Chapter 16 – Wrong Decision

Riddick's unblinking gaze did not waver from the scarred face of Moody. He lifted the bird with the pink hair up a bit more under his chin and tightened his arm to keep her from wriggling out of his grip.

He did not need his heightened instincts to tell him which of the three men facing him with their wands brandished was the most dangerous adversary in the room.

The old warrior had so many scars criss-crossing his face that his mouth looked more like a diagonal gash than a human mouth. A large part of his nose was just missing, and the large, round and electric blue eye kept rolling crazily in every direction beneath his mane of grey hair. Riddick was not going to let himself get distracted by this though.

The shrewd and appraising look in the man's other dark and beady eye told the real story.

This was not just some crippled war veteran, despite the wooden leg. The man's face did its own advertising. He obviously had been in more fights than he could remember. And he was still standing here.

Strong survival instinct. He'll be the first to attack.

The werewolf's reactions were interesting as well. His initial obvious rage and fear for the woman in Riddick's hold, as well as his confusion, considering Black's actions not long ago, had been replaced by an uncanny animal stillness. Riddick's attempt to lure him into an attack by licking the girl's face had failed. If anything, Lupin was looking more in control now than he had the whole evening. Despite his calm stance, he was obviously lying in wait; looking for a weakness in his prey. Lupin's eyes had the fixed stare of a stalking wolf.

Riddick was not even slightly impressed. He had met and killed bigger and worse predators than this one could ever hope to be.

As for the third, dark skinned man, he was surreptitiously trying to edge closer to the door and put Riddick in a classical crossfire situation. Nice try, but I don't think so.

"Don't. Move." breathed Riddick, his gaze flickering from target to target. He dropped the girl, his left hand moving up her chest with the speed of a striking snake and closing warningly over her neck. His other hand tightened on his wand.

"Careful, lad. Don't make me hurt you," growled Alistair Moody, as he lifted his wand higher. His magic eye had spun round in his head and was only showing the white now.

Bring it on, old man. You don't know who you're fuckin' with.

"Let's try and calm down, everyone," suggested Kingsley Shacklebolt in his deep, strangely soothing voice. "What is it you want…Riddick?"

"I don't know if you are still in there Sirius," said Remus Lupin, "But once this is over, you better have some really good answers ready for my questions."

+You have no bloody idea, Moony! I'm tied to a bloody half-wit! What the hell do you think you are doing Riddick? Let my cousin go this instant! You have NO idea what these three people are capable of doing to you if you keep it up. Alastor alone could turn you, could turn US into something that would make Kreacher look good!+ raged Sirius unheard in Riddick's head.

"Get your dirty HANDS off me you animal! REMUS, DO something! I can't get to my wand!" shrieked Tonks in a strangled voice, both hands clawing at Riddick's arm. She was weakening fast.

"The memory you fucked with. I want it back. Now." said Riddick and pinched a precise spot on Tonks neck. She froze and let out a startled, high whimper. He dipped his head slightly and whispered into the pink hair, "Thought I told you to keep quiet."

Lupin growled low in his throat and Shacklebolt took an involuntary step forwards.

"DON'T FUCKIN' MOVE OR YOU'LL BE THE FIRST ONE I SHIV!" bellowed Riddick, his eyes burning. He felt his jaw tighten.

"Hold back, Kingsley, Lupin. What do you mean, you want your memory back?" questioned Moody.

Riddick took a deep breath. More fuckin' mind games it was then. Two could play that game.

Bollocks! This is no game, you paranoid idiot. Perhaps Alastor doesn't even KNOW about the memory charm. I wonder what Kingsley's job in the Ministry is by now. He was the one who performed the memory charm on you, remember? Ask him. Ask him to undo what he's done. See how he reacts. And don't try anything or you will get me killed with you!+ Sirius' angry ghost voice was disgusted.

Big Loss.

"I'm talkin' about the black poster-boy over there brainwashin' me back at Hagrid's hut. That nasty habit of his is gonna get his ass ghosted if he don't put my head right again, now. I want that memory back. And I'm thinkin' I might keep the girl as well."

He deserved some compensation, right? Her cousin obviously disagreed, judging from the roar in his head. Spoilsport. The wolf man was funny to watch, though. His obvious rage at the suggestion was nearly entertaining enough to distract Riddick from his own anger.

As for the woman in his arms, he felt her jump and then go very still, her muscles readying themselves for another attempted escape. He pinched her neck again and risked a glance downward, lowering his gaze for just a second.

"You don't listen, do you? Told you not to mo-"

"STUPEFY!" yelled three voices at the same instant.

Red lightning hit him from three directions at once and then everything went black.