Disclaimers: As much as I would LOVE to, I don't take credit for Rowling's works. I'm not actually writing the official book 5, duh, but this is just my version.
THE BELGUM POTION
Chapter Two: The Belgum Potion
Hundreds of miles away from Privet Drive, Sirius Black was in his kitchen with a flask of butterbeer. After contact with his godson was lost, he had found it quite possible to return to sleep, with the haunting image of Harry in his mind.
He had looked so sick… it looked like he himself was receiving time in Azkaban. And the look of betrayel on his godson's face when Sirius himself had refused to give him the information he wanted… well, let's just say, he wouldn't be going back to sleep tonight. If only Harry knew how hard it was to keep his word to Dumbledore…
"Sirius, I must warn you," Dumbledore had told him but a week ago in the very same kitchen. "You cannot say any of what we have discussed to Harry.""What?" Sirius had exclaimed, his eyes wide with panic. "Why not? He deserves to know! After all he's been through..."
Dumbledore had nodded, suddenly seeming more weak and old than ever before. "That is exactly my point," he spoke sadly. "After all he's been through, he has enough to think about. Telling him this..." he shook his head, "might destroy him. The ones who are keeping guard over him have reported that he is not well as it is."
Sirius just stared at him, not wanting to understand, but doing so all the same. "So… then, what do you want me to do? He is going to want answers, after all he's been through last year…"
Remus, who was sitting right beside him, put a hand on his shoulder. "Please, Sirius... at least wait until he's here to tell him. He'll have you, and that will be the biggest comfort in the world for him. Just give it some time... it will all work out for the better in the end."
"Remus is right," said Dumbledore. "Harry is not strong enough yet to handle this great burden on his own. He will need our help, and every bit of our strength for him to make his way through this." Dumbledore put his hand on his other shoulder, his bright blue eyes looking straight into Sirius's. "You must trust me, Sirius. This is for the best."Sirius shook his head as the image faded, throwing his thoughts aside. Dumbledore was right... Sirius was doing the right thing. He was doing the right thing. He was doing the right thing... the right thing... the right thing...
He could not tell Harry the prophecy. It would destroy any normal wizard, he was sure of it.
He threw his head down onto the tables hard wooden surface, as if he could not hold himself up anymore.
"Something wrong, Sirius?"
Sirius's head jerked up at the sudden sound, making him momentarily dizzy. Remus Lupin was standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary, unfortunately," he droned, perking his lips up for a smile for his old friend. "When did you get back?" he said, standing up. "What did Dumbledore say about Harry's dream?"
"He said exactly what he said last time... and the last, and the last."
Sirius looked at him. "...And?"
"And…" he shrugged, "nothing else. Just that he had it under control and that Harry was being watched very closely. He said that he knew already of the dream and all of its happenings. The one on guard must have reported the news to Albus right away. Which," he added, "is a reason for Dumbledore telling you not to say anything too important on that mirror of yours."
"You mean that mirror of ours, Remus. We used it back then, as you know all too well."
"Yes, but not when we relayed our serious conversations," he said. "We knew better... as you should, by now."
Sirius ignored the comment. "Who is this person 'on guard' , anyway? Are you sure Harry is being watched closely? What if–"
Remus butted in. "Arabella Figg is perfectly capable of looking over herself and Harry, you know that. She is an extremely talented auror."
Sirius rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, well... she had better be." He sighed. "She may be able to protect him physically, but mentally... I'm not too sure."
Remus said nothing. The silence made it clear that his friend agreed with him.
"You should have seen him on the other side of that mirror, Remus... he looks dead on his feet. Those damn people he lives with are treating him terribly. That damn sister of Lily's… do you remember the stories Lily told about her and that fiancé of hers, Verny?"
"Vernon? Why, yes, I do, actually," Remus recalled. "When she would tell James about her summer, I remember fits of rage, along with plenty of tears."
"More of the fits of rage, though," Sirius said, holding out his pinky. "I still have that scar when she threw James's glasses at my face. I was lucky enough to protect my face from the glass, but this little guy wasn't as lucky."
"God forbid if your face was damaged."
"It was the pride of my youth."
"I'm sure."
"But, if Petunia is anything like Lily described her--I met her myself once, and it wasn't too pleasant--I'm sure he's in a rough state. And those dreams aren't helping either. They're draining him, Remus, I could sense it. Why can't we just get him the hell out of there?"
"Ah, Sirius. But you know that answer all too well," said a voice.
Remus spun around on his feet as Sirius jerked his head up. It was now Dumbledore standing in Sirius's kitchen doorway, smiling down at the two.
"Albus! When did you arrive?" Lupin asked. "I just left your office a minute ago."
"I felt I was needed here," Dumbledore answered. "I have decided to call together some of the Order for a small meeting."
"A meeting? We had one just yesterday evening, if I'm not mistaken," said Remus. "I was sure the next meeting wasn't until next Friday."
"But this does not concern the whole order. Only a select few."
"And who would they be?" Sirius asked stupidly, knowing very well the answer.
"Well... yourself and Remus, of course."
"Is something wrong?"
Dumbledore waved his wand, and a chair was set before him. Highly furnished and cushioned, he set himself on it before casting three more chairs in front of him.
"Please, sit. What I have to tell you all will take some time. Make yourselves comfortable," he said politely. "We have much to discuss."
Sirius and Lupin took their seats in a disturbed manner. There was something in Dumbledore's voice that made this situation seem uncomfortable.
"Are we expecting someone else?" Lupin asked, eyeing the empty chair curiously.
"In fact, we are," said a voice. Looking toward the doorway a third time, Severus Snape stood, his arms folded and his lip curling. He looked toward Sirius with disgust.
Sirius stood up from his chair. "What the... what is he doing here, Albus!?" he said angrily, eyeing Snape with loathing.
"Exactly what I would like to know, Headmaster," Snape said, looking toward Dumbledore. "You said nothing about this dog and werewolf being present at this meeting."
"Please, Severus... take a seat. We have no time to waste."
Sirius continued to stand. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a date with Voldemort?!"
Snape jumped a bit at the name, but held his posture. He snarled. "Shut your mouth, mutt. I've been doing things for the Order that you could never imagine." He smiled. "Though how could you... you're too busy sitting in this filthy house all day, doing absolutely nothing."
"I'd rather be here than by Voldemort's side, thank you very much," he shot back, grabbing his wand as he did so. Snape followed suit from across the room. "How is Voldemort these days? Are you both back to being good ol' pals, like last time? Is he inviting you over for tea yet, or did he just jump right to the wedding?"
Dumbledore held up his hand, and immediately Sirius and Snape grew quiet. "I have told you once, and I will tell you again, but I will not tell you a third time. We must make friends here. There is a great deal on both of your shoulders, and nothing can be done without a truce between the two of you. We are in the middle of a war... we have no time for such arguments."
He looked between the two with the utmost calmness. Meanwhile, Lupin was rubbing his forehead, looking frustrated.
Some things just never changed.
Sirius sat down in defeat, his wand dangling lazily from his fingers. Following suite, Snape took his own seat before inching away from Sirius's chair, as Sirius did the same.
The headmaster remained silent.
"What is it you wish to tell us, Albus?" Remus asked him, breaking the silence. "Your silence isn't very comforting. Did something happen?"
Sirius straightened in his chair. "My god, did something happen to–"
"Nothing has happened to Harry," Dumbledore reassured him. "Not yet, anyway."
Sirius's eyes grew wide. "Is he in danger? What's wrong, Albus?"
"Please, I ask you to calm yourself. I have much to tell," he said, resting his head back upon his chair.
Severus remained tentative. He could sense something was troubling the headmaster, but what that was, he did not know. In a few moments time, he was sure to find out.
"It seems that Harry is in mortal danger," he began, looking very old and weary as he did so. "Worse than we had expected, I'm afraid. Much, much worse."
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, on the edge of his seat.
"You remember me telling you of the dreams he has been having?" The three nodded. "Well, it has become official last night, as you and Remus well know, Sirius. Voldemort has discovered the bond he and Harry share."
Snape clenched his chair at the sound of the Dark Lord's name, but Dumbledore ignored it.
"What has got me deeply troubled is the news that Arabella Figg has told me last night. A part of information that Harry has not told even you, Sirius."
"What? What is it?" Sirius asked. He was sure that Harry had told him everything before the time when he had to leave. What could his godson have kept from him?
"Sirius... she saw him cut himself in his sleep."
"What?" Remus asked, alarmed. "Tell me he was just dreaming, Professor. It wasn't... it couldn't of been him–"
"I'm afraid it was, Remus. It seems that Voldemort has learned of the connection between the two of them far earlier than I would have expected him to. I also suspected that Voldemort would soon address him, perhaps to put the boy on his guard or bid him warning. But controlling his very actions… this is something I did not expect."
"Wait a minute," Sirius said, sitting up straighter in his chair, if it were possible. He would soon be standing. "You're telling me that… that Voldemort controlled Harry last night?"
"Indeed."
"But… but…"
"And after tonight, I am afraid that Voldemort will stop at nothing to kill him…"
"Tonight?" Sirius asked desperately. "What is happening tonight!?"
"As you know, Mundungus is in the hands of the enemy now. I have a source," he looked toward Snape, "informing me of a Veritaserum that the Dark Lord has ordered on Mundungus. He will be questioning him at approximately 6 o'clock tonight, if I'm not mistaken."
"No!" Lupin said, on his feet now. "Mundungus! He'll tell, Albus! He'll let him know–"
"We cannot do a thing to stop it," Dumbledore said sadly. "Mundungus is quite alone..."
"Don't tell me that!" Sirius yelled. "There's got to be something... anything you can do! Mundungus will be killed after the Veritaserum wears off. He'll be tortured, Albus!"
Albus rubbed his eyes. "I can do nothing. I have already tried, believe me, in more ways than you can possibly imagine…"
Remus fell into his seat, breathless. Sirius rested his head on his arms. "So... He will ask him about the prophecy, then..." Sirius whispered. It was not a question, but a statement.
"I am sure that it will come up, yes," Dumbledore confirmed sadly, closing his eyes.
Remus shook his head, "This is the worst thing that could happen to Harry..." he said, trying to keep his voice even. "After all the things he's been through... so much worse will come to pass now."
Snape stayed silent.
"Dumbledore, there's got to be something!" Sirius said desperately.
He shook his head.
"Anything!"
"There is not." Dumbledore said. "But all is not lost. It was only a matter of time before he found out, after all."
"So what are we to do then, Albus?" Snape cut in, talking for the first time in several minutes. "Why have you assembled the three of us here, and not the whole Order?" He had a suspicious tone in his voice.
"Oh, the Order shall know of this," Dumbledore said. "But as for the reason I brought together you three, I am just getting to."
"Sirius and Snape, you have known the prophecy for fifteen years, as you have found out just recently, Lupin," he said. "You know it by heart, when it states that 'one cannot live while the other survives.'"
Sirius shivered at the prophecy's words. He always hated to hear them being spoken aloud. He could bare speaking the Dark Lord's name, but the words of the prophecy, for some reason, seemed to spook him.
He looked at them all with the utmost seriousness. "You do know what this means, do you not, after Voldemort learns of this this evening?"
"He'll stop at nothing to kill Potter," Snape cut in. "He has already sunken deep into the boy's mind, and with this information, he will have a drive like no other to kill him," Snape said in a blank tone. "A Dark Lord with a drive will make him more dangerous than ever… more than any of us can imagine. Potter will be dead in a week if something is not done to stop it."
"We will have to take him away from his relatives, Albus. Let him stay here, with the Order. We have to do everything possible to keep him away from the hands of Voldemort, he's our only hope--"
"This is the reason why I have assembled you three," Dumbledore said, looking deeply troubled. "Harry is in mortal danger, especially now that he has realized their connection. He is much too young to deal with the full wrath of Voldemort. We must get him stronger and continue his education at Hogwarts. He will need protection."
"W-wait a second!" Snape jumped up from his chair, suddenly seeing where this was going, as only Snape could see. "Did you say... protection?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I did not stutter, Severus."
"You can't mean–"
"I do."
"Bodyguards?"
"Correct."
Severus looked insulted. "You... you have got to be out of your mind, Dumbledore!" he said, throwing all politeness aside. "I... I am a Professor at Hogwarts. How can I tail around Potter and teach Potions. It--it's not probable!""I have already taken all of this into account," Dumbledore said. "Please, sit and listen, Severus. I have much more to say."
Snape remained on his feet.
"Us? Be Harry's bodyguards?" Sirius said slowly, as if not fully comprehending what was being said. As happy as Sirius was with the idea, he found it to be quite impossible.
Dumbledore nodded. "Again, I did not stutter."
"But how? I am being chased by the ministry. And Remus here... he's been banished from the school! And Snivellus, like the git says, is a teacher. This is impossible... how are we to protect Harry under these circumstances?"
"Under disguise, of course," he said, his eyes twinkling over toward Snape.
"No... no, you cannot be serious... not the–"
"Exactly that, Severus. The Belgum Potion."
"The Belgum what?" Sirius and Remus said in unison.
"The Beglum Potion..." Snape's mouth was hanging open, a vein popping out of his head. Dumbledore went on, "It is a powerful potion that can disguise you from your regular form as of now, as to the form you took as a student of Hogwarts..."
Sirius's eyes lit up. Did this sound like he thought it sounded?!
"Taking this potion, you will resume your fifteen year old selves, and become fellow Gryffindor's of Harry's class once again." Snape choked as Dumbledore spoke. "You will share dorms with Harry, share the same classes as Harry," Snape was now hyperventilating, "you will even grow to be his friend." Snape nearly slid off his chair.
"Wh-WHAT?!"
Sirius and Remus looked toward each other, and then back toward Dumbledore.
"Severus... you will accompany Harry but for the classes you teach Potions. All other times, you will be expected to be in your younger form. As for you, Sirius... a simple Eye-Color charm will be sufficient. Harry will know your eyes too well, no matter how young you may seem."
"Wait," Sirius said, finally comprehending. "You're telling me… we're going to be his bodyguards?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"I'm going to get out of this hell hole?"
Dumbledore nodded again.
"For a whole year?"
Nod.
"And watch over Harry?"
Nod.
"As a… a student? A fifteen year old student?"
Nod.
"Isn't Hogwarts the safest place for Harry, Albus?" Remus asked, eager to cut off Sirius, who was now looking dazed. "How could a Death-Eater possibly harm him–"
"There are ways, I'm afraid," he said slowly. "There are many ways that Voldemort, at his full power, can get a hold of Harry, despite my protection."
"Alas, I ask you all to take this matter seriously. I understand that for some of you," he looked toward Sirius and Remus, "this will be like old times. But you must not let good times blind you from this very, very serious mission. I expect you all to be alert... his life, and perhaps the life of many others, rest in your hands..."
They nodded. Snape seemed to be terribly shocked of the news. He was not moving or speaking. In fact, Sirius wasn't even sure if he was taking in air, due to the slight blue tone of his skin.
"How could you be sure it's Harry?" Remus asked, only learning of the prophecy recently. He still couldn't swallow it thoroughly. "Him fighting Voldemort? How could he... it's impossible..."
"Ah–but Harry has hidden powers that we can only dream of." The room seemed to grow even quieter. "You know this... you can feel it, as I can. He is... truly... our only hope.
And with that, Dumbledore stood up, vanishing his chair with a tap of his wand. He looked toward the group. "I understand it only takes a day to brew, so I expect the potion as soon as possible, Severus. I will be waiting for a full report by sundown."
"I expect you all to resume your shapes for tomorrow morning for the first time. You have many school applies to buy before the school year, if I am not mistaken. And Sirius... need I remind you... not a word to Harry." And with that he smiled, wished them the best, and turned to leave.
"Ah, Severus... if you could meet me outside for a word..." he said without turning around. Severus let no moment to waste, for he would do anything else than to spend another second in the same room with his old 'school friends'.
Sirius remained sitting, his eyes staring blankly toward where Dumbledore had sat moments before.
"Um. Sirius?" Remus said, waving his arm in front of his face. "Are you--"
"I can't believe this!" Sirius said, jumping up. "I'm going to--!"
"Yes, yes, I know, I know," Remus said, taking his arm and leading him out into the dark hallway. "You'll be able to see Harry again, but Sirius--"
"This will be great!" Sirius cried out. "I--I can't believe it! This is… incredible! Amazing!"
"It's incredible, is it?" Remus said slowly. "It's incredible that Voldmort is after your son? It's incredible that Harry is in so much danger, he needs three fully-grown wizards to guard him?"
"Er… no, well…" Sirius said, scratching his head. "I--you know I didn't mean it like that, Remus. I'm just…"
Remus smiled. "I know, my friend. I know."
The excitement ebbed away, and Sirius felt Remus's words plunge into him as if he took a dive into ice cold water…
Voldemort never had his full sights set on anyone before, in all the history of his existence. There were always other priorities… always people to kill, places to exterminate.
But this time, the Dark Lord's whole existence revolved around Harry. And, Sirius knew, Voldmort would stop at nothing to kill the boy if his own existence was at stake. A Dark Lord cbeing challenged was deadly.
Nothing could stop Voldemort when he had his sights set on something. Especially when it concerned death. The Dark Lord's specialty…
His godson was in mortal danger, and he suddenly felt very guilty about being happy.
"Don't worry, Sirius," Remus said encouragingly. "With us two... er--two and a half there protecting Harry...," he chuckled, "Voldemort will have a pretty rough time, don't you think?"
Sirius smiled. "Of course. We're only the best there is," he said sarcastically. "Ever since our Hogwarts days, that's how it has been, hasn't it?"
"Oh... the good old days." Remus laughed, reflecting back on the good times they had.
"Yes... and they'll be back again with us in only a few days time."
The two laughed in pure joy, happier than ever to be together as friends once again. The years have proved to be cruel to them both, but it all seemed to be paying off. Since Hogwarts, Sirius, Remus, and James have always been friends, and even now, nothing has changed. As their laughter echoed throughout the walls, they could almost hear their lost friend's laughter echoing in chime with them as it did those many years ago, brightening even the dirty, dark walls of Grimmuald Place...
Friends truly did last forever.
So busy. I am sooo utterly busy.
Soccer twice a week, jazz band Tuesday nights, AP Art every night of the week, pulling all-nighters on Thursday, football games to conduct on Friday nights, publication work sessions Monday and Thursday nights, school homework, a college art test to take, my art books due in only two weeks, my second art project due in two days, saxaphone lessons on Monday nights… and oh, so much more.
But still, somehow, I will post a chapter to this story daily, or every two or, at the maximum, three days. I may be busy, but this is one of the things on the top of my list.
You can count on me.
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