The Other Side of The Veil
n Chapter Eight—
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed! I'm glad you liked my riddles, although I didn't make all of them up, but some I did.
More: For Kate, who is my number 50 reviewer! ^_~ For you, girl!~
~Even when it seems as though nothing's going right
and you just want to give up
if you close your eyes
you can see the world within your heart~
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Hermione and Ron held their breaths and waited for the calm before the storm to end.
Most of the order had arrived with Lupin so it was probably going to be really loud… yep… here it comes…
"WHAT!?"
"How could you just let---"
"Expected more from you—"
"…should be ashamed…-"
"-very disappointed…"
Lupin felt as though he really should be yelling at the two teenagers as well, but the choruses running through his head chanting, 'Sirius is alive! He's alive!' left really no room for anger.
Hermione and Ron waited out the tempest. When finally even Mrs. Weasley grew tired of scolding them, Hermione took the momentary silence to jump in, "It's my fault really. Ron didn't know anything about it until Harry and Malfoy were already gone. I've been keeping a journal of everything Harry's told us."
"You've been keeping in touch with him?"
"Oh yes," Hermione handed the arrow pendant over. "I thought it'd be a good idea, just in case… well you know."
Lupin looked it over; he couldn't help but be impressed with Hermione's cleverness and told her so. Mrs. Weasley glared at him and Hermione beamed.
~~~
"Harry?"
Harry jumped and Draco groaned. They had been just about asleep and the pendant started talking.
Harry frowned and took it out of his bag's pocket.
Again, "Harry?"
Harry's eyes widened. "Lupin?"
"Good, are you alright?"
"Uh—yes… um… where's Hermione and Ron?"
"They've told us everything Harry. I must say, I am very disappointed in you." Lupin said. Even though he didn't sound like it.
"I know." Harry said trying to mask a grin.
"You should come back," Lupin stated. "Let the professionals handle this—"
"No! You can't send professionals, we're not even sure how to go back ourselves yet."
"But Harry—"
"We've got two medallions already, only four left and then we can get Sirius and figure out how to get back." Harry knew he was making their journey seem a lot easier then it actually was…but he felt as though Sirius' disappearance was entirely his fault therefore it was his duty to rescue him.
"Where is Sirius?" Lupin asked.
"He's being held captive by the ruler of this dimension."
There was silence… well it did sound silly, like something out of a fairy tale.
"We're doing fine on our own." Harry added. "If you have to send someone, only send one, not a whole army."
There was a silence again and then Lupin said, "Alright Harry, we'll only send one person."
Harry repressed a groan, they were doing fine on their own! But he also knew that it couldn't be expected that all the grown-ups would calmly sit back and wait for the two boys and Sirius to return.
"Draco?" The pendant spoke again, "Your parents think you've run away… I think we should tell them—"
"No!" Draco shouted, grabbing the pendant from Harry. "You can't tell them anything—do you know what will happen to me if—"
"Alright, we won't tell them then."
Draco looked immensely relieved.
"Harry," Lupin said and Harry took the pendant back. "We'll figure something out and then we'll send someone, so be expecting it, alright?"
"Okay," Harry said, it was inevitable. "Can we go back to sleep now?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, of course."
They closed with pleasantries.
"So they ratted us out." Draco muttered and Harry knew he was talking about Ron and Hermione.
"It wasn't their fault," Harry returned. "They would have noticed I was gone sooner or later. I'm the boy-who-lived, remember? They'd assume I was imprisoned by Voldemort until proven otherwise."
Draco didn't answer.
Harry sighed and quickly fell asleep also.
~~~
"Your fortunes will improve in the future…" A woman, with curly black hair that looked as though someone had sewn diamonds into it, said. She also had brown eyes that looked red sometimes. "You can't blame everything on yourself," She was wearing a red wrap over black pants and a red crop-top. She also had a black veil covering her nose and mouth. She was gazing into a crystal ball.
"Things happen for a reason."
Suddenly she frowned and gazed deeper into the crystal ball.
Star sat up straighter, "What is it?" She asked.
"Oh no…" The gypsy-like young woman said and looked up towards the double doors, which swung open.
Aster stumbled in; one side of her blue-suit was red from bloodstains.
Star gasped loudly and ran to her side.
The gypsy went to Aster's side too. "So you've come to me," The gypsy said. Helping to lay Aster down on a couch and ordering a servant to get some medical supplies.
Aster managed a grin at the gypsy. "I knew you'd help me, even after everything…" she said.
The gypsy just nodded.
"What happened?" Star asked. Making sure Aster was comfortable.
"She's lost her medallion to the travelers from the third dimension." The gypsy answered instead.
"I lied to them too," Aster said, holding Star's hand. "I told them I'd be fine…" She cringed as a throb of pain rocked her body.
"Why did they hurt you?" Star asked and took the bandages and medicines the servant brought to them.
"Well I'm sure he wouldn't have if I hadn't provoked him… the blonde one's got quite a temper and will…" Aster said eyeing the peroxide warily. "Kind of protective too…"
"Oh!" The gypsy said suddenly, staring out at the city below, from the window.
Aster and Star looked up at her. "What?"
The gypsy turned from the window to face them, a grim expression on her visage.
"I foresee that this tale is about to get much more complex."
And unlike Trelawney, Diamond Winters was never wrong.
~~~
"Well it could have been worse." Ron said.
"I know, you're right." Hermione replied.
They were sitting on the roof of the Weasley's run-down garage.
They needed a break from all the things going on around them. Out here was… quiet… peaceful even…
After the grown-ups had stopped talking to Harry, they began arguing and bickering about who should go and what would happen and owls had been flying in and out of the burrow all night. Dumbledore had been informed and he was currently on his way over here.
The sky was clear that night and you could see each and every one of the stars.
A voice called through the darkness, "Ron! Hermione! Come in here please! The Headmaster has arrived!"
Ron sighed, "What do they want us for?"
Ron jumped from the roof and brushed his hands on his pants.
"You coming?" He looked up at Hermione.
"Yeah, hold on." She replied, she was trying to figure out how to get down from the roof; it wasn't too far up, about two meters but still.
Ron grinned, "You can't be scared of heights. You've flown on a Hippogriff and everything!"
Hermione leered at him. "I'm not!"
Hermione slid from the roof with a small 'eep' and Ron caught her.
A small blush crept across Hermione's features; they'd never been quite this close before…
Ron's face was growing redder as well… for some reason; they couldn't quite step away from each other just yet.
"…Herm… I…"
"Kids! Are you coming!?"
They jumped away from each other.
"Yeah Mom!"
And they hurried inside, both flushed and a little on the shaky side.
~~~
"Your highness! Remellus, I think you are making a severe mistake!"
"Sapphire, none of my decisions are mistakes!"
"Oh… of course… well I think you should reconsider! Giving Black free roam of the castle grounds and beyond, could prove very taxing!"
"How so?"
"He could escape!"
"Dele! Sirius is not an enslaved in my castle! He is a guest and will be treated like one."
"Your highness, he's from another dimension—"
"You've never stuck me as the dimension-ist type."
"Your highness, do you expect me to believe that he fell out of the sky and landed exactly and precisely on top of you by accident? He could be an assassin! He could be a spy!"
"I don't believe Sirius is in espionage and I won't hear you speak ill of him!"
"Your infatuation with this man is—"
"I said enough!"
Sapphire shut up. She knew better then to irk the king too much.
"Silver!" He called and Spade stepped forward. "I want my spiritual adviser."
Spade and Sapphire glanced at each other.
"I don't think you need a spiritual advisor." Sapphire said, Spade was acting fidgety all of a sudden.
"Why not? I need help in a personal matter, so if you please…"
"Your majesty, you can talk to me about anything…"
"Sapphire please, I'm in a personal predicament and I'd appreciate help from the spiritual world."
"But—"
"Call her!"
"No need, your highness, here I am."
Diamond Winters suddenly appeared at the large window.
"How did you get in here!" Spade cried. She was the head of the guards, this castle was supposed to be impenetrable.
Diamond leaned her head to one side; it looked a little strange considering all the veils, necklaces, and such that she was wearing. "Are you trying to keep me out, Silver?"
Spade was about to reply but Diamond went on, "A good advisor should know and be able to tell when her client is in trouble and needs her help."
Remellus beamed and let her sit in his throne.
A servant pulled a table up to the throne and the king sat on the other side.
Diamond laid out her 'equipment': crystals, Tarot cards, a wooden box, a silver dagger, many charms, and other little knick and knacks.
"I think you should send your extras out," Diamond said and Remellus waved the servants away until only, he, Diamond, Spade, and Sapphire were left. Diamond shook her head, still not satisfied. "Them too, they may influence your spiritual vibrations."
"Oh yes of course." Remellus said and sent Spade and Sapphire out of the room, despite their protests.
Everyone knew just how much of a power Diamond had on Remellus, it was said that she could make him do anything… yet, of all the royal council and court; she was the one who rarely came by.
She was an honest woman and would not use Remellus in such a way unless it was absolutely necessary. She could make him do anything, of that she was quite sure.
Sapphire growled, low in her throat, on the other side of the door. "Damn her!"
The inner council, that being: Sapphire, Spade, Diamond, Star, and Aster. Were wary of Diamond, they had misjudged her before and that proved to be a great danger to them, plus, with her in foul spirits over Spade, they were all worried she'd do something stupid, like make Remellus go on a murder spree… with her, you never knew.
The inner council had taken it upon themselves to avoid Diamond, best they could these days. They even considered having her thrown off the council, but they all had to admit that she was too important and had great power. They couldn't afford to have her plotting against them… that would ruin everything…
~~~
Harry blearily twisted his body to face the other way, then back to the left… he couldn't get comfortable… of course he should have been used to this by now, but lack of sleep, was something he could not afford to have these days, not with Sirius on the line. Who knew what they were doing to him?
She turned again and spotted the place where Malfoy was lying… or should have been lying… he wasn't there.
Harry sat up, yep, Draco was gone all right.
What the hell?
Malfoy, where are you?
Silence…
Harry unzipped the front of the tent and walked out into the dark, they were camping near a lake, Malfoy had insisted they do so, so they could wash themselves up.
So in turn, they had washed up and bathed. It was good to be clean again.
Harry scanned the area; he had a pretty good idea where he might be…
Harry walked down to the lake and sure enough, Malfoy was there, sitting on a log and staring out at the waves.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, coming up behind him.
"I couldn't sleep." Was all Malfoy said, he continued to stare out at the silver waters, glimmering in the moonlight like waves of metal. The stars were seen perfectly from here and there were specks of maroon clouds hovering about the earth.
They were quiet for a long, long time. Just sitting (and standing) there… the waves crashing on the shore and neither one of them saying a word.
Then, "Don't stand behind me, Potter." Harry was making him nervous.
"Where should I stand then?"
Draco was going to say, back in the bloody tent. But instead said, "I don't care."
Harry then sat down beside him.
Great, Draco thought, making sure Harry couldn't read his mind. I come here to be alone and he still shows up. Why can't he just leave me in peace?
But in reality, he was actually quite glad Harry had come looking for him…
They were silent again, even longer this time.
A nightingale was singing somewhere and an owl flew by, hooting a comforting spell to join the nightingale's song.
A dense wind picked up and Harry asked the question he'd been thinking about for a long while now, "Malfoy, why don't you want to be a Death Eater?"
If Draco was surprised at this question, he didn't show it. He just turned and fixed his gaze on Harry, "Why don't you want to be a Death eater?"
Harry frowned. "Because they're evil and manipulative and want to take everything for themselves. They want a world where there is no peace. A hell on earth… I don't want that."
Draco nodded, "And you think I do?"
Harry shook his head, "How could anyone?"
"The death eaters are a bunch of fucking servants. They can't think for themselves, all they do is follow orders. Voldemort promises them power and fortune and everything they want, they can't tell if he's lying or not until he kills them… I hate being used… always have. I'm not about to let myself be overpowered by some pompous bastard who thinks everyone should die just because he's more powerful than them. I may not like Mudbloods and Muggles, but I'm not about to go murder them all because of it."
"Oh…" Was all Harry could say, for as long as he could remember, he thought Malfoy was just that. A pompous bastard who'd enjoy the torturing and killing of Muggle-borns and Half-breeds. Apparently not, there was so much to know about Malfoy, and for some reason Harry wanted to know it all.
"How did you get that scar on your arm?" Harry asked, he'd seen a scar on Malfoy's right arm, it was a small one, but he'd noticed it.
"Why the hell are we discussing my life?" Draco said suddenly angry. "What is this, share time?"
Harry turned away. "Fine."
They were quiet again.
"My father." Draco said, not looking at him, just staring at the waters.
Harry didn't say anything. He wanted to ask how, but it was clear that it pained Draco to talk about it… Harry couldn't imagine a father scarring his own son… even the Dursleys never went that far… but this was Lucius Malfoy they were talking about… if anyone could disfigure their own son, it'd be him.
So for the most of the night, they sat out in the open. Gazing at the water as if it were some extraordinary kind of magic… Maybe it was…. What else could cause rivals such peace between each other?
~~~
Sirius walked around the Opal city, it was based on a hill so there were many downhill/uphill ways. Sirius noted how 'olden day' they were. There were no cars and he had seen a cart with a horse pass by a couple of times.
It would have been peaceful if it weren't for the poor display the people were in. It was obvious that Remellus kept the people in his iron grip through fear and keeping provisions from them.
It was a sad sight, a child was standing in the middle of the street crying for her father, and people were staring at Sirius oddly and backing away.
When he'd had enough, he went back to the castle. A guard stopped him in the hall, "The king wishes to see you in his throne room."
Sirius sighed, what was it now?
He walked passed Sapphire and Spade in the hall, they looked extremely peeved. He entered the throne room.
"Ah Sirius! You're finally here. This is Diamond, she wants to talk to you."
The girl was dressed like a gypsy and Sirius frowned, "I don't believe in fortunetellers."
"Nonsense," Remellus said and sat Sirius down in the chair he'd been sitting in moments before. "Diamond is, the best fortuneteller in the world."
Sirius didn't exactly trust this girl, she was wearing a veil that covered most of her face, save her eyes, and he knew that people in masks and veils could not be trusted.
"Remellus, I will need to speak with him, alone."
Remellus frowned.
"Vibrations, remember?" She said and her eyes had a look in them that suggested she was smiling.
Remellus studied them and then nodded. He left.
"Now," Diamond said and turned back to Sirius. She pulled a crystal ball towards her. "Shall we begin?"
"I told you, I don't believe in this crap." He took his wand out of his pocket and threw it towards the ceiling and then caught it again. He used to do this when he was in detention and had nothing better to do.
He leaned back in his chair, causing the two front legs to left off the ground.
"Shuffle the cards please." She said and handed him a Tarot deck.
Sirius rolled his eyes but did what she asked; she'd have to tell him something very significant if she wanted him to believe in her.
She spread the cards out and made mental notes.
"Well," She said after a moment or two. "It seems that there are quite a few things you are concerned with."
Sirius rolled his eyes, any one could tell that.
"The king is kind to you and you are grateful, be he wants something you are not prepared to give," She went on. Sirius pretended like he wasn't paying attention. Lupis could have just told her that…
"There is someone else," She said and Sirius still didn't believe her, wasn't that just a natural assumption? "Someone who you've known for a long time,"
Hogwash I say.
"A dear friend,"
She's guessing.
"Someone you've shared secrets with,"
Well obviously, if they're a dear friend…
"Someone who… resembles Remellus in some ways… and in others… not…"
Sirius sat straight at this part, Surely she was guessing…
"Ah, I see a wolf… a wolf and a full moon… do these symbols mean anything to you?"
Sirius slowly nodded his head. She gave him a small smile, "The moon is a symbol of love… loyalty…"
Sirius stared at the girl and her tarot pack and crystal ball, she was making this up! She had to be!
"I see how you came to be here…" She said. "A fight, a duel with a relative… a duel to the death, it was to be. And then you fell… I see your thoughts… I hear them…" She had her eyes closed now. "Your last thoughts upon entering this world were…of your hate toward your relative and how you were sure you were going to die… and of the pain you were feeling and the regret of not opening your heart to the one associated with the moon sooner. " She opened her eyes and made eye contact with him. "Am I right?"
Sirius stared at her, "Unbelievable."
She grinned at him, although he couldn't be sure with all those veils. "You are here for a purpose, you realize?"
"What?"
"You can bring the people of this world, salvation."
"What?" He asked again.
"Surely you realize the power you have over the king? He will listen to you. I believe you can ask him anything and he will obey… you could ask him to feed his starving people… let them be free…"
Sirius shook his head, "Naw, I'm pretty sure Lupis has his mind made up."
"That is where you are wrong, you must understand, Lupis is not as he appears to be… he is corrupted… he feels compassion towards his people, yet he is terrified if he lets it show he'll fall to ruin and his emperor will be lost. He feels their pain, yet he is powerless against his own fear."
Sirius wasn't sure what she was getting at, but the throne room doors opened suddenly, ending their little meeting.
"Dinner will be served soon." Sapphire said, sending a glare in Diamond's direction. What was she telling him?
"Thank you." Diamond said, coldly and stood.
"Won't you join us for dinner?" Remellus asked cheerfully, addressing Diamond.
"Oh… I mustn't…" She said getting to her feet.
"Rubbish, you will join us in the grand hall, will you not?"
"Yes your majesty, thank you."
"Very good, let's go then, shall we? Sirius? Diamond? Sapphire?"
They all headed towards the grand hall.
~~~
They were served the usual strange food that Sirius didn't know, but at least it tasted good.
"I must thank you again for your council and quick concern." Remellus said, smiling at his spiritual advisor.
She nodded and smiled as well. She had changed for dinner and the veil and bandana she wore on her head and face were gone. Sirius noticed that she was really pretty… almost unnaturally, he wondered if she was really human…
Spade was 'not' looking at Diamond… who cared if Diamond happened to be the most beautiful woman in the world? Certainly not Spade… Sapphire rolled her eyes, yeah sure.
~~~
Harry and Draco had got a late start, since they both had slept in. They hurriedly packed their things and the tent and followed the compass to the north.
After a three-hour trudge through the damp weather that was warning of rain, they spotted a city in the distance.
Harry frowned, "The medallion isn't there." He said, looking at the city and then back down to the compass.
"Well we're stopping anyway." Draco said stubbornly.
"Why? We'd only be wasting time! We need to save Sirius!"
Draco pointed up toward the sky. "Breath Potter, I've no intention of keeping you from your precious criminal godfather, but it's going to rain and I suggest we find some shelter unless you're keen to get your back full of needles again."
Harry knew he was right, they continued on their way towards the city growing ever closer. "And he's not a criminal." Harry said under his breath.
Draco just shrugged.
~~~
"What are you playing at?!" Spade and Sapphire had cornered Star and Aster in one of the Opal Castle's Halls.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Star said and crossed her arms.
Sapphire glared at her. "You both went to see Diamond, I know you did."
"And what if we did?" Aster asked stepping up beside Star.
"You know we have to be careful around her! She's up to something, I know it! The rule was to stay away from her, and here you are, flouncing after her!"
"Aster was hurt! She needed help! We all know that Diamond is the best healer around!" Star came to her lover's defence.
"And what's your excuse?" Spade requested coldly of Star.
Star didn't reply for a moment, and then she said, "I had lost my medallion, I needed to talk to someone, and God knows that I couldn't talk to either of you! Just because you suffered a pretty nasty break-up, Spade, does not mean Diamond is out to murder us all in our sleep!"
Sapphire shook her head and turned away, "I'm just being careful, but you had better not have told her anything about our plans." She said in a menacing tone.
"I didn't." Star said.
"Good, keep it that way… because if the plan fails, we'll have no choice but to—"
"Yes, yes, I know already! Sheesh! I'm not stupid!" Star growled at them and took her leave.
"We won't fail." Aster added and followed soon after.
"Of course not" Spade said to Sapphire when the other two were gone. "Because Remellus will not be the ruler for much longer…"
~I give you my courage and my prayers
To help you make it through this world~
A/N: Mwaha, so what do you guys think? Is the plot thickening? I love you all to pieces! YOU ROCK!