InsaneJournal

                "Once again, woodsman, you have served your royal family well."

                Lupin smiled, but it was an empty one. He couldn't keep his mind off of that prince, the secret prince. How on earth could anyone hate him so much? He was not at all unfriendly. He seemed perfectly harmless. If that boy was found, it was both of their necks on the line. He would go look for him after Walden was back in the castle.

                "Thank you," said Walden, closing the box and placing it in the wooden cart Severus had been watching. "I will show this to my father. I have some more hunting to do, if you would like to join me."

                "Oh, I couldn't," said the woodsman.

                "Oh, I insist. You know so much of our workings you're practically family now," said Walden with an evil grin. Lupin laughed softly, gaining him a raised eyebrow.

                "Well, I suppose we could go after the boar together."

                "Yes, I suppose we could. And we will."

                King Gellert had a feast when the box was shown to him. They had the heart preserved in some vinegar and placed on a shelf in the king's den. The box they used for jewelry.

                Lupin washed his hands over and over when he finally was allowed to head home. Now he had even more reason to fear for his life. He'd let that boy, the dark-haired, quiet "servant" of the king live. He kept the gold under his bed, but would not spend it in anything less than an emergency.

                 He went out to the forest to start looking for Severus, though he needn't have worried quite as much as he did.

                At first, Severus was cold and hungry and tired of walking and walking to what seemed like no end. But then he came upon a rickety cottage apparently, from the fading sign, named Grimmauld Place. He checked the door, finding it unbolted. There was no one inside, and he let himself in.

                Everything in the house was small, and, though skinny, he was of an average height. He marveled at what sort of people might live there. Immediately, he looked for the broom and the mop and set to work cleaning it. He ate an apple or two from a nearby tree, and then he fell asleep in one of the too-short beds, curled up.

                "No!" said Chary, practically trembling on his false leg, his good eye twitching. "We'll not go back up there. Especially not you, Clumsy."

                Clumsy scowled at him, arms crossed. "I'm not clumsy all the time."

                "Well I will go, then," said Fiery, pushing them both aside. Though old, she was not to be trifled with. "He's just a boy."

                "A boy who could well kill us all!" called Chary up behind her. She ignored him. "Wait for the others, Chary, won't you."

                The others arrived just as Fiery shook their unexpected guest slightly.

                "The one day we don't lock the door!" roared Chary. "I thought I stressed the importance of properly securing our cottage."

                "Yes, Chary, yes, you have," said Mum, trying to keep the peace. She pulled back her wild, red hair and stood, waiting for Fiery to come back down with their guest.

                "Oh God...," said Hasty, grey eyes wide as he strutted about the kitchen, scratching at the stubble on his chin. "He cleaned up."

                "What?!" said Smarmy, nearly toppling over in his chair.

                "Have you been drinking again, Smarmy?" asked Mum, tutting.

                "There's nothing wrong with that," said Hasty, scowling as he turned to her now.

                "And, yes, I have," said Smarmy with a wide, intoxicated grin.

                "Merlin help us," giggled Clumsy.

                Nosey headed upstairs on his own, thin glasses and crooked nose and long, silver beard preceding him into the room as he poked his head in.

                "Nosey!" said Fiery, adjusting the crisp bun at the back of her head, "Get out of this room. I'll call you when you're needed."

                Nosey just grinned and shrugged, stepping back down the stairs.

                It was half an hour later when Fiery finally emerged, but their guest was not with her. "He needs rest," she said firmly. "Mum can see to him in a little while. He's had a hard life."

                "Where will he sleep?" asked Clumsy, nearly tripping over a chair in the process.

                "Be careful," Mum warned Clumsy.

                "He'll sleep in a new bed, just for him," said Nosey, "for as long as he needs to."

                "Hear hear!" said Clumsy.

                "Let's go make him one, then," said Hasty, heading for the closet with the axes.

                "Everyone will go but Mum and I. Yes, you too, Clumsy."

                When they finished the frame, they brought it closer to the house to combine the parts, nailing them together. Severus, unsurprisingly, woke again.

                "Don't mind that, dear, they're just making you your bed." The dwarf handed him some warm tea.

                "My bed?"

                "Yes. You want to stay with us, don't you?" Her eyes narrowed until he nodded his head. Her expression softened. "Sit up and have a sip, love. Your name is Severus? They call me Mum."

                "Thank you, Mum," he said, taking the cup from her as he sat up among the small pillows. "So how many of you are there?" he asked, staring into his teacup.

                "There are seven of us. The woman who was here was Fiery, she sort of runs things, though Nosey likes to think he does. Nosey has long, silver hair and glasses. Clumsy is the youngest one. She runs into things quite a bit, the poor thing. Her cousin is here. His name is Hasty and he likes to jump into things. Chary is the one with a wooden leg and a patch over his eye. He's suspicious of most everything, but he means no harm. There's Smarmy. He's a low-down ruffian on the surface, but would never hurt a member of this household. Then there's me, I'm Mum. I'm sort of like the Mum of the little family we've formed. At least, that's what they say." She reached for his hand and he took it. "My, you're a small thing, aren't you? We need to fatten you up."

                Severus smiled hesitantly.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3