The Man Behind the Gun

Chapter three

Harry awoke to the smell of roasted stag. It smelled delicious and his stomach growled, loud enough for the Bountyhunter to hear. Amused, the Adult shook his head and gave him a plate, filled with meat and potatoes.
"Thanks, but where did you get the potatoes from?"

"Well, that is quite easy, to be honest. Potatoes are a tuber vegetable. So I just dug up tubers and turned them into potatoes. I hope you still like them though. I rarely eat something that I did not create, so it could be I did something wrong with the molecules."

Harry took a bite and smiled. "No, it tastes delicious! Did you get the seasonings the same way?"

A chuckle escaped the Alchemist. "Yes, indeed. Salt made of sand; pepper, parsley and other herbs from the grass. Quite an easy task, if you were taught by one of the smartest and most capable Alchemists in the universe."

The young Barghest agreed and both ate in pleasant silence their meal, enjoying the atmosphere.

After their Meal, the rest meat was packet into cooling boxes, the plates got washed, and after a shower and changing clothes, Harry folded the tent magically together, put it in his trunk, and changed with Gordon Location.

As Logan reached where their camp once had stood, they were long gone.
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"Ahm... I don't want to be nosy, but where are we, kid? We changed Location twice today, and you keep spacing out. You ok?"

Hadrien blinked, looked around and gave a sheepish smile. "Uh, yeah. Ahm. How much did you hear? When I was with the Goblins, I mean."

Apple-green meets Emerald and the Killer sighed. "I heard what your relatives had done to you. I know of your many titles, and about you being the Master of Death. You are also widely known to have terminated some pretty old bad guy. So, what's up? Why do you look so spooked?"

The young Grim sat down at the ground, and sighed, relieved that Gordon had already known, but also, even more, stressed. "When... when I had been asleep, earlier, you know... I did not dream. I had a meeting with Lady Death. And... She told me to go there. Here she would bring us back in time, to save someone from, well, Death. A Kid and it's Mum. She said the Kid is important, but when I can save the Mother as well it's even better. I... I am sorry I pulled you with me into this Bullshit, I am so sorry, I can ask her if she lets you stay, or-"
"NO! Its ok, lad. I wanted to protect you then, and I will protect you now. As an Alchemist, my life is longer than average. I age slower. You have the same problem because of you being the Master of Death. Also, who would I be to leave a Minor alone?"

Harry smiled as Gordon ruffled his hair, and couldn't help but feel a little sad. Gordon had many characteristics like Sirius. It stabbed him right in the heart.

"Now, when Will Lady death come? Special Time?"

The Wizard nodded and stood up, wiping his brows. "She meant she would come as soon as I... As I sorted everything through. She was sure you would want to join."

"AnD I WaS rIgHt." A Voice hushed, cold and melodic, and both males tensed as they turned around. Harry bowed while Gordon dipped his non-existent hat.

"Lady Death I suppose. A Pleasure. May I request that you also speak with me? Harry is still a Minor in my eyes, I do not wish for him to drown in distress." For someone who kills for Money, Gordon showed Death little Sympathy, and it made her smile, well, if you can say that.

"Ah, Mr. LiNcOlN. As YoU wIsH. nOw, ShOuLd We GeT iT sTaRtEd, MaStEr?" Her pale skeleton face seemed to glow in amusement as she turned to Hadrien, and the youngster gave her a crooked smile before he turned to Gordon and huffed. "Don't  you dare say it."

Lady Death looked confused over to the alchemist, who had a hard time not grinning, and she rolled her inexistent eyes.

Men remain men.

He really reminded them of Sirius Black. Were they somehow related?
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The Wind seemed to rush around them like a small storm, as the cocoon of silver magic began to disappear and with it, Death. It was still the same spot they had stot earlier, or in the future to be exact, but it was fall here, and a few trees were covering their sight.

The Alchemist scanned the Area, together with the young Master of Death, nothing special seems to happen at the moment.
"Did she tell you where exactly the two we would have to save would be?"

"Not really. She said it would occur in a few hours, half a mile from here. But in which destination, she did not say. I am sorry, Gordon."

The Bountyhunter simply nodded and sighed in annoyance. "It's alright, Lad. I will scan the Area for human Souls. There where Humans appear, there we will apparate to. Lets set up the tent."

Harry did as told, but his eyes did not leave his ally, full of wonder, fascination, and confusion.
After everything was set, he found the time to ask, but could not help to sound extreme fascinated. "So, You... You can see Souls? Feel them and Stuff?"

A groan escaped the elder's lips. "Yeah."

"How? Does every Alchemist do that? Or is that only your thing?"

"Ok, listen here kid. Alchemists aren't always just Alchemists, right? Some of us have seen shit, bad shit, crazy shit, ya know? And when that happens, it can change us. I was Flamells apprentice since age eleven, a Muggle. He took me in, raised me like his son. But one day, someone recognized us on the streets, and thought 'Why not stun him and get him to spill out the secret of Immortality?' Well, a stunning spell was thrown, and it hit me. I was a sickly kid, with a weak heart. I died because the magic was too much for me to handle, and Nicholas couldn't handle that. So he stunned the Man and brought our bodies home. There he used Alchemy to give me the still functioning heart of that guy and his brain, ok? I am practically a Homunculi with the Memories of a dead kid. I am a Monster. That's why I can do impossible stuff, normal Alchemists need runes and circles and shit, but I don't. I don't even feel pain when I don't want to. So, yeah, That's my thing! So What?"

Instantly, Gordon felt sorry. He did not want to let it out at Harry, he really didn't. This subject was simply touchy. "Hey, I... I am sorry, pup. I did not want to be so harsh to ya, really! It's just, I don't like it, my past. I lost enough, I don't want to remember my Humanity is part of it. I am sorry."

Within a Second, the Bountyhunter was engulfed into a hug, while Harry tried hard to stifle his sobs. 'He even seemed to speak like Sirius. Only Padfoot called me pup.'

Gordon sighed painfully and patted the young man's raven head. "Its alright, kiddo. Don Cry, will ya. I am not good with emotions."

Harry nodded, rubbed his eyes, then sneezed and looked away. "Sorry. You just remember me on someone I really miss. He was like a dad to me. And died protecting me. He used to call me names like you do. Prongslet, kiddo, lad, and pup, you know? He used to call me that, a lot."

The elder nodded, understanding the youngster's feelings. he too gets remembered on his daughter, whenever he sees Harry's emerald eyes. She had had the same. when not, with a far happier sparkle. But that's just what happens with soldiers. They lose their light.
He of all should know that.

"Get inside, Harry, study your claws. It will help you with your power control."

Harry nodded and went inside, Gordon stood still and left his sixth sense to roam free.
When they go to save those two, they agreed, to not reveal too much of their powers.

Who knows what the enemy is capable of.