Mind Trap

The Hired Help 5/?


Not a single moment had passed since he had entered the Library, everything was exactly as it was the moment the door closed behind him, even the cat down the street was still in mid-stretch. It was almost eerie. He shrugged the feeling off and made his way deep into the bowels of the cesspit of humanity know to most as Knockturn Alley. He was off to gather some supplies for an experiment.


Later...


“Jason, I'm sorry you feel that way... It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I'm a greedy and selfish bugger. I don't want to share this secret and the power it brings, plain and simple.” Having found his young friend in their room sulking, he felt compelled to attempt to pacify him. Harry had some practice at expressing himself and his feelings from the memories of the usurper, but it was against his nature to do so.


“I's understands, m'Lord.” Eyes downcast, Jason went about his chores, tidying Harry's numerous piles of notes and putting away books and training materials.


“I don't think you do. I am a Slytherin in mind, body, and soul, but you have the heart of a Hufflepuff. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but because of it we will not always be able to understand each other.” He cupped the younger boy's cheek and gently stroked it, looking on him benevolently. The child had served him well, and he had begun to look upon him as a younger brother.


“Did you find out what you needed?”


It was an obvious ploy to change the subject, but Harry allowed it all the same. “Mostly. I will go again tomorrow, and the day after you and I are going to begin travelling.” Jason was nearly bouncing in excitement, having never before left the Alleys. “I need you to take care of packing everything but the essentials and warning Tom that we will be checking out soon, okay?” The boy nodded and eagerly began carrying out his assigned tasks, while Harry went about his.


Not many people knew there was a public park hidden away in Knockturn Alley, deep inside the twisted warren of hidey-holes and narrow lanes, like an island of fresh air in a miasma of depravity. While his friend packed, Harry gathered his newly bought supplies and journeyed to the moonlit place called Aygül Park.


In the heart of a maze of rose hedges, Harry stood over a steaming copper cauldron, heated by the earth's core. Rich volcanic earth slowly turned into a thick sludge with water from the Vatican, blessed by the Pope himself. It was the base for a casting that hadn't been attempted in over a century. A chant provided the catalyst for the spell, bringing the potion to life. Now to personalize and fine tune it.


“Pinch of shadow for stealth. Lace of a spider for dexterity. Venom of a snake for lethality. Sliver of steel for skill in weapons. Whisker of a cheetah for speed. Shard of a diamond for strength. Drop of mine blood for loyalty. Petal of a rose for beauty.” Harry plucked a rose petal from one of the bushes near him, a succulent blood red petal, after adding all the other ingredients. His warrior-golem was complete.


First it was a hand, followed by an arm, a shoulder... the newborn creature slowly emerged from the cauldron, eerily reminiscent of Voldemort's rebirth. It was almost impossible to judge any fine details, covered in thick, black mud as the creature was. It was immediately apparent that it... she, was far more beautiful than that serpentine monster. Her skin was creamy and velvety smooth where is showed beneath her thick cocoon, with the faint blush a rose colouring her skin. Her eyes were the sickly yellow of the snake venom. Her musculature as sleek as the cat's her speed came from and stretched across a body almost seven feet tall. She was a dark goddess towering above all mortal men, and she was his to command.


She stood before him, mud dripping from her nude body, a blank and glazed look in her perfect, venomous eyes. He placed a gentle kiss on her luscious mouth, breathing life into her. As the spark of intelligence made its way into her eyes, he spoke. “I have made you of magic and my own blood. You will serve me and I will provide for you. If and when you seek to leave me, you shall be bound against causing me harm, but otherwise unimpeded. Do you agree?”


“Yes, father.” With those two words, events were set into motion that would take divine intervention to stop. It was one of those moments, where Fate took the Left Hand Path.


A flick of his wrist produced a fine purple velvet robe for her to wear, and a collection of weaponry for her to don, including a longsword. She was quite pleased with it, and unsheathed it to give it a few test swings before belting it on her back properly. She bowed from the waist, thanking her father for the gifts.


“Do you wish to choose you own name?”


“If you would allow it, I feel that my name is... Juno.”


“Then Juno you shall be. Your main duty shall be the physical protection of myself and one other. His name is Jason. He is a street child I have taken in. I view him as the younger brother I never had. I hope you come to see him similarly. For now, we will be returning to the room we share. I can either conjure you a full bed, a lounge, or a pallet. The preference is yours.” As Harry gathered his belongings, Juno kept watch about them, her senses extended into the night.


“I would prefer a simple chair, positioned before the door so that if one were to attempt to enter that way, I would be awakened immediately.”


“As I said, the choice is yours.”


Jason was more than surprised when a very tall and beautiful woman accompanied Harry into their rooms, but soon relaxed when he was told the basics of how she came to be with them, and what her purpose was. He felt the slightest bit apprehensive, fearing that she may take his place in Harry's life, but he hid the sentiment well. Or so he thought.


Juno could scent the fear and nervousness, and was quickly able to divine the reason based on the furtive looks the boy kept sending her. She thought it best to wait for Harry to sleep before confronting the boy. Her hunch paid off, and the child was still awake long after the father had succumbed to Morpheus's call.


“Jason.” Her voice was soft, but startling none the less in the near perfect silence of the room. “You need not fear that I will supplant you in Harry's favour. You are a young brother to him, someone he feels obligated to care for and about. I am simply a bodyguard.”


The words rang true in the boy's head, though he didn't understand all the words she had used. He sighed softly to himself, and quietly said, “Thank you.”


Harry smiled into the shadows and drifted off to sleep.