The Lord Appellant 25/37

[herumtreiber]

Title:  The Lord Appellant 25/37
Chapter:  Draco's release
Author:herumtreiber  
Genre: Slash, romance, adventure, dark!fic
Pairing: Draco/Blaise, one sided Harry/Draco
Rating: PG-13
Warnings for the fic: It's a dark fic, rape is mentioned several times. Dementors appear and not for show. Character death (not Harry, Draco or Blaise). Evil!Ron, powerful Hermione, Pansy and Bellatrix. Sympathetic to Slytherins.
Epilogue compliant? No
Chapter length: ~4,190 words
Disclaimer:  I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. Nor do I make any money from  writing  these stories.
Summary: After the events of HBP, the Minister of Magic wants to finish the Malfoys but Draco uses a Wizengamot procedure to fight back. Veelas and Siddhe appear in the story as Draco uses political means to contest the pureblood's allegiance to Voldemort.
Notes: I wrote this before DH was published, so please no picayune comments about canon.


Table of contents


4. Harry's rescue

Blaise returned to Draco's rooms to keep vigil over him. He felt despondent. He'd asked Harry if he still felt Draco through the failed Bond, and Harry had not been reassuring at all. He'd said, "It feels as if he's gone, Blaise, as if he'd just gone out the door. The funny thing is, that the feeling lingers, I mean, it feels as if he's just poised outside the door, forever thinking about leaving but not leaving at all. He's not there, but the merest whiff of him remains, a touch distantly shared. I'm sorry I can't explain myself better, Blaise."

Blaise had looked up and noticed Harry crying, and hastened to calm the overburdened boy, "It will be all right, Harry. You'll see, Narcissa will make it all better. Now I have to go."

So Blaise entered the room feeling as if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders. Watching Draco lying there, the duvet covering his legs but still leaving his magnificent chest free to see, was killing him. He sat on a chair, and waited patiently for Narcissa.

He didn't have to wait long. Narcissa entered three minutes later and handed him a cup of chocolate, with the strict admonition of drinking it all or else. Blaise drank the beverage, and calmed down some.

Narcissa asked him to explain what he thought had happened. Blaise launched into a detailed explanation of the day's happenings from his point of view. He told Narcissa about what Draco called the "mental winds" that took him where they willed, about using them to escape the damned Bond, the new way he'd found to ride the Roads, which he called Bridges, when he was forced to rescue her. He told her about receiving Harry's sad farewell, that the Roads going into that place were likely cut off by Voldemort. He explained in detail his harebrained idea of Draco riding the Bridges and returning to this Realm an hour before, long enough for Draco to warn Harry.

He also explained Draco's rebuttal, and finally Draco's insight that he could go back to before the blockade was put.

Finally, he explained to Narcissa about Harry's dim connection with Draco through the failed Bond, and that Harry could no longer feel Draco, but instead felt as if he was at the threshold of a door, forever leaving, but a merest whiff of him remaining, tantalizing.

Narcissa just sat there, analyzing and correlating all the data, as if her life (or her son's) depended on getting it right the first time. She thought about what she knew about Draco, the impetuous boy become more mature, the whining prat who cared for family and friends, the life of her eyes who saved her from certain death; she pondered about the nature of the Roads, what Dija had grudgingly revealed; and she came to a result.

She said kindly, "I've come to some conclusions, based upon the data you've provided, Blaise. I would like for you to do with me what you do with Draco, namely advise me: point out inconsistencies that we may save Draco."

She continued, "When he got between the Death Eater and Harry, Draco must have known what would happen. Since it appears he didn't have enough energy to magically defend himself, and he knew he'd face AK soon, he must have relied on what had helped him so often before, the "mental winds" or Bridges. I surmise he would initially try to move himself and Harry out, but that failed due to Voldemort closing any traffic.

I daresay he thought about your advice, Blaise, and tried to go to the past. But he also found it closed. I believe that when the roads into Space and Time appeared completely closed, he decide to try the unthinkable, namely a Road leading nowhere and nowhen, existing in and of itself. I read in a book the Muggles call that a Singularity."

Blaise sobbed and cried, "Then we've lost him!"

Narcissa replied, "Not necessarily, Blaise. A Singularity is very rare. I've never seen one, but Dija mentioned having sidestepped one, and the bastard within." "It would be like a circular Road, and we need to get him out of there. With no outside world, his mind will start turning on itself. Hallucinations are the least of our worries."

She went on, "I can try to get to the Singularity, but I'll need a focus point. I'll need to take you with me, Blaise. I'm sorry."

Blaise replied, "No, that's OK, Narcissa. Even if it's dangerous, I'll be doing something for Draco."

Narcissa answered, "Then let's be on our way. The sooner we get there the better for him."

Blaise gave his hand to Narcissa, who took it warmly. Narcissa focused entirely on her son's mind, on her beautiful baby boy who created such havoc with his wild magic and later was so repentant, on her son who berated Dobby publicly in front of Lucius but then went to the Elves' quarters to ply him with chocolate. Her troublesome, utter lovable son. She pictured his face, so like Lucius at first sight, but completely different where it counted, his intentions and obsessions.

For Narcissa, the Roads appeared as filigreed constructions of beautiful flowers, laid in geometric patterns on the soil: narcissi, lilies, roses were some of them. Such constructions appeared and one looked particularly inviting. Casting a warm protective net around Blaise and herself, she took the Road, Blaise following.

To an observer in the room, it would appear that Narcissa and Blaise turned into multicolored light, but unlike other times, they didn't shot up to the ceiling and disappeared. This time the light contracted into a beautiful ball, which hovered in mid-air and tentatively approached Draco who was reclined on the bed. Intently the ball approached, until it entered him.

On the Road, Narcissa held her thoughts on Draco: her son at eleven, excited about going to Hogwarts, and later grumpy about having failed to earn Harry Potter's friendship, her son confiding in her about his boyfriend Blaise, her son rescuing her from the evil Siddhe.

She noticed a Spot that beckoned to her intently. She grabbed Blaise's hand, squeezed it, and then launched herself at the Spot, feeling it coalesce, albeit grudgingly and incompletely. There was a feeling of raw energy nearby.

She felt the walls grow, a bed, some windows. It would seem the place where Draco was hidden before he returned to the Manor.

And Draco was there, very angry it seems. He was shouting, "They have left me alone. I do all that for them, and they leave me to rust and die! Even mom! I'd thought she would be the one to find me!"

It was clear that Draco was not aware Narcissa had arrived, just as it was clear that the isolation was getting to him.

Narcissa said, "I'm here, Draco. How much time do you think has passed Outside?"

Draco was startled, "Mother? I thought you would not come. At least a week has passed."

Narcissa replied, "You are wrong, Draco. It's been less than three hours. I got an inkling of the answer after I talked to Blaise."

Draco said, "It was the only thing I could do. But how did you get in? If you got in completely, there's no way out and we're both trapped!"

Narcissa answered, "I'm not all the way in, Draco. Well, I am, but Blaise is holding me. By the way, we should get back right about now. I don't like how threatening the walls are becoming."

Narcissa was right, the walls had started to darken and seemingly get closer.

Narcissa said, "Hug me, and I'll think us back to Blaise!"

Draco hugged his mother. Narcissa thought about Blaise and they left the menacing Singularity behind. Once the three were together, Draco extended a protective mental cloak all around them and they concentrated on arriving in Draco's room, two minutes after Blaise and Narcissa left there.

When they had arrived there, Draco proceeded to snog Blaise fiercely and said, "Thanks for everything, Blaise. I was getting real lonely." Narcissa bid them good night and left.

Then Draco called for Dobby, who appeared and, watching Draco, broke into a smile and hugged his knees until Draco fell, and then they started rolling on the floor. Finally Draco managed to extricate himself enough to say, "Dobby, could you bring me some chocolate and, err…?"

Dobby, knowing his master, said with a grin, "Master wants Vintage Chocolate Frogs, right?"

Draco, "Yes, Dobby, you are right."

Blaise decided to leave Draco and Dobby to share a moment alone, and went to Harry's to bring him the good news.

He got to the room and knocked softly. After several seconds, the door was opened by a groggy Harry Potter, who on seeing Blaise, said, "Yes, Blaise, I can feel him again through the failed Bond. So you managed to bring him back!"

Blaise felt he could relax for a little while; the next crisis didn't seem to be due soon. However, it would strike anyway, and sooner than he thought.

He explained to Harry about Narcissa's involvement, and how the two of them had rescued Draco from the Singularity. He had to explain about Draco and Narcissa being Siddhe, and he begged Harry to keep the knowledge to himself. Harry was astounded. He'd heard vaguely of the Siddhe and believed them to be a myth, but now, he lived next to a breathing Siddhe! The prophecy of the Dark Child grew intensely in scope. If its beginning was true, no matter how farfetched, then all parts must be true!

He was about to comment this to Blaise when they were interrupted by a very worried house elf. Dobby paced up and down, and said, "Masters must helps me calm down Master Malfoy! Master Draco is beyond himself, he throws everything, he's very disturbed about scars!"

Blaise immediately took charge, saying, "Don't worry, Dobby, Harry and I will take care of it!"

They made it to Draco's and got in, dodging several hairbrushes headed their way, as Draco moaned the loss of his perfect figure. Harry's eyes inevitably were drawn to him, who was wearing low riding pajama bottoms, and nothing else, his chiseled chest bare for the world to see.

After many false starts, Draco revealed that he was disturbed by a scar, a lightning-bolt scar, that was just below his right nipple. He felt his perfect skin had been disfigured, and nothing they said would make him change his mind, until Harry said, "So if you had to do it again you wouldn't because of the scar, Draco. It's OK; I'm not worth that much."

Draco started and said, mindful of Blaise's heated glare, "No, it's not that at all, Harry! If I had to do it again I would gladly do it, even if the scar were in my face. It just came as a surprise, that's all. Please stop with the "I'm not worth that much" crap or I will gladly sic Pansy on you, nay, I'll sic Pansy and Mother on you, and then we'll see who begs for mercy, mighty Warlord!

Draco continued, "At any rate, Harry. I'm pleased to announce that you are no longer the only Boy Who Lived! You are sitting next to a bona fides Boy Who Lived." "How does it feel to no longer be the only one, eh, Harry?"

oOoOo

The next morning at breakfast they explained the presence of Harry, his kidnapping and rescue, and Draco's subsequent release. Harry had to suffer the good-spirited teasing of the Slytherins and he mentally compared it to the cold silence and fear-filled stares he got from his Gryffindor housemates.

When they were eating – or stuffing themselves full of – rich strawberry cake, Tonks made her appearance, accompanied by her parents Andromeda Black Tonks and Ted Tonks.

She greeted her cousin and Draco stood up, smartly hugged Andromeda and Ted, and carefully introduced his gang to the Tonkses. He begged the Tonkses to follow him to his office, where he proceeded to explain that he was ready, as Lord Black, to reinstate to them what should have never been taken away.

Andromeda declared herself ready, and asked for the presence of Narcissa. Draco called Dobby, and told him to find his mother and tell her that her sister Andromeda waited for her in his office. Presently Narcissa appeared and hugged Andromeda, she was crying and saying, "All the time, I thought I'd never see you again. All those times I convinced Lucius…"

Andromeda asked alarmed, "What do you mean, Cissy?"

Narcissa answered, "You wouldn't think that the Dark Lord viewed you favorably when you defied the family's pressure and married Ted? Through the years, there were many plans to bring you to the Dark Lord. Thankfully, for many of these, I was able to persuade Lucius to leave you alone. It was a tiring task, but very worthwhile. However, there were other plans that were too powerful for me, and only someone special could foil them, you'll learn who you owe your family's life to very soon."

Draco took out his wand, and directing it toward his aunt's heart, he clearly stated, "I, Draco Malfoy Black, Lord Black, willingly grant what should have never been rescinded. Andromeda Black Tonks is a full member of the Black family, with the rights and privileges thereof. As always, I pledge myself to work for the continuous improvement of Black House."

Andromeda felt a surge of energy, which she hadn't felt in so many years, and sat down.

Meanwhile Draco repeated his movements of drawing his wand to Ted Tonks' heart, he said forcefully, "I, Draco Malfoy Black, Lord Black, willingly grant unto thee the rights and privileges of a member of Black House. I pledge myself to work for the improvement of Black House."

Draco continued, "I think I will call you Uncle Ted, because Uncle Tonks reminds me of Tonks and sounds a bit butch."

Tonks laughed. Draco nervously eyed his aunt, and said, "Aunt Andromeda, there seems to be a side effect of restoring you to Black House, and it is that people get the urge to prank. If you have this urge, could you please direct it more constructively?"

Andromeda replied, "I have already gone through that phase when I was growing up, Draco, so it's safe to say I won't have it."

Draco said, "I hope you decide to stay here. I've prepared rooms for you, and I would sleep safer knowing you are here. The war is stepping up. Just yesterday Harry was kidnapped and almost killed." He related to them an edited version of the events.

Thinking to himself, Draco realized he had almost all the persons he needed to spill a secret. Only Hermione was absent. He summoned parchment and ink, and wrote a letter.

Hermione was at the Burrow, desperately trying to hide her work from Ron. Fortunately the redhead had stopped talking to her, to pester her about Harry.

Now he only sat there, pretending to work, boring holes in her head. She took the precaution of writing utter nonsense in the parchment she did leave around. The ones she found interesting, she reduced in size and took with her. She urgently hoped that Draco called on her soon.

An Eagle Owl swooped down from the window. He stopped in front of her and regarded her with an imperious stare, he started preening, his magnificent black and brown feathers fluffing around, and Hermione had a good idea she knew whose owl this was.

She took the proffered parchment, opened it and read.

Hermione,

I think your presence may be needed here. The owl feather attached at the end is a portkey, it activates with the word, "Mayenne." If you have no further use of the owl, please send him home, his name is 'Hammersfall,' whatever you do, don't call him Ham!"

DMB

Hermione sighed to herself and said aloud, "I don't have further need of you, Ham." Whereupon the owl started screeching and hooting as if he was completely enraged.

Hermione realized the futility of fighting with an owl, even a Malfoy owl, and tried to soothe the bird, "OK, OK! I'm sorry, Hammersfall. It's just that you have such a majestic name that it doesn't feel right to keep saying it." She smoothed his feathers and the owl calmed down. Hermione continued, "You can go home, Hammersfall. I got the letter."

As the owl left by the window, Hermione grabbed her bags and put her things in order. Finally, she took the owl feather in her hands and muttered, "Mayenne," and the portkey took her to the Manor.

What she didn't see was Ron coming out of the shadows in which he had hid himself and muttering angrily, "Malfoy's got her too! I have to do something to get them back!"

oOoOo

When Hermione arrived at the Manor, she realized with a start that Tonks and her parents were there, as was Narcissa. It appeared that most of the surviving Blacks had reunited today. She was also happy to see Harry, looking careworn, but happy, and at ease. She noticed Blaise looked tense, and that keyed her in that Draco was about to do or say something that could get ugly for a while.

Draco went to her and put her hand on his arm, and escorted her to meet his family, like a model pureblood gentleman, which in a sense he was. He said, "Hermione, may I introduce you to the Tonks: Andromeda Black Tonks, Ted Tonks, and of course our own Nymphadora Tonks. This is my good friend and colleague Hermione Granger."

After some small talk, he took her to meet his mother, "Mother, may I present Miss Hermione Granger? Hermione, this is my mother Narcissa Black Malfoy."

Narcissa took over, "So this is the young witch who consistently did as good as you or better! She must be outstandingly smart."

Draco said, "She is, mother, she is the smartest witch of her generation."

After some conversation, Draco stood up and said, "You must be wondering why you are here. The truth is that a part of my team has come in place, and now it is important that you know who they are. I warn you, it is a bit of a shock. You think you know a person, but you don't. The person has many facets, some of which you see, some remain unknown."

Draco continued, "Most of you hold this person in deepest contempt. To you, I must ask you to suspend your disbelief. If you can't trust them as do the others, simply refrain from doing them harm."

Draco motioned for Blaise. He moved the Pensieve he'd brought forward, ready with Draco's memory of his chat.

The memory played: "You might find it strange that Bellatrix Lestrange be here with us. After all, she is one of the Dark Lord's most trusted supporters. Yet, haven't you ever wondered how it was that the Dark Lord allowed me to walk unfettered for so long? I was a thorn on his side for quite some time, what with leading the Slytherins at school and not working for him, a condition I'm proud to have maintained until my father was captured and my mother threatened, whereupon the whole Dumbledore fiasco came about."

"I submit to you that it is because of the good graces of my Aunt Bella that I lived and grew and became your leader. As a trusted confidante of the Dark Lord, she was able to distract his attention."

"You of all people should know how quick persons judge you, from how you look, where you came from, etc. My aunt has made terrible things, but she has also contributed more positively. She has a plenary pardon from the Wizengamot, valid until the end of the war."

"…She used advanced magic to heal the elf, called Dobby, using the cover of the shadows to avoid being seen. She's helped elves and people when she could. Quite sparingly, or her cover would be blown, but enough for me to notice."

"As a matter of fact I was going to look for her myself. This affair brings us closer to the desired end."

"As regards Redemption. No one can or should dictate who should be redeemed or who shouldn't. It's a matter of the heart of the Redeemed, what we can do is try and reconcile the past and the present, what we know of their intentions, in a fair and just manner. It is not our place to judge."

Before anyone could say anything, Narcissa spoke up, "Bellatrix was the highly placed person who derailed other plans designed to kill you and your family, Andromeda. We often discussed what we could do so you wouldn't be captured or killed, we came to the same conclusions: my position at Lucius's side could stop some plans, but for the inevitably few that escaped me; we needed a high-level operative, who held the Dark Lord's unwavering support. Bella was that person, and she never wavered, not for one second, or you would not be here today."

Hermione could observe Harry's face, and it looked utterly bereft of emotions. He truly had a poker face. She wondered what he was thinking. It must come as a shock to find Bellatrix Lestrange on your side!

As for her, she had faith in Draco's ability to gauge character and create plans.

It was then that she suddenly started becoming aware of the scope of Draco's plans. The line of prophecy came vividly to her keen mind, "his will commands battlefields, though he does not fight."

As the scope of Draco's plans became known to her, for once in her life she was completely awed. Indeed, the Dark Lord was a complete babe in the woods compared to Draco. She was also intensely aware that Harry could have never come up with something so magnificently underhanded, eager and devious.

The majority of the pureblood population now had an energetic, successful figure they could follow into politics. He'd proved his mettle in battle and in court. He fought the pureblood's cause. They no longer had to stay glued to Voldemort, come hell or high water.

This reduced drastically Voldemort's recruiting. He was much more dependent upon his Inner Circle. But what to do when a great portion of the aforesaid Inner Circle could betray him? Bellatrix, Crabbe Sr., Goyle Sr., Snape. Most of these persons were against him, and so it would happen, that Draco's will regarding battlefields would come to pass, for who can be said to dominate a battlefield more, one who simply fights in it, or one who denies the battlefield its very existence?

She remembered Draco's words about her and him being cornerstones of the future, and she understood why he'd said that. In the future, to prevent jealous ears from saying he was falling prey to pureblood's prejudices, he'd need another wing to rely on, another body of people to help rebuild the Wizarding World. He'd need her and the Muggleborns, and together, they would build a better future.

oOoOo

Draco observed his guests and he saw that the Tonkses were cautiously approving, Hermione seemed lost in herself and Harry – Harry looked back with a poker face.

Draco asked Harry, "Are you OK? Harry? I know it comes as a surprise but I hope we can discuss it with civility."

Harry turned to Draco and asked, "Are you sure, Draco? Do you trust her?"

Draco replied, "Yes, I'm sure, and I trust her. You haven't seen her as I have. You haven't benefited from her hidden support as I have, Harry."

Harry said brokenly, "But what about Sirius? She killed Sirius!"

Narcissa said, "Bellatrix and Sirius had always been enemies, Harry, much like you and Draco were. Bitter enemies who would taunt and goad each other whenever they could. From what I've heard, it seems that Sirius was goading Bella, as well. I think that Bella wanted to hurt him, not kill him. When Sirius fell through the Veil, she was very surprised. I know this will not provide needed closure, but you must learn to let go and move on, Harry."

Harry visibly collected himself and then said, "Then I trust you, Draco."

Draco replied nonplussed, "You do?"

Harry answered, "You've saved my life multiple times. If you wanted to hurt me you would not have done that. Furthermore you've always spoken the truth to me, even when it hurt. I'd be a fool not to trust you."

Moved, Draco answered very gently, "Then I will try to be worthy of that trust, Harry."

26. The press conference