Review... seriously, this is just getting irritating now, I don't ask for too much do I? but 2-3 reviews a week from 12-24 visitors is just sad. Is it my story? it must be, or else people have found a new level of stupidity and laziness that even I was not aware of... please prove me wrong and review!
Chapter Twelve
Choices
Draco had determined a test to finally make up his mind. He had been avoiding the Gryffindors for almost a week since the letters from his parents arrived. During that time he had been weighing the options, trying to come to a decision as to what would be best for him to do, obey his father or remain with his friends.
In the end it was some of Faykan's teachings that lead to his plan, a test to see what was the best choice. He would use the Patronus charm to determine the strength of his love for his father versus the love of his friends. Whichever produced a stronger charm would be the choice he took. His mother and Professor Snape were right, his heart must decide.
Summoning all the thoughts of his father, and the emotions surrounding him, Draco waved his wand. "Expecto Patronum." Silver streamed from his wand, coating him in the love and respect he had for his father. But… suddenly came the memories of his second year, and the knowledge that his father purposely threatened children just to carry out his personal grudges. The Patronus faltered. Then came the third year, where Lucius had supported Nott and his father's false claims about Hagrid and Buckbeak. The silvery lights diminished again. And finally came the thoughts that his father only cared about him as much as his reputation was concerned, and that thought alone broke his concentration. The Patronus vanished.
Draco sighed, downcast. His father didn't truly love him in return, and that soiled any ability for Draco to summon happy memories that included him.
Next, Draco filled himself with thoughts of Harry, who shared tender moments with him their first Christmas at Hogwarts, Hermione, who he had spirited discussions and several good laughs with, Ron, who he respected as a loyal if hot tempered friend, and Faykan, who had stood up for him ever since their second meeting, urging the rest to accept him, to become his friends. Silver mist poured forth from his wand tip, enveloping the room with soft light. Finally, Draco's thoughts turned to Ginny, and the night they had spent together at the Yule Ball, the secrets they had shared about their feelings toward each other. Ginny had admitted to being infatuated with him since the end of his second year, after they were together rescued from the Chamber of Secrets. Draco had, in turn, revealed that he had noticed and relished the affection she freely gave him, affection he had only had from his own mother.
The Patronus light exploded in strength and volume, emerging as a small wren-like bird, that sang a high piping song while it flew around the abandoned room Draco had secluded himself in. Draco watched, amazed as the little bird spiraled and twisted in midair, relishing the fact that he finally had produced a corporeal Patronus. Not only that, but his course had be decided, he would stay true to his friends, and his father's reputation be cursed. Lucius would be furious with Draco, but watching his newborn Patronus and remembering the returned love and friendship that Draco now had, he didn't care. People would be there for him, no matter what.
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Hermione wandered in early to the Room of Requirement Sunday, wanting to get ahead on her reading for History of Magic. What she didn't expect was for Faykan to already be in the room, watching the door intently as she entered.
"Oh, Hello Fay," she greeted cheerfully as she noticed him.
"Hello Hermione," he replied, watching her sit down across the table that held the Palantír from him. "I think there's something you have wanted to discuss with me since last year. Something that regards a certain vision you witnessed in this," he gestured to the Palantír.
Hermione gasped slightly, she had told nobody about her vision, so how could Faykan have found out?
"How did you…"
"It's not important how I know, I just do. Now, I know you may have many questions about what you saw, but I want you to know, first and foremost. The Palantír does not show the definite future, as that is nearly impossible. Even gifts such as prophecy and foresight can only see the fluid future, or the future that may be. Only very few things are certain in the world."
"I do not know what exactly you saw, only that it involved myself and a dim and frightening future, judging from your reaction to reliving it from the boggart during the Defense final last year." He was smiling gently at her, "but I do not want to know, it is not my place to know. Be aware that I would do nothing to harm those I care about, those that I love."
"I know," Hermione whispered, loud enough for Faykan to still hear her. "I feel like I've always known. The way you love Harry, I know you would do nothing to harm any of us, but it was so terrifying."
She then described the visions she had witnessed, in spite of Faykan's previous statement of not caring what it was about. Faykan listened in silence, and only spoke when Hermione had finished.
"What you may have seen Hermione, was one possible future where Harry died that night that Pettigrew escaped. It was defiantly something that I feared to have happen, because many things depend on Harry's continued survival, things I cannot tell you at this time," he added as Hermione opened her mouth. "You know that I do not trust Albus Dumbledore, and that vision shows why, he would force me to take Harry's place should he fail in his tasks. And I would fall into darkness, becoming as evil as Voldemort himself, if not more so. And the world would not survive the evil I could unleash upon it." Faykan said, turning aside as tears trailed down his face.
Hermione longed to ask more, but at that moment the door to the room opened again, and Harry, Ron, and Draco entered. Draco was smiling from ear to ear as he saw Faykan, and brandished his wand. "Look at this," he said, waving it happily, "Expecto Patronum!" a silvery bird exploded from his wand, spiraling and turning about the room, singing a sweet melody in high pitches that often left the range that Hermione could hear. Faykan followed the bird around with his eyes, his mouth open in surprised wonder, "A Kirniki, one of the wrens of Númenor, congratulations Draco, your Patronus is beautiful."
Draco beamed, and allowed the little silvery bird to vanish. He, Harry, and Ron crossed to the table Hermione and Faykan sat at, and joined them around it. "So," said Ron as they all sat, "What's planned for today?" he asked nonchalantly. In response, Faykan pulled out the vials of potion that Hermione had stored for him while he was recovering in the Hospital Wing. Everyone brightened instantly, recognizing the Animal Spirit potion.
"Wicked…" Harry breathed as they each picked up one of the five vials. Hermione watched as Faykan removed the covering of the Palantír, and they each scooted their chairs forward, awaiting Faykan's instructions.
"I want each of you to drink the potion, and stare into the swirling mists of the Palantír, the animal spirit potion will give you glimpses of life through your animagus form's eyes." He said.
Eagerly, Ron, Draco and Harry downed the potion and gazed into the orb's depths. Hermione followed suit, after seeing their eyes glass over as they sank into their visions. Faykan smiled encouragingly as Hermione tipped the vial back. Staring into the blackness of the Palantír, Hermione felt a slight twinge of unease, but soon that melted into nothing as her eyes unfocused.
It was a sensation she had never felt before, of loftiness and freedom. She was soaring above the clouds, able to see for miles in every direction. Her wings beat at her sides, spreading out to catch the currents of air, suspending her as long as she wished. Looking down, Hermione's eyes focused until she could spot even the small blade of grass. A small rustle here and there, and suddenly a tiny mouse appeared out of a clump of grass. Hermione dived, eager to impale the creature on her sharp talons.
And suddenly the vision vanished. She was back in the Room of Requirement. Faykan was grinning as their eyes refocused, returning their consciousness to Hogwarts. "That was amazing!" Ron declared. Faykan smiled at him, "Now that you've all had a taste of how it will feel to be in your forms, you need to research what animal you were, so you can effectively visualize what to turn into. I expect this to be the longest part of the process, possibly taking one or two years at the most, with my assistance that is." Hermione had expected as much. Even if they used the powerful artifact that the Palantír was, becoming an animagus wasn't going to be as easy as placing the Occlumency shields into their minds.
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Harry had decided to take Professor Snape's advice to both help Faykan and possibly work out the egg's clue. He could have used the Room of Requirement, but there was a greater chance of Ron, Draco or Hermione walking in on what they were doing, and Harry didn't want Faykan to become uncomfortable. He knew his friend trusted the others, but despite the leaps and bounds that Faykan had taken to return to near normalcy, Harry still noticed the slight cringes when anyone other than himself or Professor Snape came too close.
He convinced Faykan to come with him, as well as Hermione and Ron to stay, by saying he wanted to try working out the egg clue, just as Snape had suggested. It worked perfectly, Hermione smiled as they made their way out of the portrait hole late Thursday night, Harry under the invisibility cloak and bringing the Marauder's Map while Faykan changed into his fox animagus form outside the common room. Once Hermione let Harry out, Faykan followed him by his scent as Harry led the way down to the prefects' bathroom.
It was awkward moving under the cloak tonight, because Harry had the heavy egg under one arm and the map held in front of his nose with the other. However, the moonlit corridors were empty and silent, and by checking the map at strategic intervals, Harry was able to ensure that they wouldn't run into anyone they would rather avoid. When he and Faykan reached the statue of Boris the Bewildered, a lost-looking wizard with his gloves on the wrong hands, he located the right door, leaned close to it, and muttered the password, "Pine fresh," just as Snape had told him.
The door creaked open. Harry slipped inside, and bolted the door after Faykan entered behind him, and pulled off the Invisibility Cloak, and looked around.
Harry's immediate reaction was that it would be worth becoming a prefect just to be able to use this bathroom. It was softly lit by a splendid candle filled chandelier, and everything was made of white marble, including what looked like an empty, rectangular swimming pool sunk into the middle of the floor. About a hundred golden taps stood all around the pools edges, each with a differently colored jewel set into its handle. There was even a diving board. Long white linen curtains hung at the windows; a large pile of fluffy white towels sat in a corner, and there was a single golden-framed painting on the wall. It featured a blonde mermaid who was fast asleep on a rock, her long hair over her face. It fluttered every time she snored.
Faykan resumed his human form and warded the door so they wouldn't be disturbed accidentally, then followed Harry toward the many taps near the swimming pool sized bath. Thankfully Harry remembered the summer before last when Faykan had taken him to his home and taught him many different things, including how to swim, as the bath was very deep, and there were only a few placed to sit comfortably above the water when it was filled. Harry grabbed a pair of towels and tossed one to Faykan, setting his towel down with the egg, his Invisibility cloak, and the Marauder's map as he knelt down to turn several of the taps on.
He could tell at once that they carried different sorts of bubble bath mixed with the water, though it wasn't bubble bath as Harry had ever experienced it. One tap gushed pink and blue bubbles the size of footballs; while another poured ice-white foam so thick that Harry thought it would have supported his weight if he'd cared to test it; a third sent heavily perfumed purple clouds hovering over the surface of the water. Harry amused himself for awhile turning the taps on and off, particularly enjoying the effect of one whose jet bounced off the surface of the water in large arcs. Then, when the deep pool was full of hot water, foam, and bubbles, which took a very short time considering its size, Harry turned off all the taps.
"Um, Harry…" Faykan asked at last when he stood again, "Why are we here? How is this going to help us solve the egg clue?"
Harry tried to remember what Professor Snape had said, but the thought escaped him. It had been something to do with water, but the more pressing matter on his mind had been Faykan when he had had the conversation, so naturally he remembered better the part that had to do with his best friend. And what Professor Snape had asked him to do was discover the identity of the person who had attacked and cursed Faykan, and this was one time he would not disappoint the stern Potion Master.
"We're here not so much for the egg as we are for you, Faykan," Harry said slowly. He knew Faykan was not going to be too pleased when Harry pressed him, but it was for his own good after all.
"What are you talking about?" Faykan asked warily. Harry could tell he was starting to add up what was going on, so he had to hurry.
"Faykan, we really need to talk, about what happened during the Yule Ball…" Faykan was already shaking his head, his eyes wide with the strain of trying not to remember. "Please, Faykan, I know what happened to you not only attacked but affected with a dark curse," Harry paused, summoning all his courage to force words to come.
Faykan started to back away, covering his head in an effort to drown out Harry's voice, but Harry seized his hands, pulling him back toward the bath, "Please Fay, please let me help you, let me make sure the person who did this to you is punished…"
"No…" Faykan said softly, trying to pull himself away from Harry, but Harry held him fast, preventing any movement. "You don't understand… it won't matter, it will make no difference if I tell…"
"It will Fay," Harry said in his gentlest voice, "Professor Snape will make sure whoever hurt you is punished."
"No!" Faykan yelled, ripping himself away from Harry, and turning away, angry tears sliding down his face. "It won't! I won't allow him to have this kind of power over me!" he yelled, kicking out at the closest object, Harry's golden egg. It flew across the room, clanged against the wall, bursting open. The screeching lasted only for several seconds, as with an enormous splash, the egg fell into the pool. Both boys looked, transfixed as it sank to the bottom.
The screeching had stopped.
In its place was a muted kind of singing, but Harry couldn't make out the sounds with the egg under the water. Then he remembered, Snape had practically given him the answer, underwater, he had said to ponder the egg underwater. He and Faykan looked at each other, their argument forgotten for now. Then together they immediately started tearing their weightier clothes off, diving into the pool to investigate the egg.
Once underwater, Harry could hear the song perfectly,
"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you re searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour, the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back"
They both resurfaced at the same instant, gasping large breaths of air as they swam back to one of the sitting ledges, Faykan closing the egg and returning it to sit near his and Harry's possessions. "Harry, that's it, do you remember when we went to Hogsmeade, and we saw Krum diving into the lake, this is why. The next task has something to do with the lake… that was mersong. I'll bet you anything they're merpeople in the lake!"
Harry was suddenly very glad that Faykan had taught him to swim, but one thing was still pestering him, "Faykan, how are we supposed to breathe?" he said slowly.
"Oh, that's not going to be a problem, there are many different ways around that. No what's important is figuring out what we're supposed to find down there, according to the song the merfolk are going to take something of ours, something we have to get back…" he trailed off as he looked at Harry, who was suddenly remembering their conversation right before the egg was kicked into the bath.
"Faykan, will you please tell me who attacked you?" he asked, taking Faykan's hands again. Faykan turned away slightly, but Harry could see tears trailing down his face again. "Please… don't make me…" he said in a small voice. Harry suddenly realized how fragile his friend still was right now. He had put up a powerful front, an illusion for the world to see, but now, with Harry, he had finally let the mask slide away, showing how truly scared he was. "I'm sorry Faykan, but I have to…" Harry said. Tears were streaming down Faykan's face now, and he leaned into Harry, soft sobs starting as he buried his face into Harry's shoulder.
Harry ran small circles down Faykan's back as he made soft shushing sounds, waiting for Faykan to settle down again. "Faykan, was it Nott?" Harry said softly, and he felt Faykan nod into his should as the sobs increased again, "I'm so sorry Fay. We should have seen it coming."
"It's my fault…" Faykan sobbed.
"What?" Harry said confused, pushing Faykan upright to see his face.
"The letter Terry Boot sent me, it was a warning that Nott might try something soon, but… but I ignored it, and he… and he…"
"Shh." Harry said softly, "It's over now, and Professor Snape will make sure he can't do it again. I promise you…"
Faykan's sobs slowed, and he smiled slightly at Harry, "Thank you, Harry," and before Harry could react, Faykan had leaned forward again, wrapped his arms around Harry's neck, and continued to cry in silence.
Harry held his best friend for several minutes, rubbing small circles across Faykan's back, until they were both shocked out of the moment but a high pitched giggling. "Ahh, what a cute moment," came the voice of Moaning Myrtle as she floated out of one of the stalls. It was clearly one event too much tonight for Faykan, as he tore himself from Harry and heaved out of the bath, transforming as he went, and bolted for the door, which opened magically for him before slamming shut.
Harry swore loudly and wandlessly flung a blinding hex at Myrtle before hauling himself out of the bath. The perverted ghost shrieked and sped away through the far wall. Harry pulled his clothes back on after drying himself quickly, gathered his egg, the map, Faykan's clothes, and then threw the Invisibility cloak around himself. As Harry climbed back to the tower, he had to dodge around Mrs. Norris, whipping around a corner rather quicker than he would have liked, which cause the objects he was holding to wobble. He fumbled for a few moments, but managed to steady them, and was able to continue on his way. He never noticed the Marauder's Map flutter to the ground in his wake, or the bright blue magical eye following him from the shadows behind a statue, than travel to the parchment left behind after he had gone.
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Hermione was sitting in the common room, waiting for Harry and Faykan to return from their outing to work out the egg clue, when the fat lady's portrait opened, and Faykan the fox flew through, straight past Hermione and up the boy's staircase. Hermione looked up confused, noting the small trail of water that followed. Several moments later, Harry came in, carrying his egg, the Invisibility cloak, and strangely of all, what looked like Faykan's clothes, "What's going on Harry?" Hermione said sternly, looking at the pile of clothes in his hands, "if you pranked Faykan in the state he's in…"
"I didn't prank Faykan, Hermione… Myrtle…" Harry shook his head sadly as he lost the trail of his sentence.
Hermione's eyes widened, "Tell me everything that happened," she said, and listened patiently as Harry told her about the argument he and Faykan had to discover who had attacked Faykan. She gasped as Harry told her that Faykan had not only been beaten, but cursed by his attacker, and that Snape had asked Harry to help find the identity of the person.
Then he told her about the egg, and how they discovered the clue within it, followed by Faykan's tear filled confession that Nott had been the one to attack him, finally ending with Myrtle interrupting and scaring Faykan away. By the time Harry was done, his entire face was bright red from sharing more personal moments, and he refused to maintain eye contact with Hermione for more than a few seconds. Hermione personally was very pleased that Faykan had finally given in and accused Nott of the attack.
After several more minutes, Harry finally left to go to bed, leaving Hermione to sit and ponder what to do next. Personally she had hoped that this event might have caused Faykan to finally reveal his secret love for Harry, but it was not to be, and Hermione wouldn't push the matter at this time. There were things far more important than that right now.
The next day, however, proved to Hermione that Faykan was still too embarrassed about what had happened to even look at Harry. He sat as far from Harry as he could without rousing suspicion, usually on the far side of Ron, who as usual, was oblivious to most things that happened between them. Harry tried to talk to Faykan all during Charms, but Faykan couldn't even look at him with flushing bright red and turning away.
Harry sent an owl to Sirius to ask about the egg clue, and then, in lack of Faykan's ability to speak to him, asked for Hermione and Ron's help in discovering ways to breathe underwater for an hour on the day of the second task.
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Severus watched the obvious discomfort between Potter and Fay…Undol during their next Potions lesson. The way Undol would shift nervously as he worked with Potter at their cauldron, how he avoided all eye contact from his partner, and how he refused to speak to Potter at all. Consequently their potion didn't meet Severus' strict standards for acceptable potions. "Potter! Undol! Stay after class…" Severus barked as the bell rang. He noticed Granger's look of triumph at his words and grew more curious as to what was going on between the two boys.
After the rest of the class filed out, Severus faced the two boys, "Potter," he said calmly, "will you be so kind as to inform me why your potion is bright orange, with both your brilliant minds, I expect better results from you as a combined group."
After several moments of awkward silence, Severus cleared his throat and addressed Potter. "Would it be easier if I sent Mr. Undol back to your common room Mr. Potter, or should I just ask him myself what occurred?"
Potter flush grew stronger as he started to stutter slightly, "I…I…I don't think it would be easier either way… Sir." His eyes fluttered over to Undol again, and the other boy shifted nervously away from the gaze.
Severus frowned, "then will you at least report what you discovered, if anything regarding Undol's attacker or the Triwizard clue."
"Both Sir," Potter said, now also refusing to look at his companion. "Faykan… confirmed… that Theodore Nott did indeed attack, and cursed him…"
Severus nodded, concealing the rage building inside him at the Nott boy. "And the egg."
Undol finally spoke, so soft and quiet that Severus had to strain to make out everything he said.
"We need to find something in the black lake in under an hour, something the merfolk will have taken."
"I see." Severus said, turning back to Potter. He knew from Undol's last show of magic that he was quiet capable of surviving underwater for as long as he pleased, however, Potter would possibly need assistance. "Potter, do you know how you will survive under the lake for the duration?"
"No, Sir."
"Might I suggest the use of Gillyweed…?"
"Gillyweed?"
"Yes Potter, Gillyweed. A rare herb from the Mediterranean that gives anyone who consumes it gills for a duration. If you so desire I can supply you with enough for the hour in the lake, as well as deliver it to you right before the task as to not arouse suspicion of the other champions."
"But, wouldn't that be cheating, Sir?"
"It would," Severus admitted, "If you and Mr. Undol had actually entered yourselves, but seeing how I do not believe you to do such a dunderheaded thing as that, you need not adhere to the champion's rules about accepting outside assistance. I'm sure your dogfather had already sent you several letter to offer his own suggestions, so why not I?"
Potter looked at a complete loss for words, "Thank you Sir, I would appreciate the help very much." Severus smiled, and then sent the boy back to his common room, holding Undol back for a while longer. Now without the distraction of Potter, the boy seemed slightly more interactive. "Undol… firstly, did Nott attack you during the ball?" Undol nodded, tears starting to well up in his eyes again. "Very well, I will deal with him. Secondly, what is going on between you and Potter, what of earth could have caused such a rift between you two? A rift, I might add, that Potter seems determined to repair, but you do not."
Undol remained silent for a long time, staring at his feet, until Severus crouched down and put an hand on the boy's shoulder, "does it have to do with your… feelings for Potter?" he asked tentatively. Undol looked up at him, wide eyed. "Oh yes Undol, I know. I know what Nott had seen in you when you look at Potter, the thing he resented so much that he tried to take it for himself." The boy started to weep again, and Severus found his arms filled with the crying teen. Slowly, he wrapped them around Undol, comforting him as best he could.
"It… Its nothing like what you think Severus…" the boy whimpered, burying himself deeper into Severus' robes. "Then what is it?" Severus asked gently, "Why do you need to sacrifice yourself so completely Fay…Undol…" Severus cursed himself inwardly for almost calling the boy by his first name. He must have caught the slip up as well, because Undol chuckled slightly, but it came out as several more sobs, "For the same reason you distanced yourself from her…" he whispered, "Keeping Harry safe is the priority, above anything else."
Undol suddenly pulled away from Severus, smiling sadly as he wiped his eyes with a sleeve, "I should be going, I still need to decide how to approach the lake myself," he said, and turned to leave. Severus released him, and the boy slipped out the dungeon door. After he left, Severus wondered how the boy had know about his relationship with Lily Potter…
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Two days before the second task, Sirius' reply returned via the same school owl Harry had sent.
Send date of next Hogsmeade weekend by return owl.
Harry turned the parchment over and looked at the back, hoping to see something else, but it was blank.
"Weekend after next," whispered Hermione, who had read the note over Harry's shoulder. "Here, take my quill and send this owl back straight away."
Harry scribbled the dates down on the back of Sirius's letter, tied it onto the brown owl's leg, and watched it take flight again.
Since Professor Snape had promised to help Harry with the second task, he wasn't worried about Sirius' lack of help, what really worried him was the lack of anything else in the message. That meant that Sirius didn't trust using owls to talk to Harry anymore. What if the dementors were closing in on him?
And what was worse was that Faykan was still partially avoiding him. Harry couldn't blame him, as he himself was having a hard time fully understanding all the things that happened in the prefect's bathroom behind the scenes. Thoughts of what and why these kinds of things always happened to him plagued Harry the entire way down to Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid had indeed returned to his jobs, and thankfully had stopped his lessons about the Blast-Ended Skrewts. He had been continuing Professor Grubbly-Plank's lessons on unicorns ever since he'd returned to work. It turned out that Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters, though it was clear that he found them more disappointing.
Today he had managed to capture two unicorn foals. Unlike full grown unicorns, they were pure gold. Parvati and Lavender went into transports of delight at the sight of them, and even Pansy Parkinson had to work hard to conceal how much she liked them.
"Easier ter spot than the adults," Hagrid told the class. "They turn silver when they're abou' two years old, an' they grow horns at aroun four. Don' go pure white till they're full grown, 'round about seven. They're a bit more trustin when they're babies... don mind boys so much... C'mon, move in a bit, yeh can pat 'em if yeh want... give 'em a few o' these sugar lumps...
"You okay. Harry?" Hagrid muttered, moving aside slightly, while most of the others swarmed around the baby unicorns.
"Yeah," said Harry. "Jus' nervous, eh?" said Hagrid.
"Bit," said Harry rather distractedly.
"Yeh're goin' ter do jus' fine Harry, jus' fine. I know it. I can feel it."
Harry managed a small smile, and then realized he was watching Faykan and the two unicorn foals. The golden animals were in return watching Harry, their blue eyes shining with understanding and a purity that caused tears to form in Harry's eyes. Suddenly he knew, regardless of whatever was going on in Faykan's head, Harry wanted to remain his friend above anything else. And he was going to tell Faykan this, even if he had to tie his friend down to prevent him from running away.