Chapter 46: Harry’s True Nature
"So Harry, have you ever been camping before?"
"I have not Mr. Lupin."
"Please, just call me Remus… or Moony if you prefer."
"Moony it is then."
The man smiled, as the two continued walking through the woods towards a small clearing that Remus had selected a few days prior, and then Warded.
"I hope this is okay with you Harry… I haven't had much luck with jobs lately and so…"
"Quite alright, I have always wanted to sleep under the stars."
The man smiled warmly towards the boy he had always considered his godson. If it hadn't been for Black…
"Moony… is that name because of you being a Werewolf?"
Lupin's thought pattern, and travel froze, before slowly turning towards the boy. "H-how did you…"
"Amber eyes, scars across body, obvious nickname, inability to hold a job despite no signs of substance abuse or personality disorders…"
"I…"
"Also there is the discoloration in your magical aura."
"Y-you can see auras!?"
"Of course, I thought it was a common thing in the Wizarding world."
"No Harry, that is an exceptionally rare talent, and most of the time those who actually can require deep concentration and a quiet environment to focus."
"Ah, well I can turn it on and off. My apologies for using it on you without your consent though. I usually keep it off but with the Headmaster's insistence upon being safe…"
"No, no that is alright Harry. I would never ask you to hinder yourself for me."
"So I have been meaning to ask, what is Sirius Black like?"
"He… was a good friend, or so we thought. He always seemed so loyal and happy… I guess it really shows how manipulative someone can be."
"And you do not like manipulative individuals?"
"I was in Gryffindor, we prefer brutal honesty."
"Oh? So I shouldn't lie to you then?"
"I… Cub I am never going to force you to tell me anything but… you never need to lie to me."
"What if the truth is dark though? Horrible even? What if I have done awful things?"
"Cub, there isn't anything you can do that…"
"I have killed people Moony… several already. Some were evil others… not as much, and I will continue killing. Undoubtedly I will end up killing innocent people as well. I am going to change the world Moony, whether for better or worse I cannot quite tell yet. Some will call me a Dark Lord… and they will be right."
The Werewolf could only stare in horror at the young boy, who was practically confessing to being evil. What should he do in this situation? What could he do?
"I will let you kill me Remus, I will allow you to stop me here and now before I can commit any more atrocities. You will be able to vanish, to disappear if you want to. Or perhaps you can blame Black, or even take credit. If you tell Dumbledore everything I am sure he would believe you. Snape already has suspicions surrounding me and if you join him the old man will undoubtedly…"
"Cub stop! I am not going to kill you, I am not going to hurt you…"
"Do you believe I am deceiving you? Would you like to understand clearer?"
"There is nothing you can say that…" Remus froze as darkness washed over him. Magical power on a scale he had never felt, had never imagined roared into existence, as if it had gone from noon to midnight in an instance.
"Now do you understand?"
"I…" What should he do? Kill the child who had admitted to take lives? Stop a Dark Lord before he came to power? No, he couldn't. Even if Harry was holding a sword to an innocent person's throat he wouldn't be able to harm him. Even without being James' and Lily's son there was something else about the boy… something that drew him like a moth to a candle. Werewolves were dark creatures, he knew that, but he had never understood how much until this moment. Until every instinct in his body was screaming at him to kneel before this child, to worship and serve him until the end of his days. To simply feel his magic surrounding him.
"I do understand Harry… but I still will not harm you. I left you with Dumbledore when you were a child Harry… I left you and you ended up in a bloody orphanage, I am not going to abandon you again, never again."
"Interesting, then I suppose I will need to work on improving opinion towards Werewolves now wont I."
"Wh-what?"
"Well I can't very well let one of my closest advisers be treated poorly."
The pride that Remus Lupin felt in his chest at this trust was both exhilarating… and frightening at the same time.
...
"Hey cub, what are you up to?"
"Oh just writing a letter to a potential follower."
"Uh, I don't think that is a good idea. If Sirius tracks it…"
"That would certainly be a nice benefit, perhaps he would prove an actual challenge."
"This isn't a game cub, Sirius is dangerous if he finds you…"
"If he finds me I can only hope he is more entertaining than a possessed professor, a fraud, or a sixty foot Basilisk have proven thus far."
...
Sitting on her bed a young Witch stared at the book that lay open in her lap, staring but never actually seeing the words on the page. What was the point after all? Her parents hadn't said three sentences to her since she had arrived home over a week ago, and she certainly had no friends in the Muggle World. It looked as though her summer was going to be even worse than…
The soft flapping of wings started the girl, as a brown owl stood at the end of her bed with a letter attached to its leg.
"What is this…"
After giving the creature a treat or two, and watching it depart into the sky, Hermione Granger slowly opened the contents, allowing her eyes to roam over it.
Dearest Eyre,
I hope your summer has proven relaxing after the year we have just experienced at school. I am afraid that my current situation will not allow me to receive letters as I am required to 'fear for my safety' or some such nonsense. Regardless I will continue writing to you as often as I can, and I hope we can continue our conversations in the coming year.
Luckily for me I was able to purchase the upcoming school books last week, meaning that I will at least have something to do while I am adjusting to my new living conditions.
Have you begun your reading yet? I can only imagine that you have based upon the conversations between us. I can tell that you are a rather brilliant young maiden who can do amazing things in this world if you are given the chance to do so.
Speaking of which, have you thought about future career paths? I have heard rumors that the third year is when most of the electives are unlocked, if you are that age you should consider taking one or two of them.
I understand that last year was rough for you my dear, and I do so hope this summer proves to be better than your previous one. If it was my choice I would have liked to have spent some of it with you, perhaps on a faraway island or a sandy beach. Nothing but the warm sand, sunshine, and peaceful crashes of the waves, besides us of course.
Laying on the beach reading, your skin warm to the touch. Walking along it in the moonlight during the evenings, with the light reflecting in your eyes.
Have you ever been on a tropical vacation? I personally have not, in fact I have never been out of England, or on any official vacation. I suppose this year is slightly different since I will be moving around quite a bit but I would be reluctant to call it a 'vacation', more like a forced summer of relocation.
If you have not already heard there is a 'dangerous' man on the loose by the name of Sirius Black. He is wanted for several counts of murder and treason, though I doubt he would have any reason to come after you I do so hope you stay safe. I would be devastated if something were to happen to you my dear.
I count the days until we can have our next face-to-face chat, until then remember that you do have those who care for you.
Yours,
Lord Rochester
The bookworm reread the letter a few times, before giving a girlish squeal and holding it close to her chest. He hadn't abandoned her, the only light in her life had not yet given up on her happiness. She was rather saddened by the fact she could not write back to him but that just meant she would need to make a list of things to talk about when they next met. Perhaps it was better this way, considering she normally dominated the 'bathroom' conversations.
....
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