The Guardian

Disclaimer- I Still own nothing. And am extremely envious of J.K Rowlings and her owning of all things Potter.

A/N Okay sorry this one has taken so long, it seems my muse has run away with my sanity and although I know what I want to say, I just couldn’t figure out how to say it…this is what I settled on.

Chapter 7


Remus sat next to his friend in a guest chamber at Hogwarts. Dumbledore had suggested he take a break from the other werewolves for a little while, although he knew it was important to find out what they were up to, Remus couldn’t help being relieved. He was tired of seeing how crappy a human could turn when they gave up on themselves.
With a sigh he turned to the witch leaning against him. She seemed as lost in thought as he was, idly turning a small green vial this way and that making the glowing object inside flicker and bounce.

“What is that you’re playing with?” He growled.

“Oh just that brat Malfoy’s voice.” She grinned.

“I thought you said you put that somewhere he could find it.”

“I will eventually. But not right now.” She snapped her fingers making the bottle disappear. She turned to him, a scowl marring her features. “I can hear him.”
Remus looked into her eyes, for once not hidden behind her glasses, and knew they weren’t talking about Draco Malfoy and his now bottled voice. “What is… how is he?”

She shook her head looking a bit sad, “We need an answer soon. Remus he fell into an inactive veil, it will drive him crazy.”

“Sirius survived twelve years in Azkaban Rhi; he’ll be okay until you can get him out.”
He sounded surer than he felt especially after looking into her eyes.

“Remus, when I take a soul into the veil I use, it’s empty until seconds before they enter. There is nothing, no sound, no color just white. I’m the one that changes that, with out a guardian there he’s sitting in what amounts to a muggle sensory deprivation tank. If what everyone has said and what the children remember Sirius was already on edge from being locked in his house for so long. This, it’ll push him over.”

“What was he saying? How did he sound?”

“He was yelling, said if he could hear me I can hear him. He’s right you know. I’ve heard him talking to himself, I wasn’t really sure what I was hearing at first, this is the first time anyone has gone into a veil unguarded. But then Albus contacted me, and I came here, now I know I’ve been hearing him.”
Remus sighed If Rhiannon was worried then it was serious. “Okay what do we do?”

“There isn’t much that can be done until They answer.” She sighed and glanced at the clock. “The kids will be here in a few minutes I’m going to make an unbreakable vow.”

Remus hissed “My fat Aunt Tilley’s arse you are. You know what happens if you do that.”

“You’re fat aunt Tilley?” Rhiannon glared at him. “I’ve seen your aunt Tilley and she is not fat.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that you aren’t making an unbreakable with them, I know how you seal those remember?” He shoved his sleeve up reveling a fiery grim, her mark.

“I know what will happen to me Remus.” She rubbed her lower back. He caught a sliver of the wolf and moon tattooed on her, his mark. “I have to do this; Lucius will find out soon enough that I’m here. He’ll try something to get close to Harry or one of his friends; I can’t take the risk of him using me to do it.”

Remus gave in; he had no will power where she was concerned, not, when he knew she was probably right. “I’ll get the potions from Poppy.” He drug his feet to the fireplace and yelled out “Infirmary” when the flames turned green. Damn insufferable woman, she’d kill herself if it’d save someone else. He thought apparently too loud.
“Just don’t let anyone know that.” Her voice followed him through the floo.


Rhiannon slumped down on the couch with a sigh. Sirius had sounded so desperate, so alone. She’d never heard someone like this, inside her head. Usually she was called to the witch or wizard with a kind of tug from somewhere near her heart. She couldn’t actually hear the witch or wizard until she was with them. But Sirius had been talking almost constantly; she’d heard spells, hexes, charms, curses and even random words at first. She’d been standing in the middle of a busy kitchen when she’d heard a laugh, a deep masculine laugh. It had sent chills through her making her giggle herself. Then the next morning as she was dropping into bed for a couple hours sleep the charms had started. It’d taken almost two weeks before they’d stopped the whole time that voice had been in her head almost constantly. Then Dumbledore’s familiar had shown up singing in the middle of the street in Muggle Texas. She’d had an idea of what she was hearing then.

“Rhiannon,” Harry pushed the door open, his wand drawn followed closely by the others. “You didn’t answer when we knocked.”

“Oh sorry guys come on in.”

They filed in standing in a line before her each looking a bit worried. “What is on your minds?” She could have just looked and found out but if she did that all the time how were they supposed to trust her? She caught Harry’s eye a smirk on her lips at his scowl. “I have a bit more self control than Severus does, I won’t look unless you give me permission.”

Harry nodded and looked at Hermione.
“We read about the bits of parchment.” She mumbled. “You’re going to make an unbreakable vow for us aren’t you?”

“Yes Hermione, I am.”

“We don’t want you to.”

“That’s not your choice, it’s something I have to do.” She stood up holding out her hand,
“Give me your drawings.”

They looked at each other before digging in various pockets and book bags, looking a bit defeated.

“Well that’s the last time I ask Poppy for a favor.” Remus stepped out of the floo carrying a large bottle. “Hi kids.”

“Lupin.” Harry stood a bit straighter. “You didn’t tell us you knew Lupin.”

“You didn’t ask me Harry.” She smirked as the students surrounded their ex-professor. She wondered into her bedroom, giving them time to catch up, and gathered the things she’d need. She carried a large stone basin much like a penseive but with sharper edges and a bottle of ink as she reentered the living room.

“Are you sure this is the only way?” Remus asked levitating the coffee table out of her way.

“Yes.”

He sighed then turned to the kids. “Harry, you and Ron hold the basin, Hermione take this,” He handed her the potion he’d gotten from Madam Pomfry, “Luna, Ginny and Neville you three stand over there. If you’re going to do this you better hurry up. They can’t be late to dinner.”

Rhiannon stared at her friend a moment, knowing he didn’t want to see her in pain. But she couldn’t think of another way to protect Harry. With a sigh she dropped the parchments into the stone basin face down without having ever looked at them then covered them with ink. Holding her hands out palms down over the black pool she spoke, her eyes closed and voice sounding rich. “I, Rhiannon Angelica Hades, Guardian of Souls, do swear upon my life, upon the souls of my ancestors that no harm shall come to these six, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna, by my hand or my mind. I use these symbols drawn from the heart to bind me to my word. If my word is ever broken may my fate be worse times three. My word is my oath, my blood my bind.” With a hiss she dragged her palms along the basin’s rough sides drawing blood. Harry and Ron were amazed to see the ink draw into her cuts, her nails turning black as her hands involuntarily jerked. Rhiannon could feel her throat closing, her breathing became shallow. Her veins turned black as the ink traveled up from her hands. It stung, her body seemed to fill with pain, and she could hardly breathe now. Her hands drew up the last of the ink as her lips turned black, then fell limp at her sides the basin now empty. The group stared shocked at her; Hermione knew something was wrong; none of the books they had read had mentioned this much pain, or the harsh way Rhiannon was now breathing.

Harry and Ron yelped, the basin hitting the floor hard when Rhiannon’s eyes snapped open, the inky black rivaling even Snape’s in their darkness. At least until she stopped breathing completely, her eyes rolling back in her head and fell backwards into Remus’s open arms.

“Give her the potion.” He growled at Hermione who poured the thick liquid into Rhiannon’s open mouth.

“Is she going to be okay?” Hermione asked her voice muffled by Ron’s shoulder. Remus looked up, noticing everyone in much the same position.

“Yes she’ll be fine. She’s allergic to something in the ink.”

“She knew that would happen?” Harry looked mad.

Remus nodded understanding the teen’s anger. “Yes, she knew.”

Harry hissed before stomping out of the room, Ginny rushing to catch him.

“Is it okay if we come back tonight?” Neville sounded unsure.

“I believe that would be okay, but right now you should get to dinner.” Remus waited for the rest of the teens to leave before gently stroking his friend’s hair. She’d be out for a while longer. “I’m starting to think you’re trying to kill yourself.” He picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. He remembered the first time he’d met her.

“Please Remus, she’s my best friend.” Remus stared into the sapphire eyes of his younger cousin.

“NO Athena. She can’t stay with me.” He knew he was fighting a losing battle but he had to put up some kind of fight.

“Remus Lupin, you live all alone and can barely afford to feed yourself. My best friend needs a place to stay and can help you with expenses but you’re too stubborn to let her.”
She had her fists braced on her hips anger making her eyes flash. “Mama and Papa won’t let her stay with us.”

“You know why she can’t stay with me.” He growled back.
She just rolled her eyes in that way all teens did. “Please, please? Please!”

Remus sighed “Fine, she can stay with me for a month.” He could always find somewhere to go for the full moon.

“Oh thank you Remus! You’re my favorite cousin.” The dark haired witch hugged him tight.

“I’m your only cousin. Now hurry up, the train is leaving soon.”
She rushed out of the shrieking shack only to return just as quickly dragging a small blonde witch behind her.

“Remus, Rhiannon. Rhiannon, Remus.” Athena waved between them. “He’s my cousin. You can trust him I promise.” Someone yelled outside making Athena groan. “Oh I have to go if I miss the train Mama will kill me.” She hugged the pair before rushing out the door. He’d taken a step towards the girl and found himself engulfed in the smell of blood. He must have jerked away from her as she looked up at him with a scowl.

“Look you don’t have to take me in. I’m not a child; I’ll find my own place.” Her voice
was smooth, husky in its growl.

“I’d like for you to stay with me. You just… never mind.” He felt a bit uncertain she obviously didn’t really want to stay with him.

“Whatever, it’ll just be for a month or so.” The month had turned into five years and a failed romance between the two. They had split up but remained good friends, sharing their most guarded secrets. That had been the second time she’d taken an unbreakable vow.

Remus shook his head, pulling himself back to the present. Rhiannon was still sleeping next to him. Her breathing was slow and even the color returned to her face. She looked peaceful in her sleep, something she never looked when she was awake. She was troubled, he knew that. Just as he knew Lucius Malfoy had some kind of hold over her.
He was surprised to find an envelope sat in his lap, Rhiannon’s name written neatly across it.

A/N- Okay I really don’t know if I like this chapter but I needed to get it out, the vow and Rhiannon’s allergic reaction to the ink will come back later in the story. As always please review, good, bad or otherwise!!