The Soul Eater: Chapter four
I' m not sure how Arthur Weasley and Snape should fit into the story, Good or Bad? any suggestions would be welcome
"Ah Harry may I have a word with you?" The soul eater asked, a kind smile occupied his face as Harry approached: he stood with a dragon bone cane which had been fashioned to channel magic
"Sure what is it?" Harry asked desperate to get back to Rowena, she had promised him a gift before he left and Harry was left without a shred of doubt what that "gift" would be.
"I wanted to know if you had any more questions" the soul eater asked slowly walking with Harry down one of the many corridor's this place contained
"Yes where is this ? I never asked it during training" Harry stated, he saw a flicker of pride cross the old man's face
"This is my tower Harry, it stands between the dimensions of the enclave and here, I spent many years building and furnishing it, furniture from a thousand years of hard work has found its place in my home. It is also the unity headquarters and many members reside in some of the upper levels, the tower itself has twelve floors each around half a kilometre wide and full of rooms. Libraries, kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms even a pool somewhere." he answered proudly
"Between?" Harry asked still unfamiliar with the prospect of dimensions
"It stands on the edges of both, only those in living world who know the location can come or bring others here and only those who you summon can enter from the enclave" he replied
"Ok, so how old are you" Harry asked, the man had told him stories over the three years of training but had never told him where it all began
"Three Millennia and five years" he answered "I saw humanity from the stone age, feeding on them but then watching as they began to build, trade and speak. I eventually stopped seeing them as prey and instead of beings of beauty beyond my comprehension". The soul eater was saddened by his past but Harry could see how a young mind with no fear or threat could become infatuated by desires of the flesh
"Now I presume you have felt the dryness in your throat?" The soul eater asked suddenly, it was a more a statement than a question but Harry could feel his throat drying and the ever present hunger in his stomach.
"When in Diagon alley you will need to feed, luckily there is a certain arrangement I have with the goblins, whoever tries to break in will be held and given to me. Also anyone trying to harm or torture a goblin is added to the mix. So we will find you a meal and I need to add some finishing touches to my will; seeing as I am supposed to be your Great Grandfather I need to make the right adjustments" The soul eater instructed, a fleeting look of despair passed his face and Harry felt his sympathy for the man he had come to view as a grandfather grow much more. Then the man stopped Harry found himself in a much different corridor to the one he started in, like the others there were portraits but these were different, they were gold rimmed and names and dates were under each, a velvet carpet occupied the floor and a Latin phrases was woven into it. Seeing the confusion and puzzlement on Harry's face the soul eater's face he began
"Members of the unity who fell over the years, each one immortalised by Leonardo Da Vinchi whom I granted Immortality after his discovery of the Templar Savonarola in Florence, he know roams the world seeking to view the great arts, but there is one family whom I would like you to meet". Harry was confused by the man's cryptic words but that fell as he gazed upon the last portrait. A woman with shoulder length red hair and glowing emerald eyes were staring at him from the portrait, next to him a man with black hair was asleep in the corner.
"Mum? Dad" he realised seeing the woman smile at him
"James! wake up, it's Harry " she cried with delight at seeing her son for the first time in 15 years, James asleep jumped a wake, he grinned with pride
"You've grown my boy, I don't believe what a man you've grown into" James told him
"Harry, it's so good to see you. We waited for 15 years for this day, and I want you to know that we both love you and are so proud at the things you have achieved" Lilly said with tears dripping from her emerald eyes
"You were in the unity?" Harry asked shocked at the emotional display
"Yes Harry, we were spies in the order of the phoenix when Dumbledore told us we needed to hide, the unity sent people to protect us but Remus sent them away one night thinking they were arrurors after we made him our secret keeper" Lilly answered, a rage inside Harry suddenly forced its way into his heart
"What!" he shouted "Remus wasn't your secret keeper Wormtail was"
"No we switched as Sirus was to obvious and Wormtail while a lovely man could be confunded or placed under the imperious curse, he said he would pretend it was him but it was really Remus" James informed him
"So Remus betrayed you?" Harry demanded his rage like a inferno blazing in his body
"Yes Harry, Wormtail was a Unity member as he infiltrated the Death Eaters, however Remus placed him under the imperious curse and forced him to obey Voldemort; Remus was a templar and Dumbledore needed you to be alone so Remus under polyjuice told Voldemort everything" Lilly told him trying to soothe his anger.
"I don't believe it" Harry shouted "he taught me the patronus helped Sirus". The soul eater placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder
"I'm afraid it's true, Remus was supposed to be your father figure that year but Sirus got out, Dumbledore told him to help Sirus, Remus thought he was dead but no" James answered "but revenge is for another time we want to know more about our son".
For the next hour Harry told them everything, they were shocked when they found out about the Basilisk and Lilly was furious when she found Dumbledore allowed him to partake in the Triwizard Tournament.
"He's Dead" Lilly shouted more than once in reference to Albus Dumbledore, James grinned enthusiastically when Harry mentioned Rowena while Lilly was beaming that what transpired to be her best friend in the Unity had found herself someone. He was about to mention the training when the pink toad faced witch practically ran into the corridor
"Harry!" she cried out of breath "Sorry to disturb you but the court time has just been changed", Dolores regained herself for a moment
"To when?" The soul eater demanded
"Five Minutes from now" eh panted; Rowena rushed in as well with the Spiky pinked haired Witch Harry had seen at one of the meetings
"Right it's a mess, but we got Lucy with a Dementor team watching the skies, Me and Isran with some knights in the street and we have you Dolores at the ministry with Rowena" She explained quickly
"A lot of security Nymphadora" Harry remarked, remembering her name from the meeting
"DON'T CALL ME THAT" she screeched, her hair flared tomato red and the portraits covered their ears
"Sorry but it's stressful and its Tonks by the way" she explained "anyway it's not for you, it's for him" she pointed at the soul eater
"Dumbledore is not happy that you have a long lost Grandfather and might try something, while powerful he is very weak at the moment" Tonks explained, the soul eater smiled sadly
"Once there was a time where I would be the security now I am in need or protecting" he announced gravely. Dolores checked her watch
"Right lets go, were running late now and a court will not like tardiness" she ordered,
"Okay Harry, Rowena has submitted a document that should get you off, after that she will take you to gringotts and we will meet there" the soul eater told him
"Come on" Dolores insisted changing her appearance into even more of a toad, Harry shouted goodbye to his parents and smiling they waved at him, Harry felt Tonks grab his arm and suddenly he felt like he was being compressed and forced through a rubber tube. He couldn't breathe when suddenly he appeared inside a grand room with ministry officials rushing around trying to get to work
"Harry!" Came the voice of Mr Weasley as the red haired man ran over to greet him,
"Mr Weasley" he breathed regaining some balance after the uncomfortable experience of apparating,
"Well Dumbledore said you might be here, Do you want me to take you down to the courtroom?" has asked beaming, Harry felt a soft hand on his shoulder, with lightening quick reflexes he spun around to see Rowena Ravenclaw pull him into a hug
"I'll see you down there" she whispered lovingly into his ear, then she spun around and ran towards a lift.
Mr Weasley looked mildly surprised at a woman he had never seen before hugging Harry but with a smile he briskly walked towards an elevator that had occupied the room, Harry took a moment and noticed a lot of people were glaring at him, A man selling the daily prophet was shouting something in front of a statue ,Harry didn't have time to listen as Mr Weasley pulled him into a lift
"So Harry good summer?" has asked politely but Harry could tell he was eager for information
"Yeah" Harry replied suddenly nervous about the court, he hadn't had much time to dwell on it but as the lift descended he could feel the magnitude of his situation really set in
"So you met up with a Grandfather?" Mr Weasley pried
"Yeah, I've never met him before because he has been very ill with" Harry paused trying to remember the illness the soul eater had told him to pretend he had "Drakan Fever". Mr Weasley paled slightly
"Ah nasty illness at that, Draken fever, causes sickness, coma, madness, and..." he trailed off not wanting to upset Harry, Harry gave him a sad smile
"I know he's dying, the healers said he won't last longer than the 20th of this month" Harry mumbled with grief already present in his eyes, he felt Arthur Weasley put a hand on his shoulder
"I'm sorry Harry" he said with genuine concern. Harry took a moment to consider, the unity this morning had told him of the alliance between Dumbledore and the Weasley's but none had mentioned Arthur, he made a mental note to ask Rowena when he next got the chance.
"So who was that lady back there?" Mr Weasley asked his messy red hair practically dancing with the lift moving in all directions
"Rowena... Fay, she was my Grandfathers adopted daughter a while ago and happens to be an expert in wizarding law me and her have got along brilliantly" Harry proclaimed a spark in his eye which did not go unnoticed by Mr Weasley, he laughed
"About time you found someone though it does mean I lost the pool" he chuckled, Harry's eyes narrowed
"Me and some friends had a bet going on when you'd find yourself a girlfriend, I bet Hermione, Fillus bet someone called Cho, Minerva bet Ginny strangely as well as Molly and Severus bet someone none of us had ever met, huh won can you believe it" Mr Weasley shook his head, "oh well ten Galleons is ten Galleons". Harry felt strangely violated, people he knew even the teachers were betting on his love life, He knew about Molly and Ginny's plan from Dolores who turned out to be a lot more fun without her toad like appearance on. The lift stopped with a shudder and Harry found himself in a dark room with hallways branching off, Luckily Mr Weasley knew the way and he led Harry down on of the many hallways and to a large wooden door.
"Well this is as far as I can go, good luck in there remember you innocent" he told him. Harry pushed the door open and found himself in the same room as he had seen in the pensive. A chair in the centre of the room surrounded by witches and wizards in scarlet and black robes, in the stand Minister Fudge wearing dark robes glared at him with malice
"You late" boomed a female voice, a woman with parchment was scowling at him
"Sorry I didn't know the time had been changed" he protested trying to ignore the sudden urge to descend his fangs and feast in her soul.
"That is not our fault an owl was sent to you" Fudge hissed, Harry sat down in the wooden chair reserved for prisoners
"You Harry Potter stand accused of performing magic in the presence of a muggle under the age of seventeen, how do you plead" He asked. Suddenly the door was flung open and a familiar dark haired witch walked in, she still looked fifteen and some of the Wizengamot looked confused.
"Subject for defence, Rowena Fay, master in wizarding law under article 218" she shouted at the court. Fudge laughed
"Why would we allow you to represent Mr. potter" he hissed, Rowena smiled darkly
"Under section 13 of wizarding relations those of any age can represent another person if the defendant permits" she remarked. Fudge was taken aback by this and mumbled
"Fine, let's just get this over with, now what story are you going to treat us to today about his use of an unknown spell, a dark wizard, Dementors, goblin attack" , Rowena smiled
"Neither you see this is all a simple misunderstanding" she explained, some of the Wizengamot laughed
"No miss Fay, the trace detected the use of magic" Fudge remarked snidely edging forward in his chair with a smirk
"Actually magic was used but not by Mr Potter" she retaliated wiping the smirk of his face
"Then who did, no witch or wizard lives in the vicinity of my Potter" Madam Bones asked surprised
"Mr Potter's Great Grandfather who recently emerged from a Draken fever induced Coma was eager to spend his last two months with a grandson he didn't know! the records are under that paper miss Bones" Rowena answered. Some of the Wizengamot looked sympathetic at this
"Preposterous" Fudge decided "Potter has no family"
"Actually Minister he does" Madam Bones interrupted suddenly " Mr George Snow Evans, Wizard born 1560" she looked shocked
"Faked!" The minster shouted his face turning purple "Lilly Potter was a muggleborn from a muggle family and there is no chance someone born then could still be alive
"Mr Evans a long time friend of Nicholas Flamel, contracted Draken Fever and 25, seeing his friend in pain my Flamel gave Mr Evans the elixir of life which lowered the effects and made Mr Evans life a much longer life. During that time, wow" Madam Bones remarked looking vaguely impressed
"He never does things without boasting can he" Rowena muttered so only Harry could hear, Harry snickered at this but Fudge's hateful gaze reverted his face back to sincerity.
" Close friend of Pope Julius II, King Henry VIII, Ministry physician, made Lord after his help against Napoleon, Had one squib son due to his illness corrupting the child's magic who then married before giving birth to Mr Daniel Evans Lilly Evans father" Madam Bones finished with admiration rich in her voice. Fudge began to splutter
"Well he may have this amazing grandfather then why wasn't the boy brought up with him?" he asked desperately trying to poke holes in the story
"Fell into a coma in 1960 the last stages of the fever awoke in July this year with approximately two to three months left, he donated three hundred thousand Galleons to research in St Mungos" Madam Bones explained. Rowena took the chance
" As you can see unknown to Mr Evans Harry was not allowed to use magic, when he arrived to greet him he used a magic not documented since the 1600's this would have activated the trace" she explained sweetly. Madam bones looked at Harry
"Well that wraps this up, All those in favour of conviction" she asked. Fudge and another wizard raised his hand,
"Dolores" Fudge spluttered, she shrugged
"Sorry Minister but it does appear to be a misunderstanding" she apologised meekly
"All those in favour of clearing all charges" she proclaimed, herself and the rest of the court raised their hands.
"Cleared" Fudge grumbled as the Wizengamot filed out of the room, Harry leapt from his chair and warmly embraced Rowena
"You are a genius" he complimented hugging her tightly, suddenly the door banged open and the wrinkled face of Albus Dumbledore rushed into the courtroom, he had expected to see a meek Harry intimidated by the magnitude of this situation; what the Templar leader did not expect to see what Harry hugging a girl he had never seen as the Wizengamot filed out of room. n the corner of his eye Harry noticed a small beetle edge its way out of , he sighed realising Rita Skeeter had heard everything, and saw everything but he shrugged and released Rowena.
"Harry" Dumbledore greeted awkwardly extending his hand, Harry shook it with fake warmth
"Hello Professor, what's wrong" Harry asked with false concern
"My boy what happened" Dumbledore demanded calmly, Harry grinned
"Sorry Professor this is Rowena Ray a friend of my Grandfather who managed to get me off the charges" Harry told him proudly,
"What!" Dumbledore asked shock coursing over his face " your Grandfather hired a defence subject?".
"No Rowena is 15 but knew enough to convince all but three people I was innocent" Harry replied innocently. Dumbledore's mouth dropped never in his time as chief Muggawump had someone done that, he decided to change tact
"Where were you this summer Harry, you were safe and Privet Drive and considering the circumstances it was not advisable to lave" he scolded, Harry felt angry at the statement but thought of an answer
"My Great Grandfather took me to his home, it was very well protected with wards Voldemort couldn't get through" Harry told him cheekily
"Were is it?" Dumbledore demanded hoping to stop the boy ever seeing this man again
"Can't tell you it's protected by the fidelius charm" Harry answered quickly. Rowena sensed the tension
"Well Professor if you want to meet Harry's Grandfather George Evans then we will be in Diagon Alley shortly" she told him respectfully, then she grinned
"Now Harry you promised me a dress" she ordered dragging him by the hand out of the room
"Goodbye professor" Harry shouted as Rowena forced him out of the room.
12: Grimmauld Place
"Molly dear, have you seen Severus" Arthur asked, he had just finished his shift and his wife was making a spot of lunch for him, she was smiling as always and had just finished helping Ginny send a gift for Harry.
"No Arthur why?" she asked, Arthur never really spoke to the man and Severus had not kept his dislike of them too secret over the summer.
"Oh I owe him Ten Galleons" Arthur remarked as Ron walked in, he was eating and with a mouthful of chocolate asked
"Why do you own Snape of all people money" he demanded coldly
"He won a bet with me" Arthur explained happily
"What bet?" Molly asked suspicious as she laid a sandwich on the table
"Oh Harry found a girlfriend" he told her, Molly thought
"Who, Ginny!" she suggested hopefully, Ron stamped his foot
"He better keep his hands away from my sister" he stropped
"No its not Ginny" Arthur reassured his son, Molly's eyes widened and he could see anger flicker across her round face
"Then who!" she demanded failing to keep the cold out of her voice
"Nor idea, someone he met over the summer, named Rowena. She was the one that got him off the charges in the Wizengamot" he told her shrugging. From behind him fury came across Molly's face she stormed over the pot and began stirring it, it was time to make some more Amortentia.