A Hop Skip And A Jump Away

the price of death

Just as they were entering the old pub a screeching white and grey blur came out of the sky, scaring a good number of people, only to land on Harry's shoulder. Hedwig scolded furiously and whacked the sheepish green-eyed wizard about the head with her wings. Harry fumbled, not wanting to hurt his irate familiar but still not enjoying the owl's reaction after finally finding her human.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! We had to leave. I didn't even have a chance to get my treasures from my trunk," Harry said apologetically, his genuinely sad tone immediately stopping the scolding assault only for the owl to immediately start cooing comfortingly as she groomed his hair.

"~Stupid feather duster! I should eat you for hurting the hatchling!~" Nagini hissed indignantly, only to receive a furious screech and a vicious glare in return.

"~You know I'm not a hatchling,~" Harry pointed out idly as he petted Hedwig, doing his best to sooth his very first friend.

"~You are small, not yet full grown. You are a hatchling,~" Nagini told him stubbornly. Harry simply sighed, recognizing the stubbornness for what it was and dropping the matter.

"Behave, both of you," Harry told both familiars firmly. "You don't have to like each other but you do have to be civil to one another since I'm staying with red-eyes from now on and leaving isn't an option if we want to fulfill our end of the deal."

"Leaving wasn't an option the moment I realized we had a forming soul bond," Voldemort retorted with a snort of amusement as they finally entered the old pub.

Picking an out of the way table the three sat down, unconsciously arranging themselves so that they could watch each other's backs, the two doors, hallway, and fireplace before quietly ordering their food. Snake and bird settled into a staring contest that could have easily been mistaken for them trying to kill each other with their eyes before they finally nodded firmly in silent agreement. They returned to their preferred resting locations on their respective wizards.

Snape noticed, with more than a little amusement, that the two animals discretely or not so discretely mothered both Parseltongue speakers, making sure that they ate enough and remained unbothered by other patrons. Noticing Mad Eye Moody lingering in one dark corner and the slow infiltration of more than one order member into the dinning area he decided to let them figure out the peaceful intentions on their own. Harry placed the jar encased beetle onto the center of the table, pondering whether to try and give her food and water or wait until they got back and she could shift to human form.

"How long do you think it will take for them to realize that we are simply enjoying a late lunch? Nothing more?" Voldemort asked idly, taking another bite of his potatoes and mostly ignoring the order members themselves.

"Considering they still believe that Potter was kidnapped, they probably think he's under the imperious or some other such nonsense. The brat can break the imperious and anything with less power would have to find a way around his stubbornness. Its also probably why Dumbledore had so much trouble controlling him the last time around. Like his father and the blasted mutt his stubbornness could see him bowling through an entire army," Severus said, with more than a little amusement as they watched Harry banish a small piece of bread crust into the jar for Rita to eat.

Snape's attention was diverted by a deep growl as a large black dog knocked Harry out of his chair before standing over him in a guard position. Dragging a startled yelp out of Harry and sending Hedwig screeching towards the rafters for refuge.

"Lord Black," Voldemort greeted politely, with Snape muttering a wary "Mutt" in similar greeting, earning a confused whine from the animagus.

"Sirius! Get off!" Harry complained, pushing ineffectually at his godfather and ignoring the many wands now pointed at the small table and its occupants.