The Haunting III
A/N : The next part, it's a little shorter because I really had to hurry. I hope you enjoy this... people who reviewed, thanks at the bottom! Oh, and Person, the details will be explained later in the story, but the eye colour change is intentional, trust me. It has to do with moods.
Disclaimer: Same as before.
As soon as Harry woke up he realised the importance of sleeping in a comfortable bed o' nights – he felt wonderfully relaxed, warm, comfortable. He peered down at Draco, who was still curled up in his sleep, fair hair shining on the pillow.
There was a creak just outside the door, then a tentative knock, and Draco's eyes opened. He looked up, seeing Harry grinning down at him from the bed, and groaned. The door opened and a skinny little figure stood illuminated in the sudden light, wearing a long white robe and a toothy grin. It was little Raman, his eyes wide. The toothy grin slowly disappeared and a look of apprehension took its place.
'C'mere,' said Draco with a disarming smile, and Raman sat down on the edge of the rug. 'Come to give us a wake-up call?' Harry snickered, wishing he had a camera. Malfoy getting in touch with his inner child, thought Harry. I can just see it now… It appeared that Raman didn't talk much, because he just stared at Draco with large lavender eyes as Draco talked to him.
'I see Raman has found you already,' said a voice at the doorway, and they looked up to see Sharona standing there with a tray. 'I have brought your breakfast. Later Moql will visit us. She wishes to show you something.' Raman bounced up to take the tray from her and set it down in front of them; there were three plates, each with a generous helping of a salad-type food. 'The little one is friendly,' Sharona went on, smiling. Raman gave her a toothy grin and picked up a two-pronged fork. 'Come outside when you are ready,' Sharona said, and left them, closing the door quietly.
Harry's heart gave a bound. He remembered what Sharona had said before he had drifted off to sleep – 'Remus Lupin'. The same Remus Lupin who was his father's friend? Professor Lupin, the best Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher they'd had in a long while? He shoved a forkful into his mouth distractedly, not listening as Draco finally managed to get Raman to say something shyly through a mouthful of salad.
'This is good, Harry, why aren't you eating?' Draco began, then asked curiously, 'What's wrong?'
Harry told him in low tones what Sharona had told him the other night.
'Oh,' said Draco dubiously. He had hated Professor Lupin – he was a werewolf, Professor Snape had said so! And everyone knew werewolves couldn't be trusted…
If the village depended on Remus J. Lupin so much…
Draco ate just as distractedly as Harry as Raman, finding his tongue at last, began to speak of flowers and the new moon.
Moql met them outside the house, dressed in her usual rough garments, fair hair newly combed. She seemed slightly hysterical, a mixture of excitement and worry and – could it be fear? She hugged Raman as usual, who was following Draco around shyly. Harry, of course, found this hilarious.
''Morning, Moql,' said Harry, and she smiled back at him, turning distractedly to look for Raman. He was talking shyly but eloquently to Draco. She stared – Harry laughed. 'Yes, he's become quite attached to Draco recently.'
'That's surprising,' Moql said. 'Ever since he… came here, he's hardly said a word to anyone.'
'Yeah, Draco, you've got a real gift with children,' Harry said loudly, and Draco glared at him.
'I'll be taking you to meet someone very important,' said Moql, taking their hands and leading them towards the children's clearing. Instead of the usual ten or so children playing in one group, a few villagers were assembled there, Reuben included. They were talking animatedly, and Harry noticed that most of them had dark hair and shadowed eyes like Reuben. Moql and Raman stood out with their light hair like beacons.
'D'you think it's really Professor Lupin?' Draco asked Harry, who was biting his nails.
'Hope so,' said Harry, and Moql stared at them.
'Do you know him?'
'Yeah,' said Harry, resuming his nervous activity.
They moved up to Reuben, who muttered greetings; he too seemed preoccupied. Draco had by now begun a game of Twenty Questions with Raman, who was beaming silently; he seemed to be the one who was asking the questions.
There was a dot appearing above the trees now, a dot that was getting steadily larger. Reuben's eyes were fixed on it. Harry's hands dropped to his sides; Draco lifted Raman, who was surprisingly light, so that he could see the dot. As it neared them Harry could see that it was a figure on a broomstick. It drew closer – closer still – and alighted on the grass in the clearing.
Harry let out an audible gasp – there was no mistaking that light brown hair, the clear blue eyes, the cheerful though worn face. It was their own dear Professor Lupin, his father's best friend, older and thinner than they had last seen him, but alive. The villagers who were assembled there crowded round him, wringing his hand, and even Reuben looked pleased to see him – which, Harry thought, must be a first.
'That's him!' said Moql, hurrying along with the rest; Harry and Draco stood a little way apart, watching as Lupin smiled. He looks tired, Harry thought. Lupin was talking cheerfully to Reuben, but the lines on his face were more clearly visible than usual.
'…hello, Moql, my dear,' they heard him say, shaking her hand.
'…I've brought someone to see you, sir…'
Moql came over to them, tugging Lupin by the hand. '…sought shelter in our village,' she said. 'Reuben wanted me to bring them to you…' Lupin looked at them blankly for a moment, looking at the dark and the fair, at the little boy at Draco's side, and then at Harry's scar. He dropped the small suitcase he was holding.
'Harry?' he said tentatively.
Harry felt relief and joy flowing over him like a wave. 'It's me, Professor,' he said. Moments later, Professor Lupin had crossed the gap between them and was wringing Harry's hand.
'I thought you were dead!' he exclaimed. 'Where have you been all these years, Harry? It's so good to see you…' Harry found himself enveloped in a bear hug, and gladly hugged back. When he let go Harry was surprised to see what looked suspiciously like a tear in his professor's eye. 'I still can't believe you're alive and well… Where has he been staying?' he said to Moql.
'Sharona agreed to keep them in her house, sir,' said Moql.
'Good decision on Reuben's part,' said Lupin. 'Safest place he could be…' Then he turned and seemed to see Draco for the first time. The pale-haired boy had been hovering on the edge of the conversation slightly resentfully, and Raman had clammed up again and was staring at Lupin. 'It can't be… Draco Malfoy?'
'Yes, I'm glad you finally noticed, Professor,' said Draco in his most carefully antagonistic voice. He did not trust this man. 'I've been living with Harry for quite a while.'
'You've not been –?' Professor Lupin demanded sharply, turning to look at Harry.
'No, Professor!' Harry cast a disgusted glance at Draco. 'We were living in the forest. As friends.'
Lupin's face grew stern, and the way he looked at Harry made the dark-haired boy feel uncomfortable. 'What were you doing in the Black Woods, Harry?'
'I fled and – lost my memory, sir,' explained Harry rather uncomfortably. 'Draco's father wiped his memory, and he found me, and we ended up living in the forest together not knowing who we were.'
'How did you find out who you were, then?' Lupin said, still giving Harry that stern look. 'You shouldn't have been living here – it's full of Wraiths.' Harry looked at Draco, and Draco remembered that he still had no idea how Draco had known he was Harry Potter. He had to tell Lupin the whole story, somehow feeling as uncomfortable as Harry looked, but managing to look as cool and unruffled as usual. Raman was listening wide-eyed, his irises amber.
'I see,' said Lupin, but he still looked slightly disturbed. 'Well, I must go to unpack – do you want to come?'
'Sure,' said Harry eagerly. Draco, standing next to Raman, was silent. 'You, Draco?'
'OK,' said Draco dubiously.
They waved goodbye to Moql, who was smiling widely next to a less-grumpy Reuben, leaving little Raman with her, and followed Lupin past the clearing to one of the houses next to Reuben's. It was one of the larger houses, the wood slightly smoother. Harry guessed that Lupin played a very important part in the community, as did Sharona.
'Come in,' said Lupin, letting them go past him first. They stepped into the house, looking around uncertainly, and saw a tall silver mirror and various items on tall wooden shelves. Harry thought he saw a crucifix but couldn't be sure.
'Well, I was a Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, Draco,' said Lupin amusedly, as the pale boy recoiled from a strange wooden talisman with six corners and a strange face engraved on it. 'Come upstairs.' The boys climbed the roughly-cut staircase onto the second floor, which was one-roomed, with a bed and yet more shelves arranged neatly at the sides. The floor was bare, but there was a circular rug in the very centre that made Harry suspect Lupin performed spells there. 'A little simple,' Lupin apologised, 'but I don't need much.' He began to open the suitcase. 'Make yourselves at home.'
The boys sat on the floor and watched him unpack. He drew out a string of strange wooden talismans like the six-cornered one Draco had found disturbing, and then a few clothes and a brown-paper package. 'I've been looking at Voldemort's progress,' said Lupin. 'He's gathering followers very fast… and I'm surprised you haven't been killed in those woods, Harry. You're a very lucky boy.' As Harry nodded, Draco watched Lupin put the head of a cat modelled in porcelain onto a shelf.
'How long have you been living here, Professor Lupin?'
'Harry, there's no need to call me Professor.'
'I – I think I'd be more comfortable, sir,' said Harry awkwardly. 'I'm so used to it.'
'All right, then… I've been living here for quite a while, and I've got to know all of the villagers very closely.' He sighed. 'It's more peaceful here than out in the real world, and they accept you more readily.'
'Strange,' muttered Draco. 'When we first saw Reuben, he looked like he was going to eat us.'
Lupin, having finished unpacking, turned around swiftly, knocking his hand into the bedpost. 'What did you say?'
'Reuben wasn't very friendly.'
'Oh.' Lupin seemed to relax a little. 'Yes, he is rather antagonistic, not unlike some people I know.' He grinned at Draco, who grinned tentatively back. 'We're having a dinner later, are you coming?'
'Yeah… sure.'
The boys stood in their room at Sharona's house later, nervously adjusting the clothes they had been given. Draco, much to his disgust, wore a black robe that resembled Raman's, and Harry wouldn't stop teasing him about it; Harry was dressed in Lupin's spare jeans and shirt.
'The dinner is in honour of Lupin,' said Harry, trying unsuccessfully to flatten his hair. 'He must be really, really important to all of them…'
'I wonder why,' said Draco, half sarcastically, half in earnest.
Raman met them at the door, his hair freshly combed and his robe fresh and neat. He took Draco's hand as though it was the most natural thing in the world, and they went down the stairs together, meeting Sharona. She led them outside, and there stood Reuben, who was looking particularly grouchy in black.
'We go to the Hall,' he said, and without a word started off towards a large building, with Draco, Harry, Raman and Sharona following hurriedly. The cheery sound of people talking issued from the building. Raman, still holding Draco's hand, was stumbling, not able to keep up. Draco picked him up and the little boy clung to him, pale hair floating in the wind. Draco felt odd.
'Having maternal feelings, Malfoy?' Harry said, coming up behind him. 'Who'd have thought?'
'Shut up, Harry,' said Draco, but, all the same, he did feel odd.
They opened the wooden double-doors, and entered the Hall; there was a large table in the centre, and a stage at the far end. Harry was pleasantly surprised. Lupin sat at the head of the table, and waved at them as he saw them come in. People were seated around the great table, and Reuben led them right up to Lupin, sitting down on his left. Harry, flushing slightly, sat on his right; Draco sat next to Harry, Raman taking a small stool next to Draco. Sharona disappeared amongst the people, talking to other villagers.
Moql came up to them, dressed in white; she had done her hair up in a knot at the back of her head. Raman waved toothily to her, his eyes sparkling pure lavender. She took a seat next to Reuben. Draco thought she looked exceedingly pretty – the pale light of many lamps made her look almost like frost. She smiled at him, then at Harry, and said something to Reuben in a low voice.
A bell was rung at the far end of the hall. The villagers obviously took it as a sign to eat; Harry, Draco and Lupin ate as well. The food was very good, and Harry supposed it must have taken ages to prepare. Moql looked on with an odd expression in her sparkling blue eyes as Raman talked shyly to Draco. Lupin was telling Harry an animated story about how he had caught and killed a Hag in Romania when faint strains of music reached their ears. A thin, gangly young man had come onto the stage and was playing something that looked very much like a guitar. His singing was terrible. Draco made a face at Harry, and was surprised to see Moql making one back at him.
'There's going to be entertainment?'
'Not really, just a few people who want to perform.'
'How do you like the village so far, Harry?' asked Lupin.
'It's very nice, Professor,' said Harry, swallowing a pickle. 'The people have been very kind to us.'
'I'm surprised, Reuben,' said Lupin, grinning at the brown-haired man, who returned a half-grin, half-scowl.
Throughout the dinner speeches were made, songs were played – there was even a group of young girls who had gone through an Irish dance, shy smiles on their faces. Raman had applauded them enthusiastically, his childish hands beating together as though they had only just learnt how to clap.
Lupin stood up as they finished, Reuben clapping his hands together for silence. Raman's curly head rested in his arms on the table. Harry's former professor cleared his throat, looking out at the small but enthusiastic gathering, and began, 'I want to thank you all for coming here tonight, and I am very glad to be home.'
There was cheering at this, and again Draco wondered why they depended on him so much.
'I would like to say that our newcomers are former students of mine, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.'
Heads craned to look at the two boys, who were both feeling uncomfortable.
'I hope that you will help to make their short stay here comfortable. Thank you all very much –'
Yet more cheering.
'Good night.'
And with that, the dinner was over, and they filtered out with the rest of the villagers. Moql and Reuben were talking to Lupin, and Harry and Draco trailed somewhat behind, Draco carrying a sleeping Raman. When they reached the house Lupin pulled Harry away behind a tree and Reuben disappeared with a grunt. Sharona had remained with some of her friends, helping to clear up.
'You must be a very special person, Draco Malfoy,' said Moql, smiling. They stood alone outside the house. Draco began to feel odd.
'Why do you say that?'
'Look at Raman.' Moql gestured towards the sleeping child. 'He's never acted that way towards anyone, not even Master Remus.'
'He's a nice kid,' said Draco, more out of embarrassment than anything else.
'I think I would like to get to know you better, Draco Malfoy. I always make it a point to be friends with unusual people.'
'Unusual in a good way?'
'Of course. Even your looks – you're so different from your friend.' She looked at Raman again. Draco felt very odd by this time, and it wasn't from what Harry termed 'maternal feelings'. She reached a hand up to run her fingers along a lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes. 'I think we might become good friends. Perhaps even more than that.'
She smiled, letting her hand fall from his face, and set off up the path.
Harry, leaning against the tree, asked, 'What did you want to talk to me about?'
'Harry, I'm making arrangements for your stay to be as comfortable as possible because you will not be here long.'
'I – I won't?'
'It's not safe, Harry.'
'The villagers would –?' Harry was bewildered. Wasn't Professor Lupin glad to see him at all? Didn't he want him to stay?
'No, Harry.' Lupin gave a sigh. 'They wouldn't – but the moon will be full soon.' The expression on his lined face told Harry all he needed to know. Harry drew a breath slowly.
'They can't be…'
'They are.'
'Even Moql? And Raman?'
'Raman was bitten very recently,' said Lupin. 'They had to take him in as a villager as well. This community is for the queer ones, Harry – that's why I belong here. And that's why you're not safe. I worry for you.' Suddenly he looked very tired. 'I will explain it to you tomorrow, Harry. Goodnight for now.' He turned to go, but remembered something, and turned back. 'Harry?'
'Yeah?'
'I don't want Draco hearing any of this - you know his attitude. Goodnight, Harry.' He gave Harry a wan smile and took off up the path.
'…Moql seems like a nice girl,' said Draco sleepily as he settled down on the rug for the second time. He had absolutely no idea why Harry was leaning down and giving him that look.
'Draco,' he said. 'Do you trust Lupin? I mean, because he's a werewolf?'
Draco's face hardened, even through the mask of sleep. 'No, Harry,' he said shortly. 'I don't trust werewolves.'
And as he shut his eyes he had no idea why Harry looked as though Snape had started handing out sweets.
A/N : Thanks to PikaCheeka, netshark, Person, Franimal, Lizzy, Harry's Crush, Jyfae, Cassandra Claire, Aziraphale, Me! a, WolfieTwin 1 and rave for reviewing! Please review again if you want the next part sooner. I have a lot of holiday homework. Thanks very much, guys, for giving me so many thoughtful reviews.