Chapter 4: Point Man

Harry walked into the white house six months later with a smile on his lips they had been in office for a while now and they had gotten further than they had hoped on all fronts, "Good morning Donna, tell the staff that they have ten minutes then I want senior briefing." Harry called as he walked into his office depositing his jacket before checking on the president who was enjoying a morning coffee. "Good morning sir how's the ankle?" Harry asked.

"Are you mocking me Harry?" he asked.

"Now why would I do that sir, I would have thought you learned the lesson first time round." Harry said with a grin.

"I shall remember that, the boys get of okay?" he asked.

"They left this morning, the twins were well not happy that they had to leave Michael and Orion behind." Harry said to him Jed laughed.

"Why Orion? Its been bugging me for weeks." Jed asked.

"After my godfather, his middle name is Orion so we called Orion Sirius." Harry said.

"Sirius as in Seriously thought through?" Jed asked.

"No as in the dog star sir." Harry said the man laughed nodding his head in understanding.

"You looking for my point man this afternoon." Jed asked.

"Yes sir, I have Sam interviewing most of them but there is someone the pool sent up that I am seeing after the morning meeting." Harry said to him Jed nodded his head. "Sir you have your morning security briefing with Fitz in twenty minutes then the ambassador to France the new one is dropping by for a chat at Ten. We have the minority leader dropping by for a chat after that, apparently we have some resistance from the far right to our equal rights boy James Landry the main opponent to the bill is coming with him. Apparently his quite the fire cracker." Harry said to him with a smile on his face Jed laughed.

"Your sit in on that meeting?" Jed asked.

"Of course sir, I believe since I have done most of the lobbying for the bill I can sit in on this one." Harry said the man nodded. "I have senior staff sir with your permission." Harry said.

"Of course Harry." Jed said.

"Thank you sir." Harry said as he walked back into his office to find all of the staff waiting for him. "Good morning its 70 outside and its about to be below freezing in here, we have the minority leader coming by with Landry to argue with us about the bill that is a meeting I am going to be sitting in and you can expect that the meeting will last most of the day. Sam your be looking for the point man I have just one to check over a guy called Charlie Young sent to us via the pool. Toby I don't care what you do but I want to keep Josh as far away from me and the president as possible, tell him that after yesterday he can expect a call from my office later." Harry said to him Toby nodded.

"Its done." Toby said.

"What else do we have?" Harry asked.

"Danny is asking what we will do with Josh do we know?" CJ asked.

"No we don't know if I have my way his out." Harry said to him. "The idiot went on the record and gave me a headache the size of New York, if he stays I want to make damn sure that moron does not get back on the TV." Harry snarled. "Lets get to work, keep me updated through out the day." Harry said to them the group nodded. "DONNA where the hell is this kid?" Harry shouted out the open door the blond appeared.

"His in the war room." Donna said.

"I'm here you put him in the war room." Harry sighed as he put his jacket back on and walked down the hall to the room Harry opened the door to the war room to find a nervous black lad sitting at the table. "Please god tell me your Charlie Young?" Harry said.

"Yes sir, I was expecting to be seen by the pool sir I applied for a runners job." Charlie said to him.

"Yes the pool sent you up to us." Harry said. "Would you like a coffee or something?" Harry asked.

"No thank you sir." Charlie said.

"Its Harry, you make me feel old when you call me sir." Harry said to him the man smiled.

"About the runners job." Charlie said.

"Yeah about that its gone, what we have in mind for you is something a little more senior than that." Harry said to him.

"I don't have any college education sir." Charlie said.

"I'm going to slap you if you call me sir one more time." Harry said Charlie smiled. "I have two sets of twin boys none of which call me sir Charlie, what we want is a point man for the president." Harry said to him.

"What would it entail?" Charlie asked.

"You'd make sure he kept to his appointments, carry things be in charge of his diary liaise with the secretaries and pool a whole heap of things that are important to the presidents day." Harry said to him the boy nodded. "Charlie I am going to be honest with you I liked you when I came into the room, it doesn't matter that you don't have an education, your going to get one yes?" Harry asked the boy nodded. "Good do you want the job?" Harry asked the boy nodded. "Give me a moment." Harry said to him.

Harry walked out of the room down the hall to Sam's office knocking before coming in, "David this is the white house chief of staff." Sam said.

"Out side Sam." Harry said to him the man nodded leaving the room Harry closed the door behind them. "Get rid of him and cancel the rest, we have our man." Harry said to the man who stared. "Your sure?" he asked.

"Absolutely." Harry said. "I need you to come sit in on this." Harry said to him looking at his watch. "I have half hour before I am needed in my next meeting." Harry said to him Sam nodded walking back into his office Harry returned to Charlie who rose. "You don't stand when I walk into the room you do that for the president." Harry said Charlie laughed.

"Can I ask why its taken so long to appoint someone sir?" Charlie asked Harry slapped the back of his head as he sat down. "Harry." he amended.

"You learn fast that's good." Harry said the boy chuckled. "What is your home life like?" Harry asked making notes on a pad.

"My mother was killed in the line of duty sir, I have a little sister and well I need to make money." Charlie said to him.

"I understand, your be working long hours very long hours in this job. You go home when he does which means some days 8 in the even or midnight." Harry said to him. "Sometimes we don't go home." Harry added.

"I can manage that sir." Charlie said.

"Good because I just sent the other candidates home." Harry said Charlie's eyes widened. "You're the man I want, and as people will tell you I generally get what I want." Harry said Charlie nodded as Harry flipped his page writing something down ripping it of. "I was a single parent most of the last ten years so I had a nanny, if your sister is young give this woman a call she's excellent." Harry said to him ripping it off and handing it to the man as Sam walked in.

"Charlie Young this is Sam Seaborne his the deputy white house chief of staff." Harry said to the man.

"Nice to meet you Charlie." Sam said.

"You to Sam." Charlie responded Harry laughed.

"You do learn quickly." Harry said to him Charlie chuckled. "Lets go meet him he should be on his own for a while." Harry said to him as they walked out of the room to the office beside the oval Office. "Is he alone?" Harry asked.

"Yes he is you can go straight in Harry you know that." Mrs. Laningham.

"This is Charlie Young the presidents foot man." Harry said to her.

"You found one, well hello Charlie welcome to the office that will be your desk there." she said to him.

"Mr. President." Harry said as they stepped into the room Bartlett looked up as they came in, "This is Charlie Young, his your new foot man." Harry said to the president.

"Charlie its good to meet you, what did we do to get you young man stick a gun to your head?" Jed asked Harry bit his lip but rolled his eyes Sam was trying hard not to laugh.

"Something like that sir." Charlie said to him.

"We have to get him through the checks sir but I imagine in side the next week we can save the interns." Harry said Jed laughed at this.

"Harry stay would you, I am sure Sam can handle the rest with Charlie." Jed said to him.

"Charlie I'll see you when you start, Sam get him something to drink his going to be here most of the day filling out forms." Harry said to his second who nodded as he lead the boy out of the room Harry sat down in his favourite chair in the room opposite the president. "His going to do you proud." Harry said to the president.

"I have no doubt, I wanted to talk to you about Josh Lyman." Jed said Harry took his glasses of to rub his eyes before replacing his glasses on his nose. "Yeah I thought you might do something like that." Jed said to him. "The vice president says we should give him a second shot." Jed said to him Harry growled an actual growl making the president laugh.

"How many chances are we going to give him sir?" Harry asked.

"Your willing?" Jed asked.

"In the end its your decision sir but he has to go sooner rather than later." Harry said to him.

"Its your decision Harry." Jed said to him.

"No sir its yours I am not in charge of the VP's office I run your office, and I need you to know that its your decision sir." Harry said to him the man stared at him. "He has to go that's my opinion, every time he screws up its me that's picking up the pieces. I need support in the party to get the bill through after that stunt last night I have another problem to add to my list." Harry said to him the president nodded his head.

"I'll talk to the VP." Jed said.

"What did Toby tell you?" Harry asked.

"How do you know he talked to me about Josh." Jed said Harry raised an eyebrow at the president who chuckled. "He told me what you just did that he has to go." Jed said to Harry.

"Sir your appointment is here." Mrs. Laningham said as she walked into the room.

"Thank you Mrs. Laningham, would you organize some coffee." Jed said to her she nodded.

"A bucket of ice water would not go a miss either." Harry said to her she laughed as she walked out of the room the minority leader walked in after her followed by Landry. "Good morning Alex, James thanks for dropping by." Harry said the president indicated the sofa's as they sat down around the table in front of the presidential seal.

"You know Harry my chief of staff." Jed said.

"We've met several times." the leader said to him. "Mr. President you can't run this bill it will destroy our rights reputation." the leader said Harry snorted. "You have a problem with that." he demanded.

"Sir I have a problem with anyone who turns around and asks us not to run a bill that will destroy the far right of three senators reputations." Harry said to him. "What's the real reason Alex?" Harry asked his tone telling them both they didn't believe a word of the excuse given.

"This bill won't get through it's a disgrace, no one believes in equal rights for gay marriages." Landry snarled.

"You have eight gay senators in the democratic party five more in the republican party four lesbians on both sides and seven bisexuals on the senate so tell me again how I won't get support for something that this country is crying out for James." Harry asked the man with a sneer perfected through years of knowing Snape and Draco.

"I don't think I like your tone." Landry snarled.

"Harry has a point, the president that being me stands by this bill and like Harry said it has the backing to get through as it stands now, we have been lobbying this since week two in the white house you could have come earlier and I would have listened to you not now. This bill will become law whether you like it or not." Bartlett said to the man. "Your remember also that Harry is my chief of staff and as such you will treat him with the same respect that you treat me or face my displeasure." Bartlett added as an after thought.

"This will never get through the senate." Landry snarled.

"We'll see and when it does I can expect a formal apology from you both can I?" Harry asked as they both stormed out of the room. "Now Monday we just have to pray that our friends will get this through the house." Harry said to Jed.

"Are you sure they have our backs?" Jed asked.

"Yes sir positive, now what do you want me to do with Lyman." Harry asked.

"Get rid of him." Jed said.

"That's the final word on it sir?" Harry asked the man nodded. "Thank you Mr. President." Harry said walking through his door into his own office. "Donna call the VP's office and have Josh Lyman drop by my office now." Harry said through the open door way the blond appeared.

"So it happened?" Donna asked.

"Yes it happened get him here." Harry said.

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"You asked to see me." Josh Lyman said stepping through his door a half hour later Sam sitting beside his desk.

"Thank you for coming Josh have a seat." Harry said to him.

"I think I'd rather stand." Josh replied.

"Fair enough, you know why you're here presumably." Harry said to him.

"Yes I know." Josh replied.

"You're an embarrassment Josh, you embarrassed the VP and the president, at a time when we needed allies to get through one of the most important votes this presidency will have." Harry said to him Josh stared at him. "Your fired you have half hour to clear your things out of your desk and vacate the premises after which time I will have security help you out of the building." Harry said to him his tone deadly serious.

"You can't do that the president as to." Josh snapped.

"This is coming from the president now get out." Harry said to him the man stormed out of the room.

"I'll talk to Toby get a press release ready before he can roll this on us." Sam said.

"Thanks Sam, I knew I made the right decision when I made you my deputy." Harry said to him the man nodded before leaving the room. "Donna get me CJ in here please." Harry said to his secretary. "Tell her its about Josh Lyman." Harry said to her she smiled before leaving the room again with a smile on her face.

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Harry walked into the house at seven that night with a smile on his face and completely exhausted from the days events, "Harry your home early." Lily said as he walked into the kitchen the twins were in their cots taking a bottle on the top of the kitchen table Harry took the bottle from his mum and started to feed his son. "You were on the news." she said.

"Now that doesn't surprise me after what I did this morning." Harry said to her.

"You fired the VP's chief of staff." Draco said walking into the lounge his hair wet. "Good day after that?" he asked.

"What do you think?" Harry asked him Draco smiled. "Yeah that about sums it up." Harry said to him as Draco went about heating Harry's own food up. "How was your day?" Harry asked him Draco smiled.

"We went for a walk through the park." Draco said to him. "Then we had lunch at Pierre's with mum and dad after that." Draco said to him.

"Spoiled." Harry said taking in the new bear on his sons bouncer. "You mister are so spoiled." Harry said to his son as he picked up his son placing a towel on his suit jacket and burping him softly. "Yes Orion you are a spoiled little one." Harry said to him soothingly as the baby rewarded him with a large burp. "How's Michael been today?" Harry asked his mate.

"Excellent his colic as cleared up a little to." Draco said Harry nodded.

"I'm going to take a shower, can you drop this suit into the dry cleaners in the morning for me please love." Harry said to him Draco smiled nodding his head.

"Sure thing Harry, I love taking these guys out." Draco said to him.

"Thanks honey, we have a trip to England next week, state dinner with the prime minister before G8." Harry said to him.

"Your be gone for a couple of days?" Draco asked.

"Yes I am, lets talk in a little while Draco I need to have a shower." Harry said kissing him lightly the man smiled into the kiss before he disappeared up the stairs Lily came over to her son in law.

"You okay honey?" Lily asked.

"Yeah I know this is a part of his job." Draco said.

"It never gets easier when you're the one waving them of every time does it." Lily said.

"No not really, at least his not going into combat and his on the safest plane in the world." Draco said to her she laughed. "The twins are to young to travel so he goes alone." Draco said Lily nodded.

"Even if they were he'll be working the entire trip." James said to him. "They fly on Wednesday, the vote is on Monday." James added. "I asked Harry for a copy of his schedule for next week, he mentioned that he would be busy." James said to Draco as he passed the paper to him Draco scanned it and gulped.

"He has a lot of things going on next week." Draco said to his father in law.

"Your mum and dad are coming over next week." Lily said Draco smiled. "I think Harry called them because he knew that he would be out of town next week." Lily said to Draco who nodded in understanding.

An hour later and Harry was back in the kitchen hair wet looking totally like a dad in control of his life, "Oh thank god I didn't get time for lunch this afternoon I have been in meeting after meeting all day." Harry said as he took the large plate of food from his mother and started to munch on the food in front of him.

"You need to make sure you eat." Draco said to him in a growl.

"Easier said than done, dad gave you my schedule I see. Draco that doesn't leave the house, I do not need the press or some nutter getting a hold of it I could be fired for giving it to you." Harry said to him Draco nodded.

"Is it that bad?" Lily asked.

"I have code word clearance, my schedule is the presidents schedule, when he goes in to the sit room I get called in to the sit room." Harry said to him. "When the president is making decisions I am right there with him mum, he has to be able to trust me and that schedule getting leaked would destroy that." Harry said to her she nodded.

"How long are you in England for?" she asked.

"It will be a two day trip we fly back on Friday morning leaving early Wednesday morning." Harry said to her. "We have hotels booked but we'll be working most of it including when we are in the air." Harry said to her she stared. "Welcome to the wonderful world of the white house." Harry said his dad snorting the boys were asleep on the counter.

"They are dead to the world." Draco said.

"Just like their brothers." Harry said to him.

"We should change them for bed." Draco said Harry shook his head. "But…" he started.

"Draco I'm not waking them up come on we can put them to bed." Harry said Draco looked unsure about it. "Trust me honey I know what I am doing." Harry said to him Draco laughed. "Where is Sirius and for that matter where is Remus?" Harry asked having not seen his godfathers since he came in the door.

"They went clubbing." Lily said Harry giggled his mother glared.

"I have this image of a werewolf and his mate trying to regain the teen years." Harry said to her James laughed. "Why didn't you go with them?" Harry asked his father.

"Your mum is pregnant." James said to him Harry laughed.

"That stopped you?" Harry asked his mother laughed. "Is the daddy feeling a little protective?" Harry mocked him causing his father to growl. "That is sweet." Harry said.

Harry's pager went of a moment later, Harry lifted it up to his eyes so he could see the thing before standing up.

"Is my suit for tomorrow ready?" Harry asked.

"Yes its hanging up in our rooms." Draco said before Harry sprinted down the hall pager in hand. "Harry what the hell is going on?" Draco shot at him as he chased after his mate.

"CJ was attacked on the way home, I just got the call and I am going to the hospital to check on her." Harry said to him Draco stared. "That's it, they say she's in a bad way and I am not standing around while someone I consider a friend is in the hospital sorry hun I have to go in and check on her." Harry said to him Draco nodded as he slipped into his suit.

"It is cool, I thought it was something worse the way you run out of the room, go check on your friend and try to get home before you have to go to work." Draco said kissing him.

"I'll try, I'll call you if I am not coming home, I can catch some sleep in my office." Harry said Draco nodded. "Let mum and dad know okay, and kiss the twins when they wake up for me." Harry said to him Draco nodded.

Harry headed out of the door without a word to his parents and to his car.

"What happened?" James asked.

"CJ was attacked." Draco said to him Lily gasped.

"Is she okay?" Lily asked.

"He doesn't know which is why he left in a hurry." Draco said to her.

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Harry walked into the ER at a stride and up to the desk, "CJ Creeg was brought in?" Harry asked.

"You are?" the woman said.

"Her boss." Harry said to her shortly.

"She's in x-ray." the woman said.

"Where is x-ray?" Harry asked.

"I'm sorry your have to wait here, she is under police escort." the woman said.

"Yes I know I made the call where is x-ray." Harry snapped.

"Sir there is no need to get snappy." the nurse snarled.

Harry looked up and around for signs taking the right door he left the woman standing and fuming as well as screaming for him to come back, Harry managed to get to x-ray where Toby and Sam were waiting for him.

"How is she?" Harry asked.

"She's fairing up." Sam said.

"Sir you can't come in here." a police officer said to him placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I am CJ's boss and here on the presidents request." Harry said to her. "That's your boss so back of." Harry snapped at her as the door to x-ray opened CJ looking battered and bruised her arm in a sling. "CJ your out doing me this isn't fair." Harry said stamping his foot she smiled. "How are you?" he asked as she hugged him.

"Beaten but not broken." she said to him.

"Yeah that arm says other wise." Harry said she chuckled. "Take a couple of days of between me and Sam we can handle the press." Harry said to her.

"I would rather not have you do that Harry." CJ said to him.

"CJ you just got beat on take a couple of days, I don't want to hear your arguments take a couple of days let that arm heal a little bit." Harry said to her. "I'm going to head home and get some sleep so I will see you all in the morning CJ I'll see you in a couple of days." Harry said to her before walking out of the waiting area.