I do not own anything. I'm just translating. The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The story belongs to the amazing Brigi. Her e-mail: tbwtpbe at hotmail .com
My Beta reader, Makurayami Ookami fixed THIS chapter.
Please review! Pretty please!
Enjoy
THE BOY WITH THE PIERCING BLUE EYES
Chapter 4 – Remus
The days went by terribly slowly. Harry was wondering where his professor might be. He was stunned when he heard that Tonks was injured though he knows how clumsy the witch is. Kingsley sounded very concerned. He was curious about what happened and annoyed that he didn't know anything but he didn't care much anymore.
After the professor left the Dursley's asked where he is. Why isn't he coming to have breakfast?
"He has something to take care of so he left for a little while." Harry replied.
"Pah!" Uncle Vernon snorted. "He walks in and out of this house as he wishes! This is revolting! I knew this will happen! Another freak in our house!"
Harry wasn't listening to these nippy and ill-disposed comments and he tried to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
His only joy was Marie with whom he spent hours whenever he could. He always found some excuse to stay in the orphanage to help Marie. He felt sorry for the disabled children every time he saw them but liked to be with them. Sometime he felt bad that he came here with a selfish reason. He came to be near his girlfriend. But the more time he spent with them the more he liked them. After a few days he felt at home here. The children and the nurses were nice to him every time he went to visit. He always tried to bring something with him. A bouquet of fresh flowers or some delicious cookies. But they liked him because he brought the milk and the newspaper every morning. It was an advantage; they weren't angry when he walked with Marie holding hands or kissed her.
They spent the Wednesday afternoon in a park at a playground. They were sitting on a swing. Harry was rocking them back and forth. Marie was almost in his lap with her head on his shoulder. Harry was stroking the girl's back and sometimes his hands 'incidentally' found her waist and thighs too. He didn't dare to just touch her there. He was shy too. And he didn't know how far he could go with her. She had a religious life after all. This…. Sort of thing must be frightening for her. So he was just trying to find the limit though he wanted to smell her and touch her silky skin so badly.
They were sitting in silence, they didn't talk much. Harry once realized that she was stroking his face and kissing his neck.
He felt a pleasant shiver when Marie's hair tickled his neck and heard her rhythmic snuffle and felt her soft lips. He grinned maliciously but felt his face turn red. After a few, seemingly endless moments Marie stooped and looked at him questioningly, waiting for a reaction. Her eyes were shining but Harry could see that she was embarrassed. Harry smiled and kissed her. He hugged her tightly and begun sucking on her porcelain white skin. The pleasant vanilla scent almost immediately turned him on. His whole body started to tingle. He felt something strange, unknown, mature feeling. His mind was racing, spinning rapidly, trying to figure out what was happening to him and he wanted someone to help him figure it out…
Harry didn't know what to do. He could enter Professor Snape's room anytime he wanted but he was worried about him. He left three and a half days ago, and he didn't know anything about him.
On Thursday Harry stopped in front of the teacher's room. He entered and closed the door behind him. He wanted to use the two-ways mirror to know if he was alive or not. But he knew he could cause trouble with this so he didn't do anything. He sat down on the edge on the bed and sighed. The room looked exactly like before Snape moved in. Like he never lived there. This made Harry depressed. He wanted to put a few bottles full of potions on the desk just to have something to remind him of the professor. Or a couple of books. Or even a few torches like the ones in the dungeons.
Harry had never imagined that one day he would miss Snape. But the last –eventful- weekend changed a lot of things, he changed and hoped that the professor too. He just didn't know how to show it.
But it's not worth it if Snape dies. He tried to reassure himself that the professor was a well trained and experienced wizard just doing his job. And doing it well. But he never came back to sleep so the boy became more and more concerned.
He started kicking the leg of the bed when he bumped into something hard under the bed. He put down his wand and kneeled down to see what it was. He found Snape's bag. He reached for the suitcase but then stopped.
It wouldn't be right.
No! Harry shook his head.
Last year he did something terrible when he looked into the teacher's memories. If he started searching through his personal belongings he will be in big trouble. And he could Apparate in anytime. It would be bad enough if he destroyed the little truth between them with fumbling with his stuff.
He decided to be a good boy when he saw the teacher's initials on the suitcase. He touched the worn letters and with a sigh dragged out the bag from under the bed.
He put it on the bed and looked at it like it was some terribly mysterious thing that can be opened after a lengthy consideration. He touched the locket, played with it for a while then opened it. He heard a faint click and saw that it opened a little. He opened it gently with his left hand and stood up supporting himself with his right hand.
Compared to how much clothes Snape had had in the commode the bag was quite full. He suspected that they used a charm to make it bigger so the owner can pack a lot in it. It was perfectly in order. On one side were shirts, pants, vests carefully folded as if never used. On the other side Harry found something interesting.
He found a stock of old, torn-covered books. The pages turned yellow and a few of them were torn because of often using. He saw colorful bookmarks in them. The books looked like some big sandwiches with salad hanging out of them.
Harry took them out and placed them on the bed. He wondered if these were the books about black magic everyone says that the professor reads. Everyone was gossiping about how Snape loves the dark arts and has all sorts of books to help him practice it. But Harry was a little skeptical; he was sure the professor wouldn't carry his most secret, guarded books to a Muggle-house.
So he looked at the book on the top and the blurred letters on the spine.
'Rare, but useful potions from all kinds of magic'
This definitely does not look like a book of dark arts, Harry thought. He looked at the pages Snape signed and read the most. When he saw the recipe of polyjuice potion he smiled.
'How to make potions with non-magical ingredients?'
It was the title of the second book. Harry laughed. Maybe Snape thought that he will have to make potions here in the Dursley's' house? He opened it chuckling. He saw familiar and unfamiliar potions. The list of magical ingredient was written down. And also a list of non-magical materials. Things that can be found in every Muggle household. Harry thought that he could go down to the kitchen steal a few things and make a couple of potions at night too. He found the book very useful and read it with delight. He laughed sometimes about the old-fashioned name they wrote to a few Muggle ingredients. They should make a new edition. He put the book aside to read it later and reached for the next one. But he found an article torn from the Daily Prophet.
'You're not a born metamorphmagus but would like to know more about Transfiguration? You're not satisfied with your looks and would like to change it with a charm? You need a well-established disguise but don't know how or where to learn?
Order our latest publication with the title: "The Science of Transfiguration or meramorphmagus' don't own the world!" Murfuc Magimenta, the author grantees success! Beginners and experience wizards and witches will find it very useful. You don't have to be jealous anymore. Not only a metamorphmagus can change his /her appearance! Do not hesitate! Order it now!"
Harry snorted: 'Meramorphmagus' don't own the world!' It's a funny title. However he was gloomy too. Why would Snape need this book? Because he found the book under the newspaper article. He knew only one reason, to have an even better disguise when he's with the Death Eaters.
The boy sighed. He was thinking about the Death Eaters again.
He opened the book. In the preface the author explained his thoughts about metamorphmagus' and the reason this book was written. In the table of contents he saw separate chapters. It was organized by body parts. Harry grinned maliciously for a moment. Muggle boys would give anything to make one particular part of their body longer and bigger. He dismissed the idea and opened the book on the first chapter.
"Changing the color and shape of your hair" He read it aloud. His eyes flickered rapidly between the lines. "Yes… yes, I've already read that… get to the point already!" He muttered angrily. "There it is! Making your hair longer. Wand movement: a little flick and a counterclockwise circle then a powerful thrust towards the sky. Say the spell: 'richhair, quickhair, longhair.' What a crappy spell!" Harry frowned and started to think that this book was a fake. "But it's worth a shot!"
He glanced sideways at his wand, grabbed it and stood in front of the mirror. He practiced the wand movement (With the help of the book's illustrations) then cleared his throat.
"richhair, quickhair, longhair."
His hair moved like it was alive. It started to grow. When it was waist long he realized he didn't know the counter curse. He looked at the book and found the right incantation.
"Stopgrowth!"
He looked at himself. His hair reached the ground. He bit his lip and started to laugh aloud. He looked like a hairy cartoon character.
"To change the color of your hair…" He read on. "Let's see…" He winked at himself in the mirror. "Blonde?" He offered with a smile. "Well… that's it. GoldenHair!"
His lips quivered at the bizarre spectacle. His dark hair changed blonde. So blonde that it almost made him blind.
"I should take a look at it in Aunt Petunia's big mirror!" He yelled grinning.
He put down the book and went to the hall carrying his long hair. On the wall he found the full-length mirror. Harry stepped in front of it and looked at his reflection. His body was shaking with the suppressed chuckle then he laughed out loud. Aunt Petunia stormed out of her room and saw a big, blond hairy thing in her nephew's clothes.
She screamed and the mirror almost broke. Harry dropped the book in surprise. His aunt was in shock then fainted. Harry put down his wand and dragged his aunt back into her bedroom then sat her down in the armchair and tucked her like she was asleep. He hoped his aunt will think of this like a bad dream.
He ran back to the professor's room.
"I'm lucky no one else is home!" He wiped his forehead concerned. "Reducio!"
His hair changed back to normal.
He closed the book but took a good look at its cover. He decided to keep it as long as he could. He wanted to learn more spells like these.
He knew he was the primary target of the Death Eaters and the dementors too. And Voldemort of course. However if he could change his appearance with these charms he had an advantage. And it's a good practice for his NEWTs too. He can get a few good points with Professor McGonagall. All in all he thought it's worth the risk to take this book.
He put everything back in the bag and he was about to close it when he found a little vial with a dark potion in it. He took it with curiosity and looked at the label.
Polyjuice Potion.
After trying to open it for a few minutes he finally managed it and sniffed. He could recognize this horrible smell anywhere. It smelled the same Hermione made three years ago in Moaning Mirtyl's toilet.
He looked at the vial thoughtfully and watched its content. Snape really was prepared for everything. He praised the Potion Master's foresight. He got a bold idea. He ran to his room with the vial and poured a little of it into a clean glass. He wasn't worried about anyone's hair being in it. He knew that it must be put in it right before using it. If one tries to store it with the hair in it the potion will turn red and become toxic to the human body. And Snape would never forget or ignore that.
He went back to the teacher's room and put everything back in order, except the book about Transfiguration and put the bag under the bed. He crossed the room and closed the door.
He was making notes for hours. He wanted to put back the book as soon as possible. He wrote down a lot of spells, he could barely remember all of them. If someone needs to use this much spells to stay safe… well… he must be in big trouble.
He dropped the pen angrily and sat on the window sill. He was fed up with being in danger all the time. His enemies bargained who could make more harm to Harry. The worst part was that he didn't only have to worry about himself but his friends too. And everyone was watching him like he was some irreplaceable treasure. He knew the prophecy and its significance but he still felt it was too much. He wanted others to take him seriously. After all, he went through a lot of things already. So many struggles and battles… he felt like he was in a prison. Like Sirius… like his godfather in the Black house…
He hugged his knees. He wanted to talk to someone.
He grabbed his own two-ways mirror and looked at it.
"All members of the Order have one, that's what he said…" He muttered to himself. "P… Professor Remus Lupin!" He said at last.
The mirror turned bluish and smoke had swirled. A dark figure began to take shape. Harry finally saw Lupin's skinny, worn and shocked face.
"H-harry! How did…? How did you get such a mirror?" He asked.
Harry saw a bandaged Tonks next to Lupin before he answered. The young woman looked bad but she was smiling and Harry took that as a good sign.
"Good morning, professor." He said with a forced smile. "I hope I'm not disturbing anything…" He looked at Tonks mischievously.
Lupin saw the grin on his face and coughed in embarrassment. He nodded to Tonks and left the room.
"Harry! You didn't answer. How did you get that mirror?" He asked sternly.
"I got it… form Sirius for Christmas…"
"Oh, right…" The teacher mumbled a little surprised. "And… Is everything okay, Harry?" He asked when he saw the boy's pale face and tired smile.
"Yeah… I think so… I just felt lonely and thought maybe…"
Lupin smiled with his usual kindness and looked away mysteriously as if there was someone next to him.
"I hope I'm not disturbing… Is Tonks feeling better now?
"How do you know she was sick?"
"Well… I saw her smiling just now… I thought it meant something…"
"Well yes. She is better thanks to Mrs. Weasley"
"But you weren't about to bite her neck, were you?" Harry said with a grin.
Lupin blushed.
"No" he said jokingly. "But on your neck…. Is that what I think it is?"
Harry touched his neck to cover the stain on it and returned the smile.
"Y-yes…"
"So you have a girlfriend, huh? Is she the girl you hang out with all the time?
"Yeah. How do you know?"
"It's breaking news in the Order. Whoever is on duty always says he saw you together. They say she's lovely. I haven't seen her unfortunately.
"It's… not fair!" Harry said with feigned indignation.
"She's a Muggle, right?"
"Yeah." The boy nodded.
"I just realized: where are your glasses?"
"Oh, it's on the dresser" Harry pointed to the side and scolded himself for forgetting to put it on. He wanted to surprise his friends with his new appearance.
"Ahh… And what about the Dursley's? I hope they treat you well."
"It's okay. We live together just fine. I'm just… a little lonely… I miss the magical world." He bit his lip.
"Um… What do you think about meeting somewhere tonight? Just to make you feel better."
"R-really?" The boy's eyes glittered. "Can we really meet?"
Lupin nodded graciously.
"Great! But… where?"
"Don't you know a good café downtown?"
"I do know a few. Will you find it?"
"Sure, don't worry! Just tell me where to meet you."
"Well… let's meet on Stanley Road. It's a nice suburban street. Safe and clear. My bus goes that way.
"Okay. Is eight o'clock good for you? Will your foster parents allow it?"
"Uncle Vernon isn't home yet and Aunt Petunia is sleeping, so it won't be a problem."
"Don't worry I'll walk you home."
"It'll be great! I'll go prepare myself!"
"Harry!" Lupin said warningly. "Be careful on your way here! Okay?"
"Yes, sir."
Lupin was standing on the street nervously.
"He should have arrived half an hour ago. I'm starting to worry."
The street was lit brightly but very few people were out.
The man looked around nervously. Somehow he had a bad feeling about this and he was about to start looking for Harry.
He didn't notice the tall, dark and mysterious figure behind him. The wind flipped his midnight robes. He raised his hand holding a mahogany-colored wand, pointed at the unsuspecting professor and began whispering softly.
"A-va-da…"
He didn't notice Harry behind him. He jumped from the tree and hit him with a tree branch so hard that he screamed in pain. They could hear his bones broke and a few drops of blood spilled on Harry. The man fall into the garden of the house they were standing next to and lost consciousness. Lupin jumped like he was shocked by electricity. He watched frightened as the boy came out of the shadow. Harry told him to stay silent, picked up a stone and threw in the window of the house. They could hear screaming from the house. Then someone shouted in a high voice:
"Help! Satire! Help! Call the police!"
The sound grew louder and louder and panic developed. The dogs started barking angrily.
"H-harry?" Lupin glanced at the boy in horror.
"Come! Quickly! Who knows how many of them are out here!"
He grabbed the man's hand and they started to run. They ran without stopping for a few minutes. They checked if someone was following them. After many twists they reached a busy mall-like space where they found a lot of people. Some of them were sitting on the terraces of cafes and pubs, enjoying the summer evening.
"We're…" Harry said while leaning on his knees and massaging his side. "we're… safe… here. They wouldn't dare attacking us here because of the witnesses."
"Harry… you look like…?" Remus asked in surprise.
He looked at the boy. In jeans, T-shirt and jacket he looked like an ordinary Muggle kid. But there were new things too, like the lack of his glasses, the silver earring in his ear and the short, shaggy red hair. Harry grinned.
"You don't like how I look? Come, I'll tell you everything!" With that he dragged the man into a quieter café.
They sat down in the corner. Harry ordered a cup of coffee for his teacher and a hot chocolate for himself with a lot of whipped cream. Then he started:
"First, I'm sorry I was late! Even now, if I didn't get there in time you would… you would be… dead. I don't even want to think about it! But it was not my fault that I was late! I left home in time. But when I went to the bus stop I heard shuffling. I turned around but there was nothing behind me and I was sure that I heard something. Then I heard a muffled pop… like when someone Apparates." He saw that Lupin turned pale and tuned to his side like he was looking at someone. "I knew that something was not right so I went the other way. I wanted to lure them to a street where they couldn't attack me. Yes." He answered the man's unasked question. "…they were Death Eaters." When we reached an intersection with lot of people I hid in the crowd and used a few charms on myself carefully. Don't worry I didn't dye my hair red!" He said with a smile. "They couldn't find me so they took off. But it was easy for me to follow them…"
"Follow them?" Lupin snorted in terror. "Harry, are you out of your mind? You should have head home immediately!"
The boy looked down.
"And let them kill you?" He said reproachfully. "They wanted to attack you from behind! Just let me continue! There were two of them in robes. When they couldn't find me they left the crowd and tried to disappear in one of the parks. Fortunately I know that park very well. Dudley and his gang used to chase me around there and I know what kind of pranks can be made against the passersby. There is a tree with long flexible branches. Dudley used to push people from their bikes whit it. They pulled it backwards and when someone came cycling they released it to push them off the bike. Well I did something like that. It was a pleasure to see it!" He said grinning. "They passed out so I went near. I took their wands and broke them. I tied them with a spell and positioned them to be face to face… like they were doing something disgusting. I levitated them to a brightly lit space where people can see them. An old lady came with a small dog and started screaming and made the sign of the cross and called the police. She was so shocked!" He chuckled. "I know the police don't like these public decency violators…"
Lupin's eyes widened in amazement. Sometimes a muscle twitched on his face with the restrained smile, but in the end he laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes.
"Oh, Harry" He sighed with a grin.
"Then" He took a sip of his hot chocolate. "I hurried to where we were supposed to meet. But I saw someone again. I think he tried to catch you off guard. I crept quietly and waited to see what he was going to do. He seemed to be watching you. But then I saw him pull out his wand and start to chant the killing curse… so I jumped in… Are you okay?" He said when he saw Lupin's face turn pale at the end of the story.
He watched the man's reaction but then Lupin wrapped his arms around the boy's neck and hugged him.
"Thank you, Harry!" He said with a trembling voice.
Then he dug into his thick, red hair.
"I wouldn't be alive if you… This… I'll never forget this…"
Harry smiled in embarrassment.
"Please take care of yourself! I… don't want to lose you too…!"
"Look at you…" Lupin complained with glassy eyes. "You're telling ME to be careful? I'll be careful, I promise. I didn't even think that someone might follow me. I wasn't wearing a robe…"
"I don't understand it either. Your face isn't as well-known as the others'. You didn't have a chance to work anywhere except Hogwarts. Tell Dumbledore what happened."
"Okay."
He looked at Harry with a smile.
"You were so brave! Reckless, but brave! Your father and Sirius would be proud of you."
The boy smiled too but even the blind could see that he was sad at the mention of his two dead relatives.
"Harry, I know what's on your mind. But I want you to understand that life must go on. It hurts everyone to lose Sirius."
"I know…" Harry said quietly. "I know I should take my job seriously. I try but it's not easy. This Death Eater thing… How come there are this many of them here? Did… something happen? Something important, something special?" He asked in hopes of finding out something about Snape. "Where… Tonks was hurt maybe?" He blurted out finally.
"I'm sorry, Harry, but I can't tell you anything about…"
"Oh, come on! Please don't do this! I'm not a kid anymore! At least tell me this!"
Lupin stared at him in surprise then stirred his coffee.
"Well… fine. We don't know much. Just that Voldemort is very angry. He planned something big but it didn't quite work out how he had planned. We suspect he tried to recruit followers from abroad… we managed to stop him three times, but this time something went terribly wrong. Our spies reported that the Death Eaters fear to go near him. One time Voldemort killed two of his men in his 'fit'.
Harry's heart began beating wildly. Please don't let it be Snape! Just not him!
"The Death Eaters went against each other because they thought one of them caused it. They started to suspect and almost slaughter each other. That is when Tonks got hurt – she was on duty."
Harry breathed relieved.
"The Dark Lord avenged this affray. Then he disappeared for days. I'm sure he's trying to come up with a new plan. We found him but don't know anything else…"
"And… what could have made him so mad?" Harry asked weakly. He swallowed because he suspected it was his battle of minds with Harry and its failure that made him annoyed.
"I hope we find out soon."
"And… who is… on duty now?"
Lupin frowned.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just…"
"Did you ever think that we don't want to tell you these secrets in fear of you telling it to Voldemort?"
Harry felt his heart sink.
"How…" He gasped. "How can you say something like this? I… I would never do that!"
"Not voluntarily. But you didn't perfect Occlemency so the Dark Lord can attack your mind any time he wants."
The boy's stomach shrunk. They don't trust him. They have the right to. His mind is vulnerable against Voldemort. He has to learn Occlemency. He bowed his head and nodded sadly.
"P-professor Snape… how is he? He is… in the Order, right?"
Lupin hesitated. Harry knew he didn't want to tell him the details. But it was mutual, he didn't tell him that he was studying Occlumency in secret.
"I suppose the Death Eaters were here tonight to make their master happy again." The teacher mused. "They want to catch you. But being in pairs and apparating from a public place… they are not organized. I think these were just their stupid ideas. Or did you feel their presence before?"
"No."
"That's what I suspected… in any case, be more careful from now on!"
"Okay, I promise." Harry said. He was smiling again.
"You changed a lot" Lupin said with a grin still looking at the boy's face. "It's like… I don't know what to compare to… Is the earring original?"
"Yep. I had to hide it. Aunt Petunia thinks it is not decent for a man to wear earrings."
"Man!" The teacher snorted then chuckled. "You're far from being a man!"
"It's not true." Harry snapped.
"Tell me about this girl."
"About Marie? Well… I don't know… I don't want you to tell the Order…"
They paid and prepared to leave but Harry grabbed Lupin's arm and dragged him into the bathroom.
"Use a few charms to change your appearance so they won't recognize you. If they follow you and find the headquarters you'll be in trouble. You know what? Let me do it!" He pleaded.
"But don't make me too weird…"
"Don't worry. I know lots of charms…"
"Where did you learn these… by the way?" Remus asked suspiciously.
"Well… I'm preparing for the NEWTs. You can't start too soon. I won't have to worry about the things I already know. This way I can concentrate on the subject I'm not good at. Like Potions…" The boy said smiling mysteriously.
He cleared his throat and with a few spells changed the man's clothes. He gave him some comfortable black trousers and jacket. He made his hair a little longer and eliminated his mustache.
"The girls will scream when they see you." He said and looked at the man. "You look like a Casanova."
Lupin looked at the dirty mirror on the wall admiring himself. He looked much younger without the mustache. It seemed he liked what he saw.
"I would carry flowers too…"
"Harry!" He reproached.
"Just kidding!" He raised his hands defensively. "Come on, let's go!"
They were walking on the streets. The night life just started around them. They felt safe in the crowd.
"Tell me… professor…" Harry began to quibble. He was waiting for the occasion to say this. "Don't you… want to be my uncle? My honorable uncle. Because you were a good friend of my father."
Lupin was very surprised by the request. He even stopped walking.
"This…" He began with a smile. "…is how it goes nowadays?"
The boy was waiting anxiously for the answer.
"I don't know… would you call your uncle 'professor'?"
"It doesn't matter! It really…."
"Call me Remus." The teacher interrupted smiling. "I feel old enough without you calling me professor."
Harry's eyes brightened.
"Can I?" He asked hopefully. The man shrugged.
His newfound nephew hugged him tightly.
As they walked back to the Privet Drive, Lupin was silently listening to Harry's speech about his work, sweetheart and the new clothes he bought. He pondered how lonely and sad the boy was. He was always silent, thoughtful about what to say. But now… he had never chattered. He felt that Harry still suffered because he couldn't see his friends. And the loss of Sirius just made it even harder. He stroked the boy's tousled hair and nodded like he was listening…
That's it.
It was the hardest chapter so far. Hope you liked it.
Harry will get his OWL results in the next chapter. Hope you liked the pictures. Brigi posted them in the original novel so I thought I should too.
Bye
Hermina