A/N: Many thanks to my reviewers! Some of you guys are repeaters, which is really very nice of you. To respond to a few comments…
Wolfia: Thanks for reviewing again… for the third time! Yeah, I thought Ron deserved a nice Christmas.
Jedi Buttercup: As far as the chinaberries go, I just made it up… you're right, I'm sure they're inedible. I'm glad you approve of the Lupin/Thornby pairing! It's going to be very low key. This isn't a romance, and I never wanted her to be a dreaded Mary Sue (which is why you will never see guys fighting over her). Pretty is fine, but she's not allowed to be perfect. Seriously, Lupin deserves a little moment of happiness, and I imagine he never thought much about love because of his werewolf status. But he's thoughtful, intelligent, and sincere, and those are qualities that women love. There's plenty to like about him.
Barbara Kennedy: Thank you so much. I'm glad you approve of the characterizations, and I hope you continue to enjoy the work!
PhoenixTearsp322: Wow, another person who gave me their very first review! I'm so pleased. About falconry – you're right, if you're hunting with a falcon, that's exactly what it should be called. I went ahead and looked up "hawking" in the dictionary, and it does mean (among other things) "to hunt with trained hawks". But they aren't using hawks, are they? I'm going to have to go back and make a correction… either turn the falcons into hawks or change a few verbs. Thank you for the heads-up!
FYI, I very much doubt there will be another update until January. I'm heading home for awhile and won't be working on the story until later. As soon as I get back I'll fire up the computer again. Happy holidays, everyone!
Chapter 23: Displays of Temper
Ron and Hermione did not stay long. They spent the day after Christmas at Alverbrooke and left the following morning. Still, there was plenty for Harry to do in the few days remaining before his return to Hogwarts. He spent a good deal of his time in the combat room practicing with anyone who would have him, working on the staff and his curses. He listened to Bellaton and Professor Thornby every time they Sang anything, but he never felt any twinges of recognition. Harry wasn't sure if he felt relieved or disappointed.
Even though his status as a Singer was still up in the air, Harry found that he had indeed learned something else from Professor Thornby. He was sparring with Bellaton one afternoon when it happened. Harry pretended to stumble while blocking one of Bellaton's thrusts, and the older man rushed forward only to find Harry's staff smacking first into his side and then against his head.
Harry gasped as Bellaton went down in a heap. He'd done it all so fast! "Are you all right?" he exclaimed.
Bellaton shook his head a few times and then began to chuckle. "Congratulations. You've finally managed to fell me." He was right; Harry hardly ever managed to so much as touch the other man with his staff. "What made you think of feinting?"
"I don't know," said Harry, cocking his head. "You don't think –"
"It's one of Celeste's signature moves," Bellaton said, giving Harry a significant look. "She loves to pull that trick on me. I don't fall for it so often when she uses it – we read each other too well – but I wasn't expecting it from you. Unpredictability can be useful when facing an opponent." He picked himself up off the ground, wincing slightly. "I'd say you've progressed far beyond most of the other students by now, which is exactly what we wanted. I hope you're not too bored with the Dueling Club."
"Bored? No way," said Harry. "I look forward to it all week."
"Well then, let's see if you've picked up anything else," said Bellaton. "En garde!"
The break was winding to a close. In Harry's opinion it had been a good one, even if it had gotten off to a rocky start. Unfortunately, it was about to end the way it had begun.
First, the news appeared in the Daily Prophet that the Ministry of Magic's inspection of Hogwarts had not gone well. The delegation's complaints included poor school management, an unsatisfactory curriculum, and a lack of discipline among the students. Harry scoffed at all three, especially the last. All the students had either been in Hogsmeade or their dormitories at the time of the delegation's visit, so student discipline was not something they had even had the chance to observe. The professors didn't seem concerned for themselves, but they did worry about Dumbledore. It wasn't hard to see that this was Fudge's first step in trying to oust the old wizard from the school.
If the first article had been unpleasant, the one that appeared the next day was even worse. Harry almost choked on his scone when he read the headline "NATIONAL MANHUNT FOR SIRIUS BLACK RESUMED". According to the article, Fudge's theory that Sirius was behind the recent killing spree had become rather popular. Even the Muggle police were being re-alerted to the "threat" that he posed to "all mankind".
Harry was infuriated and afraid at the same time. It was maddening not to be able to do anything while Fudge twitched his strings, making the wizarding world dance like a marionette. Sirius had never gone into much detail when Harry asked him about his duties ("It's for my own safety", he'd say), but Harry had always suspected that he was traveling the countryside in disguise, running errands for Dumbledore. Now even that would be dangerous; the article specifically warned readers that the accused would not appear as himself.
Sirius took the news more calmly than Harry had expected. He wasn't happy about it at all – that much was plain from the compressed set of his lips – but there was no display of temper, no raging anger, just silent acceptance of something he had had to deal with before. Lupin seemed just as surprised as Harry at Sirius' lack of response to the article. Both of them had expected an explosion, and it did eventually come, but it wasn't the Daily Prophet that set it off.
It was the last day of the Christmas holidays, and Harry was packing up his trunk. The next morning he would be returning to Kings Cross with the Weasleys to take the train back to school. He carefully tucked his Christmas presents away – the books, the Quidditch set, the chessmen, and his new sweater. The only remaining gift was the Auror's knife that the professors had given him. Harry pulled it carefully from its scabbard and took another look at it. Light glittered white along the slightly curved edge. Now that he actually studied it, he saw that the silver had been inlaid in a very intricate pattern. Harry felt ambivalent about the knife; it was pretty in its own way, but it was meant to cut and wound, even if it was only in self-defense. He had never thought that Aurors would carry weapons of this kind; after all, they had magic to defend themselves with. Harry carefully touched the edge with his thumb and instantly stuck the finger back in his mouth when he was cut. It was very sharp, like a razor. Harry shivered, resheathed the blade, and wrapped it up in the sweater he had just packed.
He was in the process of shoving the sweater down to the bottom of his trunk when his hand found a box. Curious, he pulled it out, and recognized the chocolates the Dursleys had sent him. He had completely forgotten about them. He set off in search of Professor Bellaton, hoping that the candy was safe to eat. They did look good, and the Dursleys had never given him anything so nice before. Not even close.
Bellaton's reaction to the gift was similar to Hermione's – dark and untrusting. Sirius, Lupin, and Professor Thornby exchanged significant glances, and Harry felt a bit stupid for not seeing what Hermione had been so quick to suspect. His only comfort was that Ron had been just as blind.
Before long, the five of them were crowded around a kitchen counter. Bellaton opened the box of chocolates and sniffed the contents. He passed his wand over the box several times, muttering under his breath. Finally he drew out one piece, picked up a knife, and sliced it neatly in two.
A greenish substance immediately spilled forth and began to bubble and smoke. To Harry's shock, he saw that the glutinous liquid was eating a hole in the countertop. With a grim expression on his face, Bellaton placed another chocolate on the counter a short distance away and cut it open. The same sickly liquid leaked out and began to froth.
Sirius' face was dead white. "I'll kill him!" he hissed, his eyes flashing, and Harry had no doubt that he meant what he said. "I will kill that bastard Dursley –"
"No!" Harry cried, just as Lupin seized his friend's arm and said, "Sirius!"
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't," Sirius growled, straining against Lupin's grip. "Twice in one year they've tried to poison you, Harry! Why are you defending them?"
"This can't be their fault!" said Harry. "I don't believe it! They wouldn't try to kill me, they're too cowardly anyway –"
"Poison is exactly how cowards kill their enemies!" Sirius shouted. "How forgiving would you feel if this acid were burning a hole in your throat?"
Harry flinched. The substance was still fizzling in the crater it had made in the countertop. He didn't think that his emerald talisman could have done anything to save him if he'd eaten one of the chocolates. "They wouldn't," he whispered. He still believed what he had told his godfather months ago – that the Dursleys didn't care a fig for him, but they would never think of murder. Yet in the face of Sirius' rage, he had to acknowledge the possibility that perhaps they had thought of it, and the notion chilled Harry to the bone.
"Let go," Sirius snapped at Lupin, who was continuing to restrain him. "Let me go, I'm going to teach them a lesson they'll never forget –"
"You will do no such thing," said Professor Thornby. "I will go and discover the truth of the matter."
Sirius snarled at her. "I am his godfather! You will not keep me from this!"
"Oh, yes I will," she hissed at him. "You're too incensed to judge the Dursleys fairly. And even if you weren't insane with rage, you cannot just go forth into the Muggle world!"
"I can do whatever I wish –"
"You are a wanted man there as well as here, and if our enemies discover that you know about this" – she pointed to the box of chocolates – "then they know that where Harry is, there you also must be."
"You can't prevent me from seeking justice for my best friend's only child!"
"ENOUGH!" Professor Thornby brought her hand down on the counter with a loud crack. There was a cold fury burning in her eyes the likes of which Harry had never seen before. "You are a fool," she said icily. "For your godson's sake you must not endanger yourself! You are his only family. Would you take that away from one who has already lost too much?"
Harry did not especially care for the conversation. They were talking about him in the third person as if he weren't standing right there in front of them. A part of him appreciated Sirius' fierce protectiveness, as it bespoke of a love that the Dursleys had never shown him, but he chafed at the constant worry everyone seemed to feel on his behalf. He was not a child! He could take care of himself! Yeah, but it took Hermione to stop you and Ron from eating that candy, said a voice in his head. Harry grudgingly accepted that fact as true. He made a mental note to give Hermione a big thank you when he saw her again.
In the face of Professor Thornby's wrath, Sirius stilled his tongue. With a venomous glare at Lupin, he shook himself free of his friend's grip.
"Good," Professor Thornby said dryly. "I will go immediately." She turned and stalked out of the kitchen, leaving four very tense men in her wake.
The afternoon wore on slowly while they waited for Professor Thornby to return. Sirius was clearly furious with Lupin, but the latter was doing his best to avoid a confrontation. Harry and Bellaton steered as wide of the pair as possible, not wanting to be caught in the middle of anything. Even though the tension in the air could have been cut with a knife, Sirius and Lupin showed up for afternoon tea in the breakfast room along with Bellaton and Harry. Just as Harry had feared, it wasn't long before Sirius let into his friend with a vengeance.
"Remus, what is wrong with you?" he said coldly. "I would have thought you'd want to see the Dursleys punished."
Something flickered across Lupin's face, but calm instantly replaced it. "If I were Harry's godfather, I imagine our roles would have been reversed today," he said.
"You were always the cautious one," said Sirius. "But sometimes action is required. I needed to rage at them until they begged Harry for forgiveness, and you denied me of it!"
"You had no facts, just a gift that might or might not have been from the people you hate so much," said Lupin, taking a sip of his tea.
"And a prior bad act!" cried Sirius. "They knowingly gave Harry that drink last summer. Perhaps they didn't mind the idea of being rid of him for good!"
"After last summer, it's doubtful that Dumbledore would allow Harry to return to Privet Drive anyway," said Lupin, refusing to meet Sirius' challenging gaze. "Listen to yourself, Sirius. You are jumping to conclusions. You could have committed a grave misdeed today."
Sirius laughed bitterly. "Oh, I see. You've just decided to side with the newfound love of your heart." Lupin's eyes flashed. Bellaton and Harry exchanged glances that said the same thing: Should we leave?
"Now I have your attention," said Sirius. "You think I haven't noticed? All that sneaking around you two are doing, the looks you're exchanging?"
"Why should you care?" Lupin's tone should have frozen Sirius on the spot. As it was, it made the hair at the back of Harry's neck stand up.
"I think that perhaps Celeste should focus more on being Harry's guardian and less on dividing her loyalties between the two of you," hissed Sirius.
There was a sharp intake of breath from the doorway, and Sirius whirled around. Professor Thornby stood there, still wrapped in a traveling cloak, a stricken look on her face. Sirius' eyes widened and he stepped forward, but she turned and fled down the hall. He turned back to the table and Lupin's fist connected solidly with his jaw, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Is Harry the only person anyone is allowed to love?" Lupin shouted. "How dare you accuse Celeste of such a thing! You have no idea how much she feels the weight of her responsibility, how much she has come to care for him!" Lupin advanced on his fallen friend. "Just a few days ago, I found a new fear within myself. Do you know what that is? Do you?" Sirius shook his head. "That someday she might have to choose between Harry and me. And I know who she'd choose: Harry. She will always choose him as long as she remains his guardian, because she made a promise to him, and to us. And then I would lose…" Lupin's voice trembled, and he broke off.
Sirius' face was marred by shock and regret. "Remus –"
"Shut up," Lupin snapped savagely. "I'm not in the mood." He turned and strode from the room, leaving Sirius sprawled on the floor.
Harry sat motionless in his chair. For several long moments Bellaton did the same, but he finally rose and walked over to Sirius, proffering his hand.
"You've got no reason to help me," Sirius said dully.
"We all say stupid things now and then," he said. Sirius nodded, and Bellaton helped him up from the ground.
Harry felt odd, as if he wanted to move but couldn't. Sirius' and Lupin's angry words had left him feeling frozen inside. And though he knew Lupin hadn't meant to accuse him of anything, Harry realized for the first time that Professor Thornby's vow was making it impossible for her to give her whole heart to anyone else. He recognized the twinge of guilt that rose from within him and quashed it ruthlessly. It wasn't his fault that he was who he was. Fourteen years ago Voldemort had tried to make him a pawn in the war, but he had failed. Harry refused to think like a pawn. He made his own decisions, and so did Professor Thornby.
Bellaton invited Harry to spend the rest of the afternoon practicing with the quarterstaff, and Harry eagerly agreed. He was still feeling numb, having never seen such a row between Sirius and Lupin before. Bellaton worked Harry hard, and before long they had both ceased to think about the fights. Harry lost himself in sweat, quick feet, and when it was over, in his tired muscles. He and Bellaton both left the combat room in search of hot baths to wash away the grime and soothe their exhausted bodies.
Harry was just leaving his bathroom wrapped in a fluffy white robe when Lupin found him. "Have you seen Celeste?" he said without preamble.
"Um, no," said Harry. "I assumed she was walking off some steam." Lupin muttered an oath under his breath. "What, hasn't anyone seen her?" Harry asked.
"No," said Lupin. "Not me, you, Bellaton, the house-elves… not even Sirius." He spat out the last name with all the bitterness he still felt. "He and Bellaton are outside looking for her right now, and that's where I'm going."
"He wants to apologize," said Harry.
"Yes, well, he can when I let him," said Lupin, and strode off down the hall.
Harry returned to his room and began to dress. While pulling on his shirt, an idea came to him, and he wondered why no one else had thought of it yet. He focused his mind on that sensation that was Professor Thornby's presence, and he quickly realized that she wasn't anywhere near the house.
Harry donned his cloak, scarf, and gloves, and hurried down the stairs, his Firebolt in one hand. He stepped out a side door and saw why Lupin was worried: it was getting dark and snowing hard.
"Celeste!" The call came from the east. Bellaton's voice, Harry thought, but it was hard to be sure; the wind was picking up. Harry looked down and saw that there were no footprints in the snow. Still, he knew that he could point right at Professor Thornby from where he stood. He climbed on his broomstick and flew silently into the gathering twilight.
Harry was soon glad that he had thought to fly instead of walk; his path took him right through the woods on one side of the property, and on the Firebolt he was able to go over them instead of through. As he soared over the trees, he was surprised at how far he'd come. It must have been a few miles at least; Harry found himself wondering why Professor Thornby was still so far from the house. Even as upset as she must have been, she still should have had the presence of mind to turn around when the sun began sinking low.
Eventually Harry felt that he was drawing close. He decreased his speed and carefully sank down into the forest. By then it was quite dark outside and even more so under the canopy. Harry pulled out his wand, muttered "Lumos", and carefully glided forward, weaving around the tree trunks.
"Professor?" he called. For a moment his voice seemed to echo in the stillness, but it quickly faded and died in the blanket of snow. "Professor?"
"Harry!" The call came from his right. Harry swerved in that direction and began searching, holding his wand aloft. "Over here!"
Just when his head was telling him that he should be right on top of Professor Thornby, Harry saw her leaning wearily against a tree trunk. A few strands of hair were plastered to her sweat-dampened face.
"What happened?" he said, landing his broomstick next to her.
"I fell," she said breathily. "I think my ankle is broken."
"Well, your ride's here," said Harry. "Come on, let me help you." He pulled the Firebolt closer, and Professor Thornby carefully swung her injured leg over it. Harry climbed on in front of her. There wasn't much room for the two of them, and he worried about her sliding off the end. "You'd better hold on to me," he said, and to his surprise she complied, putting both arms around his waist. "Here we go." Harry leaned forward and the Firebolt began to glide back through the woods. By the time they rose above the trees, Professor Thornby was resting her head on the back of Harry's shoulder. She really must be tired if she was trying to walk through a snowy wood on one good leg, Harry thought.
When they finally came within view of the house, Harry heard a shout from across the snowy field. He did not slow as Bellaton flew over to meet them on his own broomstick. Close behind him were Sirius and Lupin. Harry drifted the Firebolt down near the front door but did not dismount; Professor Thornby seemed to have fallen asleep at his back. The others landed and began to pull her off Harry's broom. She woke instantly and winced.
"Watch her foot," said Harry.
"You knew exactly where to find her," Sirius said admiringly. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"You didn't ask," said Harry with a shrug.
Bellaton, being the biggest and strongest of the three, carried Professor Thornby through the door while Harry hopped off his broomstick. "How could you just take off without telling any of us where you were going?" said Lupin, exasperation plain in his voice.
Harry went rigid. The last thing he wanted was to be mollycoddled.
"Oh, leave over, Remus," Professor Thornby sighed. "He was perfectly in control of the situation. He's not the one who needed rescuing this time."
Harry felt a surge of pride at her words. It felt wonderful to be the helper instead of the one who was being helped. When he thought about it, he realized that he had taken charge back in the woods, and Professor Thornby had let him.
Everyone followed Bellaton into a sitting room where he set Professor Thornby down on a long sofa. Lupin hovered over her shoulder while Sirius and Harry took chairs in the corner. Bellaton gently began prodding at Professor Thornby's ankle. She hissed loudly, and he nodded. "Broken," he said. "Does anyone here know how to mend bones?" No one answered. "Right, then. We'll have to go for the old Skele-Gro."
Professor Thornby groaned. "I hate that stuff."
"Stop breaking your bones and you won't have to drink it," Bellaton retorted. "Accio Skele-Gro! What happened, anyway?"
"I was stomping through the woods without taking enough care," she said. "A tree root tripped me, and down I went. I was trying to get back to the edge of the trees but it was slow going with the snow and all. I didn't even feel Harry until after I heard him calling for me."
There was a smashing sound, and a black bottle came whizzing into the room. Bellaton reached up and it smacked loudly into his palm. "Reparo," said Sirius, pointing his wand at the pile in the hall. The broken vase sprang back together.
"What did the Dursleys say?" Harry asked quietly. Everyone paused; it seemed they had all forgotten about what had caused all the trouble in the first place.
"It wasn't their fault," said Professor Thornby. "At least, it probably wasn't. Their memories have been modified. They profess not to remember sending you any such gift, and I believe them. Whose idea the gift was in the first place I can't say, but I don't think it was theirs. They were probably forced to write the note and send the package, and then were Obliviated."
Lupin shot a glare in Sirius' direction. Harry's godfather looked at the floor, shamefaced. The exchange did not go unnoticed by Professor Thornby, but she said nothing.
"Drink," said Bellaton, holding out what looked like a shot glass. Professor Thornby wrinkled her nose, but she obeyed. "Faugh!" she coughed. "Awful stuff."
"Accio Sleeping Potion!" said Bellaton. There was a crash from the hall as the vase fell over once again, and a green bottle soared into the room.
"Ardoc, really," laughed Professor Thornby as Sirius repared the object yet again. "I don't think I need that. I'm tired enough as it is."
"Drink," Bellaton repeated firmly, holding out the small glass again. She sighed and downed its contents. Moments later she was stifling a yawn behind her hand.
"Now look what you've done. I'm going to have to sleep here tonight." She yawned again.
"I'll get you a blanket," said Bellaton, rising to leave.
Harry and Sirius rose from their chairs, but Sirius made no move to leave. Lupin gave him a dark look, but Sirius met his gaze evenly. "I was wondering if I might have a moment alone with Celeste," he said quietly.
Lupin looked as if there was nothing else he would like less, but Professor Thornby laid a hand on his arm. "Of course," she said. The smile on her face made it plain to everyone that she had no intention of holding a grudge. Sirius drew a relieved breath and Harry made his exit, dragging a reluctant Lupin along behind him.
"As if he has the right to ask her for anything," grumbled Lupin.
Harry was tired of his sulking. "Before you know it, you're both going to be in the wrong," he snapped.
Lupin blinked at the sudden criticism. Harry was instantly uncomfortable when he realized that he had just corrected Lupin, and rather harshly too. "Remus, I –" he began.
"Don't," said Lupin, who was looking rather abashed. "You're quite right. I'm being self-righteous. I suppose I'd better wait for Sirius and set things right." He gave Harry a piercing look. "You're certainly growing up," he said. "It's a strange thing when an underage wizard is more levelheaded than adults twice his age. Your parents would be proud."
Harry felt his face flush. Lupin smiled gravely. "Good night, Harry. Sleep well." And he turned and walked back the way they had come, leaving Harry alone in the hall.