For My Loved Ones by Spelljammer
Disclaimer: I Don't Own the Characters except the two new players in this chapter. This is a not for profit work. "Mouth" belongs to Bush.
CHAPTER 10: Where a Wolf's Heart Lives
You gave me this
Made me give
Your silver grin
Still sticking it in
You have Soul Machine
Soul Machine
The Longest Kiss
Peeling furniture days
Drift madly to you
Pollute my heart drain
You have broken in me.
Broken Me
All your mental armor drags me down.
Nothing hurts like your mouth....
"Mouth" by Bush.
Harry made his way back to Remus and Arthur, eyes red but composed. When asked if he was crying Harry simply said he read a book about the Holocaust and it made him sad. Harry got himself an herbal tea and sat beside Remus. This prompted Arthur into a disturbing confession.
"I think the Ministry is going look into the possibility of interment camps for Dark Creatures. The strange part of this whole thing is the only person that doesn't believe He's back is the Minister. Everyone else seems to be gearing up."
"Are we going have another iron clad regime?" Remus said quietly knowing the implications.
"Not everyone is stupid as Fudge. A serious air of mistrust of everyone has permeated all levels of the Ministry."
"The last time this happened, Mum and Dad died, Peter turned, Remus hated Sirius, and Sirius got sent away." Harry stated flatly putting his two knuts worth into the conversation. "And I was left with them."
"Thus the lessons of the past will be put to good use. Dumbledore was right when he said we need to stand together." Remus replied his golden eyes looking very sympathetically at Harry.
"We'll find a way to find out whose trustworthy beforehand then give everything we got against Him."
"It's Voldemort. You can say his name....or just Riddle. I think Riddle is better." Harry said with a touch of sourness in his voice. After three attempts on his life Harry had more than enough of the ruby-eyed maniac.
Arthur looked flushed then whispered "I have to go, um, relieve myself....be back in a few. I'll apparate to proper wizarding toilet, so don't fret." Arthur then took off to the back of the store.
"There's a difference?" Harry asked dryly.
"It flushes itself." Remus deadpanned
"We have those now too, I remember." Harry snorted knowing there wasn't really a difference after living four years in the wizarding world. Even in muggle clothes Harry noticed that Remus looked awfully frail, like he never had any energy in his system. Harry hated that everyone was getting swept up in a great whirlpool that was His Life.
"In the end, it's still just going to be me against him." Harry muttered.
"All of us are with you, remember that." Remus tried to sound reassuring
"No, it's this destiny thing. I'm going to be alone when I face him. I can't go hide with my family in the safe houses like every one else does." Remus looked at Harry appraisingly then said
"You hate being everyone's hero, don't you?"
"I especially hate that I'm the only one who seems to have deflected Avada Kedavra, especially since it was because of mother's gift and not from my own power." Harry sounded tired. Remus was very quiet then spoke.
"I think the spell your mother used is in her Book of Shadows. Ever since we met I wanted to find a way to recast it on you. No one has the right to place this burden on you, not Dumbledore, not our world and especially not fate. We make our own destiny, Harry. You have done far too much for us all so far, now it's time we protect you." Although the shop was filling up with people the place was dead silent to Harry. However Harry's instinct was putting up red flags, this situation while it provided a chance to rest seemed way too close to the Fidelius Charm scenario that his parents were placed in.
"I guess I should look it up." Harry answered. Suddenly Hermione made her way to the table that Harry and Remus were sitting.
"These books are great, I should buy some but my room is packed." Hermione was really excited as she sat down.
"Say, Hermione could you help me with something?" Harry asked.
"Sure, what do you need?" Hermione bubbled with the energy of being in one of her favorite places: a bookstore.
My head examined, possibly. "Could you tell me what this language is?" Harry then produced a scrap paper with some symbols on it that he copied from Lily Potter's Book of Shadows. Hermione glanced at it, and then frowned. Harry knew what kind of frown it was though because he saw it many times before.
"Harry, this is Theban Script." Hermione said with a hint of admonishment. Theban Script was a system of writing where Witches and Magicians could write spell craft information without muggles knowing what they wrote.
"Let me see that." Remus said while Harry held his breath, this wasn't going to be good. Hermione gave the scrap to Remus.
"It certainly is, wait, Harry you don't know how to read this?" Remus asked.
"I haven't really taken up Ancient Runes yet." Harry said sheepishly.
"It is a basic skill we learned...in first year." She said sharply.
"Well it's not like it's a second language! Ron doesn't know how to read or write Theban either."
"That's not really an excuse." Both Remus and Hermione said in perfect unison. At Harry's crushed look Hermione sighed "I suppose I can let you borrow my book of languages and let you transcribe it that way."
"I wish you were allowed to use magic over the summer---
"My parents signed a release form too." Hermione interrupted flatly. This surprised both Remus and Harry.
"Was it because you're such a model student?" Remus asked.
"Yes, and the fact I might be on the front lines with Harry too. Of course Professor McGongall didn't tell my parents that when we got the paperwork at the ministry. They're not sure if they should tell the muggle world yet about this private little war considering they almost kept all the muggles in the dark about the last one." Hermione had a very serious tone of voice. Harry then turned to Remus.
"Are muggles really that untrustworthy of the gifts of magick?" Harry said gesturing to the muggles who were in the metaphysical shop picking up herbs, stones and books. Remus paused and then very thoughtfully gave a response.
"Underneath it all, I think all of us are muggle. I think the word "muggle" is just as derogatory as "mudblood". Sirius and I lived our lives as muggle even while using magick. I mean we listened to records, watched movies, poured over muggle books and Sirius had even enchanted a motorcycle to fly."
"Mr. Weasley would have a field day!" Harry snorted cheerfully.
"Well, we won't tell Mr. Weasley that." Remus said with a hint of playfulness. The two nodded with knowing smiles.
"I think it's really neat that you and Sirius lived together for a period of time. Sirius really must care about you if he wouldn't leave you alone after Hogwarts, especially since you clearly can take care of yourself on the full moon." Harry then sipped some more of his tea and something peculiar happened. Hermione gave Remus a certain 'look'. Remus shifted uncomfortably but his expression remained neutral. His best guess was that Hermione was picking up on the hint that he and Sirius were involved, still involved, actually give or take thirteen or fourteen years. Before Hermione could say anything Mr. Weasley came back.
"Well that takes care of that, I have to be getting home soon. Let's do this some other time okay Remus?" Arthur said.
"Yes." Remus nodded. Hermione then noticed a blond, sharply dressed young man walk out the exit of Moonglow.
"Hey that looks like Malfoy!" she exclaimed.
"Don't be silly. Malfoy wouldn't be caught dead in a muggle place much less in muggle clothes." Harry said flatly with a hint of bitterness to his voice knowing it was Malfoy. So they parted ways with Arthur and headed outside and started to walk to an electronics store that Remus looked up. When they reached the store Hermione took as shopping cart.
"Too bad we couldn't get Mr. Weasley to the electronics store with us." Hermione cheerfully said.
"Oh, goodness no. That poor man's head would explode as soon he steps inside." Remus gently teased but as they stepped inside Remus was taken aback how much technology has changed. It has been a long time since he stepped inside a store like this. After picking up a CD player, a DVD player, television set and VCR combo they left for home...the magical way.
It was about five hours since they left for London so Remus and Harry were very surprised when all three walked across the front door to see Sirius in his black leather jacket back from the mission with Mrs. Figg sitting on the couch. It was a little humorous seeing the frail old lady with tough guy Sirius on the couch but Sirius had a less than thrilled expression on his face. Harry for the life of him couldn't understand why the cat lady was sitting....
Oh My GOD!!! Harry thought as it hit him as he put his shopping bags down.
"Snuff, that had better not be..." Harry said as he was practically hyperventilating with his shopping bags.
"I believe you already met Arabella Figg senior member of The Order." Sirius said grimly. Hermione tried to get through the front door with both her and Remus carrying the electronics boxes (featherweight charmed of course).
There were no words spoken for five minutes as Harry and the others put the boxes and bags in the living room. Sirius immediately noticed Harry's new clothes.
"You trying out for track and field or something?" Sirius asked seeing Harry's tank top
"You look like you haven't eaten for a while, dear." Arabella said noticing Harry painfully looking thin arms. Sirius glared at her hard. Very hard.
"Would you like to stay for dinner Mrs. Figg?" Remus asked noticing Sirius' hard glare.
"Well, I wouldn't want to impose..." She started.
"Don't be silly, Arabella, you're our guest.... Harry, breathe!!" Remus said sharply noticing Harry.
"I think we need to talk about our dinner plans in the kitchen, excuse us." Sirius grunted and stood up. Remus and Harry followed him into the kitchen.
"Make yourself at home Hermione." Remus called as he walked in the kitchen. Hermione sat on the couch beside Mrs. Figg bewildered as to what all the tension was. Both women noticed the silence charm being erected in the kitchen.
"So, little one, do you like cats?" Arabella spoke gently. Hermione grinned brightly. In the kitchen it was totally different atmosphere, a non-argumentative shouting match atmosphere.
"Well of course she wouldn't know because Harry didn't tell anyone!" Remus blasted Sirius back after he accused her of not knowing about Vernon Dursley abusing Harry.
"She was right down the street and Harry did tell people about his family, didn't you Harry?"
"Yes." He replied meekly.
"She didn't notice when you stayed over at her house did she? You didn't tell her then about what was going on with you and your uncle did you?" Remus asked.
"No." Harry said in the same tone.
"So, that doesn't prove anything. Vernon probably fucked with Harry's mind making him think that sort of behavior was normal." Harry slightly flinched but the other two didn't notice this.
"Not to mention Vernon told everyone else that I'm the scum of the earth and a severe delinquent case." Harry said hoarsely. Sirius pulled Harry closer and started stroking his hair. "I don't think pouring boiling water over Mrs. Figg would make my domestic situation any better."
"Now what gave you that idea?" Sirius asked genuinely puzzled. Remus sighed loudly and put his hands on his hips.
"Oh, I don't know Padfoot. Maybe the 'Die You Smelly Bitch, Die!' look you gave the poor woman might have something to do with it." Remus said. Sirius and Harry were a little taken aback by this comment. A moment of silence then Sirius started to snort with laughter.
"Mr. Moony is getting...hormonal." Sirius said with a smirk. Harry looked puzzled then some understanding dawned upon him.
"So the moon makes him...unbalanced." Harry asked gently.
"Not unbalanced..." Remus huffed slightly indignant.
"Wild at heart. The wolf in him makes him aggressive and edgy during moontime." Sirius told Harry Not to mention certain lusts and desires increase tenfold...which makes me wonder how Remus got through all these lonely years without me. My beloved must have been a total wreck.
"I have great self-control I might add. I must. It's only around Mr. Padfoot when I start to falter a little." Remus muttered.
"So does that mean he drives you bonkers?" Harry asked Remus. Sirius had mock indignation on his face.
"Completely." Was all Remus said as Sirius flashed a smirk at him.
"Well, learning that I had wasted a potential escape opportunity is not fun, but I'm quite willing to overlook this little detail as long as we can stay together." Harry said quietly.
"Three men living in an abandoned, utility-free house, in muggle suburbia in legal purgatory sounds lovely." Sirius grunted.
"Life's just like that." Remus sighed.
"Lovely?" Harry replied knowing the real answer.
"Purgatory." Both Sirius and Remus answered. Harry just grinned sadly and shook his head.
"We can't let little things like this trip us up. We here together, right now, isn't that wonderful enough?" Harry said as he promptly went to the fridge and looked through it.
"You're right, poppet, I won't make a fuss then...what are you looking for?" Sirius huffed.
"Tonight's dinner."
"It's steak." Both Sirius and Remus said in unison. In the week or two before the full moon it was always steak. Not that Remus or Sirius minded this it's just that Remus' appetite for meat always spiked up before the moon also.
"I'll make dinner. You go upstairs and study your runes with Hermione." Remus told Harry.
"What's up with the runes?" Sirius asked.
"He doesn't know Theban Script."
"Well of course he wouldn't know advanced things. I don't really remember them either."
"It's not advanced! Its first year knowledge you prat!" Remus protested wildly.
"Okay, okay, Moony, calm down. I do have a good excuse though."
"Oh, what is it?" Remus said as he actually smirked at Sirius.
"When in Azkaban the Dementors sucked me off hard enough that I must have lost some knowledge that floated around my head when I was little."
Remus and Harry promptly had the "Too Much Information" blush on their faces. Sirius groaned.
"Right, Ladies and Gentlemen Direct from Azkaban, Sirius Black! He gives good head while you suck down his head!" Sirius said very tartly. Harry while his eyes were widened he also got a fit of giggles.
"Well I had to live it." Sirius gave a lopsided grin.
"I know I shouldn't be laughing but..." Harry sputtered
"REALLY he's far too young for that sort of humor." Remus huffed again.
"Yeah, that's what they said to us when we were his age." Sirius said as he brushed his long hair back. Harry got some chocolate milk out and went to the living room. A very strange sight was in the living room as Harry could see six or seven photo albums hovering in mid-air. Mrs. Figg conjured the albums and was showing the photos to Hermione. Of course Harry knew they were all of her cats. It seemed Hermione looked really tired.
Fifteen minutes. That's a record, Mrs. Figg. Harry thought grimly as he opened the milk carton and took a swig of chocolatey goodness. Now that Arabella was revealed to be a witch she could perform magick in front of Harry. It didn't make her any less boring than before.
"Ah, Harry! Come sit down and look at my sweetie pies." Mrs. Figg gave a grin.
"No thank you, I've already seen albums one through twenty-three." Harry deliberately said that on purpose just to see Hermione's slightly horrified expression.
"Well, I really can't stay anyway. Albus needs me and I've got to make preparations." Mrs. Figg made the albums vanish. Hermione took a quick sigh of relief.
"Tell the boys I'll see them later." Arabella got her salmon pink shawl and started to walk toward the door when Sirius came out of the kitchen.
"Leaving?"
"Yes. I've got to see Albus and check up on things. Bye, Sirius I'll see you at the next meeting."
"Okay, be careful. Remus, Figg can't stay for dinner." Sirius spoke toward the kitchen.
"That's fine, I don't want to give up any of these steaks. Is there any chance the rest of you can go out too?"
Hermione gave a puzzled look. Moontime Harry mouthed silently to her. She nodded immediately understanding.
"Um, Moony maybe I better do the cooking before you start eating those steaks." Sirius darted back into the kitchen.
Hermione shook her head good naturedly. Arabella Figg waved goodbye and left after which Hermione spoke.
"Commit me if I ever put Crookshanks in a photo album." Hermione groaned.
"Wait until she breaks out the home movies."
"Say, I should be getting home for dinner too."
"Well let me show you the Potter Book of Shadows first."
"Okay." While Harry and Hermione went upstairs the door to the kitchen magically locked with Sirius being at the brunt of a little indiscretion courtesy of Remus. The fragile looking werewolf's mouth was melded to Sirius' own.
The Wolf didn't want to wait anymore. It had its other half here. It hungered for flesh. Both to eat and to satisfy its carnal lust. Remus broke away with Sirius breathing ragged.
"My GOD, I can't be doing this sort of thing." Remus said also breathing heavily.
"So we can be shower friends and nothing more?" Sirius breathed with his face flushed.
"I...I can't stop touching you now. I..won't."
"And the problem is?"
"I mean what are we going to tell Harry? I'm scared." Remus then jumped Sirius and sweetly devoured him again. A few stolen moments later and Remus was on the other side of the kitchen.
"Tell him what?"
"That...that...we're together. In love. You're where my heart lives. Always." Remus whispered. Sirius was both relieved and unsettled. Remus feeling the same way about him now was good. Sirius promised Remus forever....And that was before they were lovers; back when they only were beloved friends at Hogwarts. Now the promises were starting to become fulfilled after many years of hollow, twisted pain. They kept this part of themselves private, not even telling James and Peter about how deep their feelings ran. No one would guess that popular ladies man Sirius Black would become secret lovers with the shy bookworm/werewolf Remus Lupin.
Everyone did catch on that Sirius thought his Purpose In Life was to protect Remus from everything and everyone.
Now Sirius had to include Harry in his Purpose, something he was glad to do, but now there were complications. Would Harry be able to accept this kind of relationship? There should be no secrets in this family.
Gods, Family! That's what this is now. Sirius made the realization and it hit him with the force of a sledgehammer. While this little drama was being played out in the kitchen another little one was about to take place in Harry's room. The two were sitting on the bed looking through the ornate book. There were diary entries and pictures of flowers and herbs and diagrams of magick rituals and charms both modified from the Hogwarts curriculum and some originals created by Lily. This amazed Hermione and Harry but thing that stuck out most was that the pictures didn't move around like in an ordinary wizarding book, however the pictures did glow. They glowed with an almost ethereal light, especially the ritual and spell information pages.
"This one here is a spell incantation to cultivate trust." Hermione spoke as she looked at a picture of children playing in a grassy field. The spell words and instructions were written in the Theban Script. Harry got out his school things and bookmarked that page.
Anything to help with my Malfoy situation. Harry tiredly thought. He did not want to think of Draco and that can of worms he started up.
He said yes.
He'd wanted to learn more about Draco.
Then he'd show the world how evil Draco and his family could really be.
That's what he kept telling himself over and over again.
He wanted to see if Draco was even capable of love. No, he was. The vision proved it.
Draco's hand was extraordinarily soft when he shook it.
Why would I think of that? Why would I even have anything to do with him?
Harry had to keep this lapse of better judgment from his loved ones.
"Hey look! A passage on Divination and it's in English!" Hermione exclaimed that shook Harry from his thoughts. There was a picture of a tarot card. It glowed with blue light as it had a scene of a full moon with two dogs barking at it. It reminded him of Moony and Padfoot and it made both Harry and Hermione (who thought the same thing) smile. It read:
DIVINATION
The wizarding world is completely divided on the relevance of Divination. Some people regard it as complete waste of time choosing only to focus on this world in the present time. Some others think of it as the most powerful ability a witch or wizard has at their disposal. This probably has a lot to do with the question of Destiny, specifically whether or not we have one or not. One school of thought believes that the human will shapes all and every action is random with no purpose. Another school of thought is that we all have a higher purpose in life and that everything happens for a reason. No death is ever senseless if that person was able to teach a lesson from his or her passing. Albus Dumbledore believes in destiny but frowns upon those who wish to learn more "before their time". Take for instance four of my dearest loves The Marauders. During an advanced divination session when I was in school the teacher told me privately that the boys I hung out with would undergo a betrayal and then total destruction. Later that year a set-up occurred at the Whomping Willow with Remus, Severus and Sirius that almost killed Severus. The others wouldn't talk to Sirius for a while but Remus was the first to forgive him and soon everything was back to normal again. The lesson here is that the strong can change their fate. Remus could have easily let Sirius' mistake completely ruin his friendship with him but he chose to believe in his love instead. I don't believe in an "Ultimate Destiny" and I hope to pass this knowledge on to my children someday. However if the "Sight" does come into a person's life they should know that all the signs and visions were given as a gift to change our world.
"Harry..." Hermione whispered.
"I know. Pettigrew." Harry mumbled back. It would seem that the prophecy about the Marauders came true. However Harry realized something.
"We're the strong." He said. Hermione turned and looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"There's still hope, Hermione. The Marauders haven't gone anywhere there here. Padfoot, Moony, and me! Remus said as a son of a pack member I'm automatically in. Although they...we were lost for so many years, now is our season. We were strong enough not to let the weight of fourteen years destroy us." This makes my "yes" answer to Malfoy all the more baffling. What are you playing at Potter?
"You're really strong too, Harry. Otherwise you'd be like Riddle right now."
"Whatever."
"No, really. I guess you've all but passed Divination now. Trelawney will think of me as a lost cause."
"Just stuff some mugwort under your pillow and when you sleep you'll have prophetic dreams."
"I attempted to try mugwort both years we had Divination but the student potion stores were always out."
"It wasn't just you then that had problems with the course."
"At least I didn't try to fake my way through it." At this Harry stuck out his tongue at her. She smirked in return and noticed a stray potion vial on the floor from when Harry fished out a bookmark. "Better pick up things like that otherwise you'll break it."
"Sure thing, mum." Harry sarcastically commented as he put the book aside and started to put the vial away. Hermione sniffed at the comment as she continued to look at the pretty, glowing pictures in the book. However she felt the energy of the room change. She noticed Harry jolt suddenly and then realized he was having a vision.
// Daybreak.
Living room. Our Living room.
Sirius and Remus in deep conversation on the couch.
The front window shatters and a potion vial sails through and hits the floor.
It explodes with force and sends Sirius reeling.
Two men break in the front door. One has a black duster and the other has a brown suede jacket.
Father and Son.
The father pulls out a shotgun and shoots Remus!
The impact of the bullet doesn't hurt much but...
Chest is burning.
Feels like fire.
Remus is on fire...//
"AAAAUUGGGHH!" Harry yelled clutching his chest. "I'm burning!" but suddenly the vivid feeling fades away and Harry starts to breathe heavily. "Get them...."
"Right!" Hermione ran downstairs and slammed into Sirius who was about to tell them dinner was being served. Soon Sirius, Remus and Hermione ran back to Harry's room. Very gently they all went downstairs while avoiding the couch which made Harry go pale as a sheet. They all sat in the dining room and Harry drank a glass of water. He started explaining everything.
"It didn't hurt when it impacted but a few seconds later it was as if someone set me on fire, or rather, you." He spoke timidly to Remus.
"Silver bullet." Sirius growled. Apparently he was in situations like this with Remus before.
"Harry can feel what the people in the visions are feeling?" Hermione inquired seriously to Sirius.
"Yes, that's why it's important to know what each vision brings in order to know if Harry can handle them." He replied gravely.
"I can handle them." Harry said grimly "Especially if they mean the difference between life and death. We're going to be the strong." Harry gave Hermione a look and she nodded.
"I'll go tell Mum and Dad I'm staying the night at a friend's house, which is the truth actually." Hermione said with great resolve.
"What are you two planning?" Remus said quietly. Harry then stood up and gently spoke.
"This morning the Marauders are going to change the world and the outcome of that vision."
Harry and Sirius were hopeful but Remus wasn't at all convinced.