Scars of the Future
Disclaimer: The characters, both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, were created by J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien.
A/N: This fic was not created by myself alone. It was done in script format over Instant Messenger by myself and Animagus-Spirit. This fic and most of the events in it are her brilliant ideas, I have just taken the task to write it. Therefore, this fic is dedicated to her. I would also like to thank my beta, Inwe Telemnar. You guys are the greatest!
A/N: Here's chapter seven! (Finally.) Again, I'm really sorry it took me so long to post, but I really hope the actualy text makes up for it. It's the longest chapter yet, and here the real conflict begins to unfold...
Now, to my wonderful reviewers:
lovemehatemejustdon'tfearme- Like the new name BTW. Poor Frodo indeed. Too bad this is only the beginning….Ron rocks, he's one of my fav HP characters and really fun to write.
Inwe Telemnar- At least I'm improving and not worsening, eh? Vernon's done for the fic, yep. Thanks for the review!
LATMC- I certainly hope this is worth the wait. Yes, Harry snaps a lot, and that's why he's so annoying. (At least in my opinion) Sometimes I just want to rip his head off, you know? LOL. The whole TV thing was just the humor before it got, um, unhumorous? Will Frodo tell Harry what he remembered…hmm, never really thought about it. Good idea though! I'll see if that fits in anywhere in the future.
Infallallthingsaremadesplended- Thank you! I hope you like this chapter!
coolmarauders- Scary? Perfect! Here's more!
LGM- Are any of the other Order members descendants of any HP characters? Perhaps… just perhaps. : )
Dracula555- Funny thing, I originally had Pippin saying "Me too," but for some reason or another I changed it. LoL, obviously I should have let it be. I would never kill Remus! That would be my two favorite HP characters dead. Or would it… hint hint
eresseabound- Every time I see a movie or read a book, I usually have no problem connecting it with something else. Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings were two of those things that just fit. Anyway, you can't imagine how appreciative I am of your review. I absolutely love your stories as well. (Hope my reviews don't scare you…) LOL. Ah! In answer to your question, I give you a definite YES! We wouldn't have much of a story if Frodo didn't do more than assist Harry. Besides, you absolutely have to have Frodo angst, right? True for me at least. By the way, you reviewed at precisely the right time. I've been in a slump awhile and needed something to push me to write the next chapter, so thanks!
Celebwen Telcontar- It actually took me awhile to choose a "worst memory" for Frodo. My first thought was of the attack on Weathertop, but although that would undoubtedly have been terrible, the times in Mordor were most likely worse. I actually did consider using the memory of the Ring taking over Frodo. The reason I did not was that during the last days in Mordor, from my POV at least, Frodo was already very much taken by the Ring. He wasn't completely his own mind anymore, and the Ring actually completely overpowering him was both a small step (well, I guess a big one as well, depends on how you look at it) and considering the state he was in, I don't think (again, this is me) he could stop and think that, oh no, it's happened. Then again, maybe he could. I am no Tolkien Scholar, you know. As for the other two memories, Gollum biting off Frodo's finger doesn't, in my opinion, seem that terrible compared to what else he's gone through, and Bilbo sailing away without him, although Frodo would be undoubtedly saddened, he knows he'll see Bilbo again. As for Mrs. Figg's cats, they're there. I mentioned in I think chapter five that Frodo "saw a cat dart out of sight around a corner." I didn't say much else about them, because if they're anything like my cat Amber, they stay out of sight when there's strangers around. Thanks a lot for the review, you pointed out several good points.
Suuki-Aldrea- Glad you like it! Here's more!
Callisto Star- Yes, as he says in this chapter, Frodo did notice the Dementor's resemblance to the Nazgul. Here's more!
Chapter 7: Truth and Lies
When Frodo awoke, the first thing he noticed was that Pippin was slumped in a chair next to his bed. He couldn't help but grin at the sight. This was Sam's doing, obviously. He tried to suppress a chuckle; he really felt fine, after all, better than the night before, the events of which he still did not understand.
His stirring awoke Pippin, who opened one eye, saw that his cousin was awake and then sat up and opened the other one.
"Frodo!" he exclaimed. "How are you feeling?"
Frodo smiled. "I feel fine, Pippin." He looked his younger cousin over. "What are you doing here?"
Pippin flushed. "Well, Sam fell asleep around midnight, so I told him I'd keep watch. Merry wanted to, but-"
Frodo laughed. "I knew this had to do with Sam! Where is he now?"
The question was answered as the door opened and Merry entered, followed by Sam bearing a tray of food. Frodo rolled his eyes.
"Really! Sam, I must insist, this is a bit much. I'm perfectly well! Look." He stood up and walked around. "See? There's nothing wrong with me."
It was Sam's turn to flush red. "Beggin' your pardon, sir, but last night you weren't so well. If you'd rather us eat in the kitchen that can be arranged."
"What! No, really, Sam, Frodo doesn't care if we eat in here," Pippin said hurriedly.
"No, he doesn't mind at all!" said Merry, grinning.
So they ate a hearty breakfast, not at the kitchen table, but sitting on Frodo's bed. After they had eaten their fill (that is, except for Pippin who continued to finish off what was left), they sat talking comfortably, when Merry brought up the topic he, Sam, and Pippin had wondered about.
"Are you going to tell us, Frodo, what happened two weeks ago? We know what was going on, but what happened?" he asked, as Pippin and Sam looked up, interested.
"I left dinner early to look for Gandalf, and I stumbled upon Harry sitting in his room…" he began, and recounted the tale of their escape.
"So you ended up staying with this Mrs. Figg for two weeks?" Pippin asked.
Frodo nodded. "Yes, and let me tell you, it was most boring. No offense to her of course, she was very kind, but there was nothing to do but watch the TV, which was more astounding than entertaining."
"That's the box thing you told us about?" Pippin asked again.
Frodo nodded. "It is truly fascinating, the things people have come up with," he said.
A silence hung in the air, until Merry spoke up quietly. "Frodo…what happened last night?"
Sam shot him a glare, but Merry had already spoken. Frodo sat, brows furrowed. What had happened? He didn't remember much, just the cold and that terrible memory…
He looked up at Merry. "I'm not sure," he said. "I was outside with Harry and it suddenly grew very dark and cold. So cold…I felt as if I couldn't breathe; it felt as though it was inside my very heart, my soul. I was overcome with this terrible feeling, a feeling that I would never again feel joy. I think I lost consciousness, for I have no further memory of what happened."
"Did you see anything?" asked the always inquisitive (too much for his own good, really) Pippin.
"Only the vaguest shadow of an image," said Frodo. He lifted his gaze to meet Pippin's eyes. "A black cloaked figure of immense height, and no face which I could see…" he shuddered and closed his eyes. "It was so much like a Nazgul."
Concern was written on their faces, and Merry placed an arm around Frodo's shoulders. He too had nearly faced death at the hands of the Black Riders, and knew of Frodo's pain and terror of them better than the others, for he had experienced it himself. At least, he had experienced some of what Frodo had. He hadn't had the Ring.
Sam looked as if he were about to say something, but Frodo said, "Don't worry about me, I am well now." He smiled. "What about you? What happened here two weeks ago?"
"We were all in the kitchen," said Merry. "Just eating and talking and such, when there was this howl, and-"
"It was bone-chilling, Frodo! Of course, you probably heard it, but, really, it made the hair on our necks stand up, didn't it, Merry?" Pippin piped in.
Merry looked slightly annoyed. "Yes, Pippin. Anyway, as I was saying, we heard the howl, and everyone became very quiet and stiff. Several faces paled, and then Molly Weasley said, "Severus! The potion!" I think she was talking to this sinister-looking man with rather oily hair. Alastor-the man with the creepy eye-shouted to seal the door and several of the wizards stood and muttered something and pointed wands at the door. Then Arthur Weasley explained about Remus being a werewolf…"
"Where was Gandalf in all of this?" said Frodo.
Pippin shrugged. "I think he was somewhere with Albus Dumbledore," he said. Then as an afterthought, he added, "Do you think he's dangerous?"
"Gandalf?" said Frodo in confusion.
"No," said Pippin. "Remus."
Frodo shook his head. "No, I don't think so. He seems to be a good man, really, and Harry also said he wasn't of any danger. Besides, I don't think the Order would have him here if he was."
Merry, Pippin, and Sam exchanged glances.
"What?" said Frodo.
Sam began gathering the breakfast dishes, as Merry said, "Well, it's just, people have been wrong in the past on things like…like trust."
Frodo's brows furrowed, and suspiciously he said, "What are you saying?"
Both hobbits shifted uncomfortably. "It's just…oh, never mind, Frodo," Merry said.
"No, tell me."
Pippin sighed. "I mean, we trusted Boromir, didn't we? And he ended up trying to take the Ring…and, and Gollum…well…"
Frodo's eyes widened. "How can you say that?" he hissed. "How can you possibly say such things, when Boromir died in your defense and Gollum is the reason the Quest was ever fulfilled!"
"Frodo, we didn't mean that, we were just trying to-"
Frodo stood up and began backing away from them, his head. "No, there are no excuses, you, how could you…" his voice shook as he moved toward the door.
Sam continued to make himself busy with the breakfast dishes. Merry stood up. "Frodo, please, we didn't mean anything like that, really, we only wanted to warn you against possible danger."
Frodo again shook his head and having reached the doorway turned and hurried from the room. He had to get out, the walls seemed to be closing in on him and a familiar darkness was threatening to engulf him. He made his way to the front door, pulled it open and stepped into warm fresh air. Breathing deeply, he slid down the door and sat against it.
He understood where his cousins were coming from, but to use such examples was so completely unlike them. Of course, he knew they didn't mean for what they had said to come across as it had, but it was just, it was just…
He sighed. He trusted Remus Lupin, werewolf or no werewolf. Naturally, he had asked Harry to elaborate more on the subject of werewolves, and now understood the consequence of the bite, but he also knew Remus had no control over what he became every full moon, and also knew that with the aid of a complicated potion, he could normally keep his mind.
Not only, he realized, did he trust Remus, but he trusted all of them. Even the frightening looking Alastor appeared trustworthy to him. Needless to say, he trusted most people easily, except for a rare few.
He lifted his eyes from where they stared at the ground and to his surprise saw Harry sitting on the curb, just as he had the night before. Still unwilling to return inside, Frodo stood up and walked down the concrete porch steps to where he sat.
"Good morning," he said cheerfully.
Harry looked up. "Hey, what are you doing out here?"
Frodo forced a laugh that wasn't as genuine as he had wanted it to sound. "Escaping my cousins," he said. Not the entire truth, but not a lie either. Harry must have sensed this, because he shot Frodo a glance and shrugged.
"Can't choose who you're related to, can you?" he said, more to himself than Frodo.
"I suppose not, but that's not always dreadful," said Frodo. "Then again, it can be, I once had some disagreeable relations that when I was younger I would have become un-related to if given the chance. They were still family, though. Who's that?"
He had glanced up by chance and looked toward the end of the street. Even at a distance, he could tell that the man approaching them was in a poor state of cleanliness, and wondered what his business here was.
Harry turned in the direction Frodo was gazing and froze. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly momentarily, but then closed as his eyes narrowed in suspicion and his brow furrowed in confusion. He took out his wand and stood up.
"Frodo, would you mind going inside?" he said almost shakily.
Frodo stood up as well and shook his head. "Something's wrong here," he said.
"Frodo, please."
Again, the stubborn hobbit shook his head firmly. "I won't leave now, not with such a strong sense of danger among us."
Harry flicked his wand. "I don't want to have to use this on you," he said.
Frodo's eyes widened but he remained persistent. "Harry, listen to me, I don't know what it is exactly, but there is something here that isn't right. I can feel it," he said with almost a note of alarm.
There was a flash of indecision in Harry's eyes, and he turned around and looked down the street. The man had paused still several yards off, seemingly confused at the scene before him. Harry looked back at Frodo, and this time Frodo saw panic and a hint of something else. Longing.
Harry's eyes pleaded with Frodo's, as if he sought to send a message that he could not send with words. As if he sought understanding in the decision he was about to make. Harry slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, Frodo," he said. "Stupefy!"
Frodo had a brief feeling similar to that of being punched in the stomach, and then nothing.
Harry turned around to face the man who had haunted his dreams every night since June. He found himself incapable of speech, and could only stare. The man smiled, and nodded.
Harry shook his head in disbelief. "H-how?" he stammered.
Sirius smiled. "I fought against its powers and it let me go."
Harry stared; it was impossible, wasn't it? Then again, no one had ever explained the veil to him, so it probably was, he didn't know, he didn't care. Here before him was Sirius, his godfather, the one he had come to think of as a father, looking no different from when he had last seen him. Except his eyes. His eyes held not the haunted look that was the result of too many wasted years in Azkaban.
"I don't understand it either, but it doesn't matter, I'm back now," Sirius said, laughing.
Harry grinned. "Come inside then, everyone will want to see you, they'll never believe-" he stopped as he saw Sirius shaking his head. "What?"
"They will not believe, Harry. Do not tell them either," he said.
"Why not?" he asked, confused.
"Would you have believed I was alive if you hadn't seen me?"
"No," admitted Harry. "But you're here, we can just go inside and show them…"
Sirius again shook his head. "There will be too many questions," he said, and paused. "I have to go, tell no one."
"Why?"
"Meet me here again tomorrow morning, before anyone else wakes. I will have something that will make everything clear to them," he said, smiling.
"Then let me go with you," Harry said.
"No, what would everyone say if they suddenly discovered you gone?"
Harry sighed. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow morning then."
Sirius smiled. "Good-bye, Harry," he said.
"Bye, Sirius."
He watched until Sirius was completely out of sight and then turned and walked back to Frodo.
"Ennervate!"
Frodo blinked, looked around, sat up and groaned. "What did you do to me?"
Harry sighed. "I stunned you, but I had my reasons. Let's go back inside."
"Harry, I don't know what happened just now, but there is evil at work, someone untrustworthy is near," Frodo again insisted.
"Yeah," said Harry, "Kreacher."
"No, something greater…I feel we're being watched."
"We're fine!" Harry said matter-of-factly.
Frodo shook his head, and tried to make Harry see what he was obviously blind to. "No, we're not!" he said firmly.
Harry paused. "So you think I should tell someone?"
"Again, I do not know what just transpired, but judging by your actions it must be of some importance, so yes, I suggest you inform someone you greatly trust."
Harry still looked unsure, but nodded nonetheless.
"Now, let's go inside before we worry anyone," Frodo said.
Harry knocked on the slightly open, wooden door. "Professor Lupin?"
Remus looked up from the book he was reading and smiled when he saw Harry. "I'm not your professor anymore, Harry," he said lightly.
Harry smiled in return; he'd felt much more cheerful since that morning. "Just habit, I guess," he said.
There was an uncomfortable silence following the light words. Harry shuffled his feet awkwardly.
"What's on your mind, Harry?"
Harry looked up quickly. "Nothing, really," he said.
Remus raised an eyebrow.
Harry cast about for something, anything to avoid the topic he had come to speak about. He had taken Frodo's advice to tell someone he trusted of the events that had unfolded earlier. He wondered why he had, but assumed it was because, in truth, Frodo had made some sense. Although he had no idea what had happened, maybe it was wise to listen to his claims that there was something wrong about the situation. In a way, Harry felt it too, but was not as much in tune to the feeling. Still, he didn't know where to begin, or whether or not he even truly wanted to tell Remus of the reappearance of his godfather.
"It's just, well…I guess you know about Kingsley," he said, thinking he must sound incredibly stupid. Of course Remus knew about Kingsley, he was a member of the Order.
Remus's face fell and he placed the book on a table next to the chair he was sitting in. "Yes, and I wish there wasn't anything for me to know."
Harry nodded.
"Has anyone heard about Tonks and Mundungus?"
"Mad-Eye visited them in St. Mungo's just this afternoon. They're recovering well and should be back soon."
Again, Harry nodded, and again, there was silence.
"You didn't come here tonight to talk to me about Kingsley Shaklebolt, did you?" Remus said.
Harry sighed and shook his head.
Remus looked slightly concerned, but gestured for Harry to sit down, walked to the door and closed it. He returned to his chair that Harry was now sitting across from.
"Now what's really on your mind?" he asked worriedly.
Harry looked up.
Harry cast about for the best way to put it, realized there wasn't one, and decided if he was deemed crazy it wouldn't be the first time and Lupin would believe him in time.
He took a deep breath. "You won't believe this," he said, "but Sirius is…he's alive."
He glanced up to see Remus looking at him in confusion. "Harry…what…" he said.
"Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I saw him this morning, I swear. He talked to me, he said he fought the veil's powers, and it let him go. He told me not to tell anyone, because they wouldn't believe me, and said he had an easy way to explain it to everyone…" he blurted.
Remus shook his head, "Harry, Harry, I don't know. Doesn't it seem strange to you, that Sirius should just come walking up the street after being dead for a month and then leave?"
"He said he didn't want to stay because there would be too many questions," Harry insisted.
"Harry, don't you think Sirius would have enjoyed the attention?" Remus said knowingly.
"I don't know!" said Harry. "Maybe you change a bit after dying, or nearly dying, or whatever happened!"
Remus was silent.
"You don't believe me," said Harry, crestfallen.
Remus shook his head. "I didn't say I didn't believe you, Harry. I said it doesn't seem possible, and it certainly doesn't seem like Sirius from what you've told me."
"It was him!" Harry nearly begged. "I was there, I saw him, I talked to him. He knew what had happened."
"Many people know what happened, Harry. It would not have been difficult for an imposter to find out what they needed."
His eyes met Harry's, who shook his head. "No. It was Sirius. I know it was."
Remus felt Harry's sincerity, and saw it in his eyes. It was, of course, possible that he was correct, but not probable. Remus was experienced in the ways of magic and the Dart Arts, and could think of many ways Harry could be fooled into believing any type of illusion.
"You may be right, Harry," he said. "But I don't know, it's too simple."
"Have you ever wanted to believe something so badly, you put all your mind to it and forced yourself to?"
Remus's eyes met Harry's and held his gaze. Still he saw the genuineness there, the honest certainty that, yes, Sirius was alive, but nonetheless Remus could not be persuaded. Yet he could not compel Harry to believe anything else. He had it set in his mind that all he had seen and been told was real, and he knew no other truth, despite what impulses of the heart may be telling him. Even knowing all of this, Remus could not crush any hopes and beliefs Harry had, despite how implausible they may be.
Remus nodded. "I think I know what you're trying to say, Harry, but I am still unsure. The matter is up for discussion."
"Professor, please, don't tell anyone," Harry said, almost desperately.
Remus considered his options. To tell the Order would be the wise thing to do, but in doing so he would lose Harry's trust, which at the moment was terribly valuable. He resolved to tell them eventually, but only if the matter proved a threat. "All right, Harry, I promise to keep quiet, but you must promise me you will not speak with Sirius anymore, at least not until I better understand what the situation is."
"Okay, fine," said Harry, almost too quickly. Remus again raised an eyebrow. "I promise."
"That's better," said Remus.
Harry stood up. "Thanks, Professor," he said.
Remus ignored the title. "You're welcome, Harry, and remember, I'm here if you need me."
His gaze held Harry's for a moment longer, and Harry turned away. "Goodnight, Professor."
"Goodnight, Harry."
Harry walked back to his own bedroom, changed into his pajamas and laid down. Tomorrow morning he would meet Sirius as planned. Lupin may not believe him now, but by tomorrow, he would.
TBC
