The veil of my dreams deceived all I have seen
Character: Barty Summary: Barty begins his rebirth.
It was quiet when Barty woke. For a while he wasn't certain where he was and then a long absent smile graced his lips as he realised that he was safe.
He was in fact lying on the dust sheets covering a large sofa. The sofa was positioned before a grand fireplace in the living room of the London house he had inherited from Rilind Hedera. He had entered the house the previous evening, having finally built up the courage to visit it.
Barty hadn't been entirely sure what kind of retribution he had expected for daring to enter the home of his soul's donor, but he had hesitated for a long time on the door step before drawing in a shaky breath and stepping over the threshold. There had been no lightening bolts, only great relief and a sense that he had found a haven. The strength of his magic as he had set up protective wards against any intruders - particularly Bella - had been another comfort.
Feeling safe for the first time since he had fled Bella's house, Barty had not bothered looking over the property. He had instead collapsed on the first suitable bed he had happened across - the sofa - and sunk into his exhaustion.
Barty looked about himself now, as he pushed himself up and onto his feet. The house wasn't built on the grand scale you might expect from an old pureblood family's home, but it certainly wasn't modest. Barty speculated on whether Rilind had set up this household himself after the death of his parents. The boy would have had some inheritance, but perhaps not the desire to remain in a house that held so many bad memories. Barty still wasn't sure how much of a connection he really had with Rilind through the soul inhabiting his body, but even if it was purely psychological, he felt calm in this house.
Along with the living room, the ground floor had a dining room and a small conservatory leading off the back of it. The garden was a typically small one for London, just a bit of lawn lined with empty flower beds - there was a park nearby if Barty actually wanted to enjoy the outdoors.
The kitchen was in the basement, with what appeared to be a games room. Making his way back up the stairs and then up the wider staircase to the first floor Barty investigated the two bedrooms and bathroom there. He immediately decided that he would make the bedroom overlooking the avenue his own. He laughed mirthlessly when he realised that all the rooms would be his own.
The second floor had another couple of rooms, which looked like they had been used purely for storage in the past. Frowning a little over all the dust sheets, Barty wondered who had covered the furniture. Had somebody done it when Rilind had disappeared? If so who.
The answer was waiting for him in the garden. Just outside the conservatory door was a soggy envelope that must have been abandoned by an owl some time back. With a few waves of his wand he restored the letter to a readable quality and took it back with him to the living room. He dragged the dust sheet off the sofa and sat down on the old leather to read.
Dear Mr Elias,
I hope that you have found everything in order. Considering the delicate situation in which you have found yourself, it has been decided by the Board that I will continue to handle your business personally. If you have any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to owl me.
The properties were put under the bank's care while the inheritance was investigated and processed. I trust that everything has been attended to and is in its place. Again, if you have any problems let me know.
Yours sincerely,
P. I. Bevan Consultant for Cases of Legal Ambiguity
Barty narrowed his eyes at Mr Bevan's job description and remembered the unease he had felt when the man had told him he had committed no crime. He obviously had since that time. He had caused the deaths of several Muggles and had attempted to murder Healer Smith. He dearly wished that he had run away from Bella the day he had found out about his inheritance.
But this was his chance now, wasn't it? He had got away from Bella. He knew that she was mad and wrong. It was his chance to start over and learn things for himself. He rolled his wand between his fingers, thinking of the Benu feather inside. "The one who came into being by himself." He should have realised when he had discovered his wand's core that blindly following Bella was not the path he should tread.
However, what was done was done. He could start over. He could relearn everything without Bella's view point blinding him. The Dark Lord was dead, as were Barty's memories of that past - it was time for his future.
The first step would be to make his house habitable. Then he would have to see about clothing and the other things necessary for survival. Mr Bevan had told him that he had enough money to support him for about a year. He would take his time to reacquaint himself with the world.
Before all that he needed a shower, though, and he went back upstairs to investigate the bathroom. He was pleased to find the shower in perfect working order and quickly stripped off the torn and dirty robes he had been wearing since the night he had attacked Smith.
As he shrugged the shirt from his shoulders, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror and started at the dark marks he saw there. Bella's initials stood out against his pale skin and he trembled with renewed fear at what might happen if she ever caught up to him again.
He hastily stepped into the shower cubicle, and let the hot water soothe him into calm again. She couldn't get him here. Here he was safe...
However, much later, as he ventured out of the house in search of food, the fears and paranoia intruded again. He realised that he was more afraid of himself than Bella. Bella was the trigger for his fear, but it was his own weakness he was scared of. He knew that deep within himself he lacked the strength to stand alone. He needed others to guide and lead him. As terrified as he was of Bella dragging him back into her service, he was even more frightened by the thought that he might go back to her of his own accord when he found life on his own too difficult.
No! he thought. He would be stronger this time.
He would.
Straightening his back, he forced himself to walk more slowly. He could do this. Even alone. He would do this.
He had been given another chance, and this time he wasn't going to waste it.