Behind the Mask

Chapter 4 - a parcel and some reading

The next morning I wake up later then usual, it is already 10 o'clock before I can summon enough energy to get out of bed and begin my day, usually I would have been up for four hours already, but tonight I did wake from nightmares several times and had problems to fall asleep again. Slisra is still sleeping. I unwind her from my body carefully to not disturb her, her only reaction is a silent hiss before she curls up under the warm sheets. I quietly dress and go to the kitchen.

As I am sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast and reading the rubbish printed in the latest copy of the Daily Prophet something pecks urgently against the window. I can only make out a large, and rather unusual shape. I point my wand at it to defend myself against the unknown intruder if necessary, after all it could be some kind of beast, but when I carefully open the window it turns out to be four owls, my own eagle owl one of them, carrying a large parcel.

After alleviating the owls of their burden I offer them some owl threats, and note that Aristoteles has a letter tied to his leg. I untie it and am pleased to find out that it is from Joanne, I am grateful that she replied so fast and a bit curious of what she has written so I quickly break the seal of the envelope and unfold the letter it contains.

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Dear Sevy

(Yeah, I know that you hate to be called that, I'm doing it anyway so stop complaining)

I was really surprised over your request. As I remember you never showed any interest in my books before and downright refused to read them or tell me anything about what had happend, if I recall correctly you said you would not participate in something as stupid as writing tales about the insolent Potter brat. So I had to invent the parts about your interaction with Harry when you two were alone, only based on the rumours and stories I heard from mum and the rest of the Hogwarts staff. I am not to blame if things have actually happend differently than I wrote them. It is all your own fault so don't you dare to make any snide remarks about it. I am completly innocent.

But I'm dying to get to know the reason behind your sudden interest, especially as I got you letter in the middle of the night, so prepare yourself for a thorough interrogation during my next visit.

Thank you, for being so kind to ask me about my condition. I would be feeling fine if the enormous stomach I've developed wouldn't be getting in the way all the time and if I could sleep in a even halfway comfortable position. Not to say anything about the fact that my back aches and that I look like a whale.

Well I think that was enough with the whining. But you did ask!

I hope you are feeling well, oh dearest godfather of mine, don't spend too much time with your potions and please visit me some time soon. I hope you'll enjoy reading my books after all and I should send you regards from my husband.

Love

Joanne (your annoying goddaughter)

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Yes, annoying would perfectly summarize her behaviour most of the time, maybe it has something to do with pregnancy hormones, on the other hand I do not think so, she was this way since she was a little girl, it was actually adorable...then. She knows well enough how I hate being called Sevy and she does it in every one of her letters just to get on my nerves. What have I done to deserve that? Well, I was a Death Eater and all, but surely I have been punished enough for that already.

It is true, I refused to ever speak with her about Harry, as I refused to speak to anyone else about him. No one knows what has been between us, all that had known are dead. Everyone thinks I still hate him and that this is the reason why I can't stand to speak about him or even hear his name mentioned. They couldn't be more wrong about all of it. To remember the past, to speak about him pains me, that is the reason why I have waited for so long to write about what truly happened. But I have promised and I am a man who holds his word. If I didn't do it now I would take the story to my grave with me and if there is an afterlife I do not intend to meet someone there who is utterly pissed at me, for refusing to do this one last thing for him.

I open the parcel, inside are five books with ridiculously colourful covers and some bad drawings on them, which probably should resemble Harry and some magical creatures. The only cover I find not totally lacking is the one of the thick fifth book; there is a beautiful phoenix on it which looks similar to Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, the mascot of the order. The book is named Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, how fitting.

I look at the list, Joanne has included, about the order in which I should read the books and some other things I should know. The list states that there is one book for each of Harry's school years and that the books have been published as children books for muggles, because the non-magical world still does not believe that magic and the wizarding world exist, even after all that happened during the second war against Voldemort.

Do they really not see or do they simply not want to see?

The muggle children and even a large number of adults seem to like Joanne's books, she had written them under a muggle pseudonym and even gives interviews about them with glamour charms cast on her to disguise her appearance. The books are bestsellers in the muggle world, whatever that should mean. She is currently working on the sixth book, so this means that I will have to begin my story with what happened after Harry's fifth year, if the books turn out to be useful for my purpose.

I begin to read the first book, glad for the fact that I discovered that quickreading charm in the restricted section of the library during my school years.

Five hours later I have already read four of the books and currently am at the last chapter of book five. To my surprise they are mostly accurate, only a couple of minor details had been altered, such as the name of the Coughing Dragon had been changed to the Leaky Cauldron and the way to get to Platform nine and three quarters had also been disguised, some censoring had been done so that the books would be fitting for children, but the major events are all there.

Of course most of what Joanne had written about me and Harry was not even close to the truth, especially that pensieve scene in the fifth book, it was quite entertaining but had never really happened like that. After finishing the rest of the last book it is time to continue my writing. I take another dose of the Endurement potion and walk to the library where I sit down on my favourite armchair and take out a new sheet of parchment. I dip the quill in the inkbottle and begin...

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Before you continue to read this there is something you are required to do first, if you want to be able to understand the rest of this story. Put on some muggle clothes or charm your own ones to look as such, if you are a male wizard remember that male muggles do not wear dresses, as comfortable as they may be. I do not care if you choose to ignore this reminder, enjoy getting stared and laughed at. When you have done that, floo or apparate to the Coughing Dragon visit Gringotts and change some galleons from your vault into muggle money.

Then go into the muggle world and look for a bookstore. They should be easy to find, just look for books in the shop windows or ask a muggle where to find one.

If your search has been successful tell the shopkeeper that you want the Harry Potter books by J.K.Rowling, there are five of them. They are supposed to be children books, but I have been told that it is not unusual for adult muggles to buy them. Don't shrink them in order to carry them; you will get a bag for that purpose.

Go back to your mansion, house, flat or where ever you live, and read all five books. Apart from some minor details they are mostly accurate, the few things which are not, will be explained later in my story so when you have finished reading, you should know everything necessary to be able to follow the rest of my writing.