Chapter 14
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Gabriel led Sirius, Remus, and Cassi further into the underground maze of his museum. The other Order of the Phoenix members returned to England. They would not be allowed to attend the contest for only canines were admitted. The dejected wizards and witch had promised to return at day light following the challenge.
"I must warn you Sirius, Luther is a formidable opponent. He won leadership of his tribe through combat. No one has dared to challenge him because no one has been strong enough to defeat him."
"Well aren't you just full of cheerful news." Sirius replied sarcastically.
"Does Sirius stand a chance?" Remus asked quietly in his most serious tone.
"He stands more chance than anyone else. He has the motivation and the size. His other form looks like the omen of death. We will have to hope that for Luther the omen proves true."
"What are the rules of combat?" Cassiopeia inquired.
"They are simply really. A ring will be formed of wolves with the two combatants in the center. The combatants will fight until one is dead or gives up. Then the prize, namely Cassiopeia, will have to follow him to wherever he leads." Gabriel glanced quickly at his daughter. "Let us hope that Sirius wins, or else you may soon be bearing the pups of the devil himself for you will have no choice but to obey the victor."
"I understand. Well some hope is better than none." Cassiopeia replied gloomily.
"How exactly are we supposed to challenge Luther? We don't just call him on the telephone and say 'Hey Cassi's dog wants to challenge you to a dual.' Or is that what we do?" Remus questioned.
"That is the beauty about modern society. We could send him an email instead." Gabriel joked.
"Okay, okay. So is there anything of use you can tell me? Any particular moves I can make to defeat him?" Sirius asked.
"I say go for the jugular." Cassiopeia replied darkly. The wizards both looked at the woman in shock.
"Actually, that is the best advice. A quick, simple death is the best bet. Have you ever killed before Sirius?" Gabriel implored.
"I have been accused of it many times, but I have never actually taken the life of someone."
"Then we should prepare you for the spiritual drain that you will feel when the moment comes. You must stand resolute and take his life. If you do not, he will kill you in a heart beat. You must be without doubts." Gabriel placed his hand upon Sirius' shoulder as he spoke to him.
Without blinking an eye, Sirius replied, "I will not hesitate. I think the best method would be for me to not think about the consequence of going for the jugular. I can deal with guilt later."
"My friend you will have nothing to feel guilty about. If you do not kill him, the lives that he will take will be numerous, not mention that your life as well will be gone." Remus reassured him.
"This must be how Harry feels." Sirius answered contemplatively.
The remainder of the day was spent in Gabriel's tunnels. Sirius was occupied with various sparring matches with some of the most powerful of werewolves from Gabriel's tribe. Instead of exhausting him, the excitement seemed to invigorate the wizard. It was as if all those years of loneliness and boredom in Azkaban had been made up for in a few day's time.
The seventh match of the day involved a wolf by the name of Micca. He was a giant of a man and when he transformed he was nearly the size of Sirius' animagi form. The grey wolf charged the wizard.
Sirius had been improving on his reflexes. He expertly dodged the attack. With a lightning fast swipe of his front left paw he rammed the head of Micca into the ground. The grey wolf swaggered after the effects but quickly got back to his feet and rushed at him once again.
Sirius leaped into the air Simba style and knocked him to the ground. He glowered down at him from his position of power. The grey wolf under him stopped struggling and began the convulsions of transformation.
"Sirius I've had enough. You win." The werewolf Micca told him as he began to morph into his human form. Sirius followed suit and transformed into his human shape.
"If only Luther would give up so easily." Sirius joked.
"I did not give up easily! You are huge in your canine form. Do you go by any names, perhaps Black Death or the Terminator?" Micca asked curious.
Remus and Cassipeia had been standing to the side watching the display. Remus decided to answer the question for his friend. "Actually, his nickname in school was Padfoot. However, more recently he goes by Snuffles."
Cassiopeia and Micca both roared with laughter. Sirius looked like Remus was next on his death list after Luther.
"What? It's your name." Remus held up his hands in feigned innocence.
"You go by Snuffles? Here I was naming you after the Dog Star, when I could have been calling you Snuffles!"
Sirius approached the woman who was losing her battle with the urge to giggle. "You realize Cassi, I could just let Luther have you." Her laughs ceased immediately and her eyes widened in terror. Sirius smiled broadly and he barked with laughter.
"I'm only kidding. I would never leave you in the hands of such a fiend. Don't you think Snuffles is....cute?"
She broke into a grin when she realized he was teasing her. "You're right! Snuffles is an adorable name! Only I was kind of hoping I could invent my own nickname for you, but you already have two." She almost pouted in a childish manner.
Gabriel had walked in and witnessed the immature demonstration. It was hard to believe that all these individuals were adults. They sure did not act their age. "I believe that has been enough sparing for today. My brethren have told me that you are fierce and impossible to beat. I think we had better reserve your fighting strength for the actual challenge now."
"Sounds good to me. Are we going to eat soon? I'm starved. I haven't eaten off a real plate in over four months!" Sirius complained.
Remus laughed at his friend's behavior. "Sirius I'm glad you are finally back to normal," he whispered under his breath.
Gabriel led them to a dining hall. The group was getting dizzy with all the locations they were led. "How big is this maze?" Cassi asked.
Gabriel grinned broadly. "It's funny that you should ask that for I don't actually know myself!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gabriel led the three to the bedrooms they were to be utilizing that night. Remus was exhausted because of the approach of the full moon. He tossed himself onto the king-sized bed and stared up at the ceiling for a few moments before letting sleep claim him.
"I wonder if Sirius is going to try something tonight?" Remus wondered aloud to himself before everything went dark.
Cassiopeia wasn't fairing much better with her exhaustion than Remus but she couldn't sleep.
Sirius sat on the bed in his room contemplating his next move. For the past four months he had slept in Cassiopeia's bed. Granted he had been in his animagi form, but still that's where he had become comfortable. Decision made, he threw off his covers and marched down the hall.
Silently he opened the door. He looked at the bed and began to panic upon seeing it empty, but then he glanced towards the window and saw her still form staring outside.
"Sirius, what are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep. Why are you still up?"
"The approach of the full moon always makes me restless. Perhaps you don't remember since I was always working late at that 'lab' during theses times." She smiled weakly at him then redirected her gaze towards the moon.
"What are you thinking about?" Sirius asked as he sat beside her on the window seat. As she took in the sights of the moon he focused on the other sights of the room.
"A lot has happened in the past few hours. I come to the gala with Remus as my beau, but then it turns out that my dog is actually my soul-mate. Now that I finally know this I could lose him to the one man who makes my life miserable." Still she refused to look at him the moon was safer.
Sirius reached over and grabbed her chin and turned it so she faced him. "Don't worry. Snuffles won't let you down." The anticipated smile lit her face. Sirius felt the moment was right and was leaning in to kiss her. Her eyes closed in anticipation.
He hadn't kissed a woman since Hogwarts. He had spent so many years in Azkaban. Then he was an escaped convict. Then as fate would have it he was stuck in his dog form and could not reveal his identity to the person he wanted to most. He needed this kiss. He was a deprived man.
"Wait." She blocked his advancement with two protesting fingers. "This is still weird. I mean, you were my dog for four months. Wouldn't this make me some freak that secretly lusts after her pet? I mean, ummm." The blush began to rise as the realization that she spoke her thoughts aloud hit.
"So you lust after Snuffles do you?" Sirius teased. Her blush was encouraging and he decided to take advantage of it. He scooped her up on his arms and walked her towards her bed and set her under her covers. Then he climbed in beside her, not releasing his hold.
"What do you think you are doing? Get out of my bed!" She struggled to get out of his grasp. 'When did he get so strong?'
"I told you that I couldn't sleep."
"Yeah, so?" She asked as she continued to struggle.
Sirius released a sigh then had a brilliant comeback. "But don't you want me to be in top condition for the challenge tomorrow? I am risking my life for you."
She stopped struggling and went slack in his arms as what he said registered in her weary mind. "I'm sorry. I----I---I" She didn't get to finish because Sirius placed two of his fingers over her lips to silence her.
"It's okay. But seriously, I will sleep better if you let me stay in here. I promise I won't try anything." At least he wouldn't try anything yet he told himself. He was after all a man and he was fighting a challenge the next night to claim her as his 'mate' as the werewolves called it. "Would you feel more comfortable if I changed into my dog form?"
"No!" She practically shouted. Then she regained her composure. "I mean, it would be wrong for you to keep up the front. Now that I know you are a man it would feel too weird if you tried to pretend to be my dog. Then I really will feel like a sicko."
Sirius chuckled at her proclamation. However, she gave him the answer he sought. So he pulled her closer and buried his nose into her hair reveling in the peach scent from her shampoo.
Yes, it was definitely a good day in the world of Sirius Black. It was a much deserved good day in his opinion.
He was determined to lay awake and simply enjoy his time with this woman in his arms. He had spent so much time wasted being miserable. He wanted to completely experience joy. However, he was too comfortable and before he even realized it he too was consumed by the abyss of slumber.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So what happened at the gala?" Mrs. Weasely asked for the third time. She was growing impatient. The Order members that went to America had been avoiding releasing any direct answers.
"As I told you earlier mom, it was just some Death Eaters and we fought them. They ran away and Remus wanted to stay with Cassi." Charlie answered his mother once again.
"There is something you are not telling us. The wolves were very upset. What is this missing element?" Snape demanded impatiently. He ran shaky fingers through his greasy hair. Earlier he had heard of the failure of the mission on the Death Eater's part, but the details were slim.
"We don't really know much. Perhaps tomorrow Remus will be able to tell us more." Tonks answered. "By the way, I really think that we should have my cousin's name cleared."
"Why should that matter?" Snape sneered at her.
"It's the right thing to do. He deserves to at least have his memory untarnished."
"I agree." Professor Dumbledore walked in on the conversation alongside Moody.
"Yeah, we decided that it may help Harry some to at least have his godfather's memory restored to what it should be. We have already had a meeting with Fudge." Moody told them.
"It's about time that useless Fudge does something worthwhile." Fred complained. He and George had become official members of the Order recently.
"Say Oliver, what did you think of the gala? We didn't even realize you would be there and you've been really quiet." George interrogated the man.
"I'm friends with Cassiopeia. It's a long story. Anyways, I'm sure Remus will clear it all up for us when he reports in." Oliver gave everyone a reassuring smile. It was the same smile he gave the crowds after stopped a goal.
"Well I certainly hope Remus comes prepared to answer all the questions you three have avoided."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
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Gabriel led Sirius, Remus, and Cassi further into the underground maze of his museum. The other Order of the Phoenix members returned to England. They would not be allowed to attend the contest for only canines were admitted. The dejected wizards and witch had promised to return at day light following the challenge.
"I must warn you Sirius, Luther is a formidable opponent. He won leadership of his tribe through combat. No one has dared to challenge him because no one has been strong enough to defeat him."
"Well aren't you just full of cheerful news." Sirius replied sarcastically.
"Does Sirius stand a chance?" Remus asked quietly in his most serious tone.
"He stands more chance than anyone else. He has the motivation and the size. His other form looks like the omen of death. We will have to hope that for Luther the omen proves true."
"What are the rules of combat?" Cassiopeia inquired.
"They are simply really. A ring will be formed of wolves with the two combatants in the center. The combatants will fight until one is dead or gives up. Then the prize, namely Cassiopeia, will have to follow him to wherever he leads." Gabriel glanced quickly at his daughter. "Let us hope that Sirius wins, or else you may soon be bearing the pups of the devil himself for you will have no choice but to obey the victor."
"I understand. Well some hope is better than none." Cassiopeia replied gloomily.
"How exactly are we supposed to challenge Luther? We don't just call him on the telephone and say 'Hey Cassi's dog wants to challenge you to a dual.' Or is that what we do?" Remus questioned.
"That is the beauty about modern society. We could send him an email instead." Gabriel joked.
"Okay, okay. So is there anything of use you can tell me? Any particular moves I can make to defeat him?" Sirius asked.
"I say go for the jugular." Cassiopeia replied darkly. The wizards both looked at the woman in shock.
"Actually, that is the best advice. A quick, simple death is the best bet. Have you ever killed before Sirius?" Gabriel implored.
"I have been accused of it many times, but I have never actually taken the life of someone."
"Then we should prepare you for the spiritual drain that you will feel when the moment comes. You must stand resolute and take his life. If you do not, he will kill you in a heart beat. You must be without doubts." Gabriel placed his hand upon Sirius' shoulder as he spoke to him.
Without blinking an eye, Sirius replied, "I will not hesitate. I think the best method would be for me to not think about the consequence of going for the jugular. I can deal with guilt later."
"My friend you will have nothing to feel guilty about. If you do not kill him, the lives that he will take will be numerous, not mention that your life as well will be gone." Remus reassured him.
"This must be how Harry feels." Sirius answered contemplatively.
The remainder of the day was spent in Gabriel's tunnels. Sirius was occupied with various sparring matches with some of the most powerful of werewolves from Gabriel's tribe. Instead of exhausting him, the excitement seemed to invigorate the wizard. It was as if all those years of loneliness and boredom in Azkaban had been made up for in a few day's time.
The seventh match of the day involved a wolf by the name of Micca. He was a giant of a man and when he transformed he was nearly the size of Sirius' animagi form. The grey wolf charged the wizard.
Sirius had been improving on his reflexes. He expertly dodged the attack. With a lightning fast swipe of his front left paw he rammed the head of Micca into the ground. The grey wolf swaggered after the effects but quickly got back to his feet and rushed at him once again.
Sirius leaped into the air Simba style and knocked him to the ground. He glowered down at him from his position of power. The grey wolf under him stopped struggling and began the convulsions of transformation.
"Sirius I've had enough. You win." The werewolf Micca told him as he began to morph into his human form. Sirius followed suit and transformed into his human shape.
"If only Luther would give up so easily." Sirius joked.
"I did not give up easily! You are huge in your canine form. Do you go by any names, perhaps Black Death or the Terminator?" Micca asked curious.
Remus and Cassipeia had been standing to the side watching the display. Remus decided to answer the question for his friend. "Actually, his nickname in school was Padfoot. However, more recently he goes by Snuffles."
Cassiopeia and Micca both roared with laughter. Sirius looked like Remus was next on his death list after Luther.
"What? It's your name." Remus held up his hands in feigned innocence.
"You go by Snuffles? Here I was naming you after the Dog Star, when I could have been calling you Snuffles!"
Sirius approached the woman who was losing her battle with the urge to giggle. "You realize Cassi, I could just let Luther have you." Her laughs ceased immediately and her eyes widened in terror. Sirius smiled broadly and he barked with laughter.
"I'm only kidding. I would never leave you in the hands of such a fiend. Don't you think Snuffles is....cute?"
She broke into a grin when she realized he was teasing her. "You're right! Snuffles is an adorable name! Only I was kind of hoping I could invent my own nickname for you, but you already have two." She almost pouted in a childish manner.
Gabriel had walked in and witnessed the immature demonstration. It was hard to believe that all these individuals were adults. They sure did not act their age. "I believe that has been enough sparing for today. My brethren have told me that you are fierce and impossible to beat. I think we had better reserve your fighting strength for the actual challenge now."
"Sounds good to me. Are we going to eat soon? I'm starved. I haven't eaten off a real plate in over four months!" Sirius complained.
Remus laughed at his friend's behavior. "Sirius I'm glad you are finally back to normal," he whispered under his breath.
Gabriel led them to a dining hall. The group was getting dizzy with all the locations they were led. "How big is this maze?" Cassi asked.
Gabriel grinned broadly. "It's funny that you should ask that for I don't actually know myself!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gabriel led the three to the bedrooms they were to be utilizing that night. Remus was exhausted because of the approach of the full moon. He tossed himself onto the king-sized bed and stared up at the ceiling for a few moments before letting sleep claim him.
"I wonder if Sirius is going to try something tonight?" Remus wondered aloud to himself before everything went dark.
Cassiopeia wasn't fairing much better with her exhaustion than Remus but she couldn't sleep.
Sirius sat on the bed in his room contemplating his next move. For the past four months he had slept in Cassiopeia's bed. Granted he had been in his animagi form, but still that's where he had become comfortable. Decision made, he threw off his covers and marched down the hall.
Silently he opened the door. He looked at the bed and began to panic upon seeing it empty, but then he glanced towards the window and saw her still form staring outside.
"Sirius, what are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep. Why are you still up?"
"The approach of the full moon always makes me restless. Perhaps you don't remember since I was always working late at that 'lab' during theses times." She smiled weakly at him then redirected her gaze towards the moon.
"What are you thinking about?" Sirius asked as he sat beside her on the window seat. As she took in the sights of the moon he focused on the other sights of the room.
"A lot has happened in the past few hours. I come to the gala with Remus as my beau, but then it turns out that my dog is actually my soul-mate. Now that I finally know this I could lose him to the one man who makes my life miserable." Still she refused to look at him the moon was safer.
Sirius reached over and grabbed her chin and turned it so she faced him. "Don't worry. Snuffles won't let you down." The anticipated smile lit her face. Sirius felt the moment was right and was leaning in to kiss her. Her eyes closed in anticipation.
He hadn't kissed a woman since Hogwarts. He had spent so many years in Azkaban. Then he was an escaped convict. Then as fate would have it he was stuck in his dog form and could not reveal his identity to the person he wanted to most. He needed this kiss. He was a deprived man.
"Wait." She blocked his advancement with two protesting fingers. "This is still weird. I mean, you were my dog for four months. Wouldn't this make me some freak that secretly lusts after her pet? I mean, ummm." The blush began to rise as the realization that she spoke her thoughts aloud hit.
"So you lust after Snuffles do you?" Sirius teased. Her blush was encouraging and he decided to take advantage of it. He scooped her up on his arms and walked her towards her bed and set her under her covers. Then he climbed in beside her, not releasing his hold.
"What do you think you are doing? Get out of my bed!" She struggled to get out of his grasp. 'When did he get so strong?'
"I told you that I couldn't sleep."
"Yeah, so?" She asked as she continued to struggle.
Sirius released a sigh then had a brilliant comeback. "But don't you want me to be in top condition for the challenge tomorrow? I am risking my life for you."
She stopped struggling and went slack in his arms as what he said registered in her weary mind. "I'm sorry. I----I---I" She didn't get to finish because Sirius placed two of his fingers over her lips to silence her.
"It's okay. But seriously, I will sleep better if you let me stay in here. I promise I won't try anything." At least he wouldn't try anything yet he told himself. He was after all a man and he was fighting a challenge the next night to claim her as his 'mate' as the werewolves called it. "Would you feel more comfortable if I changed into my dog form?"
"No!" She practically shouted. Then she regained her composure. "I mean, it would be wrong for you to keep up the front. Now that I know you are a man it would feel too weird if you tried to pretend to be my dog. Then I really will feel like a sicko."
Sirius chuckled at her proclamation. However, she gave him the answer he sought. So he pulled her closer and buried his nose into her hair reveling in the peach scent from her shampoo.
Yes, it was definitely a good day in the world of Sirius Black. It was a much deserved good day in his opinion.
He was determined to lay awake and simply enjoy his time with this woman in his arms. He had spent so much time wasted being miserable. He wanted to completely experience joy. However, he was too comfortable and before he even realized it he too was consumed by the abyss of slumber.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So what happened at the gala?" Mrs. Weasely asked for the third time. She was growing impatient. The Order members that went to America had been avoiding releasing any direct answers.
"As I told you earlier mom, it was just some Death Eaters and we fought them. They ran away and Remus wanted to stay with Cassi." Charlie answered his mother once again.
"There is something you are not telling us. The wolves were very upset. What is this missing element?" Snape demanded impatiently. He ran shaky fingers through his greasy hair. Earlier he had heard of the failure of the mission on the Death Eater's part, but the details were slim.
"We don't really know much. Perhaps tomorrow Remus will be able to tell us more." Tonks answered. "By the way, I really think that we should have my cousin's name cleared."
"Why should that matter?" Snape sneered at her.
"It's the right thing to do. He deserves to at least have his memory untarnished."
"I agree." Professor Dumbledore walked in on the conversation alongside Moody.
"Yeah, we decided that it may help Harry some to at least have his godfather's memory restored to what it should be. We have already had a meeting with Fudge." Moody told them.
"It's about time that useless Fudge does something worthwhile." Fred complained. He and George had become official members of the Order recently.
"Say Oliver, what did you think of the gala? We didn't even realize you would be there and you've been really quiet." George interrogated the man.
"I'm friends with Cassiopeia. It's a long story. Anyways, I'm sure Remus will clear it all up for us when he reports in." Oliver gave everyone a reassuring smile. It was the same smile he gave the crowds after stopped a goal.
"Well I certainly hope Remus comes prepared to answer all the questions you three have avoided."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC