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Written for auction prompt - Bloody Baron
Word Count - 287
Threats To Be Found
He floats through the school, his eyes moving from left to right as he searches for a threat that so far isn't to be found. This is his penance, and it is one he will serve because he knows he deserves it.
He's been with Hogwarts almost since its inception, both when he was flesh and blood and now that he not much more that a waft of smoke.
He has seen battle. He watched Dark Lords come and go, he watched headmasters flourish and fall. He was there through it all.
He protected his school, his home, in any way he could.
It was his safety and his battleground, his saviour and his downfall, because if it wasn't for Hogwarts, he would be but a footnote in a book.
She held him captive as much as he wanted to be there.
He carried his chains, no matter that they like he weighed nil, to show his regret and yet, he wasn't sure what he was to regret. His actions to Helena, certainly, but perhaps also his cowardice to leave this plane behind in search of whatever was to come next.
There are times, times when he sees Helena and he is crippled with guilt, and there are times when the Headmaster calls upon him for his knowledge and wisdom, and he is overcome with pride that no matter what he has done in his past life, he is of use now.
He thinks that one day he will be able to drop his chains. He thinks that perhaps one day, he will ascend that path that he feared before.
For now, he will float through the school on the hunt for threats yet to be found.