Shadow Council 129B

*****

Harry looked up in surprise, but also in relief, when Andromeda entered the room.

“Thank you for coming,” He blurted out, “I’ve been trying to figure out what to do about this…”

He helplessly held up the Invitation from the queen, and looks so plaintively at her that Andromeda had to hold back laughter.

    “ Oh Harry,” she said, still holding back her laughter, “ it's not that bad, I promise.”

 he had a wild look, the Panic clearly visible as his eyes darted around between her and the invitation.

“ But... but, it's the queen!”  Harry blurted, “ I can't screw this up!”

“ no you most certainly cannot,”  Andromeda scolded quickly,  before she relaxed marginally inside, “ however it is not that difficult I think  to accomplish.  I'm not saying that it is an important, or that you shouldn't do your best, but I do think that you're overreacting. now, as we have a great many things of import to discuss, and many of them are family secrets, I would suggest that we perhaps retire to a more secure location.”

Harry frowned briefly before finally sighing and nodding, “Potter Keep? Wednesday is staying there for the summer, but she won’t eavesdrop if she’s even around.”

Andromeda nodded, “That would be fine. I know the general area, if you would like, I will apparate us?”

“That works,” Harry agreed.

“Come along then,” She said, taking a deep breath. We have much to discuss, and some of it I have little doubt you will find… objectionable.”

Harry shot her a concerned look, “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Andromeda snorted, “You’d need your head checked if you did. Don’t worry, you get the final say, I promise.”

“Alright,” Harry sighed as he got up and followed her from the room.

***** 

The Keep was empty when they arrived, saving Harry the need to ask Wednesday for some privacy, something that he would deny to his dying breath that filled him with relief.

He thanked the nearly tearful elf who’d greeted them, then asked for some privacy before turning to Andromeda.

“Ok, let me have it.” He said.

“Well,” She grimaced, “On the good side of things, I may have an idea for a bodyguard for you at the party?”

Harry just stared blankly, “I’m really not going to like this am I?”

She sighed, shaking her head, “Likely not. Narcissa came to me, looking for a way to get Draco out of the house without driving the Dark Lord to chastise her or Lucius.”

Harry stared for a bit longer before his eyes widened, “Oh hell no. Are you insane? Draco, guarding me? I’d be safer picking some random muggle from Belmarsh!”

She blinked, taking a moment to connect the name with the muggle prison and briefly had to hold back a smile.

“He would not actually be your bodyguard, Harry,” She reminded him. “Just a… ornament for the evening. If he were seen with you in some public spaces, Narcissa could tell the Dark Lord that he’s working his way into your inner circle as a spy.”

“Which is precisely what he would be doing,” Harry snorted. “This doesn’t just have bad idea written all over it, it has unnatural disaster blaring from the hills. You cannot be serious.”

“No, I’m most definitely not the mutt,” She told him, lips twitching.

He just blinked at her, confused.

Andromeda sighed, “I’m sorry, I forget that you never had much time with Sirius. He’s… incessant with making that joke. Never mind, while I hope that we may be able to turn Draco from his path, I am also well aware that will not be an easy task. Do not allow him to know anything you don’t want the Dark Lord to know, I am not suggesting you trust him, but even loyal to the Dark Lord, having him close could have… advantages.”

Harry folded his arms over his chest, “Name one.”

“If the Dark Lord believes he has someone close to you, he will be less avid about spying on you,” She said simply. “Convince him that Draco is trusted and you can be assured that whatever you want the Dark Lord to learn, he will, at times and places of your choosing.”

Harry scowled.

“Damn it. That’s a good point,” He grumbled. “You’re not supposed to have a good point.”

“My apologies,” She said dryly. “May I tell my sister that you are willing to give it an attempt?”

Harry rubbed his face, frustrated beyond belief.

“Where is he going to stay?” He asked after a moment. “There’s no room at the Weasleys, and I wouldn’t do that to them anyway. Even if Wednesday wasn’t staying here, I wouldn’t want him in my home…”

Harry trailed off, considering, “Actually, with Wednesday here, maybe he should come here. I’m fairly sure she’d have him out of my misery within the first week.”

“He can stay at my place,” Andromeda said dryly, “And will be watched carefully, I assure you.”

Harry sighed, “Ok, fine. I think this is going to be a disaster, but at least I’ll have seen this one coming and had time to make preparations. So Xander and Draco as bodyguards…”

He snorted, laughing out of the blue, confusing Andromeda.

“What’s so funny?”

“The Gryffindor being guarded by a pair of Slytherins,” Harry explained, “It sounds like a setup for a bad joke. A Gryffindor and two slytherin’s walk into a Royal ball…”

“Let’s avoid this becoming a punchline, if you please,” Andromeda sniffed. “I will ensure that Draco understands his role and not to overstep. Have you considered a date for the evening?”

Harry blushed, shaking his head silently.

She rolled her eyes, “If you have neither preferences, nor prospects, I can ask Nymphadora.”

“Who?”

“My daughter, she could double as your actual bodyguard, since she’s an Auror,” Andromeda suggested.

Harry considered it, and while he wasn’t enthused going on a date with someone he’d only met briefly, he supposed it was better than the alternatives. Asking Hermione would just be awkward for them both, he knew without question, and Wednesday… No. Just not going to happen.

“Fine,” He said with resignation. “That works.”

“Excellent,” She smiled. “I will see to the preparations.”

*****