Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

The Dark Circle	By : SisterGryffindor Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > General Views: 4815 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: We do not own any part of the Harry Potter series/charachters/movies/books and we do not profit from our writings regarding them.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
He moved down the street several blocks before he paused, then slipped down into the unsavory atmosphere of Knockturn Alley. He slipped into one of the secluded nooks there and waited. Nearly five minutes passed before he finally saw what he expected to see. George Weasley, wearing a dark cloak with the hood drawn over that shock of red hair, came down the alleyway. It really wasn’t much of a disguise; anyone who knew him would know precisely who he was. He was glancing about, clearly searching for something. Jerrod really had no intention of being found at this point in time. He allowed George to move past, barely breathing as he walked by.

He waited several more minutes to be sure that he was not returning, and then he whispered a soft word and apparated away.

The touchdown he made as he landed from his apparition wthis essquilas one of the worst he had made in quite a while. The therapy he had undergone had really affected the strength of his legs and his balance as well, but he managed to avoid anything worse than falling to one knee and both hands. He cursed under his breath and looked about; no one had noticed his arrival in the northern quarter of the lands held by the Malfoy Clan except for lone black piebald horse. That stallion snorted, flicked its tail, and leapt away at a run.

“Showoff.” Jerrod grumbled, pushing himself carefully back to his feet again. He paused a moment to get his bearings, then straightened up and headed directly south. He didn’t have to use any spells to locate his daughter anymore; the mark upon his shoulder led him in the direction he needed to go. He rounded a copse of trees and saw the tent there, the three children standing outside its flaps, clearly awaiting someone or something.

Alyssa brightened instantly when she spotted him and gave a happy squeal, breaking into a run toward him. “I knew you’d come daddy, I knew it!” She declared, barreling into him with a hug. Her weight overbalanced them both; he toppled and she fell on top of him with a giggle.

He grunted in pain, but stifled any further display of discomfort. He did not want her to know that she had hurt him, yet again. She ten years old now, and she was so big that her displays of affection often caused him pain of some sort of another lately. He gave her a gentle embrace and the two of them sat up.

Erin and Erik had come over at a far more sedate pace to join them. They paused a few steps away; Erik had a fully packed duffel bag slung over his shoulder. “I’m ready, Professor.” He said softly.

“I need a moment or two,” he answered reluctantly, finding it difficult to get his ankle to bear his weight. He knew by the time he was finished with this caper he would be lucky to be walking at all. He drew a phial out of his pocket and downed it; the painkiller quickly went to work and made the pain ease considerably. He sighed softly, opening his eyes and looked up into the worried eyes of his daughter.

“Your ankle again, daddy?” Alyssa asked softly, looking quite contrite. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking…”

“It’s truly nothing, my lady.” He said, getting carefully to his feet, wanting to reassure her. “You need not worry so, I’m all right.” He gave her a soft smile, touching her hair.

She smiled back and hugged him again, more carefully this time and then glanced at Erik who was looking particularly impatient. “I guess you have to hurry…”

“Yes, I will need to apparate twice to get to Hogsmeade and then we must walk to the castle in order to get there before the banquet and the sorting.” Jerrod answered, eyeing Erik. The boy looked taller, nearly an inch more than his twin though both were naturally tall. “I don’t understand, though, how this is to work. You’re not of age, Erik…”

“I’ve taken an aging potion.” He said, chin high. “I’ll pass their inspections.”

“You don’t have to convince me, Erik; I’m taking you.” He said, leaning on his cane a bit to take a step forward. “Let’s go already before my common sense kicks in and I go look for Master Lucius.” He held out his arm to the boy.

Erik stepped closer immediately, slipped his own arm through the crook of Jerrod’s elbow and got a secure grip. “Ready, sir.”

Alyssa stood on her toes to kiss her father on the cheek, and then stepped back beside Erin to watch as the two apparated away from Malfoy Manor. “Do you think they’ll make it…?” Alyssa asked softly.

“Yes, I’m sure they will… but I’m not sure how long this will last before they’re found out.” Erin answered quietly. “I only hope its long enough for Erik to get settled… though its going to be really hard without him.”

“We’ll get you through, Erin.” Alyssa assured, taking the older girl’s hand.

Erin glanced at her and smiled softly. “Thanks, Liss.” She murmured.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.

Erik disentangled himself from Jerrod's limbs and got to his feet, his head aching from their fall. This landing had been worse than the last, this time Jerrod had landed on top of him. Jerrod pushed himself to his knees, his head bowed for a long moment. He had twisted his weakened ankle and he wasn't sure at all if he was going to be able to walk.

"Professor Warrington? We have to go." Erik said softly.

"Yes, I know." he answered, taking a shaky breath. "Just give me moment." He murmured, drawing his wand. He hesitated, and then looked at the boy. "On second thought, I want you to draw your wand, Erik. I'm lousy at this and need your help."

The boy hesitated. "My wand…? But Professor, I haven’t been taught any healing spells."

"You'd be surprised what you can help with." He answered; he knew exactly what Erik had been trained in and some of that training would be indispensable right now. Severus Snape had not taken the knowledge from the boy, he had simply locked it away until he was shown the spells in the normal course of learning. It would make the child look like a prodigy, how quickly he and the others of the Dark Circle would master the spells. He didn’t care if it made Snape angry at him, he knew that Erik had been taught spells that would help right now. "Draw your wand, Erik. Now."

The boy did not hesitate a moment further, drawing his wand. "What is it I must do?" he asked in a trusting voice.

"I will talk you through it.” Jerrod assured. “I can't do it; if I tried I'd likely mangle it completely and do damage even a mediwizard couldn't undo." He turned to sit on his rump, arranging his leg with a pained expression. "All right, now point your wand here, at my ankle; yes, just like that." He slipped into his educational, encouraging mode. "Now repeat after me…"

He coached the boy through a healing lesson, simple bone knitting to repair the damage he had just done to his ankle. Erik performed the spell exactly as he should; the training he had as a toddler to young child had not been eliminated and he knew the movements the moment that he was shown. Surprise and wonder, two expressions that rarely touched Erik’s face, warred across his expression for a moment before being replaced again with the typical Malfoy-esque stony mask.

When the spell was done Jerrod flexed it experimentally; it still hurt like bloody hell but he was sure it would bear his weight. He took a firm hold on his cane and forced himself back up onto his feet.

"I didn't hurt it more did I?" he asked softly, unsure of himself.

"Not at all, it'll be all right, Erik.” He gave the boy a smirk. “Sometimes I think that you and Alyssa do nothing but worry about me."

"You're part of our circle, professor. We have to see to your welfare, you’re one of us, you protect us and teach us. And you are Alyssa’s father." He shrugged. "Besides, you don't worry enough about yourself to make any of us happy."

"I don’t have to bother with any of that, Erik, you know that. I’m really not all that important." He shrugged in total self-dismissal, glancing up at the darkening sky. "There’s really no time for this; we need to get moving." Determinedly he began limping forward, leaning heavier than before on his cane. They were at least a ten minute walk from Hogsmeade and from there it was a good walk up to the castle. Maybe they could arrange to take a carriage up to the castle; that would be brilliant.

Erik slipped his wand away and hurried after him without any further question, hoisting his duffel bag back up onto his shoulder.

Angel entered the compartment, buttoning the final button on her Hogwarts school uniform. "Hey, I like your uniform, Alerick." She smiled. "I’m sure that will look sharp no matter what house you end up in."

Alerick had changed while she was out of the compartment and had only moments ago returned to his place beside Mallek on the bench seat. "Oh, thanks. Lord Father Malfoy had it specially made.” He said, brushing the fine silk smooth across his chest. “I'll be in Slytherin, naturally. All of us will be in Slytherin; it's just meant to be that way.” He smiled at her. “But maybe one of the other Potter-Malfoy kids will be in Gryffindor with you."

“Well just be prepared; that silly hat does all kinds of things that surprise people. I heard it did a poem last year that was over ten minutes long.” She giggled softly. “Its put people in houses they ddin’t expect before this.”

“I know where I’m going.” He shrugged with a smile.

“Well, I can say I wouldn't mind if Astrid ends up in Gryffindor; she's turned out okay…" she said thoughtfully.

Mallek looked disgusted at the thought. “Anything but that. Ugh!” he said, rolling his eyes. “Astrid can't stop talking; since she found her tongue its all she does anymore is yap and yap… even if it doesn’t make sense."

"I could put up with her or any of them… except for Lazlo." Alerick said, tugging at his sleeve to straighten it, frowning a bit. "He's still a bully and I really don't like him very much. He's supposed to start this year too, isn't he?"

"Yes, he came with my fathers and me, but he got straight on the train. I saw him; he's up in the first car with a group of other first years. He didn't want to come over and talk to you two and my fathers let him go on his own." She shrugged.

“Doesn’t hurt my feelings in the slightest.” Alerick assured.

"He's avoided the two of you for years now. He’ll play with Alyssa but he has never wanted anything to do with the rest of your group since he stole that ball and Erik hurt him."

Mallek frowned softly. "Erik hurt him…? I don't remember that…"

"You were just a baby when it happened; I really would have been surprised if you had remembered. And I don't even believe Erik really remembers doing it at all. He never did anything like that again.”

“Like what?” Mallek asked.

“He said a spell… sounded like serpent or something, and when he used his wand it cut up Lazlo real bad. That’s where he got the scars on his face and chest.”

“Erik did that…?”

“Yes. I remember it really clearly, it was awful. But papa knew how to reverse the spell and help him.”

“If Erik did that then he must know a spell that does it.”

“I think Professor Snape had something to do with him forgetting. I'm not sure what he did or how, I’m sorry I can’t tell you more. Nonno says I ask too many questions when I try to find out what happened, but I remember a little…" her voice drifted off, and she sighed.

“Maybe I can get more from Lord Father Malfoy.” Mallek murmured softly.

"Anyway, I hope he acts differently at school." Angel said, changing the subject back to their current sibling. She shrugged. "You know, I wouldn't be too certain about what house you're going to be in; remember, the hat has to choose." She reminded, moving to the window to gaze out a minute at the darkened scenery moving past at a blur. "We're nearly at the station." She said.

"Are we…?" Alerick looked out also and could see nothing at all, just dark wooded landscape; lots of trees and deep shadows. "I really don't see anything at all."

Mallek glanced at Alerick, and then back at Angel. He had never been able to put his full trust in Angel like he did those who were inside the circle. They all had matching tattoos and they all responded when he desired something; Angel just didn’t fit in right with the rest of them no matter if Alerick and Alyssa seemed to trust her implicitly. He simply had little faith in her ability or willingness to give her all for any of them. All that aside, he could see no harm in asking her; to see if -- just maybe -- he was wrong about her. "Angel, will you… I mean, I would like for you to please stay with Alerick." Mallek suggested, his tone hopeful.

Her hesitation raised his hopes but he found them dashed. "You know, Mallek, I really wish that I could, but I know they won't allow it." She answered apologetically.

His face darkened. “They? Who the bloody hell gets to tell students what to do?”

“Teachers, of course.” She answered. "The older students ride in carriages to the castle, and that is where I have to go. All the first years go together on the boats across the black lake. It’s very interesting and you get a fantastic first view of the castle that way. I just know that Alerick will enjoy it…"

"I'll be all right, really. You needn't worry, Mallek." Alerick tried to reassure him.

"It's not all right, Alerick! You’ll be alone, and you should never be!" He said with a scowl. “And Lazlo will be on those boats too. How am I to be sure he doesn’t shove you into the water?”

“That won’t happen. He won't be alone at all, Mallek.” Angel tried to reassure him. “There'll be a teacher with him the whole time. I'll be in the Great Hall at my table when he comes in with the others to be sorted." She explained.

"He shouldn't be alone at all." Mallek grumbled, hoping that the plan was well in motion. He had been right; Angel would be of no help to the Circle this time around. His thoughts were interrupted by the unmistakable feel of the train slowing considerably. He felt nervous, suddenly. "I guess we're here."

"Yes." Angel stood and reached for her bags. "Do you see Nonno on the platform? He said he would meet you there."

Mallek leaned to peer out the window; he couldn't even see the platform yet as the train was rounding the last curve. "I can't see the platform yet. But I'm sure he is." He said, his feeling of nervousness compounding. "Are you certain he wasn't angry?"

"It's hard to say with Nonno, he hides it so well. I think he was actually a little angry but he was really happy that you weren't hurt. I did tell him more than once that you didn't mean to do it." Angel answered.

Mallek sighed softly and rose as the train slowly rolled to a halt. He hesitated and hugged Alerick one last time. "Alerick… letting you go is the hardest thing I have ever done." He murmured to him.

Angel turned and gathered her things. "I'll just see you at the banquet, Alerick." She said quietly, not expecting any response. She might not have been there at all, for all the attention they paid to her as she slipped out of the cabin to give them a few more moments.

These two might be young, but it had become abundantly clear to anyone with eyes that the pair seemed to be just in love as Harry and Draco were.

Alerick simply held his Prince for several long minutes, trying to ignore the passage of time and the fact that it sounded like all the other students had already disembarked. "It's hard for me too." He whispered. "But we have to go; Lord Father Malfoy will be waiting." Alerick murmured softly, holding Mallek tightly a moment then reluctantly letting go.

"I don't want to face him." Mallek murmured, gazing up at Alerick a moment. He sighed and opened the door of the compartment, taking the lead. There were a few stragglers left but neither of them paid any attention. Mallek led the way to the first of the train doors and pushed it open, not happy about what he was going to have to face but knowing there was no way to avoid it.

*********Author's Note**********

Sorry for the delay on the next chapter; between school, kids, girl scouts, work, and everything else I have to deal with the story had to have a back burner... but I will pos tit soon!
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Dark Circle