She poured tea as she spoke then settled on the foot of the bed, Harry moved his feet to give her room.
Draco accepted the cup and sat up to drink it. Harry also accepted a cup, moving from his position next to Draco on the bed to scoot up against the headboard more.
Draco sighed. “That is better. Now, before your Mother comes in or something. We're going to Newgrange tomorrow, are you coming?”
Hermione nodded. “Of course I'm coming. Mr Malfoy asked me. How are we getting there?”
“Portkey, but we're going to have to come back the hard way. Harry's going to take you in the sidecar of his motorcycle and Ron and I are flying via broom. And, before you ask, Papa took Snape to Switzerland and he forgot all about the solstice, he's not going.” Hermione looked appalled. “I know, so; if you don't want to come, that's ok. I just hope this is worth it.”
Hermione sighed, “If he's not coming, that means I really have to come. You do know you're going to be in a world of trouble when he finds out, right?”
Harry nodded. “I know but I really have to have that staff. I just feel it. My wand is just about done for and both the secondary wands work ok but ... there's just something missing.”
Hermione sighed and finished her tea. “Draco, how do you feel now?”
Draco sighed, put his cup down and got up. “Much better. The tea really worked wonders. Thank you, that was very nice. We really should be going soon. I have to ... um ... do something with Harry's Christmas and he has a few things to do for the journey. I was planning to do it yesterday but didn't find time, now I'm rushed. Sorry. Harry, stop laughing, you git.”
“Silly snake. I don't care about a present, you're the best present I've ever had. But I do have preparations to make. Hermione, thank you for having us.”
Hermione just nodded. “Thank you for coming. I'll see you to the door.” She started down the stairs, calling, “Mum! Dad! Draco and Harry are going.”
They said their good-bye's and left by apparating from the back yard.
.
Draco admitted that he had to work on Harry's present and was running out of time. Harry just kissed him and left Draco in the entry way and went to his private study.
The rest of the day was spent apart, working on Christmas presents on Draco's part and the trip to Ireland on Harry's. He and Mimsey put their heads together and stuffed even more things into the devils bag. Things that Harry hoped they wouldn't need.
When morning came both Harry and Draco were nervous wrecks. They'd gotten a portkey made, Draco used the Malfoy Scion's permission to do it, and now they were just waiting for Ron to show up.
He stepped out of the floo at exactly 10 am, just like he had said he would, with Hermione on his heels. He'd asked her over via owl and they'd told his parents that they were going to visit Draco and Harry for a while. No lies were told, just not any truth either.
Hermione had a small backpack with her, stuffed with things she thought she might need. Harry just smiled at her. She knew the devils bag was full of things, more than she could carry in a semi truck, but she still had to bring something of her own. He didn't mind, so he smiled.
“Well, let's get going, if we're going to do this.” Ron stuck one hand in a pocket. “I'm ready.”
Draco held out the loop of rope he'd charmed and they all took hold of it. “I set it for Donore which is about five miles from Newgrange. I thought we might walk around a bit, have lunch in a pub and hike out. That way no one much will notice us. If we just pop up at the site, there's sure to be questions asked.”
Hermione nodded. “That's right. No one pays much attention to day-trippers, but someone who pops out of nowhere? Not good. And no one much will notice us in Donore, as there's always a bus or two in town. So when's the key activating.”
Draco smiled. “It's word activated. Everyone have hold?” When they all nodded, he tapped the rope with his wand and announced. “We're off.”
They popped into existence and Ron and Draco had to catch Harry, the unmistakable feeling of a hook snatching them into a new place always made him stagger.
“Fucking portkeys. I'm going to master the damn things, someday.” Harry flicked his wand to rearrange his robes which had been disarranged by the journey. “Should we be wearing robes around here?”
Draco laughed a bit. “Everyone is in costume today, for the solstice. We're not going to stick out, they'll just think we're Neo-Druids.”
They all walked together in a clump, but no one paid much attention to them as there were groups wandering about in every sort of garb and costume imaginable. One group that Harry noticed particularly were all dressed in armour and singing a song that they found out was called 'Freaking the Mundanes'. They stopped to listen and wound up laughing themselves silly. The group just smiled benignly and wandered on.
Lunch was fish and chips at a small pub. They found that the area was comprised of several small villages and farmsteads. There were bed and breakfast hotels all over and several larger hotels, one of them practically in the back yard of Dowth. Hermione sighed, “Everything is so historical. I'd love to stay for a while but ... well, another time.”
Draco took pity on her. “I'll see to it that you get to come and stay next summer. Now. All this confusion, how are we going to get to the mound without being seen?”
Harry smirked at him. “The entire park is closed at 5pm. We wait until full dark and just walk in. A disillusioning charm and we're safe.”
“Ok, somehow, I'm not reassured at all.” Ron frowned at a chip for a moment then ate it, mumbling around it, “It's one of your adventures after all.”
Harry threw a chip at him, which he caught in his mouth and ate. Hermione just looked at Draco and rolled her eyes, Draco rolled back.
They asked around about Bru na Boinne and were told that it was a 'mere stretch of the legs' from Donore but were warned that the gates were locked at 5 sharp and entry after then was prohibited. Ron asked about visiting the guard station and they were told that there wasn't one. The man asked, sensibly enough, why anyone would want to wander around in what was essentially a farm field in the dark. Ron admitted to wanting to be a police officer and liking to get stories from them and security guards. He was told that the only thing keeping people out was a fence and common sense. They wandered off, thanking the man for his help.
They continued to wander around the area, stopping to visit with other groups of even more strangely dressed people. They ate dinner at another of the local 'hot' spots, the Conyngham Arms. They settled in for a dinner of planked salmon, new potatoes, asparagus and trifle for desert. There were fancier things on the menu, but none of them felt like eating a huge meal.
Harry paid the bill and they left the hotel walking out into the now dark parking lot as sunset was at 4:12pm.
Draco looked at the sky. “I don't like the looks of those clouds, they're full of snow or I miss my guess.”
Hermione looked up and sighed. “I hope the book will work with cloud cover.”
Ron just sighed and rubbed his face. “I do too. I'd hate to get home and have nothing to show for the arse reaming I'm going to get.”
Harry just opened the book and showed them the still blank spots. “I don't know. But we need to get to Knowth. We can apparate in ... I think. Do we have coordinates?”
Hermione pulled a wizarding guide book out of her back pack and checked it. “No, none listed. Besides, remember? No apparating. That means that we'll have to hike in. Oh, well, nothing like a bracing hike while waiting for the moon to rise. Come on, then.”
So they hiked. It was no problem for four young people who religiously ran 8 to 10 miles every day. They hiked in silence for a while until Hermione said, “I think we need to do something about our robes. We're going to stick out like sore thumbs in dark colours.”
Draco agreed, remarking, “Dark colours on snow, I never thought of that. I'll do the charm, if you like.”
They all stood while Draco changed the color of their robes to white, mottled with light grey. Then they continued on.
The snow on the ground wasn't that deep, only about six inches, so it wasn't hard to keep up a good pace. The ground was a bit rough but there were paths everywhere and they didn't have to worry about foot prints as the paths were already trampled by the earlier visitors.
When they reached the ground proper, they found that there wasn't actually a fence as such, just a rather vague change in the landscape that indicated where the grass had been mown during the summer. Harry pointed, “There. You really can't miss it.” He looked around for a moment. “The entrance is there, around that way.” He pointed to their left.
Hermione glanced around. “We need to check to be sure. The north entrance is the tourist one, but there's a southern entrance that is sealed with a ... big, flat stone called a kerb stone. I wish the moon would rise.” just then, as if magic had heard her, the moon did rise.
The book glowed then opened itself to a page. Hermione quickly read the passage aloud, translating as she did so. “It says that the southern door will open at the call of the powers.” She frowned. “What the heck does that mean?”
Harry just ran around to the southern entrance and stared at the stone. “It's ... I wonder.” Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the centre spiral carved on the stone. “Alohomora!” nothing happened, except Harry's wand emitted a small puff of smoke. “Damn! Ok, think.” Harry rubbed his forehead for a moment then pointed his wand again, exclaiming, “Of course! Go n-osclaítear seo!”
The stone slid aside with a loud rumble revealing a narrow passage. Harry drew out one of his secondary wands and whispered, “Lumos.” The light was a bit dim but good enough as all the others provided their own lumos spell.
Draco asked, in a normal tone, “Why are we whispering?” and was answered by the echo that rattled around the passage. He whispered, “Ok, sorry.”
Ron just snickered a bit. “Ssshh! You'll have the roof dribbling stones on us.”
Hermione just led the way down the narrow passage until they found a large dish shaped basin stone. “Here. Now ... oh, damn!”
Harry sighed, “What! I know I'm not going to like it.”
Hermione read again, lips moving as she translated it again. Draco read over her shoulder.
“Well, that doesn't make sense. How the devil ... Hermione, let me see that again.” Hermione handed Draco the book and he read carefully.
Harry waited with what patience he could and finally demanded, “What! What are we supposed to do now. I can feel ... something. And I need it.” He clamped his mouth shut, realizing that he sounded like a two year old ready to throw a tantrum. “Sorry.”
Draco nodded absently. “That's ok, Harry. I know.” he glanced at Hermione then said, “Think, there's two different connotations to this particular word. Heart.”
While Hermione mulled this over, Draco walked over to the basin. He examined it for a moment then, before anyone could stop him, he drew a knife from the back of his neck and sliced his hand open. He made a fist and held it over the basin allowing his blood to drip into it.
Harry exclaimed, “Draco!” and hurried to him. But before he could take more than a step the basin began to rotate, sliding to one side eerily reminiscent of the sinks in Myrtle’s toilet. The hole that was revealed slanted down sharply then turned to the east.
Harry took a moment to examine Draco's hand but he just held it out to Ron, remarking calmly, “Heal that, will you?” Ron obliged easily. He had turned out to be excellent with healing spells, much to Hermione's disgust.
After a quick healing spell, they entered the passage and negotiated it cautiously. It was very narrow, even narrower than the one above and low, all of them had to crouch uncomfortably.
As they went along, Harry became more and more anxious. He wasn't sure whether they were going to find Merlin's staff or not, but he did know that whatever was at the end of their search was something he needed.
After more twists and turns, they came to a round chamber that was about 15 feet across with what was obviously an alter in the middle of it. But, when they tried to enter, they ran right into a barrier of magic that refused to allow them in.
Harry just snarled, “Well, fuck! What now?”
Draco and Hermione had their heads together over the book, reading frantically. Ron ran his hand over the barrier, mumbling to himself.
Draco sighed, “Well, this doesn't make any sense at all. It translates as, 'A minion shall grant him entrance.' Him loosely translated. The actual word is more like supplicant. And I don't think ...”
Ron poked at the barrier with his wand, mumbling, “Will you let him in, damnit!” nothing much happened, and Ron lost his temper. “Open up, damn you!” Ron's wand emitted a stream of sparks and the barrier seemed to fall. Except, when Ron tried to enter, he was pushed back a step.
“Harry! Come here and see if you can't get in now.”
Harry walked the step or two from where he'd been consulting with Draco and Hermione. He put out a hand and it went right through the faint blue glow of the barrier. “Well, that's ...”
Ron just smirked a bit then said, with commendable mildness, “So, I guess I'm your minion?”
Draco snorted softly. “I was also about to state that this word is more properly translated as 'shield mate'. The kings best friend and chief advisor. And that is you, Ron. No doubt about it.”
Ron managed to look inordinately pleased without being smug.
Harry just walked into the chamber and looked around.
The chamber was lined with kerb stones engraved with spirals, the floor was slate slabs. He approached the alter and found himself compelled to remove his robes. He stepped out of his shorts last, one step away from the alter. Then he seemed to drop into some kind of trance. He climbed onto the alter and stretched out, like some kind of sacrifice.
The alter immediately began to glow and Harry levitated to hover about two feet over the alter. His hair unbraided itself and began to drift around his head as if he were under water. He trembled a bit then stilled. Hermione bit her lip, wondering if she should interfere. Ron just watched calmly, his feelings plain on his face. Draco, also, was calm. Nothing in the book said that there was any risk to failure.
Meanwhile, Harry was having a vision. He as standing in a green field under a warm sun. A voice addressed him, saying, “Your need is great and your power pure. Ask and you shall receive.” Harry looked around to find the source of the voice but there was no one there. He felt a gentle tug and turned in that direction. He walked for a time, how long he couldn't tell, and found a simple staff stuck into the ground. He reached out to touch it and found that it jumped into his hand. “Leave your inadequate focus and take my staff.” Harry obeyed the voice and gently put his wand on the ground where the staff had been. He never thought to wonder how he had it with him.
He turned to walk away and woke up. He blinked a few times then realized that his friends were all calling to him. He sat up and waved to them then got off the alter. He was disappointed to realize that the staff hadn't come with him, until he glanced at his clothing. There, on top of his robes, sat Merlin's staff. He got dressed and picked up the staff.
Harry gazed at the staff with a look of wonder on his face. The others also stared at it in awe.
It wasn't fancy, covered with jewels and such; instead, it was a plain wooden staff made of oak inlayed with rings of walnut. Harry walked over to the narrow opening and joined his friends. He looked into eyes filled with wonder and joy.
“I've got it.” He couldn't think of anything else to say so he just held it up for them to see.
Hermione, ever the curious one, reached out to touch it gently. “It's warm! Oh!” She withdrew her hand. “Amazing.”
Draco also reached out to touch it and stroked it gently. “It is. Ron you have to feel this.”
Ron, a bit more cautious due to the twins, finally touched it too. “It is warm. It feels like ... a warm summer day in my hand.”
Harry eyed the staff. It was really a staff, not a stave or an extra long wand, nearly eight feet long and thicker around than Ron's thumb. “It's wonderful. I can feel the power but it's going to be a bitch to carry.”
Hermione thought a bit. “The grimoire said that Merlin kept it in his pocket. Of course, at that time a pocket could be a rather large belt bag, but still. I don't think that would fit into my backpack and it's expandable.”
Harry held the staff in one hand, butted on the ground and thought. “Well, if Merlin kept it in his purse, that means there has to be a way to shrink it.” He felt it tremble in his hand. “I wonder.” He shifted the staff to hold it horizontally in front of himself. “Giortaigh!” and suddenly, he was holding a stave about four feet long and no thicker than his thumb. “Ok! And again ... giortaigh!” His second order of 'shrink' brought the stave down to the size of a normal wand. “Great! It fits into my sheath perfectly.”
Harry pulled Merlin's staff out of his sheath and said, “Méadaigh!” and it became a stave again. He couldn't help a grin. “Brilliant! All I have to do is say shrink or grow and it does.” He shrank it again and put it away.
Draco couldn't help hugging him but his cheerful, “Well, that was simple.” made the others groan. “What?”
Hermione swatted him on the back of the head, making him exclaim, “Hey!”
“Dummy! Never say something like that until we're home again. You've jinxed us for sure.”
They made their way out of the mound to find that the moon was hidden, not by rolling clouds but by a massive snow storm that they produced. Hermione swatted Draco again, exclaiming, “See?”
Harry just sighed, pulled his cycle and two brooms from his devils bag and said, “Well, come on then. We might as well get started. This is going to be a real bitch.”
Hermione took a moment to glance at the book but the blanks were back. “Well, damn. I guess it blanked out when the moon set, or was covered. Thank goodness it lasted long enough for us to read it.” She shoved the book at Harry, who stuffed it into his bag then enlarged his cycle.
.
Severus was enjoying a well deserved brandy with his friend when Lucius remarked, “What a wonderful day.”
He agreed saying, “Yes, this is the nicest solstice I've had in years.” He was a bit astonished to see Lucius stiffen. “Something?”
“Fuck! It's the solstice! I completely forgot about going to Ireland. Shit!”
Severus took the practical way and said, “Well, stop fluttering about like a wet hen and explain this at once.”
Lucius took a deep breath. “Harry's wand is burning out. Every time he uses his full strength, you can smell burning feathers. Remember?” Severus nodded. “Well, he has a map and instructions for finding Merlin's staff. It's at Newgrange in Ireland and could only be found on this night. I promised to take him. Damnit! And I was so excited about re-establishing our relationship that I completely forgot.”
Severus raised an eyebrow. “I see. But he's seventeen. He's perfectly capable of going to Ireland and back by himself. Although, I'm sure that Draco has gone with him, and Hermione and Ron as well. He'll be fine. I do see that you would be upset about forgetting a promise. We'll just have to figure out a way to make it up to him. Just apologize profusely and get him another present.”
Lucius rolled his eyes at Severus. “You do realize that we are speaking of Harry. The boy who found a basilisk at his school? Mr. I-can-find-disaster-in-a-bath, right?”
Severus got a stricken look on his face. “Oh, damn, you are correct. So ... what do we do about this?”
Lucius rubbed his face then sighed. “We go back to Malfoy Manor and take him.”
“Take him? It's nearly midnight here. That means that it's ... eleven? There. They're long gone, or I miss my guess.”
Lucius glowered. “Harry knows better than that, I'm sure. He knows I don't like him haring off on some wild goose chase with that mad cap bunch of his. He'll be pacing the floor, waiting for me to show up.”
“I'll bet you fifty galleons that they've all taken off for Ireland. They'll just apparate in and back out again. I don't see the problem.” Severus took a sip of his brandy in an attempt to calm himself. He really did see the problem, being intimately acquainted with Harry's ability to find disaster in the simplest of things.
He nearly choked on that sip when Lucius informed him in a fulminating tone, “No apparating or port keying in or out or around Ireland on the solstice. They even put up wards. Primitive superstition about it attracting some sort of monster or demon or bad luck.” He waved a hand. “At any rate. We planned to portkey in and fly back. We have to go.”
Severus just got up and summoned an elf. “Bring winter garments and open the floo directly to Malfoy Manor. There's an emergency. Maybe.” The elf just nodded and went to open the floo and bring the requested robes.
Lucius worried. “I would really like to know how they expect to travel more than 400 miles without being seen. None of them are that good at disillusionment charms.”
Severus snorted. “Hermione is very good at them and so is Draco. That bunch ... Stop worrying until we're sure there's something to worry about. Then we'll figure it all out. Now ... put these on and come along.” Severus shoved robes at Lucius and led the way to the floo.
Lucius wondered how it was that he didn't know who was good at disillusionment charms and who was not. He decided that he was going to have to pay much closer attention. He dragged the robes on as he followed Severus through the floo.
.
Hermione announced. “We need to cast warming and disillusionment charms on both brooms. The cycle already has them build in, right, Harry?”
Harry nodded, squinting into the snow. “Draco, Ron, both of you stay right on my tail pipe. If you get lost in this damn snow, you're fucked. I've got a magical compass built into the dashboard so I won't get lost. All I have to do is input Malfoy Manor into it and it'll point the way.”
Hermione was in the mood to fret so she did. “We're going to be flying over water how are we going to manage that? I don't like that bit much, what if a spell fails? What if ...”
Draco nodded. “I agree, that's why we're going to fly straight to the narrowest place and cross there. I'd rather cross at New Castle as that would put us flying over the Isle of Mann but it's way out of our way. We'll be flying across at Dublin then down the coast a bit, in land and to home. It's nearly 400 miles so we better get going.” He mounted his broom, cast his spells and muttered, “Father is going to kill us both.”
Harry helped Hermione into the sidecar and answered, “He'll lock us up in one of the dungeons for sure.”
Ron just kept his mouth shut, dreading a visit to his father's workshop.
They flew in ever increasing snow and heavy winds. Ron cast warming charms on himself every thirty minutes. Draco did the same. They both gave up on the disillusion charms, who would be out in this weather to see them?
Both flyers stuck as close to the cycle as they could manage, its tail light leading them through the storm.
Harry was getting more and more worried about his companions. He was fairly comfortable, the strength of his warming charm keeping him toasty, Hermione too. She was settled in the sidecar, covered with a carriage robe and the soft 'nanny' cover. This was somewhat like a kayak cover but it zipped up around her neck. But Ron and Draco had nothing but warming charms, their cloaks and grit to keep them warm.
Hermione was also worried. She was keeping an eye on the storm and knew that it was only getting worse. She reached over and patted Harry's hand. “Harry! Are we still over water? Can you drop down and check?”
Harry leaned over so he could hear her over the shriek of the storm. Harry realized that the windshield that protected them from most of the storm also made it possible to talk, if they yelled. “I don't know. I'm afraid to. We might not regain our altitude. And we don't have that much to lose.” He managed a good look at Hermione and was relieved to see that, while her face was a bit pinker than normal she didn't look too pale or red.
Hermione frowned in thought. “I'm worried about Ron and Draco. It's really cold and that wind has to be blowing away body heat faster than they can make it. We have to land as soon as we can.”
“Ok. I know they're probably freezing. I'll ... See if you can't sight land, ok?”
Hermione just nodded and squinted into the wind and snow, trying to find some sign of land.
After another 45 minutes she saw lights nearly under them. She patted Harry's arm and pointed.
Harry sighed his relief, he'd planned on flying straight through, but this storm changed his mind. They'd have to land and apparate, or create a portkey, anything to get Ron and Draco out of this storm as soon as they could manage it.
.
Lucius stepped out of the floo, glanced out the window and swore. It was snowing a blizzard outside.
Severus just pushed Lucius out of his way so he could get out of the floo. “Damnit! I knew it. That boy could find disaster in a bath.”
Lucius called Mimsey who popped in, wringing her hands. “I is knowing this is not going well. Young Masters went to Ireland.”
“I know. Do you know what resources they have?”
Mimsey nodded. “Master Harry has his bag, all his weapons in it and supplies. Everything we could think of that they might need.”
Severus nodded. “That's good. You're his personal elf?” Mimsey nodded. “Can you find him?” Mimsey nodded again. “Excellent. Go to him, unless he's flying or something. Can you do that?”
Mimsey closed her eyes for a moment then shook her head sadly. “He is being moving very fast. Mimsey can not catch him. Mimsey is sorry.” she gazed up at the professor with mournful eyes. “Mimsey is going to quarters now. If you is needing her, just call.”
Lucius looked down at the worried little elf. “It's not your fault that you cannot get to him. Make preparations for their return. Do you understand?”
Mimsey looked up. “Yes, Master Lucius, Mimsey understands.” She popped out still wringing her hands.
Severus just raised one eyebrow at the change in Lucius' attitude to house elves and kept his mouth shut. He couldn't help but think that Harry had been a great influence on Lucius, and all to the better.
“Damnit! Now what?” Lucius paced the floor while Severus thought.
After a few moments and two circuits of the room for Lucius, Severus said, “I'm afraid that all we can do is wait for someone to contact us. We don't know where they are, other than that they are flying.” At Lucius' look he reminded, “Mimsey said that they were moving too fast for her to get to them. That indicates that they are sticking to the plan to fly back. Why they didn't get accommodations in Ireland, I can't say.”
Lucius sat down in a chair, only to jump up and start pacing again. “I shall ask them that when they get home.”
Severus sighed. This wasn't going to end well, all four young people were still minors in most respects, they were only magical adults. He also had some real concerns about the guardianship contract, Appendix C was as unforgiving as a cheated Goblin. He decided to just do the best he could for Lucius and let things work themselves out.
.
Harry led the way down to solid ground, not that that did them much good, but at least they didn't have to worry about falling out of the sky.
Ron managed to get his teeth to quit chattering long enough to ask Harry, “Well, now what?”
Harry fished in his bag for a moment. “Tent. We'll set it up and get warm while we figure out where we are so we can apparate home. Papa's going to kill us all.”
Hermione looked around for some sort of shelter from the howling wind. “Harry, if we can't get out of this wind, we can't set up a tent. Not even a magical one.”
Ron nodded his agreement, huddled into his heavy robes. Draco pointed his wand at Ron and said, “Refovio.” then pointed his wand at himself and repeated the spell. “Better?”
Ron sighed then said, Yes, thank you. I'm still freezing, but I don't feel like I'm going to turn into ice.”
Harry grumbled softly, “We have to get out of this storm soon. You three can't stand much more and I'm not sure I can, or should, protect you. I'm sort of scared to try, I'm not familiar enough with Merlin's staff to use it yet and neither of my secondary wands will carry enough power.”
Hermione sighed. “And we can't apparate until we know where we are. We'll just have to walk until we find a sign of some sort. Or ... Draco? Could you make a portkey?”
Draco shook his head, fishing a hat out of his pocket. “No. I have to know where the key originates and where it's going. Same problem, I have to know where we are too.” He put the hat on and pulled it down over his ears.
Ron, still shivering uncontrollably, moaned, “Damnit, what's the use of being a wizard then.”
Harry took off his outer robe and wrapped it around him. “Where the hell is your good robe?”
“Loaned it to Fred. He hadn't gotten it back yet. I'm alright, Harry. Take it back, you'll freeze.”
Harry shook his head and wrapped it more firmly around Ron. “No, I won't. We'll be inside soon. We'll just walk to the nearest lights and find out where we are. Come on.” He pulled out his new focus and waved it, everything shrank and he stuffed the cycle and brooms into his bag and led the way.
It didn't take them long to reach the lights and find out that they were in a tiny town called, “Monks Way. Hermione looked it up in her reference book, got coordinates for it and, shivering, said, “Can you make a portkey, Draco? I can't apparate that far in one jump and my core isn't powerful enough to make the three jumps I need.”
Ron had to nod, his own situation was much like Hermione's. “Me neither. Come on, mate.”
Draco glanced at the numbers Hermione was pointing to. “I can make it. Give me a second.”
Harry, casting warming charms on everyone, snapped, “Hurry up, Draco. Ron and Hermione won't last much longer. It's too cold. I'm even beginning to feel it.”
Draco snapped right back. “Don't you snap at me, Harry Potter, I'm doing it right now.” and with that, he cast the charm to make a portkey back to Malfoy Manor.
Harry managed “I'm” before the port key activated and “sorry.” as they tumbled onto the floor in the entry room. Draco had forgotten to compensate for the difference in levels. No one really cared.
Harry was stripping Ron out of his wet clothing and snapping orders for warm blankets and hot drinks for everyone.
Lucius rushed in, followed by Severus. “Damnit, Harrison, when we get them tended to...”
Harry replied absently, “Yes, I know, I'm in a world of hurt. Later. I think Ron's got frost bitten fingers.”
Lucius gave a short nod then turned to Severus. “Do you have anything?”
Severus shook his head but stated flatly, “No, but it won't take long to brew something. Let's get them into beds and sort things out.”
Hermione, now wrapped in a dry, warm blanket, said, “I'm just really chilled. That sidecar was fairly warm. The walk was what got me shivering. I'm afraid that Draco and Ron got the worst of it. I'd just really like a cup of hot tea and a warm bath. Please?” For the first time in her life, Hermione tried 'puppy dog eyes', it worked quite well. Lucius summoned Lindy and sent them up stairs to the rooms that Hermione had used before.
He also told them all that he was contacting their parents. Ron shuddered and muttered something about 'wooden spoon' and 'shed' Lucius was a bit amused but also resolved.
Harry called Mimsey and Gerard, who popped in at once. “Gerard, take Draco up to our quarters and get him into a warm bath at once. Make sure it's not too hot, he's got frost bite.” Gerard nodded and took a protesting Draco by the hand and left with a loud pop. “Mimsey, will you take Ron up? I'll be right along as soon as I speak to Papa.”
Mimsey nodded, took Ron's hand and popped him away in the middle of promising him a hot bath and a warm drink.
Lucius was already kneeling on the hearth, calling Molly Weasley. “Um ... Papa, you do realize that it's one in the morning.”
“I am well aware of the time. Molly will be angry enough that Ron is hurt. If we wait to call her ... well, I have no wish to receive a howler at brunch. I'll deal with you later, young man. Go see to your friends.”
Harry sighed. His Papa was furious with him and he didn't blame him. He stood, head hanging, for a moment then wended his way up the stairs and into the room he knew Mimsey had taken Ron to.
Severus was there, examining Ron's feet and hands. He stood up and said, “Well, at least you had the good sense to keep casting warming charms. It's only a bit of frost bite. Get into the tub and get warm. I'll come back up with some cream as soon as I get it made. Idiot.”
Ron cringed a bit but Severus, surprisingly, patted his shoulder then turned to leave.
He caught sight of Harry hovering in the door and barked, “Well, either in or out, but do stop hovering like a gooseberry.” Harry blinked at that, but entered the room, dodging Severus as he left.
“Ron, are you ok? You look frozen through. I'm so sorry. We should have ...”
Ron just shrugged, tugging the blanket closer around his shoulders. “No, we shouldn't have. I'm in for it bad enough as it is. Dad is probably going to borrow Mums spoon and drag me off to his shed. If they'd worried about me, it'd be twice as bad. Don't worry. I'm sure Professor Snape's frostbite cream will fix me up.”
Mimsey came in, glowered at Harry then snapped at Ron, “You is coming to the bath now. No argument either. Bath is having herbs in it for warming you up. Come, now!” Ron gave Harry a baffled sort of look but obeyed quickly.
Harry made sure that Mimsey had Ron well in hand then went to check on Hermione.
She was in the tub and Lindy nearly threw Harry out of the sitting room, it not being proper for him to even be there while Hermione was in the bath. But he demanded to speak to her to make sure she had what she needed.
So he wound up talking to her through the door.
“Hermione! Are you ok?”
“I'm fine, Harry. Just a bit chilled. My hands and feet tingle a little, that's all.”
“Snape is going to insist on checking you over. Don't make a fuss, ok?”
Harry heard her splashing. “Harry, if he wants to look at me, go away, so I can get decent. I'm really fine.” He heard more splashing and made a dash for the door. He wasn't about to risk Mimsey's ire by being in the same suite while Hermione was dressing.
After checking on Hermione, Harry felt he could go check on Draco.
“Draco? Where are you?” Harry was pretty sure he knew but Draco hated it when Harry made assumptions about him.
“In the bath, Harry. Come through.” Draco's voice floated out of the bath on a cloud of steam.
Harry hurried through to find Draco in the bath, submerged to his chin and still shivering. Gerard and Lucius were also in the room.
Gerard was adding something to the tub while Lucius was examining one of Draco's hands.
“Is he alright? What's wrong? What can I do?” Harry hovered over Lucius' shoulder.
Lucius, with commendable control refrained from saying anything he would regret, although, 'Haven't you done enough?' hovered close to his lips for a second. He finally managed, “Draco will be fine in a while. He doesn't have a bad frostbite, it's just uncomfortable, for now. Severus is brewing a cream. I'll go see ...” He rose.
Then they both heard a very familiar voice. “Where's my Ronnie?” Molly had arrived.
Lucius went to greet her and explain what had happened, not something he was looking forward to at all.
Molly just looked at him for a moment then said, “You must have been frantic. What the devil have those kids been up to now?”
Lucius bowed and turned to lead Molly to Ron, saying, “I was. I swear, I shall be old before my time. Harry finds disaster at every turn, but I must say that this is mostly my fault. I promised to take them to Ireland and get them back home again. In my excitement over ... reconnecting with Severus. I am afraid I forgot. I am ashamed of myself.” he stopped at the door. “Ron is in here. If you need anything just ask Mimsey, the elf. Severus is brewing frostbite cream even as I speak. He will deliver it the second it is done. Excuse me. I need to check on Miss Granger.”
He called Lindy as he stepped into the sitting room of Hermione's suite. “How is Hermione?”
Lindy just smiled. “Missy is fine. Just very cold and her feet were wet. She had a nice hot bath and some good tea. Lindy is being bringing soup soon. She is being in bed with a hot brick at her feet. Go through, she is being decent.”
Lucius nodded and sent Lindy for the soup. He knocked on the door and entered when he heard Hermone call, “come in.”
“Hermione, how are you feeling.” Lucius looked at Hermione and was pleased to see that her cheeks were healthily pink and her hair was braided tidily. She as sitting up in the bed, wearing a quilted bed jacket of lavender satin, tied at her throat with a soft bow.
“I feel good. I'm just really tired and still feeling a bit chilled.” Hermione smiled at Lucius then, to her embarrassment, she yawned. “I'm sorry.”
“Do not be. I would be happy to have your parents over but ... perhaps you would rather go home?” Lucius wanted Hermione to be comfortable in his home but he was wary of asking muggles into it. There was way too much magic around and things that you had to be magical to control. However, he felt it necessary to make the offer.
Hermione, wisely, refused, saying, “No, thank you. I'll get some sleep then go home in the morning. Mum and Dad think I'm having an overnight at the Weasleys and I'd appreciate it if they remained in the dark. Would you mind terribly if I went to sleep now?”
Lucius took in her heavy eyes and drooping posture with a slight smile. “No, go to sleep. We'll deal in the morning.” Hermione started to slip down into her pillows, but looked up when Lucius added, “And, Hermione, I'm very glad you went with him. Thank you. Good night.” He left to allow her to sleep. He'd deal with telling her parents a partial truth tomorrow. He wasn't about to ruin their Christmas Eve and day by telling tales. Let Hermione manage her family as she pleased.
.
Molly gave Ron a thorough going over, and a 'jaw-me-dead' at the same time. The dressing down she gave him left him with red and ringing ears. He sighed and replied, “But, Mum, you don't really think I could have let them go without me, do you?”
He looked so pitiful that all she could do was hug him and say, “No, I don't suppose you could. Did he at least get that blasted staff?”
Ron grinned. “Oh, yes. And it's a beautiful thing.” Ron went on to describe the staff and how it could shrink and grow on command.
Molly finished checking him over as he finished his description a sharp tap on the door made them both turn.
Severus strode in with a clay pot in his hand. “Here, Molly, rub this on his hands, feet, ears and nose.” He turned to glower at Ron. “As for you, young man, I hope this teaches you a lesson.”
“Not to fly in a blizzard? Already knew that. But how were we supposed to get back when Ireland put up anti-apparation wards at nightfall. And why they do that, I'll never know.”
Severus looked down his nose at Ron. “Oh? A little research, perhaps?”
“No thanks. I'll just ask Hermione. If it was homework, I'd do it myself, but who am I to deny her her just due. Thank you for the cream, sir.”
Molly snorted, “It's just an old superstition, but the Irish use it as an excuse to forbid portkeys, apparition and flooing by drunks. They spent the entire treasury in the 1400's on unsplinching people, finding them in the floo system and making return portkeys from ... all over. Very sensible people the Irish.”
Ron laughed heartily at that while Severus just grumbled, “Molly, I had intended to keep him out of trouble for you.”
“Severus, nothing short of incarcerating them in a dungeon would do that.”
“Do not, I pray, tempt me.” Severus made Ron stare by smiling slightly before he left to deliver the rest of his salve.
Molly turned to her youngest son. “Ronald, I'm glad you weren't hurt. A bit of frostbite will just teach you to remember to take better gloves and warmer socks. But you and your father are going to have a discussion involving my spoon as soon as we get you home.”
Ron just sighed, “Yes, ma'am. I figured as much. Tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, wouldn't do to spoil Christmas, now, would it?” Molly began rubbing the cream on Ron's ears. Ron just made a face and allowed her to fuss.
.
Harry managed to check Draco over, inch by inch, without getting hexed. He took the frost bite cream from Severus with a soft, “Thank you, Severus, I'm truly grateful.” and returned to Draco to lovingly rub the stuff into his feet, hands, then face. He kissed each digit when he was finished with it and nuzzled his ears.
Draco demanded that he stop but Harry didn't listen. He just stubbornly continued on in the way he'd decided. When Harry got to his ears, he gave in completely, subsiding to tiny whimpers.
Harry hugged Draco and helped him lie down. “Get some sleep. I'm completely knackered. I'm sure Papa will want us up at some ungodly hour of the morning.”
Draco snuggled into Harry's arms. “He's probably going to strip the skin off both of us.”
“Worry about that in the morning. Sleep now.”
They drifted off, cuddled together, unaware that both Mimsey and Gerard had stationed themselves in the room.
Ron slept under Molly's watchful eye, Hermione was guarded by Lindy.
Lucius and Severus had a brandy and also went to bed.
Title: Runaway Wizard
Chapter: 53
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: Except for the few original characters, all characters in this story are the property of J. K. Rowlings, who has kindly allowed me to play with them.
Warnings: Probably a little of everything. Fighting, Living on the streets with everything that entails, Spanking, Bondage, Blood, Gore, Bad Language, and Pissy Snape.
Parings: H/D eventually
Beta: 50ftqueenie Brit picker: purpledodah
Banner code for RW
Draco and Harry apparated from the Weasley's backyard into the Grangers then walked around to the front door to knock like 'civilized' wizards. Draco insisted although Hermione said that it would be ok for them to apparate into the lounge.
The door was opened by Hermione's mother and Draco flustered her completely as he bowed over her hand, kissed the air above it and presented her with a bottle of 25 year old brandy. “Thank you for having us over. I would have brought wine but, as it is only lunch, I thought the brandy would be nicer.”
Harry smiled at Mr Granger over Draco's shoulder and was a bit astonished to see that the dentist was a well set up man of about forty. He was in good shape, broad shouldered and narrow hipped.
“Mr. Granger, so pleased to meet you.” Draco walked smoothly into the entry hall and shook hands with him. “Harry, don't stand there blocking the door.”
Harry started and hurried to get out of the door so that Mrs. Granger could close it.
“I'm sorry.” Harry managed a smile for the couple. “Thank you for having me in your home. It's very nice.” He managed a bow and a smile, suddenly feeling very awkward as he realized that he was about to ask Hermione to put herself in harms way, again. “Hermione, how are you?”
“I'm fine, yourself? Oh, and I wanted to show you something I found in one of the extra books I brought home. After lunch, if you don't mind?” Hermione gave Harry a speaking look to which he nodded.
“That would be nice. Did you finish Ancient Runes yet?”
As the talked they made their way through the house into the front lounge. It was a bit formal and obviously only used when they had guests, it was much too neat to be a living space.
Harry took a chair and Draco absently pushed a foot stool over for him then took the other chair and put his feet up on the stool too. Many people would have thought this much too casual for a formal occasion but in the wizarding world, Draco was establishing his claim to his spouse. It wouldn't have been more plain if Draco had stood in the middle of the room and shouted. Hermione smiled at the by play and led the conversation into safe channels.
They talked about the wedding ceremony and Mr. Granger, call me Dan, asked about the whole reading the contract thing.
Draco settled to answer. “There aren't any religious ceremonies in wizarding society, there's too many religions and someone is sure to be insulted. There are Druids, Pagans ... well, to Christians, they're pagans, but ...” He sighed. “You see?” They all nodded. “So. And our traditions go back early enough that the reading of the contract is most important of all. In fact, Christians read the bans on the church steps three times and that was it for many years. The religious ceremony only came about in ... the late 16th century? I'm not sure. But the 'in the church' nuptials wasn't original to the religion. Our ceremonies are more binding than a few words said over our heads by some bored man who'd rather be at the Local.”
Harry sighed, “Draco, I'm sure they're not all that way.”
Draco smiled back. “I know. That was just ... me being snarky. Sorry.”
Dan shook his head. “That's ok. I understood the sentiment. So, you mean that ... you've sworn a ... what did you call it?” He glanced at Hermione.
“A wizards oath, Daddy. And, yes, they did. You saw the glow, that was the sign that the oath had bound them. It was so romantic. I was so pleased for you both.” She turned to smile at Draco. “You are ok, right?”
Draco saw the concern in her eyes so he just chuckled slightly. “I'm so abused, it's just awful. He makes me have breakfast in bed, buys me expensive chocolates and ... frankly, dotes on me. Just horrible.”
Hermione laughed. “Oh, yes, and I suppose you just abhor him.”
Draco raised an eyebrow. “Did you say adore? I'm sure you did.”
The elder Grangers watched this byplay with amusement and led the conversation back to questions they'd been wanting to ask. Hermione was reluctant to answer questions as she wasn't sure what she should tell and what not. Draco, on the other hand, was well versed enough that he knew, so she let her parents ask.
Harry, who had made sure by asking Lucius, helped with explanations by beginning, “Hermione didn't understand part of what she was told because no one explains anything right. She's allowed to tell you anything, it's just that you're not allowed to pass it on to just anyone. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings; they all can be told, as long as they can be trusted not to tell tales ... out of school, so to say. So just ask anything and we'll answer as best we can, or say we don't know.”
So they spent most the next two hours answering questions, finally Emma exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, look at the time. The roast will be ruined if we don't eat at once. Hermione, come help me.”
She jumped to her feet and hurried into the kitchen. Dan followed her with Hermione, Harry and Draco trailing behind.
Dan motioned to the dining room where the table was already set and said, “Take a seat, we'll have the food out in a moment.” He grinned. “I'm sure the roast is fine. It might be a bit over done but it won't be dry. Excuse me.”
Draco eyed the table for a moment then went to the foot of the table and took the seat at the right hand side. Harry took the head of the table and took the seat on that right hand which put Hermione next to him with Emma and Dan at foot and head respectively.
The food was brought out and Harry was pleased to see that they had roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, green beans and roasted root vegetables. They turned their conversation to dentistry, of all things. Draco was very curious about the procedures that Hermione had hinted at in idle conversation.
Dan remarked, “We usually discourage this sort of discussion at table because it's ... not the sort of thing we like. We prefer to keep business at the office but ... as you're curious, we'll let you ask questions, it's only fair, after all.”
So Draco found out about crowns and fillings, drills and dentures. He shuddered in horror, laughed in amusement and generally enjoyed himself.
Then the question of why wizards didn't get cavities came up and Draco explained, “I'm not sure I understand exactly how it works but there's a simple tooth cleaning spell that prevents them. There are some that can't be bothered to use it, in fact, I don't think they brush their teeth or clean them in any way. But exactly why it works, I couldn't say.”
Emma turned to Hermione. “You don't use it, do you, dear?”
“No, I always brush. Twice a day.”
Emma got that look, distant and a bit dazed, that Hermione also got when she was thinking hard. “I'd like to do a bit of an experiment, if you don't mind?”
Draco just smiled. “Of course not. Unless ... Harry?”
Harry grinned at him. “I'd like to see what she's up to. Interesting. I think I have an idea of what happens but ... I'd like to keep my thoughts to myself for now. Don't want to prejudice the results.”
They finished their meal, discussing this and that, with a very nice treacle tart which Harry proclaimed, 'Excellent!'
After clearing away which Hermione did by magic they went downstairs into a small lab that Hermione admitted that she and her mother used for several things, including making cosmetics. Emma got out a box of slides and gave one to Harry, Draco and Hermione instructing them to lick it. Draco watched as Hermione provided the example of what was wanted then both he and Harry licked their slide. Emma took them and dropped some stain on each one. Dan suggested that he also provide a sample so both he and Emma made slides as well.
“It won't take long for the stain to work. Have you ever seen a microscope Draco?”
“No, but micro is small so I assume that it shows very small things, much as a telescope shows far away things.”
Emma beamed, “Exactly. So ... the stain should have worked by now. I'll just take a peek.”
She looked into the microscope, examining each slide in turn. “Well, Harry, would you like to take a look?”
Harry examined all the slides too, admitting that he'd loved the only biology class he'd taken. “Well, there's a significant difference in the samples. There's one bacteria missing in mine and Draco's. Is it the one that causes cavities?”
Emma nodded. “It's the prime cause, there are several but that specific bacteria is the worst. And there is a significant increase in beneficial varieties.”
Draco was practically dancing in impatience. “What are you talking about? Germs? What's a germ?”
He was given a quick explanation of germs, bacteria and viruses by Hermione and told that some germs were actually beneficial.
Draco reacted just as Hermione feared, scoffing at the thought that something live was in his mouth. Hermione just sighed and pointed at the microscope, “Well, see for yourself.”
Draco peered into the microscope and then gagged. “Ugh! Merlin's balls, that's in my mouth?” Draco swallowed several times. “That's disgusting. I clean my teeth after every meal and that's still ... I think I'm going to be ... excuse me.” Draco made a dash for the door with Harry right on his heels.
Emma looked after him in dismay. “Oh, dear. Hermione?”
Hermione just followed after them while Dan reassured Emma that Draco was just shocked and a bit unsettled. “He'll be fine, dear, Hermione will fix it.”
In the upstairs halfbath, Draco was trying hard to keep his gorge down. Harry was rubbing his back while he fumbled for a stomach calming draught. Draco managed to drag one out of a pocket and down it. “Oh, Merlin, that was humiliating.”
“Never mind, love, I'm sure Hermione understands. Emma is a scientist and wouldn't even blink at you getting sick.”
Hermione's voice made them turn to look at her. “Other than to be a bit upset that you were unnerved. You ok?”
Draco nodded. “I'll be fine in a moment. Stomach calming draught always works. I apologize.”
Hermione waved his apology away. “Don't worry about it. It's fine. I was a bit sick too, when I realized all the stuff in my mouth. But it's all natural. I want you to teach me that charm, though. And what about solstice, while we have the chance.”
Draco settled back on the commode, the only place to sit, but Hermione scowled. “I refuse to have this discussion in a toilet. Only bad things can happen.” Harry snickered a bit at the obvious reference to the troll and Myrtle's girls room. “Stop that, you idiot. We'll go into the guest room and Draco can lay down for a while. I'll play hostess and make tea.” She pointed up the stairs. “Up the stairs, first door on the left. Be back in a sec.”
Hermione smiled at her mother, who was making camomile tea, “It's ok, Mum, he was just ... well, you know how it is.” Emma smiled back and just handed her the pot.
Hermione took the pot and put it on a tray with three cups, saucers, spoons and a sugar bowl. Emma nodded her approval before saying, “Tell Draco that I'm sorry he was upset. Scientific inquiry is no excuse for upsetting a guest.”
Hermione just laughed. “He apologized to me. It's not done to cause a scene in someone's house in wizarding society. It's all forgotten. I sent him up to lay down for a while. I'll just take this up and sit with them until Draco feels better. Don't worry about it.” She smiled at her mother before heading up the stairs with her tray.
She carried the tray up to the guest room and pushed the door open with her foot. “Harry, if you would, please?” She put the tray down on the stand that Harry conjured out of a slipper under the bed. “Thank you. Here, Draco, I know that the draught has probably settled your stomach but this is good too.” She poured tea as she spoke then settled on the foot of the bed, Harry moved his feet to give her room.
Draco accepted the cup and sat up to drink it. Harry also accepted a cup, moving from his position next to Draco on the bed to scoot up against the headboard more.
Draco sighed. “That is better. Now, before your Mother comes in or something. We're going to Newgrange tomorrow, are you coming?”
Hermione nodded. “Of course I'm coming. Mr Malfoy asked me. How are we getting there?”
“Portkey, but we're going to have to come back the hard way. Harry's going to take you in the sidecar of his motorcycle and Ron and I are flying via broom. And, before you ask, Papa took Snape to Switzerland and he forgot all about the solstice, he's not going.” Hermione looked appalled. “I know, so; if you don't want to come, that's ok. I just hope this is worth it.”
Hermione sighed, “If he's not coming, that means I really have to come. You do know you're going to be in a world of trouble when he finds out, right?”
Harry nodded. “I know but I really have to have that staff. I just feel it. My wand is just about done for and both the secondary wands work ok but ... there's just something missing.”
Hermione sighed and finished her tea. “Draco, how do you feel now?”
Draco sighed, put his cup down and got up. “Much better. The tea really worked wonders. Thank you, that was very nice. We really should be going soon. I have to ... um ... do something with Harry's Christmas and he has a few things to do for the journey. I was planning to do it yesterday but didn't find time, now I'm rushed. Sorry. Harry, stop laughing, you git.”
“Silly snake. I don't care about a present, you're the best present I've ever had. But I do have preparations to make. Hermione, thank you for having us.”
Hermione just nodded. “Thank you for coming. I'll see you to the door.” She started down the stairs, calling, “Mum! Dad! Draco and Harry are going.”
They said their good-bye's and left by apparating from the back yard.
.
Draco admitted that he had to work on Harry's present and was running out of time. Harry just kissed him and left Draco in the entry way and went to his private study.
The rest of the day was spent apart, working on Christmas presents on Draco's part and the trip to Ireland on Harry's. He and Mimsey put their heads together and stuffed even more things into the devils bag. Things that Harry hoped they wouldn't need.
When morning came both Harry and Draco were nervous wrecks. They'd gotten a portkey made, Draco used the Malfoy Scion's permission to do it, and now they were just waiting for Ron to show up.
He stepped out of the floo at exactly 10 am, just like he had said he would, with Hermione on his heels. He'd asked her over via owl and they'd told his parents that they were going to visit Draco and Harry for a while. No lies were told, just not any truth either.
Hermione had a small backpack with her, stuffed with things she thought she might need. Harry just smiled at her. She knew the devils bag was full of things, more than she could carry in a semi truck, but she still had to bring something of her own. He didn't mind, so he smiled.
“Well, let's get going, if we're going to do this.” Ron stuck one hand in a pocket. “I'm ready.”
Draco held out the loop of rope he'd charmed and they all took hold of it. “I set it for Donore which is about five miles from Newgrange. I thought we might walk around a bit, have lunch in a pub and hike out. That way no one much will notice us. If we just pop up at the site, there's sure to be questions asked.”
Hermione nodded. “That's right. No one pays much attention to day-trippers, but someone who pops out of nowhere? Not good. And no one much will notice us in Donore, as there's always a bus or two in town. So when's the key activating.”
Draco smiled. “It's word activated. Everyone have hold?” When they all nodded, he tapped the rope with his wand and announced. “We're off.”
They popped into existence and Ron and Draco had to catch Harry, the unmistakable feeling of a hook snatching them into a new place always made him stagger.
“Fucking portkeys. I'm going to master the damn things, someday.” Harry flicked his wand to rearrange his robes which had been disarranged by the journey. “Should we be wearing robes around here?”
Draco laughed a bit. “Everyone is in costume today, for the solstice. We're not going to stick out, they'll just think we're Neo-Druids.”
They all walked together in a clump, but no one paid much attention to them as there were groups wandering about in every sort of garb and costume imaginable. One group that Harry noticed particularly were all dressed in armour and singing a song that they found out was called 'Freaking the Mundanes'. They stopped to listen and wound up laughing themselves silly. The group just smiled benignly and wandered on.
Lunch was fish and chips at a small pub. They found that the area was comprised of several small villages and farmsteads. There were bed and breakfast hotels all over and several larger hotels, one of them practically in the back yard of Dowth. Hermione sighed, “Everything is so historical. I'd love to stay for a while but ... well, another time.”
Draco took pity on her. “I'll see to it that you get to come and stay next summer. Now. All this confusion, how are we going to get to the mound without being seen?”
Harry smirked at him. “The entire park is closed at 5pm. We wait until full dark and just walk in. A disillusioning charm and we're safe.”
“Ok, somehow, I'm not reassured at all.” Ron frowned at a chip for a moment then ate it, mumbling around it, “It's one of your adventures after all.”
Harry threw a chip at him, which he caught in his mouth and ate. Hermione just looked at Draco and rolled her eyes, Draco rolled back.
They asked around about Bru na Boinne and were told that it was a 'mere stretch of the legs' from Donore but were warned that the gates were locked at 5 sharp and entry after then was prohibited. Ron asked about visiting the guard station and they were told that there wasn't one. The man asked, sensibly enough, why anyone would want to wander around in what was essentially a farm field in the dark. Ron admitted to wanting to be a police officer and liking to get stories from them and security guards. He was told that the only thing keeping people out was a fence and common sense. They wandered off, thanking the man for his help.
They continued to wander around the area, stopping to visit with other groups of even more strangely dressed people. They ate dinner at another of the local 'hot' spots, the Conyngham Arms. They settled in for a dinner of planked salmon, new potatoes, asparagus and trifle for desert. There were fancier things on the menu, but none of them felt like eating a huge meal.
Harry paid the bill and they left the hotel walking out into the now dark parking lot as sunset was at 4:12pm.
Draco looked at the sky. “I don't like the looks of those clouds, they're full of snow or I miss my guess.”
Hermione looked up and sighed. “I hope the book will work with cloud cover.”
Ron just sighed and rubbed his face. “I do too. I'd hate to get home and have nothing to show for the arse reaming I'm going to get.”
Harry just opened the book and showed them the still blank spots. “I don't know. But we need to get to Knowth. We can apparate in ... I think. Do we have coordinates?”
Hermione pulled a wizarding guide book out of her back pack and checked it. “No, none listed. Besides, remember? No apparating. That means that we'll have to hike in. Oh, well, nothing like a bracing hike while waiting for the moon to rise. Come on, then.”
So they hiked. It was no problem for four young people who religiously ran 8 to 10 miles every day. They hiked in silence for a while until Hermione said, “I think we need to do something about our robes. We're going to stick out like sore thumbs in dark colours.”
Draco agreed, remarking, “Dark colours on snow, I never thought of that. I'll do the charm, if you like.”
They all stood while Draco changed the color of their robes to white, mottled with light grey. Then they continued on.
The snow on the ground wasn't that deep, only about six inches, so it wasn't hard to keep up a good pace. The ground was a bit rough but there were paths everywhere and they didn't have to worry about foot prints as the paths were already trampled by the earlier visitors.
When they reached the ground proper, they found that there wasn't actually a fence as such, just a rather vague change in the landscape that indicated where the grass had been mown during the summer. Harry pointed, “There. You really can't miss it.” He looked around for a moment. “The entrance is there, around that way.” He pointed to their left.
Hermione glanced around. “We need to check to be sure. The north entrance is the tourist one, but there's a southern entrance that is sealed with a ... big, flat stone called a kerb stone. I wish the moon would rise.” just then, as if magic had heard her, the moon did rise.
The book glowed then opened itself to a page. Hermione quickly read the passage aloud, translating as she did so. “It says that the southern door will open at the call of the powers.” She frowned. “What the heck does that mean?”
Harry just ran around to the southern entrance and stared at the stone. “It's ... I wonder.” Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the centre spiral carved on the stone. “Alohomora!” nothing happened, except Harry's wand emitted a small puff of smoke. “Damn! Ok, think.” Harry rubbed his forehead for a moment then pointed his wand again, exclaiming, “Of course! Go n-osclaítear seo!”
The stone slid aside with a loud rumble revealing a narrow passage. Harry drew out one of his secondary wands and whispered, “Lumos.” The light was a bit dim but good enough as all the others provided their own lumos spell.
Draco asked, in a normal tone, “Why are we whispering?” and was answered by the echo that rattled around the passage. He whispered, “Ok, sorry.”
Ron just snickered a bit. “Ssshh! You'll have the roof dribbling stones on us.”
Hermione just led the way down the narrow passage until they found a large dish shaped basin stone. “Here. Now ... oh, damn!”
Harry sighed, “What! I know I'm not going to like it.”
Hermione read again, lips moving as she translated it again. Draco read over her shoulder.
“Well, that doesn't make sense. How the devil ... Hermione, let me see that again.” Hermione handed Draco the book and he read carefully.
Harry waited with what patience he could and finally demanded, “What! What are we supposed to do now. I can feel ... something. And I need it.” He clamped his mouth shut, realizing that he sounded like a two year old ready to throw a tantrum. “Sorry.”
Draco nodded absently. “That's ok, Harry. I know.” he glanced at Hermione then said, “Think, there's two different connotations to this particular word. Heart.”
While Hermione mulled this over, Draco walked over to the basin. He examined it for a moment then, before anyone could stop him, he drew a knife from the back of his neck and sliced his hand open. He made a fist and held it over the basin allowing his blood to drip into it.
Harry exclaimed, “Draco!” and hurried to him. But before he could take more than a step the basin began to rotate, sliding to one side eerily reminiscent of the sinks in Myrtle’s toilet. The hole that was revealed slanted down sharply then turned to the east.
Harry took a moment to examine Draco's hand but he just held it out to Ron, remarking calmly, “Heal that, will you?” Ron obliged easily. He had turned out to be excellent with healing spells, much to Hermione's disgust.
After a quick healing spell, they entered the passage and negotiated it cautiously. It was very narrow, even narrower than the one above and low, all of them had to crouch uncomfortably.
As they went along, Harry became more and more anxious. He wasn't sure whether they were going to find Merlin's staff or not, but he did know that whatever was at the end of their search was something he needed.
After more twists and turns, they came to a round chamber that was about 15 feet across with what was obviously an alter in the middle of it. But, when they tried to enter, they ran right into a barrier of magic that refused to allow them in.
Harry just snarled, “Well, fuck! What now?”
Draco and Hermione had their heads together over the book, reading frantically. Ron ran his hand over the barrier, mumbling to himself.
Draco sighed, “Well, this doesn't make any sense at all. It translates as, 'A minion shall grant him entrance.' Him loosely translated. The actual word is more like supplicant. And I don't think ...”
Ron poked at the barrier with his wand, mumbling, “Will you let him in, damnit!” nothing much happened, and Ron lost his temper. “Open up, damn you!” Ron's wand emitted a stream of sparks and the barrier seemed to fall. Except, when Ron tried to enter, he was pushed back a step.
“Harry! Come here and see if you can't get in now.”
Harry walked the step or two from where he'd been consulting with Draco and Hermione. He put out a hand and it went right through the faint blue glow of the barrier. “Well, that's ...”
Ron just smirked a bit then said, with commendable mildness, “So, I guess I'm your minion?”
Draco snorted softly. “I was also about to state that this word is more properly translated as 'shield mate'. The kings best friend and chief advisor. And that is you, Ron. No doubt about it.”
Ron managed to look inordinately pleased without being smug.
Harry just walked into the chamber and looked around.
The chamber was lined with kerb stones engraved with spirals, the floor was slate slabs. He approached the alter and found himself compelled to remove his robes. He stepped out of his shorts last, one step away from the alter. Then he seemed to drop into some kind of trance. He climbed onto the alter and stretched out, like some kind of sacrifice.
The alter immediately began to glow and Harry levitated to hover about two feet over the alter. His hair unbraided itself and began to drift around his head as if he were under water. He trembled a bit then stilled. Hermione bit her lip, wondering if she should interfere. Ron just watched calmly, his feelings plain on his face. Draco, also, was calm. Nothing in the book said that there was any risk to failure.
Meanwhile, Harry was having a vision. He as standing in a green field under a warm sun. A voice addressed him, saying, “Your need is great and your power pure. Ask and you shall receive.” Harry looked around to find the source of the voice but there was no one there. He felt a gentle tug and turned in that direction. He walked for a time, how long he couldn't tell, and found a simple staff stuck into the ground. He reached out to touch it and found that it jumped into his hand. “Leave your inadequate focus and take my staff.” Harry obeyed the voice and gently put his wand on the ground where the staff had been. He never thought to wonder how he had it with him.
He turned to walk away and woke up. He blinked a few times then realized that his friends were all calling to him. He sat up and waved to them then got off the alter. He was disappointed to realize that the staff hadn't come with him, until he glanced at his clothing. There, on top of his robes, sat Merlin's staff. He got dressed and picked up the staff.
Harry gazed at the staff with a look of wonder on his face. The others also stared at it in awe.
It wasn't fancy, covered with jewels and such; instead, it was a plain wooden staff made of oak inlayed with rings of walnut. Harry walked over to the narrow opening and joined his friends. He looked into eyes filled with wonder and joy.
“I've got it.” He couldn't think of anything else to say so he just held it up for them to see.
Hermione, ever the curious one, reached out to touch it gently. “It's warm! Oh!” She withdrew her hand. “Amazing.”
Draco also reached out to touch it and stroked it gently. “It is. Ron you have to feel this.”
Ron, a bit more cautious due to the twins, finally touched it too. “It is warm. It feels like ... a warm summer day in my hand.”
Harry eyed the staff. It was really a staff, not a stave or an extra long wand, nearly eight feet long and thicker around than Ron's thumb. “It's wonderful. I can feel the power but it's going to be a bitch to carry.”
Hermione thought a bit. “The grimoire said that Merlin kept it in his pocket. Of course, at that time a pocket could be a rather large belt bag, but still. I don't think that would fit into my backpack and it's expandable.”
Harry held the staff in one hand, butted on the ground and thought. “Well, if Merlin kept it in his purse, that means there has to be a way to shrink it.” He felt it tremble in his hand. “I wonder.” He shifted the staff to hold it horizontally in front of himself. “Giortaigh!” and suddenly, he was holding a stave about four feet long and no thicker than his thumb. “Ok! And again ... giortaigh!” His second order of 'shrink' brought the stave down to the size of a normal wand. “Great! It fits into my sheath perfectly.”
Harry pulled Merlin's staff out of his sheath and said, “Méadaigh!” and it became a stave again. He couldn't help a grin. “Brilliant! All I have to do is say shrink or grow and it does.” He shrank it again and put it away.
Draco couldn't help hugging him but his cheerful, “Well, that was simple.” made the others groan. “What?”
Hermione swatted him on the back of the head, making him exclaim, “Hey!”
“Dummy! Never say something like that until we're home again. You've jinxed us for sure.”
They made their way out of the mound to find that the moon was hidden, not by rolling clouds but by a massive snow storm that they produced. Hermione swatted Draco again, exclaiming, “See?”
Harry just sighed, pulled his cycle and two brooms from his devils bag and said, “Well, come on then. We might as well get started. This is going to be a real bitch.”
Hermione took a moment to glance at the book but the blanks were back. “Well, damn. I guess it blanked out when the moon set, or was covered. Thank goodness it lasted long enough for us to read it.” She shoved the book at Harry, who stuffed it into his bag then enlarged his cycle.
.
Severus was enjoying a well deserved brandy with his friend when Lucius remarked, “What a wonderful day.”
He agreed saying, “Yes, this is the nicest solstice I've had in years.” He was a bit astonished to see Lucius stiffen. “Something?”
“Fuck! It's the solstice! I completely forgot about going to Ireland. Shit!”
Severus took the practical way and said, “Well, stop fluttering about like a wet hen and explain this at once.”
Lucius took a deep breath. “Harry's wand is burning out. Every time he uses his full strength, you can smell burning feathers. Remember?” Severus nodded. “Well, he has a map and instructions for finding Merlin's staff. It's at Newgrange in Ireland and could only be found on this night. I promised to take him. Damnit! And I was so excited about re-establishing our relationship that I completely forgot.”
Severus raised an eyebrow. “I see. But he's seventeen. He's perfectly capable of going to Ireland and back by himself. Although, I'm sure that Draco has gone with him, and Hermione and Ron as well. He'll be fine. I do see that you would be upset about forgetting a promise. We'll just have to figure out a way to make it up to him. Just apologize profusely and get him another present.”
Lucius rolled his eyes at Severus. “You do realize that we are speaking of Harry. The boy who found a basilisk at his school? Mr. I-can-find-disaster-in-a-bath, right?”
Severus got a stricken look on his face. “Oh, damn, you are correct. So ... what do we do about this?”
Lucius rubbed his face then sighed. “We go back to Malfoy Manor and take him.”
“Take him? It's nearly midnight here. That means that it's ... eleven? There. They're long gone, or I miss my guess.”
Lucius glowered. “Harry knows better than that, I'm sure. He knows I don't like him haring off on some wild goose chase with that mad cap bunch of his. He'll be pacing the floor, waiting for me to show up.”
“I'll bet you fifty galleons that they've all taken off for Ireland. They'll just apparate in and back out again. I don't see the problem.” Severus took a sip of his brandy in an attempt to calm himself. He really did see the problem, being intimately acquainted with Harry's ability to find disaster in the simplest of things.
He nearly choked on that sip when Lucius informed him in a fulminating tone, “No apparating or port keying in or out or around Ireland on the solstice. They even put up wards. Primitive superstition about it attracting some sort of monster or demon or bad luck.” He waved a hand. “At any rate. We planned to portkey in and fly back. We have to go.”
Severus just got up and summoned an elf. “Bring winter garments and open the floo directly to Malfoy Manor. There's an emergency. Maybe.” The elf just nodded and went to open the floo and bring the requested robes.
Lucius worried. “I would really like to know how they expect to travel more than 400 miles without being seen. None of them are that good at disillusionment charms.”
Severus snorted. “Hermione is very good at them and so is Draco. That bunch ... Stop worrying until we're sure there's something to worry about. Then we'll figure it all out. Now ... put these on and come along.” Severus shoved robes at Lucius and led the way to the floo.
Lucius wondered how it was that he didn't know who was good at disillusionment charms and who was not. He decided that he was going to have to pay much closer attention. He dragged the robes on as he followed Severus through the floo.
.
Hermione announced. “We need to cast warming and disillusionment charms on both brooms. The cycle already has them build in, right, Harry?”
Harry nodded, squinting into the snow. “Draco, Ron, both of you stay right on my tail pipe. If you get lost in this damn snow, you're fucked. I've got a magical compass built into the dashboard so I won't get lost. All I have to do is input Malfoy Manor into it and it'll point the way.”
Hermione was in the mood to fret so she did. “We're going to be flying over water how are we going to manage that? I don't like that bit much, what if a spell fails? What if ...”
Draco nodded. “I agree, that's why we're going to fly straight to the narrowest place and cross there. I'd rather cross at New Castle as that would put us flying over the Isle of Mann but it's way out of our way. We'll be flying across at Dublin then down the coast a bit, in land and to home. It's nearly 400 miles so we better get going.” He mounted his broom, cast his spells and muttered, “Father is going to kill us both.”
Harry helped Hermione into the sidecar and answered, “He'll lock us up in one of the dungeons for sure.”
Ron just kept his mouth shut, dreading a visit to his father's workshop.
They flew in ever increasing snow and heavy winds. Ron cast warming charms on himself every thirty minutes. Draco did the same. They both gave up on the disillusion charms, who would be out in this weather to see them?
Both flyers stuck as close to the cycle as they could manage, its tail light leading them through the storm.
Harry was getting more and more worried about his companions. He was fairly comfortable, the strength of his warming charm keeping him toasty, Hermione too. She was settled in the sidecar, covered with a carriage robe and the soft 'nanny' cover. This was somewhat like a kayak cover but it zipped up around her neck. But Ron and Draco had nothing but warming charms, their cloaks and grit to keep them warm.
Hermione was also worried. She was keeping an eye on the storm and knew that it was only getting worse. She reached over and patted Harry's hand. “Harry! Are we still over water? Can you drop down and check?”
Harry leaned over so he could hear her over the shriek of the storm. Harry realized that the windshield that protected them from most of the storm also made it possible to talk, if they yelled. “I don't know. I'm afraid to. We might not regain our altitude. And we don't have that much to lose.” He managed a good look at Hermione and was relieved to see that, while her face was a bit pinker than normal she didn't look too pale or red.
Hermione frowned in thought. “I'm worried about Ron and Draco. It's really cold and that wind has to be blowing away body heat faster than they can make it. We have to land as soon as we can.”
“Ok. I know they're probably freezing. I'll ... See if you can't sight land, ok?”
Hermione just nodded and squinted into the wind and snow, trying to find some sign of land.
After another 45 minutes she saw lights nearly under them. She patted Harry's arm and pointed.
Harry sighed his relief, he'd planned on flying straight through, but this storm changed his mind. They'd have to land and apparate, or create a portkey, anything to get Ron and Draco out of this storm as soon as they could manage it.
.
Lucius stepped out of the floo, glanced out the window and swore. It was snowing a blizzard outside.
Severus just pushed Lucius out of his way so he could get out of the floo. “Damnit! I knew it. That boy could find disaster in a bath.”
Lucius called Mimsey who popped in, wringing her hands. “I is knowing this is not going well. Young Masters went to Ireland.”
“I know. Do you know what resources they have?”
Mimsey nodded. “Master Harry has his bag, all his weapons in it and supplies. Everything we could think of that they might need.”
Severus nodded. “That's good. You're his personal elf?” Mimsey nodded. “Can you find him?” Mimsey nodded again. “Excellent. Go to him, unless he's flying or something. Can you do that?”
Mimsey closed her eyes for a moment then shook her head sadly. “He is being moving very fast. Mimsey can not catch him. Mimsey is sorry.” she gazed up at the professor with mournful eyes. “Mimsey is going to quarters now. If you is needing her, just call.”
Lucius looked down at the worried little elf. “It's not your fault that you cannot get to him. Make preparations for their return. Do you understand?”
Mimsey looked up. “Yes, Master Lucius, Mimsey understands.” She popped out still wringing her hands.
Severus just raised one eyebrow at the change in Lucius' attitude to house elves and kept his mouth shut. He couldn't help but think that Harry had been a great influence on Lucius, and all to the better.
“Damnit! Now what?” Lucius paced the floor while Severus thought.
After a few moments and two circuits of the room for Lucius, Severus said, “I'm afraid that all we can do is wait for someone to contact us. We don't know where they are, other than that they are flying.” At Lucius' look he reminded, “Mimsey said that they were moving too fast for her to get to them. That indicates that they are sticking to the plan to fly back. Why they didn't get accommodations in Ireland, I can't say.”
Lucius sat down in a chair, only to jump up and start pacing again. “I shall ask them that when they get home.”
Severus sighed. This wasn't going to end well, all four young people were still minors in most respects, they were only magical adults. He also had some real concerns about the guardianship contract, Appendix C was as unforgiving as a cheated Goblin. He decided to just do the best he could for Lucius and let things work themselves out.
.
Harry led the way down to solid ground, not that that did them much good, but at least they didn't have to worry about falling out of the sky.
Ron managed to get his teeth to quit chattering long enough to ask Harry, “Well, now what?”
Harry fished in his bag for a moment. “Tent. We'll set it up and get warm while we figure out where we are so we can apparate home. Papa's going to kill us all.”
Hermione looked around for some sort of shelter from the howling wind. “Harry, if we can't get out of this wind, we can't set up a tent. Not even a magical one.”
Ron nodded his agreement, huddled into his heavy robes. Draco pointed his wand at Ron and said, “Refovio.” then pointed his wand at himself and repeated the spell. “Better?”
Ron sighed then said, Yes, thank you. I'm still freezing, but I don't feel like I'm going to turn into ice.”
Harry grumbled softly, “We have to get out of this storm soon. You three can't stand much more and I'm not sure I can, or should, protect you. I'm sort of scared to try, I'm not familiar enough with Merlin's staff to use it yet and neither of my secondary wands will carry enough power.”
Hermione sighed. “And we can't apparate until we know where we are. We'll just have to walk until we find a sign of some sort. Or ... Draco? Could you make a portkey?”
Draco shook his head, fishing a hat out of his pocket. “No. I have to know where the key originates and where it's going. Same problem, I have to know where we are too.” He put the hat on and pulled it down over his ears.
Ron, still shivering uncontrollably, moaned, “Damnit, what's the use of being a wizard then.”
Harry took off his outer robe and wrapped it around him. “Where the hell is your good robe?”
“Loaned it to Fred. He hadn't gotten it back yet. I'm alright, Harry. Take it back, you'll freeze.”
Harry shook his head and wrapped it more firmly around Ron. “No, I won't. We'll be inside soon. We'll just walk to the nearest lights and find out where we are. Come on.” He pulled out his new focus and waved it, everything shrank and he stuffed the cycle and brooms into his bag and led the way.
It didn't take them long to reach the lights and find out that they were in a tiny town called, “Monks Way. Hermione looked it up in her reference book, got coordinates for it and, shivering, said, “Can you make a portkey, Draco? I can't apparate that far in one jump and my core isn't powerful enough to make the three jumps I need.”
Ron had to nod, his own situation was much like Hermione's. “Me neither. Come on, mate.”
Draco glanced at the numbers Hermione was pointing to. “I can make it. Give me a second.”
Harry, casting warming charms on everyone, snapped, “Hurry up, Draco. Ron and Hermione won't last much longer. It's too cold. I'm even beginning to feel it.”
Draco snapped right back. “Don't you snap at me, Harry Potter, I'm doing it right now.” and with that, he cast the charm to make a portkey back to Malfoy Manor.
Harry managed “I'm” before the port key activated and “sorry.” as they tumbled onto the floor in the entry room. Draco had forgotten to compensate for the difference in levels. No one really cared.
Harry was stripping Ron out of his wet clothing and snapping orders for warm blankets and hot drinks for everyone.
Lucius rushed in, followed by Severus. “Damnit, Harrison, when we get them tended to...”
Harry replied absently, “Yes, I know, I'm in a world of hurt. Later. I think Ron's got frost bitten fingers.”
Lucius gave a short nod then turned to Severus. “Do you have anything?”
Severus shook his head but stated flatly, “No, but it won't take long to brew something. Let's get them into beds and sort things out.”
Hermione, now wrapped in a dry, warm blanket, said, “I'm just really chilled. That sidecar was fairly warm. The walk was what got me shivering. I'm afraid that Draco and Ron got the worst of it. I'd just really like a cup of hot tea and a warm bath. Please?” For the first time in her life, Hermione tried 'puppy dog eyes', it worked quite well. Lucius summoned Lindy and sent them up stairs to the rooms that Hermione had used before.
He also told them all that he was contacting their parents. Ron shuddered and muttered something about 'wooden spoon' and 'shed' Lucius was a bit amused but also resolved.
Harry called Mimsey and Gerard, who popped in at once. “Gerard, take Draco up to our quarters and get him into a warm bath at once. Make sure it's not too hot, he's got frost bite.” Gerard nodded and took a protesting Draco by the hand and left with a loud pop. “Mimsey, will you take Ron up? I'll be right along as soon as I speak to Papa.”
Mimsey nodded, took Ron's hand and popped him away in the middle of promising him a hot bath and a warm drink.
Lucius was already kneeling on the hearth, calling Molly Weasley. “Um ... Papa, you do realize that it's one in the morning.”
“I am well aware of the time. Molly will be angry enough that Ron is hurt. If we wait to call her ... well, I have no wish to receive a howler at brunch. I'll deal with you later, young man. Go see to your friends.”
Harry sighed. His Papa was furious with him and he didn't blame him. He stood, head hanging, for a moment then wended his way up the stairs and into the room he knew Mimsey had taken Ron to.
Severus was there, examining Ron's feet and hands. He stood up and said, “Well, at least you had the good sense to keep casting warming charms. It's only a bit of frost bite. Get into the tub and get warm. I'll come back up with some cream as soon as I get it made. Idiot.”
Ron cringed a bit but Severus, surprisingly, patted his shoulder then turned to leave.
He caught sight of Harry hovering in the door and barked, “Well, either in or out, but do stop hovering like a gooseberry.” Harry blinked at that, but entered the room, dodging Severus as he left.
“Ron, are you ok? You look frozen through. I'm so sorry. We should have ...”
Ron just shrugged, tugging the blanket closer around his shoulders. “No, we shouldn't have. I'm in for it bad enough as it is. Dad is probably going to borrow Mums spoon and drag me off to his shed. If they'd worried about me, it'd be twice as bad. Don't worry. I'm sure Professor Snape's frostbite cream will fix me up.”
Mimsey came in, glowered at Harry then snapped at Ron, “You is coming to the bath now. No argument either. Bath is having herbs in it for warming you up. Come, now!” Ron gave Harry a baffled sort of look but obeyed quickly.
Harry made sure that Mimsey had Ron well in hand then went to check on Hermione.
She was in the tub and Lindy nearly threw Harry out of the sitting room, it not being proper for him to even be there while Hermione was in the bath. But he demanded to speak to her to make sure she had what she needed.
So he wound up talking to her through the door.
“Hermione! Are you ok?”
“I'm fine, Harry. Just a bit chilled. My hands and feet tingle a little, that's all.”
“Snape is going to insist on checking you over. Don't make a fuss, ok?”
Harry heard her splashing. “Harry, if he wants to look at me, go away, so I can get decent. I'm really fine.” He heard more splashing and made a dash for the door. He wasn't about to risk Mimsey's ire by being in the same suite while Hermione was dressing.
After checking on Hermione, Harry felt he could go check on Draco.
“Draco? Where are you?” Harry was pretty sure he knew but Draco hated it when Harry made assumptions about him.
“In the bath, Harry. Come through.” Draco's voice floated out of the bath on a cloud of steam.
Harry hurried through to find Draco in the bath, submerged to his chin and still shivering. Gerard and Lucius were also in the room.
Gerard was adding something to the tub while Lucius was examining one of Draco's hands.
“Is he alright? What's wrong? What can I do?” Harry hovered over Lucius' shoulder.
Lucius, with commendable control refrained from saying anything he would regret, although, 'Haven't you done enough?' hovered close to his lips for a second. He finally managed, “Draco will be fine in a while. He doesn't have a bad frostbite, it's just uncomfortable, for now. Severus is brewing a cream. I'll go see ...” He rose.
Then they both heard a very familiar voice. “Where's my Ronnie?” Molly had arrived.
Lucius went to greet her and explain what had happened, not something he was looking forward to at all.
Molly just looked at him for a moment then said, “You must have been frantic. What the devil have those kids been up to now?”
Lucius bowed and turned to lead Molly to Ron, saying, “I was. I swear, I shall be old before my time. Harry finds disaster at every turn, but I must say that this is mostly my fault. I promised to take them to Ireland and get them back home again. In my excitement over ... reconnecting with Severus. I am afraid I forgot. I am ashamed of myself.” he stopped at the door. “Ron is in here. If you need anything just ask Mimsey, the elf. Severus is brewing frostbite cream even as I speak. He will deliver it the second it is done. Excuse me. I need to check on Miss Granger.”
He called Lindy as he stepped into the sitting room of Hermione's suite. “How is Hermione?”
Lindy just smiled. “Missy is fine. Just very cold and her feet were wet. She had a nice hot bath and some good tea. Lindy is being bringing soup soon. She is being in bed with a hot brick at her feet. Go through, she is being decent.”
Lucius nodded and sent Lindy for the soup. He knocked on the door and entered when he heard Hermone call, “come in.”
“Hermione, how are you feeling.” Lucius looked at Hermione and was pleased to see that her cheeks were healthily pink and her hair was braided tidily. She as sitting up in the bed, wearing a quilted bed jacket of lavender satin, tied at her throat with a soft bow.
“I feel good. I'm just really tired and still feeling a bit chilled.” Hermione smiled at Lucius then, to her embarrassment, she yawned. “I'm sorry.”
“Do not be. I would be happy to have your parents over but ... perhaps you would rather go home?” Lucius wanted Hermione to be comfortable in his home but he was wary of asking muggles into it. There was way too much magic around and things that you had to be magical to control. However, he felt it necessary to make the offer.
Hermione, wisely, refused, saying, “No, thank you. I'll get some sleep then go home in the morning. Mum and Dad think I'm having an overnight at the Weasleys and I'd appreciate it if they remained in the dark. Would you mind terribly if I went to sleep now?”
Lucius took in her heavy eyes and drooping posture with a slight smile. “No, go to sleep. We'll deal in the morning.” Hermione started to slip down into her pillows, but looked up when Lucius added, “And, Hermione, I'm very glad you went with him. Thank you. Good night.” He left to allow her to sleep. He'd deal with telling her parents a partial truth tomorrow. He wasn't about to ruin their Christmas Eve and day by telling tales. Let Hermione manage her family as she pleased.
.
Molly gave Ron a thorough going over, and a 'jaw-me-dead' at the same time. The dressing down she gave him left him with red and ringing ears. He sighed and replied, “But, Mum, you don't really think I could have let them go without me, do you?”
He looked so pitiful that all she could do was hug him and say, “No, I don't suppose you could. Did he at least get that blasted staff?”
Ron grinned. “Oh, yes. And it's a beautiful thing.” Ron went on to describe the staff and how it could shrink and grow on command.
Molly finished checking him over as he finished his description a sharp tap on the door made them both turn.
Severus strode in with a clay pot in his hand. “Here, Molly, rub this on his hands, feet, ears and nose.” He turned to glower at Ron. “As for you, young man, I hope this teaches you a lesson.”
“Not to fly in a blizzard? Already knew that. But how were we supposed to get back when Ireland put up anti-apparation wards at nightfall. And why they do that, I'll never know.”
Severus looked down his nose at Ron. “Oh? A little research, perhaps?”
“No thanks. I'll just ask Hermione. If it was homework, I'd do it myself, but who am I to deny her her just due. Thank you for the cream, sir.”
Molly snorted, “It's just an old superstition, but the Irish use it as an excuse to forbid portkeys, apparition and flooing by drunks. They spent the entire treasury in the 1400's on unsplinching people, finding them in the floo system and making return portkeys from ... all over. Very sensible people the Irish.”
Ron laughed heartily at that while Severus just grumbled, “Molly, I had intended to keep him out of trouble for you.”
“Severus, nothing short of incarcerating them in a dungeon would do that.”
“Do not, I pray, tempt me.” Severus made Ron stare by smiling slightly before he left to deliver the rest of his salve.
Molly turned to her youngest son. “Ronald, I'm glad you weren't hurt. A bit of frostbite will just teach you to remember to take better gloves and warmer socks. But you and your father are going to have a discussion involving my spoon as soon as we get you home.”
Ron just sighed, “Yes, ma'am. I figured as much. Tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, wouldn't do to spoil Christmas, now, would it?” Molly began rubbing the cream on Ron's ears. Ron just made a face and allowed her to fuss.
.
Harry managed to check Draco over, inch by inch, without getting hexed. He took the frost bite cream from Severus with a soft, “Thank you, Severus, I'm truly grateful.” and returned to Draco to lovingly rub the stuff into his feet, hands, then face. He kissed each digit when he was finished with it and nuzzled his ears.
Draco demanded that he stop but Harry didn't listen. He just stubbornly continued on in the way he'd decided. When Harry got to his ears, he gave in completely, subsiding to tiny whimpers.
Harry hugged Draco and helped him lie down. “Get some sleep. I'm completely knackered. I'm sure Papa will want us up at some ungodly hour of the morning.”
Draco snuggled into Harry's arms. “He's probably going to strip the skin off both of us.”
“Worry about that in the morning. Sleep now.”
They drifted off, cuddled together, unaware that both Mimsey and Gerard had stationed themselves in the room.
Ron slept under Molly's watchful eye, Hermione was guarded by Lindy.
Lucius and Severus had a brandy and also went to bed.