The Door to Chaos

Chapter 12 - Questions Asked and Answers Questioned

Riddick's fingers were whitening from his death grip on the broomstick. A freezing night-wind had decided to transform him into a blow-up doll; the icy air rushed into his sleeves, ballooning his clothes and freezing his muscles.

From time to time fast drifting clouds covered the nearly full moon above his head, and he could not see the unfamiliar constellations anymore. Still, the light was more than sufficient for his altered eyes, even if he could hear the three people flying around him curse each time that happened.

After his first glance down, first at his own legs dangling on the narrow and above all fragile broomstick, then at the tiny houses, fields and cars far, far, below, he had decided not to look down again. Ever. He had no problems with heights, but he did NOT trust the unnatural thing he was sitting on with his weight. Besides it was fucking uncomfortable. No man should ever have to sit on something like that.

One question was foremost on his mind - how the FUCK had this happened?

The last thing he remembered was having a couple of drinks of Fire-whiskey with Hagrid after dinner. And the next thing he remembered was falling off the broom he was riding now and dangling one-handed from it at skimmer flying height for a several long minutes before he could work up enough momentum to flip himself back up again. Each time he tried to remember what happened between the two moments, his mind started to phase out again.

A familiar voice in his head spoke up, startling him into nearly falling off the broom again.

+Listen to me. We are in real trouble here.+

First you're a voice in my head, then you're a dog, and now you're a fuckin' psychic.

He glanced at the people flying around him. Who are these assholes? Must be a special kind of desperate dicks to pull this crap on me.

+No need for name calling, Riddick. They are, were, friends. I think I won't have time enough to explain it all to you, but this is the situation right now - you are on your way to my old family house, number twelve Grimmauld Place with Tonks, Mad-Eye and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

You met them earlier at Hagrid's hut, they wanted you to come with them and talk. You felt threatened and refused to go with them, and then you attacked them. Kingsley did a memory charm on you just in time - he is really good with them -and I suspect Mad-Eye to have placed you under something nearly as strong as the Imperius curse. I had to burrow far into your subconscious so that the spells didn't touch me as well, and I couldn't help you without giving my presence away.

Then they put you on that broom and now we are flying to London, where we will meet Remus as well. You can relax for now, I can manage the flying part until we get there, as you have never flown a broom before. But we have to figure out what we'll do once we get there, and we have to figure it out fast.+

Riddick slit his eyes against the wind as the wizard flying before him shifted and changed direction.

How's that a problem? Fuckers meddled with my head. They fix it, and then they die. We go back by any means but broomstick and carry on with our mission. You know what's at stake for me.

Riddick could feel Black's instant angry uproar burning in his head but he did not care. He meant every word he just said. How dare these guys fuck with his head? What if they had altered a memory of Jack? They had to pay for this.

+You will not kill my best friends, you fucking monster! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!+

Try me. Nobody fucks with my head and lives.

His broom suddenly lurched downwards as Black's concentration snapped. He felt the other man's fury as if it was his own.

Hey watch it, we are a bit high for that kind of stunt!

A cluster of lights before them showed him that their destination must be near.

+Riddick.+

He could feel Black fighting down his anger. He did not reply.

+Riddick listen. I know that my friends have offended you by taking your choice away like that. Remember, these people are warriors in a battle against evil, they have fought Voldemort's minions for years. They must have heard something about you that has alerted them, they must think you are somehow a danger to Harry. They just want to talk to you and get some honest answers. I'm sure that they don't think that you are a Death Eater or they would never take you to the Headquarters of the Order of Phoenix. Alastor would rather kill you. These are good men and my friends and I trust them with my life. I would trust Remus with anybody's life...+

Sirius actually gave a nervous chuckle and Riddick reluctantly consented to listen a bit more to him. Friends. Friends were a weakness and still... Riddick had never had many friends. Imam. Jack. Perhaps Caroline. The way Black talked about his friends touched something in him, something better left alone.

+...Except on full moon when he hasn't had his Wolfsbane potion of course. Listen to them before you try anything, ok? And know that I will never let you harm my last best friend alive. Nor would I let anybody harm Harry. I'd rather stop our heart.+

Yeah, he remembered that feeling. He had felt like that once, too. He remembered the drive, the purpose that feeling gave to your life. And then Jack had died in his arms.

I'm listening.

For some reason Black's relief was kind of flattering. Riddick had come to respect the man. He was nearly as reckless and single-minded as himself. And the man had proven his stubbornness and patience with his evasion from the Wizard Prison, Azkaban. He could relate to that and everything it implied too.

The scarred wizard flying to his right, the one with the flashy electric-blue eye, shouted something and pointed downwards. The ever-present wind distorted the sound, preventing him from hearing actual words.

+I suggest we go with them peacefully. If they ask the right questions, I advise that we answer with the truth. It's not easy for me either, you know? How would you feel, if you had to show yourself like that to your best friends? They probably won't even believe me without proof. And remember what I told you about Remus. This close to full moon he is on edge and has splitting headaches. Try not to add to them, will you.+

He remembered little Jackie's luminous green eyes looking at him. Always ends badly when you let someone get too close.

The threat comes off when my memory comes back. They try something like that again, they deal with consequences. Even you won't stop me then.

+You'll get your memory back.+

They landed in a dark silent street. The area looked derelict. The house they were facing was dirty and unkempt with grimy windows. A path lead from the street to the battered, black-painted door with a silver knocker in the shape of a twisted serpent. There didn't seem to be a keyhole or a letterbox.

+Home, sweet home.+ Sirius' voice was bitter.