The Casting Stone 20
Well, well, well – here we are. Great thanks to all who have enjoyed this little romp with us here, we've enjoyed ourselves immensely. That's it – I think that sums it up rather nicely. And you should know that I have no intentions of giving the rat some soul-searching chance to redeem himself. He's outta here, as we baseball fanatics like to say. (New season, new sport; I need something to do between football seasons – and although I will confess to being on my feet screaming when Duval missed that putt on the 18th yesterday (urgggg!!!) I can't bring myself to call golf a sport, however much I play it. It is a strategy, a social event, and a damn fine walk, but barring someone in the gallery getting whacked with a bad drive (that's the way I play, not Tiger Woods of course), there's just no 'thrill of the hunt' involved. No, can't respond to complaints or arguments about this, I'm too busy getting my putter re-gripped.)
Summary: Ah, the final confrontation in the temple…but remember whom this temple was built for. Sirius was right, Peter has once more been made the fool – and for the second time by the same man. We learn the fates of Jack and Demoncles, the griffins, and of course, Sirius. No lengthy trial sequences in here – not really relevant. Draco comes to terms with the fact that it really was Remus who killed Lucius in the final confrontation with Voldemort. All's well that ends well….
Disclaimer: Still not JK Rowling. The lines from Shakespeare in here are found in IV Henry I, act I scene ii. As there is lingering debate over exactly who Shakespeare was, I'll simply state that I am not that person either, whoever it is.
***
Remus felt his eyes adjusting immediately to the darkness in the corridor as he followed Demoncles and the Servant. He heard the footsteps of the old werewolf plainly, but could only sense the presence of the spirit. It glowed faintly in the dim light coming from the room they moved towards. Remus no longer felt any trepidation about what may happen next, only a raw cold fury and an instinct he could no longer hold back. Threatened, challenged…. They will regret underestimating me. He could sense Katie and Malcolm were near him, but did not turn back to look at the others. They can take care of themselves; you do what you need to do….
Demoncles did risk a glance behind him, as if checking to see that Remus was in fact there. It was impossible to tell the man's expression in the darkness, even with his heightened senses, but it was evident from Deomoncles' posture that he was in considerable pain and his own anger was also reaching its threshold. Indentured to darkness for centuries; is that what you had envisioned? Is that what you thought would be so glorious about handing your soul over to this curse so easily? I doubt it…a selfish, cold action that brought you nothing but what you deserved. Do you feel any remorse for what you did to those who followed you? Or is all your pity only for yourself?
The Servant reached the edge of the Chamber and seemed to grow even larger, before turning translucent and pale, and seeming to glide up and away from them. He seemed to turn into the moonlight itself. The Keeper continued walking forward at the same steady pace, but he seemed to glide more now; seemed more wolf-like with each step. He did not look at Remus again, just continued forward silently. Only a few paces behind them, Remus quickly reached the edge of the room and came to a halt at the sight that met him.
The rock floor dissolved away into sand; the walls seemed to vanish, and it looked for all the world as if they were now outside in the empty desert. Remus realized he was looking at the same scene he had been shown in his dreams; the monumental statue of Set rose high above them from the sands ahead of him, the four cauldrons of flames burning at each corner. As he had in the dream vision, he could hear nothing here save the sound of the fires roaring in their vessels. He looked up, only to see the sky itself above him, stars flickering and burning against the rich, dark blue of the night sky. But this time the moon hung low and huge over the colossus. Not quite full, but Remus could actually see it waxing slowly as he stared up at it. And there was no denying the burning he felt now throughout his body, the slight shaking of his legs and hands, or the bloodlust returning to overwhelm his senses. Hurry…if you don't finish this before you transform all is lost.
Taking a deep breath, Remus stepped onto the sand and started to move forward. The ground felt like ice even through the thick soles of his boots. His breath came out in heavy clouds, misting in front of him and catching the moonlight. The place felt of darkness and death, and the eerie stillness of the air made Remus' hackles rise with a sense of disquiet and expectation. Something is coming. Something old and decayed and merciless…none of us here are anything to it; we are no more than the sand itself. Demoncles had come to stand facing Set, his back to Remus, and was now saying something very softly in a language Remus could only assume was ancient Egyptian. Pushing down the conflicting urges to simply try and close the doors then hope for the best, and the desire to simply let go and run forward and attack, he slowly walked towards the Statue.
He stopped suddenly about 20 feet from
Demoncles and looked to his left. A
figure stood there in the shadows cast by the fires, also staring at the
Keeper. After a moment, he slowly
lowered his gaze and turned to face Remus. Norris.
Like Peter, Norris was very changed from his days as a schoolboy. The fact that he looked about to transform didn't help his appearance at all, and neither did the wild, brooding expression on his face. Cantersholes still had his stocky athletic build, but there was a sallow look to his skin that betrayed ill health. His dark hair was loosely braided and seemed to reach almost to his waist, and looked flat and fragile, and his face was thin and deeply lined, looking almost as wasted and pained as Sirius had first looked after he escaped from Azkaban. Sirius… Thinking of Sirius only helped to focus Remus on exactly what he needed to do.
He was surprised when Norris gave him a thin smile.
"Remus Lupin. I will confess I was very surprised when I heard about you. If nothing else, the fact that Peter never said…. But Pettigrew always did like to think that he had 'secrets' that gave him some sort of advantage. Or maybe he just liked you, in his own way. I confess I thought I had learned all his secrets, all those years ago."
Cantersholes turned back to watch Demoncles again, but kept talking in a thin and scratchy voice.
"Nobody expects the Gryffindors, do they? Not the brave little hearts…. But courage has many faces. My courage was to stand up and want more than 'complacency' offered me. And once everyone thought I was dead, it was so easy. There is a freedom in death; I was suddenly free of everything that everyone had ever expected of me. I was free from all those assumptions. So I made my own choice. And it was mine to take. Imagine how I felt when I discovered I had found a way to give Potter to Voldemort. Little Peter Pettigrew…."
Now Norris looked back at Remus and gave him a dark look.
"Pettigrew understood; without Potter and Black to protect him, what was he? Nothing much, nothing special. Not like his 'friends'. Not even like you. He was so easy once he got used to the idea. So much anger, and so much fear. And no will to resist."
"So it was you…."
"Yes. But things didn't really go according to plan, did they? That disappointed me, I must say. And being forced to flee, concerned that others would offer me up as their own damn salvation. Gods, they couldn't turn each other in fast enough, could they? But, in retrospect, I must apologize for being so angry at those little souls. I was bitten when hiding in the Black Forest. I wouldn't be here now without that…. And now everything is on my terms."
Norris took another step towards Remus, but said nothing for a time. Finally he shook his head.
"Nothing to say to me, Lupin? Pettigrew says you're quite the talker. Of course, he doesn't understand the need you and I feel constantly to make sense of the wildness within us; of the barrage of senses and conflicting desires we feel every second we breathe. Speech forces us to be linear, like them. Makes it easier to interact with them. You know at first I was horrified by what had happened? But after the first transformation, once I really understood what I was…. The downside was that I was regulated to the shadows, not to be trusted but certainly to be used. So I played nicely. Then I met an old wolf, and she talked of the legends of this place, of who we were and where we came from. I thought her old and mad, until I met up again with Wormtail."
"I kept his secret. I think a few others knew…but nobody ever said. Nobody dared. And then Voldemort was gone, and Pettigrew fled again. I met him quite by chance one day in France. We got to talking about lost dreams," here he laughed coldly. "Then we spoke of what was to be done next. And imagine my astonishment when he started to speak of a place of unimaginable power hidden in the Egyptian desert. I realized he was, in all likelihood, speaking of the house of Set. He said he knew where to find this place. Said he'd found the entrance…well, that was too good an opportunity to pass up on, though I thought he was mad. And he clearly had no idea what he was really dealing with; he was chasing a muggle legend for gods' sake."
Remus finally broke his silence. "And what have you done with him? Does he understand he's been used by you again?"
"Well, by now I think he must."
"Where are the others?"
"They are right here, but not in this place. Surely you didn't expect them to be allowed in here? No doubt at this moment, no more than five feet from you Black is beating the worthless life out of Pettigrew. But this is the other place, and only we are here. Amazing, isn't it? Who would have thought that we would have access to more power than all of them put together? The days of hiding are over, Lupin. At least for us. Pettigrew; still so gullible after all these years. But his miserable life will be over soon. Things will be very different soon. I've waited a long time for this; and now it's almost here."
Norris gave Remus another dark look. "The Keeper demanded you be here with us. But make no mistakes, Lupin. This is mine."
At this moment Demoncles stopped what he was doing and turned around to look at Remus. His expression was still murderous, but he didn't move.
"Welcome, young one. You may find this…interesting. Do behave yourself and wait there, won't you?"
"Just allow me to return to the others and leave. I will not kill you, Demoncles."
Demoncles actually managed to laugh at that, though Norris glared at him.
"I will miss your flair for the dramatic, young one. You have provided me with more entertainment in the last several days than I've had in hundreds of years. No one is leaving now. We only wait. I know you feel what is happening; and surely you can feel that you are far stronger than this other? That you will be the one to claim what comes here as your own."
At that Norris spoke up.
"No! This is my…" he stopped abruptly as Demoncles swiftly turned and came to face him across the flames of the cauldron he stood behind.
"How you and your deceived companions ever dreamed that you would ever control us, I cannot fathom. Though you have also been entertaining to watch. Pity you were so blind you could not see what he was doing." Here Demoncles pointed to Remus, and gave a sharp and feral smile.
"We have no allegiance to you and will simply kill you when the time has come. He knows that; but he has used you to give his companions what he wants. Weak brat of a cub that you are, he is greater than you."
Demoncles stepped back from Norris to look over at Remus again.
"Do me one small favour, young one. Before you kill me, allow me at least to kill this one. I would like to die with his taste in my mouth. Very satisfying."
Remus shuddered at that and shook his head.
"I told you before, I am not killing anything or anyone. And neither are you."
Demoncles laughed again and clapped his hands with evident delight, even as he turned his face towards the enchanted sky above them and closed his eyes.
"Perhaps there are some things I will miss, but I am willing to take the risk. You hear that you sick little thing? That's a wolf! That's the voice you will never bear." The Keeper turned his face back down to look at Norris with heavy, fevered eyes. "Soon…so soon. You feel it? I know you do; but you still fear it. I know your thoughts; I see the fear and the pain in your eyes, and I smell it in your sweat. The di are a pathetic group for the most part. A careless creation, really. This was a gift created for the worthy, but that somehow got polluted when the unwilling managed to survive. It is no wonder other wizards call you monsters because you are nothing more than dumb beasts."
Cantersholes finally seemed to come to life at that, and actually stepped closer to Demoncles, which seemed only to amuse him and he raised an eyebrow at the man.
"I will take what is my right! I survived; that makes me nefer mat just as you, just as him. I was sent into the shadows by others, but I will not stay there, and you will not keep me there."
"I will do exactly what I wish, cub. So you survived; what did you do with your new power? You hid. 'Sent to the shadows' indeed. You fled; I see it in your eyes. And then you discovered this place. How? No, no…I don't care. Strength is not given to you, it is something that you take," growled Demoncles, baring his sharp teeth at the pale wizard. "So, will you take it from me? Do you really think you can?"
"Yes!"
"Wrong, you will understand in graphic detail, once you release me. And I've had a very, very long time to think about exactly what I intend to do. Why on earth do you think I let you in here? You're actually very fortunate the young one came for you when he did. I had had enough of this and was particularly displeased when you injured Jack. He is not yours, he is mine. But you managed to evade me, no doubt with Jack's own assistance, and then this one showed up. That made it all so much more interesting. So now you will at least die truly understanding, and that must be some small comfort, I imagine?"
Here he looked at Norris again with a sneer.
"Do you think I would allow you to guard this place? I may crave release, but I still serve my master faithfully and I will not desecrate all that he is with the likes of you. Better this all be lost to the sands of time than be given to you. Death with glory is far greater than life in ignominy. But now I have everything, you see? I will have my release, and I will leave a worthy successor."
Lost? How…his death. The ceremony isn't to reveal Set, or grant a hidden power, it's to appoint a Keeper. "Grant Set's greatest gift; control over nature and time itself." To be bonded here; that was the mistake Demoncles made, all those years ago. He also assumed…he believed this to be a talisman that granted you power. And so it did…immortality. But locked here; not a power to be taken into the world. And now…and now he is going to bond me to this place, because it's the only way he will ever be free. But if there is no Keeper here…if there is no bond to this place, it will vanish, and fall into the sand. Remus considered that this would be acceptable; and would in fact release the Keeper from his hellish bondage, but could he in fact release the man without killing him, and without being bound himself?
Norris suddenly moved forward to step into the circle around the statue made by the firelight.
"I will take this! I am the one who has summoned Set! I am…."
"You are nothing!" cried Demoncles with a snarl and lunged for Cantersholes. He seized him by the front of his robes and forced him to his knees, breathing heavily.
"So soon…so soon and I will rip your throat out; almost time…."
Norris struck out, digging his nails into the burns on Demoncles' face. This forced the older werewolf to howl and loosen his grip enough to allow the younger man to pull away. As Demoncles struggled to regain his breath, Norris lunged at Remus.
"You will not take this from me!"
Remus easily deflected Norris' clumsy lunge with a snarl of his own. He's too young to fight us…. But driven by something stronger than himself, Cantersholes regained his footing and tried to take Remus. He managed to swipe blunt gashes across Remus' chest this time and reached to strike his face, but Remus turned from him and hit him once more hard across the face, sending him backwards several steps. But as Remus pulled back again, preparing to stop another attack, Demoncles appeared and threw himself at Cantersholes, striking him to the ground. He looked back once at Remus before he turned back at the struggling wizard at his feet. Remus knew bloodlust when he saw it.
"No!"
As he leapt forward, unsure as he did so exactly what he would do, Remus felt something wrap around his chest tightly. He struggled against it, but it held him brutally fast, then suddenly pulled him into the air. Disoriented at the sensation of being ripped from the ground, and feeling his own body begin to betray him as the wolf's desire to fight, to bite, to unleash itself surged against the sudden restraint, Remus felt as if he were about to black out. Somehow he managed to stay conscious, and started to thrash in earnest.
He felt himself being pulled higher and higher above the ground, even as he struggled against whatever it was that held him. He managed to look back down and saw Demoncles gain the upper hand, pin Norris to the ground and….Remus quickly turned his face away and stopped struggling for a moment against the force moving him to keep himself in check. Don't look…don't give that to the wolf. Cast the spell now…break this…. He clutched Katie's wand more tightly. Think of Katie…think of home. Must say it…must cast the spell; unless the doors are closed, this will be finished…No! He felt himself twisted, and was now being slowly lowered back to earth, where he could see Demoncles watching him, eyes glowing and his face smeared with blood from biting Norris' throat, the sand beneath his feet turning black in the moonlight, and a triumphant smile on his face. Remus shook himself; then managed to close his eyes against this creature, and thought only of row upon row of silver doors slamming shut, one after the other….
"Adoperri confundium!"
He could sense the ground getting closer and closer, but simply continued to envision the doors. Closing…closing…closing….
Remus heard a shriek, and then felt himself thrown violently down…and he slammed into rock. Stunned for a moment, he didn't move, but then staggered to his feet and forced himself to open his eyes. His vision was blurring as his eyes were starting to shift and change, as the wolf opened its own eyes in prelude to finally breaking free of the prison of Remus' body. Remus struggled to hold the change back, but could feel himself slipping, inch my inch. He managed to focus on the floor for a few seconds, trying to determine where he was. Tiled! Back in the temple…back in the right dimension; it must have worked… the spell must be broken.
"REMUS!"
He managed to get his head up at the sound of Katie's voice, and was startled when he suddenly felt his arms grabbed. Katie and Liz appeared out of the fog, reaching for him and pulling him towards them. But with a snarl he pulled back and moved away from them.
"Don't!" he gasped, in a voice that sounded cold and harsh to his own ears. "Keep back! I'll follow as I'm able…just go! Now!"
"Remus…."
"Go, Katie; I promise, I'll follow. But don't look back, love – He'll be right behind me; and I don't know…. Please!"
Remus could make out Liz and Katie moving quickly away from him, and saw other figures ahead of him. Rather, he could smell them and sense them…and hear every breath they took; each one, individually, all there…right there. Don't! Hang on, hang on….Get out of this place; if you stay, you'll kill him. That was the wrong thought, as he felt the wolf simply scream with desire at the idea, but he choked back a howl and moved after the others, who he could now see clearly (not good, not good…) moving into the corridor. But then he realized something that gave him a moment of clarity; they had Peter, Remus could smell him. Thank the gods. Not in vain.
As he ran up the corridor, Remus felt his head clear further but there was no questioning that he was now simply managing to put off the inevitable. He quickly caught up with the others, and found himself facing Liz again.
"Remus, we're going to get out through the ossuary. You have to stay close, I don't care what you say, because we've got to manoeuvre around those pits down there under the water. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Are you up to it?"
"Is this a multiple choice option?" he croaked, then saw Liz grin.
"See, you're still with us. Come on."
The others had already started to climb down the mason work into the flooded corridor. Remus caught a glimpse of Sirius, at the front with Draco, with Malcolm on his shoulders. You promised me Sirius; no matter what. The water actually felt soothing against his burning legs once he'd come to stand in the passageway. Keeping right up next to the wall like the others, he slowly moved forward after Liz.
Remus concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, and on wishing Katie and Malcolm got out of this place. By chanting their names over and over in his head he managed to hang on; he even started to chant Roarke's name with theirs, not allowing himself to feel bitter over not being with her for so long. Remember …what it was like…when Mrs. Noyes said you had the daughter you wanted so much….
He came to a halt when he noticed that the others had stopped. Remus resisted the urge to scream and instead clutched at the stonework of the catacomb he stood against, and called out to Liz.
"What? We can't stop! Please…."
Liz, as ever, looked totally unflustered when she turned to him.
"Remus, you stay with us. Draco is simply, and prudently, retracing his steps to make sure we take the right tunnel."
"Liz…." Remus could hear the desperation and tears in his voice, despite the coarseness.
"Remus, don't make me stun you and drag you out of here. Don't give me that look; I can stop a werewolf if I need to. Just remember if you make me do it how much I love you."
"Deal."
Liz gave him a smile, but was distracted from saying anything further by a familiar series of gurgling calls and squeaks. Remus noticed two small objects move past him at the opposite site of the passage and move forward. The griffins…they'll lead Draco out…. He managed to smile weakly at Liz.
"Good thing Sirius can't pick up after himself…we'd have never picked them up….."
"Don't ever say that to him. I'm the one who's stuck with him now."
They began to move forward again, faster than before. Remus nearly started to cry from relief when he saw they had reached a stairway after a while. But where is the Keeper? He's still here…he can't have been so easily stopped….
Remus scrambled up the steps and moved through the doors still hanging back from the others. It was night outside as well, the nearly full moon lighting the courtyard he walked into. The moonlight burned him now, and he shook with the effort of trying to just….He gasped as Katie appeared in front of him and reached up to cup his face with her hands, stroking his face and wiping the sweat drenched hair from his brow.
"Almost, Remus. We'll be outside soon…will you make it?"
"I think…"
He stopped as a cold wail was heard across the way, and shook from head to toe as he felt the wolf inside of him respond with an equally pained and dark scream. He looked back at Katie and tried to be gentle as he once again pulled back from her, needing her to understand. But she does… she always has. Everything.
"Run, Katie. Run."
He watched the others running in the moonlight with a detached interest, even as he felt himself finally slipping away. As if drugged, he turned to face the direction the cry had come from, seeing the wolf clearly in the moonlight. Its burnished silver fur glowed, its eyes burned, visible even from where he stood. Resolved that he had no choice but to fight, a fight he could never win as a man, he started to let go.
But at that instant there was a blur of darkness that ran from one of the crevices along the courtyard. It moved with incredible speed, and threw itself at the wolf. It took Remus a few seconds to realize it was a second wolf. Jack….
He stood there, watching the wolves tumble and bite for only a moment. Then he turned to run after the others. Make it to the boundary…don't get trapped here… His senses and his body screamed at him with the effort. The wolf thrashed within him, crying out, wanting only to go and fight. But Remus was not going to give in now; not after a lifetime of being the best master he could be of this curse….You will not have me now. I do not belong to you.
He ran through the gigantic gates, immediately engulfed in a violent sandstorm. Choking, he forced himself to move forward still, feeling the sand fill his throat, and burn his skin. Somehow he kept moving, hearing the cries and shrieks of the wolves behind him, but growing fainter. Forward, forward…
He fell to the ground, shaking from head to toe and weeping as the sands vanished, and he was immediately blinded by sunlight. Gasping and choking, he struggled to turn to his side, to try and get the sand from his lungs, clutching his throat. He stilled only when he felt hands grabbing at his arms to stop him, and pounding on his back to try and help him clear his airways. He lay there coughing and gasping for a while, until he could draw a clear breath again. His breathing stilled slowly, and then he felt himself being helped to sit up. Carefully, he opened his eyes.
Katie knelt in front of him, hands caressing his shoulders, and tears moving through the dirt on her strained but smiling face.
"Remus? Can you hear me?"
"Oh, yes, Katie love. Are you alright?"
"I'm …I'm fine. Can you stand?"
"Probably."
Katie helped Remus to his feet. "We're out. All of us."
"Where's Malcolm?"
"Sirius has him over that way. He's fine…scared, but fine."
"And Peter?"
"Was right there in that room. We've got him. Harry and Fred have him over there."
"Katie, I don't really feel well."
"I know, love. And the wolf?"
Remus hesitated and thought about it.
"Still here, but…but not a danger. Like the day after…."
Katie gave him a smile. "So you're going to be cranky and spend the day drinking too much coffee?"
"Imagine, a dark creature with an addition for caffeine."
Katie moved forward and wrapped her arms around him for a moment before reaching up to caress his face again. "I'll take it, any day. I love you."
"Oh, Katie. I love you too."
"Let's go."
Remus held her tightly for a few seconds, then let go and stepped back, taking her hand and giving her a weak smile.
"Draco's griffins came back?"
"Yes. You should have seen the smile on his face…." Katie stopped talking and walking at the same time, looking past Remus towards the direction of the temple.
"Remus, look."
Remus turned to look back over his shoulder in the direction his wife was pointing. Behind him there was only desert, as he expected, but he was startled to realize that there were two figures lying on the ground a distance from them, clearly visible. He glanced back at Katie and gave her hand a squeeze before dropping it.
"Stay here, please. I'll just see what that is."
Katie seemed to bite back a retort, but nodded and stood where she was. Remus walked over across the sand to the figures. There, as he had suspected, lay Jack and Demoncles. Both were dead; but both had expressions of such peace, he could not feel any remorse at their deaths. Maybe for Jack, but only for the idea that Jack had never clearly understood….But maybe he did. Maybe he did know what had happened. Either way, he's free now. And as for Demoncles…even though he had caused his own misery, even though he had condemned Jack, and tried to force Remus into an even darker fate….No. My world is not a dark place. Goodbye, Demoncles. I hope that somehow you find peace in death. You were wrong about Jack, it seems. He was strong enough to kill you.
Remus stood on the stand over the still figures of Jack and Demoncles for a long while. It seemed that his assumption was correct; the complex seemed to have vanished into the sand, judging from where he was standing. He had seen too much in his life to assume it was simply gone, but it was hidden now even deeper from the eyes and dreams of bitter men. Finally he turned and walked back towards Katie. She had not moved from where he'd left her. The others were a ways beyond her, also watching him. He walked past Katie and went to stand in front of Peter, who was bound from head to toe, suspended between Harry and Fred Weasley.
"Well, Peter. It would seem we are at the end of the road. Or rather, you are. Fred, George, please take Peter back to the Ministry tonight, and explain what has happened. Go to Dumbledore first, let him be the agent. We will follow you tomorrow. Make sure you give Percy some credit in this…don't look at me like that. Percy has done nothing wrong, and he means well. We need people who mean well to stay alert, don't you see? Let him be there. My thanks for trying to help with Malcolm."
"Fine, Remus."
"Not a problem."
Remus looked back at Peter. He felt Sirius come over to stand at his side, but Sirius said nothing.
"Why, Peter? Why did it end here?"
Pettigrew said nothing, simply watched Remus and Sirius with a scared expression. After a few moments Remus couldn't bear to stand there anymore and turned to walk away. Peter suddenly spoke.
"Who will believe you? I've been forced into hiding, I knew the truth! Knew Sirius Black would…."
Remus instinctively threw up an arm to block Sirius' advancement even as he turned back to look at Peter.
"I believe we've already had this discussion, Peter. And we told you then; you should have died, as we would have for you. You made a choice I simply cannot comprehend, and I have wasted a lot of time trying to understand. Norris told me, before he died back there, that he was the one…what did he say to you, Peter? What did he promise you that was greater than our trust, and our friendship?"
Peter only whimpered a little at this, and Remus turned away again. At this, Narcissa Malfoy stepped forward to stand in front of him.
"I know the truth."
Remus looked down at her with a frown, but she simply watched him calmly.
"Consider this my …apology… for my actions. I will make certain that Mr. Pettigrew is properly detained until tomorrow at the very least. I can levy charges against him both for his crimes now, and from the past. And perhaps this will convince my son that I do have some small quality of mercy he can be proud of."
Remus looked at Draco, but he was staring at the sand, meeting nobody's eye, and simply holding Elvira as Charles perched on his shoulder with sleepy eyes.
Narcissa gave a cold smile. "Well, perhaps not. We shall have to see." She glanced at the twins. "One of you will need to direct me, of course."
Fred stepped forward to stand next to her, and motioned for George to stand with Pettigrew. "Let's go. We'll see you all at Dumbledore's tomorrow. I'll make sure Ron and Hermione come with us tonight to give their own evidence against Wormtail, and I'll make sure the Davies know that Malcolm's just fine and you'll be home soon."
Remus just nodded at him, suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion. This is finally ending…gods, I need this to just end. I'm so tired.
Fred vanished, and after a few seconds Narcissa followed him. Remus noted that Draco still did not look up at any of them. George gave Pettigrew a scowl, then called out, "See you all soon. Been fun!" and the two of them also vanished.
"Remus?"
Remus looked over at Sirius, who handed his wand to him. "Got that off Wormtail back there. We didn't… we didn't get the other two. I think they figured out they were screwed and got out on their own. I don't know."
Remus just nodded and took his wand. He
looked at it, remembering the day he and his father had gone to Mr. Olivander's
to get it. Remus had been so excited
that he was going to go to school, and so terrified that Mr. Olivander would
know exactly what he was. But the
strange old man had simply smiled, and spent the better part of the day finding
the perfect wand for him. Not an easy task. Mermaid's hair and Rowan wood….One of the best days of my life.
The remainder of their party returned to their campsite. Katie fussed with getting some dinner ready, keeping Malcolm with her all the time. He collapsed by the fire and fell asleep almost as soon as Katie set him on the ground. Remus wanted nothing more than to curl up next to Malcolm and join him, but he forced himself to go talk to Sirius, who, despite what had just happened, looked awful. He had quietly but firmly kept both Harry and Liz at a distance as he sat on the edge of the cliff and stared out at the valley.
Remus stood next to him for a time, then sat down near him and sighed.
"I…I don't know what to say, Remus. I'm still a little stunned by all of this."
"Well, it's been quite a ride."
"Yes. And now…and now it might finally be over. That terrifies me and thrills me at the same time."
Remus only nodded, and absently wondered if maybe they should go back to get Jack's body to return to his family. Give them closure, too. Finally Sirius spoke again.
"After all that Moony, we end up cornering him in a dusty old temple. Not very dramatic."
"I had more than enough drama for the both of us, Padfoot."
"Yes," Sirius started to cry and reached forward to wrap his arms tightly around Remus. "Thank you, Remus. For everything."
'S'all right," said Remus with a slur, the exhaustion finally catching up to him. "You know…I'd've done anything….anything…."
"I know. But this…."
"This," said Remus firmly, pushing Sirius back to look at him, "is over. Tomorrow we go back to London, to the Ministry…and we get you set free. It's over."
Sirius nodded but didn't say anything else, still looking bleary eyed. Remus gave him a weak smile, then pushed on his shoulder to stand up and walk back towards the others. "Come on. The Weasleys will have gotten Peter back to London by now, and are probably walking in the front doors of the Ministry as we speak."
Sirius still didn't speak, but gave a small shudder even as he nodded in agreement. Remus didn't miss it, and now he reached over to put an arm over Sirius' shoulders as they slowly came back to the fireside.
"You will not go back to Azkaban, Sirius. I swear it."
"You don't know that; you don't know they won't just…."
"Dumbledore won't allow it. And Dexter certainly won't go for it."
"I guess you're right…Dexter, Minister of Magic. Who would have thought it."
"Yes, the man who taught us our first month at school how to set off a firework undetected from across the room."
"I wonder if he had any idea what he started. I mean, if the Prefect could get away with that…."
Remus now sat down heavily next to Katie and leaned his head on her shoulder, closing his eyes. He simply opened his arms when he felt Malcolm crawl into his lap and held him tightly once he'd settled.
"Alright then, my little marauder?"
"Yes. But can I ask a question?"
"Always. Never stop asking me questions."
"Where are we?"
Remus was forced to open his eyes at that and give a small laugh. "Oh, well, we're in Egypt. You know where that is?"
"Yes daddy, it's in Africa. Are we back to everything being a lesson?"
"Yes."
"Good."
***
Remus gave up pacing and flopped down heavily on the chair opposite the couch where Katie sat with Malcolm curled up next to her asleep. It was late, but the Ministry had promised that there would be a ruling on Sirius' case today, no matter what. The last three weeks had been agonizing. The only solace was that Sirius was not sent back to Azkaban for his trial, but held at the Ministry. He and Katie had given their testimony the first week of the hearings, but were not welcome in the closed-door proceedings surrounding the extraordinary circumstances of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.
The Ministry was keeping as tight a hold as it could on the proceedings, but the entire wizarding community knew that Sirius Black had turned himself in, and that poor Peter Pettigrew was not dead. Try as they might, the story of how Sirius Black had stepped out of the Minister of Magic's fireplace during a staff meeting was not something to be kept under wraps.
Even Harry was not allowed to be there, a fact he bitterly resented and loudly protested, but finally resolved himself to. Unable to concentrate from worry, he had taken to wandering around the house, occasionally bumping into Remus doing the same thing. Malcolm had figured out pretty quickly that something was wrong with Sirius, but Liz had taken it as her personal responsibility to keep him distracted. That was how she handled the stress of what was happening.
Remus had to resist the urge to pick Roarke up out of her cradle where she was, for once, sleeping soundly. Not a good idea to disturb her…. When they returned to London, Remus had almost burst into tears to see how much Roarke had changed in the weeks he had been gone. But he had decided that was a reasonably useless thing to do and instead focused on spending as much time with her now as he could. This had come to include his building a new cradle so he could have her sleeping with him downstairs while he worked late at night. Malcolm had pointed out, somewhat testily, that he had never been allowed to sleep in the study, but was placated with an early birthday present. Much to Remus' relief Malcolm had fallen in love with a terrier puppy, and although the little thing had a habit of chewing on everything in sight, Malcolm adored her so Remus and Katie decided it was a small price to pay. Remus looked at the puppy, now sleeping decidedly ungracefully on her back in front of the fire, and smiled to himself. Sirius will be home for his birthday. That's all Malcolm really wants.
Harry came into the front room at that point and with a sigh settled into the chair opposite Remus, carefully stepping over the puppy.
"Well," said Katie, smiling down at the soundly sleeping Malcolm curled up on her lap, "What's next, Harry?" she said softly.
"Not sure. I suppose I should get my own flat."
"You are welcome here as long as you like. We all enjoy having you with us."
"Katie, you're about to finally rid this house of your hangers on…."
"Hangers on?! Harry Potter, how dare you say such a thing!"
He was about to apologise when he caught her eye and noted the twinkle in it. Remus smiled to himself.
"Katie…won't it be fun, just the four of you? Certainly quieter."
"Quieter? I've Remus, Malcolm and Roarke at the least. One still crying at odd hours of the morning, one with a bad habit of running down the stairs like a small herd of wildebeest, and one with a frightening knack for breaking dinnerware."
"Who's the wildebeest?"
"Not telling. And what shall you put in this flat, then?"
"Guess I'll have to buy a few bits of furniture too."
"Harry, that's not what I'm getting at. Though that is a very practical consideration. Women are not amused by sitting on packing crates. Well, maybe once with a nice dinner and some candlelight. That's rather sweet, but I promise our amusement at your blind domestic eye doesn't last long."
Harry gave Katie an odd look, but suddenly turned to glance back at the fire. Remus had the distinct impression he was missing part of this conversation. Before he could say anything, however, he heard a knock at the door. He jumped up and went into the entry hall. Please….
Remus opened the door as was very surprised, but pleased, to see Draco there. He had not seen Draco since they had returned to England, although Draco had sent occasional inquires as to the status of Sirius' case. I know they told him about Lucius. Maybe I just should have done that myself.
"Good evening, Professor. Any word?"
"No, not yet. Come in."
Draco stepped into the entry hall and waited for Remus to close the door. Remus was about to lead him back into the front room with the others, when Draco gave him a closed look.
"Sir, may I speak with you alone?"
"Yes of course. Come with me."
Remus led them down the hall into his study. He lit the lights and the fire, then turned to face Draco. Draco did not meet his eye.
"Sir, I need to ask you something. I would ask simply that you respond to my question, not offer … explanations."
"Alright, Draco. What do you need?"
"You will forgive me, Sir, for taking this night of all nights to come here with this. But; but I could not….I need this finished, and I know that you will appreciate that. Did you kill my father?"
Remus looked at Draco quietly and nodded. I suspected as much. And he deserves the truth "Yes, Draco. It occurred to me that I should have spoken to you about this before, but you were emphatic that…."
"That I did not wish to discuss it, yes."
Draco hesitated here, and Remus waited for him to continue. After a while Draco looked up through hooded eyes at Remus with a frown.
"And all this then; has this simply been remorse? Has your interest in my well being been some sort of pity? Trying to make something up to me?"
Remus shook his head. Draco's trying to push me away…he's not going to get away with it.
"Draco…."
"You realize that the ironic part of this is that I'm glad you killed him because…. Because I always thought it would be up to me, and I don't think I could have done that."
"Draco, you need to mourn your father. For all he did, he still was your father. And you also need to accept that I never did anything in my life out of pity. Despite my reputation I am not given to platitudes, or empty sentiment. As Sirius would tell you, my exterior does little to betray what I feel inside. Your father died in war; but I still mourn your loss for you, despite everything. I would have chosen an existence where I never took another life; but circumstances have not afforded me that luxury. Draco, I consider you a friend. A trusted friend. I have for a long time, and I think you know that."
Draco said nothing, simply standing in front of the fire, his hands on his hips, his back now turned to Remus.
"Draco, please look at me when I am speaking with you."
Draco did turn automatically at the tone in Remus' voice, which begged no arguments.
"You and I are very alike, you know that? At least, I have thought so for a long time. We both do not wish to be what others assume us to be. And sometimes that is very difficult. And sometimes that 'assumption' forces us to make our own unfair judgements, because that is easier than standing there and waiting to be hurt. You think you invented that?"
Draco shook his head.
"No. Neither of us did. Draco, I know you've discovered a fondness for Noel Coward. My favourite muggle writer is actually Shakespeare. At least, he wrote some of my favourite lines. Something I discovered when I was about your age; and when I was just as angry, assuming that everyone turned on me, and that I would never be more than a monster, ever again."
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes,
And like bright metal on a sullen ground,
My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault,
Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes
Than that which hath no foil to set it off.
"Keep those words in mind, Draco. I have found them very comforting."
"And you made them true. But you started out…."
"Draco, at many times in our lives we come to stand at crossroads. And you cannot judge yourself by what roads you took in the past or by what others thought of you. At each point is a new choice. There may be plenty of people who will never know you who will condemn you and ridicule you, and curse you. But you have to make your choice. And none of us can do this alone, Draco. None of us. Do you know what an Anam Cara is?"
"No."
"It translates to 'soul friend'; an ancient Celtic tradition my mother taught me. We are all bound together, Draco, and we are all 'all things', good and bad. Souls 'bind' together through all of this life. And through other lives, if your beliefs turn to that. But my point is this; I have been privileged to have had friends in my life that touched my very soul, and made me more than I am. And I have considered you one of these for some time. Yes, I did take your father's life. But that is no reflection on you, and I can only ask that you forgive me."
Draco watched him with a blank expression for a long time. Then he nodded, and said simply, "Yes."
There Draco; you get it.
Before Remus could respond, Liz came running in.
"Acquitted! All charges dropped, name restored…he's free, Remus!"
Remus laughed with relief as Liz threw her arms around him and started to cry. She pulled up when she realized Draco was standing there.
"Draco! I'm sorry… I didn't mean to interrupt."
Draco actually smiled.
"I believe that this is sufficient news to interrupt any conversation in this house. Congratulations."
Liz smiled at him, then left as quickly as she had appeared. Remus stood there, thinking about the real impact of what she'd said. It's over. Everything. At last.
Draco cleared his throat, getting Remus' attention.
"Well. It would seem that our travels were not in vain. That is rather satisfying. Please offer Black my congratulations." Draco turned to leave the room.
"Wait, Draco. Stay, he'll be here very soon…." Remus could feel himself smiling broadly as he said that. But Draco just laughed quietly, though happily.
"While I appreciate the invitation, I suspect that tonight is not a night for outsiders. Your family has much to reflect upon. I will return to my own house, thank you."
"Draco,"
"Remus. I do get it. You are quite right; I need to mourn, because without it I will never be free. And I, like Black, am very ready to leave the past behind me and move forward and rebuild."
Remus smiled at him, not missing the fact that Draco had finally addressed him by his given name.
"Do give Black my congratulations. And let me know if that infamous wedding is actually happening in November, so I can be sure to get a gift to Black and Miss Harker."
"Oh, we'll have to be sure you're there, Draco. How could you pass up another shot at Callum?"
"If he shows up he deserves anything that happens to him."
Draco walked back out to the front of the house, Remus following. They ran into Malcolm in the front hall.
"Draco! Sirius is coming home!"
"Yes, Malcolm, I just heard. I'm very glad to see you looking so well."
"Thanks. Are you staying to see Sirius?"
"No, I need to be getting home myself. I'll tell Charles and Elvira that you wish them well?"
"Yes! And do come back soon?"
"Yes, of course. Good night."
Remus closed the door behind Draco, feeling that they still had much to discuss, but content that for the moment that all was well. He bent over to pick up Malcolm as he moved to go back into the sitting room.
"Malcolm, I love you very, very much, you know that?"
"Yes. I love you too."
"Good. We've even then. Let's just go in here and wait for Sirius to get here."
As he went into the parlour, Remus caught a glimpse of an old picture on the wall. It was himself, Sirius, James and Lily. It must have been taken their sixth year, because Sirius and Remus were playing keep away with James' prefect badge. It was just a glimpse, just a moment, as he moved into the room. But it was suddenly filled with a new brightness; as if it were a painting grown dark with age suddenly cleaned. The colours seemed brighter, their smiles seemed wider, and he could hear them laughing again. After decades of silence, the laughter rang out again. My Anum Cara.