Unfortunate Interruptions
Azrael coughed. His throat felt scratchy and tight. He looked around him, hand gripping his throat. The world was pitch black, nothing but shadowy void. He took a step forward. His foot fell through the darkness. He stepped backwards in a panic.
“Hello!?”
The void seemed to swallow his words. They were muffled even to his own ears. He turned in a slow circle, as if searching for something. Which, maybe he was. A sign of life. Light. Something.
Azrael froze as red eyes opened in the shadows. Like a serpent they were, housing piercing slits in the place of pupils.
“Lucious…I know what I'm doing..”
“Of course my lord..it's just..”
Azrael frowned. Almost immediately the dark subsided, the red eyes dulling in colour. There stood the dark lord, his father, standing in all his glory. His body wasn’t made of the mist-like matter like it was in reality. Lucious stood facing him, eyes narrowed in emotion that Azrael couldn’t quite place.
“You dare question me Lucious? Do I have more reason to doubt your prior loyalty?” Voldemort barked. Lucious backed up a step.
“Of course not my lord!” Lucious responded frantically. Azrael could feel the pure panic radiating off him.
“Speak already then Lucious. Your backtracking does nothing but waste my time and make me grow…impatient.”
Lucious roughly gulped and nodded.
“I see…no…I don't see not why you keep both boys as heirs.” The malfoy head proceeded to turn away from the dark lord, body tense with terror.
“Elaborate.” The dark lord's voice was cold. As cold as it had been when Azrael had spoken to him about Cain. It sent a shiver down the former weasleys spine. He could only imagine how Draco's father felt.
“Both boys…are unnecessary..You already have the Potter boy. Why keep the Weasley as well?”
A pit grew in Azrael's stomach. They hadn’t been seen as Potter and Weasley in years. Not my Voldemort. Certainly not by the Malfoys. The dark lord smiled thinly. It was a most unappealing expression.
“You keep your bias alive Lucious.”
“M-my lord-”
“Your distaste with the Weasley family. The pureblood traitors. They clog your judgement.”
“It is not because-”
“I wasn’t finished. Lucious.”
Mr.Malfoy stiffened. Azrael felt the shiver turn into practically frostbite.
“As I was saying. Your bias makes you grow weak. You see the boy as his father. You forget that children…can be fixed.”
“I…don’t see what you mean…My lord.”
The dark lord let out a humourless laugh. Azrael felt himself attempting to move back, out of perhaps reflex, only to have his feet forcefully rooted to the spot. He suddenly felt rather nauseous.
“The boy is six Lucious. Six and filled with resentment. Fixable.”
Azrael froze. Was this a real conversation that might’ve once happened behind closed doors? Was he not wanted even now?
“I…suppose so. But still. Why take both boys? Potter is the one needed for your plan.”
“Use your brain you ignorant fool.” The dark lord took a step closer. He gazed down at Malfoy with a narrowed glare. His red eyes glinted despite the light. “The boys are attached at the hip.”
“The Potter boy is merely four. Surely he’ll forget all about him with time-”
“Potter already suffers from neglect. Separated from his twin. Do you think him to stay mentally stable if he goes through the process again? Use that tiny thing you call a brain Lucious.”
Azrael felt colour drain from his face. Kept around..raised..trained..All because the dark lord didn’t dare risk Cain’s depleting mental health? He could feel vile rising in the back of his throat.
“O-of course..I apologise..my lord.” Lucious disappeared in a puff of black smoke. The dark lord stared at the spot he had once stood in, eyes calculating and cold. Azrael tested his ability to move once more. This time his feet followed his command.
Azrael backed up a pace, foot falling through the darkness like before. Only now he couldn’t backtrack. With a startled yell he fell through the darkness, the dark lords eyes snapping in his direction.
“Az!”
Azrael shot up like a rocket. Unfortunately the one waking him up was right in the line of fire. Their heads collided with a violent thump. Immediately Azrael began to rub his throbbing forehead, cracking an eye open to find the cause of his new pain.
It was Cain.
Cain who was now glaring as he too rubbed his sore head. Az weakly looked around the room. The dormitory was empty, filled only with Aries laying on Draco's bed as if it were his own. He groaned and climbed out of bed.
“Next time I let you sleep in.”
“Truly such a caring brother.” Azrael retorted, flashing his teeth. He noted his brother was already dressed in his robes. Azrael hunched down to collect his own.
“Everyone else is where..?”
“Breakfast. Class starts in twenty minutes.” Cain stated, climbing up and sitting on the edge of his older brother's bed.
“And you waited….why?”
“Wasn’t hungry. Besides, you’d have slept through the whole day if i didn’t.”
Azrael pulled out a pair of robes and slipped it on, not quite listening as his brother prattled on. He only merely nodded as he wormed into his clothing. Cain watched him with an eyebrow raise.
“Sooo-. What’d you dream about?”
Azrael choked on his tongue.
“Things.”
“Things…?” Cain stared at him. Az looked up at the ceiling. He hadn’t noticed the dormitory had a small chandelier housing torches resting on the ceiling tiles.
“Yep. Things. Things that are nothing. So we will not talk about things.” Azrael spoke quickly, talking over himself in an effort to avoid the question. Afterall, he wasn’t even sure if the dream had been real, or just a stupid nightmare. No need to worry his little brother if it was nothing.
Cain stared at him. His gaze was very unimpressed.
“So…uhhh..yeah. Anyyyywwwaaayyyss…” Azrael finished. His eyes glanced at the cold tiled floor, ignoring his sibling until he slid off the bed and stood beside him. Cain lightly shook his head in exasperation, but nonetheless seemed to put his questioning on the backburner.
“We’re probably not gonna have a lot of time at breakfast. If any. Don’t wanna be late for class afterall.” Cain stated as he trudged out of the dormitory. Azrael followed right behind him. The door softly clicked shut behind them.
“Yeah, speaking of class, whats the one we got first?”
“Hmm..lemme check real quick.”
Cain pulled a sheet of parchment from his robe pocket. His eyes scanned over it briefly before stuffing it right back in.
“Hmmm. We have Potions with Gryffindor….just peachy…then we have Herbology with the Ravenclaws…then after lunch we’ve got Charms and Transfiguration.”
“Jeez. Gryffindors first thing in the morning?”
“Just our luck. I hope we get to at least pick where we sit.”
“If i have to sit next to Potter or Weasley i will smack my head against a wall.”
“I don’t doubt it. You're stupid enough to go through with it.”
“Hey!”
“Right. Not stupid. Impulsive. That better?”
“It's more accurate, if that's what you meant.”
The two continued to bicker, exiting their common room and exiting out into the frosty dungeons. Cain led the way more or less, leading his brother up stone stairs. A select few students passed by them, no doubt heading to potions early.
Cain noted the bushy haired mudblood- no, wait…what was her name…, Hermione. He noticed Hermione practically running down the stairs. Cain shook his head. In the distance the two boys could hear excited chatter above them. Azrael sped up a bit, stomach grumbling very audible. Cain sighed.
“Tomorrow you ain't sleeping so late.”
“If breakfast is as good as dinner was, you’ll know it will never happen again.”
The boys climbed up another flight of stairs and turned right, into the wide open doors of the Great Hall. Children of varying ages sat scattered along the four tables, happily conversing while consuming breakfast.
The Gaunt brothers immediately spotted Draco, chewing a piece of bacon while eyeing Theodore and Blaise, who sat across from him. They were speaking to one another about something. At least, Blaise and Draco were. Theodore sat quietly, book resting on the table. Quickly the brothers sped over.
“Sup Dray.” Azrael said, casually stealing the three pieces of bacon still resting on the malfoys plate.
“Get your own!” Draco hissed, attempting and failing to retrieve his stolen food.
“But…you're convenient to steal from.”
Draco glanced at Cain, silently begging for help. Cain shrugged and sat beside his best friend, leading Az to sit beside him instead. Draco shielded his plate as Azrael tried to slither a hand over. Cain smacked the thieving limb, earning a pathetic yelp.
“Git.” Az huffed.
“Seven years of this…and you’re saying all of you grew up together?” Theodore voiced. He was staring at Azrael with a confused expression. Draco nodded sourly.
“Unfortunately.”
“Since you were four!” Azrael chimed in, flashing his teeth. He frowned for just a second, his fathers voice ringing in his head for just a moment. Then he went back to normal, ignoring the confused gaze of his brother.
“How much time till Potions?” asked Blaise, staring at Cain. Something told Azrael that his brother was the first to wake up that morning. Cain paused for a moment, rolling up his robe sleeve to reveal a small silver watch.
Azrael had no idea he even owned a watch.
“About eight minutes.”
“Boooo…I want more bacon.” Azrael whined, slamming his head into the table. The other Slytherins snickered at his dramatics.
“Suck it up Az. You’ll live. Probably.” Cain chided lightheartedly. The Slytherins began to stand back up, Theo packing his book back into his bag. As the group began to exit a light voice echoed from behind them.
“Just a moment please.”
Cain narrowed his gaze ever so slightly. A man, a certain old headmaster, had stood up from the basically empty staff table and begun walking his was over to the small crowd.
“If I could please see Mr and Mr Gaunt in my office for a moment.”
Azrael and Cain looked at one another uneasily.
“No offence…sir..but we’ll be late for class.” Cain said. The other three Slytherins glanced at the headmaster cautiously. Why Azrael had no idea.
Dumbledore smiled at them kindly. A look Azrael could no longer find comfort in, no matter the person.
“I do insist. I shall have you both excused for your first period.”
The brothers glanced at each other again. They really didn’t have a choice. Did they. WIth a hesitant nod Cain agreed, his brother glancing nervously at their fellow Slytherins. Draco was staying at Dumbledore stiffly. Theodore and Blaise watched him with severe mistrust.
“Alright sir.”
Dumbledore smiled again. There was a twinkle in his eye that made Az feel slightly uneasy. With a nod in their friends direction, Draco led the other two towards the dungeons, Dumbledore watching them leave for a long moment.
“I see you’ve already made friends,” he said lightly. Cain nodded rather stiffly. Az did nothing at all, watching until the other Slytherins disappeared from view. Then the headmaster led the boys into the hall, guiding them up stairs and through corridors. Azrael thought they had climbed about every staircase in the castle by the time they reached their general destination.
A…statue. Of…a Gargoyle? Cain furrowed his brow. Why..? He paused as he swiftly remembered. Wizards. He ignored the eyebrow raise of his sibling. Judging him for his undeserved confusion no doubt.
“Chocolate Frog.” Dumbledore spoke to the Gargoyle.
Instantly it began to move aside, sightless sculpted eyes watching closing. Cain let out an unwilling gasp as a circular staircase began to ascend from the ground. It went higher then either boy could actually see from their position in the doorway.
Dumbledore gestured for them to climb up, which they did, albeit cautiously. Cain went first while Azrael crept just behind him. While he didn’t want to send his younger brother into danger first, he also didn’t want him near Albus Dumbledore. Something about him set off a quiet alarm bell. Why he couldn’t be sure.
Eventually they reached the top, and at the top was a magnificent office. Despite harsh and unsure feelings for the man, Az had to admit.
The guy knew how to decorate.
The office housed portrait upon portrait, ones housing the previous headmasters and headmistresses. There were large bookshelves decorating quite a number of walls, stocked with large thick leather bound books in every slot. Tables that looked almost too frail to support a feather housed silver instruments. Ones that emitted puffs of multi-colored smoke.
Cain has to grab his brothers hand and yank to get him to stop admiring the old mans office. Dumbledore smiled as he stepped ahead of them, sitting down at his large shining desk, filled with paper and trinkets that Cain couldn’t even begin to describe.
He supposed it's how Azrael's desk would look if he had one.
The older man gestured to two seats in front of the desk. No doubt wanting them to sit. Az frowned, biting the inside of his lip. But why? What did he possibly want to talk about? A small shiver slipped down his back.
Did he know?
Did he know who they called father?
Did he know what they’d done under his care?
Did he wonder how much blood was on their hands before Azrael hit double digits?
Cain lightly tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to give a sudden jolt. He sheepishly glanced at his brother before sitting down beside him. Dumbledore stared down on them. The twinkle was still there in his gaze.
That stupid, stupid twinkle.
“Headmaster? Why…why are we here?” Cain asked, voice laced with uncertainty. One would think he was confused. Az heard it as the anxious worry it was.
“I apologise for not doing this sooner, my schedule prevented such a thing before now.”
“We’re missing our class…” Cain trailed quietly. “Our schedule is busy too.”
Dumbledore smiled at him kindly.
Azrael felt his stomach clench.
“I apologise again. I just need some…clarification.”
Az opened his mouth but no words came out. Something seemed…wrong. His head had begun to pulse, his brain moving a mile a minute. He assumed it were a panic attack. Something that had become a common occurrence since the Weasleys abandoned him that night.
Azrael froze. Why was he thinking about the Weasleys? He hadn’t..He hadn’t been trying to think of them at all. He looked to his brother, who stared up at Dumbledore with his same cautious expression.
The Potter who was left behind.
Azrael clutched his head in his hands and let out a pained shriek. He didn’t want to think about this. He normally never did. Why now of all places was he-
He stiffened, head shooting up to look Dumbledore in the eyes. The man's face was pitying. His twinkle had died down to a settled shimmer. Azrael could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He couldn’t hear his brother frantically asking what was wrong. He couldn’t hear his little brother yank his chair closer. Couldn’t feel his siblings hands resting on his shoulders.
Dumbledore had done something.
But what?
He had never been one to care for subtle incantations. He had focused on the loud and proud spells. Ones that did damage or created light. Never one so…invasive. Azrael sucked in a pained breath. The pounding died down. Cains voice filled his ears. His hand gripped his shoulder comfortingly.
“..z? Az please…focus on my voice.” His brown eyes darted to his brothers. His body relaxed in an instant. Cain gave a short sigh of relief. His sibling was there. He was ok.
“Panic attack..?” he asked softly. Quiet enough that Dumbledore couldn’t hear. Giving a quick unsteady glance to Dumbledore Azrael hesitantly nodded. Cain's gaze hardened. Dumbledore gave another pitying glance to them, before speaking.
“Is everything alright?”
Az nodded stiffly. Beside him Cain did the same.
“I simply wanted to ask you boys a few things…but if you’re not alright..”
“I’m…fine..” Azrael painfully huffed out. His body was slightly trembling. On the one hand he wanted to leave. To get as far away as possible. But the other hand..He didn’t want to have to go through this at a future point in time.
Whatever it was, he wanted it over with. Now.
“What did you wanna ask?” Cain said. His voice was disturbingly calm. Az figured if he had been in a better state, or this had been a different person, his brother would have collapsed just the same.
But the brothers never wanted to be seen as weak. Especially not at the same time. If Az needed protection, which Cain clearly thought he did, then so be it.
He could be the strong older brother for now.
“I’m curious as to your last name. I wasn’t aware that the Gaunts…had living relatives.”
“We..” Cain paused and looked at his brother, the older boy staring at the floor while he shifted in his seat. “We don’t know. About our last name I mean. We were just…born with it.”
Dumbledore gave them a knowing gaze.
“I see. What parent did the name come from?”
Cain gulped. How was he to cover for their name?
“We don’t know. We were raised by the malfoys.”
Cain jumped. He hadn’t expected his brother to come to his aid. Especially not in his worrisome condition. But Az simply grinned and ignored the sharp breath exhaling from his mouth.
“Ah. Lucious and Narcissia are well I imagine?”
Azrael and Cain nodded in unison.
“Very well. Have you two been making friends?”
“Of course.” Az answered. His tone was clipped. Cain could hear the cautious aggravation lurking behind it. He wanted to leave.
That couldn’t surprise anyone really.
Az stared at the ground again. The pain and memories had faded back to the depths of his mind, replacing his overwhelming feelings with underlying dread.
“I do believe that is all.” Dumbledore said lightly.
Cain stared at him, surprised and suspicious.
“It is?”
“Perhaps we shall pick this up at a later date. Your brother is looking…less then alright.”
“Thanks for noticing..” Azrael hissed out quietly.
“I..thank you.” Cain said. The illusion of being a behaving student was rapidly crumbling.
“Please. I welcome you to take the remainder of this class period to rest. Vist Madam Pomfrey.”
The boys smiled tightly, nodding once more.
Azrael collapsed on the floor the moment the Gargoyle slid into place.
“What did he do to you?!” Cain anxiously asked. The calm had disappeared, replaced by protective panic.
“I have…no idea.” Az wheezed. “I just kept…seeing things…about what we…used to be.”
Cain paused for a moment. He was already wishing he had spent less time playing Quidditch with Draco and more time studying.
“What we used to be?”
“Memories…about that place..”
They never spoke about the Orphanage. Not since they arrived at Malfoy manor many years ago. Cain nodded.
“Some kind of non-verbal..he didn’t even blink…memories..” the younger boy sunk into deep thought. He paused when Azrael perked up.
“Legilimency?”
Cain shook his head.
“But it has the same effect?” Az argued weakly.
“Cases of Legilimency don’t hurt. They could make a victim tired, if they fight it off..but it doesn't hurt.” Cain responded. His fist was clenched.
Azrael frowned. His thoughts began drifting in a more..sinister direction. One he was surprised he hadn’t stumbled to sooner.
“You think father might have an idea?”
Cain froze. Truth be told, he hadn’t even thought of their father since entering Dumbledore’s office. He could dismiss it as a lingering effect from his early year neglect. To never think of an adult when scared. Nonetheless, with the idea out in the open he frowned.
“That's..a really good idea actually.”
Azrael was tired. That was for sure. But he was definitely alright enough to gasp in mock betrayal at his brother's words.
“Why’d you say it like that! I have lots of good ideas!!”
Cain snorted.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
They both went quiet for a moment and Cain reached a hand out to his brother, still crumbled on the floor. Az took it and allowed his sibling to help him up.
“Hes given us a pass, for the rest of first period right?”
“Yep.”
“What class would we have next then?”
“Herbology.”
“Smashing. How much time we got left?”
“Hmmm…about an hour?”
“Only a third of class is gone?
“I reckon dumbledore didn’t wanna send you with that…pain.”
“Because people would ask questions or because he felt bad.”
“Eithers possible. I’d lean to the former though.”
“What would you say to spending the hour in the dormitory Candy-Cane?”
“I’d say I'll get the parchment and start writing to father.”
And then the two headed off, climbing down the ever growing amount of stairs.