The Book of Carmen
Chapter II: The History Lesson
~*~
The image on the Book of Carmen burned into Remus' mind, and even when he looked away he could still see it in front of him. "What do you mean it lives inside the book?" he asked Will.
"The book itself is no more than leather and parchment, it is the entity inside that gives the book its power." Will sat back in his chair, "My colleagues at the Ministry believed that Carmen was the lone source of the power, that she alone created what lies before us. But the symbols on the book lead me to believe otherwise. You see this figure here?" Will asked pointing to the ghastly image.
Remus glanced briefly at the image and nodded.
"That is a symbol of protection used by our ancestors a millennia ago. This one here," he said pointing to another image "was used by the Chinese. The Native Americans used this particular symbol to ward off a particularly nasty deity," he said pointing to a third sign.
"Why are they used on the Book?" Remus asked.
"That was my question. If Carmen created the power, why should she fear it?" Will moved his chair closer to the desk and leaned in closer to his friend, "The answer is, she did not create the power, she ensnared it."
"If Carmen didn't create it, who did?" Remus asked.
Will shook his head, "No one. You see when something that is evil is destroyed, the evil never truly dissipates, just as when the good die, their goodness survives. As bodies turn to dust, the evil, anger, and malice survive, lingering throughout our world. However, my research found that the formless entities began to seek each other out and at some point they formed a cognizant being. This being began to search out those whose jealousy and lust for power matched its own. It gave to them the riches that they desired, and fed on their minds, twisting them until they were as corrupt as its own."
"And Carmen?"
"Ah yes, Carmen. Do you know that she was probably the most powerful magmanos that ever existed? She and the creature were drawn to each other, and sought each other out. However, this time the creature underestimated Carmen's desire for power. She wanted the creature and its power for herself. Somehow she managed to lock its evil inside this book, keeping its gifts for herself. She too though, underestimated her foe. Carmen had managed to trap a creature whose very substance came from hate, desire, and anger that was millennia old. Her innate magic, the phoenix magic, was the total antithesis of that of the Book, and so as her addiction to the dark magic increased, the more and more her own magic rebelled against her. Finally it tore itself from her breast, unable to share the same body and mind with the creature. It killed Carmen, but was unable to free itself."
"How do you know all this?" Remus asked, trying to digest what he had just heard, "I didn't know there where any wizard books about this."
Will laughed and threw his hands up, "That's the beauty of it! They're aren't any! However, there are plenty of Muggle books on the subject."
Remus cocked his head curiously, "Muggle books?"
"Of course! Muggles are fascinated with magic, they always have been. There are thousands of books on the subject, written during various points in history." Will stood from his desk and began pulling out some very plain looking books and putting them on his desk, "Muggles are really quite remarkable beings, always needing an explanation for everything. When they can't explain something, they turn it into a myth, a legend," he slammed another book down and then met Remus' eyes, "a story."
"These are Muggle books?"
"Yes. You can always tell by their covers. Ironically the history of the Book of Carmen, is in these books, not ours. You see we would not take note of these events, as they are commonplace to us, but for those without magic, these stories are…well…" Will smiled ironically, "magical. If you take out some of the poetic flare, these are histories. And so you find the origins of the evil that became the Book. When Beowulf slew Grendel, and when George dispatched of the dragon, all of this was the birth of the creature between those pages," he said pointing a finger to the Book. "They are the sires of the Book along with the first vampire, banshee, Dementor, and werewolf."
Remus locked eyes with Will.
"Yes, my friend, that is why you are being affected by the Book. I suppose you started to feel ill soon after you brought it home."
Remus nodded.
"And it intensifies during full moons."
Remus dropped his eyes, thinking of how horrible his last transformation had been. It had taken a week for his mind to recover, and he still carried the physical reminders.
"Remus, you are a good man," Will said softly, "However, the Book senses the werewolf inside of you and is trying to join with it, with you."
"Can it?" Remus asked, his voice shaky.
Will shook his head, "No. Like I said, Carmen knew what she was doing, the creature is trapped. However, I still feel that you don't need to have that book anywhere near you. I suggest that you let me take it."
"No." Remus said sternly, "I'm sorry Will, I would very much like to rid myself of this burden, but Dumbledore entrusted its care to me. I will not break my promise."
A silence hung in the air momentarily. "Very well," Will said, "I have some business with Dumbledore later in the month, I will talk to him about it, and together we will find some way to destroy the foul thing."
Remus stood up and reluctantly rewrapped the book and held it against him. He hesitated for a minute, wondering if he should disclose the information about what happened to Voldemort. He decided against it, unsure of the whole truth himself, and managing the best smile he could said, "Thank you. I appreciate all of your help. Good luck to you."
"And to you. I'll be in touch."
Remus nodded and started to walk back down the stairs, but stopped and turned to Will, "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Why did you leave the Ministry?"
"Isn't it obvious? For all of this." Will said and pointed to the massive piles of dusty books and loose paper behind him. As if on cue, a stack of books fell down behind him.
"Fair enough." Remus said, a genuine smile on his face, "Good-bye Will."
"Good-bye Remus." Will said and watched as his friend disappeared once more into the chaotic crowd of the floor below him.
Will turned and began to pick the books up off of the floor. A picture slid out from between the pages of one books and Will bent down to retrieve it. A frown formed on his face as he watched the figures in the picture smile up at him. Underneath the picture was a date, October 31, 1977. He knew the subjects well, as he had studied their figures many times throughout the years, mostly out of guilt. For as he looked at two of the figures in the background, he knew that all of man's sin did not lie in the Book of Carmen.
~*~
Remus left Flourish and Blotts in a daze. He believed what Will had told him, but the knowledge of what had happened and what was happening, did not bring the relief that he had thought it would. He heard a rumble of thunder overhead, and quickened his pace, not wanting to be caught in the rain, absentmindedly adjusting the Book in his hands.
Remus had struggled to overcome many things about being a werewolf, but it had always been on a human level, dealing with their prejudices and fears. However, now he was dealing with something on a completely different level. What made him even more frustrated was that he didn't know how to fight it. Remus had always been fond of plans, of having a course of action. But now all that he could do was sit around and wait for Will and Dumbledore to figure out something, and he hated waiting.
The Book fell from his hands.
"Damn!" he yelled and bent down to pick it up from the street.
~*~
A figure in the shadows watched Remus pick up the fallen parcel and wipe it off with the hem of his robes. The figure slid back within the recesses of the shadows as Remus scanned the crowd, his eyes falling upon the alley in which the man was hiding. Seeing nothing, Remus turned and continued through the hurried streets of Diagon Alley.
The man followed, slinking from one shadow to the next, lest should he be seen by a holiday shopper. Normally he wouldn't have ventured this far into the wizarding world, but he felt drawn to the book underneath Remus' arms, and knew that he needed to obtain it, when the time was right.
A light rain began to fall on the streets of Diagon, and many shoppers crowded the insides of the stores in an effort to stay dry. The rain began to fall harder and soon he and Remus were almost alone on the streets, one completely unaware of the presence of the other. The man adjusted his hood as the wind began to pick up, exposing for the briefest of moments, a silver hand.
~*~
A little short, but a good stopping place. Let me know what you think.