On Punching Gods and Absentee Dads
Enigmaris
Chapter 38: Draco's 'Choice'
Summary:
Potter has led Draco and his mother to a house owned by a mysterious wizard named 'Tony' whom he apparently lived with during the summer. (Was he the one who taught Potter all that magic?) The house is controlled by an invisible servant that Potter insists is not a house elf. Things only get weirder from there.
Notes:
Guess who is posting on the right day (and early even!) The conference is going amazingly. My presentation yesterday went perfect and I had a wonderful time talking about science with other science nerds! My feet do hurt from standing by my poster for two and a half hours straight!
Enjoy the update!
Chapter Text
"Well." Potter said. "Here it is."
Malfoy looked up at the house. Potter hadn't lied when he said there was a safe house close to Hogwarts. It had taken very long to get there from Hogwarts, they'd landed on the front lawn of a large home. It was an older home but well maintained, not nearly as nice as his manor but it would do.
"Who does this home belong to?" His mother asked, taking off her death eater mask.
"My friend Tony. I stayed with him over the summer, well at least part of it." She said. "I'm going to give him a call once we're inside."
"They don't know I'm coming?" She asked.
"Uhm. No?" Potter said looking at her in concern. He was glad that Potter had stopped looking like the Dark Lord because Draco was pretty sure he would not have been able to handle the Dark Lord looking genuinely concerned about anything. "Don't worry. It'll be fine. Tony won't mind."
"I am a Death Eater child, and any friend of yours is not likely to be a friend to me." She pointed out.
"Are you going to try and hurt anyone? Or send information back to You-Know-Who?" He asked.
"I would never disgrace myself in such a way as to dishonor a magical debt." She sniffed.
"Well then it's fine." Harry said easily as if all of his family's crimes could be wiped away with nothing but a wave of his hand. "Come on. It's late and if I don't get back to Hogwarts in like…15 minutes Ron and Hermione are going to sound the alarm and assume I've been kidnapped or something."
"You told them?" Draco demanded causing Harry to give him a look.
"We were going to your house, the house You-Know-Who lives in. Not telling someone where we were going would have been stupid."
As if Potter's plan already hadn't been the height of idiocy. Potter rolled his eyes and then started walking up to the front door. His mother gave him a look behind Potter's back warning him to be polite and they followed him. Potter seemed to be talking to a strange metal box.
"Yes, Jarvis I know I'm not at school, it's an emergency please open up."
"I have to ask for a password, Mr. Potter." A voice responded back.
"It's Purple Flame."
"Very good sir." The voice said before the door clicked and then swung open on its well-oiled hinges. Draco expected to see someone else on the other side but there was no one there. He frowned, that voice hadn't sounded like a house elf. Not grovel-y enough.
Harry walked in, motioning for them to follow. His mother carefully put Potter's broom up against the entry way closet and Draco followed suit.
"Is there a place I could put my things?" His mother asked.
"Your things?" He asked. "You packed stuff?"
Draco remembered vividly trying to hurry his mother along as he used his own wand to magic as many things as they could into her trunk before things went wrong. Potter looked baffled by the very idea.
"There are family heirlooms I could not bare to part with." She defended. Draco prepared himself to defend his mother, to keep Potter from besmirching her honor.
Preparations that were for nothing it seemed.
"Of course." He said immediately, his confusion vanishing as if it had never been. "I wish I could have done the same after my parents…well no one thought to pack up their things after it all happened. Jarvis?"
"Yes Mr. Potter?"
"Where is the largest guest room?"
"It is on the second floor, the first door on the left."
"Great. Please make sure any visitors to the house know that Mrs. Malfoy is going to be staying there for now." He said. "Mrs. Malfoy, if you'd give me your things, I can take them up there."
His mother reached into the pocket of the death eater robe she was wearing and after a moment of hesitation removed a shrunk trunk. She placed it on the floor and unshrunk it to its full size. The trunk had the same length as the width of a queen bed. It was large and ostentatious made of an ornate dark oak with carved peacocks and the Malfoy crest on the center lock. It had been enchanted to be incredibly heavy for anyone that was not a family member.
"I'm afraid that it might be best if my son…" His mother trailed off as Potter knelt down and then picked up the trunk like it was nothing. "How are you lifting that?"
"It's a bit heavy but I had a growth spurt over the summer." Harry said, easily. "I'll be back in just a tick."
And Potter carried the trunk away, walking as if he wasn't loaded down with over 500 pounds of weight. When Potter disappeared, his mother turned to him.
"I don't know." Draco said. "Potter's been weird for the whole year. Crabbe and Goyle saw him do wandless magic and no one just becomes a metamorphagus and an animagus over the summer."
"That was not my question Draco." She said. "The boy is far more polite than you've painted him to be."
Draco immediately started to roll his eyes, but his mother's steely glare stopped him.
"That's what I mean by weird. It's like someone spelled him a new personality over the summer."
"Hmm." She said. "Then that is to our fortune."
"Mother."
"Draco Lucien Malfoy, you will do what is best for your family." She said. "We owe Mr. Potter a debt and he will be our guide to salvation from the trouble your father put us in. I won't have any arguments about it."
"But he's Potter."
"Exactly."
"He's a half blood and he doesn't know anything about our ways."
"Which is exactly what you are going to offer him. Never let it be said that the Malfoy's are an unworthy alliance. The boy has no experience with pureblood society and politics, you do. Offer to be his advisor, work with him, be his ally. And when he inevitably defeats the Dark Lord, our name will be cleared."
"There is no way that I would ever-"
"Draco."
He cringed a little at her tone. Turns out Potter was still wrong, he didn't have a choice no matter what he did. Somehow, seeing her safe and sound next to him made Draco feel a little less bitter about that fact than he should have. They both stopped talking when they heard Potter return.
"Mrs. Malfoy?" Potter said. "Are you hungry or thirsty? I can get you something while Jarvis sends a message to Tony and the others to let them know you're here."
"That would be incredibly kind of you." She said sweetly. "A good tea would delightful."
"Sure." He said. "Follow me."
Draco wasn't pleased by his mother's total willingness to betray his father and everything their family stood for. He tried to make that clear with a few pointed looks that his mother ignored with expert skill. They followed behind Potter having an entire silent conversation as he led them through the wooden and stone hallways to the kitchen. He asked them to take a seat at the sturdy wood table while he made the tea.
"While you make the tea?" Malfoy asked. "Don't you have a house elf to do it for you?"
"If my parents had a house elf then I never knew about them." Potter answered. "And I grew up in a muggle house so I wouldn't have had one either."
How mundane. Draco sneered at the dirtiness of it all, but Potter didn't seem bothered. He just walked over to the kitchen with every bit of confidence that he lacked in the potions lab and made tea for all three of them. It didn't take long and soon Potter was pouring tea into three cups and serving each of them as if this were something that he did every day. He also helpfully provided a plate of biscuits. This didn't surprise Draco, of course Potter had the skills of a servant.
"Mr. Potter." The strange voice said out of nowhere. "Mr. Stark wishes to know why you have brought two unknown magic users into the house."
"Mrs. Malfoy needs a place to stay." Potter said. "Her son and I helped her get out of a bad situation."
"Malfoy?" The voice questioned. "Is this the same Malfoy that you mentioned being a head Death Eater?"
"That's her husband. He's in jail."
"Quite."
Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His mother took a calm sip of tea and then spoke.
"If you do not have a house elf then who is that voice?"
"That's Jarvis, he's an Artificial Intelligence. Hermione understands it better than I do, but basically it means Tony made his brain. He doesn't have a body like you or I do, but he does have thoughts and feelings. He knows practically everything too. He's connected to this house and the one Tony is living in right now so he can talk to both of us at the same time."
Draco had to keep himself from gaping at Potter. Artificial Magical Intelligences were meant to be impossible.
"I see." She said. "This Tony of yours must be a grand wizard to produce such a creation."
"Tony's a muggle." Potter said. "He made Jarvis without a bit of magic."
"Indeed, although I am sure my creator will be pleased to know you believed it to be magic. He has long argued that magic and muggle science are the same thing." Jarvis said making Draco scoff. His mother gave him a look at that warning him to be polite again.
"Well, that is…fascinating." She said. "I haven't yet met a muggle. Will this Tony be staying here?"
"Not often. He bought this house, so he'd have access to Hermione while she was at school. Over the summer she and he got along great. They're both geniuses you know, and they experimented all the time. He and the others might come through when they want to visit but for the most part, you'll be here by yourself. Is that okay? I don't want you to be lonely."
"I will manage." She answered sounding very relieved to know she wasn't going to be sharing a home with muggles.
"Mr. Potter. The team is on it's way and they want an actual explanation for your actions."
Potter sighed and muttered something about wishing just once that people would just trust him.
"Muggle transportation takes some time doesn't it?" Draco asked. "You have time."
"No, I don't. Professor Lupin enchanted one of the doors so that it connects to the other house. They'll be here-"
"HARRY!" A voice boomed loudly.
"Right now."
Draco and his mother both stiffened and turned to the doorway. The last thing Draco expected to see was Thor, the god of thunder, bursting into the room with his famed hammer aloft. He failed to hold back his gaping as the god made a bee line for Potter and pulled him into a back breaking hug.
"I've missed you!"
"It's only been a couple weeks!"
"It's been far too long!" Thor argued before pulling back to look at Draco and his mother suspiciously. More and more people filtered into the room. The Avengers. Even Draco knew who those people were. He might not care about them but the world had done nothing but talk about them after they had stopped the god of magic.
"You went to the Avengers?" Draco demanded looking at Potter.
"Not intentionally." Potter admitted. "Hey guys, this is Draco Malfoy and his mum Narcissa Malfoy."
"Kid." Tony Stark said. "What are you doing? It's like 3 in the morning here."
"I'm having tea."
"Mr. Stark." His mother said. "I beg for your patience, Mr. Potter has done my family and myself a great service tonight but I am in need of a haven because of it."
"What happened?" Captain America asked.
"Malfoy told me that You-Know-Who had his mum captive." Harry said. "It wasn't hard to guess what he was going to do to her so…we decided to go save her."
"Isn't she married to like You-Know-Who's second in command?" Hawkeye asked, suspicion in every syllable.
Potter narrowed his eyes and put his tea down onto the table with a decisive clack.
"No one deserves to be tortured, especially not like that." He argued. "He was keeping her captive to force Draco into doing his will, he was forcing a kid my age to be his spy at the threat of his mum's murder. That's not right."
Having it said so plainly made Draco flinch a little. This didn't go unnoticed by many of the adults in the room. Thor placed a hand on Potter's shoulder.
"Of course, it's not right." He said. "But rescuing her must have been dangerous, does he know you left the safety of the castle?"
At that Potter actually looked a bit hesitant. He shifted awkwardly in his chair and twiddled his thumbs together.
"Not…exactly?"
"Either he does, or he doesn't." Black Widow pointed out.
"If I'd told him what I planned he would've flipped out and wrapped me in bubble wrap!" Potter defended. "Besides nothing even happened."
"You're covered in blood." Black Widow pointed out.
"Not my blood."
"That's it." Thor said. "We have to call him."
"No, we don't. He never needs to know about this. It'd just stress him out!"
"Who are you talking about?" His mother asked in concern.
"Harry's father of course." Thor said. "He'll be displeased to know Harry put himself into danger."
"James Potter is dead." Narcissa said.
"That's what you thought about Peter Pettigrew." Potter pointed out.
And that?
That was just too much. Draco felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under his feet far too many times in the past 6 hours and he was quite done with it.
"Potter." Malfoy said looking at the handsome version of his greatest rival. "What the fuck?"
"Draco!" His mother chastised while Potter threw his back and laughed. Draco didn't apologize because Potter got himself under control.
"Since your mum said you guys have a debt to me you have to promise not to tell anyone." He ordered. "But if you promise, I'll answer you're carefully worded question Malfoy."
His mother glared at him and Draco promised, Potter grinned.
"My name is Haraldr." He said. "That's the real name my parents gave me when I was born. The full thing is Haraldr Lokison."
"What."
"This is my uncle Thor." Harry said patting Thor's gigantic arm. The blonde god was grinning proudly down. "I spent part of my summer with him and my grandparents, All-Father Odin and All-Mother Frigga, in Asgard."
No. No. Please anything but this. Draco wouldn't be able to deny his mother's plan any longer if Potter was being serious. Please let this be a joke. Draco didn't want to deal with it being the truth.
"You know? The reason that I laughed when you called me a half blood earlier is simple." Potter continued. "You don't get more half blood than a demi-god."
"I hope you're eaten by a werewolf." Malfoy spat.
"Don't think they can bite through my demi-god skin Malfoy."
Draco made a very rude noise in response.
Potter grinned at him looking completely unrepentant. Draco was quite sure he'd never hated anyone more in his life.
"You fight with Professor Loki every day." He pointed out. "You expect me to believe he's your father?"
"It's called acting." Potter sniffed. "We don't want Old Voldie to know the truth until it's too late for him to counter it. Dad and I look exactly alike if I was even sort of friendly with him in public people'd put it together."
"Speaking of." Captain America said. "We need to call him. I know you think you can trust these two but I'm not comfortable offering them safety until your dad has okayed it."
"I'm on it." Tony Stark said. "Sent him a message on his phone. He should be here soon."
"This really isn't necessary." Potter began.
"Why are you so against having him here?" Thor asked.
"Well…it might have just occurred to me that when I broke curfew and left the protection of the castle to break into one of the Dark Lord's strong holds without telling dad that that might have been…not wrong exactly but something that won't make dad very happy." Harry said taking a sip of his tea. "Do you think he's going to ground me? I've never been grounded before."
"Why didn't you just tell him what you were doing?" Thor asked.
"Malfoy said no to telling other people."
"Do not pull me into this." Draco said.
"You're in it." Potter told him.
"It was your plan!"
"It was your mum."
Draco reddened at that preparing to argue further with Potter on the point. Of course, before he could a plume of green flame appeared in the middle of the kitchen. Draco flinched back towards his mother. Professor Loki was not the kind of person you wanted to be on the bad side of. His mother lifted up a hand to wrap her arm around him protectively.
Loki appeared in the plume. His mother gasped, holding a hand over her mouth.
"Hello 'Cissa." Loki said before turning to his son. "Harry James Potter, what did you do?"
"It was Draco's idea."
"Oh please." Loki said. "As if Lucius' son would have the courage and drive to actually do something like this."
And that made Draco turn all of his offense onto the god of mischief. He glared up at the god.
"I have spent the past six hours being dragged across the countryside by your son who had the stupidest plan I have ever heard just so that I might have a chance to protect my mother." Draco said. "How dare you imply I would abandon my family."
"Is a plan really stupid if it works?" Potter asked.
"If it's yours then yes." Draco snapped. Loki smirked at him.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy for giving me a straight answer. Harry, my child, please tell me what you did to this poor boy. He looks like he's going to croak."
Draco blinked and fell back into his chair. Loki had just tricked him.
"I…road my broom to Malfoy Manor, then I impersonated You-Know-Who so that All of the Death Eaters would be distracted by me."
"What." Loki said.
"You know, you taught me how to shapeshift." Potter said awkwardly. "And I know what Tom looks like. From all the visions I've had I know how he talks and walks and…well the only thing I forgot was to make myself smell like him."
Loki pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So, your grand plan was to impersonate the only person who wants you dead."
"Yes?"
"And that worked?"
"We got his mum out and no suspected anything while we were there."
Loki swayed a little and then snapped his fingers, conjuring a chair. He fell into it with all the drama expected of the god of magic.
"You. Impersonated. The Dark Lord." He said.
"I um…also killed his snake?" Potter offered.
"Ha."
"You didn't say you killed Nagini." Draco said. "How did you do that? The Dark Lord placed hundreds of protection spells on her. No spell could get through."
"Didn't use a spell. I had a sword."
"Hid it beneath the robe just like I taught you right?" The Black Widow asked sounding smug. Potter nodded readily.
"I can't believe this." Loki said. "I cannot believe you would do something so monumentally reckless. Malfoy Manor is one of his most well warded strong holds, you could have been found out at any moment! And the one person you brought for back up spends 80% of his waking hours glaring at the back of your head!"
It wasn't 80%. Couldn't be.
"Dad."
"No. Harry no." Loki said. "You cannot just do that. Your life has so much meaning and you can't just throw it away for any sob story that comes your way."
"A human being isn't a sob story." Potter cut in. "And I wasn't throwing my life away. I was helping someone who needed it."
"You were helped Narcissa Malfoy!" Loki shouted. "Do you know what sort of woman she is? I do! I grew up with her. She is not some innocent little flower, Harry. She may not have the Dark Mark but that is not for a lack of belief. And you just…did the stupidest thing possible without telling me for her?"
Draco opened his mouth to defend his mother's honor but she placed a hand on his warning him to keep quiet. Potter's cheeks were reddening in a way that Draco knew from personal experience meant he was about to blow his top. Loki continued his rant.
"You have to think these things through. What if you had been caught? What if you had been injured? Do you really believe either of them would have come back for you?"
And now Draco knew why his mother had warned him to silence. Because he doubted very much that he would have come back for Potter. Potter colored further and finally snapped.
"What's the point of all this then?" Potter demanded. "I'm supposed to save the world why are you getting after me for doing it?"
"That's not…"
"Dad. The world is made up of people like Mrs. Malfoy." Potter said, his green eyes ablaze. "If I don't save them then I can't save the world."
His mother took in a sharp breath, and Draco turned to see something misty in her eyes. Loki glanced at her and then at his son, he sighed a bit.
"You cannot take risks like this Harry, you can't." Loki said. "We've just found each other again."
It felt like an incredibly private conversation. The kind of conversation Draco normally loved listening in on. But this was different somehow.
"I'm sorry dad." Potter said. "Really. But it was his mum."
And that made all of the fight drain out of Loki. He sighed even deeper and gave his son a fond look. A far fonder look than Draco could ever remember his own father giving him.
"I am still incredibly upset."
"Right."
"But we'll finish this later." Loki said. "For now. Narcissa, I believe you know what I need from you. A vow of secrecy and you can have protection."
"Of course." She said. "Do you prefer to be called…"
"You can call me James." He said. "It's by far my favorite name I've ever gone by."
"Very well then." She said. "A vow of secrecy and my thanks. My family is in a great debt to you."
His mother squeezed his arm reminding him quite clearly what she expected him to do about that. He looked over at Potter who was looking at him, an eyebrow lifted. Draco sighed.
"Fine Potter. I'll join your stupid club."