The Snake God pt. 4

They turned to face Dumbledore with shock written over their faces. Albus smirked."You didn't really think you'd be able to escape the most powerful wizard in the world, did you?"

Draco's face contorted in anger."How the hell did you get in here? It's inaccessible but for a Malfoy or a Malfoy's guest!"

A blonde with a half smirking, half sneering expression appeared out of thin air."That would be my doing, dear cousin."

Draco put a hand on Harry's shoulder to stop him drawing his wand."Later,"he muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

Turning back to the two intruders, he smiled graciously and offered them a seat at the table."Would you like a drink, gentlemen?"

Dumbledore's eyes widened just a little before he returned Draco's grin with an obviously fake one of his own."Just a bit of brandy, if you please." He motioned for Draco's cousin to sit with him. Draco beckoned Harry to a chair next to his and snapped for an elf to appear. He looked at his cousin, who sat there with narrowed eyes, wondering what he was up to. "What about you, Nicolas?"

Nicolas dismissed the question with an arrogant wave of hand."Tea, if you have it."

Harry asked for a glass of red wine, and the elf disappeared, then reappeared a second later, holding their beverages. Draco handed each to its owner.

He dismissed Harry and Dumbledore, asking Dumbledore with a teasing smirk that was anything but innocent, if he could handle leaving the room without causing Harry any harm. Dumbledore nodded tightly, and the two headed into the living room.

As soon as the others were gone, Draco's accomodating expression vanished and he turned to Nicolas with a scowl. "So this is who you choose to ally yourself with, cousin?"

Nicolas nodded, taking a small sip of tea. "Yes, it is, and I sense you do not approve."

Draco skirted around the hidden question and asked one of his own. "It is not who I would have chosen, no, but you must have had your reasons."

"Well, dislike of Harry Potter, as with every Malfoy..apparently excluding you...and a handsome fee I'm paid, of course."

Draco's eyes narrowed at the implied insult."I haven't a reason to dislike Harry anymore, seeing as he isn't a Potter or an ally of Dumbledore's. Care to know his true identity?"

Nicolas attempted to look bored, but his sharp tongue had ceased, so Draco knew he was curious."You remember the legend of Tom Riddle's grandson, do you not?"

Nicolas fought to conceal his reaction, but a slight dim of the triumphant glimmer in his eyes showed he was surprised and not at all pleased by this development."Harry Potter is the amazingly powerful grandson we've been told of? How's that for irony?"

"Not even, as it turns out. The only reason Harry was hit by Avada Kedavra at infancy was because Dumbledore dodged our Lord's curse and hit his grandson instead."

Nicolas was obviously shocked by this news, so Draco decided to just sit back and let him stew for a bit, knowing if he was a true Malfoy, that was all it would take to come to their side.

A few minutes later, Nicolas stood up with a slight bow and walked out of the room, his tea drained. Draco followed him with a smirk.

"Dumbledore, sir, I respectfully resign from your employ. It has come to my attention that my skills would be put to better use elsewhere. But, thank you."

Dumbledore looked up and pinned Draco with a heated glare. Harry smiled at him behind the man's back, his eyes laughing at his enemy's misfortune. He winked at Harry, grinning just a bit himself.

Draco brought himself up to his full height and leveled a Malfoy Death Glare back at Dumbledore."As of now, Albus Dumbledore, you are trespassing."

Dumbledore stood up to his intimidating height, glaring back fiercely, but Draco held his ground.

Suddenly, he felt someone come up behind him, and a voice like his own, but deeper, and angrier, spoke."Get the hell out of my house, Albus."

Albus Dumbledore knew when he was defeated by legalities, and that time was now. But, stubborn as he was, he was not going down without a fight."As a member of the Wizengamot, I am bound to stay until Harry will agree to accompany me out of the house, or call members of the Magical Enforcement Squad to forcibly remove him, as he is hereby labeled as a dangerous convict on the run."

Draco watched Lucius scratch his chin thoughtfully."I suppose you are correct. Harry, you are bound by law to go to Azkaban for the staged rape, until you are proven innocent, but I promise, Draco, Nicolas and I will find a way to clear your name."

Harry turned pleading eyes on Draco, who melted."No, Father. Harry does not leave this house..to Azkaban or anywhere else."

Lucius gave Draco an annoyed glance."Son, it is not something I want to do but we must abide the laws of the wizarding world until we can prove this was a false rape, one staged by someone in this very room."

Draco bowed his head, defeated, shooting Harry an apologetic glance.

Dumbledore whispered some Latin words and magical cuffs appeared on Harry's wrists. Harry fought the tears of fear and anger, biting his lip to keep from wandlessly hexing Dumbledore and thereby making his situation worse. He blew a kiss to Draco and nodded at Lucius and Nicolas, letting Dumbledore lead him from the house.

He turned around for the last glimpse of daylight he'd get for a while, and sighed.

tbc...oi vey, I'm sorry, but sigh cliffhanger. thy name is Andrea.