Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it probably does not belong to me. Everything else is mine.

Chapter 2: Dinner

Trying to hide the way his legs tremble as he walks, Harry glances at his new personal guard from the corner of his eyes. He is older than Harry but not by much, perhaps in his early twenties. The guard's dark hair is cropped short and his face is clean-shaven. There are no visible scars marring the man's flesh and Harry has to wonder if his guard has ever been in a fight. Taller than him by a head, the man is almost as lean as Harry and he can only hope that there are muscles hidden beneath the man's dark uniform.

"How was your day Justus?"

The man appears startled and flashes Harry a searching look. "It was good, thank you."

"I am glad to hear it." Harry murmurs softly. "Such days seem so hard to come by recently."

"So I have heard." There is caution in the guard's tone and Harry is grateful for it. He knows that eventually Justus will ask questions that he has no desire to answer. But until that time, he will endeavor not to think on it.

As they enter the large formal dining room Harry stumbles, his legs suddenly too weak to hold him up. Before his body has a chance to crash onto the hard, unforgiving floor, strong arms surround him, holding him up. Looking up in surprise, Harry meets the concerned gaze of his new personal guard.

"My Lord, are you alright?" Justus asks and Harry smiles despite the terrible weakness that grips him.

"I told you to call me Harry."

Setting him back on his feet, the guard keeps a firm grip on his elbow as though fearing he would collapse again. Harry allows the man to lead him slowly across the dining room to the head of the large table where two places have been set. Sitting cautiously at the head of the table, he motions Justus to take the seat to his right.

"Of course Harry." The guard tells him obediently but Harry can sense the man's reluctance to use his given name.

Deciding not to press the issue further, Harry rings a small bell and waits for their food to arrive. It is not long before several servants are bustling into the dining room, arms laden with an assortment of plates. Silently, the dishes are placed before the two men and the servants withdraw back to the kitchens.

Looking at the wealth of food before him, Harry tries to quell the nausea that threatens to overwhelm him. It has been too long since he has had a decent meal and even thinking about eating anything makes him shudder. Still, he promised Remus that he would at least attempt to eat something. With a much put upon sigh, Harry reaches for the nearest platter.

"Please wait, Lord P....Harry." Justus stutters. "I should sample the food first just to be safe."

Harry frowns at the implication that one of his servants would betray him. "I can assure you Justus, that their loyalty to me is unquestioned."

The guard appears to hesitate but pushes on with determination. "I understand that you might not wish to believe so, but it is my place to entertain such possibilities. I would not be doing my duty if I allowed harm to befall you. I would rather face your anger than your death."

Flinching, Harry turns his head to the side to hide how much those words hurt. He is reminded that it was one of his own who told the Witch Hunters of Merlin's presence in his house. Thinking of his dear friend causes tears to form and he blinks them away angrily. He cannot afford to fall back into the black depression that he has been in since the news of his friends death reached him. He must be strong.

Taking a deep breath, Harry turns back to the guard who has remained silent. "Thank you, Justus. I am grateful for your concern."

"I apologize if my words have offended you, My Lord." Justus says stiffly.

Trying to affect a casualness that is not felt, Harry waves the man's concerns away. "Please always do as you feel necessary. Do not apologize for something so trivial."

Nodding, but looking uncertain, Justus takes a sample from every platter. After a long moment he nods again, indicating that none of the dishes have been poisoned.

Not trusting himself to speak, Harry smiles his thanks to the man before reaching once more towards the nearest platter. He snags a roll stuffed with beef as well as several chunks of dark orange cheese. Clamping down on the urge to toss the food as far from his body as possible, he forces himself to take a bite of the roll. The taste nearly makes him gag but he swallows it nonetheless.

The silence in the large dining room is uneasy as the two men eat and Harry observes his guard unobtrusively. The man keeps his eyes averted for the most part, although Harry can tell that he is imminently aware of their surroundings. Despite his earlier musings, he spares himself a moment of optimism. Perhaps Justus will be a good guard after all.

"Tell me of yourself, Justus." Harry demands abruptly. He is tired of the tension that permeates the room. The guard blinks at him in surprise.

"Ah," the man pauses and Harry smiles encouragingly. "Well, I am an only child. My father is a scribe and my mother is a seamstress. I am originally from Lower Tanith as are my parents. We came here, to Laith, when I was ten and five summers. That would be six summers ago."

Harry is secretly pleased. The man is not much older than himself. It will make it easier to command him. Not all soldiers and the like take kindly to being ordered about by one young enough to be their son. As it stands, Justus is only four summers older.

"Do you miss Tanith?" Harry inquires curiously. The city is the ruling seat of the House of Malfoy. There is no love lost between the Potters and the Malfoys although their lands border. Or perhaps it is because their lands lay beside each other that their houses are plagued with such animosity. Harry has never really understood it.

"No." Justus states firmly. "I find life here much more enjoyable. Tanith was always too cold for my liking."

"I couldn't agree more." Harry chuckles quietly. "I've been there several times and always found it chill despite the season."

The guard smiles back at him and Harry is relieved that the tension from before seems to have fled to some dark retreat. He relaxes back into his chair and helps himself to more food, feeling a renewed hunger eating at his insides.

"Did you always want to be in the guard?" Harry asks around a large bite of pheasant.

"Yes." Justus replies easily. "Although my parents were not always amenable to the idea."

Harry smiles sadly, pausing in the act of raising another choice morsel to his lips. Although he has never known them, he wonders if his own parents would be proud of the man he is becoming. If they would understand the choices he has made.

"I have upset you again."Justus states and it is not a question. The aggrieved look on the man's face makes Harry chuckle wryly.

"Please, do not pay me any mind. I find that I am distressingly maudlin today." He tells the guard softly.

"My Lord-" The man starts to say but Harry holds up a hand, cutting him off.

"Harry."

At the reminder, a slightly amused look comes over Justus's face. "Harry. You will forgive me if I have a little trouble addressing my lord in such an informal manner. I'm not sure Captain Lupin would approve."

"Probably not." Harry nods in agreement. "But Remus is not the one you answer to any longer, is he?"

Justus shakes his head in apparent bemusement. "You are right of course. But still...it will be difficult to address your lordship without the proper term of respect."

Harry tilts his head to the side, smiling now in open amusement. "I would deem it the highest form of respect if you would honor my wishes in this matter."

"Well, when you put it that way." Justus smiles in return, the corner of his eyes crinkling in mirth. "I can do no less than as I am commanded."

"I knew you would see it my way." Harry grins, pleased at the guards acquiescence.

A sudden, sharp knock on the dining room doors causes Harry to jump in surprise. The narrowing of Justus's eyes is the only indication that the noise disturbed him. Shaking the trembling from his body with a concentrated effort, Harry finds his voice and calls for the person to enter.

Eerily silent, the doors slide open to reveal the aging form of Harry's butler, Gaius. Shuffling forward into the room, the old man bows shallowly before straightening. Many lines mar his face and straggly white hair falls to just below his shoulders in uneven waves. The man has served three generations of Potters and Harry does not have the heart to retire him. Despite his advanced years, the man is still remarkable sharp-witted.

"My Lord." Harry has long since abandoned his quest to get Gaius to call him by his given name. The old man is more stubborn than anyone he has ever met. "The solicitor is here again. He is most insistent in his desire to speak with you. He says that he will not leave without speaking with you directly and that he will remain outside your manor until you do."

Harry sighs in aggravated annoyance. Truly, he has no desire to deal with the man who has taken to shadowing his footsteps of late. When he had taken the time to speak to the man several days earlier, he had not been able to ascertain the man's intentions. The solicitor had been vague about his presence and had insisted that Harry accompany him to his office. While normally Harry would have been happy to oblige the man, the solicitor's office happened to reside in Lord Riddle's domain. He would sooner cut his own arm off then willing enter that man's land.

"What would you have me do, Harry?" Justus asks, breaking the pensive silence.

Smiling at the man in gratitude, Harry comes to a quick decision. "Inform Captain Lupin that I wish the man escorted from my property."

"As you command." Justus rises from the table and bows deeply. Harry watches silently as the man strides purposefully towards the door where Gaius still stands patiently.

"Justus." Harry calls quietly.

The guard turns at once, coming to a stop just inside the room.

"Tell Remus to be firm."

A wicked smile graces the man's face. "It will be my pleasure."