Defiant Blood - Blood and Bone Saga
Chapter 12
Ron staggered as he landed, his foot finding no purchase on the ice that tried to bring him down. "Shit", he yelped, grasping at anything to stop the fall.
"Almost", Mad-Eye chuckled as Ron failed to avoid his date with the floor, the boy blinking up at him. He helped the lad up and endured his colourful language. "It takes some getting used to, transporting from the house, its neither Apparition nor quite Portkey".
"The hell are we anyway?" Ron asked in irritation as he rubbed his rear.
"Bristol", Mad Eye grunted as he led the way, limping on.
"Bristol, you've taken me from Devon to the Lakes and now back down to Bristol. Is this an attempt to leave me permanently confused. Where exactly are we?"
"Wouldn't be a hard task to complete, confusing you", Mad-Eye tapped his hiking cane off the floor, emphasising his delight. Ron had asked for that one. "Exactly? That there's The Cottage, very old muggle pub, good grub there. The where, this is Spike Island, Bristol Docks. And the why, before you ask, is a spot of shopping. What for? I hear you whine like a wee bairn. Well, you see, since this morning I've had this mild irritation, like a red headed pimple, little pain in my arse". He smiled again at Ron's irritations, "thought I'd get something to alleviate it".
Mad-Eye passed the pub and took Ron down a set of stone steps that led to the long walkway that laid out the whole way down the Hotwells, fed by the River Avon. He paused as they approached a set of Bitts, two mooring bollards made from steel and wood where traditionally shipping would moor as they departed. The two in front of them however were old, very old.
Mad-Eye pulled out his wand, a glance around told him they were alone. He tapped his wand to the one on the right then left, five times in time with his words. "Dead, men, tell, no, tales!"
The two Bitts separated; widening as the ground opened up in front of them where it revealed a stone staircase that led down into the water.
"Quickly", Mad-Eye ordered.
Brave or foolish Ron followed the old nutter, he'd surprised him more times than he could count, why not now. They descended the stone steps, as they did Ron saw they were about to hit the water's surface, descending right into it. But this too parted, forming a tunnel of dark murky water to traverse under. But as they passed a certain point the water slowly began to fill above their heads, forming a tight, dry ceiling. The sky now above them, it dramatically changed the colour of the water. A lighter grey now but as they descended step by step they were plunged into a deep oceanic blue.
"Where the hell are we", Ron breathed as they found a solid ground beneath them, a little world still beneath a ceiling of waterway above. They were standing in a small courtyard cast in a midnight blue hew of colour. Wrought iron gates ahead hinted at something grand beyond, but a set of four guards stood at the entrance. One, around Ron's age, or at least no more than five or so years older, stood slapping a large baton against his palm. The eldest, closer to Mad-Eye, sat in a stool lazily using his as a crutch.
"Watch it", the younger of the men warned, eyeing Ron and Mad-Eye closely, "you can't just walk straight in. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Bloody hell Arnold knock it off will ya' … hang on!" the oldest of the four said jumping out of his chair. "You're kidding, Moody?"
"Winston, how long's it been", Mad-Eye said shaking the guards hand.
"Too long", he smiled.
"Hold up, he hasn't spoken the rest of the password", the youngest said irritably, "and I don't trust this one, he looks shifty, look at that eye".
"Arnold, will you shut it before you piss the wrong bloke off and find yourself being murdered", said Winston as he started chatting to Mad-Eye.
"Alright then", the youthful Arnold said, defiantly turning back to Ron, "what about you, One-Arm, you know the password?"
"Whether I do or not, call me that again and they'll be sending you home in a crate", Ron's teeth began to bare.
Arnold seemed to want to retort; perhaps it was the very real look in Ron's eye, but either way it halted him. "Why do dead men tell no tales?"
"You wanna' find out", Ron took a step forward.
"No, idiot, he's giving you the prompt", Mad-Eye laughed over his shoulder.
"What, why do they tell no tales? Err coz there dead!" Ron said sarcastically. "Grassing's for the living", he snorted.
"Close enough, lucky guess", Arnold said taking a step back.
"You're kidding?" Ron laughed, "that's as elaborate of a password as you can come up with".
"Hey", Arnold bit back, "this place is ancient. The dockyard markets are of the wizards of old, seadogs, cut throats and gentleman alike. It's tradition!"
"It's bloody tiresome with you two going on", said one of the others, "honestly lad if you made it this far then that's pretty much all we bother with. Arnolds just knew, itching to break his baton in".
"There all the same", Winston chuckled to Mad-Eye.
"Tell me about it. Anyway lad, I better get going, I've only so long before the leg starts to seize nowadays".
"Of course mate, hey, If you ever fancy it, Fridays around seven we have the odd pint in the Cottage".
They said their pieces as the gates opened, a dark tunnel laid out ahead, bricked off with black stone bricks. Ron's intake of breath caught Mad-Eye's attention as he began looking round as if lost.
"What is it lad?"
"My eye, it's getting clearer in here".
Mad-Eye's interest peaked as Ron went into explaining what he'd told Pansy the day he confessed to still having sight. The things he saw, they had remained. He now saw every female's Dagger who happened to have one. That same neon blue burning brightly in the shape of the symbol. But as for everything else, his eyes had started to revert back to a dead state. Where he once felt he could see through the dark in that eye, it seemed to fade.
But now, on entering the tunnel, it seemed to have kickstarted again. He could make out each brick around them as they passed by, the difference in vision was astutely clear now. He could make out Mad-Eye's face in the black.
"You're telling me that thing can see in the dark?"
"Yeah, it can, or it did until it started to be less noticeable. But here it's vivid… yeah right back at you, you old bastard", Ron saw the two fingers Moody held up, clearly trying to test him. "And there's the middle one, yep".
"Jeez lad", Mad-Eye breathed, "colour me impressed. If we can harness that, do you realise how useful that could be".
"If I can", he agreed. They were coming towards the end of the tunnel now; the light was still hewed with Blue, but lighter was the two sconces hanged on the wall, pale blue flames licking into the air. Beyond this seemed to be two great solid doors.
"And now?"
"I see you, the details of your face still but it's less sharp the lighter it gets. But it's like I'm looking through two spectrums. But there's something else… can you see anything on those doors ahead?"
"Ahead? No, should I? It's just the same dark blue", Mad-Eye said with curiosity.
"I see bright blue lights, like rune markings etched all the way down them, they look like ward markings". They neared a large arch as the tunnel ended, it largely expanded, and he could see now the doors were some twenty feet high. "Just where have you brought me Mad-Eye".
The question pushed the notion of unseen markings from his mind as the question Mad-Eye was waiting for arrived. "Welcome, Ron Lad, to the Umbra Court.
He pushed, without heaving his weight, against the doors. The sound of them opening was immense, but the effort to do so was strangely low. The doors parted and as they did Ron's two differing eye's adjusted to the sheer vastness of what lay beyond. Stepping through he saw as the arch spread outward into circular room so titanic in proportions Ron couldn't believe that either eye did it justice.
Their entrance was raised in comparison to the rest of the place, and they slowly descended down a platform of black marble steps. The archway they arrived through seemed to repeat all the way around the circumference of the place. Each arch it seemed housed one of the innumerable shops and stores set back into the recesses of the wall. Ron could see, from his raised height that the inner circle was positively alive with life. A shanty town of stalls and traders lined the place.
Ron immediately began to smell and taste the scents that the small metropolis pumped out, his ears picking up the shouts of traders and the bustle of a place packed with movement. Then his eyes hungrily took in what they could, both light and dark, through both spectrums.
The architecture screamed of a more gothic time, intricate archways and incredulous carved floors below. Then his gaze found a towering figure that caught his eyes like the toll of a bell. Twenty foot high, gleaming in black marble and bronze, a statue of Death looking down on all who entered. In the crook of her arm leaned a great scythe, but her hands held onto an ominous urn that she was upturning. He realised quickly the statue was a fountain, the liquid pouring from the urn was a deep, ominous, blood red.
His eye's drifted upward to above her head. There was no water as before, but no ceiling either. Here, as in Hogwarts the roof seemed enchanted, but this was off the scale. All above, moving in perfect planetary alignment were floating orbs of light, low and gentle rather than bright and glaring. At the centre of the cosmic galaxy was a large, singular moon-shaped centrepiece. It seemed to protrude down from the heavens and bathed everything in that same cool midnight blue and shadows of black.
"Place of permanent Twilight", Mad-Eye growled, eyeing Ron behind with his magical eye.
Ron's eye's fell, lastly resting on the plaque at the base of the fountain. "Mors Pax?" he read aloud.
"Death and Peace", Mad-Eye confirmed, turning back to him. "Or in this case, it's meant as Death's Peace, it's this place's one law". He pulled Ron on with a nod of his head as he limped on. It was busy and Ron stuck close to his elbow. "You see lad, this place is dangerous, very dangerous. Well, at least it should be. Basically, I've led you into the belly of the underworld here in old Blighty. If you want it, no matter how black market it is, it's probably here".
Ron began wildly looking round at this, as though his mind was saying if your alert enough you might spot all the illegal treasures.
"'Mors Pax', it's more than a snazzy saying, it's an old magic. It protects all within from doing harm to another. If what you said you saw was true, you might just have been looking at the ancient runes that ward this filter. It stops you being able to act on your intent, if you intend to harm or fight. In essence, it's Parley!"
"This not a conflict of your Auror ways then?" Ron asked, but he wasn't cheeky, he was enthralled with everything about the place.
"You'd be surprised Weasley. Me and my lot, that's to say, 'the old guard', 'the old sweats' in the Auror circles. We used to always say any Auror worth his salt spent time down here, learning. Oh, don't get me wrong, you see things you wanna' act on, if you didn't, you'd be a shit Hit Wizard. But you have to learn to turn a blind eye sometimes, you also need to know how the other classes operate, the depravity of life and the frivolousness of the wasteful, there all here".
"So, what do you come here for", Ron asked curious.
"Well,", Moody said in consideration, "there are things you can only get from a place like this. Then there's the trades here, real talents as well as good honest folk, not just the lowest cut throats or the upper-class villains. The rents here are honest and upfront, no one gets hassled or leaned on, and the Mors Pax offers them protection. So, you'll often find some of the best craftsmen hidden away down here, just like what were after today".
They walked on for ten minutes, only stopping as Mad-Eye stood scratching his head in confusion. "Used to bloody well be right here", he growled to himself.
"What are we looking for?" Ron wasn't hopeful on a straightforward answer.
"Finding a man for my leg".
Ron blinked, his mouth open, "you what?"
But Mad-Eye moved off smiling. "Quintessa Cartwright, my eyes are a vision of passion", he barked approaching a nakard looking old witch. Ron couldn't help but notice that passion was not the word that sprung to mind when looking at the witch he assumed was Quintessa Cartwright because, well logic!
"Moody you old shite, I thought you must have died", Ron thought her voice was a sign of forty a day, or perhaps a lifetime of toking on a pipe. Whatever it was, there was no way this went beyond Moody's version of charm, Ron refused to believe he was attracted to this creature.
"Julious, where's he got off to. Thought his store was over here?"
"It was", Quintessa smiled, her yellow teeth waving a 'hello' as she spoke. "But he's got himself on the Wall now".
"Has he?" Moody's head turned in thought. "Could you be a doll and point me the way?"
"He's quarter to two, by Henry's", he thanked her but as he turned away, she called after him, "you still owe me that drink you snake".
Mad-Eye led on away from her, he spotted Ron's look. "What?"
"Nothing, just appreciating you still have game", Ron smirked.
"Never left me mate", he looked back over his shoulder at Quintessa, then shuddered as he looked back at Ron who laughed. "Tactic's lad, nothing more". He gave Ron another sharp look as they walked, "Quarter to two?"
Ron frowned before nodding, "a clock face, quarter to two, fifteen minute walk North-West, two o'clock direction. It's how this lot navigate?"
"Good lad", Mad-Eye was keen to see how quick his mind was. "Good lad, keep your mind sharp. You've already shown solid banter; its more than a humorous quality. Good lying comes hand in hand with that sort of thing. A fast mind can work a mouth to get it out of a situation quicker than it got into said situation".
They'd journeyed to the wall shops in around quarter of an hour. Up close Ron saw that none of the places housed glass windows and doors, these were opened insets that neatly sat in the recesses of the brickwork.
They walked up a few steps and found a workshop of sorts. Now Mad-Eye's words came back to Ron as he saw a number of what appeared to be strange looking limbs hanging from the ceiling or displayed in glass cases. It was loud inside, and Ron's eyes were instantly drawn to showers of bright sparks as someone worked away.
"Julious!" Mad-Eye shouted.
The work stopped, "hello?" and a man appeared, pulling off a set of black glass goggles, he blew smoke away from his wand tip then dipped it in a tub of black liquid. It hissed, issuing angry smoke as the intensity of the work he'd been doing had heated the tip to a glowing iron. "Mad-Eye?... Mad-Eye you old rogue, six month's I told you to come for your check up, not eighteen. Bloody glad you found me".
The man was much younger than Mad-Eye, maybe in his thirty's. Face covered in soot and dirt; Black hair pulled back in a tight but messy bun. Ron could see a handsomeness underneath the workman's dishevelled appearance.
"Good to see you too Julious lad", he looked around at the workshop, smiling widely. "Oh yes, this is more you, much better than that old stall. This is ruddy fantastic".
"Isn't it!" Julious beamed, "given me so much more freedom to work without watching over a stall. Couple of wards and this is my own little world to get cracking. Anyway, where the hell you been?"
Then quite surprisingly Mad-Eye freely opened up about the events of the last year. Suffice to say Julious' did not take kindly to hearing any of it, with a great deal of disgust on his face and flippant cursing from his lips as he heard the tale.
But Ron's eyes were drawn to the man's hand with a strange fascination and longing. Juilius' right hand was gone, seemingly severed at the wrist. But instead of some simple prosthetic or perfect silver replacement like that of Wormtail's that Harry had told Ron of, this was something new to his eye. Likewise, as Julious led Mad-Eye to the back of the workshop he saw him laydown on an old lounge chair. Mad-Eye's Robes lifted, and Ron saw an almost similar, yet completely differently designed leg.
"Jeez Mad-Eye, no wonder your limping, the whole things off kilter, the fuck did that bastard do to it". Mad-Eye held onto the top of what remained of his real leg and Julious twisted the creation until it clicked and released. He removed it and put it down onto a stand where he began to examine it.
Ron's mind whirled as he recognised the place for what it was now. He moved over to some arms that were on display. His eyebrows rose as he examined them in awe. They weren't plastic stick-on limbs, they weren't perfect metal replica's or anything he'd remember seeing. Ron was sure he'd seen Mad-Eye's leg as being a wooden peg, but clearly, he hadn't noticed. But these, these were macabre works of art. The only word that sprang to mind was Bio-Magic-Mechanical at least that was the one he made up.
The first to catch his eye seemed to have a solid golden appearance to the main frame of the piece. Woven through this were silver wound wires like tendons that curved to the shape of muscles. Black vein like cables running along down to the wrist where it joined a similarly structured hand. It moved in the display case, balling a fist or flexing its fingers. As it did Ron's dark eye could see the darkness within, tiny rune markings glowed red. He believed he was seeing these glow from within, invisible to normal eyes as he witnessed its magic that flowed inside as if alive.
Then his heart dropped as he saw the price, "Maybe if I can get a decent job and save for a year, maybe", he thought sadly.
Then a larger piece in a grimy case caught his eye. It was no less expensive but had a darker more morbid look to it, a gruesome brilliance that was somewhat appealing. It was muscular; at least it seemed designed to mimic the natural musculature of a human arm. It was black in colour, with Its definition of biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles made up of green oxidised copper-like tendons. The mechanical components were integrated into the muscle structure, creating a seamless blend of a mimicking flesh materials and metal.
Embedded in the forearm Ron saw a glowing green energy core, pulsing with a steady rhythm. This core, he presumed, powered the arm's movements and abilities, and its glow intensified during the moments it flexed and moved. Further to the processes of its movement, when it flexed aggressively in the case, a jet of steam seemed to release from exhaust like vents. It did this very few times, except for when Ron approached it, then it began to clench and release repeatedly.
Along the outer metal skin were intricate engravings and etchings that resemble ancient runes and symbols, these designs were illuminated with that same faint green glow, adding to the arm's sinister aesthetic. Before walking of he noticed a small plaque with the words, 'Mors Manus'. He paused, straining his head, "Deaths Hand?".
Ron went over everything in the store, the arms holding a sad sway over him of course. Then interest peaked again as he found eyes, irregular and unsettling but familiar and Ron presumed this was the origin of Mad-Eye's mad eye.
He wasn't sure how long they were there for but soon Moody stepped out from where Julious worked on him. His gate still had its permanent limp. but it was far less pronounced.
"Awe see you're an artist lad", Moody said taking a few steps, "that feels amazing".
"Interactions good?" Julious said lifting his work googles.
"Aye lad, doing everything I want it too just fine. So's the eye, not sticking anymore". He reached Ron and clapped him round the intact shoulder. "And this is the boy wonder, big words frighten him, but one hell of a right hook".
Julious came over offering his hand with a smile. Ron only having his right arm, Julious had to offer the same, that being his prosthetic. Ron marvelled at the soft touch of what he'd taken to being a cold and metallic looking thing.
"Nice to meet you man, you like it?" Julious followed Ron's eyes down. "It's very gentle when you learn how to use it without thinking".
"They're amazing… sorry, Ron, Ron Weasley".
"Julious Tonga", they shook. "I'm sorry, I never even noticed before", he pointed to Ron's absence with as little awkwardness as he could. "Can I take a look?"
Ron frowned a little, it sounded weird from a stranger but then he guessed professional curiosity and all. With as little struggle as he could he slipped his tee-shirt overhead and stood feeling very exposed.
"May I?" the man asked, Ron nodded, and soon he was lightly touching and examining the area around his shoulder. He shook his head to Mad-Eye. "Fucking hospitals!"
"That bad?" Mad-Eye asked seemingly concerned.
"No, it's not that, so much as its another clean chop shop job they've done. They won't listen to reason; I've filed it to the Ministry a handful of times now. Amputee's injuries don't need to be cut so far back. If we leave what's left and use the right tech the limbs will heal quicker and attach better".
"What does that mean for him?" Mad Eye asked coming over.
"Well, yours took to you quickly as you had half your femur left, the two welded well and together without a cap. Ron here would need a new shoulder cap fitting. Not a painless procedure but it can work without, lots more faffing though. Buckling and strapping each time and the connections just not as fluent with the mind".
"But you can fit a cap?" Mad-Eye asked. Ron started to feel a deeply sad annoyance with this conversation, it was very disheartening to know he could be close to whole again.
"I can, but there a custom job only, takes time, pain and healing, be weeks before he's up and about again.
Ron was thrilled and amazed at the visit to the Umbra Court, the idea that things as amazing as this were possible was a great relief to him. But that would have to be in the future and right now he just wanted to be alone. Stepping back, he started to pull his shirt back on.
Mad-Eye sighed sadly. "Not what I wanted to hear, but I guess, if your free… can you fit him in now?"
"Sure, I haven't had an arm this stripped back before, its an exciting job, I'd love to", Julian said, face lighting up.
"Woah, Mad-Eye hold up, come on you know we can't afford that. This is like, two years of dad's annual right here in one arm. Julious, what you do, its freaking amazing, honestly", He took his hand again and shook it, "hopefully in a few years maybe we can do something together". Ron walked back to Mad-Eye dropping his voice, "I appreciate you bringing me, but can we go now, I need to get out of here".
Mad-Eye's face, quizzical as Ron spoke, softened. "You're a good lad Ron, a good lad", his hand landing on his shoulder. "The only way we leave here is if you decide you can't go through the pain of it or tell me you don't want it". He smiled at the confusion now on Ron's face, "the lads already been paid, transaction complete. And no, your parents haven't remortgaged the Burrow or broken their savings. Nor is all this me, but a few of us".
Ron's eye's welled, his throat growing tight as he shook his head. "I can't, I can't accept".
"Why?" Mad-Eye said, almost unnervingly so, as he spoke with true gentleness. "Because you're a lad who took the least in life to make sure your family had the most. Even your parents know this, your clothes too small, shoes with holes, have you ever complained, raised it with them. They even know you knew that new broom of yours was never actually new, but did you say anything". He shook his head, still smiling, "let the universe pay you back for a change Ron. Dumbledore, me, the others, we want to thank you for the bravery you showed up on that hill, thinking of the girl without thought for yourself".
Ron had to bury his face in his tee-shirt as he wiped his eye. His words proving too much. He kept his composure with strong breaths, but his eye betrayed him.
"What did you think all this was for? Coming with me I mean. I mean I know what everyone else wanted me to do. But what do you want… just wanna' finish your schooling or something?" The man's face hardened, his eye, magical included, tearing into him as his eyebrows angled. "Because I see you lad, I see the anger and spite that bubbles when you think no one's watching. The sadness when you see a pretty girl and your mind goes back to her. But if you want to stroll into the snake pit and walk out with her alive, you need everything I can teach you. And that starts here! If your gonna; get her back, you need to be more than this. Trust me lad, trust me and I promise you, I'll make you a fucking monster!"
Arguments and courteous rejections left Ron's head the moment Mad-Eye pulled him out of his longing for Pansy. Determination diluted his blood now along with the anger. He slapped Mad-Eye on the back as he hugged the man, getting the same response. Turning away he rubbed his eye again and nodded to Julious without words.
Eventually Ron was pulled out as he heard the mild arguing of men, arguing was a strong description, more bickering back and fourths. He wasn't sure how long he'd been ley here like this, on the lounger that Moody reclined on before. There was pleasant music playing in the background and a strong scent of incense burning. He'd seen these before, they had a drowsiness effect to them when you didn't partake of the anti-effect remedies. This he saw the other two do already, but then again, he knew this, Julious had explained it, he'd only forgotten during the mild high.
"Alister, I'm telling you, this ain't right", Julious pointed his wand at Ron. Ron watched his wand tip lazily swirling in his hand, eyes crossing as he did, he laughed. "See, that's what I mean, that's the highest strength I've got. He should be out for the count right now and he's giggling away". He stopped and lifted his goggles, shifting on his wheeled chair. "He should be screaming, he doesn't, he's seemingly pissed when he should be asleep. Just what's going on".
"I told you", Mad-Eye chuckled, "its complicated. And isn't this a good thing. He's in no pain, everything's healing nicely. Speeds it up doesn't it.
"Speed's it up?" Julious scoffed, "it looks about ready to take an arm, but there's just no way he should". He grabbed his tongues and picked up a small glowing rod, "he's had four of these implanted, melded to bone! And he's been laying there singing Chudley Cannon's chants. What is he?"
"Someone who deserves a bit of luck for once I'd say".
"This is all, you know, above board, right?" Julious asked with a look. Leaning on his staff, Mad-Eye gently pivoted and glanced at all the wears, then back where his eye's met his technician's. He gave him that same look back. "Alright, point taken".
"It's odd lad, very odd. But that's about as much as we know. Dumbledore's not happy with it but he accepts it. That's good enough for me".
Ron heard more words, someone talking again close by him, "no, at me", he thought. He sat up and was passed something in hand. More words and he did as told, drinking the contents. He felt his head lift from a dense fog that swirled his mind. "Urgh what's that, boiled piss!"
"No", Julious chuckled, "but close. Just the shite I have to drink every time I use that incense. It's what blocks the effect. Oh, here's trouble", he exclaimed casually.
Ron followed his gaze to see Mad-Eye levitating three take out cups of coffee's as he re-entered the workshop. Both younger men accepted gratefully.
"Oh, back with us I see, how'd you feel?" the old man asked.
Ron took a moment to take stock. "Erm… fine I guess, pretty good actually. How long was I out?"
"Your kidding!" Julious scoffed; his face twisted into a disbelieving smile. "A couple of hours, now's usually the time I give as much pain relief as I can and strict orders to rest for at least a month… but this… woah".
His hand traced his work and Ron followed, eyebrows raising as he saw himself. He stood, walking to the freestanding mirror's close to the couch, mouth aghast in amazement as the extremes of the man's handiwork took him.
The 'Cap', as Julious had called it, was just that, something that capped the whole of the gap left from his surgery, but it was far from that simple. He likened it to an old figurine he once found close the Burrow, lost by some muggle child. Its arm had popped out of its socket and within was a hole where it could pop back in. It seemed, he was now built the same.
For the most part Julious had rebuilt the shape of his shoulder, where the muscle and bone was removed, it gave him a symmetrical form with the rest of his body, now only minus his arm. There, shape was perfectly moulded to his frame, it's outer rim that met his skin made of a strange bronze metal that flexed and moved with his skin. It was somehow riveted to his flesh, he dared to touch it, waiting for pain, but there was none. The inner material that capped his shoulder was black and leather like, until it reached the inner socket hole. This was steel, strong and open, seemingly ready to connect.
"What do you reckon?" Julious stood to his left, examining the work.
"Incredible", he bit his lip and Julious seemed to know.
"Wanna' try one on?"
Ron's face lit up. "Can I?"
"Well, you shouldn't, you should be crying but… I feel like I'm looking at two months' worth of good healing. So, fuck it, why not".
Ron struggled to hide his excitement as he was led to the section of arms. He nodded to Moody who smiled back, seemingly as pleased as Ron was. Ron felt like he didn't know how to repay the man.
"So how do they work?" He asked.
"Well, most of these are available. Minus this one and this one, obviously". Ron saw the signs marked sold. "But this isn't Ollivander's, were not waving arms around in the hope we get a match. We take these, try them on, see what fits and what doesn't, what's best for you and yours will be a custom job, tailored to you".
Julious took a red arm off from the hooks it clung to on the wall. Bringing it round and lining it up, he inserted the grooved drive shaft until there was a click. Then there was a wrenching as Julious twisted it right then left. The action made its motors whirl and Ron's eyes widened as something struck at him. Something within.
"Woah!" he laughed, looking down at the arm.
"You feel that? That's it's power core. Night core crystals from an Armajungar-…".
"…-A dragon!", Ron breathed quickly.
"You know your stuff", Julious said.
"Brother works with them in Romania", then Ron's face fell, a mild disgust as he looked at the contraption. "Is this made from poached Dragon parts!"
"No!" Julious said forcefully, though his face too changed, softening into a mild guilt. "Anything I use from animals, like the crystals, they're all dropped. These are what the Armajungar sheds along with its scales. Dropped crystals are powerful beyond measure, they fall because of the years of charge they've absorbed. Dead dragon crystals are dangerously weakened and compromised. But I should tell you, none of these are what you'd call ethical Ron".
Ron chanced a glance at Mad-Eye, he nodded with a focused look. "It's like I said, learning to turn a blind eye".
"Many of these have real components", Julious said carefully. Ron thought he followed but waited all the same. "Human remains", he nodded but tried to reassure all the same. "Again, nothing darks come in the way of obtaining these, there mostly the bits medical science was left and didn't want. But It's a dark prospect all the same".
"I feel like I already had that impression", his fingers traced the main body of the arm, its outer struts.
"You see the bones, that's because there outer skeletal, means more room for the components within. But that's a real Radius and Ulna, and see this here, real Humerus. There super treated, amalgamated with molten metals and cast in magic for strength. It's the magic and the crystal that activate the muscle memory within the bone, mimicking it to your thoughts".
"Well, my actual arms in someone's desk a long, long ways away so I can't say Its too morbid an idea to me". They both gave him confused looks and he shook it off. "Anything else?"
"These can't be made without dark magic Ron mate", Julious admitted sadly.
"How dark?"
Julious sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I can't say I'd definitely avoid at least a little jail time, but it wouldn't be much. Think of it this way, you know your Unforgivables?" Ron nodded, "Dark magic right? Blasting curse… dark magic?" Ron looked down at the reason he was here, the arm that was no more. "Exactly, that's done as much physical damage as maybe the Cruciatus can do mentally".
"No magic is so black and white. Take it from someone who enforced the law, the laws shite. It's what we do with it that counts", Mad-Eye nodded quietly. He waited a second before snorting, "God Weasley, you've been bedding a Slytherin, get on board son", he laughed.
Julious too laughed at this. "Principles the same mate, Gryffindors and Slytherins, could anyone tell you you shouldn't have her because she's dark magic?"
Ron puffed his cheeks, "never said I wasn't game for it", he confirmed, to the others delights.
Ron tried a number of them on, each one feeling not to different from the next. The only difference he could feel was the strange change in taste in the back of his throat from the different power cells. That and the odd size, shape and weight to each one. But so far each had felt as disconnected from his brain as the next.
Julious explained that there was no issue with feeling disconnected, the connection took time and custom-made pieces always connected quicker than the others.
He was glad he got to try the gold one on, he liked the eloquent colours of the expensive looking metals. But it was at least four or five inches short and gave him a lobsided look. But Julious said he was happy with what he'd seen and just needed to complete taking his full measurements in the back.
The two older men started walking off when Ron's hesitant voice spoke up. "Erm, what's that one?", Julious turned, "Mors Manus?"
"That one!", he barked laughing, "forget about it, Death's Hand, its sort of a joke. I made it as an experiment. An unsuccessful one at that, but its so cool I'll not dismantle it". Ron wasn't for budging, rocking on his feet as though looking at some fascinating reptile through the glass of its housing. He walked back over. "The names a play on the fact that anyone who's tried it on has nearly been killed by it".
Ron's face lit with excitement, "Can I try it!"
"Your kidding, you heard me right".
"What's so special about it?" Ron asked closer, it charmed him with its grotesque ugliness.
"Well, it's made from dragon bone", Julious already heard Ron's enthusiasm before he spoke.
"Fuck off!" he said excitedly.
"No straight up. Remains of a Hebridean Black". Ron breathed a 'whoa!', bringing another laugh from Julious. "No seriously. He sadly had to be culled, he'd gone particularly feral and aggressive. Killed a lot of people up in the highlands. Believe it was the lot that your brother probably works with that had to be sent in to do it".
Julious stepped over to Ron's side, staring into the case. "They tried their best to capture and subdue, but in the end were left with no choice. Had to pull a lot of strings just to get the Radius. That's all one bone broken down; I got a few heart strings thrown in as well. Their woven throughout, and the reaction they get with the Night Core Crystals is… aggressive. That's why this one vent's steam. It circulates back in to work the pistons then is jettisoned out these exhausts when exerting power".
"Very cool!" Ron nodded. He was five again, in his first trip into the quidditch supplies store, looking at brooms. "Can I try it?"
"Did you miss the part where it'll try crushing your throat".
Mad-Eye coughed now, "erm, I really wouldn't worry about that with him". He tried to subtly point out his proclivity for absurd strength. It only made for confusing the technician.
Julious meant to argue his point but as Ron got close to the glass the hand began grasping at air over again, flexing and straining inside. Never having seen such a reaction it made Julious pause for thought. "Your sure?" he turned to Mad-Eye.
Minutes later, against his better judgement, Julious pressed into Ron, the arm clicked. Grasping the arm, he clicked it left and right, locking the drive shaft into position.
Ron gasped, eyes wide, he gulped in a lung full of burning air. The sensation scorched his chest and his whole torso tensed against the burning flare that alighted him. Julious took a step, making to take it off quickly but Ron backed away.
"Wait… its… I like it", he said, breathing out. His eyes widened again as he saw a mild steam breathe out through his nostrils. Shutting his eyes he shrugged his shoulders, tensing and flexing the muscles in his back. There was no taste in the back of his throat, only the heat of this power that he felt burning into him thrillingly.
Opening his eyes he saw Julious and Mad-Eye's jaws hanging open, slowly forming into disbelieving smiles. "Ron", said the younger man, "did you feel that?"
"What?" Ron shrugged.
"Again!" Mad-Eye exhaled excitedly.
"What is it". He marched over to the mirrors. He paused as he walked, looking down he realised that he missed this feeling. The ability to walk effortlessly, without the need to overcomplicate balancing his gate. He carried on, reaching the mirror. And quickly he looked at the others as he realised he was embarrassingly turning and twirling to get a better look at it. "Wicked!" he breathed.
There was another minor surge of heat, he closed his eyes, tensing he breathed through the thrill of power he felt. But as he opened his eyes, he saw it. It made him jump but the metal hand to his left had clenched in time to the one on his right.
"Woah! Look… look at that", he said excitedly. "Is that me or, or the arm".
Julious was laughing with Mad-Eye at his reaction. "Well usually yes, it's only ever the individual when the limbs locked in. They can't move once connected. Though, like I said this one's tried to kill several people".
Julious walked over, wand pulled, he slowly ran its tip down the arm's length, running a diagnostic charm. Placing his wand to his ear, he listened. Then frowning he repeated the action twice more.
"It's not the arm", he laughed in shock, "its dormant as it should be. It's you, your brains connecting with the magic between you, the cap and the arm. Its fucking working", he scoffed.
"Can… can I get this one", Ron dared to ask, his excitement peaking. "It's even the right size for me. Look at me" and his voice broke, eye's slightly watery, "I look whole again".
Julious looked tentatively between them both. "What do you reckon?"
"Is it working as well as a custom one?" Mad-Eye asked.
Julious shrugged, still in shock, "seems to be". He put up a finger to halt them both. Walking over to Ron he raised his arm and slapped him hard across the face with left hand.
"What the fuck are you playing at you nutter!" Ron recoiled.
"What", Julious said innocently, "what are you talking about Ron, wasn't me". He slapped him again, again Ron wasn't quick enough and took the hit.
"Fuck!" he shouted, "the hells wrong with you!".
"Ron, what are you talking about, you're making no sense".
Ron looked to Mad-Eye, his mentor just standing there, watching carefully. Then Julious' other hand swung up to Ron's face.
"Stop it!" he shouted, eye's narrowed angrily. He didn't know what the hell had gotten into the man, he'd liked him up until now. "What now you nutter!" Ron said irritably as Julious stood laughing. Ron's eyes followed his. Julious' hand was still reaching up to where he'd tried to slap him, inches away. Ron's mouth fell open as he saw why he hadn't. His arm, the new one, Mors Manus, was raised. It had grasped Julious' hand, stopping it mid swing. "Shit!" Ron beamed.
"This is definitely the prosthetic for you mate", Julious beamed back.
"You couldn't have done that without hitting me!"
Mad-Eye and Ron exited the Umbra Court's entrance. It was dark now; they'd spent almost the entire day there. The majority with Julious, who Ron decided was his new honouree best friend.
They spent another hour after they all agreed that Mors Manus, a name he decided he was keeping, was the one for him. He'd gone over all the do's, don'ts and never's of ownership and found they were pretty much common sense. He'd need regular six months maintenance check-ups. Every three months for the first year. Mad-Eye explained these were covered by donations from Hogwarts. He wouldn't be going back but he was told he'd been issued the award for special services to the school. Technically it meant a large portion had been paid by the school and by extension, the ministry. Ron didn't mind the feeling of poetic justice.
After leaving Mad-Eye had more shopping to do, leading Ron round as he traversed life again with his new weighty companion clicked into place. Re-learning to walk now he was almost completely balanced again. It was explained that in time he would gain as much manoeuvrability and mastery as his own arm, but it was a process and not a matter of instance.
Mad-Eye told him his clothing was a major issue and next on his list was to take him to another old friend who was a cloak tailor. Ron was soon fitted and measured, and they would have to return to collect it when ready.
It had all been a bit much for him, as a day, it had been long and filled with too many surprises. He was ready for some welcome sleep.
Ron watched as Mad-Eye pulled a long thick piece of rope, knotted in the middle. He recognised it as a personalised portkey, he didn't need to ask where it had come from. The whole thing screamed Dumbledore. But he'd presumed they'd Apparate to Devon then pass to the cottage in the lakes. But maybe this was his lazy route back. "God, I hope so!" He thought desperately tired.
"Ready?" Mad-Eye said, keeping a look out.
"No… come on lets just get back".
The world upended, he was pulled through a nasty void of colour and sound. His ears rumbled at the instant sound of crashing and clashing, rain and spit pummelling his face. He wobbled in the dying light, catching himself as he looked down. They were on a cliff face, some fifty, one hundred feet high, he couldn't guess. His lungs filled with sea air as waves crashed around him
"Welcome to your new home lad", Mad-Eye shouted.
"Ohh! Come on!" Ron bellowed in pleading. His blue rant, filled with as much colourful language was drowned out by the sound of the surf. Mad-Eye laughed, getting the idea of what was said. Then, as animated as he was in his ranting, Ron froze. His eye's fixed on the vision before him, a stunned disbelief on his face. He began stomping his feet, pointed wildly at a formation of rock, then at Mad-Eye.
The old man had to laugh heartily, he really was a passionate one, he was in for a rough time bless him. He ambled forward on his staff. "Griping again lad?" He shouted.
Ron ran forward, arm pointing wildly out to sea at the rocks. "That… that's The Old Man of Hoy!... the old man! You've brought me to fucking Orkney!"
"Orkney Archipelago in Scotland, yes! what's your point?" Mad-Eye had to bite down his laugh. He couldn't wait to describe it to Albus later when he'd sneak over for a pre-planned drink.
"Are you tapped in the fucking head! Why, am I in Orkney", Ron screamed animatedly. "Is there even a more remote island you could have dumped me on".
Grabbing Ron's arm, he Apparated them away, deeper into the Archipelago.
Ron only just managed to stay on his feet as they appeared. "Gods!" he roared out comically now. "A bit of bloody warning". He rounded on Mad-Eye, finger pointing in accusation, "just what the hell are you playing at".
"What? you asked where I wanted you this morning, your tired, so I brought you home…this… is where I want you", Mad-Eye desperately keeping a straight face.
Ron's eyes swept the vicinity, "Mad-Eye, please tell me you've finally lost it. What the hell is this place".
"This, why it's the old Auror Barracks we used to train in, before they got the fancy new academy. It's perfectly warded so you can use as much magic as you like. What better place to teach you to be an Auror!"
Ron's attention snapped back on him. Like a great carrot dangling in front of him, his anger melted away. "What!" he said, a daft bewildered smile forming on his features.
"Yeah", Mad-Eye coerced, "breeds strong men this place. Just need to find yourself an intact bed and get some rest before we start tomorrow".
The smile that had formed on his face dropped away. "What!" He watched as Mad-Eye smirked, his hands holding the Portkey rope. "Don't you dare!" Ron managed just as he disappeared in the dark.
From a distance a shadowy silhouette of a young man stomping his feet could be seen, while his cursing of a much older man was audible from some distance away.
A/N
A very long day for Ron amongst a hard day for Pansy. This was a difficult one to balance and I don't think it's worked out the best either. It was a bit of an impossible task, the balancing.
Pansy has some big important scenes to come, equal to Ron's so, there is balance. But Pansy had to have her time with her Uncles as Ron needed to Visit the Umbra Court and Julious.
I had a more disgusting idea of melded bone, flesh and metal for my original idea. Wanting to go beyond a Si-Fi metal arm. It was more a half dead thing, almost lifelessly attached. But for the sake of the actual Lore of Blood and Bone, the work the Arcanes do, Corvus of course having… well…
"That's my arm? Look at it, what did you do with it?"
"And you're keeping it in your… what is that, your draw?" Ron's jaw hung open in disbelief.
-Well the concept made me laugh. So I tried to do a little bit of amalgamating bits of this, a but of mechanical knowhow and so on, touch of magic and hopefully, created something at least a little original. But more importantly, unlike say, Wormtail, this isn't a story of quick fixes. He's had to bleed and suffer to recover.
I'm so happy with the Umbra Court, I love the concept. I've worded up the midnight market as it looks in my head. Theres definitely some Helboy Golden Army – Troll Market that's bled into the inspiration here which I like. Its actually a concept that I want to use in other stories because why not. I love the idea that this is the kind of place that's so heavily warded that Auror's and Deatheaters could meet and do nothing other than tolerate. Makes for interesting meetings and ideas. If this story's getting any sort of following always leave a comment if anyone liked this setting, use it. Use it in your story's and give me a shout out and a message and I'd love to read it.
Also just to say, this is getting location heavy, and I get that, but I like it. It reminds me of seeing how far and wide James Bond Quantum of Solace got, it's magic… so use it, go wherever the hell you want. I mean, "Shiftgate Charm?" Mad-Eye smiled, "really, you Translocated your house?– Took me five minutes to come up with that concept and it fascinated me.
And lastly, Mad-Eye needs some real appreciation, I think. I didn't appreciate mentally how much he went through in GOF until I started this. He's a fitting mentor to push Ron with their respectful banter. He's lived it and suffered the same losses.
Love and Light
Venom