Chapter 29

Abraxas knew he had to be careful, his jealousy nearly boiled over, with the whole incident. It was Halloween weekend, and he was starting to wonder if someone suspected, as Ron had pulled it more than once. Even Remus and Severus had no idea about it, only his son knew and Sirius suspected, as he had heard the start of the conversation. Sirius had heard him call Rigel his soul mate, but had taken his nephew from the room, but he never spoke of it. Abraxas had only seen him once mention it, when he like Lucius warned Brax, he'd not let him hurt Rigel. Sirius had even less understanding, he had none of the training, and he didn't understand the bond.

On the Friday evening Rigel was coming. They had a practice after dinner first, but Rigel was coming after quidditch. Next weekend was the first game of the season. Tomorrow was the Halloween party, and a trip into Hogsmeade, beforehand.

Rigel appeared exhausted after quidditch practice. "Brax?"

He had been lost in his thoughts and hadn't noticed him come in. "How was practice?"

Rigel smiled. "We're going to knock the lions off their brooms next weekend."

Brax took him in fully. "You didn't shower or change after practice."

Rigel blushed a bit at that. "I'm sorry, the practice ran late, and I knew you'd be worried if I was late."

Abraxas realized his anxiousness lately had not gone missed completely. "You can use my shower, and I will have an elf bring clothes."

Rigel blushed a little at the thought. "Are you sure?"

Abraxas motioned him towards the bathroom. "Go take a shower."

Rigel slipped into the bathroom, not sure why he was so nervous about it. It wasn't so unusual, it was like if he stayed with Uncle Severus which had had, and used his shower. He slipped into the shower, and took a long hot soak, his muscles were sore from being on a broom. They had no late afternoon class, well most of the team, so some had been on the broom earlier than usual.

Abraxas came into the bathroom, and for a moment he paused, and he could look through the glass. He shook his head, he knew he should not be in here, he should have sent the clothes in with an elf. He needed to get out of the room before Rigel noticed him.

Unfortunately Rigel noticed someone was in the room. "Brax?"

Abraxas found his voice. "I just brought in some fresh clothes for you."

Rigel nervously reached for a towel, and came out wrapped. "I should get dressed."

Abraxas put down the clothes and headed for the door. "Come out when you are done."

Rigel watched him go and went over to the clothes and thought to himself. 'He was watching.'

Abraxas was waiting for him when he came into the sitting room. "We will keep clothes here for you in case this happens again."

Rigel looked a bit nervous at that. "I don't think that I'll be that late in practice again. I'll shower before I come next time."

Abraxas came to his side. "Is there something wrong Rigel?"

Rigel felt the man practically breathing on him. "No. I'm sorry, I'm just tired, I guess I'm on edge."

Abraxas ran a hand down his arm. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable Rigel, please talk to me if something is wrong."

Rigel was worried about upsetting him. "Nothing is wrong. Can we please start training?"

Abraxas nodded and motioned him into his practice room. "I guess we would start soon, we have a shorter practice than normal."

Rigel tried to focus on practice, and after a time he did, both once and a while he was pulled back. He could feel the man's eyes on him, or his hand, and there seemed something so different. He reminded himself Abraxas always touched him, when they practiced, or watched him. But something seemed different, and not just because of the shower, something seemed different for him all year.

Abraxas was surprised when he didn't want to stay for tea after. "You need some energy or you will have a headache later."

Rigel was nervous but he took a seat on the edge of the chair. "I guess."

Abraxas handed him some coco, Rigel preferred it, over tea. His hand lingered on Rigel's. "You are so distracted tonight"

Rigel didn't pull away from him but he felt again this odd sensation. "I just have a lot on my mind."

Rigel stayed for a cup of coco and a cookie, but no talk, and soon vanished off. Abraxas was worried, he had been so careful until tonight, about how he approached Rigel at all. He felt such a draw to him, but he had sworn even if Rigel agreed, he'd not have relations with him till seventeen. When it came to the training, it could stunt his progress and skill, especially if it was with his master.

Abraxas went to take a cold shower. "Get yourself under control. You're not only going to scare him, but lose any chance you have with him."

Rigel had trouble sleeping the entire night before. Usually he slept like a baby after a long day of quidditch, and added to it classes and his night training, there was little reason he shouldn't. But his mind had been on what happened the night before. He kept trying to convince himself it was nothing, that Abraxas was his teacher, nothing else. The man had come into the bathroom to give him clothes, not to ogle him, or anything else. The man was Draco's grandfather, there was no way he would look at Rigel, he kept telling himself.

Draco had no idea what was wrong, but he watched his cousin in the morning, and knew something was off. He wondered what could have happened the night before, but he didn't push, Rigel rarely spoke of his training.

Draco reminded his cousin who was lost in his thoughts. "Finish so we can head into town."

Rigel looked up from his food. "Sorry."

Blaise shook his head. "I can't wait until next year, and we can go into town whenever we choose, not like this."

Draco agreed with him as the three finally headed out. "I think sixth years should at least get to go more than the younger grades, like weekends."

They were stopped by Percy who was standing with an odd look on his face. "Rigel you are to come with me."

Rigel was confused. "You have no reason to give me detention, and we are on our way for town."

Draco agreed with him. "Even you can't give him detention without reason."

Percy shook his head. "You have been summoned to the headmaster's office. It seems something urgent."

Rigel looked at the other two with a sigh. "I will see you guys in town after."

Draco and Blaise were reluctant, but they headed in to town, when Percy offered to give them detention otherwise. They knew Rigel could take care of himself, and the more time they took, the more of town Rigel would have to miss. They thought leave it up to Albus, to pick the day when they had town, to need to have a meeting with him. Rigel was even more depressed, as he followed Percy.

He had no idea what Albus was pulling, until he got up to the office, and found Uncle Severus was there as well. He was worried what was happening, especially when he saw his Papa was there as well. Papa didn't come to school very often.

He sunk into his Papa's arms. Daddy didn't come to school, it was more dangerous, as no one knew who his dad was really. "Papa?"

Rodolphus kissed his son on the head. "I am sorry to take you away from town, but there is something urgent."

Albus spoke up. "It hasn't hit the papers, but it seems that your Uncle, Rabastan is on the loose."

Rigel was confused. "Papa you said your brother got the kiss? He was in a black cell, everyone in a black cell, got the kiss."

Uncle Severus had an odd look. "It seems the dementors missed him. They assumed he was a husk in his cell all of this time."

Albus shook his head. "I always knew Fudge was incompetent and this is proof. They put him in a low security cell the other day.

Rodolphus explained to his son. "They decided they needed more black cells, and the living husks could be moved, he was one."

Severus looked at the headmaster and back. "What I don't understand is how they didn't check the man before they moved him."

Albus knew the man was accusing him of having some part. "The human guards are flunkies of Fudge. None know what they are doing."

Rodolphus took his son from the room, and down to the dungeons, having wanted to have this in private to start with. His son may be in danger, as he knew his brother would be out for blood, from being in prison. Rabastan would blame his brother for being in prison, the death of the woman he loved, even though it was the other way around. Of course the easiest way to him, was through his son.

The other worry was Albus was involved in this. Rabastan not getting kissed, when Sirius was meant to be, was no mistake. Someone made it happen. Rabastan was the perfect way to get Fudge out of office, and perhaps knock out some opposition, like Rodolphus as well.

Rodolphus looked at his son. "As far as the school knows, you will be living with your Uncles and not in the dorms."

Rigel had been told his Uncle was an animagus, and they worried he'd have an in. "As far as they know?"

Severus nodded to the floo. "You will be staying with Abraxas. It seems a smart idea to step up your training."

Rodolphus saw his son's look. "You know you will have all your normal classes, and we will ensure you are safe."

Rigel didn't want to mention the night before. "Okay."

Rodolphus kissed his son. "You can go into town, your Uncle will accompany you, until you meet your friends. You will have a watcher."

Rigel hugged his Papa, and assured him he understood, and was relieved to go into town. He was scared, he had heard about his Uncle, a madman who had tortured Neville's parents. He wondered if Neville knew yet, and his Papa told him Augusta was on her way, to tell her grandson. Rigel knew it would be just as hard on Neville, who was never that brave, to hear the news. He was scared, but he was also nervous, about Abraxas.

As Uncle Sev took him into town to meet Draco he told himself. 'You are just imagining things. The man is not interested in you at all.'

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