As promised here is the next chapter...hope you like it! ;) either way please leave me a review and let me know what you think or any ideas/suggestions you might have.
Happy reading!
Chapter 28:Princely Property
"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw."
― Nelson Mandela
A stunned silence rang throughout the great hall at the sight of their savior (for they still believed expected him to save them even if they were busy slandering his name and besmirching his character) and his arch-enemy, the ice prince disappearing with a pop. No one moved or said anything for a long period of minutes, until a certain Gryffindor bookworm broke the silence with what one might call a pointless question (well at least compared to what she could have been asking about).
"Wha…I thought no one could apparate inside the Hogwart wards?" Hermione's voice rang across the silent hall. And with the first words spoken it was like opening a flood gate…students and teachers alike started to question and comment on what they had apparently just witnessed.
"Did you see…"
"I don't believe it!"
"Harry and Malfoy…I thought they hated each other!?"
"…I told you he was going dark"
"What would Lily and James think?"
Dumbledore stared blankly at the spot where the hope for the light had vanished from for a long moment, thoughts racing through his mind; 'how did he do that…I the headmaster can't even disappear out of Hogwarts at will….maybe it was an elaborate kidnapping scheme? Maybe the Malfoy heir had a port-key and was actually the one to whisk young harry away? Yes…that makes more sense than believing Harry was suddenly capable of feats of magic that should be impossible…ok, so the boy had done the impossible as a baby but that was because of Lily's sacrifice…right?'
He shook his head to clear it from these thoughts; he could take the time to consider this later…right now he had a panicked school to deal with.
"Silence!" He shouted not hiding the power behind his voice as it rang throughout the hall bouncing off the stone walls which just further amplified it. The din immediately dropped off and every pair of eyes swiveled to look at him. He knew that he had made a mistake in arguing with Harry in front of them, he could see the slight mistrust in some of the student's eyes. He could win them back but it was going to take work…he really hadn't thought that Harry would continue to act out with everyone watching though. That was a large miscalculation on his part, one that was going to cost him…
He sighted at that thought he really couldn't afford to have anything distract him at this time, not when they were literally on the brink of war. Didn't Harry understand this? They had no time for teenage rebellion or temper tantrums…not if they hoped to defeat Voldemort.
Given Harry's actions lately he had to wonder if the boy really did mean what he said at the Minstery about letting the British population reap what they had sown. Surely, it was just said in a moment of heat….he shuddered at the thought of Lord Voldemort getting his hands on Harry when he was in this state of mind, who knows what the boy would agree to….no this was not good. They needed to find the boy and find him fast.
"Prefects please escort your houses back to their dormitories. No one is to leave their houses until told otherwise…" Dumbledore instructed continuing when a groans of complaint started up, "…now, now I advise we use this as an opportunity. I know that many of you have not finished your packing for your holidays perhaps now would be a good time to do so…hop hop off you go" Dumbledore instructed allowing his eyes to twinkle once again.
While some did not buy this benevolent tone (especially after what they had just witnessed) more of the students who had already been loyal to the headmaster lapped it up easily. Dumbledore smiled; perhaps the damage done wasn't going to be as hard to repair as he had thought. Slowly the masses trickled out of the great hall following the prefects assigned to each house, when the hall was finally empty minus the teaching staff Dumbledore turned to them.
"We must find Harry and rescue him from wherever Mr. Malfoy has taken him" he stated in a serious tone.
Severus stared back at the old man incredulously, had he finally lost his mind? Any fool could see that it was Potter that had grabbed Draco and apparated him out? Was it Albus's deep seated prejudices against Slytherins affecting his judgment? or was it just that he was so desperate to believe that he was still in control of his golden boy that he was coming up with ludicrous explanations?
"And what makes you think that Potter has been taken anywhere?" he asked his tone snide and condescending.
He saw the corners of Zyren's mouth quirk beside him, while the two of them had never gotten along he could see that the daemon enjoyed the headmaster's idiocy just as much as he did.
"Well it obvious my boy" Dumbledore said gently as though speaking to a child, Severus grit his teeth to keep himself from snapping at the man, "…apparating in school wards as Ms. Granger pointed out is quite impossible. And while I am sure Mr. Potter is quite powerful, I seriously doubt he is that powerful….it only makes sense that Mr. Malfoy was had a hidden port-key and took him to Voldemort"
Minerva and Poppy gasped in horror. Severus barely refrained from rolling his eyes at the drama of it all.
"So you think that Mr. Malfoy, a student not done his schooling, somehow was able to not only sneak a port-key in past the detection wards which you, headmaster constructed after the whole Triwizard Tournament debacle not to mention find some sort of port-key that would actually work around the new 'anit-transport' wards…which include over a hundred different port key signatures-I might add and kidnap Mister Potter conveniently after the same Potter had a major fight with you about staying at Hogwarts for the Christmas break?" Severus questioned skeptically.
Dumbledore had the good grace to flush, "It is possible…" he stated though not sounding quite as sure of his words as before.
It was Minerva that was the first to decipher what Severus was trying to say and speak out loud, "Are you saying Severus, that Harry somehow managed to perform an impossible feat of magic and simply….ran away?" she asked voice full of disbelief.
"Now that would be telling" Zyren answered, not bothering to hide his amused smile.
"Telling indeed"
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Draco only managed to keep his balance after such a sudden side-along apparition due to many, many years of pureblood training…after all, it would not have done for an heir of a noble house to embarrass himself by stumbling or hurling everything whenever he was popped somewhere. He did however send a rather baleful glare Harry's way only to be met with an annoyingly smug smile. Stupid git.
He decided to see where exactly said stupid git had taken them instead of starting up what he knew would be a losing battle with the green eyed menace. Sometimes he missed the flustered, unsure boy Harry had once been…it was so much easier to be the superior one.
The manor they stood in front of looked vaguely familiar to the blond…had he been here before? And where exactly was here?
It was big, not nearly as big as the Malfoy manor of course…but then again not much was…well maybe the muggle palace by the name of Istana Nurul Iman* but since it was muggle and not magical Draco really didn't count it.
The manor was built in the same style that so many old family abodes were modeled after; it was made of distinctive stone, which given its apparent age was somewhat weathered and covered in moss and ivy. The front door was formidable looking, the brass doorknob and knocker standing out from the old knotted wood. The grounds themselves were nice, while not nearly as extensive as Draco was used to you could tell that they were cared for, the huge trees providing dappled shade across the green expanse of the lawn.
"Where are we?" Draco asked when he couldn't get his mind to cooperate with him. He was sure he had been here before if not in quite a while.
"Prince Manor" Harry replied easily and moved confidently up the stone drive, one that ended in a looped circle, obviously laid down in the days that horse and buggy were still popular.
Draco gaped at him in surprise…sure Potter had mentioned going to Severus for help with Draco's situation but he hadn't really believed him. He knew...ok, he didn't know, but he had suspected that Severus would help him when push came to shove but for his godfather to give the location of his family estate to Potter of all people was a little unbelievable. Even if they had somehow become less hostile towards each other (frankly he was surprised that they could even move past wanting to torture one another to death with the previous level of their hatred) this was a huge show of trust.
Still here was the proof…because now that Harry had said it, Draco knew that he was indeed telling the truth. This was Prince Manor…Draco had only been here once or twice and both occurrences had taken place when he was much younger (before the age of eight).
He had almost forgotten that his godfather owned a home outside that ghastly little muggle abode called spinner's end. He wondered briefly why Severus would choose to live there instead of his family home….then again there was no rhyme or reason that Draco could figure out when it came to his godfather.
"And why may I ask did you bring us here?" Draco questioned following Harry cautiously.
His question was interrupted by the appearance of a snooty looking house elf-Draco hadn't thought it was possible for a house elf to look condescending but trust his godfather to find one. He wasn't the sort of man who would want his guests to mistakenly think they were welcome in his home after all.
"Ahh…Coraly?" Harry asked hesitantly staring at the straight backed elf, "I believe Severus informed you of our possible presence here for the next few weeks?"
The house elf sniffed and tilted her already up turned nose even higher; "It's pronounced cor-a-lee…Master Diaz" she sniffed primly, not talking like any house elf Draco had ever met. Little did Draco know that Coraly was not just any house elf but a Luputian who was simply glamoured to appear like the mortal realm's house elves.
Harry of course recognized Coraly's true form and knew that they should not expect the same timid deferential stammering that was common in the mortal realm's house elves. He knew that she resented calling him master, for if they were back in the realm she would address him as apprentice Diaz, but had to refrain from doing so here…at least for now.
"Of course…I believe we will be staying in your master's home for the next two or so weeks…." Harry informed her.
The Lupitan sniffed again before nodding stiffly, "Master Snape had instructed me to tell you that he will try to come see you at least once during the break but that he is unsure of when or if he will be able to get away…he said he may bring a guest, and that you would know him Master Diaz" she stated.
Draco was suddenly reminded of Harry's big unveiling in the great hall… he would be sure to get an explanation for that. To think Harry had been hiding that amount of political power and influence was mind boggling. Oh, yes they would be talking alright…
"Yes…I believe I do. Thank you for telling me Coraly" Harry nodded at her previous statement. Draco snorted to himself, of course Potter would go around thanking house elves; he truly didn't understand how things worked…Draco was fully expecting Severus's elf to start wailing away because of it. He was more than a little shocked when the Elf appeared to expect Harry's gratitude. What the hell was going on here?
"You're rooms are prepared. Do you require dinner?" the house elf asked primly. Harry shook his head negative, before grabbing Draco's hand and dragging him up the stone steps that ended in the back of the entry way. It was only a few minutes later that Draco found himself in front of the room that the elf had mentioned.
It was clean if not a little sparse. What little furniture (a four poster bed, dresser and small desk and chair) was of obvious good quality although it was a far cry from the luxury that Draco was used too. Harry obviously saw the blond's disgruntled look and interpreted it correctly.
"I can take you back to Hogwarts….or Malfoy manor if you prefer" he offered his tone light, but the silent reprimand underneath was clear.
Draco shook his head vehemently, "No…this is….fine. It will just take me a while to get used to it…" he managed weakly.
Harry sighed but decided to let it go. Draco might have been willing to join him for the holidays but the blond was still a Malfoy and Harry had long ago learned that Malfoy's were a tad spoiled. It would take Draco a while to adjust…but Harry had no doubt that the blond would manage it. Harry realized that he hadn't answered Draco's earlier question and decided to do so now.
"As for your earlier question…I brought us here because I trust Severus and I know Dumbledore." He stated and continued when he saw Draco's questioning look, "Dumbledore will not let me go so easily, he will no doubt be sending out search parties scouring all the places he can think of me going…like my Potter properties and most likely the places he thinks you might take me if you were too kidnap me…" He chuckled at Draco's affronted look.
"This is Dumbledore we're talking about" he said in explanation and Draco nodded in understanding even if he still looked put out about it.
"But how are you able to get in…even if Severus told you the location and gave you permission he would still need to be here for you to be able to enter…I can enter because I am his godson and the wards recognize me as part of the Prince family…" Draco trailed off still not understanding how Harry had managed to enter the formidable wards.
His godfather might not be as well off as he was but the man was no slouch when it came to erecting protective wards around his property.
Harry shrugged, "I am his apprentice…it is a position that is nearly family, I would imagine that is why the wards allowed me in"
Instead of alleviating Draco's confusion it just furthered it, "his apprentice? What why-how…wh?" he fished around for the question he wanted to ask. He didn't have a clue what being an apprentice even meant, this was the first he had heard of such a position.
Harry shrugged again and stated, "Long story…one for another time"
Draco was not happy with this answer but could tell that he was not going to get much more out of the raven haired wizard at the moment. So instead of objecting he just filed his question away to reside with all the other one's he had for the (former?) savior; like how he knew Severus and their relationship, how he knew Professor Balan and their relationship, when he had become a lord of so many houses and just what that meant, where he had spent the summer and with whom, the changes…not only physical in Harry's attitude and magic, what plans he had for this break…oh questions, there were many.
He nodded with a sigh and sank down on the four poster bed, Harry paused a moment before sitting down beside him. "Ok, so we still need to talk about what we are going to do to get you out of your current mess" Harry stated after a moment.
Draco wanted to be offended at the wizard's words but knew that they held truth in them, he was in a mess.
"We will need to find some way to emancipate you from your parents…." Harry stated pausing to see if the blond would object to this-up until this year Draco had been rather proud of his heritage and if they went through with getting him emancipated he would lose his claim to his family fortunes and possibly the Malfoy name. However seeing none, he continued " It would of course be much easier if you were already passed your magical majority.." he stated though it appeared that he was talking more to himself then to Draco.
Draco chose to answer anyway, "…no not for almost two years, and I'm still a year away from getting my inheritance as well…"
Harry's head shot up, "inheritance…but that would mean…" he looked at Draco in question.
Draco sighed regretting having to let out one of his families most well guarded secrets, "…yes. The Malfoy's aren't quite as pure as they have led everyone believe" he admitted feeling a tiny bit guilty over his past behavior and spouting of pure-blooded rhetoric. Of course his father had only told him their secret last year…and boy, did Draco have trouble swallowing that pill.
Harry quirked his eye brow, "So…what?" he asked obviously asking just what Draco could inherit.
"I doubt that it will make any difference, as no Malfoy has been powerful enough for the gene's to manifest in the last ten generations…but it is possible…that I could receive an inheritance. There is apparently elf in my families' blood lines" Draco explained.
Harry couldn't deny that he was a little surprised… his thoughts went immediately to Chavi and he suppose he could see it: Draco had the same aristocratic air to him, and while their hair colors differed vastly, Draco had the same slate grey eyes and pale complexion.
"hmmm…well if you did it would solve a few things" he muttered to himself.
And it would. If Draco came into elf inheritance not only would he be granted entrance to the shadow realm unconditionally- where he could hide from Voldemort and his parents (unfortunately as long as they were his guardians and he was under aged their name, the magic and law would allow them to take any decisions Draco might want to make away from him. It was only Zyren's bangle at the moment that prevented them from tracking him down and that unfortunately was only going to last for so long) at the very least.
Not to mention inheriting (or being turned) into a non-human exempted them from both wizarding and family law in both paper and magic. Unfortunately, as Draco had said his chances of inheriting were rather unlikely not to mention even if he did it would not occur for a year; by which time Voldemort could easily force his fidelity and once sworn even an inheritance would not revoke such an oath.
"Okay, well that information is good to know and it may come in use in the future but for now we need to figure out what to do here and now. We do have a little time yet…that protection Zee gave you should not run out before close to the end of January…so we don't need to panic…yet" Harry said standing up.
Draco nodded his agreement, "so…what now?" he asked.
Harry sighed, "For now we rest and plan…I will contact both Sev and Zee and see if either of them has come up with any other plan…." He trailed off before hitting his forehead lightly.
Draco looked at him in concern…oh please let the teen not be on the verge of a mental breakdown…that would not be good, "What?" he asked cautiously.
"Hmm…oh nothing-never mind it is not important. I just remembered there was a book Zee wanted me to read…" he paused, his eyebrows scrunching together as he considered something, "…come to think of it I think he was hinting that I have you read it too…"
Draco looked at him in confusion…Zee was obviously Professor Balan, but he didn't know what the professor would want him to read. In truth the man kind of confused him…he acted like he hated him one moment, then the next Draco would see him staring at him with what looked like concern. Very disconcerting.
"ookay…" Draco answered slowly.
Harry sent him a small smile before stating that he was heading to bed and that Draco should do the same.
The blond stared after the departed wizard…he added Professor Balan's oddities to the growing list of questions.
He needed to get some answers to these questions if he was going to keep afloat in his rapidly changing circumstance.
And he needed to get them soon.
*Istana Nurul Imanpalace the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few kilometers south of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital. completion, Istana Nurul Iman, became the largest residential palace in the world and the largest single family residence ever built.
The palace contains 1,788 rooms, which includes 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can be expanded to accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people. The palace also includes a 110-car garage, an air conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and 5 swimming pools. In total, Istana Nurul Iman contains 2,152,782 square feet (200,000 m²) of floor space- Note Malfoy manor is not actually this size it is just Draco's Malfoy arrogance shining through!
