Disclaimer: all characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
a/n Story dedicated to Moppet Poppet, Cheating Death's 500th reviewer!
Of Western Stars
By neutral
Chapter thirty-one - of unexpected occurrences
Sirius sat up with a jerk and a gasp, blankets dropping from his shoulder to fall to the floor. His eyes darted through the whitewashed room in frantic confusion, breathing shallow. There was a lingering echo in his memory, but it was rapidly slipping away.
Something about Harry… about darkness, water…. What?
Sirius inwardly frowned in bewilderment, but the sense of urgency didn't fade. It took a moment for his numbness to fade; Sirius muffled a cry of pain as a stab of fire laced his lungs and tore at every breath. It rattled in his chest as if the air was filled with needles that pricked his body. Sirius coughed, but it only came out as a muffled groan, falling back against the bed heavily.
"Sirius!"
A gaunt, pale face with flaxen hair drifted into his vision. Sirius blinked disjointedly, and it took a few seconds before he recognized Remus.
"Harry," Sirius croaked desperately, tugging at Remus' cloak. "Where…?"
Remus' expression softened, as he pressed a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder when he threatened to move again. "Harry's okay. Don't try to move. You're badly hurt."
But Sirius wasn't alleviated. He struggled to lift his head, searching the room for any sign of the child. Remus shifted the pillows to give him some leverage and gestured to one side. A hospital bed was stretched out across his own, a small form could be barely seen on its surface. Sirius gave a long sigh of relief, dropping his head against the cushions. It was impossible to discern his condition with the child's back towards him, and Sirius stiffened when a thought seized him.
"How… how is…" Sirius struggled to speak despite his protesting lungs, but a raspy cough cut his words short.
"Relax, Sirius. Harry's alright," Remus reassured him, picking the blanket from the floor and spreading it over him.
Sirius pushed his hand away distractedly, "See him… let me…"
Remus hesitated, but the look on Sirius' face was one of stubbornness. He shook his head in defeat. Carefully, he lifted the child from the bed, and carried him to his godfather. Sirius sat up jerkily, barely even registering the branding pain in his side. He drew the child close and lifted the thin arm, desperately checking it for a pulse.
Harry's head fell against Sirius' arm as he was jostled, and the child made a soft moan of protest. His eyes were peacefully closed in a drug induced sleep, breath soft and rhythmic. Cautiously, Sirius peeled back the edge of his collar. There was no gaping wound on the Harry's neck, just a jagged line of discolored skin and a ring of purple bruises. Sirius drew a sharp breath, hand lingering on a purpling handprint etched in the child's skin.
"Harry's okay," Remus assured him. "He's alright. Don't worry."
Sirius fell back against the pillow with a long sigh, hugging the child close as if he was afraid someone would rip him away.
Remus smiled softly at the sight, and settled on spreading the blanket over them both.
"Don't try to talk," he said quickly, when Sirius opened his mouth again. "Your left lung collapsed, and it took Madam Pomfrey a good half hour to repair it."
Sirius furrowed his brow in confusion.
Remus sighed and sat at a bedside chair, the shadows around his eyes more pronounced than ever. He never shifted his gaze from the pair, his expression a mixture of pensive relief. Cautiously, as if unsure, he reached forward and gave his friend's hand a small squeeze.
"For a moment there, we weren't sure if you two were going to make it," Remus said quietly.
Sirius' expression darkened, but he made no attempt to speak.
"The two of you almost died last night. Fawkes helped Harry, but he was still unstable. And you…" Remus trailed off, closing his eyes and letting his head fall wearily against the palm of his hand. "We were lucky that we got you to Madam Pomfrey in time…"
He drew an unsteady breath, releasing Sirius' hand jerkily. The acute fear of losing his friend just a day before was driven by the situation. When Sirius was suddenly awake and recovering, Remus felt the barriers driven between them by the five years of misunderstanding slowly resurfacing.
Sirius must have known or understood. He caught Remus wrist before he backed away completely, clasping it firmly.
Remus smiled reassuringly at his friend, not trusting himself to speak again. But the strain of the last few hours was crumbling down over him, and he could feel his composure slipping. Trembling, he leaned forward and gave Sirius a tentative, one-armed hug to reassurance. It was awkward, with Harry's slight form trapped between them, and the stiff bandages that coated Sirius' side. The chair was eating uncomfortably into Remus' legs, but he barely noticed it. All he could feel was an overwhelming wave of relief, feeling as if someone had finally thrown open the window after years of imprisonment.
"Next time you decide to pull another stunt like that, at least warn me beforehand," Remus muttered, tone forcibly light. He stepped back slowly, giving Sirius a shaky smile.
Sirius made an small sound in the back of his throat, sounding oddly like a mixture of a cough and a chuckle. Remus finally managed a small laugh, but it came out more like a choked sigh of relief.
"With the wards going off like that, I'm surprised you didn't alert half the staff," Remus continued, resting an elbow against the edge of the bed and resting his head on his hand. Despite the weak smile in his features, he suddenly seemed very weary and worn, as if he aged years overnight. There was a deep discoloration of skin that spread from his cheek; Sirius' countenance darkened in concern.
"Remus, what…?" Sirius coughed out, lightly touching the reddish bruise.
Remus dropped his head in an attempt to hide it, hand instinctively covering his face. "Oh that. It's a long story." He gave Sirius an almost sheepish smile. "I sort of… fell…"
"You collapsed?" Sirius choked out. Remus flushed slightly, exasperated at Sirius' rather blatant words.
"Well, it had something to do with…" Remus hesitated, giving his friend an oddly searching look. He drew a deep breath, the smile fading from his features altogether. "a blood oath."
Sirius choked, coughing roughly as he struggled to speech. All he managed to whisper was a strangled, "What?!" before he dissolved in a fit of coughing.
Remus offered a glass of water, patting his friend's back sympathetically. Sirius didn't accept it, searching Remus' face fixedly. At his horrified expression, Remus hastened to explain, trying to keep his tone as calm as possible. "When I found you and Harry, I mixed our blood while trying to staunch the bleeding. It was a complete accident, but combined with the situation and the connection we already shared, it developed into a sort of… bond. Dumbledore thinks that's what kept you and Harry alive…"
Sirius sank back, speechless and stunned. He had studied oaths in school before, and the marauders had attempted it multiple times without success. But those actions were childhood impulsiveness; such bonds required much more commitment then they understood. And a blood oath was the strongest, most difficult, and most rare…
"Dumbledore was very vague," Remus continued quietly. "He described it as stacking three bricks together: breaking each one individually is easier than breaking all three at the same time. I suppose we'll have to read up on it later." Remus smiled again, somewhat apologetic. "I wasn't really listening when he explained it. That was when Pettigrew…"
Sirius made a strangled sound, eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. Reflexively, his arm tightened around his godson. "Wormtail…" he hissed bitterly. "Did…?"
"You were lucky, Sirius," Remus said slowly.
Sirius tensed. "What…?"
"I don't know how, but Pettigrew managed to get stabbed twenty-seven times by you and still crawled away with his life, especially after those burns..."
Sirius jolted, making a frantic effort to sit, Harry still caught in a desperate clasp against his shirt. Remus caught his shoulder in a restraining grip.
"No, Sirius, listen to me," Remus eased his friend back against the bed slowly, and when Sirius protested, grasped him firmly by the arm. "If you killed him, you would have had to go to Azkaban. He wasn't worth it. He wasn't worth losing Harry again."
Sirius' expression was still grim, but his arm tightened around his Harry defensively. He was still bitterly angry and indignant against the traitor. After what he did to James and Lily, to Harry, Sirius couldn't think of a suitable punishment that Peter deserved. The rat deserved to suffer for the rest of his life at the extent he tortured Harry.
But when it came between exacting revenge and raising his godson, Sirius already decided long ago. His gaze drifted to the six year old, sleeping peacefully with his head nested against his shoulder. He brushed back the thick tendrils of hair from Harry's face as reassurance to them both.
"Its not worth losing him again, Padfoot," Remus whispered beside him. "Harry needs you. You can't leave him, especially not now…" Remus trailed off with a resigned sigh. He obviously had many more things to say, but could put his thoughts to words. Suddenly smiling, he added, "Dumbledore's speaking with Fudge right now. With Pettigrew."
Sirius's eyes widened, the true meaning of those words sinking in.
Remus nodded, smile widening. "You're free."
*
A sharp turn, isn't it?
Of Western Stars
By neutral
Chapter thirty - of explanations
Sirius lingered in the secluded room of the hospital wing, impatiently waiting for the membrane of his lung to heal and the ability to speak coherently again. He saw little of Dumbledore and Remus that week, but he caught bits and pieces of conversations that passed.
Pettigrew was put on trial, with Remus and Dumbledore as witnesses. He was mercifully excluded, due to 'health' reasons that sounded suspiciously exaggerated, but Sirius was relieved he didn't have to face those thickheaded bastards. His story, oddly, was sounding exaggerated as well. Fudge, as an attempt to save his flimsy reputation, changed his stance overnight from Sirius being the mad mass murderer to the valiant godfather who single-handedly fought off the dementors and tracked down his best friend's betrayer for vengeance. Within days, Pettigrew was carted off to Azkaban, with an anti-transfiguration cell and stamped with a life sentence.
Sirius remained in the whitewashed room, as dull as it was small, and read the prophet headlines from the chair beside Harry's bed. He couldn't help a rueful smile at ridiculous articles he read that discussed theories on his escape, and yet more theories on how he managed to track down Pettigrew. He inwardly frowned when he came across an article that revealed the events of the day of the rat's capture.
So much of that day came away blank.
How did Harry manage to find his room, much less break the two seals to enter? How did he find Peter, and then know to hide him in his pocket? How did Peter's body burn, as if someone had poured scalding metal in his blood?
But sometimes, he couldn't bring himself to care.
Sirius rested his arms on the bed, lightly smoothing out Harry's messy locks. But the child made so sign of having noticed him at all, eyes peacefully closed without stirring or making a sound. He was trapped in an almost coma-like sleep, drained by excessive blood loss. He seemed so small and vulnerable, hardly the child who defeated Voldemort and somehow managed to give him freedom.
Suppressing a sigh, he moved to the edge of the bed, where the mattress was beginning to get indented from his frequent sitting. Brushing back a few stray locks of Harry's unruly hair, his hand traveled to the child's neck. A faint scar, thin and jagged, carved from his ear to his collarbone in a mockery of yet another lightning bolt. Sirius gritted his teeth in the fresh wave of fury.
The anger that flared, whenever he recalled the events of that day, never faded in intensity. The image of Harry, eyes wide and empty with blood pooling around his throat, was burned into the back of his mind, haunting him in dreams. He was itching to grind more shards of glass into Pettigrew's pudgy face. That rat deserved more than Azkaban for what he did to James and Lily, to Harry…
Sirius inwardly sighed.
No matter how many times Madam Pomfrey reassured him that Harry was fine, Sirius wasn't convinced. He found himself hobbling to the child's beside to check on him during odd hours of the night, a habit drilled into him after the week at the hotel. He practically lived on the chair beside his godson's bed. Gently, he lifted Harry's small hand and enfolded it in his own, something that he never really dared to do a week ago when the child was still painfully shy.
The door creaked open, but Sirius didn't turn. Only three people knew about the secluded room, and he half expected it was the nurse telling him to return to bed.
"I see you read the headlines this morning," Dumbledore said by way of greeting. He drew up a chair to Harry's bedside and sat, a sign that he was planning for a long visit and complete explanation.
Sirius nodded impatiently, having gotten in the habit of conserving words to spare his raw throat.
Dumbledore smiled knowingly, his blue eyes twinkling and looking as if he had grown decades younger. "You don't seem as excited as expected."
Sirius sighed, but it came out more like a groan. "This room is getting to my nerves. Even if I'm not claustrophobic, I will be soon."
Dumbledore's expression brightened even at his weak attempt at humor. "You will be able to walk through the school freely by tomorrow. Or maybe tonight, if the proper precautions are taken."
Sirius nodded, thoughts drifting again. He seemed to be doing that a lot of the late: never quite able to focus on anything but his godson, and lately, his only friend. "Where's Remus?"
"Sorting out some last minute affairs," Dumbledore said with an cryptic smile. "He's trying to regain possession of Black Manor, your Gringotts account, and settling some unfinished business. You could accompany Remus as he goes to pay your bills."
Sirius' lip quirked in a slight grin. "I'll stay."
He had spent well over six hundred pounds in medical supplies alone, not to mention the daily room service charges, phone charges, and hotel room fees. Remus was going to throw a fit.
"What about the Dursleys?" Sirius asked, his thoughts drifting again. He spat out the name of Harry's relatives bitterly.
There was a prolonged silence.
Dumbledore's expression faltered and fell, the age returning to his wizened face. "There is very little I can do within the confines of the law. If we pressed charges, Harry would be required to stand in court. Do you really want to do that to him?"
"No," Sirius said quickly, hand tightening firmly over Harry's. His gaze returned to the sleeping child, as if seeking and offering reassurance at the same time. "But they deserve to be punished for what they did to him."
Dumbledore nodded understandingly. "I'm sure they will be."
"He's been through enough," Sirius continued quietly. "He doesn't need to go through that again. He's just a child."
A small cryptic smile spread over the wizened wizard's face, "Harry is a child. But he knows far more than we give him credit for."
Sirius startled, a bit uneasy at the direction the headmaster seemed to be going.
"Harry seems to know, or do strange things, doesn't he?" Dumbledore said in a tone that made his words more of a statement than a question.
Sirius hesitated, feeling an odd urge to convince Dumbledore that Harry was only a normal six year old. But the past years had instilled an innate trust in Dumbledore, and he couldn't lie to the headmaster.
"Yes," Sirius admitted quietly. "He found out who I was without being told, and what I was. I didn't ask him how he knew."
The headmaster nodded as if he already knew the answer. "Harry's magic started manifesting itself far sooner and far more potent than I predicted it would. Those are signs of magical repression, when a powerful witch or wizard tries to hide magic because of domestic environments. It probably whiplashed and made him more powerful."
"What are you implying?" Sirius couldn't help but ask. He had a vague idea Dumbledore was alluding to something, and was too impatient to hear him speak in small circles.
"Harry is a very powerful wizard, not just for his age," Dumbledore said with a tone of finality. "There is so much that I am unsure of, but I can say with certainty, that Harry will be able to surpass me when he comes of age."
Sirius sighed, rubbing his eyes harshly. He leaned against the bedpost, only mildly shocked at the news. "Harry always seemed really intuitive, but I always thought it was because he had premonitory abilities. But…" Sirius' voice drifted as his eyes strayed to the bed again. It hardly seemed possible that such a fragile boy could have such potential. But at the same time, he found himself suspecting it for some time.
"Sirius, turn over Harry's hand."
Sirius paused in bewildered, but under Dumbledore's insistent stare, loosed his grip on Harry's hand. "Is there something wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"It's completely hidden, but in Harry's wrist, Fawkes left a feather," Dumbledore said with his characteristic calm. He treated the topic as if it was a daily, common occurrence. It took a moment for Sirius to fully interrupt his words.
"He what?" Sirius turned sharply, expression dark with concern. "Will it hurt him? A phoenix feather is made of fire, and…"
Dumbledore raised a halting hand at Sirius' acute reaction. "No, it won't harm Harry in any way. I'm certain about that. I cannot explain Harry's gift. Phoenix feathers were never documented to react this way; their only use is in wand cores and everlasting torches. I don't think I have a suitable explanation until we actually see the affects of it. Nevertheless, we should begin his magical education now, since he is exhibiting such strong signs of magic. He'll still attend Hogwarts when he comes of age, but he needs lessons now on how to control it."
Sirius paused, absorbing the news with some amount of relief. He sank in another lapse of thoughtful silence. "It seems like everything happens to him. I just want Harry to have a normal life," he said finally.
Dumbledore nodded, eyes brightening with a sort of veiled understanding. "I understand. But with Harry's past and his present reputation, that's impossible. I'm sure you'll try everything within your ability to protect him. You will be a very good guardian for him, Sirius."
The headmaster stood slowly, and without speaking, drew a tightly rolled scroll from the folds of his robes. He held it with quiet reverence, laying it carefully in Sirius' hand. Curious, Sirius unwrapped it, drawing it under the light to read the words. He drew a sharp breath in surprise.
"This…" Sirius turned to Dumbledore questioningly, but he had already left. He glanced back at the crisp sheet of parchment in his hand.
… adoption forms…
Sirius grinned.
*
Harry wasn't in this chapter much, was he? It's the closing chapter that ties up all lose strings, most of them I think. *sigh* The Dursleys got away butt free...
the webpage got revamped! i took Sandrine Black and katie's advice to upload stories directly onto the page and add random ranting. It kept me up until 3 am but ack, what the hell. Oh, added an entrance page too, i got a little photoshop happy. go visit!
PoM will be very, very delayed, but once I post, it'll post probably 15 pages. The problem with PoM is that it starts off slow and accerlates slow. It's not completely character development, don't worry. Some things are bound to happen. *cackle* It's plot line is about as straight as a pretzel.
Light and dark symbolism for the chapter 30... humm... it came out on its own. It reflects their mental state, and light actually reflects death. White is peace and innocence, but at the same time, lack of struggle for life. Darkness is guilt, anger, and resentment. There's some irony, but that came out spontaneously.
I've always been having trouble writing Remus. He's terribly protrayed in PoM, but I can't figure out how to balance him with Sirius when it comes to Harry, because in that area, he gets screwed over. But in PoM, he's older and been through much more hardship. He seems like the type who just shuts off and withdraws when there's too much pain.
A cliché ending, I felt like an idiot writing it. *sigh* And now for the sequel, where I will have tons of fun. The story is dark, rather unfortunately. Those who enjoyed WS might not like it so much, since its brutally violent. But its not rape! I can't write rape, since it sets up a completely different mood to the story when its incorporated. And I'm not very verstile...
since WS is almost ending, thought I should reply to all the reviews...
Peacockgirl - yeah! ffNET is still having issues... eh? Desperate measures? umm... it isn't anything like... voodooism, is it? Ack! I'll try and post fast!
SheWho-Must-Not-Be-Named - post really quickly = every 2 to 3 ish days? Join Voldie? But what if he's... your father? You must not yield to the dark side! Okay... I'll stop. Your sugar high is contagious.
Kay - eh? you can't update? What's going wrong?
Nicky - yes! As always, I'm amazed by your observation skills. You always pick up on a lot of subtle issues when you review, it's very rewarding! The phoenix feather was absorbed; it plays a huge part in the sequel.
summersun - Remus had some of the injuries transfered to him. Yeah, Harry came quite close to dying in the dream. I can see why its a twisted image though... although it sort of came as an inspiration watching these people swim. *sigh*
Kit Cloudkicker - the cliffy isn't too bad, I hope. The PoM cliffys are worse by far. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
vmr - thank you!!
Lynx - don't worry, they're all okay! Sort of cheesy though... *sigh*
-_- - love the penname! XD Nah, if I was related to JKR, I'd cash in for it *cackles evilly* nope, I could do with a donation though *nudge nudge*
kaydee - yeah, that seems to be happening: the longer the rant, the more insecure... Prepare for a 2 page long rant at the end, you gave me permission! Of course, I can't really rant individually for every chapter, although... yes! I read the story by eureka! I reviewed too, and the only stories I've reviewed are by Child of Two Worlds, Ari, IceAngel, and another one with a title I can't name off the top of my head. It's scary... need to review more... I'm glad you finally connected with Remmy here! He's easier to characterize in WS since he's younger and more compulsive, like the time he punched Vernon and then Sirius. In PoM, he seems almost harsh. eh...? How did you get those phobias? Bad experiences?
Ruse - Yeah, Fawkes does seem to be used for the purpose. JKR will use him much more later though, but the name Fawkes is really misleading. Remus got drained by the connection he inadvertently gave them. Their connection's really important in the sequel! *cackles evilly*
Otaku freak - There! What do you think? See, they're both alive!
wellduh... - no, no, no, Remus is fine! Just a small bruise, see? The dreams were confusing... but blame Vernon hill for that!
Kate Potter - they are! Sudden twist though...
Rainbow - yeah, I know that feeling. *sigh* humm... I think I say ack whenever I'm insecure about a chapter... not a good sign... *hides*
PVipertooth - thank you!
AllAboutMe - it was really confusing, wasn't it? ack...
Indiana Jones - eh? I'll try really hard to post the entire story before then! Or wait... was that a joke? umm... I'm really gullible... WS is my focus though, PoM takes about a month per update... sad isn't it?
RavenLady - Remus was warned by the wards going off, only he had a larger reaction because he helped cast them and he has heightened senses. Were the last chapters really intense? I was worried they would fall short... WS doesn't have much action, all of the suspense and tension are internal. Did it seem okay, though?
Fustrated - No, don't die! See? Here it is...
Chrysta - nope. Peter has some determination, must have been his fat that saved him. *steps on the rat* he's really cruel in here, isn't he?
stormyfire - thank you! I hope you enjoy this one...
maraudermoony - I'm glad you liked it! uhhh... they didn't die. Although... *frowns suspiciously* what were your words going to be?
a/n Story dedicated to Moppet Poppet, Cheating Death's 500th reviewer!
Of Western Stars
By neutral
Chapter thirty-one - of unexpected occurrences
Sirius sat up with a jerk and a gasp, blankets dropping from his shoulder to fall to the floor. His eyes darted through the whitewashed room in frantic confusion, breathing shallow. There was a lingering echo in his memory, but it was rapidly slipping away.
Something about Harry… about darkness, water…. What?
Sirius inwardly frowned in bewilderment, but the sense of urgency didn't fade. It took a moment for his numbness to fade; Sirius muffled a cry of pain as a stab of fire laced his lungs and tore at every breath. It rattled in his chest as if the air was filled with needles that pricked his body. Sirius coughed, but it only came out as a muffled groan, falling back against the bed heavily.
"Sirius!"
A gaunt, pale face with flaxen hair drifted into his vision. Sirius blinked disjointedly, and it took a few seconds before he recognized Remus.
"Harry," Sirius croaked desperately, tugging at Remus' cloak. "Where…?"
Remus' expression softened, as he pressed a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder when he threatened to move again. "Harry's okay. Don't try to move. You're badly hurt."
But Sirius wasn't alleviated. He struggled to lift his head, searching the room for any sign of the child. Remus shifted the pillows to give him some leverage and gestured to one side. A hospital bed was stretched out across his own, a small form could be barely seen on its surface. Sirius gave a long sigh of relief, dropping his head against the cushions. It was impossible to discern his condition with the child's back towards him, and Sirius stiffened when a thought seized him.
"How… how is…" Sirius struggled to speak despite his protesting lungs, but a raspy cough cut his words short.
"Relax, Sirius. Harry's alright," Remus reassured him, picking the blanket from the floor and spreading it over him.
Sirius pushed his hand away distractedly, "See him… let me…"
Remus hesitated, but the look on Sirius' face was one of stubbornness. He shook his head in defeat. Carefully, he lifted the child from the bed, and carried him to his godfather. Sirius sat up jerkily, barely even registering the branding pain in his side. He drew the child close and lifted the thin arm, desperately checking it for a pulse.
Harry's head fell against Sirius' arm as he was jostled, and the child made a soft moan of protest. His eyes were peacefully closed in a drug induced sleep, breath soft and rhythmic. Cautiously, Sirius peeled back the edge of his collar. There was no gaping wound on the Harry's neck, just a jagged line of discolored skin and a ring of purple bruises. Sirius drew a sharp breath, hand lingering on a purpling handprint etched in the child's skin.
"Harry's okay," Remus assured him. "He's alright. Don't worry."
Sirius fell back against the pillow with a long sigh, hugging the child close as if he was afraid someone would rip him away.
Remus smiled softly at the sight, and settled on spreading the blanket over them both.
"Don't try to talk," he said quickly, when Sirius opened his mouth again. "Your left lung collapsed, and it took Madam Pomfrey a good half hour to repair it."
Sirius furrowed his brow in confusion.
Remus sighed and sat at a bedside chair, the shadows around his eyes more pronounced than ever. He never shifted his gaze from the pair, his expression a mixture of pensive relief. Cautiously, as if unsure, he reached forward and gave his friend's hand a small squeeze.
"For a moment there, we weren't sure if you two were going to make it," Remus said quietly.
Sirius' expression darkened, but he made no attempt to speak.
"The two of you almost died last night. Fawkes helped Harry, but he was still unstable. And you…" Remus trailed off, closing his eyes and letting his head fall wearily against the palm of his hand. "We were lucky that we got you to Madam Pomfrey in time…"
He drew an unsteady breath, releasing Sirius' hand jerkily. The acute fear of losing his friend just a day before was driven by the situation. When Sirius was suddenly awake and recovering, Remus felt the barriers driven between them by the five years of misunderstanding slowly resurfacing.
Sirius must have known or understood. He caught Remus wrist before he backed away completely, clasping it firmly.
Remus smiled reassuringly at his friend, not trusting himself to speak again. But the strain of the last few hours was crumbling down over him, and he could feel his composure slipping. Trembling, he leaned forward and gave Sirius a tentative, one-armed hug to reassurance. It was awkward, with Harry's slight form trapped between them, and the stiff bandages that coated Sirius' side. The chair was eating uncomfortably into Remus' legs, but he barely noticed it. All he could feel was an overwhelming wave of relief, feeling as if someone had finally thrown open the window after years of imprisonment.
"Next time you decide to pull another stunt like that, at least warn me beforehand," Remus muttered, tone forcibly light. He stepped back slowly, giving Sirius a shaky smile.
Sirius made an small sound in the back of his throat, sounding oddly like a mixture of a cough and a chuckle. Remus finally managed a small laugh, but it came out more like a choked sigh of relief.
"With the wards going off like that, I'm surprised you didn't alert half the staff," Remus continued, resting an elbow against the edge of the bed and resting his head on his hand. Despite the weak smile in his features, he suddenly seemed very weary and worn, as if he aged years overnight. There was a deep discoloration of skin that spread from his cheek; Sirius' countenance darkened in concern.
"Remus, what…?" Sirius coughed out, lightly touching the reddish bruise.
Remus dropped his head in an attempt to hide it, hand instinctively covering his face. "Oh that. It's a long story." He gave Sirius an almost sheepish smile. "I sort of… fell…"
"You collapsed?" Sirius choked out. Remus flushed slightly, exasperated at Sirius' rather blatant words.
"Well, it had something to do with…" Remus hesitated, giving his friend an oddly searching look. He drew a deep breath, the smile fading from his features altogether. "a blood oath."
Sirius choked, coughing roughly as he struggled to speech. All he managed to whisper was a strangled, "What?!" before he dissolved in a fit of coughing.
Remus offered a glass of water, patting his friend's back sympathetically. Sirius didn't accept it, searching Remus' face fixedly. At his horrified expression, Remus hastened to explain, trying to keep his tone as calm as possible. "When I found you and Harry, I mixed our blood while trying to staunch the bleeding. It was a complete accident, but combined with the situation and the connection we already shared, it developed into a sort of… bond. Dumbledore thinks that's what kept you and Harry alive…"
Sirius sank back, speechless and stunned. He had studied oaths in school before, and the marauders had attempted it multiple times without success. But those actions were childhood impulsiveness; such bonds required much more commitment then they understood. And a blood oath was the strongest, most difficult, and most rare…
"Dumbledore was very vague," Remus continued quietly. "He described it as stacking three bricks together: breaking each one individually is easier than breaking all three at the same time. I suppose we'll have to read up on it later." Remus smiled again, somewhat apologetic. "I wasn't really listening when he explained it. That was when Pettigrew…"
Sirius made a strangled sound, eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. Reflexively, his arm tightened around his godson. "Wormtail…" he hissed bitterly. "Did…?"
"You were lucky, Sirius," Remus said slowly.
Sirius tensed. "What…?"
"I don't know how, but Pettigrew managed to get stabbed twenty-seven times by you and still crawled away with his life, especially after those burns..."
Sirius jolted, making a frantic effort to sit, Harry still caught in a desperate clasp against his shirt. Remus caught his shoulder in a restraining grip.
"No, Sirius, listen to me," Remus eased his friend back against the bed slowly, and when Sirius protested, grasped him firmly by the arm. "If you killed him, you would have had to go to Azkaban. He wasn't worth it. He wasn't worth losing Harry again."
Sirius' expression was still grim, but his arm tightened around his Harry defensively. He was still bitterly angry and indignant against the traitor. After what he did to James and Lily, to Harry, Sirius couldn't think of a suitable punishment that Peter deserved. The rat deserved to suffer for the rest of his life at the extent he tortured Harry.
But when it came between exacting revenge and raising his godson, Sirius already decided long ago. His gaze drifted to the six year old, sleeping peacefully with his head nested against his shoulder. He brushed back the thick tendrils of hair from Harry's face as reassurance to them both.
"Its not worth losing him again, Padfoot," Remus whispered beside him. "Harry needs you. You can't leave him, especially not now…" Remus trailed off with a resigned sigh. He obviously had many more things to say, but could put his thoughts to words. Suddenly smiling, he added, "Dumbledore's speaking with Fudge right now. With Pettigrew."
Sirius's eyes widened, the true meaning of those words sinking in.
Remus nodded, smile widening. "You're free."
*
A sharp turn, isn't it?
Of Western Stars
By neutral
Chapter thirty - of explanations
Sirius lingered in the secluded room of the hospital wing, impatiently waiting for the membrane of his lung to heal and the ability to speak coherently again. He saw little of Dumbledore and Remus that week, but he caught bits and pieces of conversations that passed.
Pettigrew was put on trial, with Remus and Dumbledore as witnesses. He was mercifully excluded, due to 'health' reasons that sounded suspiciously exaggerated, but Sirius was relieved he didn't have to face those thickheaded bastards. His story, oddly, was sounding exaggerated as well. Fudge, as an attempt to save his flimsy reputation, changed his stance overnight from Sirius being the mad mass murderer to the valiant godfather who single-handedly fought off the dementors and tracked down his best friend's betrayer for vengeance. Within days, Pettigrew was carted off to Azkaban, with an anti-transfiguration cell and stamped with a life sentence.
Sirius remained in the whitewashed room, as dull as it was small, and read the prophet headlines from the chair beside Harry's bed. He couldn't help a rueful smile at ridiculous articles he read that discussed theories on his escape, and yet more theories on how he managed to track down Pettigrew. He inwardly frowned when he came across an article that revealed the events of the day of the rat's capture.
So much of that day came away blank.
How did Harry manage to find his room, much less break the two seals to enter? How did he find Peter, and then know to hide him in his pocket? How did Peter's body burn, as if someone had poured scalding metal in his blood?
But sometimes, he couldn't bring himself to care.
Sirius rested his arms on the bed, lightly smoothing out Harry's messy locks. But the child made so sign of having noticed him at all, eyes peacefully closed without stirring or making a sound. He was trapped in an almost coma-like sleep, drained by excessive blood loss. He seemed so small and vulnerable, hardly the child who defeated Voldemort and somehow managed to give him freedom.
Suppressing a sigh, he moved to the edge of the bed, where the mattress was beginning to get indented from his frequent sitting. Brushing back a few stray locks of Harry's unruly hair, his hand traveled to the child's neck. A faint scar, thin and jagged, carved from his ear to his collarbone in a mockery of yet another lightning bolt. Sirius gritted his teeth in the fresh wave of fury.
The anger that flared, whenever he recalled the events of that day, never faded in intensity. The image of Harry, eyes wide and empty with blood pooling around his throat, was burned into the back of his mind, haunting him in dreams. He was itching to grind more shards of glass into Pettigrew's pudgy face. That rat deserved more than Azkaban for what he did to James and Lily, to Harry…
Sirius inwardly sighed.
No matter how many times Madam Pomfrey reassured him that Harry was fine, Sirius wasn't convinced. He found himself hobbling to the child's beside to check on him during odd hours of the night, a habit drilled into him after the week at the hotel. He practically lived on the chair beside his godson's bed. Gently, he lifted Harry's small hand and enfolded it in his own, something that he never really dared to do a week ago when the child was still painfully shy.
The door creaked open, but Sirius didn't turn. Only three people knew about the secluded room, and he half expected it was the nurse telling him to return to bed.
"I see you read the headlines this morning," Dumbledore said by way of greeting. He drew up a chair to Harry's bedside and sat, a sign that he was planning for a long visit and complete explanation.
Sirius nodded impatiently, having gotten in the habit of conserving words to spare his raw throat.
Dumbledore smiled knowingly, his blue eyes twinkling and looking as if he had grown decades younger. "You don't seem as excited as expected."
Sirius sighed, but it came out more like a groan. "This room is getting to my nerves. Even if I'm not claustrophobic, I will be soon."
Dumbledore's expression brightened even at his weak attempt at humor. "You will be able to walk through the school freely by tomorrow. Or maybe tonight, if the proper precautions are taken."
Sirius nodded, thoughts drifting again. He seemed to be doing that a lot of the late: never quite able to focus on anything but his godson, and lately, his only friend. "Where's Remus?"
"Sorting out some last minute affairs," Dumbledore said with an cryptic smile. "He's trying to regain possession of Black Manor, your Gringotts account, and settling some unfinished business. You could accompany Remus as he goes to pay your bills."
Sirius' lip quirked in a slight grin. "I'll stay."
He had spent well over six hundred pounds in medical supplies alone, not to mention the daily room service charges, phone charges, and hotel room fees. Remus was going to throw a fit.
"What about the Dursleys?" Sirius asked, his thoughts drifting again. He spat out the name of Harry's relatives bitterly.
There was a prolonged silence.
Dumbledore's expression faltered and fell, the age returning to his wizened face. "There is very little I can do within the confines of the law. If we pressed charges, Harry would be required to stand in court. Do you really want to do that to him?"
"No," Sirius said quickly, hand tightening firmly over Harry's. His gaze returned to the sleeping child, as if seeking and offering reassurance at the same time. "But they deserve to be punished for what they did to him."
Dumbledore nodded understandingly. "I'm sure they will be."
"He's been through enough," Sirius continued quietly. "He doesn't need to go through that again. He's just a child."
A small cryptic smile spread over the wizened wizard's face, "Harry is a child. But he knows far more than we give him credit for."
Sirius startled, a bit uneasy at the direction the headmaster seemed to be going.
"Harry seems to know, or do strange things, doesn't he?" Dumbledore said in a tone that made his words more of a statement than a question.
Sirius hesitated, feeling an odd urge to convince Dumbledore that Harry was only a normal six year old. But the past years had instilled an innate trust in Dumbledore, and he couldn't lie to the headmaster.
"Yes," Sirius admitted quietly. "He found out who I was without being told, and what I was. I didn't ask him how he knew."
The headmaster nodded as if he already knew the answer. "Harry's magic started manifesting itself far sooner and far more potent than I predicted it would. Those are signs of magical repression, when a powerful witch or wizard tries to hide magic because of domestic environments. It probably whiplashed and made him more powerful."
"What are you implying?" Sirius couldn't help but ask. He had a vague idea Dumbledore was alluding to something, and was too impatient to hear him speak in small circles.
"Harry is a very powerful wizard, not just for his age," Dumbledore said with a tone of finality. "There is so much that I am unsure of, but I can say with certainty, that Harry will be able to surpass me when he comes of age."
Sirius sighed, rubbing his eyes harshly. He leaned against the bedpost, only mildly shocked at the news. "Harry always seemed really intuitive, but I always thought it was because he had premonitory abilities. But…" Sirius' voice drifted as his eyes strayed to the bed again. It hardly seemed possible that such a fragile boy could have such potential. But at the same time, he found himself suspecting it for some time.
"Sirius, turn over Harry's hand."
Sirius paused in bewildered, but under Dumbledore's insistent stare, loosed his grip on Harry's hand. "Is there something wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"It's completely hidden, but in Harry's wrist, Fawkes left a feather," Dumbledore said with his characteristic calm. He treated the topic as if it was a daily, common occurrence. It took a moment for Sirius to fully interrupt his words.
"He what?" Sirius turned sharply, expression dark with concern. "Will it hurt him? A phoenix feather is made of fire, and…"
Dumbledore raised a halting hand at Sirius' acute reaction. "No, it won't harm Harry in any way. I'm certain about that. I cannot explain Harry's gift. Phoenix feathers were never documented to react this way; their only use is in wand cores and everlasting torches. I don't think I have a suitable explanation until we actually see the affects of it. Nevertheless, we should begin his magical education now, since he is exhibiting such strong signs of magic. He'll still attend Hogwarts when he comes of age, but he needs lessons now on how to control it."
Sirius paused, absorbing the news with some amount of relief. He sank in another lapse of thoughtful silence. "It seems like everything happens to him. I just want Harry to have a normal life," he said finally.
Dumbledore nodded, eyes brightening with a sort of veiled understanding. "I understand. But with Harry's past and his present reputation, that's impossible. I'm sure you'll try everything within your ability to protect him. You will be a very good guardian for him, Sirius."
The headmaster stood slowly, and without speaking, drew a tightly rolled scroll from the folds of his robes. He held it with quiet reverence, laying it carefully in Sirius' hand. Curious, Sirius unwrapped it, drawing it under the light to read the words. He drew a sharp breath in surprise.
"This…" Sirius turned to Dumbledore questioningly, but he had already left. He glanced back at the crisp sheet of parchment in his hand.
… adoption forms…
Sirius grinned.
*
Harry wasn't in this chapter much, was he? It's the closing chapter that ties up all lose strings, most of them I think. *sigh* The Dursleys got away butt free...
the webpage got revamped! i took Sandrine Black and katie's advice to upload stories directly onto the page and add random ranting. It kept me up until 3 am but ack, what the hell. Oh, added an entrance page too, i got a little photoshop happy. go visit!
PoM will be very, very delayed, but once I post, it'll post probably 15 pages. The problem with PoM is that it starts off slow and accerlates slow. It's not completely character development, don't worry. Some things are bound to happen. *cackle* It's plot line is about as straight as a pretzel.
Light and dark symbolism for the chapter 30... humm... it came out on its own. It reflects their mental state, and light actually reflects death. White is peace and innocence, but at the same time, lack of struggle for life. Darkness is guilt, anger, and resentment. There's some irony, but that came out spontaneously.
I've always been having trouble writing Remus. He's terribly protrayed in PoM, but I can't figure out how to balance him with Sirius when it comes to Harry, because in that area, he gets screwed over. But in PoM, he's older and been through much more hardship. He seems like the type who just shuts off and withdraws when there's too much pain.
A cliché ending, I felt like an idiot writing it. *sigh* And now for the sequel, where I will have tons of fun. The story is dark, rather unfortunately. Those who enjoyed WS might not like it so much, since its brutally violent. But its not rape! I can't write rape, since it sets up a completely different mood to the story when its incorporated. And I'm not very verstile...
since WS is almost ending, thought I should reply to all the reviews...
Peacockgirl - yeah! ffNET is still having issues... eh? Desperate measures? umm... it isn't anything like... voodooism, is it? Ack! I'll try and post fast!
SheWho-Must-Not-Be-Named - post really quickly = every 2 to 3 ish days? Join Voldie? But what if he's... your father? You must not yield to the dark side! Okay... I'll stop. Your sugar high is contagious.
Kay - eh? you can't update? What's going wrong?
Nicky - yes! As always, I'm amazed by your observation skills. You always pick up on a lot of subtle issues when you review, it's very rewarding! The phoenix feather was absorbed; it plays a huge part in the sequel.
summersun - Remus had some of the injuries transfered to him. Yeah, Harry came quite close to dying in the dream. I can see why its a twisted image though... although it sort of came as an inspiration watching these people swim. *sigh*
Kit Cloudkicker - the cliffy isn't too bad, I hope. The PoM cliffys are worse by far. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
vmr - thank you!!
Lynx - don't worry, they're all okay! Sort of cheesy though... *sigh*
-_- - love the penname! XD Nah, if I was related to JKR, I'd cash in for it *cackles evilly* nope, I could do with a donation though *nudge nudge*
kaydee - yeah, that seems to be happening: the longer the rant, the more insecure... Prepare for a 2 page long rant at the end, you gave me permission! Of course, I can't really rant individually for every chapter, although... yes! I read the story by eureka! I reviewed too, and the only stories I've reviewed are by Child of Two Worlds, Ari, IceAngel, and another one with a title I can't name off the top of my head. It's scary... need to review more... I'm glad you finally connected with Remmy here! He's easier to characterize in WS since he's younger and more compulsive, like the time he punched Vernon and then Sirius. In PoM, he seems almost harsh. eh...? How did you get those phobias? Bad experiences?
Ruse - Yeah, Fawkes does seem to be used for the purpose. JKR will use him much more later though, but the name Fawkes is really misleading. Remus got drained by the connection he inadvertently gave them. Their connection's really important in the sequel! *cackles evilly*
Otaku freak - There! What do you think? See, they're both alive!
wellduh... - no, no, no, Remus is fine! Just a small bruise, see? The dreams were confusing... but blame Vernon hill for that!
Kate Potter - they are! Sudden twist though...
Rainbow - yeah, I know that feeling. *sigh* humm... I think I say ack whenever I'm insecure about a chapter... not a good sign... *hides*
PVipertooth - thank you!
AllAboutMe - it was really confusing, wasn't it? ack...
Indiana Jones - eh? I'll try really hard to post the entire story before then! Or wait... was that a joke? umm... I'm really gullible... WS is my focus though, PoM takes about a month per update... sad isn't it?
RavenLady - Remus was warned by the wards going off, only he had a larger reaction because he helped cast them and he has heightened senses. Were the last chapters really intense? I was worried they would fall short... WS doesn't have much action, all of the suspense and tension are internal. Did it seem okay, though?
Fustrated - No, don't die! See? Here it is...
Chrysta - nope. Peter has some determination, must have been his fat that saved him. *steps on the rat* he's really cruel in here, isn't he?
stormyfire - thank you! I hope you enjoy this one...
maraudermoony - I'm glad you liked it! uhhh... they didn't die. Although... *frowns suspiciously* what were your words going to be?