DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
A/N: I must admit, for the first time ever, that I'm having a horribly hard time writing the final chapter of this story. I just can't seem to get that perfect ending . . . but here's hoping the chocolate induced coma I'm working myself into will help me somehow.
Chapter Twenty-One - Harry's Purpose, Or Lack Thereof
Harry cracked one eye open slowly and groaned. He lifted his head from the top of the table and ran a hand across the back of his mouth. Straightening in the chair, he blinked and glanced across the pub to where Remus stood behind the bar. The older wizard arched an eyebrow and shook his head sadly.
"I don't suppose you want breakfast?" The werewolf asked, chuckling in amusement as Harry's cheeks paled and flushed an unattractive shade of green. Turning around, he began to take inventory of the bottles lining the narrow shelves while watching the raven-haired wizard in the mirror running the length of the wall. "That's the fourth time this week."
Harry wrapped his arms around his waist and leaned forward again, resting his forehead on the cool wood of the round table. Closing his eyes tightly, he internally promised himself he'd never drink again and bit back the moan of pain that threatened to spill past his lips. "Third," he corrected quietly.
"I did the exact same thing when I left Hogwarts," Sirius called as he came through the swinging door from the kitchen. In his right hand was a mug with steam rising from it, the smell of lemon and apple accompanying the drifting wisps of warm air. "Celebrated for an entire week until I realized I didn't have a job anymore."
Pressing his fingers against his temples, the raven-haired wizard carefully attempted to sit up. "Thanks, Sirius." He whispered, watching as the thick cup was set on the table before him. Moving his hands away from his head, he wrapped his fingers tentatively around the mug.
"I've been there before," the older wizard said wisely, slipping into the chair across from Harry and folding his arms before him. Sighing heavily, he watched the raven-haired wizard lift the cup to his mouth and take a cautious sip. "However, I can honestly say that I've never spent half a night crying into a bottle of Rouge Rum and mumbling incoherently; I'm more of a happy drunk."
"Hah!" Remus yelped with a laugh as he swung around and leveled a finger on the other wizard. "I can remember you crying into a glass of Fire Whiskey on more then one occasion." Shaking his head, the werewolf absently began to wipe the top of the bar with a rag.
Face flaming red, Sirius sat up quickly and accidentally bumped the table, causing Harry to burn his lips on the warm potion he was attempting to drink. "Liar!" Screeched the dark-haired wizard, snapping his mouth closed when the emerald-eyed wizard sitting across from him moaned and slapped a hand over his mouth before lurching to his feet and staggering in the direction of the bathroom. "Sorry, Harry!"
"I'm sure your yelling isn't helping him." Remarked Remus, striding out from behind the bar and walking toward his partner. Both wizards winced as the sound of gagging floated down the hall. Shaking his head unhappily, the werewolf dropped into the chair Harry had abandoned and arched an eyebrow. "Well, what do you suggest?"
"Less Rouge Rum?" Sirius offered, brow drawing down.
"He can't go on like this." Remus stated, picking up the lemon flavoured potion and rising. He headed in the direction of the kitchen, pouring the contents of the cup down the sink before walking stealthily down the hall and tapping gently on the bathroom door. "Are you okay, Harry?"
Harry exhaled deeply and placed a wet cloth over his face. He froze as he heard the lock click and the door open, pressing the back of his head against the tub he was leaning on. Reaching up, he pulled the cloth free and opened his eyes. "I'll be fine," he muttered, accepting the hand Remus offered him.
"Here, it's the last one." Remus said with a smile, offering Harry a small vial. Repressing the knowing grin, he crossed his arms and watched as the raven-haired wizard peered at the contents skeptically. "It's a hangover potion."
"You had hangover potion and you didn't tell me?" Harry grumbled, popping the cork with his thumb and tossing the vial's contents back. Swallowing quickly, he placed the empty vial next to Remus' elbow and closed his eyes, waiting to feel the potion take affect. "We lost a day of travel for nothing."
"Sirius and I only get to see you twice a year, I'm not sorry for taking advantage of the situation." Remus replied with a smirk. "Feeling better?"
Harry thought the question over before giving a slight bob of his head and trailing Remus down the hall into the kitchen. He leaned in the doorway and watched as the werewolf began to organize the kitchen, setting dishes and plates aside to be washed while humming softly. "Well, you're going to be seeing a lot of me now. Is there anything you want me to do this morning?"
"Take BlackHeart out, Merlin knows he could use the exercise." Remus suggested, throwing Harry's black and red cloak at him. He frowned when the younger wizard ran his fingers over the Red Lion crest woven onto the chest of the garment before tossing it back to him.
"It's warm enough out that I won't need one," Harry said, the excuse sounding lame to even his ears. Offering the older wizard a shrug, he pushed through the back door and trudged across the slush filled courtyard.
A cool wind nipped at the tips of his ears but the warm fingers of the sun heated the dark clothes he wore. Rubbing his fingers together, Harry dragged the barn doors open wide, spilling light into the dark interior. His arrival was greeted with several happy snorts and a spine tingling screech from the hippogriff attempting to chew his way through the barn wall. Grimacing at the damage BlackHeart had caused, the raven-haired wizard shook his head and hooked his fingers through the halter the animal wore.
"Silly beast." He murmured affectionately, giving the hippogriff's beak a brisk rub. Grinning as BlackHeart crooned, he grabbed his saddle and settled it lightly upon the animal's wide back. It took him minutes to finish tacking the hippogriff up and lead him from the barn, barely managing to avoid a waving wing as the animal danced around on two legs. "Come on, boy."
When the hippogriff settled, he flipped the reins over his head and mounted quickly, checking the girth before sliding his foot back into the iron and turning the animal's head in the direction of the main road. He waved goodbye to Sirius as the older wizard appeared in the back door, smiling as the man gave an exaggerated wave before going back inside. Laughing softly, Harry stretched his legs and rolled his shoulders, settling comfortably into the saddle.
The pair wandered down the main road; BlackHeart carefully picking his way around overly large puddles and Harry eyeing the townspeople hurrying about their business. His eyes caught sight of a familiar shop, the small one which Draco and Blaise had dragged him into. The one in which he had found the Hogwarts blade. Chewing on his bottom lip, he drew BlackHeart to a halt and stared at the store thoughtfully. Hogwarts issued other gear, not just swords.
Out of curiosity and the chance of finding something he'd missed, the raven-haired wizard slid off BlackHeart and gave him the command to stay, idly dropping the reins over the railing of the boardwalk. He prowled into the small store silently, his shoulders tensing as the bell dangling above the door tinkled loudly in warning. Within seconds of the sound, the shopkeeper appeared behind the counter and stared at Harry before grimacing. "You again? I thought you promised never to come back?" The man hissed in exasperation, he paled as Harry arched an eyebrow and dropped a hand to his hip, wrapping his tanned fingers around the hilt of the short sword he wore in place of the long blade.
"I lied." Harry purred succinctly, drifting further into the store. Trying to press down the urge to break something just for the hell of it, he scanned the shop for anything familiar or similar to what he had carried at Hogwarts. His fingers slid over and around the hilts of small daggers, searching for the small crest engraved within the metal and finding nothing. The few bows piled on one wall were all to shabby and rough looking to have originated in the armory of Hogwarts.
He was heading toward the doorway in defeat when he stilled and turned around, heading straight toward the wizard standing behind the counter. Curling a lip in threat, Harry placed his hands on the counter and slowly leaned over, searching the contents of the glass case. Licking his lips, he waved his finger back and forth over the glass while concentrating on the metal of each ring. Simple gold and silver bands set with diamonds and emeralds were most likely not what he was looking for.
"Bring out those three rings," he ordered sharply, jabbing his finger at three plain bands set off to the side. He himself had once worn a copper band with his name inscribed on the inside and a small lion on the outside until he had lost it. It was a graduating gift given to all students when they moved from training to full duty soldiers. The first ring was just a ring, nothing more than a golden band but the second . . . the second was an iron band with a griffin sketched into the metal
"Colin Creevey." He read the name carved into the metal and scrunched his face up, trying to recall the face that went with the name. His first thought was to contact Dumbledore and give him the information, his second was that he no longer reported to the old wizard and now had a useless piece of information. Shaking his head, he placed the band back on the glass counter and stalked from the small store, pretending he didn't hear the relieved sigh that escaped the shopkeeper.
BlackHeart greeted him with a grunt, flicking his tail as Harry vaulted into the saddle. A slight bump of his heels had the animal springing into the air, climbing steadily with even strokes of his wings. The cold wind was stronger when they got above the buildings, the wind picking up slightly and pushing the hippogriff off course. Below them, the Wolves Run came into view, its small sign rocking back and forth in the faint breeze.
BlackHeart didn't need to be forced to the earth, easily folding his wings and spiraling toward the slushy ground. Landing neatly, he tucked his wings and walked calmly to the barn, halting just outside the open doors. Harry swung his foot over the animal's dark rump and dropped to the ground, spraying slush and mud everywhere with his impact. Glancing down at his dirty pants, he groaned and pressed his forehead to his saddle before straightening and leading BlackHeart toward his stall.
After he'd stripped the hippogriff of his gear, he gave him a thorough cleaning; pulling his tail, shining his beak and hooves, carefully rubbing away the loosening winter coat. When he was done with BlackHeart, he left him standing in the aisle while mucking out the stall the hippogriff had occupied and repairing the wall. "Be a good boy," he ordered as he closed the small door behind the animal. Smiling softly, he gave the dark hippogriff a slap on the withers and headed into the pub.
He bypassed the back door in favour of entering through the front, stopping at the bar and picking up a dark red bottle before continuing into the kitchen. The sight of Sirius sitting at the table plowing through a plate of eggs was stomach turning, but he sank down across from him anyway. "I have no purpose in life." Nodding as if to confirm his statement, he wrapped his hand around the neck of the Rouge Rum bottle and unscrewed the lid.
"At least weaken it," Sirius commented, pausing with his fork half way to his mouth. Shaking his head sadly, he watched his godson tip the bottle back and take a hearty swallow. "I'm going to call Remus."
"Please do. One should never drink alone after all." Harry mumbled, wincing as the rum burned its way down the back of his throat. Plunking the bottle down on the table, he crossed his arms and tipped his head back. "I don't have a job. I don't have any friends. I don't have a place to live. All of my clothes either have the Red Lion crest on them or are Red Lion colours. I now have no purpose."
Sirius reached out and grabbed the bottle Harry held, pulling it slowly across the table and screwing the lid back on. "What do you have?" He asked, attempting to divert the raven-haired wizard's attention away from the bottle of Rouge Rum.
"I have a hippogriff, a bunch of weapons, and a pack of werewolves." Harry muttered, extending a hand and wiggling his fingers for the bottle. Ignoring the look on the older wizard's face, he worked the lid free of the Rouge Rum and took a long sip before burping and chuckling softly. Behind him, the door squeaked open and then closed quietly.
"That's all?" Sirius asked, looking over his godson's head at the individual who had just walked in through the back door. A smile curved his lips as he picked his fork back up and began to eat, trying not to give away the identity of the individual who had just entered the pub.
"That's all you think you have, Harry Potter? I'll tell you right now, you're wrong. You have friends who love you and would follow you anywhere, you have a pair of godfathers who'd try and move the earth if you asked it of them, and you have me."
A/N: Thanks to everyone who took the time to read and review! The final chapter of this story will be posted on Sunday April 22, sometime after 9pm. I had originally planned on posting this chapter last Saturday but due to complications decided to postpone its release.
JediMasterWithAPen – I'm sorry you don't like wolf Harry but it does add to the plot, makes the love story better in the end because they have this huge thing to get around.
NinjaoftheDarkness – I have a friend who just got out of there; while she may not have enjoyed her time, she certainly met a lot of interesting people!
GryffieGurl – lol, Draco going by himself would've been one huge disaster after another (looking back now, I can't believe I made him appear that incompetent). CV, eh? lol, I think I like it.
TorringMay – Harry did say they were a family, I suppose having him leave would have been very upsetting. And Draco . . . well, he is terribly adorable.
Wolven Spirits – Yah, she doesn't end up looking like a complete $# in this one, which is surprising considering how I usually portray her.