Chapter 8
'Let's see…got to see to that…can't forget that…That needs sorted…'
'Rawr raw ruw…'
'Quite right, got to look into that as well don't I?'
'Um…what are you doing?' Harry asked.
The man looked up from the parchment with a smile.
'Hello. I'm just checking my to do list. Can't be too prepared you know'.
'Quite right' Hermione agreed, dutifully ignoring Harry rolling his eyes.
'Looks awfully long. Is it for the last task?' Harry asked.
Julian shook his head.
'No it's just some things I've been working on. Speaking of which, mind if I have a word with you, Remus and Sirius in private? And of course Hermione can be there as well'.
Harry went to say yes, before realising what the man said.
'Sirius?! How do you know about Sirius?!'
Julian smiled.
'Easy Harry, I'm not looking to turn him in. Nymph told me he was innocent and I believed her, remember? It was when I met Padfoot and Remus. I'm afraid I'm just too good at noticing things. Like a dog who acts human. Or a human with wolfish tendencies'.
'Wait, so you know about Remus as well?' Hermione asked.
'Yep. That's why I wanted to speak with him. See, I know a cure' Julian replied.
The two stared at him wide eyed.
'Really?! You can cure Werewolves?!' Harry exclaimed.
'Sure. And it'll check another thing off my list if I can see to him. Also Harry, I would really like to look at that scar of yours. I have a feeling its hiding something. Has it been causing you pain?'
'Yeah. When Voldemort is around it really stings' Harry replied curiously.
'I thought so. If you wouldn't mind me having a look at it, I think I can stop that pain as well' Julian said thoughtfully.
'Harry, we can contact Remus and Sirius by floo. Remember they gave you the address' Hermione said.
'Well then, you can use my fireplace' Julian said and they headed down to his office.
He waved them inside and Harry quickly made a call to his godfather and explained what Julian told them. He then asked him and Remus to come through, promising them that it was ok. Julian set up privacy spells as the men came out the fire, wands in hand.
'You realise that I'm only here because Harry says he trusts you. What's this all about?' Sirius asked suspiciously.
Julian examined the older man.
'Not to insult, but you look terrible. Then again Azkaban does do that to a person. I'm going to have to find Pettigrew soon so you can have peace of mind' he said.
'Pettigrew! How do you know about Pettigrew?!' Sirius asked.
Julian waved his hand dismissively.
'Not important. I just know he's a deatheater. If only I could find the blasted rat. Must be hiding with his master' he replied, the last part mostly to himself.
Sirius scowled and crossed his arms.
'This is far too convenient. You know about Pettigrew, you can supposedly cure Remus. This is a trap isn't it? What are you Heartright, a deatheater?!'
'Nothing like that Mr Black, I just do a lot of research' Julian replied.
Sirius spotted the parchment Julian held and snatched it from him, remembering Harry saying something about a to do list. As he read through it he became more and more angry.
'WHAT IS ALL THIS?! HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS INFORMATION?! DARK RITUALS! DEATHEATERS AND THEIR LOCATIONS! WHATEVER THESE HORCRUXES ARE! TALK HEARTRIGHT!'
Julian flinched as Remus grabbed the parchment in shock.
'Horcruxes?! But that's the darkest of magic!'
'What's a horcrux?' Harry asked.
'It's when you split your soul with a dark ritual and place it in an object of your choosing. You need to kill an innocent person to complete the ritual! This is why Voldemort didn't die, as long as he has his horcruxes he'll live on. And they can only be destroyed with some seriously strong magic, like Fiendfyre, or a very potent poison' Remus replied.
Sirius snarled at Julian.
'WHY HAVEN'T YOU TOLD ANYONE ABOUT THIS?!
'Look, I know it seems suspicious. But I just…' Julian started.
'NO! EXPLAIN YOURSELF! Sirius growled.
The younger man slid his arms round himself and looked away, chewing his lip nervously.
'Only one person knows how I got this information, I've kept it a secret to everyone else' he said quietly.
'TELL ME NOW!' Sirius snapped.
Julian scowled at the older man.
'Fine Black, you want to know my secrets? You want to know how I got all this information? I was Voldemort's plaything as a child! You heard right. My parents handed me to him in exchange for them becoming deatheaters! I was seven years old! A week in his company and I would have gladly taken your place in Azkaban! I spent three years surviving both him and his deatheaters! He was so confident that I wouldn't escape that he told me, no boasted to me about the things he had done. He even told me about his method on becoming immortal. I know Pettigrew's a deatheater because he was one of those who hurt me! I missed out on half of my first year at Hogwarts because I was too busy recovering from their treatment. The moment I graduated I searched for anything related to Voldemort's past, anything that might hint where he hid those horcruxes. I spent years hunting them down and finding a way to destroy them destroyed them. I'm still looking for a few. And I hunted down as much deatheaters as I could and made sure they would never harm anyone again. And I looked into any rituals that Voldemort might use to gain his body back and tried to so something to stop him achieving that!
All I want to do is help Black. I have no ulterior motive'.
Before anyone could say anything he whipped out his wand and raised it above his head.
'I Julian Heartright do hereby swear on my life and my magic that what I have just said is true! So mote be it!'
When the flash had died down he cast the lumos charm, smiling sadly as his wand shone.
'You know, I really wanted to learn how to do the patronus charm. I practiced for years on it. Eventually I realised that I just don't have any really happy memories. Voldemort robbed me of so much, but it's the little things like that that really make me angry at him'.
He sighed and slid his wand back into its holster. Sitting down he waited for the group's response.
'Might I have that list back? I'm afraid I won't be satisfied until every last item has been checked off'.
Wordlessly Sirius handed the parchment over. The room fell into awkward silence as each processed what they had just heard. To know that this happy go lucky young man had been tortured in such a manner was horrifying, and each of them couldn't help but wonder how he could be so happy now after what he had been through.
'Where did you find the horcruxes? And which ones do you have left?' Remus finally asked softly.
Julian took a deep breath as the frustration bled out of him.
'Voldemort, or Tom Riddle was a student at Hogwarts. While here he took arithmancy and from reading one of his class projects I suspected he was influenced heavily by the number seven. It is believed to be the number of the perfect man, and I believe he took this to new levels by splitting his soul into seven pieces. My research led me to his mother's side of the family, the Gaunts. Their home, if you could call it that, was where he placed one of his horcruxes. The Gaunt family ring. Another was more guesswork than anything else. He appears to have trusted the Lestrange family to protect a cup that once belonged to Helga Hufflepuff. With a lot of cooperation from the Goblins we were able to find and remove that from the Lestrange vault. I thought I had found a third in a Cliffside cave nearby an orphanage than Riddle grew up in, but it turned out to be a fake. The real one I discovered was taken from the cave by one Regulus Black. It appeared that he realised the mistake he'd made in becoming a deatheater and made an effort to stop Voldemort. I don't know where he would have put the real horcrux though'.
Sirius had to sit down at that. He had always thought his brother had been killed for failing a mission. To learn Regulus could have died fighting against Voldemort was a blow.
'The last one I found was more out of luck than anything else. While at school I discovered a room known as the room of requirement. It is a place than can change depending on what you want it to be. I was looking to explore and it became a place that old and mostly forgotten stuff is stored. I quite literately stumbled across a diadem when a Chameleon Ghoul jumped out at me. It was obvious there was something dark about it but only after I graduated and found another horcrux did I realise what that darkness was. I could have kicked myself for leaving it there but I did eventually come back for it'.
He smiled a little.
'When I discovered the diadem was the actual Ravenclaw diadem I knew I couldn't just leave it here. I kept a hold of it in the hopes I could hand it over to Professor Flitwick after I got rid of the rest of the horcruxes. However when I was asked to be an assistant this year I may have pulled a little prank on Ravenclaw house by getting into their common room and replacing the fake one with the real one. I'll tell Professor Flitwick once all this is over'.
He then sighed as he picked up the story.
'I'm aware that there are two more potential pieces to find, and I believe one of them is a diary of sorts. I had met with the ghost called Myrtle in my first year and when I asked how she died she was quite happy to tell me. Years later I wondered if perhaps Riddle had used her, accidentally or otherwise, to create his first horcrux and after some research discovered that he was usually seen with some form of diary. I'm not sure if he turned it into a horcruxe, but it's my best bet, not that it helps since I don't know what he did with it' Julian continued before glancing at Harry.
'The last one might have been accidentally made, and Voldemort might not even be aware that he created it, but I'm pretty sure it happened that Halloween night'.
Harry caught on quickly enough.
'My scar!'
Julian nodded.
'I believe Voldemort wanted you to be the sacrifice for his next horcrux. He started the ritual as he entered your home but instead of killing you, he killed your parents. The ritual completed itself and when he hit you with the killing curse, the soul piece in you blocked it and created that scar. I don't know if this is actually true, but it's the best theory I have as to what happened that night'.
As Harry thought over this, Sirius spoke.
'I think I know where the locket is. I've seen Kreacher my house Elf wearing a locket a couple of times. What does it look like?'
Julian summoned the fake locket from his trunk. He handed it to the older man.
'This is definitely the one I saw Kreacher wearing'.
'Keep this one then. Maybe he'll accept a trade if he's told the real one will have the soul piece removed' Julian said.
'Julian. That diary you mentioned. Was it black with his name on it?' Harry asked.
'I'm not sure. It could have either been black or a dark grey. Why?' Julian replied.
'I've destroyed it. Lucius Malfoy slipped it into Ginny's cauldron in her first year and when she wrote in it the spirit of Tom Riddle possessed her. Through her he opened the chamber of secrets and let the Basilisk out. I killed the snake and used a fang to stab the diary to save Ginny's life' Harry replied.
Julian looked at the teen wide eyed.
'You really did that Harry? How big was that Basilisk?'
Harry shrugged.
'I'm not exactly sure, fifty, maybe sixty feet long'.
'That's incredible! And it definitely sounds like the diary was a horcrux. You know Harry, since you killed it you might be able to claim it for yourself' Julian exclaimed.
'Really?'
Julian nodded.
'Basilisk parts are pretty expensive since they're so rare. Some potions use them, and the skin can be used the same way Dragon hide is. I daresay the Goblins would be happy to make a deal with you just for the meat'.
He summoned a quill and checked off the diary on the list as Harry thought about what he said.
'If you can get me that locket Mr Black, the only possible horcrux left would be…well would be Harry. And I can take that horcrux out of you. It will probably hurt, it is dark magic after all, but once it's done it might clear up that scar for good' he then said.
'I don't care if it hurts. If there's really a part of Voldemort's soul in my head I want it out' Harry declared.
'How are you able to do things like this?' Hermione asked.
Julian gave a nervous smile. He headed to his room and came back with a small briefcase. Opening it up he showed them the rows of syringes.
'Each of these if filled with a poison of sorts. When I found the first horcrux I tested just about all of these before finding one that worked. I didn't have Basilisk venom, but I did have willingly donated Demon blood, and that did the trick without the side effect of destroying the object the soul piece was in'.
Sirius gave a whistle.
'No wonder you're nervous. Any of these could get you time in Azkaban if you're caught with them. How in the world did you get Demon blood?'
Julian gave a little laugh.
'When I was nineteen I was given an offer of a year of study at an elite school for magical beings'.
'So wait, the D.E.A.D is a real school?!' Harry asked.
'Yep. I got the chance to study alongside many different beings, some of them of course being Demons. We became quite good friends, and when they heard about my horcrux search they were happy to help. Well ok maybe not happy, but at least interested enough to look into it'.
'And injecting Demon blood into Harry won't hurt him?' Hermione asked in concern.
'I can't say it won't hurt, this is dark magic we'll be trying to remove. But it won't kill him. The blood only affected the soul piece, it left the container untarnished' Julian replied.
'I still don't care. I've been hoping to get rid of this scar for years. If this'll work, then go for it' Harry declared after a moment of silence.
'What about the cure for Remus?' Hermione then asked, holding her boyfriends hand quite tightly to show her support.
'A cure?!' Remus breathed.
Julian nodded, smiling a bit as he retrieved another briefcase from his bedroom. Opening it showed another row of syringes.
'Searching for horcruxes was a goal, this is an achievement. Severus thinks I should be awarded a mastery for this but it's something non magicals have been doing for years'.
He glanced at the Werewolf.
'Around my sixth year I became very interested in chemistry and microbiology, that is muggle sciences. I realized that maybe the reason the illness couldn't be cured, was because no one had ever tried picking it apart and seeing what worked against it. So I spent time learning how to do that, and then asked for donations from D.E.A.D students. As you could imagine, most of them were happy to help. I managed to isolate the virus and experiment with it. The liquid in these syringes are the result. Are any of you aware of how the immune system works?'
Only Hermione nodded, and suddenly looked enlightened as she realised what he'd done. The other three looked confused.
'When you get something like the flu your body created defenses called antibodies to fight the illness. At your ages you already have several different types of antibodies ready and waiting to fight several different illnesses. Not all illnesses can be fought this way but by doing this you can become immune to them. I took the lycomancy disease and used the sciences to create antibodies for it. These syringes hold those antibodies, and when injected they will help kick start your body into making its own' Julian explained.
'Wouldn't our bodies have already tried that?' Remus asked, not daring to hope.
'Normally that would be the case but lycomancy is different in that it fights back. The disease seems to have been deliberately made to fight all parts of your bodies, and that includes any defenses your body tries to create. The antibodies in the syringes have gone through several tests to ensure that they are the strongest they can be, and have proven to stand up to and destroy the illness entirely, and then remain in the body to help it replicate them just to be on the safe side. I've offered it to those at the D.E.A.D, and all of those have had no sign of the illness returning. I've kept in touch with them and they've been disease free since. Since then I've managed to give this to others, but there aren't many who would willingly be injected for fear of being poisoned, and others who don't want to be cured at all. I will say that it hurts, the disease fights back and forces your body to fight with it. I've been told it's like transforming for the first time, but after that no more howling at the full moon. Well, not unless you want to' Julian answered with a smile.
'For the chance of a cure I will take the pain. Thank you' Remus spoke tearfully.
Julian nodded with a soft smile.
'Alright, I want both of you lying down for this. I don't know how long it will last so you might as well be comfortable. And um…thank you, for trusting me'.
***Some time later***
'How are you two feeling?' Sirius asked.
'Like I got run over by a Hippogriff' Harry groaned.
Remus nodded his agreement, too sore to reply verbally.
'Sorry about that, I did warn that it might hurt' Julian replied sheepishly.
'Understatement of the century' Harry muttered.
'Stop complaining and drink this' Hermione scolded, holding a pain potion to her boyfriend's lips.
'I still have heightened senses Julian. Are you sure I'm cured?' Remus asked after Sirius helped him drink his own pain potion.
Julian smiled cheekily.
'Ah, that's something I forgot to mention. Before you jump down my throat Mr Black I promise it's something good. There is a side effect of the cure, while the disease is definitely gone, you still retain the wolf part of yourself. In other words, congratulations, you are now a wolf animagus
Sirius, who had paused before he could start ranting, gave a cheer and yanked his friend into a hug.
'Brilliant! I have got to see you! We are going to practice night and day until you can transform!'
'Sirius I'm happy too, but could you please hold the hugs until I've recovered' Remus wheezed.
The black haired man immediately put him down and apologised.
'It shouldn't take that long Mr Black. Remus already instinctively knows how to transform, he just needs a bit of practice' Julian remarked.
Remus pulled himself up onto his feet, ignoring Sirius' protests, and pulled Julian into a hug.
'Thank you'.
The younger man had stiffened slightly, and Remus made to move away, before Julian relaxed and patted his back.
'Sorry, still not used to anyone other than a select few touching me. You're welcome'.
'So what else was on that list Julian?' Harry asked, able to sit up now that the pain potion had done its job.
The man moved away from Remus and took a seat.
'Where do I start? I looked into the deatheaters in Azkaban, and while the minister thinks they'll be fine where they are, I remember how easily Voldemort broke into the prison last time round. My plan is to find a way into Azkaban and use as much of these poisons on them as I can'.
'How in the world will you be able to do that?!' Sirius asked.
Julian smiled.
'I'm an Elemental. The harsh sea won't be a problem for me and neither will the stone walls. And my animagus form means the Dementors won't even know I'm there for most part. I am sorta hoping the elements can help me against them as well. Surely they could be stopped with fire, or encased in earth and dropped into the sea'.
'And you'll really kill the prisoners? Not that I'm saying they don't deserve it, but…' Hermione started to say.
Julian nodded in understanding.
'I don't like killing Hermione, nor do I really want to. But these people are the worst of the worse, and not just because of what they did to me. If Voldemort ever manages to get his strength back he'll break them out and they'll be back to hurting innocent people. I can't let that happen. I can't let people like Bellatrix hurt any more children'.
He closed his eyes in pain, needing a moment to recover.
'You aren't just talking about what she did to you, are you?' Harry asked quietly.
Julian shuddered a little.
'She…there was a family brought in. They had a girl around three or four years old. I…wasn't allowed to look away' he whispered.
No one could say anything to that. Hermione felt sick, while Remus had clenched his fists so hard he had pierced the skin. Before anyone could say anything, Julian steeled himself and glanced up.
'I can't forget, and I won't forgive'.
Harry nodded with sympathy. The man took a calming breath and continued, pushing the pain in his eyes away.
'I've also listed the deatheaters who bought their way out of Azkaban. I've already seen to some of them, mostly ones who aren't in high positions in the ministry. I can't bring myself to kill the ones with children, but I can watch them and record they do. Can't say it will do any good, but perhaps one day the information will come in handy. I've also looked into the Werewolf population in Britain. As I've already said most of them are wary of me, and some don't like me at all. In fact, I was targeted by Greyback's pack a few years ago'.
'Greyback? Fenrir Greyback?!' Remus exclaimed.
Julian nodded.
'He likes keeping his pack meek, and they weren't very healthy, but he was strong, very strong. I'm only thankful I am an Elemental. He couldn't get to me, not when the very earth beneath his feet could become a weapon.
'He's dead?' Remus asked, hopeful.
Julian nodded.
'Most of his pack remain, and to be honest not many of them are upset by his death. He was apparently the cause of quite a few of them becoming Werewolves in the first place'.
He…he was the one who…' Remus tried to say.
Julian nodded in understanding.
'He was the one who turned you. Can I ask what age you were?' he said.
Remus looked away.
'I was six'.
Most of the group looked at him with shock.
'Mangy beast, his death was far too swift!' Julian muttered darkly.
He noticed Remus' questioning look.
'I snapped his neck, quick and painless. Deserves to be tossed into lava the bloody wolf! I hate crimes against children. Not just because of what happened to me, but because it isn't right. It's unforgivable!' he growled.
Remus gave the younger man a soft smile.
'So what else have you been doing?' he asked.
Julian shook himself out his anger.
'Right… After I checked on the Werewolves, I turned to the Vampires. I have a vampire friend who bunked with me at the school and he assured me that the ones he knew wouldn't join Voldemort. But he also said they wouldn't be joining the light side either. There are obviously some who had overstepped the mark and will need to be watched, however these are actually in the minority and most just want to be left in peace. The Giants also had no intention of joining any sides. Most remember what happened last time they did, and know Voldemort will turn on them just as he did before. As I said I'm hoping to see to the Dementors, and most of the other so called dark creatures Voldemort never really bothered with before. Well except Inferi but fire stops them pretty quickly. I guess that's it really'.
'Ok, exactly how are you able to talk with these beings?' Hermione asked.
Julian laughed, and with it the tense atmosphere faded.
'There's a theory that to be an Elemental you are born from Mother Nature herself. You are part of nature, and everything in it will recognise you as such. It isn't just a case of flinging fire around or skating on water, you are instinctively aware of the beings around you and how to act around them. I'll grant you Vampires are a bit different, but beings like Giants and Merfolk and even Dragons know what I am, and don't attack me so long as I don't attack them. A translation spell and we can chat away like old friends. There are people out there that believe Elementals are dark. They're wrong. Nature can't be dark, nor can it be light. Water gives life but it can also take lives, and it's the same for all elements. I'm grey, and I can't be anything other than grey'.
Harry shook his head in amusement.
'So that Demon school, you attended, you leaned all this there? And just to confirm, you are being serious about there being a real life Demon school?'
Julian grinned.
'Why of course there is Harry. Though it's not really for just Demons, it just so happens a Demon was the one to set it up. Anyone with creature blood is welcome, and we all get taught a number of things that would help us. I was given classes on how to better use the elements, and how to manage my energy intake and output so I don't wind up loosing consciousness. The students in that class in my year consisted of a winter Fairy, a fire Demon, a wood Nymph, a Siren, and of course my Vampire pal. It was hilarious, the Fairy and the Demon spent most of the time squaring off over the Siren, while the Nymph kept calling woodland animals into the room and singing. The poor Vampire was completely out of his depth, and mostly sat either with me or huddled in a corner. I don't know how anything was taught. The school caters to Fairies, Drakes, Demons, Merfolk, Centaurs, heck before I went there I never realised you could get a Weretiger, or a Werefox, or even a Werepolarbear!'
The four gave him looks of disbelief.
'I've got pictures' he offered.