CHAPTER 14:
FIREBOLT FIGHT
Lupin examined the Marauders' Map, and nodded, satisfied. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Harry. I do wish you hadn't snuck out, but…"
"But I haven't been to Hogsmeade until now. I went just once. I'll avoid doing it again. Unless something has me needing to be at Hogsmeade, anyway. It's a marvellous piece of work."
Lupin smiled ruefully, clearly thinking back. "It is, isn't it? You wouldn't believe how much work went into it. In a way, it was like creating an entirely new computer program from scratch, or more correctly, cobbled together from many previous spells, plus some we had to invent. All of which had to be enchanted onto a single piece of parchment. And of course, in those days, computers were considerably less sophisticated than they are now."
"Those names…they were your nicknames as the Marauders?"
"Yes. For me, Moony is rather obvious in hindsight. For reasons I won't go into for now, your father was Prongs, Peter Pettigrew was Wormtail, and Black…he was Padfoot."
"It does have limitations, though," Harry mused. "I had a quick look, and it doesn't have the location of the Chamber of Secrets. I know you guys may not have discovered it, but…"
"True. But we did bind the Map to one of the wardstones of this castle, albeit one of the more recent ones," Lupin said. "Now…what to do with it?"
"What, you weren't going to give it back?"
"I'm of two minds about that, I have to confess," Lupin said, before fixing Harry with a look. "On the one hand, as James' son, you do have a right to it. On the other hand, I'm worried about the trouble you can get up to with this, and I don't mean pranks. All it takes is going through the wrong passage, and you end up near Dementors. The same for if you go to Hogsmeade again. In addition, this will be a useful tool if Black decides to infiltrate again."
"…Consider it a Christmas present to make up for the lack of ones before?"
After a moment, Lupin sighed, and handed the parchment over. "Just promise me you won't leave the grounds again, not unless it's an emergency. I don't want to lose you, not to Black, and not to the Dementors."
"It's fine. I've had my fill of Hogsmeade for now. I'll have Ron and Hermione fetch stuff for me. I'm more worried about the Dementors than Sirius Black anyway." And then, as he thought back to the overheard conversation in the Three Broomsticks, a notion just occurred to him. The Duke had already discussed doubts about Sirius Black's guilt, and while they didn't necessarily mean his innocence, they had him re-examining the case. And he realised he knew a possible alternative for what happened.
"Professor…you did know about the Fidelius Charm being used on my family's hideout, right?"
"Only after they used it. I heard that Black was going around claiming he was the Secret Keeper…"
"…But what if he wasn't?" As Lupin's eyes snapped to him, Harry said, "I just had a thought. What if he wasn't? What if the Secret Keeper was someone else?"
"Like who?"
"Well, I'm speculating, but this hypothesis fits the facts as well. Namely, Peter Pettigrew." As Lupin opened his mouth, Harry held up a hand. "Can I finish first, please, Professor? A lot of this case doesn't make sense. Sirius Black was said to betray my parents because he was a deep cover spy. But…what if he wasn't? What if he was just a decoy, and it was Pettigrew who was the Secret Keeper? Only…Pettigrew was found out, and betrayed them to Voldemort? It'd explain why Sirius Black tried to murder him afterwards, wouldn't it?"
Lupin seemed about to deny this, before a thoughtful expression touched his features. "I…yes…that does make sense. I…don't get me wrong, I don't want to believe that Peter, of all people, was a traitor to us, but…if that's the case, why did Black escape from Azkaban?"
"I know. Like any hypothesis that's still in its early stages, it has holes, but so does him coming to kill me now. He would have known I would have been at Hogwarts for two years now, so why come after me now? In either scenario, the correct answer is that he isn't. Fudge even said he seemed sane and rational, for an Azkaban prisoner anyway, which is odd. The only thing we do know is that he is after someone or something in Gryffindor Tower, because why attack the portrait of the Fat Lady? Unless he's got a grudge against her or something."
"I've no idea, but I never knew about such a thing if he did," Lupin said. "Anyway, I'll let you keep the Marauders' Map for now, but for God's sake, don't let any other teacher, or Filch for that matter, see it. And don't sneak out of the grounds with it again…"
Hermione didn't take the news that well, that he'd be keeping the Marauders' Map, though she was mollified by his reassurances that he wouldn't leave the castle grounds anymore, something that Ron was puzzled by. Harry found this rather sad: Ron did have a surprisingly intelligent streak, his ability to master chess strategy at a young age was proof of this. But he was lazy, he didn't apply himself. Harry, or at least Henric, shared with Hermione a joy of learning for the sake of learning. True, he didn't take it to the same obsessive extremes as Hermione did, but he did learn stuff for the hell of it.
They had gone to visit Hagrid not long afterwards, and had learned the bad news: although Hagrid had been cleared of any negligence or malfeasance where the Buckbeak incident had been concerned, Buckbeak himself was held responsible, and would be sent to a hearing in April, with the likelihood that the Hippogriff would be put down. The three friends, thus, resolved to begin researching previous related cases to help give Hagrid and Buckbeak a chance. Even Ron, with his indolence where study was concerned, proved to be an able researcher when those he considered friends were on the line. Unfortunately, they found little.
And then, Christmas arrived.
What should have been a good day, opening all sorts of presents, began to sour when a mysterious new Firebolt appeared amongst them, with no known sender. Harry's suspicions were already inflamed when Hermione began voicing her own out loud. It wasn't helped when Crookshanks attacked an increasingly poorly Scabbers once more, reigniting the argument between his two friends.
Then, during a lunch with very few students, Trelawney made herself known, making proclamations. Lupin was conspicuous by his absence, noted to be 'ill' once more. Harry noted Hermione's frown deepening at that, and he knew she had to have suspicions. And then, as they left, she said she wanted a word with McGonagall.
And that word was apparently to have McGonagall confiscate his new Firebolt, believing that it may have been sent by Sirius Black.
This had Ron and Hermione getting into one hell of a row, and Harry was caught in the middle. Unfortunately, he could see both sides of the argument. An anonymous broomstick could have been sabotaged, regardless of whether the sender was Sirius Black or not. And Ron's Quidditch and materialistic obsession was blinding him to the obvious conclusion. On the other hand, Hermione went behind his back. She didn't trust him enough to be cautious, and after everything they had been through together.
He felt his temper rising, before finally snapping, "ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU, SHUT THE ACTUAL HELL UP NOW!"
His outburst actually shocked the pair of them into silence. Harry turned his glare first to Hermione. He hissed, "You did not ask me. If you had actually bothered to ask me first, explain your reasoning, then I would have gone with you to Professor McGonagall. Instead, you went behind my back, jeopardising our friendship over a broomstick."
As Hermione recoiled, her eyes glimmering with tears, Harry turned to Ron, who had the temerity to look like he was about to gloat. "And Ron…Hermione did this because she was concerned for my safety, and not without reason. I have a convicted mass murderer after me, and a Firebolt gets sent here, not so long after my old broomstick gets destroyed? Can't you see that is suspicious?"
"…But…but mate, it was a Firebolt, it's…"
"An enchanted hunk of wood that could have been sabotaged by a homicidal maniac. Keep this in mind: neither of you are off the hook. In fact, thanks to this, and your pettiness over your pets' rivalry, to put it nicely, my Christmas has been ruined. I think I need some time to myself. With any luck, maybe Crookshanks will choke on Scabbers, solve that problem in one go." With that barb, he stormed to his dorm, fetched his Invisibility Cloak and the Marauders' Map, and stormed out of Gryffindor Tower. He needed time for his temper to cool…
He decided his first port of call was to McGonagall's office. He stopped by to ask her pointed questions about what she was going to do with the Firebolt. Her answers were not very reassuring, but on the whole, he'd rather be safe than sorry.
Instead of heading back to Gryffindor Tower like she suggested, Harry headed back to the Chamber of Secrets. The Duke wasn't present, but he left a summoning device, like the magical equivalent of a pager, present. He considered activating it, but refrained from it. The Dimitrescus were having their own Christmas party in the castle, with the Four Lords present. And Miranda. In other words, Harry wouldn't be able to come, and absences would be noted. He had sent presents via the Duke to Daniela, Alcina and Heisenberg. The Duke demurred Harry giving him any present, for the merchant could get virtually everything he desired anyway.
As he went to work at his bench, tears streaming down his face, he knew his parting shot towards Ron and Hermione was rather overly cruel. He was just so sick and tired of their petty arguments. Honestly, Ron ought to find a way to get another pet instead of a raggedy old hand-me-down of a rat, one whose lifespan was way past normal pet rats, if he recalled. And Hermione seemed rather overly cavalier to Crookshanks' continual attempts to attack Scabbers. Their arguments had gotten too childish. He didn't expect much better from Ron, but Hermione?
It hit home more than ever how alienated he was from those he knew in this life. He had 43 years of memories, and had to pretend to be 13 years old. He had powers many would fear, envy and covet, even before he had magic. And what's more, both Ron and Hermione had family who cared for them. In his first life, his mother left him with his aunt for a convent, and his relationship with his aunt deteriorated. But Miranda, for all her faults, treated Harry better than the Dursleys did, at least during his childhood.
So preoccupied was he with his work, he didn't really notice the parcels on his bench for several minutes. It was only when he reached for a book on the bench, only to encounter wrapping paper, that he stopped, and looked at the quartet of packages. And he knew whom they came from almost instantly.
The first package came from the Duke. It was a first edition of The Hobbit, a book Harry had enjoyed reading back as Henric. And signed by JRR Tolkien himself. Worth hundreds if not thousands of pounds. So too was the three similarly-signed first edition volumes of The Lord of the Rings, a sequel Henric never got to enjoy.
The second was from Alcina. Namely, a signed copy of a few CDs of Miss D and the Pallboys. He'd never managed to get around to buying them, so this touched him. Heisenberg had created a rather crude music box out of scrap metal, with a pair of figures, one of Henric, the other of Daniela, on top. When the music box was wound up, the figures danced around each other, to the gentle tune of Moonlight Sonata. One of Dani's favourite pieces of music, he recalled.
And the last present was from Daniela. A skull with crystals growing from it, and a bottle of Ţuică, a traditional Romanian alcohol made from plums. Harry smiled when he remembered the times he and Daniela would share a drink, from Alcina's distillery (she specialised in wine, true, but other alcoholic drinks were created by the Dimitrescu matriarch). And there was the letter accompanying it.
Dearest Henric,
I am sure whatever gift I give to you will pale by comparison to the one we got this very year: we got each other back. You were reborn, and I regained myself. We are both changed forever by the experience, but the Duke and Mother say that change is a part of life, even amongst immortals.
I had to wonder what I could get you. And then, I realised what it was. It's rather macabre, but it's fitting. When we consumed my father, his skull, in his death throes, partially crystalised, as it often does with Lycans and others affected by the Mutamycete. Mother sold it to the Duke, who kept it as a memento. I bought it back from him, on the proviso that you get it. Do what you will to it. Use it as a paperweight. Carve the crystals from it. Or feel free to just smash it up, to take what little posthumous revenge you can from it. :)
The bottle, meanwhile…well, I'm sure you remember the times when we shared a bottle. I want you, at Christmas, to toast me in Romania, knowing that I will be doing the same to you. Noroc, Henric, noroc!
Forever yours,
Daniela Dimitrescu
Harry chuckled. The gift, while macabre, was far from unwelcome. He smirked at the skull, and imagining himself to be Hamlet clucking at Yorick's skull, he quoted, "Where be your gibes now?"
In higher spirits now than when he entered the Chamber of Secrets, he filled a glass with the bottle, and toasted the skull. Here's to you, Daniela, he thought. Merry Christmas…and fuck your father, wherever he is. And fuck Miranda too. Here's to us. A pair of immortal monsters at Christmas, in love. He chuckled ruefully. Merry Christmas, my love. Merry Christmas…
CHAPTER 14 ANNOTATIONS:
Well, some emotional moments here. Some lows, and some highs.
Now, I decided to have Lupin aware of the Map earlier than in canon, but as he and Harry already have a somewhat stronger, if guarded, relationship, he decided, albeit with a little bit of emotional blackmail from Harry, to hand it over. Harry has no intention of heading to Hogsmeade again this year: he's had his fill, and Ron and Hermione can be his mail order service.
Speaking of those two, there's the infamous Firebolt argument. It's one of those ones that, in canon, both sides have a point, and Ron AND Hermione are both in the wrong. Ron seems blasé about Harry's safety (as does Oliver Wood, that gormless fanatic), while Hermione betrayed Harry's trust. I feel that, if Hermione actually laid out a sensible and logical argument to Harry, he would have, albeit reluctantly, agreed to have McGonagall look at it. Unfortunately, a lot of bashers focus on this incident, especially Hermione-bashers.
Of course, Harry's outburst doesn't help matters either. He's somewhat cruel in not only losing his temper at them and berating them so heavily over a relatively trivial issue, but he also blatantly hoped that Scabbers gets eaten by Crookshanks, and for said cat to choke in the process. Admittedly, he said that in anger, and he regrets that, so he'll go to try and mend bridges. Hermione will probably accept any olive branches, but Ron, being the immature prat that he is, even without bashing, will hold a grudge for a while. I won't really be bashing him, as he's not being malicious, but their friendship has taken a significant blow.
Deciding what present Daniela would get Harry was a bit tricky. I decided, in keeping with both her new macabre nature and her delusions, she'd send him her father's skull. And it's rather apt, actually. This was the man, after all, who caused both of their deaths in the past lives, even if indirectly. The bottle of Romanian alcohol was more of a traditional gift.
Anyway, a little bit of angst, a little bit of joy…typical Christmas, right? Okay, you're getting it earlier than Christmas, and there's a few more chapters I had as a backlog ready to publish later. Yes, there's more chapters to come…including the big reveals about the Duke's identity and his past, though those are in separate chapters.
Review-answering time! I'm glad you guys liked the reveal of Spencer being Hermione's godfather. It seems fitting, no?
edboy4926: It wouldn't work like that. I'm pretty sure that Tyrants and the Nemesis have had surgical modification in addition to their viral and genetic ones. And considering that the Tyrants at least are largely derived from clones of Sergei Vladimir, well, I don't think they have much in the way of memories to begin with. That being said, maybe throwing mould at Mr X will have him pause long enough to play a certain song by DMX…namely, X Gon' Give It To Ya.
PikaMew1288: That's a very good question, and I actually posted a challenge to that effect some time ago in the usual forums. I honestly think that Eva would be disgusted. It's also possible that Eveline is actually Eva's reincarnation, albeit twisted, and Miranda didn't really notice because she has her own selfish image. I honestly think Miranda would be an appalling mother by this point, given what she did in order to try and regain Eva. I honestly think Alcina, for all her many, MANY faults, would be a better mother figure. She has just enough empathy in herself for her daughters, whereas Miranda doesn't have any left, IMO.
WhiteElfElder: The Dementor aura can affect Harry even in his Obscurial form. It's part of the reason he's still studying the Patronus, the form of which we will see in a later chapter, and it may surprise you. As for Spencer, he would have left Harry alone had he known, but would actually gently reach out to him for information on the Mutamycete. Spencer may be a megalomaniac heading a company with a dubious corporate culture, but I'd like to think of him as being a pragmatist by this point. He knows you can get more flies with honey than vinegar.
Raven: Umm, what? Not all vampires are like that, and the Dimitrescus are not magical vampires anyway. They are created by a biological mutation. And Capcom gave them golden eyes. So don't nitpick.
No numbered annotations this time.
