NOVEL WEB Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Russia?
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The article about the death of Moaning Myrtle revealed little, only that a culprit was found and later proven innocent by who else but Albus Dumbledore.
…
It was with a long sigh that Aries left the Hogwarts Library. He had wanted to confront Potter on the matter, but the second Hogwarts' champion had been too caught up in his new girlfriend, Susan Bones, to discuss it.
Draco had told him that it was the Weasley girl that had been taken into the Chamber by the supposed Heir. If so, did that mean that Tom Riddle was alive?
And if he was, how could there be two Heirs? Something was not adding up and Aries hoped that today's meeting would reveal some of the secrets that eluded him.
His associate was waiting for him in the Three Broomsticks and with a curt nod the man went upstairs to the room they had reserved for the Hogsmeade weekend.
Rosmerta gave Aries a bright smile and leaned far more forward than necessary as she handed him a butterbeer.
No doubt it caused other patrons to bend themselves over backwards to impress the barmaid, but he paid her no mind.
Aries sipped on his drink until Aunt Cassiopeia walked in with Sirius in tow. His uncle stiffened considerably at the sight of his nephew but under the glare of their aunt he took a seat beside him.
"Thank you for coming Uncle Sirius," Aries attempted to sound as polite as possible. Their last argument was fresh in his mind, but today would require some civility between them both. "I think you'll be glad you did."
"Aunt Cassi made this seem very important." His voice was rough and there was no doubt that this was the last place Sirius Black wanted to be.
"It is. A guest of mine is waiting upstairs for us." Cassiopeia explained. "He will have the answers you seek." She led them up the stairs to the last room on the right.
The door creaked as Aries stepped through it and turned back at the shocked gasp of Sirius. The man waiting for them stood about six feet tall with a pale face and light brown hair that seemed to be graying.
Thin scars ran along his face and there was a pained look in his eyes. He gave a rough appearance that only contrasted the fine robes he wore.
Remus Lupin looked nothing like one would expect of a werewolf in Aries' opinion. Most werewolves wore shabby clothes and had nothing to their name, but Lupin seemed to have become an exception to the rule.
Aries took a seat facing the door, watching as Sirius took in his old friends' appearance with a flabbergasted look.
Lupin himself looked rather nervous, wringing his hands over and over while failing to meet Sirius' eye.
"Remus." Sirius' breathed out. "You look. . . Hell you look better than I've ever seen you."
"Russia has a unique stance on werewolves." Remus began, his English sounded rough from the years of speaking Russian. "I've done well for myself, better than I ever could have in England."
"Russia? What were you doing there?"
"After everything, well, I had to get away. I knew the laws were laxing there and gave it a shot. My education at Hogwarts allowed me opportunities to work within their Ministry. Department of Magical Creatures."
"Perhaps you should both sit down." Aries interrupted. "You two can catch up after we have had our discussion, and there is much to discuss." Sirius cautiously took his seat and Remus mirrored his apprehension. His uncle downed the offered glass of firewhiskey before turning back to Aries.
"A theory of mine was confirmed shortly before the Second Task, and in turn it supported the theory of my mentor, Vladimir von Reich. He reached out to Lupin and thanks to Aunt Cassi he has joined us here today. Sirius, I'm afraid there is something we have to tell you and it something you will not find pleasant."
"What does Remus have to do with this?"
"Everything." Aries answered. "Sirius, Albus Dumbledore has placed a number of compulsion and memory charms on you since the fall of the Dark Lord, mainly concerning the welfare of your deceased godson, Harry Potter."
"Harry?" Sirius asked. "What the hell do you mean?"
"You ever wonder how exactly Harry ended up with his muggle relatives?" Cassiopeia asked. "Explain to me how the Potters and you, Harry's godfather, abandoned that child."
"I. . ." Sirius shook his head as if to clear it. "It was the best thing for him."
"Purgare mentis." It was a spell of his own creation, derived from his skill at Legilimency.
It reached out with tendrils of magic into one's mind, removing anything foreign within it, no matter how long ago it was cast.
The success of the spell relied solely on the power of the castor, and Aries was incredibly powerful.
Sirius tensed as the magic swarmed into his mind and then slumped as it faded. He grabbed his head and Aries noticed the immediate signs of shock.
The auror leapt out of his chair with a yell, pushing himself back into the wall.
"No!" He sobbed. "It's not true!"
"Sirius listen to me." Remus walked slowly over to his friend and grabbed him by the shoulder. "Weeks after Voldemort fell, I returned at your urging. You told me how you thought I was the traitor and wanted to apologize."
"When I asked about Harry you became confused and your eyes glazed, just as they did now. I recognized the compulsion charm and removed it and you remembered everything."
"You confronted Dumbledore on your own as I went to go get Harry, but he was already gone. I came back only to find Dumbledore had replaced the charm on you, and another on James and Lily."
"You were all in a stasis and he tried to place a compulsion on me. It didn't work so he made all of you reject me. Made you all think I was jealous of how successful you all were and you forced me out before I could even tell you what happened to Harry."
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