The Guardian

1Disclaimer- same as every other chapter I own nothing, everything potter belongs to jkr
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Thanks again to Charlotte without whom I’d be lost in a sea of bad grammar and poor spelling, for that I send you a big heaping platter of eggplant lasagna with lots of melty cheese!!
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Chapter 17
The Truth about Revels

“You want me to do what to Sirius?” Snape smirked at Remus, he had to give it to the werewolf, this was devious even for him.
“I need to find out about him and Rhi.” Remus sighed.
“Jealous?” Snape asked.
“No, merely over protective.”
“Okay, but I want to see it.” Snape smirked again there was no way he was missing this little show.
“You want to stick around while Sirius spills his guts about Rhiannon? Who’s jealous now?” Remus was surprised, Rhiannon had told him Snape and Sirius had been getting along better but this was just weird.
“Not me, I just want to torture him later.”
Remus debated for a moment, Snape was the only one that could help him on such short notice. “Okay fine.”
“Get him into the kitchen in about ten minutes.” Snape turned and stepped through the floo.
Remus waited for a few minutes then went to find Sirius, it wasn’t all that hard considering his heightened senses. Sirius always smelled like some muggle cologne Remus’s cousin sent him.
“Padfoot, what are you doing way out here?” He found Sirius pacing under a tree a good walk from the house. “I’ve been looking for you for a while.”
Sirius looked up, his eyes flashed silver, warning Remus that he was mad about something. “Where is Rhiannon?”
“Inside with the kids, they haven’t left her side since she came back after storming out. I believe they are using Ron wanting to transfigure his robes as an excuse to stick close to her.” It had been Sirius behind the tree when he and Rhiannon had been talking, Remus was sure of it. He probably really thought they were involved now and that she was cheating.
“That woman needs a guard just to keep her in line.” Sirius growled.
Well at least he hadn’t called her anything nasty, Remus thought. “Come on Molly says Arthur has some Firewhisky hidden in the cupboard. We can dip into his stash and you can tell me what has you pacing and obviously mad at Rhiannon.”
Sirius glared at his friend, he’d always been a bit naive when it came to women. He didn’t want to hurt him by telling him the woman he loved was a lying bitch. With a sigh and his head hanging he followed Remus into the kitchen . Snape was seated at the table, the bottle of Firewhisky already in front of him and one glass already poured.
“Remus, your wolfsbane will be ready in the morning if you want to come by Grimmuald place to get it.”
Remus nodded and filled a glass first for Sirius then himself. “Are you going to tell us what has your boxers in a bunch?” Remus asked after Sirius had drunk half his glass.
Sirius stared at Snape a moment, “what was in that?” He nodded towards the bottle.
“Veritaserum.” Remus answered then looked at his own glass. “In the bottle, not the glass huh?” He asked Snape.
“Yes, figured it would be more convincing if nether of you could lie.”
“Smart.” Remus nodded.
“So why are you mad at Rhiannon?” Snape took over the questioning as Remus sat down.
“Because she’s cheating on you with me.” Sirius covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes sparking silver again.
“I’m not with her.” Remus rolled his eyes.
“I just heard you two say you loved each other.”
“Yeah we do but not in the way you think. I love her like I love you.” Remus glared when Sirius snorted , he glanced at his glass noticing there was hardly a drink gone out of it. Remus sighed and drank his glass of whisky.
“Happy? Ask me about Rhiannon and I now.”
“How do you feel about our resident Guardian Mutt?” Snape was enjoying this now.
“Like I’ve never felt about anyone else.” He growled at his own inability to keep his mouth shut.
“And you Remus, how do you feel about Rhiannon?” Snape turned to the Werewolf.
“Like she’s my sister.”
“Interesting.” Snape smirked. “And how do you feel about me?” Curiosity got the better of him.
“Like you’re an okay guy, a bit of a prat but with what we did to you as kids we deserve it and more.” Remus glared at him. “Nice Snape, very nice.”
“And you Mutt?”
“Surprisingly, I like you. Maybe if we hadn’t been such bastards in school we could have been friends and never met Peter.”
“I’ll take that as a long overdue apology.” Snape saluted them with his glass.
“So how much did you put in that bottle anyway?” Remus asked.
“In the bottle? None. But I coated the inside of your glasses with it. I wouldn’t waste that much of the stuff for what would take only a few drops.”
Sirius sighed , “Think we could do this to Rhi? Just to find out who she’s bound to and why she didn’t tell me she was bound before she went and kissed me?”
“Yes we could, and she’s bound to…” Remus realized what he was about to say and shoved his robes in his mouth to muffle the answer.
“Who’s she bound to?” Snape asked, seeing the panicked look in Remus’s eyes.
The answer was garbled again by robes. “Stop it! I cant tell you, she only just told me and made me swear on penalty of pain that I wouldn’t tell anyone until she did.”
“Fine.” Snape sighed looking annoyed.
“Is it someone we know?” Sirius asked watching the werewolf.
“Yes.”
“Is it someone that was here tonight?”
“Yes. Stop it Sirius.” Remus howled.
Rhiannon could hear them in the hall, she knew the kids had just wanted to keep an eye on her but she really did need a break. She had slipped down to the kitchen hoping for some peace if only for a few seconds when she heard the men talking. She had heard enough to know they were probably on Veritaserum but when they asked about who she was bound to she decided to interrupt.
“Remus, my dear. You wouldn’t be about to spill a secret would you?” She gave a smirk that she knew rivaled Snape’s at his most evil, getting a guilty look from all of them.
“Yes. But they’re making me.” Remus hastened to explain.
Rhiannon looked the three over, seeing no signs of the potion in Snape’s eyes she figured it was just the other two.
“You do know what will happen if you tell don’t you?”
“Yes. I know.”
She smiled, she really did love Remus, he was like the brother she never had. He was so quiet most of the time, she liked seeing him joking and carrying on with the other two men. She turned her attention to Sirius, taking in his disheveled appearance.
“You wouldn’t be trying to get Remus to break a promise he made to me would you?”
“Yes.” Sirius mirrored her smirk.
“Hmm what should I do to you for that?” She knew he couldn’t resist answering, knew she was being overly seductive in front of Snape and Remus.
“Shag me stupid?” He winked at her.
“Hmm maybe later. For now I believe maybe we should be heading back to Grimmuald Place. You three seem to get into trouble when allowed to play alone to long.” She grabbed the bottle of whisky from the table and put it back on the shelve where she’d seen it earlier.
“Yes ma’am.” The three responded smartly.
“Insolent boys.” She grinned, but followed them into the living room. Molly had already gone to bed, explaining that her husband Arthur wouldn’t be coming home tonight, he was staying at work for something. Molly had whispered that he was studying some muggle object that had been confiscated from Mr. Lovegood, Luna’s father.
The small group flooed back to Grimmuald place, where she bid them goodnight. Her day had been rather trying and the headache that had been pushing at her since this morning was finally winning the battle. She drank a headache potion and curled up on her bed, listening to the guy’s muffled voices coming up from the kitchen below. She didn’t know what she’d do if they found out who she was bound to, she looked at the tattoo on her wrist. It glittered brightly in the moonlight streaming through her window, she could make out a pair of large ears and the letter ‘S‘ , it wouldn’t be very long if the lines continued shifting as they were before someone would recognize the image and probably the name scrawled above it. She shifted in bed tucking her hand under her cheek and tried to figure out how she could guard an innocent soul with out offering comfort. There was just no way to keep her presence a secret, and Lucius would start to use his new charm as soon as he thought he could. She did need some kind of protection, but dragging an innocent man into this just to keep Lucius from hexing her every once in a while? That she couldn’t do, she’d made it through school without protection and she’d known a lot less then. She shook her head knowing she couldn’t do it, no matter how much Remus begged and Dumbledore goaded. She listened to the soft murmurs from below her a few more seconds before sleep claimed her.
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It was three days later when Rhiannon felt the pull again, and knew it would Lucius. She was sitting in the empty library as Sirius and Remus were upstairs going through some junk in the attic and Snape had been called to a Death Eater meeting. She wrote her note and stuck it to her door, including a list of instructions on how to heat the platter of food she’d left in the cooler for dinner.
Her robes were securely fastened and a dagger hidden in the inside pocket when she appeared in a large room. It had the cool empty feeling of a warehouse, the bit of sunlight that made it through the grimy windows illuminated dust motes and scattered bits of paper. She wandered around on silent boots , never betraying her presence until she found the pretty witch, curled in a corner, the dark mark hanging like a death shroud over her head. Rhiannon looked at the woman, feeling hatred at those that would torture her burn in her belly. She sat down and wrapped her arms around the crying woman, making shushing sounds like a mother would a child.
“Am I going to die?” The witch asked.
“Yes, you are.” Rhiannon couldn’t lie.
“Is it going to hurt?”
“Probably before. But not during, I promise.” She would take as much of the girls pain into herself during the torture, and knew it wouldn’t be enough to keep her from feeling all of it at least on some level.
“You are her aren’t you. The one my mother always told me about when I would wake up from a nightmare about dying.”
“Yes Deirdre,” The woman’s name flew through her mind along with images from her short life. She had lived as if she knew it would end too soon. Rhiannon supposed she probably did know, figured most people knew at least subconsciously when their time would come. She continued to stroke Deirdre’s long red ponytail and listen as her breathing deepened, she’d worn herself out with fright, probably for the best. The sun set, making the room even cooler, Rhiannon pulled the witch closer, not wanting to risk a warming charm on them. The selfish part of her hated when she was called so early, had to wait knowing there was nothing she could do to change what was going to happen unless They told her she could. The logical part said she was called when she was needed and would stay till the end no matter what. She hated the logical part of herself sometimes.
“It’s cold in here.” A squeaky man’s voice echoed from the doorway. Rhiannon immediately woke Deirdre up, she didn’t want her taken by surprise. The woman turned large frightened green eyes at her, pleading silently for help. The most Rhiannon could do was squeeze her shoulder, offering her own strength and taking as much of the other woman’s fear as she could manage.
“The Dark Lord wants you brought to him.” The squeaky voice belonged to a short fat little rat of a man Rhiannon recognized immediately as Peter Pettigrew. He Hadn’t changed at all in the last year or so since she’d watched him bring Voldemort back in the graveyard. She’d wanted to kill him herself but hadn’t been able to, had settle instead for taking the brunt of the Crucitus curse that had been used on Harry that night. She shuddered with the memory of the pure hatred that had powered that curse and how she’d been unable to stop her hands from jerking wildly for a week after that night. She stepped aside while Peter levitated Deirdre from the floor, but held her hand as he started moving with her. She nodded encouragingly at her, hoping this wouldn’t last long, that Snape would be there to end it like he typically did. Giving a bit of mercy to the Death Eater’s toys as much to end his own suffering as to end theirs.
The room they entered was large, lavishly furnished and full of dark wizards. Rhiannon sighed, a revel, this could go on all night. She glanced around, noticing a man and woman across the room, dressed just as she was, standing in much the same position, their hands on the shoulders of a man and a woman. Muggle-Guardians, Rhiannon nodded at them and they nodded back. She had met each of them before, at other revels. Despite what many believed she wasn’t the only one. Muggles had many Guardian’s in every country, while witches and wizards usually only had one or two depending on the population in the country. Rhiannon just happened to be the Guardian for Great Briton and Ireland.
A hissing voice rose above the crowd, “My faithful followers, we are lucky tonight to have the presence of a very sssspecial guest.” Gods the hissing grated on her nerves, she didn’t know how anyone could stand that for any amount of time. “I will ask that for her benefit, the mud-blood be kept alive until the very end.”
Rhiannon’s head jerked up when a bright light flicked on just above her, she knew only the other Guardians and Deirdre could see her but still felt uneasy with the attention being paid to her place. She knew the ‘special guest’ was her, and hated the knowledge that the pain tonight would be prolonged to torture her as well as the innocent victims.
“Little Guardian, I hope you like the entertainment for the evening, it was chosen with you in mind.” Voldemort hissed again from some unknown corner. She saw the other Guardians start to move towards her but waved them back and pressed a finger to her lips, telling them to stay silent. Two more lights came on to illuminate the muggle victims, one man and one woman, both tied to tables like Deirdre, while the rest of the room was thrown into darkness. Music was turned on, loud and pulsating making Rhiannon cringe. It was like being in a muggle night club, the smell of sweat and drinks. The push and noise of too many people gathered in too little space overwhelmed her. She gripped Deirdre’s hand tighter, as the first Death Eater caressed her face. Peter, Rhiannon recognized his squeaky little giggle and shuddered. She took a deep steadying breath as the pudgy little man clambered up on the table and yanked Deirdre’s legs open. At the last second, before Rhiannon knew the pain would start she yanked a memory out of the witch’s head. A bright afternoon at the park, with someone, probably a boyfriend she put as much onto making the memory seem real as she could. Drawing all the pain from Deirdre’s tiny body. She would pay for doing this later, it would make defending herself harder when they finally finished but she would accept it.
She was able to keep it up for almost an hour, when she was sure Deirdre had slid far enough into her own world she released the image. Rhiannon’s blood was pounding , the screams of the two Muggles could be heard over the pulsating techno crap that assaulted their ears, while their bodies were abused. Rhiannon looked around, she could see the blood running off the table and hated the smell of it, the color, even the warm sticky feel that clung to memories and shaded life forever.
“It’s almost over.” She wasn’t sure how Snape had found her and was able to communicate but felt surprisingly better at hearing his voice in her head.
“How much longer? What else does he have planned?” She asked staring at the masked figure braced against the wall in front of her.
“Just a few more moments. I’ve already released the others,” Rhiannon looked across the room, sure enough the Muggles were lying limp, a green light only she could see still surrounding them.
“He wants to talk to you again. To taunt you in front of his followers, show them that he has power over death itself.”
“But I’m not death, I’m only the one that takes you to the next life.” She argued and saw his barely perceptible shrug, to anyone else it would have looked like he was shifting positions.
“Doesn’t matter to them, they aren’t the brightest lot. They will see what he wants them to see and believe what he wants them to believe.” He stepped forward, his turn. He climbed on the table and pulled a knife from beneath his robes. Her death was quick at his hands, merciful and with out pain as he slipped the blade between her ribs and straight into her heart. Rhiannon caught the ball of light that slid out from under Snape, and tucked it in her robes.
“I hate that you see me do that.” He moved back to the wall a look of self-hatred in his eyes.
“I hate that you are forced to, but am thankful that you don‘t hurt them any further.” The music died quickly, as did any conversations.
“Ah Severus I see you got over excited again. Always were a quick one with a knife.”
Voldemort walked over to the lifeless body of the witch and flicked his tongue out. “Hmm but she was afraid when she died. As they all should be. Good work.” He sounded like a teacher complimenting a student who’d gotten his charm correct on the first try.
“Now Lucius, where is my newest toy?”
Lucius Malfoy separated himself from the dark mass to her side. She could see the edge of her braid dangling from his fingers.
“She is of course still here master.” He knelt down, bowing his head until the platinum locks fell forward, covering his face.
“Make her show herself.” Voldemort demanded.
Lucius held out her braid and looked around the small area still bathed in light, “Show yourself little Guardian, that my lord may give you his orders.”
Rhiannon rolled her eyes, what the hell was that? She wondered but a small movement from Snape prompted her to tug off her hood, making her visible to all.
There was a wave of surprised gasps from those who doubted the existence of Guardians and a few rather disturbing requests for her to join the next revel.
“What do you want?” might as well act as she had last time, if she was too compliant he’d know something was up.
“I want you to look around, see what we did just for you tonight.” Voldemort indicated the room around him. “This could all be yours, if you would join me as my consort.”
Rhiannon gagged dramatically. “Thanks but no thanks, I’m not really into the slithery type.” She crossed her arms knowing he’d be insulted at her lack of respect.
Voldemort raised his wand, “Just as I expected, I do enjoy your little show of defiance but we both know you are mine now. Crucio.” Rhiannon felt her body jerk and hit the ground but refused to scream. After a moment the spell was released, Voldemort’s eyes glowed red and popped out of their sockets, giving him the look of a lab mouse being squeezed by a snake.
“You don’t scream? I will just have to keep cursing you until you give in.” He hit her again with the curse, harder this time, annoyance making it stronger. He had to do it three more times before she could hold it in no longer, her entire body was jerking even after he released her, the pain of muscles being tensed to tight for too long making her scream.
“That’s what I thought. I do believe I have found a worthy pet.” He smiled at the group of laughing Death Eaters, “I like it when they try to resist, makes it so much more fun.” He walked away leaving her lying on the floor and dismissed everyone else.
Snape held back as long as he could with out it being suspicious.
“Go,” Rhiannon groaned trying to lift herself from the floor. “I’ll be fine.”
Snape nodded before walking out. She pushed herself up, every muscle in her body protesting the movements. Concentrating hard on her room at Grimmuald Place she disappeared.
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Sirius and Remus were sitting at the kitchen table discussing the werewolf pack Remus was staying with when there was a loud thud from right above them. Dust poured down on the pair as they watched the ceiling.
“What was that?” Remus asked.
Sirius shrugged, “I don’t know, that’s Rhi’s room.” They sat a moment longer until ceiling shook again.
“What the hell?” Sirius jumped up, wand ready and raced up the stairs, Remus on his heals.
The portrait of Mrs. Black had awoken at the sounds and was screaming insults before they entered the room.
Sirius knocked, and hearing no response pushed the door open. “Rhi? You in here?” He stepped in, the room was dark, only the smallest amount of moonlight filtered through the drawn drapes. The room was in perfect order, the bed made, clothes neatly folded.
“Oh Merlin.” Sirius rushed to the full length mirror, Rhiannon’s body was sprawled halfway out of the solid looking glass. “What the hell is this?” Sirius grabbed her pale arm and tugged. She slid easily across the floor but didn’t open her eyes.
“She must have been attacked again.” Remus grabbed her feet as Sirius lifted her to her bed. The pounding of Snape’s footsteps drew their attention to the door.
“What happened tonight Snape?” Sirius asked, he wondered suddenly who came when a Guardian died. Rhiannon looked pale, her dark lashes looked like bruises on her cheeks and her breathing was shallow.
“Voldemort Crucioed her until she screamed.” Snape pulled out a potion bottle and handed it to Sirius, “Took him four bouts and almost thirty minutes.”
“And you just stood there?” He yelled.
“I couldn’t do anything, if I had tried we would both have been dead.” Snape helped yank her boots off.
Remus pulled a blanket from her closet. “There isn’t much we can do for her,” he covered her up. “She’s not going to die, we’d know it if she was.”
“How can you be so sure. Look at her, she looks like a corpse already.” Sirius growled.
“Trust me, we’d know.” He didn’t want to say it was because the man she was bound to would be dead already, so kept that to himself.
Sirius continued to hold her to him, taking some comfort in what Remus said, not so much the words but the tone he‘d used. “Is it just me or does she get hurt every time she turns around?”
Snape nodded.
“She’s always been like that.” Remus replied. He conjured another chair and dropped into it. “She was hurt the night we met.”
Sirius looked at his friend then Snape, who dropped into the rocking chair behind him.
“I could smell the blood on her, she didn’t know that I knew. Lucius had torn open her leg.” He shook his head and grabbed her hand, stroking her limp fingers. “She has a scar that runs from hip to knee on her left leg.”
Sirius looked down, she wore a pair of fitted black leather pants, that must be what she was always rubbing at when she rubbed her thigh.
“He used to summon her in the middle of potions.” Snape sighed. “He knew her schedule. She’d be back by dinner time, usually a bit bruised but every once in awhile I remember a broken arm or scratches.”
“And nobody did anything?” Sirius glared at the men before him.
“There was nothing any of us could do. He had this charm, he made from her hair in her third year.” Snape defended. “And don’t blame Remus, he didn’t even know her until after she left Hogwarts.”
Sirius knew they were right, he shook his head, he hadn’t even known her that long, who was he to get upset at them? This wasn’t like him, before Azkaban he’d been more of a love’ em and leave ‘em kind of guy. So what was he doing getting so attached to a woman that was already bound to another man?
“You are right in that she is injured quiet often.” Snape stood up, followed by Remus.
“She’s going to have to marry one of us.”
“And what about the guy she’s bound to?” Sirius asked, feeling more than a bit jealous.
Remus answered this time. “Maybe it’ll work out.”
They left Sirius alone with Rhiannon. She was sleeping now, the muscles in her arms and legs jerking randomly. He picked up her hand straightening her fingers to match his own. There were small scars on her fingers and the backs of her hands which he guessed were from her working in a kitchen. Other than that she had soft pale hands with long fingers. Her nails were trimmed and clean. He rubbed a finger along her palm, feeling small calluses and scars there too. He sighed, shifting her until she lay on the bed. Her white robes she had been wearing lay on the floor, a small green bottle next to it. Sirius picked it up, looking at the bright light inside. It looked just like the bottle he’d seen in Snape’s penseive. His attention was drawn to the mirror they’d pulled her from, he reached up to touch the glass and found it more liquid than solid. He could hear whispers and feel the same pull on him that he’d felt in the ministry. So this was her veil, he stepped away staring at the thing warily. She’d probably been trying to take the soul through when she’d passed out. He carefully sat the bottle on her table and dropped into the rocking chair to wait for her to wake up. It seemed like it was going to be a long night.