Defence, Pretence, Offence - Chapter 80 - Consolidation (Harry/Draco, NC17)
Title: Defence, Pretence, Offence - Chapter 80 - Consolidation
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles ( LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
Harry had been doing a lot of thinking since the final staff meeting and on the second to last day of term he arranged a meeting with Dumbledore in the evening. He left Draco overseeing the last detention of term and headed over to the headmaster's office.
"Welcome, Harry," Dumbledore said as soon as he stepped through the door. "I must say I was very happy to see you and Draco have taken the school up on their offer and are staying on for another year. I find I have grown very used to having both of you dear boys around."
"There's nowhere I'd rather be," Harry said and meant every word.
"Now," Dumbledore said, "what it is you would like to talk about?"
"A couple of things actually," he revealed and walked over to take his usual seat, "firstly, brooms. I couldn't help but notice that the school brooms are very out of date and some of them are bordering on being downright dangerous."
Dumbledore nodded as Harry spoke.
"I have to agree," the headmaster said, "but I am afraid, with all the added expenses, the brooms are something of a low priority."
"Oh, I totally understand," Harry said, "which is why I wanted to offer to replace them all. Fred and George had a line of a job lot of Nimbus 2000s. Not the latest, I'll admit, but still much better than the ones we have at the moment."
He stopped talking as he realised Dumbledore actually looked surprised, which was such a rare occurrence that it rather put him off his stride.
"That would be a very significant financial undertaking, my dear boy," Dumbledore said.
"Well, I suppose," he replied, "but these are rejects from some of the smaller professional Quidditch teams, they aren't broken, just not as fast as they wanted, so they're going cheap. I might even get them cheaper if I offer cash up front."
Dumbledore blinked and then twinkled at him.
"Well, if you are sure, Harry," the headmaster said, "I and the rest of the school would be most grateful."
"Brilliant," Harry said, "I'll get Fred and George onto it right away and have Bill forward them the money. They know all the right people. There is just one thing?"
"Yes, my boy?"
"I'd really rather no one knew where the brooms came from," he said.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked. "For donations of such a considerable size it is usual to provide some sort of commemorative ..." Harry made a face. "But, I quite understand. We will log the donation as a grateful anonymous patron."
"Thank you, Albus," Harry said.
Dumbledore smiled at him.
"And what was the other matter?" the headmaster asked.
"Well," Harry said, "now that I know I'm going to be here for a while I was wondering if I could set up a lab. There are some experiments I'd like to work on and I really need somewhere I can make sure everything is safe. I know space is at a premium, what with all the extra staff now, but I think I found somewhere. It's in the dungeons and it seems to be completely disused. I'm not sure what it was, but it looks like it was damaged by fire, so I suspect it used to be a potions classroom. I don't think anyone has been in there for years and I could kit it out completely myself."
"A disused classroom damaged by fire, you say?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry nodded. He had found it a while ago when looking around the school for possible bolt holes before they had finalised the plan against Voldemort. It had seemed pretty useless then, especially since it smelt of damp and dead things, but he was sure he could deal with that if given permission.
"The door really didn't want to open when I first came across it," he said, "but I managed to persuade it. Of course if you need it for something else I totally understand. I can keep using the Room of Requirement, I just have to remember to take everything with me when I've finished."
"No, no," Dumbledore said, "I see no reason why you may not have the room as your own, Harry. I do believe you may have found the Potions Classroom from 1824. It went missing after an accident involving a detention, two third years and an exploding cauldron. The potions master at the time managed to get the two children out, but the room vanished along with all its contents. It hasn't been seen since."
"But it was right there," was all Harry could think to say.
"For you, my dear boy, for you, it may be," Dumbledore said. "I suppose it has moved out of popularity, but in my day, many a foolhardy young student would go looking for it. One of the more harmless school legends. I would love to see it at some point, if you don't mind; I have to admit I was one of those foolhardy young people."
"Of course," Harry said and then felt rather strange about being asked to allow the headmaster to see part of his own school. "What potion were they making?"
"I am afraid that information is lost in the mists of time," Dumbledore said, "but, suffice to say, I do not believe that is what they managed to make anyway."
That made sense.
"Anyway, you are most welcome to do with the room as you wish as long it is safe for the returning students in the new school year," Dumbledore decided. "I look forward to your creations."
"Me too," Harry said.
He'd never really been one for investigation and research before his major life change, but now it seemed to be in his blood. He already had Transfering, which was going to have to be handled very carefully, but he was hoping to discover some simpler, but no less interesting things. Life without Voldemort had so many interesting possibilities.
* * *
"We really need to get back to the Ministry about that gala thing they're planning," Draco said as they walked back toward their room, "and I suspect the Order of Merlin people will be writing any day. I heard on the grapevine they've finally made a few decisions."
"I don't want to go to any gala and if they offer us an Order of Merlin I'm giving it back," Harry said and made Draco sigh.
"Do we have to go over this again?"
"I don't want an award for murdering someone, even if it was Voldemort," Harry said.
"I know, Love, but it won't be for killing him, it will be for stopping the greatest danger to our world since Grindelwald," Draco pointed out. "It's not about glorifying killing, it's about preventing a devastating war."
They had had this discussion several times since the first person had mentioned anything about awards and medals. Draco was pretty sure Harry would give in, in the end, but it was a work in progress. He was about to change the subject as they stepped onto their floor when he saw Pansy crumple a piece of paper and throw it across the hallway.
[Pansy looks upset,] Harry observed.
[I concur,] Draco said, [come on.]
They increased their pace.
"Everything okay, Pans?" Draco asked before his friend could storm off.
Pansy glared at him for a moment, but then her shoulders sagged.
"I wrote to my parents to tell them about wanting to accept another year at Hogwarts," she said, clearly upset. "Mother wrote back and mentioned the dreaded M word."
[M word?] Harry asked, clearly confused.
[Marriage,] Draco explained, before focusing on Pansy. "So soon?"
"It seems I am now a very eligible match," Pansy said, "and mother wanted to strike while the iron's hot. You know she's always been worried given some of father's questionable investments. I want to stay here, Draco, I want my own life."
It said just how much Pansy really did want it, that she admitted it out loud where anyone could here.
[Can't she just say no?] Harry asked silently.
[Pansy is a pureblood through and through,] Draco replied, [she would never go against her parents in something like this unless she had very good reason.]
"What about Seamus, he's a war hero too and wouldn't that bring all sorts of prestige?" Harry asked out loud.
Pansy frowned at Harry.
"Seamus is taken," she said.
That was news to Draco.
"Since when?" he asked, usually he was on top of these kinds of things.
"Since … oh, you might have missed it," Pansy said. "All my plans came to nothing thanks to your two's heroics. Your dying for each other has given people romantic notions and Seamus has apparently been pining for Thomas. They have plans to meet up for the summer holidays."
"Seamus and Dean?" Harry sounded as incredulous as Draco felt.
"Some people can't see what's right in front of them until it's not there anymore," Pansy said, as if it was obvious. "Should have noticed ages ago. Seamus offered a threesome, but I'm really not into that."
Harry all but choked and Pansy almost smiled, but then her mood darkened again.
"What am I going to do, Draco?" she asked and Draco thought there might even have been a trace of tears in her eyes.
Pansy was not someone who cried unless it was to make a point. She had really grown and found herself over the past year and Draco could understand why she had no wish to go back to pureblood games. One day, no doubt, she would be the terror of the ladies of culture set, but Draco was very much certain it should be when she chose. Unfortunately, nothing sprang to mind.
"What if you had a really prestigious job with a ridiculous salary?" Harry asked.
Draco turned to look at his soulmate.
[What are you thinking?] he asked.
[You'll see,] Harry replied.
"It would have to be something like Minister of Magic," Pansy replied.
"Sorry, we're grooming Hermione for that one," Harry said, "but I can think of two people you could work for that would get your name in all the papers and give you and your family all the respect your parents could want."
"Who?" Pansy asked, still frowning.
"Us," Harry replied.
"You want me to work for you?" Pansy sounded dubious.
"Actually it's perfect," Draco said as he thought about it. "Harry is the most famous and revered wizard in Britain at the moment…"
"He means we are," Harry interrupted.
Draco gave him a short glare for that.
"How would you like to be our personal assistant and media representative," he ploughed on. "Of course we wouldn't need you all the time, so you could continue your teaching post as well, and we'd be very happy to pay you a preposterously high salary."
Pansy looked at him then at Harry and then back at him.
"You'd be willing..?"
"Of course we'd be willing, Pans," Draco said and he was sure he was channelling Harry's Gryffindorish tendencies, because he reached out and hugged his best friend.
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles ( LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
Harry had been doing a lot of thinking since the final staff meeting and on the second to last day of term he arranged a meeting with Dumbledore in the evening. He left Draco overseeing the last detention of term and headed over to the headmaster's office.
"Welcome, Harry," Dumbledore said as soon as he stepped through the door. "I must say I was very happy to see you and Draco have taken the school up on their offer and are staying on for another year. I find I have grown very used to having both of you dear boys around."
"There's nowhere I'd rather be," Harry said and meant every word.
"Now," Dumbledore said, "what it is you would like to talk about?"
"A couple of things actually," he revealed and walked over to take his usual seat, "firstly, brooms. I couldn't help but notice that the school brooms are very out of date and some of them are bordering on being downright dangerous."
Dumbledore nodded as Harry spoke.
"I have to agree," the headmaster said, "but I am afraid, with all the added expenses, the brooms are something of a low priority."
"Oh, I totally understand," Harry said, "which is why I wanted to offer to replace them all. Fred and George had a line of a job lot of Nimbus 2000s. Not the latest, I'll admit, but still much better than the ones we have at the moment."
He stopped talking as he realised Dumbledore actually looked surprised, which was such a rare occurrence that it rather put him off his stride.
"That would be a very significant financial undertaking, my dear boy," Dumbledore said.
"Well, I suppose," he replied, "but these are rejects from some of the smaller professional Quidditch teams, they aren't broken, just not as fast as they wanted, so they're going cheap. I might even get them cheaper if I offer cash up front."
Dumbledore blinked and then twinkled at him.
"Well, if you are sure, Harry," the headmaster said, "I and the rest of the school would be most grateful."
"Brilliant," Harry said, "I'll get Fred and George onto it right away and have Bill forward them the money. They know all the right people. There is just one thing?"
"Yes, my boy?"
"I'd really rather no one knew where the brooms came from," he said.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked. "For donations of such a considerable size it is usual to provide some sort of commemorative ..." Harry made a face. "But, I quite understand. We will log the donation as a grateful anonymous patron."
"Thank you, Albus," Harry said.
Dumbledore smiled at him.
"And what was the other matter?" the headmaster asked.
"Well," Harry said, "now that I know I'm going to be here for a while I was wondering if I could set up a lab. There are some experiments I'd like to work on and I really need somewhere I can make sure everything is safe. I know space is at a premium, what with all the extra staff now, but I think I found somewhere. It's in the dungeons and it seems to be completely disused. I'm not sure what it was, but it looks like it was damaged by fire, so I suspect it used to be a potions classroom. I don't think anyone has been in there for years and I could kit it out completely myself."
"A disused classroom damaged by fire, you say?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry nodded. He had found it a while ago when looking around the school for possible bolt holes before they had finalised the plan against Voldemort. It had seemed pretty useless then, especially since it smelt of damp and dead things, but he was sure he could deal with that if given permission.
"The door really didn't want to open when I first came across it," he said, "but I managed to persuade it. Of course if you need it for something else I totally understand. I can keep using the Room of Requirement, I just have to remember to take everything with me when I've finished."
"No, no," Dumbledore said, "I see no reason why you may not have the room as your own, Harry. I do believe you may have found the Potions Classroom from 1824. It went missing after an accident involving a detention, two third years and an exploding cauldron. The potions master at the time managed to get the two children out, but the room vanished along with all its contents. It hasn't been seen since."
"But it was right there," was all Harry could think to say.
"For you, my dear boy, for you, it may be," Dumbledore said. "I suppose it has moved out of popularity, but in my day, many a foolhardy young student would go looking for it. One of the more harmless school legends. I would love to see it at some point, if you don't mind; I have to admit I was one of those foolhardy young people."
"Of course," Harry said and then felt rather strange about being asked to allow the headmaster to see part of his own school. "What potion were they making?"
"I am afraid that information is lost in the mists of time," Dumbledore said, "but, suffice to say, I do not believe that is what they managed to make anyway."
That made sense.
"Anyway, you are most welcome to do with the room as you wish as long it is safe for the returning students in the new school year," Dumbledore decided. "I look forward to your creations."
"Me too," Harry said.
He'd never really been one for investigation and research before his major life change, but now it seemed to be in his blood. He already had Transfering, which was going to have to be handled very carefully, but he was hoping to discover some simpler, but no less interesting things. Life without Voldemort had so many interesting possibilities.
* * *
"We really need to get back to the Ministry about that gala thing they're planning," Draco said as they walked back toward their room, "and I suspect the Order of Merlin people will be writing any day. I heard on the grapevine they've finally made a few decisions."
"I don't want to go to any gala and if they offer us an Order of Merlin I'm giving it back," Harry said and made Draco sigh.
"Do we have to go over this again?"
"I don't want an award for murdering someone, even if it was Voldemort," Harry said.
"I know, Love, but it won't be for killing him, it will be for stopping the greatest danger to our world since Grindelwald," Draco pointed out. "It's not about glorifying killing, it's about preventing a devastating war."
They had had this discussion several times since the first person had mentioned anything about awards and medals. Draco was pretty sure Harry would give in, in the end, but it was a work in progress. He was about to change the subject as they stepped onto their floor when he saw Pansy crumple a piece of paper and throw it across the hallway.
[Pansy looks upset,] Harry observed.
[I concur,] Draco said, [come on.]
They increased their pace.
"Everything okay, Pans?" Draco asked before his friend could storm off.
Pansy glared at him for a moment, but then her shoulders sagged.
"I wrote to my parents to tell them about wanting to accept another year at Hogwarts," she said, clearly upset. "Mother wrote back and mentioned the dreaded M word."
[M word?] Harry asked, clearly confused.
[Marriage,] Draco explained, before focusing on Pansy. "So soon?"
"It seems I am now a very eligible match," Pansy said, "and mother wanted to strike while the iron's hot. You know she's always been worried given some of father's questionable investments. I want to stay here, Draco, I want my own life."
It said just how much Pansy really did want it, that she admitted it out loud where anyone could here.
[Can't she just say no?] Harry asked silently.
[Pansy is a pureblood through and through,] Draco replied, [she would never go against her parents in something like this unless she had very good reason.]
"What about Seamus, he's a war hero too and wouldn't that bring all sorts of prestige?" Harry asked out loud.
Pansy frowned at Harry.
"Seamus is taken," she said.
That was news to Draco.
"Since when?" he asked, usually he was on top of these kinds of things.
"Since … oh, you might have missed it," Pansy said. "All my plans came to nothing thanks to your two's heroics. Your dying for each other has given people romantic notions and Seamus has apparently been pining for Thomas. They have plans to meet up for the summer holidays."
"Seamus and Dean?" Harry sounded as incredulous as Draco felt.
"Some people can't see what's right in front of them until it's not there anymore," Pansy said, as if it was obvious. "Should have noticed ages ago. Seamus offered a threesome, but I'm really not into that."
Harry all but choked and Pansy almost smiled, but then her mood darkened again.
"What am I going to do, Draco?" she asked and Draco thought there might even have been a trace of tears in her eyes.
Pansy was not someone who cried unless it was to make a point. She had really grown and found herself over the past year and Draco could understand why she had no wish to go back to pureblood games. One day, no doubt, she would be the terror of the ladies of culture set, but Draco was very much certain it should be when she chose. Unfortunately, nothing sprang to mind.
"What if you had a really prestigious job with a ridiculous salary?" Harry asked.
Draco turned to look at his soulmate.
[What are you thinking?] he asked.
[You'll see,] Harry replied.
"It would have to be something like Minister of Magic," Pansy replied.
"Sorry, we're grooming Hermione for that one," Harry said, "but I can think of two people you could work for that would get your name in all the papers and give you and your family all the respect your parents could want."
"Who?" Pansy asked, still frowning.
"Us," Harry replied.
"You want me to work for you?" Pansy sounded dubious.
"Actually it's perfect," Draco said as he thought about it. "Harry is the most famous and revered wizard in Britain at the moment…"
"He means we are," Harry interrupted.
Draco gave him a short glare for that.
"How would you like to be our personal assistant and media representative," he ploughed on. "Of course we wouldn't need you all the time, so you could continue your teaching post as well, and we'd be very happy to pay you a preposterously high salary."
Pansy looked at him then at Harry and then back at him.
"You'd be willing..?"
"Of course we'd be willing, Pans," Draco said and he was sure he was channelling Harry's Gryffindorish tendencies, because he reached out and hugged his best friend.