Chapter 5: Negotiations
Long strands of hair partially obscured his face as he followed the headmaster. While unobserved he first quickly reapplied his parsel glamoir, hiding the scar on his forehead and his brands. He quickly transfigured the hospital pajamas into a comfortable pair of black sweatpants and a hooded sweater. Comfortable agsinst his raw skin but more presentable.
Kai considered his options as the trio stalked silently towards the headmaster's office. He had to think on how involved he wanted to be, the information from Hogwarts still whizzing in his head. He knew that he needed to limit the power that Dumbledore had over him. Additionally, if Dumbledore found out his heritage, both long past and more recent, that would be disastrous.
"Fizzing Whizbees," the first words spoken since the infirmary dragged the emerald eyed assassin out his thoughts. A stone gargoyle moved aside at this trigger word and the three powerful men climbed the stairs until they stepped into a large and impressive office.
Kai's first impression was that it looked like something out of a children's movie; brightly coloured, the room was filled with whirling, blinking magical artefacts, some of which Kai recognized as dark detectors, motion detectors and one dark blue pensieve. What caught Kai's eye and held it was the beautiful red and gold phoenix preening itself atop a splendid perch next to the headmaster's desk. Upon spotting the assassin, the phoenix gave a trill and launched itself into the air, alighting gently atop Kai's narrow shoulders.
Kai smiled slightly and stroked the beautiful creature's feathers lightly. Phoenixes, of light and life, were magically linked to Thestrals, creatures of darkness and death. They were the yin and yang of the cycle of life. As the thestral was now a part of his soul, so was his connection to the phoenixes. He chuckled silently to himself when he realized how the others would interpret this connection.
With his last preen against Kai's head, Fawkes swept off his shoulder and once again took to his perch.
Kai focused back on Dumbledore, who had settled behind his desk with a calculating glint in his eyes. "Fawkes rarely takes to strangers like that; it speaks highly of your character, Mr. Boudreau," the man smiled at him and gestured for him to seat himself.
Turning to look at the chair, Kai casually cast numerous cushioning charms on the seat, conscious of the extreme soreness of his abused muscles and skin.
"Impressive wandless magic, Mr. Boudreau. About how much magic do you do wandlessly?" The question shocked Kai slightly, he'd thought the headmaster knew something about mages. No mage, war-techno-elemental or any other could use a wand. A wand drew from a wizard's magical core. Mages didn't have magical cores, the magic was spread throughout their bodies in its entirety. This is why Kai was a powerful blood magician. He could focus his magic into his blood while still allowing it to be all over his body. Wands reacted violently to mages, it was normally how they were discovered.
"All of it, headmaster, mage magic is incompatible with wand magic," that was not something he could hide, seeing as he didn't have a wand, and what he could fake channel through one was limited, "In fact, the last time I tried to use a wand, it exploded."
"Very interesting, very interesting," one look told the assassin that indeed the headmaster had known. The twinkling in his eyes said that the question was a test of Kai's honesty, and that Kai had passed.
"Now, as interesting as this discussion is, I, for one, would like to know the results of my efforts last night."
The twinkle left at Kai's words, "I'm sorry, Mr. Boudreau, but I cannot..."
"Professor Dumbledore, please," Kai gave the man an unamused look, "we were partners in that operation. Two groups cannot be allies without respect," the assassin's face remained impassive.
"Mr. Boudreau, I apologize, I am an old man with older habits. I wish us to be both friends and allies," Dumbledore smiled eyes twinkling again; "Last night's raid yielded the capture of five mid level death eaters, the release of six other prisoners and the recovery of over 400 dark artifacts and books. Lucius Malfoy is now a wanted criminal, removing his influence from the minister. Overall, a very successful operation."
Kai nodded, running a hand through his lomg hair, brushing it off his face. "Not bad. Speaking of Malfoy, I've not really been involved in this new European war, nor am I old enough to have been apart of the last rise of Voldemort. If it is possible I will would like your current list of known and suspected Death Eaters. I've already paid for my lack of knowledge of Tom's hidden ministry allies."
"You're not going to…"
"Off them?" Kai cut in, chuckling darkly; "Of course not, I do not dirty my hands with just anybody's blood." He sobered, "The Inner Circle, admittedly, may all need to go."
"We may have to agree to disagree on that Mr. Boudreau. I believe that we have no right to be anyone's judge, jury, and executioner," Dumbledore frowned at him.
"If the ministry would convict and securely hold these men and women then I wouldn't feel the urge to put them down. As it stands half go free and the other half could be broken out of Azkaban by Tom at any time," Kai argued back. "Perhaps if you pushed for better operations on that front in the ministry it would not be needed."
"Speaking of protection, how safe is Severus here?" the assassin looked concerned, looking over at the man, "Do you know if they figured out you were behind my escape?"
"They know," he replied, glancing down at his arm.
"Can he sense you with that?"
"Not my location. But he can make me...uncomfortable."
Dumbeldore looked surprised, "Severus, you never told me that."
Dark eyes snapped over to the old man, "You never asked professor. And I didn't want it to affect our decision."
Kai felt a surge of warmth towards the man. He knew that with his betrayal Voldemort could torture him whenever he wanted to...but he still pushed to save Kai.
"If you would trust me, I can perform a ritual to remove that once I've rested. But if the pain is great I could prepare for it now," the assassin felt exhaustion to his bones but he owed this man a greater debt than he had known.
"No, it comes and goes at his whim. The distance and wards here help to dampen it. If you could remove this I would be forever in your debt," Severus looked like he couldn't comprehend the possibility of being free.
"I owe you a life debt Severus, and I take that very seriously," he looked at Dumbledore. "Will he be safe here? I can arrange a new identity and safehouse for him overseas."
"The wards here will keep him safe."
Kai frowned in doubt, but didn't have the energy to fight the headmaster on this matter tonight. It didn't mean he'd leave it alone, however.
The potion master smiled inside at the young man. Only Lily had ever shown such concern for him. Kai actually reminded him a lot of Lily, oddly. Not much physically but in his soul. Looking at Kai he noticed the subtle signs of exhaustion.
"Headmaster, perhaps we can pause this discussion until after dinner. I know that some of us could use some rest from last night's activities."
Kai resisted rubbing his face with his hands, "I agree, it has been weeks since I've had any real sleep and would appreciate it if somewhere could be provided for me so that I may rest for a few hours."
"I think that's very smart," Dumbledore cast a quick Tempus charm, "Why don't you use the spare bedroom in Severus' quarters; I'm sure he wouldn't mind," he got the teacher's affirmative nod, "And the pair of you can join myself and the rest of the staff in the dining room off the Great Hall for dinner at seven?"
Kai agreed, knowing that using his magic to shadow walk himself back to his apartment in the condition he was in was risky at best and potentially deadly at worst.
The assassin soon found himself sweeping along at a steady pace beside the stony potions master towards the dungeons.
"You are a professor here?"
The tall man nodded brusquely, "Potions."
"Obviously," the youth chuckled then bit his tongue to quell the sudden coughing fit that was boiling up in his chest. Gods he felt like hell.
Severus said nothing else, knowing that there were few in this world that were interested in potions beyond their results, but low and behold, Kai continued.
"I knew I recognised your name from somewhere. I read your mastery thesis on the Wolfsbane potion. Impressive work, have you continued your research on it?"
Snape almost stopped he was so startled, "Thank you. No, I find myself at a standstill in my research on it."
A quick glance at the assassin showed him sporting a pensive look, "Have you researched its effects on the different types of werewolves? I have found that among my peers, its potency and side effects vary with type."
"Type?" There were types of werewolves?
"Well, there are the bitten non-magical wolves; I found that the potion makes them very sick and most don't take it at all, when they have access to it at all. There are bitten magical wolves who react fine enough to it, it works and doesn't make them really sick. Lastly are the lycans, or born werewolves. Lycans react perfectly to the potion, the transformation is painless and they keep their mind…," for the entire trip back down to the dungeons, the pair exchanged relatively pleasant conversation.
Kai soon found himself splayed out in a soft, four poster bed in Severus' guest room, dark green quilt wrapping around him, warding off the chill present in the dungeons even now in the heart of summer. He felt strangely and inexplicably chilled, an ominous feeling that kept him from sleep for as long as it could before his body finally surrendered to the darkness.
Hours later Kai bolted awake, eyes wide, chest heaving, soaked in sweat. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself from intense nightmares, thankful for the wards he had placed on the room. His hands trembled as he ran the through his damp hair.
Visions of nights past had haunted his sleep. "Gods, he's going to pay for this."