Hey everyone,
One more chapter before we go back to the CR chapters. And to my lucky relief is the next chapter not written in that whole OotP – chapter …, page … – OotP style from before. This makes me feel that little bit more confident that I will be able to edit the next two chapters much faster than the first few that concerned the OotP chapters. And the fact that Lea, my favorite KH character, will be making an appearance too doesn't hurt either.
Let's have fun,
Venquine1990
Chapter 08
Guilt and Traitors
6th of August 1995
Grimmauld Place, London
Hermione's POV
We had been told it was best for us to stay here and luckily enough did the others return within only a few hours. But now that Harry has told me everything about his meeting with the queen, after Kingsley and Tonks had shared their stories with us as Professor Dumbledore still seems to at Fanatical Figgy's house, do I wish more than ever that this had been another one of my, Harry and Ron's joined adventures.
Then suddenly the ancient, honorable man comes back, Alastor Moody, who had come back with Tonks, but then called back by Dumbledore a few minutes later, in tow and – to our shock – does he have some kind of grimy, strange and – to my instincts – dangerous man with him, who is cuffed tightly and who has his head forced down by Moody's hand as he walks down the staircase and sits at the far end of the table.
I look from one person in the room to the other, none of them showing any sign they recognize this strange man, before looking back to my Headmaster as Mr. Weasley asks: "Albus, who is that? One of Dung's accomplishes?" But the man shakes his head and then turns to my best friend's family as he asks: "Sirius, do you recognize this man, perhaps?" And Moody lets go of the man's head, yet keeps his wand aimed at him.
The man looks up, his grey eyes sunken and with more puffiness under his eyes than someone with insomnia and while his cheeks hang down from his chin, his skin obviously having not seen proper nourishment in over a month if not two, does the man apparently look familiar to Harry's dad as Sirius gasps in pure shock.
He seems to need a few minutes to regain himself after this as he actually started to tremble after recognizing the man. He then turns to Professor Dumbledore and ask: "How – how did – how did you?" And Dumbledore shows him a small roll of parchment while he says: "I found this in one of Figgy's dressers. It was a contract she signed with this man and the date intrigued me, so I asked Alastor to escort me as I went and fetched him."
Moody then grunts, leaning against the wall behind the suspicious man, but with his magical eye still aimed at him and says: "Lad sure ain't stupid, let me tell you that. When he saw Albus here he tried to scram, but of course we expected that as we had traced his magic to a certain location before moving in, so I cornered him from the other side, cuffed him and the lad started yapping as if he had turned into a parrot or something."
This makes me look at Sirius, who is white with shock, but it's the tears that seem stuck in his eyes that confuse and concern me and I ask: "Sirius, who is that?" But the man shakes his head and says: "Don't question me, not me." Confusing me even more, while his scared tone worries his family into a joined hug as the man has been the one who has been trying to get the Order to include us in their meetings and inform us this whole time.
Dumbledore then scrapes his throat and says: "As Alastor already said, Mss. Granger, did our little guest confess everything, including that he has the ability to undo his work. I agreed with him he would not be sent to a holding cell if he were to come with me and do so. He was reluctant to do so, until I told him that we already have Arabella in custody and awaiting trial." He then turns to his prisoner and waves his wand.
The cuffs fall off the man's hands and Dumbledore, his tone stern enough he could give Professor McGonagall a run for her money, says: "Get to work, Mr. Dionus." And while I can't help but compare the name to that of the Greek god of wine and madness, does the man stand up and walk over to Sirius.
But before he can get to the man, who is actually looking at Dionus as if he is a Dementor or You-Know-Who himself, are Sora and Riku in front of their father and friend's father and with their Keyblade's drawn as Sora says: "Anything this man can do, we can. What is it he did?" And while Riku lifts his Keyblade a little more, does the man say: "I worked for Arabella Figg, is that good enough for you?"
But the man's cheek is apparently not welcomed by the duo – who I think would make the cutest couple – and Riku moves his Keyblade so that the tip is against the man's throat as he says: "Not even close. Be more specific or get burned, capish?" And the man seems to realize what magic hides inside the blade as he says:
"I put Black under an oath that forced him to convince Potter into a switch of Secret Keepers. And then one where Black would never be allowed to speak of this whole oath making thing happening in the first place. It was to make Black look like the criminal and make an end to the Potter line. It was all Figgy's plan."
All of us are shocked and James look at Sirius as he asks: "You – you didn't want – to switch?" But Sirius, who has turned away from Dionus and has his arms wrapped around his head protectively, is crying and whispers: "Don't ask me. Please, don't ask me about it. Please! Please, don't!" And the begging of the man really shocks the crap out of me as I have never seen this strong man look so weak, so amazingly defeated.
Feeling for Harry's dad, I hear Sora say: "Riku, do your thing. I'll keep our little guest under my sight." Riku nods and then says: "Sirius, please lie down on the table and keep your chest still. I'll do the rest, I promise." To which the man says: "Are you crazy? I'm the only one capable of breaking such oaths, you nitwit!"
But while Sora is this time the one to press the tip of his Keyblade close against the man's throat, does Riku retort coldly: "You break oaths, I release a person's heart of darkness." And this seems to silence the man as I hear Moody whisper: "Kind of forgot Black Junior did something similar with Potter Junior yesterday. Could have tried letting him do that before we caught our little criminal." And Dumbledore nods as I look at Riku.
Riku's POV
I've been told the entire story of how Harry ended up with the Muggles now – from Sirius being forced to make decisions he never would have otherwise, to the switch, to the betrayal of the Potters, to James being saved by the Weasley woman, to Harry surviving, to Pettigrew sending Sirius to Azkaban – and the whole story makes me want to puke more than the looks of the guy who says he can heal Sirius of his guilt.
Yet I know Sora and I know he trusts me and my methods more than some lankly old man who brought his dad this pain in the first place, something that warms my heart and makes me want to kiss him all over again. Shaking my head silently, hoping Sora won't notice, I aim my Keyblade at Sirius' heart, the man having gone to lie down on the table as I requested and silent tears of fear running down his face as I focus my powers.
Searching through all the dark abilities and powers I have been given since Ansem first allowed me off of Destiny Island, I find the power to enter one's heart, the ability given to me by my Mark of Mastery exam which allowed me to save my precious Sora from an eternal sleep. I pull it up in my heart, letting it consume every beat and every emotion it makes me feel before it slowly flows into my entire body.
Feeling my body glow with its power, I focus it to move through my Keyblade and with a small bit of it turned into a beam, connect my Keyblade to Sirius' heart. Feeling the connection in my own, I allow for the power and the connection to light my body up completely and feel myself disappearing from this world. And while it's a sensation that I haven't sensed in over three years, does it give me a renewed sense of strength.
Then, just like with Sora, do I feel myself soaring through the outer realms of Sirius' mindscape and with a strong focus, push the memory regarding the oaths taken to the center of Sirius' mind, while moving my non-physical body to fly past other memories and decisions made long ago by the man I now inhabit.
Feeling it align with Sirius' heart, I know the man can't feel any good emotions right now and think: "Sora, you and Kairi better keep the darkness out of Sirius' heart while I do this." And instantly, while the thought of my two closest and dearest friends makes me feel warmed up by a sense of light, am I proven right on my worries as a dark shadow seems to start biting and munching on one of the upcoming memories.
Allowing for my Keyblade to appear beside me, I use it's magic, along with a spinning twist maneuver, to push the shadow off the memory, which instantly evaporates the shadow. Focusing my mind on my target and end goal, I see many more shadows appear and, just like with the exam, move ready for battle.
Attacking them one after the other, I move in twists, turns, bows and arches to make sure I don't touch or damage the memories they are attacking and finally – with relief – see the dark memory it's all about. Turning with my head forward, I land on the memory and feel it linking together with the ground base of Sirius' heart.
Swishing my Keyblade in my hand, I focus on the technique I learned throughout my Exam and whisper: "Conquer the Darkness, return it to Light." And with that strike at the memory, my mind forcing the darkness of it to take the shape of a Heartless and be extracted from it, together with the power of the oaths taken.
The magic of the oaths apparently resist me, but I close my eyes to connect my mind with that of the Sirius in the memory and while whispering the same words he was forced to speak so long ago, do I push the magic of it out of me and into the Heartless, therefore breaking the oath without damaging the man's memory.
Finally the Heartless seems to have swallowed up all of the darkness from the memory and the Oath and I open my eyes. I look up and look at a Wizard Heartless the size of the Demon Tower I fought when trying to save Aqua and later Mickey. This reminds me of how Sora came to my rescue back then and the sense of Light I felt before resonates through me again. I smile as I even spot an aura of light starting to swirl around my Keyblade.
Looking at the enormous creature, I think: "I fought against these monsters several times over. Every time I needed Sora's help. Sora, stand by my side, lend me your Keyblade, the same way the Light of the Past and the Keyblade Wielders from long ago did you during the Keyblade War. Help me help your father free himself from this retched beast." And my smile widens when the Kingdom Key appears beside me, alight with the light of my friend's heart.
I take a deep breath and grin as Kairi's Keyblade, Destiny's Embrace, comes to appear on my other side, shining almost just as brightly. The Heartless then tries to attack me, but I aim my hand and both Keyblades form an X-shaped shield, blocking its attack. The Demon tower retreats and I call the weapons back to my side as I say: "Your Darkness is no match for the light that comes from the bond I share with my friends."
And I think: "All of my friends." My grin growing from confident to exhilarated when several other Keyblades also appear around me. Roxas' Oathkeeper and Oblivion, Xion's Kingdom Key, Ventus' Wayward Wind, Aqua's Master's Defender, Terra's Ends of the Earth, Mickey's Kingdom Key W and Lea's Flame Liberator. I tighten my hold on my own Braveheart Keyblade and dash for the Tower, the Keyblades following me in my pursuit.
And thanks to all of the blades that are able to strike at it from various points, thanks to all of the magic I am able to cast at it – which makes me break more and more from the memory each time I hit – and the fact that other Keyblades constantly block any attack it tries to strike at me, do I manage to weaken the Demon Tower in no time at all. I jump back, put a hand on my heart to focus on the light within and then motion for the Tower.
And at this do all of the other Keyblades strike at the Heartless, each of them alight with the Light that came from my own heart and destroying it. Seeing it light up and fade away, I feel the power of the oath break over Sirius' heart and mind and smile as I jump up, my Keyblade aimed high above me and the power of the breaking floor used as leverage to give me extra power as I jump away, once again soaring from memory to memory and out of Sirius' heart.
And the last things I see while leaving his form is the Keyblades turning to bolls of light and actually merging with the heart. Landing with a backwards flip, I keep myself still with one hand on my knee, my other leg under me and my other hand extended, the tips of my fingers scraping over the wooden floor. Then I see Sirius open his eyes with a shock and he grabs his heart as he sits up, his wide eyes proving me I did exactly what was needed.
Feeling proud and exhilarated that I got to help my beloved Sora's dad get over such a terrible event and feeling sure that the way that the Keyblades turned to light will help him feel better, I stand up, lie my Keyblade on my shoulder and turn to the strange man named Dionus as I say: "You can go back to that alley of yours. Mission complete." And Sora shouts as he hears this, hugging me in thanks before hugging his dad.
Still feeling the warm, strong arms of the one I have loved for so long, for so many years, I shake my head and think: "Keep yourself together, Riku. Sora isn't ready. His family needs him now. If I tell him how I feel, how I've been feeling for him all these years, he'll just want to make up for lost time and that's something he should do with his parents, not me. I just can't tell him any of this – heh – not yet, at least."
I then sigh as I have been desperate to tell Sora since I heard about his possible future mate, this news having given me a very short sense of relief and happiness when I heard it. And yet, the matter of his family needing him is something I know Sora considers more important in his heart, even if the boy is kind and caring enough to put me first if he were to know that I have been loving him from the sidelines for 4 ½ years.
I look at the happy family, Sirius releasing a few tears of relief over his healed state and think: "As long as I can protect Sora and keep that family close together, I'll happily take his grateful hugs as my rewards. I've been friends with him for over eighteen years of my life, I can keep that role, even if Sora were to never know how I really feel for him. I'd rather be part of his life than not at all. And there really is nothing I won't do to make sure I stay part of that life."
And while I try not to cry at this idea, do I know that it will be only a matter of time before I can get the final piece of confirmation on whether or not this decision is the right one. Once Sora turns sixteen in this world and gets his dreams, will I know whether or not he and I are destined to be friends or perhaps even more. Yet at the same time do I know one thing; if Sora is meant for another, it might just tempt me to fall back into Darkness.
Sirius' POV
I just cannot believe the amazing feeling in my heart as Riku leaves my body. Having carried the guilt that came with the oaths I had been forced into for the last fourteen years, I now feel as if all of it has disappeared with one fell strike and I have no doubt that Riku changed my emotions into something his Keyblade was able to slay. I even feel an incredible sense of light resonate within my heart, warming me up from within.
Feeling proud of the young man that is so obviously head over heels with my eldest, I can only think of the amazing couple they will make and think: "Please let last night's dream be a preview for Sora's Dream Week. Someone who can use Light magic in such a pure and powerful form is just perfect for my little boy." While holding both my boys close, both of them having obviously been worried about me as I slept.
I then look at Riku and see an acceptance in his eyes that makes me send him a raised eyebrow, but the young man seems lost in his own world and so I decide to pull James into the group hug and then to quickly change the subject as I ask: "Kairi, aren't you planning on any new back-up to arrive anytime soon?"
And I send a quick glance Alastor and Albus' way, letting them know to get rid of our unwanted little guest before these new guests arrive as I just can't stand the idea of this creep of a man anywhere near my precious family or their friends. The two men nod and Alastor grabs the man, who looks shocked and says: "Hey, I haven't even –." But Alastor says: "Yeah, and now you won't need to. Black's expression says it all."
"But you said I could join the Order." The man says, a statement that would have terrified me if not for the light still resonating within me, calming my fear and Alastor laughs as he says: "You need to get our ears checked. I said you could join us at Order Headquarters to right your wrongs. Nothing more." The man seems angry at hearing this, obviously angry over not being able to sneak into our group and then he says:
"But you don't understand! I hate him as much as you all do. He told us he would make Knockturn alley as famous as Diagon, but he's been gone for years and now there still are only dark families going there. And they still just use us to dump all of their hidden dark secrets, they hardly respect any of us, regardless of the risks we take. It's still the same crap. His words were lies and I want to have a chance and fight him this time around."
But then Harry stops the man dead and says: "If you're so determined, say his name." Everyone looks shocked, my heart skipping a beat as I watch my son stare the man down and the man falters and stutters as he asks: "Say – say what?" And Harry, who looks more serious than I would ever want him, says: "You constantly said he or him, you never once said his name. Say it. Say Voldemort and I'll know you mean it."
The man now tries to look around for an exit and Harry motions the twins, who nod and each set themselves in front of the door to the staircase and the fireplace, both of them with their wands in hand, making the man sweat. I also notice Tonks and Kingsley pull out their wands, yet Harry then actually walks up close to the disgusting man, his changed looks making it so he can stare him right in the eye as he says:
"Show your left arm." Making the man whiten like he suddenly got hit by a snowstorm. Instantly I realize what kind of man we let into our group, what kind of man is now standing only inches from my youngest son and shout: "Obliviate!" Focusing on all the man's memories of today, from Dumbledore and Alastor finding him to him trying to finally free me of my forced oaths as well as Sora and Riku showing him their special weapons and powers.
Pulling all of the man's memories out of his mind and into my wand, I curse myself mentally as I cast another, silent spell, destroying the memories inside my wand. The man himself is now dazed and wobbly on his own legs as Albus gives Alastor one signal and Harry nods at the twin at the door, who steps away. The elder red-haired teen, instead, goes to stand with Harry, aiming his wand at the man as he is guided away.
Alastor leads the man out of the room and I sigh as I say: "Well spotted, kiddo. He actually almost had even me fooled." But Harry shakes his head and says: "Voldemort isn't stupid. He wouldn't be able to make Light people go to Knockturn alley, that's not even possible if he wins this war. That bastard was lying all along. Well, except about that whole thing of the Purebloods dumping their dark crap in Knockturn Alley, I know that's indeed true."
This makes me want to hit myself on the head as I could have realized this myself, but then Albus says: "At least now we're one enemy less and Voldemort will think twice about trying to get his men into our hide-out." But while the man seems optimistic, does Harry whisper softly: "Or so we hope." Making me grimace as I am sure the kid is remembering Pettigrew and how that man had us all tricked for years on end.
Sora's POV
I look at my little brother, who has the same green-blue eyes as myself but who now has dark green eyes as the anger still runs through him at the idea of a traitor in our midst and hate that he saw what not even the trained Aurors did and that he was the first to take notice of those two fatal flaws in the man's acting.
I then look around and think: "Is this how it usually goes? That my brother is the only one thinking straight in such a dangerous situation and that he is the only one taking action? Man, I really hope mum and dad will put an end to this." And then it seems as if dad and I share a mind as he turns to Harry and says:
"Harry, I'm glad you didn't do anything to stop that man and that you didn't outright attack him, but you still scared me, young man, and not by revealing the bastard to be a traitor. You scared me when you proved to us he was lying and you still went and stood so close to him. He could have easily drawn his wand, Harry. By standing as close as you did, you made it almost impossible for us to block any curse he might have thrown at you."
My little brother now looks down and says: "I'm sorry, dad, my instincts took over." And the man sighs as he says: "I'll just go with the idea that you got those instincts from Figgy and those Dursleys and leave it at that. We'll discuss you breaking rule # 2 – never purposely endanger yourself – when we're alone, okay?"
Harry now really looks down, apparently realizing that dad's right, but then Dumbledore says: "Sirius, Harry just –." But dad interrupts him and says: "I will not raise my son to think he can march into dangerous situations and that no one will care if he does, Albus. If I punish Harry for it, I show I care and that's important to him. Rewarding an accomplishment should never exclude the punishment for someone endangering themselves."
The man nods and Harry shows dad a small smile, the blue now back in his eyes and the brown shining with his emotions, even if it's only a single line around his iris. Sirius smiles, pulling Harry close and holding him in such a way it proves that he is no longer angry with the boy as he says: "We'll let Kairi discuss with her teacher who to send next and we'll discuss how to punish Harry for breaking the rules tonight."
Everyone looks at the girl and she asks: "Does anyone know what the next chapter's about?" And Lupin takes the book from the other end of the table, having put his own wand away after Moody left, pages through the first few chapters as he says: "It seems to be about us picking Harry up from the Dursleys." The girl nods and says: "Someone who likes to travel then. I think I know a good person. Give me a second."
And we all smile at the girl turns, so that her back is to the table and then she makes the same motions as when she called Master Yen Sid to summon Ariel and Erik. Feeling confident that my best friend and Keyblade Sensei will know who to send next, do I motion over to Harry and whisper: "I'm proud of you as well, little bro, but I do agree with dad. You scared me as well." And Harry smiles at me as we all wait patiently while Kairi converses her plans with Master Yen Sid.
Bye-bye, Dionus,
So this chapter actually got a huge change as I decided to change the Heartless that came from the darkness of the contract. I definitely liked the whole idea with the Giant Wizard, but I wanted to give Riku his chance to beat those stupid Demon Towers and having him use his friends Keyblades the same way Sora used the Light of the Past just put a huge smile on my face. And I already know that that smile isn't going away anytime soon.
It's Lea time,
Venquine1990
