Safekeeping (Max/Theo)

[Theo Bowre]

"Max?"

Theo stepped quietly in to the dungeon-level classroom, allowing his eyes to focus on the low light levels that seemed as much a part of the spirit of the classroom as its castle-created, physical environment. It wasn't an uncomfortable dark. In fact, the organic energy of the room was nearly palpable and afforded the otherwise draft-swept interior a warmth, love and eclecticism that spoke volumes of the man who normally occupied it. It made sense that the man's son would come to this room when his father was away. The room and Curse Kameren were one and the same.

Theo spotted the tell-tale glow of a candle and carefully walked towards the end of the room. The desks were clear, the seats were empty, and the professor's table sat in organized chaos. Outwardly, there was no sign of Max Kameren in the cavernous space, but if Theo knew anything about kids it was that they often retreated to carefully-hidden hideaways where they could lose themselves in their books, or their toys or their imagination - without adult interference. Adults could be entirely too pragmatic.

Theo slid in to a seat in the front row, folding his hands upon the desk and waiting for Max to make contact. It was always on the child's terms and Theo was certain it was a difficult decision for the boy to make: they didn't know each other from Merlin. Max would question Theo's purpose for being there, wondering how it was that a stranger could walk so easily in to Hogwarts and his dad's classroom. From there, he would question why his father hadn't returned and his suspicion of the man would be suddenly overwhelmed by concern for the one person that was his everything in this world. He'd take the risk, coming out for news on his father.

Theo understood this. He respected that Max had a choice and that he'd react in the way that made the most sense to him.

Until then he'd be waiting, faithfully dedicated to his protection.

[Max Kameren]

Max hugged his knees as he sat curled under his father's desk, tears streaming down his face as he heard footsteps. Curse said he was going to be gone only an hour. He was visiting a friend for a little while, it would only be an hour. That was this afternoon, but now it was night and he hadn't heard a word from his father. Max feared the worst, that something happened to him. It could have been the demons, or some dark wizards Curse had thwarted in his past come back to get him. Something happened, that was the only explanation. Curse would never just leave him without saying anything.

The footsteps stopped, and he heard the light creak of someone sitting on one of the chairs of the classroom. Max gripped a book in his hands; it wasn't any particular book, just the one Curse had read with him the previous night. He had read through it eight times since Curse left. He sniffed, wiping his tears as one of them fell onto the book. He was afraid; what was the man in the classroom doing? What did he want from him? If he was here to take Max away, he would have found him by now. The desk wasn't a particularly strong hiding place. Did this man know anything about what happened to his dad? He must have, or else why would he be here?

"W-Where's my dad?" He called out hesitantly, still not revealing his hiding place. "Who are you?"

[Theo Bowre]

"W-Where's my dad?" He called out hesitantly, still not revealing his hiding place. "Who are you?"

The hitch in Max's voice clenched at Theo, who gathered quickly that the boy was terrified. The slight but commanding sound came muffled from beneath Curse's desk and while Bowre could easily decipher the young one's hiding place, he was not about to break its sanctity (or Max's trust) by barging in. He chose to remain a distance back; the moment of isolation gave him a chance to 'hide' himself. He was forever guilty of wearing his empathy on his sleeve and Theo felt almost heart-broken that Max felt alone and scared. He knew it was all over his face.

"Max, my name is Theo. Theo Bowre. I manage the orphanage in Bryn - I think you know some of my kids." Theo recalled seeing a small boy run from Curse at the May Day fair; he joined the children of Harkness House as they waited for Maebh Breandan to start her performance and they appeared to be quite friendly with each other. Small boy was actually a misnomer. Max was strikingly tall for his age and it was a trait that defined most Kamerens, Theo had recently learned.

"I've been sent by your Dad. He's run in to a bit of a snag in Hogsmeade and asked that I keep you safe until he can get to you. I'll be honest, Max, I don't know much more than that. The request came via a patronus...do you know what a patronus is?" Theo realized he knew very little about Max. Even his age was difficult to guess because of his size. It was possible that Max was not yet a student and that magic was still a work in progress for the young lad. That said, his father was one of the best at it. For all he knew, Max's magical skill could far exceed his own.

"I'm here to protect you, Max. I'm leaving it up to you whether you wish to stay here or head to the orphanage. The orphanage is safer but it's also scary to leave home sometimes. I see why you like this room. It has a good feel to it."

"Max?"

[Max Kameren]

"Max, my name is Theo. Theo Bowre. I manage the orphanage in Bryn - I think you know some of my kids."

Max didn't say anything, just listened. He had heard that name before. Some of his friends were from the orphanage Bowre ran, and they always spoke highly of him. He clutched his book in his hands, unmoving. How did he know this man was really who he said he was? He wanted to believe him, wanted to have someone come and tell him his father was alright, and take care of him until he got back. He had tried to go to the Headmaster when Curse didn't show up, but the Headmaster only gave him kind, meaningless words and sent him on his way.

"I'm here to protect you, Max. I'm leaving it up to you whether you wish to stay here or head to the orphanage. The orphanage is safer but it's also scary to leave home sometimes. I see why you like this room. It has a good feel to it."

Max wiggled down closer to the ground, nestling further into his spot under the desk as he thought about it. He wasn't comfortable going with this man. Mum said never to go with people you didn't know. His dad wasn't here to help him. Without Curse in the magical world, Max was lost. He sniffled again as more tears fell down his face. He didn't want to go with this man, even if he was who he said. He wanted Curse. Here. Now. Safe.

"Max?"

"Is he okay? Do you know where he is? I just want my dad," He spoke through his tears, feeling ashamed as he wiped them away. He wanted to be strong, but he was scared. Was his dad ever scared?

[Theo Bowre]

"Is he okay? Do you know where he is? I just want my dad," He spoke through his tears, feeling ashamed as he wiped them away.

Theo swallowed hard as Max's voice was laced with soft whimpering.

"I, I believe he's in Hogsmeade. But he's not alone, Max, he is amongst friends. You're dad is always wanting to help people and I think that's the case tonight. He and his friends are with someone who needs their help. But your dad wouldn't do it unless he knew you were safe first. He loves you very much, Max. Very much. He'll do whatever it takes to ensure that you're safe."

Theo sat in the resounding silence, his eyes analyzing the surroundings and the possible points of entry. There was an inherent advantage being stuck in a dungeon: limited access. But there was still the arched window and the door. He would have to take care of that.

"With your permission, Max, I'd like to seal the room. Would you be okay with that?" Theo quietly rose from his seat, approaching the window and contemplating the most effective spell.

"I meant to ask your dad when I saw him last, what did you end up naming your goldfish from the fair?"

[Max Kameren]

"I, I believe he's in Hogsmeade. But he's not alone, Max, he is amongst friends. You're dad is always wanting to help people and I think that's the case tonight. He and his friends are with someone who needs their help. But your dad wouldn't do it unless he knew you were safe first. He loves you very much, Max. Very much. He'll do whatever it takes to ensure that you're safe."

"Then why doesn't he call me," He hiccuped as he spoke, overwhelming himself with how upset he was. Why was this happening? He was only supposed to be visiting a friend. If he was going to help someone, he would have told Max about it. The only thing that would keep him from talking to him was if there was some kind of danger keeping him from reaching him. Curse wouldn't do this, scare him like this unless he had no other choice.

He didn't feel safe, with this stranger sitting here and with Max under a desk. Hiding under the desk wasn't keeping him any safer than seeing this man eye-to-eye. The boy held in a breath, slowly moving up from the floor to the chair behind the desk. He watched the man with round emerald eyes. The man looked sad. Max still didn't trust him. He dug in his pocket as something occurred to him, pulling out a string with a ring of beads around it. He shook the string, the clacking sound echoing through the room surprisingly loud. He looked around the room, hoping that Lucy heard his call.

"With your permission, Max, I'd like to seal the room. Would you be okay with that?"

"No," He frowned, moving to sit cross-legged on his father's chair. He sat the book on the desk, his eyes still darting all around the room. "Lucy's coming, wait for her." He crossed his arms, still untrusting of the man as he stared him down. He wanted to be scary, to be able to stare a man down and measure him like his auror family. He needed to be big and strong, so he could take care of himself when his father wasn't around. He hated being at the mercy of those around him.

"I meant to ask your dad when I saw him last, what did you end up naming your goldfish from the fair?"

"Victor," Max said, refusing to crack a smile at Bowre's thoughtfulness. "Tabby hates him, though. Tabby hates mostly everyone. Victor only swims in circles. Dad thinks there's something wrong with him." His head turned as a light hiss sounded from the wall.

SsssssSSssss... A large green boa constrictor slithered into the room from a hole in the wall. It glanced at Theo with electric yellow eyes, hissing in his direction before moving up toward Max's chair. It curled itself around the boy loosely, laying its head in his lap. The whole time his yellow eyes didn't move from Bowre. Lucy was Curse's pet and oldest friend; she was older than he was, and was a sort of animal guardian for the Potions Master's son inside Hogwarts. Curse could speak with her, but Max could only communicate with her through a series of noises and objects, translated previously by Curse. Max looked visibly more comfortable as Lucy joined him, relaxing in the warm coils of the snake. Now at least someone he knew was here to protect him.

"You can seal the room now. Or we can go to your orphanage, as long as Lucy can come."

[Theo Bowre]

"Victor. Tabby hates him, though. Tabby hates mostly everyone. Victor only swims in circles. Dad thinks there's something wrong with him."

Despite the seriousness of Max's comment, Theo couldn't help but stifle a small chuckle at the mental image of the Kameren's fish. Of course it would only swim in circles. It could probably read minds and levitate the cat too.

"Well, perhaps one of Victor's fins is a bit smaller than the other. But that's not necessarily wrong. Just different. Tabby might be a bit jealous that you have a special fish." Theo spotted Max's book on the desk and was about to ask what he was reading when his thoughts were interrupted by a very large, very territorial boa constrictor. Lucy's melodic hiss, while lovely, certainly told Theo she was plotting his demise - just in case he tried anything.

The magnificent snake slithered straight for Max and curled herself around him protectively. Amber eyes dared Theo to breathe wrong.

"Hello, girl. Is this Miss Lucy?"

"You can seal the room now. Or we can go to your orphanage, as long as Lucy can come."

"Lucy can absolutely come. We have loads of room at the orphanage and she is free to roam, provided she promises not to scare the horses." Theo whispered to Lucy so she wouldn't be offended. "It's not you, love. Our horses have issues. They're a bit...prancy. Hey, would you like to bring your book too?"

Theo could not see a jacket or sweater for Max in the visible distance. Of course, it didn't make sense for him to have one inside. Not knowing the full extent of the circumstances at Hogsmeade or the danger imposed upon Max, Theo decided it was ill-advised for them to return to Curse's quarters. Anyone stalking Max would surely check there first. He shed his own coat and offered it to the boy.

"Would Lucy like my scarf? It's a bit of a jaunt to the carriage."

Finally Theo extended his hand and offered it to Max in case he wanted it. He had a hard time reading the boy's trust in him but it was worth a try. He'd rather have the boy refuse then have him wish he had someone to hold on to.

"Okay, scout. Ready?"

[Max Kameren]

"It's not you, love. Our horses have issues. They're a bit...prancy. Hey, would you like to bring your book too?"

"She can't understand you, she only understands dad when he talks." Max pushed himself off of the chair as Lucy unwound herself from him. He stroked a finger smoothly along her scaly head, telling her to stay calm. Though Max didn't trust this man still, he appeared more and more legitimate. Even the most evil men could appear kind sometimes, however. He would keep Lucy close until Curse was with him once again.

Theo offered Max his coat, but the boy shook his head in reply. He didn't want to be treated like a child by this man, he wanted to be intimidating to this man. He knew quite frustratingly that he wasn't, but he would do his best to appear mature to him. Lucy slithered between the two, protectively separating Max from Bowre. He ignored Theo's hand as well, keeping his emerald gaze purposefully forward. He was worried and afraid and nervous, and he darn well didn't want to be babied by some man he'd just met. He did his best impression of his father, keeping his face steady and his worries under control.

"Okay, scout. Ready?"

"Let's just go," He said, following Bowre by his side with Lucy slithering between them. He shoved his hands in his pockets, keeping his eyes on the ground. If his dad could show up now, he would be happy. He just wanted this night to be over. Or better yet, for it to never have happened.