Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
A/N: For a supportive literary friend: Ollie the Keeper.
Chapter Eighteen: Ollie and the Girls
-Flashback-
The two men eyed one another for long moments. One looked at the other with a myriad of mixed emotions, the least of which was contempt.
The other held his gaze with impassive curiosity.
"Isn't their someone else I could speak with,...please?"
It was not lost on Draco the difficulty with which Minister Weasley was trying to remain polite; he had good reason to loath Draco after the way with which he had mistreated his only daughter.
Draco had done his level best to make amends for that and as far as he was concerned he had all the forgiveness he needed from the two parties involved. Asking the minister's forgiveness was the height of poor taste, let along hypocrisy. Draco couldn't and wouldn't ever forgive someone for what he did, if he ever had a daughter of his own.
Draco answered politely in return, without the slightest hint of difficulty. He'd misused the man's daughter; the least he could be was polite.
"I'm sorry, Minister, I was told you wanted to speak to the person in charge. Though I only hold the rank of Captain, I am currently the highest ranking officer available until this base is fully operational and a permanent commander is selected." he explained in an apologetic tone.
Arthur nodded his understanding, but that did little to change the glare he held Draco with.
"I see. Alright then, I'll get right to my point. While this may or may not be an emergency, I felt it prudent to contact Knight Watch immediately to inquire into the welfare of Knight Potter. We've had an unusual occurrence this evening and we're rather concerned about the Knight's wellbeing?" Arthur enquired diplomatically.
Draco grimaced slightly, but otherwise said nothing other than to enquire in return. "Could you please be more specific and relay the events as they occurred...please?"
Though exasperated, both with worry and with having to deal with Draco Malfoy, of all people, he quickly detailed the events as they we're relayed to him earlier.
Draco stared blankly long moments after Arthur finished his tale. He shouldn't be surprised at this point, not after everything he'd experienced with Harry, but this?
"Captain Malfoy?" Arthur inquired, anxiously waiting.
"S-Sorry Minister." Draco apologized, struggling to gather his wits. "You've just filled in a few blanks for us on our end as to what exactly happened earlier. Are Mrs. Weasley and the baby alright... he'll want to know?" Draco explained, knowing that if he asked in Harry's behalf the man might be more forthcoming.
Arthur smiled relieved. They're both fine, thanks to Harry. He's alright then?" Arthur assumed.
Draco hesitated slightly, answering with no little worry in his voice. "We think he will be eventually."
Arthur's fears went into overdrive. "Can we see him?"
Draco grimaced at that. "He's recovering at the moment and cannot be disturbed. I can assure you our medical staff and facilities are the finest to be had and he's in the best of care." Draco tried to allay the man's fears as best he might.
"Please, just a few moments, it would mean so much to Molly and the children?" Arthur pleaded for him to reconsider and allow the family to visit.
"I-I am sorry, Minister, truly I am, but that's quite impossible. Our location remains privileged information for security reasons to which there are no exceptions. Besides that, first and foremost, I would never presume to prey upon the knight's privacy without his express consent and at the moment he is resting and I am unable ascertain his willingness to allow a visit from you and yours."
Not to be dissuaded, Arthur played his trump card. "You owe this family, Captain. I think the least you could do is allow a few of us a brief visit just for our peace of mind. The family is sick with worry over Harry."
Draco's visage tightened. "While I admit I owe a debt that I can never fully repay your family. I cannot even conceive doing so at the Knight's expense. Knight Potter's well being is my concern, not your family's, sir. He is unconscious and unable to fend for himself. I would not allow anyone, but Knight Watch personnel, access to him and even then only those whose presence is absolutely required and under the strictest of guard. I wouldn't allow Merlin himself a private visit if he bent over and kissed my arse whilst humming "A teaspoon of sugar helps the medicine go down!"
Arthur snorted, despite himself, at that. "Could you at least notify me if there's any change?" he asked politely in concession
Draco's features softened. "Of course I will."
Arthur nodded his thanks for that. "W-When he wakes; would you tell him that Hermione and the baby Harry are fine, thanks to him."
"Baby- Harry?" Draco startled at that, but quickly recovered, returning with a smile. "I should be most pleased to relay your message, minister."
"If their anything he needs, anything in the world?" Arthur offered sincerely.
"Then he shall have it." Draco vowed.
"Not that he'll actually ask, let alone accept it." Arthur added knowingly.
Draco nodded his agreement.
Sobering, Arthur asked reluctantly. "I've no right to ask, not after how I let things deteriorate between us...?"
Draco snorted derisively at that.
Arthur caught the sarcasm. "I take it you know what transpired between Harry and me?"
It wasn't so much a question as an affirmation.
Draco nodded. "I have the unique privilege of holding his trust." he acknowledged proudly.
"Could you tell me then if...?" he left off at seeing Draco shake his head negatively before he could finish his inquiry.
"I would consider any small bit of insight a large return on the debt owed over past transgressions." Arthur ventured.
"You'd accept one debt of honor repaid at the expense of another?" Draco asked incredulously.
Arthur shook his head appreciatively and Draco realized the man was merely testing his faithfulness to Harry.
"You will look after him?" Arthur reminded.
"We all will." Draco vowed, adding, "If I may be so bold, Minister?"
Arthur nodded his permission.
"Knowing as I do what happened between you and also suspecting the why and wherefores,...While I can empathize with your wishes to protect your family I cannot help but wonder if you haven't gotten things reversed?"
Arthur's expression turned pensive. "I... don't understand?"
"We here, in the know, see things differently, albeit more objectively. You profess that Harry's activities put your family at risk, I believe you exact words were that he would: "One day get one of your children killed?"
Arthur nodded ashamedly, acknowledging reluctantly. "Yes, I did say something to that effect, but have come to realize the error of my ways and fervently wish to make amends."
"Good" Draco acknowledged. "Then you've come to the same conclusion as the rest of us that it isn't your children at risk, but rather; just how long before one of them gets Harry killed?"
"We...we know that's probably more realistic than the reverse. Unfortunately, we realized the folly of our ways too late. I and my family have since pledged ourselves to aid him in any and every way we can." Arthur struggled to reassure his contact.
Draco nodded his understanding adding supportively. "Though such revelations came too late to reconcile your differences before you separated, in retrospect, the world as a whole has benefitted from your falling out."
At seeing Arthur's look of trepidation, he hastily added further. "Don't beat yourself up over what's done, minister, but look to a brighter future. Harry was obviously planning for this for some time. You and yours we're merely the catalyst in hastening his decision to move his plans forward. I know that he harbors some disappointment and regret, but I also know that he doesn't hold any grudges and still cares for you all great deal."
"As do we him."
Arthur was about to end their conversation for the night, when a thought occurred. "Would you be any chance know if he's read Hermione's book?"
Draco's eyes tightened uncomfortably. "I,..I don't think so, at least I hope not?" he returned vaguely.
Obviously taken aback at that, Arthur pressed. "Surely he's aware of it? It's a best seller throughout the magical world."
Draco acknowledged that, "I believe he's recently become aware of the book."
"Recently, but it's been out in publication for nearly six months already?" Arthur responded incredulously.
Draco grimaced. "He's been rather busy of late." Draco explained half heartedly, amending, "To be frank, we've all done our level best to aid him in remaining ignorant of its existence."
"I see." Arthur returned coolly, the contempt back in his voice and his gaze.
Draco sighed. "No,.. I can see that you don't-see." Draco refuted, explaining, "Do you honestly think the publishing of a 'tell-all' book is going to elicit his total forgiveness for past transgressions? Even a book such as this is still no more than a veiled message of apology. My God, you know the man, but still don't know the man!" Draco rallied. "Deeds matter to him above all else. Its one thing to say "I'm sorry", it's quite another to show your sorry. Words are meaningless if one's actions don't validate them."
"He's given her no other means to communicate with him, how is she and the rest of us to communicate our regret, let alone show it, if we're given no opportunity to do so?" Arthur defended Hermione's and the rest of his family's actions.
Draco snorted derisively at that. "Does her book strike you as only an apology or did she just lay the man's soul bare for the entire magical world to scrutinize?"
Arthur grimaced at that. He'd be lying if he didn't admit he'd considered much the same, despite Hermione's reasoning to the opposite.
"You've read it, I take it?" He asked, genuinely interested in what Harry's 'closest associate' thought of Hermione's endeavor.
"I have." He returned flatly. "I both appreciate and regret having done so."
"Could you explain that?" Arthur asked curiously.
"I thought it a triumph of the human spirit- awe inspiring. It explains much that I didn't know from our school years and served to make me feel that much smaller for the role I played in those troubled times."
"And that's why you regret having read it." Arthur assumed.
"No" Draco denied, clarifying. "I regret having read it, because I know he'll see it as an invasion of his privacy. However much I feel I've personally gained from reading what could arguably be described as the "adventure of a lifetime", I know him, he will be embarrassed by this. Mrs. Granger describes unwavering love and devotion between friends whose very friendships were tested in fires beyond our imagining. There's such a connection of deep abiding love, pride and faith between them that so many of us can only dream of, let alone hope to achieve; but those are things that Harry keeps in here." Draco pointed to his heart. "He doesn't wear them here." He indicated his sleeve.
"This is only going to draw more attention to him, and you know how he feels about that?" Draco confided.
"And I suppose his performing and quidditch play, not to mention his status as a Magical Knight and the reforms he's instituting worldwide aren't accomplishing that already?" Arthur snapped back dubiously.
Draco shook his head sadly, explaining: "Those things he does for a variety of reasons, but mainly he does them for the benefit of others at the expense of his own peace and privacy, but this? He did these things with them and for them. This is a profoundly personal account that maybe should have been kept solely between the three of them."
Arthur was shaken to his core, having not fully considered the ramifications of what Harry's response might have been. He struggled to defend Hermione's actions.
"H-Hermione only wanted the rest of the world to see what Harry and Ron are? That they're men; incredibly brave and loving men, but for all of that, just men. Men with the same hopes and dreams, wants and desires as the rest of us. She wanted the world to see him as she does. How devoted she and Ron are to him and he is to them in return. She wanted everyone to know what incredible people they are and what the rest of us could aspire to be."
"And she's accomplished that." Draco agreed, interrupting the man. "Many of us read her book eagerly, some less so. Some of us chose not to altogether for our own personal and professional reasons. I myself am grateful for this insight. She didn't tell me anything I didn't already come to know and understand on my own; she merely affirmed and clarified it. I think myself the better for having read, what I consider one of the finest pieces of literature ever printed. It left me both humbled and inspired."
"I take it you're referring to this?" A hand holding Hermione's novel entered into view within the floo's green fires.
"Harry!" Draco gasped in alarm, immediately grasping his friend's arm supportively. "You should be in bed." He began to scold worriedly, but desisted when Harry held up a warning hand.
"And miss this enlightening conversation regarding the man behind the myth?" he asked sarcastically.
Draco bowed contritely out of view and Harry Potter stepped in front of the fire call.
Arthur audibly gasped in spite of himself. Harry looked as if he'd aged fifty years! His hair was tinged with gray; crow feet marred the corners of his sunken eyes. He wore a heavy cotton robe that looked as if it hung on his body rather than accentuated his once powerful frame.
Harry held the book into the fire, which Arthur accepted with trembling hands, staring disbelievingly at a man who less than half his age, now appeared his senior.
"H-Harry...?" Arthur began, his voice concerned to the point of frightened.
Harry waved him off with a half hearted smile that barely touched his glassy eyes. "I'm fine"
Draco snorted from behind him at that, and he cast a withering glance over his shoulder that settled the matter as Draco could be heard clearing his throat awkwardly.
"A relative of a close friend asked me to autograph this, it's the first I became aware of its existence." He glared meaningfully at Draco who had the good grace to look suitably abashed.
"I would consider it a personal favor if Hermione and Ron would add their endorsement to my own and then send it back so I can then present it to the young lady in question?" He asked with such measured formality that Mr. Weasley, at first mistakenly, believed it was due to Harry's dislike for him. At seeing the grimace he was stoically fighting back, Arthur realized that Harry was valiantly trying just to remain upright through his exhaustion.
Knowing he would never admit to such, nor accept any suggested relief, Arthur immediately accepted the proffered book and promised. "I'll see to it as soon as possible, but wouldn't you like to at least read it for yourself, first?"
"Thank you,... no" Harry returned tiredly.
"I thought that you vowed never to speak to me as long as I remained minister of magic?" he chided, smiling appreciatively.
"I said I would not personally seek any communication with your children. That does not preclude you, yourself. I've kept my word in this" Harry clarified emotionlessly.
"They're fine both fine, thanks to you." Arthur blurted gratefully, trying to draw him out.
Harry shook his head slightly and shrugging indifferently, accepting no responsibility or even acknowledgement as if he was actually puzzled over what Arthur was referring to.
"You may convey my best wishes to everyone if you so desire." Harry suggested off handily.
"Wouldn't you rather do so yourself?' Arthur urged.
"Aren't you still Minister of Magic?"
Arthur nodded, doing so with obvious regret in his understanding.
"Good evening then, Minister." he drawled distastefully, ending the floo call.
A few days later the book in question was returned with a card attached addressed to Harry personally.
Harry had one of his elves return the missive, unopened, to an immediately distraught, Hermione Weasley.
Despite all of Hermione's pleas to the contrary, the embattled elf refused to return the card to its intended recipient, but did repeatedly convey that her master sends his best wishes and his thanks for the return of the book as requested.
Hermione at least was able to get the elf maiden's assurance that she would have Harry check the endorsement to see if it was acceptable.
It was days later when Harry returned the book to Katie's younger sister, Jenny Bell, that Hermione's motives became clear.
Harry had not checked the endorsement as requested, trusting that Hermione and Ron would come through as they always did.
They came through and then some. The excited girl squealed delightedly, tearing open the wrapping on the book as Harry and Katie looked on. The instant she opened the cover, Jenny Bell disappeared with a loud "pop".
Port key!
Harry's face darkened like a thunder cloud as he stared angrily at the spot where the young girl had stood only moments before.
Katie was understandably alarmed, until Harry uttered a one word explanation that turned her fears to furious.
"Hermione" he growled knowingly.
Harry tapped the insignia at his lapel. "Base this is one-over"
"This is base- go ahead one." came the static filled acknowledgement.
"This is a priority one alert for Capt. Malfoy and Omega team. Have them converge on the coordinates I'm now sending. They are to retrieve the person of Jennifer Bell, age sixteen, dark complexion, brunette, slim build, approximately five –two with dark brown eyes. She is to be returned to my present location with all expedience-over."
"Acknowledged one-over and out."
Whilst Harry reassured a both alarmed and infuriated, Katie Bell. The scene at the Weasley residence was something else entirely.
Hermione waited anxiously with baby in arms the second her wand alerted her that her cleverly devised port key had activated.
"OmiGod-Your Hermione Granger!" a young dark female squealed excitedly, oblivious to look of consternation on Hermione's face.
"Oh, this is so cool!" the young lady gushed. "My friends are never going to believe that I actually met you in person."
Hermione was just subconsciously congratulating Harry on a well played diversion when one of another sort occurred.
BAM-BAM-BAM "This is Knight Watch! You are ordered to desist in any and all hostile activity and submit to search and seizure-IMEDIATELY!" an authoritive voice demanded from her outside her front door.
Hermione rolled her eyes painfully, feeling a migraine coming on as she opened the door.
"Can I help you, Draco?" she asked expectantly as she opened the door, already knowing who she'd find outside.
A midnight blue uniform sprouting platinum blonde hair brushed past her without preamble.
Draco asked politely if the young lady in question was Jennifer Bell, to which the young lady nervously acknowledged she was. Draco asked after her well being and once satisfied, informed the young lady that her sister and the Magical Knight request that port key return to their location immediately.
"Awe, do I have to?" Jenny complained disappointedly. "I just got here."
Draco smiled indulgently, reaffirming her need to return home, made a port key, and sent the young lady on her way.
Jenny Bell had just winked out of sight when a furious Draco Malfoy rounded on a clueless, Hermione Granger-Weasley.
"Are you insane?" he thundered.
Initially startled, Hermione flipped like a light switch and fired back "Don't you yell in front of my baby."
Draco rolled his eyes, suggesting that."Your baby is the only reason you aren't being dragged away in magical inhibiting restraints!"
"What?" Hermione paled, realizing too late that her simple plan to spirit Harry here had anything but simple consequences under present circumstances.
"There are Knight Watch members waiting outside to take you into custody for kidnapping across international borders."
Hermione's eyes widened to the point of popping from her head.
"You cannot abduct someone by port key just to catch up on old times?" he scathed pacing back and forth in front of her as she rocked her baby, more to alleviate her own jangled nerves then to appease the child.
"Are you arresting me?" she asked tremulously.
Draco paused scrutinizing her uncertainly. "I should, but I'll not be responsible for separating a new mother from her baby. Most likely my own head will be on the chopping block if the press gets wind of this. What could you be thinking doing something like this; you were always the sensible one?"
Normally such an accusation against her intellect would raise her hackles, but this was not a normal circumstance.
"I...I don't know what's wrong with me? I only know I want him here." She answered honestly.
"If he'd only talk to me we could straighten this all out?" she lamented.
Draco threw his hands up in frustration. "Who do you think sent me here after the girl in the first place?"
"Well, why didn't he come himself?" she railed. "If he'd checked the book's endorsement like any reasonably thorough person would have, we'd be talking now and this wouldn't have happened."
Draco glowered at that. "If he'd activated that port key, like any fool would have done, he would have forfeited his magic and I would now be arresting you for kidnapping and assault on a magical knight! The goblins alone would push for the veil and neither he nor your father in-law would have any say, let alone legal recourse, in the matter." He predicted, stunning her to utter silence as her brain was rapidly catching up with the potential ramifications of her ill thought actions.
"I-I need to talk to him. Hermione began to sob dejectedly, clutching her sleeping baby to her breast.
Draco's insignia com-link chirruped, announcing an incoming communication. "It looks like you may get your wish?" Draco grumbled, tapping his link.
"Captain Malfoy here-Over"
After a lengthy pause, Harry's voice came over the link. "Abducted female returned safely- good work, Captain."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Draco puffed up slightly at that. Hermione was about to blurt something out, but a glare of warning from him silenced her.
"Have you ascertained if the girl was the intended target? Over"
"I believe you were the intended target, "
"I see... Arrest party or parties responsible and transfer to base a-sap for further interrogation. Over"
"Sir?" Draco questioned uncertainly, eyeing a now sniffling Hermione dubiously.
"Are my orders in anyway unclear, Captain? Over"
"Sir,..No sir. But there are extenuating circumstances. Over"
"Explain"
"Harry, Please!" Hermione shouted from the back ground, Draco waving her off too late.
There was a long pause that chilled the very blood by the hollowness it instilled when it seemed he was not going to acknowledge her plea,... and he didn't.
"I leave it to your discretion, Captain, but I strongly suggest obtaining a magical vow of 'no contact' with victims of said: ill advised prank. I would also suggest detention for psychiatric evaluation..."
Hermione's initial sobs of despair turned to a gasp of alarm at hearing his instructions to have her detained at a psychiatric ward for evaluation. Her verbal reaction went unnoticed as Harry continued to advice Draco.
"Sans that, if the perpetrator is uncooperative or unwilling to comply with your direction, then charge them with kidnapping across international boundaries and attempted kidnapping of a Magical Knight and detain accordingly."
"Y-Yes..Si.." Draco began to reluctantly agree, before Hermione cut in desperately.
"Harry, Please! Please for the love of God, just talk to me? I'm holding your future Godson in my arms. Do you even know his name? ...Do you even care?"
She was playing on his empathy and she knew it. She knew the crippling pain the loss of his own Godfather had cost him and how important such a role was in his eyes.
The paused before he answered was longer and more vacant then the last had been.
"Draco,... I leave it to your judgment and trust implicitly your discretion in this matter." Draco could hear the catch in his voice as he struggled to remain professional.
"D-Do as you will, but remember and adhere to Foundation protocol. Understood?"
"Affirmative, sir"
"MK-One-out"
"Nooo!" Hermione wailed lunging one handed toward the intercom link at Draco's collar, but his hand easily caught up hers and held it away from his person in an unyielding grip.
"Stop making a fool of yourself!" he snapped, brushing her hand aside.
Hermione recoiled ashamedly at his rebuff.
Draco waved her toward a nearby chair with a commanding glare that had her hastening to comply as she quickly took a seat, holding her sleeping baby in front of her like a protective shield.
"I'm half tempted to have you detained for evaluation." he growled menacingly, enjoying the nervous gulp this initiated from her.
"Of the three you were always the coolly logical one that reined in the other two. Has pregnancy addled your wits?" he suggested incredulously.
Hermione scowled at that. "Well, of course it hasn't. I'm perfectly sane. Harry's the one being unreasonable." she scoffed.
"Is he?" Draco smiled predatorily, taking up the challenge. "I believe he saved life of both you and your child at great personal expense to himself only a few days ago?"
"He did, but what do you mean by "at great personal risk"? He's alright isn't he?", distress evident in her voice.
Draco scrutinized her for long moments, trying to decide how much he should divulge, knowing that Harry had ultimately left his resolution of this situation entirely up to him. It was a show of trust that Draco valued accordingly.
"Draco,.. he is alright, isn't he?" Hermione beseeched, growing more worried by his stalling to answer.
"He... is tired, Mrs. Weasley, but we're hopeful that he will recover his strength fully in time. He used a great deal of energy in coming to your aid the way he did. It was more than even he could afford to risk."
"H-He is going to be alright though, isn't he?"Hermione worriedly tried to confirm.
To be honest, Draco wasn't sure exactly what "alright" would be for Harry, but at seeing the child clutched safely in its new mother's arms, he could hardly worry her further.
"He'll be fine." Draco smiled reassuringly, adding with a stern look, "That is assuming he has a chance to recover without incurring undue stress?"
Hermione colored slightly at that. "Do you think he's really that mad?"she asked hopefully.
"Furious" Draco confirmed, but quickly amended as she looked about to cry. "That isn't to say that he doesn't still love all of you a great deal. He needs time, Hermione." he used her name, fondly beseeching her.
Hermione looked up with renewed hope at that. "Why can't he talk to me? Just talk to me?" she entreated.
Draco grimaced slightly at that. "I think you already know the reason for that, but just in case you're not totally apprised of the situation...?" Draco outlined Harry's decision to extradite himself from his friends and homeland and also what he was planning to do, finishing with...
"Understand that I'm telling you this under the strictest of confidence?" he cautioned.
Hermione nodded. "O-Of course,.. but Ron...?" she indicated her desire to share with her husband what Draco had told her.
Draco smiled knowingly. "But just Ron." he agreed.
Hermione crossed her heart and offered, "I'll even take a magical vow on it?"
Draco grimaced awkwardly at that. "I would have never thought it was required between you, but after today's events,... I think you'd better."
"I was desperate to talk to him. I thought for sure he'd contact me after 'the book' was released?" she tried to defend.
Draco grimaced again and her face fell.
"He hasn't read it, has he?" she asked dejectedly, already knowing the answer.
Draco shook his head.
Hermione began to tear up. "I...I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I'd hoped? As time went on and I didn't hear a thing, I knew in my heart that he hadn't read it,... that he wouldn't read it." she lamented haltingly, rocking her sleeping baby more to comfort her than the child.
Draco dropped down smoothly unto one knee and cajoled softly. "You know how he thinks and feels about things; you know better than anyone else alive." Draco patted a hand over his heart. "He keeps such he things here, where it's important, and he keeps them safe and inviolate." he added meaningfully.
"Do you th-think I was wrong?" Hermione asked dolefully.
Draco shook his head again. "I think you might have done the wrong thing for all the right reasons. I also think that the wrong thing can end up being the best thing for everyone concerned." He held her uncertain gaze with conviction, asking her trust in this.
"How did you get so wise?" she asked at length, deciding to trust him.
Draco smirked. "I've an excellent role model, but you already know that." he complimented.
Hermione smiled through her tears. "I could help him?" she entreated. "I want to help him."
Draco smiled knowingly. "And you already are. You're helping him with the most important task of all." He confirmed.
Hermione's expression turned puzzled.
Draco nodded toward the bundle held lovingly in her arms. "You're taking care of his future Godchild."
Hermione's eyes softened. "A labor of love." she confided.
Draco nodded. "Perhaps so, but it is a role that Harry would trust no other but you with. You hold in your arms the Godchild and nephew of the world's only living Magical Knight. His and your protection must be considered a top priority."
With that, Draco drew his sword, immediately gapping at the blade when it echoed the cry of a bird of prey!
Hermione's eyes went wide. "Does that mean...?"
Draco shook himself from his distraction, turned the point of his blade downward and pledged the protection of "knight watch" over her family.
Magic flashed outward and rippled throughout the house as it accepted and sealed his vow.
Draco gapped again in surprise, Hermione gasping beside him understanding.
Magic was keeping the vow inviolate.
At length Draco made ready to leave, but Hermione ventured curiously.
"By any chance did you read 'the book'?"
"I did" Draco acknowledged, pausing at the door.
"And?"
"I think it's exceptional. It's a credit to all three of you, but especially to him. I think you did the rest of the magical world an incredible service, but,...?" he left the downside to Harry personally, unstated.
Hermione nodded her understanding. "I only did it because I love them and wanted the rest of the magical world to know how much they mean to me. Which reminds me,... I have something for you."
Draco watched curiously as she retrieved her pocketbook and withdrew an envelope, passing it to him saying proudly, "For the foundation."
Puzzled, Draco peeked inside the envelope and gasped in shock, "That's a lot of gold!"
"It's only the first six month's royalties, but I'm rather well pleased with the 'projected earnings' report."
Draco gapped.
"What?" Hermione added incredulously. "You didn't think I'd actually take any profits off of our story, did you?"
Draco colored embarrassedly, that he mistakenly had.
"Oh." Hermione suddenly realized the implications. "Harry doesn't know, then?"
Draco smiled reassuringly. "He will." he promised. "Bless you for this."
"I thought you read my book?" she asked facetiously. "I'm already blessed."
"We both are." Draco added, and nodded his goodbye as he stepped out the door.
Harry paced back and forth, pausing every now and then to glance uncertainly at the check clutched in Draco's hand.
He felt himself a complete fool.
Knowing he was treading on thin ice, Draco suggested. "I think you owe it to her to at least read her book, don't you?"
Harry's eyes traveled up from the check in Draco's hand to meet his gaze."By any chance do you know where I can locate a copy?" he asked suspiciously.
Draco nodded stepping toward the door offering, "I'll see if you can borrow Abby's copy?"
"Oh..." Harry questioned dubiously. "and here I thought it was your copy?"
Draco missed a step, but quickly regained his composure and left even more hastily.
My Two Loves:
A Muggle Born Witch's Journey through the Looking Glass
Harry stared at the cover of Hermione's autobiography of their adventures together, willing himself to open the cover and start reading. It was long into the night before he finally found his much vaunted courage and began to read the story.
It was longer still before he came to the last page.
-We watched in both pride and agony as Harry transformed into the phoenix of legend, soaring up into a starlit Christmas night. Church bells rang across the countryside. They unknowingly proclaimed ,not only, the arrival of Christmas, but the end of Voldemort, the end of terror. Perhaps they were declaring the same message; one of peace and hope.
Ron and I praedy to God, Merlin and the very Fates to spare our friend and see him safely home.
Those prayers were answered, but cruelly so, though not in the timeframe we expected, and thus we lost faith.
If we as a family have learned one thing it's to never lose faith in Harry Potter, for the man always finds a way.
It's Fate, God and Merlin that we've learned to be cautious of.
Prayers are answered, but not always in the way you'd expect. That isn't to say unfairly, for the universe has its own sense of fairness and it tends to ignore individual wants and desires in favor of what's best for all concerned. It seeks balance.
It is with this in mind that we come to Harry Potter.
The powers that be were extraordinarily kind to me in that they granted me the love and friendship of two exemplary men.
One I call Husband with a full and grateful heart. The other I call brother, with no less love and gratitude.
My point is that the universe has granted me my husband's unwavering love and support, but with Harry,... With Harry the universe has other things in mind.
However much I and the rest of my family selfishly want Harry all to ourselves, the universe will not be denied.
Harry Potter is not a gift to our family, but to the world as a whole.
In this... the universe has been very kind to all of us.
Hermione Granger-Potter-Weasley
A/N: Some people have actually asked me if Ron and I have decided on any names for our baby, or who the God parents will be? I tell them all they have to do is read this book.
Harry closed the cover and slumped back into his chair, his arse sore from long hours of molding itself into a chair as he read the story cover to cover, completely ignoring his bodies need for sleep, food, toileting or even so much as to change his position.
Now, though acutely aware of those self same needs, he could care less.
He scrubbed a sleeve across suspiciously moist eyes as he contemplated Hermione words.
At times she painted him larger than life, at others, far less so. But for all of that he was humbled by the eloquence with which she captured the essence of their friendships; hers, his and Ron's.
As right as he'd been for leaving, he was that wrong too. A fact he knew she was pointedly expressing in her book, cleverly worded in such a way that only he would pick up on.
Not surprising, coming from the 'cleverest witch of her age'.
What was surprising was that her portrayal did not paint him and Ron as fairytale heroes, but as men, real men that she quoted from Dumbledore as: "Doing what was right, not what was easy."
She explained away much of his knack for finding trouble as "doing what was right". Absently he wondered if it was really just that simple and he'd wrongly assumed it was just his own impulsiveness that forever landed him 'out of the pan and into the fire'?
Too tired to even worry a hand through his hair as he considered contemplating what his next move should be as he wasn't even sure he had enough energy to begin to plan on how to heal the rift between their lives. He'd harbored the unyielding expectation that the family should make the first move and by all accounts; Hermione had done just that.
It was too soon and he still had far too much to do before he fully invested himself with the drama that was his surrogate family, not that he was whole heartedly sure that he should ever 'fully invest' himself in their lives again.
As much as he missed them, he was that relieved too by their absence from his life.
He scowled at that, finding it callous that he should be relieved to be separated from those whose lives he longed to be part of,... but there it is.
Reaching the decision that he would, for now, merely establish a sporadic line of communication. He would wait until after his current plan came to fruition before making conditional overtures.
By then, the proverbial "cat would be out of the bag".
End of Flashback-
Present Time...Letting the cat out of the bag-
Friday, September first, Hogwart's students would be arriving for their first day of term and the new marauders would be starting their first day of practice.
"I don't think I can do this?"
"Don't or won't, there's a difference?"
"D-Don't,.. I'm not sure, maybe both?" Uncertain brown eyes pleaded with his for support, not that he hadn't been supportive from the start.
Harry had spent the last several weeks training with Katie and Draco all day, every day.
In his own humble opinion; as a recently considered 'world class' seeker, they we're in prime condition, better than ninety-nine percent of professional quidditch player, the world over.
It was that other 'one percent' that would be arriving today in the form of one-Oliver Wood: world class keeper, strategy guru and all around quidditch fanatic!
Harry had trained them above and beyond the call, in both physical, magical and in Katie's case-Knight Watch standards.
The reason for the depth of training on Katie's part was that Harry had a plan.
The reason he'd stepped up Draco's training to a new level was that he not only had the beginnings of another plan, of a sort, but another opportunity had presented itself in Draco's case.
Draco's quidditch skill as a seeker, was not anywhere near his present level, but he'd made great strides and would continue to improve under Wood's tutelage.
Katie was as good as she'd ever been at Hogwart's, but she was nowhere near having made that 'jump, to the professional level. Not that she couldn't,... but wouldn't. The reasoning was simple-Katie was afraid.
It wasn't uncommon for an athlete to lose their confidence after a devastating injury; it usually only required time and patience to remedy.
Harry had been and continued to be- patient. He hadn't been able to give her time though. There was still much to do and there was little more than a week left before the Marauder's faced their first hurdle as a team: a live scrimmage against a professional team, albeit a schedule two team. It was a tune-up game, nothing more. It was just a chance for the team to play together as a cohesive unit and introduce fans to their new team, stadium, and the rest of the international league learning of their existence. Up till now- no one outside of the Marauders, the goblins and the upper echelon of the IQL, (International Quidditch League), knew of their impending existence.
That was going to change big time as of September tenth with the Goblin's planned release of their first publicity campaign for the team.
That was a little over a week away, today was the first time they would all be together again as a team since Harry's third year, sans the twins.
Harry had other plans for when the twins joined the organization- personal plans.
Today's problem was...Katie.
Harry was counting on Alicia and Angelina's renewed friendship and guidance to aid Katie into returning fully to the quidditch scoring demon she had once been.
Good friends did that, he reminded himself. They always brought out the best in each other.
In that respect; Ollie was a good friend. Either he was that or a certifiable nutter who took quidditch fervor to a new and unprecedented extreme!
Either way-Katie was in for a rough, poignant, but rough week. Harry had fixed her legs, but it was up to Katie to fix things with her friends. He would help, of course, though he hadn't made a point of telling her that so as not to foster greater reliance on him than was prudent.
Harry watched her mount and re-mount her new broom, trying to get a feel for it.
Katie had once been tough as nails; a lady in every sense of the word off the pitch, but a fierce competitor once she mounted a broom.
It was probably the same with men, he considered, Wait! Where had that come from?
"Alright, Harry?"Katie asked with concern at seeing his startled, 'caught in the headlights' appearance as his cheeks flamed.
"F-Fine", he managed to choke out, all but fleeing the room to avoid further questions.
He'd passed Abigail Vance, who'd been guarding outside the training room, as if all hell was on his heels.
"H-Harry?" Abby called after his hastily retreating form, but he waved her off without a backwards glance.
Abby popped her head back into the room looking for an explanation. She found Katie Bell in a tight fitting training outfit, damp with sweat in all the right places, mounting a broom in a rather suggested fashion.
Katie shrugged indifferently, relaying that she hadn't a clue why Harry had left in such a hurry.
As far away from the training room as Harry was at this point, it wasn't far enough away not to hear Abby's knowing guffaws echoing from behind.
After a cold shower and a leisurely walk later, Harry was waiting center pitch with his broomstick balanced over his left shoulder.
At eight am sharp, Oliver Wood appeared a few feet in front of him. His own broomstick was perched similarly and an equipment bag slung over the other.
The two fierce competitors eyed each other warily, circling each other. This was the first time they'd shared a pitch together since Harry's third year, not counting the year he'd spent incognito, playing as "Alan Brandt".
Almost on cue, the two dropped their brooms and clashed in a fierce hug.
When they finally pulled apart, it was Ollie that found his voice first. " 'Arry mate I can't tell you 'ow much this means.."
"Don't" Harry cut off his Scottish brogue."It's as much for me as the rest of us. This is how it was meant to be. If it hadn't of been for all of Voldemort's shite..."
"Now you don't." Ollie cut in. "That's over with now, because 'o you. And because of you, we're all getting this chance. No matter what 'appens I always be grateful." Ollie returned appreciatively.
Harry shrugged. "I'd like to say it was for purely selfish reasons but ..."
"We've got big plans in the offing?" Ollie surmised.
"Right" Harry agreed.
"How does everyone else stand?" Ollie asked, already strategizing.
"Draco's in and should be ready for advancement by Christmas, though he doesn't know it yet. Katie's on board. The twins I've got under contract for the next five years."
"As Beaters?" Ollie snickered.
"In part" Harry agreed, adding. "They don't know the rest yet, but it's not much of a stretch from what I already have them down for."
"They're gonna be pissed." Ollie warned.
"I'm counting on it." Harry snorted.
Ollie joined him laughing uproariously.
That was How Angelina and Alicia found them moments later when their port key deposited them mid pitch.
"Alright, Potter... we're here as ordered...OLLIE!" Alicia nearly screamed at seeing Woods.
Neither was aware of who they would be playing with other than Harry as seeker.
With squeals of absolute delight, the two chasers tackled Oliver, smothering their favorite 'quidditch war horse' with hugs and kisses.
When they'd finally let him up, they turned their appreciative affections on a clueless Harry.
At first stunned to near panicked, Harry eventually warmed to their overzealous display, until.."Alright, alright, which one of you has let your hands wander,Ladies?" he drawled embarrassedly from beneath the tangle of bodies, whilst Ollie chortled nearby.
"Me" they chorused as one, before giggling and restarting their previous antics.
"Are you gonna give me a hand here?" Harry complained to a laughing Oliver.
Ollie, of course, began to clap and whistled wolfishly, only serving to spur the women on to new heights at Harry's expense.
They didn't stop until..."Is this a private party or can anyone get in on the action?" a female voice sang out suggestively overhead.
"Katie?" Angelina swiveled her head questionably toward the familiar voice she'd heard. At seeing her friend grinning down at her... 'Standing" and grinning down at her..
"Katie, OMIGOD KATIE!" Angelina shrieked, launching herself off of Harry with Alicia following on her heels.
Harry rejoined a chuckling Oliver, watching appreciatively as the three friends smothered each other with more exuberance than they had either of the two men.
"Forgotten like an old shoe." Harry complained as he brushed the grass off himself eyeing the squealing women fondly as Katie showed off her full mobility pirouetting ecstatically whilst her two friends clapped happily at her good fortune.
"But how? Angelina asked.
"Harry" Katie beamed in Harry's direction.
Both women gapped disbelievingly at Harry, who merely shrugged indifferently and clarified. "I'm merely the messenger. "
"He keeps denying any responsibility." Katie grumbled disappointedly to her two; now, incredulous friends.
"W-Was it the Phoenix Fire?" Alicia asked in awe.
"It was wondrous." Katie glowed at the memory.
Harry bit back on adding "and terrible."He barely had time to ponder that thought before being tackled again, by now all three, very appreciative females.
"Alright-alright, break it up there." Ollie demanded, pulling the ladies carefully away from a furiously blushing, Harry.
"Jealous" Katie scolded the keeper.
"I don't play that way and you know it." Oliver quipped.
'Like I said, jealous." Katie reiterated, causing the three ladies to guffaw and Harry's blush to deepen.
"Funny" Ollie commented sarcastically.
It was Alicia that pointed out the obvious, though neither Harry nor Oliver tipped their hand.
"If only the twins were here?"
The other two girls nodded their agreement, Katie a little more reluctantly so for more personal reasons. She'd broken Fred's heart when she'd pushed him away after the accident.
"Say,.. who are our Beaters going to be, anyway?" Angelina asked curiously.
"It'd better be someone good, Potter?" Alicia warned with a feral growl, her two teammates nodding they're agreement with her sentiments.
"Unbeatable beaters" Harry promised.