Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter 'verse. I am making no money in writing or in posting this.
Chapter 13
It was a couple weeks after Ron and Hermione's sleepover that Draco felt they had a system to take care for Potter's feedings. The reason it took so long was Potter's independence, or as Draco thought of it as, sheer Gryffindor stubbornness to pull through bad things on his own. Luckily, Draco knew how hungry Potter has and regularly argued Potter into a meal before Potter's vampire's instincts took over.
Now it was a couple weeks before the beginning of Hogwarts school year. Potter and Malfoy were traveling to the school as ambassadors of the citizens and creatures of the Forbidden Forest. Guide, the escort Acromantula, was with them, more out of habit than protection. Since the Centaurs reluctantly agreed to let Potter represent them, they wouldn't attack him today.
They reached the edge of the forest. Potter's nervousness twanged through the ring with every step past the Acromantula clearing where they had deposited the drained Death Eaters. The trees shielded Potter from most of the Sun's rays but Potter was still quite uncomfortable under his heavy black robe. Draco was surly by time they reached the edge and was surprised at Potter's pause.
"I don't think I can do this, Malfoy." Potter confessed.
Draco frowned. "Do what?" He really didn't see the big deal. Diplomacy was almost a Malfoy family gift.
"You negotiate. I'm heading back." Potter decided. Malfoy grabbed Potter's arm. Potter looked at Malfoy startled. They touched very little, even when, especially when Potter feed from Malfoy.
"No. You agreed to represent the Centaurs and the Acromantulas. They expect you to negotiate, not a little wizard like me." Malfoy tried to persuade.
"But…" Potter said, half relenting.
"You want the Centaurs to stop trying to kill you outright, correct?"
Potter nodded. The Centaurs agreed to a feeding truce of sorts with the vampire, after he hunted each of the Centaur's elite guard and bit them for a small amount of blood. Now the Centaurs knew if they surrendered, they would have a chance of surviving Potter's feedings. Unlike with the Acromantula's, since they ate the Centaur's flesh and vice versa. Which somehow led to Potter to be an acceptable representative in the minds of the Acromantulas and Centaurs.
"You'll help me get inside as quick as possible?" Potter asked, shifting restlessly under the cloak.
Draco grinned. "I'll make you a Slytherin, yet."
Potter smiled back. "In your dreams, snake."
They stepped into the Hogwarts grounds. Headmaster Snape waited impatiently and immediately sneered at their entrance.
"Potter? And… That's not possible." Snape turned to Guide, the acromantula. "Are you are sure they represent your clan?"
Guide bounced up and down, the spider's version of a nod, and spoke "The Aragog chose them."
"And Bane agreed. They are the Centaur's choice as well." spoke a centaur from the pair's side opposite of Guide. Malfoy was a tad startled. He hadn't realized a centaur was with them as well.
"Very well. Since you are new representatives, I shall recite the agreement-" Snape started, with Malfoy interrupting.
"Headmaster. Is there an inside venue we could conduct our business in?" Malfoy asked.
Headmaster Snape nodded. "My office?" He suggested.
Potter nodded. It only had the one window, which would be easily taken care of.
Snape efficiently lead them to the headmaster office. The gargoyle slid away without a password. Potter past Snape on the stairs. When Potter past Malfoy, Maloy grumbled to himself about the stamina of vampires. Malfoy heard Potter open the door, but his view was blocked by stairs to see the Headmaster's door.
Pain flowed through the ring, prodding Malfoy faster up the stairs. He heard an apologetic trill and caught a flash of feathers as Fawkes drove out the closed office window. The phoenix passed through the glass without breaking it. Harry had collapsed in a folding crotch inside the doorway.
"Are you ok?" Malfoy knelt beside Potter.
Snape was a second later, demanding, "What happened?"
Potter nodded and said softly to Malfoy. "Get the window blocked." Potter stood painfully like he had had an unexpected fall. Potter turned slightly to Snape. "Apparently Headmaster, Phoenixes and Vampires don't coexist very well."
Snape nodded. "Since they are the embodiment of light, one would assume that. Will you need to postpone this meeting?"
Malfoy spelled the window, darkening the room like night fell. "Whoops…Lumos!" Malfoy created mage lights to counteract the darkness.
Potter smiled at Malfoy's faux pas. "No, that's not necessary. Fawkes didn't do that much harm." He looked around at the portraits and shuddered.
Snape nodded, sitting behind the Headmaster's desk and gestured for his visitors to sit as well. "Very well. I will recite the agreement as it stands from the last negotiation."
"I thought I was here because there wasn't an agreement?" Potter interrupted puzzled.
Snape glared. "Technically, the last treaty is void due to Dumbledore's death. Of course, the war and other preoccupying events occurred to delay the full renegotiation until now. The centaur and the acromantulas agreed to continue under the past agreement until a full meeting could be scheduled."
"Perhaps, Headmaster you should skip the flowerly language of the treaty and sum up the main points to ease this along?' Malfoy suggested.
Snape softened, "There isn't much to summarize, after all this treaty was made to Acromantula's and Centaurs understanding who demanded a verbal contract. Since a written contract would beyond their skills to understand."
"Actually the Aragog is very intelligent." Potter pointed out, in defense.
"I'm sure it is. The main agreement is the wizarding world is to stay away from the forest. Any adult human, magical or not, forfeits their life upon entering the forest."
"That's not right…I went into the forest several times as a student!" Potter protested. "Malfoy and I live there now."
Malfoy sat up straighter at Potter's last statement. Was Potter finally accepting Malfoy's presence in his life?
"Precisely why I said, Adult human. Students are allowed in, only in daylight, and only with an escort that has magical creature status with the Ministry. Escorts are pre-approved by the representatives. Remus Lupin and Hagrid are examples of such."
"What about the night detentions?" Potter pointed out.
Snape scowled. "Again, an exception, in which Dumbledore approved of and got chewed out later by the Centaur's representative. May I go on, without interruption?"
Potter nodded.
"Let's see, no adults…children under escort…. Emergency situations. In the event a child or something happens that the Ministry needs to communicate to the forest, the forest only recognizes the Headmaster of Hogwarts as a representative for the wizarding world. If a child is found wandering, the centaurs and acromantulas agree to deal with the kid as unlethalfully as possible and escort the kid to Hogwarts grounds." Snape finished.
"So Aragog was just scaring the shit out Ron and I…ok, well sounds good to me." Potter agreed.
"Actually, I would like to change some details if you have time." Snape said in a tone that communicated that Potter better have the time.
"Um…sure. What?" Potter scrambled to say.
Malfoy snorted, hiding most of his amusement of Potter's barbaric conversation skills.
"I do not intend to stand in the middle of the forest, waiting for a centaur or spider to notice me and then fetch you or a suitable representative." Snape pointed out.
"There's the death eater clearing…" Potter started to explain.
"Potter, the headmaster is going to need something faster than that. The spiders don't check that area enough for the forest's response to be timely." Malfoy pointed out.
Potter glared at Malfoy. "What do you suggest, owl post?"
"Actually yes." Malfoy agreed.
Potter shook his head. "As soon as my name goes back to available, there will be a flock of owls trying to go into the forest. The centaurs are not going to like that."
Malfoy shook his head. "One owl. If the headmaster permits that would live in the school's owlery here. Perhaps someone can be hired to route only the important letters to you. Or the Headmaster can send the letters to me, to give to you."
"An assumed name could also solve the issue." Snape pointed out.
"Then, the only thing lacking at the cave is the floo! Or do you have the cottage's fireplace setup already?" Potter accused.
"A floo connection cannot be made on a fireplace that moves. If it could, then portkeys would be more available during world cup season! What's the problem with me making the cave a place I can live in?" Malfoy asked.
Potter looked away from Malfoy. "Fine. The owl thing is fine."
Snape nodded. "I agree. Would Ms. Granger be acceptable for going through your mail?"
Potter nodded. "If she wants."
"No! You cannot talk to the headmaster right now! STOP!" a shrill female voice yelled from outside the office.
Heavy steps pounded up the stairs "This is Auror business, the headmaster better find time for us!" There was a hammering at the office door.