The man behind the mask

Caries, Remus stared at the slip of parchment Harry had handed him. He had never heard of the spell he was sure of that, but it seemed familiar. It floated in the back of his mind like the whisper of a memory long forgotten. He had heard this spell cast many years ago, but it was all trapped in the haze of memories that was his youth.

He glanced at Harry, "and he says James used this spell?" He asked, to which Harry nodded a yes. That might be where he had heard it. But if he remembered correctly the one instance he had heard it cast James had been miles away....with Dumbledore. He felt a shade of doubt then, if Voldemort said James had cast it and he couldn't lie about it, then James must have cast it. Which meant his memories couldn't be trusted. He remembered clearly that James had not been present at that particular raid so therefore could not be blamed for what happened to Dunnley.

"Harry this is very dark magic, magic like this is worse even then the unforgivable. They are not on the unforgivable list because no wizard has dared perform them since the time of Merlin himself. Are you prepared for what we might find?" Remus warned him. He saw Harry pale a little but he nodded anyway, Remus felt a glow of pride. Harry was such a strong young man, strong in ways he had never been strong.

He thought on Dumbledore, and apparently weak just where he was weak.

Lucius and Voldemort left the Library leaving Remus and Harry to begin their work.
~~~***~~~~~***~~~**~~~**~*~~~*~*

"I don't know Sirius I think the pink collar makes you look cute." Severus laughed holding a shiny pink collar in his hand. The way he said cute made the word sound filthy, Sirius was tempted to bite, or in his puppy like state it would be more like gnaw his fingers. He just better not even dare! As soon as he was a little more grown, with teeth hopefully he was going to bite the man so hard it would hurt. A little reminder not to screw with him, he wouldn't stand for it. He had, had his head tampered with one two many times for his liking.

"You really shouldn't growl at me like that when I'm only trying to be, what’s the word "nice" is it?" Severus continued a diabolical gleam in his eye. Severus wouldn't know nice if it bit him in the leg! Which Sirius only wished he could do, instead he was forced to wait patiently for Severus to make up his mind on which collar to put on so the man could lead him around on a Leash.

That thought burned a hole in his gut! Oh it was really too much for his pride! SNAPE! He glared daggers into him as he decided on a green one. Severus reached out and gave his head a pat, his puppy insides leapt for joy even as his adult self wanted to shrink in disgust. He was discovering fast that he was now fighting a very internal war between his childlike nature and his adult instincts. The puppy in him was wining, he was a creature of comfort and instinct and he happened to adore Severus touch. He knew it too; the man had a habit of rubbing his belly or scratching his ears whenever the urge to gnaw his face off overtook Sirius.

As soon as he did this Sirius was overtaken by the pleasure of it and forgot his discontent. The sly bastard was a slick one. He didn’t stay angry for long Severus’s fingers sliding through his black fur back and forth over his skin was fast occupying his mind. His tail was wagging, a little bit of his adult human self was mortified at his behavior but his inner dog could have cared less.

Severus was smiling at him, “Don’t feel too bad Sirius, you’re a dog. Dogs like being scratched why fight that you’ll only make yourself unhappy.”

No! What was making him unhappy was the fact that Snape had done this to him in the first place! Well what’s done is done and since it didn’t appear that Snape was changing his mind he mite as well enjoy the benefits. Once he was human again though if Snape laid a hand on him he’d bite it off.

Perhaps he’d give him one warning.

“Alright first lesson learning to use the head I know you were born with and communicating what you really want to say. I’m taking you to the library where your little friends are. They are researching a spell for the dark Lord and you’ll have to help them.” Severus explained once the leash was in place.

Sirius felt a wave of Joy over take him drowning at his confusion. How he was going to communicate with anyone in this state didn’t matter, he was going to see Harry and Remus again. His worries would be elevated it was a gift beyond anything he could imagine. His tail wagged furiously and he yipped in joy. God that was humiliating. He didn’t really care at this point.

Snape began to walk him and Sirius scrambled forward on wobbly stubby legs in his excitement to reach the library. To his surprise he was being jerked back forced to trot at Snape’s side. He looked back at him a growl forming in his throat only made worse by the gleeful smile in Snape’s eyes. He was enjoying this!

~~~~~Change of view~~~

He was enjoying him. It came as a bit of a surprise, he had done what he did for all the reasons he had explained to Sirius. He had needed a way to teach Sirius to depend on and trust him, what better way then reverting him to a child. A child had been out of the question even with speeded ageing it would take him years to reach adult hood again. A dog however aged much faster then a human anyway so reverting him to a puppy had been perfect.

And he wouldn’t lie to himself it was in part the perfect vengeance for all those years Sirius had taunted him. He was having more fun with his new pet then he could ever remember in his life time. He felt a curious sensation every time he held that warm wriggly body. Even when those doe like puppy eyes were glaring at him with an all too familiar hatred he couldn’t help but…

Now that is just beneath you! Desiring someone is one thing but don’t be a fool!” He sharply reprimanded himself, not meaning to pull a little too hard when forcing Sirius to heel again. Sirius let out a sharp yelp of pain and Severus felt a flash of guilt. He reached down and rubbed his side, “I didn’t mean to hurt you Black but you’re going to walk with me, not before not behind but at my side whether you like it or not.”

He watched the little black puppy bristle and shoot him a glare, but he complied trotting side by side with him. Severus smiled at him, he had to admit it felt good to have the upper hand for once. His smile slipped a little because he was realizing what felt better was having Sirius walk by his side.
~~~~***~~~~***~~~~***~~~~***~~~

The first mention of Caries Harry could find was in a book Called Ancient and forgotten spells, by Tamiji Crenshaw. The book was mainly about how over centuries of using magic it was inevitable that Wizard powers would weaken and that spells once commonly used would be used no longer. It was interesting enough to hold his attention he did learn a lot about wizarding spells of the past. It seemed that in the past spells had been stronger and magic harder to perform. A modern wizard would not be able to cast a spell that once everyone had used eons ago. He pondered over this weakening in wizard magic, why was it?

He had a slight inkling and it made him a little angry. He glanced up at Remus who was surrounded by a stack of books. He was curled up on a study library couch his chestnut hair falling in front of his face as he read. He looked so much more alive, Harry thought to himself. He hated this place; he had to it was Voldemort’s home after all. However oddly, he found he had to be thankful to it for the change in Remus.

“Remus do you know about the gradual weakening in Wizard blood over the years?” He asked. Remus looked up from his book and nodded.

“Yes Wizards were once the most powerful beings on earth, and according to the book I’m reading in the time of Merlin Wizards practiced regularly both Light and Dark magic. In the past Wizards had kept to themselves only breading amongst other wizards so it is my guess that is the reason Wizard blood remained so strong.”

Harry frowned realization dawning, “so when the first Wizard mixed with what they saw as impure blood I’m betting anything that any child they had was just a bit less powerful then a full blooded pure wizard.”

Remus nodded, “Not enough to cause alarm or wizards would have stopped it was barely a ripple of difference. However water down a drink enough and it will no longer be the same drink. After so many centuries of watering down our blood so to speak there is now a very noticeable difference between the wizards of now and the wizards of before.” Remus agreed rather sadly.

Harry thought about this, he didn’t know how he felt about it. Hermione was muggle born and she was one of the smartest witches in their year. Smart and magically capable are two different things though. Harry could do a lot of magic she couldn’t do. Was that because he was pure and she was not? That thought was so ugly he wanted to stamp it away. Remus nodded again obviously noting his dilemma.

“Even if it appears to be true that mixing with muggles has a negative effect on the blood that doesn’t give us leave to segregate and annihilate them, nor to ban marriage between those of less then pure blood. If magical power means so much to a person then they alone can make the choice for themselves. It is the way the world should be.”

Harry agreed, but a thought came to him. He remembered the analogy Remus had used about watering down a drink. “Remus, say you had a glass of juice and you filled it up half with juice and half with water. You still have juice just weaker tasting right. Well say you watered it again and again. What happens?”

“You loose all of the juice and end up with water.” Remus stated his eyes lighting with realization.

Harry nodded a fearful glint reaching his eyes, “could the wizarding realm really go extinct?”

“I’m afraid it is possible, according to all the records I’m looking at Squibs did not show up in ancient wizards it is timeline wise a fairly new development in wizarding genetics. I think Voldemort wants us to realize we are out breading ourselves. “Remus was looking off into the distance.

Harry shook his head denial rising up, “Then how come some wizards Like Voldemort and Dumbledore are so powerful. How come their blood doesn’t appear deluded?”

“Because it’s not, Voldemort is a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin on his mothers side. The first time his blood got watered down was from his father. That is why he is so very powerful compared to everyone else. Dumbledore is descended from Regina Ravenclaw, I know because my own mother is related to him. Dumbledore’s blood has never been watered down.” Remus explained.

“Is that why Voldemort always feared him?” Harry asked.

“In part, but I think that fear is all but gone now. Voldemort believes in you he has the weapon in winning the war ahead.” Remus shook his head.

“But why me though? My mum was muggle born, my blood if all this is correct is much weaker then his. Why does he need me?”

Remus looked at him oddly, “He never told you? Even when you pulled the sword from the hat?”

Harry frowned in puzzlement. “You mean the sword of Gryffindor? He said only a true Gryffindor could have pulled the sword from it.”

To his surprise Remus appeared a little angry, “He told us he’d told you, although I suppose in a way he did. He told you exactly what you were without telling you anything didn’t he.” He turned back to Harry staring him directly in the eye. “Harry you…”

Remus paled Harry glanced at him in worry as his face grew ashen and a look of pain crossed his features. He leapt out of his chair to his friend’s side. “Remus? Remus what’s wrong!”

~~~Change of view~~~

He was livid, how could Dumbledore have kept from him the one vital piece of information to his destroying Voldemort. Although possible to destroy Voldemort not knowing it was ludicrous to deny Harry such a weapon. It was the key to his power!

““He told us he’d told you, although I suppose in a way he did. He told you exactly what you were without telling you anything didn’t he.” He turned back to Harry staring him directly in the eye. He was going to correct that mistake right here and right now! “Harry you…”

And suddenly there was mind numbing searing pain bursting in his skull, it was cousin to the feeling of an ice pick digging into his skull. His every brain cell seemed to be shrinking withering in unimaginable pain. He was assaulted with the urge never to speak to lye back and let it happen. The feeling of his very soul slipping away tearing from the seems of his body was excruciating. He could say nothing, do nothing.

He knew nothing of this magic, it was foreign. It was too much for him to overcome.

Even as he thought this electrons in his brain were firing into action. His thoughts became rushed dizzied and disordered. He was analyzing the effects of the magic and trying to form a counter. The magic was old, he could feel it’s thread laying like a viper hidden in the grass unseen until it struck. Now that it had, he knew he had very little time to save himself.
~~~***~~~****

When Severus opened the Library door the last thing he expected to see was Lupin slumped in a chair staring in glazed lifelessness at the ceiling and Potter shaking and screaming at him.

“Potter Don’t shake him you could be hurting him!” Severus snapped, whatever had happened to him shaking him would do him more harm then good. At the sound of his voice however Harry looked up and Severus took a step back. He had never seen such a light of danger in anyone’s eyes except of course in the Dark Lord himself.

His emerald green eyes seemed unnaturally bright in their fury his body braced with tension, there was power swirling in his eyes mixing with the storm of rage.

“What did you do to him?” Harry demanded.

Severus had never feared Potter or really understood why the Dark lord respected him so much. Well as much as the Dark Lord respected anyone anyway. He did now, quite clearly there was more to Potter then met the eye; in truth he had always suspected that but that had merely been his own musings.

“Potter I didn’t do anything to Lupin I wasn’t even in the room. You had more chance to harm him then I!” Severus reasoned standing his ground. He wasn’t going to be punished for something he had no part in. “If you would stop accusing me I might be able to tell you exactly what is wrong with him.” Severus offered advancing slowly as if dealing with a wild animal. He felt he was.

Sirius was snapping and straining on his leash a low whine of fear escaping him as he strained to get to Remus and Harry. “It’s ok Black there isn’t many aliments I cant find a potion to cure.” Severus didn’t contemplate why he had felt the urge to reassure him he just did it.

Harry’s eyes flamed again, “Is that Sirius!” he demanded.

Severus winced, now that he had done. He glared at Harry, “Do you want me to help your friend because we don’t have time to chat right now.”

Harry stepped aside his anger fading revealing concern and heartbreaking worry on his young face. It suddenly hit Severus how very young indeed Potter actually was. He was only nineteen a child wearing the robes of an adult almost ready to leave his childhood however sparse behind but still clinging to its edges. Still so very uncertain.

Severus hardened his resolve; Potter had better grow up fast. He was going to be united with the Dark Lord soon and he would need all his strength to do that. Many of the death eaters would not accept his leadership simply for who he was. He would need to prove his strength and his resolve. They all would.

Severus bent over Lupin and frowned, the pallor of his skin the glazed unfocused look, the way his skin had gone from soft and heated to cold and leathery was frightening in its extremity. He was little more then a vegetable none of his senses working. Severus lifted his arm and let it drop and heard a strange rattling sound like his bones had gone brittle and chalky. He felt a wave of horror wash over him. Caries, he had seen it performed before. The first time he had been so sick to his stomach he had retched on the side of the road. He had almost blown his cover as a double agent right then and there. Edmund Dunnley had not deserved to die like that, no one deserved to die like this.

He shot up grabbing Harry by the arm, the last thing Potter needed to see was his beloved mentor and friend rotting from the inside out. That would be disaster and something so cruel Severus couldn’t find it in him to wish on anyone even if it was Potter. He knew this spell and also knew only one person who was powerful enough to cast it and form its reversal.

“LET ME GO! WHAT’S HAPPINING TO HIM” He ignored Potters protests and Sirius Barking. Sirius was sniffing at Lupin and shuddering. He could probably smell the decay. “If you have any feeling whatsoever for your godson you’ll help me get him out of here right now!” In seconds Lupin would begin to decay outwardly. What usually happened only after death would happen at a rapid rate to a man still living until it killed him. In truth Dunnley had died in nothing short of two minutes, Lupin seemed to be taking a lot longer but it was not something he wanted to contemplate.

What he needed to do was get Potter out of this room and to find his master. He felt a wave of rage, what could he possibly be thinking! For he had to be the one to cast the spell no one else was strong enough. By doing this he had thrown away whatever chance he had of turning Harry. He had tossed oil on the fire of the boys hatred of them all.

“REMUS!” Potter was shouting. Severus felt a stab of pain in his stomach as some invisible force slammed into him forcing him to drop the boy he doubled over in pain. Harry didn’t even seem to realize he had just performed wandless magic his eyes were on Remus who’s skin had turned a mottled color. His eyes stared in wide eyed terror as he reached out to touch his friend.

“Don’t Harry!” the calm cold voice of the dark lord sounded from the door way.
~~~~~change of view~~~~

Harry was on his feet and rushing towards Voldemort the instant he heard his voice. Fear and rage drove him, horror bubbled in his stomach. To his surprise Lucius who was standing next to Voldemort beat him to whatever it was he had planned.

Lucius pulled out his wand something dark and feral in his blue eyes, “Why did you do it? Why didn’t you even tell me you…” Voldemort of course did not take kindly to this display of censure from a servant with a glance he silenced him. Lucius paled his body trembling a little.

“I will deal with you later! What I do and when I do it is none of your concern!” He swept passed Harry and stood over Remus. His body was fast worsening blotches of black and yellow forming on his skin his body shaking. Harry shook with fear, pain lanced through his chest. Remus was going to die.

“No he is not, I will not allow this.” Here he glanced at Lucius, “And that you should have known. I would not be such a fool as to destroy my own hand. I shall revert the spells effect, although our little friend is doing a valiant job of that himself.”

Harry watched his body taught as a bow as Voldemort pulled out as his wand and flicked it in a rapid formation. “Reconcilio”

Harry watched in amazement as there was a bright flash of light and magic spurt from the end of Voldemort’s wand to entrap Remus in its depths. He shivered as it covered him and shone brighter then before. Then it disappeared leaving Remus pale but otherwise normally healthy. Harry felt his knees weaken then and he fell to them onto the floor.

Voldemort was leaning over him even as Lucius went to Remus’s side. Harry glanced up at him anger in his eyes. “You put that spell on him just to prove a point! You cruel sadistic bastard!” Although rage was swimming through him his legs refused to hold his weight.

Voldemorts eyes flashed but he allowed Harry his anger and suspicions. “No I did not; I have cast that spell before but on none that did not deserve such a horrendous death.”

Harry shivered remembering watching his friend begin to decay and felt his stomach roll, he wondered who Voldemort thought deserved a death like that. To be alive and feel your body…he shuddered again stomach leaping inside his body.

Voldemort of course ever fishing through his head answered his thoughts, “It is a rather nasty spell is it not. However it is effective at keeping a person silent.”

Harry felt revulsion bubble in his gut, some one had done this to Remus too keep him quiet?

Voldemort nodded and continued “Memory charms can be reversed, can in deed be broken even by the person cast and in truth are very easily detected. They also have the negative side effect of tampering with the entire memory. This spell allows its victim to go on in their normal state with all their natural intelligence. The only memory affected is ever receiving the spell in the first place.”

Voldemort caught him when he swayed, “Remus knew about your power, your bloodline and exactly who you are. Because he knew your father had it as well, he knew your father was the only one with the blood line strong enough to possibly fulfill the prophecy. He wanted to tell every one, he wanted to tell James himself. That made someone very afraid, afraid that his puppet would realize his own importance his own strength. So he sent that very puppet to silence Remus. Only when he went to his home to do it he made an error, Remus was not alone.”

Harry heard Sirius give a dog like moan and Remus eyes blinked open. His mouth hardened. “I was with Edmund Dunnley a fellow Auror and a friend, A man came in and killed him in cold blood. The man and I fought but he got the better of me and got away. That’s what I remember but that’s not what happened is it.” He spoke for the first time.

“No, the man in truth overpowered you because you were surprised. Surprised that James Potter would murder in cold blood and turn on you. He performed the spell and left the implanted memory. You in turn forgot your need to tell him exactly what he needed to know, with the added assurance that if you ever did remember and started to tell that it would end you before you could speak. So now you know, although I had not intended you to find out quite like that.” Voldemort said.

Harry’s mind was swirling with the processed information. His head hurt with it but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

Was no one in this world good then? Was his blood so full of depravity? Was it a lie, no Voldemort couldn’t lie. He felt laughter bubble up in his chest, of all the things he had ever thought he would say! It shook his body, this insane laughter that was more pain then any kind of enjoyment.

He suddenly couldn’t bare the touch of Voldemorts hands steadying him. It appeared that he had been lead around like a fool all his life. People were forever shaping him into the tool they needed. Fury spiked in his blood and he shoved away from Voldemort it was radiating in his blood mulling his senses like wine.

He was so very alone, no one he loved was who he thought they were, everyone wanted him for their own ends. His father had been willing to sacrifice Remus with but an order from Dumbledore. For what! Power?

Why did Voldemort think this would turn him?

For the first time in Harry Potter’s life he wanted to prove he was not, his fathers son. That he was nothing like either of them. His resolve to kill Voldemort was still in place.

(( Why? he murdered your parents it has always been your reason? Your father appears to have needed murdering. You could murder him yourself for what he did to Remus a man he trusted. What is your reason now? )) Eros stirred inside him.

He shook; he was fast loosing his reasons. He hardened himself, Voldemort had killed many others not all of them were as evil as he was. Most of them were innocents! He let his Death Eaters mame and kill. That alone deserved killing.

((We have killed ))

Yeah but they weren’t innocent!

(( Life is life, once taken it is gone. Who is to judge who has the right to take it away? Who are you Harry Potter that you name yourself god to be the giver and taker of life. God did not come to you and tell you, that you had the right to take any life except the man you see before you. Yet you have taken many in your fight to do just that. You kill he Kills. What matter it if your reasons are different. Killing is Killing. If Killing is evil then are not you Evil?))

NO!

((Then do not name him evil because he kills. It is a mistake I made before. We must not make it again. Perhaps you should look deeper, humans all have depth. When you have the courage to look into them then may you judge.))

Harry Shivered.

A/N: WELLL? Hee hee I had some fun with this, and dont worry Harry isn't breaking yet he's just taken a rather Hard hit. However Remus may be close to cracking. What happend to him in my mind anyway would make me a little less inclined to do as I'm told. Lol there isn't going to be this huge personality change cause that if it ever happend would happen over time I think he'll just be a little more open to what Lucius and Voldemort have to offer. I cant really blame him poor guy that was evil of Dummby. Well tell me what you think.