III
Catherine or Cate
III
What Should Have Been
III
The Second Task
III
Draco stood behind Neville in the Slytherin Common Room the morning of the Tri Wizard Tournament Second Task. Having heard Neville speech in progress a number of times he was zoning in and out.
"Admirable job at integrating yourselves with the rest of the school... Harry Potter badges on the left side of your robes, all Cedric Diggory to be worn on the right exactly equal height and distance... Average grades need to be kept high going into exam season... Ask and older student for help should you need it. That's what prefects are for... There Multi-house study groups... Socialise with the younger students from Darmstrung and Beauxbatons today. Make them feel welcome... have been changes to the roster for anyone wishing to donate. There are enough other students aware of the situation now that we are cutting back on Slytherin donations so the strengthening of the wards continues to go unprotected by certain parties..."
"Is there anything else?" Neville finally asked, before holding up a hand. "As always I hope your requests are written down on paper to give to me and you use this time for serious matters."
When there was no response, Neville nodded. "Off to breakfast with all of you then. Please remember to split up and sit with students from other houses while you support the four champions. The guest students arrive at nine on the front lawn, maybe a game of something would be appropriate..."
Draco watched as Neville and Jemima collected slips from students with questions and little Joelle Sparks took a seat on the couch at his side.
"Caught up in transfiguration, Joelle?" he asked as she played with her pet python.
"Mostly," she replied. "Still hate it."
"Talk to Blaise," Draco suggested and Joelle nodded.
"Thanks for waiting, Jo," Neville told her handing her a slip of paper. "There is a group going tonight if you are able."
"See you at ten," Joelle replied before skipping from the common room.
At Hermione's desk, which now essentially belonged to Blaise and Jemima, Draco watched as Jemima sorted the questions.
"The Gordon's mother is getting worse by the look of this," Jemima declared. "We may have to get one of those Gryffindor Camera Boys down here to take some photos to send to her. I'll speak to Madame Pomphrey."
Draco nodded and filed the information away.
"Have you spoken to Moneypenny about Harry's finances?" Neville asked Draco.
"Black and Lupin are still sneaking in and getting things from the Room of Requirement and auctioning them. It's bringing in revenue. We, Moneypenny and I, have decided to stop on the manor and start refitting the smaller properties in order to rent them out. We will start with approaching Urquhart. His father is on the darker side of things. Disowned Urquhart's older sister for going off with a half-blood. Urquhart is in a similar romantic situation if I am not mistaken. I will mention it to him so he can start siphoning off money and we can come to some arrangement. There is one property with two farm houses on it. Maybe that will suit the siblings, close but not too far, one set of wards and fidelius charm and so forth," Draco replied. "Black is also to marry a Swede in the coming weeks. Madeline, very quietly, we will have to sneak Harry out for the ceremony. She is from an illegitimate Russian line coming from the last Tsar. Grew up in Sweden in a prominent family but there has been some falling out within the family due to the grandparents disowning all but one line of grandchildren. She's not quite destitute but agrees to the contract stipulations regarding number of children, money etc. She's a talented artist so maybe she could bring revenue in that way also. She's just looking for stability I think."
"Not that Sirius is particularly stable," Blaise joked joining the conversation. "I got a message back from my uncle, the wardsmith, and the answer was 'yes'."
Draco looked at Blaise in surprise. "When did we contact him?"
"When I needed some clarification in the wards," Jemima declared. "Everything I am doing now qualifies toward my mastery so I need to have the input of a master on occasion. The 'yes' means he agrees with my conclusion."
"About?" Neville asked.
"I think the next few donations with cause heating, lighting, cleaning, anti-damp measures to all kick back in. Not to mention strengthen the house elves dramatically," Jemima replied. "They should be able to start extensive repairs to the structure of the school and the furnishings within."
"How are you?" Blaise asked Draco quietly sitting down beside him.
"Fine," Draco replied. "We knew it was a possibility when we decided on this plan."
"What was?" Neville asked.
"Daphne isn't the only one missing," Blaise said softly. "Harry is upset because Hermione is too."
Jemima blanched at the inferred reason.
"Viktor has fallen in love with her!" she gasped. "Draco..."
"I can't have her as long as Voldemort lives. I have prepared myself for these circumstances..." Draco repeated numbly.
"It doesn't make them any easier," Blaise replied with understanding.
"I should really go and meet Su for breakfast," Neville said looking at the piles on the table.
"I got your back on this one," Draco told him pointing to the table of work. "Go lead by example and show them that 'Puffs are cool."
Neville shook his head. "Amelia's approval rating has gone up five points. Everyone thing she's doing a better job because her niece is dating me!"
"I feel sorry for the next guy," Jemima replied making shooing motions with her hands.
As Neville opened the door to leave he let the Weasley twins in with a wave.
"Just wanted to let Captain Jemima know that a cool party has been organised for in the Great Hall after the task is over. The house elves are aware and will have hot platters ready. We have a music machine set up, mermaid fireworks prepared, a few games with prizes and the Heads of House have been informed."
"And a stand selling Wheezes," Draco guessed with a grin.
"Katie Bell is your girl, Draco," one of the twins said. "First generation pure, has plenty of ideas about things, loves quidditch, wants to play for the Harpies and in love with Oliver Wood. We suggested a front couple she has agreed to the theory, shall we tell her we have spoken to you and that you will approach her?"
Draco nodded. "I have to lead by example," he said.
"Do I?" Blaise asked.
"No you're free to mope," Draco replied with a wry grin. "You're mother makes people afraid of what you could do."
"My father is alive!" Blaise defended.
"Your step-fathers aren't," Jemima retorted. "And that's the point."
Draco snickered.
"I also have something else to say," Jemima said looking at her lap. "Ivan Krum, Viktor's twin who stays with him..."
"Yes, we know who Ivan is," Blaise snapped.
"He's requested to train in his mastery under Professor Snape," Jemima declared. "He's a great potential ally. Keeps our international link alive."
"I'll talk to Severus," Draco said adding it to his list of things to do.
"About?" the man in question asked walking into the all but empty common room followed by a tray of breakfast items.
"Ivan Krum," Draco replied. "We'll talk later."
Their head of house huffed. "He's now asked you to help his claim?"
"No. But we want to help him," Draco answered quickly. "It will be good for you internationally too to be back in the brewing circles. It will be an excellent image change."
"I won't cut my hair, Draco," Snape snapped.
"And the way you teach would help the little ones too," Jemima replied. "Respectfully, Sir, if you put a reference book on the first year book list there wouldn't be so many issues."
"Find a way to ensure they know the uses of the potions they are making," Blaise added. "That would make it more beneficial.
Snape glared at each of them in turn.
"I will see each of you tonight for the donation," he told them snarkily before stalking away.
Draco shrugged. "At least he listened," he said deciding that was an excellent step forward for his godfather.
Moving over to the desk they looked over the slips of paper together and wrote the replied to be sent putting the others in clearly labelled envelopes to speak to various other people in order to settle disputes or question marks and all the other things the group did for their fellow Slytherin.
"Time to go upstairs and greet everyone," Draco declared eventually making sure he was wearing his coat and glove against the cold. "Time to be the Minister's Son."
"You'll be fine," Jemima replied. "Blaise and I will organise these letters to be distributed and will meet you up there."
Draco nodded and walked out of the common room, the picture of Hermione in his shirt pocket burning a hole through to his heart.
III
While the four champions munch on the gillyweed he'd supplied them with and swam through the freezing cold waters of the lake Neville rubbed shoulders with some of the international contingent at Hogwarts to watch the second task.
He'd chatted with the German Chancellor's youngest son, Wolfgang, whom he had met over Christmas for the better part of ten minutes, before then meeting a French friend of his grandmother's for another five.
Viktor's older and younger siblings took up another ten minutes. He then met up with his beautiful girlfriend Susan and her aunt and chatted to the French Head of Magical transportation and his daughters.
He saw Draco a couple of times making similar rounds. And Jemima stuck closely to Ivan's side as they chatted to various group also.
"Get those children out of the water!" Minister Malfoy shouted alerting most of the box they were in that the champions had finally surfaced.
Neville grinned when Draco's mother caught his eye.
"Hello," Neville greeted with a smile as he moved to her side. "How was your anniversary, Mrs Malfoy?"
"Wonderful," Narcissa replied. "Lucius took me to Italy for dinner."
"How nice!" Neville agreed. "Where is he?"
The minister paled. "Whispers keep my husband close to home now," she said with a tight smile.
Neville heard the message loud and clear.
He added 'find a way to keep Lucius Malfoy safe' to his own list of things to achieve.
"You alright?" Susan asked cuddling up to his side.
"Sure," Neville declared kissing her on tip of her nose before looking up and spotting Wolfgang with his brothers. "Party in the Great Hall!" he called to them and they all grinned and disappeared.
"Let's go check on your friends," Susan suggested leading him down the stairs. "I've come to like Fleur since meeting her. I've met Gabrielle a number of times and she is a delightful little thing. I don't want her hurt because of this tournament."
Neville smiled down at the Hufflepuff witch tucked under his arm.
"I guess that makes them your friends too," he told her.
III
Draco was holding court, with Blaise in one corner of the Great Hall as the party steadily grew. He spoke to his Slytherins and chatted to a few Ravens and made endless notes of a few different pages in his book of less important things.
"Moneypenny. Uncle Sirius," he greeted as Harry's secretary and godfather sat down on either side of him.
"Have you had a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, looking around the room and waving to a few different people.
"Second year," Draco replied. "Political shuffling in the common room that year was the only remarkable thing that happened. Third year was the busiest with the basilisk and you gaining your freedom right at the start there."
"Basilisk?" Moneypenny asked.
"Harry killed it. We split the profits. Voldemort was temporarily destroyed. Win, win, sort of win," Draco replied.
"The money went where?" the young man asked. "Into the houses. The basilisk essentially paid for the ones already repaired."
"Harry still desperately short on cash?" Draco asked.
"No," Sirius replied with a smile. "Hugo discovered that Harry owns the island Azkaban is built on but the ministry stopped paying him rental fees decades ago."
Draco and Blaise both sat up. "Explain completely because we had some ideas to get Harry some liquid finances too."
"Since Harry's family technically owns the island Azkaban rests upon and with your mother using harsher sentencing laws..." Moneypenny began.
"It frees up the island for Harry to claim it back. No one would move to Azkaban. It's useless, short of ripping it down and rebuilding something else there," Blaise finished quickly.
Moneypenny just smirked.
"Good job," Draco acknowledged.
"What was your plan?" Sirius asked.
"Have heirs siphon of money and then help protect them from their darkish parents who will oppose all the relationships floating around out there," Draco replied.
"Love matches?" Sirius asked in surprise.
"Harry started something when he encouraged socialisation," Blaise replied glumly. "It won't make parents more accepting but our generation will be."
"Right," Moneypenny agreed. "It's still a great idea and get's us allies for now and in the future on the Wizengamot."
"True," Draco agreed. "Thus commences grand plan number ten!"
"And eleven. And twelve," Sirius added.
"Eleven?" Blaise asked.
"I'm getting married tomorrow," Sirius declared. "It seems that our bonding session a few weeks ago did quite well."
"Or she used a fertility potion," Draco replied.
"No. We were going to wait six months and have a honeymoon, just adults, let's be friends before babies period. But apparently our bodies have other plans," Sirius replied.
"Congratulations, Sirius," Draco told the other man sincerely. "Give me the details and I'll get Harry there."
"Thank you," the Lord Black said slipping him and envelope. "My cousin Andromeda is also pregnant, with twins."
Blaise shook his head in disbelief that their DADA professor was finally going to be a big sister. "And plan Twelve."
Moneypenny grinned. "We're turning Azkaban in to a British version of the American Salem University, a place where students can live and study their masteries safely."
"And get Harry money," Draco added with a nod. "Okay. I will spread the word and see what I can find out."
"While we are here, Moneypenny and I want to donate," Sirius also said seriously.
"I'll go find Joelle," Blaise said getting to his feet and disappearing into the crowd.
"What else?" Draco asked quickly.
"There is a hit out on your father," Moneypenny said bluntly. "We need to find a way to protect both him and your mother."
Draco sank back in his chair and Neville appeared from nowhere, a concerned look on his face.
"What?" Neville asked.
Moneypenny repeated his previous statement.
"Your mother suspects," Neville declared. "She mentioned something to me during the task."
"We'll find a way."
"By the time we are done throwing blood around Hogwarts will be the safest public place," Sirius declared. "Not that I can see Lucius as a teacher."
Draco held up a finger. "He can't be worst than Binns," he said slowly.
Neville furrowed his brow and nodded. "Something to consider."
"We're taking a walk, I hear," Joelle said announcing her presence.
"Lead the way!" Sirius declared bidding the others farewell.
III
Later that night Neville sat at Hermione's new table in the Champions dorm with Draco and the rest of the crew. Fleur, Ivan and Viktor were also there. They were nutting out summer appearances around Viktor's quidditch schedule.
"We shouldn't always be seen with you," Hermione declared. "We need to seem normal."
"Rent the beach house then!" Fleur declared with tinkling laugh. "Whatever makes you happy."
"You'll all be in my personal box at the cup final!" Viktor declared delightedly. "And you don't even have to support Bulgaria!"
The group laughed and Neville looked at the clock again.
"Somewhere to be, Neville?" Fleur asked with a pretty chuckle.
"Oh, yeah!" Harry agreed.
"Vere do you all go. You are on a roster. Every third night," Ivan declared.
"We're playing around with blood wards, that's all!" Jemima replied, with a false laugh.
"Really?" Fleur asked. "Show us?"
Neville glared at Jemima.
"Ve vill donate also," Viktor said softly. "If zay are ze wards for ze school, ve most definitely vill. To keep you safe."
"Okay," Harry agreed. "But you can never speak a word of this. The headmaster doesn't know what we are up to."
Neville rolled his eyes. "Get warmer clothes on," he hissed seeing he was out voted.
Fleur borrowed clothes from the others rather than risk waking the other French girl before Harry led them all down the stairs. They arrived in the bathroom to find the chamber already open and the stairs ready.
"Hey, Myrtle," Harry greeted the ghost.
Neville chose to wave as the others sent their own forms of greeting.
Down the bottom they found Joelle waiting for a group of Slytherins and Hufflepuffs to finish donating.
"Hello!" Joelle said bounding over to the group and getting a hug from Harry. "Good job today," she told all the champions.
"'ow does ze 'eadmaster not know about zis chamber?" Fleur asked.
Neville looked around and smiled. The Chamber of Secrets now glowed and sparkled with blue tinge of the wards seeping through the cracks. It looked like a crystal with light behind it that only showed blue lights. It was certainly something he wanted to keep a secret from Dumbledore.
"The stairs are password protected," Hermione said carefully.
Harry hissed and lured the python out from under Joelle's robe. Neville watched as he and the snake had a conversation and it then moved towards Viktor who looked very uncomfortable.
Hermione then hissed exasperatedly, surprising Viktor and the other two foreigners and the snake curled back to Harry.
"I did not expect zat of you," Ivan eventually managed.
"It is the quiet ones you have to watch out for," Neville answered making Hermione blush.
"Here Nev," Joelle said handing him the knife as she led the other student out.
"Sleep well," Jemima called to the little girl.
"She speaks too?" Ivan asked and Jemima nodded.
"Joelle and that damn snake cause me some trouble keeping the second years in bed," she replied.
Neville walked over to the ward stone and sliced his hand before rubbing it back and forth over the stone with as much blood as he would dare.
One by one each did the same, with Ivan being the first of the foreigners to do so. The moment his blood touched the grounding stone the walls flashed bright white but faded as the Bulgarian spreaded more blood onto the stone.
"Probably to do with the fact he's donating for us to keep us safe and not the school," Jemima postulated.
Fleur nodded. "I would zink so," she said copying the gesture. The same flash of bright light occurred. "Yes."
Viktor donated also and they quickly left, separating to go back to their correct dorms.
The moment they reached the Slytherin Common Room Daphne slipped out of her shoes but stopped what she was saying mid sentence.
"What?" Jemima asked.
Daphne looked to her feet. "It's warm."
Neville looked at the floor and then Daphne before toeing off his shoes.
"It is warm," he agreed, and Draco nodded his own agreement.
The group smiled at each other before splitting up and going upstairs.
As he and Draco dressed for bed, willingly barefooted in their dorm for the first time ever silence reigned.
"Game on, Dumbledore," he eventually whispered.
"Here, here," came Draco's reply from behind closed drapes. "Game. On."
III
III