4

S&B

"Have you considered the possibility that we may get killed?"

Sirius lifted a hand lowly to stop her from speaking. They were still following the man under the Imperius curse and he was now leading him through a pathway through an alleyway of blacksmiths.

"Where is he taking us?" Sirius whispered. No one seemed to notice them as they walked through which was what they had hoped.

"Somewhere safe for us."

"And where exactly is that?"

Bellatrix shrugged just before the man made a turn into a small corner. They followed and the noise of the alleyway grew further and further behind them.

"Oi, where are you taking us?" Sirius partically shouted. At that moment, the man stopped before a wooden door. He knocked three times and then walked away.

"What are you doing?" Sirius whirled around at Bellatrix with a panicked look.

"I don't want him remembering where he left us. Just keep your voice down!" Bellatrix hissed. Just then, the door opened and the shadow of a man appeared through the gap between the door and the alleyway. Sirius flashed an awkward smile while Bellatrix's eyes widened.

"We, uh," Sirius cleared his throat, "my good sir, we are—!"

"I'm a witch and he's a wizard." Bellatrix blurted, "we got lost and we need help immediately."

The shadow snorted and then widened the door. "Get in. Bunch of idiots."

He shut the door so fast Bellatrix's skirt nearly ripped as it got caught in the wood. The man, they found, was heavily hooded and wrapped in thick cloth that they could barely see any skin of him except his hands.

"Do you have any idea what would have happened if anyone else found you?"

"Honestly, sir, we have no idea where we are." Sirius said with a sigh sitting himself on a stool.

"Don't call me sir, I'm not a sir. How'd you get here anyway?"

Bellatrix busied herself by looking around while Sirius started telling him their travels in complete detail. The small room had barely any light in from outside, it was as though done intentionally. The walls were made of brick and stone, and the furnishings looked handmade but with exceptional detail and accuracy.

"Hold on, now. We just told you what we are. Aren't you…" Sirius trailed off, confused.

"Magic is not uncommon to Westeros. Extremely rare, but not uncommon." The man said and waved his hand. As if in response to his gesture, three cups and a plate of bread flew to the common table in the middle of the room followed by a bottle of drink that poured itself on each cup just to the brim. Sirius quickly helped himself to the bread, but Bellatrix ignored it and kept her eyes on the man.

"So, there is magic. Magic exists here in Westeros." She said the name slowly, like finding it a strange word to say.

"Of course magic exists here," The man chuckled, "how do you think it reached all the way to your time?"

"And those people, out there, are they? Do they know what you are?" Bellatrix continued, Sirius' chewing loud in the background.

"Some, I suppose. Many of those who knew what I am had already left. They crossed the great sea to Blackwater Bay. They've been moved by the king as he saw fit to protect himself with the power we hold."

"So, you're like warriors?" Sirius managed to ask through a full mouth.

"No, we're not warriors, and we don't call ourselves wizards either. Out there we're known as alchemists, apprentices, or acolytes to the Alchemists' Guild."

"And you're one of them." Bellatrix said.

"I was," he looked at her through the tunic around his face, "through time we started go grow smaller and smaller, weaker in comparison to none magic folk. The king kept his best ones close, but I chose to stay."

"Why? I mean, if the king's on your side, why look the other way?" Bellatrix was listening so intently now that she hadn't notice Sirius take the last loaf of bread.

"The king's taken a fondness to fire. While its only natural of their lineage, I believe he has other intentions. Intentions I choose to distance myself with."

"Yeah, what's with all the dragon obsession?" Sirius mumbled, "it's everywhere! The bloody castle's in the shape of a dragon."

The man removed the cloak from around his head revealing greying hair on a rather wrinkled face. He smirked and drank from his cup.

"The Targaryen's are known for their Dragons. Some say their ancestors were born from dragons, and some also say that the blood of dragons run through their veins. King Aerys Targaryen hasn't been seen riding a dragon, not that dragons have been seen in this time anymore, but he might very well be one for his love of fire."

Sirius' gaping look made him laugh.

"I believe we've just sent ourselves way too far, cousin." Sirius said softly, glancing up at his cousin with a hint of fear that Bellatrix heard in his voice.

"What is your name, anyway?" Bellatrix looked on the man with her chin up. The old man took a moment to reply, but when he did, a Bellatrix and Sirius exchanged looks of wonder.

"To many I'm known simply as Amos, but my birth name is Erasmus Peverell."