Harry walked toward the Brightly lit pub with some trepidation, several loud crashes erupted from inside the noisy bar. He prayed that whatever was broken wasn't over someone's head. He really didn't know what Dawn was capable of. He turned to the two wizards who were walking beside him and cleared his throat.
"When I'm not in the flat, people call me Cameron Andrews. I'm not Harry Potter. I'm a bar tender, if either of you slip up and call me Potter or Harry, Dawn may have to kill you, she's like that. Understand?"
Lupin nodded, looking amused, Snape scowled. Harry nodded once, and entered the bar, thanking his stars that the Wizards had enough sense to wear muggle clothes at least. Though he figured the two men would look out of place enough with Lupin's faded jumper and Snape looking like he walked off the set of the Crow. 'Of, course' He conceded 'Snape looks normal enough in a black trench coat, just stuffy and awkward…. and mugglish.' Harry wondered vaguely if that was even a word and waved to Dawn, who was frantically trying to pour drinks to the inebriated football fans and nodded to Albert, who had one poor man in a head lock, and another unconscious soul was thrown casually over his shoulder. Really, the big man seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.
"Cameron!" Dawn slammed a mug of ale in front of a happily drunk sports fan and turned to Harry, who was fitting into his apron. Dawn stared at him vacantly for a minute before grinning. "Take the apron off."
"I-What?" Harry looked startled.
"Look around you man! I need you to distract these folks before a bloody riot breaks out!" She waved her hands at the milling crowd of shouting muggles. Harry could see her point. Large amounts of people were stalking the dance floor, glaring at each other, probably a rival team of Manchester's, Harry supposed, and nobody was dancing to the antique juke-box that huddled in the corner of the bar. Albert was making an easy routine of hoisting people off their feet and tossing them outside, looking very much as if he was having one of the best nights of his life. Harry blinked at Dawn, suddenly getting a very bad feeling from the way she was grinning at him. "Dawn, unless I'm causing a small explosion, I'm very bad at making a distraction." He had a sinking feeling that didn't matter. Dawn smiled at him.
"Cameron, you're an excellent bar tender, a good friend, roommate, and employee..."She took a step toward him and placed her hands on his shoulder-" and I don't care if you have to conjure up a pink thong and striptease to 'We are the Champions' in the background, but you will distract these idiots and you will get on that table over there'-she pointed to a table that was just standing beside the dance floor-'and do something!" Harry swallowed, and nodded nervously. Dawn beamed at him and pushed something cold and metallic into his hands. He looked down; it was a microphone.
'Oh my god' He thought as walked toward the wooden table, his hands were shaking. Harry didn't dare look back at Lupin and Snape; they were standing behind him the whole time Dawn gave her…pep talk. He did not want to see the expression on their faces. Harry stopped at the table and took a deep breath, he glanced back at the bar, hoping vaguely that Dawn would call him back and say she was looking. No such luck, the blonde was giving him an encouraging smile and holding a wine opener in a disturbingly menacing manner. Harry climbed onto the wooden table, vacantly noticing that there were cigarette burns pressed into the polished wood. He stood up and raised the mic to his mouth, his heart was doing something funny, it kept speeding up and slowing down, and when did it get so hot in here?
'It's all right' he thought to himself 'It's like playing Quidditch…except I don't have my broom, or a snitch, and I'm standing on a table, and this is so completely not like Quidditch...shit.'
Harry opened his mouth. "Er…excuse me?" The crowd ignored him.
"Hello?" Still nothing. He looked wildly around for a minute, Albert gave him a thumbs up…. Lupin was watching him solemnly; his expression unreadable… Dawn was yelling at a large man in a Manchester Jersey…Harry sighed and closed his eyes, took a deep breath and opened them to the crowd.
Then he sang.
Two hours later he was wiping the counter off and watching in amusement as Albert wrestled a young man out the door, who was insisting that was "serfectly pober" and trying to stay in the pub by hugging the legs of a chair. Lupin and Snape were talking quietly to each other at an empty table…or rather, Lupin was talking and Snape was glowering at the werewolf. Harry waved to a couple of patrons who were exiting the building under the watchful eye of the bouncer, and put his wash cloth under the counter.
"So what are you gonna do?" Dawn asked him as she sat down on a stool, Harry poured some Guinness in a glass and handed it her, she smiled in thanks and took a sip.
"Dunno…I have a feeling that once Dumbledore finds out where I am…I won't have a choice but to go back to Hogwarts…Not sure if that's a good idea yet." He shrugged. He would love to see Ron and Hermione again, but his training wasn't finished yet…and neither was his potion."
Dawn drummed her fingers against her glass thoughtfully. "You know, you are my apprentice; that means until I say you've been educated to the Level that I believe is satisfactory for you to achieve Journeyman status….or Master status…You're welfare is my concern. Technically, and Legally…since you missed the first day of term at Hogwarts that means you have 'dropped out' of school and therefore Dumbledore has no say whatsoever in what you do." She smiled slightly.
Harry shook his head. "I'm the key figure in a war, Dawn, I don't think he cares about wizarding contracts right now…he needs me to win this war, and he's not likely to let me out of his sight for very long until I do. Frankly I'm surprised that he hasn't found me sooner…at least he didn't send Dobby after me."
Dawn blinked in confusion. Behind her Albert was very skillfully cursing two young men out into the street, Snape was talking to Lupin now, though Harry had the impression that he was saying something that probably shouldn't be repeated in polite conversation. Lupin caught Harry's eye and smiled slightly, making Snape's scowl become even more pronounced.
"Dobby?" Dawn asked "Is he that house elf you said sicced a bludger on you when you were twelve?"
Harry chuckled and nodded.
"Hmmm, it is strange that he didn't send the elf after you, Dobby would have found you in seconds if I'm not mistaken." She frowned slightly. Harry stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
Dawn shrugged. "Who is this elf more loyal to; You? Or Dumbledore?"
Harry felt himself blush. "Well, I-I don't know exactly…Dumbledore gave Dobby a job…but I set him free…" he shrugged, ducking his head, and Dawn smiled, slapping her hand against the counter. "You then," She said. "Well, I know there's away around this…I just have to think on it. Right now I think you should go talk to those boys of yours; I'm sure you didn't answer all their...er…questions." She motioned to Lupin and Snape, who were still talking and not talking at each other. Harry looked miserably at the two men…thinking he would rather have another go at Malfoy Senior then answer anything Snape had to ask. Something must have shown on his face because Dawn laughed at him, and told him to take the two men some drinks.
"-boy has lost his mind, the sooner we can get the brat to Hogwarts the better." Snape muttered darkly. Lupin frowned.
"Isn't that a little harsh Severus? He was simply doing what he thought was best…however foolish that may be." Snape muttered something unrepeatable about teenagers, thinking, and proposinglaws against it. Lupin tried very hard not to smile.
"Am I interrupting?" Harry stood to his left, holding a tray of some muggle drink and looking nervous. Lupin raised his eyebrow and shook his head, surveying the young wizard. Harry's ponytail was messy and starting to loosen, his black tank top was wrinkled and his green apron was stained with some unidentifiable drink. His earlier performance had left a continuous blush on his neck and cheeks, particularly whenever he heard someone catcall. He certainly was different than the boy who popped his head into Sirius' fireplace, demanding answers about his father.
Harry grinned at them shyly a plopped down in an empty chair next to Snape. He handed Lupin and Snape a bottle of Guinness and kept and glass of some fizzy drink for himself.
"Excellent performance, Mr. Potter." Snape said acidly. Harry blushed to the roots of his hair and ducked his head; it didn't stop him from talking though. "It was Dawn's idea, sir."
Lupin hid a grin as Snape glared at the bent head. 'Perhaps,' Lupin thought, 'He isn't so different.'
"Potter..." Snape growled. Harry's head snapped up, his eyes flashing. "Don't push me Professor, if you want answers I suggest you ask the appropriate questions. I have no pressing need to discuss anything with you other than the fact that you probably won't stop badgering me about it…and frankly I might not say anything to you yet." He glared at him.
Snape looked taken aback for a moment and stared at the diminutive boy, his eyes narrowed.
"That potion. Explain." He demanded.
"Yes, let's." Lupin supplied cheerily, taking a sip of the dark brew. Harry and Snape ignored him.
"I brewed that potion because the use of it may help me figure out how to get rid of Voldemort. The extra orbs…they all stand for something different. I told you before that two are for protection, one is to hide, and the other five represent the points of an upright pentacle…Water, Earth, Fire, Air, and Spirit. It's called a Broken Potion because each stage of the potion's development is put to use, the first stage is to protect. One orb protects that which is sacred, the other that which is loved. The second stage (which is around my neck) hides the protected…namely me and whoever else I wish it too…it stops people from tracing any magic I perform, which is why I can use my wand. The other five are…I'll put them to good use…the four elements create a sort of pathway…I can't tell you what the spirit orb does; the book I have poses theories…but I have my own." Harry stopped talking and took a long pull of his drink.
"Potter, you expect me to believe that you brewed this potion on your own? Your skills are as dismal as Longbottom's," Snape glared at him, though he looked very pale. Harry grinned suddenly.
"Actually it isn't that difficult, the ingredients are the elements, a handful of earth, a cup of natural water, and lit match thrown in, a breath of air over the top, and the tears and blood of the potion maker. The rest was simply concentrating on letting the elements fuse together in their own way, though I have yet to add my blood and tears, it takes time for the potion to mature."
"I still don't understand, why would the ministry have an issue with this potion, aside from it's tendencies to blow up, that is." Lupin asked mildly.
"The potion is regulated because the potion master who brews it is given a substantial amount of power. What Potter just described is the basic ingredients…Most brewers make this potion with the blood and tears of a sacrificed innocent…it corrupts the initial personality of the liquid and turns whoever uses it into something distinctly inhuman." Snape said quietly, his eyes studying Harry's face intently. Harry shrugged and admired the dust floating above Snape's head.
Lupin felt vaguely ill.
"Either way, It's really none of you concern, and I would appreciated if you kept quiet about it…if you don't mind" Harry murmured, swirling the liquid in his glass.
"I don't think you understand the situation boy, this time tomorrow you will be on the train back to Hogwarts and spending the rest of the year in detention." Snape growled.
Harry gripped his glass very tightly, his knuckles were white. "Well excuse me, Professor, but what are you going to do, force me back to Hogwarts? I don't need a wand to defend myself anymore; I'd like to see you try." He snarled.
Snape was livid. "Boy; Do you that Voldemort has already started killing Muggle's and Muggleborn's? Your dear friend Granger had to put her parents in hiding and if I am not mistaken; the only thing that is stopping the Dark Lord from completely taking over the ministry is the fact that you are still alive!" He slammed his fist on the table for emphasis. Lupin drank his Guinness quietly, watching. Harry stared at Snape, his expression one of pure shock. Then he positively beamed at the Potion Master, his eyes dancing. "You said the Dark Lord's name." He grinned and stood up, wisely deciding to help Dawn close the bar.
Lupin had to use both arms to restrain the furious Professor from doing Lord Voldemort a favor.
And that's Chappie 12! Thank-you to all who review, it means a lot! Next chapter: The morning after the night before…and the headache potions involved. Cheers!