Here is Chapter Eleven peeps, and I don't mean the sugar covered candies either. This is getting good! To Hogwarts! Sortings, Dementors and nasty Headmasters, oh my! Can't wait to hear from you all! I received a very constructive review on the last chapter that raised a lot of questions that I ,sadly, did not answer to. I hope that by letting you read this review and my answer to it, you will have some of these questions answered.
From: kirallie
Does he have all four marks? Cause if he does then he shouldn't age. The council member with the wererat son, his human servant was a soldier from about Queen Victoria times or something so why should Julien give up his humanity? So he attended Hogwarts at some point? That's a little confusing. Please no H/V, let him be happy with Asher and Jean Claude. They know his name is Harry Potter but do they know what that means, who he is to the wizards?
To kirallie:
Yay! A review with questions! No, Julien does not have all four marks and Julien came to St.louis just after his first year ended. I apologize that I did not make this clear. I will remedy that. Jean-Claude and Asher wanted to wait for Julien to grow more before giving him the last mark and on top of that Julien, due to growing up restrained and abused, values his independance above almost anything else. His beaus respect this therefore it has not really been discussed although he did make it known that he was not too keen on the idea but in all actuality he has tried not to think about it since this means he will forever be fifteen and doomed to watch his friends die one by one or he would lose his family forever and die, possibly at an early age considering his proffession. There will be no H/V in this one. Although I'm not dissing that pairing. It's my favorite! Jean-Claude and Asher and the others know who he is but he refused to say anything about the abuse and how he hated his life back then. It's almost like, for him, it doesn't exist. Or he tries to make himself beleive that. They don't fully understand the expectations and pressures that came with being the boy-who-lived but beleive me, they will. They will have the fact slapped in their faces later.
Chapter Eleven- An Unwelcome Welcome
The school loomed into view, making Julien glare at it. He hadn't been to this place in years and hadn't planned on coming back. He held the old man responsible for what happened to him. He'd almost died. Geneveive was being bounced in his arms, quiet for the moment.
"I promise I'll never send you to this godforsaken place, ma petite l'amour." He whispered and the train came to a stop.
It was dark and rainy out when the bustling crowd stepped off. A giant man, full of hair, came up to the group. He had apparently missed the presence of the barely month old baby who was looking around in wonder but since she was as bundled up in rain-proof blankets as possible, he didn't really blame him.
"You and yer group are ter come with me, Mister Forrester. Yer s'pose to go over the lake with the Fir's years." The gameskeeper said gruffly with a smile.
The others didn't seem taken aback at all but the had seen things bigger and furrier than Hagrid so that wasn't surprising. Julien returned the smile.
"I am terribly sorry, Monsieur 'Agrid but I must decline. I want to get my daughter out of this weather as soon as possible so she does not fall ill."
Hagrid looked surprised when he noticed the infant and nodded quickly.
"Blimey, I apologize. I didn't even see 'er there. Jus' follow the others to the carriages, then."
Julien thanked him and lead the Were's and Draco toward the carriages. Nathaniel stopped abruptly, staring at the invisible horses too long. He couldn't see them but he could smell them. The twins hurried past as if they didn't want to see. The Nimir-Raj touched his cat's shoulder. The red haired man jumped slightly.
"They smell like decay and death. Like something left dead in a swamp."
He was just thankful that Nathaniel couldn't see them. Something was wrong with the Thestrals and Nathaniel's description was not far off. They were rotting. The equestrian creatures looked like they had been dead for awhile but they were alive, if that's what you could call it. They all filed into the carriage. It was alittle cramped but none of them wanted to be separated. A heavy gloom covered the castle, claustrophobically so. It set all of their hyper senses on alert. Black hooded shadows guarded the gates and, at first, Julien thought them to be Ministry officials. Until he felt the cold.
Dementors stood at the gates of the school and as they passed them, Genevieve began to cry. The scream of the wind cut through the open window and not even the touch of the pard could calm the screaming child. The line of carriages came to a halt, leaving them stranded next to the undead sentries. A thick chill immediately crept into the space and the baby fell silent. Julien swore loudly when the Dementor tore the door off of it's hinges suddenly, leaning inside with a screech. He handed Stephen the baby. What had been going on at the castle in his absence? Dementors were supposed to be carrion feeders for the most part. They never just attacked unless given the order. The wraith reached out with reflexes even Julien's faster than human body couldn't dodge and grabbed his arm. Nathaniel lashed out, trying to protect him but the Dementor gave no response. Julien felt his body begin to numb from the cold. Was this what dieing felt like? Was this freezing to death? Death. What would Jean-Claude and Asher do if he died? Who would take care of Genevieve? Who would lead the Pard? Who would deal with Richard when he was in his moods? Who would come over and make cookies with Anita when they had the night off? What would his father do…? Would he show how upset he would be or would he hide it like everything else?
These thoughts raced through his mind as he was pulled roughly against a cold chest. The abominable sucking noise was right next to his face. In a last ditch effort to save himself, he threw open the marks between the triumvirate but it was too late. The cold mouth pressed against his in a death kiss and…that's all it was. A kiss. It was like kissing Jean-Claude or Asher when they had not fed. His connection to the dead burned through him, chilling his body and clashing with the warmth of his humanity. The two wrapped and writhed in Julien's body. He gasped, breaking the kiss. The sensations eased once they parted and he could feel his lover's alarm through the link. For a long moment, Julien saw…nothing. Black that was white that was black that burst against his head like a million tiny shards of glass. During his moment of blindness, he heard a raspy voice speak in his ear.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Nimir-Raj. May you be protected as a liason between the living and the dead. Should ever the need arise, seek me out. I will help you with anything you wish. You are one of very few liasons left."
The cold fled from his flesh as quickly as it had seeped in and Julien realised after a long stifling moment that they were gone. The only cold that remained centered on his forearm where the creature had grabbed him. His sight came back and the carriages began to move once more.
"Juls? Juls, are you alright?" Nathaniel asked fearfully.
Genevieve's cries began again, doubling in intensity. It took both twins and Draco to calm her.
"I am alright. Zut alors…Mon tete…ca va?" He asked, clutching his head.
He received several 'oui's. Draco was shocked and pale.
"You got kissed and you're alright!" He exclaimed in disbelief.
Julien tried to pass it off as nothing but his body was shaking as he cast a reparo charm on the torn carriage door. The thestral drawn vehical jerked into movement. Not afew seconds later, they passed a tipped over carriage on their path to the castle. That was what had caused the hold up. The students were filing into a second one with shaken looks. They seemed like they would rather appreciate walking at the moment. He took his squeeling offspring from his friends and bounced her around, whispering soothing words in her ear. The castle was just afew yards ahead.
The rain had redoubled it's onslaught and Julien had to put an Impermeable charm on them all to avoid sickness. Nathaniel was carrying the gifts from Edward and Anita knowing that they would be deadly. Just like his birthday, Christmas and other presents that he was regularly spoiled with. Ah, life with Edward was joy. His arm tingled like frostbite had gotten it. He hadn't looked at it yet but Julien wasn't sure he wanted to. What had the Dementor done? Was the cold merely from it's touch? Or was it something more? Geneveive had calmed down at last. They approached the castle doors and a sense of someone watching them permeated Julien's mind. Probabaly that damned Headmaster. Inside, it was warm and cheery and ghosts greeted them kindly.
Nathaniel put the baby girl back in her carrier, letting her father take her so he could better carry the case. Dumbledore was waiting in front of the Great Hall.
"Mr. Forrester! Good to see you arrived safely." He oozed cheerfully.
Julien smiled, eager to shoot the man. Dumbledore would be all over it if he ever found out that Julien was Harry Potter. It would be like starving dogs on a plate of rotting meat. He was so irritating!
"I am sure."
The twins smirked behind the old man's back.
"You have a very interesting guard, Mr. Forrester. May I call you Julien?"
"No you may not."
The sickeneing smile wilted slightly around the edges.
"Well then, when will your guard cahnge? I have been told that your father and lovers will be visting sometime. I was not told when."
Julien couldn't help it. He laughed. A frown creased Dumbledore's already wrinkled face and the weres all had amused expressions. For over six months of negotiations, he sure was out of the loop. Dumbledore was manipulative but not real great at reading vampires. Or Edward, but then again, besides Julien, who was?
"My father and are incredibly similar, mon prof. They will stop by when it is most inconvienient for you.My guard will change two days before the full moon. We would hate for mes chats to go furry on you. Perhaps it is time for the Sorting, non?"
The Headmaster looked discreetly angry, well aware of the other students just standing around.
"You brought lycanthropes into my school?!For Merlin's sake, why?!" He whispered so only Julien and the weres could hear.
"They are mine and because I knew that you would hate it." He smiled and Dumbledore seemed pissed.
"My Uncles and Father will replace them until mes chats are well enough to return."
Without another word, he walked through the doors to be sorted with the rest of the first years filling through under the watchful eyes of Professor McGonagall.
o Oo
The buzz of human activity excited the weres, he could tell. He had sent them to sit with Draco but he would NOT leave his baby at a table full of strangers. She was nestled snug in his arms, looking around at the new place. Snape nodded reassuringly from the front table and he smiled. He needed the comfort. Would the stupid hat blow his cover?
The assisstant Headmistress brought out the stool and the hat and the sorting began. Julien lost interest quickly. Just alot of people he didn't know or care about.At a table across the hall a boy with flaming red hair was frowning at him and whispering intently to his partner, a girl with bushy brown hair, He repressed a sigh. Things would never be the same again. He had done too much. Seen too much. Julien shrugged off the thought. He may have lost some things but look at what he'd gained. A beautiful daughter, a family, two people who adored him just as much as he adored them. In the end it had all been worth it. It was worth it to see Genevieve's smiling face at seven in the morning even when he had barely gotten three hours of sleep. Or to see Auntie Anita cooking coffee in her kitchen while he sat next to Edward and they planned their next hit.
"Forrester, Julien."
The woman's harsh voice cut through his thoughts. He secured Genevieve's hat before walking toward the stool. McGonagall eyed his baby like a hawk about to eat a mouse. Sitting, he silently glared at her. She hadn't liked him from the beginning. Neither had Black. The Sorting Hat slipped over his eyes, pitching him into darkness.
'Well,well,welcome back Mr.Potter.Or is it Mr.Forrester now?'
Julien's eyes narrowed.
'I'm not that person anymore.'
There was a thoughtful silence while the Hat contemplated his words.
'No. You're right about that. So, Mr.Forrester, where shall it be? You are obviously not made for Gryffindor. Too bold for Hufflepuff but clever enough for Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Hmm...'
'If you put me in Ravenclaw we will see how indestructable you really are.' He thought sweetly.
The Hat fell serious. It could see into his mind and knew he never bluffed.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The Hat came off of his head and Genevieve jolted, shocked by the sudden noise of the crowd clapping. A whimpering began and he quickly walked toward the table to grab her favorite toy. It was a penguin. Go figure. A twosome across the table was the first to speak to him.
"So Forrester, why do you have a kid?"
Nathaniel was stroking Genevieve's soft head. Julien shot the girl who'd asked a look.
"I am her father."
She looked amused at first like it was a joke but quickly realised that he wasn't bluffing.
"But...you're only fifteen!"She sputtered.
The twins were sniggering. They had both become much more mischevious since Julien had taken over the pard. Nathaniel was trying not to laugh with them. It wasn't working.
"What is your name, ma cherie?"
"Millicent Bulstrode."
Julien smiled at her but his eyes were dark. It hammered in the fact that he wouldn't see his lovers for some time.
"L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"
The Headmaster had stood, waiting for them to quiet. Severus was sitting alittle ways down from him. Julien opened the marks between his lovers and himself, letting them see what was happening.
"Students and teachers, welcome to a brand new year at Hogwarts. As many or most of you may have noticed, we have a new exchange student who will be with us this year. Julien Forrester. Due to his not knowing the rules yet, his house will not be penalized but, Mr.Forrester, hats, other than standard uniform, are not allowed. I'm going to have to ask you to remove it."
He could feel Jean-Claude and Asher both raise eyebrows. Every eye in the room was on him. Nathaniel was amused. He knew Julien found it funny. Dumbledore was trying to get a rise out of him. It wasn't going to work. He didn't care what the students or teachers thought of him. He had Jean-Claude and Asher. They were alright with him and that was all that mattered.
"Suit yourself."
He'd been wanting to take the damned hat off anyways and had had to charm Genevieve's to her head to get it to stay on. He stood up and with a mischevious smile, took it off. Every student with the exception of his new house gasped. The Slytherins pretended that they had known all along. Julien reached down to take off Genevieve's hat as well. He couldn't help wanting to laugh. It was amusing as hell. Dumbledore wanted the whole school to know just what he was in some parody of justice that existed only in his mind. Julien couldn't beleive that he had once looked to this man as a roll model. He wanted nothing more than please him at one point in time. It was kind of sad looking back, but, then again, he was only eleven.
"Come now, Headmaster. You knew was I was when you first agreed to let me come to your school."
Many of the students gave dubious looks to their Headmaster and murmurs flowed through the room like water. Dumbledore smiled.
"I believe in giving everyone a fair chance."
"I'm sure you do."
"You doubt that?" The old man raised an eyebrow.
"I doubt that. I also do not appreciate being made into a show for your staff and students."
He nodded.
"Come to my office after dinner, Mr.Forrester."
Julien sat back down, running a hand through his hair to settle his ears in place. He had half a mind to say 'hell no' but decided it couldn't hurt. Many of the girls around him were cooing over how cute he and Genevieve was. He sent them a grin that was nothing and everything. Full of sex and promise. A flirtacious smile. He had learned it from Jean-Claude. Julien could feel his lover's pleasure at the odd situation he had cornered Dumbledore into.
He closed his eyes so he could look out through their eyes. Asher was sitting at a back table with Jean-Claude at Danse Macabre. The music pounded up through his feet. Damian was on stage dancing to hte beat, which meant that they were at Danse Macabre. Three drinks were sitting on the table, two practically untouched. Who was the thrid? Anita joined them a moment later. She recognized the smiles they got when Julien was watching or talking to them. He sent them both a loving caress before backing out. When he opened his eyes, Draco was watching him and food had just appeared on the table. Stephen, Gregory, and Nathaniel were waiting for him before beginning to eat. He smiled, giving them the go ahead.