Thank you all so much for reading my stories and I hope that you continue to enjoy them!
Akabane sat listlessly in his room, his face passive but the slight downturn of his lips showed his displeasure with the current situation he found himself in. His life had become much too predictable for him to be content. His jobs were similar; someone stole something from someone and wanted it to be delivered somewhere.
He sighed closing his eyes as he tried to think of ways to get some excitement in his life. He paused and a slow smiled spread on his lips. He didn't like his life to be predictable, but he knew someone who did, someone who hated unexpected surprises "Perhaps it's time to give my older brother a little visit…" He murmured to himself, his soft laughter echoing into the night.
At that very moment in Hogwarts Professor Snape was stirring a very delicate potion, it was only seconds away from being completed when he felt a shiver of dread snake up his spine and ruin his strokes, meaning he'd have to start the whole thing over again. He growled and banished the potion. He knew exactly what that little shiver meant and it was nothing good.
Harry hissed as the basilisk fang buried into his arm but with the same movement managed to stab the beast with the Sword of Gryffindor. As his consciousness faded and darkness consumed him he could hear the beautiful song of Fawkes and smiled as he closed his eyes. As the phoenix's tears healed his arm he felt a few of his own tears fall. Ginny was safe because he had saved her, but he was never the saved, always the savior. He wondered where his hero was.
Akabane smiled as he knocked on his brother's door, he could hear the muttered curses behind it but paid them no mind, they were just something that came with visiting his brother. Finally the portrait opened and Akabane gave a bright smile "Hello Brother! It's been so long since we've last seen one another that I simply had to come by and see how my beloved older brother was doing."
Severus sneered at his younger brother's smiling face and hissed "You could have at least written a letter." He was unsurprised when a dry chuckle was his only response; this was why he dreaded visits from his brother. The man could be so sadistic and yet cheerful at the same time that it defied understanding.
Akabane was looking around his brother's chambers with disinterest. Severus never was quite the decorator, so there were some simple dark pieces, built for necessity rather than style, there were only a few standard portraits of past potions masters, the rest was bare stone wall and Akabane could only raise a brow and murmur "Cheery."
Severus could already feel his irritation rising and asked acidly as he clenched his fist inside of his robe pocket "It suits my mood, now how long do you plan on making a nuisance of yourself?" Because despite his appearance, Akabane was quite a dark individual, and his sadistic tendencies could shake even Severus.
Akabane was about to reply when there was a frantic knocking on the portrait. He was interested in who else would be visiting his brother so late at night and gave a knowing grin "Is that you're lover? So sorry to intrude…"
Severus didn't deign that statement with a response as he answered the door. It was Madame Pomfrey's assistant "Harry Potter…Basilisk Fang…Phoenix tears…help!"
It was often that Severus doubted the average intelligence inside of the hallowed halls of Hogwarts; and situations like this only gave him more prime examples to choose from. The student that Madame Pomfrey had sent had been in such a rush that they were unable to clearly give the message and in their haste had forgotten all but the most essential parts.
Then of course was the student who was the cause of the very situation. Harry Potter had not only gone into the Chamber of Secrets, but he did so even knowing what was most likely waiting for him down there. The foolish boy was going to get himself killed before he ever faced the Dark Lord in person Severus was sure of it!
Akabane had been intrigued by the situation; the word 'Basilisk' was what caught his interest right away. He smiled and laid a gloved hand on his brother's shoulders "Well perhaps I should come along as well, after all I am a Doctor."
Severus gave Akabane a withering glare and said "I don't believe that your skills would be very appreciated Dr. Jekyll." He knew very well what his brother used his 'medical' skills for; and no matter how much Severus might despise the very core of Harry's existence, he would never wish Akabane's 'treatments' on him.
Harry moaned in the bed as he floated in and out of consciousness. Fawkes's tears had healed him of much of the Basilisk poison; however some was still trapped inside of his blood stream causing his body massive damage. He whimpered as his temperature continued to rise, his mind so confused because of the fever that he was no longer speaking English but Parsletongue.
When Severus entered he saw right away the state the boy was in. The Phoenix tears were probably the only reason he was still alive. He saw that the Weasley girl would be fine and noticed that already the petrified students were recovering. He didn't approve of Potter's methods, but it couldn't be said that he didn't get the job done.
Akabane's focus was immediately centered on the young boy struggling against his sheets; his pale face was marked with bright red cheeks signaling a fever. The boy was hissing in some strange language, but no one seemed surprised by this though they were still uneasy because of it. As they made their way over to the boy's side Severus quickly explained that Harry was a Parsletongue, and then explained what a Parsletongue was.
Akabane stood and watched as potions were poured down the young boy's throat, he couldn't believe that this inexperienced child had faced the Basilisk and lived all by himself. As Severus worked on Harry he filled his brother in on why Harry was the way he was.
"His parents were killed when he was a young child, I have theories that he witnessed his mother's death as she died protecting him and still has nightmares about it. Considering how often he wanders the halls late at night after curfew I would believe that that memory causes him insomnia. His relatives are known magic haters, there have been many questions raised about their methods; but the Blood Wards that surround their home is the only thing that keeps Potter safe during the summer when he is away from school. He is the youngest Quidditch seeker in a century, just like his father he was born for the broom, and last year he faced a teacher possessed by the Dark Lord and protected the Sorcerer's Stone.
As Severus rambled, Akabane was carefully storing all this information away for later. This boy became more fascinating with every word. He was interested with the child's power; he was attracted to Ban and Ginji because of their power. Though from what he was hearing about this small child it would seem that they weren't even in his league.
Harry felt cool potions being poured down his throat and struggled to open his eyes, it was a slow process but soon they were open. He smiled at Madame Pomfrey as she explained that he would need a few weeks of bed rest as they were unable to remove all of the Basilisk venom.
He turned and was forced to listen to Severus as the Potion's Master told him what a foolish and stupid boy he was. It was then that he noticed there was someone else in the room with them. His bright green eyes locked with deep piercing blue and he knew that his life would be forever changed.
Before him was a man who was dressed in wide black hat, a long trench coat with black slacks and boots a white shirt and a black tie. His long black hair blended in with his outfit and his eyes stood out sharply against the pale skin of his face, catching Harry within their grasp.
Akabane smiled slowly as those confused emerald's looked back so innocently at him. He knew his brother would most likely be furious with him if and when he found out what he was planning to do. He had gathered from what Severus had told him that this child was mildly important to the Wizarding World as their Savior or something of the sort. However, that all mattered very little to him. As he believed he now had the chance to create a perfect opponent.
A few weeks later found Harry looking out the window of the hospital wing with listless attention. His friends had all come by and told him how happy they were that he was safe, the Weasley's came by to thank him for saving their daughter, and so had the Grangers. He sighed, he was happy to help them, they were his friends and he'd never leave a friend if he could help it. However the question that he has asked himself in the Chamber of Secrets was still weighing heavily on his mind. So much so that he didn't even hear the door open and shut as a figure joined him.
Akabane smiled slowly as entered the hospital wing. His brother was right, the young boy had a touch of insomnia, it was close to 2 A.M and yet the child was staring out of the window with only his pajama's and a thin blanket to save him from the cold. This child was very interesting to him and so was his strength, he couldn't wait to see how much the child would progress under his tutelage. Soundlessly he crossed the room until he was standing directly behind the boy.
Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and his eyes widened as he turned sharply, almost falling off of the windowsill if it wasn't for a strong hand that caught him about his waist. He looked up and gave a small gasp in surprise when he saw that it was the man that had been with Snape earlier. He looked away as he pulled out of the man's grip and said "Hello…" Wondering why the strange yet man was here.
Akabane smiled at Harry "Why hello there, seems to be a little late to be up don't you agree? What's your name?"Akabane already knew but this was a good chance for introductions before he made his move. Besides it might give Severus enough time to realize what he was up to and stop him, and that would only make things more interesting.
Severus was working on the same potion he had been working on a few weeks prior when he felt a chill go up his back. This time however he managed to control his reaction before sealing the potion and investigating what had him on edge. He went to his chambers and knew immediately the source of the problem. Akabane was gone. He groaned, wondering what his brother was up to know. It only took a second to strike him with painful clarity, ever since seeing Harry in the hospital wing Akabane had been asking incessantly about the boy. Now Severus realized too late why Akabane would want that information and growled as he hurried to the Hospital Wing, hoping that he wasn't too late.
"Harry Potter sir." Harry answered politely. He looked the man over and the asked "If you don't mind…why are you here and who are you?" he wasn't used to getting visitors after the first few days of being in the hospital wing. At first he would be besieged by many visitors, but as the week wore on he would see less and less until only Ron and Hermione came around once in awhile. He sighed again at the thought, letting his guard down and not realizing that the man was coming closer.
"My name is Kurodo Akabane, many refer to me as Akabane or Dr. Jekyll, however, you may call me Kurodo." He smiled when the boy looked up sharply, realizing too late how close Akabane was; he pressed the cloth against Harry's mouth and held the boy firmly until slowly he went limp in grasp. "Good boy." He purred as he gathered the child in his arms; preparing to leave before his brother could stop him.
At that moment Severus burst in through the doors with several other teachers behind him, the windows of the Hospital Wing also burst open making Akabane's hair fly dramatically in the wind as he held Harry's limp body close against his chest "Seems that my visit has come to an end Severus, I do hope we get a chance to do this again." Spells flew at him, some aimed at him from his own brother, but they were all too late as Akabane vanished out of the windows and into the darkness.
Thank you all so much for reading I hope that you will enjoy the story!