Chapter 10
Chapter 10
"The Woven Ring"
As he always did when he saw the wound, Remus closed his eyes tightly for a moment. Beneath his hands, Sirius tensed, his voice muffled.
"Is it really that bad?" For the first time since Remus had met him, he sensed self-consciousness in Sirius's voice.
"No! Of course not, Siri. It's very rugged looking. When it's healed up, I imagine it will be quite a scar to show off to the ladies," Remus placated teasingly, absently curling his fingers in the long hair at the back of Sirius's neck. "I pause every time I see it because it just overwhelms me that someone would risk their life for me. It…it would have been a waste."
"Remus, love, you're pulling my hair. I'm in enough pain as it is."
"Oh, sorry," Remus detangled his fingers and moved to get up, but Sirius placed a hand on his leg to stop him.
"Darling, it wouldn't have been a waste. You're the most beautiful man I've ever met. You know I'm hopelessly in love with you." Remus smiled despite himself and sat back down on the bed, this time more relaxed and comfortable.
"We've only known each other for a few weeks. You can't love me already," Remus said, trying to be sensible.
"How many weeks do I have to wait before I can be in love with you?" Sirius asked, turning his head on the pillow and looking for all the world like a child asking how many days were left until Christmas. Remus laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Be patient, Sirius. True love takes time."
Sirius seemed to think about that for a few moments, and then batted his eyelashes ridiculously.
"What if I told you that I feel like I've known you all my life. Would that count?"
"No."
"Oh, well I was just checking."
-
Severus, Ron, and Charlie sat around the table, maps of the four kingdoms stretched out in front of them.
"It's really not as bad as it sounds. Assuming the key that was given to the veelas is still in their possession, it can only be one place," Charlie commented absently, scratching his chin.
"This island here?" Ron asked, pointing to an island just off the coast of Ravenclaw.
"A brilliant deduction, Ron. Tell me, was it the big words over it that said 'Isle of Veela' that tipped you off?" Severus drawled sarcastically as he examined the relatively small bit of land. Ron pretended he didn't hear the insult, but the tips of his ears became slightly red.
"Yes, Ron, that would be a good place to start. You'll have to pass into Ravenclaw territory to reach the port, but once you get to the village of Bloom, acquiring safe passage to the island shouldn't a problem – assuming Deatheaters don't follow you."
"That won't be a problem. I'll send an owl to King James and have him contact the King of Ravenclaw. With evidence of what happened here in Finley, I'm sure he'll understand the need to deploy extra security around the port."
"Good thinking, Ron. The message should get to the King long before you make it to Bloom. Of course, you'll be arriving at a bad time, but that can't be avoided."
"What do you mean by that?" Severus asked, his brows furrowing. Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Charlie rocked backwards in his chair and smiled roguishly.
"We'll, don't let me spoil the surprise. I'm sure you'll both enjoy it, truly." Both Ron and Severus were nervous, but neither of them pressed the issue.
-
Three days later, Severus and Ron were ready to depart. It had been decided that Sirius and Remus would remain with Charlie while Sirius continued to recuperate, and that they would try to join up with them later. With the aid of Severus's potions, Sirius was already up and moving about, but the stitches were not ready to come out yet. He would need another week to fully heal, and then it would be the full moon. It was best that both he and Remus stay near the forest so that they could be relatively isolated. Severus had spent one of the past days preparing the strongest sleeping drought he knew. Hopefully, Remus would sleep through the entire thing, and Sirius could monitor him through the night in canine form.
Finley village needed many repairs. Already some of King James's men had begun to arrive to help with the damage. Ron was happy to be around his comrades again, and eagerly threw himself into fixing the city, so neither Remus or Severus had seen much of him. He was in his element leading his men and instructing them on the best way to go about their tasks. With the help of his knights, the village was already looking much better when the day came for Ron and Severus to depart.
Charlie offered Severus a horse, but he stubbornly refused. It was obvious he had an attachment to his listless donkey.
The village had gathered to give Ron and Severus a fond farewell and their blessings. Most of them didn't know they were the reason the Deatheaters had come in the first place, and Severus certainly wasn't going to tell them. He'd used his potions to heal many of the children that had suffered burns, and Ron had made sure to personally help each family begin to rebuild their homes.
It was a very different leaving scene than the one he'd face in Hogsmede. This time, the people warmly shook Severus's hand, and the children rushed up to put flowers in Sal's mane. Severus wanted to scowl, but the gratitude and warmth was so overpowering that a small smile lit up his face that he couldn't suppress.
They were on the fringe of the village when Ron quickly dismounted. Some men were trying to lift a charred beam back into place, and it was obvious the structure they'd already built was shaky. A little girl stood off to one side, clutching a doll tightly and watching on with worried eyes. Ron offered to help, and began to jog towards the struggling men. Severus approached as well, and just as he did, a smaller beam came loose and fell down – directly over the head of one of the men. Without thinking, Severus sent his whip flying through the air and pulled the falling beam off course. It landed heavily in the dirt, inches in front of the man's feet. Shakily, the man walked away from the house, breathing heavily. Crying furiously, the little girl ran to the man and wrapped her arms tightly around his leg.
"Daddy, oh daddy, I was so scared you'd be gone like mamma!" She was a little thing, barely reaching her father's knee. Shaken, the man scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly, whispering reassurances in her ear. The other men finished placing the beam, and gathered around them. The man came forward, extending his hand to Severus who shook it awkwardly.
"Thank you. You saved my life. I'm all my little girl has left now. Those scum that burned our house down killed my wife." The man continued to pump Severus's hand, angry tears welling up in his eyes. Finally, he released Severus and set his daughter down.
"I was merely in the right place at the right time. I am…sorry to hear of your loss." Severus was surprised to realize he genuinely felt sympathy for the man and his daughter. It seemed like for the longest time, he'd been so absorbed in his own unhappiness that he'd been unable to recognize that of others.
The other men crowded around the man and patted his back wordlessly, checking to make sure he was alright. Severus and Ron made their way back to their horses, and were almost ready to ride off, when a small voice stopped them.
"Wait! Wait, Mr. Sir!" The little girl was jogging after them, her doll being jerked around as she ran clumsily. Severus pulled Sal to a halt and dismounted, walking back to meet the child. Not intimidated by his impressive height, or the questioning look on his face that was really rather severe, she tugged on his tunic. Eventually, Severus got the idea and kneeled so that he was at her level.
"My mamma made me this. It's the most dearest thing I own. You have it, 'cause you saved my daddy. Give it to someone you love lots." The little girl smiled shakily, her messy black hair falling around her face and framing her bright green eyes. She was a pretty child, and Severus was reminded of Prince Harry. She put the sacred treasure in his hand – a braided little ring woven of twine, a worthless little green stone wrapped in the weave.
"I…I couldn't take this. It was a gift from your mother." Severus knew all too well how hard it was to loose a mother. What the little girl was offering, a piece of her mother, was invaluable.
"But you have to!" The girl seemed very hurt, and tears began to well up in her brilliant eyes. "Mamma said to give it to someone I loved! I have to be a good girl and do what my mamma said!" The child's chin stuck out stubbornly, delicate tears sliding down her cheeks. Swallowing thickly, Severus nodded and closed his fingers around the ring.
"I'll be very careful with it. I will treasure it," Severus said softly, hoping to calm the child. It worked, and she rubbed at her tears with the back of her chubby little hand. She smiled, blushed a little, then threw her arms around his neck in an exuberant hug.
"Come back some day, Mr. Sir, and I'll make you tea and cakes." She thought for a moment, then whispered in his ear conspiratorially. "The tea is really just water, and I make the cakes outta mud an' rocks, but daddy says they're mighty good."
Severus smiled at her and patted her on the head.
"Take care of your daddy, Miss…?" He trailed of questioningly.
"I'm Harrietta," she offered obliviously, before running back to her father. Severus stood shock still. What were the odds?
Maybe, just maybe, there was something to this fate thing after all…
-
A/N: A shorter chapter, but I really wanted to end it there. I'm having so much fun writing this! It's like this story has swept me away! Every time I read one of your wonderful reviews, I want to write another chapter, so I do, and pretty soon I'm not going to have anything else to write! Maybe then I'll finally do that third chapter for Not Enough Black Ink. The story is fine how it is, but lately I've been thinking it needs a little more closure…