Draco and Harry: Escorts in Exile

Chapter Eight

They met Luna at the designated spot. Even though Harry expected no treachery, Draco was far less trusting. He demanded Harry conceal himself beneath the invisibility cloak, until they were able to verify that Luna was alone. Harry stood nearby, grumbling, while Draco ignored him, feeling rather exposed on the open field. Draco's only attempt at anonymity was the dark sunglasses he wore.

Luna hopped lightly off her broom, and hurled herself at Draco, who hugged her awkwardly. He wondered if he would ever get used to the Ravenclaw girl's exuberant affection. Probably not.

"Draco, it's so nice to see you!" she cried. "I could not abide the thought of you in Azkaban. I tried to help Neville as best I could, but if I had known Harry planned to break you out, I would have helped him instead."

Draco grinned. "It's bad enough that Harry did it."

"Well, it certainly got Umbridge up in arms! She's locked up Hermione, Tonks, and Remus. And Kingsley has been suspended."

"Suspended?" Harry burst out, tearing off the cloak. Luna seemed unsurprised by his sudden appearance, and quickly embraced him.

"Yes, Umbridge questioned them all, and found out that Kingsley contacted Remus this morning, looking for you. Neville says it was precisely what Umbridge has been wanting--a reason to get rid of Kingsley."

"Damn it!" Harry shouted, looking nearly ill with guilt.

"Of course, Kingsley insisted it was a casual inquiry as part of the investigation, but Umbridge said Kingsley was trying to tip you off. She's put him under investigation. Tonks, of course, has also been suspended."

"What of Lyra?" Draco asked sharply. Luna bit her lip and shook her head.

"She has been placed with some cronies of Umbridge. Neville is trying to locate her, to insist she be sent to Andromeda. So far, he's been blocked at every turn." Luna sighed. "It's worse. Umbridge is rumored to be drafting anti-werewolf laws. You know she's already made centaurs illegal."

Draco nodded. The first act of Umbridge had been to pass laws making it legal to hunt centaurs. Few people were stupid enough to attempt it, of course, and the centaurs did not seem to care, having little contact with humans, especially since the war.

Werewolves, however, were another matter. Many of them held perfectly respectable positions in the wizarding community.

"How can she make anti-werewolf laws?" Harry snarled, obviously outraged. "They can't help being werewolves, any more than Muggle-borns can help who their parents were! She's just another Voldemort, using pureblood rhetoric to force her bigoted ideals down the throats of--"

"We already know that, Potter. The question is: what are we going to do about it?"

"You are supposed to be the one coming up with a Slytherin plan!" Harry snapped.

"I've only been working on it for a few hours, Potter, and you keep distracting me."

Harry goggled at him, and Draco pulled him into a rough embrace and kissed him until the Gryffindor melted against him. Luna giggled.

"Well, I can see why you rescued him, Harry."

Draco released Harry, who wore the exquisitely dazed look that Draco adored.

"Neville wanted to come, but Umbridge is losing patience with him. If she gives him Veritaserum, he says it's better if he knows as little as possible. Now, what can I do to help you?"

Harry shook off his bemusement. "You really should not be associating with us at all. It could be very dangerous for you."

"I can take care of myself, Harry. First of all, I would like to write an article about you for the Quibbler. The Daily Prophet is up to its usual tricks of painting you in the worst possible light, thanks to that complete hag Rita Skeeter. I'd like to write the truth about why Draco was sent to Azkaban."

Draco shrugged. It did not matter to him what people thought, but he hated to have Harry's image tarnished. He smiled ruefully. Not so long ago, he would have been ecstatic at the thought of Harry Potter falling from grace.

"It can't hurt. We can't really explain why Potter broke me out of Azkaban, other than his tendency to act irrationally," Draco said, earning a punch on the arm from the irrational one.

They retreated to the shade of a nearby tree and told Luna the entire story of Draco's unintentional visit to Ireland, and the aftermath with Maeve. Luna took notes and asked enough questions that Draco began to appreciate her Ravenclaw status.

"It might be worth a trip to Ireland to check out that forest of Maeve's and see exactly what sort of magic sustains it. Susan Bones and Bill Weasley have offered to help, although Umbridge is keeping a close eye on Bill. Getting to Ireland, however, could be difficult."

"There is a Portkey at the Ministry that will take you there," Draco said dryly and described the one that had landed him there to begin with. Luna nibbled on a nail thoughtfully.

"Maybe one of the Aurors can get it for me," she said.

"All of that is rather irrelevant," Harry said. "I don't really care about public opinion. How long can they keep Hermione and the others?"

"Legally? Overnight. But this is Umbridge, and she has control of the Ministry. With Kingsley suspended none of the Department heads will stand up to her. She can pass laws with impunity."

Draco nodded. "Make sure Neville documents any abuses. We can hopefully use them against her."

"When?" Harry asked.

"When I come up with a plan, Potter, now drum up some bloody patience."

"What are you planning to do?" Luna asked curiously.

"We're going to flee to Budapest," Draco replied. Harry rolled his eyes and tugged at his hair while Draco laughed.

Back at Draco's flat, Harry paced while Draco watched him.

"She won't release them," he said and pulled at his hair.

"Potter, I like your hair the way it is. Stop tearing at it. What do you presume Umbridge will do? Send Hermione to Azkaban?"

"She sent you there!"

Draco smiled humorlessly. "Yes, but Granger is a war hero. She has no stigma of association with Death Eaters. I doubt the Wizengamot can be swayed to put someone as obviously noble as Hermione Granger behind bars."

"What about Lupin?"

"Yes, well, perhaps we can engineer another rescue," Draco drawled.

Harry glared at him. "How can you be so bloody calm about this?"

"Because you're agitated enough for the both of us," Draco snapped. Potter could really be annoying, at times, although Draco had no complaint with watching Harry's lean body stalk back and forth across the living room. Potter actually had more pacing room here than at Grimmauld Place, and he was making the most of it. Six long strides and a spin. Six more strides. Spin. Pull at hair. Six strides.

"Potter, you're turning me on doing that."

Harry froze in mid-stride and blinked at Draco. "What?"

"You heard me. Stop pacing and pulling your hair or I'm going to drag you into the bedroom."

Harry licked his lower lip and his green eyes flicked toward the bedroom. Draco smiled wickedly, knowing the Gryffindor was considering it.

"I'm hungry," Potter said in a petulant tone. Draco sighed. Food first, and then he would take Harry's mind off the Ministry. Draco rose and started for the kitchen. He paused to give Harry a searing kiss, still hoping for a detour, but the Gryffindor chuckled and pushed him away.

At that moment, a doglike Patronus burst through the window and a loud voice rang in the room. No silent Patronus, here. "Are you completely fucking mental? What were you thinking?"

The silvery image faded and Harry looked sheepishly at Draco. "I think Ron found out I rescued you."

"Good thing we didn't go to Budapest," Draco muttered and went to prepare some culinary delight while Potter drafted a suitable response to the Weasel.

ooOoo

The news was not good the next morning. Harry was aroused from his lime-flavored lover's side by a Patronus from Luna. Apparently, Umbridge planned to keep Hermione and the others indefinitely, in order to force Harry to turn himself in. She had also decided to round up anyone else who might have knowledge of their whereabouts, including Ron and the Weasley twins. Luna had sent warning messages to everyone.

"How is she getting this information from the Ministry?" Draco mumbled sleepily when Harry recapped the message.

"I think she's been spending time with Neville."

"Spending time? You mean, like the way we spend time?"

Harry grinned and leaned over to press a kiss against Draco's mouth. Malfoy's arms enfolded him.

"Perhaps not quite so energetic, but yes, similar to that."

"How Longbottom has changed."

"We should meet with Fred and George. I'm surprised Umbridge is bold enough to take on the twins. They have Ministry contracts with nearly every department."

"That only gives her leverage to bargain with, Potter. She can put them out of business."

Harry scowled. "She has to be stopped."

"All right, let's meet with your twin Weasel friends. I may be able to use their help with the plan."

Harry sent a message to the twins, requesting them to meet at Hyde Park, since every wizarding place known to them all would likely be thoroughly watched by the Ministry. Harry hoped Umbridge's resources were stretched to the limit.

Harry also asked the twins to bring him something, although he didn't mention it to Draco. That particular matter was not open for discussion.

Fred was enraged. He gesticulated angrily while speaking.

"After all we've done for the bloody Ministry!" he snarled. "Do we not supply the Aurors with Extendable Ears, with Headless Hats and Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder? Did we not spend valuable research hours developing their bloody Disillusionment Bracelet?"

George cringed. "Fred, that's top secret."

"Not any more!" Fred yelled. "The bitch has cancelled our contracts until we agree to help them locate Harry and Draco. Blackmail us, will she? I'll say we take our merchandise and market them to... to..."

"The Americans?" George suggested. Fred looked at his twin with something like awe. He nodded happily.

"Exactly! The Americans. We'll be rich."

"We're already rich."

"Richer, then."

Draco and George sat on a bench overlooking the lake. George was absently conjuring bread to feed to the ducks. Draco sprawled with his hands behind his head, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. His trousers were dark blue and he wore a light blue shirt with tiny black stripes.

Harry could barely keep his eyes from the Slytherin. The warm silver glow in his eyes made Harry want to drag him back to their flat, and have another session with the lime salve. He shook his head and tried to focus on Fred's rant.

"We got a message from Neville. Bill has been suspended, too, on some stupid, trumped-up charge. Lupin, Tonks, and Hermione are in the clink, Bill and Kingsley have been pulled, and rumor says they're looking for Ron, to haul him in for questioning, likely with Veritaserum and torture."

Harry looked at him sharply.

"Do you think they used Veritaserum on Hermione?"

Draco snorted. "Potter, it's Umbridge. She used it on students at Hogwarts. Do you really think she would hesitate to use it on your friends?"

Harry swore. "No, you're right. We have to do something."

"We've never wrought mass havoc at the Ministry," George said speculatively.

"We haven't?" Fred asked.

"Mass havoc, I said," George clarified. "That bit we did in the Department of Magical Games and Sports doesn't count."

"Right, that was localized havoc," Fred said.

"And it wasn't our fault Ludo Bagman was fired," George added.

"Yes, it was," Fred said.

George grinned. "You're right. It was."

"We all know it would be simple to go in and get the others out," Harry cut in. "However, as Draco pointed out, Hermione won't thank us for turning her into a wanted criminal."

"We can't do anything until we find out where Lyra is," Draco said sharply.

Harry was stricken. "Fuck. I forgot. George, can you send a Patronus to Luna and see if Neville has had any luck locating her? My Patronus is fairly recognizable."

Fred snorted. "Fairly recognizable? As in the entire wizarding world knows it?"

George looked around for possible Muggle onlookers, and then cast the spell. There was a lull in the conversation and Fred threw a rock at the ducks. Half the flock dove at it, thinking it was bread.

Harry cleared his throat. "So. Did you bring it?" he asked.

George snapped his fingers and then reached into a pocket. He pulled out a small vial and tossed it to Harry, who snatched it out of the air easily. Draco's eyes bored into him suspiciously, but he said nothing. Harry took a small packet from his jeans and opened it. He removed the single hair contained therein, and pushed it into the vial, before giving it a quick shake. It turned orange.

"I need to go to Diagon Alley," Harry explained, speaking to Draco without actually looking at him.

"Did you lose your invisibility cloak?" Draco asked.

"I want to buy something," Harry said, "Not steal it."

"The twins could not have picked it up for you?" Malfoy's voice was soft and warm, but Harry caught the dangerous edge to it. There would be hell to pay for this later.

"No, not this. I'm not even sure I can find it."

"'It' being?"

Harry smiled at him and raked his eyes over the slim body seductively. "You'll see," he said in a low purr. Draco sat bolt upright. Harry grinned. He tipped the potion down his throat, surprised at the citrusy taste. He fought through the unpleasant effects of the Polyjuice potion, and then looked at the others to judge their reactions.

"Oy, nice job, Harry," Fred said. "No need to change clothes, eh?"

Harry shook his head. The jeans were a bit tighter, but his shirt was looser in the shoulders.

"I chose him for his size." Harry took off his glasses, no longer needed. Draco's eyes were narrowed again.

"Chose him? Who was he?" Malfoy asked. Harry shrugged.

"Some random Muggle."

"Some random Muggle?" Draco asked in a dangerous tone. Harry gaped at him.

"For pity's sake, Draco, I didn't sleep with him! I was behind him in line at the market and plucked a hair off his sleeve!"

Draco glared at him measuringly, apparently unable to judge Harry's veracity in the new body.

"Be right back," Harry said quickly and Disapparated.

Harry appeared in a dark, rarely used part of Knockturn Alley. He did not want anyone to know that Apparition was possible again--well, except the Weasley twins. Draco was most likely explaining it to them now.

He walked swiftly to a shop near Borgin and Burkes. It was similar to the Apothecary, but carried more questionable items. What Harry sought was considered dangerous by the Ministry. It was not illegal, but definitely borderline. He searched the shelves, which were dimly lit, but clearly labeled. Another patron bumped into him as she passed.

"Excuse me," he said, offering her a quick smile. The woman grunted and Harry gasped in surprise. It was Brigit! She looked at him curiously, caught by his reaction. Harry pitched his voice lower and stammered, "S... Sorry."

"Do I know you?" she asked in a polite tone.

"No... You're just... pardon me, I don't mean to offend. You're very beautiful."

And vicious, and spiteful, and horrid, he added to himself.

Brigit smiled. "And married," she said with a smile. "But, thank you."

She turned away, dismissing him. Harry searched the shelves quickly, and found the jar he sought. He snatched it and then lingered in the store, waiting for Brigit to approach the counter. The minutes ticked away, and Harry grabbed a couple of random items, so he didn't look too suspicious.

Brigit finally set her items on the counter, and Harry hurriedly joined her. As the bored clerk tallied and packaged her purchases, Harry tried to memorize them all. Some of it was not very unusual--pennyroyal, lotus petals, and Celtic quartz, but the powdered dragon's blood was rare and generally only used in very special rituals. And the bridge crystal was an interesting addition.

What the hell was she doing?

"Are you stalking me?" Brigit asked teasingly.

Harry tugged at his forelock nervously, only to find it missing. The Muggle's hair was far shorter than Harry's.

"Only if you want me to," he said flirtatiously, mentally giving himself an acting award. "Happily married, then?"

Brigit sighed. "I'm afraid so."

"Pity," Harry said and grinned a false smile that he hoped looked disappointed. He waited until Brigit left before setting his own items on the counter, making a mental note to ask Neville if Maeve was still lurking around the Ministry. She had to be livid that Draco was out of Azkaban. He hoped she and her sister were not planning something unpleasant.