Trust and Betrayal
By: JA_Japster
Inspired and partially based on the OAV "Samurai X"
Copyright Notice: Harry Potter is copyrighted to J.K Rowling and Samurai X and Rurouni Kenshin is copyrighted to Nobuhiro Wazuki and Shueisha Jump Comics. The fanfiction is the product of JA_Japster and should not be reproduced in any fashion without permission.
Betrayal
Part II: The Fruits of Our Labor
Patrick looked out at the vast ocean, breathing in the soothing aroma of the water's salty mist. The boat rocked gently beneath his feet, riding the ocean's waves smoothly, floating in the middle of the endless expanses of blue while its owners trolled for fish. With a flourish of his hands, the burly angler cast his nets into the water, and then sat down to wait.
He reached into a pouch and removed a small paper cylinder, placed it in his mouth and lit it with a match. He sucked on it, savoring the smell and taste of burning tobacco as it trickled down his throat before blowing it back out in a cloud of smoke. Far cheaper than the fine cigars imported from the Americas, rolling tobacco was one of the few luxuries that fisherman like himself could afford, and one he had grown to enjoy immensely.
"You know," Janus remarked, plucking the cigarette from Patrick's mouth and sticking it into his own, "These things will kill you."
Patrick rolled his eyes and fished into his pouch for a new one. After he lit it, he leaned back against the wall of the boat. While he loved fishing with a passion, the more lucrative methods of using a drag net quickly grew dull. With nothing else to do to pass the time, the two men spent many uneventful hours in situations like these, smoking idly and chatting.
"How did you fix the boat so damn quick anyhow?" Patrick asked. True to his predictions, Janus had repaired the hole in the boat before they had set sail early that morning. His work was flawless; by the time he was finished it looked like the boat had never been damaged.
"Magic." Janus replied.
"Liar." Patrick said scornfully.
"Family secret of the trade." Janus said earnestly. "My father would resurrect himself just so he could kill me if I ever told."
Patrick glared at him. "You are so full of shit, Janus, it's coming out of your ears. This week it was the boat, the day before that you fixed George Elfman's wagon wheel, and three days before that you made the shattered window at the church as good as new. You're a good guy, Janus, but let's face it you're no miracle worker."
"I help people who need help." Janus said defensively. "Why is that any reason to get worked up about?"
"Well when you put it that way…nothing I suppose."
After they had finished their fishing for the day, and had pulled anchor to return home, Patrick sat down on the bottom of the boat and glanced over at his partner. As usual, Janus was sitting on the bow, cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, staring wordlessly at the hypnotizing beauty of the sunset with the same strange smile he always wore.
"Why haven't you gotten yourself a girl yet, Janus?" Patrick asked.
Janus shrugged, pausing to flick away a few stray embers. "Not interested, Patrick, I've told you that before."
Patrick grunted. He already knew this from a billion similar conversations that they had in the past. The lad had literally dozens of beautiful girls to choose from, and yet he was content to maintain the care-free life of a single fisherman. It was discomforting to be honest. It was like being offered an elaborate meal, but electing to continue eating the same plain food day in and day out.
"It's not healthy."
Janus laughed pleasantly. "I have everything in the world that I want here. People I care for, people who care about me, a little bit of money, a roof over my head, and all the fish I could ever eat. I am wonderfully blessed."
"But alone."
"So are you."
"It doesn't mean I'm happy."
"So your happiness left with your wife?"
"In many ways my entire life did." Patrick sighed. "Gods, I do miss her sometimes."
The white-haired Irishman sat up straighter and gave him a wry look. "Weren't you just raging on about what a lying whore she was just this morning?"
"What?" Patrick asked in disbelief. "Couldn't have."
"No seriously. It was just after breakfast." Janus insisted.
"You're crazy." The older man said. "I loved Cynthia with all my heart. I would have never said anything like that."
"Right up until she slept with your neighbor."
Patrick stopped and thought for a moment, and then chuckled heartedly. "Yeah, I guess I did call her that this morning."
It had been ten years since Patrick's wife left him after an affair gone horribly wrong, and Janus knew the scars had long since healed. Where there was once much pain and regret, now there was only humor. A sort of vindictive humor had all at the expense of Patrick's adulterous wife perhaps, but still better than the alternative.
Neither spoke for a while. The setting sun faded away and darkness filled the sky as their boat bobbed calmly on the ocean's current, taking them back home.
"You're a cheeky bastard, you know that?" Patrick asked.
"Aye, I do." Janus replied.
They both laughed.
--
Harry and Hermione found the house with surprisingly few complications. It was a small wooden cabin that looked like it had been around for just about forever and been out of use for just as long. Neither of them was quick to mention that, however, to the man who had emerged from the cabin and identified himself as Jerome Hanford. He was a huge muscular black man easily two heads taller than Harry, but he possessed a kind demeanor that compensated for his intimidating figure.
"Just got in?" Jerome asked as he showed them around the area.
Harry and Hermione nodded, following close behind their guide. They were about a mile away from the beach, hidden in the middle of a small forest. Harry liked the spot. It was close enough to the muggle population and just secluded enough to avoid unwanted notice.
"Do you live here?" Hermione asked.
Jerome shook his head. "No, I live a couple miles east of here with my wife. I've just been living out of the cabin for the last couple of days waiting for you."
"Sorry about that," Harry said. "We ran into some trouble along the way."
"No problem." Jerome replied casually. "Dumbledore wrote ahead telling me you might take a while. You newly weds be James and Lilly Evans is that right?"
Harry nodded and Hermione blushed. The newly married part had been Dumbledore's idea, assuming that a couple would create less suspicion. Only Harry knew the names Dumbledore chose, James and Lilly, were the names of his deceased parents. Evans had been his mother's muggle surname, and would be unfamiliar with the Ministry.
Jerome led them into the cabin, and both of the travelers were surprised to find it quite decently furnished and nothing like the dilapidated exterior suggested. They sat down at a small wooden table, and Jerome made tea. The three drank in silence, before Hermione asked, "How is that you know Dumbledore?"
Jerome lowered his cup and smiled. "Great man, Dumbledore. He helped me out in a pinch several years ago when he was passing through the area. My twin daughters, Elisha and Rosa, caught a horrible fever and the village doctor had little hope for then. Then, one day, completely out of the blue, this man with a great big beard shows up and heals her like magic. Been friends with Dumbledore ever since. My family owes him so much."
Hermione grinned at the irony of the usage of the word magic.
"How is Dumbledore doing anyhow? Haven't heard from him in years and then suddenly I get a letter telling me you two are coming."
Harry sipped his tea, but quickly put it back down, disguising a scowl of dislike. He preferred ale. "Dumbledore has been very busy these past few years, I'm afraid."
"Not getting in any trouble, I hope." Jerome said anxiously.
"Oh, no." Hermione said. "He's fine, but very dedicated to his work."
Jerome looked relieved. They talked for a little while longer as they finished their tea, and then Jerome tossed Harry a set of keys to the cabin along with a sheaf of bills that Hermione recognized as English pound notes. "This should take care of you for a while."
Hermione looked dumbfounded at the money. Even without counting it, she knew it was a generous sum. "We can't accept this." She protested.
The large black man waved his hand dismissively. "Like I said, my family owes Dumbledore more than money. You're invited to stay here as long as you like, and don't hesitate to ask for any help you might need."
"Do you know where I might be able to rent a fishing boat?" asked Harry. Hermione shot him a surprised look.
Jerome nodded. "You might want to look up Janus O'Meara near the beach. He and his partner might have a boat that they'd be willing to lease you. You can't miss him. He's probably the only albino Irishman in England."
"He's from Ireland?"
"Yes, but don't let that fool you. He's actually a pretty good guy." Jerome said with a laugh.
Harry stood and shook hands with Jerome. "Thank you for everything." The other man nodded and turned to leave.
Once they were alone in the house, Hermione looked at Harry. "A fishing boat?" She inquired curiously.
"Something I've always wanted to do." Harry said. "And now that we have some time I wanted to try it out. That is, if you don't have any objections."
Hermione smiled. Had it only been yesterday that Harry was voicing his objection to settling down here? And now he was already making plans, actually trying to enjoy himself even. She could only imagine why kind of drastic transformation had taken place in her companion. "Of course I don't have any objections."
"Well then, we should get some rest before we head down there." Their eyes simultaneously swept over the single large bed that adorned the cabin. A quick inspection showed that there was no other bed or mattress present. Hermione flushed red and looked away.
Harry, on the other, didn't miss a beat. "Looks like I'm sleeping on the floor."
Hermione shook her head impatiently and drew her wand. With a wave of her wand, the bed was engulfed in a bright light, and when it faded two separate beds stood in its place. Suddenly, however, with lightening fast speed, Harry ripped the wand from her grasp and returned the bed into its normal state.
"No magic." Harry hissed, thrusting her wand back to her, his temporary good humor vanishing. "Just because we're away from London, don't think we're safe. If we're exposed as magic users, not only will our cover be compromised, but we'll have Aurors on us within an hour."
Hermione's eyes went wide. She had not thought of that. Her lip began to quiver as the very real reality of their situation sank in. How could she have been that stupid? They had barely escaped death in London, and she had almost put them at risk again. Just because no one was inside the cabin did not mean no one was still watching them, and her careless spell casting could have easily attracted unwanted attention.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "No, I should be the one apologizing. I've been on edge for a while now and…"
The tears Hermione had been valiantly fighting back suddenly sprang forth, and she rushed over and hugged Harry, catching him off guard. He looked confused at the young woman who clutched him tightly, sobbing into his chest, unsure of what to say or do. He decided to say nothing, and just stood there, stroking her head comfortingly.
"I'm so sorry." She sobbed. She glanced up at him, and Harry was struck by just how beautiful she looked with tears streaming down her face. "About Ron, about everything…"
"It's not your fault. Harry said, but Hermione didn't seem to hear him. He grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her gently. "Listen to me, it wasn't your fault."
It was mine.
I could not save him.
I killed to save others, and yet I could not manage to help him.
I failed.
"It was my fault." Harry said quietly.
Hermione's sobs quieted. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"I was weak." He whispered, looking down at the floor. "I should have been able to save him."
"You're being unrealistic. How could you have saved him? You tried your best, what more could anyone have expected? You're a skilled fighter, Harry, but you're not invincible."
"I should be!" Exploded Harry violently, pushing Hermione away from him. "I thought I could save others! I thought that through violence I could restore peace to England! That is what I earnestly believed, and now…"
"Now you no longer believe that?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"I no longer know what I believe. Through killing I failed to save one life, one life that meant a lot to me. I can't help but wonder if the other people I have killed…I wonder if their deaths were just as fruitless."
"Do you believe you were trying to bring good to the world?"
"I want to believe that, Hermione." Harry said weakly. "But if everyone I have killed was for nothing then…"
He looked at her, terror in his eyes. "Maybe I am just a killer."
Hermione cautiously approached Harry until she was standing only a few inches apart. She reached up and brushed his hair away from his eyes until she could gaze into their emerald splendor. "I look at you now and do you know what I see?"
"What?"
"A man named Harry Potter."
"What happened to the lost, confused child you saw earlier?" Harry asked.
Hermione smiled. "Maybe the child is beginning to grow up."
--
"Hello there, Janus."
Janus O'Meara glanced up from the freshly caught fish he was preparing, and waved warmly at the sight of Jerome entering the cottage. He set aside the fish, wiped his bloodstained hands on the apron he wore, and walked over to the larger man, shaking his hand in greeting.
"Jerome, how is the family doing?"
"Very well, thanks. The twins are growing bigger than ever, and Sheila wants me to thank you for the repairs on that vase of hers. She says it looks better than it ever had." Jerome grinned and scratched the back of his head embarrassedly. She's been bugging me to take it into town for weeks now, but I just haven't found the time."
Janus laughed. "Not a problem, my friend." He pulled up two chairs, and they sat down. "Can I get you anything? Drink? Cigarette?"
"No, no...I'm fine. Don't see how you and Patrick can suck on those things." Jerome said, glancing at the cigarette dangling from Janus' lips. Janus grinned, and considerately spat it out the window. "Thanks."
"So what can I do for you, Jerome?"
"Well, a pair of newly weds just moved into one of my cottages, and the husband was asking around if for a fishing vessel. I thought I'd point him in your direction. Think it'll be a problem."
Janus shook his head. He reached over to a nearby table and produced a sheet of parchment and a quill. "No, shouldn't be. I think Patrick has a spare boat in the back that I can get into manageable condition. What was the couple's name?"
"Uh…let me think…Lilly and James, I think. Yeah, that's it. Lilly and James Evans."
The Irishman paused in the middle of his writing and set down the quill. "Evans?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure it wasn't Potter?"
"No, I'm pretty sure it was Evans. Why? Do you think you might know them?"
Janus quickly shook his head. "No, I guess I was thinking about someone else." He finished writing down the names on the parchment and stowed it in his pocket.
"Well, I guess I'll be on my way then." Jerome announced, standing and heading for the door.
"Sure thing. Say hello to the girls for me." Janus said. After the door closed, however, the smile on his face faded slightly. He leaned back into his chair, and produced another cigarette, lost in thought as he stared silently through the rising smoke.
Lilly and James…
Never thought I'd hear their names again…
The white haired fisherman frowned. Just hearing those two names brought back bad memories, memories he had been trying to forget for the past five years. It was inevitable though, he supposed, and it meant nothing. That was all they were names. The people he had known were dead and buried. They no longer affected him. Nonetheless, no matter how hard he tried to reassure himself of this; he sat by the window for a while before he returned to his work.
Looks like you're past is catching up to you.
Author's Notes:
Writing Betrayal is going to be challenging. I'm not very good at writing romance having never really done it before, but I have confidence I'll be able to make something of it. If anyone has any suggestions please email them to me. I'd really appreciate it. Some people were commenting on the shortness of the chapter. I usually space out my writing so that perspectives don't shift more than twice in a chapter, and that results in shorter chapters most of the time. I'll try to work on making them longer in the future.
Thanks for all the advice and positive reviews. Keep them coming!