FIC: Inevitable 45: Got a Train To Catch
Jan. 15th, 2006 12:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mhalachaiInevitable Forty-Five: Got a Train To Catch
by Mhalachai
Note: The end of part one! Part two will begin shortly! As always, I love comments. Let's chat ;)
~~~~~~~
Someone was saying my name, and I dragged my way out of fragmented dreams to open my eyes. Requiem bent over me, whispering my name.
"What's wrong?" I demanded sleepily, rather disoriented.
Requiem smiled at me. "Anita, the sun is about to rise. I will be retiring to my coffin."
"Yeah?" I pulled my arm out from under Jason's head and sat up. "I thought you were going to let one of Christoff's wererats watch the door."
"I was," Requiem said as he sat on the edge of the bed. "But Elsa has bid me to wake you early, to join her for breakfast before you leave to deliver Harry to the train."
That didn't make any sense. I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to wake up. "Why?"
"She did not say."
Beside me on the bed, Jason stirred. He and Harry were tangled up in each other, just like two little puppies. I had to smile at the sight of them. "Don't suppose there's any way we can get out of it?"
"Not unless you wish to make her angry," Requiem said. "She is already on edge."
"Brilliant." I reached over Jason and shook Harry's shoulder. "Harry, time to wake up."
Harry's eyes snapped open instantly. "Apples?" he mumbled, blinking hard.
"No, it's just me." I slipped off the bed and picked up my robe from the floor. "We have to move. We've been summoned."
Harry closed his eyes again, but hauled himself up, then reached around for his glasses. "What does Christoff want now?"
"It is not Christoff, but Elsa, who has asked that you and Anita sit with her for breakfast," Requiem answered. "Considering the time, it would not be amiss to be ready to leave immediately after."
"Leave," Harry repeated. He frowned at the floor for a movement, then his eyes grew wide and he sprang to his feet. "I need to get my things!"
Harry zipped out into the sitting room, where we had moved his suitcases the previous night. I sighed, and went to find something to wear.
"Will you be leaving Jason here?" Requiem asked as I tried to figure out what to wear.
I spared a glance at Jason, still lying motionless in the middle of the bed. "I don't like the idea of leaving him here alone."
"He will come to no harm," Requiem said. "Even if Christoff's protection only extends to you and Harry, matters of hospitality dictate that another Master's pomme de sang be treated with respect."
I turned and gave Requiem serious eyes. "Are you sure about that?"
"As certain as I can be."
I bit my lower lip. I really didn't like leaving Jason here, without me around, but I didn't see how we could take him with us into this magical place Harry needed to go shopping.
"You will only be gone for a few hours," Requiem said. "My coffin is in the sitting room. Jason can watch over it, and me, until you return."
I went back to my clothes, my back to Requiem to hide my blush. I'd been so worried about Jason, I'd forgotten that I was leaving Requiem in the same danger, only Requiem wouldn't be able to wake up and protect himself.
"Would you mind leaving while I change?" I asked. Requiem left the room without comment. Angry at myself for putting such different priorities on Jason and Requiem, I got dressed. The weather was colder here than in St. Louis, and I pulled on a thin black turtleneck and a pair of jeans. Jean-Claude hadn't let me pack my Nikes, but I did have a pair of low boots that I could run in, if I needed to.
After I slipped my Browning into my shoulder holster, and made sure the silver knife at the small of my back was secure, I climbed back onto the bed and leaned over the sleeping werewolf. "Jason," I murmured.
"Mmm."
His mouth had turned up in a happy smile, even as his eyes stayed shut. I wasn't sure if he was faking or not. "Jason," I tried again, running my hand through his soft hair. "Harry decided to paint your toes blue."
"That's nice." He opened one eye a crack, and gave me a grin. "I'm awake."
I slapped his butt lightly. "How would you feel about staying here and watching Requiem's coffin?"
Jason frowned, then sat up. "You mean not going with you and Harry to the train station?"
"Two people are less noticeable than three," I said.
"You mean two dangerous people are better able to protect themselves than two dangerous people and a werewolf," Jason corrected. He put a finger to my lips as I started to protest. "And you may be right, but I don't have to be happy with it."
I took Jason's hand in mine, and pulled it away from my mouth. "I don't want you to get hurt, and if someone notices Harry's there before we get in and out--"
"You don't need to explain," Jason said. Even so, he looked very unhappy. "I'll wait here."
Harry rushed in the open door, shirt unbuttoned and with only one sock. "Where's my wand?" he asked in a rush. "I can't find my wand!" He dropped to his knees to look under the bed.
Jason sighed. "It's right where you left it," he said, lifting Harry's pillow. The wooden stick was pushed up against the headboard. Harry grabbed the wand and shoved it into his shirt sleeve.
"Thanks!" Harry dashed out of the room again.
Jason and I exchanged amused glances. "I told him to leave everything in his suitcases last night, but did he listen?" Jason said, shaking his head. He crossed his legs and put his elbows on his knees, tracing patterns on the crumpled sheet. "I can't believe he's leaving."
"You going to miss him?"
"Hell yes, I'm going to miss him." Jason said. "Aren't you?"
I shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "Yes."
"There's nothing wrong with that, you know."
I lowered my voice and leaned closer to Jason. "I've only known him for a month! I'm not supposed to--"
"To what? Make friends? Anita, he's been through so much with you. He's been living at your house, going to work with you. Hell, he's Damian's grandson. That kid has wormed his way into your life." Jason touched my chin and turned my head until I was looking directly at him. "You can get to know people, Anita, even in a few days, and you remember them the rest of your life. Harry's one of those people."
I squeezed Jason's hand. "I don't do well with people leaving," I whispered.
Jason wrapped me into a hug. "He'll be coming back," Jason told me with conviction. "He's got the wolf in his blood. One day, he'll come back to the pack, back to St. Louis. I know it."
~*~
We managed to get all of Harry's belongings, minus one missing sock, into his suitcases without incident. Harry then proceeded to shrink the suitcases with magic, and pocketed the thimble-sized cases.
"Magic is so cool," Jason said, watching the whole process with glee.
"I guess so," Harry said nervously. He cast an eye at Requiem's coffin, where the vampire had retired a few minutes earlier. "Is he really..."
I stretched out my own magic to feel what was in the coffin. "He's dead for the day," I said. "Jason's going to watch him while I'm gone."
"Oh." Harry looked slightly confused. "Jason isn't coming with us to eat?"
"Nah," Jason said. "I'd better stay here. Wouldn't want anyone to come in and dye his goatee green while we're out."
I fixed Jason with a hard glare. "If we get back to St. Louis and any part of Requiem is green, I'm blaming you."
He laughed while I picked up my jacket. "I promise. No green."
Harry stood in the middle of the room, staring at Jason. "So, is this it?"
Jason kept that grin on his face, even through I could see how much it was costing him. "Unless you want to shrink me and put me into your luggage."
"It's okay." Harry pressed his lips together, standing as if he wasn't sure what to do next.
Jason took the initiative, and pulled Harry into a hug. "You take care of yourself," Jason said. "Or else I'll let Anita kick your ass."
"Wouldn't want that." Harry pulled back, after some mutual back-slapping.
Jason grinned at him, then turned to me with outstretched arms. I put my hands on his chest and held him off. "What are you doing?" I demanded.
"Don't I get a goodbye hug?" Jason pouted.
I ducked away from the werewolf. "I will see you in a few hours," I said, glaring. "Behave yourself!"
As Harry and I went out the door into the main corridor, Jason's laughter followed us.
We didn't get far. A phalanx of wererats stood in the hallway, apparently waiting for us. I came to a stop, planting myself in front of Harry.
"Elsa has asked us to escort you to the dinning room," the guy at the front of the line said. His expression made me doubt he'd take no for an answer.
Not seeing another option, I squared my shoulders and guided Harry forward. Two of the wererats peeled off the group and stationed themselves outside the door to the room where I'd left Jason and Requiem. The rest walked me and Harry down the halls, across a large foyer, and into a large dinning room.
The curtains were pulled back, letting in the pale light from the sunrise. Elsa sat at the head of the table, leaned over an open newspaper. She glanced up when Harry and I entered. "You do take your time when summoned, don't you?" she said. Her voice had a cultured English accent, with a slight undertone of something a little more continental. Not French, but German. I had far too many German relatives to not be able to place it.
"We were packing," Harry said before I could come up with a suitable retort.
The girl blinked at him, then went back to her newspaper. The wererats placed themselves around the room at regular intervals, with two at the door. Without looking up, Elsa waved her hand at a smaller table near the wall, which was loaded with food. "We do not have much time," she said. "Eat."
There wasn't any malice in her tone, but she did sound unhappy about something. I didn't like following orders very much, but I was starving, considering I had been too nervous to eat the day before. Tossing my jacket over the back of a chair, I followed Harry over to the side table.
"Looks nice," Harry said as he picked up a plate and began loading it with food.
I didn't say anything, but he was right. Right now, almost anything would have looked appetizing, but this was amazing, like a swank buffet Dad once took us to, to celebrate my stepmother's birthday when I was ten. The pleasant associations made me suspicious, and I was rather careful as I put a pastry and some fruit on my plate.
Back at the table, I sat a chair down from Elsa, with Harry on my other side. The girl turned another page of her newspaper, and took a sip from a delicate cup. I was trying not to stare, but I'd never seen a child human servant before. I knew taking the fourth mark stopped the aging process, but it seemed wrong, somehow, to see it happen to such a young child. Not young, I had to amend. Elsa was over four hundred years old, as old as Jean-Claude. Christoff was a hundred years older, Requiem had told me.
But the girl hadn't aged. Her hair and eyes were light brown, with a spattering of freckles across her face. Her features still had a hint of childhood innocence about them. Then she looked up at me, and that illusion of innocence was gone. "What?" she snapped.
"Nothing," I said carefully.
Elsa closed the paper. "I supposed Jean-Claude filled your head with all sorts of tales about how evil Christoff and I are," she said, irritably pouring herself some more coffee.
"Actually, he never mentioned you at all," I told her.
She shook her head. "Of course," she muttered.
I frowned. I'd only met a few human servants in my time. Most had tried to kill me. I was sort of expecting Elsa to fall into that category, but she wasn't behaving like someone who wanted me dead. Oh well. That could still change.
"Trust an incubus to only consider those who could feed his addiction," Elsa continued. She looked past me, to where Harry was sitting. "Eat, we leave in twenty minutes."
"Wait, we?" I demanded, setting my fork down with a clatter. "Who's we?"
Elsa looked at me as if I was stupid. "We, as in myself as well as you," she snapped. "You cannot think that I would let you leave here alone, after last night?"
Maybe she thought I was going to double back and start killing the vampires. I held down my anger, and bit the top off a strawberry.
"Are you coming with us to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked, sounding interested. "Have you been there before?"
Elsa raised an eyebrow at him. "Why would you think that?" she asked.
Harry blinked at her. "You're like me, aren't you?"
Elsa gave him the once-over. "Hardly like you. But I am a witch, yes."
"But have you been to Diagon Alley?" Harry pressed. "Is there another place in London to get magical things?"
Elsa drained her cup, in a quick motion that made me think she was fortifying herself. "I have things brought over from the continent," she said after a moment. "The quality of English merchandise leaves a lot to be desired."
Harry didn't rise to the dig. "Like what?"
"Dragon goods, for example," Elsa said, dropping her napkin on the table. "Unless one gets it directly from the supplier, the quality and mark-up is atrocious." She stood up. "Stay here."
She stalked out of the room, leaving the silent bevy of wererats behind.
I swallowed my mouthful of pastry and turned to Harry. "Dragons?" I demanded.
"What about dragons?" Harry said through a mouthful of food. "They're dead useful. Dragon skin is the toughest there is, and there's a lot of potions that use dragon parts."
I just looked at him.
"What?" Harry protested quietly. "I'm not making this up."
Elsa stormed back into the room, her arms full of fabric. "Wear this," she ordered Harry, throwing him a long cloak.
"Why?" I asked, as Harry unfolded the cloak and looked it over.
Pausing in pulling her own cloak over her shoulders, Elsa glared at me, exasperation on her face. "Why must you question everything?" she demanded. "How does Jean-Claude put up with you?"
"How Jean-Claude puts up with me is none of your damned business," I exclaimed, my temper flaring. "Why are you making Harry wear that cloak?"
Elsa buttoned up her cloak, not looking at me. "Because, we are going to a place where a great deal of people wish him harm," she said in a strangely patient tone, like you'd use with a little kid. "The jacket he had would not shield his identity. This will."
Harry stood and slipped into the cloak. It seemed a little big on him, but I wasn't sure how it was supposed to look, so I didn't point that out. He reached up and pulled the hood over his head. "How am I supposed to know if anyone's following us, if I can't see?" he asked from the depths of the hood. Elsa was right; the hood hid his face from view.
"No one will be following you at this time of day," Elsa muttered. "It's too late for the vampires to be awake, and too early for anybody else. Come." She swept from the room.
Reluctantly, I got up and went after her. She acted like she didn't want go with us, but hey, I didn't want her around either. I was perfectly willing to haul Harry outside and get a cab to take us to our destination. Not speaking, Harry and I followed the girl out into the foyer, then out the front doors.
A large black car, not quite a limo but close, sat idling on the drive. Not waiting to see if we were with her, Elsa went down the steps, and slipped into the front seat.
"This feels weird," Harry said out of the side of his mouth as he and I slowly made our way towards the car.
"I know."
He must have sensed my hesitation, or maybe he had reservations of his own. "We could find another way," he offered.
Tempting as it was, Requiem's warning about disregarding Christoff's hospitality came back to me. We'd been promised Christoff's protection while we were in London, and his human servant probably fell under that category. "We may as well," I said grudgingly.
As soon as I shut the door behind us, the driver put the car in gear and we drove away. The car was pretty nifty, I had to admit. The leather seats were really soft, and I had enough room for my legs that I could almost stretch them out straight.
I felt someone's eyes on me, and looked up to see Elsa staring at me over the back of the seat. I put my legs down, feeling foolish and slightly embarrassed. "Why are you doing this?" I said, annoyed. "We don't need an escort."
Elsa pinched her lips together. "Do you really not know?" she demanded. With a look to Harry, then back to me, she let out a frustrated growl and slid back down in her seat until I could only just see the top of her head. "Ask your incubus, he at least has brains in that overly handsome body."
I reached for the pocket where I usually left my cell phone, before remembering that I had left it in St. Louis. Well, it was late at night in St. Louis, I thought as I closed my eyes and concentrated very hard on Jean-Claude.
Ma petite? Jean-Claude's voice echoed faintly in my head. I could feel his concern washing over me. What is it? Are you harmed?
No, it's not that, I reassured him hastily. But something's come up.
What is it? Jean-Claude demanded.
As I concentrated, I could dimly see him, now, in his office at Guilty Pleasures. We're going to take Harry for shopping and then to the train station, I told him.
You and Jason? Jean-Claude asked, more puzzled than anything else now.
Not Jason, I replied, opening my eyes. I knew Jean-Claude saw what I saw, the top of Elsa's head.
He sighed. I see you have met Christoff's human servant.
You bet I have. I couldn't keep the irritation out of my head. Why the hell didn't you tell me he had a human servant who was just a kid?
Because Elsa is not a child, ma petite, do not forget that.
Either way, why didn't you tell me? Why did Harry have to find out for us?
Find out what?
That she's a witch! Like Harry is!
There was dead silence in my head. Finally, Jean-Claude said, She is not like Harry.
Bullshit. She knows the same stuff Harry knows. Harry says she feels like his kind of witch, and that's good enough for me.
Ma petite, I did not know, Jean-Claude said apologetically. Was this why you wished to speak with me?
No. Briefly, I told him what Elsa had said, about escorting Harry around today. What I can't figure out is why.
Jean-Claude stood up and walked around his desk, pacing across his office. What did Christoff say last night, after he bit you?
To me? Nothing, the ungrateful bastard. He told the room that me and Harry had his protection, that was it.
There was another moment of intense silence from Jean-Claude. What were his exact words? he finally demanded. I could feel the excitement in him, but couldn't figure out what was causing it.
I thought hard. He said that Harry was welcome in his lands, under his protection, for ten years. And that I got the same thing.
Jean-Claude laughed. The son of a bitch laughed in my head as I sat in the car, growing more and more frustrated with every second.
Jean-Claude, if you don't stop that, I swear I will never sleep with you again! I exclaimed, fuming.
Jean-Claude got himself under control quickly. I do apologize, ma petite, but it seems as if the very thing that Christoff feared, that he bargained so hard to prevent, has come to pass.
Which is what?
The answer lies not in his words, but in what he did not say. Jean-Claude settled himself on the edge of the desk.
He offered Harry his protection, I thought that was his point, I said, still not getting it.
Protection from what? Jean-Claude asked mildly.
From-- I stopped. No.
Oui, ma petite. By not specifying what he was to protect you and Harry from, he is obligated to protect you from all things, while you are in his lands.
I sat still, too stunned to do anything. That's insane!
That is why Elsa is with you, and quite possibly why she is so very upset with you.
Hey, this wasn't my idea! I protested. I did what I said I'd do!
Jean-Claude was slightly amused. Perhaps remind Elsa that you will be out of her Master's city later today, and that Harry will soon be beyond his reach.
I glanced over at Harry, who was watching me closely. I quirked up the side of my mouth in a bit of a grimace. He didn't look reassured. Is she a danger to us? I asked Jean-Claude, more worried about the next three hours. Will she give us away? Let Harry's enemies attack him or something?
I do not think so, ma petite, Jean-Claude said, growing serious. Christoff's pledge was made in front of a large gathering of his allies. To go back on that, or allow his servant to do so, would greatly damage his position, which is all that matters to him. I believe you are safe, from Elsa.
I let out a shaky breath. I don't like this at all, I thought. It's not at all what we planned.
I know, Jean-Claude said. However, we can use this to strengthen our position with Christoff. When you have safely returned to St. Louis, I will contact him and attempt to offer him something to sweeten the deal. He has placed himself on the line, ma petite. It will be in our best interests to offer him more.
No more blood, I replied immediately. Jean-Claude rushed to soothe me.
Of course not. In fact, I will discuss this with Asher, and I hope to have a solution for your perusal upon your arrival.
I let out a slow breath. I'll see you when I get home. I looked out the window, watching the buildings pass us by, and knowing Jean-Claude saw them too. I love you.
As I love you, ma petite. Jean-Claude withdrew from my mind, leaving me alone in the car with Elsa and Harry.
We drove deeper into London.
~*~
Harry held the car door for me while I slid out of the car. Elsa told the driver to stay where he was, then she closed her door.
"Can you see it?" Harry asked, grinning ear to ear.
"See what?" I asked as I undid the top buttons on my jacket, to make my gun more readily accessible.
"The entrance to the Leaky Cauldron."
I reached around to make sure my knife was safely sheathed, looking around distractedly. "You mean that dingy pub place? Are you sure this isn't a joke?"
Harry's grin got wider. "No, not kidding. Come on!" He took me by the elbow and pulled me across the street. Elsa hurried along beside us. Her whole personality had changed the second we'd stepped out of the car. She was acting like a little kid, just the way she looked. It was unnerving.
"Hood up," Elsa hissed as she pulled open the door on the pub. Harry pulled his hood over his head as he entered, towing me with him.
The place looked like a mix between a seedy bar and a Halloween party. People wearing long cloaks and pointy hats, in all sorts of strange colours, sat at the dimly-lit tables in the pub, nursing cups of tea and plates of greasy food. A few heads looked up as we entered, but they saw Elsa and seemed reassured. Fools, I thought in disgust.
We kept walking through the pub and exited the back into a tiny bricked-in yard where they kept the trash cans. There was no way out.
"You have got to me kidding me," I grumbled. Harry turned to me, face mostly hidden under that ridiculous hood, but I could see the edge of his mouth curl up in a sly grin.
"Watch," he promised. He pulled his wand out of his sleeve and used it to tap the bricks on the wall.
As he pulled his wand back, the brick began to wiggle, then a hole began to grow in the wall, until there was an archway in front of us. Beyond the arch lay a cluttered alley, bustling with shops on each side.
"See?" Harry said. As he put his wand away, Elsa bounced at his side.
"Let's hurry!" she said, sounding for all the world like a twelve-year-old girl. She took Harry's left hand in hers, and pulled him along with her. I walked a step behind, thinking. She had taken his non-wand hand. He could still grab his wand if threatened. Maybe Jean-Claude was right after all, about her coming along as protection today.
"Where are we going first?" Elsa asked, swinging Harry's hand.
"Gringott's," Harry said in a low voice. "I need some money before I can do shopping."
I warily eyed an owl perched on a sign outside of a place called Eeylops Owl Emporium. "Is the bank open this early?"
"They should be," Harry said. "Look, see? People are going in and out." He pointed to a large building, made up of leaning white columns. I wouldn't have thought the place wasn't safe for habitation, but maybe they had a different kind of building inspector here.
We went up the steps and in the open doors. A few feet inside the entrance, our path had been roped off, leading to a security checkpoint manned by two midgets.
No, not midgets, I realized. Even though Harry had told me that the bank was run by goblins, I didn't understand what I was seeing at first. Two black-suited goblins, with shrewd eyes and very long fingers, ran a long wand over the man ahead of us, while a third goblin poured over a ledger.
"This is new," Harry said softly.
"Is it going to be a problem?" I asked.
Elsa pressed herself against me, looking like a child in need of reassurance, even as her sharp nails dug into my hand. "The goblins make money, and protect money," she said. "All they care about is that we're not going to blow up their money."
"How do you know that?" I demanded.
She turned an innocent face up at me, and smiled sarcastically. "It's called common sense." She let go of my hand.
The man ahead of us was waved through, and the goblin behind the ledger said, "Next!" in an irritable voice.
Harry stepped forward. "Are you carrying any Acromantula venom or moonstones today?" one of the goblins on the ground asked.
"Er, no," Harry replied. The goblins began running their wand over Harry.
"Name," demanded the goblin behind the ledger.
I could hear Harry sigh from here. "Harry Potter," he said.
"Clear!" the goblin with the wand said, and shoved Harry forward.
Elsa danced up next, smiling widely at the goblin behind the ledger. She gave her name as Elsa Christensen, and was soon shoved along.
I stepped up, feeling inexplicably nervous. I'd gone through metal detectors before, and I'd probably have to explain the gun and knife. Maybe they wouldn't want me to go into the bank with the gun. I could wait outside, even though the thought of leaving Harry, even for a minute, did not sit well with me.
The wand in the goblin's hand started whistling as it passed over my chest. I winced. Out of nowhere, three other goblins appeared in a circle around me, looking very unfriendly.
"What do you got there?" the goblin demanded.
Very carefully, I pulled back the side of my jacket to show the butt of my gun in the shoulder holster. "I have a permit to carry--"
"Not that," the goblin demanded brusquely. He pointed the wand right between my breasts. "There!"
It took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about. Carefully, I drew up the chain around my neck, hidden under my shirt, until my silver crucifix spilled into my hand. "It's my cross," I said, letting it lie against the black of my shirt.
The goblins around me all looked at the one behind the ledger. He leaned forward, staring at me with piercing black eyes. "You've been dealing with vampires?" he demanded. I met his gaze. "Name?"
"Anita Blake," I said, biting out the syllables.
The goblin's head bobbed. "Anita Blake," he repeated. "Carry on!"
In a flash, the extra goblins vanished, and I was being shoved toward Harry and Elsa. "Sorry about that," Harry said as we walked toward the tellers. "They didn't have this last year."
"I usually have worse from airport security," I said. "But why would my cross make them all worried?"
Elsa snorted. "Because, necromancer, your crucifix has residual raw power," she said. "How many vampires have you wielded it against? How often do you call the power of your God to it?" She shook her head, silky hair flying. "Don't you know anything?"
It took a great deal of effort to not snap at the girl, but I didn't want to cause a scene in a place with all these unfriendly creatures. Harry stopped at a teller window, and I leaned against the marble counter to look around.
"Harry Potter," Harry said, holding out a tiny key. "I'd like to make a withdrawal."
The goblin behind the counter glanced at the key, then at us. "Will everyone be doing down to your vault?"
"Yes," I said, just as Elsa said, "No." We glared at each other for a moment.
"I'll be going down by myself," Harry said. He turned to me. "I'll just be a few minutes," he promised. "It's the safest place in London, down there. I'll be fine."
"Harry--"
"Cross my heart." He pulled his hood back a bit and smiled at me. "You can sit and keep Elsa company."
"Goody," Elsa muttered.
"I'll be back in a bit," Harry promised as a goblin came up to him and led him toward a door at the end of the room.
Another goblin appeared at our side. "If you would care to wait," he said, indicating a bunch of chairs and couches off to the side of the main room. I didn't really have a choice but to follow Elsa over to the couches.
She plopped herself onto one of the couches and began sorting through a pile of magazines on a table. "Relax, if you are able to," she suggested, the childish inflections seeping out of her voice. "Your paladin will return to you in one piece."
I glared at her, not really sure what she was inferring. "Jean-Claude told me why you're so pissed off," I said.
Elsa pulled a magazine from the pile. "Did he?" she asked. "Did he tell you that we used to go years, decades, even, without experiencing the kind of upheaval that you've forced upon us?" She got up from her couch to sit right beside me. "Did he tell you how Christoff's word is worth more than his word will ever be?"
"That's--"
"Quiet," she hissed. "This is not about you, child." Her eyes were flashing with anger. "I have been with Christoff for centuries. I have seen him at his best and at his worst, and I know what he will and will not do. After being tricked into promising what he did last night, he will protect you and the boy, and I will be damned if I do not help him keep that promise!"
"Christoff wasn't tricked!" I said, indignant. "I did what I said I'd do; if he wasn't able to handle the power, that is not my fault!"
Elsa clenched her hands tightly in her lap, balling up the blue-grey fabric of her cloak. She took a few breaths, eyes steady on my face. "Perhaps that explains why Jean-Claude has taken such a fancy to you," she said after a moment. "He always did like to surround himself with strong people. That way, he does not need to put himself out to protect them."
"That is not true!" I exclaimed. A few goblin heads turned at my outburst, and I lowered my voice. "Why do you hate Jean-Claude so much?"
"Ask him yourself," Elsa said. She let go of her cloak, and smoothed the fabric out. "Weakness is not something to be vaunted, no matter how pretty the face or talented the fingers."
I blinked at her, thrown. What the hell was she talking about?
Elsa picked up the magazine at her side and put it on her lap. Harry's face was on the front, smiling sheepishly. I reached for the magazine, but Elsa slapped my hand away. "Has Harry not told you about this?" she asked, flipping open the magazine. "How he fought Voldemort and not a wizard among his people believed him? How they called him mad, a liar, an attention seeker?" She stared down at the well-thumbed article. "These people are all the same."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. There was a deep-seated hatred in her voice that hadn't been there when she was talking about Jean-Claude.
Elsa closed the magazine and pointed at Harry's face. The image blinking cross-eyed as her finger poked the glossy cover. "These people do not value their children, in any way," she said. Her finger trembled on the magazine. "They never have, and they never will."
"Are you talking about Harry, or yourself?" I asked.
Elsa's face was blank, but her eyes were full of such a burning hatred that I flinched. "Do you know what the Church used to do to children accused of witchcraft?" she whispered. "Children sent home from their first year of magical school?"
"Like you?" I hazarded a guess.
She looked at me, hard. "I came home, twelve years old and full of warnings not to use magic. My parents married me off the next day."
Her words, and her rage, hit me like a brick in the stomach.
"The very next day, my new husband," she spat the word out with vitriol, "went running to the Church that his wife was a witch. They built a pyre that very day." She went up on her knees next to me and put her mouth next to my ear. "The wizards who promised to protect me, who promised me a world of magic, were content to let me burn, to preserve the secret of their world."
"How..."
"Christoff." She slid back down to the couch. "He pulled me from the flames."
"And made you his human servant."
"He gave me a year." Elsa stared straight ahead, not looking at me. "A year to decide. And I made this decision." She blinked slowly. "I spent years, hearing of children the schools had abandoned to the flames of the Church. A world that abandons its children is not deserving of any regard."
Across the building, Harry came out of a door, his hood back and his hair windswept. He had a large sack in his hands. Spotting me, he held up a hand, then followed a goblin to another counter.
"Did you go to school in Scotland?" I asked stupidly, still trying to work my way through what Elsa had told me.
"They have such schools all over Europe," Elsa said. "But it matters not." She shoved the magazine in my lap. "They continue to do it, with this boy."
I stared down at Harry's face. He looked younger. Not just age-wise; there was something about his eyes that was more innocent, less hard. What had happened to him after this picture was taken?
"They claim he is the only one who can defeat the bad wizard," Elsa went on, her voice cold now. "That he is some kind of chosen one, to beat back their nightmares."
I looked up from the magazine, to see Harry walking toward me.
"When he dies for them, they will applaud his sacrifice, never acknowledging that they were the ones to set him aflame on the pyre of their own cowardice."
"Why do you care?" I said suddenly. "Why does it matter to you what happens to Harry?"
Elsa stood up as Harry drew nearer. "Because my people do not live in this world, but they will be blamed when the chaos and death spills into the streets of London. When the humans realize the vampires and wererats have nothing to do with the deaths, it will be too late." She drew her cloak tight, and marched away across the spotless marble floor.
"Anita?" Harry asked, coming up to me. He frowned after Elsa. "Is something wrong?"
I stood up, feeling rather shaky. "I don't know."
Harry shifted his hood back a little. "What happened?"
I shook my head. "Elsa happened. Come on, we're short on time."
Harry looked as if he wanted to press the question, but he kept his mouth shut as we left the bank.
We managed to catch up with Elsa outside. She was once again acting like a little girl. The act was jarring me, and I had no idea how to respond to her anymore. I wanted to dislike her. I really did, but I think she had told me more than she wanted to, in the bank.
"Books next?" Elsa said, hanging back on Harry's arm.
"Robes firsts," Harry said. His footsteps slowed as we passed a shuttered shop. A large sign above the door blinked "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes " in gaudy colours. "I wonder where the twins are?" Harry said, frowning.
"Friends of yours?" I asked.
"Yeah. Fred and George Weasley. I thought I could introduce you." He shook his head. "They must not open until later."
"Come on," Elsa said, tugging on him. "You wouldn't want to be late for the train."
"Yeah." With a last glance at the shop, Harry let Elsa pull him down the street.
Her destination was a clothing shop. A bell rang over the door as we entered. Out from behind a pile of fabric bustled a plump woman with a wand in her hair and a pincushion on her wrist. "What can I help you with?" she asked, smoothing her hair back.
"I need some new school uniforms for Hogwarts," Harry said, pulling his hood back.
The woman's hands flew to her mouth. "Oh, so late?" she said. "Dearie, your train leaves soon!"
"I know," Harry said, but the woman was already rushing around.
"Off with your cloak! Up on the stool!" she ordered.
Bemused, Harry threw me his cloak and hopped up on a fitting stool in the middle of the room. The woman was back instantly, a levitating tape measure at her side. She took one look at Harry and sighed.
"You children grow up so fast!" She dropped the cloth she was holding, and pulled out her wand. Soon, an array of folded robes were hovering around her. The tape measure zipped all around Harry, measuring his chest and the length of his legs. "I remember when you were in here for your first robes, when you were the girl's age." She pointed at Elsa, who smiled back vacantly at her.
At the woman's instructions, Harry donned a black robe. A floating pair of scissors and sewing needle attacked the fabric at his feet, sewing it up to a manageable length.
"Now, dearie," the woman said, turning to Elsa. "Is this your first year at Hogwarts?"
Elsa shook her head. "I go to other school," she said, her voice suddenly thick with a German accent. "Not here."
"I see," the woman said. She looked at me, but didn't say anything.
A few more snips of thread, and Harry had his robes. His purchase bundled up into a package under his arm, Harry paid the lady with large coins, and we were back on the street.
"That was painless," he said. "Usually, she's the biggest chatterbox in London."
"That's Siva," Elsa said idly, hopping along on one foot.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "He wasn't that big of a gossip."
Elsa laughed. "Siva loves nothing more than to talk about what others are doing," she said. "He only talks to important people, and loves every minute of it. Don't tell me he didn't slip you some information on the side."
Harry's cheeks went red.
"But discreetly," Elsa continued as we approached a shop. "He can be a good friend."
That peculiar announcement behind us, we entered a large bookshop. Harry made a beeline for the front counter. Elsa vanished into the stacks, but I went with Harry. "Excuse me," he said to the clerk.
"Yes?" the harried man said without turning around.
"I need my schoolbooks, for seventh year, at Hogwarts? I didn't get my letter."
The man turned around. "Your train leaves soon! How haven't you gone shopping before this?" he demanded. He got a good look at Harry, and began stuttering an apology. "So sorry, Mr. P--"
"It's okay," I interrupted before he said Harry's name in that loud voice. "We just need the books."
The man didn't even spare me a glance. "Of course, right away. What are your subjects?"
In a few minutes, a pile of books larger than me stood on the counter. "How are you going to carry this?" I asked Harry.
"Same way as my suitcases," he mentioned, frowning as he counted out a pile of gold coins from his little money sack. "Bloody expensive."
"Don't forget these," Elsa said, popping up out of nowhere. She dropped a stack of heavy old books on the counter. The top one had the word Vampyr written in fancy script. I gave her a look. "A little light family reading," she said, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Fine, these too," Harry said, shoving them at the clerk. He paid without incident and shrunk the books to a tiny size, and put them in his pocket. We left the shop and the awed eyes of the clerk behind, emerging into the pale sunshine.
"We need to get going," Elsa said shortly. "Driving to the station at this time of day will take a bit."
We walked rather fast along the street, passing nervous-looking witches and wizards. A few people glanced at Harry, anonymous under his hood and cloak, but no one's eyes lingered long. I got a few glances as well, but they were derisive, as if they thought I didn't belong here.
Harry's steps slowed as we passed another closed shop. "Olivander's," Harry breathed. "Why isn't he open?" Before I could protest, Harry peered into the dusty window. "It's empty," he said. "Why is it empty?"
"Your wand maker is smarter than most," Elsa told him. "Smart men don't get involved in wars."
Harry swung his head around to glare at Elsa. "Then it's a good thing I'm not smart!" He stalked off down the street.
"See?" Elsa said. "He's listened to what these people tell him. He'll die for them, because they are too scared to do so themselves."
"Oh, shut up," I muttered, taking off after Harry. I'd had about as much as Elsa as I could take.
~*~
"Aren't you coming?" Harry asked as Elsa rolled down her car window.
She looked at the two of us, standing on the sidewalk at King's Cross Station. "If you can't survive a trip to the busiest station in London, I wash my hands of you," she snapped. "We'll be waiting to take Anita back to the house."
"What about this cloak?" Harry asked.
"Keep it," Elsa responded and began to roll her window back up.
"Well, goodbye then," Harry called. "Such a friendly woman," Harry said under his breath, leading me into the station.
"Are you sure we haven't missed your train?" I said. "Because you can always come back with us."
Harry spared me a grin. "It's only ten to eleven," he reminded me. "We've got plenty of time."
The place was packed with people, hurrying to their trains. I really didn't like this many people around me, my claustrophobia acted up. Suddenly, I felt a warm hand in mine. "Wouldn't want to lose you," Harry said in my ear, and pulled me along with him.
Quickly, we passed several trains. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"Platform nine and three-quarters," Harry said.
"Where?" I exclaimed. I was looking at Harry, and didn't really notice as he pulled me directly into a wall.
I flung up free hand up, but it passed through the wall like the bricks were made of mist. I opened my eyes to see a large steam engine next to a platform. Some parents were herding kids onto the train, while others stood back and waved at children already in their compartments. Past us, officious-looking wizards strode up and down the platform, casting dark glares at everyone.
"Come on," Harry said. He pushed down his hood, then guided me along down the platform. We passed several people, most of whom turned away when they spotted Harry's face.
One woman, a tall blonde, glared at Harry as we walked past. There was something about her, something familiar, yet I knew I'd never seen her before.
The steam from the train's engine rolled thick overhead, completing the strange, sombre mood. I could feel Harry at my side, warm and familiar.
Someone came toward us, and we instinctively separated. A little boy was running down the platform, but came to a halt when he spotted us. As we drew closer, I could feel a familiar presence about the boy. He was a werewolf.
The child watched, frozen, as Harry and I walked around him. Then, quick as a flash, he dashed away.
"He must be new," Harry said, looking after the boy. "I've never seen him before."
"Is it a good idea, sending such a young... you know, kid like him, away from his parents?"
Harry shrugged. "Probably not. But I'll keep an eye out. Hopefully Professor Dumbledore knows what he's doing."
"One can hope," I said. "Did you see that woman back there? The one who was glaring at you?"
Harry met my eyes. "That's Narcissa Malfoy," he said. "She's Bellatrix Lestrange's sister."
"Oh." Maybe it was the magic, but the mention of Bellatrix made my stomach clench.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked.
"I guess." I pasted a brave smile on my face. "You need to get going, remember?"
"Yeah." Harry hesitated, then pulled a fold of bills out of his pocket. "About this summer..."
I glared at him and the stack of English pounds he held. "What about this summer?"
Harry bit his lip, looking at my face, then separated the pile in half. He put half the stack back into his pocket. "I borrowed a lot of money from Jason," he said, giving me the other half. "I told him I'd pay him back. Can you give this to him?"
I took the money and shoved it in the pocket of my jeans. "He knows about this?" I asked suspiciously.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, he gave me money to buy clothes and stuff."
"Okay, then."
The train whistled, startling me. I wasn't ready for Harry to leave.
"I have to go," Harry said, looking torn. "You'll-- stay safe, okay? Don't let Elsa bug you too much?"
"Harry..." I took a step toward him. The train whistled again.
Quickly, Harry leaned in toward me as if he was going to give me a hug. But before I could figure out what to do, he bent over and ran his tongue along my lower lip, the submissive werewolf greeting.
He pulled back quickly, a shy grin on his face. I was too shocked to do anything. It crossed my mind to hit him, but technically he hadn't done anything wrong.
I touched my mouth, trying to find something to say. "No more Jason time for you!" I exclaimed finally.
Harry let out a burst of surprised laughter, and jumped up on the train just as it started to move. "Goodbye!" he called.
I waved at him, smiling now. God, I'd miss that kid.
"Wait!" came a little voice from behind me. The little werewolf boy came tearing down the platform, panicked. "Wait for me!"
If the kid tried to jump on the moving train by himself, he might fall under the wheels. "Harry, wait!" I called. I held my hand out to the little boy. "Come on!" I said to him, grabbing his sweaty hand and pulling him along. We ran together to where Harry was standing on the steps of the carriage. Harry caught the kid's hand and hauled him bodily onto the train just before we ran out of platform. I stopped running and had time for one final wave before the train rounded a curve, and Harry was gone.
I dropped my hand. I didn't know when I'd see Harry next, and the thought hurt. I blinked hard, smiling at how silly I was being. He was going off to school, and I'd see him again, one day. Jason was right.
Letting out a sigh, I turned around and walked back to the gate. I had to get out of here before Elsa decided to leave me behind. I wouldn't put it past her. I still hadn't figured her out.
As I approached the wrought-iron gate, I saw someone coming toward me out of the corner of my eye. I let my hands drop loose to my sides, in case I needed my gun or knife in case of a fight.
The woman, about as short as I was, was dressed in a worn sweater and a clashing skirt and blouse. She was flanked by two tall identical men, each with flaming red hair. "Excuse me," the woman said briskly.
I put on a blank smile. "So sorry, I have to meet someone," I said, and kept walking.
"No, it's about Harry!" the woman called, and rushed to keep up with me.
I stopped. "Are you with the media?" I demanded suspiciously. "I have no comment."
"Why were you with Harry?" one of the twins asked, frowning at me.
Was this another of those stupid things about not consorting with muggles? I put my hands on my hips, getting pissed off. "Who Harry Potter travels with is none of your damned business, now is it? He can spend time with whoever he wants, magical or not."
The woman's eyes travelled down. I followed her gaze. My jacket was gaping, and my silver crucifix was shining against my black shirt in the light. I dropped my hands and stalked away. This time, the woman and the two men didn't follow me.
~*~
Elsa didn't speak to me on the drive back to the house, which was just fine with me. I was still smarting from the encounter with those redheads, and under it all, I really missed Harry. He'd been constant presence in my life for the last month, and now he was gone.
I found Jason lying on top of Requiem's coffin, reading a book. He shot up when I came through the door. "Is everything all right?" he demanded.
"Yes," I said with a frown. "Why?"
"You look unhappy," Jason said, laying his book down. "Is something wrong?"
I started to say no, but just shook my head. "It's been a long morning." I slipped out of my jacket, and dug the pile of bills out of my pocket. "From Harry."
Jason took the money and stared at it. "I was just kidding him, about needing to pay me back."
"Well, he did." I undid my belt to remove the shoulder holster. "I think he was going to try and give me some money too, but he didn't."
"Must have been the death glare," Jason said. "What are you doing?"
I pulled my necklace up over my head, and laid it on top of the belt. "We've got a while to go until the plane trip. And I need to feed the ardeur before we go to the airport."
Jason's face lit up in a wide smile. "Really?" He spread his arms wide. "Take me."
I smiled softly as I sat down to remove my boots. Jason leaned over to help me.
"Are you going to be okay?" he asked.
I pushed my hair back. "I guess. I just... I don't like the idea of leaving Harry here."
"He'll be fine." Jason laid his hands on my knees. "He's smart, he's dangerous, and he knows he has a place with us if he needs us."
I frowned. "I don't have to like it," I said.
Jason leaned up and kissed me softly on the lips. "Neither do I."
to be continued
by Mhalachai
Note: The end of part one! Part two will begin shortly! As always, I love comments. Let's chat ;)
Someone was saying my name, and I dragged my way out of fragmented dreams to open my eyes. Requiem bent over me, whispering my name.
"What's wrong?" I demanded sleepily, rather disoriented.
Requiem smiled at me. "Anita, the sun is about to rise. I will be retiring to my coffin."
"Yeah?" I pulled my arm out from under Jason's head and sat up. "I thought you were going to let one of Christoff's wererats watch the door."
"I was," Requiem said as he sat on the edge of the bed. "But Elsa has bid me to wake you early, to join her for breakfast before you leave to deliver Harry to the train."
That didn't make any sense. I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to wake up. "Why?"
"She did not say."
Beside me on the bed, Jason stirred. He and Harry were tangled up in each other, just like two little puppies. I had to smile at the sight of them. "Don't suppose there's any way we can get out of it?"
"Not unless you wish to make her angry," Requiem said. "She is already on edge."
"Brilliant." I reached over Jason and shook Harry's shoulder. "Harry, time to wake up."
Harry's eyes snapped open instantly. "Apples?" he mumbled, blinking hard.
"No, it's just me." I slipped off the bed and picked up my robe from the floor. "We have to move. We've been summoned."
Harry closed his eyes again, but hauled himself up, then reached around for his glasses. "What does Christoff want now?"
"It is not Christoff, but Elsa, who has asked that you and Anita sit with her for breakfast," Requiem answered. "Considering the time, it would not be amiss to be ready to leave immediately after."
"Leave," Harry repeated. He frowned at the floor for a movement, then his eyes grew wide and he sprang to his feet. "I need to get my things!"
Harry zipped out into the sitting room, where we had moved his suitcases the previous night. I sighed, and went to find something to wear.
"Will you be leaving Jason here?" Requiem asked as I tried to figure out what to wear.
I spared a glance at Jason, still lying motionless in the middle of the bed. "I don't like the idea of leaving him here alone."
"He will come to no harm," Requiem said. "Even if Christoff's protection only extends to you and Harry, matters of hospitality dictate that another Master's pomme de sang be treated with respect."
I turned and gave Requiem serious eyes. "Are you sure about that?"
"As certain as I can be."
I bit my lower lip. I really didn't like leaving Jason here, without me around, but I didn't see how we could take him with us into this magical place Harry needed to go shopping.
"You will only be gone for a few hours," Requiem said. "My coffin is in the sitting room. Jason can watch over it, and me, until you return."
I went back to my clothes, my back to Requiem to hide my blush. I'd been so worried about Jason, I'd forgotten that I was leaving Requiem in the same danger, only Requiem wouldn't be able to wake up and protect himself.
"Would you mind leaving while I change?" I asked. Requiem left the room without comment. Angry at myself for putting such different priorities on Jason and Requiem, I got dressed. The weather was colder here than in St. Louis, and I pulled on a thin black turtleneck and a pair of jeans. Jean-Claude hadn't let me pack my Nikes, but I did have a pair of low boots that I could run in, if I needed to.
After I slipped my Browning into my shoulder holster, and made sure the silver knife at the small of my back was secure, I climbed back onto the bed and leaned over the sleeping werewolf. "Jason," I murmured.
"Mmm."
His mouth had turned up in a happy smile, even as his eyes stayed shut. I wasn't sure if he was faking or not. "Jason," I tried again, running my hand through his soft hair. "Harry decided to paint your toes blue."
"That's nice." He opened one eye a crack, and gave me a grin. "I'm awake."
I slapped his butt lightly. "How would you feel about staying here and watching Requiem's coffin?"
Jason frowned, then sat up. "You mean not going with you and Harry to the train station?"
"Two people are less noticeable than three," I said.
"You mean two dangerous people are better able to protect themselves than two dangerous people and a werewolf," Jason corrected. He put a finger to my lips as I started to protest. "And you may be right, but I don't have to be happy with it."
I took Jason's hand in mine, and pulled it away from my mouth. "I don't want you to get hurt, and if someone notices Harry's there before we get in and out--"
"You don't need to explain," Jason said. Even so, he looked very unhappy. "I'll wait here."
Harry rushed in the open door, shirt unbuttoned and with only one sock. "Where's my wand?" he asked in a rush. "I can't find my wand!" He dropped to his knees to look under the bed.
Jason sighed. "It's right where you left it," he said, lifting Harry's pillow. The wooden stick was pushed up against the headboard. Harry grabbed the wand and shoved it into his shirt sleeve.
"Thanks!" Harry dashed out of the room again.
Jason and I exchanged amused glances. "I told him to leave everything in his suitcases last night, but did he listen?" Jason said, shaking his head. He crossed his legs and put his elbows on his knees, tracing patterns on the crumpled sheet. "I can't believe he's leaving."
"You going to miss him?"
"Hell yes, I'm going to miss him." Jason said. "Aren't you?"
I shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "Yes."
"There's nothing wrong with that, you know."
I lowered my voice and leaned closer to Jason. "I've only known him for a month! I'm not supposed to--"
"To what? Make friends? Anita, he's been through so much with you. He's been living at your house, going to work with you. Hell, he's Damian's grandson. That kid has wormed his way into your life." Jason touched my chin and turned my head until I was looking directly at him. "You can get to know people, Anita, even in a few days, and you remember them the rest of your life. Harry's one of those people."
I squeezed Jason's hand. "I don't do well with people leaving," I whispered.
Jason wrapped me into a hug. "He'll be coming back," Jason told me with conviction. "He's got the wolf in his blood. One day, he'll come back to the pack, back to St. Louis. I know it."
We managed to get all of Harry's belongings, minus one missing sock, into his suitcases without incident. Harry then proceeded to shrink the suitcases with magic, and pocketed the thimble-sized cases.
"Magic is so cool," Jason said, watching the whole process with glee.
"I guess so," Harry said nervously. He cast an eye at Requiem's coffin, where the vampire had retired a few minutes earlier. "Is he really..."
I stretched out my own magic to feel what was in the coffin. "He's dead for the day," I said. "Jason's going to watch him while I'm gone."
"Oh." Harry looked slightly confused. "Jason isn't coming with us to eat?"
"Nah," Jason said. "I'd better stay here. Wouldn't want anyone to come in and dye his goatee green while we're out."
I fixed Jason with a hard glare. "If we get back to St. Louis and any part of Requiem is green, I'm blaming you."
He laughed while I picked up my jacket. "I promise. No green."
Harry stood in the middle of the room, staring at Jason. "So, is this it?"
Jason kept that grin on his face, even through I could see how much it was costing him. "Unless you want to shrink me and put me into your luggage."
"It's okay." Harry pressed his lips together, standing as if he wasn't sure what to do next.
Jason took the initiative, and pulled Harry into a hug. "You take care of yourself," Jason said. "Or else I'll let Anita kick your ass."
"Wouldn't want that." Harry pulled back, after some mutual back-slapping.
Jason grinned at him, then turned to me with outstretched arms. I put my hands on his chest and held him off. "What are you doing?" I demanded.
"Don't I get a goodbye hug?" Jason pouted.
I ducked away from the werewolf. "I will see you in a few hours," I said, glaring. "Behave yourself!"
As Harry and I went out the door into the main corridor, Jason's laughter followed us.
We didn't get far. A phalanx of wererats stood in the hallway, apparently waiting for us. I came to a stop, planting myself in front of Harry.
"Elsa has asked us to escort you to the dinning room," the guy at the front of the line said. His expression made me doubt he'd take no for an answer.
Not seeing another option, I squared my shoulders and guided Harry forward. Two of the wererats peeled off the group and stationed themselves outside the door to the room where I'd left Jason and Requiem. The rest walked me and Harry down the halls, across a large foyer, and into a large dinning room.
The curtains were pulled back, letting in the pale light from the sunrise. Elsa sat at the head of the table, leaned over an open newspaper. She glanced up when Harry and I entered. "You do take your time when summoned, don't you?" she said. Her voice had a cultured English accent, with a slight undertone of something a little more continental. Not French, but German. I had far too many German relatives to not be able to place it.
"We were packing," Harry said before I could come up with a suitable retort.
The girl blinked at him, then went back to her newspaper. The wererats placed themselves around the room at regular intervals, with two at the door. Without looking up, Elsa waved her hand at a smaller table near the wall, which was loaded with food. "We do not have much time," she said. "Eat."
There wasn't any malice in her tone, but she did sound unhappy about something. I didn't like following orders very much, but I was starving, considering I had been too nervous to eat the day before. Tossing my jacket over the back of a chair, I followed Harry over to the side table.
"Looks nice," Harry said as he picked up a plate and began loading it with food.
I didn't say anything, but he was right. Right now, almost anything would have looked appetizing, but this was amazing, like a swank buffet Dad once took us to, to celebrate my stepmother's birthday when I was ten. The pleasant associations made me suspicious, and I was rather careful as I put a pastry and some fruit on my plate.
Back at the table, I sat a chair down from Elsa, with Harry on my other side. The girl turned another page of her newspaper, and took a sip from a delicate cup. I was trying not to stare, but I'd never seen a child human servant before. I knew taking the fourth mark stopped the aging process, but it seemed wrong, somehow, to see it happen to such a young child. Not young, I had to amend. Elsa was over four hundred years old, as old as Jean-Claude. Christoff was a hundred years older, Requiem had told me.
But the girl hadn't aged. Her hair and eyes were light brown, with a spattering of freckles across her face. Her features still had a hint of childhood innocence about them. Then she looked up at me, and that illusion of innocence was gone. "What?" she snapped.
"Nothing," I said carefully.
Elsa closed the paper. "I supposed Jean-Claude filled your head with all sorts of tales about how evil Christoff and I are," she said, irritably pouring herself some more coffee.
"Actually, he never mentioned you at all," I told her.
She shook her head. "Of course," she muttered.
I frowned. I'd only met a few human servants in my time. Most had tried to kill me. I was sort of expecting Elsa to fall into that category, but she wasn't behaving like someone who wanted me dead. Oh well. That could still change.
"Trust an incubus to only consider those who could feed his addiction," Elsa continued. She looked past me, to where Harry was sitting. "Eat, we leave in twenty minutes."
"Wait, we?" I demanded, setting my fork down with a clatter. "Who's we?"
Elsa looked at me as if I was stupid. "We, as in myself as well as you," she snapped. "You cannot think that I would let you leave here alone, after last night?"
Maybe she thought I was going to double back and start killing the vampires. I held down my anger, and bit the top off a strawberry.
"Are you coming with us to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked, sounding interested. "Have you been there before?"
Elsa raised an eyebrow at him. "Why would you think that?" she asked.
Harry blinked at her. "You're like me, aren't you?"
Elsa gave him the once-over. "Hardly like you. But I am a witch, yes."
"But have you been to Diagon Alley?" Harry pressed. "Is there another place in London to get magical things?"
Elsa drained her cup, in a quick motion that made me think she was fortifying herself. "I have things brought over from the continent," she said after a moment. "The quality of English merchandise leaves a lot to be desired."
Harry didn't rise to the dig. "Like what?"
"Dragon goods, for example," Elsa said, dropping her napkin on the table. "Unless one gets it directly from the supplier, the quality and mark-up is atrocious." She stood up. "Stay here."
She stalked out of the room, leaving the silent bevy of wererats behind.
I swallowed my mouthful of pastry and turned to Harry. "Dragons?" I demanded.
"What about dragons?" Harry said through a mouthful of food. "They're dead useful. Dragon skin is the toughest there is, and there's a lot of potions that use dragon parts."
I just looked at him.
"What?" Harry protested quietly. "I'm not making this up."
Elsa stormed back into the room, her arms full of fabric. "Wear this," she ordered Harry, throwing him a long cloak.
"Why?" I asked, as Harry unfolded the cloak and looked it over.
Pausing in pulling her own cloak over her shoulders, Elsa glared at me, exasperation on her face. "Why must you question everything?" she demanded. "How does Jean-Claude put up with you?"
"How Jean-Claude puts up with me is none of your damned business," I exclaimed, my temper flaring. "Why are you making Harry wear that cloak?"
Elsa buttoned up her cloak, not looking at me. "Because, we are going to a place where a great deal of people wish him harm," she said in a strangely patient tone, like you'd use with a little kid. "The jacket he had would not shield his identity. This will."
Harry stood and slipped into the cloak. It seemed a little big on him, but I wasn't sure how it was supposed to look, so I didn't point that out. He reached up and pulled the hood over his head. "How am I supposed to know if anyone's following us, if I can't see?" he asked from the depths of the hood. Elsa was right; the hood hid his face from view.
"No one will be following you at this time of day," Elsa muttered. "It's too late for the vampires to be awake, and too early for anybody else. Come." She swept from the room.
Reluctantly, I got up and went after her. She acted like she didn't want go with us, but hey, I didn't want her around either. I was perfectly willing to haul Harry outside and get a cab to take us to our destination. Not speaking, Harry and I followed the girl out into the foyer, then out the front doors.
A large black car, not quite a limo but close, sat idling on the drive. Not waiting to see if we were with her, Elsa went down the steps, and slipped into the front seat.
"This feels weird," Harry said out of the side of his mouth as he and I slowly made our way towards the car.
"I know."
He must have sensed my hesitation, or maybe he had reservations of his own. "We could find another way," he offered.
Tempting as it was, Requiem's warning about disregarding Christoff's hospitality came back to me. We'd been promised Christoff's protection while we were in London, and his human servant probably fell under that category. "We may as well," I said grudgingly.
As soon as I shut the door behind us, the driver put the car in gear and we drove away. The car was pretty nifty, I had to admit. The leather seats were really soft, and I had enough room for my legs that I could almost stretch them out straight.
I felt someone's eyes on me, and looked up to see Elsa staring at me over the back of the seat. I put my legs down, feeling foolish and slightly embarrassed. "Why are you doing this?" I said, annoyed. "We don't need an escort."
Elsa pinched her lips together. "Do you really not know?" she demanded. With a look to Harry, then back to me, she let out a frustrated growl and slid back down in her seat until I could only just see the top of her head. "Ask your incubus, he at least has brains in that overly handsome body."
I reached for the pocket where I usually left my cell phone, before remembering that I had left it in St. Louis. Well, it was late at night in St. Louis, I thought as I closed my eyes and concentrated very hard on Jean-Claude.
Ma petite? Jean-Claude's voice echoed faintly in my head. I could feel his concern washing over me. What is it? Are you harmed?
No, it's not that, I reassured him hastily. But something's come up.
What is it? Jean-Claude demanded.
As I concentrated, I could dimly see him, now, in his office at Guilty Pleasures. We're going to take Harry for shopping and then to the train station, I told him.
You and Jason? Jean-Claude asked, more puzzled than anything else now.
Not Jason, I replied, opening my eyes. I knew Jean-Claude saw what I saw, the top of Elsa's head.
He sighed. I see you have met Christoff's human servant.
You bet I have. I couldn't keep the irritation out of my head. Why the hell didn't you tell me he had a human servant who was just a kid?
Because Elsa is not a child, ma petite, do not forget that.
Either way, why didn't you tell me? Why did Harry have to find out for us?
Find out what?
That she's a witch! Like Harry is!
There was dead silence in my head. Finally, Jean-Claude said, She is not like Harry.
Bullshit. She knows the same stuff Harry knows. Harry says she feels like his kind of witch, and that's good enough for me.
Ma petite, I did not know, Jean-Claude said apologetically. Was this why you wished to speak with me?
No. Briefly, I told him what Elsa had said, about escorting Harry around today. What I can't figure out is why.
Jean-Claude stood up and walked around his desk, pacing across his office. What did Christoff say last night, after he bit you?
To me? Nothing, the ungrateful bastard. He told the room that me and Harry had his protection, that was it.
There was another moment of intense silence from Jean-Claude. What were his exact words? he finally demanded. I could feel the excitement in him, but couldn't figure out what was causing it.
I thought hard. He said that Harry was welcome in his lands, under his protection, for ten years. And that I got the same thing.
Jean-Claude laughed. The son of a bitch laughed in my head as I sat in the car, growing more and more frustrated with every second.
Jean-Claude, if you don't stop that, I swear I will never sleep with you again! I exclaimed, fuming.
Jean-Claude got himself under control quickly. I do apologize, ma petite, but it seems as if the very thing that Christoff feared, that he bargained so hard to prevent, has come to pass.
Which is what?
The answer lies not in his words, but in what he did not say. Jean-Claude settled himself on the edge of the desk.
He offered Harry his protection, I thought that was his point, I said, still not getting it.
Protection from what? Jean-Claude asked mildly.
From-- I stopped. No.
Oui, ma petite. By not specifying what he was to protect you and Harry from, he is obligated to protect you from all things, while you are in his lands.
I sat still, too stunned to do anything. That's insane!
That is why Elsa is with you, and quite possibly why she is so very upset with you.
Hey, this wasn't my idea! I protested. I did what I said I'd do!
Jean-Claude was slightly amused. Perhaps remind Elsa that you will be out of her Master's city later today, and that Harry will soon be beyond his reach.
I glanced over at Harry, who was watching me closely. I quirked up the side of my mouth in a bit of a grimace. He didn't look reassured. Is she a danger to us? I asked Jean-Claude, more worried about the next three hours. Will she give us away? Let Harry's enemies attack him or something?
I do not think so, ma petite, Jean-Claude said, growing serious. Christoff's pledge was made in front of a large gathering of his allies. To go back on that, or allow his servant to do so, would greatly damage his position, which is all that matters to him. I believe you are safe, from Elsa.
I let out a shaky breath. I don't like this at all, I thought. It's not at all what we planned.
I know, Jean-Claude said. However, we can use this to strengthen our position with Christoff. When you have safely returned to St. Louis, I will contact him and attempt to offer him something to sweeten the deal. He has placed himself on the line, ma petite. It will be in our best interests to offer him more.
No more blood, I replied immediately. Jean-Claude rushed to soothe me.
Of course not. In fact, I will discuss this with Asher, and I hope to have a solution for your perusal upon your arrival.
I let out a slow breath. I'll see you when I get home. I looked out the window, watching the buildings pass us by, and knowing Jean-Claude saw them too. I love you.
As I love you, ma petite. Jean-Claude withdrew from my mind, leaving me alone in the car with Elsa and Harry.
We drove deeper into London.
Harry held the car door for me while I slid out of the car. Elsa told the driver to stay where he was, then she closed her door.
"Can you see it?" Harry asked, grinning ear to ear.
"See what?" I asked as I undid the top buttons on my jacket, to make my gun more readily accessible.
"The entrance to the Leaky Cauldron."
I reached around to make sure my knife was safely sheathed, looking around distractedly. "You mean that dingy pub place? Are you sure this isn't a joke?"
Harry's grin got wider. "No, not kidding. Come on!" He took me by the elbow and pulled me across the street. Elsa hurried along beside us. Her whole personality had changed the second we'd stepped out of the car. She was acting like a little kid, just the way she looked. It was unnerving.
"Hood up," Elsa hissed as she pulled open the door on the pub. Harry pulled his hood over his head as he entered, towing me with him.
The place looked like a mix between a seedy bar and a Halloween party. People wearing long cloaks and pointy hats, in all sorts of strange colours, sat at the dimly-lit tables in the pub, nursing cups of tea and plates of greasy food. A few heads looked up as we entered, but they saw Elsa and seemed reassured. Fools, I thought in disgust.
We kept walking through the pub and exited the back into a tiny bricked-in yard where they kept the trash cans. There was no way out.
"You have got to me kidding me," I grumbled. Harry turned to me, face mostly hidden under that ridiculous hood, but I could see the edge of his mouth curl up in a sly grin.
"Watch," he promised. He pulled his wand out of his sleeve and used it to tap the bricks on the wall.
As he pulled his wand back, the brick began to wiggle, then a hole began to grow in the wall, until there was an archway in front of us. Beyond the arch lay a cluttered alley, bustling with shops on each side.
"See?" Harry said. As he put his wand away, Elsa bounced at his side.
"Let's hurry!" she said, sounding for all the world like a twelve-year-old girl. She took Harry's left hand in hers, and pulled him along with her. I walked a step behind, thinking. She had taken his non-wand hand. He could still grab his wand if threatened. Maybe Jean-Claude was right after all, about her coming along as protection today.
"Where are we going first?" Elsa asked, swinging Harry's hand.
"Gringott's," Harry said in a low voice. "I need some money before I can do shopping."
I warily eyed an owl perched on a sign outside of a place called Eeylops Owl Emporium. "Is the bank open this early?"
"They should be," Harry said. "Look, see? People are going in and out." He pointed to a large building, made up of leaning white columns. I wouldn't have thought the place wasn't safe for habitation, but maybe they had a different kind of building inspector here.
We went up the steps and in the open doors. A few feet inside the entrance, our path had been roped off, leading to a security checkpoint manned by two midgets.
No, not midgets, I realized. Even though Harry had told me that the bank was run by goblins, I didn't understand what I was seeing at first. Two black-suited goblins, with shrewd eyes and very long fingers, ran a long wand over the man ahead of us, while a third goblin poured over a ledger.
"This is new," Harry said softly.
"Is it going to be a problem?" I asked.
Elsa pressed herself against me, looking like a child in need of reassurance, even as her sharp nails dug into my hand. "The goblins make money, and protect money," she said. "All they care about is that we're not going to blow up their money."
"How do you know that?" I demanded.
She turned an innocent face up at me, and smiled sarcastically. "It's called common sense." She let go of my hand.
The man ahead of us was waved through, and the goblin behind the ledger said, "Next!" in an irritable voice.
Harry stepped forward. "Are you carrying any Acromantula venom or moonstones today?" one of the goblins on the ground asked.
"Er, no," Harry replied. The goblins began running their wand over Harry.
"Name," demanded the goblin behind the ledger.
I could hear Harry sigh from here. "Harry Potter," he said.
"Clear!" the goblin with the wand said, and shoved Harry forward.
Elsa danced up next, smiling widely at the goblin behind the ledger. She gave her name as Elsa Christensen, and was soon shoved along.
I stepped up, feeling inexplicably nervous. I'd gone through metal detectors before, and I'd probably have to explain the gun and knife. Maybe they wouldn't want me to go into the bank with the gun. I could wait outside, even though the thought of leaving Harry, even for a minute, did not sit well with me.
The wand in the goblin's hand started whistling as it passed over my chest. I winced. Out of nowhere, three other goblins appeared in a circle around me, looking very unfriendly.
"What do you got there?" the goblin demanded.
Very carefully, I pulled back the side of my jacket to show the butt of my gun in the shoulder holster. "I have a permit to carry--"
"Not that," the goblin demanded brusquely. He pointed the wand right between my breasts. "There!"
It took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about. Carefully, I drew up the chain around my neck, hidden under my shirt, until my silver crucifix spilled into my hand. "It's my cross," I said, letting it lie against the black of my shirt.
The goblins around me all looked at the one behind the ledger. He leaned forward, staring at me with piercing black eyes. "You've been dealing with vampires?" he demanded. I met his gaze. "Name?"
"Anita Blake," I said, biting out the syllables.
The goblin's head bobbed. "Anita Blake," he repeated. "Carry on!"
In a flash, the extra goblins vanished, and I was being shoved toward Harry and Elsa. "Sorry about that," Harry said as we walked toward the tellers. "They didn't have this last year."
"I usually have worse from airport security," I said. "But why would my cross make them all worried?"
Elsa snorted. "Because, necromancer, your crucifix has residual raw power," she said. "How many vampires have you wielded it against? How often do you call the power of your God to it?" She shook her head, silky hair flying. "Don't you know anything?"
It took a great deal of effort to not snap at the girl, but I didn't want to cause a scene in a place with all these unfriendly creatures. Harry stopped at a teller window, and I leaned against the marble counter to look around.
"Harry Potter," Harry said, holding out a tiny key. "I'd like to make a withdrawal."
The goblin behind the counter glanced at the key, then at us. "Will everyone be doing down to your vault?"
"Yes," I said, just as Elsa said, "No." We glared at each other for a moment.
"I'll be going down by myself," Harry said. He turned to me. "I'll just be a few minutes," he promised. "It's the safest place in London, down there. I'll be fine."
"Harry--"
"Cross my heart." He pulled his hood back a bit and smiled at me. "You can sit and keep Elsa company."
"Goody," Elsa muttered.
"I'll be back in a bit," Harry promised as a goblin came up to him and led him toward a door at the end of the room.
Another goblin appeared at our side. "If you would care to wait," he said, indicating a bunch of chairs and couches off to the side of the main room. I didn't really have a choice but to follow Elsa over to the couches.
She plopped herself onto one of the couches and began sorting through a pile of magazines on a table. "Relax, if you are able to," she suggested, the childish inflections seeping out of her voice. "Your paladin will return to you in one piece."
I glared at her, not really sure what she was inferring. "Jean-Claude told me why you're so pissed off," I said.
Elsa pulled a magazine from the pile. "Did he?" she asked. "Did he tell you that we used to go years, decades, even, without experiencing the kind of upheaval that you've forced upon us?" She got up from her couch to sit right beside me. "Did he tell you how Christoff's word is worth more than his word will ever be?"
"That's--"
"Quiet," she hissed. "This is not about you, child." Her eyes were flashing with anger. "I have been with Christoff for centuries. I have seen him at his best and at his worst, and I know what he will and will not do. After being tricked into promising what he did last night, he will protect you and the boy, and I will be damned if I do not help him keep that promise!"
"Christoff wasn't tricked!" I said, indignant. "I did what I said I'd do; if he wasn't able to handle the power, that is not my fault!"
Elsa clenched her hands tightly in her lap, balling up the blue-grey fabric of her cloak. She took a few breaths, eyes steady on my face. "Perhaps that explains why Jean-Claude has taken such a fancy to you," she said after a moment. "He always did like to surround himself with strong people. That way, he does not need to put himself out to protect them."
"That is not true!" I exclaimed. A few goblin heads turned at my outburst, and I lowered my voice. "Why do you hate Jean-Claude so much?"
"Ask him yourself," Elsa said. She let go of her cloak, and smoothed the fabric out. "Weakness is not something to be vaunted, no matter how pretty the face or talented the fingers."
I blinked at her, thrown. What the hell was she talking about?
Elsa picked up the magazine at her side and put it on her lap. Harry's face was on the front, smiling sheepishly. I reached for the magazine, but Elsa slapped my hand away. "Has Harry not told you about this?" she asked, flipping open the magazine. "How he fought Voldemort and not a wizard among his people believed him? How they called him mad, a liar, an attention seeker?" She stared down at the well-thumbed article. "These people are all the same."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. There was a deep-seated hatred in her voice that hadn't been there when she was talking about Jean-Claude.
Elsa closed the magazine and pointed at Harry's face. The image blinking cross-eyed as her finger poked the glossy cover. "These people do not value their children, in any way," she said. Her finger trembled on the magazine. "They never have, and they never will."
"Are you talking about Harry, or yourself?" I asked.
Elsa's face was blank, but her eyes were full of such a burning hatred that I flinched. "Do you know what the Church used to do to children accused of witchcraft?" she whispered. "Children sent home from their first year of magical school?"
"Like you?" I hazarded a guess.
She looked at me, hard. "I came home, twelve years old and full of warnings not to use magic. My parents married me off the next day."
Her words, and her rage, hit me like a brick in the stomach.
"The very next day, my new husband," she spat the word out with vitriol, "went running to the Church that his wife was a witch. They built a pyre that very day." She went up on her knees next to me and put her mouth next to my ear. "The wizards who promised to protect me, who promised me a world of magic, were content to let me burn, to preserve the secret of their world."
"How..."
"Christoff." She slid back down to the couch. "He pulled me from the flames."
"And made you his human servant."
"He gave me a year." Elsa stared straight ahead, not looking at me. "A year to decide. And I made this decision." She blinked slowly. "I spent years, hearing of children the schools had abandoned to the flames of the Church. A world that abandons its children is not deserving of any regard."
Across the building, Harry came out of a door, his hood back and his hair windswept. He had a large sack in his hands. Spotting me, he held up a hand, then followed a goblin to another counter.
"Did you go to school in Scotland?" I asked stupidly, still trying to work my way through what Elsa had told me.
"They have such schools all over Europe," Elsa said. "But it matters not." She shoved the magazine in my lap. "They continue to do it, with this boy."
I stared down at Harry's face. He looked younger. Not just age-wise; there was something about his eyes that was more innocent, less hard. What had happened to him after this picture was taken?
"They claim he is the only one who can defeat the bad wizard," Elsa went on, her voice cold now. "That he is some kind of chosen one, to beat back their nightmares."
I looked up from the magazine, to see Harry walking toward me.
"When he dies for them, they will applaud his sacrifice, never acknowledging that they were the ones to set him aflame on the pyre of their own cowardice."
"Why do you care?" I said suddenly. "Why does it matter to you what happens to Harry?"
Elsa stood up as Harry drew nearer. "Because my people do not live in this world, but they will be blamed when the chaos and death spills into the streets of London. When the humans realize the vampires and wererats have nothing to do with the deaths, it will be too late." She drew her cloak tight, and marched away across the spotless marble floor.
"Anita?" Harry asked, coming up to me. He frowned after Elsa. "Is something wrong?"
I stood up, feeling rather shaky. "I don't know."
Harry shifted his hood back a little. "What happened?"
I shook my head. "Elsa happened. Come on, we're short on time."
Harry looked as if he wanted to press the question, but he kept his mouth shut as we left the bank.
We managed to catch up with Elsa outside. She was once again acting like a little girl. The act was jarring me, and I had no idea how to respond to her anymore. I wanted to dislike her. I really did, but I think she had told me more than she wanted to, in the bank.
"Books next?" Elsa said, hanging back on Harry's arm.
"Robes firsts," Harry said. His footsteps slowed as we passed a shuttered shop. A large sign above the door blinked "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes " in gaudy colours. "I wonder where the twins are?" Harry said, frowning.
"Friends of yours?" I asked.
"Yeah. Fred and George Weasley. I thought I could introduce you." He shook his head. "They must not open until later."
"Come on," Elsa said, tugging on him. "You wouldn't want to be late for the train."
"Yeah." With a last glance at the shop, Harry let Elsa pull him down the street.
Her destination was a clothing shop. A bell rang over the door as we entered. Out from behind a pile of fabric bustled a plump woman with a wand in her hair and a pincushion on her wrist. "What can I help you with?" she asked, smoothing her hair back.
"I need some new school uniforms for Hogwarts," Harry said, pulling his hood back.
The woman's hands flew to her mouth. "Oh, so late?" she said. "Dearie, your train leaves soon!"
"I know," Harry said, but the woman was already rushing around.
"Off with your cloak! Up on the stool!" she ordered.
Bemused, Harry threw me his cloak and hopped up on a fitting stool in the middle of the room. The woman was back instantly, a levitating tape measure at her side. She took one look at Harry and sighed.
"You children grow up so fast!" She dropped the cloth she was holding, and pulled out her wand. Soon, an array of folded robes were hovering around her. The tape measure zipped all around Harry, measuring his chest and the length of his legs. "I remember when you were in here for your first robes, when you were the girl's age." She pointed at Elsa, who smiled back vacantly at her.
At the woman's instructions, Harry donned a black robe. A floating pair of scissors and sewing needle attacked the fabric at his feet, sewing it up to a manageable length.
"Now, dearie," the woman said, turning to Elsa. "Is this your first year at Hogwarts?"
Elsa shook her head. "I go to other school," she said, her voice suddenly thick with a German accent. "Not here."
"I see," the woman said. She looked at me, but didn't say anything.
A few more snips of thread, and Harry had his robes. His purchase bundled up into a package under his arm, Harry paid the lady with large coins, and we were back on the street.
"That was painless," he said. "Usually, she's the biggest chatterbox in London."
"That's Siva," Elsa said idly, hopping along on one foot.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "He wasn't that big of a gossip."
Elsa laughed. "Siva loves nothing more than to talk about what others are doing," she said. "He only talks to important people, and loves every minute of it. Don't tell me he didn't slip you some information on the side."
Harry's cheeks went red.
"But discreetly," Elsa continued as we approached a shop. "He can be a good friend."
That peculiar announcement behind us, we entered a large bookshop. Harry made a beeline for the front counter. Elsa vanished into the stacks, but I went with Harry. "Excuse me," he said to the clerk.
"Yes?" the harried man said without turning around.
"I need my schoolbooks, for seventh year, at Hogwarts? I didn't get my letter."
The man turned around. "Your train leaves soon! How haven't you gone shopping before this?" he demanded. He got a good look at Harry, and began stuttering an apology. "So sorry, Mr. P--"
"It's okay," I interrupted before he said Harry's name in that loud voice. "We just need the books."
The man didn't even spare me a glance. "Of course, right away. What are your subjects?"
In a few minutes, a pile of books larger than me stood on the counter. "How are you going to carry this?" I asked Harry.
"Same way as my suitcases," he mentioned, frowning as he counted out a pile of gold coins from his little money sack. "Bloody expensive."
"Don't forget these," Elsa said, popping up out of nowhere. She dropped a stack of heavy old books on the counter. The top one had the word Vampyr written in fancy script. I gave her a look. "A little light family reading," she said, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Fine, these too," Harry said, shoving them at the clerk. He paid without incident and shrunk the books to a tiny size, and put them in his pocket. We left the shop and the awed eyes of the clerk behind, emerging into the pale sunshine.
"We need to get going," Elsa said shortly. "Driving to the station at this time of day will take a bit."
We walked rather fast along the street, passing nervous-looking witches and wizards. A few people glanced at Harry, anonymous under his hood and cloak, but no one's eyes lingered long. I got a few glances as well, but they were derisive, as if they thought I didn't belong here.
Harry's steps slowed as we passed another closed shop. "Olivander's," Harry breathed. "Why isn't he open?" Before I could protest, Harry peered into the dusty window. "It's empty," he said. "Why is it empty?"
"Your wand maker is smarter than most," Elsa told him. "Smart men don't get involved in wars."
Harry swung his head around to glare at Elsa. "Then it's a good thing I'm not smart!" He stalked off down the street.
"See?" Elsa said. "He's listened to what these people tell him. He'll die for them, because they are too scared to do so themselves."
"Oh, shut up," I muttered, taking off after Harry. I'd had about as much as Elsa as I could take.
"Aren't you coming?" Harry asked as Elsa rolled down her car window.
She looked at the two of us, standing on the sidewalk at King's Cross Station. "If you can't survive a trip to the busiest station in London, I wash my hands of you," she snapped. "We'll be waiting to take Anita back to the house."
"What about this cloak?" Harry asked.
"Keep it," Elsa responded and began to roll her window back up.
"Well, goodbye then," Harry called. "Such a friendly woman," Harry said under his breath, leading me into the station.
"Are you sure we haven't missed your train?" I said. "Because you can always come back with us."
Harry spared me a grin. "It's only ten to eleven," he reminded me. "We've got plenty of time."
The place was packed with people, hurrying to their trains. I really didn't like this many people around me, my claustrophobia acted up. Suddenly, I felt a warm hand in mine. "Wouldn't want to lose you," Harry said in my ear, and pulled me along with him.
Quickly, we passed several trains. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"Platform nine and three-quarters," Harry said.
"Where?" I exclaimed. I was looking at Harry, and didn't really notice as he pulled me directly into a wall.
I flung up free hand up, but it passed through the wall like the bricks were made of mist. I opened my eyes to see a large steam engine next to a platform. Some parents were herding kids onto the train, while others stood back and waved at children already in their compartments. Past us, officious-looking wizards strode up and down the platform, casting dark glares at everyone.
"Come on," Harry said. He pushed down his hood, then guided me along down the platform. We passed several people, most of whom turned away when they spotted Harry's face.
One woman, a tall blonde, glared at Harry as we walked past. There was something about her, something familiar, yet I knew I'd never seen her before.
The steam from the train's engine rolled thick overhead, completing the strange, sombre mood. I could feel Harry at my side, warm and familiar.
Someone came toward us, and we instinctively separated. A little boy was running down the platform, but came to a halt when he spotted us. As we drew closer, I could feel a familiar presence about the boy. He was a werewolf.
The child watched, frozen, as Harry and I walked around him. Then, quick as a flash, he dashed away.
"He must be new," Harry said, looking after the boy. "I've never seen him before."
"Is it a good idea, sending such a young... you know, kid like him, away from his parents?"
Harry shrugged. "Probably not. But I'll keep an eye out. Hopefully Professor Dumbledore knows what he's doing."
"One can hope," I said. "Did you see that woman back there? The one who was glaring at you?"
Harry met my eyes. "That's Narcissa Malfoy," he said. "She's Bellatrix Lestrange's sister."
"Oh." Maybe it was the magic, but the mention of Bellatrix made my stomach clench.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked.
"I guess." I pasted a brave smile on my face. "You need to get going, remember?"
"Yeah." Harry hesitated, then pulled a fold of bills out of his pocket. "About this summer..."
I glared at him and the stack of English pounds he held. "What about this summer?"
Harry bit his lip, looking at my face, then separated the pile in half. He put half the stack back into his pocket. "I borrowed a lot of money from Jason," he said, giving me the other half. "I told him I'd pay him back. Can you give this to him?"
I took the money and shoved it in the pocket of my jeans. "He knows about this?" I asked suspiciously.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, he gave me money to buy clothes and stuff."
"Okay, then."
The train whistled, startling me. I wasn't ready for Harry to leave.
"I have to go," Harry said, looking torn. "You'll-- stay safe, okay? Don't let Elsa bug you too much?"
"Harry..." I took a step toward him. The train whistled again.
Quickly, Harry leaned in toward me as if he was going to give me a hug. But before I could figure out what to do, he bent over and ran his tongue along my lower lip, the submissive werewolf greeting.
He pulled back quickly, a shy grin on his face. I was too shocked to do anything. It crossed my mind to hit him, but technically he hadn't done anything wrong.
I touched my mouth, trying to find something to say. "No more Jason time for you!" I exclaimed finally.
Harry let out a burst of surprised laughter, and jumped up on the train just as it started to move. "Goodbye!" he called.
I waved at him, smiling now. God, I'd miss that kid.
"Wait!" came a little voice from behind me. The little werewolf boy came tearing down the platform, panicked. "Wait for me!"
If the kid tried to jump on the moving train by himself, he might fall under the wheels. "Harry, wait!" I called. I held my hand out to the little boy. "Come on!" I said to him, grabbing his sweaty hand and pulling him along. We ran together to where Harry was standing on the steps of the carriage. Harry caught the kid's hand and hauled him bodily onto the train just before we ran out of platform. I stopped running and had time for one final wave before the train rounded a curve, and Harry was gone.
I dropped my hand. I didn't know when I'd see Harry next, and the thought hurt. I blinked hard, smiling at how silly I was being. He was going off to school, and I'd see him again, one day. Jason was right.
Letting out a sigh, I turned around and walked back to the gate. I had to get out of here before Elsa decided to leave me behind. I wouldn't put it past her. I still hadn't figured her out.
As I approached the wrought-iron gate, I saw someone coming toward me out of the corner of my eye. I let my hands drop loose to my sides, in case I needed my gun or knife in case of a fight.
The woman, about as short as I was, was dressed in a worn sweater and a clashing skirt and blouse. She was flanked by two tall identical men, each with flaming red hair. "Excuse me," the woman said briskly.
I put on a blank smile. "So sorry, I have to meet someone," I said, and kept walking.
"No, it's about Harry!" the woman called, and rushed to keep up with me.
I stopped. "Are you with the media?" I demanded suspiciously. "I have no comment."
"Why were you with Harry?" one of the twins asked, frowning at me.
Was this another of those stupid things about not consorting with muggles? I put my hands on my hips, getting pissed off. "Who Harry Potter travels with is none of your damned business, now is it? He can spend time with whoever he wants, magical or not."
The woman's eyes travelled down. I followed her gaze. My jacket was gaping, and my silver crucifix was shining against my black shirt in the light. I dropped my hands and stalked away. This time, the woman and the two men didn't follow me.
Elsa didn't speak to me on the drive back to the house, which was just fine with me. I was still smarting from the encounter with those redheads, and under it all, I really missed Harry. He'd been constant presence in my life for the last month, and now he was gone.
I found Jason lying on top of Requiem's coffin, reading a book. He shot up when I came through the door. "Is everything all right?" he demanded.
"Yes," I said with a frown. "Why?"
"You look unhappy," Jason said, laying his book down. "Is something wrong?"
I started to say no, but just shook my head. "It's been a long morning." I slipped out of my jacket, and dug the pile of bills out of my pocket. "From Harry."
Jason took the money and stared at it. "I was just kidding him, about needing to pay me back."
"Well, he did." I undid my belt to remove the shoulder holster. "I think he was going to try and give me some money too, but he didn't."
"Must have been the death glare," Jason said. "What are you doing?"
I pulled my necklace up over my head, and laid it on top of the belt. "We've got a while to go until the plane trip. And I need to feed the ardeur before we go to the airport."
Jason's face lit up in a wide smile. "Really?" He spread his arms wide. "Take me."
I smiled softly as I sat down to remove my boots. Jason leaned over to help me.
"Are you going to be okay?" he asked.
I pushed my hair back. "I guess. I just... I don't like the idea of leaving Harry here."
"He'll be fine." Jason laid his hands on my knees. "He's smart, he's dangerous, and he knows he has a place with us if he needs us."
I frowned. "I don't have to like it," I said.
Jason leaned up and kissed me softly on the lips. "Neither do I."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 08:35 pm (UTC)*zips off*
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 08:45 pm (UTC)Loved the Harry/Jason puppy pile.
Loved the scenes in Diagon Alley.
and I especially love the fact that it's not over yet. :D
Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:10 am (UTC)Oh, it's so not over.
PS: Your icon makes me giggle.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 09:00 pm (UTC)this was a good chapter, a bit of an end of an era, but not an end, really.
i have all sorts of questions, now, too, like... what did jean-claude mean when he said that elsa is not like harry? he wasn't referring to age, was he? what are you going to do now that they are all separated from each other? i suppose voldemort has to be dealt with, so i do look forward to that. and what harry is and isn't going to tell people about his summer. and the baby werewolf at the station! harry can be such a good rolemodel :)
anyway, v. exciting. i look forward to part ii!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:31 am (UTC)Glad you liked it :)
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Date: 2006-01-15 09:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:34 am (UTC)Molly was probably too surprised by Anita's stance. Anita wasn't hurting Harry at all, and I think if there had been any other send-off than Harry licking Anita's mouth, Molly would have reacted differently. But when you see a boy the age of your youngest son kissing a slightly older woman you've neer seen, you get thrown.
I assume.
Siva... we will see, won't we? (And yes, he can call snakes).
Hard to believe it's over....
Date: 2006-01-15 09:29 pm (UTC)Now, for all that was running through my head - That was NOT how I saw the first meeting between Anita and Harry's friends going ;) I also enjoyed the insight into Elsa's character.
And Harry's already making furry friends! With him being an alpha and all, who knows - he could be the new leader of the Hogwarts werewolf pack! Monthly meetings in the forest anyone? ;)
Great chapter. I was so giddy to see an update ;) Can't wait for part two.
Re: Hard to believe it's over....
Date: 2006-01-16 05:39 am (UTC)not until about 9 chapters in. It's been pretty much unchanged, large plot point wise, since then.
Glad you liked it. Hope Part II meets with the same happiness!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 09:48 pm (UTC)I'm really growing fond of Elsa, and I find it amusing that Christoff essentially declared himself against Voldemort due to being drunk. That has a *lot* of interesting potential ramifications, further complicated by Harry's ancestry.
Are you going to be focused on the HP side of things, or will the POV continue to shift?
(I deliberately didn't ask whether AB things would be spilling into Hogwarts or vice versa. I figured the way I phrased it was neutral enough to not spoil the plot. Granted, I could just wait for the next part which, given the rate you've been going, will probably be ready in a day or so, but I'm curious.)
Poor Anita, though... She strikes me as someone who has a hard time letting go of someone who she's let in. I imagine she'll be cranky for some time to come. Well, more cranky. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:46 am (UTC)You're quite welcome. I figure Harry has quite enough to do, withouth spending time dragging Anita from store to store. Plus, Elsa would hex them both :P
I think Elsa pretty much laid out that she and Christoff were against Voldemort's war. They want things to remain the same, where English vamps are protected by law, and the wererats are safe, so the protection they offer holds.
How to answer the POV question -- it will not be exclusivly HP, but for the next little while, the main action will take place from Harry's POV. See? That was nicely phrased.
Anita is cranky. She's had to leave Harry behind, has to deal with Asher when she gets back, plus all the stuff JC *forgot* to mention. Oh, Harry should he happy that he's not in St. Louis in the coming week.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 09:58 pm (UTC)Wow. It's been nearly a year. Freaky. Here's too a long and fruitful shelf life.
The meeting with the Weasleys was interesting. Intriguing. I'd wondered why Gred and Forge hadn't been in their shop when you mentioned it. And the fact that the three Weasleys hadn't gone up to Harry to say goodbye, yet watched him with Anita...hmm... Has Dumbledore said anything to anyone about Harry's circumstance? Wouldn't he need to inform key members of the Order of the Phoenix of Harry's recent developments? (must check that chapter with Dumbledore again, I think. My memory doesn't serve me well enough, it seems)
Also, Elsa? I do like her. I don't know why, but she's all sorts of awesome. It's the snark, the bitchiness. She counters Anita's holier-than-thou attitude perfectly. I loved the part where Harry gives Anita the submissive werewolf greeting. Naughty boy, especially since he's an alpha. *smirk*
There are a few spelling and grammatical errors in this, but otherwise it's perfectly perfect in every way. *grin*
I had to smile at them at the sight of them.
Did you forget a comma, or did you repeat a few words?
"I told him to leave everything in his suitcases night
and whisperer. That's all I caught on the second reading, I'm not sure if I missed anything that I'd caught during the first reading. I was just skimming the second time.
Now for some thoughts: Wonder what Elsa's trauma with Jean-Claude is. Although it sounds personal. And an image of Jean-Claude connected in a sexual way to a girl who looks twelve/thirteen is just a little scary.
I noticed that while Anita constantly refers to Elsa as "girl", Harry referred to her as "woman". Is he more open minded, therefore more accepting, than Anita? Does he realise that she's older than she looks and therefore had adjusted his thinking?
One little thing I was wondering about. In chapter 44, you said that Christoff was gradually gaining power throughout of England. And in this chapter, you've revealed that Christoff hasn't specified from what he'd protect Anita and Harry from, so would that mean that Christoff would be obliged to involve his people in the Wizarding World's fight against Voldemort? And if so, wouldn't Elsa's point about the humans targeting vampires and wererats prove to be moot?
I just have to say again. I love Elsa. I don't know why, but I do. Fantastic chapter.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 10:00 pm (UTC)I have such love for Jason.
(no subject)
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Date: 2006-01-15 10:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 06:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-15 10:53 pm (UTC)The thing I liked best about this chapter was Harry's goodbye to Anita. I can't wait for the next chapter:)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 02:32 pm (UTC)Glad you liked it!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 12:33 am (UTC)And nice swerve with the non-meeting of the Weasleys! I imagine the owls between Molly and Harry will be flying thick and fast.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 02:52 pm (UTC)Testify. I needed Anita to hear that from someone else, to reinforce her opinion of the WW.
Harry and Molly.... more likley Molly and her darling daughter. "Um, Ginny, can you ask Harry..." which will go over like a tonne of bricks.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 12:56 am (UTC)And the little werewolf! Awwww. I hope you include their interaction during the next chapter, because you're at a perfect point to do so.
But yes, great chapter.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 01:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 03:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 03:17 pm (UTC)Glad you liked it :)
(Been meaning to ask: What is your icon of? It's really pretty)
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 03:44 am (UTC)the baby werewolf is terribly sneaky of you, i must admit. they will, of course, do the same thing to him as they did to remus, and harry, of course, will have none of it. i can see him causing quite a stir protecting his new packmate. interesting way to bring the problem to remus, 'cause you know it's gotta go there.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
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From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:03 pm (UTC)I will certainly continue, and post-haste. No need to lose the momentum, I say.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:22 am (UTC)Somethings up with the Weasleys and something has happen while Harry was away but what is the question? hummm... And who is the little werewolf boy. Already hes intertwining himself with Harry. Grin can't wait for more.
Jessie
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:05 pm (UTC)Wolfboy's glomping onto Harry is all Anita's fault, remember. She just didn't want the kid to fall under the train. We can blame is all on her :D
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:25 am (UTC)I just had the crappiest day at work and when I got home, I found this. It was just what the doctor ordered.
I'm so sad that Harry and Anita have parted ways. *pouts* I want Harry to stay in St Louis... or Anita to hang around a little longer.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:14 pm (UTC)As for Harry and Anita parting ways... it ain't over until it's over. And trust me when I say that it ain't anywhere near being over.
please don't stop any time soon
Date: 2006-01-16 04:26 am (UTC)Re: please don't stop any time soon
Date: 2006-01-16 04:18 pm (UTC)Heh
Date: 2006-01-16 05:27 am (UTC)Mm, jason harry cuteness. Yums.
Goooood chapter, write more soon!
Once again, your writing puts me to shame.
*shame*
Re: Heh
Date: 2006-01-16 04:28 pm (UTC)Once again, your writing puts me to shame.
Not. It's all in the practice. You should have seen some of the stuff I was putting out only a few years ago. Bad, bad writing. But practice makes perfect (or at least a bit better), they say.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:38 am (UTC)Excellent chapter, again. Loved everything :) Can't wait to see how Harry will do with the little wolf-boy...
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 05:47 am (UTC)And aww... Jason and Anita will miss Harry when he's gone. *sniffle*
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:39 pm (UTC)Hey, Harry's going to miss them too. Especially when he gets back to school and has to be a "kid" again.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 07:03 am (UTC)I have to admit, I really like Elsa. She's sharp and no-nonsense. I'm also tending to liking Christoff, though he didn't get much screentime so I can't really say for sure.
"When he dies for them, they will applaud his sacrifice, never acknowledging that they were the ones to set him aflame on the pyre of their own cowardice."
You can turn a phrase like a knife! That's an awesome, awesome line and I think a number of fanfic authors share similar views since I've seen variations of this on several fics.
Can't wait for the next part! And I do hope it doesn't end here!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 04:52 pm (UTC)Next part should be up within the week :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 12:29 pm (UTC)Elsa's my new rolemodel, I don't care what Anita thinks about her :P
As someone else mentioned, thanks for the lovely short scene in Diagon Alley. I cannot stand those long explantions of what Harry should get and why... and all the green robes he bought. It's always green robes. Haven't they ever been told that you shouldn't wear the same colour as your eyes???
Anyways, apart from ranting, it was a good chapter with lots of interesting 'meetings' in it. Anita-Molly (I want to see more of that... imagine Anita invited to dinner with the Weasleys... preferably with at least some of 'her' men there too)
Harry saying goodbye to Anita, licking her lower lip as the good packmember he is... He's alpha but he's still thecnically of lower rank than her, isn't he? And of course, if he didn't dare to give her a proper kiss... it's close enough, I guess.
Anita-Jason, where Jason doesn't look too unhappy with the thought of taking another one for the team. Well, I'm not sure I wouldn't be either if I was in Jason's shoes, it's not like he has a proper girlfriend waithing for him in St Louis.
Anita-Elsa... I think that Anita might see herself in a couple of hundred years in Elsa and that scares her, even if she wouldn't aknowledge it.
One thing was bothering me, though. Elsa says that it's too early for vampires to be up yet Anita talks to Jean-Claude not long after the comment. Shouldn't he be 'dead' to mind-speaking too?
no subject
Date: 2006-01-16 02:37 pm (UTC)Ooooh, I can field this one!
It's the time zone difference. It was too early for vampires to be up in London. Jean-Claude is still in St Louis, so it would have been around 2-3am there when Anita contacted him.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:great chapter
Date: 2006-01-16 03:32 pm (UTC)First I must tell you what a fine writer you are... you are so good at balancing fluff and plot.. amazing. A bit of fluff helps make the tension of the story wind tighter, the characters have something to lose.The whole Jason/Harry relationship (not slashy.. but sorta..kinda) puppy thing.. balanced against the upcoming war/vamp-political intrigue and the looming fact that good people (maybe Harry) are probably going to die.
OH I would have been dissapointed if you had let Anita get all weepy or maudlin, in any way that wasn't mildly pissed off. (seems to me that is the only "safe" way for her to really express herself).
AND I came to the realization that for the first time in his young adult life Harry has something to live for beyond the defete of Voldemort. This alone should be a HUGE help to him, a goal he is already focusing on, he doesn't have to be a weapon for the Wizarding world.
I am betting Ron has grown up enough to accept Harry with little dram. They went through all that "best friend angst". As far as the the vamp relative thing, the Weasly's are pretty progressive for a pure blood family.. Malfoy on the other hand.. if HE finds out whoo-boy. OF course Hermione will just want to hug the stuffing out of Harry and help in any way she can.
Oh my.. I seem to be rambling.. you know how us old folks are..
Thanks
Now if I could just figure out how to make up one of those cool icon-thingies and create an account..
Re: great chapter
Date: 2006-01-16 05:39 pm (UTC)I'm of the opinion that even the most serious of stories needs some fluff, if only to prevent it from being dragged down under the weight of its own importance. Here, we've got characters with a good sense of humour and that needs an outlet.
for the first time in his young adult life Harry has something to live for beyond the defete of Voldemort.
Exactly. His goals before have always been negative -- stop Voldemort. Stop Tom Riddle. Stop Petter Pettigrew. Etc. There has never been anything positive for him to strive for. Now, he's got the pack and a family to go back to. Very important things, especially with what I'm planning on doing to him *ahem*.
If you're interested, you can get a free LJ account here: http://www.livejournal.com/create.bml
Re: great chapter
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2006-01-17 02:21 pm (UTC) - ExpandRe: great chapter
From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 12:47 am (UTC)Starting to like the Brit vamps now. They're interesting, really doesn't matter what they want, but they're interesting. *bounces away*
no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 02:59 am (UTC)