I'm starting to update semi-regularly! Yayness! Well, I hope y'all enjoy.
Chapter 2
Prisoner
Harry reached the little cottage and opened the door, only to see smoke.
'Now what happened?' "Sirius? Sirius? Where are you?"
Suddenly, he heard someone coughing from further in.
"Sirius?"
He was caught off-guard when he saw him get up from the mess on the floor.
"There you are! You had me worried you idiot!"
"Hi Harry! Don't worry about me I'm fine. I've been through worse remember?"
He rolled his eyes as Harry started to go into mother hen mode.
"Sirius Orion Black you could have gotten yourself killed! I don't care if you survived through worse, and although I don't want to admit it, you are going to get yourself killed one day, just like Peter said."
"Peter? Peter Pettigrew? What the hell were you doing talking to him?"
"Nothing Sirius. Tom was trying to get a date with me again and Peter tagged along."
"I don't get why you won't give him a chance. He's pretty good-looking and everyone in town loves him."
"I won't give him a chance because he's a conceited jerk who's self-absorbed and thinks everyone worships the ground he walks on."
At this Sirius just laughed and said, "Well everyone pretty much does."
"Anyway, this isn't about me, it's about you and that machine of yours that could've killed you!"
"Relax Harry. I give up," he said delivering a swift kick to the machine, "This stupid piece of crap won't work no matter how hard I try."
Then, the machine started sputtering and then Harry and Sirius were almost hit in the head by a piece of wood.
With wide eyes they watched the machine work.
"Sirius, you did it! You really did it!"
"Inventor's Fair here I come!"
A few days later Sirius was ready and packed and now he was making excuses why he shouldn't go.
"Sirius come on! It's a day's trip to get there and you don't have a moment to lose!"
"I don't know Harry, I mean will you be alright by yourself?"
"I'll be fine. Besides you'll see Remus. He lives near there remember?"
At the mention of the name his face brightened immediately and started the wagon. "Bye Harry! See you soon!"
And Harry waved to the retreating figure.
Now it was a few hours later we see Sirius who has reached a fork in the road. One path looks like it'll take awhile but it's bathed in sunlight and you can see the end of it. The other led into a dark forest that looked pretty creepy.
But Sirius' laziness, impatience and innate sense of adventure made him choose the forest path.
You mean his stupidity! That idiot really is going to get himself killed.
You're just upset that your boyfriend could die soon.
Well how would you feel if Lily died and you were left alone?
Don't bring Lily into this!
Well you brought Sirius into this!
Guys! The story. Please! You can argue later.
Fine.
Sirius pulled the horse's reigns and tried to get her to go to the forest path.
Apparently the horse was smarter because it stayed in the direction of the longer path.
Hush James.
"Stubborn horse. C'mon Hedwig we're going this way."
Finally the horse relented and started going towards the forest. Sometime later they were still wandering around in the woods, leading Sirius to realize they were lost.
"Where are we? This stupid map isn't any good."
Just then he heard it.
Growls.
Meaning more than one something was behind him.
He turned around and there they were.
A pack of wolves.
All snarling and drooling and eyeing him like he was the next course…which he was.
Then he did it. He snapped the reigns to the horse and it galloped away, only to end up at a cliff.
Sirius' face was very pale but he couldn't help but feel a slight satisfaction. 'They were wrong. My inventions didn't kill me. The wolves did.'
He closed his eyes and waited for the attack. It didn't come. He opened his eyes only to see the wolves chasing after Hedwig and the wagon.
Sirius stood up slowly and after checking nothing was broken, then walked in the direction he thought was the road.
Sirius ended up in front of a pair of tall iron gates that seemed to touch the sky. Behind it was a gigantic castle. He pushed open the gate and walked until he reached the entrance.
He entered the giant doors and saw no one. "Hello? Is anyone here? Hello?"
Sirius walked a bit farther into the castle.
Unbeknownst to him, there was an argument going on.
"Look Mione a visitor! We should help him."
"Help him? I agree that it's the morally correct thing to do, but the Master will have our head! Remember the last time you said we should do something and we did?"
"We left Malfoy alone, goofed off and made him answer the door where he met the Enchantress who turned us all into clocks, candlesticks, and our master into a huge monster. I know, I know. I don't care what you say, I'm doing it."
"Ron, no!"
"Hello there sir! Are you lost?"
Shocked and relieved that someone could help him, Sirius answered. "Yes. Where are you?"
He picked up the candelabrum, aka Ron, and walked around more.
"Right here."
Sirius dropped Ron in surprise when he felt the candlestick tap him on the shoulder.
"You can talk!"
"And walk and move. Oh and I can sing and dance too!"
"How? What? Why?"
Sirius was kind of freaked out now. It wasn't everyday you saw a talking candlestick.
'I wonder if this has anything with that medicine Snape sold me. I knew I should've checked it first!'
"Look what you've done Ron! You scared the poor man. I'm so sorry sir for my friend's poor behavior."
Another voice, this time female, spoke.
Sirius looked around for the strange voices and took a long, long look at both enchanted objects.
First a candlestick with bright blue eyes that seemed to be covered in red spots, possibly freckles, with its candles in flame. Next to that was a clock that was probably the origin of the female's voice. The clock looked up at him with doe brown eyes that seemed to hold infinite wisdom.
Sirius snapped out of his shock and asked, "How is this possible?" while picking up the clock and looking at her mechanism.
"Excuse me! I am a person, not a toy!"
"Actually Mione, you're a clock now."
The clock, 'Mione' as the candlestick had said, looked irritated at the nickname.
"How many times have I told you? My name is Hermione. Okay?"
"Fine. Now come on sir. We will warm you by the fireplace and you will have a hot drink."
They arrived in the lounge where they made him sit down in a big, cushy armchair. Soon a cart arrived with a pot of tea and a teacup.
"Ron are you mad? That's the Master's chair!"
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Have some tea."
Sirius gently picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips.
"Hey you tickle!"
He brought the teacup away from his lips and saw a pair of brown eyes and freckles identical to Ron's.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Ginny and I think you're kinda cute."
"Thanks but I'm taken."
"Oh well."
As they were talking the others were fretting over the Master coming in at any moment.
No one noticed the figure moving in the shadows until it stood right in front of the fireplace, his fangs right in Sirius's face.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm a traveler and I got lost. I'll leave soon."
"Who let him in?"
Everyone pointed to Hermione and Ron without hesitating.
"I'll deal with you two later," he growled at them then turned back to Sirius.
He pulled him out of the chair then tossed him into the dungeon.
Just before leaving he turned around and said, "You're not leaving anytime soon. I'd be prepared to never see the light of day ever again."
Meanwhile in the village…
Tom was standing in front of Harry's cottage with a full wedding party assembled and was talking with Peter.
Oh boy. Scene 10: Tom tries to get Harry to date him. Take 1,937,203.
"When I come out of the house with Harry you-"
"I know! I strike up the band."
Peter signaled the band to start up and the wedding march played. Tom smacked Peter upside the head.
"Not yet you doofus!"
Tom turned to face his wedding party and made a little speech. "I want to thank you all for coming to my wedding here today. Now, I have to go in and propose to the boy."
At this most laughed while the majority of the women cried, the Black Sisters the most dramatically.
From inside the cottage Harry was reading a book, unaware of the terror that awaited him.
The terror known as Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Who chose that moment to knock on the door.
Harry got up and looked through the periscope Sirius built and saw Tom's face.
He groaned, obviously knowing why he was there, and opened the door. "Hello Tom. What a pleasant surprise," he said in a tone that clearly said that his visit was anything but pleasant.
"Hello Harry. Today is the day all your dreams come true."
"And what would you know about my dreams?"
"Never mind that. Today is the day," He paused to check his teeth in the mirror, "Today is the day you and I get married."
'Get married! Why that stupid, conceited, arrogant, brainless- getting off track Harry.' "Us? Get married?"
"Yes. Picture this Harry. A rustic little hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting over the fire, you hanging up the laundry, and the kids playing on the floor with the dogs."
"And how are we supposed to have children?"
"Not ours. I'm going to have other wives to bear my children, but you will be the one hanging from my arm. I'll have about five or six."
"Wives?"
"No. Children. Strapping young boys like me."
'Think quick Har, think quick. I got it!' "Tom, I'm flattered."
"I knew you would be."
Harry started slowly inching toward the door. "I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll marry me." His back touched the door, his hand groping for the knob. "But Tom, I don't deserve you!" Swiftly he opened the door, got out of the way, and Tom fell face first into the mud.
He stumbled onto his feet just as the band went into full swing.
Tom stomped his way over to the awaiting crowd.
"I take it he said no?" Tom wordlessly picked him up and dropped him unceremoniously into a mud puddle next to a pig.
"Mark my words. He will be mine."
"He definitely said no. He's acting crankier than usual."
The pig just nodded in agreement.
Later Harry stepped out once he saw the last of the wedding party leave. He glanced around him suspiciously.
"Is he gone?"
Once he was sure it was safe he picked up the bucket of chicken feed and got to his chores.
"Can you imagine the nerve of that boorish, brainless…"
Harry: Harry Riddle!
Can't you just see it?
Harry Riddle!
His trophy 'wife'
No sir! Not me!
I guarantee it!
I want much more than this provincial life
:He ran to the field a bit farther from their house:
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
But for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned
Harry heard neighing behind him and turned around to see Hedwig with the wagon hitched to her, but no Sirius.
"Oh no. Hedwig?"
He ran to her and unhitched the wagon, then mounted her. "Come on girl. We're going to find Sirius."
A while later Harry found the castle deep in the dark woods. He dismounted and went to push open the gates, but they did of their own accord.
'Strange,' then he shrugged off the feeling of foreboding and walked into the foyer.
"Siri? Siri are you here?"
In the kitchen Ginny was running, well hopping actually, to her mother.
"Mum there's a cute guy in the castle!"
"Now Ginny stop making up stories! Now get into the wash with the rest of them."
"But Mum-"
"Mrs. Weasley! Zere's a boy in ze castle!" Fleur said appearing from the hall."
Ginny looked smug as she said, "Told you so."
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
And, as before, Ron and Hermione were bickering…again.
"No Ron! Remember the last time you decided to help some poor unfortunate soul? Because if you don't he's in the dungeon!"
"But maybe he's the one to break the spell."
"Him? He's a guy!"
"So? The Enchantress only said someone must love him and he must love them back. She never said it had to be a girl."
"You can help but be careful Ron."
"I will."
Harry had found the stairway to the tower. He climbed up the stairs, Ron and Hermione hopping after him, and as soon as he reached the top when he heard someone coughing.
"Siri?"
"Harry? Is that you?"
"Sirius!"
He ran to his godfather's cell, chafing his hands, attempting to get some warmth back into them.
"What are you doing in this horrible place Harry? You shouldn't be here."
"Never mind that. You had me so worried. At least you're alive. But your hands. They're cold as ice. We have to get you out of here."
"No you get out of here. Before he comes back."
"Who? Before who comes back Siri?"
"Me."
Harry noticed the presence behind him a little too late. The torch he'd been holding was knocked out of his hand and it landed in the water, plunging them into darkness.
"Get out of here Harry! Now!"
They both ignored Sirius's cries and the figure, the master of the castle Harry presumed, addressed him. "Who are you?"
"Harry. Who are you?"
"None of your concern."
"Then can you let him go? He's sick. He could die here."
"He was trespassing on my property. He deserves to die."
Harry's eyes settled in a glare and his emerald eyes darkened.
"He is sick and he needs to get out of here. I will not let him die. Especially in a place like this."
"And what do you have to offer?"
"Myself. Take me instead. I'll stay here with you in the castle. Forever."
"Deal," and he turned to leave the dungeon.
"Wait! You promised to let Sirius go."
"Yes I did." He moved to unlock the door.
"One more thing, if I am to live here…can I at least see what you look like?"
"In time."
"Please? Come into the light."
He stepped out from the shadows and Harry could fully see the creature before him. He was covered head to toe in light brown fur with different shades of blond mixed in here and there. Harry could see the paws and the fangs.
But they didn't scare him the most. It was the eyes. He found himself thinking that those eyes belonged to someone too beautiful to be such a monster. They were a silvery blue that seemed to change from grey to blue to silver with every movement he made. They also seemed to hold an endless amount of pain and loneliness.
Harry snapped out of his stupor when the beast moved to unlock Sirius's door and dragged him out of the cell.
Harry rushed to the window just in time to see the beast throw Sirius into a carriage and commanding it to drop him off at the village. He turned back and made his way back up to the tower.
Harry was on the floor, his head buried in his knees and tears starting to form. The beast walked in to see him in that position. Touched by an odd moment of concern, he walked up to him and placed a paw on his shoulder."Are you alright?"
Harry wrenched his shoulder away from his grasp and looked up at him. "I may never see him again. You could've at least let me say goodbye. You could've let me say goodbye!"
He could tell Harry was very close to tears and spoke with as much gentleness as he could muster. "Come with me. I will show you to your room."
He looked up at him surprised. "My room?"
"Would you rather stay here? I can arrange that."
Harry scrambled to stand up. "No, I'll go with you."
He followed the beast down various dark hallways and corridors. Harry slammed into the beast when he noticed they had stopped at a door.
"This is where you will be staying."
From his hand, Ron gave him some advice from his 'expertise' in wooing. "Invite the boy to dinner. I think he'll enjoy it."
Just before the door closed he spoke to Harry one last time. "You will join me for dinner later tonight. And that is not a request!"
Harry asked him one more question before he left. "Wait!"
"Yes?" a bit of irritation crept into his voice.
"What do I call you? Do you have a name?"
"Yes. My name is Draco Malfoy. Call me Draco. Now is that all?"
"Yes. Thank you. Draco."
A small smile. "Your welcome."
Harry landed face first on the bed and sobbed into the luxurious pillows. 'So this is the rest of my life.' He cried bitter tears for himself and Sirius.
