Chapter 47
‘Harry,’ Tom began hesitantly. Harry looked up quickly at the strange tone. ‘I would like to ask you some questions, if you’re willing to answer them. I believe your signing is coming along very well, and you might be able to better explain some things.’ Tom paused, and Harry nodded easily.
‘Many of my questions are about – about death, Harry. About the deaths you… were present for.’ Tom faltered slightly.
Harry nodded again, laying down his coloured quills and heading for the small couch in Tom’s study. After a moment, Tom joined him, and Harry snuggled up to his side. Tom smoothed a hand over his perpetually messy hair and cleared his throat.
‘Harry…’ he paused, unsure where to begin.
‘You want to know about elf?’ Harry prompted. ‘Special one.’
‘Special? What makes it special?’
‘Elf death special. Elf magic not go with Father Death. Elf magic stay, go to other elves.’
Tom’s brow furrowed as he processed. ‘You – you were glowing after the elf died. You took in its magic and gave it to the elves?’
Harry shrugged. ‘Just hold magic. Elves take, I just hold.’
‘What would have happened if you weren’t there? Where would its magic go?’ Tom asked curiously.
Harry looked sad. ‘Gone. Sometimes strong elf hold magic, most time elf magic go away. Go into ground and wind. Elves miss out. I help, I hold magic for elves to take.’
‘Their magic just sort of… fades away if there isn’t someone strong enough to hold onto it first?’
Harry nodded. ‘Sad.’
‘Because they miss out on gaining more magic?’
Harry shook his head. ‘Miss out on family. Miss out on love. Go away. Sad.’
Tom wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but he nodded anyway. ‘What about the werewolves?’
Harry looked pained. ‘Hurts hurts hurts, sad wolf.’ He signed. ‘Draw the sign so wolf go faster, no more hurt. Family sad, not say goodbye before. I say sorry to big wolf. He something.’
‘What was that last word?’
Harry signed it again, then tried to explain. ‘No more angry, understand.’
‘Forgive?’ Tom guessed. Harry nodded.
‘Werewolf forgive for wolf die alone. I am with him. I help him not hurt. Big wolf forgive me.’
‘Why did they not attack us?’
‘Say goodbye. More important. Wolf soul still close, he say goodbye too.’
Tom tried not to shudder. It sounded as if the only reason they weren’t attacked was because one of their pack had died and they wanted to give it a farewell. Tom dreaded the thought of what might have happened if things played out differently. He might be the Dark Lord, tasked to protect and guide Dark creatures – but he was just as vulnerable to a werewolf as anyone else.
‘Not scared. Animals know me. Not hurt me.’ Harry signed.
Tom’s brow furrowed again. ‘Animals know you?’
Harry nodded emphatically. ‘Animals always know. They know Father Death, they know me. Know I help them. Not hurt me.’
Tom took a steadying breath. Maybe just one more question – then he needed time to process. ‘What about the owl?’
‘Owls have nothing special. Just want peace. No hurt. When Father Death takes, body go back to ground and feed trees.’
Tom wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or relieved that owls had no complex, previously unknown rituals or beliefs regarding death. Werewolves were pack creatures, that didn’t seem too farfetched. That they would mourn rather than attack was unexpected, but otherwise understandable.
House elves sharing the magic of their dead – that was… Tom wasn’t sure what that was. Maybe he’d tell Barty, and Barty, ever the Ravenclaw, could research it to his heart content and give Tom the abridged version of whatever he discovered.
Harry tapped at his arm. ‘My turn question?’ he asked. Tom nodded. ‘When you my real dad?’
Tom looked at him in confusion – and a little hurt. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
‘Blood. When you my dad with blood? Father Death say hurry up. Say be my dad with blood.’
Tom gaped. ‘Father Death told me to hurry up and blood-adopt you?’
Harry nodded. ‘When? Can Paddy come?’
Tom faltered. ‘I’ll… see what I can arrange…’