Windbound 4/33 - part 1

[herumtreiber]

Title: Windbound 4/33
Chapter: four
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: 2151 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 three

September 26th 1998

The Hog's Head, Hogsmeade

Draco made it early to the meeting with his father and the Finch-Fletchleys. Aberforth, seeing Draco alone, approached him and kindly offered butterbeer to pass the time. There were hardly any customers at that moment. Draco fidgeted with his robe, fingering his Slytherin tie and nervously mussing his short blond hair. He hoped the meeting would go well, but there was a factor outside his control, namely, his father’s prejudices.

The old innkeeper sat down at the Slytherin's table, and they passed the time exchanging some stories, mainly unflattering to a certain Albus. Having discovered this common interest, Aberforth offered some of his experiences growing up - the inner turmoil of the Dumbledores and the hard choices they had made. Ever since the Muggles raped Aberforth’s sister.

At some point, the blond asked Aberforth if he considered Albus had a part in all the problems. The innkeeper replied with a solemn mien, "At the time, I thought so. Now I don't think he caused that. Wasn't much help, Albus.”

Aberforth sipped his glass with vintage firewhiskey. “Always too immersed in his plans, that boy was. Too deep to help my sister – or Mother for that matter.”

The innkeeper stared at the hog’s head impaled on the wall as if it was some oracular device. “Albus always tried to fix things his way. Too smart for his own good, I think.”

At this point they were interrupted by the Finch-Fletchleys. Justin just came over, smacked Draco’s arm and gave him a peculiar handshake that he insisted was the same one used in Eton. The Hufflepuff turned to his father and introduced Draco.

Draco stood politely and looked at the man. He was like a mature version of Justin; he had the same curly hair – although liberally sprinkled with grey - the same brown eyes and the same intent, honest expression. The man wore an impeccable dark blue Armani suit. Jason Finch-Fletchley shook firmly Draco’s hand.

After they sat down, they ordered a round of butterbeer and passed the time talking about school. A few minutes later the door opened and Lucius Malfoy strode in.

Draco was inwardly sweating. When he wrote to his father and arranged this rendezvous, he had left out an important bit of information - namely the fact that his school friend’s father was a Muggle. Draco believed Lucius would accept Mr Finch-Fletchley, but Lucius was known to behave like a primadonna from time to time, so all bets were off.

The elder Malfoy discerned at a glance that the man was a Muggle. Hardly any wizard wore such obvious muggle clothes. For a second, Lucius toyed with the idea of storming out of the inn - but the beseeching look in Draco's eyes stayed his hand. The hard facts were that they needed all the help they could get, even Muggle help. Knowing wizarding law, Lucius had an inkling that the Muggle way may prove to be superior in the end.

Lucius sauntered to the table and introduced himself with utmost courtesy.

Justin was a little surprised. This was the infamous Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, whom everyone vilified?

Jason just saw another privileged man who behaved with courtesy. As they entered a heated conversation, the older men’s clipped exchanges and comments marked them as doers - and as they flew into the rhythm of the conversation, they slowly began to appreciate each other's labyrinthine mind.

Draco and Justin started by telling them all they knew about the Marriage Law. Draco told the older men about his conversation with Hermione and Ginny, what they had deduced about Magna Carta and the geas.

When Draco got to the part where Lavender gloated about being his future wife, Lucius clenched his fingers around his glass, fighting to retain composure and not think about retaliating against the dumb Gryffindorette and the Government.

Justin finished sipping his butterbeer and signalled for a refill. He reclined against the chair and looked at his father, noting how worried Jason was. For all of his open minded acceptance of magic, Jason was a bit leery about the Wizarding World – a fact that was compounded by the dire news Justin was forced to impart during the War.

The Hufflepuff ruffled nervously his curls. "So that's it in a nutshell, dad. We are forced to marry the person they select for us. We’ve no say in the matter and if we do not comply, we’ll be stripped of our magic and obliviated. It’ll be a painful mess for all concerned.”

Justin took the butterbeer glass from Aberforth and nodded to the innkeeper. They knew each other from the time Aberforth helped them during the gruelling year Hogwarts spent under Death Eater rule.

Taking a fortifying sip from his drink, Justin continued, "I was fortunate ‘cause I really like the person they chose for me, but many others” – Justin pointed with his glass towards Draco, who was slouching a bit on the chair – “including Draco, are bound to these machinations of the Ministry.”

Noting Draco’s lack of grace, Lucius scowled fiercely at his son whilst Justin continued,  “If what Hermione and Draco suggest is true, which I don’t doubt, then there’s no way to fight against the dratted Law.”

Jason scowled at his son for his language, but Justin, like Draco, remained unaware of his father’s disapproval. “Even if we went abroad – if the geas is disobeyed – we’d be cursed and die.” Justin shuddered as he sipped his brew – even its heavenly taste could not dispel the macabre imagery invoked by his words.

"We need you, dad,” continued the Hufflepuff whilst he looked at his father with  bright eyes. “You explained our system and that made me yearn to join it and fight the good fight.”

Justin looked at the grimy windows of the Hog’s head, seeing with his mind’s eye the magical world that extended beyond Hogwarts. “Even with all the allure of magic, I wouldn’t be fulfilled if I just ran away from the ideals of liberty you” – Justin pointed to his father – “told me about. I want to work for that.”

Justin nursed his drink , cupping the glass between his hands. “In this world or our own, doesn’t matter.”

Lucius took out a leather briefcase, enlarged it with a swish of his wand and took out many sheaves of paper.

He moved his chair towards Jason’s; and the two men started brainstorming whilst Draco and Justin offered suggestions occasionally. The boys preferred to watch their fathers in action – after all, that was their metier.

Two hours passed, both Draco and Justin were beginning to get a bit bored. Just when Aberforth was about to inform them that he had to close for the day, they arrived at some conclusions.

"They want to force you using the same law in both realms,” said Jason as he rubbed some parchments. “They’re relentless. What we have to do is to attack them where they don’t expect."

Lucius continued, "First thing is to repeal the law once it is enacted. We could have used the House of Lords for that."

Jason turned to the pureblood and replied with a faraway look, remembering the battles waged in Westminster. "Unfortunately the Government saw fit to dismantle many of the Lords' prerogatives, so this option is no longer open to us."

Remembering his father discussing heatedly the issue one summer, Justin piped up, "We could use Devolution in Scotland” – seeing Draco’s dumbfounded look, Justin hastened to add – “Devolution means giving more power to the local government of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.”

Having finished his explanation, Justin turned to his father. “We could say that this matter needs to be left to the Scots to decide.”  

Justin’s father answered, "Good idea, except Devolution deals mainly with taxes, and you told me that most of your classmates don't come from Scotland."

Lucius fingered the sheave of papers. This was what he was born to do, to wheedle and seek a way – a political way to make things happen. It was what Lucius wanted to do in his youth, before the attraction of power sucked him into the orbit of Voldemort. Once there, he succumbed to the lure of the easy way to get things done.

But this, trying to pave the way for his son, to seek only Draco’s well-being – this invigorated him in ways Lucius did not expect. He leaned towards Jason and drawled, "Our only succour must be the House of Commons.”

Draco snorted, but a reproving look from Lucius shut him up. The elder Malfoy continued, “There the Law must be stopped. I bet the vote’s coming up soon. There are several people whose assistance I can count on.”

Pointing towards Jason, Lucius added, “Together with those you can influence and bring to our side, we may succeed. The Minister of Magic is seemingly resting on his laurels and would not consider the possibility of the Muggles interfering. We can use that to our advantage."

Jason looked at his watch and realising time had run out, he stood up and prepared to leave, shaking Lucius’ hand. “I must say goodbye. I left my car 10 miles from here.”

Jason pointed proudly to his son. "Justin summoned an ancient carriage that moves by itself! Wonderful magic! If I come up with something, how can I contact you?”  

Lucius opened his briefcase and took an inkwell and quill. He handed them to Jason. “I'll send an owl that you can keep, Jason. Just write your ideas using this ink and quill. It will be unreadable for anyone but us, and the owl knows how to find a wizard. You just have to say their name.”

Lucius turned to look at Justin, who was still a bit in awe of the elder Malfoy’s suave manner. “I’m sure that’s how your son contacts you while he is at Hogwarts.”

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On Sunday, in the Room of Requirement, Draco met with the gang - the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw, Hermione and Ginny.

When Hermione suggested debriefing Harry, Draco argued against that. He said that placing more burdens upon Harry's shoulders would be wrong. Draco didn't mention his hunch that something was slightly askew with the Gryffindor.

Draco and Justin told them what happened at the meeting in the Hog's Head. In turn, Ginny related the strange conversation she'd overheard with Lavender and Parvati. Everyone was surprised except Draco. The Slytherin shrugged, this confirmed his suspicions about the true intent of the Marriage Law.

Draco commented dryly, "Why do you think the Ministry is so committed to the Marriage Law? Why do they want to enforce what amounts to slavery?"

Draco reclined lazily against the oak table kindly provided by the Room. "You have to ask yourselves the question: who’s going to benefit from this?"

Hermione was busy ordering some books the Room had put on the table. She looked at their titles and put them in two piles according to whether they dealt with history or law. When she looked up, Draco was pointing at her. "As I told Hermione some time ago, the Malfoy money was saved from the clutches of the government due to ancient magic.”

Seeing the puzzled look of the gang, Draco elaborated. “A charm binding the estate to the heir by blood. If the Ministry had unlawfully seized our estate, the spell would’ve caused the money to disappear."

Ginny nodded and said, “I’ve heard dad talk about that spell. Though he disapproves of it saying it is another piece of pureblood arcana, he told us at length about it.”

The redhead took out a quill and twirled it between her fingers. "Such a spell acts in many Pureblood families. The Government knows better than to interfere taking away their control.”

Draco interrupted Ginny, who glared at the irritating Slytherin. “That is, they know they can't act directly."

Draco took out a book from Hermione’s left pile and glanced at its title. He put it back on the pile and continued, "Imagine things two years from now. Many pureblood families have babies, according to the dictates of the Marriage Law. I'd expect a sudden rash of divorces amongst said families, with custody resting with the babies' mothers - in my case and Blaise's - or in their fathers', in the case of Pansy and Millie.”

Draco snorted angrily thinking about this probable outcome. “Of course the courts would grant the supposedly  innocent parties what they wanted."

The Slytherin grabbed some parchments and ruffled them restlessly. "And the Government would have babies and pliant parents to deal with. Thus it would be easy for the pureblood estates to be dismantled lawfully."

Recalling Voldemort’s speech when he tried to grab the Philosopher’s stone – words that Harry had relayed to Ginny, the redhead said, "In the end, this is about money and power, and how to use them."

Chapter four - part 2