Title: Defence, Pretence, Offence - Chapter 26/70 - New Beginnings
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles (LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
New chapters will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
They were a diverse group and, as such, they gravitated towards the Great Hall rather than a particular common room. Not that it was unusual to find other houses visiting each other after the summer classes. The hall was almost empty with only a small group of younger students chatting at the door end of what was usually the Hufflepuff table. Harry noted the curious glances their way as they all headed for the far end of the Slytherin table and sat down.
"That was unexpected," Pansy was the first to speak and she fixed Draco with a very particular stare.
"The headmaster swore us to secrecy," Draco said, not bothered in the slightest. "He didn't want anyone to know until he had made his decision."
"So this summer was a test?" Susan asked.
"No," Harry put in his own opinion, "it was mostly to prepare everyone for what is coming."
He couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
[Not your fault you've been targeted by a madman since you were a baby,] Draco said all but instantly.
"But it was probably useful to help the staff choose who they wanted," Harry continued out loud while sending back a mental hug of thanks for Draco's affirmation.
"Did you help them decide?" that came from Neville.
"We had nothing to do with it," Draco replied for them both. "This was all Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers and staff."
"I had an internship lined up," Anthony Goldstein said as he looked at his scroll, "I guess I will have to postpone that."
"It's not compulsory to say yes," Harry felt he had to point out.
Thirteen faces looked at him in exactly the same way and he felt Draco's mental eye roll.
"Like 'no' is an option," Seamus said.
"Actually it is," Draco said and surprised Harry. "You all have to think about this very carefully. Dumbledore thinks you're the best for the roles, the rest of the staff think so too and, if it helps, Harry and I can't find fault with their choices, but this has to be each of your decision."
[You rolled your eyes at me, I felt you,] Harry silently complained.
[Because you felt the need to say it so earnestly,] Draco replied, [but I accept the sentiment.]
"Personally I can't think of a better first entry for a CV," Michael Corner said. "Anyone have a quill?"
"Me Ma might expire of happiness," Seamus agreed.
Of course Hermione had a quill, although Harry had no idea where she had been keeping it, and one by one the members of the group used it. Every time someone put their name to paper, Harry felt a small tremor in the magic around him. Of course he shared it with Draco.
[Hogwarts is accepting them,] Draco said and sounded just a little bit in awe even though it didn't remotely show on the outside.
Pansy was last and made a show of reading her scroll carefully first, but she still signed it. As soon as she did Harry felt more than a slight tremor in the power of the school. What came at him was a rush of warmth that made his skin tingle.
"Hogwarts says thank you," he said and beamed at his friends.
"You're weird," Justin commented and made everyone laugh.
As if on cue a house elf popped into existence just beside Harry, who was sitting on the end of the bench with Draco between him and the rest of the group.
"Would the masters and mistresses be wanting Milly to be taking the scrolls to Headmaster Dumbledore?" the small elf asked politely.
Harry looked around the table and everyone gave a small nod.
"Thank you, Milly," Harry said, "that would be lovely."
Milly's ears twitched with pleasure before she vanished along with the scrolls.
"Well that was easy," Hermione commented.
When cocoa and cookies appeared in place of the scrolls Harry had to conclude that the house elves were pleased with the situation too.
"This evening is going well," Seamus said with a grin and reached for one of the mugs.
"I'll drink to that," Ernie agreed and joined him.
Harry didn't need to be offered cocoa twice and Draco fell on his like a starving man. It was never a good idea to get between Draco and sweet things, especially chocolate.
"What do we tell the others?" Hannah asked as they all tucked in.
"The truth," Draco said, which clearly wasn't what most of the table expected him to say. "If the headmaster had wanted us to keep this secret he would have told us, since he didn't, he wants people to know."
"He wants everyone to be talking about it when they go home," Pansy concluded.
"Oh," Ron said, "yeah, I get it."
Of course their master strategist would understand the move.
[Voldemort will know about it before lunch tomorrow,] Harry commented.
[And he will be furious,] Draco replied.
[Sometimes I still think it would be easier if I went and stood on a mountain and yelled 'here I am' until he showed up.]
[That's because you have a hero complex, which is why you bonded with me, I don't.]
Harry might have argued that point.
[Now what do we say in situations like this?] Draco asked.
[Draco is right, always listen to Draco,] Harry dutifully replied with a very small smile.
That some of their year would be leaving for what was likely to be for good felt strange, that others of them were staying did not.
* * *
As far as Harry could tell, everyone had spoken to their housemates about becoming members of staff as soon as they had returned to their house common rooms. In Gryffindor it was obvious some people were disappointed they hadn't been chosen, although a couple looked relieved, but everyone was very supportive. Saturday morning Dumbledore had made an announcement about it to everyone anyway, making it all official, and there had been applause all round. There was going to be an official celebration at the last meal of the summer school on Sunday evening, but it was only Saturday afternoon so that was a way away yet.
Harry did not expect the house elf that popped into existence as he read a letter from the bank. She was carrying a huge bundle of cloth that was swamping her.
"Here, let me help," he said, leaping to the small creature's aid.
"Lansey is much obliged to Harry Potter," she said as he took what looked surprisingly like robes from her. "Headmaster Dumbledore is asking the house elves to give all the new professors their official robes."
"Official robes?" Harry asked. "What official robes?"
"You is holding them Harry Potter," Lansey said as if it was obvious.
It was, but of course that wasn't what Harry had been asking. Not that he expected to get a straight answer from a house elf.
"Thank you very much, Lansey," is what he decided to say.
"You is welcome," she said and popped back out of existence.
[Draco,] he called to his soulmate who was currently playing chess with Ron downstairs, [did Albus mention anything to you about robes?]
[No, what robes?] Draco asked.
Harry was about to reply when he felt a small shock of surprise from Draco.
[Ah, I assume you mean the robes delivered by house elf,] Draco said. [One just arrived for Ron. Am I to assume you have mine and yours.]
[Yep,] Harry said. [I thought professors didn't have official robes.]
[They don't, but I think it might be to make sure we look older than we are,] Draco replied. [Can you imagine what Ron would look like if just left to dress himself.]
[Hermione would sort him out,] Harry replied.
[Unless he was stubborn,] Draco replied and walked through the door. "Now let's see those robes."
Clearly Draco was very curious if he had just run up all the stairs in the boys tower.
Harry didn't argue and simply handed over the top robe. As Draco held it up, Harry could tell it was mostly black, but there was an edging on it in silver, gold, light metallic blue and light metallic yellow.
"Nice touch," Draco commented.
There was also a large Hogwarts emblem on the right side with the word "Magister" in gold lettering.
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
"Teacher," Draco replied.
Of course Draco had to try on his new robe and slipped it over his current clothes. Even though it was the same colour as the normal school robes it was cut differently and there was something much more imposing about it.
"It makes you look very professional," Harry said, which earned him a smile.
"Try yours on then," Draco said.
Doing his best to ignore the fact he had just realised he might have a "professional" kink, Harry climbed to his feet and did as he was told. From the way Draco's eyes ran up and down him as he straightened out the robes, he guessed he wasn't the only one who liked the view.
"And you already have the glasses," Draco said, licking his lips.
That just confirmed it. Harry let his connection with Draco open onto a conscious level and discovered just how confirmed it was.
"Maybe we could play student and teacher?" Draco suggested with a wicked grin.
"Bags you play the teacher first," Harry agreed.
Possibly Dumbledore had never anticipated just what effect his gift would have on some of his previous students, but Harry didn't mind in the slightest. He took a step towards Draco, with every intention of kissing his soulmate soundly.
"Hey, Mates," Ron's voice came up the stairs, followed by their ginger haired friend, "why would Dumbledore give us robes? Does he think we're too poor to buy our own?"
[Don't hex him,] Harry said very rapidly and turned his attention to Ron.
One day his friend would get over his pride, but Harry didn't think it would be soon.
"Of course not," he said, trying to picture anything except Draco in his robe, "I think we're supposed to be a symbol."
"We're the light united," Draco added, sounding far less flustered than he felt on the inside. "The best of Hogwarts standing for Hogwarts."
Ron's frown cleared.
"Oh yeah," Ron said, "that makes sense. I was being an idiot again wasn't I."
"We all have our triggers."
Harry was surprised when that came from Draco. Sometimes Draco thought these things, but he still rarely said them out loud. Ron looked positively shocked.
"Crisis over?" Draco asked, crossing to where Ron was stood in the doorway.
Ron's frown was back, but this time it radiated confusion rather than suspicion.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Good," was all Draco said, "because Harry and I need some time. There's magic in the robes and we need to get Harry adjusted to it."
Harry lowered his barriers somewhat and he could indeed see there was some magic in the robes, however, it wasn't remotely interfering with him at all.
[Shut up,] Draco told him silently before he could say anything.
"Oh," Ron said, "of course. What magic?"
"Not sure yet," Draco said far too quickly, "go and ask Hermione, she's probably figured it out already."
Then he shut the door in Ron's face before Ron could so much a say any more.
"Was that really necessary?" Harry asked.
Draco turned to him and stared.
"I think that deserves a detention, Mr Potter," Draco said and the light dawned on Harry.
"What did you say about detention?" Ron's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Ron, go away," Harry decided this required the direct approach. "Give us half," Draco shook his head, "give us an hour," Harry corrected, "and we'll be down."
"Don't need any help from me and Hermione?" Ron checked.
"Nope," he replied, "definitely not, we'll be fine, thanks."
Draco was giving him a very hungry look. If Ron didn't leave soon he was going to hear things he really didn't want to.
"Okay, if you're sure."
"We're sure," Draco all but snapped back.
"Thanks, Ron," he added, but all his attention was now on Draco and the pure lust he could feel coming from his soulmate.
At last he heard the sounds of Ron's footsteps going back down the stairs and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Professor Malfoy, I'm so sorry," he said. "Does it have to be detention?"
"I'm afraid it does, Mr Potter," Draco said, "and you'll be serving it right here."
Harry only hoped that he didn't get hard every time someone mentioned detention after this.
This entry was originally posted at http://beren-writes.dreamwidth.org/379783.html.