And maybe that wasn't so bad.
Harry didn't really want to kill the snake and he did want to be OK for his party…maybe it was OK to let Sirius slay the snake. Hadn't Sirius made Harry promise to try and believe that he didn't have to do it all himself?
"I just offer you my ring hand?" checked Harry.
"And mentally let go of the magic." Sirius added. The tension in his face eased and Harry knew Sirius was pleased that Harry hadn't argued with him.
Harry nodded.
"OK, so we have a plan." Remus said.
They all moved back into position. Harry explained what was going to happen to Mother who agreed with him that Lamia needed to be put out of her misery if they wanted to defeat 'the Other.'
Sirius stood in the doorway to the house and Harry stood off to the side. He offered his hand to Sirius who clasped it firmly. Harry willed the Black magic return to Sirius's control.
The snake totem raised its head in mute query all the while keeping Lamia bound.
"Please." Harry instructed it. "Padfoot will instruct you from here."
The totem hissed its agreement.
Sirius grimaced and a line appeared between his brows as he concentrated. The totem flared a brilliant silver, covering Lamia entirely, before disappearing into mist that drifted away and leaving the carcass of Lamia behind.
Sirius staggered a little and Harry steadied him with a hand on his elbow as they were less than politely shoved aside by Caro so she could perform a scanning charm.
"Perfect. It looks like the snake died of starvation." Caro said crisply. "You two should return to the outside while Bill and I retrieve the box."
Harry hovered beside Sirius as they made their way down the steps, Bill jogged up the steps with a wide grin.
"I think I'm just going to sit down." Sirius said, lowering himself to the grass.
Remus surreptitiously performed a healing diagnostic. "You need to rest a bit, Padfoot."
Harry sat down beside his adoptive father and Mother slithered down his arm, curling up beside him in the sunshine.
"Well," Bertie walked over with a smile, "I've reset the prey enchantment as Caro suggested so it is broken again."
"We've got it!" Bill called out. He held a small gold box in his hands. "Caro and I think it would be better to open the box in a controlled environment in the DOM."
"Agreed." Bertie said. He waited until Caro was clear before he flicked his wand at the door and closed it with a magical pull.
Caro immediately whipped out her wand to check the wards. "Everything's back to how it was."
"Well, that's our cue to leave." Remus helped Sirius to his feet.
"You should get clear, Harry." Bill agreed. "We don't know what will happen when we throw the rock through the window."
Harry turned to Mother. "I have to leave now. The others will throw a rock through the window to help explain Lamia's death."
"If the Other comes back, I will tell him that hatchlings were responsible." Mother said.
"We'll send a house elf with your food, I promise." Harry said.
"Come back when it is over, hatchling, and tell me of the Other's death." Mother slithered away before Harry could say anything further.
Remus nudged Harry and Harry stood. Sirius looked really pale and worn. "Are you OK?"
"Just tired." Sirius reassured him. He slung an arm around Harry's shoulder. "Come on. Let's leave them to it."
Bertie took a neutralizer from Caro and tossed it to Wood as they all left Caro and Bill to finish up. Remus suggested they walk back to the original portkey landing site and Bertie agreed. A few minutes later, the others arrived. Bill had thrown the rock from just inside the outer ward but the adders hadn't attacked.
Their arrival back in the DOM was anticlimactic. They all made their way to the research room and Bill placed the gold box down on the central bench and talked Harry through the diagnostic scans they were performing while Bertie sent for a strengthening potion for Sirius and Sirius swallowed it without complaint.
Lawrence stepped back eventually and pushed a hand through his long straggly hair. "The box doesn't seem to have any charms, curses or hexes. It's clean."
"I concur." Caro said.
"As do I." Bill said.
Bertie nodded. "We should open it and check the contents are what we believe them to be!"
He unlocked the box with a simple unlocking charm and the lid flew off to land on the desk, the ring rising up to levitate just above the box. A strange rush of need suffused Harry.
He needed to get to the ring.
He needed to put it on.
He needed…
Why?
Why did he need to get to the ring and put it on? It was like the diary. It contained a version of Voldemort – surely that was bad?
Harry stalled mid-step and suddenly became aware of a panicked Sirius calling his name just as Sirius's arms wrapped around him.
Harry leaned into Sirius shakily. "It's OK. I'm OK."
Which was more than could be said for everyone else in the room.
Lawrence was wrestling with Bertie, Amelia with Caro, and Remus was dragging Bill towards the door.
"It's the ring!" Harry said.
Sirius reached around Harry, waved his wand and sent the lid sailing back to the box; a second wave of the wand later and the ring was pushed back into the box and the lid was back on.
Everyone stopped.
Amelia and Caro disengaged, smoothing their clothing and looking abashed. Lawrence and Bertie righted themselves briskly. Remus immediately let go of Bill who thanked him for the assist.
"So a compulsion charm on the ring." Bertie said, straightening his jacket as they all gathered back around the bench, keeping a wary watch on the box.
"And probably a very nasty curse if you put it on." Lawrence agreed.
Bertie looked over at Remus. "You weren't affected?"
Remus shook his head. "For a second but the wolf in me knew it was a trap immediately."
"And you?" Bertie turned to Sirius who still had an arm around Harry's shoulders.
Sirius glanced at Harry. "As soon as Harry started toward the ring, my concern was for him."
"Your protective instincts as a parent overrode the ring's compulsion. Impressive." Lawrence commented.
Bill pointed at Harry. "Did you break the compulsion?"
Harry nodded slowly. "It didn't make any sense to me. I mean why would I want to put the ring on when it's his?"
"Well, that bodes well for you being able to break the Imperius curse." Amelia said briskly.
"There was something odd about the stone." Lawrence began.
Sirius cleared his throat. "May I suggest we table this for the day? Remus can help you out over the course of next week as he's not affected by the compulsion."
"Sounds like an excellent idea." Bertie grinned at Harry. "I believe somebody has a birthday today?"
Harry flushed and nodded. They left on a flurry of birthday wishes for Harry and made their way to Griffin House where Sirius excused himself for a nap. Harry watched him head upstairs with concern. This was why he preferred doing things himself, Harry thought worriedly; he didn't want anyone getting hurt because of him.
"Don't worry," Remus said, "Padfoot will be fine." He patted Harry on the shoulder. "Why don't you go up and have a rest too? I'm sure you're going to need your energy later."
He sighed but knew Remus was right. He made for the stairs.
"Harry…"
Harry looked back at Remus who smiled at him proudly.
"You were brilliant today. We're very proud of you."
Harry smiled, warmed at the praise and the sense of delight that Remus's words evoked deep inside him. They had another of Voldemort's horcruxes and Harry had helped. It was an excellent birthday present.
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