A/N: Not this time, Folks.
But as always,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Mine? Right! Oh, please!
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: EVASION TACTICS
Katlin's hand instantly covered her mouth, a slight sound being all that escaped.
Orion Black.
She knew that name. As did every Deatheater. He was one of the most hated Aurors among them. But why would Sier have such a document?
Maybe Sier was connected to the man somehow.
Katlin felt her frantic mind calm slightly at the thought. That was it! Sier was a relative. Didn't Black have a brother?
Katlin racked her brain. What was the man's name? Sier..........Sirius!
That was it! 'Sier' must be a nickname of some sort. Short for 'Sirius'. And that made him Orion Black's brother.
Katlin all but breathed a sigh of relief. That explained as well for her why he didn't want to tell her his last name. He was a Black. He was afraid she would hate him as well because of his brother. Because Orion was an Auror.
Katlin happily went back to sorting things out. She certainly had enough other things to occupy her mind. The night before she and Sier had chosen a date for the wedding. Just five short days away. There was so much to do. And now that she had an explanation for her fiancee's mysterious shielding of his last name, things looked a good deal clearer to her. So his brother was an Auror. She had no idea if Sier held the same beliefs or not. How could he? He was dating her. They were getting married. And he said he didn't get involved in other people's politics.
Yes, everything was right back on track.
Katlin's happy pasting together of facts came to an abrupt end.
Sirius Black?
She suddenly realized she knew that name as well. Sirius Black was also an Auror. And why did he have a commendation document for his brother?
Katlin spun about and quickly began tearing through papers on the desk behind her. The mass of black robes shadowed her, looking over her shoulder at what she was doing, but made no attempt to stop her. Katlin pulled out another piece of parchment on which the name Orion Black was signed on the bottom. She tossed it aside and went on with her frantic search. Soon she found another document with the same name on it. Then several others.
Letters.
Receipts.
Bank papers.
All with the same name.
Katlin turned in absolute fury to the creature behind her, a stash of the papers clutched tightly in her hand.
"Orion Black!" She shrieked at the creature. "It isn't his brother. He isn't Sier!" She screamed, pointing to the ceiling. "That man.......that bastard.......that filthy, disgusting, abhorrent, lying..........." Words finally failed her as she threw the papers to the floor in anger. "He lied to me! He lied! He's an Auror! A filthy, rotten............," the rest came out in a low growl, ".......dead Auror."
Katlin made straight for the door to the room. But the tower of black robes moved with her, placing itself in front of her at the last minute and blocking the exit.
Katlin stepped back from the creature, pulling out her wand.
"Get out of my way!" she warned.
The creature reached out a robe covered hand. Katlin pulled back instinctively as she fired off a spell at the creature before her.
The spell struck home with little doubt. But the instant it made contact with the creature it fanned out in waves, effectively washing over the form in the black robes and finally simply dissolving.
But the creature kept reaching for her until it touched its hand to her forehead.
Instantly the Deatheater collapsed, crumpling in a heap to the floor.
Bo stood for several minutes, anxiously tapping the tips of his fingers together as he stared down at the woman laying on the floor.
This simply wasn't good.
(Scene Change)
Upstairs Orion lay in bed as his worried partner gave him an appraising once over.
"Well, you're still alive. Bo's actually good for something."
"He's been doing just fine, Charly. Pile of laundry's a natural healer." Orion rubbed the back of his neck with a slight wince. "I just wish I knew what Treaks hit me with."
Charly gave his partner a small smile. "He just got off a luck hit, Orion. That's all."
But the man in the bed shook his head. "It wasn't a lucky shot, Charly. It was a trap. A well laid one. And I walked right into it."
"Deatheaters are always mucking about with spells, Mate. You know that. Probably just a variation of one."
Orion shook his head, wincing again. "Charly, I didn't even recognize this one. It was like.............having something put under your nose with your eyes closed and someone tells you what it is. You know what you expect it to smell like. But what you expect and what you smell turn out to be two totally different things. It was just.........I've never felt that kind of magic before."
Charly paled slightly at his partner's description. "Was it dark magic, do you think?"
Orion shook his head again. "I know dark magic, Charly. This was......direct. It had one purpose. To attack. It was just..............," Orion paused, then gave up, "I've just never felt anything like it. And it worries me that the Deatheaters might have something that powerful. What if they........."
Orion never got to finish what he was going to say. Abruptly the tower of dark robes materialized at the foot of Orion's bed and instantly launched into a rapid series of gestures. Both men watched the boggart with undivided attention when Charly suddenly spoke up right in the middle of Bo's rapid gesturing.
"Here! What does he mean 'she's down in the study'?" Charly ask, turning quickly to his partner.
Bo suddenly looked up at Charly as though he hadn't even seen him there to begin with. Instantly he stopped gesturing and hid both hands out of sight behind his back. Standing up to his full height, the boggart did a very good impression of looking innocent.
"Bo, whose down in the study?" Charly asked again.
The boggart quickly turned his head to Orion, then back to Charly, making a quick gesture.
"No one." Charly said in a less than convinced voice. "You popped up here to tell Orion no one was in the study?"
The boggart offered no further explanations.
"Right." Charly stated, getting up from the chair. "We'll see about that then."
Orion simply sighed at the whole display as he watched his partner storm out of the room. He knew he had a few moments at least before Charly made it to the study.
"All right, Bo." he stated. "Tell me again."
Bo immediately launched into his explanation. But Orion brought it to a quick halt as he waved his hand at him.
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait." he stated. "She found 'what'?"
The boggart repeated the gesture.
"Papers? What sort of papers?" But Orion suddenly remembered Charly and quickly pulled the sheets back as he pulled himself up in the bed. "All right, never mind." he told the mass of black robes, holding his hand out to the boggart as he swung his feet off the bed. "Just show me. I'll sort things out from there."
Bo carefully wrapped a robe covered arm about his friend and in the next second Orion found himself standing in the study, though only because Bo was still supporting him. Before him Katlin still lay unconscious on the floor.
The boggart pointed emphatically at the collapsed form.
"Yes, yes. I see." Orion stated, working his way over to her by way of chairs and desks that he held onto.
Just as he reached the collapsed form, Charly came storming through the doors.
"That had best be a hooker you picked up at a bar, Mate!" he stated as he stormed across the room, reaching his partner just as Orion was turning a still stunned Katlin over. Catching sight of her face, Charly looked everything but surprised. "Oh, good." he stated in low tone. "It is."
Orion frowned up at him, then turned back to Bo.
"Why is she unconscious, Bo?" he asked.
The boggart went through a series of gestures.
"We're back to the papers again?" Orion asked with a puzzled frown.
But Charly was already picking the crumpled pile of parchments off the floor and looking over each one in turn.
"Oh, she was a busy little girl." he stated, turning back to Orion. "She's got a handful of parchments here. Letters, statements, even papers from the Ministry........all with your name on them." Charly paused as he handed the papers off to his partner. "Mate, she found out who you were and she obviously wasn't happy about it."
"You don't know that." Orion stated, although he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else.
Charly turned to the boggart. "Bo, why did you stun her?" he asked, pointing to the collapsed woman.
Bo made a quick series of gestures, to which Charly turned slowly back to his partner. "Because she was going to kill the Auror." he translated. "Oh yeah. She was thrilled."
Orion paused as he slowly lowered himself into a chair with Bo's help.
"Orion," Charly said, walking over to him, "It's all hit the fan now. She knows who you are. She knows you're an Auror. And she's going with her instincts here. What she knows. What she's been taught. Kill Aurors."
"So what would you have me do?" Orion asked as he stared at the collapsed form. "Turn her over to the ministry?"
"Orion," Charly said quietly, crouching in front of his partner as he looked up at him, "it's gotten out of hand, mate. You tried. It didn't work. You tried again, it still didn't work. How many times are you going to put yourself...put her...through this? The situation isn't good, and you need to end it. Once and for all."
"How?" came the barely audible answer.
Charly thought fast. Orion was at least listening to reason....for the moment. But he was afraid of how fast that might change.
"We'll get Dumbledore. Have him expand the memory charm. Just get rid of the last few days."
"We can't go back to Dumbledore." Orion replied quietly. "The old man will kill me."
"Better him than her." Charly replied, pointing behind him at the unconscious woman. "Now, she's only been seeing 'Sier' for a short time. No one at the lair likely even knows about you yet. Dumbledore can redo the Memory Charm and we'll just leave her near the lair. Like we did before. All right?"
Orion sighed as he focused his attention solely on the figure on the floor.
"I messed up, Charly. Again."
"'Fraid so, mate." his partner offered sympathetically.
"I swore I wouldn't this time. I would find a way to make this work."
"Orion, you were lying to her from square one. How were you going to make a pack of lies work? Now you tried..., again. It still didn't work. Now.....sometimes proving you love someone comes at the price of having to admit that they are better off without you than with you."
Orion didn't answer him, but kept his attention focused where it was.
"Orion," Charly said quietly, "if she comes round, she's going to try and kill you. And she might get lucky. Now, it's over. You can't explain things away anymore. You know what you have to do."
Orion paused as he closed his eyes, a thin trail of a tear running down one cheek. But finally he nodded in answer to Charly's statement.
"We'll take her to Dumbledore." Charly suggested. "We'll explain to him what happened..................."
The suggestion was met with a short, choked laugh. "Right." Orion stated. "Go and explain to Dumbledore how all this happened. He will absolutely love that."
"Then what would you suggest? Neither of us is that good at Memory Charms. Least of all to manipulate one this selectively."
Orion paused as his gaze slowly drifted to the figure standing silently over the collapsed form.
"Bo can do it." He stated in a very tired, very worn voice.
"Bo?" Charly asked in disbelief. "Mate, are you crazy?"
"Bo was teaching me Memory Charms before anything else. He can do it."
Charly gave the man a skeptical look. But Orion was agreeing to allow the Memory Charm, and that was more important to him at the moment that who actually performed it.
"All right." he replied. "But just make sure he gets it right. It's right complicated doing it in bit parts."
Orion didn't make any move to enlist the boggart's help at first, but nor did Charly press him. But after a few moments, Orion finally said, "Bo."
The boggart raised its head and turned to his friend.
"Bo," he ask in the same tired voice without once looking up at the boggart, "can you do a Memory Charm?"
The boggart nodded.
Orion must have seen him nod, because he went on. "And can you do them selectively? Just erase what you want. Not everything."
The boggart nodded again.
Orion paused again for a few minutes, leaning back in the chair as he stared at the ceiling.
"Orion," Charly finally prodded him gently in a low voice, "it for the best. For everyone. You know that."
Orion continued to simply stare at the ceiling for a few more moments, then finally pulled himself back up and pointed at Katlin's collapsed form. "I want you to erase any memory she has of the last few days, Bo. Any memory of me or anything she may have learned. Replace it with random daily events. Nothing that would make her question anything. You understand?"
Bo stood for a few moments, then made a small gesture.
Orion read the gesture, then frowned slightly, but finally just shrugged it off. He was simply too exhausted at that point to play games with the boggart. "Yes. Just like last time, Bo. Do it just the same."
With that final order, Orion pulled himself out of the chair with Charly's help and left the room, never once looking back.
(Scene Change)
As soon as he had Orion settled back in his bed and everything else arranged as they discussed, Charly was off to one of the lower town bars he and Treaks used as meeting places. He wasn't looking forward to meeting with Treaks that night, but circumstances dictated it this time. It would be the first time he had seen the Deatheater since Orion's capture, and he had a few questions he wanted answered.
The minute Treaks entered the bar Charly swore he could feel the man's presence. It wasn't a feeling he liked. It was more and more becoming a feeling that something wasn't right. A feeling that was fueling his suspicions of the man. But for tonight he needed answers, so he had to try and stay level-headed about things.
"What is it this time, Misser?" the low, cold voice behind him asked as it approached and finally took a seat next to him.
Charly slowly set his drink down on the ring-stained bar counter.
"My partner was captured a few days ago." Charly started out. "By Deatheaters."
He slowly turned to face the man. "I want to know what you had to do with it."
The Deatheaters showed no surprise at the question. Any more than Charly did at the answer.
"Everything."
"He was tortured. Nearly killed." Charly went on in a low, level voice. "What can you possibly tell me that would make me let you walk out of this bar alive tonight?"
Treaks smiled slightly, then gave the man a low, quiet laugh. "My, my. Where is that 'we're both on the same side now' speech of yours, Misser?"
Charly reached over and laid a hand on Treaks arm. But the grip was anything but friendly. "Not when it's my partner."
Treaks pulled up slightly at the ever increasing pressure the fingers were exerting on his lower arm. Finally he wrenched the arm out of the man's grip. "Steady, Misser." Treaks answered with a falsely stable tone. "You're letting your temper show."
Treaks didn't even have time to react as the man next to him suddenly spun about, knocking the bar stool he was sitting on over as he wrapped two clenched fists about the collar of Deatheater's jacket. "He's my partner!" Charly hissed at the man. "And you damn near murdered him. Why!?"
Treaks fought down his fear as he pulled back slightly. He had seen this man in battle and he knew the muggle had a temper. One that could make him as ruthless as any Deatheater. And it came out the worst when Charly felt he had to defend his partner. Treaks was well on his way to his wand when the bartender came to his timely rescue.
"Here! None of that in my place." he stated firmly, a large bat-type stick in his hand. "Take it outside."
Treaks gave the Auror a tight-lipped smile. "You heard the man, Misser. Take it outside."
Charly only released his hold on the man's collar to get a grip on his arm as he practically shoved him through the crowd and out onto the street. One good thing about the places they met, Charly knew too well, was any altercation went practically un-noticed due to such things being so common placed among the clientele.
"Are you quite done wrinkling my jacket now?" Treaks ask in a heated voice as he brushed down his sleeve. But he quickly amended his tone when he caught sight of the cold stare fixed on him. "Fine." he stated. "If you're willing to listen, I'll explain it to you."
"I suggest you talk very fast." came the reply that caused even Treaks to give an involuntary shudder to it.
The muggle had a temper.
And a wand.
Treaks bought himself a few precious minutes by straightening his jacket out again before he turned to face the man eye to eye.
"Your partner was marked for death." he started. "Voldemort had given the order any Auror matching the description given of the one who destroyed the lair was to be killed on sight."
"That's old news." Charly hissed at the man.
"Not this order." Treaks replied. "Voldemort gave the order himself, before all the Deatheaters. Any Auror, tall, thin, with long black hair, was to be killed on sight. To the exclusion of any other." Treaks pulled back with a slight smile. "I did your partner a favor, Misser. I solved his problem for him."
Treaks never even saw the blow coming. A second later he was on the pavement, his jaw feeling like it was near broken. On instinct he went for his wand.
One word, and it was torn out of his grip.
He turned quickly onto his back, only to see Misser standing before him holding the Deatheater's wand tightly in his right hand while his own was pointed in the man's face.
"I'm finding your explanation most unsatisfactory right now." Charly told him in a low, dangerous voice.
"Your partner was going to be killed." Treaks offered up a good deal quicker. "One of the other Deatheaters on that raid where we captured him wanted to be the bait. I talked him out of it. He would have killed your partner, Misser."
"And you just decided to torture him instead?" The wand pressed a little closer.
"I had to do something!" Treaks stated in something very close to a panicked cry. "Don't you understand? I had to give them something. It was all too easy. One on one. If I hadn't come back with him, then I had best have been sitting in a Ministry interrogation room. Because that's the only explanation they would have excepted for his escape."
"What? You never miss?" Charly ask skeptically.
"I've 'missed' too many times." Treaks replied. "Too many times letting your partner go free. Too many times looking the other way. People start to notice things like that, Misser. And if I fall suspect, I might not be there the next time your dear partner needs someone to look the other way. And whoever is in my place might not be quiet so selective. Now, I'm very sorry if Black had to kiss his lovely raven strands goodbye. But that was the price he paid to stay alive this time. Next time maybe I'll just chose a body part instead."
"You planned this." Charly stated with determination in every word.
"That's a lie." Treaks responded with just as much conviction.
"The spell you used to capture him." Charly stated with a cold, mirthless smile. "The master taught it to you weeks ago. I was there. You were planning to use it to capture Orion."
"I planned 'ahead', Misser. Because Magic knows, one of us has to in this."
"And you have five precious seconds to explain that."
"Yes, I planned the capture. I did it in the hopes Black would get focused again. That he would realize how vulnerable he's allowed himself to become. You know I'm telling the truth. You're the one who told me that. You were becoming concerned over his lack of focus. He was becoming careless on missions. Taking un-necessary risks. You said the man acted like he just didn't care anymore."
Treaks watched with an immense feeling of satisfaction as Misser slowly pulled back. The man was listening to all the right words. That's all it took with most people. Just tell them what they want to hear and they'll hear it. You don't even have to force them.
"Now," Treaks stated, his own voice a great deal more under control, "how well was it serving our master's purpose if, after all we've done to protect him and keep him alive, the idiot goes out and, because he's careless, gets himself killed?"
Charly pulled back and turned partially back to the door of the bar. A drink was what he wanted right then more than anything else.
But he had to finish business first.
Turning back about he leveled his wand at the man still on the ground.
"Crucio!"
Treaks let out a scream of pain as he fell back against the pavement. His hands clawing at the air in agony.
Charly had the man by the jacket before the spell even wore off. Yanking him to his feet he pulled the man up until he was staring him right in the eyes.
"And you pray to whatever you believe in that I never find what you've just told me to be anything by the sworn truth."
Treaks barely managed any words past the man's grip, which was dangerously close to choking him. "It's the truth." he rasped out. "I swear it."
Charly released his grip as he threw the man back on the pavement. "Fine. You're so proud of your well thought out plan. Let me tell you what it's gotten you. Orion has been hold up in his house the past few days, basking in the loving care of his own private nurse."
Treaks rubbed his neck as he stared up at the man. "What are you talking about?"
"Griss, the problem you were managing so well, has been playing nursemaid to Orion ever since he escaped. But this time he'd found a way around the Deatheater/Auror problem."
"Which was?"
"He didn't tell her."
"He didn't tell her?"
"He convinced her instead he was a 35 year old Medi-wizard."
Treaks stared back at the man for a moment. "A what?"
"Unfortunately your girl got a bit too curious, and when opportunity came knocking, she opened the door and let it waltz right in."
"Meaning?"
"She got into his study and went on a 'seek and find' mission. And she found plenty. Enough to tell her who he was without question."
Treaks didn't even bother suppressing the smile on his face. "Oh, that must have been just lovely. And you're worried about me killing your partner?"
"She was stopped before she got far enough to do any damage."
"And where is she now?"
"Back at the lair. We redid the Memory Charm, erasing the last few days. That should take care of any time she was with Orion. She won't remember his being captured, being with him, or anything she may have found out in his study."
Treaks frowned at the last part. "Pity."
Charly leaned down and grabbed the man's shirt, yanking him up until he was face to face with him again. He congratulated himself that Treaks once again pulled back from him. "Manage your problem, Treaks." He advised the Deatheaters in a low, level voice.
With one final shove Charly released the man as he stood back up. Dropping Treaks wand next to him on the pavement, and without once looking back, he turned and walked off into the gathering fog.
(Scene Change)
Treaks hurried down the corridor, having seen Voldemort turn down it moments before. He quickened his steps until he caught sight of the black robes just ahead of him.
"My lord!" Treaks called as respectfully as he could make it sound.
Voldemort's steps only slowed at the call at first, but eventually stopped as he turned a very disgruntled stare to the man hurrying to catch up to him.
"What is it, Treaks?" he asked. "I am very busy."
"I have no doubt, my lord." Treaks replied in the same near-groveling tone. "But this matter is important. It involves Katlin."
If Treaks thought adding Katlin's name would gain support for his statement, he couldn't have been more wrong. The dark wizard's expression darkened even more as he glared at the man before him.
"I have heard enough from you on this matter, Treaks." he stated in a low, dangerous tone. "If you can not handle matters on your own concerning Katlin, perhaps this marriage isn't such a good idea after all."
Treaks instantly pulled back. He knew Voldemort was never completely in favor of his marriage to Katlin and he had had to do some very good persuading in order to make Voldemort see even the smallest merit in it. But the more Katlin delayed things, the more Treaks pressed the issue with Voldemort, and the more irritated the dark lord was becoming. And perhaps he was right. How well would he be able to handle Katlin as his wife if he couldn't even handle things with her now?
Well, that was a small matter. If things went as he planned now, soon he wouldn't have to worry about that at all.
"I have mis-spoken, my lord." Treaks replied solicitously. "What I meant was only to voice my concern for her as of late."
"Of late?"
Treaks could tell he know had the man's full attention. Just suggest anything was amiss with his beloved head Elite and you had his full attention as with nothing else.
"Katlin hasn't been herself these past few weeks, my lord. I am sure you have seen it yourself. She has been moody, agitated, and very short with the others."
"Perhaps it is just the wedding drawing near." Voldemort suggested almost conversationally. "She's worried with the details."
Treaks paced himself. He had to place every step now with extreme caution.
"I do not think that is it, my lord." he replied cautiously. "Katlin....I have known her for a very long time."
"As have I, Treaks." Voldemort's voice came out hard and cold.
Treaks pulled back again. "More so than anyone, my lord." he amended quickly. "I only meant to point out that I have known her to be like this from before. And it was usually not from anything that was concerning her, but more that she was......bored."
"Bored?" Voldemort turned to face the man fully.
"Katlin hasn't had a mission in some time, my lord." Treaks offered helpfully. "Not one of any significance to her. Something that required any real effort on her part. You have sent her out with the lower ranking Deatheaters. But she doesn't find much challenge in those missions. They're not what she is used to. What she needs to prove, to herself, she still has value."
"Katlin does not doubt her value with me."
Treaks pulled back slightly. "With all due respect, my lord, how have you allowed her to redeem herself since her last punishment? By assigning her to lower ranking tasks? She perhaps feels you do not trust her with anything more serious yet. Such a thing would definitely weaken her spirits, to feel she wasn't serving you as well as she could."
Voldemort stared at the man for a very long time.
Treaks did his very best to maintain a neutral air about himself. He was just offering a suggestion, he firmly told him over and over. Nothing more.
Finally Voldemort spoke again. And his words carried a clear warning if Treaks were misleading him. "And you have some suggestion to offer?"
"Katlin only seeks to serve you, my lord." Treaks replied earnestly. "She is happiest when she do that. Give her a mission to go on. Something of some importance to allow her to prove herself to you again if only in her own eyes."
Voldemort thought for a moment, but finally nodded slightly. "Perhaps you have a valid point." he replied, his voice a good deal less frosted.
Treaks smiled. The dark lord was listening to him.
"Perhaps I can find something........"
"If I might offer a suggestion, my lord?" Treaks spoke up, but quickly cursed his eagerness as Voldemort's stare darkened again.
"A suggestion?" he practically growled at the man.
"Only if you think it is worthy of her, my lord." Treaks offered. "But I can, of course, only hope you will see merit in it."
"Speak."
Treaks fought with himself to keep the smile off his lips. He had to make this good.
"At Dumbledore's castle two of your enemies are residing. The Auror, Orion Black, and Severus Snape, who you yourself have suspected as turning traitor to your noble cause. Sending Katlin there could eliminate both of them in one night, and further secure your position in the growing turmoil in the wizarding community."
Voldemort stared down at the man.
"She is only seeking to prove herself to you, my lord." Treaks repeated. "It would please her to know she had done so. And likely raise her spirits immensely."
Voldemort continued to stare at the man without saying a word. but finally he turned and walked off down the hallway.
"Tell Katlin I wish to see her in my chambers."
Treaks didn't bother hiding his smile this time.
"At once, my lord."
Q&A
Sirius-ly disturbed:
Interesting name, Dear.
All of them!? In just three days!? Well, you can just color me impressed. Takes most people three days just to read Family Life. My goodness, but you've been busy!
Well, I'm very glad you liked the stories, Dear. And thank you for liking my little saying at the bottom. I was beginning to wonder if anyone actually saw those.
On with the answers.
Fever
I'm sorry, Dear, I only know of one story that did the story, but then repeated it from another characters POV. And although off hand I can not recall the name of it, I can promise you it was not mine. I switch POV within stories, and Fever was very big on that because PAR was e.x.p.e.r.i.m.e.n.t.i.n.g. with a new style for her on that one. But I dropped it half way through the story because one; it was difficult to write, and two; it was redundant.
So, sorry, but no, Fever was just one story, no sequel or different POV associated story.
The Bonds That Tie
Any possibility of seeing how Harry grows up with Sirius as a parental figure? Anything is possible, Dear. But I don't have anything in the works right now. I've got several stories waiting in the wings as it is, plus several more one-shots.
Yes indeed. Aaron Richards is a flea-scratching, fur-shedding, tail-wagging werewolf.
Right on again. Richards is far more in-tune with the duel side of his nature than just about any werewolf can be. He lets his heightened senses work for him rather than trying to ignore them. And yes, he knew the dog was Sirius by smell alone.
Enemies
Everything in Enemies will eventually be tied up. But don't expect it to be at the end of the story itself. Enemies is sort of an umbrella under which the Family series resides. In some way, shape, or form, they are all related in small details. By the end of the Family story arc, all the lose ends will be tied up.
Family Life
Well, I'm bias. It was my first, so it's my favorite.
You have valid points, Dear. But I guess it all comes down to how we each see the characters ourselves. I saw Harry as a child, deprived of any love or attention, suddenly having al he could handle. I would think such a child, naturally trusting and a quick bonder (look at how fast he made friends at school), to jump into the pool of parental affection with both feet. Especially when you have two godparents willing to go overboard with it at a moments notice. First you have Arabella, who is desperate to prove she can be just as good a godmother as Sirius is a godfather. And on the other side of the coin you have Sirius, who wants nothing more than to spoil his godson.
Harry's got it made.
General question. Yup. Aaron Richards is my resident doctor. He was there in The Bonds That Tie, Tried And Convicted, and Enemies.
Safe bet? I never use the same name. I try to keep my character names as different as possible to avoid confusion.
Yes, Dear, the 'incident' to me was a pointless piece added for shock value. When Ms. Rowlings proves otherwise, I will apologize. Until then I will happily consider it a misprint that just hasn't been caught yet and corrected.
Sweets:
You're meeting a seven month old child? And you're happy about this? Strange woman.
You're 'old co-workers'? Are we not working for the 'House of Mouse' anymore, Dear?
I don't think I could do that to poor Orion. Charly and Katlin in a room....together....with him? Man's just been tortured. How much can he stand?
What Dementors, Dear? I don't remember writing Dementors.
Silverfox:
Oh goody!
Ummmm....., man hasn't been thinking with his head for a long time, Dear. If you know what I mean.
No. Bo did not give Katlin the paper on purpose. That was utter coincidence. OR bad luck. Your choice.
Ransom of Red Chief. This was the story about a pair of would-be, hapless kidnappers who grabbed the young son of a prominent man and demanded money. While waiting for the ransom, the kidnappers were so abused by this little heathen that they sent him back without collecting any money. I can see Sirius in the title role here.
Well, you have valid points, Dear. And there is very little to stop Talon from using Bo to rescue his sons in such a situation. But if Voldemort got either son and kept him hidden somewhere, and used a Blocker so Bo couldn't find him right off, this could prove a problem. And even if Bo found them, what's to keep Voldemort from standing there with a wand pointed at them? Bo understands Mortal Danger, Dear.
Now, now. Be nice. Charly isn't the only one screwing things up here.
Bo would be very hard to 'harm', as you saw in this chapter. He is by no means invincible. But most things with Bo are the equivalent of walking up and smacking a Sherman tank with a feather duster and expecting results. Your tank may be a little cleaner afterwards, but that's about it.
That will be a long standing question before I answer it in black and white, Dear. Who did the hat sort into Slytherin?
I may not be obligated, Dear. But I do like to try and keep up with things.
The secret Voldemort holds with Katlin, I will tell you, is a physical one. But that's all the help you're getting on that one anymore. And if you get it right, I won't tell you. I'll just refuse to answer.
And if you read it carefully, it is in the story. But, yes, it does take a bit of deductive reasoning.
If (not 'when', folks) Katlin and Orion ever make it to the alter, you can bet the guest list will be short.
Now let me ask you a question. Suppose......suppose Orion learns the story about Katlin's parents was a lie, and suppose he traced it back to Charly. What do you think he would do?
Also, Orion may not be the fastest horse on the track, Dear, but he's persistent. And sometimes, that's a much more dangerous trait.
Point for your side. He never actually said 'I love you'. Least not this time round.
That's all right, Dear. There's a whole lot of people around your pond with their poles in the water too. No one has even come close to the right answer.
Wait. I tell a lie. There was one.........way back there. Dang near hit it on the head with their comment. Told them so in the reviews. Can't remember their name though. But ti was the closest anyone has ever come.
Why doesn't what happen with any of the former hosts, Dear?
The former hosts don't exactly die 'normally', Dear. Unless you consider rant-assed crazy 'normal'. Every former host died insane.
Well, what did Albus get from befriending her in the first place? Perhaps the man just honestly likes her. Katlin is a very interesting person.
Come on now. I said 'who think they know everything'.
The wizard in the north (bit more information than I should be giving out, but oh well) is the person who instigated everything that is currently happening. Based on that, one would think he knows what's going on. Problem is, other factors have become involved that have messed with an otherwise very tight, very neat little package, and completely screwed things up. Such is life.
Nope. He's not wise enough to know he doesn't know everything, Dear. He thinks he knows everything. Just like everyone else.
Ummm....., you lost me, Dear. First, Bo didn't want Orion to get rid of his second wand. He had a preference, but he never voiced it. He has no connection to the second wand. That is strictly connected to Orion. No one else.
Skahducky:
Oh no, Dear! Don't disregard it. It was very important.
Who is the third party interested in, Dear? Why, Bo.
Where do things go from here? You're reading in the past, Dear. This has all obviously already happened. (Several readers walk off in disgust, having not realized this.) Sorry, guys!
This story ends at Voldemort's downfall. The next story, Runaway, actually takes place during the last few weeks of Family Life. Kind of an 'inserted' story. Then you have Family Relations, which picks where Family Life left off, with only a short interval inbetween.
You ASSUME this has a happy ending? Phfffffffttt! You don't know me very well, do you!?
Well, nothing 'suddenly' sparked Orion's interest to take Harry away from Sirius. This is where your fifteen (?) year interlude comes in, Dear. Voldemort's downfall, Sirius going to Azkaban, Harry going to Hogwarts,............. Family Life.
There was a lot of discussion a few chapters ago as to whether or not Orion had kids at any point in what you've read. After much discussion, consideration, and timeline arrangements, the answer came out as 'no'. In nothing you've read, or in anything you will read in the near future, does anyone call Orion Black 'Daddy'.
I don't remember saying he was married.
All reviews are as of 05232004.
And remember;
Problem with Italian food is, three or four days later, you're hungry again.