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Harry realized that he was starving. “Papa? When is lunch?”

Lucius had to laugh. Harry, it seemed, was always hungry. “We just had breakfast, how can you possibly be hungry already?”

Harry grinned. “I don't know, I just am.” A startled expression flashed across his face. “Damn! I forgot that stupid diary.” He glanced around and then called, “Mimsey, service please.” Mimsey popped in and Harry asked her for his food diary. She disappeared and returned at once with the book.

Harry took it and startled Lucius by thanking Mimsey.

“You don't have to do that. She's ...” He waived a hand, trying to explain.

Harry just shrugged. “It's as much for me as it is for her. I never got thanked for anything, ever. I've saved the Philosophers stone, killed a troll, and ... well you get the idea. And all I ever got for all my trouble was ... sent back the the Dursley's. Why did he do that, do you think?” Harry didn't have to elaborate.

“I have no idea. The man is an idiot.” Lucius watched as Harry wrote in his diary. “Done?” Harry nodded. “May I see it?”

Harry just handed the book to Lucius. Lucius walked toward the library, reading as he went. Harry followed, dragging Draco with him.

Draco didn't object, he was as concerned as Lucius was. Harry still wasn't putting on any weight, although he looked better now than he had before his confinement. Draco sighed and sat down beside Harry in the wingback chair provided by an elf. He had to scoot back a bit as the elf had just about missed getting it under him.

Lucius flipped the pages of the food diary and read each entry carefully. He sighed, rubbed his face and grumbled, “This doesn't make any sense. I believe we spoke about this once before. Didn't we decide that the sauces were the problem?” Harry nodded. “But you've been eating dishes with sauces on them successfully.” Harry nodded again. “Yet Chicken in Creamy Mushroom sauce made you sick while Chicken in Sherry didn't.”

Draco thought for a moment. “Father, could I see that?” Lucius glanced at Harry before handing the book to Draco when he nodded.

Draco settled back in the chair reading quickly. He sighed, shifted in his seat then took the diary to the small partner's desk. He settled at the desk and took out a piece of foolscap and a pencil. He flipped pages back and forth, wrote, mumbled and wrote again. Lucius glanced at Harry who just raised an eyebrow then returned his gaze to Draco.

Draco finally closed the book and returned to his chair, his foolscap in his hand. “Well, I think I've figured it out. It's not sauces in general, it's only certain types of sauce. Anything based on butter is causing trouble. Cream seems to be problematical as well. But not as bad as butter. The sherry sauce has butter in it but only a bit. Cheese doesn't cause too much trouble but anything truly rich, no matter what it's based on is a problem. Tomato sauce is no problem at all. Fresh tomatoes, on the other hand, are.” Draco settled back in his chair, obviously prepared to defend his conclusions.

“Well, that's interesting. Let me go a bit further. He also gets ill when he eats rich desserts.”

Harry sighed, he just knew he wasn't getting better anytime soon. He felt alright, as long as he remembered his potions and didn't abuse his digestion. He needed more calories, somehow. His exercise routine was burning them up quicker than he could consume them.

Draco tugged at his earlobe. “Harry, you're not eating enough, obviously. Something's burning up calories as fast as you eat them.”

Harry shrugged. “I exercise a lot. I need to build up my strength. When Voldemort attacks again, I need to be ready for him.”

Both Draco and Lucius shuddered at the name. Harry glared at them and snarled. “What? You can grovel at his feet but you can't say his name?”

Draco held up a hand. “Absolve me. I refused. One of the reasons you're here instead of back at the Dursley's.”

“You have my undying gratitude then. I'd be dead.” Harry bowed slightly to Draco. Draco bowed back but couldn't resist smirking at Lucius, who just raised a supercilious eyebrow in return.

Harry ignored this byplay to keep on the subject. “Why do you keep avoiding his name?”

Lucius sighed, he wasn't looking forward to this at all. “I've called him 'My Lord' most of my life. Voldemort means wind of death so I do avoid that. And he's not my lord anymore, so what would you suggest calling him.”

Harry snorted. “Well, certainly not 'he-who-must-not-be-named' or 'you-know-who'. What about his real name. It's Tom, you know.”

The blank look that settled on Lucius' face made Harry sigh. Lucius shook his head. “I do know. So Tom it is then. Now ... we've got to get some weight on you. You aren't going to be as strong or healthy as you should be as long as you're under weight. When Tom tries again, and he surely will, you have to be ready. I'm going to do some research on my own, to see if I can't come up with something. Draco, is there any way to make a stronger nutrient potion?”

Draco nodded. “Yes, I can make this one twice as strong without it causing any problems. If we need a still stronger one, I'd prefer Severus to make it.”

Harry squeaked, sucked in a breath then exclaimed. “No! ... um ... I mean, he hates me. If he figures out he's making potions for me ... well, I'm not sure what he would do but I won't like it.”

“Severus is just ... frustrated. He wanted to be an Experimental Potions Master, but between the two of us, Tom and I, that had to go on hiatus. Most likely, permanently. He doesn't like teaching but he can't be gone from Hogwarts for long. His trial right after Tom's disgrace made him anathema to most of the wizarding world and his position at Hogwarts is his penance. Dumbledore promised to keep an eye on him so there he is. Sad.” Lucius looked at Harry's still horrified face. “I'll just have to make sure he doesn't find out.”

Harry just sighed and rubbed his face. “He hates me and I'm not that fond of him but, if he doesn't find out they're for me, I guess it's alright.”

Draco decided to change the subject just to lighten things up a bit. “Um ... Father? What is wrong with Mother? I thought your separation was amicable?”

“I did too. But she's unpredictable when it comes to anything to do with Tom Riddle. She's ... I don't know. All I know is that she's decided to be uncooperative. We'll probably have to spend Christmas here instead of at Le Château Des Fées.”

Draco made a face. “Well, shoot, I was so hoping that we could show it to Harry. I know he'd like it.”

Harry bit his lip. “I could just stay at Hogwarts, if that would help any.”

Two sharp 'No!'s made Harry jump. Draco snarled, “Absolutely not. I've seen your face when everyone left and you had to stay. We'll have Christmas here. We'll have a big tree in the public vestibule and another in the main parlor. We'll have presents and dinner and everything you've never had. Right, Father?”

“Absolutely. And no arguments from you, young man.” Lucius glowered at Harry as he started to protest again. Harry subsided without a whimper. He decided that he was really looking forward to Christmas with his foster family. He just grinned for a moment.

Lucius smiled back then turned to his greatest concern. “How are you training for that?”

Harry shrugged slightly. “I run, I do tai chi, and yoga. I'm also training in mixed martial arts, but I need more training in that and I need to work on offensive spells but ... I had one run in with the Ministry for under age magic and that was more than enough, thankyouverymuch. But, Defense is a joke, and not a funny one, right Draco?”

Draco only smirked a bit, Harry curled his lip at him. “Prat.”

Draco just shifted in his seat. “Sorry, it's just that it's true. The only professor we had that was worth a shit was...” He jerked his thumb at Harry. “him.” Lucius frowned, not only at Draco's crudity but at the fact that Draco's statement was probably true.

“Draco has told me that dueling was discontinued shortly after I left.”

Harry nodded. “That's right. The last real duel was between Professor Flitwick and Snape just after Snape became a professor. Draco and I had a duel, which I'm sure you're aware of, it was more or less a disaster.”

“Yes, Draco informed me of that.” Lucius waited for Harry to call him to task for his behavior after that but Harry completely ignored that. “Disgraceful.”

Harry brightened suddenly. “Maybe I could duel with Draco. That'd be good for both of us, don't you think?”

Draco shook his head. “Not a chance. I'm not stupid, you'll flatten me in two seconds.”

Lucius, who was proud of Draco's skills, looked surprised. “Now, Draco, surely you're exaggerating. I'm positive you're at least as good as Harry.”

Draco gave his father an incredulous look. “You have to be kidding. I may know more spells than he does but he's just better. Faster, more imaginative, just ... more.”

Harry couldn't help the beaming smile he sent Draco's way. He couldn't believe that his foster brother was actually complimenting him.

“What?” Draco smirked. “Truth hurts, but not as much as lies.”

Lucius sighed. “How good are you really, Harry? I need to know so that I know who to hire to tutor you.”

Harry picked at his lip for a moment. “I'm not sure. I've never really had anyone to compare myself to. I'm at least as good as the lower level DE's I've faced.”

Lucius couldn't quite suppress his shudder at that. He wondered how he was going to reconcile his, admittedly flexible, conscience with some of his previous actions, and how he was going to get Harry to forgive him for them.

Harry hadn't said too much about things but Lucius could tell that Harry was still rather guarded around him. Something Lucius didn't blame him for at all. He realized that Harry was going to be uncertain of him, one of the reasons he tolerated Harry's occasional outbursts of profanities.

Draco thought, sitting stock still in his chair. Finally he announced his conclusion. “Father, I think you should duel Harry. That way we'll know his level. Then we can help him work on his magic.”

Before they could get any farther Harry snapped, “And how are we supposed to do magic? The Ministry will be down on us like a duck on a bug.”

“I don't have as much influence as I used to, something I'm going to have to address, but I still have enough to keep the Ministry from bothering me over such a small thing as a little under age magic. As long as we keep it confined to the property. Come.”

Lucius led them into the depths of the house's lower levels; very near, in fact, to Harry's dojo. There he showed them a dueling stadium the equal of any. It was obviously old, with ranks of seating like a small theater, but instead of a stage, there was a dueling platform with boxes at each end for the seconds and medi-wizards. There was a medical station behind the platform, a very well appointed, modern one. Draco just took a place at one end of the platform and waited.

Lucius shook his head at Draco. “No, my dragon, I will duel Harry myself.” At Draco's expression he explained, “I need to actually duel him to test his power and skills.”

Harry went to the other end of the platform, thinking quickly. “Ok, I get what you want. But ... dueling rules? I'm not really familiar with them. And I don't think Tommy-boy will stick to them either. It's more going to be like a street fight.” Lucius just gazed steadily at Harry. “Yeah, one rule, win or die. So, how do you want to do this?”

“Street style. I want to see what you've really got. I'm going to give you a target shield to wear. I'll wear one too.” Lucius gave Harry a gorget. “Put this on.” Harry just eyed the domed, curved piece of metal in blank puzzlement. “Here, let me then.” He turned Harry by the shoulder and fastened the chain at the back of his neck, pushing his hair aside to do so.

Draco watched wondering that he didn't feel jealous of Harry at all. He realized that something Harry had said was really true; Harry didn't want Draco's place in Lucius' heart, he wanted his own. He remembered the talk with pleasure. Harry had still been ill so Draco had extended his first hesitant olive branch, which Harry had accepted just as hesitantly. He smiled at the remembrance of them warily circling each other like two cats, ready to jump back at the first sign of hostility.

“Draco? What is that smile for?” Lucius looked ready to reprimand Draco for smiling at such a time.

“Sorry, Father, just smiling at a recollection. Shall we get started? I assume I'm to be judge.”

“Yes, and I believe that Harry is correct. We shall fight 'no holds barred'.” He turned to Harry. “You may use any technique, magical or physical, that you know. I'll fight as a Death Eater would. That will give us a good idea of your level and a comparison. That way we'll know what areas need to be addressed. Draco, we'll begin on your command.”

Harry touched the gorget. “Will the shield protect us from solid objects? I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I've been wanting to test in real life.”

Lucius nodded as he walked up the stairs of the platform. “Yes, they'll protect us, but you will feel a sting if something like a knife would have done damage. Now, step up on the platform, the spells around it will keep us from damaging the arena.”

Harry nodded, settled himself and signaled that he was ready to go. He wasn't sure how well the gorgets would protect them but Lucius had said they could handle just about anything he, Lucius, could manage so Harry decided to believe him and go all out. He was even wearing his bracelets as he'd decided never to go anywhere without the source of handy weapons.

Lucius bowed to Harry, who bowed back. Draco snapped, “Go!” and the combat was on.

Lucius started out with a strong stinging hex, barking, “Apis!” Harry countered with a “Protego!” that blocked the spell before the half way point. Harry tossed an Impedimentia at Lucius while he sidestepped a Relashio. Lucius started another curse but had to dodge something that whizzed past his ear. He wound up flat on his ass as Harry's leg-locker snapped his ankles together, making him fall. A flick of his wand and an Finite Incantatum banished the curse. Harry snarled and started tossing every curse, hex and jinx he knew as well as more throwing pins. Lucius blocked, dodged and countered. He also managed plenty of spells of his own. Draco was astonished at the display, it looked like fireworks going off all over the room. The shields around the platform actually began to fail.

Harry realized that he was getting nowhere with magic and decided to get physical with Lucius. He moved in close and grabbed Lucius by the front of his robes and tossed him over his shoulder, or he tried to. Lucius countered the move smoothly and scrabbled to get a grip on Harry's wand arm. Harry used a duck and spin to get away from him and back peddled quickly. He was just about to try a combined physical and magical attack when Draco shouted, “Arrêt!” Lucius stopped his attack right in the middle of a hex. Harry almost hit him in the face with a left hook that he barely managed to pull.

“The duel is ended! The wards have failed!” Draco, as judge, called the match due to the dangerous situation. He goggled at his father and foster brother. “I swear I've never seen anything like it. Harry, you're just as powerful as Father. If he hadn't had so much more experience, he'd have been in real trouble. And Father! I don't think I've even seen half those spells.”

“You haven't. Severus taught me several of them and I developed some myself. The rest are ... not exactly dark, but very ... grey, shall we say.” Lucius gave Harry a rather odd look then shook his head. “I'm impressed. How are you with a sword?”

Harry shrugged. “I wasn't allowed to do much with a sword in my classes. Liu-shodoshi said I wasn't quite ready yet and Frankie and Johnny agreed. But I'm no slouch either. I did manage to kill that basilisk after all.”

Lucius sputtered furiously. “Basilisk? Damn it, Dumbledore implied that he killed it. What did you do?”

“Um ... I stabbed it through the roof of its mouth with the Sword of Gryffindor.”

“Impossible, it would have bitten you.”

Harry just pulled up his sleeve to show the reddish oval scar. “Clear to the bone. It actually broke off in my arm.”

Draco whimpered. “Shit, that's why you were in hospital for so long after the Chamber was declared closed again. Dumbledore is such a secretive shit.”

“Yeah, he is that.” He blinked at Lucius' disbelieving face. “Fawkes cried on me. But, after we got out of the Chamber, I kinda fell over. Ginny was really sick too. It was really awful of you to sneak that journal into her cauldron like that.”

Lucius sighed. “I already explained that to you. I am actually sorry for that one. On more than one level. No matter what anyone might believe, I don't make war on children.”

Harry's closed expression rejected further conversation on that subject so Draco changed the subject.

“So, Father, how good is Harry? Really.” He grimaced at Harry behind Lucius' back. Harry's apologetic frown mollified him but he resolved to have a little talk with Harry about letting bygones be bygones. They did have to live in the same house and be a family so there was no sense being prats about it.

Lucius grasped at that straw gratefully. “Very. Not as good as I am but very much better than I expected. And a great deal more powerful too. I set the recording spells so let's sit down and watch. Service!” He snapped his fingers and told the elf who popped in to fetch lemonade and snacks. “We'll have a bit of something to tide us over until lunch.” He cast a tempus. “Which is in exactly forty minutes.”

The elf returned with lemonade and some tiny sandwiches, all on a huge silver tray that it could barely hold. Harry hurried to help the elf with it before all the food hit the floor. The elf gave him a disbelieving blink then hurried to set out the stand. Harry put the tray down on the folding stand and took a glass of the drink. He handed it to Draco then passed another one to Lucius. He had to admit that he was really thirsty too. It had been a very active day so far but he was enjoying it. He wondered if Lucius was really going to help him train then decided that he probably was. His foster father didn't seem like the type to lie to him.

Harry jumped as Lucius spit the lemonade back into the glass. “This is ghastly. There's no sugar in it at all.” Lucius rounded on the cringing elf. “What's the matter with you?”

Harry snapped and yelled at Lucius. “Stop that. It's not as if he made it. If you want to yell at someone yell at the right someone. I don't get it. Why the bloody hell do you put up with it? There's always something ... some sort of sabotage going on. I'm sick of this. You beat them then wonder why they hate you. Bloody buggering fuck. Damn it!” Harry jammed a hand into his hair and yanked. “I'm going to my room. Excuse me.”

Draco's wide eyed look made him seem half his age. Lucius managed to close his mouth before he said something rude, childish and very unfatherly. Harry cast a hex at a dueling dummy as he stormed by it. He was out of the room before the hex hit. The dummy exploded into scraps of cloth and sparkles of magic.

Draco gulped and exchanged looks with his father. “Well...shit.”

Lucius straightened and grumbled. “Well, shit indeed. Now I have to apologize over a bloody house elf. And you.” He rounded on the still cringing elf. “Go send the one who made this to me.”

The elf disappeared with the usual pop and returned quickly with another elf. “This is the one.” Lucius glowered at the elf for a moment then just pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and offered it to the cringing elf. 

.

Harry reached his rooms at a dead run, slammed the door then kicked it. “God damn it. Fucking bloody buggering fuck.” He hexed the wash stand, which ignored him with wooden dignity. “I don't understand why all of you can't be arsed to do stuff right.”

Mimsey poked her head out of the closet and blinked. “Sir?”

“You heard me. Stupid cock-sucking moronic elf made the lemonade...” Harry stopped to pant.

“Mimsey is thinking you is not liking it?” Mimsey widened her eyes as Harry began to glow. Not much but enough to show that he was shedding magic.

There was a hesitant peck on the door, obviously not Lucius nor Draco. “Bog off you twat!” Harry cast a locking spell on the door. The individual who'd knocked left. Mimsey could tell.

“He is gone. You is telling me what is bringing about this childish tantrum. Now.” Mimsey crossed her arms over her chest and patted one foot on the floor.

Harry charged around the room for a while more, hexing things to bits and swearing like a sailor. “Stupid wankers, idiotic pompous prats. Bloody shit for brains cretins. Friggin’ arseholes. Stupid bloody twats. Dim witted fuckers that assume bullying is being so fucking manly.  Fucking Hell, everything is totally bollixed up.” He kicked the foot of the bed then plopped down on it. “Fuck I ... It's all I can do not to go into a Hermione S.P.E.W. rant. Idiot.”

Mimsey climbed onto the bed and pinned Harry with a stern look. “You is telling Mimsey what this is all about, right now.”

So Harry explained as best he could. It was rather incoherent as he bounced back and forth between his treatment at the Dursley's, Hogwarts, his disgust that someone like Lucius could abuse something so helpless as an elf and finally wound down and burst into tears. “And now it's all ruined. He'll send me packing, just you see if he doesn't.”

Mimsey sighed. “No, he is not sending you packing. He may punish you for being rude to him. Mimsey will go speak to him.”

“No! Don't do that. He'll just get mad at you and hit you.”

Mimsey snorted at that. “Mimsey is your elf now. Master Lucius is not hitting anyone else's elf. He is too proud.”

Mimsey popped out before Harry could say anything else and Lucius was soon knocking at the door.

.

Lucius tapped at the door gently. “Harry. Harry, let me in. Come on Harry, don't be stubborn. We have to get over this.”

Harry blinked tears out of his eyes then stiffened, “We?” he sighed then called out, “Just a minute.” He scrubbed one hand over his face, making it look worse instead of better, and went to open the door.

The first thing Lucius did was compliment Harry on his locking charm. “That charm is certainly powerful. I wasn't expecting anything like it. We need to talk about this. But I'm not even sure how to start.” Harry gave Lucius a wide-eyed look. “Oh, please, I'm a very unpleasant man. But I do want to get along with you. I don't fancy living months at a time with a sullen teen-ager who doesn't want to be here. Now, why don't you start out with what happened. I'm sure that lemonade wasn't the problem.”

Harry sighed, his reddened eyes making him look pitiful. “I .. It's just that, that's exactly how Uncle Vernon used to start off. You have no idea what it's like to serve someone who's not only ungrateful but cruel. It's demeaning. He'd pick some ridiculous fault, yell then start in hitting me. Then he'd move on from his fists to his feet, or his belt. It just...it's bloody lemonade. So what, they forgot the sugar. Or even did it on purpose. You're a smart man. Really, really smart and you can't see that all that does is make you look ... petulant? Or something. I'm not sure I'm explaining this right. And, if the elves are so effing stupid and stuff, why don't you have human servants?”

Lucius looked like he'd been hit in the head with a bludger. “I see. We have elves because, when my grandfather turned to Grendlewald, all the human servants quit. And I really do understand, finally. I served Lord Voldemort from the time I was sixteen until you defeated him. I only returned to his service because I was so afraid of what might happen if I didn't.”
He smiled slightly at Harry's skeptical look. “Oh yes, I was afraid, afraid for my family and not ashamed to admit it. He was just as you described your uncle. One small mistake resulted in Cruciatus. He'd torture someone until he wearied of it, then order some of his minions to continue. He wasn't ... kind.”

“Oh... Why didn't you just leave him?”

“Why didn't you run away?”

Harry gave Lucius a 'you know exactly why' sort of grimace and sighed. “Ok.” He heaved a heavier one and shook his head. “I just ... you know. I wish you wouldn't do that sort of thing in front of me. If you feel it's necessary ... I dunno.” He hitched one shoulder. “You should do it with more dignity.” He gave Lucius a woeful look. “I read that Appendix. And ... I'm scared.”

Lucius stood up and pulled Harry into a hug. “I know. I'm sorry. But it was the only way I could convince the Ministry toadies to let me foster you. But that Appendix is as binding on me as it is on you. I cannot breach it's limitations anymore than you can. I will always apply the minimum punishment but the contract does not allow for failure of discipline. Do you understand?”

Lucius pushed Harry away and peered into his face. Harry nodded; afraid that, if he tried to speak, he'd start to cry again. Lucius pulled him back into an embrace that he didn't seem eager to release. It took them both a while to realize that Draco was leaning against the door frame, watching them with a pleased smirk on his face. Harry stuck his tongue out at him then smirked back.

Lucius grumbled, “Now, I'm hungry and I'm sure both of you are too. We'll have lunch and then go over the images of our duel. Come along.”

Harry blinked for a moment then asked, “You're not going to punish me?”

Lucius shrugged. “What for?”

“Um ... Yelling at you. Disrespecting you. Acting half my age. Take your pick.”

Lucius thought about all this for a few seconds then remarked, “Very well. Let's take this one point at a time. Yelling. I've always encouraged Draco to yell rather than hex. In private, of course. I would encourage you to do the same. Disrespecting me. You excused yourself rather abruptly, I assume so that you didn't go farther than you had. Commendable. Acting half your age. Well, if you did that then the punishment for all your actions should be one to suit the situation. You're sixteen so.” Lucius flicked his wand and suddenly Harry's mouth was full of soap.

He choked, and began to spit and sputter. It tasted terrible and it wouldn't stop. He could feel it running down his chin and dribbling onto his chest. He clamped one hand over his mouth then rolled his eyes at Lucius. He was just beginning to panic when Lucius flicked his wand again and cancelled the spell, another flick and the mess was banished.

“I think that was sufficient.” He started to turn away but a good look at Harry's wide eyes and white face had him turning back. “Harry, what in the world?”

Harry wiped at his mouth with a hand that trembled more than he liked. “What did you do? How is trying to poison me ...” He gulped and shuddered.

Draco sighed, time to mediate again. “Father. No one has ever punished him in anyway other than to either beat him senseless or work him into the ground. I'll bet my allowance that he has no idea that a stinging hex was invented by an aggravated mother to help her keep her dozen offspring in line.” He turned to Harry and said with commendable gentleness. “And that spell won't even make you sick. It's only a silent Saponificus. It's usually used by parents on kids under 12 when they swear or are verbally disrespectful. Take a deep breath.”

Harry did as he was told, thinking sadly that he'd stuck his foot in it again. “I'm sorry. It was just such a surprise. I've never actually even seen that spell. Or is it a hex?”

Lucius gathered Harry into his arms again, he seemed to be doing an inordinate amount of hugging lately. “I'm sorry I frightened you. That was really not my intention. So... and stop apologizing so much. I know you read that contract, I remember you going over it in the library with Mr. Weasley. Why do you have so much trouble remembering its contents?”

Harry sighed then shrugged an irritable shoulder. He wasn't sure exactly. “Don't know. And I know I'm being a real prat sometimes but I just can't seem to stop myself. I just open my mouth and my brain falls out. Frankie would smack me good. And Liu-shodoshi would be ashamed of me. I'm really, really confused, I think. People who are supposed to help me, leave me to the Dursley's.” His tone of voice implied a fate worse than death. Lucius had to agree. “And someone who actually tried to kill me at least once, is being nicer to me than anyone else ever has been. That's excepting Frankie, Johnny, Liu-shodoshi and the guys at the club. They don't count, but only because they're not wizards.” He ran his hands through his hair. “And I know I'm not making any sense at all because they were so nice to me. And ... Fuck!”

Draco snorted. “It makes perfect sense to me. All the people you just mentioned, don't know that you're the 'Savior of the Wizarding World'. Or at least Britain. They took you in, were nice to you and didn't expect a thing from you, except to be yourself and stay out of trouble.

Wizarding Britain, on the other hand, expects you to rescue them from Vold ... Um ... Tom Riddle, but they treat you like shite, put you in constant danger, set obstacles in your way and in general act like fools. I especially liked that bit with the trial, complete idiocy. No wonder you're confused. I'd head for France and stay there.” Draco nodded his head decisively then gazed at his father with limpid eyes, daring him to argue.

Lucius just groaned. “Damn it! I swear ... But that's neither here nor there.” He shook Harry gently. “I swore a Wizard's Oath when I signed that guardianship contract. Do you understand that?” Harry nodded a bit hesitantly. “Good. I will not do you any harm. I cannot promise not to hurt you because of the contract's demands in regards to discipline.”

Harry thought about that for a moment. “Oh ... ok ... I can deal with that.” His stomach decided that they'd had about all the drama they could deal with for one day and attracted their attention to its emptiness with a loud growl. “Son of a bitch!”

“Enough.” Lucius swatted Harry on the shoulder. “Language, Harry. We'll go eat. Now.”

Draco led the way to the dinning room, wondering when Harry was going to settle enough that they could relax.

.

Lunch was a quiet affair with Harry sitting glumly trying to remember which fork went with what. Draco was a bit surprised to find that he actually felt sorry for Harry, while Lucius was torn between fury at the wizarding world and astonishment at how affected he was by Harry's upset. He also thought about how he treated – everyone. He was going to have to be very careful. He wanted Harry to think well of him, and 'showing his arse' as Draco had so inelegantly remarked, wasn't the way to go about that.

All in all, it was a very subdued trio for lunch.

Lucius noticed that Harry was just picking at his food, shoving it around on the plate and nibbling at a bit now and then. “Harry, please, either eat it or leave it. Don't pick at it, it's very rude. If you don't like it, or it's not agreeing with you, just have it removed.”

Harry started to apologize but Lucius raised an eyebrow in warning so he didn't. He just called for service and told the elf to remove the thick aspic. “It's upsetting my stomach, it tasted ok, but ... I think I'm just upset. Maybe the next course will agree with me.”

The next course turned out to be a very nice salad of asparagus and greens. Harry eyed the tableware for a moment then sighed. “I have no idea which utensil to use.”

Lucius held up the proper one, remarking, “Just watch me, or your host if I'm not visible. If the host makes a mistake, no one will remark on it and everyone will just assume you used the same one so as not to embarrass him or her. I'll make arrangements, for when you're not so upset, to teach you what everything is for.”

Draco groaned dramatically. “Oh, Merlin, a Grand Banquette. Pans will faint.”

Lucius smirked. “No, I now know better than to toss a child, sorry, Harry, into a situation like that. But we will be having the traditional garden party in June.”

Harry made an unhappy noise and surged up from the table, a few seconds later, sounds of distress were heard. Lucius stood up and hurried after Harry. Draco followed an instant later.

Harry was ill again, vomiting into a basin that Mimsey had conjured. She was standing beside him, rubbing his back gently. Lucius stopped dead, totally flabbergasted by the sight. Draco peered around his father to see what had shocked him so. The sight of Mimsey petting Harry made him smile.

“Well, that's a relief. Mine hates me and I've never done anything to it.”

They watched until Harry was done then Draco went to Harry while Lucius made a quick trip to the brewery to fetch Harry a stomach calming draught.

Harry rolled over on the floor, surprised to feel Draco patting his shoulder. The second he was on his back Draco pulled to help him to his feet. He managed that feat with some difficulty as he always felt drained after one of his 'spells'.

“Thanks. Um ... can I sit down somewhere? I really feel Iffy.”

Draco helped Harry into the small sitting room behind the dining room and onto a couch there. Mimsey followed them with a clean basin in her hand.

“Is you wanting this?”

Draco started to snap at her then restrained himself as she was really only trying to take care of her master.

“No ... Yes. Bring it here then bring Harry something to wash his mouth out with.”

Mimsey gave Draco a narrow eyed look but popped out to obey. She returned quickly with a cup of tea and a piece of dry whole meal toast. Harry took it with a soft 'thank you'. Mimsey nodded to him.

“If you is not needing Mimsey, she is going to empty that Devil's Sack and put the contents away more conveniently. You is very lucky to have that. Mimsey will put things in it for when you go back to Hoggywartses. Call if you is needing me.”

Harry gave Mimsey a rather blank look but gave his permission for her to go with another thanks.

Lucius returned with the potion which Harry obediently swallowed. He lay back on the couch and grumbled, “Well, shit. And I didn't eat a thing that I shouldn't.”

Draco snapped, “But there was enough drama this morning to upset my stomach, so get over it. Here, finish this tea. Then I think you should go up and rest. Father and I can go over the duel, analyze it and tell you what we think. Ok?”

Harry just nodded miserably. “Ok. I'll take a nap, see what Mimsey is waffling on about and we can talk about it at supper.”

Lucius signaled Draco when he seemed to want to argue then told Harry that he was sure it would be best. Draco frowned a bit but subsided into vague grumbling. Harry looked at him for a moment then hung his head. “Sorry. I know I’m just a big bother.”

Draco rubbed his face then snarled, “Will you stop that? You're not a bother. I just ... I was looking forward to going over that duel, all three of us, together. I’m sure I'll survive the disappointment. Go rest.”

Harry gave Draco a startled look then glanced at Lucius who admitted to some disappointment of his own. Harry could only say, rather blankly, “Oh ... um ... thanks. I'm kind of disappointed myself. I'll just ... go ... upstairs ... bye.” He got up and went towards the main staircase while Lucius and Draco stood side by side, watching.

Lucius turned in the direction of the Dueling Theater, remarking over his shoulder to Draco. “I'm going to see if I can't get Mr. Weasley here for a visit. I'll have to sneak over to The Burrow and snag him. I hope he's outside. If Molly catches me sneaking her youngest male progeny off, she'll hex me to perdition.”

Draco was shocked. “Father, sneaking around to get Weasley here?”

“Oh, yes, and enjoying it very much.”

Draco had to laugh at that one.

Then they were in the Dueling Theater and settling down to review the images recorded in the memory spheres.

Twenty minutes later Draco was wide-eyed and Lucius narrow-eyed.

Draco was wide-eyed because he'd never seen anyone come that close to defeating Lucius. Harry was so fast that he couldn't believe it. And strong, the gorget had sparked every time Harry scored a hit. They weren't supposed to do that. Draco had only seen one other person who could make them spark besides Lucius and that was Severus Snape.

Lucius was narrow-eyed because the last hex, the one against the dueling dummy, was so powerful. That dummy was almost impossible to destroy. He wondered if Harry wasn't unconsciously adjusting the strength of his spells to keep from damaging his opponent. If so, he was going to have to do something about that. Harry wasn't to cripple his spells for any reason, that way led to disaster.

.

Harry got to his room without further incident and flopped onto his bed. Mimsey, who had been waiting for him, pulled off his shoes and picked up the robes Harry had tossed over a chair.

“You is napping?”

Harry grumbled a bit but said, “Yes, if a certain noisy elf would be quiet.”

Mimsey snorted. “Fine, Mr Cranky-pants, Mimsey is emptying that bag, making an inventory and cleaning the closet. If you is wanting anything, just be wanting it.” She waited for a second but Harry just snorted and rolled over. Mimsey had to resist pulling her ears in joy. Her master was such a nice boy.

She decided to clean the bathroom, then rearrange Harry's sitting room to better accommodate his paints. After that she cleaned the closet, wondering how it managed to get so dirty. After that she picked up the devil's sack and the book, which Harry had handed over to her together. She examined the book gently, realized that it was very old and took it to Harry's study desk to put it with the other books he kept on the small shelf above it. She gazed in wonder at the fine bindings but turned her nose up at the wood covered book with silver clasps. It was shabby and worn and she wondered why Harry even bothered.

Shrugging her shoulders she returned to her work, stroking the fine linen tunic she wore. Harry had insisted that she be clean and neat. He'd shown her a picture in a book and told her to make a tunic like that and wear it. She knew that he didn't like the dirty tea towels and bits of filthy sheets that the other elves wore, she was proud that he thought enough of her to make sure that she was clean, decently covered and neat. She shook herself out of her ruminations and went to empty the bag

She got the bag and opened it. The second she put her hand in it, she yelped. Harry woke at once.

“Mimsey, what is it?' He clambered across the expanse of bed and jumped to the floor.

He found Mimsey sitting on the closet floor, cradling her hand to her chest. “I is not doing anything wrong! Why is it punishing me?”

Harry shook his head while gently prying Mimsey's hand away from her so he could see it. “I don't know. Maybe it doesn't know you're my servant?”

Mimsey sniffled a bit. “Maybe so, it is from the ancient ones.”

Harry eyed her hand in anguish, it was badly burned, almost as if she'd severely scalded herself. “Well, shit. That really looks bad. Are you alright to go get it tended to? Or should I summon someone?”

Mimsey recovered herself as best she could. “I is fine to go. Is you needing anything before I leave?”

Harry ground his teeth. “No, I is needing you to get better. Go get that seen to right now, no arguments. If anyone gets stubborn, sent them straight to me. Git!”

Mimsey popped out at once.

Harry bit his lip for a second then demanded, “Service, now!” an elf he didn't recognize popped in. “I want you, personally, to make sure that Mimsey is taken care of. She's to have anything she wants until she's healed. Understand?” The elf nodded, ears flopping and disappeared again without ever saying a word.

Harry worried for a while but decided that, if Mimsey was really hurt, someone would have come to him by now. At least, they better have. He decided to empty that stupid bag and see what was in it. It would take his mind off Mimsey until he heard about her condition.

He hesitantly put his hand into the bag, nothing happened so he felt around wishing he knew more about such things. As he was wishing, he felt a small pamphlet nearly thrust into his hand. He withdrew it and looked down to see its front cover neatly embellished with 'Facts and Theories of This Devil's Sack, Written Specifically for Harry James Potter.

He nearly dropped it.

After looking at the pamphlet then the sack Harry decided that there was no use in him sitting on the floor of his closet, no matter that it was twice the size of Dudley's 'other' bedroom. He got up and took himself off to his sitting room to sit in his favorite chair and read about his present from the Darklings.

The pamphlet was specific that he was the only one who could take things out of the sack. Also that he was the only one who could put anything in it. The sack would anticipate his needs and supply them, as long as the needed object or supply was in the sack. It recommended that he review the index carefully as it was a permanent, self-updating inventory.

Harry turned to the back of the pamphlet, or rather the index which took up more than three quarters of the pages. The other pages were information on the spells needed to maintain the sack, find things in it when you weren't sure what you needed, and instructions on using some of the contents.

After a few moments of reading, Harry realized that he'd never remember it all. He was going to have to make sure not to lose the little book. As he pondered this, the pamphlet produced the answer, pages struggling to turn until he held the thing on the palm of one hand, then it opened to a spell. Harry read carefully, it was a spell to keep him from losing the sack. If he put it in his pocket or hung it around his neck, it would stay until he removed it.

Harry decided he'd better go talk to Lucius but first he wanted to check something in the Darklings book. He also wanted to take another look at the wooden covered book. He had no idea why but he felt it was time to investigate these things further.

He took the two books down from the shelf and settled down to read. He was immediately frustrated as the book from the Darklings only showed a page that recommended he read the Irish book. He groaned, what Irish book, where did he find it? The Darkling book rather helpfully showed a picture of the Irish book, which he found upon turning the page. It was the wooden covered Ogham book. Harry sighed, things were getting very complicated, very quickly. He told the book to open in Parseltongue and grumbled. This was going to be hard. He not only had to translate the Ogham into English letters but the Parseltongue and Gaelic into English. He grumbled again and started his work. After an hour he realized that he wasn't going to be getting this done anytime soon. The Gaelic was antiquated, the Parseltongue nearly impossible. He decided to give his tired eyes a rest and give it up for the day.

Instead of worrying about the books, Harry decided to check on Mimsey.

“Service, please.” An elf popped in, bowed and looked at Harry out of the corner of it's eye.

“What can this one do for master?”

Harry sighed. “I need to know how my elf, Mimsey, is.”

“She is fine now. Her hand is almost healed. Is you wanting her?”

Harry shook his head. “No, I just needed to know how she is. Tell her, please, that I won't need her until her hand is well. And see if you can't get the head elf to assign someone else to me until she's well. Thank you, that's all I needed.” He never noticed the elf's drop jawed astonishment, he was too busy rummaging in his old back pack. He finally found the pack of gum he knew was in it and stuck a piece in his mouth, banishing the wrapper without a thought.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when Mimsey popped in with a crack, instead of the discreet pop she usually produced.

“What is this about you having some other elf assigned to you? Sir.”

Harry eyed Mimsey for a moment then caved without an argument. “I just wanted to be sure you were ok before you came back to work. Are you ok?”

Mimsey waggled her healed fingers in Harry's direction. “Mimsey is fine. Elveses heal quick. Now, what is we going to do about that bad bag?”

Harry quickly explained about the bag and said that Mimsey shouldn't do more than put it away or bring it out at Harry's orders. She nodded, calmly agreeing that Harry should tend to it.

Harry settled back on the couch, biting at his lip. “Um...Mimsey? I want to ask you to do something, but I want you to tell me if it'll get you into trouble.”

Mimsey just nodded. “Alright, Master is telling Mimsey and Mimsey will be good, honest elf.”

“I ... do you know Dobby? He was Papa's elf.”

Mimsey snorted. “All Malfoy elveses is knowing crazy Dobby. He is at Hoggywartses now.”

“Yes, but he was serving me while I was in the Muggle world. I ... he just stopped showing up and I really needed him. Winky came and told me some messed up tale but she's usually so drunk that I couldn't make head nor tail of it. Can you go to Hogwarts and see what's going on? But don't do it if you'll get into trouble.”

Mimsey just shook her head. “That elf is crazy, but if you is fond of him, Mimsey will go see him. Mimsey will be back as soon as she can.” She disappeared with a loud smack.

Harry leaned his head against the back of the couch. His stomach was still protesting and he felt shaky and ill. He wondered if he should ask Draco for a nutrient potion. Draco had said that the potions he was brewing now were the strongest he could make. Maybe more, instead of stronger would help?

.

Mimsey popped into the kitchen at Hogwarts and demanded Dobby. An elf turned from where it was chopping carrots and said, “I is Dobby, what is you wanting?” He blinked his huge green eyes and blurted, “I is knowing you, you is Mimsey. What is you wanting?”

Mimsey jerked her head. “We is not talking around all these flapping ears and lips.”

Dobby just grunted and took her hand, allowing her to take him where she would. She took them both to a small room in the dungeons.

“Why you is not answering Harry Potter Sir's summons?”

Dobby hung his head. “I is bound here now.”

Mimsey looked shocked. “Why? You is free elf.”

“Dobby is stealing. Harry Potter is needing potions and salves. Dobby is sneaking them out of the school stores. Professor Snoopy Snape caught him. Now Dobby is bound to Hogwarts for one year as a punishment.” Dobby sighed heavily. “Will Mimsey tell Master Harry that Dobby is sorry?”

Mimsey nodded. “Yes, Mimsey is telling Master Harry exactly what is happening. Why is you not telling Dumbdydor this?”

Dobby shook his head so hard his ears made slapping sounds against his cheeks. “No! No, not telling that one anything. He is sending Master Harry back to the Dursley's to be tortured again. They is thinking Dobby is stealing to sell for money to buy StupidWinky elf butterbeer. Dobby is letting them think that so they will not make him tell where Master Harry is.”

Mimsey rubbed her cheek thoughtfully. “Dobby is a good house-elf. Mimsey will tell Master Harry. Is Dobby being hurt?”

“No, Dobby just cannot go past the wards. Sneaky Snape called it house arrest.” Dobby managed to look both indignant and sad. “Dobby misses teaching Master Harry magic. This was much fun.”

Mimsey looked startled. “Master Harry is learning house elf magic? This is very unusual.”

Dobby sighed. “Master Harry is very unusual wizard. Mimsey will take message to Master Harry?” Dobby's hopeful gaze made Mimsey pat him on the shoulder.

“Mimsey is taking message. I is going now.” She just left, leaving Dobby to heave a heavy sigh and return to his chopping. The other elves refrained from comment having found that Dobby could be a bit vicious when teased.

Neither elf knew that Dumbledore had a way to find out who was coming and going in the school. He kept an eye on elves now, for obvious reasons.

.

Harry glanced up at the pop and smiled at Mimsey. Mimsey quickly explained to Harry what had happened to Dobby.

He was understandably upset and demanded to know if Dobby was alright.

“Yes, he is fine, just sad that he could not help you when he was needed. That StupidWinky is bad, bad house-elf. She is trouble on two feet.” Mimsey crossed her arms over her flat chest and nodded sharply. “Mimsey is mad at her. And Sneaky Snape too.” She blinked at Harry, who was howling with laughter and holding his sides. “What is wrong with you?” Harry just shook his head. “Who is this Sneaky Snape? Dobby is also calling him Professor.”

Harry dried his eyes on a handkerchief and sighed. “He's the potions professor at Hogwarts, Severus Snape. You probably know him. He's Draco's godfather.”

Mimsey nodded her understanding. “Oh. Yes, Mimsey knows him. He is spy on Tom Riddle. He is ... not nice.”

“That's an understatement if I ever heard one. He's just plain mean. Change the subject, my stomach is upset enough as it is.” Mimsey just nodded. “Will you go ask if I can have a nutrient potion, one of the new stronger ones?”

Mimsey just disappeared and came back in seconds with a tall glass filled with the thick pink potion. Harry groaned, it looked like pepto bismol but it smelled like cherries. He took a tiny sip.

“Well, I like that! Here I go, doing my best to make it taste good and you screw up your face like it was poison.” Draco strode into the room, his smile taking the sting out of his words.

Harry grinned. “Well, you really oughtn't to blame me. You know what potions usually taste like.” He took a swallow. “This is actually good tasting. Thanks a lot. What are you doing here?”

Draco settled into the side chair and arranged his robes. “Checking up on you. How do you feel?”

“Stomach is still upset. And I was feeling a bit shaky.” He took another drink.

Draco sighed. “Oh, fine, drink the rest of that and wait a bit. We'll see how you feel. Anything interesting to read?”

Harry just waved vaguely at his desk and finished his drink.

Draco rummaged around on Harry's desk, just snooping a bit. Harry didn't object so he settled to read the notes just for something to do. He flipped through a pile of notes, didn't see anything interesting and reached for the book beside them. The electrical snap made him jerk his hand back.

“What the hell?”

Harry looked over. “Oh, I had to ask that one to open. Maybe it'll only allow someone who's a Parseltongue to read it.”

Draco blinked for a second then murmured, “Oh, shit.” He turned to Harry. “You need to be very careful of all the spells in that one. Most of them are probably listed in Darker than Black. If the ministry finds out, you'll wind up in another one of those jumped up trials of theirs.”

Harry nodded. “I'll be really careful. It's going to take me forever to do anything with it. I have to translate the Parseltongue and Gaelic into English before I can figure out what they do. Take a look at the Futhark book too. It's fascinating. I wish I'd taken Ancient Runes instead of Care of Magical Creatures. I wonder why Dumbledore made sure that most of my classes aren't useful.”

Draco pulled at his lower lip. “I'm really not sure. Father nearly had a fit when he realized that you hadn't been brought up with any knowledge of magic at all. And then to be set such a dismal schedule. I'll warn you now that Father is having you tested soon. He wants to find out exactly how much you really know. Especially in defense, potions, runes, transfiguration and charms. He was especially unhappy when he found that we had to take Divination, says that Trelawney is a nutter. Care of Magical Creatures? How's that actually useful, especially as owning most magical creatures is illegal. Herbology? Hire a gardener. So brace yourself, but don't worry overly much as they're not pass/fail tests but the kind you take to settle your levels.”

Harry just sighed. “I hate tests of any kind. I'm never sure ... Um...” Draco flashed Harry a 'spit-it-out' look so he stammered on. “If I made too good a grade they usually decided I'd been cheating, after all, I couldn't possibly be smarter than their precious Duddy-kins. And that got me punished. Fuck! I never got around to talking to Papa about Dudley. Shit!”

“Well, I'll get him and you can talk to him now. Don't get your knickers in a twist.” Draco summoned an elf and asked it to ask Lucius to come, but make sure to tell him it wasn't an emergency. The elf popped out and Lucius ambled in about five minutes later.

“I understand from Whimsey that you need to talk to me?”

Harry nodded, pointed to a chair and said, “Yes, sir. Please sit down. Would you like some tea?”

Lucius sighed. “This formality is not conducive to my comfort.”

Harry grinned. “I ... Sit. Tea? Now, about Dudley.”

Lucius nodded, took the cup Draco handed him and sipped. “Thank you, Draco. Dudley? I remember you wanted to talk to me about him. We were going to do it at supper tonight. Has something else come up?”

Harry shook his head. “I just wanted to do it before I forgot again. I know he's a prat and a bully, but he's my cousin and he needs help. He's been going to Smeltings School for Superior Boys, but he's flunking out. I want to pay for tutoring for him and for his tuition until he's out of Smeltings.”

Lucius gave Harry a stunned glance before he managed to smooth his expression. “I see. And why on earth would you do that?”

Harry sighed in exasperation. “I just told you, he's my cousin. I don't like him. I might never, but I want that chance. I'd like to help him with things. Maybe ... we ... might be friends, at least not hate each other anymore. I think he's sorry, he wrote me a letter you know.” Harry shook his head before Lucius could open his mouth. “No, he didn't ask for help. But I'd like to do it. Can you make arrangements?”

Lucius nodded, sipped his tea for a second then said, “How do we explain it?”

“We don't. I just send the money right to Smeltings and demand an accounting every quarter. Right?”

“Yes, that's right. Very well, I'll make arrangements immediately.”

Harry offered the plate of biscuits Mimsey had brought with the tea. “Have one.”

Lucius took a shortbread finger then passed the plate to Draco. Draco took something and put the plate on the tea table. “So, you're going to help out your cousin, despite how he treated you?”

“Of course. He seems really sorry. He's in anger management classes and wrote me that letter because his shrink said he should. He said right in it that he didn't expect even an answer. But ... he is trying. So I have to try to forgive him, or that makes me worse than he is. Don't you think?”

Lucius shook his head, braid scraping across his shoulders with a silken swish. “I don't know. I'm not the forgiving sort. No practice in it at all. If you think you should, I'll make arrangements. I'll also think about this. You look like you need to rest. I need to go to the library to start things in motion. Come, Draco.”

Lucius stood up and put his cup down, Draco mirrored him and followed him out the door.
Lucius walked down the hall, heels clicking on the marble.

“Father?”

“That boy's heart is so forgiving that I can hardly comprehend it. I do believe that we're actually going to manage to pull this off.”

“I know. I have always had a great deal of trouble understanding that. But he's loyal to a fault. Win his heart and he'll die for you. I do so want him for a brother. I'm trying my hardest to be nice to him. Amazingly, it's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I find I want to see him smile. Ridiculous, but there you are.”

Lucius put one arm over Draco's shoulders. “I find that I too want to see him happy and smiling. And it truly isn't that hard. He is a treasure, that one. A treasure that I'm going to guard as carefully as I guard my young dragon.”
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