Windbound 32/35

[herumtreiber]

Title: Windbound - 32/35
Chapter: Thirty-two
Author:herumtreiber 
Genre: post DH, slash, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: The world and characters of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. I don't make any money from writing these stories.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Epilogue compliant? Epilogue complaisant
Chapter length: ~3,818 words
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 thirty-one

January 30th, 1999
Hogwarts

In the real world, Hermione was liberated from the binding spell when Harry collapsed. She concentrated and accio'd wandlessly a syringe. She kneeled next to Harry and briefly mussed his untamed black hair as he injected him in the arm a liquid which contained the potion 'Tempus celeritas' modified to be injected safely, and antitoxin to the black mamba venom.

Hermione reminisced about the beginnings of their plan. They were going down a harsh, long road. They had to liberate Harry from the condition of being a horcrux, which could only be done when the caster 'killed' the horcrux-being. Dumbledore being dead, this was really hard to do. Draco toyed briefly with the idea of raising Dumbledore from the dead and force him to 'kill' Harry, but thankfully Hermione managed to distract him from that incredibly dumb idea of his.

Hermione could well picture a newly risen Dumbledore ordering Harry to attack them from behind, and they would be caught in the crossfire between two powerful wizards.

She thought long and hard and came to the insight that a thought universe had held Harry's essence after he was killed by Voldemort. The fact that he met Dumbledore there only confirmed her suspicions. That Universe would act according to physical or magical continuity. They only had to put Harry there, which unfortunately meant putting him in a position near death's door. She and Draco constructed the plan. The two students worked well together, their mental abilities complemented each other.

Draco suggested getting a black mamba to bite Harry. He cast Serpensortia wandlessly several times until he was sure he could call up a specific type of snake. Draco secured several venom samples from the snakes, which were used to obtain the antitoxin.

Hermione smiled and said, "Why have you told nobody about being a parselmouth, Draco?"

"Because it is a closely guarded secret of the Malfoys. Can you imagine how the people would respond when they knew we had that gift? Remember how they reacted to Harry in Second Year? It would be like that, only a thousand times worse.

"Further, if the Dark Twit had ever heard of it, we would have been killed. Because we threatened his supremacy, because his snake detested us.

"Believe me, it was agony listening to Voldemort's and Nagini's conversation as they killed that poor woman. I have never been closer to going off the deep end."

They encountered the nearly insurmountable obstacle of getting Harry to help them execute the plan, until Hermione remembered about hypnosis. She told Draco that she would put Harry in a trance and they would explain the situation to him and what he had to do to get Dumbledore to 'kill' him.

So Hermione hypnotized Harry, and both she and the blond informed him of the dire circumstances they had to face. They gave him the means to ensure revenge, in the sense of destroying Dumbledore's horcrux and living to tell the tale. The memory was keyed so when Harry heard the words: Lemon Drops, he would remember all.

They worked under the immense pressure of knowing that time was fast running out. Every day, Dumbledore's mannerisms increased; it became clear that soon Dumbledore would control Harry completely and destroy whom he wanted.

They talked while they fashioned Byzantine plans. Hermione commented once, "I still don't see why Harry supported the Marriage Law. It is against everything that he believed in."

Draco answered, "You still don't get it, Mione. Harry was led to that position, inexorably. It wasn't something that he came up with in the middle of the night. It was Dumbledore's plan through and through. The headmaster ensured that Harry would follow his schemes by carefully planning his life. Leaving him to survive under his cruel relatives for 10 years without ever visiting or caring about how they treated him; testing him at Hogwarts year after year under grueling, inhuman conditions that would make you puke if you ever saw one of your beloved elves under them.

"To cap it off, Dumbledore buys the farm in front of Harry in a heroic manner. It is no wonder that Harry is so impressed by the beloved headmaster. It is no surprise that he follows his political mentor to the bitter end and beyond.

"We almost forget that Harry is Dumbledore's horcrux, they have a soul connection. Dumbledore can enter his innermost sanctuary and whisper thoughts in his mind in such a manner that Harry believes they are his. Harry has truly become Dumbledore's tool, through and through.

"I cannot let that be. I do this not for the hero. Though I revere his heroic actions, they are not my main motivations in this.

"I do this for the scrawny boy I met in First Year, the one I offered my hand in friendship and got turned down in return. There was fire in his eyes as he said those scorching words. We clashed many times through the years, and the fire remained. It slowly became one of the constants in my life.

"Later I wondered if things were different, maybe we could have been good friends. But real life reared its ugly head in the form of Voldemort's orders and we got caught up in the Maelstrom.

"Harry saved my life and I saved his. There were no buts or ifs about it; we just did what we could for each other. It was uncanny, almost a feeling like coming home. I knew what I wanted then, to become Harry's friend, to grab the chance that had evaded me for so long.

"When Harry and you helped us in the Wizengamot, it was great. Feeling your support felt like being in a spotlight, in a nice way. I can see why Weasel likes it so.

"Later the menacing feelings appeared, and I was confused and at a loss about what to do. Somehow I knew you would play an important role, so I told you important stuff.

"At the end, though, I have to handle. I cannot bear to see Harry's eyes lose their fire slowly as they twinkle ominously in the manner reminiscent of the old coot. I must save Harry for the years of rivalry, competition, and the short span of companionship and love. I must save him because he is the boy I used to know, the man I love. That boy, that man, demand nothing less."

Hermione's mind returned to the present when she heard a noise in the door. Jason Finch-Fletchley appeared, and he was followed by some gigantic white animal. Hermione sighed and wondered which beast had entered Hogwarts from the Forbidden Forest.

Jason motioned for Bear Lucius to stay back and he entered the room. Actually, Lucius was so big he could not enter the room.

His agile mind made the necessary assumptions and he said, "I see that this fellow over here and Hannah have been hurt. They should go to that magical hospital of yours, St. Mungo's." He took out the portkey Lucius had given him before and told them to go there.

Hermione touched Hannah's and Harry's body and prepared to use the portkey. Draco looked about to invite himself, but he remembered that they were carrying two injured people. The less people that went with them, the better. He would have to trust in Hermione to get them good care in St. Mungo's.

Hermione said Portus, and the portkey took them to St. Mungo's.

Draco hissed to the black mamba, who was wiggling nervously in a corner of the room, "Well, done, fellow snake. Now you will return from whence you came." Draco meditated briefly and cast wandlessly 'Zurückkehren!' Because he had been practicing, he tended to get the snakes from the same region of the Congo, so this should pose no problem for the snake.

Draco noticed that his father appeared to be hyperventilating and he said, "We have to get you someplace cool soon, dad! I know, why don't we go to the Lake?"

The bear huffed and with a lumbering gait, made for the Lake. It seemed a good idea, he needed something cool, the heat was overbearing. If several students were startled when they saw a gigantic Polar bear head their way, they quickly turned away when they saw the bear's smirk and also the Malfoy Heir's sneer.

In the room, Justin turned excited eyes to his father and said, "Dad, do you have your cell phone?"

Jason answered, "Yes, I do. Care to let me know why you ask?"

Justin smiled as he said, "Someone cast a magical containment field over Hogwarts. Most things magical do not work anymore. That field needs to be taken off!"

"However, if there is no magic acting here, that means that you can use your cell phone to ask succor from your friends. Maybe ask for an investigation on the part of the Director of Public Prosecutions. I know that if we allow the Wizarding world to research this, they will do nothing, as is their wont. This way we will pressure them and some things will change."

Jason tugged on his curls as he remembered the malicious-looking characters that he and Bear Lucius had to fight. All of them had been used to harass a dozen nervous children! The miscreants had even been allowed weapons inside a school? Who would permit such mockery?

Jason took out his cell phone and began to make calls to his friends in the Commons, and he also made one to the DPP's office.

When they got to the Lake, Lucius jumped up immediately into the icy cold water, relief flooding through him. To be sure, Lucius felt that the containment field did not extend to the Lake, but he had such few opportunities to have some bearish fun, so he decided to grab this one with his paws.

The Polar bear started swimming across the Lake, disobeying Draco's injunctions to 'stay near.' He submerged and dived and even dined on a fish or two. Even the Giant Squid was puzzled by the disruption to the smooth flow of the Lake and went to investigate the phenomenon.

The giant eye of the Squid met the piercing grey eyes of the Polar bear. The Squid finally decided that he had urgent business elsewhere and took a rapid dive, leaving the puzzled bear alone.

Lucius finally decided to head for shore. He came up near where Draco was and he heaved himself from the water, judiciously managing to spread Draco liberally with freezing water. Draco protested vehemently, and Lucius wondered if he should just dunk him.

Then he remembered that what would be hospitable conditions for a Polar bear might make for a very uncomfortable environment for a human, and he refrained from throwing Draco into the water.

After a while, with a mournful sigh, Bear Lucius transformed into simple Lucius. Fortunately he was wearing his robes. He had no idea where robes went during the transformation, maybe some sort of higher magical dimension.

At any rate, Lucius made his way to a surprised Draco.

Together, they went back to the Hufflepuff den, and to talk things over with their friends. Justin and Jason looked like blond cats about to pounce on a bird or two.

Justin, using a sweet voice, suggested asking the Muggle government to retire McGonagall for putting them in such straits. He also suggested the government should look into how the Ministry managed Hogwarts.

Jason's and Lucius's eyes shined as they imagined the political repercussions.

That was a long night. Around 2:00 am, someone from the Ministry came up and tried to warn McGonagall, eventually another Ministry worker informed the Headmistress that she was arrested for her role during the strange attack on Hogwarts.

What the hapless Ministry worker succeeded in doing was lifting the magical containment field. Once the coast was clear, Draco said goodbye to Lucius and all his friends as he went out of the gates and Apparated into St. Mungo's.

He found Hermione in the second floor. He took out a book he'd managed to grab out of his bag and presented it to her, saying, "Wake up, sleepyhead! Brought you a book! How is everyone doing?"

Hermione motioned to the door next to her chair, saying, "Harry is stable. We managed to give him the antitoxin in time; we can only wait to see what happens. His symptoms are congruent to those people who have been bitten and given the antitoxin."

"Hannah is ok. She was shot on her shoulder and lost some blood. However, thanks to Susan Bones's skills, she will suffer no long term damage, just a faint scar that may vanish with time."

February 14th, 1999
St. Mungo's

Ginny looked worriedly at Harry's still form as she cautiously wrote to Astoria, informing her of the situation. She was so angry with her family! The only reason she stayed was because she wanted to be close to him, to inform him of the situation.

She knew that when Harry woke up he would be clearly angry, and she hoped she knew enough to get through that anger. Hermione and Draco had been very descriptive about the ordeal Harry had gone through, and Ginny could only begin to imagine the black-haired boy's feelings when he came back to life.

Harry looked to be in deep sleep. His tousled hair rested partly on his face, and partly on the pillow. Of course Harry had a special room, her overbearing family had insisted on this.

Ginny went back to writing the letter and thus missed Harry's nose scrunching up, and Harry moving his head. Finally Ginny saw when Harry moved his arms and she whispered nervously, "Harry?"

Harry opened his eyes, and he blinked owlishly at Ginny. Then the remembrances hit him like a train full of cement, and he kept quiet for a long moment, trying to digest it all.

He had been a horcrux, and he had confronted Dumbledore and won. Well, really he had been killed, but he had defied Dumbledore by dying, he had destroyed his horcrux and he was alive to tell the tale. Or was he?

Maybe he was trapped in a thought universe like King's Cross! Only this time with Ginny. Grimacing, Harry pinched himself and he had to admit that this appeared to be real.

Ginny brought a glass of water to Harry's lips and let him drink as much as he wanted. Harry thanked her and reclined in his bed.

Harry asked, "Where are Draco and Hermione?"

Ginny nervously twisted a button on her robe as she answered, "After what happened, Mr. Finch-Fletchley called the Muggle authorities and asked for their intervention. He made the point that the leadership of the school was doing foolish things, designed to cause chaos in the students, imperiling their safety. I must admit that sending Aurors armed with guns was a bit too much.

"Eventually, Government people investigated McGonagall's actions.

"The Government investigated all people connected to the case. You were declared free when evidence surfaced that you were manipulated. However, neither Ron nor Seamus were so lucky. They were charged with aiding and abetting.

"When they were taking Ron away, he turned to Malfoy and asked for his help.

"Draco said to Ron that he would help, both Mr. Finch-Fletchley and Mr. Malfoy would aid him too. The three men lobbied the Muggle and Magical authorities, and Draco testified about Ron's help during a crucial moment. The Government decided to drop Ron's charges and he was free again, after only three days.

"During this upheaval, the Minister of Magic, my father, had his hands full. My parents have taken charge of your needs. They screen all your visitors, they stop all mail you get, even if you're unconscious and can't read it anyway. Needless to say, despite Ron's comment, my parents continue to live in the past and they despise Draco as a Malfoy and as a Slytherin.

"My mother also dislikes Hermione because she did not stand by her man, as she puts it.

"They have kidnapped you, abusing the power of the Minister of Magic, and won't allow Draco or Hermione to visit. I've wanted to leave here many times, but I could not leave you alone without telling you the truth."

Harry was enraged. He was so angry! He had faced the ruthless Headmaster and escaped, only to fall into the grasp of these Weasels!

Then an embattled eagle owl appeared. Apparently he had been fighting against some kind of ward surrounding the room, but he had dutifully surpassed such obstacle. The owl offered his leg, not without glaring at Harry, and the raven-haired man took the message. He looked beseechingly at Ginny, who gave Osiris some treats she had kept in her robe.

Harry read:

I hope you are all right. I hope you are finally free. The Mother Weasel would not stop crowing about how you are falling so hard for her daughter. I don't want to believe this is true, but I know that there is a good chance that freed from Dumbledore's grasp, you are pursuing this relationship.

Therefore I have decided to go on a long trip, perhaps taking me years. I thought I could see you with her, but I can't. However, I will always want you to be free.

I will wait for you in the Tower, on February 15th at 5:30 pm.

Au toujurs
Draco

Harry got so angry with the Weasleys that he lost control of his magic. The furniture started first floating, then moving around in ever-widening circles. The windows shattered and the shards directed themselves to the two figures that had just a moment ago opened the door to the room: Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

The rain of potentially dangerous shards was stopped by Ginny's adroitly used Protego shield.

Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "Harry, how good to see you about? What is going on?"

Harry narrowed his eyes, which shone brightly due to his fury, he said in a stentorian voice, "You ask me what's wrong, Mrs. Weasley? How about if I answer in one sentence, you are what is wrong!

"You always blamed other people for the failures of poor Ronald, and as a result, Ron never grew up. He's blamed the Slytherins, the Malfoys, the Death Eaters, and me for many of the bad things that have occurred to him.

"You continue this by placing all of Ron's blame on Draco's shoulders. Of course Malfoy is not responsible for Ron's wrongdoings, only a half-wit starving fool would think that. Or you, dear Mrs. Weasel.

"As for you, Arthur. I am most displeased by your behavior as a Minister, and I urge you to resign from that post, or the Wizengamot will find out where your true loyalties lie.

"I don't want to see you now. Please leave us."

Harry was tired, but his overworked Gryffindor (and Slytherin) mind was busy making plans. He said to Ginny, "I want to talk with Hermione, and also can you get me some Strengthening potions? Also, what day is today?"

Ginny replied, "Hermione is at Hogwarts, unfortunately." She preened as she continued, "She is not the daughter of the Minister of Magic as I am. I will contact her via coins and will get your Strengthening potions from the Healers here. Today is February 14th, the day of love."

A tired Harry replied, "I want to talk to a Healer and get discharged. I'll go to Grimmauld Place. At least I know the wards respond to me and haven't been compromised by nosy weasels, present company excluded."

Ginny smacked his arm as she replied, "Be thankful you are in bed or you would meet my Bat-bogey hex, Mister! I'll get the nurse to see about your discharge."

Harry was duly discharged and Ginny got the potions. What Harry could not see because he was planning mayhem was Ginny pocketing another potion.

They Apparated to Grimmauld Place and Harry gave his instructions to Kreacher. He found out what the potion was for when Ginny gave him a glass of butterbeer. Harry took it because he was still thirsty when he realized he had been tricked.

He said, "You too, Ginny?" Ginny replied nonchalantly, "You need time to relax, Harry. Time to be free of your worries just for a while. The Sleeping potion will give you a healthy sleep, take it.

The next morning Harry woke up, feeling refreshed. He opened the door of his room, intent on chastising Ginny, when a bundle of brown hair attacked him.

Hermione said, "How are you, Harry? Do you remember everything? Are you all right? Do you know what happened?"

Harry replied, "I'm ok, Hermione, at least I think so. Yes, I remember everything. I'm all right. I know I was acting like Dumbledore's horcrux and I had to be in a near-death situation to recreate what happened at King's Cross the last time I appeared there. I had to catch Dumbledore by surprise so he would lose his cool and kill me, or try to, anyway; therefore he would kill his horcrux in me and I would be free to be myself.

"I also know that while I was dealing with these issues, the Weasleys were orchestrating some kind of public campaign, trying to scare off my friends, trying to humiliate Draco for supposedly leaving Ron in a lurch – which is stupid because Draco actually got Ron free.

"It appears they succeeded only too well." Here Harry took out Draco's letter from his robe and gave it to Hermione. The witch read it intently and said, "You are going, all right?"

Harry tugged his unruly mop of hair as he replied bitingly, "Of course I'm going, dear Mione. Problem is, I don't know which Tower Draco means! For all I know it could be the Tower of Pisa, or the Tower of London, or some wizard establishment called the Tower. The possibilities are daunting. If ever I see Draco I'll whack him for this!"

Then Harry turned hopeful eyes at Hermione and said, "Unless you with your mighty intellect can decipher the riddle and get to the end of the labyrinth. Can you, Mione?"

Hermione sighed and replied, "I'm sorry, but I can't say I know what this mysterious Tower is."

Harry's face fell. Hermione continued, saying softly, "But I'll bet you this other person does know!"

Chapter thirty-three