Ch. 55

Ratican didn't budge as the smooth words came from Harry's mouth. It was almost as if Harry had said "I need you to help me find my keys" instead of "I need you to help me kill someone."

"Well," Ratican replied, pressing his fingertips together and leaning back in his chair casually, "I suppose this has something to do with your Mate being away from you. Now, tell me. Who is it?"

"It's Patrick." Cain piped in from behind Harry. Both he and his sister were standing there protectively, although Katrin was more obvious and intimidating as she clutched the back of Harry's chair and kept her eyes trained on the man in front of them.

"Gillian? Oh, well that makes more sense." Ratican laughed, "Oh, he's been You-Know-Who's right hand man since Peter Pettigrew was thrown in Azkaban. I'm sure you know him quite well, Canaan." At the last part Ratican trained his piercing gaze on his son. Cain winced slightly as he stared back at his father but that was the only sign he gave that the words had actually hurt him. Katrin's lips pulled back in a sort of snarl.

"Anyway," Harry tried to get Ratican's attention back. Not only to save Cain from the obvious bullying from his dad but also because he was eager to hurry up and get this over with. To finally be able to have Ginny back in his arms and not worry about Chimpy getting in the way of their future. Though, a voice in the back of his head whispered that they were Bonded and their future was likely to be short anyway. "He's endangering my Bond Mate, yeah. And the only way to stop him is to kill him."

"And, how is he endangering her?" Xander asked, looking up. Harry opened his mouth to speak but Katrin cut him off.

"That isn't important. And, anyway, if any of you were to actually be supporters of You-Know-Who if we told you what was happening to her then you'd certainly tell which would be against our best interests at the moment." Katrin gave her family one look then absently started chewing her pinkie nail.

"She's right." Harry said as Ratican started to stand with fire in his eyes. The man looked back to him, his eyes glowed with the fake-kindness that Aunt Petunia always kept in her gaze during civil family reunions.

"Of course." Ratican smiled, though you couldn't mistake the stiffness in his posture as he sat back down silently. He cleared his throat, tapping his ring-covered fingers on the table. For the first time, Harry saw a tattoo on the back of the man's wrist. A gold tattoo that contrasted against his tanned skin. He couldn't see it's figure very well but could tell that it was slightly faded. And, to be honest, the sight of it seemed to have struck a memory deep inside of him. He'd seen that tattoo before...

"I believe that we can help you." Ratican said after a few stretching moments of silence, "But it will require you to meet us part of the way."

"Of course." Harry said. Like he was going to let some people he only just met be completely responsible for saving the love of his life. Or, multiple lives if the books were correct. But thinking about that was enough to make his head feel like it was about to burst so he pushed it aside.

"All we need is for you to make a distraction. Make an appearance, act like you've gone insane or whatnot from being away from her and you're there to kill Patrick. Then, one of us will come from behind and take him down." Ratican said it like it was simple. Or like it was watertight, which it wasn't.

"They'll be expecting that." Cain furrowed his eyebrows and gave Harry a quick glance.

"Not if we time it correctly." Ratican didn't look at his son as he spoke, only Harry.

"What if they kill Harry?" Katrin asked. She had been viciously tearing at her nail and now Harry could make out a small bit of blood collecting at the end of her finger from where she got too close to the bed of her nail. He pressed his lips together, wondering if there was a spell to keep her from her nervous habit. Then again, that habit seemed quite painful so he figured that if there was one she would have found it already.

"We won't allow it." Marcie said sweetly, smiling softly, "And, you'll be there as well. After all, you are his guardian." Katrin nodded slightly and looked away from her father's piercing stare.

"Yes," He said, the corners of his lips pulled downward, "She is..."

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sex·ist /ˈseksist/

noun 

1.  a person with sexist views:  "I want to make it clear that I'm certainly not a sexist"

adjective

1.  relating to or characterized by prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex:

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Ratican smiled once more and stood, pulling his long cloak up with him. He slid his hand in his pocket and took out his wand, pointing it at the food on the table. It all disappeared and Harry almost didn't have enough time to stand before the chairs disappeared as well. He stumbled backward but Katrin and Cain caught his arms before he could make a proper fool of himself.

"Shall we?" Ratican gestured behind himself to the large manor-front and gave Harry a reassuring smile. Every Boyle besides Ratican exchanged glances. Most of them backed up, leaning against the cavern walls or sitting on the floor as they watched the remaining. Ratican started forward and Harry reluctantly followed him with Katrin and Cain on either side.

"Just the Bonded and his Guardian." Ratican said as he marched forward. Harry's heart dropped to his stomach and he glanced at Cain. He didn't look happy about being separated but reluctantly gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze and patted Katrin's cheek before he sauntered back to the others. They didn't pay him any attention as they leaned forward in anticipation.

"Master Potter, you see, years and years ago the spirits chose one family to protect a pair of celestial beings with their lives." Ratican started, "And their bloodline has survived all this time. But there hasn't been a need for a Guardian in ages as there were no Bondeds." They were now nearing the far wall that held the mansion and he had a feeling he knew what this story was about.

"We thought there would be a pair of Bonded a long time ago. Around, say, the 1930's as there was the wizarding war and Grindlewald back then." He took a deep breath with a smile, "OF course, it wasn't me who was the next in line to be a Guardian back then. My own father had just been born and it was suspected that he would be next after so long. But there was never a pair. To be quite honest I wasn't sure whether I would even be alive when the next Bonded ambled along.

"Anyway, that isn't the point. After the last Bonded couple left everything that our family had been in society was washed away. We were bombarded with questions and demands as to when the next gods of our time would come. We didn't even have access to our beloved house any longer and, soon enough, it was destroyed. Or, that's what the commoners believed." He turned to give Harry a wicked grin, "But, no. We and our house survived to wait for our next Masters."

"How did the house get down here then?" Harry asked.

"Well, the spirits of course!" Ratican barked a laugh. Katrin gave Harry a look like 'He's crazy, I know' then faced ahead again. Harry swallowed.

"The front door requires the Bonded and their Guardian in order to unlock." Ratican explained, "I think the spirits were being a little bit overcautious when they did that but who would blame them? Merlin knows whats in there and what it could do if it got into the wrong hands." He glanced at his daughter right then which portrayed a clear message. He obviously didn't think that her hands were necessarily the right hands but wouldn't say anything with Harry around.

"So, these doors haven't been opened since the last Bonded couple died?" Harry asked as they made their way up the stairs. Ratican nodded, his eyes gleaming.

"Katrin, put one hand on the door's hinge and the other on the threshold." She did as he said quietly, though had to get on the tips of her toes to reach the hinge, "You are to open the way for the Bonded with no creaks of defiance. You are to hold them in the center and keep them from harm, yet stay out of their fame as a servant."

He pointed to the circle of swirling gold in the middle of the door, "Now, Master Potter, you and your Mate are supposed to place one hand on the circle, symbolizing the Bond in it's pure glory, but lets hope it would be fine if you were the only one." Harry placed his hand on the circle, feeling it's warmth through his fingers. "Now, take hold of the handle, which represents responsibility, and open the door."

Harry wasn't sure if they really needed all those flowery symbolisms but he chose to ignore the annoyance and just open the door.

He really expected more of a show when he threw open the door but it was just that. The door slammed against the wall like an explosion and there was silence. The doorway was dark. There was an uproar as the Boyle's celebrated.

"Let's just go." Katrin whispered, waving them forward.

Harry allowed a ball of light to form in his hand, which seemed to amaze Ratican and sent the Boyle's back into silence, then stepped forward into the darkness.

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Sorry it took me a while! I've been really busy and have been using my free time to either read or study for the approaching finals so I haven't had much time to update except for a short one shot here or there. I don't know as of know when my next update will be but I will try to make it soon! I love you guys!

-Mercy