Windbound 10/35

[herumtreiber]

Title: Windbound - 10/35
Chapter: ten
Author:herumtreiber 
Genre: post DH, slash, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: The world and characters of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: R
Warnings: Sexual content
Epilogue compliant? Epilogue complaisant
Chapter length: ~3,784 words
Beta: None.
Summary: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Hannah/Dean, Justin/Daphne, Ginny/??? My take on the Marriage Law. Should they obey the government’s edict or fight it the Muggle way? This leads to marriage equality. Plus there’s a twist exploring how a Horcrux operates. Good!Lucius, finally:) Hufflepuff house is amply represented here.

Table of contents



Chapter nine

October 19th, 1998
Hogwarts

Draco sat on his bed, ready to gather his things and go to class. During the weekend, he'd tried to manipulate the Map with no success. He sometimes fumed at Lucius, for not coming out and saying things clearly. Lucius had always been there, pressuring him to succeed. It was him who insisted Draco must learn at least 3 Latin languages.

Hoping for succor, Draco had confided in a gleeful Potions Master, whose solution was to glibly suggest that Draco should learn German too. At least Draco learned from this costly mistake and never tried to pit his godfather against his father again – openly, that is.

During Transfiguration class, which he took with the Hufflepuffs, Justin sat next to him and murmured sotto voce, "Your parents and mine are going to the theater tonight. They'll watch the musical Les Misérables, which is playing in the West End."

Draco nodded to the exuberant Hufflepuff. He'd received a letter from Narcissa telling him about the event and how she went and bought a new dress. From what his mother wrote, Lucius and Jason were becoming very good friends. Maybe this would do Lucius good, open his eyes to new experiences and not the old prejudices. He shuddered thinking about Lucius surrounded by his old cronies: Crabbe and Goyle, McNair, Rosier, Lestrange, the Carrows.

Susan decided to spend her free hour near the Lake. She let her hair down, for once, and it was flowing around her like a magnificent golden halo. She wondered how she would deal with Etienne Zabini, if they failed and could not defeat the Marriage Law. She would have to put up with a philandering husband then. It was awful.

The sound of a twig breaking made her turn her head and she saw a black-haired, brown-eyed Slytherin. She called, "Hello, Robert! Come and sit down by my side!"

Robert Lehmke sat beside her and they started talking about taking revenge on a certain silver-eyed Slytherin. He'd spilled the beans about their whereabouts before a certain ombudswoman, leading to some embarrassing moments at Madam Puddifoot's.

Susan had a surprisingly mean streak but that was tempered by her well-known loyalty. She would not prank Draco, but that didn't mean that she would not spill certain of his secrets – like the fact that he was very ticklish – to interested parties, namely Harry.

Robert was excited because he had received a reply from Harvard University. He could try to enroll there, and if he passed the exams correctly, he could get a scholarship. If he didn't get it, there were still many colleges in the United Kingdom he was interested in. He was especially intrigued by the fact that magic made electricity apparently unreliable. Could there be a way to remedy that? Maybe that would lead to a better source of energy.

Time passed chatting amiably, and the students ended up in a heated snog, which was rudely interrupted by a drawling voice, "Guys, I hate to break this up, but you have to move!"

Visibly garnering patience, Susan spoke up, "Why did you interrupt us, Draco? Tell me one good reason!"

Draco buffed his nails against his trousers and said officiously, "Maybe it is something unimportant, Susan, or maybe it had to do with the fact that Liz is headed here!"

The annoyed Hufflepuff-Slytherin couple went their different ways and Draco took to launching pebbles at the Giant Squid, hoping that it would react.

Terry and Justin were sitting in the History of Magic class, bored out of their minds. Mr. Binns had become an even more annoying ghost than usual, as if he had taken refresher courses on pestering the living. He now took to murmuring to himself, "History is doomed to repeat itself. The cycle commences again."

Instead of dutifully taking notes of some Goblin war or rebellion, Terry took to moaning in writing to the Head Boy, complaining about his forced marriage with Anastasia Warbeck.

Justin replied succinctly that at least he would always be assured fresh supplies of the Weird Sisters' CDs and videos. Terry snorted and smacked him upside the head.

Mr. Binns saw that and hectored them, saying, "I saw what you did to Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Jerry Loot. If you don't behave I will deduct points."

Unbeknownst to the boring ghost, the students continued their written dialogue. Terry teased Justin about marrying Daphne Greengrass, who was a pretty witch.

Justin replied that Astoria, Daphne's sister, was even prettier than her. She had a fair complexion, striking grey eyes and stunning golden hair.
Justin wrote, "But enough of that. We need to get hold of some transcripts for this class, or we'll fail the exams."

Terry answered, "I know there is someone who manages the titanic feat of not falling asleep while listening to old Mr. Binns here. I will contact Hermione and see if she is agreeable to lending us her notes." He continued writing, "So what is new with the Head Boy position? Do you ever get tired of lording it over us lowly mortals?"

Justin snickered and wrote, "No, the Headship is not what it is cracked up to be. There is a lot of work finagling the schedule with the prefects doing the rounds. I also have to deal with the concerns of frightened students. Of course it's satisfying to be able to help them, but this cuts into the hours I could spend with Daphne or with you guys."

"As for the vaunted power of taking points off the Houses, I rarely ever use it. There are not many people I'd like to see chastised in this way, except for a blond git we all know and who is a fellow Hufflepuff: Zacharias Smith. If I hear him praising himself for being there in the Final Battle I will scream."

"Strangely enough, there is another blond I would like to take points from: Draco. I admit to secretly liking the confrontations between Harry and Draco, they made me feel more alive somewhat. Maybe we could get them into a fight like that."

Terry wrote back, "I know what you mean. There was this raw quality to their exchanges, whether friends or foes, that kept you on your toes. When I saw them fight, I was entranced by the sheer passion of the exchange. You never doubted they disliked each other, it was raw and honest. And you didn't see it anywhere else. Sure, Zacharias Smith bothered Harry a lot, but Harry chose to turn the other cheek and did not grace him with a response, the same happened with Seamus. All the seeming hate he focused on Draco."

"Draco had fierce fights with Ron and Hermione, but they lacked the fire, the verve of a Harry-Draco confrontation. When you saw them fight, they inexorably drew you in, like a line in a painting draws your eyes inward and you become aware of something new, like a haunting note in a beautiful melody tugs at your heartstrings."

"By the way, do you know a spell for sore wrists?"

In the afternoon Ron made his way to the room where he had the appointment with his councilor, Mr. Jones. The councilor had asked him to invite Harry, so the brunet entered nervously the room, trying unsuccessfully to tame his mop of hair, and gingerly sat down.

Mr. Jones asked Ron if he had meditated about the question he'd posed, "What is prejudice?"

Ron replied, "To me prejudice is judging a person not based on what she is, but on other things like race, religion, pureblood status, etc. It's making assumptions about things you don't know. It's persecuting other people because of what they think, of how they look."

The councilor said, "I'm going to ask both of you the same question: Is there prejudice in the school?"
Ron said, "Sure there is intolerance, it's those damned Slytherins! They're the most prejudiced people on earth, with their pureblood status and all; hopefully the Marriage Law will change that…"

He was interrupted by an earnest Harry, who said, "I think there is prejudice, but it is waning since the end of the war. I think there will always be prejudice. Our job is to inform the people as best as we can about the facts beyond their narrow viewpoint, and hope that human nature reasserts itself and people become more aware of their shared humanity, for upon that ship we must sail, or fail and die."

The councilor said, "It is interesting that among the things you mentioned about prejudice is that intolerance is judging a person by certain features, like blood status, and it's also persecuting them for what they believe in. Do you stand by that?"

Ron replied confidently, "I do."

The councilor said, "Then I must point out it is strikingly similar to your behavior towards Mr. Malfoy. You judge him for his family and for what he believed in."

Ron exploded, he stood up and said, "But he almost killed Katie Bell and me! How can I forgive that?" Then Mr. Jones raised his hand, indicating he wanted to answer. Ron sat down again, angrily scowling at the councilor.

Mr. Jones continued, "I know those concerns are true. Still, a court of law decided it was not in society's best interests to prosecute him or his family. I submit to you that he's paid enough. Mr. Potter, do you hold the same opinion?"

Harry sat down next to Ron and lightly touched his shoulder as he said, "I know that he did horrible things, Ron, but I also witnessed what Voldemort put him through. Believe me, it wasn't pretty at all. There was the relentless force to comply, or his parents would be killed on the spot. There was constant physical and mental pain as they endured life by the grace of Voldemort. Then after the battle the grueling trials took place, and they were most taxing."

"I spoke for them because, how could I not? They're human, like us. When they cut them, do they not shed red blood like all of us? In the end, it doesn't matter if they are pureblood or halfblood or muggleborn. All that matters is our common humanity. This tells me that they can change. Voldemort and many of his Death Eaters were too much into the Dark path to make it back. The Malfoys stand at the cusp, their love for each other kept them truly safe, in more ways than one. Knowing this, I could do no other thing but to help them."

After a pause, the councilor discreetly coughed and said, "I don't ask you to forgive Mr. Malfoy if you do not want to, Mr. Weasley. I ask you to try and put your confrontations where they belong, in the past. In the end, this will prove better for you."

"You can try to keep alive the old hate and harass Mr. Malfoy for the rest of the year. However, pretty soon school will be over and you won't see each other again. Mr. Malfoy will be rid of you. On the other hand, Mr. Weasley, you will still carry around all that repressed hate, all the unwanted emotions within yourself, and that will stunt your growth."

"I ask you to be the better man, Mr. Weasley, so you can grow more as a person."

Ron said, "I may try, but if ever Malfoy taunts me, I will punch him again!" He grimaced and continued slowly, "But letting go of the hate seems so hard! It's true we're leaving Hogwarts behind, but I don't want to!"

Ron beamed and his face lit up as he exclaimed, "We've had so many adventures here, Harry! Remember when the Twins gave you the Marauder's Map?"
Then Ron's face visibly shut down and he looked on the verge of tears as he continued, "Merlin, I don't want to leave here!"

Ron started sobbing as he finished, "I don't want to leave Fred behind, God I don't want to forget him!"

Harry offered him a handkerchief, rubbed his shoulders and answered soothingly, "Fred will always be remembered by the people who knew him, he's unforgettable. You can't ever leave him behind, Ron. I learned from using the Deathly Hallows that the people we cherish are always with us. They surround us with their love. I'm sure Fred wants you to be happy, and for that matter, so do George and the other members of your family. You are never alone."

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Hermione and Draco were in the Library, checking books about Runes. By now they were pretty sure that only simple runes had been used on Magna Carta, which was understandable given the knowledge at the time.

Hermione was teasing Draco about how Harry seemed to glow suddenly, and did he have any clue as to what caused that?

She enjoyed watching the usually unflappable Slytherin blush. The wily blond countered with the same question directed towards Ron and her, and this time Hermione blushed.

The door opened and a harried-looking Andromeda Tonks walked in, carrying Teddy Lupin in her arms. She looked for and found Ms. Pince and got into a discussion with her.

The toddler looked flushed and coughed frequently. When he saw Teddy, Draco's face lit up and he waved to the baby. The toddler waved back and even began to change part of his black hair into platinum blond.

Andromeda finished abruptly her discussion with Ms. Pince. She saw Hermione and went to her, grimacing when she saw she was with Draco.
She gave Hermione a curt nod and completely ignored the blond. She said, "I need to find Madam Pomphrey, and no one in this school seems to know where she is! Can you help me, Hermione?"

Hermione answered, "I don't know where she is, but I could take care of Teddy while you look for her."
Andromeda nodded judiciously and said, "This will have to do. Just don't let him hold Teddy." She motioned towards Draco.

Then she gave the toddler to Hermione and stormed out of the Library.
Draco, undeterred by Andromeda's harsh actions, began to make faces at Teddy and making the toddler laugh. Between bouts of coughing, the baby managed to turn himself completely blond.

Teddy opened his arms and wanted Draco to hold him. Hermione could detect beyond Draco's apparently calm manner that it really hurt him to be unable to hold his second cousin's son. Hermione realized then that all Blacks were vindictive, not just the bad ones.

After Draco played peek-a-boo with Teddy some more, Andromeda returned and unceremoniously picked Teddy up, with a hint of distaste at finding the platinum blond toddler. The Tonks matriarch said, "I've found Pomphrey, she thinks it might be a magical flu. If it is, I'll have to bring Teddy here every day for his infusions. Say good-bye, Teddy."

With a wave from Teddy and a scowl from Andromeda, they left the Library.
Draco tried to get up and leave, but with a mighty push from Hermione, he fell back into the chair. Hermione intoned ominously, "What gives with Andromeda, Draco?"

Draco replied, "Mother has tried to reconcile with her sister for years, Hermione. She sent letters to Andromeda every year on Nymphadora's birthday. Aunt Andromeda never replied. The last ones were returned unopened. I could understand if she had some reservations when the Death Eaters were around, but this continued even after the Battle. One day they met haphazardly at a social gala, and mother said she could help with the education of Teddy, but Andromeda was enraged by this opinion."

"Now tell me, have you given any thought about the idea I proposed to contact your parents?"

Hermione replied uncharacteristically hesitantly, "I believe you are right. I have the Dune books with me; I'll lend them to you so you can read them and give me ideas."

Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy met Jason and Antonia Finch-Fletchley right on Charing Cross. Narcissa asked crossly why they couldn't just take a portkey to the theater and Jason replied genially that they would miss the fun in getting there.

Jason opened the doors of his silver car and the two couples climbed in. They started talking political business as Jason drove expertly through Charing Cross and then Shaftesbury. Finally he stopped in front of the theater; he opened the door for Antonia as Lucius opened the other side for Narcissa, and gave the car keys to the valet.

Lucius thought about how the wizards lost all the nitty-gritty of going places by simply Apparating or Flooing, like the way the drizzle of the rain fell against the car windows, casting strange shadows on the seats, or the way Narcissa brushed her hair when a sudden gust of wind caught it.

They enjoyed the musical immensely. For Lucius it was a glimpse into a strange world, so very different from the one he knew yet the essential things remained: honor, despair, betrayal, death, love. As he listened to Fantine singing "I dreamed a dream," he felt the despair, the hopelessness, the tragedy imbued into the song by the artistry of the composer and interpretation of the singer. It was a very poignant moment.

After they got out of the theater, Jason proposed going to a Chinese restaurant to have dinner. The other three concurred and they drove through Oxford Street and part of the Strand.

They had a relaxed and sumptuous meal, and at the end, they received the traditional Chinese fortune cookies. When he broke up his, Jason read to the assembly, "Change is on the way. Keep working." Jason chuckled to himself as he mused, "That sounds like a political slogan, maybe I'll give it to the Whip!"

When it was Lucius's turn, the cookie said, "A man dies, a man is born. The world rejoices." The blond suffered good-naturedly Jason's jabs. And he mused that this time, the cookie had told the truth.

On Wednesday, Daphne Greengrass had a visitor, her irrepressible little sister, Astoria. The Greengrass sisters were beautiful, each one in their special way. Daphne had a great figure, hair as dark as a raven's, and a winning smile. It was no wonder that the Head Boy was taken with her.

The petite Astoria was blond; she had a slim figure and a winning personality. She was outgoing and carefree. She and Daphne had a long running bet about which House she would have been sorted into. Daphne suggested Slytherin and Astoria herself Gryffindor.

When they went to the headmistress's office, Astoria noticed the repaired Sorting Hat and decided to end the bet once and for all. After a little cajoling, the Headmistress approved of the unofficial Sorting and Astoria put on the Hat.

The Hat said in her mind, "My dear Miss Greengrass, you fulfill veritably the requirements of all the houses: bravery like Gryffindor, cunning like Slytherin, wisdom like Ravenclaw and loyalty like Hufflepuff. Where to put you in this mock sorting?"

Astoria mentally begged, "Anywhere but Slytherin, put me in Gryffindor, I wouldn't want to be with the cunning snakes and their apples, but with the courteous lions and their pride!"

The Hat calmly replied, "There's bravery enough to put you there, Miss Greengrass, yet there is also much cunning that qualifies you for Slytherin. I think there is one house that suits you best, though."

The hat bellowed, "Ravenclaw!"

The surprised sisters looked at each other. No one won the bet!

McGonagall coughed and said, "The reason for Miss Greengrass' visit is that she has received her grades. Put simply, her OWLS were satisfactory and she can now enter her last two years before the final NEWTS exams."

McGonagall discussed the options available for her in her home schooling plan, and Daphne offered helpful advice from time to time.

When they finished, they left McGonagall's office and were taking the moving stairways to get to the Great Hall, when Astoria noticed an unmistakable mop of blond hair and shouted, "Draco!"

She ran and met the person, who effectively was Draco. They embraced and Draco said, "Nice to see you, Tori! Are you staying for long?"

Usually Astoria hated to be called 'Tori', but she accepted it in the case of Draco. She explained, "No, I have to go to Hogsmeade and meet mom and dad in the Three Broomsticks."
While they were walking, they met a witch with red hair. Draco intoned, "Allow me to introduce you to Ginevra Weasley." "Ginny, may I present Miss Astoria Greengrass?"

The witches took a moment to size each other up. Ginny extended her hand and Astoria shook it forcefully. They had a delicate look but they could pull a good punch, as Draco would personally attest. In fact, he was chastising himself about introducing them. Maybe that had been a mistake.

Ginny smiled and said warmly, "Can I call you Toria?" Astoria smiled and replied, "Sure you can."

Draco rolled his eyes and followed the pair of witches as they started to discuss Muggle vs. Wizarding gear.

Chapter eleven