Chapter 2: Remember Me
Ra blinked when he suddenly fell to his knees on a hard, stone floor. He whipped his head up, glancing around. Siren and the others were scattered around him, groaning loudly. They were in a giant hall that had only a long table and several chairs as its fixtures. The walls were the same gray stone as the floor and, when he glanced up, he gasped. High above him, floated a million lit candles that flittered and flickered.
Hearing the sound of shifting fabric, Ra turned to look at the man that towered over them. He had dark hair that shined with grease and a hooked nose. His skin was nearly as pale as Ra's own and his dark eyes bored down on Ra. The black robes that he was wearing swished loudly as he shifted one foot to another.
Feeling someone tap the underside of his foot, Ra glanced back at Siren. The other boy was frowning, gesturing to their strange surroundings. Ra just shrugged in response, giving Siren the same confused look.
Suddenly, the grand pair of doors at the other end of the hall opened and a group of people stormed in. They all wore similar black robes to the one that the dark-haired man wore, although Ra could tell that they were in a variety of fabrics. The man that led the way stood tall and regal and his stride was confident. He was handsome, with wavy brown hair that was tied back in a ponytail. Piercing red eyes flicked between the five boys and the man standing behind them.
"Who are these children, Severus?" the man asked.
"Muggles, probably," a dark-haired woman spat from behind him. "Just look at how they're dressed."
"Bellatrix, hold your tongue," the man snapped.
"Sorry, Tom," the woman –Bellatrix- whimpered.
Feeling a soft tap on his shoulder, Ra looked at the other four that sat behind him. Faun, who was close to Ra in size, held out his tuxedo jacket to the older boy. Taking it, Ra gave him a nod of thanks and slipped it on.
"Lucius came across some interesting information regarding the Minister. He wanted my help confirming it," the dark man replied. "These children are all sex slaves, bought for a night by Fudge to 'entertain' a select group of guests, including myself."
Tom's right eyebrow shot up. His red eyes moved back to the small assembly of children. They were all too scantily dressed for his liking, but he didn't let it bother him too much. Four of them ducked their heads in fear, but Ra held the gaze.
"Really? So you caught Fudge in the act, did you?" Tom asked.
"Oh yes. I have full proof evidence," Severus replied.
"What are your names?" Tom asked, directing the question at Ra.
Everyone turned to look at him and Ra nearly gulped nervously. He raised his right hand and curled it into a semicircle before flicking his pointer finger outwards. Those around him looked confused, while the children behind him nodded in agreement.
"Can you speak?" Tom wondered aloud.
Ra quickly shook his head, frowning. Why would this man ask him that? None of them were allowed to speak. They were just pieces of meat used for the entertainment of others. Their voices weren't important at all.
"His name is Ra," Severus said quickly. "The others, if I remember correctly, are Sprite, Siren, Angel, and Faun."
"I never knew that Muggles used mythological names like we do," Bellatrix mused quietly.
Ra quickly shook his head and made a movement as if he was writing in thin air.
"Can you write?" Tom asked.
Ra nodded the affirmative. His eyes widened when, with a flick of his wrist, Severus summoned a piece of paper and a quill. Standing and taking them from the man, Ra sat down and quickly began to write. Severus watched him, his frown growing ever more deep. When he was finished, Ra handed the man the paper and sat back on his heels.
"He says that Ra isn't his real name, but the name that Mr. Tender gave him," Severus said.
"Why?" Bellatrix asked.
Taking back the paper, Ra quickly wrote out his answer and handed it back to Severus.
"He says that Mr. Tender didn't think they needed their real names," Severus read aloud.
All five of the boys nodded in agreement. Those that had been old enough to possibly remember their real names had been forced to forget them, all except Ra that is.
"That's horrible," Bellatrix cooed. "How long were you with this Mr. Tender?"
Ra held up all five of his fingers and pointed to himself. Next was Siren, who got seven fingers. Next came Faun and Angel, both got only three fingers. Sprite came last and he got two.
"I'm assuming that is in years, correct?" Tom asked.
The boys agreed.
"Tom, has Severus- oh, you're already here!" a blond shouted as he ran into the room.
"Lucius, how lovely of you to join us. Severus tells me that you and he were going on some sort of special mission without telling me about it first," Tom said, smirking wickedly.
Lucius gulped. "Y-Yes, Tom. I'm sorry that we didn't aler-"
"-You should always alert me about these things! When you hear rumors about something that is this monumental, you come to me first!"
Sprite grabbed onto the back of Ra's jacket, curling up against the larger boy's back. The other three all followed suit, trying to hide behind Ra, who just froze where he sat. Their eyes were all wide in fear.
"Tom, calm down please. I think you're scaring them," Severus said calmly.
All of the Death Eaters turned to look back at the cowering boys. Calming instantly, Tom took a hesitant step towards them. The four younger ones curled up even tighter into themselves, just in case the blows came. Ra, however, met the challenge head on. He stared up into the red eyes as the man knelt down to his level. He flinched when Tom grabbed his chin, but he fought down his panic.
"I feel like I know you from somewhere," Tom murmured. "Who are you?"
Ra tipped his head to one side, understanding. He felt a slight burn in his forehead, although it wasn't nearly enough to be painful. It was comforting, warm. He knew this man from his time before Mr. Tender, before even the hate. Reaching up, he pushed aside his long bangs, revealing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. With a yelp, Tom leapt back, falling onto his ass. He stared at Ra with wide eyes, his whole body quivering.
"Tom, are you alright?" Severus cried.
"Y-You! I definitely know you! Oh Merlin! I thought you were dead for sure!"
Ra shifted uncomfortably where he sat. The hope that had stirred in his heart had sunk. Clearly this man had thought was dead, and probably wanted him to be. He tried not to show it on his face, but after years of being separated from the world he'd been born into, he'd hoped for some sliver affection of from his time there. After all, Padfoot and Mooney had probably forgotten him by now too.
"Tom, what's wrong? He's just some Muggle prostitute!" Bellatrix shouted.
Tom wildly spun around and, in a flash, Bellatrix was on the group, screaming. As the curse ravaged her body, the Dark Lord stood and threw her the most menacing glare he could. The other Death Eaters stood in shocked silence as Tom advanced on her.
"Don't speak that way about my heir again," the Dark Lord hissed.
Cutting off the curse, he walked back to Ra and laid a comforting hand on the boy's head. Nervously, Ra shifted closer and rested his forehead against the man's thigh, the tough mental walls that he'd built years ago threatening to break down. Tom ran his long fingers through Ra's hair, massaging his scalp.
"It's okay. No one is going to hurt you again. I promise."
Kneeling back down, Tom carefully took the boy's small hand in his own and squeezed in lightly.
"I promise Harry."
The boy who had been called Ra for so many years broke into sobs. Someone remembered him.
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin sat alone in the kitchen at 12 Grimmauld Place, silently sipping tea. In the center of the small table sat a broken wristwatch. It was a magical watch, charmed to record the exact time when important events occurred in the wearer's life. Sirius had been wearing that awful day when his and his mate's lives had come to an end, as they knew it. The watch hadn't worked since.
"It's almost nine o'clock," Remus murmured as he set down his teacup.
Sirius grunted in reply, crossing his legs under the table. Remus sighed and picked up the broken watch. He stared at the hands that had frozen at exactly 9:01 p.m. August 23rd. Today it was August 2nd, but it didn't matter. Waiting and watching for 9 o'clock to arrive every day had become a ritual for the couple.
"Do you think we'll ever find him?" Sirius asked.
"Of course we will!" Remus cried. "Don't think about giving up Siri!"
"It's been ten years Mooney. How in the world is he going to remember us?" Sirius replied.
"Harry always had the best memory out of the three kids. He's smart. He'll remember," Remus said, trying to reassure his mate.
Sirius huffed, but didn't reply. The two men sat in silence for a while longer until Sirius spoke once again.
"Do you think he's safe?"
"Honestly, I doubt it. Wherever those Muggles sent him, I don't think that it is a nice place," Remus admitted.
"He could be dead by now, Mooney!"
"Don't you dare say things like that! We will find Harry and we will bring him back! He is our godson, our pup! He's fucking Harry Potter! He doesn't belong on the streets, in an orphanage, or wherever the fuck they sent him!" Remus shouted.
Smiling a little, Sirius nodded at his mate. James and Lily's abandonment of Harry and his subsequent disappearance from the Dursleys's was the one topic that had always angered Remus beyond anything else. He had treasured the cute little boy, as had Sirius. Unable to have children on their own due to Remus's 'predicament', Harry had been the son they'd never had. Of course, they loved Michael and Alana, as well, but Harry was special to them.
"It's good to see you passionate still after all this time," Sirius chuckled.
Reaching across the table, he clutched his lover's hand, grasping the broken watch between them. "We'll find him. I know we will."
