Disclaimer: Harry Potter, most characters and the magical world as depicted, belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 11:

There was a pile of mail waiting for Harry when they arrived home. His secretary had put the urgent and personal letters aside, with one right at the top. The letter had been sent a week before. Professor Dumbledore was sick, and wanted to see Harry before he died. Harry hurriedly checked through his other mail, in case there was any more recent news, told James where he was going, and disapparated straight to his own office at Hogwarts.

Albus was still alive, in the hospital, being looked after by Poppy, and by Madam Borthwick, the nurse who would be taking over the hospital when Madam Pomfrey finally left.

Albus Dumbledore was showing an accepting serenity at his own approaching death, but he had wanted to see Harry, who was dear to him. His wife had been dead for very many years, he had long since outlived his peers, and had no family left, except for that of the school he had ruled for so long. Harry Potter was like a son to Albus Dumbledore, and it was as a son that Harry sat by his side, talked with him a while, and finally waited as Professor Dumbledore closed his eyes for the last time.

Harry had thought it appropriate that Albus be buried in the school grounds, but the school governors allowed him no say, and Albus Dumbledore was buried at Hogsmeade.

Within the week, a new headmaster arrived at Hogwarts, appointed by the twelve school governors. He was English, but had spent the last several years as assistant headmaster at Durmstrang, a European school of magic. Professor Bernard Smythe, just a few days after Dumbledore's funeral, informed Professor Harry Potter that unfortunately his skills would not be needed for the next school year, although, of course, he could apply if any of the individual subject professorships became available.

He found that Hagrid had also lost his Professorship, but was allowed to stay on as grounds-keeper. Harry offered him a home at his place if he ever wanted it, but Hagrid, still looking exactly the same as ever, said that he would not leave his home.

Harry felt no great upset at being fired. There seemed to be so many losses coming these days. He'd had to put down his mare, Sheba, that morning. And Hogwarts would not be the same without Dumbledore in any case. So he quietly packed his things from the rooms that he had first moved into at the age of just twenty-two, waved his wand to send his luggage home, and did the rounds of those staff who had not gone away for the holidays. Harry Potter said good-bye to Hogwarts.

**xx**

James would be going back to school in just a week. His new school things had been purchased, but Harry was going to have to tell him about the video. He needed to be prepared. Harry knew how uncomfortable the victim of teasing and bullying can be made to feel. For most of his own years at school, Draco Malfoy had given Harry as hard a time as possible. To have a father who'd starred in a porno movie! Could there be any better ammunition if you wanted to make someone miserable?

He was having trouble. The whole thing was so acutely embarrassing to himself that he still felt physically sick when he thought about it.

Victoria and Margaret came visiting the next day. They had just learned that their father was home, and had some idea of the difficulties he was currently facing. They were strolling together toward a thick piece of woodland, when Victoria told him casually, "We told James about that video, by the way, Dad. We thought he should know before he goes back to school."

"The video?" Harry queried cautiously.

"That's right, the porno one, with the bad acting. The reason you're no longer a professor at Hogwarts."

Harry was looking at the ground, red-faced and uncomfortable, but there was no doubt that the twins had done him an enormous favour. "Thank you," he said awkwardly.

They took his arms, one on each side, and squeezed, and Victoria said, "Don't worry, Dad, you can console yourself that even as a victim of rape, you're the best!"

Margaret chimed in, "And definitely most sexy!"

Harry stared at them in amazement, and then spluttered into laughter. "You always did have a unique way of looking at things!"

But James was very uncomfortable with him for the next few days, and finally asked if he could stay with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione until school started. He could go to school then with their son, Ben Weasley, who would be starting at Hogwarts. And it was arranged that way.

**xx**

Harry resumed his spell-breaking work the Wednesday after school resumed. He had a very large list of patients, as he had not been doing the work for two months. He was tired and hungry afterward, and he dropped in at a muggle bakery and treated himself to a large afternoon tea, before going to see Draco Malfoy, as he had been especially requested.

The last time that Harry had been to Draco's place it had been with Ginny and Julia, and it was to a large function. They had left very early because Harry had started to feel unsafe. And he suddenly remembered that Smith-Burton had been there, too. He doubted that Draco would attack him, but took some precautions. He put a charm on himself that he had developed long ago with Professor Flitwick at Hogwarts. No-one could apparate within a five yard radius of himself. He also did something unprecedented. He told Jebedee, the auror who was working with him that day, where he was going.

Jebedee was astounded, Harry had never cooperated with his unwanted bodyguards before. And his report to Kingsley meant that no less than five aurors were stationed around the Malfoy mansion when Harry apparated close to the front door.

Draco welcomed him into his loungeroom, and a maid came with offerings of food and coffee. Harry declined them all, saying politely that he'd just eaten. Draco wasn't fooled, and raised an eyebrow, "Mad-eye Potter, eh?"

But Harry just shrugged, "Do you blame me?"

They talked casually for a while, and asked about each other's children. Draco had a son, Lucius, probably in his mid twenties by now, Harry thought.

Finally, Draco got down to business. "There's some information that has come to light. I think you should know - a certain video."

"I've seen the video," Harry interrupted.

"Not this one, you haven't," said Draco, "I'm not talking about the one made for pornography. This is the video that it was made from."

Harry was silent. Draco waited.

"Where did you get it?" Harry finally asked.

"I paid a lot of money for it - it's an investment."

"An investment!" said Harry incredulously.

"An investment - the original video that was put together during the time you were in their hands."

Harry said nothing, only wanting to be far away.

"I think you should see it," continued Draco, "But mind you, this is a copy. The original, together with some other items, is at Gringotts, so don't think of destroying it just because you don't like its contents!"

Harry sighed, "I suppose I'd better watch," and he slumped into a chair next to Draco, as Draco started the video.

For the first time, he saw the master video in its entirety. The first part that was new to him was the resistance he had put up to taking Potions. He commented, "I didn't think I could have been so well behaved as was shown in that other one."

"No, that was the actor."

Harry sat through the scenes of torture when they were trying to train him to take the potion with a cold, unmoved face.

Draco half watched the video, and half watched his guest. He had tremendous respect for Harry Potter, even though he was still not above having a malicious dig at him now and then.

Harry had seen the initial sex scenes with Griff twice now, although he had to remember not to betray that he'd seen the one at Smith-Burton's place. When Draco commented on the maiming of Griff, he had to remember that it was supposed to be new to him.

"How on earth did you do that?" asked Draco.

Harry just shook his head, and suggested: "Maybe there was someone else there?"

The next part was new to him - the days when he lay terribly injured after he was punished for Griff. He saw himself vanish, and then discovered again on the back lawn, as he knew now from the commentary.

"You nearly got away," commented Draco. Harry was looking like an icy statue, and made no comment.

'Day nine,' and Harry now saw the context in which the words had been spoken that always had him wake from his nightmare, Tears, Harry?

And then they were trying to get him to take food, so that he would survive a while longer.

"They took advantage of your greatest weaknesses," commented Draco, "Ice-cream and women."

Harry didn't answer. The video showed him being fed the ice-cream, and then only the second word he had said the whole time, when he had breathed the name of his dead wife. Harry's hands clenched, but again his face showed no expression.

Draco was mocking himself - he was Draco Malfoy, a manipulator of people, but it had brought tears to his own eyes the first time he had seen that.

'He is my toy! He is here for my pleasure!' And then there was the scene where Smith-Burton started fondling again, and his hands were burnt.

"You still managed to resist, even then," said Draco, admiring.

Harry made an effort, and said casually, "I prefer women."

'Day sixteen. He burned my hands yesterday. So now I'm going to get my pleasure from him in a different way. And it's an interesting experiment. How much can he hear, feel? I'm going to get him conditioned so that he reacts to a particular piece of music as though he were being tortured.'

Harry braced himself, he knew what was coming next, but to show it meant that he had seen the video before. He wanted to stay unmoved, he always hated Draco seeing him at a disadvantage. He couldn't help himself. As soon as that music started, his body convulsed and he only managed to take a couple of steps toward the door before he was violently ill.

He had expected Draco to be gleeful, but Draco stopped the video and waved his wand at the mess on the carpet, which became clean again. He even apologised, "Sorry, Harry, I should have warned you."

Harry was leaning against the wall, white and sweaty, and made no answer.

Draco muted the sound of the video, and more torture was shown, but he was obviously looking for a particular part. And he glanced at Harry. "I think they've finished with the Tchaikovski, and I want you to hear this," and Harry braced himself as Draco flicked a button and the sound resumed.

'It works! He obviously felt the pain, even though this time it was only the music. He was returning to consciousness though, and it appears it might be too dangerous to do it again. But we'll use the torture with the music again tomorrow, just to fix it permanently in his mind. If he survives this imprisonment, it might make a good party trick! Play the music, and watch Harry Potter react!'

Draco stopped the video again. "Be warned," said Draco. "If this video ever gets out, and it won't be by me, there'll always be someone who thinks it's clever to play that music. And it's a common bit of music, you're likely to hear it now and then anyway. What you're going to have to do is play that music over and over until you no longer react to it. I've got a copy here somewhere, I'll let you have it."

"What's the music?" asked Harry.

"What's the music?" said Draco in a tone of incredulity. "That's Tchaikowski - The 1812 Overture." He abruptly reverted to his normal sneer, "But you always were the uncultured type."

The dig called up a half grin from Harry, even if his face was still pale. Draco had always attacked his weaknesses.

The next segment was of the final rape, and it showed Harry's leg being broken. Harry had seen this segment before, but it had been in fast forward, without the sound. "He's obviously still terrified of you," commented Draco.

"Pity he wasn't just a bit more terrified," said Harry, trying to sound unmoved, as the man was shown in the rhythmic motions of sex.

And in spite of all his attempts at cool control, his face flamed and he felt sick again, as the camera zoomed in and the wizard spoke. 'This is how Harry Potter will be returned to his friends. Smears of semen around his anus - and look, how perfect! There is blood! He has the marks of his virginity still on him!'

There was a pause, and then another segment. Four wizards were on a raised platform. Two held the bedraggled, unconscious figure of Harry Potter. The sound of this part was confused, as if it was taken a fair way from the action, but the picture was clear, and close. The wand of a wizard was seen pointing at Harry, and his body could be seen jerking in agony. And a second time, and the head was coming up, the teeth were bared against the pain, and suddenly the wizard who had been holding the wand, was cradling a maimed hand instead.

"That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen!" said Draco, stopping the video again. "To fight while actually under the Cruciatus Curse, and to fight back like that!"

"They forgot," said Harry in a cold tone, "I was sufficiently drugged that I could scarcely feel it - a bit pointless really, all those beatings and torture, and they first anaesthetised the victim!"

But Draco was remembering that he had been violently ill as soon as that music started. He may not have consciously felt the pain, he may not remember the pain, but he had certainly felt it. He started up the video again, and there was the sound of Ron's voice, 'Harry, disapparate!' And Harry Potter disapparated. Stun spells flew, the wizards dropped, and there was general confusion for a moment before the film came to its end.

"Well?" said Draco.

"It explains a few things," said Harry, non-committally.

Draco leaned toward him, and even though they were alone, he lowered his voice, "You know I have a very good knowledge of the law - I defend wizards sometimes at trials."

Harry, as a member of the Wizemgamot, knew this.

"If you get into trouble, like if they find out you killed Andrew, come to me. I can help you probably better than anyone else."

Harry, with an effort, kept his face unmoved. "Andrew?" he asked.

"Andrew Smith-Burton, he vanished the day after you escaped."

"Then I guess if he had anything to do with it, he cleared out," said Harry, casually. "It was certainly nothing to do with me, I wasn't in very good shape for a week or two!"

Draco just nodded. "Remember what I said."

**xx**

Harry strode down the driveway to the gates leading to Malfoy's mansion, and turned into the road, still walking.

He was disturbed. The video had explained a few things, as he had said. He had so nearly escaped, and at that stage, he had not suffered the indignity of rape. Although he did not feel himself forever disgraced because his body had been humiliated, he certainly would rather it hadn't happened! And there were other people - it seemed many others, who did indeed seem to feel that he was forever disgraced.

He had called for Ginny. Would he ever get over losing his Ginny? And he strode faster than ever, blindly, down the road outside Draco's house.

Two of the aurors followed him. The others went back to report in. Usually Harry would have disapparated. This was unusual behaviour. He was looking pale, upset.

Harry had forgotten that any such thing as aurors existed, and he had certainly forgotten that he was sometimes subject to Death Curses unexpectedly being thrown at him. He was entirely engrossed in his own thoughts.

Draco had virtually accused him of killing Smith-Burton, but he could not possibly have any evidence. He'd tried to ensure that he was known to be still too sick to go after anyone. There was another thing - it sounded like they'd been going to release him in any case. Not that it made much difference to anything. But to have escaped had given him back just a little self-respect. Now it seemed as if he had been allowed to escape. Or they were planning to let him go, still messy from rape. He shuddered and suddenly wheeled to the side of the road, and was sick again.

Harry was sitting by the side of the narrow country road, head in hands, still feeling ill, when Trevor came to him. Harry didn't even notice him until he spoke, although he had spent a lifetime having to be constantly wary. But now Trevor had just walked up to him and surprised him. And even then he was indifferent.

"Are you ill?" Trevor asked, "Do you want us to take you home?"

Harry just looked at him, frowning. "I forgot I was being followed."

"You let us know where you were going. It sounded like you thought you could be in danger."

"No danger," Harry said, getting up wearily, "And there's no need to follow me any more." But then he remembered his manners, "Thank you though. It did occur to me that there might be danger, but Draco's all right."

"You were sick - could you have been poisoned?"

Harry half grinned, "I'm Mad-Eye Potter, remember? I had nothing to eat or drink at the Malfoy place."

The aurors glanced at each other, uncertain. Harry said, "Leave me alone tonight, Trevor. I'm just going to walk a little," and he set off again down the road.

Trevor looked at Mark, and they dropped back a bit, but still followed him, until he noticed, and disapparated.

Harry Potter prowled the streets of London, still wearing his cape. He was not especially looking for a fight this night. He just walked, only half aware of his surroundings.

Back at the Ministry, Kingsley was still on duty. Harry Potter, porn star or not, was still of considerable value to the Ministry. And Kingsley knew of Amelia's plans - for years she had wanted to garner prestige for her Ministry by having him do work overseas - and now he was no longer teaching at Hogwarts, she had begun to think that her plan was coming closer to fruition. Kingsley made a careful selection, and some of his aurors were put on alert. They might be working late that night.

An hour later, a report came in to Kingsley. Harry was still walking, not taking the slightest notice of his surroundings, in a dangerous muggle area near the London docks. Harry had told Trevor that he wanted to be left alone, but Kingsley had not the slightest intention of leaving him to be possibly hurt or killed. Harry was to be closely watched, and he called in the half dozen aurors whom Harry did not know by sight, and gave them careful instructions.

Even these were a risk. When Harry noticed aurors close to him, he usually disapparated, and four of these aurors were young men and women whom Harry had taught at Hogwarts.

The muggle police were also contacted by some very important government officials. If Harry Potter was seen, he was absolutely not to be interfered with, but a number was to be called.

Jack and Pete at their desks, scratched their heads. Harry Potter was obviously a very important person, and they wondered just who he was. He had seemed friendly enough when he had laughed and joked with them that night not long ago when they had locked him up, but he had some very important influence on his side, or, at least, watching over him. They batted around a few theories.

Two hours later, and Harry still hadn't noticed that there were a couple of aurors on his tail. A man and a woman, trying to act as if they were involved in each other, but getting thoroughly fed up. They were not used to sustained walking at Harry's fast pace.

Harry strode along the footpath, head down, not paying attention, until he almost walked straight into a gang of youths out this night for a bit of fun. There were jeers and they started to surround him.

The aurors came quickly nearer, ready to defend their charge, but Harry wasn't in the mood for a fight right now, and he merely stepped swiftly back, ducked into a doorway, and silently disapparated, not far away though. Wasn't there a pair of muggles behind him? He would interfere if the youths thought to attack them. He put a charm on the boots of the gang, just on general principles. Those boots would never be used to kick a human.

He watched, inconspicuous in a dark doorway, as the youths first searched for their original target, and then switched their attention to the couple, who had retreated a little, but were still in sight. The two withdrew closer to his hiding place, and he suddenly noticed that one held a wand to her side. Aurors, then, following him. Well, they'd be able to look after themselves, and Harry disapparated, reappearing in a deserted alley that led off a street where there were several lively pubs.

He remembered that he should have some dinner, but he just picked at it, and drank his beer, eventually abandoning his meal, and starting to solidly drink instead. He still had no plans, no firm intentions of doing anything, but he also felt as if he had nowhere that he wanted to go, and nothing that he wanted to do. When he left that pub, it was only to find another and drink for a time there, and yet another.

Kingsley was sitting at his desk all this time, beginning to wonder if Harry had, after all, gone home. Somehow he didn't think so. He thought that his erratic charge was looking for trouble, and the aurors had been told to be very careful, to watch, but not to interfere unless absolutely necessary.

Finally, a report came in from the muggle police, and Kingsley wondered what on earth Harry was doing sitting in a Gay Bar.

Harry hadn't noticed that he was sitting in a Gay Bar. It was just a pub, and he was just quietly drinking. Others had noticed him though, and the two male aurors sitting at a nearby table watched as he was approached. In spite of scars and slightly hollow cheeks, in spite of the new touches of white in his hair, Harry was an attractive man. But he only said something briefly, and the large man who had approached him, retreated.

Harry still stared into the distance, but when he went back to the bar for a drink, he was using a cane to stop himself from staggering off to the side. Harry was beginning to be very drunk, and was no longer walking in a straight line.

The aurors didn't see the large man have a brief word with the barman, and money change hands, but they noticed when Harry took a sip from his new drink, and stopped, frowning at it.

He raised his head, looking around, taking in his surroundings for the first time, and his gaze focussed on the large man waiting at the bar, watching him. The aurors watched in surprise as Harry rose, took his drink, went to the large man, and poured it all over his head.

The man said, "Hey!" in surprised indignation.

Harry said, "I feel like a fight. Do you want to fight?" The man who had organised for his drink to be drugged, recoiled, and declined.

Everyone was watching and listening now. Harry said softly, accusingly, "You drugged my drink. I think you owe me a favour - and I want to fight!"

The large man seemed to shrink, looking to the left and the right, seeking his escape from the man who challenged him.

"You're twice as big as him, Bill - why don't you take him on?" called someone from the corner. "Maybe you can knock him out that way!" Bill's liking for drugging the drinks of those who declined his favours, was known to him.

"I'm smaller than you, and I'm drunk besides," said Harry tauntingly, and his words were, indeed, slightly slurred. "And I really want a fight."

But Bill only looked more alarmed.

"No? Well, if you're sure then," said Harry, dropping his eyes lower.

Bill suddenly clutched his middle and bolted for the toilet, and Harry smiled slightly, before turning, relying on his cane, and left the pub.

The aurors quickly rose and followed him, although one said to the other, "Do you really think he needs our protection?"

Harry was leaning against the wall, half hidden inside a doorway, next to the pub, as the two left. He was feeling distinctly the worse for wear, but noted that Eli Shrewsbury and Zack Bradbury were apparently now aurors. He had now spotted four of the aurors that Kingsley had sent out.

He wasn't particularly concerned, but he did think he'd best make sure that he didn't pass out, either from sheer drunkenness, or because he was stupid enough to get himself knocked out if he found his fight. He didn't fancy waking to find that the Ministry had seized the opportunity to check him over again. It was like he was a dangerous zoo animal or something, that had to be knocked out before he could be examined!

Zack and Eli were looking around, and Zack suddenly spotted Harry right behind them, leaning against the wall, looking more alert than he had all night. "You're aurors now. Congratulations," Harry said, his words still slightly slurred.

Zack, since they'd been spotted anyway, said persuasively, "Come on, Mr. Potter, why don't you let us take you home?"

Harry just continued leaning against the wall. He was very drunk now, and he said what he felt, "I've never trusted aurors. Or the Ministry. I'll make my own way home, and not before I'm ready," and he vanished in front of their eyes.

"Damn!" said one, and the other said, "He doesn't take much notice of the prohibition on apparating while unfit, does he?"

They went back to report in to Kingsley, and Kingsley, too, swore. The Ministry's pet wizard was an awful lot of trouble.

Harry had disapparated while drunk and leaning against a wall, so it was no wonder that he went sprawling when he arrived in the middle of a deserted park. His head was spinning, and common sense was striving to get through. He'd get himself into big trouble if he apparated as drunk as this, and he weaved and staggered his way along the adjoining street, until he found a small hotel, where he booked himself a room, and passed out safely in a bed.

Meantime, aurors reported to Kingsley. Harry was thoroughly drunk and looking for a fight, someone had probably tried to drug him, he now knew Zack and Eli were aurors, and he had said that he didn't trust aurors or the Ministry. Kingsley stayed at work long after his charge was sound asleep, waiting to hear that Harry was fighting somewhere, injured or maybe in prison again.

***chapter end***