Chapter Five: Alone Again

Babies don't get this good a sleep. He was sleeping like the dead. He could've been dead for all he knew, but what a nice way to go, drunk at The Burrow after kissing Ginny. Nothing much topped that.

'Ow, ow, ow, owwwww!' came a voice.

Harry's eyes opened weakly. Sunlight was pouring into Ron's room and Harry shuddered as it hit him squarely in the face.

'Oh,' he groaned. His head felt like it was two seconds away from splitting down the middle.

He fumbled for his glasses and put them on. He sat up in bed only for him to groan once more and lay back down, hard. The room was spinning out of control and Ron's brightly colored wall paper for the Chudley Cannons was starting to make him feel sick. His head throbbed like hell, his mouth was dry and felt like two pounds of cotton was stuck between his teeth. His whole body was soar and his stomach growled uncontrollably.

'Ron,' he moaned trying to spot his best friend who was groaning himself in the other bed.

And then, something occurred to him.

How the hell did I get in Ron's room?

He tried to think of how he managed from getting from the backyard of The Burrow and into Ron's room, with, good Lord, only wearing boxers. He remembered having a cigar with all the Weasley men and he remembered Ginny dancing him, and he vaguely remembered Castor handing him a glass of wine, but, after that, everything was blank.

'Harry,' Ron chocked, sitting up in his bed. 'Ow!' he moaned and lay back down. Harry could tell Ron was probably feeling no better than Harry, perhaps worse if that was possible.

Harry turned to his side, where the hell were his dress robes? He noticed a glass of ice water on his bedside table and reached for it. He could only manage taking a few tentative sips but he felt a little better afterwards. He lay back down on his bed, closing his eyes to keep out the sun and bright orange colors of Ron's room. His head was going to explode.

'Well I hope you boys learned your lesson!' said a very stern voice from the door.

Although it hurt like hell, Ron and Harry both managed to sit up a bit to see a very irritated Mrs. Weasley, wearing her flower apron with her wand poking out of the front pocket. Her hands were on her hips, tapping her foot hard on the wooden floorboards.

'Oi, Mum,' Ron said covering himself in blankets. 'Stop that, its making my head hurt.'

'Your head hurts Ron Weasley because you drank your weight in alcohol last night!' she said fiercely continuing to tap her foot, a little more harder, actually, Harry thought, but maybe it just felt that way.

'Gimme a break, Mum,' Ron groaned leaning on his side. 'We're trying to sleep here. Why do you always have to wake us up early in the morning?'

At this, Mrs. Weasley exploded. By now, Harry could almost time them perfectly.

'IT IS TWO IN THE AFTERNOON RONALD WEASLEY!' she roared.

At this, both of the boys groaned once more, their heads feeling worse by the second.

Well, Harry thought, at least she's not yelling at me.

'I would have expected this from you Ron Weasley, but not from you Harry. I would expected better judgment from you,' Mrs. Weasley said, now her attention squarely on the lump in the extra bed in the corner of the room.

Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he groaned in reply.

Mrs. Weasley let out an angry huff.

'Now, I want both of you dressed and downstairs in five minutes, understand?'

They both groaned back, shuffling a bit in their beds.

Mrs. Weasley gave another exasperatingly large snort and marched back downstairs.

Ron and Harry were quiet for a minute.

'How do you feel?' Ron asked.

'How the hell do you think I feel?' Harry asked back sourly then moaned as his head throbbed harder for making such an effort in talking.

There was another pause.

'I reckon we should get up,' Ron said. 'Mum looked pretty pissed.'

'Yea,' Harry said, but his body didn't seem to want to cooperate.

'I don't think I can move,' Harry said. He felt like he weighed a ton.

'Me neither,' Ron groaned. He struggled a bit but managed to throw off his bed sheets.

'Do you remember anything about last night after we had those cigars?' he asked Harry, rubbing his temples.

'It's all blank,' said Harry at once.

Ron sat up in bed, moaned, putting his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes fiercely. Harry did the same. Harry looked over at Ron. He was a sight. He was still in his dress robes, but his face was very pale and his eyes were unfocused and puffy. His hair was sticking up in all sorts of directions.

'You look like shit,' he said grinning which only made his head feel worse.

'Oh, yea, and you look like a bloody pageant winner,' Ron said agitatedly and moaned once more, rubbing his head and swinging himself so his feet hit the floor. Harry, with much difficulty, did the same. They looked at each other than down at the floor. He felt terrible. He felt sick, weak and his head felt as though it was clamped in a rusty vice. Ron picked up his bed side mirror and looked into it. He made a long groan.

'I'm never drinking again.'

Harry borrowed a pair of jeans and an undershirt from Ron and made his way downstairs. The house was deadly quiet but upon reaching the kitchen, Harry and Ron could hear people clapping enthusiastically. Harry's eyes came into focus to see Charlie, Fred, George and Mr. Weasley all standing at the kitchen table clapping and smiling at him.

'Congratulations to your first hangover,' said Fred brightly. All the Weasley men laughed. Ginny and Hermione who were both still sitting, only smiled at Harry then went back to their sandwiches. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, had a frown that looked as though it was plastered on her face.

Harry smiled meekly and sat down at the table with Ron. Fred and George passed them a drink that looked like blood. There was a piece of celery sticking out of it.

'What is that?' Ron asked eyeing the drink with great suspicion.

'Bloody Mary,' Charlie said. 'It's the cure to the hangover.'

With both hands shaking, Harry took the glass and took a gulp. It tasted hot, and yet soothing. The throbbing in his head eased a bit.

'How do you feel, Harry?' Mr. Weasley said, smiling. Apparently, he found this very amusing.

'Like my head is about to burst,' Harry said truthfully.

Mr. Weasley laughed.

'And I hope it hurts!' Mrs. Weasley said angrily. 'Honestly, Arthur, how could you let him drink? And you let him smoke! What type of example are you setting for our boys?'

Mr. Weasley's ears went a bit read as he stared back at the fierce gaze of his wife. He cleared his throat nervously.

'Come now, Molly,' he said soothingly. 'Harry just wanted to have a bit of fun at the wedding. What's a few drinks gonna do to him?'

'HE THREW UP ALL OVER HIS NEW DRESS ROBES!' Mrs. Weasley bellowed. Fred and George hid their grins. Harry, on the other hand, looked horrified.

Oh shit.

Mr. Weasley began to stutter. 'Well, I, er, he,' he stammered. 'It, It happens to the best of us sweetie.'

'DON'T YOU SWEETIE ME, ARTHUR!' she roared. Charlie was beginning to chuckle in his seat.

'And you let him smoke!' she continued, starting to pace.

'Come on Mum,' Charlie interjected. 'It was a Weasley bonding experience. There's nothing much like a good cigar to highlight the treasured memories in one's life.'

'Charles Michael Weasley, you will stay out of it!'

'Yes, ma'am,' Charlie mumbled and went back to his lunch. Fred and George started to chuckle but once they noticed the angry stare they were receiving from their mother, they immediately went silent.

'I'm sorry,' Harry said dumbly. Mrs. Weasley rounded on him. Harry didn't think he could take it if she yelled at him too, but apparently, Mrs. Weasley looked as though she had yelled enough and her faced softened.

'It's alright, Harry dear,' she said. 'Just try to have a little more self control next time.'

Harry nodded and went back to his drink, taking tentative sips. Under heavy embarrassment, Harry learned that he had passed out at one of the tables, and when Charlie, being the unfortunate one tried and wake him, Harry threw up all over his robes along with Charlie's, and passed out again. Fred and George dragged Harry all the way up to Ron's room, took off his robes and left him passed out. Harry gave apology after apology to Charlie, who only grinned at him.

'Ah, don't worry about it, Harry,' he said warmly. 'Ain't like it hadn't happened before.'

After lunch the Weasley boys started to play Quidditch, Ginny joined in as well. But Ron and Harry, because of their weak condition, decided to take a walk down to the lake and stretch out along with Hermione. They sat and talked a while, mostly about what had been happening around The Burrow the past couple of weeks. Hermione told Ron and Harry about her trip to New York City.

'It's one of the largest cities in the world!' she exclaimed. 'It's unbelievable. It's loud and nosy and people there are very unfriendly. I went to Chinatown, all the muggle museums, and got a chance to see the Statue of Liberty!'

'What's that?' Ron asked.

'It's this huge statue of a woman in a toga holding a torch in one hand and a book in another. The French gave it to the Americans as a sign of peace and friendship.'

'Interesting,' Ron said but it didn't look as though he was interested at all.

'How's your summer been Harry?' Hermione asked ignoring Ron altogether.

Harry didn't feel like talking much about the time he had spent at Castor's but he suddenly went into it. He told them of the extensive training he had done over the summer. He told them that Castor had been teaching him Occlumency and how to duel. At night, he would research about the types of creatures that were under the leadership of Voldemort.

'What do you know about Castor?' Hermione asked.

Harry didn't tell her much that specifically. The warning of Mr. Weasley's letter made him keep a few things left out. Nevertheless, he told them that Castor was going to be the Defense teacher at Hogwarts this upcoming year and that he, Harry, was going back.

'What!' Ron and Hermione both yelled incredulously.

'I'm going back,' Harry said simply. 'Look,' he said noticing the looks he was given by his two best friends. 'It's stupid if we don't go back to school. It's ridiculous to think that we could find the last Horcruxes by ourselves.'

'Why did you change your mind?' Hermione asked now surveying Harry very suspiciously.

Harry looked away from her and mumbled, 'I've been thinking about this a lot over the summer and I know I'll have a better chance at defeating Voldemort if I'm at Hogwarts.'

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione as his shoulders sagged a bit. He had to tell them.

'I can't beat him, now,' he said gravely. 'I couldn't even beat Snape at the end of last year. If I go off by myself I'll be killed without much effort from Voldemort. And if I'm dead, you guys will probably be killed too.'

Ron stared dumbly back at Harry, but Harry could notice the relief in Ron's eyes after knowing he was going back to school. Then Harry remembered something.

'What do your parents know about Castor?'

Ron thought about it for a minute.

'Not much, but I know they don't like him. They know he's from the United States and that he was an Auror. I've read about him in the Daily Prophet once or twice. He's killed a few Death Eaters and brought in a couple others. The Ministry said he was going to be the next Mad-Eye Moody or something. I even read that he killed a dementor once.'

'Ron,' Hermione said annoyingly. 'It's impossible to kill a dementor.'

'That's what it said,' Ron mumbled looking down at his hands.

'Why don't your parents like him?' Harry asked.

'They never told me,' Ron said. 'But I overhead them talking one day in the kitchen after they found out you'd be staying with him. Dad looked really uncomfortable about it. Mum, well, she was fuming to say the least. Said something about a guy like that taking care of you was insane.'

'There's something else about him,' Harry said in a quiet voice, as though thinking he was going to be overheard. 'I went into his study one night and I saw a picture of him.'

'So what?' Ron said.

'With Sirius,' Harry finished.

Hermione gasped. Ron was struck dumb.

'He knew Sirius?'

'Looks that way,' Harry said. 'But how could he? The only people who knew Sirius and not want to arrest him were in the Order of the Phoenix, and Castor isn't in the Order.'

'How old is he, Harry?' Hermione asked, her brain probably thinking of a million and one reasons of how Castor could have known Sirius.

'He's twenty-two.'

'And you said he's an Auror in the United States?' she pressed.

'He was,' Harry said thinking back at the conversation he had him at the kitchen. 'But he said he spent most of his time the last few years helping out the Ministry here in England because of Voldemort's return.'

'But not many Aurors are in the Order,' said Ron. 'Only three, Tonks, Kingsley and Mad-Eye. Tonks was Sirius's cousin, Mad-Eye has known Dumbledore for ages, and Kingsley is really good friend with our family. Castor doesn't fit in anywhere.'

'Well,' Harry said. This is the part he really didn't want to bring up. 'You see, Castor said he hasn't been an Auror for the past two years.'

'What?' Ron asked.

'Yea,' Harry mumbled. 'He says that he has been working, uh, independently, for the past two years.'

The look on his friend's faces were of shock and both looked very uncomfortable. The realization on both Hermione and Ron's face both happened simultaneously.

'He's a,' Ron stammered.

'Mercenary,' Hermione gasped.

Harry didn't say anything, now taking interest in a squirrel running up alongside an evergreen tree.

'You're living with a bloody mercenary?' Ron gawked at Harry, who now felt very vulnerable.

'I wouldn't call him a mercenary,' Harry started but Hermione cut him off.

'Harry,' Hermione said slowly, 'If he's working independently like you said, then he's working for any contract that comes along his way. And with his speciality in catching dark wizards, whatever job that comes his way is probably really dangerous and lethal. And,' Hermione went on, her face getting paler, 'he doesn't sound like the type to bring them in alive.'

'But,' Harry said, thinking about this logically. 'McGonagall hired him as the Defense teacher at Hogwarts and is allowing me to live with him, alone. I mean, come on Ron,' he said turning his attention to him, 'he's gotta be trusting. Even your dad thinks so.'

'That might be true, Harry,' Ron said gravely. 'But it doesn't stop the fact of what he does for a living.'

'Harry?' Hermione asked. 'Have you learned a lot more and have become a better wizard since you've lived with him?'

Harry didn't need to think a second before answering.

'Yea,' he said. 'I'm loads better at dueling, Occlumency, and,' he said rolling up his sleeve and flexing his muscle, 'I've been working out too.'

Hermione gasped and flushed a bit at Harry openly showing the results of his physical training. Ron, on the other hand, leaned forward and squeezed Harry's muscle.

'Blimey,' Ron said. 'Wish I had that. Fred and George couldn't wail on me anymore.'

'Spend one week with Castor,' Harry said grinning. 'You'd be able to knock them out.'

They talked a little while later until Harry noticed it was getting on seven and Mrs. Weasley told him he was going back to Castor's house via Portkey at seven on the dot. While walking back to The Burrow, Harry promised Ron and Hermione that he would write as much as he could until they saw each other again at King's Cross. Hermione said she would try to find out some more information about Castor and would let him know as soon as she found out anything that might connect him with Sirius.

Ron looked sulky while walking back to the house.

'Great, just great,' he complained, 'not only do I have to go back to school, but one of my teachers is a damn Bounty Hunter!'

Harry wasn't all that thrilled in going back to Inis Clove. He much rather preferred staying at The Burrow for the remainder of the summer but nonetheless went back, knowing he really didn't have a choice. He thanked Mrs. Weasley for cleaning his dress robes and said goodbye to Ron and Hermione.

Hermione herself hugged him a little more tightly than usual and whispered in his ear.

'Be careful, Harry.'

Charlie held the Portkey ready for Harry but before he could touch it, Ginny ran into the kitchen. Although most of the Weasley were in the room, she ran up to Harry, hugged him tightly and kissed him quickly. Harry went red with embarrassment before he felt the familiar jerk behind his naval.

He appeared in the kitchen to find Dobby preparing dinner for him. Harry suddenly became very hungry and took down three full plates. He thanked Dobby and rose from his chair.

'Where's Professor Castor?' he asked the elf.

'Oh, he'll be gone for a week, Harry Potter,' said Dobby bowing low.

'A week?' Harry asked.

'Yes, sir,' Dobby said. 'Professor Castor asked Dobby to give this to you.'

The excited house elf went on tip toe and retrieved a letter from the kitchen counter. He handed it to Harry and then starting clean dishes. Harry unfolded the letter and read.

Potter,

I will be gone for a week, but it may be longer. I have business to take care of in France. Work on your physical conditioning, researching and I want you to start trying harder in blocking out your mind before you sleep. Although I cannot continue to teach Occlumency while I'm gone, I will act as though we've been practicing every day, so don't let up. You will stay out of my bedroom, as I have said before. Dobby has instructions to bring you whatever you need. You are to stay on the island and, while I'm gone, I suggest keeping your wand on you at all times.

Sincerely,

Professor Castor.

Harry read the letter twice before folding it up and shoving into his pocket. He said goodnight to Dobby and marched up the staircase to the library, where he pulled out a book and studied hexes. At about quarter to midnight, he called it a night, and went to sleep.

It was becoming boring and downright cryptic while Castor was gone doing Merlin knew what. As promised, Harry started his mornings with a long run. He began to enjoy it actually. The smell of the sea crashing against the beach and the beautiful sunrise was actually tranquil to Harry. He started running around the island a few more times just for the sense of euphoria that he felt. At night he would study and outline everything he could find about the supporters of the Dark Lord. To help while he was gone, Castor had successfully received the files of Fenyir Greyback, Peter Pettigrew, Severus Snape and Narcissa Malfoy. Harry didn't want to think about the means of how Castor had gotten these files, all with the official seal of the Auror Department, he was just happy he could read something other than a book.

It had been nearly two weeks and still no sign of Castor, and Harry was getting more and more paranoid about it. Castor had sent the files only three days into his absence and since then, there had been no word. Willing to talk to anybody about this, he asked Dobby one morning about it.

'Master Castor is never home, sir,' Dobby said in a squeaky voice. 'He is always going somewhere or meeting someone, but Dobby doesn't ask questions, sir. Dobby does what he is told. Dobby is a good house elf.'

Harry held up his hands. 'Alright, alright, I was just curious.'

Feeling disgruntled, Harry made his way back upstairs for a quick shower before starting to lift weights. As he passed the study again, feeling the same uncomfortable sensation of the picture of Castor and Sirius staring at him, he thought he might have a lie in for once. His head was too clouded to do anything at the moment. He walked into his bedroom to see Hedwig staring at him with large amber eyes. Harry nearly broke down with happiness. It was so good to have her company again. Due to boredom and monotony, he had sent a letter to Hermione with any information she had come up. Harry took the letter from Hedwig who flew up to the top of the wardrobe and immediately went to sleep.

Harry,

Sorry but I couldn't find out that much about Castor. Just old newspaper clippings and things like that. All that I could find out was that he graduated top in his class at some school called Balmorhea and he received top marks in the Auror Department in the United States. All I found out about him in England is that he was noted for killing a Dementor during an attack on a Quidditch game last year, which I think is a load of rubbish. I'll keep looking. Hope you're having a nice summer.

Hermione

Harry huffed in irritation. This was getting aggravating. Then a thought came to him. A thought that he should've just let go of, but the need was too enticing. He shoved the letter into his pocket and ran down the hallway to the opposite end of the house. He skitted to a halt in front of the master bedroom. He made to open the door but his hand stopped right before he turned the knob.

What if he jinked it or something?

What if he finds out?

What if he comes home right now?

Putting all these thoughts aside, he turned the knob and with a loud creak, the door opened. Harry walked into a bedroom that was not at all what he expected. The room might have been a little bigger than his but not by much. Harry figured that Castor had charmed the room to his specifications. It had dark polished floorboards instead of carpeting. The walls were a dark forest green and in the corner stood a round-a-bout chimney. In the other corner was a queen sized bed with plush navy blue covers. Next to it was a walk in closet with elegant robes and dozens of formal looking shoes. In front of him was an immense desk scattered with parchments, empty bottles of wine and ashtrays. Harry started to walk around the room, staring at it in disbelief. This didn't look like the room of a mercenary. Harry walked up to large round table where lay about two dozen photographs. Most of them were scenic pictures of mountains, deserts and even one or two pictures of thunderstorms illuminating cities that Harry didn't recognize.

Harry walked over the desk, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at full attention. His eyes scanned over the parchments, most of them too sloppy to read, but the ones he could didn't show any promise or understanding. Harry pushed a few parchments aside which revealed a photograph hidden under the immense amounts of documents and bottles.

The picture was of a woman who was pushing a little boy on a swing. The boy, who didn't look any older than four was smiling and his eyes were gleaming. The woman, who had long light brown hair and light blue eyes was smiling while she pushed the boy higher and higher on the swing. Harry smiled at the photo and looked at the bottom where a small golden plaque was embroiled into the frame. Harry squinted his eyes to read the encryption.

In loving memory, Elizabeth Mary Albin.

It was getting on nearly two weeks and Castor still hadn't shown up. Harry started to run harder and longer in the mornings, pressing more weight upon himself in the gym and also in the library. He started to sleep badly, but nevertheless, did as he was told and kept up practicing clearing his mind when his head would hit the pillow sometime around three in the morning most nights.

It was a week away to his birthday when Harry's long and monotonous days finally reached an end.

It was early in the morning, the sun still hadn't even come out when Harry started his run. He devised a special holster around his arm where he kept his wand. He wasn't taking any chances and Castor had told him to keep it on him at all times. Of course the idea that someone would come to Inis Clove was absurd, but Harry kept his wand him at all times. About halfway through his first run, Harry was on the opposite end of the island, the furthest he could get from the house. The sun began to peak out over the horizon and Harry stopped, and decided to sit and enjoy the early morning splendor. He sat down on a large smooth boulder right along side the beach and stretched out his legs. He must have been sitting for awhile for when he finally stood up, the sun was out, shining right into his eyes.

'Don't move,' said a voice from behind him.

Harry froze. The voice was not Castor's. It was hoarse and had a deep accent Harry recognized as French.

'Turn around, and slowly,' said another voice, this one being right next to the first.

Harry turned around slowly, his heart beating like mad. He was standing no more than ten feet away from two figures in black cloaks and white masks, each pointing their wands directly at him. He gulped.

Death Eaters.

'This is the famous Harry Potter?' one of them asked the other in a disbelieving voice. 'This is the so-called Chosen One?'

Harry stared at the two men, his arms behind him.

'Who are you?' Harry asked keeping his eyes on the two men but ever so slightly moving his hand to the holster on his forearm, releasing the strap as quietly as he could.

'Shut up, boy,' the other said vehemently. 'It took us a while to find you, but the Dark Lord will be very pleased with us.'

'I'm so happy for you,' Harry sneered, his fingers still working the clasp of the holster until finally his wand slid into his grasp.

'Let's kill him, Vinny,' said the fatter one to his partner. 'The Dark Lord didn't say anything about bringing him alive.'

'I agree,' the other said in a whisper. 'But lets have some fun first.'

In a flash, the Death Eater raised his wand and shouted a spell.

Stupefy!

Harry dodged at the last second, rolled on his side, and in a fury, raised his wand and pointed towards the Death Eaters, who were both caught off guard.

Reducto!

Harry's spell hit the fatter Death Eater squarely in the chest. He was thrown off his feet and hurled back until with a deafening crash smacked right into a nearby boulder. Harry heard the viscous sound of bone breaking.

The other Death Eater growled in anger and pointed his wand once more at Harry.

Crucio!

Harry fell back as the spell flew right over his head.

'Diffindo!' the Death Eater yelled, and this time, although Harry turned at the last minute, the spell hit its mark. Harry yelped in pain as the curse sliced right through his right shoulder. Harry staggered and the Death Eater took the advantage.

Impedimenta!

Harry was thrown off his feet and landed hard in the sand. The Death Eater marched forward wand outstretched.

'Cru-'

'Fatisco galerum!' Harry yelped. The spell hit the Death Eater right between the eyes. He howled in pain as there was a loud crack. He dropped his wand and fell backwards, landing with a dull thud upon the beach.

Harry, breathing heavily, staggered to his feet. He swayed a little but regained himself, his wand still pointing at the Death Eater who lay motionless. Harry's shoulder bled profusely and the side of his face ached from where it had landed with the hard beached sand. He limped slightly to see that the Death Eater was indeed unconscious. Harry was too busy examining the two Death Eaters laying on the ground to notice someone clapping from behind him.

Harry turned around, his wand outstretched, pointing directly at Professor Castor, a sly grin on his face. He was dressed in the same suit the last time Harry had seen him. He looked thinner, and his face was paler. Harry recognized there was a fresh bruise upon the side of his face. Harry looked at him then back at the fallen Death Eaters.

'Well done,' Castor said still clapping and walking towards Harry.

'What?' Harry asked, not lowering his wand. He wasn't going to take any chances.

'Two minutes and thirty five seconds,' Castor said looking at his watch then over Harry's shoulder towards the motionless bodies.

Harry looked at Castor then back at the Death Eaters. Castor himself pulled out a pack of cigarettes, pulled out his last one and dropped the empty pack into the sand. He levitated the unconscious bodies and dropped them both next to the empty pack. He levitated the pack and placed it in between the two men.

'Portus,' he said with a smirk.

In the next instant, the two knocked out men were gone. Harry stared at the place where they had just been to Castor who was looking at Harry with a look of amusement.

'Nice job, Potter,' he said lighting his cigarette. 'You were faster then I expected you to be. But in the future, it might be a good idea to kill one before you advance on the other one.'

Then suddenly, Harry understood.

'You sent them,' Harry said. He winced as the gash on his shoulder continued to pump out blood.

'Yep,' Castor said. 'Why the hell do you think I've been gone all this time. I've been looking for two of the perfect guinea pigs to test you with.'

Harry stared at him for a minute.

'They weren't Death Eaters were they?' Harry asked although he knew the answer.

'Course not,' Castor said. 'Do you really think anyone would find us here? No, those two were just independent contractors. I found both of them in France, and told them to bring you to me. I gave them directions to this island and to pose as Death Eaters.'

'Why?' Harry asked.

'Because I told them that if they appeared to be Death Eaters,' Castor said simply, 'you would lose your nerve.'

Harry stared at him incredulously. This was insane. This son-of-a-bitch had sent two men to purposely hurt him and kidnap him. He couldn't believe it.

'Why did you do?' Harry asked, his anger starting to rise in his words.

Castor looked at Harry then chuckled.

'That's a stupid question, Potter,' he said grinning.

'Oh, is it?' Harry asked, the grip on his wand tightening.

'I had to test you sooner or later,' Castor said shrugging. 'I'm not gonna have you charge into battle without a little experience.'

Harry couldn't believe this. Castor, his teacher, guardian, protector, whatever had sent two men to attack him simply because he wanted to know if Harry had improved. It was ridiculous. Fuming, he raised his wand and pointed it directly at Castor. To his great annoyance, Castor looked amused by Harry's anger.

'What are you doing, Potter?' he said still idly smoking his cigarette.

'Something I should have done a long time ago,' Harry said before raising his wand above his head.

'Impedimenta!'

The spell flew straight at Castor. Right before it hit him, he turned on his heel. The spell passed him by inches, but Harry wasn't done yet.

Stupefy!

Again, Castor side-stepped the spell with ease, the grin on his face starting to spread.

'Come on,' Castor said, his eyes flashing. 'Is that the best you can do, boy?'

Harry raised his wand once more, and, summing up all the energy he could pointed his wand once more at the chest of his teacher.

'REDUCTO!' he roared. The spell flew from his wand like a bullet. Instead of dodging it, Castor flicked his cigarette and held up his hand. The beam of light from Harry's wand slammed right into Castor's outstretched hand, but instead of knocking the wizard back off his feet, it simply lay in the palm of his hand, glowing. Castor lowered his hand and clenched it into a fist. When he opened his hand, the spell had simply vanished. Harry stared at Castor, not believing what he had just seen. He dropped his wand to his side. Blood still poured from his shoulder. His breathing was getting heavier, and Harry felt very weak all of a sudden after throwing curses at Castor. The wizard walked forward, hands at his side and stopped only a few inches away from Harry, who began to sway on his feet. Castor leaned forward and ever so slightly, shoved Harry in his chest. Harry lost control, and fell back, landing hard onto the sand. His eyes were unfocused but he could see Castor leaning over him, a grin still on his face.

'As impressed as I am with you, Potter,' he said. 'You still need a lot of work.'

And with that, Harry passed out.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed that. Sorry, this one took longer than expected. Next chapter will be up by Sunday, hopefully, and will entail Harry's birthday and another clue to the mysterious Demetrius Castor. Big shout out to my main man Mike and my sweet Jac, I am missing you already. Cheers.