Coming Home II: Sins of the Father, chapter two
Chapter list
Previous Chapter
Sins of the Father is the sequel of Familiarization of Liberty
I don't own anything; it's the property of JKR, Raincoast, RTD, Cowlip, Showtime, et al.
Warnings for this story: slash, of course, language, adult themes. See the first chapter for additional warnings.
The most important warning, however, is this: I'm evil. I still don't have an outline or even a proper plot. As such, I can not hazard even a guess as to when the next chapter will go up
Suggestions, in addition to reviews and constructive criticism, would be heartily welcomed.
Originally posted: 09 July 2009
Coming Home II: Sins of the Father
Chapter Two
Justin had his cell phone open and at his ear before the first ring finished. "Hello?"
"What the hell did you think you were doing, talking to my godson?"
Ah, sighed Draco, the dulcet tones of Saint Potter the Self-Righteous. Not something I've missed.
After several minutes of Justin trying unsuccessfully to get a word in edgewise, Draco took the phone, his accent thickening unconsciously. "As much as I've always enjoyed listening to you make an arse of yourself, Potter, there are more pressing concerns at present. Call after you've had a look at this morning's issue of The Salem WitchHunt." Without waiting for a reply, Draco hung up. Molly looked ready to cry; the others looked amused.
"When he calls back, give him the Floo address. I'll go key him in." He handed the phone back to Justin and left the room.
Unsurprisingly, Molly followed a few moments later. "I can't believe you yelled at Harry Potter."
"I always have done," he replied, knowing Molly wouldn't be able to resist that.
"You know Harry Potter!"
"We were at Hogwarts together for five years in the same form. We didn't get along." Understatement of the century.
"Didn't get along like Mel and Brian or like Justin and Tuck?"
It spoke to her maturity that she could differentiate between the usually somewhat-friendly bickering between Brian and Melanie and the tension that lingered but was generally ignored between Justin and their mother's boyfriend. Neither came close to the level of animosity that had existed between Potter and Malfoy, however.
"More like Brian and your father." The parallel wasn't quite accurate, but it was indicative of the severity of the differences that had been between them.
Molly stared at him in disbelief. "But why?"
"Because I wasn't as smart as you and Justin, and I believed my father when he said nasty, bigoted things about other people."
The Floo activated before Molly had a chance to respond, and Draco fervently hoped it was Auror Smith. He'd rather not have his first meeting with Potter in years in front of witnesses.
Luck was with him - it was due, he supposed - and he briefed the Auror while Molly ran for a jacket.
As quickly as he could, Draco ushered them out to the grounds to deal with the trespassers. The Floo flared only moments after, as if underscoring exactly how lucky he was.
Lucky, but not prepared.
He looked the same. A little older, of course, but just as determined, just as wary, just as weary as he had the year before Draco had left. They stared for a few moments; Draco wondered what he was thinking. It was Potter who broke the silence.
"Malfoy," he said with enough disbelief that it was nearly a question.
"Don't call me that," Draco said curtly, "not here. My name is Daniel Taylor, and Justin is my cousin." Potter nodded, assuming, Draco knew, that it was all part of the cover story, but he let the assumption stand. They had more than enough to deal with without adding the distraction of Draco's past. "And as a result, we have a crowd building outside."
Potter took a deep breath, but rather than take the bait as he would have when they were in school, he exhaled slowly. "What sort of security for you have - magical or Muggle?" He asked calmly. "What precautions have you taken?"
Draco explained security systems they had in place and that he'd called for Auror Smith. "She's on the perimeter now." He was about to suggest that they join her, but Potter interrupted.
"I didn't think- I mean- Justin didn't know-"
It was hard to describe how he felt, hearing Potter refer to his cousin as 'Justin' while Draco hadn't been addressed as anything but 'Malfoy,' but Draco's tone held more bitterness than he would have liked when he finished Potter's thought: "You thought because he didn't know who you were we had no contact with the wizarding word? Different side of the ocean, Golden Boy." He didn't wait for Potter's response but left the room abruptly, knowing Potter would follow.
Heading out to the grounds, Draco dearly wished he could introduce Potter to Auror Smith and let them evaluate the wards while he retreated far away - to his room at the least, but preferably back to Pittsburgh or even South Asia. Unfortunately, there was one rather significant problem with that plan: Brian Kinney had trust issues.
If it had anything to do with his house, his business, or his community, Brian needed to know what was going on. When it had to do with his chosen family, his partner, his son, he had to be in control. This was not only going to affect the people he cared about, it was about their safety, and Draco was the closest thing Brian had to a knowledgeable expert who could make sure it was done properly. That Brian couldn't do something as important as this by himself was going to make him difficult at best. If Draco were to bail, he'd be looking for a new home, a new job, and a new life - and the latter would probably have to be suited to a non-corporeal form.
Potter caught up with Draco not far down the driveway, but he didn't pick up the thread of conversation, for which Draco was grateful.
Fortunately, too, the throng of people at the gate had been disbursed: Draco didn't want to witness their reactions if they'd actually seen the Boy Who Lived. Molly and Auror Smith were bad enough, though they at least tried to temper their reaction to a celebrity of Harry's iconic status. Draco suppressed a shudder as he imagined Lucius Malfoy's reaction if he had been there to witness his niece fangirling over Harry Potter.
She seemed to recognize what she was doing before long and got very quiet - unusual behaviour for his confident, opinionated, feisty cousin. Potter seemed to recognize the reason for her behaviour, however, and made an effort to include her; Draco had to give him points for that.
After the introductory pleasantries, the four of them completed the circuit of the perimeter. Potter, to Draco's utter lack of surprise, was well-versed in matters of security, and he and Auror Smith were soon involved in a technical discussion of the wards. Draco was smugly satisfied to note that Potter seemed impressed with their level of Magical protection.
Choosing not to participate to the discussion himself, Draco himself held back a bit from the group, though he listened far more carefully than it would have appeared to a casual observer. Aside from helping Molly with her summer reading, he hadn't had a conversation about magical theory in quite some time, and none above his level of comprehension since he'd left England. As a result, he was dealing with some very difficult emotions in addition to the surfeit of information.
Living primarily as a Muggle, he was usually able to ignore the gaps in his magical education, but his lack of post O.W.L. instruction left him unable to follow the theory.
It wasn't that he was ashamed of what he'd done instead; he certainly was not: he'd worked hard and done well, graduating with a pretty decent GPA from a very demanding program without anything that could be considered a traditional educational foundation.
But he first non-squib in generations - eight on the Black's side, thirteen on the Malfoy's - not to take his N.E.W.T.s.
He resented that. Much of the Malfoy tradition he was happy to lose, but it wasn't all bad. Besides which, he'd liked studying magic, he'd been good at it, and he resented that he'd had to give that up. Even more so that it was his father's actions that had forced him to leave.
That he was being confronted with his inadequacies in being unable to follow Potter of all people added bitterness to the shame he was feeling.
Fortunately, Molly was there, asking questions that Potter and Smith answered patiently, clearly, and in enough detail that, coupled with his knowledge of the wards at Malfoy Manor, Draco was able to piece together a likely solution scenario. Unfortunately, he wasn't happy with it.
"The wards won't last more than a couple of days under the current stress," Auror Smith concluded as they returned to the point where she and Molly had begun their examination of the wards. She turned to Potter as though she expected him to reply, but he was preoccupied, staring intently at the house.
"I'll forward a list of names of security firms to you and increase patrols in the area," she advised Draco, "But that's all I can suggest. There are other spells, ones which are traditionally used on Pureblood estates. They aren't technically illegal, but as an Auror, I'm not permitted to discuss them." Potter had returned his attention to the discussion in time to receive her pointed look, one which Draco thought was odd, since the ancestral home of the Potter's had been destroyed during Voldemort's first rise.
Having regained Potter's attention, Auror Smith, claiming a pressing appointment, took her leave and Apparated before they returned to the house.
Draco refrained from mentioning that she could have left half an hour earlier if she'd foregone the opportunity to discuss recent innovations in defensive theory with Potter, as they'd moved beyond anything relevant to the Taylor-Kinney household ten minutes into their discussion. He and Auror Smith were both aware - and Molly and Potter had to suspect - that she was making an excuse not to have to speak with Brian.
Meetings between the two of them rarely went well.
Draco also knew better than to suggest that the extreme similarity of some of their characteristics - namely a need to control and the expectation of being the smartest person in the room - was to blame.
After she left, Draco was not surprised when Potter, with another evaluating look at the house, offered to cast a boost on the wards, if Molly would help. Draco knew he'd assumed that the wards had used Justin as the blood focus - with magical sibling, whether he was a squib or Molly a Muggleborn, he'd have to have enough latent magic to act as a focus for the wards. Molly was excited, though Draco was pleased to note she remembered to check with him before agreeing, and he didn't have the heart to refuse. Potter cast, and Draco didn't have to check to know that he took just enough power from her to allow the wards to identify a blood relative. It was a technique used primarily when the heir to an estate was was too young to perform the spells or to tie a spouse or other non-blood relative to the wards. Potter had added himself to the ward structure while he was at it, Draco was certain.
If Draco had guessed correctly, what he was planning would require it.
They returned to the house, and Molly heard Jennifer and Tucker in the kitchen and took off to update them, so it was just Potter and Draco who entered Brian's office, where Draco knew the other man would be waiting.
Brian was sitting at his desk in the study, notes on the Brown Athletics campaign in hand, but he spent less time looking at the papers he held than he did staring out the window at something he couldn't see.
Magic.
He'd been far more comfortable when he hadn't believed it existed. Hell, most of the time, thanks to the restrictions on performing magic in front of Muggles, he was still able to live in denial. And then one of Sunshine's tricks comes along to fuck things up.
Story of my life.
No names, no numbers. He and Justin had moved beyond the letter of the rules they had set years ago, but they lived by the spirit of them.
Justin accepted his need to trick, and Brian didn't flaunt it when he did. Justin didn't take advantage nearly as often, but if he wanted to, he had as much right to trick as Brian did. If they were out together, they tricked together or not at all.
With Justin in New York, it was rarely an issue. Until today.
From day one, the kid had demonstrated an incredible gift for evaluating all the men in the vicinity and picking the one who was best able to fuck up his life.
Even more amusing was Daniel's incredibly suspicious behaviour: Brian hadn't seen him so discomfited in years and would give a great deal to know exactly what his relationship with "The Boy Who Lived" had been.
When Molly had gone chasing after Daniel, Justin and Brian had taken the opportunity to begin a betting pool on that very topic. Justin had called ex-lovers based on the strength of Daniel's bitterness, and, Brian suspected, information he had gleaned in New York.
Brian, on the other hand, was certain it hadn't gone beyond rivals and fantasy fucks. Given the stakes, he'd get Daniel and Potter to lie if necessary.
He lost himself for a few minutes in a very pleasant fantasy until he was interrupted by a knock on the door
When Daniel entered with the man Brian had seen in Molly's magazine, Brian tossed aside the papers he'd been pretending to read, took his feet off the desk, and stood in one fluid motion.
Between a childhood in the volatile Kinney household and the demands of his profession, Brian depended on his ability to read people with ease, accurately and within minutes. It didn't take even that long to know that Harry Potter was a force to be reckoned with, and it wasn't because he was imposing physically.
Justin and Daniel were almost exactly the same height, though it was hard to believe without a measuring tape. Justin had a penchant for what he called 'comfortable' clothing, which was hardly imposing, and Brian couldn't remember the last time he saw Daniel slouch. Neither of them, however, was anything close to what you could call tall. Harry Potter was shorter than them both, and most people were probably taken in by the affable puppy thing he had going on.
Not Brian - he could see the power that cloaked around him, almost as though it were tangible. From what Daniel and Molly had said, Brian assumed it was both literal and figurative.
"Potter, Brian Kinney; Brian, Harry Potter."
He's a nice guy, Justin had said. In Brian's experience, that only meant more trouble. Since he didn't want to deal with two sulky blonds, he could only hope that the whelp knew when to back off.
The young man in question grimaced as he shook Brian's hand. "Harry, please."
Brian acknowledged that with a motion of his head that couldn't quite be called a nod, then gestured towards the grounds.
"What's the verdict?"
Harry stammered and fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. Fortunately, he'd ended up standing quite close to Daniel, close enough that he could catch Potter if he passed out. Brian found it amusing for a couple of moments, betting against himself over the possibility of that actually happening.
Daniel obviously disagreed, and he was ready to erupt with something Brian knew would be scathing when Justin entered the study.
Harry's body language morphed from tense to nearly at ease as he turned to greet him.
Brian's eyes narrowed.
"Harry, thanks for coming." Justin said as he crossed the room.
Harry held out his hand for a perfectly acceptable casual handshake. "Not a problem," he said sincerely, "I'm sorry you have to deal with this."
Brian gestured for Justin to join them around the desk, and if his extended arm found its way to Justin's ass, really, who could blame him? It was a very fine ass. Subtly, Brian manoeuvred Justin closer, ostensibly to better see the map of the warding on the grounds that was on the desk.
Daniel had apparently decided it was better not to have Potter attempt to speak and launched into the explanation himself. "Auror Smith has repaired the damage to the wards," he said, indicating on the map where the damage had been sufficient to warrant reparation. "Even with the size of the boost Potter gave them afterwards-" Daniel ignored a sharp glance from Potter, and Brian wondered if Daniel wasn't supposed to have noticed or if he wasn't supposed to say anything in front of Brian and Justin "-they aren't likely to last more than two to three days with the battering they're taking. And while the hordes have been cleared out for now, they'll be back, especially if anyone were to catch a glimpse of Potter in the yard."
Brian sighed. He really didn't want to deal with this shit, especially during one of the rare times that both Justin and Gus were home. "What are our options?"
Potter regained the use of his linguistic faculties. "The current wards are more than adequate for expected stress, but their structure won't support the high volume and intensity of these attacks. I'd suggest tackling the problem in two stages. First, the wards will have to be reinforced; it's the magical equivalent of bracing a chair under a doorknob and will hold for maybe a month. The second stage, which would involve rebuilding the wards almost entirely, is a longer term solution-"
"How long do you expect this to last?" Brian interrupted, incredulous and sharp.
Potter hesitated. "If it was just the interest generated by the article, reinforcement would probably be enough. Unfortunately, there are... other concerns."
For Kinnetic employees, recognizing the signs of Brian's simmering impatience was a survival skill, and it was one at which Daniel excelled, so he quickly took over the explanation. "Potter's a powerful hero, and he's made quite a few enemies. If the rumour of a relationship is believed, in addition to gawkers and souvenir hunters, there's the threat of kidnapping or worse."
With a hesitant look at Daniel, Potter added, "And any research would lead to... Daniel. That will add... substantial risk."
Brian might not know the details of why Justin's cousin had left home, but he knew enough to realize that it was serious. The hesitation before and the tone in which Potter said 'substantial risk' suggested that what he really meant was 'great danger.'
Justin obviously agreed. "How soon can we do this?"
"Reinforcing the wards can be done at any time but will be necessary within two to three days. It shouldn't take more than a few hours. Unfortunately, any changes of the scale required for a longer term solution would collapse the foundations of the current warding. You'll need to have them rebuilt using a cascade structure, ideally one which will move magical energy to and from layers next to it and repair itself before permanent damage can be inflicted on the wards. That's a significantly more complicated undertaking and will require a week, possibly two."
Brian watched Daniel surreptitiously during Potter's explanation, looking for any indication that Potter was overreacting or they were being conned. He looked surprised, not as though he were disputing the information but as though something Potter had said was unexpected... as though Potter were describing a new development, maybe. Knowing Daniel, however, if that were the case, there'd be many more questions.
Justin caught Brian's eye, and he didn't need to be a mind-reader to know what his lover was asking. Remembering what Daniel had said about Potter's strength as a wizard made his answer obvious, and Brian shrugged noncommittally. Justin flashed a grin before asking Potter earnestly, "Would you be able to do the warding for us?"
Potter looked warily at Brian before replying.
"I can reinforce the wards, certainly. Rebuilding them would- The timing- Well, it would mean-"
Before Brian unleashed the acerbity of his temper at Potter for choosing his vacation over the safety of the household, Daniel interjected with an explanation: "Without an entire score of wizards all tied into the ward structure, the power needed to reinforce the wards would drain the warders to the point that they wouldn't be able to perform even the most minor magics for days. Potter's one of three, maybe four wizards I know of who could do it alone without turning himself into a squib permanently."
That Daniel tacked 'permanently' on the end of that sentence was telling. In all likelihood, it meant that Potter wouldn't be able to defend himself, Apparate, possibly not even Floo, certainly not internationally.
According to the article, it was Potter's first visit to North America, and Brian was willing to bet that he didn't have a ridiculously well-warded safe house nearby. And if today was the result of Justin having fucked Harry Potter, Brian could only imagine the danger inherent in being Harry Potter.
Brian was willing to put up with anything when it came to Gus and Justin's safety, so he didn't wait for Justin to ask. "You can recuperate here. Consider it incentive to do it properly." Watching Potter dance around Brian and Justin, watching Daniel dance around Potter for that matter, might even help alleviate the pall that inevitably settled on the house after Gus left.
"What about Justin's studio in New York?" Daniel asked in a tone that Brian recognized as Daniel trying to hide the fact that he was sulking.
"Gertrude is packing it up as we speak and shipping anything I'll need here."
Brian sighed. "Justin-"
"Brian, can we talk about this later, please? When we don't have a house full of guests?" Without waiting for Brian's answer - which, unsurprisingly, he wouldn't have liked - he turned to Potter with an inviting grin. "The good part of this whole mess is that you've scored, food-wise. We're celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving, so there's turkey with all the trimmings."
"Thank you, but I should-" Potter's refusal was cut off by the ringing of the doorbell.
"Will whatever you and Auror Smith did hold until tomorrow?" Brian asked.
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then sit down and eat." He couldn't tell who had opened the door, but the voice of the new arrival was unmistakable. "Or Deb will have all our balls."
Next Chapter
Previous Chapter
Sins of the Father is the sequel of Familiarization of Liberty
I don't own anything; it's the property of JKR, Raincoast, RTD, Cowlip, Showtime, et al.
Warnings for this story: slash, of course, language, adult themes. See the first chapter for additional warnings.
The most important warning, however, is this: I'm evil. I still don't have an outline or even a proper plot. As such, I can not hazard even a guess as to when the next chapter will go up
Suggestions, in addition to reviews and constructive criticism, would be heartily welcomed.
Originally posted: 09 July 2009
Coming Home II: Sins of the Father
Chapter Two
Justin had his cell phone open and at his ear before the first ring finished. "Hello?"
"What the hell did you think you were doing, talking to my godson?"
Ah, sighed Draco, the dulcet tones of Saint Potter the Self-Righteous. Not something I've missed.
After several minutes of Justin trying unsuccessfully to get a word in edgewise, Draco took the phone, his accent thickening unconsciously. "As much as I've always enjoyed listening to you make an arse of yourself, Potter, there are more pressing concerns at present. Call after you've had a look at this morning's issue of The Salem WitchHunt." Without waiting for a reply, Draco hung up. Molly looked ready to cry; the others looked amused.
"When he calls back, give him the Floo address. I'll go key him in." He handed the phone back to Justin and left the room.
Unsurprisingly, Molly followed a few moments later. "I can't believe you yelled at Harry Potter."
"I always have done," he replied, knowing Molly wouldn't be able to resist that.
"You know Harry Potter!"
"We were at Hogwarts together for five years in the same form. We didn't get along." Understatement of the century.
"Didn't get along like Mel and Brian or like Justin and Tuck?"
It spoke to her maturity that she could differentiate between the usually somewhat-friendly bickering between Brian and Melanie and the tension that lingered but was generally ignored between Justin and their mother's boyfriend. Neither came close to the level of animosity that had existed between Potter and Malfoy, however.
"More like Brian and your father." The parallel wasn't quite accurate, but it was indicative of the severity of the differences that had been between them.
Molly stared at him in disbelief. "But why?"
"Because I wasn't as smart as you and Justin, and I believed my father when he said nasty, bigoted things about other people."
The Floo activated before Molly had a chance to respond, and Draco fervently hoped it was Auror Smith. He'd rather not have his first meeting with Potter in years in front of witnesses.
Luck was with him - it was due, he supposed - and he briefed the Auror while Molly ran for a jacket.
As quickly as he could, Draco ushered them out to the grounds to deal with the trespassers. The Floo flared only moments after, as if underscoring exactly how lucky he was.
Lucky, but not prepared.
He looked the same. A little older, of course, but just as determined, just as wary, just as weary as he had the year before Draco had left. They stared for a few moments; Draco wondered what he was thinking. It was Potter who broke the silence.
"Malfoy," he said with enough disbelief that it was nearly a question.
"Don't call me that," Draco said curtly, "not here. My name is Daniel Taylor, and Justin is my cousin." Potter nodded, assuming, Draco knew, that it was all part of the cover story, but he let the assumption stand. They had more than enough to deal with without adding the distraction of Draco's past. "And as a result, we have a crowd building outside."
Potter took a deep breath, but rather than take the bait as he would have when they were in school, he exhaled slowly. "What sort of security for you have - magical or Muggle?" He asked calmly. "What precautions have you taken?"
Draco explained security systems they had in place and that he'd called for Auror Smith. "She's on the perimeter now." He was about to suggest that they join her, but Potter interrupted.
"I didn't think- I mean- Justin didn't know-"
It was hard to describe how he felt, hearing Potter refer to his cousin as 'Justin' while Draco hadn't been addressed as anything but 'Malfoy,' but Draco's tone held more bitterness than he would have liked when he finished Potter's thought: "You thought because he didn't know who you were we had no contact with the wizarding word? Different side of the ocean, Golden Boy." He didn't wait for Potter's response but left the room abruptly, knowing Potter would follow.
Heading out to the grounds, Draco dearly wished he could introduce Potter to Auror Smith and let them evaluate the wards while he retreated far away - to his room at the least, but preferably back to Pittsburgh or even South Asia. Unfortunately, there was one rather significant problem with that plan: Brian Kinney had trust issues.
If it had anything to do with his house, his business, or his community, Brian needed to know what was going on. When it had to do with his chosen family, his partner, his son, he had to be in control. This was not only going to affect the people he cared about, it was about their safety, and Draco was the closest thing Brian had to a knowledgeable expert who could make sure it was done properly. That Brian couldn't do something as important as this by himself was going to make him difficult at best. If Draco were to bail, he'd be looking for a new home, a new job, and a new life - and the latter would probably have to be suited to a non-corporeal form.
Potter caught up with Draco not far down the driveway, but he didn't pick up the thread of conversation, for which Draco was grateful.
Fortunately, too, the throng of people at the gate had been disbursed: Draco didn't want to witness their reactions if they'd actually seen the Boy Who Lived. Molly and Auror Smith were bad enough, though they at least tried to temper their reaction to a celebrity of Harry's iconic status. Draco suppressed a shudder as he imagined Lucius Malfoy's reaction if he had been there to witness his niece fangirling over Harry Potter.
She seemed to recognize what she was doing before long and got very quiet - unusual behaviour for his confident, opinionated, feisty cousin. Potter seemed to recognize the reason for her behaviour, however, and made an effort to include her; Draco had to give him points for that.
After the introductory pleasantries, the four of them completed the circuit of the perimeter. Potter, to Draco's utter lack of surprise, was well-versed in matters of security, and he and Auror Smith were soon involved in a technical discussion of the wards. Draco was smugly satisfied to note that Potter seemed impressed with their level of Magical protection.
Choosing not to participate to the discussion himself, Draco himself held back a bit from the group, though he listened far more carefully than it would have appeared to a casual observer. Aside from helping Molly with her summer reading, he hadn't had a conversation about magical theory in quite some time, and none above his level of comprehension since he'd left England. As a result, he was dealing with some very difficult emotions in addition to the surfeit of information.
Living primarily as a Muggle, he was usually able to ignore the gaps in his magical education, but his lack of post O.W.L. instruction left him unable to follow the theory.
It wasn't that he was ashamed of what he'd done instead; he certainly was not: he'd worked hard and done well, graduating with a pretty decent GPA from a very demanding program without anything that could be considered a traditional educational foundation.
But he first non-squib in generations - eight on the Black's side, thirteen on the Malfoy's - not to take his N.E.W.T.s.
He resented that. Much of the Malfoy tradition he was happy to lose, but it wasn't all bad. Besides which, he'd liked studying magic, he'd been good at it, and he resented that he'd had to give that up. Even more so that it was his father's actions that had forced him to leave.
That he was being confronted with his inadequacies in being unable to follow Potter of all people added bitterness to the shame he was feeling.
Fortunately, Molly was there, asking questions that Potter and Smith answered patiently, clearly, and in enough detail that, coupled with his knowledge of the wards at Malfoy Manor, Draco was able to piece together a likely solution scenario. Unfortunately, he wasn't happy with it.
"The wards won't last more than a couple of days under the current stress," Auror Smith concluded as they returned to the point where she and Molly had begun their examination of the wards. She turned to Potter as though she expected him to reply, but he was preoccupied, staring intently at the house.
"I'll forward a list of names of security firms to you and increase patrols in the area," she advised Draco, "But that's all I can suggest. There are other spells, ones which are traditionally used on Pureblood estates. They aren't technically illegal, but as an Auror, I'm not permitted to discuss them." Potter had returned his attention to the discussion in time to receive her pointed look, one which Draco thought was odd, since the ancestral home of the Potter's had been destroyed during Voldemort's first rise.
Having regained Potter's attention, Auror Smith, claiming a pressing appointment, took her leave and Apparated before they returned to the house.
Draco refrained from mentioning that she could have left half an hour earlier if she'd foregone the opportunity to discuss recent innovations in defensive theory with Potter, as they'd moved beyond anything relevant to the Taylor-Kinney household ten minutes into their discussion. He and Auror Smith were both aware - and Molly and Potter had to suspect - that she was making an excuse not to have to speak with Brian.
Meetings between the two of them rarely went well.
Draco also knew better than to suggest that the extreme similarity of some of their characteristics - namely a need to control and the expectation of being the smartest person in the room - was to blame.
After she left, Draco was not surprised when Potter, with another evaluating look at the house, offered to cast a boost on the wards, if Molly would help. Draco knew he'd assumed that the wards had used Justin as the blood focus - with magical sibling, whether he was a squib or Molly a Muggleborn, he'd have to have enough latent magic to act as a focus for the wards. Molly was excited, though Draco was pleased to note she remembered to check with him before agreeing, and he didn't have the heart to refuse. Potter cast, and Draco didn't have to check to know that he took just enough power from her to allow the wards to identify a blood relative. It was a technique used primarily when the heir to an estate was was too young to perform the spells or to tie a spouse or other non-blood relative to the wards. Potter had added himself to the ward structure while he was at it, Draco was certain.
If Draco had guessed correctly, what he was planning would require it.
They returned to the house, and Molly heard Jennifer and Tucker in the kitchen and took off to update them, so it was just Potter and Draco who entered Brian's office, where Draco knew the other man would be waiting.
Brian was sitting at his desk in the study, notes on the Brown Athletics campaign in hand, but he spent less time looking at the papers he held than he did staring out the window at something he couldn't see.
Magic.
He'd been far more comfortable when he hadn't believed it existed. Hell, most of the time, thanks to the restrictions on performing magic in front of Muggles, he was still able to live in denial. And then one of Sunshine's tricks comes along to fuck things up.
Story of my life.
No names, no numbers. He and Justin had moved beyond the letter of the rules they had set years ago, but they lived by the spirit of them.
Justin accepted his need to trick, and Brian didn't flaunt it when he did. Justin didn't take advantage nearly as often, but if he wanted to, he had as much right to trick as Brian did. If they were out together, they tricked together or not at all.
With Justin in New York, it was rarely an issue. Until today.
From day one, the kid had demonstrated an incredible gift for evaluating all the men in the vicinity and picking the one who was best able to fuck up his life.
Even more amusing was Daniel's incredibly suspicious behaviour: Brian hadn't seen him so discomfited in years and would give a great deal to know exactly what his relationship with "The Boy Who Lived" had been.
When Molly had gone chasing after Daniel, Justin and Brian had taken the opportunity to begin a betting pool on that very topic. Justin had called ex-lovers based on the strength of Daniel's bitterness, and, Brian suspected, information he had gleaned in New York.
Brian, on the other hand, was certain it hadn't gone beyond rivals and fantasy fucks. Given the stakes, he'd get Daniel and Potter to lie if necessary.
He lost himself for a few minutes in a very pleasant fantasy until he was interrupted by a knock on the door
When Daniel entered with the man Brian had seen in Molly's magazine, Brian tossed aside the papers he'd been pretending to read, took his feet off the desk, and stood in one fluid motion.
Between a childhood in the volatile Kinney household and the demands of his profession, Brian depended on his ability to read people with ease, accurately and within minutes. It didn't take even that long to know that Harry Potter was a force to be reckoned with, and it wasn't because he was imposing physically.
Justin and Daniel were almost exactly the same height, though it was hard to believe without a measuring tape. Justin had a penchant for what he called 'comfortable' clothing, which was hardly imposing, and Brian couldn't remember the last time he saw Daniel slouch. Neither of them, however, was anything close to what you could call tall. Harry Potter was shorter than them both, and most people were probably taken in by the affable puppy thing he had going on.
Not Brian - he could see the power that cloaked around him, almost as though it were tangible. From what Daniel and Molly had said, Brian assumed it was both literal and figurative.
"Potter, Brian Kinney; Brian, Harry Potter."
He's a nice guy, Justin had said. In Brian's experience, that only meant more trouble. Since he didn't want to deal with two sulky blonds, he could only hope that the whelp knew when to back off.
The young man in question grimaced as he shook Brian's hand. "Harry, please."
Brian acknowledged that with a motion of his head that couldn't quite be called a nod, then gestured towards the grounds.
"What's the verdict?"
Harry stammered and fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. Fortunately, he'd ended up standing quite close to Daniel, close enough that he could catch Potter if he passed out. Brian found it amusing for a couple of moments, betting against himself over the possibility of that actually happening.
Daniel obviously disagreed, and he was ready to erupt with something Brian knew would be scathing when Justin entered the study.
Harry's body language morphed from tense to nearly at ease as he turned to greet him.
Brian's eyes narrowed.
"Harry, thanks for coming." Justin said as he crossed the room.
Harry held out his hand for a perfectly acceptable casual handshake. "Not a problem," he said sincerely, "I'm sorry you have to deal with this."
Brian gestured for Justin to join them around the desk, and if his extended arm found its way to Justin's ass, really, who could blame him? It was a very fine ass. Subtly, Brian manoeuvred Justin closer, ostensibly to better see the map of the warding on the grounds that was on the desk.
Daniel had apparently decided it was better not to have Potter attempt to speak and launched into the explanation himself. "Auror Smith has repaired the damage to the wards," he said, indicating on the map where the damage had been sufficient to warrant reparation. "Even with the size of the boost Potter gave them afterwards-" Daniel ignored a sharp glance from Potter, and Brian wondered if Daniel wasn't supposed to have noticed or if he wasn't supposed to say anything in front of Brian and Justin "-they aren't likely to last more than two to three days with the battering they're taking. And while the hordes have been cleared out for now, they'll be back, especially if anyone were to catch a glimpse of Potter in the yard."
Brian sighed. He really didn't want to deal with this shit, especially during one of the rare times that both Justin and Gus were home. "What are our options?"
Potter regained the use of his linguistic faculties. "The current wards are more than adequate for expected stress, but their structure won't support the high volume and intensity of these attacks. I'd suggest tackling the problem in two stages. First, the wards will have to be reinforced; it's the magical equivalent of bracing a chair under a doorknob and will hold for maybe a month. The second stage, which would involve rebuilding the wards almost entirely, is a longer term solution-"
"How long do you expect this to last?" Brian interrupted, incredulous and sharp.
Potter hesitated. "If it was just the interest generated by the article, reinforcement would probably be enough. Unfortunately, there are... other concerns."
For Kinnetic employees, recognizing the signs of Brian's simmering impatience was a survival skill, and it was one at which Daniel excelled, so he quickly took over the explanation. "Potter's a powerful hero, and he's made quite a few enemies. If the rumour of a relationship is believed, in addition to gawkers and souvenir hunters, there's the threat of kidnapping or worse."
With a hesitant look at Daniel, Potter added, "And any research would lead to... Daniel. That will add... substantial risk."
Brian might not know the details of why Justin's cousin had left home, but he knew enough to realize that it was serious. The hesitation before and the tone in which Potter said 'substantial risk' suggested that what he really meant was 'great danger.'
Justin obviously agreed. "How soon can we do this?"
"Reinforcing the wards can be done at any time but will be necessary within two to three days. It shouldn't take more than a few hours. Unfortunately, any changes of the scale required for a longer term solution would collapse the foundations of the current warding. You'll need to have them rebuilt using a cascade structure, ideally one which will move magical energy to and from layers next to it and repair itself before permanent damage can be inflicted on the wards. That's a significantly more complicated undertaking and will require a week, possibly two."
Brian watched Daniel surreptitiously during Potter's explanation, looking for any indication that Potter was overreacting or they were being conned. He looked surprised, not as though he were disputing the information but as though something Potter had said was unexpected... as though Potter were describing a new development, maybe. Knowing Daniel, however, if that were the case, there'd be many more questions.
Justin caught Brian's eye, and he didn't need to be a mind-reader to know what his lover was asking. Remembering what Daniel had said about Potter's strength as a wizard made his answer obvious, and Brian shrugged noncommittally. Justin flashed a grin before asking Potter earnestly, "Would you be able to do the warding for us?"
Potter looked warily at Brian before replying.
"I can reinforce the wards, certainly. Rebuilding them would- The timing- Well, it would mean-"
Before Brian unleashed the acerbity of his temper at Potter for choosing his vacation over the safety of the household, Daniel interjected with an explanation: "Without an entire score of wizards all tied into the ward structure, the power needed to reinforce the wards would drain the warders to the point that they wouldn't be able to perform even the most minor magics for days. Potter's one of three, maybe four wizards I know of who could do it alone without turning himself into a squib permanently."
That Daniel tacked 'permanently' on the end of that sentence was telling. In all likelihood, it meant that Potter wouldn't be able to defend himself, Apparate, possibly not even Floo, certainly not internationally.
According to the article, it was Potter's first visit to North America, and Brian was willing to bet that he didn't have a ridiculously well-warded safe house nearby. And if today was the result of Justin having fucked Harry Potter, Brian could only imagine the danger inherent in being Harry Potter.
Brian was willing to put up with anything when it came to Gus and Justin's safety, so he didn't wait for Justin to ask. "You can recuperate here. Consider it incentive to do it properly." Watching Potter dance around Brian and Justin, watching Daniel dance around Potter for that matter, might even help alleviate the pall that inevitably settled on the house after Gus left.
"What about Justin's studio in New York?" Daniel asked in a tone that Brian recognized as Daniel trying to hide the fact that he was sulking.
"Gertrude is packing it up as we speak and shipping anything I'll need here."
Brian sighed. "Justin-"
"Brian, can we talk about this later, please? When we don't have a house full of guests?" Without waiting for Brian's answer - which, unsurprisingly, he wouldn't have liked - he turned to Potter with an inviting grin. "The good part of this whole mess is that you've scored, food-wise. We're celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving, so there's turkey with all the trimmings."
"Thank you, but I should-" Potter's refusal was cut off by the ringing of the doorbell.
"Will whatever you and Auror Smith did hold until tomorrow?" Brian asked.
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then sit down and eat." He couldn't tell who had opened the door, but the voice of the new arrival was unmistakable. "Or Deb will have all our balls."
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