Impending Disasters
The day finally ended and Marius sighed and stretched as he finished Herbology, as quickly as he can. The sun has already set, Professor Sprout has showed him the way to his temporary room before he leaves tomorrow morning and he finally decided to roam around the grounds for a while. He did not dare approach the Great Hall for dinner is currently ongoing and did not wish to be ogled at like some wild animal or food for some.
Besides Professor Sprout told him that he could just call on a house elf for food, if ever necessary. So he went up the stairs and he marveled at how huge the whole place is, good thing he has a good sense of direction.
He was about to go down the stairs from the Seventh Floor when he suddenly bumped into a hard wall. He felt his body fall so he prepared himself to crash to the cold stone floor when he felt something strong wrap around his slender waist. He gasped at the sudden contact and grasped whatever it was that was holding him. When he finally gained equilibrium he was met with the most enchanting emerald eyes, that would bring any gem into shame due to its beauty.
"Uhm..are you okay?", he snapped his eyes away immediately from the emerald eyes and slowly eased himself away from the werewolf who was holding him, protectively—odd. He then looked up with a blank face then replied in a neutral tone.
"Yes thank you. And I apologize for bumping to you", those green eyes widened and he stuttered a reply.
"N-no, no I am at fault too. I was in a hurry you see", and Marius nodded and when he gazed up on those eyes once again he thought that he did not get the color right and so he was lost in thought thinking about where he saw the same green.
"I should go", his voice snapped Marius from his daze and then as if on realization he suddenly blurted out as Harry was about to leave.
"Ah, Avada Kedavra", this made Harry look back at him when he was about to leave, trying to confirm what he heard he took a step closer.
"Excuse me?", he said confusion laced in his voice then Marius answered him.
"Your eyes, it has the same color with the spell Avada Kedavra", and Harry was rooted on his spot, he had heard a lot of different compliments about his eyes, about them same as his mother's, that they look like emeralds and that they were beautiful. But never this, then he stared at those cold grey eyes watching him blankly.
"Wait, how do you know the color of the Killing Curse?", Harry wanted to know the curiousity that sparked since Potions would not leave him be. There was something about this Clarke that easily snatches his attention away.
"Well aren't you sheltered", Marius stated before beginning to walk away, and Harry did not know what to do whether to be insulted or feel confused. Good thing he heard the booming voice of Hermione calling upon him to shake those thoughts away.
"Who were you talking to Harry?", said Hermione placing her hand on his shoulder.
"The human Clarke", he muttered and he saw a glint in Hermione's eyes and she then gripped his shoulder.
"Where is he? Oooh I wanna talk to him..", then she began to babble but then the human's soft voice rang to his head.
"Hermione?", this made her stop from her sudden talkativeness and kept quiet to listen to Harry.
"Yes?"
"What is the color of the Killing Curse?", her eyes widened for a fraction then it returned back to normal, as she sighed.
"Why do you want to know?"
"The Human Clarke said my eyes have the same color"
"Well it's green, though I haven't seen it casted before my eyes but, that's what they all say", Harry looked back at the spot where Clarke stood moments ago.
"Oh Harry don't let what the human said get to you", and he nodded but stil could not take his eyes off the spot and then he closed his eyes, he inhaled hard enough. His eyes suddenly snapped open when he realize that there was no lingering scent at all. Which is not possible all creatures have their own unique scent no matter how faint it might be if one stays at one place. Unless..
'Is he hiding his scent?'
A tug at his arm made him snap from his thoughts and looked down at Hermione.
"Come on Harry, everyone’s already assembled", he let Hermione tug on his arm but his mind still travelled back to the strange human named Clarke. As soon as they entered the Room of Requirement, almost all of Gryffindor was present along with some Ravenclaws and no Slytherins, they all snapped their head at his and Hermione's arrival. Being the Alpha's son he has gained every single one of their trust and has proven himself worthy of becoming their next Alpha. He walked to ward the podium and glanced at all of them.
"I have all called you here due to your Alpha's orders. Soon Beta Remus will be arriving and he will relay upon us the news that my father deemed cannot be explained through a letter", all of them looked at each other in wonder and a fifth year raised his hand and tried to ask a question.
"Uhm…was our pack lands attacked?", his voice was meek full of nervousness and then they all turned their heads toward him looking for reassurance.
"From my father's letter he said they are safe but I think we should ask Remus more about this when he arrive", and as he finished his sentence the flames roared to life and Remus went out of the Floo gate and brushed a bit of soot away from his clothes. Looking up all pack members were staring at him, he smiled at them then he went to the podium gave Harry a nod and Harry allowed him to take his place.
"Thank you all for being here", then he cleared his throat as he began.
"Do you all know the reason for the end of the First Mystic War?", some shook their heads some did not.
"Then does anyone know here who Narcissa Black is?", Hermione easily raised her hand and Remus had a small smile on his lips as he pointed at her to talk. Some already sat down on the chairs knowing that Granger's explanation could take a whole day if she wanted to.
"Narcissa Black, born from the First Witch’s bloodline and hailed as the most powerful witch ever to be born. Her sister Lady Andromeda Tonks nee Black is currently the High witch while Bellatrix Black sided with the Vampires and began the war. She remained neutral never siding with any faction. She was feared, but as soon as the war ended she disappeared, never to be found."
"But what is her relevance, Remus?", Hermione added as she finished reciting.
“She, along with Andromeda, Dumbledore and your Alpha and Luna, is responsible for the fall of the being they called the Dark Lord”, a lot of them were silenced at this, and some were looking at Remus as if he was lying but he continued on.
“Narcissa never liked attention nor war nor power, but amongst her sisters she was the one that was graced with it. Yes, she remained neutral but when the Vampire factions almost obliterated us all, but Fate made her move. She casted a Blood Ward, the one that protects our pack lands, and ever since then Vampires cannot enter it. It became a safe haven for all werewolves during the war, and with the alliance they brought down the Dark Lord. And well we all know what happened, the Dark Lord’s followers disappeared, some were caught and casted to Azkaban and some of them died.”
“Where is she now?”, Harry tentatively asked, hoping that his instincts were wrong he waited for Remus to answer.
"Narcissa Black is dead", murmurs and noises began as some panicked at this revelation, Remus stomped his feet to make their attention fall upon him again.
"Sirius has seen the change in the family tree", Hermione raised his hand to ask a question.
"Won't the Blood Wards fall?", Remus shook his head.
"Its because of Sirius' connection to her that allowed the Ward to stay intact, but not for long and now this is the reason why I am here", his voice sharpened and the others listened intently.
"Last night as well Bellatrix tried to break it but failed, though the ward sustained a huge crack"
“Bellatrix?”, Hermione’s eyes widened, long-distance spells are dangerous and it could cause damage to the witch’s body. She was one of the other allies of the Dark Lord that suddenly disappeared, some Aurors have been hunting her for years but still she was good at hiding.
‘Is it possible she grew stronger?’, She knew how dangerous the woman is after their lessons in DADA and History of Magic, she was one of the witches who created some of the most gruesome curses and rituals that Professor Minerva deemed Unforgivable.
Harry was not phased by this along with some of the others, they were trained all their life for this moment. He remembered how his mother would always warn him of the troubles ahead and that the war is far from over.
“What would you want us to do?”, he stood firm, unwavering and with determination in his green eyes that it sparkled in the light of the fire.
“War will soon befall upon us, nobody knows when it will come for us but, if we loose the Blood Wards—no her protection, we can consider the world already near its destruction. And so I call upon you all to find our last hope—the child she left behind, Draco Abraxas Black”
“A male?”, Harry voiced out and Remus nodded at him.
“Our only hope to sustain the Blood Ward is a bloody human!?”, Ron exclaimed and he looked right about to pull on his hair out of frustration and Remus nodded.
“Ugh! Had it been a female she would’ve at least had the power to help us”, Ron scowled and some nodded at his comment.
“Even as a human having him in our side would help us keep the Ward intact and stronger”, Remus reasoned out and Harry’s eyebrows perked up at this.
“You plan to only use him to strengthen the Blood Wards?”, Remus sighed as if in resignation, but there was nothing they could do. They were desperate and the boy could be the only thing saving them from the annihilation of their race so he hardened his features.
“Yes, there is no other way, and besides he will also be protected inside the wards. We all have a part to play in this war, and as sad am I to admit it, that is his role”
“And not just that”, a voice boomed and a sudden crack of Apparition was heard only for them to all see the High Witch Andromeda to appear along with Dumbledore, who looked as if in disapproval shaking his head. The witches seeing her bowed in respect and she raised her hand for them to stop.
“With him in our side I can use him to tap into Narcissa’s powers and use it to our advantage, and with it I can aid Young Potter in his fate”, Harry looked away, his thoughts were flying into a spiral, another person like him bound to his fate, he felt sympathetic.
“And so your mission higher years is to immediately return to our lands during Christmas Break to prepare in the search for Young Draco”, Remus’ voice boomed and the wolves nodded knowing their mission.
“Uhm..Beta?”, Neville squeaked out raising his hand.
“Yes Neville”
“How old is he, I mean…Draco?”
“Young Draco is a year younger than you”, then an Irish accent pulled Remus from Longbottom’s gaze.
“What does he look like anyway, Beta?”
“No one knows what Young Draco looks like”
“So we are going to track a Phantom?”, Ron said sarcasticly, Remus understood this as they all knew the search would be pointless if they do not know what they are searching for.
“I know that this might seem like a Phantom chase, but Narcissa’s protection on him puts us in an advantage as Bellatrix won’t be able to find him with magic. We will search for him our way.”, this made the others grin and chuckle.
“But we don’t have his scent, Remus”, Harry asked as he snapped from his thoughts and listened to Remus.
“Really? The Blood Ward has always been all around us all this time and you practically grew up on his Mother’s scent, his scent will be almost identical to—“
“He smells identical to our lands”, Harry realized this and Remus nodded.
“There is your answer”, then Harry closed his eyes and tried to remember the scent he grew up in, Narcissa’s scent, it smells of pine, morning dew, and a tinge of mint and he always feel comforted in their lands.
‘We have been under her protection and yet Mom nor Dad never even mentioned about her?’
‘Did something happen to make her drift away from our pack?’
He was suddenly called away from his thoughts when Andromeda spoke clearly and he noticed that the only people present are him, Remus, Lady Andromeda, the Headmaster, Hermione and Ron.
“Harry, you have to be more prepared than ever, as the prophecy states, you are the only one capable of defeating the Dark Lord. He may not have had any means to attack you before but I am sure their forces will try their best to attack you now.”, she said placing her hand on his shoulder, she smiled weakly at him, but Harry looked down and sighed.
“Then won’t the pack lands be more in danger if I stayed there for Christmas break?”
“Indeed, maybe we can arrange for you to stay in Ravenclaw land? I have heard your mate is a witch you might find her there?”, she beamed at him then Harry thought hard then replied.
“No I don’t think it is a good idea for me to find my mate, war is coming and all. I would want her to be safe.”, Andromeda raised her brows at this then she smiled.
“I see”, she then turned to Hermione.
“Hermione, dear have you found out who bears your mark?”
“Not yet, Ma’am, I am still searching but I can feel him here in the castle.”
“Hush! None of that, call me Andromeda and do write to me of who he is will you dear?”, Hermione beamed at her.
“Yes Andromeda”
“And this is going to be the next Beta in line after you Remus”, she looked at Ron and before she could say something.
“If you are also going to ask about my mate Ma’am, she is a Vampire and has a boyfriend”, Andromeda’s eyes widened.
“Oh my, that is horrible”, she gasped and Hermione and Harry looked at each other then turned to Ron who began to rant and they both almost chuckled but held it in.
“Well yeah, it is since I have endured seeing her with his boyfriend—“
“No my dear, it is horrid that she is a Vampire”
“What?”, Ron was shocked and he could not talk, his blood was boiling due to the insult directed at his mate and Harry noticed this along with Remus so he held his arm. Ron’s blue eyes snapped to him and he shook his head at Ron.
“I apologize Remus, Headmaster and Lady Andromeda but we have to go”, he then dragged Ron out of the Room of Requirement and as soon as they were out Ron exploded.
“How could she? Hermione, does your High Witch have to be such a bitch! She has no right to insult my mate that way. Its not her fault she is born a Vampire. Bloody Hell!”, Hermione looked apologetic.
“I’m sorry Ron, I did not know that was going to be her reaction to it”
“Yeah mate, don’t worry about it besides we’re with you even if you decided that your mate is a flobberworm we will still be your friends”, Harry said forcing a smile and Ron looked okay now and he punched Harry’s arm lightly.
“Shut up, let’s just get back to the tower. I wanna go to bed”, Hermione and Harry shared a look then they dragged Ron to the Gryffindor Tower their footsteps heard in the dead of the night.
……..
“So you intend to use him, until the day you deem him worthless, then throw him away like useless candy wrapper?”, The three began to start talking as soon as the trio walked out.
“He is still my Nephew, Albus, but for the sake of our races I will have no choice but to fulfill my duty to my people”, Dumbledore looked tired and released a sigh he did not dare look up at Remus to know his answer.
“Doing that will push him to go to Bellatrix’s side, do you know that Andromeda?”, her black eyes snapped to face Dumbledore.
“Then I will do whatever it is in my power to never let him go”
“He is but a child Andromeda.”, Dumbledore pressed and Andromeda snarled.
“Please you two this is not a time for us to argue”, Remus reasoned out.
“We will all talk about what we will do with Draco to our next meeting in Gryffindor lands”, Remus said as he clutched some floo powder and disappeared.
“Why were you asking about their mate Andromeda?”
“Do you really think I am such a horrible person to ask about their own happiness?”
“You speak those words and yet you did not show support about Mr. Weasley’s mate”, Andromeda scowled.
“You really think Albus that after all of the things they did, that their children would be born with Angel’s wings and proclaim that suddenly they did not want us to be killed?”, she looked sharply at Dumbledore before she Apparated away her eyes deadly.
As soon as she disappeared Dumbledore release a huge sigh and looked at the spot where Andromeda stood.
“You should not let your hatred consume you Andromeda”, then he thought back when he met Marius Clarke.
‘Yes he called himself that, yet underneath it all was the child that they all have been searching for, Draco Abraxas Black’, as soon as he entered his office he knew, he saw through the veil of goblin magic, due to his connection with Fawkes. He wanted to ask the child why he was hiding but now he thought that this was for the best.
He was prepared to tell them all that their search is over before it even began but if they intend to merely use that child then he is better lost than found. If they desire that child’s help and protection by his blood they have to earn it by knowing him, by accepting him not by his use but by who he really is and respect his decision and not make it for him.
Then he thought back on the day he met Sybill Trelawney, the one who prophesized of Harry’s fate and the Dark Lord’s doom. But she also spoke of another, whose fate was closely tied to Harry Potter’s, who will heal the broken bonds between the Vampires and the Werewolves and bring unity to the Witches.
‘I wonder, was he also the one prophesized?’, he then shook his head for thinking the impossible, no male has ever been born with magic despite being born from a witch. Only females are born with magic, he then shook his head from his musings as he slowly went out of the door. He was closing it when a voice startled him and he looked back only to see Young Marius right behind him.
“Mr. Clarke, and here I thought you are now in your room eating dinner”, he smiled down at the boy who then tilted his head to stare at the huge oak doors that lead to the Room of Requirement.
“Headmaster is this the Room of Requirement?”, his eyes widened slightly and a grin was beginning to form in his lips.
“Yes, I see that you have read the book Hogwarts: A History”
“Headmaster this room was not even present in that book my—“, Albus noticed the sudden paused and he watched as Marius easily schooled his features to that of indifference.
“My Gammy told me about this room and—well I wanted to find it”, a spark was seen in his eyes and the Headmaster could not deny him the comfort of feeling to be closer to his Mother by going to places she used to stay in the past.
“Well Young Marius, use this room well”, he said as he nodded and left the boy standing in front of the Room. Albus almost forgot that he only lost his Mother last night and that he is still mourning, then he took a last glance at the boy whose eyes were now covered by his fringe before he entered the room and the door disappeared.
…..
Marius opened the door to the Room of Requirement and when he entered his breath was almost caught from his throat. He was there again, inside their dainty old cottage—in the living room, his hand was shaking as he approached the couch where his Mother loved to sit. Where she could oversee the garden just outside the window, where he used to play with Beau when he was still a wee little thing.
“Mom”, he caressed the couch and he stood in front of it, as if he could see her sitting there and looking up at him and asking him such questions, he could now hear her voice in his head.
‘What is wrong Draco?’, she asked him once when he was feeling down and his mother placed a hand at his cheek, ever so lovingly.
‘Oh you cheeky little brat, don’t go sneaking up behind my back like that’, the way she tried to apprehend him in his mischievous ways, in trying to sneak up on her or brewing potions he was not supposed to.
‘How many times do I have to tell you not to play in the rain?!’, and when she got mad at him for playing too much in the rain that he was soaked and got sick the next day that he could not even go anywhere without her helping him up.
‘Goodnight, my sweet Dragon’, he did not even notice the tears streaming down his face when he finally awoke from his musings. He covered his mouth to muffle the sounds coming out and he clutched the arm of the couch so much his knuckles turned white.
“Mom I-I…why did you leave me?”, after long hours of holding it all in everything came crashing down to him. He was now kneeling on the carpet and his arms holding onto the couch for support. He knew even if he asked any questions nor say anything he would not be answered, so he cried his heart out.
‘I love you my Draco, always remember that’