Sorry about the realllllllly long wait for an update, I'll try and be more regularly I've changed a bit since I last wrote. So comment any advice on good stuff, bad stuff or any questions
Chapter 21 Reactions
Focusing my hand on my target, I twists my hand whilst exclaiming "persillus" as the small tree in front of me disappears from sight. At Voldermort's insistence whenever possible I must continue my training at school.
Every morning for the past couple days I have been woken up to start training from 4 to 5:30. Always at differing times to prevent a pattern forming, and I am awoken by my a stinging pain in my dark Mark . A message from Voldemort to get up and start training and learnt the list of spells he left for me to master, both wandlessly, non verbally and with a wand, to prepare for all scenarios. The persillus spell is a disillusionment spell, the strongest of its kind on objects in nature, is only difficult for me to accomplish due to the voldemorts insistence on wandless Magic.
As the first light begins to seep through the canopy of the forbidden forest I begin to return to Hogwarts. Whilst training helps me cure my thirst for knowledge and avoid my biological parents in the castle. Someone finding out that I am training, particuraly my god forsaken parents would raise too many questions, only Draco knows about my morning training program
Draco and I have developed further as friends over the last week. After overcoming his fury about me joining Voldermort, Draco expressed his outrage over Evan's decisions, Funrit's punishments and Voldermorts miracle resurrection of Kyle. I deliberately censored certain parts of the story about Lucius, knowing the pain of mentioning his family is still to raw.
After training then eating with Draco and showering we begin to head to the quiditch pitch for one last game before the rest of the school comes back in the afternoon. However as we are exiting the common room we run into a nervous Mrs and Mr Potter.
Lily was nervous to speak to Harry, as the past couple days Harry had been back she had been rejected and ignored by Harry every time she and James attempted to speak to him. Hurting as she wanted to be able to speak and hug her son she so dearly missed.
James whilst also desperate to restart his relationship was more worried about how the school and Mark would react. With Harry set to be reintroduced as potter not Preston the school gossip mill would go crazy. With both Mark and Harry to be hounded for information. Moreover James worried that Harry and Mark would fight massively when Mark tries to talk to his brother. So James and lily came with a peace offering to Harry.
"Draco why don't you head down to the quiditch pitch and I'll meet you there" Harry turned to Draco with a pleadingly look in his eyes. All to familiar with family problems Draco left in a hurry, but not before giving both his professors a death stare.
Wanting to get this over and done with Harry begins "What do you want".
Collectively agreeing that lily should do the talking, Lily began her preprepared speech. "Harry we know that Christmas must have been an awful time for you spending it on the run and with Voldermort. And I doubt it was an exciting time for you at the orphanage and you might want to ignore it completely. But I remember your first Christmas so fondly over how excited you were to open your presents. So we thought we might just get you something small for a present. Merry Christmass" lily concludes as James hands over his a pile of about 4-5 presents.
Processing what was happening, Harry just stared at the presents, utilising his occulmency skills to remain calm and have a open mind. However this is much easier said than done when your parents try to bribe you into accepting them.
"Well I don't want them" I exclaim, shocking them as they both step back. Obviously surprised by the fact someone didn't want there presents. Apparently the holy Mark must have loved his presents and Lily and James were not used to rejection when handing out gifts.
"What you think you can just buy my forgiveness. Hand over a couple of Christmas presents and then expect everything to go back to normal. Unlike Mark I'm not all about having the best and showing off about it. I'm about loyalty of which you have shown me none, good day".
Turning around in a Snape esque exit, I go to leave, pretending to ignore the moisture developing around Mrs Evans' eyes.
"Harry wait" James pleas, causing Harry to stop. "I can see you don't believe us when we say we're sorry, and it's your right to be angry. Just please don't take our mistakes on Mark when he arrives back today. His always wanted a sibling, and he respects you greatly for standing up to Voldermort"
Pausing to consider what my loving father has to say I prepare my response to finish of the conversation. "Mark may not have neglected me, but his an arrogant coward bully who boasts over something he did when he was one. That I can not respect"
Waiting in the common room reading offence is the best defence, Draco comes rushing in. "I thought we were going to play quiditch".
We were but then I got too mad after speaking to the professors. Meaning I would have probably smashed you to oblivion in quiditch with no mercy, so I decided for your sake to read instead" I respond.
"I was going to say I thought you needed some space, so I left you alone. I only came to tell you that the Hogwarts express arrived. So make sure your ready with your cover story for Hermione. I'm going to have shower".
Sure enough as soon as Hermione arrived she jumped on me gave me hug and asked if I was okay. Laughing i give her the cover story, loud enough so that everyone in the common room could hear it. Despite the fact everyone was pretending not to listen. Everyone's silence gave away they were listening.
This cover story was similar to the one I gave to Dumbledore, only I had to change it a bit as I couldn't accuse the minister of magic of being a death eater. That and half of Slytherin were Voldermort supporters. So I told them I was captured by death eaters near Draco's place, when going on a run and then tortured for fun. After I was healed and offered to join the death eaters, before escaping. Providing ambiguity over how I escaped, allowing some Slytherin to believe Voldermort let me go as a spy, or Hermione and some others believe that I deliberately escaped.
After telling the story to Hermione, who was shaking, ooooing and ahhhing at all the right times jumped on me again, saying she was so glad I was safe.
"My lord, the potter boy continues to ignore his parents and is resistant to any order members. He however he appears to be getting closer to the young Malfoy" Snape cautiously informed the dark lord. See no matter what you tell the dark lord, pointless information, good news or bad news, you never know if he will torture you.
However the dark lord did not plan on torturing Snape. Snape was an invaluable asset to his cause not only was he an excellent potion maker, Snape had the ability to think unlike many of his followers. Not to mention Snape was a critical spy, providing valuable information on the workings of the order, whilst also maintaining a close relationship to Dumbledore.
Furthermore Snape's news was most pleasing. Yes the potters knowing the knowing their son was alive made keeping Harry's secret harder. However the hate between Harry and his parents would make it easier to motivate Harry to attack the order and characterise the light side as evil.
Remus Lupin was a patient family man. Whilst Remus had little of his biological family remaining. The marauders were Remus' true family always being there for him. The loss of each
marauder was hard for Remus to bare. From Peter's betrayal to the loss of one of his Cubs Harry.
Knowing that he would probably never have kids Remus doted on Harry and Mark. Uncles are not meant to have favourites but Harry would have been his favourite. He had Lily's kindness and intelligence with James looks and understanding of how to manipulate people. Or at least manipulate him, who many times would do things for Harry, due to Harry's pleas or warm hugs.
The loss of Harry had hit Remus hard. The transformations following his lost had been the most painful even with the help of his loyal friends. In an attempt to get over the grief, Remus initially separated from his friends except for on the full moons. However he learnt he couldn't bear the pain by himself and ever since would spend countless nights with his marauder families.
Doting on his spoiled nephew Mark, who had some flaws, but was a good kid. Continuing on adventure with padfoot and prongs at each other's houses, joking around playing pranks and going to the pub.
The past year had been the longest moony had spent away from his family. On a mission to spend time with the werewolves to recruit them to Dumbledore's cause. Some communities he convinced to remain, neutral others not so much. A couple of communities agreed to join him. However Remus was made to flee for his life after one community agreeing to side with Dumbledore was set alight, tortured and killed by death eaters. At this stage Dumbledore ordered him back to take a break and wait for reinforcements before continuing the mission.
Thus after some convincing Remus was returning home and after some much needed rest was off to see his family. Heading to Hogwarts Remus went straight to James and Lily's live quarters. To revive a nice warm welcome
"Mooooooonnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyy, long time no see, God you know how to brightens one day" James tackles me in a bear hug. Sometimes I wonder if he will ever grow up.
"Come in I'll have to firecall Sirus. Lily's currently off to some muggle store to buy something for one her classes, but she'll be so excited to see you to. We have to grab a fire whiskey. Ahh we have so much to discuss and reminisce about" James screams excitedly basically dragging me down pushing me onto the chair, before grabbing me a firewhsikey
"It's good to see you to James, what's got you so excited what happened today that I missed out. By James' facial expression change from elated to sad, that was not the right question to ask.
Barely having touched his firewhsikey James sobered up immediately. Looking down at his feet. James barely manages to begins looking a lot more downtrodden "I have some amazing news and bad news. Possibly the best news of my life, news you will not doubt enjoy. But just remembers it's not all that simple. Okay."
"James your freaking me out here mate, you sound bi polar, are you okay, is everyone alright" Remus asks looking right at James, concerned for his best mate
"It's probably best if I tell you without lil's here anyway. We both try and stay strong and optimistic, but is harder for her. Whilst I managed to shut all the pain out and keep it bottled up, lily always remained optimistic, don't get me wrong i am incredibly hopeful and happy, just I've don't more shit to ruin this then her. Remus ... He hates, ... hates us ... But his alive... Harry... he hates but we found him alive, just... But his alive...