Chapter Thirteen

Sunday August 17th 2008

2:36 pm

"Should I get you a walking stick?" Ciel asked it with a grin on her face but there was real concern in her voice. Unlike I who was wearing mottled grey pants, black boots, and the eye-gougingly pink shirt she had acquired for me. Ceil was dressed in more muted tones. A green t-shirt that left her, surprisingly well-defined, arms bare. A pair of beige pants and the same white slip-on shoes I'd seen her in for our last outing.

"I'll be fine. Just don't expect me to run anytime soon." I shot back at her with a strained smile. Walking wasn't beyond me. But more than a meander wasn't in my wheelhouse right now. I really wished that I could use the Card to contact Mordred. But for now, whatever advice they may have had, if any, was out of my reach. Knowing them they'd probably have laughed and agreed that I needed the walking stick.

It was slow going getting through Annecy. The combination of the crowds and my limited pace were not doing us any favours. It also hurt my pride a little that I barely had the strength to hold one bag, the lightest of the ones we were carrying. While Ciel held two. I knew the hit to my pride was illogical. She was far stronger than I was. But it still embarrassed me a little. I pulled out the phone we had stopped for and got a quick update on how close we were to the villa my parents had rented.

We were getting closer, slowly but surely we were getting closer. I scratched Fou behind the ears absently mindedly and was rewarded with squirrel-dog snuggles. I cocked an eyebrow at my furry friend and Fou looked back from my shoulder letting out a wide yawn.

"Sticking around today?"

"Fou." That was smug.

"Planning on coming to the ministry?" I didn't give him a chance to respond. "No of course you're not that would be crazy."

"Fou."

"No. I'm not taking you."

"Fou."

"I don't care. No."

"Fou."

"No!" I wasn't quite yelling but it was a near thing.

"Fou!"

"I'll buy you a pizza if you stay behind."

"Fou."

"Two pizzas."

"Fou, Fou."

"Coke as well."

"Fou."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Fou."

"Yes, I care why."

"Fou?"

"Because I need to know how bad this going to be."

"Fou."

"Of course, it's going to be bad."

"Fou."

"Because I know you."

"Fou."

"Are you seriously just staying to mess with Allard and anyone else stupid enough to annoy you?"

"Fou." The nod was a complete confirmation of my guess.

"Can you...not?" The look I got in return was so deadpan professional comedians should take notes. "You're right that was a stupid question."

"Fou."

"Can you at least promise not to cause too many problems?" He looked at me with unnervingly calculating eyes for a squirrel-dog before shrugging.

"Fou."

In the space of a single conversation with one squirrel-dog-shaped eldritch horror, I had managed to go through all five stages of grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

What was my life?

Fou didn't say anything else choosing to nuzzle up to my neck again. I sighed and scratched behind his ears. I really didn't know who the pet was in this relationship. Both of us? Neither? I didn't hate the squirrel-dog no matter how much I wished he'd listen. But it was trying at times. And I'd only known him for a few days.

"You two look good together," Ciel observed from next to me.

"Do we?"

"You get along well."

"Is that what that was?" My voice was dry and she shook her head.

"Anyway." I changed the topic with all the smoothness of sandpaper. "How many more Nightmares and Nightkin do you think the boss vampire has?" It wasn't the most pleasant topic but it was all I could think of. Especially because I wanted to avoid thinking of what Fou was going to do at the ministry. Because I knew that my chances of keeping him away were between zero and nada.

"Assuming it's fully grown and has been active for at least a hundred years? Then I'd say anywhere from another four to another nine. Enough they're useful pawns but not enough to start some sort of coup d'etat." Now that was something I hadn't expected to hear.

"Can they even do that? I thought their loyalty was magically enforced."

"Kind of." Ciel looked up to the sky. Her green shirt actually went quite well with the eye-gouging pink of my own. "Theoretically no Nightkin or Nightmare can stand up to their parent. But there are exceptions. It's why vampires so seldom turn magicals."

"You can spell your way around the compulsion given enough time, even people without magic can force their way through it by sheer willpower. To use a chess analogy the Dead, Ghouls, and Revenants are pawns. Nightkin, Nightmares, and Lesser Vampires are Rooks, Bishops, and Knights. Finally, Vampires and Ancestors are Queens and Kings." She finished looking at me her blue eyes held an iron focus.

"Queens and Kings are the most important pieces on the board. But that doesn't mean they can't be taken by all the others. So most vampires are careful about how many intelligent slaves they have." Ciel finished and I nodded stroking my chin theatrically. It would have been more impressive if I had a beard.

"Ancestor?" It was a term I was unfamiliar with.

"Ah right." Ciel looked a little abashed. "Not a term found in textbooks. It's an unofficial designation given by the Church. Ancestor is a title given to any vampire over a thousand years old. Most of them can't be killed by ordinary means anymore. Requiring something with a bit more oomph. Like a specially made Conceptual Weapon or whatever that sword of yours is most likely."

"How old do you think the one in the city is?"

"At a guess. Anywhere from two hundred to five hundred. Reckless enough to put Dead into a populated city. But smart enough to keep the numbers controlled. As for what they want? No idea. The Dead could wipe out a small isolated village but a city? Not without attracting all kinds of the wrong attention. Something a vampire that old should know to avoid. Whatever they want I'm banking on it having to do with that circle you found."

"That's not a cheery thought."

"No. No, it's not." Ciel agreed. Grim subjects were becoming the norm between us. We led such charmed lives, truly. "So you got any other friends? Or is it just little old me?" This time it was her that changed the subject.

We're friends?" The withering look I got back was deserved.

"I am currently walking with you. After saving your life. To see your family for a movie day. Where we are going to watch some of my favourite movies and your sister's so I can spend time with them and you. Yes, I'll admit. Some of this is me being selfish like last time. I enjoy being a normal person. Given what we do why wouldn't I? But even discounting that. The startling level of honesty we've displayed to each other. Some of which was forced by me. At this point what else could we be? Because we left useful and convenient allies of circumstance behind us a while ago."

That was a good point.

"Sorry." I gave her the most sincere smile I could. A little tension went out of her shoulders. "I have a few. But not many. I keep a lot of secrets so I tend to keep people at arm's length."

"I know a thing or two about that," Ciel said her voice melancholy. If my arms had worked properly I'd have placed a hand on her shoulder. A reminder that she wasn't alone. Instead, I had to settle for giving her a little bump with my shoulder and a better attempt at a smile.

"Right." She let out a breath and shook her head. "So how are you going to explain those injuries?" That was a good question. I chose to go with my first instinct.

"Bar brawl."

"Are you old enough to drink?"

"Yeah, sevent- wait no it's eighteen here isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Got jumped taking a midnight stroll?"

"Didn't you warn your Dad about not going out at night? Wouldn't you going for a midnight stroll strike him as odd?"

"Alright. Can I use you to back me up?"

"I'm already in deep with your previous stunt. Go nuts."

"We met up for dinner last night. Got jumped by a group of five guys."

"And you gallantly defended my honour?" She said holding a hand to her heart in a way that would have been dramatic if she wasn't grinning like a loon. I stifled a laugh.

"No. I was thinking I took down one maybe two of them. Then got the shit kicked out of me. After which you jumped in and took out the other three without a scratch."

"So I defended your honour then?"

"Well of the two of us you are the better fighter," I admitted with no shame. I knew when I was beaten. Maybe one day I could turn that around. But it wasn't today.

"You know those two are never going to let you hear the end of it." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the mention of my siblings. No, no they wouldn't.

"If they bring it up they can try fighting you."

"If they do I promise to be gentle." She said with a solemn look on her face. As she threw out a few light jabs and bounced from foot to foot. I kinda wanted to see her take Mark apart truth be told.

"I appreciate that." My reply was equally dignified.

It lasted all of ten seconds before we began laughing. I guess we were friends. That was a small circle. Olga, Cedric, Nellie, Alma, Leo. Now I guess I could add Ciel to it as well. The only one I wasn't lying to constantly. That was a depressing thought.

I didn't want to burden them with my problems. They were 'my problems' for a reason after all. Unfortunately, Ciel's problems were also my problems at the moment. Prompting this uncharacteristic bout of extended honesty, or maybe it was Stockholm syndrome who was I to judge?

"So what did they look like?"

"Who?"

"The thugs who beat you up?"

"Well one of them was a woman with black hair and blue eyes who threw swords at-" I didn't get the final word out before she punched me.

"Jerk."

"Fine, the first one was wearing a white shirt. He was ugly. Second, had a hat on. The rest is a blur."

"Third one had a teardrop tattoo under his left eye," Ciel added with a nod.

"Do we care about four and five?"

"Nah blame the adrenaline on any forgetfulness."

"Is that even how adrenaline works?"

"I have no idea. But if I don't know, you don't know, and neither of your parents are healers. What are the chances they know?"

"Fair point." I nodded in agreement. It was a flimsy story but it didn't need to hold up under a lot of scrutiny. I was banking on playing up my injuries for sympathy.

"They run away at the end." I confided in her.

"And so the cowards show their true colours." She declared imperiously before giggling. I couldn't help a snort of laughter myself.

"Be nice if it was always that easy." The words came out before I could stop them. The small grin I had been wearing collapsed into a frown.

"It really would be wouldn't it." Ciel's reply was quiet enough that I almost missed it. Her own smile twisted into a grimace.

If only it were so easy. Send the vampire to flight and save the city. People usually got parades for that kind of thing. If the French Magical Government was anything like it's British counterpart? We'd be lucky to avoid criminal charges. Still, I wasn't going to back down. But that didn't mean I was looking forward to it.

I took a few steps closer to her and bumped her with my shoulder again. Giving her a small nudge and ignoring the pain that flared in my left arm because of it. She shook her head at my actions and bumped me back. I held in the hiss of air that threatened to pass my teeth at the impact.

"Chin up could be worse." I sounded more cheerful than I was.

"Really, how?" I looked at the sky then at her and back again.

"Could be raining." It was a weak jest but it made her lips twitch. It would have to be enough. We stayed away from heavy subjects on the way to the small villa my parents had rented. I wasn't sure how much it had cost. But I knew better than to ask. The amount would likely distress and frighten me.

"Nice place," Ciel said sounding a little off-put by the two-storey structure before us.

"Yeah. Let's go say hi." I stepped forward and hit the intercom button a sharp buzz before someone on the other end picked up.

"That you Harry?" Dad's voice came through the speaker.

"Yeah, Ciel's with me."

"Of course she is." He explained like I was an idiot. "You can tell me about your date later. I'll get the gate in a minute." The intercom went dead and I turned to Ciel with wide eyes.

"Date?" The word was strangled and the smile she put on was too innocent to be anything but a trap.

"If it makes you feel better we had a wonderful lunch at La Ciboulette." It didn't. But since I was using her as an excuse something like this was fair game.

"Okay, what do I need to know." My voice was strangled and my mind was working overtime.

"Reservation for Lunch was at one thirty. We forgot about it when we set up the movie day. The Moules à la Mariniére." My dumb look was enough that she elaborated. "Muscles in Marinade. Were delicious by the way. While you enjoyed the steak au poivre. The waiter was professional but kept looking down my shirt."

"I get the feeling you like messing with me." Ciel's grin was positively vicious.

"I do."

"That does not fill me with relief."

"It wasn't supposed to."

"Harry! Ciel!" Dad's words made me turn and face the now-open, front door. He strode forward smiling right until he got a good look at me and my assorted injuries. "What the hell happened?" I looked down with a sigh and put on my best customer service smile.

"Yeah Dad, about that." I forced a laugh I didn't really feel as he opened the gate and regaled him with the tale of my 'adventure', such as it were. He shook his head in exasperation at me getting into a fistfight against five people and losing. I'm pretty sure I heard him mutter 'future Enforcer my arse' under his breath but being the paragon of good choices I was I let that go.

My dear sister and wonderful brother were of course much more sympathetic. Iris immediately began to laugh at me and Mark positively howled when I got to the part about Ciel jumping in to save me. Fake story or not perhaps I should have made one that didn't completely emasculate me. Because I knew, I just knew, I was never going to live this down by the look on Mark's face. Then again if I could get him to spar Ciel maybe...no I still needed a brother not a red stain on the upholstery.

Thankfully Mum was a little more sympathetic. She didn't laugh or make disparaging comments. Though she did seem worn out by the entire affair. She also didn't step in on my account to calm down the laughing hyenas that were following me. At this point, I'd take what I could get.

At least Fou wasn't laughing at me. Which was a first frankly. I rewarded my faithful squirrel-dog companion with head scratches and belly rubs. Fou seemed to enjoy himself. Which is why he had the position of my favourite being in the room.

"Is there anything Fou can't eat?" Mum's voice came from the kitchen as Ciel set up the first movie. I looked at my squirrel-dog.

"Fou." He shook his head.

"No. Nothing."

"Is there anything he would like?"

"Fou! Fooou Fouu."

"Pizza if you have it. Otherwise anything with a lot of meat."

"I've got some pork sausages?"

"Fou."

"That'll do. He says thanks."

"He's very polite. You could learn a few things from him."

"Yes, Mum." I tried not to whine. But I knew how I sounded. Dad rolled his eyes at me and turned walking into the kitchen to help.

"You're going to love this!" Ciel said sitting down next to me.

"Yeah make sure you keep her close. You may need protection again." Mark attempted to hold in his laughter and failed. This was going to get annoying fast. I was going to set up another 'accidental' screaming match between him and Iris when we got back to Hogwarts. Right outside Snape's office. Mark because he deserved it and Iris, casualty of war.

I'll admit I wasn't exactly the best person when it came to animation but damn it was crisp I'd give it that. I did like a good cyberpunk aesthetic as well. The Matrix had been one of my favourite movies for years.

"Reminds me of The Matrix." I leaned over and whispered in Ciel's ear. Long experience of movie watching with Iris had taught me to be quiet even during a home viewing. The smile she gave me back was genuine.

"When the Wachowski's pitched The Matrix apparently they showed the executives this and said 'We want to do that for real.'"

"Are you serious?"

"That's the story."

"Damn." I turned back to the movie with far more focus. If The Matrix was the offshoot how good was the original?

"Harry, could you come help me please?" Mum's voice echoed out from the kitchen. Unlike Mike or myself she was immune to Iris' vicious movie disturbance responses. By being Mum and therefore terrifying when roused. My sister was many things. Stupid was not among them. I stood and moved towards the kitchen.

It was big enough. Large marble bench tops. Lots of space to move about while cooking. A charcuterie board filled with meats, cheeses, and biscuits. Along with a small plate with cut-up pork sausages on it.

"Fou!" The squirrel-dog cried and jumped an impossible distance from my shoulder to the plate to begin scarfing them down. Sometimes Fou being just casually supernatural caught me off guard. It shouldn't but it did.

Mum and Dad stood together like they had just been talking. Dad's face was grim and Mum's didn't look any better. Her wand was held and she flicked it at the door. Dad followed up a second later.

"There now they can't hear us or see us," Mum stated and I was immediately on guard.

"Marauder?" It was a safety question. Dad and Mum were both paranoid after the last war. We'd all been drilled excessively on safety questions. Marauder was the family safety question. There were two others after.

"Three." They responded as one.

"Petunia?"

"Cokeworth." A second right answer. I didn't go for my wand but my fingers itched. Movement was going to be hard in my current state. But I was ready to leap in any direction, or at least attempt to. I muttered my activation word and forced myself to ignore the rolling agony that seared through me as seventeen circuits lit up. Going for my wand would probably be a bit too obvious.

"Patronus?"

"Perfect." A third and final right answer. I barely relaxed my fingers still itching. I fought the urge to call an instant Include of the Saber Class Card. Partly because I wasn't sure it would work, but mostly because these were my parents.

"What's this about?" I shifted my weight slightly just enough on either leg to move left or right. They looked at one another and Dad stepped forward just a little.

"Harry we love you." Not the start I had been expecting. "But I, we, need you to..." He trailed off his mouth working into a tight frown as Mum stepped closer.

"We need you to stop lying to us."

With those eight words, the world fell out from under me.

Chapter Thirteen- END

The problem with parents, good parents anyway. Is that they usually notice things you'd rather they didn't. Sometimes they leave it alone. You're entitled to some secrets after all.

But come home beat to hell and suddenly they've got a lot of very pointed questions to ask.

I swear the amount Lily and James ended up changing my original manuscript almost made me kill them all over again.