Empire and Exigency
Chapter 6 : Renewal
by Annie B

Rated PG-13

JKR owns all things Hogwarts. That's why she gets paid and I don't.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco winced as he hit the water. Not hard. The curving slide had slowed their fall, but hard enough to land him on his backside and soak his robe.

Weasley engineering at it's worst.

Perhaps they should have hired someone other than Fred and George. But who else could they have trusted? A secret between three is secret when two are dead, and this 'small circle of friends' already was up to - Draco counted quickly - too damn many.

He rolled aside, just quick enough to avoid getting squashed by a falling Hermione. Then rolled back, because a lap full of Hermione was - after all - not entirely a bad thing.

Wet Hermione. Draco grinned. Her pajama top was white, and it clung.

He helped her to her feet.

She was a bit breathless.

He made sure she was more so. Kissing stopped talking, and while he honestly appreciated his girl's cleverness this was not the time for a lecture.

That done, he cast a quick drying spell. Tonight was going to be difficult enough as it was. He didn't need to add pneumonia. Although it *would* be rather brilliant explaining to Madam Pomfrey how he had managed to catch wizard's flu. 'You see, ma'am', the little voice in his head recited 'I was laying in this pool, with this girl on top of me, and it wouldn't have been polite to ask her to move so..."

"Stop it."

He must have been muttering. Either that, or Hermione was learning to read his mind. He was going to have to double up on Occlumancy tutoring. Not that he didn't adore the girl but... his parents had long ago explained that well kept secrets were the best foundation for a happy marriage.

"Hurry." Hermione held up her wand, the fairy light at its tip illuminating a short stone pier. "One of the boats is already gone."

"And we would hate to keep anyone waiting. So discourteous."

"Draco!"

"Sorry, love. Just nervous." He lit his own wand. "You know it makes me snide."

"So that's your excuse."

"Always."

The first hitch was empty, it's space now showing the ends of the tie rope and a few ragged cork floats.

Another boat was tied to the far post. It was a small boat, something between a canoe and a row boat, but carved stern and prow like a Viking ship. Just now it was asleep, the rudder tail wrapped over the dragon head of the prow.

He waved his wand at the boat. "Wake up, lizard belly."

The boat's dragon head snapped up, shooting two thin lines of hot steam. The pointed tail swung around.

"Pa---leeease." From Draco's tone, it was not a request. "Business here."

The figurehead's eyes burned red.

Draco flashed his ring.

The boat rocked up against the pier, two oars crossing to form a ramp.

Draco helped Hermione in, then quickly jumped on himself before the boat could 'accidentally' shift away.

"Get moving." Draco told the boat.

With a bitter creek of leather, the wing-scalloped sails raised themselves, catching the thin breeze that moved over the sluggish waters of the underground river.

"And watch it with the oars." Draco warned. "If you splash the lady, I'll have you hauling garbage in New Jersey."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ron!" Harry Potter reached for the door handle the moment the car stopped rolling." Is the package here?"

"In the trunk." Ron stroked the dashboard soothingly easing off the gas peddle until the engine settled down to a contented purr.

The door swung open on its own.

Ron stepped out, closing the door gently behind him.

"Ron!" Harry was clearly trying to sound stern. It would have been more convincing if he hadn't laughed.

"Safest place." Ron did his best to look innocent. Unfortunately, hew as no actor. A wicked humor glittered behind his eyes. "Hate to lose your... gift... at the last minute. After all, it cost enough."

"Weasley thrift." Harry stepped to the back of the car and waited patiently for the trunk to open. "I prefer to think if it as an... investment."

"One that had better pay off ." Ron growled. "Or I'm taking my 'interest' out of someone's hide."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The boat knew the way, so Draco and Hermione had nothing to do ( well - nothing official - kissing didn't count ) until they pulled up to a second, even smaller dock driven into the sand beach of what looked like a natural cave. It was a shabby wooden thing, little more then a jumble of blackened logs. Most of the posts were old, half rotted below the water line, although here and there a fresh plank had been added to the uneven walkway.

Pale cave fish darted in the wake. Sand creatures skittered, stirring the plankton to a sickly green glow. Moss and lichen clung to the lower rocks, and overhead there came the flap of something other than enchanted sails. A bat, Draco hoped. Preferably of the non-vampire variety. Although given their location ( far too deep within the Forbidden Forest ) and Hagrid's habit of cultivating the exotically unfriendly? Perhaps, Draco thought wryly, he should hope *for* vampire bats - in preference to vampires proper.

Another dragon boat was already there, tied up to a rusted iron brace. There was a bit of bad-natured hissing and bumping before space was made for the newcomer.

(Dragon boats had their virtues. Good humor was not one of them. )

A battered tin candle lantern had been hung over the land end of the walkway - more as a marker then as actual illumination.

Beyond that, a sand path lined with river rocks lead up to five carved stairs, which in turn lead to a iron strapped wooden door. The door was open, its heavy latch pushed aside. Past that, reflecting into the darkness of the cave, was a brighter light. Not the steady blue of sunlight, but the yellow-white flicker of fresh beeswax candles.

"We're here." Hermione said, breaking the heavy silence.

Draco took her hand. "I'm glad you're here."

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad you want me here."

Side by side they walked up the curving path and mounted the stone steps.

In the doorway, Draco stopped. Slowly, meticulously, he took in the scene before him.

An aura of raw misery permeated the chamber; a despair deeper then grief.

Draco pressed Hermione back.

Harry Potter stood in the center of the cave chamber, feet planted and wand forward in the classic dueling pose. Before him pranced his Patronus, a huge silver stag. Its wide antlers dipped and spun as sharp ghostly hooves pranced ever nearer to a ragged black man-shape huddled beneath it.

Ronald Weasley stood to Potter's left. Shield position. He had his wand up and back, ready to cast if Potter's spell faltered.

Really, Draco thought, to look at them one would have thought that Dumbledore had hired a *competent* DADA teacher. Other than the fuzz-ball, that was.

Dimming his wand, but not putting it away, Draco stepped up to Potter's right. "Vertita!" he shouted.

The figure quivered. Not just shook normally, but broke into waves of light and dark. It looked like a television show - the broadcast kind - seen in the middle of a nasty thunderstorm.

"Ablato!"

A small gold ball broke free and bounced across the floor.

Harry released the stag.

The cowled figure staggered to its feet.

Draco smiled - very slightly. "Hello father."

End Chapter Six

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Daintress - Me? Up to something? It's Draco and the new Marauders who are up to something. *grin*

samantha - Does this tell you what's going on? well- no - not yet - but maybe next chapter. (And yes - the dragon here does mean something eternal. Harry, Ron. Hermione and - yes - even Draco's friendship. But still- you bite your tail - your gonna hurt yourself. Something I think Draco has to learn if he's going to *be* a friend.)