Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Beneath a Shattered Fountain ❯ Players on the Board ( Chapter 7 )

Players on the Board

The doors to the great hall opened and Ron walked in, his gaudy robes and jewelry exchanged for tailored robes of expensive material. Draco wondered if Madame Malkin had been forced to make new clothes for everyone. It didn't matter. Ron had no idea how to act like a rich pureblood and with every gesture, comment and even every step, he revealed just how miserably poor he'd been brought up.

Hermione came in close behind him, just as dishevelled and dusty as she'd appeared in the bathroom. Other faces followed her, most that he didn't recognize but assumed were Harry's friends or colleagues, but it was the Weasley twins that caught Draco's attention. He didn't know how terrible the fighting had been but now he saw one of its most freakish casualties. They stood side by side sharing one fused arm between them. It had no hand and no joints, and perhaps even no bones. What made him turn away, though, was not their mutilation but they way they walked in step, looking at the same thing at the same time, even blinking simultaneously.

Draco buried his face in his master's robes, trembling and edging closer. The soft pat on his head and a warm arm around his waist didn't make the fear go away completely.

"It's all right," Harry whispered. "You're safe."

"What happened to them?" Draco whimpered.

"They got caught in a crossfire. We'll probably never know exactly what spells they were hit with. It's okay, though." Harry smiled at them from across the room as they took up a position near the door, a wand in each of their hands. "I rather like them like that. They don't talk much anymore and they do what they're told. Now tell me who's coming in behind them."

Turning his head just enough to see the doors, Draco watched as wizards and witches, both the cream of the pureblood families and the lowest muggleborn mudbloods filed in, heads bowed out of respect or fear. Some of them stared at him, but none of them seemed shocked. After everything that had happened, seeing the youngest Malfoy at Harry's side was the least of the war's effects.

"That's Durvach Grinset," Draco whispered, "the one in front with the dog head cane. His family's been hiding for a long time. Even the Ministry didn't know about them. He's probably hoping you'll show some favor to dark wizards."

"And the woman behind him?"

"That's Erzabet Ilwacket. She's also dark, but she's never been influential in our circles."

As they came forward one by one and knelt before Harry before moving to the side and awaiting their particular audience, Draco whispered their names and agendas long hidden from the Ministry. He spotted a few of the former teachers, but McGongall was not among them and none of them would meet his eyes. The room began to fill and still more people came in until their faces began to blur together. Despite the amount of people inside, the room remained quiet save for a few brave souls who dared to whisper.

Harry glanced at Hermione and nodded once, idly petting Draco's hair as she came up and stood beside his throne.

"Wizards and witches, honored guests all," she began with no sincerity in her voice. "You have been summoned before our Lord Harry Potter to give account of yourselves. Your future in our society depends upon your answers here. Rest assured, any attempts to disobey will be met with swift response."

Hermione called each of them by name, sometimes calling a husband and wife together or a father and son. Draco slowly lost his self-consciousness as Harry turned every family aside, dashing their hopes that he would look on them any more favorably than the Ministry did. As each family was progressively stripped of their properties and lands, many of them were stunned to realize they would escape only with their freedom. A mere handful were granted parcels of land and the rest, Draco figured, would be forced to find a trade and eke out an existence in one of the cities, if they didn't try to escape the country altogether. Harry didn't make any exceptions for former friends or housemates, ignoring the Creevys and Patils as if they were remnants of a life he didn't want to remember. Draco didn't spot any of Harry's closer friends and wondered if they numbered among the dead.

Increasingly ignored by his master, Draco stopped worrying about the wizards lining up to lose everything and instead turned away, lowering his head on Harry's thigh. His master's hand stroked his hair, and Draco settled more comfortably on his pillow and against the throne. The whole of society seemed to stream past Harry, but Draco might have been in bed asleep for all he mattered.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, with Severus Snape attending."

His eyes widened and he tried to sit up, but Harry's hand suddenly turned to iron, holding his head down on his lap. His wings trembled but he managed to keep them from extending. After a moment, he stilled again, yielding to Harry's wishes. In response, Harry relaxed his grip, no longer forcing him down but neither allowing him to turn and look.

"Lucius Malfoy," Harry started. "I'm pleased you came. I wasn't sure if you were halfway across the world by now."

"You summoned us, my lord," Lucius said, his voice echoing through the hall. "And we answered immediately, as before."

Draco felt Harry's fingers drumming lightly on his head. Was his father bowing like everyone else? And calling Harry a lord. Had he already done something to help Potter's new rule? Now he wished he'd asked Harry what had been happening in the world since Voldemort's death.

"I've noticed that whenever you answer to someone," Harry said, "usually it benefits you the most. You served Voldemort until he no longer served your interests. "

"Until he stole my son," Lucius growled, then took a breath and calmed himself. "Forgive me. You already know why we turned."

"True," Harry said. "And it's also true that you proved yourself quite useful against the dark lord. No one knows a viper as well as another viper. But now that the war is over, I don't know that we need to keep around a handful of poisonous snakes."

Draco's breath hitched. Is this why Harry didn't want him to watch? Was he going to kill his parents right now? Bad enough to think they were dead, but to hear them die right in front of him--

"Don't kill them," he whispered frantically. "Master, please."

The fingers in his hair curled tight and tilted his head, forcing him back up on his knees. Harry still wouldn't let him turn and see his family.

"Why should I let them live?" he asked, staring deep into his eyes for the slightest hint of betrayal. "What can you offer me?"

Useless ideas formed and disappeared as Draco panicked. He already belonged to Harry. What more could he give him? If he didn't think of something soon, his family may soon lie dead on the floor, and it would be his fault. The more he dwelt on his fear, the more afraid he became until he couldn't think.

The rattle of his chains seemed to plant the solution in his mind. He was thinking like a slave. He needed to think like a king.

"I can give you their loyalty," Draco whispered.

A hint of a smile played on his master's lips, but Harry didn't give in immediately. "Malfoys are treacherous by nature," he said.

"But absolutely loyal to family," Draco said. "They'll serve you if they think my safety depends on their devotion."

"Then they'll try to steal you from me."

"Not if they know I love you," Draco insisted. "Not if they know I'll die without you."

Harry paused, considering.

"Please," Draco breathed. "All we've ever wanted is to serve a king who serves our interests. We're tools. Use us well, and we'll never betray you."

The entire court was silent as Harry pulled his veela close for a kiss, letting his hand slide from the back of his head down to the chain at his throat. Holding Draco by his leash for a moment, he smiled and kissed his cheek before forcing his head back down on his lap.

"Your son is eloquent in your defense," Harry told Lucius. "Can I trust your unswerving loyalty as much as I trust his?"

He implied the threat to Draco both in his tone and in keeping a firm hand around the chain, clearly showing off his ownership. Wrapped up in steel and seated next to the solid throne, Draco looked vulnerable with his fragile wings and his simple outfit. Whatever Harry wanted to do to him, he obviously could.

"Of course," Lucius answered. "I and my family are yours to command."

"And is Severus Snape part of that family?" Harry asked.

"He is," Lucius said, and Draco could imagine Severus' face as he struggled not to answer in kind. "Ever since taking protection and comfort from me during our time in school, he has lived under my authority as part of the Malfoy family."

Harry mulled that over. "But he betrayed you by turning to Dumbledore."

"Yes, well," Lucius' voice turned dry and relaxed a little now that he thought they might survive this meeting. "There's one in every family. That we eventually came over to his way of thinking hasn't made him any easier to live with."

Laughter rumbled in Harry's chest, and Draco took some comfort in it. His master had decided their fates and, even if Harry wanted to kill them, Draco didn't think he would laugh during do so, especially not in front of his veela.

"Lord Malfoy," Harry said, giving out his first noble title, "I remember how you helped us and how you brought me back after the last battle, and for that, not only will you keep your lands, but you'll also take control of those I've confiscated. I'm sure you can find vassals to manage them for you. In return, your son will remain safe at my side."

Lucius' gasp drowned in the mournful whispers throughout the court. No one had expected this, to lose all authority to a former Azkaban inmate and treacherous dark wizard.

"You can sort out the details with Hermione--"

Hermione cleared her throat.

"--Great Lady Hermione," Harry amended. "You are dismissed."

Relief washed over Draco so strong that he didn't hear his father's response. This court felt like a dismal dream with death close at hand, avoided only by the most tenuous manipulations. Now that the danger had passed, his wings trembled harder and harder until he lost control over them, and he winced as they spread out. Harry chuckled and put his hand over them, gently folding them back up.

"This audience has gone on long enough," Harry said to the crowd. "We'll continue tomorrow."

In the whispers that followed, Hermione's voice cut through and began issuing orders to the twins and everyone inside, herding the crowd out in order. Draco wondered how much power Harry had given her since she seemed to control the court more than he did. At last Harry let him look over the hall, but it was empty. His parents and Severus were gone. He sighed, and his wings drooped.

"We're going to need to do something about your wings," Harry said, running his hand along his feathers. "I can't have them flying open every time you get worried."

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered. "I tried to keep them down but--"

"I know," Harry said. "And you did a good job, considering. But they were trembling and it showed."

Draco sat up on his knees and stretched his wings out as far as he could, then let them fall naturally again. "I don't think I can keep them from doing that on my own," he admitted.

"I'll see if I can't think of something," Harry said. "Perhaps I could simply tie them down."

He winced at the thought, but Draco knew that was better than clipping them. He also knew better than to argue, especially when there was something else he wanted to ask for. A little pain couldn't compare to having his family back.

"Do you think I might be able to talk with my father?" Draco asked, not meeting Harry's eyes. "To all of them? I promise I won't say anything you don't want me to--"

"Do you think they want to meet you?" Harry asked. "You're a half-breed. Sure, you're their son, but do you think they want to be near you?"

And there was the hated question. Draco swallowed reflexively. He knew it was true, but it shamed him to admit it. In matters of blood, he was no better than Hagrid, albeit more beautiful. Even mudbloods could boast two human parents. He wondered if even Snape could stand to touch him?

"I don't know," he murmured. "But they turned against the dark lord to try to save me, right? Maybe it'll be enough. They...they don't have to touch me to talk to me."

Strange that he envied mudbloods now. When Harry cupped his chin and tilted his head up, he still kept his eyes lowered.

"Look at me," Harry ordered.

The instant he raised his eyes, he felt the expected touch in his mind. As Harry grew familiar with his thoughts, the touch became less abrasive, less like his memories being ransacked and more like a breeze pushing away some thoughts and calling forth others. Harry examined his time under Voldemort's heel, wincing in sympathy but patiently searching for something that he didn't find.

"You never let yourself think about it," he said as he finally drew back. "Every time you started to, you thought of something else."

"I can't change what I am," Draco said, "no matter how much I want."

"And do you want to?"

A few weeks ago he would have said yes. His wings were nothing but a source of pain and proof of his worthless blood. But now?

"I don't know," he said. His sight blurred as he blinked back tears. "It doesn't matter how beautiful I am, I'm still half-animal. Still a filthy mix, but the veela blood gave me you. I wouldn't have you if I wasn't a half-breed."

"You still think it's filthy?" Harry asked softly. "Even when it's you?"

Not trusting his voice, Draco nodded once.

"Well, at least you're not a hypocrite," Harry said, running his thumb under Draco's eyes to wipe away the moisture there. "Now I just have to prove to you that you're wrong."

Draco tilted his head away. He wouldn't argue but he couldn't agree, either.

"In a week," Harry said. "I'll let you meet your family again in a week. That'll give us some time to settle the details of their new work."

A week of waiting and worrying. Despite the uncertainty and anxiety that started to pool in his stomach with that promise, Draco smiled. Harry reached out, soothing the wings that had started to tremble in excitement.

"Yes," he said more to himself than Draco. "Must do something about those wings."

TBC...