Chapter 40
Penny walked with Dorian in silence, unsure what to say to him as they were going to be informed about their tasks and responsibilities for the next challenge in the tournament. As the pair of them made their way through the castle and up the staircase to Dumbledore's office Penny finally decided to speak up.
"I see you've gotten faster since our time here." Penny remarked in regards to how quickly Dorian had left Krum behind, she had always known he was fast sinec she had worked out with him when they were at school together and that he held back so she could keep up with him but still, it was shocking to see just how quickly he could move.
"Not really a big deal once you know the secret." Dorian said shrugging a bit.
"And what's the secret?" Penny asked curiously before biting her own tongue, literally as she didn't mean to sound as interested as she just had.
"Learn how to fly without a broom and its simple. It makes the distance you can cover with each step a great deal further, the leg movement is mostly for show at that point to avoid other figuring it out." Dorian said honestly.
"You've learned to fly without a broom?" Penny asked incredulously.
"Bullshit." She added.
"All these years and it still hasn't sunk in that I don't lie…" Dorian said, sadness evident in his voice, so much so that Penny turned to look at Dorian only to see him fly past her and all the way up the staircase and out of her view in the blink of an eye. Penny stood on the stairs dumbstruck for a moment before continuing her ascent and a minute later she arrived at the top of the stairs only to see Dorian leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest and looking at her expectantly.
"About damn time. Was gonna take a nap with all that waiting." He said with a cheeky grin which turned into a chuckle when Penny's face turned red though it was impossible to tell if she was blushing or mad which very well might be the reason Dorian was laughing. Penny pushed past him and knocked on Dumbledore's door only for it to swing open effortlessly to reveal Dumbledore, Madame Maxime, Igor Karkaroff, and some other ministry officials that were in charge of the tournament's logistics and safety precautions therefore Moody was there as well to offer his two cents on anything he felt was beyond reasonably dangerous.
"Ah Miss Walker, Mr. St. James, come in come in." Dumbledore said Dumbledore said only for Dorian to take a position against a wall away from everyone but with a direct line of sight on everyone in the room as well as the exits, Penny on the other hand walked up to the desk to get a look at what was laid out on the desk. Dorian seemed disinterested in what was going on but did take notice that everyone seemed to miss what Moody grumbled under his breath. Moody's statement of
"Thought his name was 'Smith.'." got Dorian's attention and made him subtly pay closer attention to Moody.
As the leaders of the schools all discussed the upcoming task and the logistics and safety precautions, Penny and Moody listened in, Moody offering advice on certain things and everyone listening to the grizzled and battle hardened auror, all seemed to ignore Dorian aside from Karkaroff who turned to look at Dorian.
"If you are not going to participate then why are you here?" Karkaroff asked, getting in Dorian's face, trying to intimidate Dorian with his larger size and generally sinister demeanor.
"I was about to ask you the same. Out of all the Tri-Wizard Tournaments throughout the history of the event, how many has your school won? Do yourself a favor and get out of striking distance." Dorian said, eerily calm.
"Igor, back away." Dumbledore said warningly but Karkaroff took it as he was afraid for the male aurors safety and reached for his wand. Before Karkaroff could comprehend Dorian's movement, Dorian had headbutted him, taken control of his wand hand and shoved him into the wall Dorian had previously been leaning against. Karkaoff was about to yell when he felt a wand to his throat and a hand taking a firm grasp of his hair and pulling his head back painfully, exposing his throat fully.
"Listen you fucking turncoat, I'm here because I'm good at what I do. I could have killed you ten different ways just now but the worst you're going to have is a headache and a slight bruise on your forehead. Go back to being useless over where I can't smell the bitch on you." Dorian growled angrily in Karkaroff's ear before shoving him head first back towards Dumbledore's desk only to see Penny and Madame Maxime looking at him in a mixture of shock and slight fear, Dumbledore looking disappointed as always but Moody seemed entertained, almost smiling at him.
"Mr. St. James…" Dumbledore said softly before looking at Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime.
"Mr. St. James is one of our most distinguished Alumni that never graduated. I fear his temper hasn't gotten any better over the years." Dumbledore said, in something of an apology to his colleagues but it was a blatant insult to Dorian. Penny and Moody both caught the insult and looked to Dorian to see his response. Penny out of sheer nervousness, Moody out of curiosity.
"Wanna know the extent of my temper old man?" Dorian asked with a sadistic grin on his face, a fire behind his eyes, his body tensed and ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.
"Dorian… Let's go for a walk, we can find out everything later once you've calmed down." Penny said, stepping between Dorian and Dumbledore and trying to usher Dorian from the office, she didn't have to try hard as Dorian instantly started to leave as soon as she got in between him and Dumbledore.
As soon as the door was shut behind them and they started walking down the stairs Penny laid into Dorian.
"What the fuck was that about Dorian? You're going to try to fight Dumbledore? Even You Know Who was afraid to fight Dumbledore!" Penny said.
"Voldemort was a pussy and Dumbledore is a miserable old fuck. Those two were made for each other." Dorian said as he made his way down the stairs
"What happened to you?" Penny asked curiously.
"I found out what happened is what happened." Dorian said before turning down a hallway that would lead him back to the grounds outside of the castle.
"What did you find out?" Penny asked equal parts curious and angry that he almost caused an international incident and as her partner she would also take part in the blame.
"You'll find out eventually." Dorian said only to feel Penny grab his shirt and drag him into an empty classroom.
"No you asshole, I've waited years to find out what happened to you that day only to find out you never actually died, now I want some fucking answers!" Penny shouted before sealing and magically silencing the room they were in.
Dorian looked at Penny and saw that she was hyperventilating and angry.
"I went and saw Lockhart." Dorian said.
"Doubt it was a very fruitful conversation since he doesn't know who he is anymore." Penny said with a little laugh.
"I didn't talk to him. I choked him out and then went inside his mind." Dorian said honestly.
"You… What?" Penny asked curiously.
"I used Legilimency to invade his mind. Everyone's mind is different, that cunt had a museum dedicated to himself. Statues, Potraits, mosaic's you name it. Each one highlighting a different event in his life. I found one from when I faked my death…" Dorian said.
"So.. You were right about Lockhart wiping your memory?" Penny asked curiously, trying to wrap her head around it.
"Wait.. If you were able to access his memory how come he couldn't?" Penny asked.
"I'd tell you but then you'd tell St. Mungo's and they'd fix him." Dorian said honestly.
"So you found out what Lockhart did, why are you even angrier with Dumledore than you were when we were in school?" Penny asked only for Dorian to look at her, in the span of a few heartbeats that seemed to take forever penny gasped and covered her mouth.
"Dumbledore put him up to it?!" Penny asked as it all clicked in her head.
"Yeah.. Dumbledore put him up to it. It also makes more sense as to why I faked my death in comparison to what I previously believed." Dorian added.
"Why? Why did Dumbledore do it?" Penny asked.
"So me being able to fly without a broom you don't believe but invading the mind of a man who's only real skill was memory charms and he wiped his own memory and in doing so I discovered a massive secret that borders on conspiracy, that you believe?" Dorian asked.
"Let's just say I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around a lot of things regarding you but I'm finally starting to accept that you don't lie again." Penny said with a smirk.
"So why did Dumbledore want Lockhart to wipe your memory?" Penny asked.
"Doesn't matter." Dorian said.
"Yes it does, we could take him before the Wizengamot if you want and then make a case against him." Penny said.
"I could kill the fucker in front of the Wizengamot and get off without so much as a slap on the wrist if I wanted, but I want the old bastard to suffer." Dorian said, his words dripping with hatred for the old wizard.
"What happened?" Penny asked again.
"Dumbledore made it perfectly clear that as far as I am concerned 'it's just Dorian, who gives a shit.'." Dorian said before Penny slapped him across the face once again, she was one of the very few people that could hit Dorian without fear of retaliation, though in that moment she wasn't sure if she could get away with it.
"See what I mean?" Dorian said with a smile, as if she had just proved Dumbledore's point.
"No, asshole, I don't. I slapped you because I never stopped giving a shit! Ava gives a shit, my parents give a shit. Professor McGonagall gives lots of shits! Now tell me why the fuck Dumbledore had your memory wiped!" Penny screamed in Dorian's face.
Dorian pulled a small vial from his messenger bag and touched his wand to the side of his head and pulled out the memory of going to visit Lockhart and what he saw in the mans mind and placed the silvery memory inside the vial and corked it.
"You're smart. Figure it out." Dorian said before handing Penny the vial. Penny grabbed the vial and looked at Dorian, infuriated and let out a sigh of frustration before turning to leave the room without another word.
As Penny opened the door she saw Harry leaned up against the door, trying to listen in on the conversation but courtesy of her silencing the room he didn't hear much, if anything at all. Penny looked at Harry, annoyed at the young wizard but left to find McGonagall to see if she had a pensieve.
Harry leaned his head into the door and saw Dorian.
"I- I just wanted to say thank you. F-for the advice about the dragon." Harry said nervously.
"You still fucked it up but anytime." Dorian said.
"Umm.. I have something else to ask you." Harry said.
"Fuck, more questions? Alright, what do you have to ask?" Dorian asked.
"It's just that.. Well I need a date for the Yule ball and.." Harry said before trailing off.
"No, no, no… Hell no!" Dorian said only for harry to catch on and instantly piece together that it sounded like he was asking Dorian to be his date.
"No! No! No! I was just wondering how to ask a girl out when they travel in packs!" Harry said quickly, getting embarrassed at the awkward situation from how the conversation initially started and then at the word vomit that ensued shortly after.
"Oh, that's easy." Dorian said.
"Really?" Harry asked curiously, wondering how it was easy.
"Yeah. Just grow a pair of nuts and ask one out." Dorian said simply.
"But.. How am I supposed to get one alone to ask her out?" Harry asked.
"Calm down there Ted Bundy." Dorian said.
"Who?" Harry asked confused.
"Serial Killer in the 70's from the states, he'd get women alone and… nevermind. Look kid, all you have to do is walk up to a group of them, spot the prettiest girl in the group, usually at the center of the pack. Thats what is called a 'cute fish'. It's a cute girl that has uglier girls surround her to make her look better. You never go for the cute fish. Find the girl on the outskirts of the pack that is the cutest of them and ask that girl out. They expect to be asked last out of the pack so when they are asked first, they'll say yes." Dorian said.
"But.. How am I supposed to approach them when they travel in packs?" Harry asked, still nervous to approach a group of girls.
"Grow a pair of nuts and then it's not an issue. Now if you'll excuse me I have multiple felonies to plan." Dorian said before leaving the abandoned classroom and a confused but amused Harry behind.
Penny walked through the castle a bit confused as annoyed with Dorian as she made her way to McGonagall's classroom to await the witch to ask her for a pensieve so she could go over the memory. After talking to McGonagall and asked her to use her pensieve she looked at the vial in her hand, unsure if she should watch it. She remembered the Dorian from years ago and if he wanted to tell her something, he would have outright told her. The Dorian she knew now didn't tell her but gave her a memory and said 'figure it out'… Penny felt conflicted and saw that McGonagall was watching her with a faint smile on her face.
"Why did you adopt him Professor?" Penny asked curiously
McGonagall looked a bit shocked by the question but smiled all the same and sat down and gestured for Penny to sit down across from her. When Penny sat Down McGonagall started her explanation.
"When I first met him, I saw a painfully skinny boy living in abhorrent conditions, sleeping on stacks of discarded newspapers in an abandoned factory. By all rights he had every reason to be a completely violent and angry young man, I pitied him at first. Then he came back while I was in my Animagus form which as you well know is a cat. He wasn't angry or violent, he had seen me following him throughout the day and bought a fish sandwich and some milk for me thinking I was a common stray. He didn't have much, hell; he was burning his Hogwarts acceptance letter to heat up canned food for Merlin's sake. It was at that moment I realized he didn't deserve or want pity, he had no use for it, as bad as things were he had hope for the future since he had kept up his studies on his own and was far smarter than anyone three years his senior despite never having attended school in the UK. It was inspiring to see someone with such drive and will to live. At the end of his first year he told me he was afraid to be homeless again because 'when you have nothing, nothing can be taken from you.'. It was at that moment I realized that the world had left him behind and he knew it, no matter how hard he tried to keep up with it it had left him behind. I thought about my life, how I had been living and realized that the world hadn't left me behind, I had let it go so that I could live in the past pitying myself. I became his guardian because I selfishly thought that Dorian could make me feel the will to become a part of the world again and being with me would show the world that it hadn't left him behind, he had left it behind, so far behind that the world would have to play catch up. It worked, I started living again and every day I watched Dorian grow and leave the world further and further behind. When we arrived in Paris and we thought he was dead I was crushed, thinking the world had finally caught up with him. I know I adopted him, that I am not biologically his family but try telling that to my heart.." McGonagall said with a tear filled smile.
"And years later he turns back up completely fine and alive. The world hadn't caught up with him. I don't think it will for many more years to come." McGonagall said smiling brightly.
Penny swallowed the lump forming in her throat as she listened to McGonagall's words and thinking back to how Dorian was with Ava. A child that wasn't his but he treated her better than some people treat their own children. Penny looked at the vial filled with the memory she still held in her hand and tucked it into her pocket.
"I think I'll wait to watch this for later." Penny said softly, smiling. The Dorian she remembered hadn't died, he was alive and well, she had just pushed him for information he wasn't ready to give and he gave her the information in his own way, she just didn't know it at the time.
Later that afternoon Penny was called to Dumbledore's office to go over what hers and Dorian's duties for the second task would be and what was expected of them for the Yule Ball, which surprisingly wasn't much aside from take note of who the champions were with the most, who they cared about the most and aside from that she and Dorian could enjoy the festivities along with everyone else. Penny noted that Dorian wasn't in the office for the meeting and even asked Dumbledore about it, however his response made Penny have to stifle a laugh.
"As capable as Mr. St. James is I fear he isn't one for following directions when those directions come from me."
Penny stifled her laughter and had to agree with that assessment as Dorian seemed likely to attack Dumbledore before listening to him and remembered the memory she currently held in her pocket and even though she didn't know what it revealed, if it was even remotely close to what Dorian said, she knew it was less likely and more of a definite outcome that Dorian would fight Dumbledore, though she didn't know who she would root for or bet on to walk away from the fight.
Penny found Dorian and relayed the information about the Yule Ball and their duties during it and the second task and even though Dorian listened to Penny, he seemed disinterested.
"I-I didn't watch the memory.. I figure when you're ready to tell me, you will." Penny said as she watched Dorian who simply looked at her.
"So we have to dress up for this stupid ball thing?" Dorian asked, completely ignoring the conversation about the memory he had given her.
"Oh what's the matter Dorian? Afraid to look nice? Or afraid you cant get a date?" Penny asked, blushing a bit, figuring that he would twist her words around like he used to.
"As it turns out I already have a dance partner in mind. Just have to ask her." Dorian said honestly and Penny visibly deflated. They hadn't seen each other in years, of course he had met someone, she had and even had a kid with the miserable prick.
Penny and Dorian walked off of the school grounds and apparated shortly after dinner. Penny apparated home so she could tuck Ava in bed and read to her, figuring Dorian would apparate to… wherever he lived or to whoever he planned to ask to the ball when she was surprised that he stood next to her, causing her to almost jump out of her skin.
"W-what are you doing here?" Penny asked curiously.
"Well Ava is the only person I have ever danced with so I have to see if she'll be my dance partner to the ball." Dorian said with a smirk.
"I see.. So you have two left feet and if you are carrying Ava you wont step on her toes. I gotcha." Penny teased.
"Keep it up and I wont save a dance for you." Dorian said, sticking his tongue out playfully before walking with Penny into the house only for Ava to run right past Penny and launch herself into Dorian's arms who spun around and hugged the young girl.
"Hey Princess, how have you been?" he asked with a smile.
"I've been good!" Ava said excitedly before looking at Penny.
"Mummy, can Dorian read with us tonight?" Ava asked, giving Penny the puppy dog eyes.
"Of course." Penny said with a smile before taking Ava from Dorian and walking with her to her room so Ava could pick out a book. The little girl picked 'Peter Pan' and was ecstatic when Dorian 'flew' around the room, mimicking Peter Pan in the story as Penny read to Ava until she fell asleep.
Penny looked at Dorian as he looked at the book in Penny's hands disdainfully.
"What's the matter? Don't like Peter Pan?" Penny asked.
"Nope." Dorian said simply.
"Then why did you fly around and imitate him?" Penny asked curiously.
"Because Ava picked it out and seemed to enjoy it." Dorian said with a shrug.
"Maybe one of these days we can visit you at your place." Penny said, trying to be sly about finding out where he lived these days.
"A tent at Hadrian's wall is no place for a Princess." Dorian said honestly.
"Tent? Why don't you go into your vault and buy a place? You do remember you're rich right?" Penny asked, unsure of just how much of his memory was wiped.
"Well until very recently I had no need to access my vault and no way of getting into it without informing the world that I'm very much alive." Dorian said logically.
"Well you can access it now." Penny said, not liking the idea of living in a tent.
"Suppose you're right. Besides, gonna need to access some funds to get my fancy clothes. Would a top hat and monocle be over doing it?" Dorian asked jokingly which caused Penny to laugh.
"Oh no, I think that would be great, perfectly suited for you." Penny said sarcastically as she laughed.
"By the way, you didn't ask Ava if she would be your dance partner." Penny added.
"Well I didn't realize that it was this close to bed time, If I had asked her you would be up with her all night right?" Dorian asked before looking at Penny curiously.
"Who are you going with?" He asked and watched as Penny turned red.
"Ah.. Ok then, keep your secrets." Dorian said, which caused penny to breath a sigh of relief that he seemed oblivious to the fact that she wanted to go with him. Penny watched as Dorian walked slightly down the road from the house and apparated away.
In the morning Penny was surprised to see Dumbledore walking up the road where she had seen Dorian walk before disappearing the night before just as they all finished up with breakfast. Dumbledore knocked and waited to be greeted at the door. Rosalind let him in and had him sit on the couch. Penny was a bit surprised to see Dorian walking up a moment later as she finished cleaning the last of the dishes and greeted him at the door and brought him in as well.
Dorian once again was greeted by a flying Ava and smiling until he saw Dumbledore. The little girl in his arms caught the change in demeanor and instantly scowled at the old man that her friend obviously didn't like.
"Ah Mr. St. James, what a pleasant surprise, this saves me the trouble of visiting or trying to catch you at school. Miss Walker, Mister St. James, I was coming to ask you both in private that you both keep an extra sharp eye on the second task." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Pretty sure we know how to do our jobs Dumbledore." Dorian said with thinly veiled malice, wanting nothing more than to attack the old wizard but wouldn't do so in front of Ava.
"Of course, of course. Well I'll see you at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said and thanked Rosalind and Callum for their hospitality before leaving quickly.
Ava gently pulled on Dorian's shirt.
"You don't like the dumb door guy do you?" the little girl asked.
"No, no I don't Princess." Dorian said with a smile.
"Do you like me?" Ava asked.
"Of course, why do you ask?" Dorian responded.
"I heard you tell Mummy that you don't like Peter Pan last night. I picked the story.." Ava said shyly.
Dorian frowned a bit and walked Ava to the window and pointed at a soon to apparate Dumbledore.
"See that man? That man turned me into Peter Pan." Dorian said only to get a confused look from Ava, Penny, Rosalind and Callum.
"I don't like Peter Pan because he's a coward. He had the opportunity of a life time but instead he wanted to stay a kid and Wendy had to grow up without him. That man, the dumb door guy.. He's no better than Captain Hook." Dorian said, trying to explain it in a way Ava would understand and the little girl thought for a moment.
"If you're Peter Pan.. Who am I?" Ava asked.
"Well you're Tinkerbell of course!" Dorian said with a smile before levitating off the ground and floating around the sitting room a few times before touching back down. Ava squealed happily only for Rosalind to smile and take Ava to play in the back so Penny and Dorian could leave to Hogwarts. As they walked down the road a bit so they could apparate not a word passed between Penny and Dorian but she couldn't help but stare at him and think about his explanation to Ava. If Dorian didn't lie then what was in that memory he gave her must have been really, really bad and she wanted nothing more than to watch the memory right there.
"You're staring a hole in the side of my face." Dorian said before looking at Penny.
"Oh. Sorry, I was just thinking.." Penny said.
"Really?!" Dorian said over dramatically and dripping with sarcasm.
"Nevermind." Penny said irritated.
"What were you thinking about?" Dorian asked.
"You don't like, you don't like Peter Pan, you hate Dumbledore and what you said to Ava.. What you saw in that memory must be really damning." Penny said
"Oh, and here I was, innocent old Dorian thinking you were going to ask me to the ball." Dorian said causing Penny to blush a deep red once again.
"Well if it's OK with Ava that you want to steal her spot as my dance partner I guess I could humor you." Dorian said, twisting it so that it sounded like Penny was twisting his arm unnecessarily. But two could play at that game.
"Dorian St. James, are you asking me to be your date?" Penny asked with a cheeky grin.
"Better late then never right?" Dorian asked with a smile and apparated before Penny could get another word out.