A/N: As that I am working late on this, I really haven't much to say, except,
As always,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Go back and read the one before this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER
Arabella all but stormed into the great hall the next morning, coming to stop next to the man who sat unperturbed on one of the benches as he read from a copy of the Daily Prophet propped up in front of him while he broke bite sized pieces off of a muffin and popping them in his mouth.
"Where have you been?" Arabella demanded.
"Here." Came the short, formal answer.
"I have been looking all over the castle for you. I tried your room, the library, back to your room, my room, Harry's room..."
"You didn't try here." came the equally unimpressed observation.
"Why ARE you here?" Arabella fumed at him.
Voldemort turned to her for the first time since her arrival. "In general or at this moment? Or are you questioning my whole existence overall? I mean, is this something of a metaphysical inquiry for you, or just something that struck your fancy this morning?"
"I'm going to strike you in about a minute." Arabella warned. "We are suppose to be meeting with the Headmaster this morning."
Voldemort pointed casually to the other side of the room.
Arabella followed his indication, and sure enough, seated across the room was Dumbledore with several of the staff having breakfast.
Collapsing onto the bench next to him, Arabella gave him a narrow stare. "You couldn't have just TOLD me that?"
"You never gave me a chance." Voldemort replied innocently. "Besides, you were much more interested in my existence five seconds ago then Dumbledore's."
"Trust me, it's a short lived interest." she all but sneered at him.
Voldemort gave her a small frown as he took another bite of the rapidly disappearing muffin, then went back to his morning paper.
"Why aren't you more...," Arabella tried to search for the right word.
"Agitated?" Voldemort offered helpfully past a mouthful of muffin. "Worried? Concerned? Fidgeting?"
"All of the above."
Voldemort shrugged. "There's no point. It would be wasted time and energy to worry over something I can't solve because I don't have all the pieces yet. The problem could be something very simple to fix."
"Or it could be something very hard to fix."
"The point is, we don't know. So stop worrying about it. Personally, I find concentrating on our bet far more interesting at the moment."
Arabella couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face before she fought it back down. "Still so sure you're going to win?"
Voldemort looked up from his paper. "We're about to find out."
Arabella followed his glance. At the other table Dumbledore was bidding the others goodbye as he got up and started for the doors to the hall. But to Arabella's surprise, seeing them, he stopped and headed towards their table.
"I understand you wished to see me this morning." The Headmaster greeted them.
"How did you know?" Arabella ask.
Voldemort frowned at her question. "Because I sent him a message via the house-elves last night after our talk." he replied. "Did you think I would leave something this important to hoping we might run into the man some time today?"
Something else you just happened to neglect to mention?" Arabella asked as the man next to her rose.
"Again, you never gave me the chance." he replied, succinctly cutting off her response as he popped the last bite of his muffin into her mouth. "Come along, Arabella. Mustn't keep the Headmaster waiting."
Out in the hall, Harry quickly disappeared down a side corridor as the three left the great hall. From his position at the doorway he had had a clear view of Arabella and Voldemort without being able to be seen himself. He had watched the exchange with a growing sense of uneasy, not liking the way it appear to him Voldemort had been slowly edging ever closer to his Godmother. Nor did he like anymore the fact that Arabella had not been moving away from him or discouraging his advances in any way. She had, in fact, smiled at the man.
Smiled!
What was she doing? She was engaged to Sirius. She had no business smiling at some other man. Especially Voldemort. Even if he was currently in his godfather's body. Arabella knew that. She knew who she was smiling at.
Harry frowned at the trio as he watched them walk down the hallway, Voldemort following after his godmother like a puppy. The man bared a lot of watching in his opinion. Maybe he was working on some new plan to try and sway Arabella over to his side of things...whatever that was at the moment. Weren't they all suppose to be on the same side after all? So why did the dark lord need to get close to his godmother?
Harry shook his head. He didn't like the way things were shaping up. But for now, he resolved, he would simply watch and wait and see what Voldemort did next.
An hour later the two emerged from the Headmaster's office already in the depths of yet another argument.
"That was a smile." Voldemort stated in a terse voice.
"Oh, it was not. The man's lip twitched."
"A smirk then. The point is, he found it amusing."
"He did nothing of the sort." Arabella replied firmly. "He offered to help. You were the one who was being difficult."
Dumbledore had sat through Voldemort's explanation of his problem, taking in everything the man said in contemplative silence. In the end he had ask Voldemort if he would be willing now to tell him the spell he had used to manage the taking over of Sirius' body, as well as any changes he had made to it so Dumbledore could study it more closely. When Voldemort had visibly hesitated, Dumbledore reminded him patiently that if they were to work together, they had to start trusting each other, and this was as good a place as any. He went on to explain that if he was to help solve the problem, he had to know what caused it, which required his studying the spell in its entirety. If he was forced to first continue to waste precious time just looking for the spell, the time wasted could well be all that was needed for Voldemort's powers to be completely destroyed by whatever was eating away at them now.
When again Voldemort had hesitated, Dumbledore had offered a compromise of Voldemort giving the spell to Professor Lupin, who was the best wizard he knew of at configuring and reconfiguring spells. Several silent moments ticked by in the office while Voldemort considered the offer, never once taking his eyes off the old man the entire time.
But in the end he had agreed, albeit begrudging, as he conceded that Lupin was indeed very 'skilled for his level' in the manipulation of standard spells.
Arabella had all but stood up and applauded the man for how well he could compliment and insult someone, all in the same sentence.
But the current discourse lay solely on Dumbledore's exact reaction to Voldemort's predicament.
"I was not being difficult, I was being cautious. And with good reason. The old werewolf could get his teeth into something he can't handle. And I have no desire to try and sort that mess out."
"Lupin is perfectly capable of poking about your spell without managing to mess it up...unlike someone else."
Voldemort stopped dead in the corridor and turned to face her. Arabella met his glare with a sweet smile.
"And in case you need a refresher course on the subject," she continued amiably, "this is a smile."
"I know a smile when I see one." he stated curtly. "Which is why I can state quite confidently that that was the old man's reaction to my...predicament."
"It was nothing of the sort." Arabella shot back, continuing down the hallway. "If anything, I'll give you 'surprise'. But that's it."
"He smiled in surprise?" Voldemort retorted, hurrying after her. "You expect anyone to buy that?"
Arabella stopped and turned back to him. "Well why don't you stick a price on it, sit it on a shelf, and see? Because I have other things to do right now."
"I won our bet, Arabella." He called after her as she continued down the hall. "And I'll let you know what I want shortly."
Arabella merely waved her hand to him over her back as she walked off.
It was only a few days later that Arabella heard from the Headmaster that Lupin thought he had figured out the solution to the problem and they could discuss it the next morning in his office.
With Orion still under the head nurse's care and, therefore, not released to resume his own research, Arabella was still taking over his share of the work. Although with the spell more or less now out in the open, the focus had shifted once again to the wizard in the north.
Getting up early, Arabella had chosen research in the library over breakfast once again. But halfway through her morning session a plate of eggs, bacon, and a biscuit were slowly slid across the table to her.
Slowly raising her eyes, Arabella found herself facing Voldemort, who was by then placing a cup of orange juice next to the plate. The smile on his face was pure self-satisfaction.
"What is this?" she ask.
"You never eat." he replied, sitting across from her at the table.
"You realize that whole statement is ridiculous."
"Is it?" he ask, unfolding a napkin and handing it to her. "Then allow me to rephrase it. I never see you eat. You are never at breakfast. You are never at lunch. And you are rarely at dinner. Even your charge shows up in the dining hall some times. But rarely ever with you."
"And from all of this you assess I have found some way to survive without food?"
"Maybe not entirely without. But if you're on some sort of diet, I can tell you you are wasting your time."
Arabella frowned at him.
"It isn't necessary." he emphasized. "I've never met a person less in need of losing weight." he maintained, edging the plate towards her. "Now go on. Eat something. I won't leave until you do."
Arabella picked up the fork. "There's incentive." she murmured.
That same self-satisfied smile crossed his face.
Arabella took a mouthful of eggs before she stopped suddenly. "It's not poison is it?" she ask.
The smile quickly disappeared. "You honestly believe I would...?"
Arabella nearly choked past a giggle. "It's a joke!" she stated, coughing into her napkin. "Honestly. You're so serious all the..." But she stopped suddenly, all amusement draining out of her features at the same sounding word. She quickly turned back to her plate. "Thank you for bringing this. I don't get to the dining hall very often, and I was..."
A hand suddenly laid itself over her's. Startled she looked up. The face looking back at her could have been Sirius' for all the expression in it. More than she had ever seen in Voldemort's before.
"Arabella," he said quietly, "he's all right. Nothing is going to happen to him. In fact, he's probably safer right now than any of us."
"As long as you decide." she replied, a small kernel of anger growing in her at the reminder. "As long as we don't do something you don't approve of, or like, or feel is necessary."
The pressure on her hand increased. "No." he stated firmly. "I won't hurt him. He's perfectly safe. Perfectly unharmed."
"Then let me talk to him. You haven't allowed that in days. Prove to me he's all right."
Voldemort sat back in the seat, withdrawing his hand as he crossed his arms over his chest. "What was it Dumbledore said the other day in his office? We need to start trusting each other?"
Arabella silently cursed at the man. He had managed to turn the tables on her, leaving her with no response to his declaration. The only thing she could think to do was change the subject.
"Do you know that Sirius had a similar thing happen to him only a few weeks ago as what you're facing?" she ask.
Voldemort continued to stare back at her across the table. "Yes." he answered without a single note of surprise.
Arabella looked up from the table abruptly. "You do? How?"
Voldemort turned to her with the same small smile. "Deatheaters were involved, no? Ergo, I must know something about it. Isn't that pretty much how that equation works?"
Arabella frowned at his statement. "You don't need to sound so pleased with yourself." she commented. "I just wandered if the two might somehow be related."
"I suppose we'll find out in an hour or so."
Arabella studied him for a moment. "You don't seem the least bit worried."
"Worry is a wasted emotion. Things either are or they aren't. Those are the only two possibilities I deal with."
"Pretty empirical living standards." she replied. "Do you deal with any other less than concrete standards?"
"Indeed." he stated with a slight smile. "I believe in hope." The smile never faded as he got to his feet. "I'll see you in the Headmaster's office in an hour." He stated with a slight bow of his head. "Do enjoy your breakfast, Arabella." he added as he turned to leave.
Q&A
Family Relations
MasterLupin:
Well by God's will the Atlantic is still clear of anything threating. I went to Ireland in 2001, for only a week (wasn't nearly long enough but I had school; what's one to do?) Ireland is truly unique, loved it. Cliffs of More were the best (It was all great)!
Any way about matching wits with you, I'm not trying to shove you of any ground, I just like having an author who responds to my comments and I can bounce story predictiond off of and get a responce; as well as go into character analasis.
For the story plot: This chapter says to me either Voldermort is dieing, or the magic cure potion didn't workout after all. I simply don't know with which to go with at this point, although I am leaning toward Voldermort dieing. I think this chapter also shows that Harry is unable to lose his belife (for he has lived with it for so long) that he must protect thous who like him, and not let it be the other way around; because bad things always happen to people who like/love him. Shown by his determination to protect Arabla from Voldermort, and not let her protect him, as Arabla has told him repeadly.
To explain why Harry might think Talon evil/a Voldermort support and or with Voldermort's group of people hating everything not them. It comes from Remus' conversation with Harry. "He told his little brother he knew what I was, that he had proof, and that Sirius could either stop hanging around with 'the werewolf and his gang', or Orion would go to their father and explain to him the company his younger son was keeping."
The thing that I think Harry sees here is the later part of this sentince in which Orinon will tell thier father that Sirius hangs out with werewolves as a punishment for not stoping his asotiation. This implys that the father dosn't like werewolves, and Harry, I think, will not make the contection with Talon not wanting his son in danger, and Talon hating werewolves. The negitive conotation of Talon will/can be futhered by Harry finding out some of the thing that Talon has done. Which we are lead to belive were done for good, but when looked at out of context( as Harry often sees thing as the context is not given) look prety bad. When Harry learns these things it will cement his view of Talon as a bad/hatefull old man of past times who tend to go with Voldermort.
On a side note: Were Orion's kids in the house with Harry and orion just had them hidden?
Can't say much about this hurricane season. Things never really get rolling until late August. I mean, Andrew struck in late August, and he was the first that year. And Charly struck August 13th. So we never say never here in Florida.
Well, it's my first vacation in over 15 years, so I am sort of looking forward to it.
Oh, Dear, I totally understand. And I love your predictions. I actually use them to see how well I am getting my point across. I mean, if you are way off base, I figure I'm being a little too convoluted in my story line and I need to lighten up a bit. If you're predicting things like you're reading my notes, I'm being too obvious. You're a great measure of how I'm doing story-wise.
Hmmmmmmm..., too convoluted, I think this time. No, Voldemort is not dying. Just seriously inconvenienced. And several people thought this related back to when Sirius nearly lost his magic. No. Totally separate incidents. Totally unrelated.
As for Harry, that's a bit tougher. And that situation will explain itself shortly. Think of it this way. Harry is fully expecting to see Sirius and Arabella married. Therefore, in his eyes, she is off-limits to the opposite sex. Now you have said opposite sex paying her attention, and he doesn't much care for it.
The whole thing with that sentence is that Orion figured that, like everyone else, his father would see his son hanging around with a werewolf as a dangerous thing and end that relationship. And true, Harry is seeing the whole situation out of context and that could color his view of his soon-to-be grandfather. But keep in mind, Talon is no hugs and kisses, over-night stays grandfather either. The man is all business. He loves his family very much, he's just not very emotional about it. In other words...he's a man.
Kids in the house? Nope. They and 'Mom' were off with the grandparents having a lovely little visit.
Skahducky:
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.
If you don't mind me asking, what part of Book V is the 'bad part,' and who's your favorite character? I think you implied that it was Sirius; he's my favorite character too.
Now that you mentioned relationships between the characters, I did see how much things have changed in this chapter. Arabella was much more amicable with Voldemort...at least once they began talking. Voldemort was being very understanding, and even Harry didn't react as drastically as he might have at the thought that Voldemort was in Arabella's room. I think maybe the relationship between Voldemort and Dumbledore is about to change too.
Anyway, this is a great chapter. Please udpate soon!
No offense taken, Dear. Truly.
The 'bad part' for me was, indeed, Sirius' 'death'. I saw it as pointless hype for the book. An ill-conceived 'shocker' which Rowling maintains was necessary. Have yet to see that bared out. But Sirius was my favorite character and I just sort of lost interest in the story after that 'incident'.
The dynamics of the relationships in this story are really what move it. And they are shifting all the time. The only person still on a fairly even keel because he keeps himself so well separated from all those dynamics, is Orion. But things are about to change for him as well. And before this story is over he will have had to make some very hard decisions where his two best friends are concerned.
As for Arabella, she's mostly being cautious right now. She knows that somewhere deep inside that body, Sirius still exists, but at Voldemort's whim. But she's also all too aware that the man she interacts with on nearly a daily bases is not the Voldemort she remembers. And that she is very much seeing instead the man Tom Riddle could have become had he not become Lord Voldemort. And remember that that man is a charming, charismatic, likable person. If he weren't, he could never have swayed so many people over to his way of thinking.
Voldemort is currently just being his naturally charming self, while keeping his goals firmly in sight. Don't underestimate the man. He still has plans in mind, he just fails to see why the road has to be so...bumpy. A few smooth patches can be nice for a while.
Don't be so sure Harry's reaction was placid to finding Voldemort in Arabella's room. He's watching and waiting now more than anything. Make no mistake, he is none too please with the amount of attention Voldemort is lavishing on his godmother. As far as he is concerned, Arabella is Sirius', and Voldemort needs to take a few steps back.
As for the relationship between Voldemort and Dumbledore, that is pretty much a constant. Voldemort's suspicious and Dumbledore is being understanding if not whimsical little self. Not much change there.
All reviews are as of 08/19/2006.
And remember;
(I'm having some plumbing work done in my house, so this is oh so appropriate to me right now.)
A brain surgeon has a leaky faucet, so he calls the plumber. The plumber comes and works for fifteen minutes and hands the doctor a bill for $90.00.
The doctor is outraged, and tells the plumber 'This is ridiculous! That's $360.00 per hour. I'm a brain surgeon and even I don't make that much!'
The plumber smiles at him and replies, 'I know. I didn't make that much when I was a brain surgeon either.'