The Centaur's Shrine

Chapter 31 - Camelot

Camelot,

The wild ride on the Unicorn's back was more comfortable than they would have thought. There was no saddle, but the creature's gallop was very smooth, and it was not as bony as a normal horse would have been. Actually, it was more like flying than anything else. Alicia was ecstatic. This was the kind of thing she'd dreamed of for years, an adventure pure and simple, with a vital mission and magical beings at their side. Richard was more reserved. The ride was fun, but he worried about what they were going to do at their destination.

After about an hour, they came out of the woods into an open space. The land was tall grass and gentle hills. The few trees were isolated and not very big. In the distance, they saw the broken shape of the ramparts. Laurell slowed down and they entered the ruins in total silence. There was not even the sound of a bird chirping, or of the wind rustling some tree's leaves. Richard remembered the statues which had attacked the Centaurs, and despite the Unicorn's previous assurance, he kept his wand firmly at hand.

"Are you sure it's going to be okay?" he asked anxiously.

It is not dangerous for us now.

That didn't sound very reassuring as it implied that it could become dangerous in the future.

"We've got to do this," affirmed Alicia. "It's important." Richard didn't say anything. He agreed with her, but this was the kind of thing which sensible Slytherins always tried to avoid.

They continued up to the entrance of a partially buried building. The Unicorn asked them to dismount and led them inside. Presently they entered a large room. In the center was a raised platform of stone, bordered by five dark pillars.

"That looks just like the one Harry and Hermione found at the school," said Alicia.

Yes. The one you have seen is safe. It has been bonded to the school, to insure its prosperity. This one has not been used by wizards for a long time. It was pledged to the Centaurs, but now it is free to be possessed by any who wants it. The witch I showed you yearns to control it.

"How does it work?" asked Richard. At least they were gaining priceless knowledge.

Laurell trotted up to the center of the circle and called for them to join him. They were a little afraid, but they walked to his side, and then he called up the magic. They could see the silvery spokes of light jetting up from the ground, passing next and through them. At the same time, a low hum was heard. It was frightening, but also very exhilarating. This was a far cry from first year class experiments, or even Marauders secrets. Richard couldn't help wondering if it meant that they would become immensely powerful wizards, like the first shaman wizard they had seen in the dream.

Would you really want such power? You have seen the consequences, and you already have something even better.

They heard him, but they were too fascinated to ask what he was talking about. The lights brightened until nothing else in the room was visible, only the black rectangles of the pillars, and then they weren't black anymore. They could see through them into what they knew to be distant lands, or other rooms and caves. Laurell indicated one of them.

This is the path to your school. You could- Quick! Run away and hide!

The thought was so urgent and imperious that they didn't even think before obeying. Laurell pushed them into the deep end of the room, and then he turned to face those who were just coming in.

"What is that thing doing here?" asked Electra in annoyance.

The light from her wand was feeble compared to the rays emanating from the circle. She and the scholar didn't notice or hear the two small figures running into the shadows. All they saw was the Unicorn standing inside the Power Circle, their Circle.

"Be careful Electra," warned Boocrat, frowning.

Even for someone as knowledgeable as he, Unicorns where still a mystery. He knew that they were partly sentient, as did she. The combination of one and a Circle hinted at unknown capabilities. His private opinion was to do nothing rash. One reason he had lived so long was a finely honed sense of cautiousness. But Electra did not share that attitude.

"Get out of here! This is my property!" she snapped, gesturing with her wand. Behind her she heard Sylvia and Trevor entering the room. Trevor gasped in surprise.

Laurell said nothing. The lights diminished and disappeared, and then the Circle became quiescent once more. He had never looked directly at his own future, but somehow, he knew that it was going to be decided very soon. One vision had told him that the children would play a role in this crisis. He had not dared see what that would be exactly, so he had just followed their wishes and brought them here.

"Get out I say, or I'll kill you!" declared Electra. She marched firmly up to the Circle, wand pointed at the creature.

Laurell recoiled from the viciousness of her mind. Unicorns were absolute pacifists, and that was a problem now. In theory, it would be possible for him to strike her down with the merest effort. He had all the power of the Shrine at his disposal, but no Unicorn had ever hurt any creature willingly, or even imposed his will on them. Such neutrality came with being the Pure Ones. He dared not cede the Shrine, however. She would have to kill him, and he didn't expect that she would hesitate. Perhaps that was his fate. Maybe it was even part of the solution. If that was the case, then he would accept it. It was after all, a very ancient and honorable tradition among his kind.

Trevor was troubled at seeing Electra threatening the Unicorn. He had never seen one before, but he shared in the universal reverence of these creatures. The others didn't seem unduly surprised by its presence. And they didn't look particularly respectful either. He wondered what this place really was. Electra had simply told him that it contained something which would make them all very powerful.

"Electra, do not use a curse," warned Boocrat anxiously. "The Circle is activated. There might be some backlash. We really should wait-"

"No," she broke him off impatiently. She lowered her wand and a cruel expression come over her face. "I will not wait, but don't worry. I won't need magic for this."

At her belt was a dagger with a vicious long blade. It made a clear ringing sound as she pulled it out of its scabbard. She stepped forward, pointed it at the Unicorn and ordered it to leave once more. Laurell didn't move and looked calmly at her. Electra moved closer, and repeated her command at each step, each time with more force and anger. The creature's passivity enraged her. All that work, all those moves, the rituals and the machinations would not be stopped by a mere stubborn and mute creature. Behind her, Boocrat was desperately trying to imagine what the consequences of a fight inside a Circle could be. Dragonis looked indecisive, and Trevor was horrified at the thought that she was threatening to kill the Unicorn.

It's a bluff. She can't really be thinking of doing such a thing. She's bluffing.

When she stepped on the stone, the lights and the humming returned. She felt the magical energy flow through her, and it fueled her anger into passion. The Circle was talking to her! She was feeling its power and it was a breathtaking experience. She moved right in front of the Unicorn, and one last time she ordered it to go away, on pain of death. When he didn't budge, she pulled her arm back and struck forward and upward in one jerking motion, her face deformed in a rictus of rage. The deadly weapon hit just below the breast. There was a great flash of light and a terrible tearing sound.

Laurell felt the tip pierce his heart. There was no pain but he knew that the wound was fatal. His legs gave way under him and thick silvery blood gushed out, flowing along the dagger and soaking Electra's hand before dripping on the stone surface. She didn't feel it. Her mind was overwhelmed by a terrible joy and an incredible sensation of power. She screamed with joy and pleasure beyond anything she had ever felt. Blinding light jetted from the ground where the blood fell. From their hiding place, Alicia and Richard watched in horror. Their thoughts flew toward the Unicorn and they sensed the telepathic response.

Do not be sad. It is my fate, and now you will have to accomplish yours. Remember what I showed you.

Laurell fell down, and more blood splattered over Electra. As the Unicorn died, the rays of light from the Circle grew to an unbearable intensity, and the hum rose in pitch and power. Electra was still screaming, but now they couldn't see her. They all had to close their eyes, and even then, silver and gold flames burned through their eyelids. They were getting ready to run, hands pressed against their ears in protection against the painful sound, head bent away from the hellish fire which the Circle had become. It lasted only a second, and then it was over. There was nothing but darkness and the dying echoes of Electra's screams, and then there was only silence.

Trevor and Dragonis were stunned, but Boocrat was truly terrified. Not for the first time, he lamented the recklessness of his former pupil. There was no telling what might have happened. After a full minute, they heard a weak moan. Trevor roused himself and worked up enough courage to cast a Lumos spell. Electra was lying on the floor next to the circle, and just beginning to move. He knew that he should be running to help her, but he was still under the shock of what she had done. It was sacrilegious to kill a Unicorn, the stuff of the darkest magic. She had told him of the Brotherhood, and of its ambition to re-orient the wizard world in the old traditional ways. He adhered fully to such an agenda, and not only for the advantages that it would bring him.

She needed to do it. There was no other way. It's a terrible thing, but it was necessary. Wasn't it?

The rationalization helped a little, but he was still troubled. Beside the act itself, there was also her reaction. Her scream had been orgasmic, similar and yet so much more intense to her pants of pleasure a few hours ago. He found the implicit association extremely disturbing.

They looked at the Circle. It was empty and there was not the slightest trace of a body, or even blood. The only visible things were the dagger and long ivory object which he didn't recognize at first. Electra sat up and shook her head slowly. She was breathing deeply and coughing in spasms, every lungful a desperate attempt to extract oxygen from the air. Her face was flushed and partly covered by her hair, which was soaked with transpiration, but she was recovering quickly. He finally moved to help her stand up. She clutched to him and turned toward Sylvia. Nervous tremors ran through her right arm. There was something on her face. He couldn't see clearly because of the hair.

"Activate the sentinels!" she spat angrily. "I don't want anybody, or anything else coming here. Do it now! Trevor, go with her." She released him and didn't wait for acknowledgement. She addressed Boocrat. "And you professor, snap out of it. You have work to do."

"Electra, you must understand that these things-"

"It's your role to understand these things," she interrupted. "Mine is to decide how to use them. We need to control this Circle, and to block Dumbledore from using the other. I don't like surprises and this one was too much."

She walked up to the circle once more and picked up her dagger. That was when she noticed the silver spots peppering her hand. She rubbed at the skin, but they wouldn't go away. She felt a flash of panic. Killing the Unicorn hadn't bothered her, but these marks did. She saw the other object and realized that it was the Unicorn's horn.

Damn animal! Why couldn't he just go away?

Her first use of the Circle should have been a moment of triumph, and that stupid creature had ruined it. She kicked savagely at the pitiful remain. Propelling it toward the back of the room.

"Is something wrong?" asked Boocrat.

In normal circumstances, she would have told him, but at the moment, she didn't want to speak about what had happened. She didn't feel shame, certainly not, but she was bothered. She would just ignore and hide this.

"Nothing's wrong. I need to clean up that's all."

She remembered that there was a hot spring somewhere. A long bath would be great right now, but she didn't have time. At least she would wash and change her clothes.

- - -

Forbidden Forest,

Albus Dumbledore insisted that he go alone into the Forest. He explained that he had done it several times before, and that there was nothing that the Centaurs could possibly do to him. He even knew approximately where their camp was, but he didn't expect to get close without being intercepted. He was right. Bane was waiting for him in the first clearing. Ronan and Graleva, the eldest of the mares, where standing behind him. Other Centaurs were there as well. He saw Firenze among them. Several were holding cocked bows.

For a moment nothing was said. Dumbledore ignored the weapons trained on him. His face was a mask of disapproval and angry determination. It made Firenze squirm in discomfort, but Bane didn't flinch and stared back with basically the same expression.

"Where are my students and the village's children, Bane?" asked Dumbledore in a hard and strong voice. There were no greetings or polite words. It was exceptional for the Headmaster to be so abrupt. Gentle persuasion had always been the norm for him, at least on first contact.

"They will stay with us until we get back what is ours," replied Bane.

"I do not understand. What are you talking about?"

"HOW DARE YOU FEIGN IGNORANCE WITH ME!" screamed Bane. "Is it not enough that you condemn us to a slow and shameful extinction?"

Bane was trembling with anger and outrage, and the Headmaster could see that the other Centaurs, including Firenze, were with him. The response proved that they felt justified in their reaction, and that they were indeed truly worked up about something. It was very interesting. The problem was that he had no idea what it was.

"Bane, I swear on the lives of those children, that I have no knowledge of anything which has been done to your people."

It was Bane's turn to be taken aback. Firenze frowned and approached to whisper in his ear. The Centaur leader listened and confronted the Headmaster.

"Firenze tells me that there is much that humans have forgotten. Does that include the pact which they made with us?"

"Do you mean the cession of the Forest to the Centaurs?" asked Dumbledore. He had only a basic knowledge of it. In his mind, it was rather a tacit agreement.

"The Forest has always been ours. I speak of the Shrine in the old ruins."

A chain of connections fell into place in the old wizard's brain. Nothing that the six had told him mentioned involvements with the Centaurs, but he hadn't had the time to review all their documents. However, it was too much to be a coincidence.

"I know nothing of a Shrine," he said. "But there has been disquieting developments among wizards, and we have received information that an ancient castle may be involved, but we haven't been able to identify it."

He described the model Dobby had found in Alan Boocrat's house, and Firenze said immediately that it matched what they were talking about. Bane threw him an angry look, but the younger Centaur stood his ground.

"This is no time for secrets," he said. "The Pure Ones said the wizards had taken it, so they know where it is. What is there to hide anymore?"

"Firenze is right," added Dumbledore. "I will help you if I can, but you must tell me what has been happening, and what this Shrine is."

- - -

Hogwarts,

Flitz and Silena arrived at the Forest's edge near the school. Flitz stopped at the tree line, unwilling to come out into what was for him forbidden territory.

"What are you waiting for?" said Silena. "We've got to tell our friends."

"I do not know. I am not supposed to go near this place."

"And we weren't supposed to go into the Forest, but we did, so you can do the same. Come on. I'll defend you."

Flitz turned his head and looked at her. Even sitting on his back, her head was lower than his, but she had her wand out and she looked determined enough. He relented and continued toward the castle. The doors were closed but Silena knocked firmly, using one of the large metal loops.

A small shutter opened and a magical blue eye inspected them. There was an exclamation of surprise and several muffled shouts inside.

"It's me, Silena," she called out. "I'm with a friend and I need to speak with my brother."

There were more shouts, and then a command for them to stand back. They did so and waited. After a moment, the great door opened partially. A forest of wands was aimed in their direction, held by anxious and fearful students. Professor McGonagall was standing in the middle and looking at them with her usual stern expression. Flitz was very worried, but Silena held on to him and told him not to be afraid.

"Miss Malfoy, where have you been?" asked the professor. "And who is this?"

"This is my friend Flitz," replied Silena. "And we need to speak with my brother and his friends, and no one else," she added stubbornly. She didn't know who was in on the secret of the stone circle, and Richard had been very clear on that point.

McGonagall frowned, but the girl would not budge. There didn't seem much harm in letting them in. She told them to wait and went in search of the others. Presently Draco and the others arrived and they all retired to a private room to talk.

"All right," asked Hermione. "Tell us what happened?"

Silena threw a worried look at McGonagall who set her jaws in impatience.

"Miss Malfoy, you have evidently been breaking several school rules by going outside the school after curfew, and Merlin knows what else. We will discuss that later. For now we have an emergency. Several children have been taken hostages and if you have any information which can help us get them back, now is the time to tell us."

Silena and Flitz told their story. They didn't go into the details of what they had seen in the dream. It proved difficult enough to get the idea across that Unicorns were intelligent and could make themselves understood under certain circumstances. They did explain about the loss of access to the Shrine, and the attack on the Centaurs' expedition. Flitz told them of his own initiation, and how important the Shrine was for his kind. Hermione made the same connections than Dumbledore did. She fished out the Omniglasses and both youths confirmed that Boocrat's other castle and the Centaur's Shrine was the same place. There was a collective gasp of horror when they learned that Alicia and Richard had been heading over there.

"What were they thinking going to such a dangerous place?" asked McGonagall.

"Laurell said that they would be safe with him."

Hermione had been thinking. A lot of things made sense to her now. The real target of their enemies must be that place. It was much more logical than Hogwarts. If the Parkers were going to the Shrine, then Snape, Remus and Helen would be there too, and they were probably in danger.

"We've got to go there ourselves," she said. "There is no time to lose." She explained her reasoning to the others. McGonagall sensed that she was losing control.

"Not so fast. We need to tell the Headmaster that-"

"Yes," interrupted Harry. "And Flitz can go with a teacher to do that. The Centaurs will believe him, and that may settle the conflict with them, but we've got to go that other place as soon as possible. How can we get to it?"

"Some Nimbus 2001's taken from the Slytherin Quidditch team," proposed Draco. "But first we have to know where it is." He turned to Flitz. "Can you tell us that?"

"I can lead you to it, on foot."

"How far is it?"

"A night's march," said Flitz. "Five turns of the little mark, and twenty of the long one."

"That's much too long," said Hermione, biting her lips. "Wait a minute. What did you say?"

Flitz repeated his words and took out Richard's watch to show them. After the boy's explanations, he had amused himself by timing several events and actions. When he had returned to the Shrine, he had noted how long the trip had taken.

"That's fantastic," said Hermione. "We can work out a rough distance from this. Can you give us an idea of the direction?" She turned to McGonagall. "Can we get a map of the general area around Hogwarts?"

Flitz could only give references to the position of the stars, but with the time of departure, taken from the watch, and the assistance of some astronomy textbooks, Hermione and Luna were able to determine roughly where the Centaur's Shrine was located.

"All right," said Harry. "Now we have all we need."

"I'll go with you," said Silena.

"Totally out of the question," replied Draco before McGonagall could forbid her. "You stay here where it's safe."

Silena crossed her arms and looked stubborn, but this time there was nothing she could do about that.

"Then I'll go with Flitz!"

McGonagall didn't like it much either, but Flitz asked for Silena's presence as well, and there was a good chance that the Headmaster would like to ask her more questions. The professor would have liked to accompany them, but she knew that it would be important to have at least one person with the full knowledge of the situation stay at the school. Professor Flitwick would go with them.

"All right Miss Malfoy. You and your friend will go, and you are to tell the Headmaster everything."

- - -

Camelot,

They were flying on two brooms, Severus and Helen on Harry's Firebolt, and Remus on Draco's Firestreak. The first reading had them go over a large area of the Forest. They touched down in a clearing and took another sighting. From the difference in the size of the arrow symbol, they deduced that the children, or a least Alicia, were about half an hour away at the speed they were making.

When their destination looked to be near, they stopped to make one last check. Helen was tense and didn't speak much. Remus walked over to Severus who was brewing another batch of potion.

"How could they have traveled so far, and by themselves?" he said in a low voice, so that Helen would not hear.

"I doubt that they were alone," replied Severus. "Perhaps a different band of Centaurs took them." He was going to add something about encouraging reckless behavior in children too young to know any better, but one look at Remus' face dissuaded him. The man was evidently torn with guilt. Severus recalled his own youthful adventures of another kind. At their age, instead of exploring places, he had been experimenting in Dark Magic. On his own, he had studied dangerous and forbidden spells, dwelling in secrets that even his family wouldn't have approved of. He shivered at what could have happened.

Actually it did. Those forays led to my dealings with Voldemort and losing my soul in his evil. The Marauders and these children were only risking their lives.

It suddenly made him feel more sympathetic to the other man.

"You shouldn't blame yourself too badly," he said gently. "Curiosity is part of our nature."

Remus nodded. He was glad that Severus seemed to condone his actions, or lack of, but he wondered about the mother. After all, she wasn't a witch. How could she possibly understand?

"We'll get them back," he said firmly. "Whatever it takes, we'll get them back."

Severus acquiesced. He threw a glance at Helen, who was gazing in the distance, and Remus saw the desperate concern in the man. He had noticed how the two of them looked at each other. The signs were clear enough.

"She loves you," whispered Remus. Severus' head snapped back with a furious scowl. Remus ignored it and continued. "And you feel the same."

"I do not!"

"Severus, I can still understand what I see. Why don't you admit it?"

"This is none of your business," snapped Severus.

"I am your friend," said Remus. The other man shook his head.

"You are," he said curtly, "but it is impossible, and I do not wish to discuss it."

Remus shook his head sadly. He looked at the former Death Eater in the eye.

"Nothing is impossible, Severus," he said softly, gesturing at the man's forearm, where the Dark Mark of the Death Eaters had once been tattooed. "You should know that better than anyone else."

"Over there!" exclaimed Helen suddenly. She gestured to a point on the horizon. "Carrion birds flying over something."

- - -

Hogwarts,

Under Bane's disapproving stare, Dumbledore was carefully listening to Graleva's explanation of the Centaur ritual. She didn't describe the Circle in details, although she mentioned on the role of the Pure Ones, which he knew were Unicorns. Because of this, he didn't make an immediate association with the cave room under Hogwarts.

At that point Flitz and Silena burst into the clearing. Firenze abandoned the group of Centaurs and rushed toward his son, while Silena gave her message to the Headmaster. There was some confusion at first, but after a few minutes the situation was clearer. The Centaur's Shrine was a teleporting Power Circle. None of the Centaurs among those present remembered that the one under Hogwarts had ever been used by their people, but they were ready to accept Flitz's word that Laurell had said so. They discussed it a little more and Ronan recalled that actually there was a place in the forest where an old cave had been condemned. Dumbledore immediately proposed that they go there to see if it could be the ancient entrance to the circle room.

"Bane," he said, "I will pledge to help you recover access to your Shrine, and in the meantime it should be possible to use the Hogwarts circle, but I will only do this if you release the children now."

Bane hesitated. He looked at the other Centaurs. Firenze was obviously in favor of agreeing to the Headmaster's proposal. He was not a senior member of the Herd, but with Lyman gone, he was a natural candidate to become Herd Mentor. The Herd leader also considered the other Centaurs and measured their attitude. They had accepted the decision to go against the human children because there was no other way, but it was clear that now that an alternative was being proposed, they were wavering in their resolution. He turned toward Dumbledore.

"You will help us against those wizards?" he asked.

"I will," promised Dumbledore. "Do not forget that they are my enemies as well."

"Very well." Bane sighed. He hoped that he wasn't making a mistake. "We will bring the children to you." He didn't dwell on the fact that the Centaurs would probably find it difficult to approach the village. After what had happened, its inhabitants were probably in a mind to hex first and ask questions later if they saw any Centaur. Hogwarts would be a neutral ground.

"That is satisfactory," said Dumbledore. "And I will speak to the villagers."

"What about Richard and Alicia?" asked Silena. "Do you think that the others will be able to get them back?"

Dumbledore pondered the question. Their situation didn't look that urgent. He had a great deal of confidence in Harry and his friends, and he felt that if they joined with Severus and Remus, then they would probably not need his help immediately.

And then someone should stay near the school. They have a portkey and they can always Apparate back at the village.

He decided that reassuring the Centaurs, and consolidating the situation here was the best decision he could make. If they didn't receive news in the next few hours, then he would go there himself.

"We will finish this business first," he said finally. "Bane, please have the children brought to the school, and then lead me to that abandoned cave entrance. I will give you access to our Shrine, and then I will look into this other matter."

- - -

Camelot,

The birds led them to the ruins. As they approached, they decided that Severus and Helen would stay low while Remus surveyed the area from above. Because of this, and because he had only briefly examined the information recovered by Dobby, Severus didn't identify the place. They went first for the spot where the birds hovered and turned. It looked like a bloody mass and Helen's anguish redoubled. She didn't even want to imagine what it might be, but she had to know. Remus made a quick pass over it and veered toward them.

"It's a Centaur I think," he screamed from the air. "Or a man on a horse."

Severus frowned. A dead Centaur. Not a good omen.

They converged on the spot. It was a Centaur, and it was not a pretty sight. The corpse had been there for at least a day. Flies were buzzing furiously. The birds had already picked at the eyes and at the flesh, but it was not they who had made the deep cuts they could see in the body. Helen looked away and her eyes fell on a beautiful long bow lying on the ground. She remembered a remark by Ethan about Centaurs being very keen on such weapons.

So this is the bow of a magical creature.

Fascinated, she went to pick it up, while Severus and Remus examined the body. She tested the pull and she could see that it was a remarkable piece of work. Very strong and perfectly balanced. There was a quiver of arrows which had been thrown farther away, and she turned toward that.

"Ripping wounds," said Remus. "Some kind of animal."

"No," said Severus, indicating the remains of a Golem. "Sentinels." Then the truth hit him like a bucket of ice water. This place was defended against intruders. He stood up and immediately looked around. "Wands out! We are probably in great danger."

Remus immediately assumed a defensive position, and Helen instinctively nocked an arrow to the bow. Severus looked at her with surprise, until he remembered that she knew how to use one.

Such a primitive weapon is not going to help a lot. Witness the dead Centaur.

"What are sentinels?" she asked.

"Animated magical statues which are used to defend a property," replied Severus. He tried to frame the answer using Muggle concepts but from the look on her face, she seemed to grasp it quite clearly.

"Golems," she murmured.

Suddenly she was back in a college classroom. She wasn't Helen Parker, PhD in biochemistry, but Helena the Amazon warrior, seventh level fighter and the deadliest archer in the Forgotten Realms. It was silly, but somehow she knew that at this very moment, her fantasy role playing universe and her real life had just blurred together, even if it certainly wasn't a game.

"How do they fight? What are their weak points?" she asked, not looking at them, but darting her eyes right and left, not with fear, but with determined courage.

Even Remus was surprised at her attitude. That's a Muggle woman? Severus tried to remember what he knew about Sentinels. It wasn't much. Only very rich families had ever used them, and they had gone out of fashion a long time ago.

"Talons, claws and bites. I believe that some can fly, the larger ones can't."

"We should stay together," said Remus. "If there are many of them and if they surround one of us, then it's going to get bad."

"Right," said Helen. "That wall corner over there. It should cover our backs. Can you cast protection spells? Or something to hide us?"

I don't believe it, thought Severus, She's discussing tactics in magical combat.

Believable or not, going for that wall was good advice. He was getting ready to answer her when something moved on their left. He let out a warning, but Remus had seen it as well. One of the golems was a small flying gargoyle, and the other moved on four legs, like a panther. They were both very fast and coming toward him.

"Two of them," he said. "I'll take the one on the ground. Reducto!"

Severus had to move to the side to get a proper shot at the gargoyle. His spell was cast with a few seconds' delay, but aside from a flash of light, neither make any impression on the creatures.

Damn it! They're protected against magic. I didn't remember that.

The protection made sense since these things were essentially used to defend against enemy wizards. It was also very bad news. Severus was thinking of an adequate counter, when an arrow whizzed past his head, and struck the flying gargoyle squarely in its body. It immediately broke up, leaving Remus to handle the remaining Sentinel.

Like Severus, Remus was not used to fighting with other weapons than offensive spells. He tried to conjure a barrier, but he was not quick enough. The Golem jumped at his right hand and its jaws crushed the wand and several fingers. Remus screamed in pain but reached for one of the creature's rear legs with his left arm. He whirled it around and managed to free his wounded and bloody hand. The broken wand fell on the ground.

The two of them turned violently in a kind of mad dance. Remus was holding the monster by one of its paw. The force of inertia was enough to keep it from biting at him, but it could only be a temporary situation. Helen tried to get a shot, but they were whirling too rapidly for that.

"Try to find something to hit them with," she screamed. "They can only be damaged by physical weapons."

Severus had gotten used to trusting her. He looked around and saw a dead tree trunk rising from the ground. One branch looked sturdy enough to make a proper bludgeon.

"Diffindo!"

The cut branch fell on the ground. He ran to get it. Other shapes were coming toward them, both of them hugging the ground. Helen aimed and shot at one, but it jumped very fast to the side and she missed. Remus managed to get close to a large stone and flung the Golem against it as violently as he could, breaking its back. For an instant the pieces lay still, and then the front part resumed moving, using its paws to crawl toward him.

Severus was running back with the branch. The werewolf ignored the damaged Golem as he prepared to handle the fresh ones with his bare hands. Make that one hand actually. I can't do much with the other. Helen aimed another arrow, and this time it destroyed its target. The other Sentinel jumped at Remus and they rolled on the ground. The damaged Golem was now edging toward Helen. Severus battered at it until it finally stopped moving, and then he went to Remus' help.

When they had finally killed the last Golem, Remus was unconscious and his body horribly mangled from half a dozen wounds. One leg was broken and badly ripped, and there was a gaping hole in his belly. Helen was sure that he was dead or at least so badly injured as to be untransportable. She looked at Severus in anguish, and then in horror as the wizard took the wounded man's collar and pulled him roughly over the ground, oblivious to the freely flowing blood and gore.

"What are you doing? You're going to kill him!"

"Little chance of that. He's a werewolf. He regenerates. Cover me while I get him over there."

They moved as quickly as they could toward the corner wall that Helen had indicated previously. Severus unceremoniously dumped Remus against the wall. He took out his wand and started to levitate several rocks to secure the position as best as he could. He managed to build a makeshift fort.

Remus moaned and tried to sit up. Helen threw him a quick glance and felt queasy. It seemed incredible that he was still alive, and she winced in sympathy at his wounds. She noted that the bleeding had stopped. He still looked awful, but he could move. A warning cry from Severus pulled her back. Another flying gargoyle was coming at them. She aimed and shot it, but this time it was only partially damaged, its left wing broken. It came at them, crawling on talons.

"Try impediment spells," suggested Remus through clenched teeth. He was trying to straighten his broken leg. Werewolves could regenerate, but they were not immune to pain. "As soon as I can, I'll try to keep them away with that log, and Mrs. Parker can shoot at them."

"I don't have many arrows left," said Helen. "And that last one broke when it struck, and you can call me Helen," she added.

Severus Accio'ed one of the undamaged arrows he could see, and then he placed an unbreakable charm on it.

"Try this one next. I only hope the magic doesn't make them useless against the Golems."

Helen shot at the gargoyle, and the impact shattered it satisfactorily. It looked like the dead Centaur's bow was their best weapon. Severus recovered the missile and charmed the remaining arrows. Terrifying sounds of furtive crawling, and of stone surfaces grating together, could be heard from the inner area of the ruins. Remus could stand up now. He did so, wincing in pain, and he padded his pockets.

"Damn!"

"What is it?"

"I lost the portkey. That beast ripped up my robe."

Severus gave him the improvised mace.

"It looks like we're going to have to fight it out."

"Can you try Disapparating?"

Severus looked at him as if he had lost his mind. There was no way that he was going to leave them alone while he tried getting help. They would survive, or die, together. Remus gave him back a fatalist grin, and he gripped the tree branch tightly, hefting it to get a proper sense of balance.

A desperate battle followed. Golems were coming at them in waves. They also tried producing the same screaming sounds as they had against the Centaurs, but these could be neutralized with Silencio spells. Helen was shooting as fast as she could. The bow had become an extension of her body. Each arrow was mated to its target in her mind, before she would release the string. Her marksmanship was incredible.

Severus was casting spells like a robot. Recovering arrows, using rocks as projectiles against their attackers, shoring up the defenses. He could slow the attackers somewhat with Impedimenta spells. It wasn't much, but every little bit helped. Many Golems would get close enough anyway, and then Remus would batter at them with the branch. His superhuman strength flinging them away, usually with broken talons or paws. They kept coming back like the undead monsters that they were, until his blows finally turned them into broken demon dolls.

Some Golems threw missiles of their own, Shuriken-like blades. Severus could protect against them with shielding charms, but some got through anyway, and those who missed exploded on the stone wall behind them, showering them with sharp debris, adding painful cuts to their other wounds. Broken pieces of Sentinels were everywhere. Time passed and Helen was tiring. Her arm muscles screamed for relief. Even Remus' incredible stamina was giving out, and Severus too was nearing his limits.

Between attacks, they could count on a few minutes' respite, but the Golems always returned. After one last wave which they barely managed to repeal, they knew that it wasn't going to last much longer. Only two arrows remained. Helen tried to relax her arms which were knotted with cramps. She and Severus looked at each other. They were covered in rock dust, matted with sweat and blood. He ached to see her like that, so brave and deserving. He knew what was going to happen.

"I am terribly sorry Helen. I brought you here and I fear that ..." He couldn't bring himself to say it.

She looked back, exhaustion and sadness on her face.

"I'm not sorry that I came with you, and you did it for my children. Both of you. I'm grateful and my only regret is that ..." She too couldn't bring herself to say it, but it wasn't a thought about death.

Remus was panting, hands on his knees as he recuperated. It was obvious to him that they wanted each other, and that they didn't dare say it.

"Severus," he said between breaths. "Stop being a git ... Tell her ... you love her ... and kiss her ... for Merlin's sake."

Severus started to turn angrily, but Helen was staring at him with extraordinary intensity. Remus' words spoke to her heart, and to his own.

What are you waiting for Severus? We are all going to die here in a few minutes. Tell her how you feel, it won't matter anyway.

Actually it would matter. It would certainly bring back her beautiful happy smile once more on her face, and that was something that he would like to see one more time before the end.

Severus lowered his wand. For the first time in his life, he opened his heart and set aside all his doubts and reservation. He spoke the words that she had so much wanted to hear.

"He is right Helen, I truly do love you. Forgive me for not having said it before."

She gave him the smile he liked so much then, but this time it was brighter, and more tender, than anything he could remember. He forgot about the danger, about the Golems who were probably approaching for their final assault. He took a step toward her and they came into each other's arms and lost themselves to the passion which had been waiting for them for so long.

Remus considered them with a great feeling of peaceful contentment. Something at least, had gone right today. He gave a yearning thought to his own love. He would not see his dear Tonks again, but she had given him some of the best moments of his life. He turned around, leaving Severus and Helen kissing each other with abandon. He was determined to buy them as much time as possible.

A new group of Golems was coming. He couldn't see them yet, but he could hear the sounds of their progress. He didn't know how many of the damn things there were. The ground before him was littered with their remains. He gripped the half broken tree branch and placed his feet firmly on the ground. Come on you bastards!

"Bulla Protega Maxima!"

He didn't have time to turn his head toward the new voice, when his vision was suddenly obscured by a silvery wall. It enclosed the three of them and a good part of the wall.

"What is this?" said Severus. He was still holding Helen. His wand at the ready for dealing with this new emergency.

"I think it was Harry's voice. I'm not-"

BAOUM!

A stupendous explosion was heard, followed by the whizzing sound of rock splinters ricocheting against stone and earth. Several of them hit the bubble inclosing them, making it ring like at bell. They ducked involuntarily, but nothing penetrated the barrier. A few seconds of calm followed, and then there was another explosion, this time some distance away. Remus, Severus and Helen looked at each other in wonder. It looked like help had finally arrived, and in the nick of time. The blasting sound was repeated twice more and then the bubble disappeared.

Clouds of dust obscured their vision. The ground before them was littered with broken rocks. The vegetation was shredded. It was like the aftermath of a bombing run. Coughing sounds were heard in the distance, and they joined in as the chocking dust got to their throats.

"Ventus Saevit!"

A wind rose and began to disperse the clouds. Two human figures holding sticks in their hands could vaguely be discerned some ten meters away. The characteristic sound of a flying broom passed over them, and turned toward them as the first two figures resolved as Draco and Ginny.

"Are you all right?" asked Harry, landing next to them. Hermione was seated behind him. She gasped in horror at the torn robes and the bleeding wounds. Ron arrived in turn with Luna behind him.

Remus looked at his young friend in wonder. Then he started grinning and the grin turned into a laugh. A great barking laugh of relief and joy at being alive and at having cheated death once more. Of having fought bravely to the brink of defeat, with comrades at his side, and to have won against the odds. James would have been proud, Sirius too, and they would have laughed with him

Harry looked worried at first, and then he got it and joined in, grinning and laughing as he walked toward his guardian and embraced him, unmindful of the blood and the dirt. They were laughing because that was what true warriors did after the battle.

The others grouped around them. Severus was still holding Helen, his arm around her waist. He looked at Harry with still unbelieving eyes. Harry released Remus and walked toward the couple. His eyes caught Helen, and saw the happiness which was too strong to be simply the relief of having been rescued. He looked at Severus and the old devil-may-dare smile brightened his face.

Severus looked back unsure how to react. Slowly, he realized that, if there was one person who could understand what he had just done, then it was that boy.

Albus too. He knew what he was doing. Great Merlin!

He understood now, some of what the Headmaster had tried to tell him. Not everything. It wasn't even a question of understanding really, but he knew that there was a world to explore. A world he had denied until now.

They stayed that way for a moment, and then they sobered. The mission wasn't finished yet. Alicia and Richard were in there somewhere, as was the target of their enemies. It was time to find the Centaur's Shrine.

Camelot Ch31 - 15