A/N: I haven't updated this story in quite a while, but obviously I haven't forgotten it! I still have several other scenes that I would like to write, some of which I have started on. If you're keeping track, this scene is chronologically out of order. It should come before Hermione's vignette (Rogue Thoughts). After I've posted another chapter or two I will probably rearrange them so that this one is in the proper place.
capncrunchnotthecereal: Yeah, that was the whole point – no one thinks Ginny's the type. Her own family doesn't think so (except for Bill). I do think that as the only girl she would have her own set of problems, just as Ron has his because he has so much to live up to.
Rob: Thanks! I really was trying to make a point about the similarities between Ron and Ginny (see previous comment).
PhoenixTearsp322: What does Harry's hair smell like? A nice shampoo, I suppose. I love the way my husband's hair smells when it's been recently washed. Hope to see your return to the review page someday soon! Good luck with your archiving! Oh, and I'm doing some revising of Guardians, so I'll have to let you know when that gets done in case you want to archive it. I'd want you to have the best version.
Seven: To Tell the Truth (Ardoc Bellaton)
Ardoc Bellaton thrust his hands into the dark soil of the flowerbed and began to dig. He much preferred using his own hands to a trowel for digging holes; he loved the feel of the rich, damp earth between his fingers. He reveled in the smell of it, wet or dry. With a good patch of earth he could work wonders. Far too many people underestimated plants, in his opinion. They were fascinating things, amazing in their resilience, beauty, and variety. Good dirt, water, and sunlight were all they needed to thrive.
For Ardoc, working in a garden was therapeutic. He spent long hours in the solarium every day tending the growing things there, especially the orchids. Such hard work was usually indicative of a Hufflepuff, and the Sorting Hat had indeed considered putting him there. It had settled on Gryffindor in the end, but Ardoc had always thought he would have been just as well placed in the other House. He suspected that he and Helen Sprout were going to get along famously when he arrived at Hogwarts.
Ardoc reached over and pulled a stargazer lily from its pot. Lilies usually bloomed only in the spring and early summer, but as any magical gardener knew, they could be encouraged to flower a bit longer. Even with his level of skill Ardoc couldn't save the flowers from the harsh July sun, so he was moving them indoors.
You're only ignoring what has to be done, he told himself as he carefully placed the bulb into the earth and pushed some soil atop it. You should find Celeste. She's probably telling them right this minute. Celeste had asked him to let her break the news first, but he still felt that he should help absorb the blow. The decision to withhold information had been his in the first place and confrontation seldom bothered him.
Ardoc had never really cared what other people thought of him. Somehow their judgments rolled right off him like water off an oil slick. Even when he was younger he hadn't been bothered by the gossip and backbiting that accompanied young adulthood. Perhaps it had something to do with his size; he had always been big compared to his peers, no matter what his age. He had certainly never been a bully – his parents had raised him better than that – but when you were bigger than most of the other kids, no one pestered you quite as much.
Besides the fact that Ardoc didn't care two knuts for others' opinions of him, he was also well liked and had been so all his life. He had a big smile to match his oversized frame and dark eyes that twinkled with mirth. People seemed to trust him implicitly even when they had only just met him. Ardoc had always had a reputation for being open and honest, and he often found it ironic that he harbored a secret that would send all those trusting people running for cover.
Ardoc didn't have a problem with being a Singer; it was the rest of the world that would undoubtedly have a problem with him. Yet he never feared telling people about his talent. He figured that anyone who condemned him for something he was born with wasn't worth knowing anyway. Unfortunately, he was now faced with the prospect of telling Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Harry Potter the big secret, and he wasn't sure how they'd react. Ardoc had no worries about Harry's reaction. He'd grown up with Muggles, and unless the subject of Singers had come up in a class or in conversation – both of which were unlikely – then he probably knew little or nothing about them. People who had no pre-existing prejudice toward Singers were far less likely to shun them. Lupin would probably understand, too; he was a werewolf, after all, and just as much an outcast as Singers were. Sirius, on the other hand, was far less predictable. He had a temper like quicksilver and was extremely protective of Harry. It was impossible to tell what he'd do once the cat was out of the bag. Ardoc could only hope that Sirius would keep his head and judge them based on what he already knew of them. Ardoc wasn't afraid of telling Sirius the truth, but he didn't want to lose the other man's nascent friendship over a matter that, in the end, was really quite trivial.
Of course, there was more than the loss of a friendship that was at stake. Celeste was now Harry's guardian, sealed with a magical bond, and if Sirius disapproved of her talent, he might demand that she break that bond. Lately Ardoc had begun to doubt his decision to keep the three newcomers in the dark about his and Celeste's abilities. She had wanted to make it known from the start, giving them the benefit of the doubt, but Ardoc had worried that if they others knew they would be rejected out of hand. This was not a risk he had been willing to take. Dumbledore wanted Singers at Hogwarts to protect both the student body and Harry individually. If Harry, Sirius, or Lupin had refused to give the Singers a chance, then Harry would either end up with a less qualified guardian or none at all. Now that he had gotten to know the three of them, though, Ardoc felt that Celeste had been right. He had underestimated their characters, and now they would probably be hurt and offended. Well, Sirius might be, anyway.
Ardoc did not believe that the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" had any merit whatsoever. He felt that he and Celeste were uniquely qualified to be guardians, more so than any other teacher at Hogwarts. Besides being Singers, which was something of a secret weapon, they were both able to fight with more than just spells. Ardoc's father had taught him to fence when he was young, and as he grew he learned swordplay and how to use a quarterstaff. "Always have a second line of defense," his father had used to say. This was sage advice. Too many witches and wizards depended on their wands to protect them, but wands could be easily broken or taken. According to Dumbledore, few of the other teachers had any experience whatsoever in physical combat. Ardoc knew that the headmaster, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape had all trained at one time or another, but none of them could possibly serve as a guardian. Albus and Minerva were no longer young and had all-consuming jobs already, and Severus loathed Harry. Ardoc had to chuckle at the thought of the Potions master and Harry being in each other's heads.
It was Dumbledore who had suggested that Celeste become Harry's guardian, not only due to her abilities but because as the History of Magic teacher and a woman, she'd never be suspected. If anyone thought Dumbledore was taking steps to shield Harry, they would look to Ardoc first. He was new to the school, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and a man. He couldn't fathom why, but the magical community still assumed that men were more skilled at defense and battle than women. The need for that second line of defense notwithstanding, Ardoc thought that wands were a tremendous equalizer. Men were physically stronger, it was true, but skill in a magical battle usually only required intelligence and quick wits, not brawn. Most of the fighting between witches and wizards took the form of curses, jinxes, and hexes. Ardoc could only suppose that traditions from an old way of life were yet permeating their thinking. In most early societies, men had been the warriors, which made good sense. After all, burly men with spears were better equipped than women to fight of wild boars and such.
If there was ever a woman who was making herself into a warrior, it was Celeste. Ardoc was prodigiously proud of her; he had taught her how to use a quarterstaff himself, and he no longer knew which of them wielded it with more skill. She'd become quite proficient with small, lightweight weapons, and the only ones she couldn't use were the heavy ones such as axes and broadswords. She didn't have Ardoc's thick arms and therefore couldn't lift some of those blades, but it didn't matter. Ardoc couldn't imagine any scenario in which she'd be required to heft a weapon of that sort. The use of broadswords and axes was utterly archaic in both the magical and Muggle worlds; wizards had wands and Muggles had guns.
Ardoc and Celeste had been friends ever since her parents had died and Dumbledore had taken her under his wing. Their discovery of their mutual talent had only tightened the bond. She could never replace the family Ardoc had lost, but she was like a sister to him, discovered long after his childhood had ended. Years of companionship and training had made them well attuned to each other. Ardoc could read Celeste like a book, and lately there were two things that were bothering her. The first was her impending revelation to Harry. Where Ardoc was only uncertain, she was almost afraid. He didn't think that the others could tell – she could be stone when she wished – but he knew. There had been times in the past when things had gone badly and she thought she had failed Dumbledore's trust. She had been almost inconsolable afterwards, although Ardoc thought she had since moved past those difficulties. Now she seemed to be ascribing the same level of dedication to Harry that she did to Dumbledore, which meant that she took her responsibilities very seriously. Ardoc shook his head as he thought about it; she could be single-minded to a fault.
Harry wasn't the only thing that was bothering Celeste. There was something else going on behind her eyes, and Ardoc thought he knew what it was. Sirius and Harry were oblivious, but she and Lupin were looking at each other a little too often. Even before Lupin had used the word "pretty" to describe her in her hearing, she had seemed fascinated by him. Ardoc wasn't really surprised. He had wondered if she might see something in one of their new friends, and his money had been on Lupin. Sirius was certainly more brash and adventurous, but Lupin was more her type – quiet and pensive. Even with his graying hair and tired eyes, he was still a handsome enough bloke. Ardoc could tell that both of them were trying not to stare at the other too much, but they seemed to be losing the fight. Now he just wondered when they would finally admit their mutual attraction. Knowing Celeste, it might be a while. She was going to put her new duties first, and romance would be a distraction.
Ardoc thought he understood the way it felt to reach a certain age and have no prospects for love. While at Hogwarts he had been popular among the female students, and he had never lacked a date to Hogsmeade or a dance if he'd wanted one. But that had been a long time ago; the discovery of his talent had put a definite crimp in Ardoc's social life. He had spent most of the last several years away from the rest of society with little or no chance of meeting anyone. But even if this hadn't been the case, the general prejudice against Singers was so strong that he wouldn't have dared to reveal his secret to anyone. Ardoc believed that at some point, every man wanted a lifelong companion. Celeste was as true a friend as he could ask for, but she wasn't a romantic companion. Still, he was grateful for what he had. Knowing who he was, he could easily have been completely alone and friendless.
With the last of the lilies in place, Ardoc stood up and brushed the dirt off his hands. The smell of earth was invigorating, but it always left him thirsty. It was late afternoon, which meant that tea was probably available in the breakfast room.
As he approached his destination, Ardoc heard Harry's voice. "So what can you do?"
"There are some spells that can't be spoken. They are Songs, and only certain people can Sing them. You have to be born with the ability in order to learn," said Celeste.
Ah, thought Ardoc. Just in time. He walked into the breakfast room and saw Harry, Celeste, Lupin, and Sirius all sitting in a group of chairs. Just as he had expected, Lupin looked surprised but nonplussed, and Sirius was upset. Harry merely seemed curious, but he looked puzzled every time he saw his godfather's face. "Hullo," Ardoc said. "You won't mind if I join you?"
Sirius shot a glare in his direction, and Ardoc winced internally. Lupin, however, asked him to sit.
Ardoc took his time about settling himself. He poured himself a cup of tea, put in his usual additions, stretched out his legs when he sat and sighed contentedly. For the first time in a long while, he was falsifying an image of calm and good cheer. "Just what the Healer ordered," he said, acting as if he didn't see Sirius trying to stare Celeste down. "So you've told them, have you?"
"She told us," Lupin said mildly.
"Sirius, what's wrong with you?" said Harry. Sirius flushed a bit, perhaps realizing for the first time that he was the only one who was truly upset by the news.
"We're not born evil, you know," Ardoc said easily, taking a sip of his tea. He refrained from meeting Sirius' accusing eyes, not wanting to get drawn into a staring match. It was best to keep his manner as offhand and unconcerned as possible.
"What are you talking about?" said Harry impatiently.
Before Sirius could say anything Ardoc had started talking, relating the story of why Singers were so widely feared. As he finished, Harry nodded slightly in understanding and gave Sirius a critical glance. Ardoc had to smile inwardly; he had been right about the boy. He was beginning to think that Harry was rather remarkable in that he was possessed of such a clean heart. Ardoc had had the misfortune of meeting the Dursleys personally; Dumbledore had sent him there to get another account of how Harry had been poisoned. Mrs. Dursley had tried to brain Ardoc with a frying pan while he was talking to Mr. Dursley, and he'd been forced to teach them a lesson. He had immobilized all three of them and cast a silencing charm. Then, when they could do nothing but listen, he had explained about Voldemort and Harry's involvement. Even through their terror, Ardoc could tell that the Dursleys were unimpressed. He didn't understand it. Parents dreamt about having well-behaved sons like Harry, and those people didn't want him. Clearly the boy had been kicked around all his life by the Muggliest bunch of Muggles there ever were, and yet he was neither bitter nor jaded. That was a marvel enough by itself.
"Singers are widely distrusted," said Celeste, looking down into her teacup. "Few people know what Ardoc and I can do. Most wouldn't give us the time of day if they did."
Lupin was looking at Sirius like a father looking at a badly-behaved child. Sirius wilted before the disapproving glances from Harry and Lupin, and a guilty expression crossed his face when he saw Celeste's sad visage. He sighed and looked down. "Stop looking at me like that, Remus. I know you're right. I'm sorry." He seemed to struggle with himself; obviously, apologizing was not something that came naturally to him. Ardoc was surprised to realize that he felt as relieved as Celeste plainly was. He upgraded his opinion of Sirius. Any man who had the guts to admit he was wrong – especially when he knew he looked a fool – was someone to be respected.
"I can't help remembering the stories I heard growing up, but I have to admit that I don't think you're any danger to Harry," Sirius continued. "Why didn't you just tell us sooner?"
Time for me to make my own apology, Ardoc thought. "That was my call," he said aloud. "I thought you would refuse our help without even bothering to hear us out if you knew. Perhaps I should have given you the benefit of the doubt."
"It's all right," said Sirius, waving one hand dismissively. "I might have done just that."
Ardoc felt himself relax. It was done. Celeste had been right – they should have told their guests their secret long ago – but everything was going to be well. No one was going to demand that Harry get a different guardian. He took a long drink from his teacup, listening to Celeste attempt to further reassure Sirius. When she asked Lupin what he was thinking about the revelations, Ardoc looked up with interest.
"I'm a werewolf," Lupin said simply. I know what it's like to be reviled because of something you can't change."
Ardoc suppressed the grin that threatened to spread across his face. Lupin couldn't know it, but he was slowly chipping away at Celeste's well-guarded heart. She already fancied him, even if she wouldn't admit it to herself, and now he had completely accepted her status as a Singer. He'd even compared it to his own affliction. The two of them really were kindred spirits. Ardoc vaguely wondered if Sirius would care to bet on how long it would be before Celeste and Lupin's first kiss. It seemed to Ardoc that Harry's godfather shared his own boisterous sense of humor. Sirius would probably think it a fine joke to bet on something like that. Ardoc certainly did, though Celeste would smack him – hard – if she knew.
"What's a Song like?" Harry asked.
Ardoc and Celeste looked at each other and Ardoc smiled inwardly. He should have expected Harry to be curious. He replied that he was planning to grow a Bristlebark tree in a few days' time, and Harry responded with interest although he still looked confused. It wasn't Ardoc's intention to make him wait, but he had other plants to attend to first. Besides, Dumbledore was attempting to bring Harry's two best friends to Alverbrooke. Sirius and Lupin had made it plain that Harry kept almost nothing back from Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, so they would surely be learning that Ardoc and Celeste were Singers. Perhaps they could all listen to the spell together, and Ardoc could kill several birds with one stone.
A great deal of soot suddenly came rushing out of the fireplace and Dumbledore appeared amidst the black cloud. Harry's whole face lit up when his friends' visit was confirmed. As soon as Dumbledore turned away from him to address the adults, Harry's expression became more introspective. Ardoc strongly suspected that his thoughts were already off of Singers and back on his friends. Harry's world had not been shaken by Ardoc's and Celeste's revelations, and he had no idea just how difficult it had really been for them. It was kind of funny, Ardoc realized; Harry was the Boy Who Lived, alter ego of Voldemort, and yet in some ways his life was simpler than Ardoc's.
Dumbledore was giving an update on the efforts to restore Hogsmeade. Ardoc listened although he was tempted to drift a few miles away, like Harry. Now that the Big Secret had been revealed he felt perfectly at ease. He was glad that he had been wrong about Sirius and Lupin. It seemed like ages since he had been forced to reveal his talents to anyone, but it had been even longer since he had forged any new friendships. Ardoc suddenly realized that he hadn't managed to dislodge the foundations of camaraderie despite his bungling. That, more than anything else so far, made him respect the newcomers.
Well, what is friendship, but a bond based upon mutual respect? thought Ardoc. In any case it'll be nice to have someone around other than Celeste, the house-elves, and the plants. He looked over at his fellow Singer and caught her glancing surreptitiously in Lupin's direction. Yes, thought Ardoc, grinning to himself. I'll have to ask Sirius if he's a betting sort of man.