A huge storm hit my town and I had no power for four days!! Luckily, I wrote half of this prior to said storm. I shall begin the next chapter of The Facade of Innocence next, I think.
A Mother's Love
By Koinaka
"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love."
Hamlet. ACT II Sc. 2.
Chapter Nine
In which Kallias does the unexpected -- or perhaps not so unexpected
Kallias stared at the spot where Malfoy had stood not seconds ago for a long moment. The envelope still unopened in his hand. Lord Voldemort... the man the night before had been Lord Voldemort. It was unexpected. To be honest,he'd never really thought about the man who preferred to refer to himself as the Dark Lord Voldemort. Though, he expected... well, he wasn't certain what he had expected, but it certainly wasn't that the man responsible for hundreds of deaths would be quite so attractive. And powerful... yes, yes, he was certainly that. The sort of power Kallias always sought in his partners, even unconsciously. Never had he bedded a muggle though he had had plenty of opportunities to do so and plenty of muggle friends. No, he was always drawn to those with power. Perhaps that was because he could feel it so acutely.
"Mr. Prince?" queried a voice from behind him, snapping Kallias out of his thoughts. He spun around to find the werewolf, Remus Lupin. There was a gasp. "What happened?" asked the man, indicating Kallias's face.
Kallias smiled, a bitter smile, shoving the envelope in his pocket while he did so. "Nothing," he said. "My cousin and I had a bit of a disagreement. It's nothing. What can I do for you, Professor?"
"The headmaster sent me to find you," Lupin said. He gave Kallias a small apologetic smile. "He wishes to speak to you, in his office, so, if you would follow me, I'm to take you there."
A sigh escaped his lips. "I'd really rather not," he said, tightly. Taking to Albus Dumbledore was not very high on his list of priorities. In fact, it wasn't on there at all.
"Yes, he did say you would not be pleased, but the truth is, you haven't a choice. Now, come along," the werewolf continued, his voice still polite to a fault.
Scowling, Kallias did as he was bade -- for now, at least. His curiosity always had been a dangerous thing. No doubt it would continue to prove so now.
The headmaster was not alone in his office. Severus and Sirius both stood off to the side, glaring hatefully at one another. Lupin, once there, remained. He moved to stand next to Sirius, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Ah, my boy," said Dumbledore, smiling brightly. "Won't you have a seat?"
"I'd rather stand," Kallias replied, his eyes sweeping over the conglomerate before him. Severus met his gaze, wincing at the bruise that marred his cheek. Kallias arched an eyebrow at the man. If he was unhappy with seeing his handiwork, he ought not mar Kallias in the future.
"As you wish," Dumbledore said. "Now, I'm sure you are quite curious as to why I've called this meeting, of sorts. You see, your true parentage and identity has come to our attention."
Kallias sneered at Severus. "How... surprising, or rather not surprising, considering. What of it?"
"This changes a great number of things, I'm sure you are aware of this," replied Dumbledore.
"I am not," Kallias said. "As I've told Severus, for me, it changes nothing. My father, Severus Prince, is dead. I've no need for another. Even if he were alive, I'm of age. Therefore, there is no question of custody to be answered. Beyond that, I see no reason that my identity -- or parentage -- would be any of your concern, as my Headmaster, which is -- of course -- the only role you play in my life."
Dumbledore's expression turned grave. "Your mother," he began before Kallias cut him off, firmly.
"My mother wished for Severus Snape to never know he had a son."
"-- did a very dangerous thing," Dumbledore finished, as if Kallias had not spoken. "She put not only you, but a number of other people in danger by spiriting you away in that manner. Not only did she put you in danger, but she took you away from those that loved you -- that love you still," he said, motioning towards Sirius and Lupin. "Sirius is your godfather, and Remus was dear friends with your mother and James."
Kallias shrugged. That at least explained why Sirius wouldn't meet his eye. For Merlin's sake, it wasn't as if they were truly related. Were all Brits as melodramatic as the ones he'd run across? For his sanity, he hoped not. "I, for one, am glad she did what she did. If she had not spirited me away -- as you so call it -- I would be dead now, would I not? Killed in the very same attack that killed them both, more than likely."
Dumbledore protested at once. "There's no evidence of that. It's very likely that the prophecy would have enabled you to survive the attack."
An ebony eyebrow rose. "Is it? And did the prophecy save Neville Longbottom as well?" Silence followed this question. "It matters not," he continued undeterred, "As it seems we shall never know the truth of it now, and it serves no purpose to contemplate any alternative conclusion. The truth of the matter, as you all know, is that my mother did what she thought best, and it has enabled me to live a life that, until now, I enjoyed rather immensely."
"Do you agree with your mother's actions, then?" asked Dumbledore.
"Why does it matter if I agree with her or not? What's done is done. I grew up with Severus Prince, and I am better for it. Whatever I wanted, I had. The best tutors, the best caretakers, the best of everything. I wanted for nothing."
"There is more to life, Harry, than material possessions."
Kallias's eyes narrowed dangerously. "My name is not Harry Potter, and I will not be referred to as such," he hissed.
A frown appeared on Dumbledore's face. "As you wish, Kallias. Despite your happy childhood, your mother did a terrible thing. She took your destiny away from you, took you away when the world had need of you. However, it is as you say. What's done is done. It's useless to wonder what could have been. You are back where you belong now," finished Dumbledore, quietly. "Will you do what needs to be done? Will you accept your destiny? Do what only you can do and rid the world of Voldemort?"
Kallias laughed, then. He threw his head back and laughed. "You're mad," he said. "You speak of prophecy as if it were fact. It is not. Come now, Headmaster, you are a brilliant man, one of the most powerful wizards of the age. Surely, surely, you do not give credence to this madness!"
Dumbledore's frown became more pronounced. "I certainly do," said he, emphatically. "More importantly, Voldemort believes in it -- implicitly. You would be foolish to not take heed."
Kallias exhaled exasperatedly. "I would be foolish to not take heed?" he repeated.
Dumbledore nodded.
"Then a fool I am because I will not compromise in this. Your prophecy -- if ever there was such a thing -- has been fulfilled by little Neville Longbottom all those long years ago. Once upon a November evening... isn't that the way the stories go? This is not my war," he said, firmly. "This is not my war," he repeated when it looked as if Dumbledore would protest further. "And, it is highly inappropriate for a headmaster of a school to conduct affairs of war on the ground of what is supposed to be an impartial institute of learning ----- with a student no less. Especially if this includes attempts at emotional blackmail and coercion. Please remember this in the future because I'll not warn you again, and I feel quite certain that the highly qualified Board of Governors that Hogwarts so often boasts of would be very interested in discovering what is going on behind the gates of their dear school. Now, I'll assume this meeting is at an end, if you've nothing further to say to me -- and by further, I mean if you've nothing to discuss that does not include my parentage, my identity or my involvement in your war."
The men in the room were dumbfounded to say the least. A satisfied smirk spread across Kallias's face at this. Raphi had always made sure that Kallias was made aware of any law that might be beneficial to him.
After a moment of silence, Dumbledore inclined his head. "You may leave," he said, simply.
Kallias inclined his head in return and left the room. Not, however, before hearing Sirius curse, Severus sigh, and Dumbledore say , "This is going to be a problem."
Kallias wandered about the castle, learning the various passage ways, and observing the students -- unseen -- for several hours before heading for his Apprentice Master's quarters. The castle was just as he'd always known it would be. When he was a child, Kallias had been fascinated by the castle. He swore to go there, but chose -- at the last minute -- to attend the Conservatorio instead. He didn't regret that decision. Sade threw the door open before Kallias could knock, and Kallias scarcely had time to draw a breath before he was being dragged inside.
"You stupid, foolish, reckless boy," snarled the man, angrily. "Have you no sense in that pretty head of yours?"
Kallias glared. "Unhand me," he snarled. "I'll not be manhandled anymore today."
It was then that Sade noticed Kallias's cheek. He frowned and grabbed a small package off of a table. "Potion Master Snape brought this for you. He said it would help with the bruising. He came with Albus Dumbledore to discuss the meeting they'd had with you -- along with this." He pushed the morning issue of the Prophet into his arms. The front page contained a picture of Malfoy sitting at a table -- his companion nowhere in sight -- as Kallias said goodbye to him. Of course, Kallias wasn't alone in the picture. Ralphi was embracing him from behind and murmuring in his ear.
An exhausted sigh escaped from his lips. "Merlin, I haven't the energy to deal with this today."
Sade shook his head, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "And how was your meeting with the headmaster?"
Kallias snorted before falling gracefully onto an overstuffed armchair, sighing heavily as he sank into the cushions. "Meeting? Not any meeting I've ever had with a professor. It was more of a call to arms, if you will. I somehow doubt it will be the last such meeting. Albus Dumbledore, I believe, is quite a persistent man. It matter's not, however. I'll not change my mind. I'm confused as to why he brought our meeting to your attention. You're not my guardian."
Sade grunted in what Kallias assumed to be agreement. "Be that as it may, I am your Apprentice Master. Therefore it is customary to relay such information to me -- as it pertains, at least in theory to your education. It's been decided that as the holidays are upon the students in the very near future, you aren't to join classes until after. However, you will report to me after breakfast tomorrow, Kallias. Unless, of course, you don't wish to see what I have for you -- or, I should say, what came for you from one N. Flamel."
Kallias gasped throwing himself out of the chair. "Did he send it? Truly?"
Sade shrugged. "I haven't the slightest. Be on time tomorrow, and you shall discover it yourself. Now, off with you."
"Can't I stay here awhile? I've no desire to return to the dormitory tonight," asked Kallias.
Sade let out a very put upon sigh before nodding. "I had the Headmaster add a room onto my quarters in case you should ever have need of it. And, Kallias, you would be wise not to take any man such as Albus Dumbledore on in the future. He is a powerful man and should not be trifled with."
Kallias waved his hands dismissively at Sade and gave the man an indulgent smile before sprinting to the empty room. Kallias was so thrilled by the news Sade had given him, he'd nearly forgotten the letter in his pocket. You see, Kallias wished to be an alchemist. Ever since he was a boy, Kallias had been utterly fascinated with transmutation. There were no more practicing alchemists in the wizarding world, however, as Nicholas Flamel, being the only surviving one, was much too weak to practice any more. Kallias had been in correspondence with the Flamels for several years. Had Nicholas Flamel been any healthier, he felt quite certain that he would be apprenticing with Nicholas and not Sade. However, Sade was a very proficient potions master, and Kallias had a head for potions even if his heart was in alchemy, so it was by no means a waste of his time.
The package in question could only be one thing. Nicholas's time on earth was drawing near, and for quite some time, Kallias had been attempting to persuade Nicholas to bequeath to him his notes. It seemed such a waste for all of that knowledge to be lost. Nicholas had, naturally, been wary, but it seemed as if he had changed his mind. Kallias was glad for it.
When Kallias was safely tucked away into the spare bedroom -- and by tucked away, he meant sprawled haphazardly across the bed contained within -- he pulled the envelope in.
A rich green ink announced its author on the front of the envelope. The letter -- if it could rightly be called that -- itself was written in the same green ink. And by letter, of course, he meant the one sentence of elegant calligraphy the paper contained.
Saturday evening 8:00 p.m. at the Three Broomsticks.
A meeting -- he had a meeting with the Dark Lord.
He thought of nothing else until dinner.
Dinner was a silent terse affair. Obviously the Slytherins -- Draco Malfoy, most of all -- were none too pleased about him gracing the front page with Lucius and Ralphi if the glares they shot at him were any indication. He cared very little for their displeasure or their photographs. He could have lived without the article, which contained wild speculation about whether or not Narcissa Malfoy approved of their affair and if he was ending things with Ralphi. Was there a love triangle in place? What would that mean for British politics? And so on and so forth.
Kallias wasn't bothered by it, really. He had no qualms about being involved with a married man. Not that he was involved with Malfoy, mind, but still. Ralphi was married, after all, and had been some twenty years now. Of course, he'd married not for love but for the production of an heir. He was the true reason Kallias refused to budge on the marriage issue. Until Kallias came along, Ralphi had led a mostly empty life -- romantically, at least. He'd seen that he and his wife had the needed heir -- along with the two daughters that came before the heir -- but afterwards, he'd moved into a suite in the opposite wing. They didn't speak of it often -- or at all -- but Kallias knew that he could not bring himself to keep up such a facade! If ever he married, it would be for love -- a burning, passionate, intense love that would consume him from the inside. Until then, he would settle for what he had now.
However, it seemed as if Little Malfoy and his sidekicks -- two rather large, dull-looking boys -- had decided to take matters in their own hands and accost him after dinner as he was walking to the Slytherin dorm.
"Stay away from my father, Prince," snarled the red-faced blonde.
Kallias arched an eyebrow. "Or?" he queried.
Malfoy shook his wand in Kallias's face. "Or I'll hex you!"
Kallias sighed. "Alright, then, if your mind's set on it. I suppose I could oblige you -- if, of course, you've the skills to do so."
Another snarl erupted from the Malfoy heir as he opened his mouth to speak, but Kallias wasn't through speaking.
"But I do feel honor bound to tell you that if you do hex me, I shall, in return, hex you. So, if you're keen on having children in the future I would rethink your options. Because I would really hate to render you childless -- and end the Malfoy line so prettily -- but I would." Kallias tapped his chin with a long slender finger. "Of course, it mightn't work at all, I can't say as I've never used it. Shall we assume dueling positions, then?"
Malfoy was a rather unattractive shade of puce. "We'll finish this later," he hissed and stalked off with his two friends, for lack of a better word, following behind him.
It was then that Kallias noticed the audience peering curiously at him. His eyes swept over them. The majority of them wore the Gryffindor emblem on their sweaters. He smiled to himself. He had a mind to speak to a certain Gryffindor.
"Well," he drawled. "Aren't you going to introduce yourselves to me or not?"
"But... but... you're a Slytherin," said a red-haired boy, confusedly.
"So I am," agreed Kallias, whole-heartedly. "Is it in the bylaws that Gryffindors aren't to associate with Slytherins?"
"No," another boy, with a thick Irish brogue, spoke up.
"Then, I believe an introduction is in order. You see, I've not found the Slytherins to be a particularly friendly sort. I'd hoped you would be more friendly, but I can see I'm wasting my time here. Good day," Kallias finished with a nod of his head.
"Wait!" called out a girl with bushy hair.
Kallias turned, arching an ebony eyebrow. "Is it true that Il Conservatorio di Magio has a library four times the size with books dating back to nearly 10,000 b.c.?"
The crowd of boys groaned as Kallias nodded his head slowly. "It is."
She beamed happily. "Hermione Granger," she said, putting out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."