AN: At the bottom.
Chapter 15
Hermione, Harry, Sirius, Seras, Integra and Schrodinger who'd been spending as much time with Harry since returning as possible, sat on blankets on the grounds outside Potter Manor. They'd opted to meet here instead of Hellsing Manor because Schrodinger was terrified of Alucard.
"Are you looking forward to going to Hogwarts, Schrodinger?" Hermione asked.
"Ja, Professor McGonagall is very nice. Did you know she can turn into a cat?" Schrodinger asked. Harry, Hermione and Sirius laughed.
"She's an animagus, mate. A wizard that can turn into an animal. I can turn into a dog." Sirius said, before demonstrating it for Schrodinger who was in awe.
"Shame they don't teach that at Hogwarts." Sirius said after turning back. Harry cleared his throat.
"Harry?" Sirius asked.
"It's on the 6th year syllabus now." Harry said with a grin. Sirius laughed. A house elf appeared an asked what they'd like to eat, after ordering Harry whispered into his elf and he nodded before popping away.
"I changed a lot of things there. Patronus is standard for 3rd years now, In first year they don't start brewing potions until after the holidays, so that they can learn about common reagent reactions and safety procedures. Basic math, English and science are now compulsory so that people who chose to live in the muggle world will be prepared. We're considering adding an additional year at the beginning to help the kids with learning disabilities catch up." Harry said.
"That'll be expensive won't it?" Sirius asked. Harry grimaced.
"I've doubled teacher pay and reduced tuition by 75% and there's still a surplus after we dissolved the board of governors. Worst case I'll just make up the difference." Harry said. The elf returned with a bucket of bloody meat, which Harry passed to Schrodinger.
"Why don't you go feed the Thestrals? They're very nice, I bet they'll love you." Harry said.
"Ok!" Schrodinger said, grabbing the bucket and running off towards the herd.
"The werewolves agreed to back me earlier than expected. Integra, we're making every effort to ensure that Hellsing is not perceived as being involved. I'm even purchasing everything I need in Galleons. If anyone asks, you don't know anything about it." Harry said.
"Of course." Integra.
"Seras, I need you, Zorin and Rip-" Harry went to say but Seras interrupted
"No way. We're coming with you. You are NOT doing this alone!" Seras said. Harry smiled fondly and cupped her cheek.
"I was going to say I need you three to wear civilian clothing with no Hellsing insignia." Harry said.
"Oh, sorry." Seras said, grinning sheepishly.
"I promised you I would never run headlong into danger alone if I can avoid it." Harry said.
"However, if it comes to it, I will need to duel them alone. Hermione, guess who my second is going to be?" Harry said.
"Neville? If it's Ron I am going to skin you both alive for not telling me..." Hermione said.
"Draco Malfoy." Harry said.
"What?!" Hermione and Sirius said, scandalized.
-Flashback-
Harry jogged up to a classy looking home in London and knocked on the door.
"Potter? Er, Potter-Victoria? Sorry." Draco Malfoy said.
"Hi. How's Mrs. Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"My mother, or my wife?" Draco asked with a grin.
"Yes" Harry said.
"Come in." Draco said, inviting him in.
"Mother is well, she is seeking a divorce from Father." Draco said neutrally.
"Shit.. Look I'm not going to pretend that I'm the president of the Lucius Malfoy fan club, but I'm sorry that I contributed to that." Harry said. Draco shrugged.
"My Father.. I love my father, but he has made his own bed. Mother relays her thanks for your specificity when it came to recalling those debts." Draco said.
"It was my pleasure. You both saved my life. And your wife?" Harry asked.
"She is doing very well. Daphne is looking forward to when you clear the malediction from her. She is not symptomatic, but she wants to have children." Draco said.
"I'll get that done before I do what I came here to talk to you about." Harry said. Draco invited Harry to sit, and they both did.
"I'm about to tell you something that if it got out early, would be extremely... dangerous." Harry said.
"I'm not making an unbreakable vow." Draco warned.
"I'm not asking for one. I am in the process of staging a coup against the ministry." Harry said. Draco stared at him open-mouthed.
"You're what?" Draco said.
"Coup. Ministry. Soon." Harry said. Draco pondered that.
"Honestly, I can't say I'm all that surprised now that I think of it. The current state of things is abhorrent. If not for your stunt at Gringotts the economy would be in ruins already." Draco said. Harry nodded.
"Phase 3." Harry said.
"I'm hoping to do things peacefully, I've gathered a large amount of support, mostly from those who fought with us in London. I've also secured the support of Vampires, Werewolves, Veela, the Goblins and the Centaurs have agreed not to involve themselves." Harry said.
"Vampires and werewolves?" Draco said, astonished. Harry nodded.
"The Vampires mostly are afraid of Alucard and I, the Werewolves are tired of the ministry's shi- crap. I'll be working with both as well as the other magical beings on institutionalizing their rights in the new government after." Harry said, censoring himself as he saw Astoria walk in with Scorpius.
"Mrs. Malfoy." Harry greeted her.
"Please call me Astoria. You've done so much for us. Have you been in touch with Daphne?" Astoria asked.
"Then call me Harry, both of you. And yes, I'm hoping to reach her before I overthrow the Ministry." Harry said with a grin.
"Ok... What?" Astoria said. Scorpius giggled.
"Strangely enough I meant exactly what I said this time. You've seen how things are." Harry said. Astoria nodded.
"And once again the country's problems fall to you." Astoria said with a frown. Harry shrugged.
"It'll be worth it when I'm God Emperor." Harry said with a cartoonish cackle. Scorpius imitated it and giggled.
"What is it that you need from me?" Draco asked.
"I'm hoping a show of support will be sufficient, however I suspect a show of force will be needed. In this case, I will essentially need to challenge Wizengamot members to duels until they give. I came here to ask you to be my second." Harry said. Draco looked astonished.
"Why?" Draco asked.
"I know from experience that you are a capable duelist, and having you as my backup may legitimize my efforts amongst the pureblood elites. Really I'm trying to do anything I can to avoid bloodshed." Harry said. Draco paused and looked back at Astoria who nodded at him.
"I'm in." Draco said.
"Really? That easy?" Harry asked, astonished. Draco nodded.
"Astoria and Scorpius have given me a new... perspective on things. School was a perfect microcosm of the nation at large, at least in Slytherin. Factions, cliques, temporary alliances only to end with mutual back-stabbing, everyone clawing and scraping to make it to the top of what ended up being a pile of dung." Draco said, pulling up his sleeve.
"I sacrificed my freedom, my childhood, and until I met Astoria, I was convinced my soul as well, and what did I get in return? Three years of fear and submission to a monster. " Draco said.
"The day you killed him was the best day of my life. The first real day of my life. It opened my eyes and showed me what I had become. I did not like what I saw, and I don't want Scorpius to ever have to see the same thing." Draco said.
"I'm ashamed that I had expected a very different reaction." Harry said. Draco shrugged.
"I haven't given you much reason not to." Draco said.
"Thank you. I sincerely hope that it will be a monumental waste of your time." Harry said. Astoria walked over and kissed Draco before leaving with the baby. Draco stood and walked him to the door.
"Well, now that that is settled, was there anything else?" Draco asked.
"Well, now that you mention it..." Harry said, unzipping his pants.
-End Flashback-
"Draco has such delicate hands." Harry said, causing Sirius to spit out the butterbeer he'd been drinking. Hermione was apalled, and Seras and Integra were laughing. Schrodinger returned with a smile and absolutely filthy hands, which Harry handled with a casual wave of his hand.
"How'd you like the Thestrals?" Harry asked.
"They were great! They were very excited about the meat. Can you ride them?" Schrodinger asked. Harry nodded.
"Sure, let's go." Harry said, standing up.
"Are you sure that's safe?" Hermione asked.
"Schrodinger's a vampire. He could survive a fall from the Moon." Harry said
"Technically, you cannot fall from the Moon to Earth, its gravity is too strong." Schrodinger said.
"Definitely a Ravenclaw." Harry said with a grin, ruffling Schrodinger's hair. Schrodinger laughed and batted Harry's hands away. Harry followed Schrodinger over to the herd of Thestrals.
"He's going to be an amazing father." Integra said, rubbing her belly. Hermione smiled.
"He already is." Hermione said, gesturing at Harry who was now running away from a laughing Schrodinger.
"He's known Schrodinger for just a few months and he's already all but adopted him." Seras said, smiling.
"I'm so glad that poor boy is surrounded by people who love him." Hermione said.
"It's funny because he's probably older than Sirius." Seras said
"Oi!" Sirius said, throwing his butterbeer cap at Seras, who caught it and flicked it back at him.
"Yeah but he's only really getting to be a child now. Harry said he'd age him up slowly, probably one year at a time, but not before he can shield him from his past. Helena said she has no idea how Harry is still sane." Integra said.
"No way you can fly faster than me, watch this!" Harry shouted as he and Schrodinger zoomed overhead on the backs of two very happy Thestrals.
"Is he though?" Hermione asked.
AN: Draco is way out of character here, but that's for a specific reason. One, he watched his father be utterly humiliated for three straight years as a consequence of his loyalty to Voldemort, then married and had a child only for his wife to start dying from magical cancer. Then Harry cured her and asked for nothing in return. My version of Draco is not perfect, but has learned from his and his father's mistakes.