All Along the Watchtower
Chapter 6- Aftermath
A week later Harry found himself sitting in complete darkness, he was been unable to sleep through a combination of disturbing dreams and troubled thoughts. Harry thought about everything; Hogwarts, the Academy, his family, Cho, Karen, Kaden, his new life.
When he joined the Academy he became a Reaper, forever bound to the Elemental Order. He would train day in, day out to once again face the Dark Lord and his forces. Kaden didn't mince his words when he said how many Elementals where killed by Voldemort's hand alone, the number stood at thirty-four, including Kaden's uncle. He once wiped out an entire squad when cut off from his Death Eaters, a beast when cornered.
"What're you doing up?" Kaden asked as he flicked a switch and bathed the room in dim light.
"Just thinking," Harry said and Kaden step into the kitchen. He emerged with a bottle, two glasses and a small bucket of ice.
Taking a seat across from Harry, Kaden laid his wares on the table. "What are you getting that out for?"
"When do I ever need a reason?" He poured two glasses of the amber liquid and pushed one over the table. "To the Wolves and Ravens who fell," Kaden said raising the glass and draining it.
Harry copied him, for a week they honoured their fallen before beginning the process of selecting replacements.
"You can't sleep and there's nothing wrong? Get on with it."
Harry took a sip of his whiskey. "Why are you awake?"
"I try to keep an eye on Danielle. She has some trouble sleeping after well, you know. She has nightmares and you know don't sleep all that much, you?" Kaden asked.
"Well it's about leaving school really and some really fucked up dreams." Harry admitted.
"Dreams?"
Harry shook his head. "How is Danielle, after, you know?"
Kaden shrugged. "As well as she can be I guess; I don't really know what I can do or say to help."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, glad he had managed to change the subject. He wasn't up for explaining the gruesome dreams where he would watch countless people being tortured. The intoxication and enjoyment he felt during the heinous atrocities was even more disturbing.
"I just can't see it from my point of view; a vampire could never overpower me like that. Danielle feels more ashamed than anything else. She doesn't want me to feel sorry for her and…" Kaden trailed off shrugging helplessly.
Harry nodded.
Kaden reached into a pocket in his shorts and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. "Want one?" He asked, throwing the packet on the table.
Harry shook his head; he was never a fan of smoking, he instead refilled their glasses. "Aren't Vampires stronger than most humans and Veela?"
Kaden took a long draw of his cigarette, thinking of how to word his answer. "Well yeah, but I'm not exactly human Harry."
"Well you're a wizard, so you aren't really human, I don't actually know what they call us."
Kaden shook his head. "Mate, I'd watch who you call a wizard, not a lot of people would agree. I've got Lycan blood in me."
Harry looked up dumbfounded. "Really?"
Kaden smiled slightly and nodded.
"And you never thought this was worth a mention?"
"Pass me that first." Kaden said indicating the glass in front of Harry.
Harry pushed it along the table.
"Well, my mum was one."
Harry then understood; Kaden's mum wasn't a subject they touched upon. "Your mum was a werewolf? Does that mean you and Karen are to?" Harry was sure he would have noticed.
"My mum was a Lycan Harry, not a werewolf." Kaden said; there was a big difference. Fenrir Greyback and his ilk were werewolves, his mum was not. "Karen is part Lycan, but it's less pronounced in her, she's stronger and faster than most but not like me." Kaden said evenly, knowing that according to Doctor Landry Senior, he protected his sister in the womb by absorbing most of the magical virus, leaving his Lycan traits much more prominent.
"Sorry." Harry muttered, taking a drink of whiskey. Casting his mind back he could vaguely remember Kaden getting pissed off a lot when people went on about werewolves.
"It's alright; I just get annoyed when it comes to my mum, latent abandonment issues and whatnot." Kaden laughed it off.
Harry nodded, case closed. "Do you shift?" He scanned his mind for any mysterious disappearances Kaden made at school. Unfortunately for him, Kaden tended to disappear a lot.
Kaden shook his head, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. "No. I get strength, speed, a wicked temper and a heightened sense of smell. All the good parts except my body kinda crashes if I go all out, once the adrenaline wears off I can barely stand but it's worth it."
"Silver?"
"It tickles," Kaden decided to trust Harry with another family secret. "Connor, he's sensitive to it being half Vampire, nothing serious. Like me he gets all the strengths of a full vampire minus the sunshine rule and he doesn't drink blood, that much."
"No, no. Now you're talking shit. You half-Lycan with the temper I understand, but Connor half-Vampire, very funny."
"Harry I'm being serious, he has to if he gets hurt too much it's the only way vampires or part-vampires can regenerate properly. He likes it better than food." Kaden's nose crinkled in disgust. "His mum was one; nearly five hundred years old Aunt Lori was before she died, she was one of the founding members of the Liberi. He's stronger than me, or any of the Lycans at the Academy." Kaden said. "I didn't forget what we were talking about by the way, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Harry replied, draining his glass and reaching for the bottle of whiskey to avoid Kaden's piercing gaze.
"Spit it out or I'll get the Veritaserum out again." Kaden supplied with a smirk.
"That's unfair!" Harry moaned.
"Sex dream about McGonagall..." Kaden coughed with laughter. "You having second thoughts? 'Cause we have a party tomorrow night and you're nailing Chang."
Harry glared at him. "Piss off, you know-"
"-that's not why I asked her." Kaden rolled his eyes. Harry was too predictable when it came to precious Miss Chang. "So it's something with Chang then?"
"Yes and no." Harry said, discomfort evident. "I was talking to her earlier and she was saying how she can't wait until tomorrow. She can't wait to see me." Harry sighed. "Then she started going on about plans she has for the Quidditch team, Hogsmeade and well, I'm not going to be there?"
"That's why you've been all sulky and shit?" Kaden asked. "Just suck it up and tell her, she'll understand."
"What if she doesn't?" Harry asked.
"She will." Kaden assured, lighting another cigarette. He may as well toy with Harry first. "Just tell her the truth. Girls like it when you tell them the truth."
Harry was amazed by the stupidity of the statement. "Yeah Kaden, I'll say this.'Hi Cho, I really like you but I'm off to parts unknown and leaving you high and dry. I'm leaving school, you'll have to find a new seeker, no I can't go to Hogsmeade with you and no I can't tell you where I'm going so don't bother asking. Have a nice life.' You really think she's going to accept me saying that?"
Kaden scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Well I'd hit you, personally the whole 'have a nice life' was over the top and just made like a dick, subtract that bit and I'd still hit you. But that's me, Chang? She's a different story." Kaden stopped in thought. "She's typically over-emotional at the best of times. From what I heard she actually cried when she chucked Diggory and she was only using him to make you jealous, pointless at all." Kaden said wistfully. "Right laugh all the same, never liked him too much."
Harry spluttered uncertainly at the information. Kaden had to be messing with him.
"She's reasonably confident most of the time but can be depressive, suppose after getting kidnapped as a kid you would too." He added as an afterthought. "She's pretty impulsive, probably why she's good at Quidditch. Oh and important thing to remember, has a good right hook -trust me I'd know- she don't hit like a girl. She's likes the scrawny kind of guy with black hair."
Harry threw a small cushion at him.
"So you're in the frame, all in all I'd say she'll start crying. If you're lucky you can try and comfort her. Say it'll be alright and all that crap, do the whole star crossed lovers bullshit. She'll want one last night of passion with you before you leave and considering it's you she'll be greatly disappointed." Kaden added and Harry's eyes narrowed into a deadly glare that Kaden had to laugh at. "I would volunteer for the job under guise of Polyjuice Potion of course but-"
Harry threw a bigger cushion at him struck him in the face, spilling Firewhiskey and scattering cigarette ash.
"Fuck sake Harry!" Kaden said with a mock glare, with a wave of his hand and a 'Scourify' he was clean. "You can explain to my sister why her one of her silk cushions is ruined!" Kaden repeatedly tried a cleansing charm but the expensive silk repelled his attempts.
"Kaden shut-up, it's pointless." Harry interjected tiredly; Acromantula silk was resistant to all but high-level spells. "I'll give Karen the money to get a new one. Since when did you do a psychological evaluation on Cho?"
Kaden looked indignant. "Here was little old me thinking you'd appreciate the input, just so you know I'm exceptionally good at reading people." Kaden stuck his tongue out at Harry childishly and lay back on the couch.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You've told me nothing useful. According to you she'll cry. Remember Susan Bones? What about Lisa, that Kerry girl from Hufflepuff. I've never been good with crying girls, you know that! I'll fuck up and then she'll never want to talk to me again." Harry wasn't sure if it was the whiskey talking, but he was pretty much fucked.
Kaden shook his head. "Look at me, this big fat bit of information is going to blow fucking mind. Lie, lie through your back fucking teeth!"
"You just told me not to lie."
"I just spouted you the biggest pile of bullshit your likely to hear from me all year and you think I'm being serious? I think the whiskey's getting to you." Kaden said incredulously, stretching over the table to take the glass but Harry batted his hand away.
Harry lifted the glass and leaned back, holding it protectively. "Fine, then how do I come up with a lie that she'll believe? And I don't feel too guilty telling her."
"Just tell her you're going to the Auditore Institute of Magic in Florence for the year, it'll be your cover. And I'm sure you can come up with something creative and still go to Hogsmeade, we don't have to stick around unless a mission comes up. The Academy is just across the country after all, Hogsmeade is only an apparition away, you won't even have to dodge international ward lines." Kaden shrugged. "The Institute is a finishing school for the best young magic users in Europe so it's not that hard to believe, you were top of our class every year except fourth year when that Hermy Ganger beat you."
Harry's scowl was firewhiskey induced. "It was Hermione Granger, and the only reason she beat me was because I was laid up in the hospital wing, the frizzy haired Gryffindork never let me forget it."
"I know, I know." Kaden said soothingly, that was a sore spot for Harry, but Kaden was happy went he noticed Harry didn't pull at the sleeves of his t-shirt. "I don't really know what you were bothered about, you didn't have to do exams that year but no…"
"Shut-up," Harry said giving Kaden another firewhiskey induced glare.
"Come on mate, we've had enough, I have a girl to get back to and you should be able to get to sleep now." Kaden said a little too cheerily considering it was three in the morning.
"Where's Connor? I thought he was taking the couch."
"He's out with John, Paul and Richie as far as I know; he'll be staying at one of their places." Kaden answered with a yawn which betrayed his energetic persona.
Harry nodded.
"Anyway," Kaden raised his glass. "Here is to you my friend, finally popping that cherry of yours!"
Before Harry could move his glass away Kaden, who still had a reasonable semblance of co-ordination, chinked the glasses together, drank his fill and left the room laughing to himself.
Harry drained the remainder of his glass thinking for the second time in as many weeks, if only you knew, placed it on the table and began stumbling through the maze of furniture in the dark. After hitting countless pieces of seemingly random and useless furniture Harry reached his room, he stepped in and with drunken ease he flopped down on the large bed falling asleep almost instantly under the gaze of his worried familiars.
xxxxx
Harry woke the next morning feeling content, excepting the dry feeling at the back of his throat that came with an adolescent hangover. Nevertheless, Harry felt lucky that he didn't have a splitting headache and rolled over until he was looking at the white ceiling above his bed.
He cast his mind back to whatever horrible dream plagued him the night before but found his memory empty. He hadn't dreamt of anything. No snake faced monster invaded his dreams with plots of destruction and murder. He looked to the clock on his bedside table and found it nearly half twelve in the afternoon. Harry frowned as he sat up; he grabbed his glasses from the end table and checked the clock again.
Usually he was up at the crack of dawn outside school and to his amazement his scar was only a dull throb in comparison to the searing pain that usually accompanied his awakening.
Maybe the dreams are gone? With that thought and the knowledge he had a date with the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts Harry bounced up from his bed and made his way to the bathroom to have a shower, he stripped off before stepping below a stream of warm water. The warmness of the water soothed his mood even further; almost to the point of elation. Quickly brushing his teeth he got rid of the stale Firewhiskey taste from his breath. He threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt knowing he would have to change later and walked out of his room with a spring in his step.
Whistling a tune carelessly under his breath, Harry made his way through the living room to the kitchen. He made himself a bowl of cereal before sitting at the breakfast bar which faced out into the living room. Harry looked up and noticed a head of hair sitting on the couch.
Picking up his bowl he made his way towards the couch. "Afternoon," Harry said loudly, knowing his friend would have a headache and the noise would agitate him.
Harry settled on the couch near Kaden and the only reaction he got was a muffled. "Mm…" Harry looked up from his bowl knowing Kaden would never make such a noise. He found Kaden, predictably still sleeping despite his trying incursion.
But a beautiful blonde was disturbed from her restful slumber and turned her head which rested in the Kaden's lap. "Morning," Danielle murmured uncertainly, getting up carefully, ensuring she didn't waken Kaden.
Harry watched with curiosity as she stretched, noticing the blood red magical rose tattooed on the back of her shoulder flutter; it was the mark of a Harpy. He looked on as her silvery blond hair settled into its naturally perfect style by magic.
"What time is it?" Danielle asked as she wiped at her sleep filled blue eyes.
"It's around half one, you not going to wake him?"
Danielle turned and looked at Kaden thoughtfully; he must be very tired to be sleeping, even she knew from limited experience he didn't sleep much. "No, let him sleep. He doesn't sleep enough."
"We were up late last night."
"I know." Danielle knew Kaden stayed up the better part of most nights to watch over her. The night before was night was no different.
"Are you excited about your date tonight?" Danielle asked, watching with amusement as Harry choked on his cereal and milk dripped down his chin.
"Yeah," Harry said placing his bowl on the coffee table and wiping the milk from his chin.
"Where are you picking her up?" Danielle was curious; she and Kaden never went through the dating stage. She had never been out with Kaden unless it was with the Harpies and Reapers; even those events were fleeting, he was more of a lone wolf than his team. They fell together after she was killed. At first Danielle knew she was only someone he used to get over his grief but she tried to open him up, her young and idealistic mind thinking she could work miracles.
"Kaden's is letting me borrow his car and I'm going to get her at the Leaky Cauldron about nine. It's not that far." Harry said.
Danielle groaned, there was no way she would let Harry whom she considered a friend, use Kaden's car to pick up a girl. Talking with Harry was refreshing; he was strong enough that he could almost completely ignore her allure and have a constructive conversation. "Harry, there is no way I will let you use his-" she nudged Kaden, "-car to pick up a girl."
"What's wrong with Kaden's car?"
"He likes bright colours, most don't." Danielle was one of the few who knew why Kaden's Nissan was a deep blue and neon green hybrid. Kaden had drunkenly admitted to her, much to her surprise; that the blue was for her and the neon green was the way her eyes were, when infused with her Element. It was one of the few reasons she had refused to let go of him, it proved something there was something good underneath it all.
Harry gave her a blank look.
"Use Connor's, it's black so that means dark jeans and a black jacket okay?" Danielle said slipping in a snippet of fashion advice.
Harry didn't dismiss her but Karen would probably decide what he was to wear; she was obsessive when it came to fashion. "You think Connor will let me use his Skyline? He treats that thing like Kaden treats the 350'!"
Danielle gave him a knowing smile. "He'll be too wrapped up in a certain Fleur Delacour to bother."
Harry dismissed Danielle's hopeful statement. From what he heard, hell would freeze over before Connor got wrapped around a girl's finger. "Thanks, Dan." He looked down at his soiled t-shirt and frowned. "I better get changed; will you be alright by yourself?"
"I should be. I have got sleeping beauty with me." Danielle assured him.
"Better not tell him, that head's big enough." Harry muttered.
Danielle laughed as Harry retreated to his room and sighed in contentment for the first time in weeks. After her ordeal, Danielle had felt more ashamed than anything else, coupled with a healthy dose of fear. She detested the pity; she came to the Academy to learn how to fight, to defend herself not to be whispered about by her peers. They didn't have a clue what happened to her.
In all truth Danielle could barely remember what happened. It was a haze of pain, fear and gut retching denial until Kaden found her. For the first time in a long time she was relieved to see him, even if she hurt him thinking he was another of them. His bandaged wrist was a constant reminder and despite her protest Danielle was given two weeks off, which coincided with the Reapers being back active at the Academy. Danielle knew Kaden arranged it and it was his way of showing support, but Danielle wanted to get back to work and take her mind off it.
Why wallow in self-pity? She watched as Kaden went on a self-destructive streak for four years, causing his family and friends nothing but pain, and leaving everyone else to pick up the pieces. Danielle would know, she was his main target and did most of the picking up. Looking at the sleeping boy on her shoulder she kissed the top of his head and rested her head against his thinking of the night before. By the time Kaden had come to bed he had found her crying over a stupid nightmare and they moved into the living room.
Danielle thought of the past week. Kaden had been considerate and kind. With me, she added in an afterthought. Before that week, before it happened. Kaden had been kind to an extent but never happy or considerate, mostly cold and snappish, providing the catalyst for some of the most explosive fights ever to grace the Academy's halls.
Danielle knew from the beginning of their 'relationship' that in Kaden's head she played second string to her. Danielle knew that was why Kaden never got to close to anyone, distanced himself from his family and his friends. He was afraid of that type of loss, the pain and grief it entailed. Every time she or anyone else would reach out to him he would turn cold and pull away.
That was why Kaden's friendship with Harry amazed her. Kaden trusted him with everything. Danielle knew she loved him but the thought that she was just an in-between never escaped.
His high infidelity rate proved that. For years she mused as to why she wouldn't move him. Kaden's friends even told her to see sense, especially Rossi, John and the most surprising being the few words she received from Richie. Modesty aside Danielle knew she was beautiful; being Veela made it a simple fact.
According to her Grandmother; she was Princess Danielle Isabella Martineau; one of the few Veela gifted with human magic and she shouldn't be wasting her life or love on such a despicable boy. Honestly Danielle knew she could have next to any man on the face of the Earth but she wanted the one still in love with a dead girl. In her blind eyes she had him for almost four years, the truth was she had him for less than a week; she just was too blinded by adolescent love to see it.
Kaden was calmer than before, watching him sleep and the odd smile which graced his features from time to time, he as close to peace as she'd ever saw him. Whenever Danielle caught him sleeping next to her he constantly moved and fidgeted. A warm feeling ignited in her chest, maybe he finally accepted what happened to her.
The day after the siege Kaden said he would try and true to his word, he had. But Danielle was waiting on the promise proving false, it hadn't yet; maybe he really did love her. With that happy thought, she kissed the top of his head and gently took his head from her shoulder and placed it on a cushion. With a mutter she summoned a blanket and placed it over him.
Taking one last look at his peaceful face she got up to prepare for the day.
xxxxx
"So how do I look?" Harry asked his watching familiars.
A pair of black shoes, beneath dark blue, artfully twisted jeans, a plain grey t-shirt under a lighter denim shirt and black leather jacket Karen insisted upon buying him on their shopping trip made up the ensemble, in truth Karen picked it all. Karen wordlessly acquiesced to his preference for long sleeved clothing. Harry hated people seeing the long white scar which dragged up his right wrist, disgusting, vein-like burn scars on his arms. Sometimes he thought Karen understood him better than Kaden who took every opportunity to reveal the scars to the world. Saying he should wear them as a mark of triumph.
All Harry saw in them was failure and weakness. His failure in stopping the Dark Lord's rise and his body's weakness in not being able to hold together long enough to destroy him.
Hedwig, from her spot on the metal bedpost hooted before, with a quick jump landed on his shoulder and placed the collar of his shirt into the jacket with her beak. Harry reached around with his arm and stroked her head. The old gave him a motherly look and an affectionate nip later she returned to her place on the bedpost.
'So what's your opinion?' Harry asked, watching as the small snake made himself comfortable on the large bed.
'I preferred more formal ensemble from earlier. I also would have chosen a different aftershave.' Shan hissed, giving Harry an appraising look.
Harry laughed at the scrutinizing glare Shan was casting. 'And since when have you been a fashion expert?'
'Well don't ask for my opinion Master Harry.' Shan hissed indignantly. 'It isn't my fault the feathered one can't speak for herself and give a true opinion.' Shan's comment caused Hedwig to have a fit and she hooted angrily at the green and black snake.
'Shan, stop annoying Hedwig.' Harry said, attempting to scold Shan. He could only laugh at the bickering pair who continued to hoot and hiss at one another. "Well I'm going to go." Harry said, but the arguing pair ignored him. "Just don't kill each other...or make little owl/snake babies while I'm gone."
Both turned their glares to Harry, perplexed at his insinuation.
Harry took that as his cue to leave and found Kaden and Connor talking in the kitchen. Karen and Danielle were getting ready with Fleur, Melissa, Lauren, Penny and Camille. Harry probably should have tried to eat something earlier but he wasn't hungry, he was too deep nervousness. He was glad Hedwig didn't noticed or he'd never have heard the end of it. Kaden and Connor stop talking as he got within earshot.
"Hey mate." Kaden said as he looked up from his sandwich, hoping Harry didn't catch what they were talking about.
"You good?" Harry asked knowing they had stopped intentionally.
"Yeah; it's my big brother's car you're going to be smashing up not mine." Kaden said with a grin directed at Connor.
Connor took the opportunity to throw Harry a set of keys. "You fuck her up, I fuck you up, get it?"
Harry couldn't tell if he was being serious or not and passed Kaden a glance. "Yeah sure..."
Connor grinned at Harry's reaction and cheered significantly, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Glad we got that sorted. I need a shower."
Harry frowned at Connor's strange behaviour. "What were you talking about?"
Kaden was ever the practiced actor, "Classified mate, sorry."
"Classified?" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"We shouldn't even have been talking about it." Kaden answered. "And about the Skyline remember use the key it doesn't have a start button like the 350."
Harry nodded.
"You nervous?"
Harry tried to shrug. "You want the truth?"
"Wouldn't mind it."
"Okay, I'm afraid I'll fuck up and Cho will never talk to me again."
Kaden laughed. "You'll be fine, nerves are good, I think."
"Everything's going to be fine." Harry muttered more to himself than Kaden.
Kaden answered anyway. "That's the spirit mate!"
"Kaden shut-up." Danielle said irritably as she entered the kitchen. She walked up to Kaden who was leaning back on the worktop and stood next to him. "Princess Penelope thinks he's hot actually!"
"She does?" Harry asked disbelievingly; Danielle's little sister Penny had come in to his room after he got out of the shower to grab a brush Karen left in his room. The underage Veela girl only giggled and left.
"…Jail-bait…" Kaden coughed gaining a laugh.
Danielle shoved him with a small smile, knowing he was joking. She was wearing a deep blue dress which clung to her perfect figure and brought out her naturally sparkling eyes. Her hair was the same as always, effortlessly straight and the perfect shade of silvery blonde. "When are you leaving?" Danielle asked as Kaden wrapped his arms around her middle.
"About, now actually," Harry said as he took a glance at his watch, the golden with had many dials. It told him the phase of the moon, position of the sun and some other frivolous information. It was slim, not as clunky as other wizarding watches; he had his mum to thank for it when he came of age. It even covered the white scar where Pettigrew had pieced his skin to draw blood, something he was sure was more than a coincidence. He loved his mum for noticing his hatred of the scars, even if she did indulge it.
"Bonne chance 'Arri." For the first time, Harry noticed heard the French accent slip from her lips. "Remember, be yourself and act nothing like him-" She said, accent gone. "-at all, avoid it at all costs. It will scare her off."
"Hey, that's uncalled for…" Kaden interrupted.
"Only the truth." Danielle said giving Harry a playful wink.
"Thanks Danielle." Harry said with a grin. "Later mate." Harry said nodding to Kaden.
"Good luck." Kaden said knowing Harry wouldn't need it. Harry and Cho had been dancing around each other for years no matter how much Kaden tried to corrupt him. Kaden and Danielle watched as he walked to the elevator with a spring in his step.
"You think he'll be alright?" Kaden was more worried than he let on.
Danielle turned in his arms to face, she found it endearing that he cared so much for Harry. "This coming from the boy who tried to lead him astray at every turn?"
Kaden shifted uncomfortably as her arms wrapped around his neck. "I was only trying to help him. He wasn't helping himself. Fancying a girl for four years and doing nothing about it leaves a lot to be desired." Kaden said, a strange sincerity creeping into his tone that Danielle never heard before.
Danielle rested her forehead against his. "He'll be fine." She said, looking into his ice-blue eyes and seeing white spark beneath the surface.
There was a long pause between them. "I like you Dan; you know that right?" Kaden stated.
Danielle's cheeks blushed crimson and looked away.
Kaden placed a hand on her neck and turned her eyes back to him. "I know I don't say it or show it all that much. But I do, I really do and I'm sorry for all the crap I've put you through. From here on it's me and you."