Masters of Death by enchanted nightingale
Beta Reader: pussycatadamah
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I only use them in my plot for fun.
Pair: Harry Potter/ Methos
Chapter 3
Methos leaned back on the car seat, watching the scenery as the car sped by. There was nothing but green as they crossed the Scottish countryside. The radio was on and his lover was humming the tune along with the band. He had said the ride would not be long after they landed at the airport in Inverness.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Harry asked after the song ended.
"Why?"
Harry kept his eyes on the road as he shrugged his shoulders. "You've been quiet during the ride."
"I've yet to get used to cars," the immortal admitted.
"Really?" Harry asked. "I would have thought you would be grateful for the technological advancement."
"Not really. I liked horse riding," Methos admitted.
"When was the last time you rode a horse?" Harry asked.
"The nineteenth century," was the quick reply. "First time I got into a car we crashed. Do you have any idea what a feat that was?"
Harry chuckled. "I get it, you hate car rides."
"Yes. But I'm also nervous."
"But Teddy likes you," Harry told him.
"I'm worried about the rest of the family," Methos replied.
"Andromeda is a sweetheart," defended Harry.
"Mothers never really like me, mother figures included."
Harry chuckled. "Relax. It's not Andy you need to worry about."
"That sounded ominous," Methos commented.
Harry just smiled.
o
"Isn't that Aldourie Castle?" Methos asked with wonder.
"Yes, our neighbors. Funny thing is that our castle is bigger older. One architect saw Duibhin Castle he liked it so much that he decided to make a bigger one around the 1600's. You'll be able to see our home for the next few weeks right about… Now."
Methos sucked in a deep breath. Duibhin Castle was beautiful. It lay near the river bank, secluded among trees. It looked like Aldourie Castle (or perhaps Aldourie looked similar) but where it was all light colors Duibhin was made of dark stone. It looked smaller but also older.
"Welcome to the house that sheltered fourteen generations of the Black family, from 1557 till 1780. After that the family stopped using it as their primary residence in favor of Black Manor that is situated somewhere in Wales."
"Harry, exactly how rich are the Blacks?"
"Too rich for their own good," Harry replied. "Also there are not many left."
"Their? Aren't you a Black?"
"Me? Not originally. My grandmother was a Black," he admitted. "And my godfather became head of the family around the 1990's; he was the one that gave me his name and with it the titles. So now I'm a Black too, though I don't feel like one. Teddy's father was a Lupin, his mother was a Tonks and her mother, Andromeda, was a Black but was disowned 'cause she married 'beneath her station'," Harry explained as he pulled in the narrow path that led to the castle.
"They don't sound like nice people," Methos frowned.
"Most of them weren't," Harry agreed.
o
The moment they stepped out of the car a real live missile crashed into them.
"Harry! Adam! Harry!" Teddy kept chanting as he tried to hug both men at the same time.
"Theodore, darling, let poor Harry get his bearings, he almost keeled over," Andromeda said from the doorway.
Methos studied the woman. She had the air of a true lady of high society and reminded the Immortal of aristocrats from the Renaissance. She was elegant, richly dressed, stern and doting at the same time. She would be a tough one to impress and it only made Methos want to try harder.
o
The rooms the couple would share were impressive and reminded the immortal of his rooms when he used to play Pharaoh in his early immortal years. The mahogany made furniture with the richly colored silken fabrics. There were two predominant colors in this place, black and green. On every surface available was engraved the Family crest, a shield with greyhounds rampant charged with a chevron, 2 five-pointed stars and a short sword. In the formal language of heraldry, it is: "Sable, a chevron between two mullets in chief and a sword in base, argent" (extract from the Harry Potter Lexicon, from the section on the Black Family). The motto of the family was what drew Methos' interest most.
"Toujours pur,"(Forever Pure) the immortal read. "A curious choice."
"They were a curious bunch," Harry responded. "Now come on. I want to give you the short tour. We can explore this place later, okay?"
"Sure."
o
Duibhin Castle was more impressive up close. There were many rooms in the place and he and Harry had fun hiding in several alcoves and making out like a pair of teenagers. The whole castle screamed 'old money'. The painting on the walls went back centuries and when Methos paid them more than a fleeting glance he had thought that a couple of them had winked or waved at him. It had made the immortal question just how tired he was. Methos chose not to tell Harry about this, nor about how the various owls he had spotted flying around the property, in broad daylight of all times, had seemed to study him.
o
Harry had not known how much he missed being back in Britain and back to the castle that had become home ever since Andromeda and Teddy had chosen this place to live in. Duibhin Castle was a home to the green eyed wizard, much like Hogwarts had been, like that house in France had become. Bringing Methos here, it was a big step for Harry. He had never brought another lover here. The reasons for this were not lost on Harry. The wizard would love to tell Methos about the secret that was ruling his life. He would love to introduce Methos to his world. He would love for the immortal to become Harry's true partner in the eyes of Magical and Muggle law.
o
Methos realized soon that Andromeda Black (she had shed her late husband's last name after Teddy came into her care) was a formidable woman. One day the immortal came down for breakfast and only the woman was present. It was during his third day staying there.
"Mr. Pierson," Andromeda greeted.
"Mrs. Black."
"Harry mentioned something very interesting about you."
Methos nodded. He had expected that Harry would tell this woman. "You know about me."
"You're not the first Immortal I had heard of," the witch replied. "My many times removed grand uncle, Mercury Evangelos Black, was an Immortal. He was adopted into the family after saving the Black Heir of the time. He stayed with the family from 1589 until 1962, when he was finally beheaded. He was an interesting man."
"What do you really want to tell me?" Methos asked.
"Hurt Harry and I'll kill you," Andromeda swore. "And I don't mean these crazy situations you find yourselves in or even the possibility that one of your enemies might try anything. I'm talking about the miniscule possibility that you might cheat on him, grow tired or…"
"That's not happening," Methos stated with conviction.
"How can you be sure?" Andromeda demanded.
"Harry… He's a gem. I've been around for millennia. People like Harry are rare. I would have never noticed him otherwise. I still don't know exactly what drew me to him. Harry is… Harry. And I want him for as long as he wants me. And even if he does find another to love, I'll be there to support him and protect him."
Andromeda allowed a small nod. "Have some bread. It's freshly baked. You're too thin."
Methos blinked. Later, Harry explained that it was Andromeda's way of saying she liked him.
o
Harry's laughter escaped him when his lover managed to catch up with him. They had been walking in the maze of rose bushes and hedges in the garden near the yellow tea room (Harry had snickered when he told Methos and the immortal had also given him an amused look). Somehow they ended up chasing each other in the maze. The penalty for being caught was not much of an incentive so Harry got caught a number of times and the immortal did not once call on him.
o
Teddy was the sweetest boy Methos had met by far. He might never have had any offspring but in his long life he had had wives with children from previous marriages or even children they had had with lovers and tried to foist on him. So he knew that eleven year olds were not supposed to be so smart and mature and write in a cursive writing any eighteenth century writer would envy. 'Theodore' (as Andromeda loved to call the child) knew some pretty big words, in Latin as well. When the immortal asked the kid, the boy had replied that it was imperative so that he could do well in school.
"And what school is that?" the immortal asked.
"The same Harry went to," Teddy replied. "And mom and dad. Grandma and grandfather too."
Methos blinked. "All of them?"
"It's exclusive," Teddy told him. "But if you're good, Harry can take you one day."
"I can be a good boy," Methos muttered. "Hey, Ted? Got any tips for me?"
The boy giggled.
o
The green eyed wizard was studying the family tapestry one evening. He held a tumbler of brandy in one hand and he traced the wall with the other. His lover found him like that.
"Harry?"
"…"
Methos closed the door behind him.
"Harry?" he asked again. "What are you doing hiding in here?"
"I'm not hiding. I'm just… thinking."
"Okay, I'll take your word for that. Is that a tapestry? Wow, woven with silk and real gold too!" the historian in Methos was giddy. "I have not seen something like this in years."
"The fact that you have seen something similar says a lot," Harry told him.
"Is that Teddy's name here? Nymphadora? Yikes! His mother must have had some rough time growing up." Methos traced the tree further up. "Regulus? Cygnus? Walburga? Phineas?"
Harry chuckled. "Yes, well, the Blacks were an odd family."
A look of distaste appeared on the immortal's face. "I agree. Aren't Cygnus and Walburga cousins?"
The wizard snorted. His hand left the tapestry but Methos saw where he was touching before. Charlus Potter and Dorea Black had had one son, James Potter, who married Lily Evans and thus Harry James Potter-Black was born.
"That's you."
Harry nodded.
"Is the date correct?" Methos asked.
The green eyed man drank whatever was left in his glass. "Unfortunately yes."
"You don't look like you're in your early thirties."
"I know," Harry whispered before leaving the room.
Methos was left staring at the wall.
o
Something was wrong with Andromeda.
The first sign came when a plate dropped from her fingers one day during lunch. They all brushed it off like it was nothing. Like they did when more plates, glasses and cups had the same fate. The immortal was the first to get suspicious of the abnormality of this but still; he could not quite place it. When the immortal found her leaning on a counter, her whole body shaking, he rushed to her side and tried to help her. Later that night he told Harry about the tremors and the younger man went completely white.
"Nerve damage," Harry whispered.
Andromeda sighed. "I'm afraid so."
"How?"
Methos watched the two silently.
"Bellatrix," the witch responded.
"That fucking bitch," Harry hissed. His hands were clenching at his sides and while he was still pale, the eyes were sparkling.
"Harry…"
"When?" the youth demanded.
"Before all hell broke loose, she came by the house. She wanted to give me a chance to redeem myself because even a blood traitor like me had pure enough blood to deserve forgiveness; her words. I don't need to tell you how she followed my denial. Or how they killed Ted a while later."
Harry closed his eyes. "Fuck. You could not even get treated."
"No, and Madam Pomfrey was already spread thin," Andromeda replied. "It may have been a while but I did get an 'O' in my N.E.W.T.s. I can whip up the most basic remedies." She sighed. "I was lucky Harry. I visited Frank and Alice after the attack on them; Augusta was and still is one of my best friends. I am lucky," she repeated.
"I know," Harry replied.
"You can hug me silly boy," the Black witch said then. "I'm not going to break."
Hearing those words was the last straw for Harry, who was by her feet soon after, hugging her around the waist, his face buried in the curve of her neck.
o
Methos was strolling through the gardens alone the morning after Andromeda's confession about her illness. The woman had admitted she was dying after that. The medicine she was taking was no longer working and the seizures were getting worse. They could not know how long she had as it depended upon her own body. But every day she came closer to death. And every day Methos saw signs that reminded him of how frail Harry's life was.
The immortal stopped short. It could so easily be Harry in Andromeda's position a few decades from now, because Methos could actually imagine spending a human lifetime with the green eyed mortal. But so many diseases could end his life; so many events could cut it short. Methos had never hated immortality more.
o
Harry was staring at his ring. The Resurrection Stone felt cold on his hand, like the touch of death. And it was funny because Harry had never really feared death for himself but he dreaded the death of the people around him.
"I need help," he whispered in the quiet library. "I have no idea what I'm going to do."
He closed his eyes only to snap them open when the smell of chocolate and lemons tickled his nostrils.
"When did you start brooding. You're no fun Harry."
"Well, my boy, I will have to agree with him Sirius. Lemon drop?"
Harry gasped. "S-Siri? Headmaster?"
The two transparent figures of his long dead godfather and headmaster were beaming at him.
Harry stared down at the ring. "Oh. I almost forgot. I have not been able to summon anyone since that day."
"Yes," Sirius nodded. "And by the way, getting hit by a Killing Curse was pretty stupid. And I should know."
"But brave all the same," Albus Dumbledore added. "Lily wanted to come you know, James to. But Remus felt they were not the best choice for this occasion. Perhaps some other time."
The green eyed wizard swallowed the tears that wanted to fall. "Andy is dying."
"Is she? She's a strong one that girl. And brave for a Slytherin. Andromeda won't go down without a fight," Sirius commented. "Not when she has you and Teddy to coddle. "Did you ever imagine that something so cute and not clumsy could come from Moony and my cousin?"
"Now, now Sirius, Nymphadora was not that bad."
The two pale forms started bantering between them, often involving Harry, who gradually relaxed.
o
They had gone grocery shopping one morning, Harry, Methos and Teddy. They would be cooking for Andromeda that evening. They had not expected trouble but as was Harry's fate, trouble found them anyway in the form of another immortal. The man, a tall guy that carried a broadsword. Harry had been by the car while Teddy and his lover went in the grocery store pestering the kind woman that ran the place with all kinds of questions. The wizard had heard his lover describe that 'vibe' he felt whenever another immortal was near. It was also three days since the night the two ghosts visited Harry and the Resurrection Stone started burning on his hand while his body shivered. Then the other immortal came in the parking lot, sword drawn.
"Prepare to die!" he told Harry.
The wizard only had time to duck.
o
"And this?"
"Ginger root."
"Looks like a gnome."
"I thought gnomes had tall, ridiculously colored hats and decorated front lawns."
"Of course not! They stay in the gardens and chase away Wither Fairies! Luna said so."
"You lost me."
"Pff, I'm just too smart for you."
Methos chuckled and ruffled Teddy's hair, much to the teen's dismay.
"Relax, there are no girls to impress here," the immortal told the boy when he continued fussing with his hair. "Does your grandma like cauliflower?"
"No, she prefers broccoli," Teddy replied. "Harry does as well. But then again he likes green beans and sprouts. Yuck!"
"You are a riot. Oh! Mushrooms!"
"What are we making?"
"Some kind of pie. I'll just prepare the ingredients; Harry does not let me cook."
Teddy grinned. "You are like Victoire's dad. He never says no to his wife either."
Methos choked. "Harry's not my wife!"
"Yet," the kid replied.
The immortal blinked. Could it be that Teddy did not really mind?
"You really think so?" Methos asked the boy.
"Well, he lets you kiss him, and sleep in his bed and even makes you muffins! He likes you. Also, I heard Gran tell her friends that she might just drag you to the druid herself."
Methos stopped short. "Druid?"
Teddy beamed. "Yup!"
"You really are pagans?"
"Yup!"
"Huh," the immortal was rather surprised. Sure, they had celebrated Yule together but he had not thought Harry's family to really, truly practice the traditions.
They were headed to the counter when another immortal came across his senses. Methos almost dropped the basket. As it was he really wanted to run. Seeing Teddy walking next to him, babbling, he cringed. The sword was in the car, with Harry, while he and the child were exposed. He sent glances around, not seeing anyone suspicious.
o
Harry rolled away, dodging the second and third attack as well, before he was close enough to Methos' sword. He easily grabbed the handle and blocked the next strike. His mind was working a mile a minute. This guy, this immortal, had obviously sensed his lover but for some reason could not tell whether Harry was mortal or immortal. And by the brutality of the attack the guy did not care much either. The wizard grunted while blocking another hit. Then he went on the offensive, strike after jab after strike, he was fending his opponent off. The Gryffindor was trying to think of the best way to neutralize him without killing him. Immortals were still humans and Harry had met his killing quota when he took down Voldemort. But this guy was making it difficult; he was really aiming to kill.
The green eyed man narrowly avoided some very close calls, but there were grazes on his face and neck. It was too damn close for Harry's comfort. Survival instinct kicked in and the next hit was blocked by Harry's magic that rose to shield the wizard.
"What the…?"
Harry was on the offensive again. A nice swipe, a kick to the stomach and the immortal was down. Another strike and the man's sword was sent away.
"There can be only one, right?" the immortal looked up.
The wizard clutched the sword tighter. He had seen the consequences a beheading would have; the parking lot would be messed up. The man, another human would be dead. And Methos and Teddy would be safe.
But then the Resurrection Stone pulsed.
The immortal gasped, hands rising to his heart.
Harry's hands rose on their own and soon the sword came down.
Thunder and lightning tore the skies apart, striking everywhere and anywhere they could. A storm of electricity and energy surrounded Harry, bringing the wizard to his knees. Then the energy darted towards him, swirling over him before tearing into him. Everything was on fire. Pain much like the Cruciatus hit his body. He was being destroyed and pulled together at the same time. Death and rebirth, and Harry in the middle.
And then it stopped.
o
When Methos saw the Quickening, his heart jumped to his throat. The people in the store were looking outside, panicked.
"That can't be a normal storm," Teddy said from his side.
"It isn't," the immortal replied. "Teddy, can you please stay here?"
The young wizard threw him a look and then he nodded. "Okay."
o
Heavy rain was pouring down from the sky. It had darkened to almost black but at least the thunder had stopped.
The immortal ignored the chilling rain. He raced to the parking lot. Every car was either smoking or still on fire. Some of the asphalt had melted. He came across a beheaded body first. The sheer amount of relief he felt when he did not recognize the clothes and then the head was staggering. He just rushed to the next fallen figure. Harry was lying on his back, knees bent. From his limp fingers hung Methos' sword. The ground under and around the raven haired man was still smoking.
"Harry!" Methos called out. He fell on his knees beside his lover. He made to gather him in his arms but the doctor training he had received a lifetime ago kicked in. He reached for a pulse.
End of chapter
