Swept From the Past

Chapter 52: The Emerald's Heart -- part five

Remus ran in the corridors. He was breathless. How difficult it was to find Alphonso with people running in all directions. He asked three pirates where the man was, but they didn't know.

"Haven't seen him for a while," a fourth pirate replied. "Nor the Capt'n."

"Did she leave the ship?" Remus asked, worried. Maybe the man knew something about Katarina?

"Dunno," the man responded. "I was one of the first to leave The Emerald Star."

Remus was disappointed, but he didn't show it.

"If you see Alphonso," he said, "can you tell him to go to the second floor? It's important! He--"

"He's on the fourth floor," someone interrupted.

Remus turned around. A tall, black man was standing in front of him. He had a goblet full of liquid in his hand.

"The fourth floor?" Remus repeated. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," the man responded. "He needed rest, but didn't want to go to the Hospital Wing. I'm bringing this brew to him. Come with me."

Remus followed the man to a room on the fourth floor. Cannons had been positioned in front of the windows. Pirates loaded the guns with cannonballs. Alphonso stood in the room and stared outside.

"Fire!" he commanded.

The cannons shot in loud thuds.

"Reload the cannons!" Alphonso ordered.

The black man stepped to Alphonso and gave him the brew.

"Your Fortifying Potion," the man said.

"Thanks Jimmy," Alphonso replied. "The ship drained out most of my magic. That potion will give it back to me." He emptied his goblet in one gulp.

"This man was searching for you," Jimmy said. "Important stuff."

Alphonso stared at Remus with a questioning look.

"I'm Remus L--" Remus said.

"I know," Alphonso interrupted. "What's so important?"

"Er," Remus said, "we need your help. There's this weapon, the Apollo's Arch... you appear to have the profile to use it. I mean... if you are a Sagittarius..."

Remus wanted to check if that last piece of information was true. After all, he didn't know how Trelawney had known Alphonso's astrological sign.

"I'm a Sagittarius," Alphonso replied. "What's that bow for?"

"To destroy the Gurg," Remus responded.

Alphonso smirked. "I like this mission," he said. He paused. "The potion will restore my magic progressively. I hope that the Apollo's Arch doesn't need a lot of power. Where is it?"

"On the second floor," Remus replied. "A man named Joachim is watching over it. Your Capt'n gave it to him."

A line appeared on Alphonso's forehead. "Where's the Capt'n?" he asked.

"I don't know," Remus replied with regret.

"Did anyone see the Capt'n?" Alphonso asked the pirates.

The men shook their heads.

"We last saw her on the ship," a man responded.

Remus was worried. So none of the men knew if Katarina was still alive. It was a bad omen.

"But...," Remus said, "it doesn't mean that..." He stopped, unable to say more.

Alphonso looked away, as if he was very afflicted too, but didn't want to show it.

"Let's go to the second floor," he said.

Both men ran in the corridors. They quickly reached the room where Remus had left Joachim. The man stood at the edge of a window, his wand raised. He spun around.

"Oh, it's you," he said to Remus. "Have you sorted the riddle out?"

"I hope so," Remus replied. "We think that only a Sagittarius can use Apollo's Arch."

"Give the bow to me," Alphonso said. "I'll make that giant pay for the people he killed!" Remus perceived contained anger in his voice.

Joachim handed the bow to him. When Alphonso touched Apollo's Arch, the golden bow flashed. Both its ends expanded. The arrow stretched out too.

'It's a good sign,' Remus thought.

"I'm glad that you can use it," Joachim said. "You have piercing eyesight, even in darkness. You're the best archer in the entire crew."

"We'll check that fact once the Gurg is killed," Alphonso replied. "He avoided most of our cannonballs. Hitting a moving target is not easy, even for an Animagus."

"An Animagus?" Remus asked.

"A cat," Alphonso responded.

A cat? Well, that was luck. Remus had feared that the darkness would be a problem. He felt a bit reassured.

Alphonso went to the opened window with Apollo's Arch.

"There's only one arrow," he said. "One chance to kill the giant. I can't fail it." He paused. "Lock the door please," he continued. "I don't want anyone to burst into the room. And utter a Silencing Charm around me. I need calm to focus on my target."

Remus took his wand out and locked the door. Joachim took care of the Silencing Charm.

Alphonso appeared to be deep in thought. He studied the bow and manipulated it, as if he wanted to familiarize himself with the weapon. He seemed to be nervous. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Then he opened his eyes again. He faced the window, rotated his chest to be in the right axis, and held the bow in front of him. He closed one eye and drew back the string. The arrow flashed, as if a golden light came from inside. Remus remembered what Sprout had said, that the arrow had the power of light. That its purity could pierce through anything. Alphonso seemed to be the right person to use it.

Remus looked outside. The Gurg sprinted forward, a rock in his hands. Remus gulped, wondering what would happen. Cannonballs flew in the air, but didn't hit the giant.

Suddenly, Alphonso let the arrow fly. A line of light pierced through the darkness. The arrow caught on fire and drove into the giant's chest. A golden breach appeared in the armour and spread over his body. The Gurg fell backward. He caught fire and disappeared. What had just happened? Remus stared at the place where the giant had been a few seconds before. The only trace of the giant left behind was the rock that he had been carrying. Then he heard the happy cries of people in the adjacent rooms. He sighed from relief. The Gurg must have burned to ashes instantaneously.

"We got him!" Joachim exclaimed. With a spell, he ended the Silencing Charm he had put around Alphonso. "I said that you were the best archer in the crew!"

Alphonso grinned. "I guess you're right," he said. "Anyway, I had a score to settle with that giant!"

Suddenly, the bow he was holding flew in the air and disappeared.

"I guess the bow also achieved its mission," Alphonso commented.

Remus was relieved. He had achieved his mission too... Of course, the fight was far from over, but at least the giants had been defeated.

***

Hermione and Ron walked in the castle corridors. Ron limped and leaned against her shoulder for support. When they were away from the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione saw a few pirates running all around.

"Any munitions left here?" a bald pirate shouted.

"No," another one replied.

"Shit!" the first pirate yelled. "Taz sent me search for a few cannonballs, but I can't find any. We won't be able to hold our enemies back for long."

Hermione gulped. So the situation was that bad?

"Luckily, we don't have to fight those bloody giants anymore," the second man replied. "Dunno what happened, but that blazing thing killed the Gurg right away!"

No giants left? Hermione felt reassured. After what had happened in the Gryffindor Tower, she couldn't think of giants without being terrified.

"Yeah," the first man replied. "That's a good thing. But there are still the vampires. They have retreated to the Forest, but not for long."

Vampires? Hermione was scared. 'The only three ways to kill a vampire are to set him on fire, to drive a stake through his heart, or to cut off his head,' Burns had said at the beginning of the year. Vampires were very fast and strong. Fighting them was really dangerous. But Hermione remembered that even if they were dangerous, they couldn't enter the castle. Vampires could only enter houses when they'd been invited. The girl sighed in relief.

"We should hurry," Ron said.

"Yes," Hermione replied.

Soon, they reached the second floor. Many pirates had gathered in the corridors and in the rooms that led to the Hogwarts' grounds. Hermione and Ron entered too.

"Hey, Hans!" a young man with short blond hair and a small goatee exclaimed. "See what we have here! Kids!"

A muscular bald pirate with a tattooed chest -- Hans apparently -- turned around.

"Kids are not allowed here," he said. "Too dangerous. Return to your dormitories and count the cards inside your Chocolate Frogs!"

Hermione frowned. She felt insulted.

"We're not kids!" Ron exclaimed. "We're in sixth year! We can fight as well as anyone!"

"Do you hear that, Greg?" Hans replied. "The red-haired boy who limps can fight as well as us!"

"Yeah," Greg responded. He laughed. "Ever produced a Patronus?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head.

"Killed a giant?" he continued. "A vampire? A troll? A fly?" He burst into laughter.

It was hard for Hermione to admit it, but he was right. She had never killed dangerous creatures. Neither had Ron.

"I knocked out a troll in my first year!" Ron exclaimed furiously. "And last year, we fought Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic."

Hermione felt a bit ill at ease. Yes, they had fought Death Eaters, but they'd been very lucky. They'd been rescued in time. Harry was the one who could produce a Patronus. He had faced a Magyar and fought You-Know-Who. He was a more talented fighter than either she or Ron. And now... No, Hermione shouldn't think of what was happening in the Great Hall. She should squelch her anguish and help to protect the school, like Harry would have done...

"Let them fight," someone said behind them. Hermione spun around. A tall, black-haired man was staring at them.

"You're kidding, Mox?" Hans asked.

"We'll run out of ammunition soon," Mox replied. "Let's get rid of all the trolls while we can still do it. Men are tired from having used so much magic. Some are so exhausted that they've fainted. It would be easier and quicker if the kids helped us. They could use Stunning Spells on the trolls? The creatures are vulnerable when they're stunned. We can't refuse any kind of help."

Stupefying the trolls? Yes, Hermione could do that. Or at least she could try.

"All right," Hans replied. "Come on, kids," he said.

"We have names," Ron grumbled.

"So do I," Hans replied ironically.

Ron didn't respond.

He and Hermione followed Hans to one opened window. Ron let go of Hermione's shoulder and rested on the windowsill. They stared at the grounds below. Twenty trolls were walking to the front doors of the castle. A few of them had already reached the wooden doors and were hitting them with their large fists.

"Okay," Hans said. "Not much visibility, except the light coming from the ship. I hope that you know how to reach a target in semi-darkness. It's a little different from daylight. See the troll on the left of the front doors? The little one? We'll use the Stunning Spell on him on the count of three.

Hermione, Ron and Hans aimed their wands at the troll. "Stupefy!" they shouted in unison. A jet of red light came out of their wands and hit the troll. The creature fell onto the grounds. Then a few jets of light coming from different wands hit the unconscious troll.

"One troll less," Mox exclaimed. "They're vulnerable when they're asleep."

"Ready to Stupefy twenty other trolls?" Hans asked.

"Yes!" Hermione and Ron exclaimed at the same time. Hermione felt proud. Maybe they were not confirmed wizards, but at least they were defending their school. It was their way to help Harry.

She clenched her wand in her hand, ready to stun the next troll...

***

Remus helped Alphonso and Joachim to kill a few trolls. Then he decided to leave the room. Now that he had achieved his mission and reduced the number of enemies, he wanted to know if anyone had news about Katarina or Severus. He was really worried for his little sister. He decided to check in the Hospital Wing if Katarina had been carried there.

The Hospital Wing was crowded with people. Many pirates and students were lying unconscious on beds. Madam Pomfrey appeared to be overwhelmed with work. Remus looked around. No trace of Katarina or Severus.

"I knew that you would come back," someone said.

Remus turned around. Trelawney stood behind him.

"Er," Remus replied. "Yes, I'm searching for--"

"Alphonso," Trelawney interrupted.

"Actually, no," Remus responded, amused. "I'm searching for Professor Burns."

"I know that too," Trelawney replied with a stiff expression. "My Inner-Eye told me."

"So where is she?" Remus asked. What would Trelawney reply to this question?

"She passed through my vision," Trelawney replied. "The poor girl... I had warned her that she would die a violent death."

Remus' heart pounded fast. Had Trelawney made everything up or had she heard something? Remus had to find out. Suddenly, he had an idea.

"And what about Professor Snape?" he asked. "What does your Inner-Eye see?"

"Students," Trelawney replied. "Lots of students around him. Dressed in green."

A basic response. Severus was Head of Slytherin.

"He's in the Slytherin common room?" Remus asked.

"Yes, my Dear," Trelawney responded. "He protects them. He's a man of responsibilities. He didn't leave the Slytherin Tower."

Remus smiled. Trelawney didn't know anything about Katarina. Remus was sure the Potions master hadn't left her. If Trelawney had heard something about Katarina's death, she'd have heard something about Severus too.

"Sybill," Madam Pomfrey called. "Can you help me?"

"Of course, Dear," Trelawney replied. To Remus' relief, she stepped away from him. "Will we wake the students up?" the odd woman asked.

"Not yet," Madam Pomfrey replied. "I don't want another rush of panic. Let them sleep for the moment. I need you to speak to that wounded man," she said, designating a man lying down on a bed a few meters away. The man had a deep gash on his temple. His eyes were half closed. "Keep talking to him," Madam Pomfrey continued. "He mustn't fall asleep. And please don't make any predictions. He mustn't hear about violent death or any rubbish like that."

"This is not rubbish," Trelawney responded.

"Considering the situation," Madam Pomfrey replied, "yes, it is. It is no time for scaring anyone."

Trelawney didn't reply. She snorted and stepped to the man.

"Professor Lupin!" someone exclaimed. Remus spun around and saw Ginny Weasley sitting on a bed. Her back rested on pillows. The girl still looked very pale. Her eyes were red as if she'd been crying.

"Ginny," Remus said. He felt she needed comfort and sat on a chair next to her. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"No," she said. She sniffed. "Some... some news about Harry?"

"No," Remus replied sadly. "But Professor Dumbledore is watching over him. I'm sure he'll be all right."

Ginny looked away. She appeared to be deep in thought.

"I worry for Ron and Hermione too," she said. "I haven't seen them since we returned to Gryffindor Tower."

Ron and Hermione? Remus frowned. What had those two done this time? They would have wanted to help Harry. Had they joined the fight?

"I fell asleep," Ginny continued, "and then... I heard an awful sound. People shrieked. I... I was in panic. I left with the others."

From Ginny's voice, Remus understood she felt guilty.

"Professor Sprout said she would check the dormitories," he responded. "No need to worry. You had a normal reaction when you left Gryffindor Tower." He smiled slightly, hoping that it would help Ginny to feel better. "You should rest a bit now," he added.

"Thank you, Professor," Ginny said. Then she closed her eyes.

Remus stood up and left the room. He hoped that Professor Sprout had found Ron and Hermione. That they hadn't returned to the Great Hall and tried something stupid to save Harry.

Suddenly, he heard two men talking together.

"Are you sure he saw the Capt'n?" the first man asked.

Remus pricked up his ears.

"It's Taz," the second man replied. "If he said he saw the Capt'n, it means he saw her. He said she was in a room on the fifth floor."

So Katarina was alive? Remus waited to hear more before being too delighted.

"But why hasn't she come yet?" the first pirate responded. "It's not like her to let us fight alone."

"Yeah," the second pirate replied, "but she'll come soon. She's our Capt'n."

"Do you think it has something to do with that guy who boarded the ship?" the first pirate asked.

Severus, of course. Remus wondered how the Potions master had managed to convince Kat to return to the castle. Maybe there was hope?

"Come on," the other man replied. He laughed. "A stone must have hit your head. The Capt'n is... the Capt'n. She probably needs to rest to prepare for the next round."

Both men left.

'Fifth floor,' the second man had said. Maybe Remus could check if she was right?

But at this moment, he heard people scream.

***

Hermione and Ron stood in front of the window, their wands out. The last trolls had been killed. A few Dementors still flew in the air, hunted by Patronuses and cannonballs. At least, until the cannons stopped shooting. Hermione was afraid. Did it mean that the vampires would attack soon?

"What is going on?" Ron asked.

"No ammunition left," Mox replied.

"You'd better leave immediately," Hans said. "Retreat to the highest floors."

"Why?" Ron asked.

Hermione didn't understand either. The vampires wouldn't enter the castle. Why should she and Ron leave?

"Because you mustn't be here when the vampires attack us," Hans replied. "Do you want to die?"

"But," Hermione responded. "I don't understand... Vampires... vampires can't enter a place if they haven't been invited."

"You-Know-Who is the heir of Slytherin," Greg replied. "Technically, he can invite who he wants."

Hermione gasped. So it meant that... the vampires would enter the castle!

She looked through the window and saw with horror that the vampires had left the forest and were running to the castle. She couldn't detach her eyes from the grounds, where that swarming threat spread. She was petrified.

The vampires reached the castle and started to climb up the walls like awful spiders. Their hands stuck to the stone. They looked terrifying.

"Leave!" Hans yelled. He grabbed Hermione and Ron by the arm and pushed them away from the windows. Then he pulled his sword out of its sheath.

"How can we fight them?" Ron asked. He seemed to have forgotten all that Burns had taught them. Hermione had forgotten it too. She couldn't think clearly.

"You can't do anything," Greg replied. "Go away!"

But Hermione didn't move. She was so shocked that her brains and legs stopped working. She just wanted to escape this awful nightmare and wake up.

A vampire appeared by the window. Hermione shrieked.

With a swirl of his sword, Hans cut the creature's head off. Many vampires appeared by the other openings. Blades whirled. Stakes planted into hearts. But the vampires were too numerous. They fought back, using their sharpened nails to injure their enemies. A few wizards were wounded. Several creatures entered the room.

"Incendio!" Ron shouted, pointing his wand at a vampire. The creature sidled to its right and avoided the spell. Flames rose on the wall instead.

"Damn!" he swore.

The vampire hissed and moved to attack Ron. Hermione stopped breathing.

"Incendio!" Ron repeated. Again, the vampire avoided the attack.

With effort, Hermione remembered Burns' lessons. She'd said that setting a vampire on fire was extremely difficult, especially when people used their wands. That vampires foresaw the attacks, since you couldn't utter a spell and aim your wand fast enough. What could Hermione and Ron do against such creatures?

"What are you doing?" Hans shouted. "Go away!"

Hans faced the vampire and pushed him back with his sword. The vampire hurt Hans' arm with his nails.

Hermione gasped and stepped back. She was terrified.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. "Come!"

He grabbed her hand. He stepped to the door with an awkward gait and pulled her with him. They left the room and hastened in the corridors. Pirates rushed over to the rooms which had a view over the grounds. Several hysterical first year Gryffindor students ran everywhere and shrieked. What were they doing here? Hermione would have wanted to calm them down, but they were out of control. And Hermione was in panic too. She didn't know where she and Ron would go. She just wanted to go as far as possible from the vampires.

"How can we fight those creatures?" Ron asked.

"We can't fight them," Hermione responded. "Didn't you listen in class? We can't use magic against them. And we're not warriors."

"We can use fire," Ron replied. "Next time, I won't miss!"

"They're too fast," Hermione responded. "You'll only set fire to the castle."

"It would destroy the vampires," Ron said.

"And us at the same time," Hermione responded.

"So what do you suggest?" Ron retorted. "That we return to our common room, waiting for vampires to search for us and kill us?"

"I don't know!" Hermione responded. "I really don't know!"

Ron was right. Retreating to Gryffindor Tower wasn't a solution.

"Maybe if we find something to defend ourselves?" she said. "Swords, for example? Burns said it was the best weapon against vampires. And she taught us the basic movements in class. But I'm not sure I could cut a vampire's head off..."

"Where can we find swords?" Ron asked.

"We can transfigure objects into swords," Hermione replied. "Chairs for example. We can find them here," she said, pointing at a closed room on her left.

They hurried to the room and opened the door. But a horrible spectacle was waiting for them inside. Three pirates lay dead on the floor. A huge vampire with long black hair had driven his teeth in the fourth pirate's neck. The creature stared cruelly at Hermione and Ron. Blood dropped from his mouth. The vampire let the lifeless body of the pirate fall on the floor and hissed.

Hermione hardly breathed. She had to find an idea immediately or the creature would kill them!

"Accio Sword!" Ron exclaimed, pointing his wand at a blade lying on the floor. The sword flew in his hands.

The vampire bounded on them.

"Murus Flammae!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing her shaking wand at the floor. Big flames rose suddenly. The vampire attempted to pass through the flames, but was consumed by fire and destroyed, leaving only a pile of ashes.

Hermione's heart had almost stopped from terror. She heaved a sigh.

"Whaw!" Ron exclaimed. "Bloody brilliant! You killed a vampire! You saved our lives!"

The fire spread in the room. Hermione gasped.

"Aguamenti!" Ron uttered. A jet of water came out of his wand and dropped on the flames. Unfortunately, the water evaporated into mist when it touched the fire. The flames didn't decrease.

"Oh no!" Hermione exclaimed. She hadn't thought when she had uttered the spell. "I can't stop the fire! There's a special incantation to stop the Murus Flammae Charm, but it wasn't written in the book. They just said it was dangerous to utter the Murus Flammae Charm within a house!"

"Let's leave, then!" Ron replied. They stepped out of the room, closed the door, and walked away in the corridor. They coughed because of the fumes.

"I've set the castle on fire," Hermione said. The spell wouldn't last long, but could cause real damage. Hermione felt ashamed of herself. She'd done exactly what she'd feared Ron would do. It would be her fault if the whole castle burnt down and everyone in it! Burns was right when she said books didn't teach everything. Theory was nothing like practice. How difficult to remember your lessons when you were terrified!

"Hello, Hermione," Ron replied. "Without that spell, we'd be on the vampire's menu! Revise your priorities!"

"I know," she said. "But I don't want people to die because of me..."

"The castle is under attack," Ron replied. "People have many other reasons to die."

He stopped and looked at something on his left. Hermione followed his stare. Professor Sprout was walking in the corridors. She seemed to be in a hurry.

"Professor Sprout!" Ron shouted.

The Herbology teacher stopped and looked in their direction.

"Weasley, Granger!" Professor Sprout exclaimed.

She quickly stepped to both of them. The Herbology teacher was breathless. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She looked exhausted and worried.

Come with me immediately," she said. "I've had enough of running through the castle searching for hysterical Gryffindor students! You mustn't stay in the corridors! It's dangerous! Return to the Hospital W--"

"Professor," Hermione interrupted, "I've set fire on the castle! I used the Murus Flammae Charm in there," she said, pointing at the room. The closed door was already burning. "I don't know the counter spell! I... I uttered the spell to protect us from a vampire!"

"I'll fix this," Sprout said. "Now return to the Hospital Wing!"

The Herbology teacher ran to the room and raised her wand.

'Return to the Hospital Wing?' Hermione thought. The teacher had said it twice. Did it mean that the other Gryffindor students were there? Some of them had probably been so scared that they had escaped the teachers' control.

"Come here," Ron said to Hermione. "We mustn't stay here or she'll force us to follow her." They both hurried in the corridors, away from the teacher. They finally stopped, out of breath.

Ron observed the sword in his hand. "Now we have something to fight these creatures with."

"You have something," Hermione responded. "I only have my wand."

"But I'll watch over you," Ron replied, "so it's all the same."

"I'd prefer to count on myself," Hermione responded.

"Of course," Ron said with bitterness, "I'm not a white knight upon a fiery steed. It's not as if I was Vicky or Dean..."

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. Would he start with his stupid comments again? This was not the moment!

"Just kidding," Ron replied. "We'll find you a sword."

Still limping, he stepped to a room on the right and opened the door, his wand at the ready and the sword in his other hand.

"There's no one here," he said.

Hermione entered the room and transfigured a chair into a sword. She wasn't sure she would use it, but she felt more confident.

"Where are we going now?" she asked.

"To the Great Hall," Ron replied.

"But," Hermione responded, "Dumbledore said no one should interfere!"

"I know," Ron said. "But we won't interfere if we stay in front of the Great Hall and prevent the vampires from entering. Dunno what that snake is, but Dumbledore said that if we hurt the serpent, we'd hurt Harry. So no one or nothing will enter the Hall to hurt Harry or the serpent. We're Harry's friends. We won't let him face vampires!"

Hermione nodded. It was not very prudent to go to the lowest floors, but Harry was risking his life too. They couldn't leave him. They had to do something to help him.

"Lean against my shoulder for support," Hermione said. "It would be easier for you. Does your ankle hurt?"

"A bit," Ron replied. "But it's all right." He accepted Hermione's help though and leant against her shoulder.

They walked in the corridors and went down the staircases. They met a group of terrified second year Gryffindors who shrieked hysterically. The students ran upstairs and jostled Hermione and Ron. They both clung to the banister, trying not to fall downstairs. When the crowd of pupils went past, Hermione and Ron walked again.

Suddenly, a vampire ran up the stairs and jumped in front of them on the middle of the staircase. Blood covered his clothes. The creature hissed.

Hermione shrieked. Ron brandished his sword.

"Don't approach us or I'll kill you, bloody creature!" he exclaimed.

The vampire made a strange sound, a mixture of hisses and laughs. He didn't appear to be scared at all.

Ron let go of Hermione's shoulder.

"Stay back, Hermione!" he ordered. Hermione was so terrified that she obeyed.

Ron thrust his sword at the vampire, but missed. The vampire attacked with his nails. Ron fought back, but the creature was too strong. The vampire abruptly seized the blade in his hands and pulled on it. Ron didn't drop the sword. He fell down the stairs. The vampire turned in his direction, ready to pounce on him.

"No!" Hermione cried out. "Ron!"

She didn't think. She rushed over to the creature. With all her strength, she thrust her sword into his back. The blade drove into his body. The vampire spun around. The blade had pierced his chest. He didn't look hurt, but appeared to be very angry.

Hermione stepped backwards. She lost her balance and fell on her backside onto the steps. The vampire moved closer, ready to bite her. She trembled like a leaf. She could smell his awful breath. It smelled like blood and death.

But suddenly, a blade cut his head off. The vampire disappeared into dust. Hermione's sword fell onto the floor and tinkled. Ron stood on the staircase, his sword in his hand.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I had warned him not to approach," Ron replied.

Ron held out his hand to her. Hermione stood up, still in shock. She noticed a cut on his chin.

"You really are a white knight upon a fiery steed..." she whispered. She was so grateful to Ron for having saved her life that she felt a sudden rush of love for him. On a sudden impulse, she embraced him and kissed him. He returned the kiss.

When their lips parted, Hermione felt her face had reddened. She couldn't even look Ron in the eye. What would he think? She felt so stupid!

"I should save you from vampires more often," Ron said.

"Really?" Hermione replied, surprised. Oh, God, why had she said that? She felt ridiculous.

"Yeah," Ron responded. "You're nicer with me when I don't mess everything up."

Hermione was dumbfounded. She stared at him, not knowing what to say. Did it mean that Ron regretted his previous attitude? Did he have... feelings for her? Her heart pounded fast.

"Don't forget to breathe," Ron said.

Hermione realised she was staring at him stupidly.

"Er," she replied. "I... er... I'm... just surprised. I thought..." She stopped talking.

"Maybe..." Ron said, "maybe we could go out someday? I mean... if we survive tonight."

Had Ron just asked her for a date? Hermione was shocked. Agreeably shocked. She had never expected Ron to ask her out. And certainly not after having killed a vampire.

"I'd like to," Hermione responded. Ron didn't know how much it pleased her.

Ron smiled.

"Now let's go to the Great Hall" he said. "Harry needs our help!"

Hermione nodded. Harry was still in danger. Helping him was the priority. She picked her sword off the floor. They stepped downstairs and reached the ground floor. Three pirates were fighting with two vampires in front of the Hall. Hermione recognised Greg among the men. She also saw McGonagall in front of the doors.

"Look!" Hermione said. "McGonagall is in front of the Hall! We'll get in trouble!"

"We're already in trouble," Ron replied.

The first man hit the first vampire right on his face while Greg cut the creature's legs off. The vampire fell backwards with no legs anymore and kept clawing with its nails, preventing the first man from planting a stake into his heart.

"Incendio!" Greg shouted, pointing his wand at the immobilised vampire. The vampire caught fire and disappeared into dust.

The second man cut off the second vampire's head.

"Are you all right, Madam?" the first man asked McGonagall. "You look pale."

"Yes," McGonagall replied. "I'm just a bit shocked. I didn't expect to see vampires that close."

"We'll stay here to defend this part of the castle," the man replied. "You should leave."

"I'll lead you to a safer place," Greg said.

"No, thanks," McGonagall responded, a touch of irritation in her voice. "I'm the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts. It's my personal duty to guard these doors."

So McGonagall would stay here? It was not good news.

"What are we going to do now?" Hermione whispered. "McGonagall will be furious if she sees us!"

"We can't return to our dormitories," Ron replied. "McGonagall will have to accept our presence."

"You're right," Hermione responded. "We have no choice."

They stepped to the group. The pirates and McGonagall saw them. McGonagall's body stiffened. She stared at them with an angry expression.

"WEASLEY, GRANGER," she said sharply, "what are you doing here? And why are you holding those swords?"

"We've come to watch over the Great Hall with you," Ron replied.

"Those kids don't lack courage," the first man said.

"You should be in Gryffindor Tower," McGonagall retorted.

"Professor," Hermione replied. "There are huge holes in the walls of Gryffindor Tower and all the students have deserted the--"

"I know that," McGonagall interrupted. "Professor Sprout informed me of the situation. But as far as I know, there are no holes in the walls of your common room or in the girls' dormitory. Nor in the Hospital Wing. So leave immediately!"

"But, Professor," Hermione replied, "we're not safe anywhere. Not even in the Hospital Wing. We'll be more useful here, preventing any creature from bothering Harry and Professor Dumbledore."

"And what could you do against vampires?" McGonagall snapped.

"We killed two of them on the way to the Hall!" Ron responded. "And we Stupefied trolls!"

"Oh, Weasley, stop saying rubbish!" McGonagall retorted. "I really doubt that you could do all of this."

"Oh, it's true for the trolls," Greg replied. "I was there."

McGonagall arched an eyebrow.

"So you killed two vampires, kids?" Greg continued. "Not bad at all for beginners! Impressive creatures, eh?"

"Yes," Hermione responded.

"I wish we had killed more of them," Ron replied.

"That's a comment the Capt'n would have liked!" the second man responded.

"But not the Transfiguration teacher!" McGonagall said sharply. "You're students! You shouldn't stay here! It's dangerous!"

"If I might, Madam," Greg said, "I don't think they care about that. It'd be better if they stayed here. At least you'd know where they are and be able to watch them."

Hermione wouldn't have believed it possible, but McGonagall's body stiffened even more.

"Fine," she snapped. "You'll stay here. But only because I want to keep an eye on you."

Hermione smiled. They had won.

"Oh," McGonagall continued, "don't be too happy. I'm furious with you both."

Hermione gulped. She hoped she would survive the vampires, but she wasn't sure she would survive McGonagall.

***

Remus heard people scream. What was happening? He hurried to a room with a view over the grounds. He gasped. Vampires had climbed up the walls and tried to enter the castle. Men were standing in front of the windows. They were fighting the creatures back. Remus didn't understand how the vampires could enter the castle, but this was not the most important. The real question was how to get rid of them. And how to keep the students safe.

Remus returned to the Hospital Wing. The teachers and Katarina's crew had to set up defences around the ward immediately.

He ran to Madam Pomfrey. The nurse was healing the bleeding leg of a man..

"Poppy," Remus said, "we have a serious problem. Vampires have entered the castle."

"Vampires?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "But it's--"

"I know," Remus interrupted. "But I've seen them. If one of them enters here, there will be a massacre. We must fortify the wards around the Hospital Wing."

"I'll activate the emergency protection on the double doors," Madam Pomfrey said. "Without the correct password, no one will be able to enter, except if I open the doors from inside."

"Vampires are strong," Remus replied. "We should ask a few pirates to defend the doors too."

Madam Pomfrey nodded.

"Pomona brought a few Gryffindors back here," the nurse said. "But some of them are missing. Pomona is still searching for them." She paused. "I'll send Firenze and Sybill too. Please tell the pirates about the students. Children mustn't stay in the corridors. It's too dangerous!"

A wounded man moaned from pain. Madam Pomfrey rushed over to him.

Remus left the Hospital Wing. He saw men running in the corridors.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. "We need people to watch over the Hospital Wing!"

"We'll send you men," a pirate replied.

"A few students in panic have escaped our vigilance," Remus continued. "If you see them, they must return to the Hospital Wing immediately."

"All right," the man responded. The group left.

Fine. Remus decided to run upstairs. Now he had done his best to help other people, he had to know if Katarina was all right. Maybe she had already left, but Remus had to check.

He reached the fifth floor and saw Severus in an empty corridor. The pirates must be busy fighting on the lower floors.

"Severus!" he exclaimed.

The Potions master spun around and frowned.

"What, Lupin?" he snapped.

"Where's Katarina?" Remus asked. "Is she all right?"

"She's alive," Severus hissed, " but I don't know where she is."

The Potions master seemed worried. What did it mean? What had happened?

"But..." Remus said, "wasn't she with you?"

"Yes, she was with me," Severus replied. "But she Disapparated."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?" he asked.

"Who said that I did anything?" Severus whispered under his breath.

"So you didn't do anything?" Remus asked.

Severus snorted.

"I'm trying to help," Remus replied. "Remember I want her to be happy. I'm your best ally when it's about her."

Severus appeared to consider his words.

"I must find her quickly or something awful could happen to her," he said. "She's in real danger."

In real danger? Remus was scared for her.

"I..." Severus continued. But he stopped. He stared at something and raised his wand.

"What did you do to the Capt'n?" a voice shouted.

Remus turned around. Alphonso stood in the empty corridor, his wand at the ready. He stared at Severus crossly.

"I don't know what you did to her," Alphonso continued, pointing his wand at Severus, "but I won't let you hurt her."

"Arrogant bastard," Severus hissed. "Who do you think you are? You don't know anything about her or about me. She had fallen in love with me when you were not even in your first year! She's mine, and I won't let a Casanova steal her from me!"

Remus was puzzled. So Alphonso had feelings for Katarina? Or was it just another paranoid idea from Severus?

"Liar!" Alphonso exclaimed. His face reddened. "The Capt'n can't love you."

No, for once, Severus wasn't paranoid. Remus was worried. Alphonso reacted exactly like Sirius. Severus and Alphonso seemed to hate each other and be ready to fight.

"My previous rival was as stupid as you," Severus continued. "He thought she would fall into his arms. But she chose me."

"Obviously, it was not enough for her to stay with you," Alphonso replied with a smirk.

Severus' jaw clenched. Remus knew that Alphonso had crossed the line.

"I would keep silent if I were you," the Potions master replied. "Including Zingiber in an Eros Reductus potion to increase your Veela Charm... It must be frustrating to realise that it worked on every female except her."

What? Remus' mouth fell agape. He had heard about that incident with Alphonso and the girls. But he had thought it was an accident! So Alphonso had done it on purpose?

"I don't know what you mean," Alphonso replied. He looked furious.

"Do not dare to approach her," Severus snarled. "I could kill for her. And I'd be delighted to start with you."

Things were going too far. Remus had to intervene.

"Severus," he said, staring at the Potions master, "calm down! This is no time for quarrelling over Katarina. You're wasting time. You'd better search for her." Remus looked at Alphonso. "Men are fighting to defend the castle. Shouldn't you be helping them?"

"I was searching for the Capt'n," Alphonso replied. "We need her to fight."

"Well," Remus responded, "she's not here. So postpone your argument with Severus. Professor Burns would have wanted you to fight against the vampires to defend the students."

Both men lowered their wands, but stared at each other with hate.

"We'll settle this later," Severus whispered under his breath. "I don't have time to waste with you." He turned around and walked away.

Suddenly, Alphonso aimed his wand back at Severus. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted. A dazzling flash of scarlet light escaped from his wand.

"No!" Remus exclaimed. Severus was Katarina's only chance! Remus threw himself in the path of the spell. The spell hit him with force and projected him a few feet away. He knocked his head on the floor. He heard voices shouting spells, but everything was confused. Then, the voices stopped.

Someone raised his head. Remus opened his eyes with effort. Severus was looking at him with a puzzled expression. Then his stare changed and became indifferent.

"Lupin," he said. "For a former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, you haven't mastered the art of defence."

Remus didn't feel offended by the sarcasm. He felt too dizzy for that. And it was probably Severus' way to thank him without showing it. After all, the Potions master had stopped to check if he was all right. Severus had raised Remus' head, which meant touching him. Considering Severus' usual comments about his disease, it was a great step, even if Severus had done it reluctantly.

"And Alphonso?" Remus asked.

"Knocked down," Severus replied. "I hope that conceited prat is more talented with a sword than with a wand."

Remus noticed a gash on Severus' temple. Surely the fight hadn't been as easy as Severus had made it sound.

"Katarina..." Remus said. "You must save her. Don't waste time."

Severus nodded. He laid Remus' head back onto the floor and left.

Remus got up with difficulty and massaged his head. Alphonso was lying on the floor, unconscious. The man was Katarina's second-in-command. He had to return to his crew as soon as possible. But judging from the situation, Remus would wait for a few minutes before waking him up. He didn't want Alphonso to search for Severus and revenge.

***

Katarina Burns Apparated to her quarters. She swallowed her coming tears. She felt so stupid... Snape had tried to use Legilimency on her without her consent. He had taken advantage of the situation, of her weakness. When had he used Legilimency? When she'd said she couldn't fight him. That she couldn't kill him, because it was beyond her strength. He had tried to enter her mind to witness her deepest secrets or to show her something she wasn't ready to watch. To show her how much he had taken her for an idiot. He had planned to break her from inside and end what he had started fifteen and a half years ago.

She had believed... what had she believed? That the way he stared at her was true? She knew he was a liar, but a part of her had hoped...

"You're an idiot!" she exclaimed for herself. "A weak and stupid idiot, sensitive to Dementors and not able to fight. Sensitive to Snape! He trapped you!"

With one arm, she violently swept all the books and objects from her desk to the floor. Then she burst into tears.

"Heeee doesn'tttt lovvve youuu," Grindelwald's voice said. "Heee neverrr diiid..."

"He doesn't love me," Katarina whispered. "He never did."

"Heee sawww youuu beiiing tortttured," Grindelwald continued. "And heee liiiked ittt."

"He saw me being tortured," Katarina said. "And he liked it." She paused. "He liked it," she repeated with a strangled voice.

The memory of the day she'd been tortured was still so painful. The day she'd realised the truth about the man she loved... It was like a throbbing wound stinging to the quick. He'd used her now, exactly as he had used her before. Again, he had manipulated her, although she had sworn she wouldn't let anyone do it anymore. She had let him kiss her and hurt her again...

She sniffed. "You're stupid!" she told herself. "You're nothing!" Tears dropped on her cheeks. "You're not even worthy to be a Grindelwald. You're pathetic! Your crew is fighting and you're not strong enough to fight with them!" She hated herself for being so weak.

"Kaaattaaarrriiinnaaa," Lord Grindelwald's voice whispered, "Finddd yourrr strengthhh againnn. Ussse yourrr angerrr. Beee the Daaarrk Sorceresss everyone fearsss."

Feeling nothing except pain and despair. Forgetting about every good sensation. Forgetting about that last bloody kiss with Snape, about that feeling... Burns' chest hiccupped. Why did she need someone who had broken her heart? A traitor, servant of Voldemort, who had never loved her. Just a good actor. It was unbearable to see the power he had over her, although she knew who he was...

"Ussse the Pennnsievesss..." Grindelwald said. "Forgeeettt..."

The Pensives... The only way she had found to get Snape out of her head fifteen and a half years ago. To root him out of her broken heart which had sealed her life of misery. The only way to forget...

Katarina rushed over to her bedroom and faced her Pensieves. She took her wand out of her cloak. "I don't want to remember that kiss," she said, sobbing, "I don't want to remember him!"

She put the tip of her wand on her temple. Then she withdrew the silvery substance of her memory from her head. She had to extirpate that poison from her heart and soul. The image and the wonderful sensation of the kiss disappeared from her mind, leaving Katarina with a void within her. It didn't matter. That hollowness was all that she had. Feeling it was her strength.

The memory swirled into the Pensieve. "Whatever the memory was," she said with a quavering voice, "it will remain there forever."

"Gettt riddd of yourrr deeeepessst desiiirrre..." Grindelwald whispered.

"My deepest desire," Katarina repeated. The image in the Mirror of Erised. Being pregnant and kissing Snape as if they would never again be separated.

She put the tip of her wand back on her temple and withdrew the memory of the Room of Requirement. If she couldn't change her deepest desire, she could forget the moment she'd seen it. And she could forget the kiss that had followed. All that didn't matter. She would always be alone.

The more she got rid of her memories of Snape, the emptier Katarina felt. But it was necessary. What was the use of living with illusions? She didn't need false hope in her despair. She had to be strong and fight with no false regrets. Nothing to lose.

Burns brushed her tears which had frozen on her cheeks and laughed devilishly. Then she had a drink of Firewhisky. She felt strong now. Solid as ice. Powerful... and evil.

'A strong power is coming,' Lord Grindelwald had said. 'Stronger than yours. It will destroy everything here. It will kill everyone. You can't be weak.'

"I won't be weak," Burns said between clenched teeth. Tonight, there was just one rule. To kill or be killed.

***

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