Chérie, parchments and quills.
Chapter Five - Faults of alliance

"Potter?" Draco frowned at Harry across the small, two-people dining table. Harry's eyes snapped into focus, meeting two questioning coin-grey ones.

He'd asked Draco how he was keeping, what had made him move to France and then come back to England? Draco had explained; the animosity and hatred both he and his mother had faced - after the war, was the most deciding factor in them leaving the country. Harry understood that, but then Draco had mentioned the night Albus dumbledore was murdered; whatever Draco had said after that fell upon deaf ears - Harry was lost thinking about that night.

Harry thought about sixteen-year-old Draco Malfoy, and the fear on his face back then as he lowered his wand and refused to kill the headmaster - about to accept protection. He thought about the way Draco was now as a thirty-year-old adult.

Having temporarily forgot that Draco was still in the room sharing a coffee with him, he remembered how Draco had looked on his broom the other day for comparison to that awful night. Draco's hair was no longer suffocated under oils or gel, and his platinum-blond hair hung freely - perfectly even, and it almost glowed under the bright sunshine. Harry thought, it made his messy black hair look atrocious in comparison.

"Sorry Malfoy. I was just thinking about something." Harry lifted the last of his lukewarm coffee, drinking the strong liquid to hide his embarrassment. A part of himself was now very conscious of his own messy black hair, and he ignored the itch to try, hopelessly, to flatten it.

"Do you do that a lot?" Draco asked, mild concern flickered in his eyes over his coffee.

"No." Harry shook his head, putting the mug back down. "It usually only happens once or twice a month, if that. I don't know what's up with me lately." Harry chuckled – trying to play it off as unimportant, but then he sighed and looked slightly troubled. His brow frowned and his eyes unfocused as he thought about the increase in his episodes. He tilted his head and scratched at his hairline.

"Do you want me to leave?" Draco asked, placing his own mug down on the table.

"NO!" Harry almost shouted, the words blurting out before he'd even had a chance to consider Draco's question. He didn't have time to wonder why he felt so strongly about that, because he was already trying to fix his mistake. "I mean, n-no you're fine. This is nice. I mean, it's strange that we're here sharing coffee and not about to hex each other, but … it's pleasant." Harry gesticulated and then held his breath, offering a small smile and hoping the blond wouldn't run off.

They hadn't shared much: bits and pieces of trivial things, exchanged apologies, and reviewed how prepared they were for the new school year, but … Harry honestly found it nice to have someone other than Neville to talk to.

Neville was the current Herbology teacher, and the only other teacher that was below sixty-years-old, so it could be nice to have another like aged wizard around. Draco was quiet, seemed unsure and guarded, but only twenty minutes into their coffee and the company was almost comfortable between them. It was bizarre.

"Yes, I must say I'm rather surprised that I have been able to tolerate your company for this long." Draco's lips twitched into a small split-second grin, assuring Harry that Draco was indeed joking. "Are you sure that teaching defence against the dark arts is safe. What happens if one of your first-year students hits another with a nasty hex while you are in a mind haze episode?" Draco asked, pouring himself a fresh coffee.

Harry didn't know how to take that sudden question. He felt his walls stacking rapidly, his mind suddenly on guard. Draco had better not try and cause trouble for him - he enjoyed his work as a teacher. The Auror department had forced him to see a mind healer during his training eleven years ago, it was for that reason that he was declared unfit medically to become an auror. They gave him the all clear to teach at Hogwarts though, and the 'mind haze episodes' as Draco had just labelled them, had been occurring less and less every year. If Draco started to cause issues for him now, he would not be happy.

"It's never happened before. I think the students keep me distracted enough. Besides, I think one of the students would notice and start shouting, don't you?" Harry tersely explained.

"I was merely curious Potter. You say you have worked here for ten years; I'm sure Professor McGonagall would have let you go if it was an issue." Draco drawled defensively.

"Well it's not! I don't need you trying to cause issues where there aren't any." Harry snapped, slamming his hands down on the table as he stood up, and he glared at the blond. Draco had no right to question his ability to teach. How dare he! "My teaching ability has nothing to do with you!"

"Calm down Potter! I'm not your judge and jury. You're right, it isn't up to me and I'm sorry for my curiosity on a subject that obviously bothers you so much. Your job isn't my concern unless it affects mine, and I'm not here to cause you problems." Draco had remained seated, but he eyes held unblinking into Harry's.

"Why are you so curious?" Harry asked in a softer tone, but not quite ready to let go of his defensive posture just yet.

"I find strange things fascinating. Your mind haze episodes are strange and fascinating. My questions simply allow me to get to know you better, but if it bothers you so much, I suggest you simply request a change of subject."

Harry slumped back into his chair and relaxed slightly. Could that be all it was for Draco, a simple curiosity? Or maybe he was trying to get information out of him regarding his condition, gain information that he could later use against him.

Harry sighed in resignation and ran his fingers through his messy black hair. He knew he shouldn't be so quick to think the worst but … it was Malfoy! Then again, it was 'Draco' now, and the blond hadn't done anything so erroneous yet to make him act so defensive and cagey towards him. How was he to get to know Draco if he always reacted in the negative to him, if he was always so on guard and defensive? He forced himself back to a calm posture and decided that he'd have to trust him. If Harry wanted an amicable work relationship with him, trust had to go both ways.

"I'm sorry." Harry apologised. "You're right, it is something that I get defensive over. It's a left-over symptom of the war, and a condition that cost me a job in the auror department…"

Harry spent a long while letting his guard down, and explaining his strange condition. When he admitted that twelve years ago, he had a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, Draco admitted his own form of PTSD and nightmares back then. For Harry, the PTSD episodes dwindled over the years until they were no more than the occasional nightmare, but he'd started having episodes of one-tracked thoughts about something that reminded him of the war or other reminders of the past. These one-tracked thoughts - or mind haze episodes, were relatively harmless and infrequent, but they could steal his attention quite suddenly if his mind wasn't active.

"Your mind wasn't active while flying on a Volant 360 racing broom over the great lake?" Draco asked, one eyebrow lifted in barely masked incredulity.

"Nope. Flying relaxes my mind actually. All the planning we had to do fried my brain. I needed the fresh air and a break. Besides, that's not … what I mean by active mind is … when I'm casting spells for example. Watching the students battling keeps my mind active and sharp." Harry explained.

Draco nodded and looked to be contemplating his next question before he asked it. "Would you be comfortable sharing the trigger of your episode that day, with me? I don't remember mentioning the war."

"You'll only laugh at me." Harry flipped his arms before sipping his fresh coffee.

"I will not." Draco countered, but Harry didn't look convinced. "I give you my word."

The two men stared at each other in a silent 'you will, I won't' argument, eyebrows raised in stubborn belief of their own opinions, neither backing down.

"Fine." Harry relented eventually, scowling at Draco's triumph little smirk. "You remind me of Professor Severus Snape." He said, rather matter-of-fact.

Harry stared at Draco, one eyebrow raised in silent challenge, waiting for the reaction he'd expected from the blond. Draco's face was blank for a few seconds, before his thin peach lips twitched. Harry tried to hide his own smile, but his lips slowly acted of their own accord. Draco's lips then pinched as his face turned red and then … he snorted and laughed silently – his shoulders rocking. Harry chuckled and shook his head, but his smile was one of triumph.

"Damn you Potter!" Draco complained, shaking his head as he quickly regained his 'Malfoy' composure. "How on earth do I remind you of him?"

"The slow drawl of words. The fact you're a potions master. And you said something about being - 'up to something.' He said the same words to us during our first year at Hogwarts. We were actually up to something, but so was he." Harry finished defensively, but he still chuckled.

"You're talking about the Philosophers stone, aren't you? I remember reading about that."

"That bloody book! I hate that damn thing, but the ministry bribed me to have it published - to settle down the wizarding population. Too many people wanted to know the story of the 'boy who lived twice', they were getting bombarded with owls and questions, and the newspapers were writing contradictory drivel. Owls wouldn't leave me alone either, so I was forced to sit down with a publisher and spill the details of my bloody life. Mind you, it isn't a complete record of my history, I may have conveniently forgotten to mention half of what actually happened and tweaked a few of the details here or there."

Harry sipped at coffee, noting the flash of unrestrained interested in these coin-grey eyes opposite him. It was fun knowing things Draco didn't, and he found himself enjoying the feeling of teasing the blond.

"Like what?" Draco asked, leaning forwards with a burning curiosity.

"What do I get for sharing private details of my life with you?" Harry asked, slowly placing his coffee down on the table and folding his arms.

"Oh, come on Potter! You're a Gryffindork, so stop trying to Slytherin me and tell me. There must be something you can share that isn't in that book of yours." Draco borderline begged, which warmed Harry and threw him for loop simultaneously.

Harry's grin grew into a knowing look as he decided what he wanted. He could feel the curiosity now radiating from Draco's body, burning away at his pompous posture and restrained facial expressions.

"What do you want then?" Draco gave in. His body slumped back in his chair and his mask dropped.

"For you to call me Harry would be a start." Harry told him, folding his hands together on the table.

"That's it?" Draco's disbelief was a façade. Harry knew that he was asking a lot from the blond with the simple request of being on first name bases - to do so implied they were friends. Harry had learnt a lot about pure-blood customs, and the customs of those in higher standing in the wizarding world. The use of first names were reserved for loved ones and close friends, or for those you were trying to manipulate.

"For now." Harry nodded with a side smile.

"Okay fine. Harry … please share with your esteemed work colleague, the stories you never shared with the world." Draco asked in his pompous smooth voice. Harry didn't miss the reminder that they were work colleagues and nothing more - most certainly not friends yet.

"Maybe I should publish how I just Slytherined a Slytherin." Harry smiled triumphantly.

"You wouldn't!" Draco's eyes widened a fraction.

"Oh, but I would! But that wouldn't gain me anything now would it. Would you feel better if I was a Slytherin? If it was a fellow Slytherin that had Slytherined you?" Harry asked, a smug look on his face. Oh, he was really enjoying this. Teasing Draco this way was delicious. Draco had never been on the receiving end of Harry's Slytherin tendencies.

Once the war had ended, Harry was finally allowed to be himself. He was free to build his own life and make selfish choices. Therapy had helped him realised that he'd always acted how others expected of him, and they had asked him to think about what he wanted for himself - and not because it was expected of him. Harry had finally accepted that yes, he did have Slytherin tendencies; He might not have been that ambitious, but he could be very cunning and crafty when he wanted to be. He didn't wear his emotions so openly – he was never allowed to growing up anyway, and the media certainly didn't need to know about his real emotions.

"It might, a tad … but you're a Gryffindor through and through Potter … Harry." Draco frowned, curious to where this was leading.

"Mmm. And what if I told you that I Slytherined the sorting hat into putting me into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin?" Harry asked.

Harry still didn't know exactly why the hat hadn't insisted on sticking him in Slytherin, and he didn't quite believe Dumbledore when he'd told Harry that his choice made him a true Gryffindor – or that Voldemort's piece of soul within him at the time had been a factor of that. Harry believed that everyone had traits of all four houses, and when you balanced between two rather equally, your choice was simply taken into account. He would never know, and he didn't care all that much to be honest – not anymore. He was who he was, and quite frankly, he didn't like the division that came with being labelled a Gryffindor, a Slytherin, a Hufflepuff, or a Ravenclaw for someone's entire life. Who you are at eleven, isn't necessarily who you are at thirty? Not to mention that, people had warped views on the traits that set you apart in houses. Slytherin isn't the house of evil, Gryffindor isn't the house of the fearless, Hufflepuff isn't the house of nit-wits, and Ravenclaw isn't the house of masterminds.

"I'd say that you were insane. There is no way that-" Draco's frown deepened. He suddenly caught Harry's eyes and observed his facial expressions. "No way! Potter that's … … Only you! I can't believe this. Tell me everything!"

Harry chuckled as he started his story. If he made it sound a bit more impressive by omission, then … oh well.

Friday, September 3rd 2010

Harry finished reading 'Faults of alliance by Treliatio Mcfaduq', and checked the time - eleven fifty-five am. At twelve pm, he stood up from his desk and gained the attention of his students who were silently finishing a test - to see what they could recall from last year. Harry walked around his desk into the middle of the classroom, the students sat together at the big semi-circle table he had created by magically fusing all of the tables together.

"Times up!" Harry clapped his hands and the tests flew to Harry's desk via wandless magic. Most of his student sighed in relief, a few grumbled that they hadn't finished yet. "Sorry that I subjected you all to a test on your first Defence against the darks arts class of the year, but I need to know what you guys remember so we can focus on revising what you don't."

Harry caught Duncan Gibson, passing a note to Monica Reid. He held out his hand and used wandless non-verbal magic to summon the note to himself. He looked at the note – 'Meet me in the abandon class room at lunch.' – and decided to deal with it in a moment.

"Okay class, remember we will be working on shield charms next week. I want you all to practise the protego charm if you cannot already cast it competently. I will be here Mondays and Wednesdays as you know, three till five. I also expect everyone to research a shield charm - other than the protego charm, and have it ready for our next lesson. I expect at least twelve inches on your chosen shield…" He then turned and pointed to a brown-haired male student with the Gryffindor tie. "…Normal size writing Mathews."

Mathews looked deflated at that stipulation, but Harry continued to address the room. "Twelve inches, including the different ways it can be useful. I do not want a twelve-inch paper purely on the history of shields, nor do I want a twelve-inch creative list of its uses."

Harry paused, remembering how a couple of his students last year had handed in a twelve-inch paper with just a long list of uses. It was for a shield charm likewise, but the students had obviously copied each other, and in the long list of creative uses, included shielding them from bullies, against unwanted suitors, and against someone's flatulence.

"I expect a nice balance: details, ideas, history, uses, and how it could save your life." Harry continued. "I want to see the pros and cons of your chosen shield, the technique, how to pronounce the spell to activate the shield, and so on so forth. Do not practice casting your chosen shield unless you know exactly what it is – some have knock back effects, or can be explosive. If I hear of anyone in this class doing so, you will receive detention and I will deduct sixty house points for reckless and endangering behaviour, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Mr Potter!" Echoed around the class room.

"Mathews?" Harry asked, knowing if any of his student were so reckless it would be Benjamin Matthews.

"Yes sir!" Matthews nodded.

"Good. If you are all certain that you know your homework requirements, you may be dismissed." Harry watched his students pack up to leave. "Except you two." Harry pointed at Duncan Gibson and Monica Reid. They groaned at him but stayed behind.

"Sir, we have to get to Charms." Gibson complained.

"You should have thought of that before you decided to disrespect and disappoint me." Harry countered sternly with an even tone. His arms were crossed and he sat on the edge of the student's table. "When I am talking it is common courtesy to listen. I do not ask much from my students except that you are polite, mature, and you try your best. Passing notes while I am talking is extremely rude and disrespectful. Your message wasn't so dire that it couldn't be passed on after I had finished talking."

Monica and Duncan looked down in shame. Harry hated it when his students were anything other than happy, but he needed to install the correct values in them so that they grew to be respectfully adults.

"I will pretend that I didn't see the contents of that note." Harry continued. "I was a student myself once, however, I hope that whatever you two are doing is safe for the both of you, and for the other students in this castle. If something were to happen while you two were alone, no one would be able to find you."

"We're really sorry sir." Monica Reid apologised in a small voice.

"Yeah, we didn't mean to disrespect you Mr Potter. We're sorry." Duncan Gibson apologised.

"Very well, but I am still going to deduct ten points from Hufflepuff for the upset you have caused me. You should be grateful that I haven't given you both detention. I have never been rude or disrespectful to my students; I expect the same courtesy in return. I am very disappointed in you both."

Reid and Gibson hung their heads once more, completely ashamed of their actions.

Harry sighed and shook his head; he hated having to discipline his students - it really did stir up guilty emotions for him, but once again, he knew it was necessary. Give the student to much leeway and you'll end up down the road to chaos. He wrote a quick note excusing their tardiness to charms, and handed it to them.

"Off you go now. It's Friday, enjoy the last of your lessons but remember to listen." Harry smiled as he walked them out of his class room. They waved and hurried off to Charms, their "Bye Mr Potter", echoing through the corridor.

That was his last lesson for the day. He tidied up the class room with a wave of his wand, scooped up the test papers and the book he had just finished into a box, and then retreated to his private rooms.

Situated on his bed comfortably, a mug of steaming hot coffee on his bedside table, Harry wrote to Tau using his magical Parchment and Quill.

Message to Tau:

Hey Tau,

I finally finished that book – 'Faults of alliance'. I have to say, I was not expecting that ending. I was hoping that Elliot would reconcile with his family after the tragic loss of his wife. It hit me right in the gut when his daughter, Dulcie, got caught in the cross fire. It is always the kids that affect me the most. It brings back bad memories. The children always suffer the faults of their parents.

I have never left the country, so I have no experiences to share I'm afraid. I have never thought about traveling abode either, but after your question, I gave it some thought. If I were to travel, I think I would prefer somewhere quiet, peaceful and relaxing.

Padfoot x

Message end-

Harry had taken lunch in his room, forgone dinner again in favour of grading more homework from the summer holidays, and was currently tidying up the table.

All the students work was sorted into boxes per class, and the boxes where then stored in the box room until needed. All the teachers' rooms had a box room within their private chambers, a 'box' shaped room no bigger than six by six feet in size. Harry levitated the box containing his seventh-year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw's class essays over and into the small room, settling it down on the shelf next to the others. Shelves ran the length of two walls, the east and west one, leaving the last two bare except for time tables and memos.

He left the small room and closed the door, reminding himself that he would definitely have to mark the second-year Gryffindor and Slytherin's essays over the weekend - seeing as they were due back on Monday, and he should also make the seventh-year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw's essays priority as well. He also needed to analyse the results of the start of years tests, and incorporate what needed to be revised into this year's curriculum.

'Well.' He thought, as he looked in the bathroom mirror. 'It's not like I had any plans or anything.'

Harry quickly finished up in the bathroom and decided to see if Tau had written to him yet. Relaxing comfortably on his bed once more, he collected the parchment and quill from his bedside table. His smile was instantaneous when he saw Tau's writing, just like it was each and every time new words appeared. It was easily the best part of his day now.

Message from Tau:

Good afternoon Mon chéri,

I think you would enjoy Cirali beach in Turkey, Ithaca in Greece, or Castara in Tobago. Some places are so vastly different to England, each place having its own history, culture, landscape, habitats and ecosystems. It's nice to have a change of pace, and there's something empowering about going abroad that allows you to relax and live in a way that is unachievable at home.

I am also glad that you finished the book. You finished it rather quickly I must say.

I personally do not think Elliot deserved forgiveness. He viewed his own family as standard and mediocre at best because they failed to see past their 'lack of ambition' and were far too content in their stable, comfortable wealth. He deserted his family, relinquished his family name and ignored their existence. Elliot wanted to manipulate the stars when their place was already established, wanted to play with things beyond his understanding.

If he had seen with his eyes instead of being blinded by a hunger for power, if he had taken heed of his family's warnings and listened to the advice of others, he wouldn't have lost everything he had. His ignorance and blind credulous following of a megalomaniac, along with his misguided ambition, led him to self-destruction including the loss of his wife and child.

Even after Azorren's failed experiment in manipulating the magical restraints to his core, resulting in the explosion that killed himself and his Daughter, Elliot let what little pride he had left stop him from returning to his own family. He was completely stupid to believe he could avoid the law and become a fugitive with a four-year-old. He had no money, means or support, and he must have known the sort of life he would be subjecting his daughter to, but instead of acting in her best interests, he acted selfishly which resulted in her death.

Tau x

Message end-

Harry knew Tau faced constant alienation and enmity for his past, whatever that past may entail, and he couldn't help but feel like Tau was comparing himself to Elliot. If he was right, he wondered how much Tau related to the character. It had occurred to Harry a few times, that it was too much of a coincidence that Tau should recommend 'Faults of Alliance' for him to read. It was the first book Tau had recommended, and he did say himself that he was more than curious of his opinion.

Harry would give his honest opinion, but he chose his words carefully. He felt as if he was being tested in a way, and he didn't want to say something that would offend or upset Tau.

Message to Tau:

You are not wrong about Elliot's failures and shortcomings, but isn't everyone redeemable if they repent?

Elliot was only human, and most humans are easily enticed if the temptation, reward and/or reasoning seems great enough.

Elliot shared Azorren's beliefs, that wizards had the ability to harness great power if they were only strong enough to release their magic from its bounds and reins. This enticed Elliot greatly due to his character. He believed that wizards and witches could be far greater, that the ministry suppressed magic by forcing the use of wands and governing the use of magic. He believed that the magical society worldwide could become one with the waves of magic that surround us in nature.

There is nothing wrong with aspiring to be great, and many of the things we have today started with ambition, experimentation and a challenge for change. There is also nothing wrong in believing something that many do not, or challenging traditional methods when evidence points to a better way. It is only wrong when that belief is forced onto people, when people are controlled through power and oppression to conform against their will. It is also wrong when it goes against basic morality, when people are murdered, tortured, or used as pawns.

Elliot was arrogant, yes, but he wasn't evil. Azorren lured him, manipulated him, and exploited him. By the time Elliot realised that Azorren would go to any lengths to gain the power his craved it was too late. Elliot felt trapped, confused, and feared for his wife and daughter's safety.

Message end-

Harry put the parchment to the side and plumped up his pillows. He called Kreacher to bring him a glass of milk and honey, and a glass of water for the night. The milk would help him get to sleep after too much caffeine, and it would also tie him over until breakfast.

Harry didn't have to wait too long for Tau's reply. He sipped his milk as he read the words upon the parchment.

Message from Tau:

Even if Azorren manipulated and played Elliot like a pawn or puppet, he still should have acted as soon as he realised the error of his ways - as soon as he realised the danger of manipulating core magic, or Azorren's sacrificial rituals and murder of innocent victims. Elliot was only enticed so strongly because he was an ungrateful, gullible fool. He should have listened to his family and those who had warned him of Azorren's dark nature. He failed to ask the right questions or research exactly what he was meddling with, and he followed Azorren's lead blindly with a thirst for power.

I don't believe it was too late for Elliot to save his wife and daughter; I believe he was weak, a coward, that didn't fight hard enough towards the end. He should have gone to the ministry or his parents for help and sanctuary, instead he stayed. He stayed and abetted in what had eventually led to his wife's death, along with more bloodshed and murder. He had powerful magic; he could have done a great many number of things to salvage his life and the life of his beloved and daughter.

Message end-

'Interesting.' Harry thought.

Tau seem to hold a very strong opinion that Elliot was at fault and didn't deserve forgiveness. He blamed Elliot for his blind following of Azorren, even though Azorren was the one pulling the strings and manipulating him.

The fact Tau seemed to hate Elliot's treatment of his family, well… that spoke volumes of Tau's own loyalty to family. So far, Harry hadn't gotten the sense of Tau having anyone close to him. Tau always seemed to be alone, or at least, his writing portrayed it that way.

Tau also felt very strongly about Elliot's lack of action. The fact that Elliot didn't get help, didn't get out of the mess he had found himself in, didn't save his wife and daughter in time or go to the ministry for help, seemed to be one of Tau's main concerns with the main character.

It made Harry wonder, was Tau relating to this book on a deeper level then he initially thought?

Harry returned his half glass of milk to the bedside table and carefully constructed his reply.

Message to Tau:

I suppose I see it from Elliot's point of view.

He'd married Azorren's daughter - his dear Lira, was manipulated into changing his surname to a fraudulent one to hide the muggleborn blood of his great grandmother, and they had their own daughter, Dulcie to think about. By the time he saw the darkness of Azorren's heart he'd already lost his true identity, stolen and shared deeply confidential information from the department of mysteries, unknowingly been an accomplice in many murders and dark rituals, and his arrogance and association to the Willadon family had stripped him of pubic respect and wealth. I think anyone in that position would feel doomed.

I imagine Elliot wondering what life he would have had left. I doubt he had faith in the ministry due to his crimes – no matter that he was played or that his hands were forced, and I'm sure he believed his family wouldn't help him after his treatment of them. He was terrified the ministry would arrest him without trial, take away his daughter and his beloved wife, and he feared Azorren's wrath.

He'd tried to warn Lira - begged her to leave the madness that had encased her father, and he'd tried to stop Azorren from experimenting on the restraints that kept his magic stable - warning him that it was too dangerous … but his crazy father-in-law would not listen. Elliot felt trapped, desperate, and he feared judgement. He knew he had been led astray - knew he had been a fool, but he felt that his hands were tied, that he was in too deep and his last option was to run. He wouldn't leave his wife nor would he take his daughter away from her mother, so he could only leave if Lira agree to go with him. Azorren had ensured that Elliot would have nothing if he left, no money, no name nor identity. What could he have done? It's very easy for us to as outsiders to look in and make judgment - to see only in black and white, but put yourself in Elliot's shoes. I don't think he was a coward, just scared and unable to see clearly.

Yes, he deserted his family and relinquished his family name, but that wasn't a crime. He was foolish in that area, young and judgmental of his parents. Families don't always get along, and it was unfortunate that Elliot felt he didn't belong - didn't fit in at home or share his parents' and siblings' standards and beliefs. Elliot needed to be around people that shared his desire to achieve great things, and again, it was unfortunate that he found this in the Willadon family. He fell in love with Lira, and Azorren used Elliot's true romantic feelings for his daughter - and his desire to do great things, to manipulate and brainwash him. Elliot was a victim in a way.

Message end-

Harry sipped at his milk as he waited. He couldn't stop wondering about Tau's past, his mistakes and regrets.

Tau was the same age as him, so he would have been seventeen or eighteen during the battle of Hogwarts. Not old enough to really be a death eater, but his family could have been. A lot of pure-blood families were back then. He didn't even know if Tau lived in Britain during the war, but it was also possible that his friends or family were in association with dark magic. It just seemed to much of a coincidence for Tau's past to not have something to do with Voldemort, whether directly or indirectly. It affected everyone after all.

Tau's family could have been followers, leading Tau to follow just as blindly. That would explain his strong opinion of Elliot blindly following Azorren, but it could also just be a matter of opinion. Tau could also feel that way simply because that's what he believes, but again ... it just felt like a deeper reason.

Maybe Tau had no family, which would explain why he berates Elliot for leaving his. If Tau was alone, maybe death eaters forced him to do things he wouldn't otherwise do. Maybe he had no choice yet still blames himself for being a 'coward', for not refusing. Maybe they killed his family, or held them hostage, or both, and then forced him into following them. Maybe-

Merlin, there were a lot of maybes. He really should stop trying figure it out before he gave himself an aneurism. It could just be Tau's belief and nothing more. Tau's past could easily be something non related to Voldemort, and it was pointless trying to compare Tau to a bloody character in a book.

Harry tapped his fingers, trying to get his mind out of the past. It must have been a good hour before he received Tau's very short reply.

Message from Tau:

Are you saying that you would forgive Elliot?

Even after he deserted his family, blindly followed Azorren, broke the law multiply times, assisted in murder, and failed to protect his wife and daughter because he was a coward?

Message end-

It had taken Tau over an hour to write that very short message - unless of course, he had been busy – but Harry didn't think so. No, Harry felt like Tau had been lost for words and didn't know what to respond with. The fact Tau was asking about his ability to forgive Elliot, only strengthened his own feelings that this was a test.

Maybe Tau wanted to see if he would forgive Elliot, because if he did then that would mean he would forgive Tau. Again, maybe he was just reading into all this, trying to hard to compare Elliot with Tau, but he knew what he wanted to write back.

Message to Tau:

Yes Tau, I would.

Message end-

Tau once again took ages to reply, and that just seemed to confirmed Harry's thoughts. He tried not to think about it too hard as he finished the last mouthful of milk.

The fact was he didn't care. He didn't care what Tau had done in his past. If he one day met up with him, and he really hope he did, he would find out the blond man's history then. Tau was funny, sweet in his own way, arrogant defiantly, but so interesting and charismatic. He loved talking to the blond, loved trying to figure him out like a tricky puzzle.

He looked down to see Tau had finally replied.

Message from Tau:

Why?

Message end-

The long response time and the disbelief he could feel radiating of Tau's words, convinced him that he wasn't going crazy. No, Harry was certain now that Tau's opinion of Elliot, was his opinion of himself - or to some degree at least. What else could it be?

If Tau wasn't stumped for words, then he would have criticised Harry's opinion. He would have written his argument and tried to persuade him otherwise, calling him a peculiar man or something to that degree. The simple 'Why?' was screaming at him, screaming with confusion and disbelief.

He wished he knew what Tau had done in his past to warrant such self-contempt and damnation. Either he was sorely mistaken everything, or his response was going to be his finally test. If Tau accepted his answer, then maybe, just maybe, he would accept that Harry really wouldn't judge him for whatever he had done in the past.

Message to Tau:

Elliot was young, easily moulded and brainwashed. He fell in love and was led astray. Everything he thought was right turned out to be wrong, and he tried to get out of it all. His wife was blind to her father's evil megalomaniac deeds, and she didn't want to believe Elliot even though she loved him.

Elliot thought they would change the world for the better, but he never would have condoned the methods Azorren used to reach these goals if he had known about them. Elliot may have been arrogant, he may have left his family because they didn't share his ambition and goals in life, but I ultimately blame Azorren.

Azorren took a keen, eager, ambitions young mind, and he used it to his own advantage. Azorren saw the magical power in Elliot - a remarkable magical core with great potential – and he used him, manipulated him, fed him lies, hid his nefarious deeds of murder and human study from him and his daughter, and borderline threatened and blackmailed him into doing his bidding.

Elliot just wanted to please his father-in-law. He believed Azorren to be a great wizard with ambition and aspiration, someone to follow and role model after. He was drugged on love, the promise of achieving great things that would reshape the wizarding world, and he loved the feeling of being accepted for who he was.

Elliot didn't want to believe the truth when it started to come to light - he didn't want his illusion of greatness to shatter … but it did. Elliot was torn with guilt, regret, panic, fear and devastation. Azorren had ruined his life, left him bound with his hands tied and gasping for air. All the good Elliot thought they were doing together, all the wrong things he had done believing they were justified for a greater purpose, was ripped, shattered, unravelled, and left naked and bare.

I cannot fault Elliot for being led to the slaughter: Azorren was just too cleaver, too cunning, and he knew how to play his cards just right. I cannot blame Elliot for being fooled. Elliot became a victim of a mad man's climb to power.

The aurors were too quick to judge Elliot, too quick to hold him accountable for the deaths of his father-in-law and wife, and they failed him and Dulcie. When Dulcie died in the cross fire, and the grief and pain erupted from Elliot - exploding out in a destructive wave of wild magic, I knew then that Elliot had died. He could not live with what he had done, could not live with the grief nor the pain of failure, or the belief that it had all been his fault. It wasn't all his fault, yet he blamed himself.

Elliot had a heart. He knew his faults and regretted them. I believe he had learnt his lesson, that he would have eventually rekindle his relationship with his parents had he been given a chance, but the auror and the ministry department failed him in epic proportions.

So yes, I forgive Elliot.

It was a sad ending that the young man never got a chance at redemption.

Message end-

Harry waited for well over an hour for a reply, but non came. His eyes were growing heavy, and he knew that he would fall asleep shortly.

He left the parchment out as he climbed under the covers, and he checked it one last time before his eyes closed. If he wasn't so tired, he might have laid there thinking for hours, but the fatigue quickly ensured that Friday September the 3rd became a thing of the past. The next time his eyes opened, it would be Saturday.