The Power He Knows Not

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Posted June 7, 2012.

-CHAPTER 12-
THE POWER HE KNOWS NOT

August 31, 2000
Knockturn Alley

A hooded figure stepped into a small apothecary and potion supply store. It was well known to stock potions and items that were shady in nature, good for doing nefarious things. The figure walked up to the counter, and seeing the gungy man behind the counter sorting through a pile of books, the person cleared their throat.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes. Polyjuice potion. Enough for eight hours," the cloaked figure, a woman, all but demanded.

"Right, of course." The man ducked behind the counter a moment, then reappeared, with a larger, grey-coloured bottle. "It'll be three hundred galleons, miss."

The woman almost choked out loud. Of course she knew it was going to be expensive, but... "Very well." She reached into her robe, and pulled out a large sack of coins, and began to count them out. 'You might be a fop, Harry Potter, but you'll still be mine, one way or another!', she hissed in her mind, 'Just one more potion, and perhaps pay Dean a visit... or maybe Seamus. Seamus is a better bet, a little more fun under the covers. Maybe give him enough firewhiskey and he won't even know the difference!' She left the shop three hundred galleons lighter, and a devious smirk plastered on her face. Yes, that night would be a memorable one for her indeed! And, perhaps, by that time next year, the boy of her dreams would be hers just as well. A nice, cozy, happy family—that pathetic Muggle-born hanging on his arm be damned.

The end of August brought with it the harvesting machinery to Jason's property, collecting the hay which had matured over the summer, leaving a barren landscape behind it. Not long after the deed had been settled, a farmer a few miles down the road had contacted Jason, explaining how he had paid for the rights to mow and collect the tall grass growing on his property and use it for animal feed over the winter months. Naturally, Jason had agreed to such an arrangement. It was a little extra money, but nothing extraordinary, and if someone else got use out of the tall grass, so be it.

So, for a few days during the last of the month, the magical activity outside had to be kept to a minimum during the day, while the farmer and his field hands went to work. Doing any sort of studying inside was also rather difficult at the moment, since Capa had commandeered the living room for his own study and preparation—he had been hired at the University of Waterloo, assigned to the Faculty of Science and Technology. Jason had to smirk at that. The man would be teaching there within months, quite possibly weeks.

The final day of August, however, marked the end of the job. The farmer had filled one of the barns with hay, as had been the practice in years past. Once again Jason had no problem with that continuing, seeing it get used, rather than it being left to rot. With that job now done, the fields fell empty of human activity, although the local bird population, as well as the rodent population, were both having a field day, feasting on the seeds and other remnants left over from the process. No doubt, the food chain was being well-satisfied. Jason thought he saw a glimpse of Hedwig several times during the day, swooping down on the over-fed mice scurrying around the fields.

Late afternoon, with the abbreviated lessons over with, Jason decided he'd more than earned a broom ride, and Mace wasn't about to be left behind. They left the ground sending a swirl of dust up at the house, although it was Jason doing the flying this time. They tended to alternate, with Jason being almost as reckless as Mace was. Jason smirked, remembering the first time he'd demonstrated the Wronski Feint. They had been flying out over the lake, and it was a good thing, as Mace had almost fallen off the broom.

That afternoon's flight involved the out-and-back over the lake, and several circuits of the property. He then swung around and they did a much slower tour of the small creek which cut through the property. That led back up to a pond and a small marsh, and a straight line back to the house.

At least that was the plan. As they came up to the edge of the marsh, it was a case of bad timing. A large grey squirrel happened to leap across the gap as the pair blasted by, and landed on Jason's head. Mace made a grab for the errant rodent, but the damage was done. Startled by the unexpected passenger now tangled in his hair, Jason lost control of the broom. It rolled twice, pitched up once, and nose-dived into the pond, dumping two wizards and one frightened squirrel with an enormous splash.

The pair of them came up, coughing and sputtering, in waist-deep water. At first, Jason felt a wave of rage threatening to well up inside him. 'What the FUCK?' he shouted in his head. Then he heard laughter. Turning around, he found Mace laughing hysterically. He looked a complete mess, covered in mud from head to toe, pieces of twigs and other debris sticking in his short-cropped hair. A few leaves and muck was stuck on the collar of his shirt, and the white tee shirt he wore under it was anything but. It was rather funny... and he did look adorable.

"Maybe... maybe we should re-shoot that landing, Jason..." he finally managed, "I mean... heard of a bird strike before... never a squirrel strike, though." That was it. Jason lost it too, finally sinking to his knees as stars threatened to cloud his vision, he was laughing so hard.

He was startled when Mace grabbed him and flipped him over, dragging him under the water for a moment, but he quickly retaliated, and it became a very messy, soggy wrestling match between them. Mace was somewhat larger than Jason, and so he was a little more gentle, making it fair between them. Jason, of course, used the slick bottom to his advantage, and at least twice, the guy had stuffed a fistful of slick mud down Mace's shirt, and at least once down his pants. That made the guy actually yelp in surprise, and Jason smirked.

Finally wore out, the pair collapsed near the shore, Jason finally pinning his mate to the slick mud. The mess was oozing through their clothes, but neither of them cared at this point as Jason lay on top, so they were face to face again. The water was like soup, heated by the long hot days of summer, so getting cold was not a factor.

"You're so beautiful," Jason whispered, reaching a hand and brushing some of the debris out of Mace's hair. He didn't pull his hand away, but stroked his head, shivering as he felt the spiky short hair.

"So are you, Jason. God... you know I don't believe in God, but... fuck, every day... I'm glad we met. I ain't no Romeo, but y'know... if I died tonight, I'd die a happy man."

"Said it perfectly," Jason agreed, and their lips met briefly... and then again... and a third time. "Y'know, we could stay out here all night."

"Not."

"Why not?" Jason pouted.

"Even water this warm, we'll still get cold."

"Not if we do something a little more adventurous," Jason smirked.

Mace blinked.

"Jason..." He could feel Jason's hand, as it wormed its way in between them at crotch level. "Jason?"

"Mace. Fuck me."

Thousands of miles away, at a certain manor in Wiltshire, the Dark Lord was jerked out of sleep by a stabbing pain which raked across his body. Not quite as painful as the last time he'd felt such a thing, it was still rather painful. 'So. The little snot's found love, has he?' The Dark Lord snarled in his head, putting pressure on the connection he now shared with his nemesis. Perhaps it was time to block the connection, as to stop these rather uncomfortable attacks. It was unlikely the boy knew what he was doing, but he could take no chances.

Capa hadn't been too concerned about his friends going off on a broom together. He'd already seen that more than a few times since his arrival weeks before. No, nothing unusual about them being gone for the afternoon, and well past dinner. A broom meant they could end up tens or hundreds of kilometres away.

So, when it came time for dinner, he served himself, and politely asked Kreacher to just put warming and preservation charms on everything, as Jason had explained for him to do in the event they hadn't returned. The evening air was still warm, and so he took one of his textbooks with him out to the back porch, and claimed a chair there, content to study. The job required lots of preparation on his part, and it consumed most of his days as of late.

The sun was low on the horizon when Capa at last spotted his two friends, walking from the copse of trees to the south, up toward the house. It was odd, though. Usually, they would've just flown back. Had something happened? He put the book down, but then started. The two of them were walking dangerously close to one another, Mace with his arm slung over Jason's shoulder. Come to think of it, both of them were also walking rather funny. Jason had slung his broom over his opposite shoulder, and it looked as though they'd rolled around in a mud pit somewhere. They were plastered from head to toe in mud. It was... that was all there was to it, he burst into gales of laughter.

"We had a date with the pond," said Mace, dryly, as they got into earshot.

"A date with each other in the pond more like it," Capa guessed, still amused at their appearance.

"No, Mace, it was a squirrel strike, remember?" They barely separated, and Jason set his broom down. One of the stirrups had been bent, a few of the bristles were snapped, and it was caked in mud, much like rider and passenger.

"Squirrel strike? Do I really want to know?"

"Later. C'mon, let's go get cleaned up. Could just charm it away, but I'd rather be sure," said Jason, casting a smirk Mace's way. Capa very quickly caught on to what he had in mind, and had to roll his eyes. Good thing the hot water was made through magical means.

Sometime later, the pair lay down at last, physically spent. They'd been in the shower for nearly an hour, and it certainly did not just involve getting clean. It was a good thing they had erected silencing charms on the bathroom.

"I didn't hurt you?"

"No, 'course not," Jason answered, as they again lay snuggled up against each other. "It was... to have you inside me... it was like seeing the twins' fireworks all over again, but just for my eyes only, my own private show. So no, it didn't hurt," Jason smiled. They lay so Harry was spooned up against Mace, the muscular man resting his chin on the other's cheek. As was typical, he also had an arm over Jason's smaller form, but now the pair interlocked fingers and hands together.

"Jesus... when we came off, I thought you were gonna explode, by the look on your face when you came up, right?"

"Felt like I was gonna explode. Then I see this adorable face, plastered with mud and shit, and it was just... beautiful... and comical, all at once. The first thought that came to my mind right then, was to topple you over and snog you senseless."

"Yeah, well, we did that anyway." Jason didn't need to see the guy's face to know he was smirking.

"I'm sure the wildlife got a wonderful show," Jason smirked right back. He let out a giggle. "Y'know... I've nearly been clubbed by a rogue bludger... nearly had my soul sucked out by a Dementor while flying... was nearly jinxed off my broom in first year... but this has to be a first... getting ambushed by an airborne squirrel."

"You're a target for misadventure, Jason."

"Oh Merlin, you couldn't have put it better. At least it was a soft landing this time." He let out a yawn. "Let's get some rest." He craned his neck so they could see each other. "I love you."

"I love you too."

The Monday following Labour Day, Capa left the house, as he would have residence on campus. And so, at least for the time being, it was only Mace and Jason at the house. Ron had been hired by Upper Canada Academy to work with the flying instructor, with the intention he replace the ageing teacher within a year or so. Madam Gauthier was turning a hundred and thirty eight in the spring, and was finding it more and more difficult to mount a broom, among other things. The elder witch was more than happy to have the young wizard take her place.

Given the move, it was no surprise Hermione would be joining him. They had already given last months' notice for their flat, and everything had been packed up and sent to Jason's. Jason had already fixed up and expanded one of the extra rooms, so the pair would have more room. It was no surprise the pair had wed a couple of years ago. He smirked to himself, thinking back on his musings not long after escaping Azkaban. So now the question: how long before a little witch or wizard comes along?

Neither Jason nor Mace had any regrets about not having children. There were more than enough other people out there, and with families like the Weasleys... loads of others were having children. The most famous boy in the Wizarding world not? Jason made no apologies.

No, children were not the end-all and the be-all to a relationship. Nor was intimacy, for that matter. The pair certainly had their share, now that the ice had been broken. It was as if they'd crossed a threshold, each feeling ensnared and hopelessly entangled by the other, and neither wished to escape. They completed each other. It was that simple.

With that change, and the further strengthening of the bond, Jason noticed something else. His Occlumency shields were strengthening. He was able to keep the teacher out for longer and longer periods, even with his stronger attacks. And Voldemort? Last time he heard a peep from the dark wizard, it had been sometime in August. His scar certainly still tingled, usually after the pair had been intimate, but that was about it.

At the same time, however, something else began to crop up, particularly after intimacy. Sometimes, Jason would feel a tremendous wave of rage flash through his mind. It felt—foreign. Something that was completely uncharacteristic given the circumstance, it made no sense whatsoever. The hostility was sometimes aimed at Mace, and again, it greatly confused the young wizard. It was the complete opposite emotion one should feel after being intimate with their partner, right?

The answer came the night of September 20, just before the Autumn equinox. The pair of them had just finished up in the shower, once again spending more time than should be allowed. As they got back to the room, towels wrapped around their wastes, Jason collapsed like a sack of potatoes, a white-hot stabbing pain piercing the spot where his scar was. And then, Mace saw it. A black shade poured out of the bleeding scar, wraith-like, smoke billowing out and around it.

"M-m-mace... R-RUN!" Jason croaked out, knowing and feeling something he'd only felt once before... back in the Chamber of Secrets a few years prior.

"RON! HERMIONE! IN HERE NOW!" Mace bellowed, instantly producing both his wand and putting the ice spike at the ready. What good it would do, he didn't know. The wraith had risen to tower over the muscular man, and even though it was a black silhouette, he knew he was looking at the embodiment of evil.

"Mace? What the?" Both Ron and Hermione skidded to a stop just inside the door, seeing the problem, which had nothing to do with Mace being stark naked in the middle of the bedroom.

"Ron! Get your brother now!" Ron didn't hesitate, but popped away with a noisy crack, as Hermione drew her wand. The shade was advancing on Mace at this point.

"Shield charm, like we showed you."

"Protego!" A blue shield shimmered into place, and Hermione duplicated his movement, producing one of his own.

"Silly girl," the shade hissed, "That will not protect you." A rake of the fingers, and the shield faltered. "You..." it rounded on Mace again. "Tormented me just about enough, foolish wizard!" his shield, too, was shredded in an instant.

KAWHACK! And the shade let out a terrible screech, as the frosty projectile seemed to burn it with cold.

"What magic is this?" the shade screeched, and Mace let fly with a second projectile. If it seemed to work, then so be it.

"Oh my god..." Bill had arrived, along with his younger brother. His wand was instantly out. Contingencies and scenarios flooded into his head. What the hell had they got themselves into now? Just figure out how to contain it. "Expecto Patronum." To his Patronus he spoke, "Stonewall, bring Galarek to the Black residence. Wraith present, possible Horcrux. Tools needed to banish or contain." It bound out the open window, and was gone.

KAWHACK! Mace had nailed the wraith again, making it screech. Bill trained his wand on it as well, producing a strong shield charm which shimmered red in front of them. He cast a worried glance at Jason, who was then out cold, blood oozing from his scar. What the hell had happened?

"Where'd it come from?"

"Harry—Jason, I mean!" Mace answered. He was shaking all over, and looked ashen, mortified and terrified at the demonic thing that was then in their bedroom. It kept leering at them, but the red shield was holding its own. The wraith could not shred it like he'd done the others.

And then. Two things seemed to happen at once. There were two distinct pops, announcing the arrival of two individuals. Mace had already seen goblins before, so it was no surprise. Only a split-second later, Fawkes arrived, in his customary blaze of golden flames. Seeing it, the wraith shrieked, since the phoenix carried a powerful effect that covered a substantial area. Fawkes lit over to his bonded, landed on his chest, and began to sing, the musical string of notes filling the room, quickly bolstering the light side. The wraith shrieked again, as its power was being dampened by the presence of the phoenix. It swooped down attempting to attack the bird, but another ice spike sent it reeling.

"You have no power here, wraith!" Bill spoke firmly, casting a cheering charm at it. Both Ron and Hermione copied the motion, and the wraith shrieked again, as the positive emotion tore into it. It was further assaulted with another ice spike.

Fawkes continued to sing, but as he did so, he also allowed a few tears to fall onto Jason's bleeding scar. It caused the wraith to let out another terrible shriek.

"Yeah, that's right. It hurts, doesn't it," said Mace, viciously, feeling much more confident at this point, "Harry's mine. He loves me, and I love him equally. Something you'll never understand, you fucking bastard." He sent one more ice spike, which nailed the soul fragment in the side of the head. It let out one more horrible shriek, and its remains seemed to shatter into a million pieces of ash and dust, left floating in the air.

"M-mace?"

"Jason..." Mace closed the distance, and quickly knelt by his side.

"What happened?"

"You... had that thing... it was inside you."

"Hell and damnation..." Bill muttered, as the gravity sunk in.

"I was... a Horcrux."

"Yeah... looks that way. Ron... go floo Upper Canada Hospital... or scratch that. We're going there I think."

"What would you like us to do, Mr. Weasley?" The goblin named Stonewall asked.

"Collect the remnants. I'll be needing to show them to a certain meddling fool. Sorry for interrupting your evening, I know your wives are probably rather unhappy right now."

"I'll cover any inconvenience," said Jason, "Th-thank you both for coming."

"It's a privilege, Mr. Black," answered the other goblin, as they made to collect the remnants of the shade. Jason, meanwhile, looked his mate up and down. He cracked a small smile. "Mace... you know you're buck naked, right?"

AUTHOR NOTES: So. One more Horcrux bites the dust. I would think, even though the container is alive, it is being filled constantly with the one emotion Voldemort cannot stand. Eventually, I think, it would attempt to attack the source of the problem, in this case, Mace. Unfortunately for it, there were too many weapons handy for them to use against it, and the fact that Mace gets his magical ability elsewhere, his magic can actually hurt the shade. Couple that with the power of the phoenix, it's a no-win situation for Mr. Horcrux.

Now of course, to the beginning of the chapter. I think we can all figure out who the witch is, right? Needless to say, when Harry/Jason finds out, it's not gonna be pretty.