Alternate Universe; Yellow Brick Road

Chapter three; fame, fortune and Draco Fairfaxon Malfoy

... Therefore surrendering any payment to be made to myself if the terms of the contract are broken, the particular's of which have been agreed by myself, my parent and/or guardian and the registered company/trade mark Wander brother's incorporated.

Signed........................

Draco's pen hovered as he stood in the small office. It would be quite easy to sign. The terms of the contract said that if he did so he would receive a previously agreed amount of money for what Alfonso had termed "a positively minuscule bit of work my angel". But if Draco could get back to Hogwarts with the people he knew then why would he want to stay here with the type of modern wizards his father had warned him about? "They live in the muggle world and parade around wearing muggle clothing Draco! If the common wizard doesn't stay strong and refuse such decadence then what will happen to those who remain pure!?"

Yet... father had never met these people so how would be know? And he had always advised that he keep his eyes open for good business opportunities, the truth was Draco could see not immediate solutions arising and he knew he could not survive. And he did, if he were completely honest to himself, like it here.

Then why didn't he sign?

As he lowered the odd muggle quill again the door banged open so hard it bounced of the wall

"Malfoy"

Potter- how wonderful

"Draco?"

Joanne- slightly better

"Draco you haven't signed anything yet have you?"

"No he has not but if you give him a moments peace and let him continue..." answered Helen all hard voice and steely eyes.

A suit stepped up; "May I ask on what grounds and upon what authority you-"

"Be quiet"

"What seems to be the problem Jo?" said Alfonso

"I just don't think that a minor such as himself should be forced into a binding contract the like's of which you've put before him, especially since there is not parent available to advise him" Jo sniffed calling on what little she knew about legal terms.

Ah oh dear, now how would he phrase this?

"He told us that he was in your care" all the faces in the room turned to him and then Potter because the latter shouted out "You scheming git Malfoy! Is it your main aim in life to screw everyone over?"

"As opposed to your chronic stupidity that does the very same thing every time but with much less effort!"

"Meaning what!?"

"STOP IT!" they looked to Jo who was suddenly rather intimidating "I want every one quiet and then I want answers!"

Harry and Draco glared at each other but held their tongues while the suit said, "are you suggesting that Mr Malfoy is effectively an orphan?"

"I am"

"Then what about his carer?"

"I don't have one and I don't need one"

"Well be that as it may a minor not in the care of a relative is automatically a child of the state"

He glanced at the official haughtily, "And what exactly does that mean?"

"It means, Mr. Malfoy, that unless you present an adult who will vouch on your behalf that you are living in their place of residence, it is assumed that you have run away from the state orphanage you were assigned to and so you will be sent back there immediately."

Very few things shocked Draco Malfoy- but this did. He felt as if he had been clouted round the head with a beater's bat.

"What- I- it's-".

The suit looked not far from a tiger licking its lips, "Now, if we're all finished here?"

"No," said Jo softly, clearing her throat, "No, that is not all. Draco has told you I am his guardian correct?" The blond boy's head whipped up and he locked his gaze on hers.

"Draco is... indeed my charge" two adults and one wizard breathed out "for the time being it seems I am his foster mother" she continued wryly.

"Can you prove this?"

"Yes I have the documents at my home- his home"

"But what if I could return to my actual home?"

Joanne looked sadly at him, "Oh Draco I don't think that's possible. From what I know about your leaving it-" unconsciously her gaze flicked in Potter's direction, "It doesn't seem there's a way back."

There was that beater's bat again.

The silence was too heavy, or so Alfonso seemed to think "How about we sign this contract and go to lunch?"

Jo started again "I don't think-"

"Joanne..." Draco looked to the writer that apparently knew him inside out.

A moment passed then two. He was about to give up on three then, "Go ahead, but only if you're sure."

Once he had scrawled Draco Fairfaxon Malfoy and Joanne had signed, the suit had told them he would take the contracts to HQ in America, and the Wander Bro's employees had welcomed him to 'the family' skipping off to spread the word; Potter, Joanne and himself were left alone.

"Do realise how much work this will be?" That was Joanne.

"-Absolute bloody twit!" that was Potter

"You can't back out now it's done." that was Joanne again

"-Could fucking ring your neck!" That was obvious

"Harry!"

"Sorry."

Draco sighed and thought about what Joanne had just saved him from. With Potter however he had no such obligation.

"I know they wouldn't give me money for free but if I'm not getting home anytime soon I need something to live off."

Turn head "Really Potter? Like you can talk."

Turn again "I have no intention of backing out and I wouldn't have let them force me into anything I didn't agree with."

And again "Screw you."

"Draco!" she was cut off from further admonishment

"Do you not understand the need for secrecy here!?" Harry howled

"Use your brain for once will you; they've already seen us, they know all about us, and lastly, I ask you- what business is it of yours!?"

And they started arguing. Feeling she should get a start on researching how to fake a home secretary fostering permit and also see what she'd do about hiding the existence of the magical world now it's two loudest member's were out Joanne Rolling left closing the door quietly. There was a lot to think about; she made it halfway down the corridor before she heard the crash

I've made monsters.

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Incompetent obstinate despicable diva!

It was ten minutes ago now that Potter had left with Joanne and still Draco was shaking with rage- partly because he let Potter cause this kind of reaction in him.

No one else manages to do this to me, and Potter isn't even worth my notice, jumped up pratt that he is!

Draco pulled the door handle but it didn't do a thing. -He's an attention seeking, stuck up- pulling the door harder didn't help -irritating-!

"Need a hand?"

"I need a key."

Jason smiled at him, got out his pass and swiped it, "So you're the son I've never met? Very pleased to meet you."

"Pleasure, I'm sure," Draco said walking through the door the elder man was holding for him, "Wasn't your hair blond last time?"

"Hmm? Oh yes, but there's no more acting today so I changed out of my costume. Excuse me," with a small incline of his head and a smile he walked off to the other man Daniel had pointed out earlier. He was slightly shorter than Jason but was still wearing his robes and then... he took his hair off! Just lifted it off to reveal strawberry blond locks!

Draco turned and left through the door from which he had just come. That was odd.

There was a crowd of people coming towards him "-So this kid comes up to me and goes 'can you make money appear out thin air?' and I look at him and say 'would I be playing a geriatric teacher who thinks he's in the S.A.S if I could?'"

Draco lurched away from them and collided with another pair, "Sorry kiddo, anyway if you just click on the web and surf the net you can find anything. There's CD's, DVD's, MRP computech software-"

"I thought they only done hardware?"

"Na, you can get all the latest digi-image programs for a couple of quid on ebuy. It really helps when we're making the CGI."

Girlie laughter floated over the other voices. The girl who Daniel had been running lines with before swarmed past Draco with a group of her friends "No, my joke's better."

"Tell us and we'll decide that."

"A Death Eater walks into a bar- ouch. If two Death Eater's walk into a bar- one of them should have seen it. If three Death Eater's walk into a bar- it say's a lot about Voldemort"

"Oh, that's beyond bad Amy," laughter erupted again and echoed down the hall to Draco who had pushed his way out of the group and walked quickly away. He needed air. They're wizards; wizard's and witches like I am. They're just liberal's, that's all.

He kept saying this in his head repeatedly like a chant until he was calmer and almost convinced.

"Hey, there you are. What's with running off and everything?" said Jason Ezekiel

"I don't think I'm supposed to be here."

Jason looked about, "It is a bit of a hell hole to hide from the world in," but he slid down to Draco's side regardless, "Everyone gets anxious when they're first here. It's different. You just can't predict it- not even if you're Trelawney... especially if you're Trelawney but- oh good you're smiling again."

Draco tilted his head back again. He was so tired. So many things had happened and there was so much of it he couldn't explain.

They sat in silence for a while and Draco let the ease of Jason's presence comfort him. Heedless of what other's- Potter- may say Lucius loved his son and that was reciprocated. Draco had felt the loss of his mentor and role model hard over the summer... as had his mother. And who knew what would happen to dad when he was in there?

"You're scowling again," said a silky drawl.

"I have a reason to scowl, and I will do so if I please."

"Bet I can cheer you up."

"How?" Draco may as well humour him.

"A Death Eater walks into a bar- "

"Jason, that is a terrible joke."

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Jo had decided that while they were still sorting out what happened the safest place for Harry to be was back at the Dursley's.

"Like we said it entirely depends if they exist," he said.

"Don't be sly. We're still going to look for them. It's only until we make sure Voldemort can't find you here," as much as he was beginning to like the woman he couldn't help but feel a little betrayed, even if he understood her reasoning.

They had spent the whole of the journey down to little Winning talking about his arrival, ideas that it entailed comparisons and differences between her books and his experiences.

"There's philosophical theory that might explain our situation to a certain extent. It's from Plato and it's all about forms- ever heard of it?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Can't say I have. Hermione probably read about it though."

Her lips quirked, and she continued, "It's the extension of some thing else he said but the gist of it is there are an infinite amount of Harry Potter's. Bear with me. Each Harry would be slightly different from the other, but they would all in essence be the same. Got it?"

"Kind of. Why would they be different if they were the same though?"

"Because of the things that had happened to them- you're looking confused."

Harry struggled "But... what if they made the same choice? Then they'd match-"

"No, it's not possible. You've been told before it's our choices that make us who we are, right? Plato's student Aristotle said for every choice you get two or possibly three conclusions, but we'll say it's two. Each decision takes us in a different direction to the other- it's called potentiality and actuality. What could have happened and what did happen."

"Ok, I think I get that, but even if that is true it doesn't explain why you know so much about me, how I got here, how me and Malfoy-"

"Malfoy and I- sorry force of habit," she changed gear and thought for a bit, "You're right. It doesn't give us all the answers- any answers really because philosophy is only speculation, but it's a start..."

After that they moved on, deciding most of the general information had fit and only small details did not, (Crookshanks was actually named Rumplestiltskin) they had moved on to her life and career which was quite as eventful as his own.

She had been a student at Wyedean Comprehensive, Gloucestershire, and became head girl much to her friend's displeasure- they told her she had been far too bookish and prissy, a complex she promised him she had grown out of. Graduating from Exeter University after spending years studying French and Classics she worked as a research assistant for Amnesty International, a secretary, and then a French teacher.

Vaguely she mentioned a black patch after which she had started writing her books, a phenomenon that just carried on growing. She had two children, a boy called David Gordon Rolling McMurry and a daughter, Jessica May Rolling McMurry and was planning on another with her husband Neil who was babysitting at the moment.

When they had located Privet Drive- that Harry was surprised they managed- the door was opened by his aunt but instead of scowling and telling him to get inside quickly like she normally did, she enquired "May I help you?"

What ever he had expected, it was not what the next hour and a half brought. Aunt Petunia downright denied that such a boy called Harry Potter lived there at anytime of the year and could they please leave. Then uncle Vernon came in wiping his hands of grease and said the same thing, "No Potter has ever set foot in this house before today!"

"I've lived here about fifteen years, ever since my parents died," Harry insisted, "My mother Lily was your sister!"

The Dursley's gasped.

"H-how do you know about her?" Petunia Dursley asked faintly.

Harry didn't understand this. What where they playing at?

"She was my mum I-"

"No, no it's not possible- she only had one child, a boy called... ah..." she looked at her husband, "I-I don't remember his name. We never saw him and he was young when he died."

Jo started, "Died?!"

Vernon had enough of being quiet; it was time to make some noise, "Yes, dead. He went with his parent's when they were murdered! But that was just as well because with parents like that he would be every inch a freak- can't you see this is upsetting for her! Now if you would be so kind-" he stilled and looked down to his wife's hand on his meaty forearm.

"Wait, I think Vernon, we should explain," all eyes settled on her as she took a moment.

"My- my sister was... uncontrollable. When she wasn't rallying against nuclear wars, she was experimenting. I bet... she ran off with her boyfriend the day I announced my engagement and I never saw her again. My mother apparently did though. She always went on and on about what Lily was doing, what mess Lily had landed herself in this time and she laughed about it! Lily was making a complete muddle of her life, gallivanting all over the place on her husband's motorbike, being drunk all the time and wearing leather! And my very own mother asked me why I wasn't out having fun like she did! The last news I heard was that Lily had given birth a few months after me. I doubt that Potter was even the father!"

She stopped and stood glaring at them when she started again it was in a far less aggressive tone.

"She got herself on the wrong side of some terrorist group, the IRA or some other, when she and Potter joined a campaign to sabotage the terrorists' headquarters. Only months later those who were responsible for attacks were hunted down. I got a letter, a letter, telling me that all three of them had been found in their home with their throats slit. Is that what you wanted to know? Well, I sincerely hope it helps you!" she turned into Vernon's chest and put her handkerchief to her mouth and gasped shakily.

Harry was appalled. Here he was- dead? Lifting his gaze he found himself being studied by the woman's watery blue eyes.

"Who are you anyway?"

Unable to find his voice he moved his jaw a couple of times then looked to Jo who understood immediately.

Facing the other two she answered, "That would be your supposedly dead nephew."

Harry was slumped in a chair across from Vernon while the two women argued forcefully over their heads.

Once Jo convinced the Dursley's that Harry was indeed their long lost relative, Vernon told her that he wouldn't have the son of a drunk and a charlatan in his house.

He was told to shut up by both females.

Now they had made their way through what the neighbour's would say, Petunia's obligation, what the neighbour's would say, Lily's last wish and what the neighbours would say.

What the neighbours would say cropped up a fair amount actually so Harry thought that perhaps things weren't so different.

Eventually he was allowed to stay in Dudley's second bedroom.

Jo looked up at him from the driver's seat of her car, "It won't be long until I see you again, I promise. And look at it this way; you get to make a new start with this set."

"Do you really believe that?" he asked sceptically.

She snorted, "Not a chance. You know, I, actually, think they're worse."

"Oh goody, you've left me with wolves," he smiled all the same.

"Are you sure you can survive? We can find something else"

He shook his head and waved her away. He leaned at the front door and watched her drive away. He couldn't have said what he truly felt. She had, after all, argued with the Dursley's long and hard trying to get them to take him in.

He sighed and closed the door. Pity she had children to get back to otherwise he wasn't sure if he would have let her leave.

It was difficult to tell if the Dursley's minded him being there when Jo was around but after he had shut the door they grilled him and left no doubt that he was still not welcome. Nothing could be done about it, not since they had promised the most powerful woman in entertainment he could stay- even Aunt Petunia had read that editorial. Jo had done one other small thing for him though, before he left she scribbled down her phone number and made him swear that he would call in anything at all went wrong. It was small but he appreciated the gesture.

A week later he still didn't feel settled. At the moment, he was alone in the house sorting through the rubbish he had in his room. Dudley was at school for a month and a week more.

Harry would be going to Stonewall as was planned years before in his own version of number four. Uncle Vernon was at work and Aunt Petunia had gone to the shops for tonight's dinner. Harry set to his task in the silent house sitting on the floor and every so often taking a mouthful from the bottle next to him.

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