Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, except the plot. All characters and names are copyrighted to J.K Rowling, and Raincoast Books
A/N: I'm not dead! I'd put up this chappie on LJ but forgot to do it here! So, here's the third! Fourth will be up soon!
Chapter Three: A Deal Struck.
Remus awoke the next morning with a pounding headache. His muscles pulled in protest as he tried to shift his body into a more comfortable position. It only took a few seconds to realize where he was. His eyes flew open, only to meet a blurred vision of a cream coloured carpet. Bringing his head up, he stared at the mantle, and immediately regretted it.
His head was swimming, and his eyes burned as he blinked continuously, a slow feeling of nausea building in his stomach. He laid back down, his body aching, and slowly tried to work out the kinks in his body. 'How long have I been here?' he thought in frustration.
Rubbing his eyes, he managed to stand up, refusing to look at the picture that had tormented him so much the night before. Shutting the door to the den behind him, he headed down the hallway and entered the lonely kitchen. Grumbling, he walked over to the cupboards. As he opened the doors, searching in vain for something to eat, a sharp, snide voice sounded from behind him, causing him to jump around.
"Ah, so you're finally awake?"
The Wolf blinked, and smiled sheepishly. "How long have you been here?"
Severus Snape smirked. "Roughly an hour. I found you lying rather…ungracefully…on the den floor-" Remus blushed crimson, "-but figured you needed your beauty sleep." The Potion Master's smirk widened and his eyes sparkled sarcastically.
Remus narrowed his eyes at him. "Why are you here, Severus?" He rubbed his face and pulled out a dusty chair, sitting down.
Obsidian eyes took in the tired man, and he released a bitter sigh. "I am here on behalf of Dumbledore. As he couldn't be here himself, he wanted me to break the news. Apparently, a simple owl was not good enough."
Remus eyed him warily. "What news?"
The darker man still had not sat down, but stood rigid, his hands clasped in front of him. He was always so precise. "The Headmaster is beginning to…er…wonder about his previous judgment considering Potter's stay with his muggle relatives."
Remus ears twitched. "What do you mean?"
Snape glowered at having been interrupted. "I mean that Dumbledore has decided that Potter will spend the first two weeks of summer vacation with the muggles, but after that required length of time, he will be handed over into your care-"
"But that's wonderful!" Remus blurted, ignoring the growl that came from the other man at having been interrupted again. The Wolf paused for a split second, a frown creasing his brow. "But I highly doubt that Harry would agree to that…to this…" He waved his arms around, indicating the house he was currently occupying.
"Yes, I know. Perhaps, if you let me finish what I'm saying, while I am in fact trying to say it, you will actually hear it." He sneered vehemently. "Now, we come to the part I know you will not like…Leave it to Dumbledore to have me tell you…" He sighed heavily, his expression cooling, but Remus glared at him apprehensively. "Dumbledore has already speculated that Harry will refuse to be brought to his godfather's old home, and has decided on an alternative housing for the two of you to live in until the coming school year. And don't look at me like that, he knows that it must be a very safe place for Harry to stay, and, I assure you, it is. Nonetheless, he has requested that you both decide on a Secret-Keeper for added protection. Now…I'm afraid that you are not going to like the place that Dumbledore has chosen, not that you really have a choice…" He trailed off, eyeing the Wolf warily in turn. "I am afraid that you and Potter are going to have to stay at your family's old manor house."
Remus gulped. Could his life get any worse?
The man who called himself Jarg sat patiently on a small stool near the fireplace. His cold eyes slowly travelled the length of the room, taking in the plush green carpet, and the dark green snake curled by the fire, blending almost perfectly with it's surroundings.
Jarg's dark eyes captured those of the snake, red, and cruel. A low hiss was emitted and the large, green-brown head lifted dangerously, posed to strike if need be. The man merely chuckled, and spread his legs out before him.
The light of the fire shone brilliantly against a gold ring on the middle finger of his right hand. Embedded in the middle was an odd, orange gem, the flames making it swirl like fire itself. Other than that, it was plain.
Jarg himself seemed a tall man, his hair heavy around his shoulders, coarse and dark brown. A small nose made him seem timid, contradicting the sharp cheekbones and stiff air. Despite his seemingly plain features, the simple presence of this man, dressed in nothing but a black coat and dark brown pants, drew any bystanders to their knees. He commanded attention, cold and unforgiving.
He sat placidly, ignoring the wary snake, letting his eyes rest on the door, for which he was waiting to open. Growing impatient he stood, glaring vehemently at the open windows to his right. In a bout of irritation, he rapidly cracked his neck and grabbed a glass paper weight off the desk. He hurled it at the fire, and grinned as it shattered, tiny crystal shards dancing in the flames.
Destruction was sweet.
The door behind him creaked, and he turned, watching as a squat man with watery eyes edged into the room. "The Master is ready to see you now, sir." He gave a deep, shaky bow, and stepped backwards out the door, never once looking up to see Jarg's face.
A cruel smile widened as a tall, gaunt figure of a man entered, hood drawn back to reveal what look to be a skull carrying blood red eyes, so white was the skin that drew tight across the bones. The man walked until he was directly in front of Jarg, kneeling in a sign of submission at his feet.
"Somnio Abulans, may my breath carry you to ascension." Hands that were mostly bone rested against the skull.
Jarg watched this creature with cold intent. "Somniator, may my waters wash away your sin. Rise, child."
If this proud creature had any objection to being called 'child' he showed it not, as he rose once more to his feet, though his eyes never met that of the other man. Jarg sat back down in the chair, indicating that the other was to remain standing. "I know you, Thomas Marvolo Riddle. How long have you been hiding here, from the light? No better than that rat that serves you."
"My Lord, I did not request you here to banter."
Jarg's fist cleched on the arm of the chair. "Nor did I agree to this meeting to be contradicted. While you are with me, I am the Master, not Tom."
A head was bowed. "Yes, Master."
"Now tell me, why did you see fit to call me to this…place?"
Ah, solid ground. "You know of my future goals, yes?"
"Ah, of course. It is hard not to know you, these days. I am quite familiar with your child's play…This…Massacre that you have deemed fit. How many more shall you kill and leave to waste?"
He winced. "I…My Lord, we are…There are reports that the Order of the Phoenix has…"
He took a deep breath. "I am losing strength, My Lord."
Jarg smiled sharply. "A proud man may gloat in his strength, but a wise man admits that he has none."
"Thank you, My Lord. I have brought you here, however, to propose a pact. My forces are going under, and my most loyal followers are losing heart. The Giants have been an awesome asset, as well as the Dementors, but the Merpeople have refused my offer of a truce. I…I have brought you here to ask you for your help."
Jarg gave a cold, hard laugh. "And why, pray tell, would I help a silly little school boy like you?"
That was it for Tom. He lashed out. "That is enough! You are a guest here, in my home, and I will not have you treat me in such a manner! I am a Lord! A God among men!"
Jarg rose and descended upon the skeletal creature. "You are a mess. A shell of what you could have been. Look at you! Worthless! Wizard's think they are above all else, but who was here first!? I was writing scriptures eons before you screamed your first words, swallowed in your petulant mother's afterbirth!
"Do not speak up to me, boy! You are naught but a weasel, trying to crawl your way past the Hawk! My beak is sharp, my bite is worse!"
Tom cowered. "I…I am sorry, My Lord. It is not my place, forgive me…"
Jarg cocked an eyebrow. "I am merciful, so I shall let it slide this once. Now, tell me, if I agree to this pact, what will be in it for me?"
The other man wrung his hands nervously. "What is it that you would desire, Lord?"
Jarg watched the man intently, waging his options. His face was blank, but his eyes burned with a wicked intensity. "Your immortal soul."
Tom paled considerably, but held his head high, attempting to control his shaking.
"Done." He hoped he would not regret it.
A sharp rat-a-tat-tat sounded against Harry's bedroom window, and Hedwig gave a soft cry of excitement, her feathers ruffling happily, and she hopped out the door of her open cage to land on Harry's bed. She leaned over and softly nipped Harry's nose, rousting him from his dreamless slumber.
Harry groaned, rubbing his head tiredly. When he saw the cause of his sudden wake, he reach a tired hand out to her and clumsily stroked her feathers, as he blinked groggily.
"Wha…?" Hedwig hopped up and down excitedly, before taking flight and landing on the windowsill, where a handsome golden eagle-owl rested, waiting to be let in, a yellowed parchment attached to a leather thong around it's leg.
Harry rubbed his bleary eyes, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and making his way over to the windowsill. As soon as he pushed up on the window to let the bird in, it flew directly past him, only to land next to Hedwig, where she was now sitting on his desk. The newcomer twittered happily, and nudged Hedwig with his beak. The snowy owl ruffled her feathers indignantly, though she playfully nipped him back. Harry cocked an eyebrow. Does Hedwig have a crush?
He did not recognize the bird, but he certainly recognized the handwriting that graced the parchment envelope.
Professor Lupin!
He untied it excitedly, happy to receive correspondence from his favourite teacher, and now close friend. He broke the wax seal, and withdrew the whiter, cleaner parchment within, also graced with the shining, metallic gold ink.
Dear Harry,
I have sent Toby with this letter as a means of asking you a very important question.
Professor Dumbledore has sent word that he wishes you to be safely removed from Number 4 Privet Drive two weeks into your summer vacation, and to be placed elsewhere with a guardian for the remainder of the summer.
If this is of no objection to you, then you must be informed of the details.
I will be your guardian, and you will have to spend the rest of the summer alone with me, you as my charge. We will not be staying at Grimmauld Place, and instead will be relocated to another premises near the coast of Wales.
Because of the secrecy and extreme protection needed, you will not be allowed to see any of your friends, or send letters. We will also need to decide on a Secret-Keeper for our new home, as an extra precaution.
If you are alright with this decision, please send word back immediately.
Yours Truly,
Remus J. Lupin.
Harry stared, open-mouthed at the letter, attempting to take it all in. Then, a wide smile broke out over his face.
In less then a week, he could be free from the Dursley's forever!
Not being able to contact his friends was a bit worrisome to Harry, but he revelled in the fact that it would be Professor Lupin that would be his Guardian throughout the summer. Lupin was a tie to his parents, his Godfather…He was a good man, a friend, and Harry had no objections whatsoever to being able to have more quality time with the wolf.
He opened an ink bottle, and dipped an overused quill into the liquid, laying a blank piece of parchment out on the table. The quill scratched against the material as he wrote back messily.
Professor Lupin,
I wont mind it at all. In fact, I'm looking forward to it! When will you be coming to pick me up?
I think Hermione would make a good Secret-Keeper…But I'd like to hear your input.
Sincerely,
Harry J. Potter.
Harry slipped the letter into the envelope, and tied it to the leather thong on Toby's leg. He stroked a pale, slender hand along the male bird's soft, golden feathers, before pointing him towards the now opened window.
"Go on," He said softly, "It's time to go. Take this back to Professor Lupin for me, will you?"
The bird hooted softly, nuzzling Hedwig one last time before it took flight and soared out through the window. Harry paused for a few minutes, watching it disappear, before shutting the pane once more.
Soon…Soon I shall be going home…