DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling
Chapter Nine - Death Eaters Strike Dove Town
Sweet Hades, he was in love, Sirius thought. Sighing heavily, he propped his chin on his knuckles and watched dreamily as the greasy-haired wizard snarled at one of the cowering students. He was perfect. Absolutely perfect. From the tips of his shiny boots to the hook like nose on his face, the Potions Master was magnificent. And extremely malicious. Which was a complete turn on.
"I owe you, Harry." Breathed Sirius, shifting silently in the shadows where he hid. His gray eyes remained locked on the prowling wizard, thin fingers itching to reach out and touch the tall mortal. Fisting his hands, he sank deeper into the darkness and leaned against the cold stones of the dungeon wall. The mere thought of him being in love was laughable. Almost as laughable as Harry being in lust with the little blond.
His face brightened at the thought. If Harry could break the rules, so could he. With a mischievous smirk, he dilated his pupils and blinked as the auras of everyone in the room popped into existence. A myriad of colours met his gaze, from the brightest of blues to the darkest of greens. He studied the students carefully before shifting his orbs to their Professor.
Dark purple surrounded the greasy-haired wizard, small streaks of black tracing the magic. Harry's warning about toying with the mortal's aura flashed through his head and was quickly dismissed. Smiling, he set to work.
XxXxX
Harry leaned forward, emerald eyes widening as the diminutive Professor waved his wand emphatically. The stack of books the wizard stood on swayed dangerously with his movements, causing numerous gasps to escape the mouths of his students. Lips parting, he rested his hands on the desk before him and waited eagerly for the accident to happen. After the seventh time the wizard rocked back and forth, he hissed softly and slumped down in his chair.
"Don't get your hopes up," Draco mumbled from the left of him. The blond absently tapped his books with his quill while examining his nails, lips pursed. Lowering his hand, he turned to look at Harry. "I've been waiting five years for him to topple and it hasn't happened yet."
Eyes brightening, the raven-haired demon chuckled. Before he could reply, a pair of bricks appeared on the table between them. Blinking in confusion, he stared at the hunk of stone. His brow drew down and he frowned, lifting his eyes to peer around the classroom. A smile of understanding crossed his face when the students began to pull their wands from their pockets. Draco's sudden yelp had him jerking around in time to see the blond's wand flying through the air. He reacted without thought. In the blink of an eye, his hand shot out and closed around the handle of wand.
"Wonderful catch, Harry!" Professor Flitwick cried, clapping his hands frantically.
Turning to Draco, Harry smiled and slowly offered him the wand. "Quick fingers," he breathed into the blond's ear. His fingers trailed along the side of the wizard's hand in a deliberate touch. Straightening as the blond flushed, he folded his hands atop the desk and listened to the rapid beat of the wizard's heart.
Rolling his shoulders, he trailed Draco down the stairs into the dungeons. Other than toying with Draco, he'd accomplished very little in Charms. The scuff of cloth upon stone stilled him. He tipped his head and inhaled, then frowned. Ahead of him, Draco turned around, probably wondering why he'd stopped. A twitch of his eye and the subtle lifting of his jaw had Harry tipping his head.
"Parkinson, may I ask what you're doing?" Draco queried, his eyes flicking past Harry to the witch standing behind him.
Harry stiffened at the name, shoulders tensing. He turned slowly, emerald eyes narrowing at the sight of the blonde standing belligerently at his back with her wand leveled upon him. His lips drew back in a silent snarl, slightly elongated canines flashing in warning. Wiggling his fingers in preparation to strike, he focused completely on the female Slytherin. So riveted was he that he failed to notice Draco's quiet approach.
"I asked you a question," the blond wizard said. His voice was carefully soft, the tone cultured. Arching a slender eyebrow, he crossed his arms, placing one hand upon the hilt of his wand.
Glancing nervously over her shoulder, the blonde shifted her weight and adjusted her grip on her wand. "Mind your own business, Draco." Each breath she drew was harsh, her gaze darting back and forth between the pair. A twisted smile slid over her delicate face. "My business is with Harry."
"And what business is that?" Harry returned in a rumbling purr. He tipped his head and inhaled deeply, testing the witch's scent. What he found widened his eyes and increased the rapid beat of his heart. Wafting from the blonde's skin and clothes, almost hidden under the cloying smell of fear and jealousy, was the crisp scent of demon magic. His lashes dipped as he opened his mouth and breathed in slowly, drawing the smell over his tongue. Draco's sharp gasp had him snapping to attention and growling in outrage.
"This," the witch announced, beginning a downward swish with her wand. Before she could finish the incantation or the wand movement, the shadows behind her exploded. Her wand was knocked from her grasp and she was slammed ruthlessly against the closest wall.
"May I kill her?" Sirius asked politely.
Harry smiled as the witch squeaked in protest, her hands scrabbling at the one Sirius had wrapped around her throat. Gliding forward, he halted next to them and extended a hand. He slid his knuckles over her cheek gently, the light touch belying the murderous glint in his eyes. "Unfortunately, you may not." The witch appeared greatly relieved by his verdict, her struggles easing as he stepped back and Sirius' hold loosened. "However, such an attack cannot go unpunished."
"Harry? What's going on? And who's this?" Draco demanded imperiously. The blond stood with his arms folded over his chest, pale eyes drifting back and forth between the three. His wand dangled from his fingers, Pansy's held tightly in his other hand. At the raven-haired wizard's silence, he arched an eyebrow and tilted his head. "Well?"
"I'm his go-"
"Godfather. Sirius is my godfather. He's very protective of me," Harry answered quickly, managing to cut the other demon off before he blew their cover. Offering the blond wizard a toothy grin, he moved away from the pair. "We're going to be late for our next class," he said, attempting to change the subject.
"It's lunch," Draco said. His icy orbs narrowed and he lifted his chin, arrogance showing clearly upon his face. The look the pair of dark-haired wizard's exchanged had him stiffening. "You're lying to me."
Ignoring the furious statement, Harry moved closer and reached for the blond. "Nonsense," he breathed. When the blond shifted away from his touch, he struck with his magic. His aura bound the wizard, stilling him almost immediately. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Pretending not to hear Sirius' amused snort, he lifted his hands and rested his fingertips on the Slytherin's temples. With the delicate touch of an artist, he erased the past few minutes from the blond's memory.
His expression was grim as he took a step back and swung around to look at Sirius and the witch. "Do her," he snapped sullenly. He frowned as the minor demon chortled in glee, beginning to pace back and forth silently. The charms on his wrist band jangled with each step, the liquid in the vials sloshing angrily. For the briefest of seconds, the contents in one of the vials darkened. The pale green potion turning jade before lightening again; the liquid returning to the softest shade of green imaginable.
"It's done," Sirius said. He let go of the witch and moved toward Harry, fidgeting with the sleeves of his dark robes as the raven-haired Retriever circled absently around him. "She should be punished."
Snorting at the words, Harry spun around and stalked to where the blonde witch leaned against the far wall, her eyes glazed. He tore her sleeve without preamble, revealing the pulsing tattoo on her forearm. "I highly doubt attacking me was her idea. Nor did she just happen to stumble across one of the few charms that could bind us on her own. She had help." Dropping the witch's wrist, he clenched his hands and drew a deep breath. "He knows I'm here. Knows that he's being hunted."
Sirius peered over his shoulder as if expecting Voldemort to pop out of the darkness. "How?" He asked in concern. If the High Court Demon knew a Retriever was after him, he'd be more inclined to lash out in an attempt to disable the weaker demon. Especially if it gained him another few days on the mortal plane. Harry would be more than a match for Voldemort though, that was probably why Hades had sent him.
"I don't know." But he could hazard a few guesses, Harry thought. Nibbling on his bottom lip, he gave his head a slight shake and glanced down at the wizard lying prone upon the cold dungeon floor. "Yes, well, lets forget about that for now. I'll deal with Draco. Do something with the witch. Hide her, lock her in her nightmares, I don't really care. Just make sure she can't report back to him," Harry ordered.
"Certainly, I'll see you later," replied Sirius. He tossed the blonde witch carelessly over his shoulder and disappeared down the dungeon corridor, whistling softly as he went.
Shaking his head in bemusement, Harry knelt down next to Draco and began to shake him lightly while calling his name repeatedly. When the blond's eyelids began to flicker, he pulled his aura back and released the magic holding the wizard in his current state. "Are you alright? You must have passed out." He smiled and pushed Draco's soft locks off his forehead, muttering the importance of eating a big breakfast the entire time. After a few minutes, he helped the wizard clamber to his feet and guided him up the stairs to the Great Hall.
XxXxX
Harry fiddled with his cup of juice, amused eyes watching as Sirius plowed his way through a platter of chicken legs. Around the pair, the Slytherin students watched in stunned silence, their own plates sitting untouched.
"So good," Sirius marveled. As his eyes roved over the table, he slid a greasy finger into his mouth and happily sucked grease off the digit. He jumped when the empty platter vanished and a new one popped into existence in its place. The finger he'd been sucking on slipped free of his mouth with a pop, gray eyes widening in delight. "I love magic," he purred reverently.
"Does he always eat like this?" Draco asked in bemusement. The blond arched an eyebrow and lifted his glass of pumpkin juice, peering at Harry over the rim.
Smiling fondly at Sirius, Harry dipped his head. "Always." Raising his own cup, he took a long swallow and then lowered the cup. A soft noise drew his attention from the wizard and he tipped his head, focusing on the sound. It took him mere seconds to place the noise, owls. Dozens of owls. The scrape of parchment accompanied the light rustle of wings, the sounds practically inaudible. He lifted his chin, watching the narrow windows around the roof for the birds appearance.
Minutes later the first owl dropped through one of the narrow slits, a newspaper clenched in its talons. Before it had a chance to land in front of its master, dozens of others spilled into the Great Hall. Owls of brown and gold fluttered around the hall, hooting anxiously as they sought their masters among the masses. The unusual appearance of half the owlery had the students whispering nervously, all of them searching for their bird among the flock.
A massive black Eagle Owl landed gracefully before Draco, its amber eyes flashing as it offered the blond the rolled up newspaper. "Thanks," the blond muttered absently as he took paper. He handed the bird a piece of sausage and shooed it away before opening the paper with a snap. Almost immediately his pale eyes widened, hands clenching as he lowered the newspaper to the tabletop.
Harry slapped Sirius' reaching hands away from a red owl waiting to deliver its message, shoving the half eaten platter of chicken legs into his arms. "Don't" he warned. Shaking his head as the taller demon shot him a sullen look, he returned his attention to Draco.
"Death Eaters Attack Dove Town," the blond read out loud. His quiet voice seemed overly loud, the words causing the surrounding Slytherins to shift uncomfortably.
"They're all Death Eaters!" A student screamed from the far side of the Hall.
"They shouldn't be here!" Shrilled someone else.
Immediately the chorus was taken up. Dozens of voices yelling in outrage, fingers all pointing at the silent Slytherin Table. Dumbledore rose and lifted his hands, trying to bring silence to the yelling students.
"Death Eaters?" Sirius asked around a mouthful of chicken. He arched an eyebrow as the wizard sitting across from him shot him a strange look.
"Followers of Voldemort," a young witch whispered. "They serve the Dark Lord."
"He has an army?" Sirius asked in disbelief. "Did you know that?" He demanded, turning to Harry. The platter of chicken was forgotten, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Do you think Had-"
"No, I don't." Harry snapped. Shrugging off Draco's questioning look, he lifted his juice and took a long sip. "But he's going too."
XxXxX
Harry frowned and stared down at the puddle slowly forming at the tips of his boots. He slid his left foot back as the shimmering liquid crept forward, distaste showing clearly on his face. Lifting his gaze, he arched a dark eyebrow and peered at his companion. "A unicorn? You killed a unicorn?"
Widening gray eyes, Sirius pulled the finger he had been sucking on from his mouth and shrugged his shoulders in indifference. "If you want, I can tear the horn off and you can pretend it's just a little white horse . . ." The offer was accompanied by a wiggle of bushy eyebrows and a devilish grin. When Harry merely curled his lips into a disgusted sneer, the shaggy haired man shrugged again and returned to sucking unicorn blood from his fingers
Shaking his head, Harry sighed heavily. "But a unicorn, Sirius." He stressed, dropping his shining orbs back to the carcass resting upon the snow. The beast was sprawled gracelessly on the ground where the Minor Demon had dropped it, blood flowing freely from the gaping wound in its throat. "Of all the animals in the forest . . ."
Once again slipping a finger free of his mouth, Sirius arched an eyebrow. "Unicorn blood was the strongest available. Unless, of course, you'd agreed and let me kill several young mortals. You do realize that if you had agreed, neither of us would be standing in the middle of a dark forest losing certain parts of our anatomy to the cold, right?"
"I'm immune to the cold," Harry muttered, lowering himself to his knees. Ignoring Sirius' huff, he extended a pale hand and dipped a single finger into the glistening pool. His lashes dipped slowly and shielded his eyes, concealing the flash of desire that raced through the glowing orbs. It was not every day that a demon was given the chance to feast upon unicorn blood. Drawing a ragged breath, he withdrew the slender digit and watched in fascination as silvery liquid dribbled from his nail, plopping silently back into the puddle
"Yes, well, some of us aren't so lucky and it would be much appreciated if you'd hurry up," Sirius snapped. Folding his arms, the gray eyed demon glared down at the Retriever.
Shooting his elder an amused look, Harry returned his finger to the pool and carefully drew three runes in the cooling blood. "I call thee, Hades, God of Death. Your dutiful servant requires your presence." He shakily lifted his hand from the pool and wiped the clinging blood off on his knee, gaze locked on the trembling silver puddle.
Sirius shuffled closer and peered down into the puddle, narrowing his eyes in an attempt to make out anything in the glimmering liquid. "You do realize the likely hood of Hades answering a blood call personally is-"
"Is what, demon?" Growled an angered voice from within the depths of the puddle.
"Ludicrous, my lord." Sirius finished quickly, falling to his knees and bowing deeply. "One such as yourself should not be answering simple blood calls. You must have much more important business to attend to, my lord."
"Indeed I do, you simpleton." Hades snarled, the silver blood swirling dangerously as his temper flared. Hissing softly, he transferred his gaze to the top of Harry's head. "Report, Retriever. And lift your head, I wish to see your face while you speak to me."
"Yes, my lord." Harry replied calmly, raising his chin and meeting the god's gaze. "You failed to tell me that it was Tom Marvolo Riddle I was looking for."
"You forget your place, Retriever." Hades returned sharply.
Dipping his head, Harry offered the god an apologetic bow. "I meant no offense, my lord, only that it would have assisted me in locating him faster had you given me all the pertinent information before I began my hunt."
Hades entire demeanor brightened suddenly. "You've found him already?" He demanded, excitement clear in his tone. The look of denial that raced over Harry's face had him snarling softly. The thickening unicorn blood swirled as if stirred by a strong wind, ripples appearing in the metallic liquid. "Then why are you wasting my time, Harry Potter?"
Harry's eyes flashed angrily at the careless use of his surname. "Please, my lord," he murmured, balling his hands into fists. His face flushed as the slightest hint of desperation crept into his tone, worry colouring his down turned face. Inhaling deeply, he lifted his chin. "I have learned something that I believe you will find of interest. Voldemort's actions upon the mortal plane haven't been quite as innocent as we have been led to believe."
"I would expect nothing innocent of a High Court Demon," Hades drawled. His icy eyes shifted to something only he could see and a grim frown crept across his face. Curling a lip, he waved a long fingered hand gracefully. "Can't you see that I'm busy?" He snapped, gesturing at Harry. With a shake of his head, he returned his attention to Harry.
"My lord, I'm afraid Voldemort isn't following the laws by which we exist. He has made his presence known to a group of wizards and is using them to attack other mortals. His actions are becoming more careless as the days pass," informed Harry. He chanced a quick look at his boss, mentally patting himself on the back for doing such a good job of breaking the bad news.
"He means to take over the world," Sirius added.
"He what?" Hades roared.
Closing his eyes, the raven-haired Retriever groaned softly. His fingers curled slowly, nails piercing the flesh of his palms. Silently promising himself that he could thrash Sirius within an inch of his second life when this was all over, he answered the screeched question. "Amassing an army of wizards with which to take over the world." He stated calmly, shooting a warning look over his shoulder at Sirius. Bowing his head as the God of Death let out an angered shriek and vanished from the pool only to reappear seconds later, he gritted his teeth and prepared to take the full fury of the devil.
"If what you tell me is true, than a change of orders is necessary. No longer do I wish you to retrieve Voldemort. You may instead, upon locating him, slay him." The pale god instructed without a hint of remorse. His almost angelic face was expressionless, pale eyes hiding his thoughts with practiced ease.
Harry's orbs widened at the words. An order of execution was almost unheard of in the demon world. In fact, Hades hadn't condemned one of his demons to death in seven hundred years. Shock and awe settled upon him as he realized the magnitude of the Devil's command. He, Harold James Potter, was going to be the first Retriever in over seven centuries given permission to kill a High Court Demon. Sure, demons killed other demons every day but this was a member of Hades inner circle. Flabbergasted, it took him a moment to remember the God of Death was waiting upon him. "As you wish, my lord." He said finally, his voice pitched slightly higher then usual.
"Time is passing, Retriever." Hades warned, reaching out and abolishing his image with a wave of slender fingers.
The unicorn blood blackened as the devil disappeared, leaving Harry and Sirius kneeling silently in the snow. Both demons stared at the hardened puddle, disbelief etched clearly upon their faces. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled, its droning cry echoing through the Forbidden Forest. Seconds later the call was answered by a flurry of high pitched barks, the noise bringing Sirius to his feet.
"That went surprisingly well," Sirius exclaimed while anxiously searching the shadows.
Harry rose fluidly and brushed the snow from his knees. "I'm going to count to ten," he said calmly. Arching an eyebrow, he glanced at Sirius before running his fingers over the silver band he wore. The small iron sword disengaged from the bracelet with a soft snick, enlarging as soon as it landed in his palm. Tightening his grip on the gold inlaid hilt, he hefted the blade. "One."
"Now, Harry, it really wasn't that bad." Sirius soothed, taking a small step backwards. He chuckled nervously as the raven-haired Retriever swung the sword in a slow arc, the blade whistling sharply.
"Two," Harry continued. His eyes narrowed and he tipped his head, bringing the shimmering length of iron closer to his nose. He shook his head at the sight of a small nick in the blade, momentarily stopping his counting as he wondered if it was fixable. Frowning, he ran a long nail over the gouge, testing its depth to see if it would affect the sword's use. Giving a sharp shake of his head, he lowered the weapon and wiggled his fingers on the grip. "Three."
"Alright! I'm sorry. I'm stupid and I'm sorry," Sirius yelped. He skittered backwards as Harry lazily swung his sword, the blade catching the moonlight.
Harry smiled, a baring of unnaturally sharp teeth. "Four."
Opening and closing his mouth, Sirius gave a soft whimper before spinning around. "Just remember I'm your friend and you love me very much," he hollered over his shoulder. His shoulders tensed as Harry continued his count. Deciding that he'd rather sleep in a snow bank then let Harry lop off his head, he launched himself into the darkness.
Smiling as Sirius vanished into the night, Harry chuckled and shrunk the iron sword. He reattached the blade to the silver band upon his wrist, fingers lingering on the charm. Arching his back, he tangled his fingers in his hair and moaned softly. Today hadn't been a complete waste of time, but he could feel his deadline pressing down on him. He was running out of time and his hound had yet to return bearing news of Voldemort's location. Growling at the thought, he whirled around and glared at the glowing castle. He hoped Yeth would return soon. Shivering, he folded his arms and glided toward his temporary home.
A/n: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review.
sbkar - lol, the good news is that I've returned to an atmosphere where I can at least be productive. Hopefully I'll be able to return to the schedule I used to keep most dutifully. Shame Ness2 - I've wanted to write a story featuring a dark Harry for a very long time, but I think this is as close as I'll probably get.
hieisdragoness18 - Remus will make an appearance, as a demon, but it won't be for four or five more chapters.thrnbrooke - Dumbles is just doing his job, though I do agree with you. Unfortunately Harry can't tell the Headmaster who his target is, its against Retriever rules.mangacat201 - Yeah, he probably should have, but then we wouldn't of had as much fun as we're been having.
TorringMay - lol, Yah I'm back. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it up. Glad you're still enjoying it.
Lady-Frisselle - I haven't decided on Sirius' and Severus' relationship yet.
Wolven Spirits - Glad you enjoyed the introduction of Sirius.