Escape or Death

Lupin looked especially dashing just then.

Anton did not answer him.

The effects of the Wizard's Eye potion were fading little by little, but he could still clearly see the "magical image" of the mark on his arm.

He did not know whether it really was a "magical image." That did not matter.

Through the Wizard's Eye, the black pattern became three-dimensional. It rose from the center of a square, dark green threads forming a spider covered in eyes.

Several curved lines formed its legs. They pierced his arm and ran upward through his flesh, from his elbow to his shoulder and then beyond where he could see. But he knew his head came next.

He did not know what spell it was.

He had read plenty of Harry Potter fanfiction, but those dozen or so books were only a tiny fraction of all the novels he had read. He could barely remember most of them.

The one thing he vaguely recalled was the Dark Mark Draco had revealed by pulling up his sleeve in some short video.

"Protego!"

The Shield Charm blocked another Cruciatus Curse from the old wizard.

Lupin rushed to his side and hauled him up. "I'll take you away by Apparition. Whatever happens, hold on to me tight!"

Anton shook his head. His eyes unfocused as he followed a faint thread from the spider on his hand into the distance, until his gaze met the old wizard's.

Clutching his head with his left hand, the old wizard let out a shrill wail, as though his skull were splitting open. He looked at Anton. "You saw it, didn't you? You saw it! You can't escape. I promise, give me back my wand and I'll remove the curse!"

"Give me back my wand!" he roared between screams.

Anton raised an eyebrow. "True."

Smiling, he pushed Lupin's hand away. "You'd better go."

He walked slowly toward the old wizard, waving his old wand. "You promised."

As he passed the table where they had brewed Potions, the old wizard's eyes stayed fixed on the wand waving in Anton's hand. He did not notice Anton snatch up the sharp knife used to cut ingredients with his left hand.

"Child, you can't trust him!" Lupin shouted anxiously from behind.

Anton stopped and pressed his lips together. "There are things you can't solve by running away. If the end is death..."

He turned and gave Lupin a brilliant smile. "I choose to face it!"

What good would running do? As long as the magical spider remained on his wrist, he would spend every moment, everywhere he went, fearing the old wizard's pursuit!

He was marked. Once the old wizard recovered, he could Apparate right to Anton's side, and Anton would die all the same.

He was no longer the mediocre office drone he had been before crossing over. Though he had crossed over into the body of a ten-year-old, all the hardships he had endured had made him more mature.

At the very least, he could calmly face whatever consequences his choices brought.

Even death.

In that moment, his resolve was firmer than it had ever been.

"Go while you can."

With that, he approached the old wizard again, his face full of sincerity. "Teacher, I was wrong. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have treated you like that. Are you all right?"

The old wizard was anything but all right. Seeing Anton bring him his wand, he breathed a sigh of relief and sank to the floor, pressing both hands hard against the sides of his head as though it would split apart if he let go.

"Quick, give me the wand."

Lupin stood frozen in the distance, Anton's words echoing through his mind. There are things you can't solve by running away...

Ever since his best friends, the Potters, had died taking the Dark Lord down with them, and Sirius had been imprisoned in Azkaban for betraying them, he had refused Dumbledore's arrangements and wandered from place to place.

He did not know how to face any of it. All he could do was run.

But running had done no good. The dying screams of the Potters and Wormtail seemed to reach across time and space. Sirius's piercing, crazed laughter seemed branded into his mind, tormenting him every moment, wherever he went!

At last, Anton reached the old wizard.

Looking anxious to help him up, Anton hurriedly passed the old wand into his left hand. The sleeve of his oversized wizard's robe tangled around it, and to the old wizard's anxious eyes, the wand looked ready to fall at any moment.

Anton slipped his right arm under the old wizard's, supporting him with his small body.

"Give me the wand! Why are you helping me up, you idiot?"

Why am I helping you up?

Heh. Why do you think?

Concern filled Anton's face, but his right hand seized the old wizard's hair and yanked hard. The force wrenched the old wizard's head back, exposing his wrinkled neck.

The old wand fell from Anton's left hand. A sharp knife burst through his robe sleeve and plunged deep into the old wizard's neck!

Bang!

A massive blast of air struck, hurling Anton away.

The force was immense. Anton watched helplessly as he flew toward the wall. He hastily raised both hands to protect his head, closed his eyes, and prayed he would not be hurt too badly.

Suddenly, he felt himself grow light. An arm that was not particularly strong caught him.

He opened his eyes to Lupin's weathered, scarred face. Despite his scruffy beard, Lupin was smiling. "You should leave this sort of thing to adults."

Just then, a familiar shrill roar rang out.

"Crucio!"

The spell flashed and struck Lupin instantly.

"Ahhh!" The older man's gentle smile lasted less than two seconds. He screamed in agony and collapsed, his whole body twisting and convulsing on the floor.

Anton looked up in shock. The old wizard was trembling as he got to his feet, the old wand in his hand.

"You're special, my precious apprentice."

"See? That's what it really looks like when someone is hit by the Cruciatus Curse."

"Too bad you're about to die!"

The old wizard's eyes were cold as he pointed at Anton. "Avada..."

Anton did not dodge. He stared at the old wizard in astonishment.

With the last traces of the Wizard's Eye potion still working, he could see countless dark green cracks spreading and twisting rapidly from the knife lodged in the old wizard's neck.

As the old wizard drew on his magic, the cracks erupted with a powerful magical surge.

Bang!

Magic burst before Anton's eyes like a deafening explosion without sound. The cracks rippled and twisted into a strange pattern.

The pattern held a powerful magic that captivated him completely.

Anton wanted to keep looking, but the potion's effects vanished entirely.

His normal vision returned. Blood was already gushing from the old wizard's neck. Before he could finish the Killing Curse, blood poured from his mouth.

His eyes rolled back, and he died.

Anton's face hardened. He hurried forward. In the mysterious world of magic, there were too many ways to fake death. He had to make sure!

But as the old wizard died, the entire room suddenly began to shake.

Countless lights erupted from the floor, forming lines exactly like those he had seen through the Wizard's Eye.

Anton had no idea what was happening. The original books said very little about dark magic, so he could not tell what would happen next.

He hurriedly helped Lupin up, only to find him pale and twitching, his whole body limp against Anton.

"Damn, he's heavy!"

After a moment's thought, he shoved Lupin back into the trunk reinforced with the Undetectable Extension Charm. Then he thought again and stuffed the old wizard in too.

He closed the trunk, picked up the old wand, pushed the door open, and ran for his life.

All in one swift motion.