Next Chapter, here we go!
CHAPTER III: The Fabulous Destiny of Gilderoy Lockhart
Both boys blinked at the house elf for one long moment, before . . .
"And this is different from last year how?" Ron asked with a laugh.
Harry shot his friend a smile. "What sort of a plot? Who's behind it?"
The elf took his head in his hands and squeezed. "Dobby-- cannot-- say!" he wheezed in pain.
"All right, don't-don't hurt yourself!" Ron said quickly.
"If you can't say, then how did you get permission to leave your home and come this far to warn us?" Harry asked. "Did someone send you with a warning?"
If at all possible, Dobby's hunted look grew and his eyes got even bigger. Fighting for breath, the creature began ramming his head against the wall.
"Oi! My posters!"
Various members of the Chudley Cannons were nearly shaken off their brooms.
"Dobby, stop! Stop!" Harry yelled trying to pull the elf away.
Downstairs Sirius hearing the noise placed the wrapped present on the table and stared up at the ceiling.
"It's just the family ghoul," Molly said placatingly. "It's always dropping pipes and groaning."
The Marauders shared a look.
"That didn't sound like any ghoul," Remus said as he finished pouring himself a cup of tea.
There was some distant yelling.
"That settles it," Sirius muttered hurrying towards the stairs, Remus close behind.
In Ron's room, the two boys had managed to stop Dobby from further self-harm.
"No-no-no. I is coming on my own. I is coming to help Harry Potter on my own!" Dobby insisted. "Dobby is having to throw himself down the stairs when he is getting home."
"But what is going to happen? Why can't I go back to--"
There was a knock at the door. "Harry? Ron?" Sirius' voice came through the door. "Is everything all right?"
Ron and Harry looked at each other, trying to think of what to say.
"Er . . ."
The doorknob rattled. "Harry, can you open the door?"
"I didn't lock the door," Ron said slowly.
The boys looked down at the elf who offered them a smile.
"You locked us in?" Ron demanded angrily.
"Who locked you in?!" roared a voice from outside. "Harry?!"
"Unlock the door, Dobby," Harry ordered.
"Harry Potter must first promise not to go back to Hogwarts this year."
Several spells were being hurled at the door. Molly Weasley's voice had come to join the calls from outside.
"Dobby, you can't keep us locked in here," Harry tried to reason. "It won't keep anyone safe. And if there is danger at Hogwarts then everyone should be warned."
"Why are you reasoning with him?" Ron said incredulously. "Unlock the door and let us out!" he ordered, voice rising. "Unlock it or-or Harry will do it! Harry?"
Harry turned from Dobby and stared at the door, reaching for his magic.
"Harry Potter cannot open--" Dobby said fidgeting and beginning to twitch nervously. "Harry Potter cannot--"
With a bang of power that made everyone's hair stand on end the door flew open.
Sirius and Remus tumbled into the room, wands drawn.
Crying out in shock, Dobby vanished with a crack.
"Harry, are you all right?" Sirius asked anxiously, sweeping Harry to his side. "What was it?" he demanded leaning over to check Harry over. "Where did it go? Did it hurt you?"
Mrs. Weasley grabbed her youngest son in a tight hug. "Ron, are you all right? Why couldn't we get the door open? Were you playing with magic outside of school?"
"No, this was house elf magic," Remus said firmly as he stared about the orange room, wand still drawn.
"House elf?" Sirius echoed.
"We don't have a house elf!" Percy said from the doorway where he, the twins, and Ginny peered into their brother's room.
"I wish we had a house elf," George muttered. Fred nodded in agreement.
"There was a house elf, Mum. It was trying to get Harry to promise not to go back to Hogwarts this year. He said that Harry would die if he did!" Ron explained. "He locked the door and said we couldn't get out until we promised. But Harry managed to get the door open."
"A threat?" Sirius said harshly. "Someone sent a house elf here to threaten you?"
"It was either a threat or a warning," Harry said softly. "He couldn't have come here on his own."
"But house elves can get around their master's orders if they really want to," Sirius said grimly. "This settles things. You're not going."
"What?" Harry asked perplexed as his godfather led him back down the stairs to the Weasley's living room. "Not going where?
"You're not going to school this year. No Hogwarts. Last year was bad enough, but you're not going with house elves and death threats. I absolutely forbid it. I won't have you putting yourself in danger. You can finish your studies at home where it's safe."
Remus sighed as he sat down and buried his head in his hands. Of all the places of all the times to have this conversation, Sirius had to do it here.
The Weasleys had spilled into the living room after them, shamelessly watching and listening in.
"But-but-but--" Ron sputtered incredulously.
"Quidditch!" A stunned George managed to gasp. "What about Quidditch?"
"Harry can still fly. I'm not taking away his broom, I'm not crazy or anything," the Animagus scoffed.
The Weasleys looked as if they doubted that.
"His education!" Percy yelled almost as shocked at his tone as everyone else in his family was. "You're depriving him of his education."
"Harry's education is just fine. He'll learn more not having to worry about Death Eaters and Voldemort."
The Weasleys all cringed at the name of the Dark Lord.
Ron rallied. "Harry, say something! This is your future he's talking about," He urged.
"You really think I shouldn't go?" Harry asked looking up at his godfather as if every answer could be found there.
Sirius sat down on the couch and pulled Harry over to stand in front of him, gripping the boy by the shoulders. "Harry, you nearly died last term. Now there's a house elf showing up promising death if you return to Hogwarts. Do you understand what I'm getting at, Harry? Do you understand why?"
Remus looked up, knowing what was coming; Harry would not disagree with his beloved godfather.
Harry nodded slowly. "I understand." He turned to Ron. "I-I don't really have go this year, not really," he said hurriedly. "Not like last year. I can stay home," he assured his godfather.
"There, see?" Sirius said with manic glee.
Ginny, looking near tears turned and ran up the stairs.
"Harry," Ron said desperately "You really don't want to go back?"
The black haired boy bit his lip. "I love Hogwarts. It's wonderful. I'd like to go back and see all our classmates again," Harry confessed wistfully. Sirius flinched at his tone. "But I don't mind staying at home," Harry added, quickly noting Sirius's distress.
"Mum, do-do something!" Ron cried.
"Do what? I'm not Harry's guardian. If Sirius thinks Harry would be safer at home away from all sorts of mischief, that's his choice."
Ron grabbed hold of Harry's arm protectively as if Black and Lupin were about to steal Harry away right from under his nose.
"Well-well, he's still coming with us to Diagon Alley this afternoon," Ron said staunchly as if daring to be contradicted. "C'mon, Harry, lets go open presents." He then proceeded to drag his bewildered friend to the kitchen.
"I'm going to firecall Albus, find out something about that house elf," Sirius said firmly. "If I can use your fire, Molly?" he asked.
She directed him to the fireplace and waited until the rest of her children had joined Harry in the kitchen to open his presents from the Weasley family before turning to Remus. "What is that man thinking? How irresponsible can he be to take a child out of school?"
The werewolf located his tea and stirred it idly. "He's thinking about keeping Harry safe and happy." Remus looked up and pinned the woman with his amber eyes. "He may be overprotective and high strung, but no one, no one loves Harry more, would sacrifice more for that boy. James Potter didn't make a mistake in appointing Sirius as Harry's godfather if that is what you're thinking," he said sharply. "And after all the horrible things that have happened to Harry, Sirius has every right to be worried. Don't be so quick to judge," he scolded softly.
Taken aback, Molly felt a twinge of guilt for being so harsh on Black at lunch. "But to withdraw him from Hogwarts," Molly pressed, shaking his head.
Remus took a sip of his tepid tea, whispered a spell and then blew on the now hot liquid. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Harry will be on the train come September 2nd."
"How do you know?"
Remus merely smiled secretly and stood. "We'd best go and see what Harry got for his birthday."
Diagon Alley was bustling with shoppers. With Hogwarts letters in hand families dashed to and fro. The street was a riot of color and noise.
The Weasleys, Harry, Sirius, and Remus arrived via magic car much to Molly's disapproval and her children's delight. They touched down near Gringotts and spilled out of the car, eager to explore and shop. They met up with Hermione and her parents outside Gringotts where Ron proceeded to spill the appalling news.
Hermione was furious. Furious enough to go toe to toe with Sirius Black, a man who still terrified her much the same way Professor Snape did Harry. "How can you take Harry out of Hogwarts? Have you no consideration for his future? His career? Learning?"
Sirius, backing up with every word, looked beseechingly at Moony and mouthed "save me." The werewolf was having none of it.
"Harry let's head over to Flourish and Blotts," Remus said choosing to evilly ignore his friend's plea for help.
"But shouldn't we help--?" Harry began.
"No, no, no, let them talk," Lupin insisted. "Sirius needs to visit the vault anyway."
Ron looking smug and very, very pleased with himself handed Harry his Hogwarts letter. "If Mum won't convince Sirius to let you go, Hermione certainly will," he assured his friend.
Harry didn't take the letter. "But I'm not going to Hogwarts."
Ron's face crumpled so completely at the words that Harry quickly took the letter from his grasp and opened it to make his friend cheer up.
The redhead immediately beamed at Harry's compliance.
"Well, Harry, what books are on the list?" Remus asked, hiding a smile at Ron's transparent manipulation of his friend.
"I've got all of them at home: Standard Book of Spells, the next level up in transfiguration, the same book for Potions . . . a lot of new defense books though written by . . ." here Harry frowned "Gilderoy Lockhart." He looked up anxiously hoping the name hadn't reminded Remus of his unpublished book. But the werewolf just smiled and smoothed down his wayward hair.
"Where?" Hermione asked suddenly from Ron's elbow making the boy jump in fright.
"Gahh! Hermione, don't do that! I though you were still yelling at Sirius."
"I wasn't yelling!" the bushy haired Gryffindor protested, blushing fiercely. "I was merely pointing out some of the flaws in home schooling Harry for the year. I mean neither he or Mr. Lupin are certified to--" Hermione broke off realizing the werewolf in question could heard her every word.
"Sirius and Remus are great teachers," Harry protested. "I learned most of my spells from them. Remus is brilliant at explaining things and Sirius knows everything."
"Really Harry," Hermione scoffed. "No one knows everything."
"Though you certainly talk to us like you do," Ron muttered in a sotto voice.
"Ronald Weasley! I heard that!" Molly snapped joining their group, purse now heavier from her trip to Gringotts. They rounded the winding road and caught sight of a massive crowd trying to force its way into the packed bookstore.
"What's going on?" Ron asked curiously.
Harry tried to peer through the sea of bodies while Fred and George, the tallest Weasleys present, alternated jumping up and down trying to catch sight of the cause of the commotion at Flourish and Blotts.
"Looks like a--" George said.
"--book signing to me," Fred finished.
"Really?" asked Hermione eagerly. "I wonder who it could be?"
Molly Weasley pushed her way forward and gasped as she caught sight of the window display. "It's Gilderoy Lockhart! He's signing books till 4:30 this afternoon. We haven't missed him! He's still inside."
Hermione and Ginny whirled to face each other, grasped hands and sighed dreamily "Gilderoy Lockhart."
"Gilderoy?" Ron asked, mouth twisting in distaste.
"We can actually meet him. He's written our entire Defense book list!" Hermione squealed. Ron stared at her as if she suddenly grown two heads and began backing away slowly.
"Mum fancies him," George said authoritatively.
"Got some money, Harry. Goblins were frightfully slow. What are we looking at?" Sirius said, coming up behind Harry.
"Lockhart is signing his books," Harry informed the Animagus.
"We should go in then and meet the man," Sirius said firmly. "What do you say, Remus?"
The werewolf shook his head. "We can get the books after his signing is done. It will only be another half hour. We should go visit the apothecary first. Even if you aren't going to Hogwarts, you must keep up with Potions," he told Harry who looked a bit glum at the news of further instruction in a subject he was horrible at. "Besides, there is no way we can get in there," he said gesturing to the sea of witches and wizards shuffling about in a winding line.
"Here," Mrs. Weasley said taking charge. "I'll stand in line to get the Defense books while you squeeze inside to find the rest of your school books."
Remus took one more look at the bustling, eager crowd and turned his back to it grabbing Harry's school list. "I'll head for the apothecary if you want to wander about for a while, Harry."
Sirius gave his friend a worried look. He knew despite Remus' calm manner it wasn't easy to come face to face with Lockhart's book signing while he was still waiting to hear back from his editor. But Sirius wasn't going to press. The book was very important to his friend; it was a sign that he could make his own way in the wizarding world and be respected for his knowledge and achievements. Instead Sirius joked. "You just want to hit the confectionary before it closes," he said with a laugh.
Not bothering to disagree, Remus hurried off with a smile.
"Is Moony going to be all right?" Harry asked softly.
Sirius nodded. "Don't worry, he just needs a moment. He knows we're here for him. Now," Sirius said rubbing his hands together and scowling. "Let's take a look at this supposed Defense guru that stops our illustrious Mister Moony's book from the press, shall we, Mister Talons?" he whispered in his godson's ear, propelling them forward.
Without having to shove the crowd parted before them with several well-placed glares from the Marauder. They made their way into the bookstore, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and the twins trailing along behind through the miraculous gap of desperate Lockhart fans who still had some sense to avoid a glaring Sirius Black.
Gilderoy Lockhart was sitting at a table surrounded by pictures of his dazzling face all looking adoring and charming with very, very white teeth that constantly smiled.
Harry was rather uncomfortably reminded of sharks, that and his cousin Dudley preparing to eat something.
The wizard was wearing forget-me-not blue robes that matches his eyes and a wizard hat perched on his perfectly coiffed blond locks at a jaunty angle. He was currently telling some smitten middle-age housewitch a joke that had him laughing in a bright tenor, taking time to tilt this way and that so the photographer hovering about him could take plenty of pictures.
It was almost painful to watch.
Sirius shook his head in disgust. "What an utter peacock. That . . . thing on the best seller list for 28 weeks. Disgusting." He picked up a copy of Magical Me as if it were some dead decomposing animal and opened it to a random page and read for a moment before putting the book down in disgust. "Incredible what some people will buy."
"Maybe he only dresses like that for public appearances?" Harry offered tentatively, not willing to completely dismiss the man as a viable human being without definite proof.
"Not bloody likely," Sirius muttered.
Gilderoy Lockhart seemed to hear that over the din of the store. He looked up and saw the Weasleys and Sirius standing beside his line of admirers.
And then he saw Harry.
Lockhart leapt to his feet, pushing aside the housewitch with barely a thought to get a clearer view.
"As I live and breathe, Harry Potter!" he shouted.
The crowd turned as one and seemed to seethe forward as if to grab hold of their savior, separating Sirius and Harry for an instant.
But that was all it took.
A photographer grabbed Harry and yanked him round the table and flung him into Lockhart's grasp.
Gilderoy positively simpered, grasping at Harry as if he were a prize from Witch Weekly. "Smile, Mr. Potter, together we rate the front pag-AGH!"
The furious Animagus had vaulted over the table and pulled Harry back against him, growling fiercely just as the flashbulb popped.
"Just what in Mordred's name do you think you were doing?!" Black snarled. "You!" he said suddenly, pointing at the stunned photographer who was trying to edge away. "Give Me That Camera."
Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, the Daily Prophet photographer vanished into the avidly watching crowd.
"Sirius Black. The Ex-Death Eater, the only escapee from Azkaban Prison!" Lockhart exclaimed, playing to the attentive audience. "Well, well this is a surprise, ladies and gentleman. Perhaps you'll be treated to a sporting duel between the two of us. What do you say, Sirius? Winner faces Harry?" he asked with an exaggerated wink.
The audience laughed and there was a spattering of applause, not loud since most were still put off by the truly imposing figure of Sirius Black who stood above Lockhart by several inches, and was much broader across the shoulders and arms.
The black haired Marauder leaned in close to Lockhart. "My godson is not a publicity prop," he hissed.
"O-of course not, my dear fellow, of course not!" Gilderoy said hurriedly, backing up a few spaces. "Let me instead offer my apologies for surprising you." He turned his attention back to his audience, voice filling with good cheer and confidence. "Little did young Harry Potter know that upon entering Flourish and Blotts to pick up his school books he would not be buying them but receiving my collected works, free of charge! This gift will no doubt help my young friend with his new Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum which I shall be teaching. Yes, its true. I shall be a professor, a teacher and molder of young minds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not only that," he said over the applause "Not only that but little Harry will also be receiving an autographed copy of my new autobiography, Magical Me."
The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry's arms were suddenly filled with a pile of books. Staggering under the weight, his glasses slipped to the edge of his nose. He stared down at the nauseatingly bright covers full of pictures of Lockhart and his mind wondered absently what Remus' book would look like published.
Beside him, Sirius growled and made as if to lunge at Lockhart. Realizing that things were rapidly spinning out of control and there was no Moony to put them both back on track, Harry stumbled away from the table trying to hide in the crowd. There was only noise, the people, hands brushing out to stroke his hair and his clothes, like was some holy relic-- feeling horribly unbalanced Harry ducked his head and practically ran into Ginny Weasley.
"Here, Ginny," he said, desperately offering her the books. "I don't really need them. I've got plenty of defense books at home. You have them." She made as if to refuse but he said "Please" and she slowly took them from him and put them in her cauldron.
Free of his burden, Harry wanted only to disappear and he dodged around robed figures for the exit, ignoring Ron's voice calling him above the noise in the crowd when--
"Running out on your fan club, Potter? What, no autograph session?"
Harry looked up and met Draco Malfoy's smug face.
"They're here to see Lockhart," Harry explained, forcing back his temper.
Malfoy snorted. "Didn't stop you from horning in on the press now, did it?"
Harry shook his head. "I didn't mean--"
"Yes, yes," the other boy said, waving away Harry's words almost magnanimously. "You never venture out but once or twice a year, it's not your fault, it's never your fault," he spat.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron's voice intruded from beside Harry. The boy looked behind him and realized all the Weasley children and Hermione had caught up with him.
"Why nothing at all, Weasley. I'm just trying to enjoy a nice day at Diagon Alley among wizards and witches but unfortunately my experience has been utterly ruined by the . . . people here." Draco raised his chin, pointing at the very obviously muggle Dr. and Dr. Granger over by the counter trying to figure out the wizard money system. "They'll let anything in here nowadays."
"There's nothing wrong with being muggle," Hermione said forcefully. "They have as much a right to be here as you do, Malfoy."
"Really?" the blond sneered. "What possible right could they have to this world? They're nothing more than filthy--"
"Manners, Draco," a cool voice interrupted seamlessly.
An older man, with Draco's grey eyes and ice blond hair towered over what was obviously his son. Draco looked up at his father before wordlessly stepping aside to give the man the floor.
"Well, well. We all seem to be here on a shopping trip. Weasleys," he identified, picking a book out of Ginny's cauldron and examining the stained, cover. "Muggleborns with their . . . parents," he hissed returning the book with a thud into the cauldron. "And Harry Potter," he finished, eyes resting on the boy in front of him.
"Lucius Malfoy," Harry said simply, not backing down beneath the other's piercing gaze.
"You keep the most extraordinary company, Mr. Potter: those from outside our world and those from our world at the lowest possible social standing," Lucius smirked.
"Yet, strangely enough," Harry put in, voice strong "they are the very best people."
Draco was grinding his teeth so hard it was almost audible.
Lucius smiled down at him patronizingly. "A child's understanding. How . . . refreshing."
Harry's eyes narrowed in anger. He opened his mouth to reply when another red head intruded on the scene.
"Ginny, boys! I'm so glad I finally caught up with you," Arthur Weasley huffed as he made it into the madhouse that was Flourish and Blotts. "You wouldn't believe the queue to get into this place. You'd think there was a celeb . . ." The wizard trailed off as his eyes met the steel stare of one Lucius Malfoy.
"Well, well, one big happy family all together is it?" Malfoy said with a smirk. "That makes how many of you? 12? 13?"
"Malfoy," Arthur spat without any pretence of civility. "I would think you would be busy at home hiding illegal artifacts under your bed, or perhaps your wife's bed instead of out shopping. I thought you of all people would have the manners to prepare for company."
Lucius grip on his cane tightened and the silver snakehead hissed in annoyance.
"Company, Arthur? Is that what you call you and your lackey in your tiny, little cupboard of an office? If you do chose to come round, you'll be sure to use the back entrance, won't you? Your kind are best dealt with through house elves, you certainly dress alike," he sneered eyes perusing the shabbily dressed Weasleys. "I understand they also speak your language; that of lesser wizards, those who consort with other . . . lesser beings." Here those eyes focused on Hermione as they would an insect on the ground. "You certainly can't expect better given the company you keep, Weasley . . . and here I thought your family could sink no lower--"
Without another word Mr. Weasley threw himself at Mr. Malfoy knocking them and a giant display of Lockhart's books to the ground. There were a flurry of blows and tangled robes as they each tried to pound the living daylights out of the other. The Weasley boys' cheers were drowned out by the panic of other shoppers in the store. A stampede towards the entrance began amid the chaos and Harry was shoved to the floor, his fingers stepped on.
Draco and Ginny landed practically on top of him, Ginny spilling the contents of her cauldron directly on Harry's head burying him in books, Draco kicking and hitting and swearing at both of them.
"Break it up!" a familiar voice roared. The sounds of magical sparks filled the air. "Everyone STOP NOW!"
There was no denying the authority in that voice, a voice made infamous one November morning amid the rubble of a muggle street strewn with bodies. Witches and wizards froze and looked up in trepidation. Arthur Weasley held off choking Lucius Malfoy and Lucius held off trying to beat in Arthur's head with his cane.
A furious Sirius Black shoved through a terrified crowd until he reached epicenter of the fight. With nary a glance at the heads of the Malfoy and Weasley family he yanked Draco up off the ground by his collar and helped Ginny up by grabbing her arm and then focused on unearthing his godson from the pile of books.
"Harry? Harry? Are you all right?" Sirius called as he threw books aside left and right, not caring where they flew, but having enough presence of mind to lob some Lockhart's way.
Straightening his glasses, Harry peered up at his anxious godfather. "I'm fine," he said a bit breathlessly.
"Arthur! Get up this instant! What kind of example are you setting!?" Molly demanded helping up her husband. "Brawling in public with the likes of Malfoy and in front of the children."
"Molly, dear--" Arthur began, touching his tender, swollen eye carefully.
"And you--" Molly said, whirling around to face the now impeccable Lucius, his robes, his hair, nothing out of place except the fat bloody lip Mr. Weasley had given him.
"My good people, my dear friends!" a perfectly modulated voice intruded and the blue vision that was Gilderoy Lockhart pushed his way to the center of attention. "Now, now, I know everyone is eager to see me, to hear me, and get a copy of my wonderful book Magical Me but there's plenty for all. There is no need to fight, no need to trample the poor, dear Boy Who Lived," he said gesturing down to where Harry sat on his knees amid the fallen books. Like well-trained animals the audience stared, and murmurs of pity and agreement rippled through the crowd.
"Typical," Draco muttered as he stared down at Harry, kicking a book angrily.
Indignant, Harry scrambled to his feet ready to explain that it wasn't his fault, when Sirius took hold of his shoulder and began leading him out of the store.
"But--" Harry looked back and could see between the milling bodies, the Weasleys helping Ginny gather up her school supplies and Draco being led away by his father.
"Come on Harry, let's get out of here before I do something Moony will regret," the Animagus said darkly.
Remus Lupin did not like the apothecary. It was dark, dank, and dungeon-like, to say nothing about the smell.
And when you are a werewolf, the less said about the smell the better.
But it is better than smiling into the face of Gilderoy Lockhart while we buy that idiot's books, he thought to himself savagely as he began hurrying through the shelves and stocking Harry's potion kit for second year. Hopefully Sirius would come to his senses and let Harry attend Hogwarts. Hopefully Harry would get along better in Potions this year. Hopefully Snape would be nicer to Harry--
Remus couldn't help but burst out laughing at that rather ridiculous thought.
"If you are looking for the joke shop, Lupin, it is further down. This is the apothecary," a sneering voice cut in.
Speak of the dark wizard, Remus thought with an inward smile. "Snape," he greeted turning to face the man. "What a pleasant surprise."
Black eyes narrowed disdainfully. "It is neither pleasant nor a surprise but a truly unfortunate occurrence to be anywhere near you." The Potion Master turned his attention to the potion kit in Lupin's arms. "Taking a belated interest in potions? Expanding your work skills in hopes of finally getting a job? You are better off putting down the ingredients and selling yourself to the apothecary."
Remus sighed. The man never gave up. "For your information, this is Harry's potion kit."
Snape idly plucked a bottle of silver nitrate out of the kit and turned it over in his hands. "So the Boy Who Lived can't even be bothered to get his own school supplies now, can he?"
"I don't know why I bother even trying to talk to you," Remus muttered as he moved towards the counter to pay for the potion ingredients, Snape trailing along behind him like an overly large black duckling.
"You forgot this," The Slytherin said with false solicitness shoving the silver nitrate into the werewolf's face. Remus could help but flinch back.
Chuckling darkly the Potion master deposited the bottle into the kit. "Once a beast . . ."
"Gods you are just too much. I try to eat you once, once! after warning you to stay away and you just can't let it go," Remus said fuming. "It's not like I was even in my right mind or can remember it at all," he mumbled.
"There's something for that," Snape put in, all business-like.
"What?" Remus asked bewildered, not sure he was following. "There's something for what?" he asked suspiciously.
Snape sighed and rubbed his forehead with one hand. Gryffindors. "There is something I've been developing to calm a beast's rage, possibly extend those animals truncated life span some years," he said slowly, enunciating each word as if he were speaking to an idiot. "It is still in the testing stage, but I've had some success with my subjects keeping their minds during transformation."
Agog, Remus could only gape at the man.
A potion that would allow him to remain sane during the transformation.
Something that would prevent him from harming anyone on accident like Sirius or Harry.
A potion that could extend his lifespan years past forty or maybe fifty and in doing so extend Harry and Sirius' as well.
He had to be dreaming.
Never had Lupin hated his cursed existence more than when he and Sirius realized that by tying the three of them together with blood, when one of them died the other two would follow. The Marauders had kept it a secret from their young charge, not wanting Harry to be burdened with the knowledge of how short his time was. If Harry had just been bound to Sirius his lifespan would still be into his hundreds as the Black family, old as it was, was notoriously long lived even for wizards. But werewolves . . . werewolves were lucky if the strain of monthly transformations didn't kill them well before forty. And Lupin was nearly thirty-three. But now salvation was at hand in the form of one Severus Snape.
"I call it Wolfsbane," Snape said with dark pleasure at naming the salvation of a werewolf after the plant that could readily kill them as much as silver could.
"Are you--do you make any of it regularly for-for--"
"For your kind?" Snape finished bitingly. "I'm not sure why I should be forced to repeat myself for you let alone anyone else but I am still in the testing stage. However," here the potion master paused to ensure he had Lupin's complete attention. "However, I am always in need of more test subjects, those willing to risk a bad batch or a wrong dosage in the interests of furthering my research. You would have to pay for your own ingredients, beg the money from your revolting friend Black, and I would require--"
"Yes, yes!" Remus cut him off eagerly, plunking down the money for Harry's supplies. "I'll do it! Whatever you need! You firecall me and we'll make all the arrangements."
The door to the apothecary opened and Sirius' voice could be heard echoing around the musty interior. "MoooOooony? Are you in here?"
Remus stilled. Oh gods, what would Sirius say, willingly taking help from Snape? About being a test subject?
He'd be furious and guilty by turns: furious about Snape of course as well as the danger to Remus, and guilty because it was his life as well as Harry's Remus was trying to save that dreadful night that bound them.
He mustn't know.
"Just finished!" Remus called over his shoulder, grabbing up Harry's potion kit. "On second thought, I'll firecall you," he told Snape once more and hurried out to join his family.
tcb evil laugh This is not the end of Mister Padfoot's most brilliant torment and revenge of one Gilderoy Lockhart. I hope you all liked the scene in the bookshop and also Draco's involvement without the sudden movie cannon attack of what can only be sudden onset kleptomania. Speaking of the second movie, it is much bereft of a knock down, drag out fight between Weasley and Malfoy just had to stick it in. J Burning questions no doubt remain. Will Harry sneak off to Hogwarts? What will happen if Sirius finds out Remus has put himself in the hands of one Potion Master Snape? Will Molly Weasley be writing to Dumbledore after all?
To my reviewers . . . THANK YOU
athenakitty- Ginny's got a crush! Ginny's got a crush! Woe befall her if, no when, Sirius finds out that a GIRL is after his precious godson. The Weasleys remember quite well Voldemort in power and though they realize that Harry is just a child there is definite evidence that Harry is their powerful wizarding savior. When confronted with that, there shall be awe. Sirius sand Remus will NEVER mention the Dursleys in specific detail to those who don't know. That would be exposing a horrific time of Harry's childhood to "non-family." Harry's control will come as you know from future neutral fics in this world. As for Sirius' desire to buy the car . . . well first Arthur has to want to sell and he loves it too. As for Harry reaching Hogwarts . . . we'll see.
Spacecatdet- Thanks! As for who is the Prisoner in third year . . . if you recall at the end of "Of Western Stars" a certain Peter Pettigrew was caught after nearly murdering Sirius and Harry.
paradox01- Remus' secret will not come out for a while and by that time Molly will see the man behind the "monster."
He mele no lino- Yes, I know. I rule. Grin
LilPup- I am so glad that I grasp the Weasley family. They are hard to write. Molly's concerns over Harry will no doubt soon be soothed, but lets just say sometimes a random thought or choice can have profound effects. I shall say no more, for that is a story for another time. Hope you continue to enjoy.
Skipastarseeker- er . . . thanks. I think. grin
Jah- you are welcome. More bouncing? First you, then Skipastarseeker . . . my story inspires bouncing. I shall take it happily!
grand admiral chelli- Fell over laughing? Really? When?
Jedi Sapphire- Never give up hope. I do have a plan for stories based on the books all the way up to five so far. There shall be more.
Somnio- Yes, Remus and chocolate and I am so astounded that the third movie confirms this obsession that I added to this chapter on a whim when I wrote about it months ago. Funny, huh?
LadyLilyPotter- I know there wasn't too much Harry in the last chapter, but who could help being shocked silent between the Weasley chaos and Molly's cooking? As for concern about Harry's home life, Harry is not your everyday 12 year old boy but the savior of the wizard world. Further Sirius is an Azkaban escapee that many still believe is guilty and there are rumors that circulate that Remus Lupin might in fact be a werewolf! Shocking, I know.
terrorofthehighway- Mollified. Tee hee, would you believe I didn't plan to write that!?
Review?