Disclaimer (Bibbidi bobbidi boo):
J. K. R.'s settings
J. K. R.'s character's
But new plot and disclaimer too
Put it together and what have you got?
A fanfic that she cannot sue
Chapter 6: Romulus' Dear Old Friends
"Are you absolutely certain? He said those exact words?" The Dark Lord looked
piercingly into Draco's silver eyes.
Draco nodded. It had been a few days since he had been discovered hiding in
Romulus' office, but Draco had yet to be alone with his master. It was odd for him, the
only reason he was bound to this service was because he had been born in the right place
at the right time. Even still, he knew that he served the only true master.
And what exactly was the right place and time? For Draco it meant being a
descendant of the Dark Lord, as well as a Slytherin. Romulus' curse had picked the most
perfect candidate.
"You'll need to send Potter off our trail; he is hopelessly meddlesome and always
goes whining to Dumbledore." The Dark Lord's voice crossed over the two names with
delicate loathing.
"But what should I tell him? Not about the sacrifice?" Draco watched the thin eyes
warily. He knew Potter better than this man did; giving away the wrong details would just
make matters worse.
The thin featured man laughed in his mocking way.
"Oh, just tell him the truth; that will send him off course better than any lie could."
Draco smirked, that was certainly true. Romulus' curse/riddle did its job
unbelievably well.
"Yes, Professor." Draco consented. He turned and left Professor Lupin's office,
heading quickly towards the Great Hall.
Remus Lupin sat across from his twin, watching him with eyes filled with distrust.
'How much has Romulus been changed? He doesn't look like he's skipped a beat.' As
Romulus mildly ate his breakfast, he seemed like he'd been eating like that for years,
instead of weeks.
"Why are you watching me?" Romulus asked, snapping his brother out of his
musings. Remus tried to reflect disinterest with a shrug.
"You haven't changed at all, have you?" The question was more an accusation.
"Well, I DID tell I was working for Dumbledore, I'm a double agent." This
smooth statement sounded too truthful to Remus. For some reason he had no trouble
believing his brother.
And yet, the honesty made him even more concerned.
"Why should it? Anything you've found out, can't be something be don't already
know." Hermione's expression nearly shouted self-assurance.
"So you know the answer to Romulus' riddle? I guess we've got nothing to trade
then." Said Draco. He turned to make his leave from the Great Hall, knowing that he
already had the idiotic Gryffindors right where he needed them.
"Malfoy! Wait! Tell us what you know!" Harry, Ron and Hermione came rushing
behind Draco's retreating figure. Draco did everything he could to subdue his broad,
malicious grin as he turned around to face them.
"All right, I'll tell you- OW!" Draco exclaimed suddenly, slapping his hand to the
back of his head. He spun around to examine his surroundings, but there was no one but
them, four students, standing by the vacant stairway.
[A/N: Yeah, you know what that means...]
"Anyway... I understand the riddle. Because Romulus and Severus are HALF the
TWO is really FOUR. The Three means two extra people, people that aren't really part of
the alliance. Two people are being left out."
Hermione rolled her eyes, clearly thinking her knowledge was ten times superior.
"That's hardly worth trading our password for; we could have figured that out by
ourselves. What else do you know, Malfoy?"
Draco sighed in mock defeat.
"Okay, try this: Did you know that Romulus was in Azkaban?" As their jaws
dropped, Draco knew he had hit gold.
"He was in Azkaban?" Said Harry in a tense voice, "When?"
Draco rubbed his hair smooth where it had been ruffled in the back. The picture of
casualness.
"I don't know when he got IN exactly, but I know when he was released." The
Slytherin couldn't help pausing for dramatic effect, his glee fighting to break onto his
features.
"When was he released?" Harry asked. Draco noticed that Potter's voice had taken
on that low quality that suggested he was VERY close to yelling at the top of his lungs.
"He was released October 2nd, just last year before the break. So he's been in
Azkaban roughly... sixteen years? Give or take a few months."
The effect that this news had on Potter and his friends was nothing short hilarious. The
expressions of horror that rose on their faces had Draco shaking with the effort of
containing his laughter.
"No one he's been talking to himself in his office. Azkaban drove him mad!" Ron
muttered, truly haunted by the idea of a man fresh from Azkaban roaming free in their
school.
Draco nearly shouted out: "He isn't talking to himself, you idiot!" but managed to
contain himself in time. He had said what he needed to say, he would let the golden trio
do their own detective work.
"Okay, pay up Granger, what's the password?" Draco asked. He had needed an
excuse to tell them "secrets" the added bonus of learning their common room password
was too good to pass up.
"The word is cornfield, come on lets go." She muttered in a low voice to Harry.
The three Sixth-years scurried off in their mildly irritating fashion, leaving Draco to
laugh until his eyes were filled with tears and his side hurt. 'Oh man, are they fools.' He
thought.
That evening, as the false calm of night stretched over Hogwarts, five shadows
lurked out onto the castle grounds.
Well, more accurately; three lurked, while two walked with the purpose and
obviousness of someone with no reason to hide.
Romulus strolled carelessly out onto the snow covered field which overlooked the
lake. The weather was very mild, only a few degrees below zero. It was just enough to
keep the snowy blanket that illuminated the scene.
Beside Romulus stood Draco Malfoy, who by now was rather used to being hauled
off into the night without warning. It seemed that when one was involved in a conspiracy,
such activities were compulsory.
"So who are these friends of yours? Other Death Eaters?" Draco asked, his head
turning in all directions, taking in the sparkling snow and its blue shadows. Three of the
blue shadows he could see on the snow were most definitely a familiar shape; the shape
of certain invisible students sticking their brave little noses where they shouldn't be.
Romulus' whistled lightly to the crisp air. He was in no hurry. His dear friends
would arrive when they saw fit. Smiling to himself at the old fun he had enjoyed with his
comrades, he almost missed the warm breeze that flitted through the air; the telltale sign
of the arrival of his friends.
As the first black hooded and cloaked form appeared as if out of nowhere, Romulus
stepped forward and hugged him like he was family.
"Welcome, old friends." He said to the gathering crowd.
*~*
Harry had taken it upon himself to watch Romulus on the marauder's map for the rest
of the day. When the mysterious Death Eater had gone out on the grounds with Draco
Malfoy, he, Ron and Hermione had followed under the invisibility cloak.
They only been able to tell that Romulus was waiting for some people, but they did
not know who. As the first one appeared, Harry had at first thought that a wind had
picked up, causing the air to become colder. The air was at dead stand still.
There were at least forty or fifty dementors surrounding Romulus. Draco had baked
away in panic and had fallen to ground. Harry's mind was rushing with the approach of
concentrated despair. Hermione's scream sounded muted as gray-blue hand pulled back
their concealing cloak.
*~*
Romulus looked around at the crowd of dementors, a warm feeling in his heart. It did him
good to see his fondest friends again...
As Draco stumbled away in shock, Romulus pointed him out to the crowd.
(A/N: this /| (writing) |\ means they are speaking their language.)
"/|This boy is needed for the rising, and is not to be harmed.|\" Romulus explained,
speaking in ghostly rasps of the dementors' private language.
His head spun around as he heard a shriek. There was a circle of dementors
surrounding the Potter boy and his friends. One dementor was straightening up, pulling
his back over his monstrous face.
"/|Leave those children be, my brothers! They were eavesdropping, but they are
strongly favored by your strongest enemy.|\" Romulus strode over to them.
Almost as if they were embarrassed, they backed away to form a large loose circle.
When they had distanced themselves enough, Harry found control of himself again.
Hermione had fainted, but Romulus could've expected that. It was easy to explain.
What was difficult was to explain to those furious green eyes why Ron Weasley sat
still like a statue, his eyes unfocused, and his face expressionless and pale.
"Professor, did they..." Harry began, his voice shaking with rage.
"/|Yes, I'm-|\... I mean: Yes, I'm sorry."
A/N: Oooh two chaps, two days. BE IMPRESSED. Or, you know, don't be. That's fine. Just review, or voice #6 (George) will come to your house. George likes knives. ^_^
Next Chapter: Explanations and excuses.
Chapter 6: Romulus' Dear Old Friends
"Are you absolutely certain? He said those exact words?" The Dark Lord looked
piercingly into Draco's silver eyes.
Draco nodded. It had been a few days since he had been discovered hiding in
Romulus' office, but Draco had yet to be alone with his master. It was odd for him, the
only reason he was bound to this service was because he had been born in the right place
at the right time. Even still, he knew that he served the only true master.
And what exactly was the right place and time? For Draco it meant being a
descendant of the Dark Lord, as well as a Slytherin. Romulus' curse had picked the most
perfect candidate.
"You'll need to send Potter off our trail; he is hopelessly meddlesome and always
goes whining to Dumbledore." The Dark Lord's voice crossed over the two names with
delicate loathing.
"But what should I tell him? Not about the sacrifice?" Draco watched the thin eyes
warily. He knew Potter better than this man did; giving away the wrong details would just
make matters worse.
The thin featured man laughed in his mocking way.
"Oh, just tell him the truth; that will send him off course better than any lie could."
Draco smirked, that was certainly true. Romulus' curse/riddle did its job
unbelievably well.
"Yes, Professor." Draco consented. He turned and left Professor Lupin's office,
heading quickly towards the Great Hall.
Remus Lupin sat across from his twin, watching him with eyes filled with distrust.
'How much has Romulus been changed? He doesn't look like he's skipped a beat.' As
Romulus mildly ate his breakfast, he seemed like he'd been eating like that for years,
instead of weeks.
"Why are you watching me?" Romulus asked, snapping his brother out of his
musings. Remus tried to reflect disinterest with a shrug.
"You haven't changed at all, have you?" The question was more an accusation.
"Well, I DID tell I was working for Dumbledore, I'm a double agent." This
smooth statement sounded too truthful to Remus. For some reason he had no trouble
believing his brother.
And yet, the honesty made him even more concerned.
"Why should it? Anything you've found out, can't be something be don't already
know." Hermione's expression nearly shouted self-assurance.
"So you know the answer to Romulus' riddle? I guess we've got nothing to trade
then." Said Draco. He turned to make his leave from the Great Hall, knowing that he
already had the idiotic Gryffindors right where he needed them.
"Malfoy! Wait! Tell us what you know!" Harry, Ron and Hermione came rushing
behind Draco's retreating figure. Draco did everything he could to subdue his broad,
malicious grin as he turned around to face them.
"All right, I'll tell you- OW!" Draco exclaimed suddenly, slapping his hand to the
back of his head. He spun around to examine his surroundings, but there was no one but
them, four students, standing by the vacant stairway.
[A/N: Yeah, you know what that means...]
"Anyway... I understand the riddle. Because Romulus and Severus are HALF the
TWO is really FOUR. The Three means two extra people, people that aren't really part of
the alliance. Two people are being left out."
Hermione rolled her eyes, clearly thinking her knowledge was ten times superior.
"That's hardly worth trading our password for; we could have figured that out by
ourselves. What else do you know, Malfoy?"
Draco sighed in mock defeat.
"Okay, try this: Did you know that Romulus was in Azkaban?" As their jaws
dropped, Draco knew he had hit gold.
"He was in Azkaban?" Said Harry in a tense voice, "When?"
Draco rubbed his hair smooth where it had been ruffled in the back. The picture of
casualness.
"I don't know when he got IN exactly, but I know when he was released." The
Slytherin couldn't help pausing for dramatic effect, his glee fighting to break onto his
features.
"When was he released?" Harry asked. Draco noticed that Potter's voice had taken
on that low quality that suggested he was VERY close to yelling at the top of his lungs.
"He was released October 2nd, just last year before the break. So he's been in
Azkaban roughly... sixteen years? Give or take a few months."
The effect that this news had on Potter and his friends was nothing short hilarious. The
expressions of horror that rose on their faces had Draco shaking with the effort of
containing his laughter.
"No one he's been talking to himself in his office. Azkaban drove him mad!" Ron
muttered, truly haunted by the idea of a man fresh from Azkaban roaming free in their
school.
Draco nearly shouted out: "He isn't talking to himself, you idiot!" but managed to
contain himself in time. He had said what he needed to say, he would let the golden trio
do their own detective work.
"Okay, pay up Granger, what's the password?" Draco asked. He had needed an
excuse to tell them "secrets" the added bonus of learning their common room password
was too good to pass up.
"The word is cornfield, come on lets go." She muttered in a low voice to Harry.
The three Sixth-years scurried off in their mildly irritating fashion, leaving Draco to
laugh until his eyes were filled with tears and his side hurt. 'Oh man, are they fools.' He
thought.
That evening, as the false calm of night stretched over Hogwarts, five shadows
lurked out onto the castle grounds.
Well, more accurately; three lurked, while two walked with the purpose and
obviousness of someone with no reason to hide.
Romulus strolled carelessly out onto the snow covered field which overlooked the
lake. The weather was very mild, only a few degrees below zero. It was just enough to
keep the snowy blanket that illuminated the scene.
Beside Romulus stood Draco Malfoy, who by now was rather used to being hauled
off into the night without warning. It seemed that when one was involved in a conspiracy,
such activities were compulsory.
"So who are these friends of yours? Other Death Eaters?" Draco asked, his head
turning in all directions, taking in the sparkling snow and its blue shadows. Three of the
blue shadows he could see on the snow were most definitely a familiar shape; the shape
of certain invisible students sticking their brave little noses where they shouldn't be.
Romulus' whistled lightly to the crisp air. He was in no hurry. His dear friends
would arrive when they saw fit. Smiling to himself at the old fun he had enjoyed with his
comrades, he almost missed the warm breeze that flitted through the air; the telltale sign
of the arrival of his friends.
As the first black hooded and cloaked form appeared as if out of nowhere, Romulus
stepped forward and hugged him like he was family.
"Welcome, old friends." He said to the gathering crowd.
*~*
Harry had taken it upon himself to watch Romulus on the marauder's map for the rest
of the day. When the mysterious Death Eater had gone out on the grounds with Draco
Malfoy, he, Ron and Hermione had followed under the invisibility cloak.
They only been able to tell that Romulus was waiting for some people, but they did
not know who. As the first one appeared, Harry had at first thought that a wind had
picked up, causing the air to become colder. The air was at dead stand still.
There were at least forty or fifty dementors surrounding Romulus. Draco had baked
away in panic and had fallen to ground. Harry's mind was rushing with the approach of
concentrated despair. Hermione's scream sounded muted as gray-blue hand pulled back
their concealing cloak.
*~*
Romulus looked around at the crowd of dementors, a warm feeling in his heart. It did him
good to see his fondest friends again...
As Draco stumbled away in shock, Romulus pointed him out to the crowd.
(A/N: this /| (writing) |\ means they are speaking their language.)
"/|This boy is needed for the rising, and is not to be harmed.|\" Romulus explained,
speaking in ghostly rasps of the dementors' private language.
His head spun around as he heard a shriek. There was a circle of dementors
surrounding the Potter boy and his friends. One dementor was straightening up, pulling
his back over his monstrous face.
"/|Leave those children be, my brothers! They were eavesdropping, but they are
strongly favored by your strongest enemy.|\" Romulus strode over to them.
Almost as if they were embarrassed, they backed away to form a large loose circle.
When they had distanced themselves enough, Harry found control of himself again.
Hermione had fainted, but Romulus could've expected that. It was easy to explain.
What was difficult was to explain to those furious green eyes why Ron Weasley sat
still like a statue, his eyes unfocused, and his face expressionless and pale.
"Professor, did they..." Harry began, his voice shaking with rage.
"/|Yes, I'm-|\... I mean: Yes, I'm sorry."
A/N: Oooh two chaps, two days. BE IMPRESSED. Or, you know, don't be. That's fine. Just review, or voice #6 (George) will come to your house. George likes knives. ^_^
Next Chapter: Explanations and excuses.