A/N: Rial/Zachary. Or, stupidity of a Gryff vs cunning of a snake. Rial gets a bit moody and uses a couple naughty words, too. :) Two more chapters will finish OOTP, then we'll be heading into the last part of the story.
Chapter Twenty-Two- Justifications
They had been back in classes for a week and so far, so good. Rial had never been fond of the phrase, it always seemed as if the moment he thought it, something bad happened. When he'd mentioned this to his boyfriend, Draco had teased him for being a pessimist. Rial didn't think of himself as either a pessimist or an optimist. More in his mind, he was firmly entrenched in realism. And in that mood, even Draco had to admit that quite a few crazy, insane or bad things had happened before.
At the moment, however, Rial was being sneaky. Or, as his favourite professor would put it, he was being a Black. Sneaking around after curfew, dressed all in black, blending in with the shadows. Risking losing his house a goodly amount of points as well if he was caught. To him, the potential benefits of this night far outweighed the possible cost. Something had been bugging him ever since the holidays. That something was Zachary Potter.
Albus Dumbledore had been called by many the wisest wizard in modern times, a powerful duelist and a formidable Headmaster. He had discovered the 12 uses of dragon's blood, meddled in alchemy with Nicholas Flamel and defeated Grindelwald at his prime, for Merlin's sake! Rial knew his Headmaster wasn't a complete idiot, even though he seemed to be becoming more and more barmy as the years went on.
Back to his wonderings, Rial knew that Albus wasn't blind. The man had to see everyday how stupid and lackluster Zachary James Godric Potter was. And yet he was allowed into Order meetings, called the Boy-Who-Lived and respected and revered as the one who would defeat the Dark Lord Voldemort, considered by many to be even more terrifying and insane than Grindelwald, who was imprisoned in Nuremgard for the rest of his long life.
All Rial wanted to know, the reason for sneaking around in the dark, was why. Dumbledore had to have a reason, some type of justification, for his idolization of Zachary. Had James Potter or his father acted like Zachary in school, they would have been expelled in no time flat. Sirius had told him how close he'd come in their 5th year, almost getting Severus killed by a transformed Remus Lupin. Rial was still amazed that his Potions professor had forgiven him for the incident.
Hearing a familiar voice, Rial pressed himself up against the pillars, shrinking against the wall. He made his breathing as light as possible, pressing his cheekbone to the cool stone. Zachary was walking in his direction with someone else, talking quietly. They came into view and he realised the other was Hermione Granger, the muggleborn witch.
Their body language told him a great deal. Hands entwined, Hermione had her head resting against Zachary's shoulder. The pair drifted to a step opposite Rial's hiding spot and he almost cursed. It was going to be difficult to get away without being seen by the pair. That thought drifted out of his thoughts as Zachary kissed her cheek and sighed softly. Rial was stunned; he hadn't guessed that Zachy was actually attached to the girl.
"My parents are getting a divorce," Zachary said softly. "I was surprised; I thought Mum was absolutely dedicated to Father. She told me that Father's been having an affair with Rita Skeeter, but Father tells me she's just resentful of my fame and Father's success in the Ministry."
"That's awful Zachary!" She said sympathetically. "Your mum should be supporting you, not be jealous!"
"Father said he should have expected it, he says that since Mum's muggleborn she can never understand the way our society works. He told me not to worry about it, to concentrate on my studies and my duty to our world."
"But why does it have to be you?" Hermione said plaintively. Rial could have kissed her; she couldn't have done that better if he'd given her a script.
"It's in a prophecy Hermione. It very specifically means me, though it originally could have meant either me or Neville Longbottom."
Rial's eyebrow rose. Thank Merlin it didn't mean Neville. The boy was an idiot, forgetful and a mediocre wizard. If he'd have been the Boy-Who-Lived, then the wizarding Light may as well have surrendered years ago and saved the conflict.
"What does it say?" Hermione asked, curious.
"I'm really not supposed to tell you, Hermione. Dumbledore told me that it needs to be told to as few people as possible."
"Trust me, Zachary," she said softly, cupping his lower jaw with her hand. "I'm very intelligent, I might be able to help you."
He shrugged. "It's really quite straightforward, Hermione. The one born with the Power to defeat the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies. And he shall have power the Dark Lord knows not. Born to those who have defied Him three times and the Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal. Neither can live while the other survives. The one born with the Power to defeat the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
Rial's eyes widened in disbelief, that was the fabled prophecy? His father had told him that the Dark Lord knew the prophecy and it was what caused him to go after Zachary on All Hallow's Eve that year, but this was almost unbelievable. The prophecy was vague at best, the only thing that tied it to Zachary was his birthday and the scar on his forehead. So this was Dumbledore's justification?
Zachary continued. "There may be another Dark Lord for me to defeat after Voldemort. According to Dumbledore there's another prophecy, it's older than that one. It's about the 'Midnight Sun'. Dumbledore tells me he's led to believe it means the squibling Rial Black."
Rial froze. This was news to him. Why had no one told him about this so-called prophecy?
"What does it say?" Hermione breathed, terrified.
Zachary gave up this one without protest. "I am the one whom you have all shunned, the child lost in the dark. I am the one named for he who died at his own hand, the soul abandoned yet unbroken. I am the one whom you would call Savior, Discarded for the traitor. I am the fallen star, Catch me if you can. Upon my direction lies the fate of us all, I am the Midnight Sun. Should I choose to break you, All shall be forever lost. Should I choose to save you, I shall be broken instead. Upon my shoulders rests the fate of the world, Treat me as you wish to be treated."
Rial listened with narrowed eyes, ticking off points in his head. The more he listened, the angrier he got. Was this the reason why his Father had claimed him, to avoid another Dark Lord? In any case, why hadn't his father or Severus trusted him enough to hear a prophecy that detailed something he may have to do. Should I choose to break you, all shall be forever lost. Should I choose to save you, I shall be broken instead. Neither one of those sounded like viable options to him, he most certainly didn't want to end up 'broken' whatever that meant.
He was so angry he didn't even notice Zachary and his girlfriend get into an argument about the place of women in wizarding society, nor did he notice Hermione get up and storm off after charming a group of birds to attack Zachary Potter. When he looked up, Zachary was just getting rid of the last of the birds and he had scratch marks all over his face. Furious, Rial began to make his way back to the dungeons.
"Hey! What are you doing out after curfew, student?"
He groaned. Zachary was a Prefect. But he, Rial, was the Mediator. With dignity he straightened up and spun to face Zachary. There was a dark glint in his emerald eyes as he said "What are you doing, Prefect?" His voice could have frozen lava.
Zachary strode in his direction, face rapidly reddening in anger. "What does it matter to you, snake? Shouldn't you be asleep in any case? Or are you out cheating on your precious Dragon?"
Bitter fury filled Rial and he spoke with intent to harm, to cause pain. "At least I wasn't just rejected by my girlfriend, Potter. Were you really going to break away from your bigot Father's desires and marry the Mudblood, or was that just talk?"
Zachary's fist launched out and caught Rial hard across the cheekbone. He heard the bone snap and felt the edge of his half-twin's fist split his lip. Without a thought he whipped out his wand and snarled, "Incarcerous!"
Zachary fell to the floor, bindings wrapping his arms and legs together. Pointing at his face Rial snapped, "Diffindo!" He slashed a long mark down Zachary's neck from his ear. The next spell was a full Body-Bind.
"Now you'll have a scar to match the one I received when you left me to die, coward! We're both marked, Zachary, at least mine won't lead to my death. Obliviate! Stupefy!"
In a rage, Rial headed back to the dungeons. How he managed to miss the patrolling prefects and teachers in his blind fury he wouldn't be able to recall. He was almost to the Slytherin Common Room when he abruptly changed his mind. He didn't want to go back to the dorms while he was this angry, he could feel the magic still boiling in his blood. With a hard set to his eyes he headed instead for Severus' quarters.
Locating the snake on his Head of House's painting he hissed, "Let me in, NOW."
The door swung open and he walked in. Severus wasn't in his living room and without hesitation Rial headed for the lab. He opened the door and walked in. Still not looking at the Potions Master he swung it shut and snarled two spells, "Colloportus! Muffiliato!"
Finally, he turned his furious gaze on Severus. The man almost stepped back, but he held his ground. Rial's grudging respect for his nerves was burned away as he snarled, "Why did no one see fit to tell me that there's a fucking prophecy about me?"
-D-N-S-D-
Severus was in his lab, attempting to finish a couple of potions for Poppy. It wasn't very late, just about 10:30. A chime went off just as he was finishing the last couple of ingredients, notifying him that someone had entered his quarters. He figured it was probably either a student or the old coot, either way it wouldn't be hard for them to find him.
After a moment Rial walked in, wearing all black. Severus got just the briefest glimpse of his face before he turned and shut the door. He proceeded to both lock the door and muffle the oncoming conversation before he turned on Severus. The spy was so startled he started to back up, before coming to his senses and stood his ground.
It was hard though. Rial's emerald eyes burned with fury, swirling with anger and almost tangible magic. In startling contrast was a split lip and a fast-forming bruise. He was paying no attention to his injuries however, staring at Severus with absolute, mind-boggling rage evident in his gaze. At his question Severus' eyes widened before he moved away from the potions to sit in his chair. For a long moment neither spoke.
"How did you find out?" Severus asked eventually.
"I overheard Zachary telling Hermione Granger. They also mentioned the prophecy that refers to Zachy and the Dark Lord. So, is Dumbledore convinced yet that I'm a hazard?" he snarled sarcastically. "Is that why my father chose to recognise me as his heir, out of pity?" he spat.
"If you believe that you're as much an idiot as Longbottom," Severus snapped. "Your father loves you, he couldn't be prouder of his son."
"All I know for sure is that once again I've had normality ripped out from under me like a rug, that the only person I trust for sure is myself."
"We are not James and Lily Potter, Rial!" Severus barked.
"Did it ever occur to you that we might be holding back mentioning that prophecy because we don't want it added to the worries you already carry? In case you haven't noticed, James Potter is teaching here, your father faces danger on both sides every day at his work, I'm a spy, Draco's in line to become a Death Eater if Lucius doesn't come up with a way to spare his son and we're at war on two sides!"
"I am not a child!" Rial spat, angry tears in his eyes. "I know everything that you speak of, I just thought that it might be nice had I known I'm expected to either fall into the Dark or be 'broken', whatever the hell that means!"
Severus looked at the teen and sighed. "Come here, Rial."
The teen approached him, both angry and wary. Severus felt odd about doing this but he pushed it aside and pulled the teen into his embrace. Rial stiffened in his arm before relaxing to a certain point and letting out a sigh and a hiss of frustration. Severus could feel his pounding pulse slowing gradually and said in a quieter voice, "Rial, I am sorry we never told you of it sooner. At the time we found out about the prophecy it was just after your failed suicide attempt. We were all badly shaken and you didn't trust us enough to know how we feel about you or this prophecy."
Rial sighed. "I know, Severus. I'm sorry; I do trust you, all of you. It's just a shock and I'm afraid and angry about what the prophecy might mean."
"Prophecies are never clear," Severus reminded him, stroking soft black hair in reassurance. "As for whatever 'broken' means, you know that your father and I will never give up on you. I doubt Draco would either, for that matter."
Rial pulled away, standing again. Deep in thought, he gingerly felt the bruise and winced. "Just like his father," he muttered.
"Is the bone broken?" Severus asked softly.
Rial nodded. Severus stood, pointing his wand at Rial's cheekbone. He couldn't help but remember the last time he'd stood in front of Rial like this, healing a broken bone. "Episkey!"
"I hope you at least caused some damage to Zachary for this," Severus said dryly.
"More than some, sir. Thank you and I'm sorry I said all those things."
"Don't be, you are far more mature than most your age, Rial. That still doesn't mean you can't lose your temper every once in a while. However, you'd better head off to bed, it's getting late."
"Good night, Severus."
"And to you, Rial."
When the teen had disappeared, Severus stood with a weary sigh and checked on his potions. They were ready to be bottled, so he finished them up, cleaned his work surface and headed off to bed. Rial's appearance had made it a long, interesting night.