Not Dead Yet

The boy dragged his tanned hand up to wipe away the blood that dripped from his nose. Alana watched the action stiffly, unsure what to make of the situation. Jake hissed in pain when his fingers brushed his nose. Definitely broken then. He opted out of the hopeless task of cleaning his face and glared at the audience surrounding him. A sudden flash was all the warning he got before a spell hit him straight between his eyes. He reeled backwards as the skin on his face burned and raised an arm defensively.

Alana crouched beside the prone form of Raymond once the healing spell, episkey, had left her wand. The solidly built man accepted the offered hand without much floundering and was rather ungracefully hauled to his feet. A grunt of effort was all Alana offered to indicate her struggle to move the werewolf. Raymond tossed his dark locks aside and peered at her with unnervingly bright eyes.

"Sparrow…" The name was spoken reverently and Alana had the profound urge to slap the man on the back of his head. When had this fellow ever shown such respect to her? Only when he was drunk apparently! The damned Scot was easy-going and only showed such a serious expression when on a job. Raymond leaned down to wrap an arm around the witch's waist and bury his nose into her neck. He paid absolutely no attention to the wand she was pointing at his jugular. 'It would be so easy. Just one spell.' Alana dug her wand into his neck before sighing. The man's c.h.e.s.t was rumbling in a content purr that vaguely reminded her of a muggle massage chair. It was utterly disgusting but she could hardly, in good conscience, murder the man for what was for all appearances a hug.

"Missed you, pup…" He mumbled into her neck. The warm breath made her squirm. Whatever sense of personal boundaries Raymond had previously held had vanished with his alcohol. The clinginess sent a shiver down her spine. It brought back vivid flashbacks of being squeezed to the abundant c.h.e.s.t of one Lilith Bathery.

"Missed me? So much that you've been picking fights with green wizards?" Alana regained her bearings enough to muster a frigid tone. She tugged a strand of his hair as punishment causing the man to w.h.i.n.e.

"He started it," He retorted petulantly. Dear Merlin, was that a pout? She controlled the urge to toss the large male to the ground. She wondered if someone had slipped something extra into his drink. He could usually handle more than the nine smashed glasses she saw on the floor.

"Child, what brings you to Harley's?" Alana turned to question Jake's crumpled form. Her fingers were twitching to help him out of instinct but he was a stranger to her currently. His cloak had been ripped off his shoulders during the brawl and he gripped it tightly in his hand. Tired but determined dark brown eyes were glued to Raymond who looked ready to turn Sparrow into a plushie for his entertainment. The witch eyed the boy warily, more than aware of her responsibility for dealing with him now that she had intervened. Raymond was hardly in a fit state and she doubted any of the other patrons would be daring enough to step in now that Raymond had declared her identity. Most were aware of Sparrow's skill set. It was a blessing he hadn't said her real name.

"I have personal business with him," Jake Matthews growled with clenched fists. His eyes were predatory, enough so that she was glad to be positioned between the two. Raymond was lucid enough not to restrict her limbs or she would have already removed his family jewels.

"Personal? Perhaps, it would be wiser to take this to the backroom then? Instead of wrecking my front lawn?" Alana twisted enough to indicate the boy should follow. Raymond trailed behind her like an unwanted third limb as she fished a few galleons out for Willow.

"Put the cost on my tab will you, Willow. I'll have my usual in room three." The tavern fell back into its usual atmosphere as if the incident had never occurred. That was what she loved about the place. No one asked any questions unless they were willing to die for the answers.

…

Raymond knocked back a potion a tossed the vial back to Alana. He watched as it vanished under the folds of her cloak and huffed, reluctantly impressed by the strength of the concoction. He could already feel his head clearing. It was disappointing as he would have rather retained a bit of intoxication for dealing with this particular brat. The boy who had so rudely interrupted his drinking time took a seat at the wooden table in the centre of the room. The mercenary let his eyes meet the boys own and frowned as they weren't averted. The kid was an idiot for thinking he would get away with such disrespect in front of him. His fist slammed down on the table causing the boy to jump. Alana could not help but admire the array of scars adorning the man's arms as he took a seat. They were displayed proudly with the absence of his signature cloak.

"Sparrow," Raymond gave the girl a glance and she moved to take a seat. His eyes were a furious shade of amber and tracked her movements with the approving glint of a proud general. It didn't go unnoticed by either occupant of the room but Alana was far too used to the man's form of camaraderie to verbalise an opinion. She merely clucked her tongue in an annoyed manner. She would not be forgetting his previous behaviour any time soon.

"Jake was it? You are looking for the wrong man," Raymond directed the firmly spoken words to the only other male in the room. Jake's posture visibly changed as he strangled the table edge with both hands.

"I heard you're able to control yourself on the full moon so you must know a proper supplier for wolfsbane!" He was practically shaking with anger and desperation as he confronted the werewolf.

"I told you already that I don't have a supplier."

"Then where do you get the ingredients to make it!"

"I don't make it myself either!"

"You're just lying to save your own a.s.s now!"

Alana's eyes flicked back and forth between the two following the verbal tennis match. Her head was spinning by the time Jake's hand reached across the table. She stretched to grip his forearm before the punch landed and they got physical. She knew for a fact that Raymond didn't take Wolfsbane already. They had worked the full moon together before and he'd managed to hold on to his human form by some mysterious feat of magic without it.

"I won't tolerate any damage to this establishment just because the truth doesn't suit your needs," She warned. Her words hit their mark and the boy sank back into his seat. She was about to relax when Raymond whipped out his gun and pointed it to the boy's forehead.

"Make a damn move with that wand and I'll blow your brains out if she doesn't slit your throat first." Raymond's growl echoed in the room. Alana hadn't noticed Jake move for his wand at the angle she sat. The wolf was obviously upset and she tentatively placed a placating hand on his arm.

"He's just a child, amicus. There is no need to draw blood."

Raymond's eyes carved into her argument like a machete. 'Are you not also a child?' His eyes said. She coughed awkwardly. She felt pity for the world at having raised the standard intelligence bar for adolescents. Regardless of her arguments faults, Raymond seemed to find it encouragement enough to lower his gun though it stayed in his grip.

"You don't need any potions just enough magic."

Alana gave her companion a considering look. She was surprised he even bothered to answer the boy, though the answer itself was vague. Enough magic could be interpreted in a variety of ways. Enough skill, strength, quantity, quality? Was it mental or physical magic that he referred to? Jake was grasping at the meaning as well but having as much luck as Alana. Raymond looked extremely reluctant to speak on the subject. Alana was about to accept he wouldn't elaborate when he opened his mouth again.

"An animagus form would do the trick." His eyes had returned to their original darkness from bright amber and he turned to the witch beside him with an almost reluctant expression. She gave him a confused glance but it was hidden by her mask.

"What if they don't have magic?" Jake's question was a near whisper and revealed far too much of his circ.u.mstances. Raymond shrugged helplessly. It was none of his concern. He pulled Sparrow closer to him to ease the discomfort he felt with her so close to the boy.

"I could make the potion for you if you have the instructions." Alana mentally cursed as soon as the words left her lips. She felt Raymond stiffen by her side and new the man was questioning her decision. She was questioning her sanity more than the decision at that moment. Jake's head had already snapped to the cloaked figure. He had dismissed her presence as an annoyance originally but now he was fixated. He had gathered she was female but while her height indicated youth, her demeanour had been anything but that of a child's.

"You are a potion's master?" He supposed she could have taken a potion to make herself younger.

"You should do your research before stepping into Knockturn Alley, boy. She is a jack of trades in our business. My Sparrow," He grinned at the possessiveness lining his words. He just knew it would rile her up. Sure enough, she was fisting his shirt but a second later and her face was inches away from his alongside a wand.

"Yours? I didn't know that I belonged to you, dear Raymond." She threatened him to take the words back but Raymond was hardly the type to do that.

"Ours," He laughed thus breaking the tension between them. "You are our Sparrow, are you not?"

She hummed at the slightly more agreeable title. She was willing to acknowledge that she was as much a permanent fixture of the British underground as Willow was of Harley's. The thought was oddly comforting. She belonged here. Her thoughts turned to Jake who seemed to be deep in thought if the expression on his face was any indication. She wondered who he was so desperate to get the wolfsbane for. There was, of course, a sure way to check but she had invaded his mind before and she was not so keen to experience his tumultuous waves of thought. There was also the fact that Raymond would likely notice and be concerned. Werewolves were impervious to the mind arts much like vampires but they tended to dislike the practitioners of it much more.

"I have the instructions. What's your price?" He searched for her eyes within the shadows of her cowl but found nothing. Alana considered her childhood friend with careful eyes. The potion formula for Wolfsbane was hardly easy to come by. In fact, it had never been formally published outside of the potions guild by its creator. It wasn't exactly valuable as very few werewolves in Britain were affluent enough to afford it. What truly interested her was the identity of the creator himself. She had, of course, done her research when she had learnt Jake had snuck into the restricted section for a potions book. His desperation had piqued her interest and kindled concern. Wolfsbane was the creation of Severus Tobias Snape. It was the potion that gained him entry into the guild as the youngest ever potions master.

"The formula," She replied whilst tilting her head. "And you will work for me during your school holidays under a non-negotiable contract of confidence. Nothing illegal I assure you," She added. She was reluctant to stain the boy's hands with her deeds. Raymond raised an eyebrow questioningly at the generous offer.

"I would also like to know for whom I am making this potion. They will likely need the support of a pack if they don't want to experience any of the depressive side effects of the potion." There was the catch both men were waiting for. Werewolves were required to register by the ministry and the consequences of not doing so were hardly gentle. Assuming the one he was helping was unregistered, he'd essentially be putting his own welfare and theirs in her hands. Alana waited for an answer while Raymond observed at the entire situation quietly.

"My father, Christian Matthews."

The answer solidified her resolve. It was with absolute certainty in her decision that Alana wrote up a binding contract. She had her answers now. She could finally repay the two Matthews' for all that they had done for her as a child. She signed in blood and passed the quill to the boy beside her and then Raymond who would act as the witness. She would decide what to do with the boy after she completed the first batch of the potion. It would be rather convenient if he was any good at paperwork.

Jake left shortly after signing with the promise of a future visit to sort out a suitable wolf pack during the holidays. Alana finally focused her attention on Raymond who had not moved from his seat. The nonverbal request for conversation had her returning to her spot expectantly.

"You know him." Raymond was watching her carefully with amber eyes again. The young witch reclined carefully at his words. She shouldn't have been surprised he would draw such conclusions but it still stirred panic in her gut.

"I do," She replied slowly.

"Then you'll know to keep him far away if you want him kept alive." Raymond stroked the gun that had remained in his grasp. Alana swallowed thickly at the threat. Her entire body was tensed as he rotated the gun in his hands.

"You know I'd rather not have to do anything, Sparrow. We are friends after all." Alana laughed weakly at the werewolf. She had annoyed him tonight. First by stepping in on his fight and then by expressing such closeness to the boy. So many mistakes in so little time. It was no wonder that he was considering taking her friend out. Jake was a weakness that he would cut down if he needed to and if it hurt her, he would cut her down too. Britain could not afford a weak link. His eyes were blazing amber as he looked at her. He was waiting for a reply.

"There's nothing to worry about. You know that I hate loose ends, Raymond." Sparrow smiled with faux calmness as she tugged her hood down. The black hair that tumbled out framed her smiling eyes. "I am simply putting a leash on my past." His eyes were daggers with curiosity slowly wrapping around the corners of his irises.

"You know just what to say, Sparrow." He inhaled with a bright smile. She hadn't lied. Raymond knew she hadn't. He would let her keep her pet for now. It wasn't like his aim would falter if he left it for a month.

Alana gave the werewolf a relieved look as he left the room. Raymond was one of the worst types of people in the world. He was the type that fooled you into thinking that they were normal, that they were family and that they would never harm you. He was one of the rare people who could mean it when they said that they cared for you and then put a bullet in you the next day. Was it wrong that she still enjoyed his company? Even when he threatened those she held close? Perhaps, that was what she liked about him. He reminded her when she was letting someone close enough to hurt her.

Edited 25.10.2019