Hey this is FrankyJ with another chapter of Fate's Familiar. Sorry to all my loyal fans about the delay but I've been trying to publish a real book. OMG a real book I know. Anyway thank my girlfriend for this chapter cause she's been bugging me about writing one. I've reread this story and realized how many errors there are unfortunately. So if someone would like to beta for me I am in the market for one… now on to a bit of thing a lot of people have seemed to notice the resemblances between this story and A New Life by Silver Aegis. Honestly yes I have read the story and its good but Aegis's story and mine are very different. There are a few similarities like Neville being the boy who lived and the Potter's and Black's having two big families that are very close. As for Neville being the BWL I simply didn't want Harry to be the BWL and thus Neville is the natural next pick. The big families… The Potters I did that way because I wanted Harry to have a large loving family it makes things more interesting and meaningful later on but I don't want to ruin things so I won't say more. Sirius… well he's my favorite character in the series (Fred and George are a very close second) and I want my favorite to have a the best thus the Veela wife (and I have evil things planned that required it again don't want to spoil things). Now if I was Sirius Black and married a Veela I know what I would do every night with her and a big family is sure to follow and again a big happy family will make things more interesting later on. I think those are all the similarities. Thanks for all those that reviewed I like the positive feedback for the guy that simply reviewed saying 'your story sucks' I have a response. 'Well your review sucks even more.' Petty childness aside why does my story suck? Is it the grammar and spelling? The plot? The characters? I don't mind critics but a review with 'your story sucks' isn't exactly critical just a flame. But enough of my ramblings on with the show.
AN #2. I wanted to apologize for the lateness of this chapter, it was supposed to be out months ago but my brother died unexpectedly. The chapter was only half finished and it quite honestly was forgotten with everything that was happening. I appreciate all the kind reviews that expressed interest in the story and disappointment that it was essentially abandoned. They are the only reason I finished this chapter.
Chapter 9
Shepsit watched as Harry breathed slowly breathed in and out. He had just entered a meditative state and was organizing his mind. He was almost done. He only had a few memories that weren't where they were supposed to be except for the trunk that was locked up tight in the hidden room in his mind. She was the one that made the room and the trunk and locked it all. While Harry knew about both he didn't know what memories where hidden inside because he wasn't ready for them yet. The last time Harry tried to open the trunk he mind shut down again. That was two years ago when he accessed his mind in a dream. All he remembered of the incident was a scream, a howl of pain, and a lot of blood. More blood than a person should ever see in a month. Harry was currently looking at the entrance to the hidden room in his mindscape. It was a black wall that looked like the rest of the walls in his mind. A mind modeled after his house the place he knew the most inside and out.
Shepsit reach out to his mind through the bond they shared "Not today child."
"I'm not ready for it am I?" Harry asked back he was frightened but curious as to what the memories held. Frightened because he knew that once he saw them he would never be the same. It was easy to lock them up and hide them when he was young and his mind was in such a weak state but now his mind would have to be permanently scared to hide the memories. His whole mindscape would have to be ripped apart until there was no more order but that would also ruin his mind. No once he opened the trunk, once he remembered, he wouldn't be able to forget. "Maybe just a look a small insight so I can prepare myself."
"If that is what you wish." Shepsit said reluctantly. "Just remember one you open that path there is no going back."
"I know." Harry said as he steeled himself for what he was about to see. He stepped through the wall and into the room. The trunk sat there innocently as Harry looked at it. He took one breath to fortify himself and touched the top. Memories assaulted him as soon as his hand made contact.
A dark night lit by the full moon. Screams of pain. A name. Michael. Shadows darting across the forest. Maiming, killing, and shedding blood. A seven year old Harry standing with lifeless eyes blood strewn across his face.
Harry pulled his hand back with jerk. Going over the flashes that he saw trying to understand he started to return to the real world. Shepsit stared at him as he blinked. "I'm going to bed." He told Shepsit in Parseltongue.
The images assaulted Harry's mind as he slept that night. The next morning Harry barely got out of bed well past when he normally got up to exercise. Shepsit was sleeping on the warmest part of the bed and Harry moved the covers back over her to make sure it remained warm. He stretched letting out a large yawn before heading to the shower to get ready for the day.
It took Harry until he finished his shower that he remembered it was Christmas. Bracing himself for what was bound to be a hectic day he headed to the kitchen where his mom would be making breakfast. Grabbing a knife he silently went to work cutting ingredients while his mother bustled about the kitchen. She spared him a brief smile and a good morning before once again she was once again absorbed by the art of cooking. Annamarie kept telling her to use magic to make things easier but Lily would insist that it wouldn't taste as good if she did that. With breakfast finished Harry called in the family from the living room. The children were quick to food but James lagged behind a little.
"You alright son?" His father asked with a concerned look in his eye. "You look like you've had a rough night."
Harry sighed and rubbed his eyes some he should have known his father would know something was up. As an seasoned Auror and one that lived through a war James Potter rarely missed much. "I saw some pieces of the memory."
James immediately stiffened as he knew exactly which memory Harry was referring to. "How much?"
"Not much the memories are too scattered and don't make sense. Just images. A full moon, lots of blood, I could smell it. I could practically taste the blood in the air."
"There was a lot of blood that night," James commented not sure what to say. Harry was lucky he was permanently scarred from what had happened. The mind healers had even predicted that he might become a sociopath if his memories hadn't been suppressed by Shepsit. Another reason to be thankful for the familiar. "Well if you have questions I'll do my best to answer them Harry. Your mother doesn't want you remembering that night but you were changed by it. You've been more mature since it happened whether you know it or not."
"Thanks dad. I know mom is worried but I'm going to need to remember eventually and I'm being careful"
"I know, you're always doing the smart thing," James said with a smile has he ruffled his son's hair. "Now enough of the serious stuff let's go get some food before the Blacks get here. Merlin knows there won't be any left once they're here."
Harry and James had barely had time to get plates before the Blacks had arrived. They two family exchanged gifts and Harry made out with some advanced books, sweets, and a copy of his mother's charms journal and his father's transfiguration journal from when they graduated Hogwarts. They had promised all of their children copies when they went to school. Secretly Sirius gave him a journal of different pranks the Marauders had pulled with an incredible amount details about the how each was set up, their effectiveness, and the punishments if they were caught which was more often than not.
"Now I expect you to add to that journal when you go back to school," Sirius said with a smirk. "You are in charge of documenting all pranks from future Marauders until you graduate as the oldest. We had Remus do that part back in school. It really helps when you're trying to learn from your mistakes."
Harry smiled "So if any Blacks or Potters pull a prank I need to know about it to document it?"
"There are a few exceptions to that rule but for the most part, yes you have been given the job of Prank Improvement and Documentation." Sirius said with a very serious expression that he didn't usually wear. "Just be sure not to let anyone get that besides a Marauder."
Harry's face grew grave as he snapped to attention and saluted his Uncle. "Yes sir, I humbly accept this position."
"Atta boy," Sirius said returning the salute. "Now let's put that Sirius aside and bring out a different serious topic."
Harry groaned at the bad pun but couldn't stop a small smile. "Seriously?"
"No Sirius Black, but if you see Sirius Lee tell him I say hello," Sirius couldn't help but smirk even more as he joked with his nephew. "Joking aside your dad says you remember some of that night."
"Yeah nothing substantial. Shepsit was worried I wouldn't be able to handle it and to be honest so am I with what little I've seen." His face was grave and was becoming pale as the images flashed before his eyes. "But I have this feeling like I need to know what happened."
Sirius nodded especially grave as he remembered that night years ago. "It was a terrible night. One that I wish I didn't have to remember. We're all just glad you're alright after everything that happened."
"I know Uncle Sirius. I'll be careful, I promise."
"Of course you will. You wouldn't be the young man we all love if you weren't."
o-o
Harry waved to his family has a he got back on train to Hogwarts. He started to walk along the corridor to find the compartment his friends were in. The Winter Break had been good and he had used the time to study different spells that his parents had said were especially useful in their journals.
"I'm telling you it's Snape that's going after whatever that monstrous dog is guarding," A voice he knew he recognized practically shouted from a compartment that he was just passing. Harry paused for a moment trying to decide whether to listen or not.
"Shhhh, quiet Ron. No need to yell we believe you," A voice that must have been Longbottom said. "I saw the cuts on his leg after the Troll was found. Three claw marks that definitely came from a giant animal probably that Cerberus we saw on the third floor."
Harry blinked as he heard that. A Cerberus on the third floor? Was that supposed to be the painful death that Dumbledore had warned the school about? They were notorious guards as they are hardly ever caught by surprise and were fearsome creatures.
"Let's just focus on figuring out what it is that that monster is guarding and tell Dumbledore so he can fire the greasy bat before he steals something valuable."
"What about the pain that you got in your scar when Professor Quirrell was near?" A new voice asked. Probably Seamus Finnegan based on the Irish accent.
"You think he could steal something from Dumbledore?" Ron asked. "That man can't speak let alone steal something especially from Dumbledore."
"I was just sayin'," The Irish boy said defensively.
Harry had started to move on at that point thinking on the issue. There was no way that Professor Snape would try to steal something from Hogwarts. He had been teaching at the school for so long by that point it would be unlikely he would risk getting fired or more importantly the obstacles that protected the prize. But what about Quirrell? Wasn't he new this year? Either way there was no way Dumbledore would have just a Cerberus guarding something valuable there had to be more things as well.
"Harry!" Some called causing him to snap out of his train of thoughts. Looking up he saw Susan Bones waving at him from a compartment a few doors down. "I thought that was you I saw."
"Hey Susan, how was your break?"
"It was good. Thanks for the sweets. I wasn't exactly expecting anything from you." Susan said a little embarrassed that she hadn't gotten anything for him.
"Of course I'd give you something," Harry said with an easy smile. "We are friends aren't we?"
He was rewarded with a smile as he waved off her concerns. "I usually get a ton of stuff from my family for Christmas so you shouldn't worry about getting stuff for me."
"Anyway would you like to come in to our compartment we've got plenty of room for a few people if you're already sitting with the others."
"Sure, why not?" Harry said as he waved to the Hufflepuffs in the compartment.
o-o
The journey to Hogwarts went well as Harry's worries melted to the background. It was amazing what good friends and nice company can do for a person's problems. By the time Hermione and Padma and joined the group Harry had reacquainted himself with several Hufflepuffs and before he knew it was standing in front of his bed preparing for bed. Shepsit had stealthily slithered into the bed as she claimed her usual place on the bed.
Harry looked at his reflection after he finished cleaning his teeth. He sighed tiredly as the images of the memory once again flashed over his eyes followed by what had happened with the troll. Both memories felt as if they had some connection he was missing but he couldn't put his finger on it. He sighed again as he turned and headed for bed. He really needed to learn not to stress about these things it couldn't be healthy.
Harry once again found himself waking up with Shepsit threatening to bite him. Apparently his break from his morning torture was over. Harry didn't bother looking at the clock because quite frankly right now he didn't want to even think about how early it was in the morning. As Harry made his over the Come and Go Room he heard a yelp from around the corridor. Silencing his feet he quickly moved over to the end of the corridor and peered around the corner. There were two figures one pinning the other against the wall half way down the hall. In the dim light it look like Professor Snape was holding Professor Quirrell against the wall.
"You're up early," Snape said with a snarl. "Or is it late? Spend the night trying to get something valuable?"
"I was just taking a break from grading papers," The other professor stuttered out. "I was busy during the Holiday Break and only just got to those seventh year assignments that were due before break."
"A likely story," Professor Snape drawled. "I'm watching you Quirrell. So I would advise you not to do anything idiotic."
"Oh, yes, of course," Quirrell stuttered out. Snape released his hold on the shaking man, snarled, and walked away. Once he was out of sight around the corner on the other end of the hallway Quirrel's expression turned into a snarl. His posture shifted as he stood up taller, his muscles loose and relaxed like a trained fighter. "I so want to kill him… Yes of course Master… He will not be an issue… I wouldn't trust… Of course Master I live only to serve."
With that the normally stuttered man walked away. His posture slowly shifting back to the slouched over position he could normally be seen in. His hands going to his chest as his whole body tried to move into himself.
Harry pulled his head back from around the corner he was spying at. He slowly walked to the entrance of the Come and Go room with his chin resting on his hand as a finger idly tapped against his lips. "Interesting," the boy said as his eyes glazed over in thought while he began his morning workout.
A/N I know it's not much but I hope you enjoyed it.
