"Godric's Heart! Project Shadow!"
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Review Answers:
A10riddick: Sadly yes, but I promise fun and excitement all round – may even try what some do and 'alter' the tasks somewhat;
WhiteElfElder: Oh trust me, the brown stuff is definitely going to hit the whirly thing, and not just for those responsible;
Matias-034: Yes, but as the prompt said, that is intentional because it's inspired by Shadow the Hedgehog;
Lexarius: A prize, huh? Hmm…what to give the biggest hypocritical coward who will undoubtedly be responsible for tickling the sleeping dragon because he can't take a hint? Hmm…a hospital bed with his name engraved above it?
"A powerfully-protective friend you've got there, Potter…"
"Don't call me that!"
Sirius suddenly flinched, and violently at that, as a cold, ruthless whisper of a voice hissed at him and Alastor, as well as Amelia.
At the same time, the blood-soaked youth lifted his head, revealing two emerald-green eyes that seemed to be flecked with a similar reddish hue as his vulpine companion, while he slowly rose up from the ground, his eyes cold, dry and full of nothing that might be called teenage warmth as he looked to Sirius, then Amelia and, finally, to Alastor, as he spoke again.
"My name…is Shadow…and before you apologise for not being able to track me down and save me sooner, Director Amelia Susan Bones, let me advise you: save your breath!"
As Amelia flinched at the cold tone in the young man's voice, Harry, or Shadow, as he seemed to decide he was calling himself, looked to Sirius.
"As for you…I will never forgive you, so don't bother asking: you want to help me? Fine…but I am not your boy, your pup and I am definitely not your Prongslet or a Marauder; accept that, or stay out of my way. The only friend I have…the only family…is Raimei."
Chapter 2: Welcome to Base Camp! Start Climbing, Sirius!
At the furthest-northern point of the United Kingdom, beyond the Orkney and Shetland islands, there exists a small, uninhabited island known as Out Stack, a small, seemingly-unimportant landmass that acts as the full stop of the United Kingdom, and the only landmass between the UK and the North Pole…
At least, that's what it looks like to any unsuspecting Muggles passing the land, even eyeing up the sights of animals protected by the Hermaness National Nature Reserve.
However, the land served another, more-private, mystical purpose…
GHPS
To those who were keyed into the island, such as Amelia Bones and Sirius Black, the apparently-uninhabited island revealed itself to be habited.
At the heart of the island, at the top of a path that would only appear to anyone keyed into the island's magical defences, a small, cute-looking cottage acted as the only housing on the island, as well as the current sanctuary of those who were using it at that moment in time.
In this instance, this was Sirius, who stood at the lounge window of the cottage, looking out and down the winding path that led to a private beach facing true north. It was on this beach that Sirius' gaze lingered as he stared at the only thing that seemed to break the otherwise-empty, light-skies scene that he could see from his sanctuary.
A young man, whom was stripped completely naked, sitting on the white sand beach, his knees curled to his chest as he stared out across the rolling seas that crested the shoreline. Either in a bid to protect his modesty, or just to comfort him, Sirius didn't know, but the boy was accompanied by a familiar large vulpine creature, whom was sitting next to him, using her tails to cover his groin area, and carefully warm him against the Arctic cold that blew in from the north.
Sirius actually wondered if he could even feel the cold, after everything that had been done to him.
"He's still down there?"
"Yes," said Sirius, turning his gaze away from the window as he smiled at Amelia Bones, who'd opted to stay with Sirius, if only until she could ask some questions and try to give their quarry a reason to understand he was among those who would care for and about him, rather than hurt him.
"How long's that, now?" asked Amelia,
"Three hours," replied Sirius calmly, clenching and unclenching his fists as he looked back out of the window, Amelia now standing next to him as he explained, "I had hoped bringing him somewhere remote, not to mention a favourite old holiday spot for Lily and James, might help him, but all he's done is sit there…I mean, as you can see, he's taken off that thing they had him wearing, but he hasn't moved. And when I tried going down there to offer him a snack, that friend of his growled and sent me away with a whip of her tails."
"Raimei," said Amelia, looking down at the sight of the boy and his foxy friend. "And it's understandable, Sirius: from what Alastor told me, now he has her flame inside of him, she'll protect him with her life, even if that means from those whom she can sense has motives that won't benefit him."
"But Amie…I…I don't have ulterior motives," argued Sirius, clenching his teeth together as he insisted, "I only want to help Harry…"
"Shadow," corrected Amelia, earning a flinch from Sirius, as though she'd actually just said Voldemort's name – ironically, Amelia had never known Sirius to flinch at the use of said Dark Lord's name, either – before Amelia sighed softly, "He chose that name, Sirius…"
"Not that he had much of a choice," insisted Sirius, his voice quivering slightly, though whether from rage or pain, he didn't know. "That sick bastard Crouch did this to him: groomed him to forget who he was and left him to suffer in that damn cavern…and right under their house too. He took my boy away…left him in darkness and…and basically decided to just ignore the fact he is a kid; and now…Godric's Hollow's gone…"
"The house is gone," argued Amelia, sliding her hand into Sirius' as she explained, "But the graves were untouched; you saw Shadow, Sirius. He even went over to them and paid homage with Raimei. The only thing that's gone is the house; Alastor's even gone to Gringotts with a letter from me as the Director as the DMLE, and you as his godfather and guardian, asking that the land be kept in the Potters' name, so, if he chooses to, Shadow can rebuild and maybe find new, better memories there."
"That was a good move," said Sirius with a sad smile, a part of him grateful, and not for the first time, for Amelia's support. "Especially since I want to know how in the name of Merlin that moustached masochist was even able to get the house in the first place…but still…thanks, Amie."
"You're welcome," said Amelia, patting Sirius on his shoulder as she added, "Come on; let's at least make Shadow something to eat…if and when he's hungry, he'll come up and help himself. You're not going to earn any favours standing here watching him like some kind of stalker."
Sirius nodded before he turned and walked away from the window…
Though he didn't get three steps away before he fell to the ground and sobbed like a little baby, cursing the bastard who'd done this to his pup.
At the same time, he was silently vowing that, no matter how long it took, he would earn Ha…Shadow's forgiveness, and he would make sure the boy was never locked away, forced into a place he didn't want to go or made to be anything more or less than Shadow, if that was what he wished.
His pup had been locked up and chained.
Now, Sirius swore he would set him free…in every way!
GHPS
'He's finally moved, little one.'
"About time," muttered Shadow, his dark eyes looking out at the softly-cresting waves before, letting out a sigh of relief, he moved to fall back onto the sand, though not before he allowed a thin smile as Raimei moved her tails to cushion and comfort him. "He didn't even realise how much like them he was by doing nothing, but spying on me. My guess? Director Bones has kept him occupied; something tells me that'll be more of a choice than a job for her later-on."
'They do seem close, don't they?' chuckled Raimei, earning a soft smile from Shadow as he watched his large friend lay down, resting her head across his toned stomach as she asked, 'But now we're not under scrutiny, Shadow, what are you going to do?'
"Whatever I want," said Shadow, looking up to the house at the top-end of the winding path.
"But for now, I'm staying…I like it here, Rai…the peace…the quiet…"
'The cold?'
"I can't feel it," said Shadow, petting Raimei on her dark-furred head, "Thanks to the project, the temperature and the feelings of it are the last things on my mind; even when I stripped off, I couldn't feel it on my genitals. We may be as far north as we can go in this country, but we may as well be on a beach in Barbados, or somewhere in the Caribbean."
'Maybe try the water?' asked Raimei, earning a soft titter from Shadow.
"I did…but they've warded the seas, most-likely to try and stop me from swimming far enough out to teleport away…or have you take me…"
'So we're prisoners here too?'
"For now," said Shadow, before he hummed softly as he sat up again. "But at least they're willing to let me have my space…now, let's go and see if they'll at least allow me to eat! Do you want to go see what animals you can hunt?"
'I'll join you and our hosts in the den,' said Raimei, before she brushed one of her tails over Shadow's otherwise-naked body; as she did so, he allowed himself another small smile as he saw a suit of comfortable-looking clothes concealing his nakedness, while also maintaining an air of warmth and calm about him.
"Thanks girl."
'Well, I don't think our hosts need to see you baring all, whether you let them see you and talk to you or not, little one.'
"Oh, so that's why you covered my privates, is it?" asked Shadow, a note of dark amusement lacing his words. "I thought you were just being possessive, what with me having your flame…"
'You're a bit too young for me, Shadow,' laughed Raimei, rising from the sand where she shook herself down, spraying Shadow at the same time, earning a scoff from her human friend before, seconds later, she assumed the form of her more-human appearance, where she tousled Shadow's hair, earning a relaxed look from her younger compatriot.
"For now, I think of you as the little brother, or even the little kit, I never got the chance to have…and that's enough for me."
Shadow just harrumphed, before he set off back up the path.
GHPS
"Here Shadow…there's plenty; help yourself…"
Shadow was silent as he accepted the platter of fresh sandwiches, as well as soft fruits and fresh juices that Amelia and Sirius had made up; when Raimei did the same, the two of them walked back to the same window where Sirius had been watching Shadow, where the young boy made himself comfortable on the sill, Raimei opposite him.
Watching them, if only for a moment, Sirius cleared his throat before he said, "Um…Shadow?"
"Mmm?" asked Shadow, taking a bite out of one of the sandwiches.
"There…there's a room made up for you; it's also big enough for Raimei if she wants to sleep in her…um…her other form…"
"I don't sleep," said Shadow, earning a surprised, if not alarmed look from Amelia and Sirius, while Raimei, drinking from a glass she'd been given, licked her lips softly as she watched Shadow enjoying his own food, though, to Amelia and Sirius' unease, his voice didn't suggest anything, but cold indifference as he explained, "Thanks to The Project, the right to sleep, much-less dream, was taken from me."
"So, you're an insomniac?" asked Amelia.
"Incurable Insomnia would be more appropriate," said Shadow, pausing to take another bite of sandwich before he explained, "Apparently, the Ultimate Magician didn't need to be left so vulnerable by allowing others to sneak up on him. Which is also true of my senses, such as taste, touch, smell, sight…and hearing!"
Sirius blushed; the meaning all too clear.
"You…heard us talking?"
"I did."
"And?" asked Amelia, watching as Sirius left for the kitchen, while Shadow shrugged.
"If you get the space back, Director, you can do with it as you wish; erect a memorial or monument to the fallen from the war, keep it as a flower garden or even fruit orchard. Rebuild it if you like, but I promise you that I will not be going back there ever again…hence why I was at the grave when I was before coming here."
"We were saying goodbye," added Raimei, earning a hard gulp from Amelia, while Shadow took a long drink from his glass.
"Don't…wouldn't you ever want to…to go keep the graves clean or…or anything, Ha…I mean, Shadow?" asked Sirius, earning a snort of mocking amusement from his very differently-minded godson.
"Dead people don't want anything, Black; it's one of the perks of being dead."
The fact that Shadow had used his surname and not his first name, much less his Marauder nickname, only reminded Sirius of what his pup had said back in Godric's Hollow. However, the fact that he didn't even consider a second visit to the gravesites a reason to go back, as well as what he said about the dead, left a cold, dark spot deep inside Sirius.
Oh, how he wished he could go and show Crouch what really happened when you tickled a sleeping dragon…
Because of that sick bastard, his pup was gone.
And he had no idea how he was meant to be around…around the shadow of a young soul who was now living and breathing his life.
'No puns intended.'
Chapter 2 and it looks like Shadow was as serious as Sirius about not letting the man have a chance to get in, but what will Sirius have to do in order to be able to at least understand this very different side to his boy?
Also, if Raimei is the only one who Shadow will open up around, what may this mean if and when he ends up going to Hogwarts?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Amelia receives an emergency summons to a certain summer event, but…wait…where's Shadow gone? Oh crap…the alert mentioned something about a force not seen in 13 years…and now Shadow, once…oh no: you don't think he's gone after them, do you?
Please Read and Review