Zigzag

Zigzag

*

Chapter 13

*

"Oh, Merlin," muttered Lucius Snape, looking very pale. He immediately drew his husband close, wrapping his arms around the darkhaired man as if fearing that the other pregnant Severus' fate would also affect him. Severus Malfoy himself looked rather faint, apparently only glad for the support of his husband's arms.

Several people looked horrified, while some were seemingly simply nauseous. Many of them clung to their spouses, especially if the said spouses were pregnant. The Lionsnakes all huddled together, seeking comfort from each other.

Then, however, Dark Lucius swayed, along with the others of his universe. Glad for this distraction, everybody started to question them about whatever changes had taken place in their universe. With brief answers they told that their Dark Creature statuses had been announced to the school, and that Harry had started to further develop his beginning friendship with Draco. Harry Malfoy smirked a bit at that, but didn't comment.

However, the atmosphere soon returned to the gloomy one. "I almost wish that Kingsley was never found alive. That way, he would never find out," muttered Father Harry, holding his husband in a warm embrace. "Or at least I hope that I won't have to be present when he's told about Severus' death. Merlin only knows how he'll react." Remus Potter was crying silently; he had obviously considered Severus Baby-Shacklebolt his friend, and the loss of the Slytherin added to his pregnancy hormones was certainly enough to make him cry. In fact, most of the pregnant people were crying, all of them imagining what they would feel like if their Severus died -- or if they died. Severus Malfoy just bit his lip, sinking further into his husband's embrace, his hands resting on his slightly swollen belly.

Severus Shacklebolt just shook his head quietly, not saying a thing. Wounded Remus tried to approach him to offer comfort, but he was viciously told to stay away. It was obvious that the whole situation disturbed the one remaining Slytherin involved with Kingsley a great deal, not that he'd ever admitted that, of course.

Innocent Sirius, obviously angry on his lover's behalf, stepped forward to say something to Severus Shacklebolt. However, before he could say anything, he disappeared -- along with his whole universe.

For a moment everybody just stared in shock. Then Remia suggested cautiously, "Maybe the Author finished with them?" Several others nodded in agreement, thinking that this was the only logical solution.

"That is rather improbable, considering their situation," Dumbledore commented. "However, I think that it would be even more improbable that they all, Baby Harry and Innocent Sirius included, would in their different locations and situations all simultaneously die. So, I think we can assume they were finished with... or let go."

"Let go? You mean the Author no more works on them, but didn't finish?" asked Blind Severus curiously.

"That is exactly what I mean, yes," the Headmaster said. Then his attention, like everybody else's, was drawn aside as one of the doors was thrown open and Olivia came in, Rem, Sev, and Siri all right after her.

"We just saw something weird," she said, a tiny smirk on her face. "I was just looking at the universe bubbles with the kids," at this, she pointed at the children, who looked rather annoyed at being called kids, "when one of them floated through the wall. But it didn't go to the room of finished universes -- rather, it went back to the future room!"

"Exactly as I assumed," Dumbledore said calmly. "The Author has not entirely disposed of them; rather, she has moved them aside to later return to them, or perhaps use them elsewhere. So, we need not worry about them."

"Well, that's a big consolation," muttered Mated Sirius. "It seems to me that she's just getting rid of us, one by one!"

At that, Dumbledore actually chuckled despite the seriousness of the situation, shocking everybody by this action. "I am certain that is not her intention," he said calmly. "And even though Severus Baby-Shacklebolt's fate is indeed very unfortunate, I am also certain that there will be no more deaths in the near future."

The teen opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't, as at that very moment he swayed at an update. As soon as he and the others had recovered, they were drowned in curious questions. When questioned about what had happened, Mated Remus flushed slightly, making his mate grin, thus telling everyone without words just what they had done. Brave Severus, however, just shivered a bit, looking almost frightened for some reason.

"See? Nothing bad happened to them, either," the Headmaster said almost cheerfully. Oblivious to the numerous protests reminding him that this particular universe was anything but without troubles, he then said, "Now, I do remember it is well about the time we eat. Maybe it'll take our mind away from our worries for a while."

However, the meal was definitely not a carefree event. Sirius and Severus Black remained absent, and Father Remus preferred to eat in the same room with his one remaining patient. Scared Remus and Spy Severus were nowhere to be seen, as usual, Severus Baby-Black and Thin Remus ate practically nothing despite the efforts of Carer Sirius and Carer Harry, and Wemuz threw a fit. Nobody seemed to know where exactly Werewolf Severus and Turner Remus were, Slave Severus tried to hide behind his master, and most pregnant people found themselves lacking appetite despite any efforts from their respective lovers. Olivia and Remia seemed to have formed a female alliance, whispering to each other and glaring at any approaching male in a way that made even the bravest of them shiver, and Sev and Siri were arguing about something, Rem listening quietly. Not even Dumbledore managed to keep a cheerful mask up through all this.

Therefore, they all welcomed the distraction as it came in the form of several bodies dropping down to the floor from thin air. They were all unfamiliar and wearing strange clothes, all seemingly of Asian descent. What fascinated them most, however, were the dog ears perched on one newcomer's head. Hawwy ran to his side as quickly as possible and immediately started to tug at the ears, seemingly testing whether they were real. They were.

"Oh, Rowena," muttered Olivia as she, too, came to have a look at the strangers. "First Gravitation and now this?" As the others gave her questioning glances, she sighed. "I'll give you a piece of advice: At first take away all weapons. And I mean all of them. Then cast the strongest freezing charm you know on everybody but the woman in a kimono -- she's the only one who can even supposedly stay somehow calm. Put translation charms up immediately -- most of them are easily irritated, and not being able to understand would probably annoy them greatly. Then you can enervate them -- but preferably only one at a time, and very carefully. Otherwise, there will be trouble."

"Another set of characters from one of those manga series you read, I assume," Cane Lucius said, getting an affirmative nod from his daughter. "They're that dangerous, then? That does sound a bit excessive."

"Believe me, not a single step of those precautions is unreasoned," Olivia said. "And that's only everything I can think of right now; this probably could be taken care of even better. And as for danger... See that man with a ponytail? The one with all those furs? He can take a demon's head off with one strike of his bare hand. He is a demon. And he's the least dangerous male in this group -- well, except for the kid," she then added, nodding at a boy who otherwise looked much like a usual human child but had a soft, fluffy tail attached to his behind. "He's mostly harmless." Letting her gaze fly over the group as some of the adults were setting the charms, she added, "Come to think of it... Where's Miroku?"

"Miroku?" echoed Remus Malfoy, stepping to stand beside his daughter and husband. "Who is he?"

"He's my favourite character," the girl said, pouting a bit. "Rowena, I hope he's not dead... He's a monk," she added as an explanation. "However, he's not what you'd expect a monk to be -- he steals, he drinks, he lies, he deceives, and he never passes an opportunity to grope a pretty girl. In the end, however, he is a good guy."

"I'd hate to hear what you think a bad guy is like," said Wheelchair Lucius dryly. Glancing at his eldest counterpart, he noticed Cane Lucius's expression, and smirked. "Judging by your father's expression, though, that monk is only fortunate to not be here. If he were, he might be castrated immediately as a precaution."

Some of them managed to laugh despite Severus Baby-Shacklebolt's death being still in fresh memory. Then, however, they fell silent as Dumbledore pointed his wand at the woman Olivia had deemed safest. "Enervate."

"Mm... Where am I?" asked the woman, the translation charms immediately beginning to work. "And who are you? For humans, you sure seem strange... Are you from Kagome's era, perhaps? Or from another land?"

Before anybody else could even think about saying anything, Olivia said, "We are indeed from Kagome's time, and also from another land. You were brought here from your own reality by some powerful magic."

"Is Naraku behind this?" the woman asked, her expression darkening. "This is another scheme of his, isn't it!"

"Oh, no," the teenager said quickly. "Naraku is not involved in any way, although another evil lord is, in a way. Rather you were brought here by a kami of sorts, one we call the Author. She has power over us all within her realm."

"Oh, Kami-sama," muttered the woman. Then, she glanced around herself. "Kagome-chan is here, I see," she said, "and Inuyasha with his brother, as well as Kouga and Shippou. But why is houshi-sama not here?"

"That is what we would like to find out as well," Severus Junior said calmly. "Perhaps we should wake the child next?"

Merely clinging to the still unconscious girl and muttering to himself about strange sorcerers and demons, however, the partly fox-shaped child, Shippou, proved to be of little use. Therefore, after some long-winded discussion, they decided to enervate the other girl next. And so, they did, much to Shippou's delight.

After being explained the situation, the girl, Kagome, looked rather bewildered. Then, however, she quickly cleared her mind, and then yelled, "Inuyasha, this is all your fault! OSUWARI!" She looked about ready to attack somebody, had she not been still under the freezing charms. Olivia snorted disapprovingly at her.

"For one thing, that doesn't work, seeing that he's not only unconscious and already on the ground but also frozen on his place, like you are," she said to the younger girl. "And besides, I hardly see how this could be his fault."

"Well, everything is!" snapped Kagome. "I swear, if I miss my Maths test because of this, I'll skin him alive!"

Now, seeing that sensible talking was getting her nowhere, Olivia sighed. "Father?" she then asked, turning towards Cane Lucius. "Is there any spell to keep her from saying 'Osuwari?'" As he nodded, she said, "Good. Then, cast it on her. I don't deny that Inuyasha isn't at times deserving of a little sit-down, but the way Kagome uses it is really excessive. It's not like he can be responsible of everything that goes wrong in her life."

"You have no right to do that!" yelled the girl. "And you have no right to keep me here! I want to go home!"

Dark Lucius sighed in exasperation. "May I eat her?" he asked from no one in particular. "Just a little bit -- like her head?"

"You'd better not," Dark Severus commented with a tiny smirk. "Merlin only knows what she would do to your stomach. You'd most probably be sick for a week, if not more."

"You're probably right," his lover muttered. "Very well. Then can't the Author at least take her away?"

As soon as he had said this, Kagome suddenly disappeared from sight. They all stared at where she had been just moments earlier. Then Olivia muttered, "Seemingly even the Author thinks that she is annoying."

The next in line to be woken up was the man in furs, as Olivia had claimed him to be the least dangerous of the men. At first he seemed wary of the new environment. Then, however, he glanced at each of the Remuses in turn, and then asked, "What are you? You smell of ookami, but you're neither animals nor youkai. What is this?!"

Instead of replying, Remus Malfoy -- who, the others had noticed, was something of an alpha among all the werewolves present -- stepped forward, meeting his gaze. For a moment they both just watched each other, everybody else waiting for a result of some kind. Cane Lucius and Olivia seemed startled as the two started to growl, obviously having not expected this, but didn't let the shock affect them much. Finally, though, the man -- Kouga -- exposed his throat as a sign of submission. Smirking a bit, the eldest werewolf stepped back, turning towards the others.

"He will cause no trouble, unless somebody gives him a reason to," he announced. "I can guarantee that."

Cane Lucius now drew his husband close, looking very proud of him. The others, however, now all turned towards the two remaining unconscious males, both of whom had silver hair and slightly resembled each other.

As everybody then turned towards Olivia for advice, seeing that she was the only one who knew anything about the newcomers, she sighed. "I'd say Inuyasha," she said, pointing at the dog-eared one. "He can be somehow controlled. If Sesshoumaru decides to become troublesome, you don't want to have anybody else to worry about."

So, they did enervate the dog-eared man -- or, rather, he looked like a mere teen boy -- although the freezing charms were still intact. After a moment of yelling and cursing that made even some Siriuses look taken aback, however, Inuyasha suddenly fell silent, looking as gloomy as if he had just lost the love of his life. Olivia stepped cautiously forward.

"Inuyasha?" she asked softly. As the boy whipped his head up to see who had addressed him by his name, she continued, wanting to confirm her suspicions, "Tell me, is Miroku... dead?" At this, Sango and Shippou both gasped, Kouga raising his eyebrows. The wizards all looked merely confused, but Inuyasha frowned.

"...Yea," he then said quietly. "Miroku is dead... Naraku's fucking demons killed him about a bloody minute ago!"

Now, Sango gasped, looking very shocked. Before they had time to discuss this any further, however, Remia, Straight Sirius, and Severus Junior swayed -- and disappeared. For a moment, everybody was silent.

Then, Dumbledore said, "Well... I guess that in this case, their story did get finished."

"Well, at least the Author can do something," muttered Mated Sirius. "Too bad she can't just simply give us a happy ending and let us go back to our lives, not having to hang around here!" And then, he, too, disappeared.

Again, everybody was silent for a while. Then, some of them started to laugh, and Inuyasha and Kouga looked somewhat bewildered -- they still hadn't been explained just what was going on.

"Do you think Author would finish our story, too, if I complained about her?" asked Laugher. "Not that being here really bothers me, mind you, at times it is really funny, but it'd be fun to try."

He never got the opportunity to try, however. Just then, the Japanese people swayed a bit, and right after them Remus Black and his companions. Now Sango looked even more upset. "So Miroku is truly dead," she muttered. "This can't be true... What will we do now?" Tears ran down her cheeks as she spoke quietly.

"Feh. We'll go on, of course," grumbled Inuyasha, but even he looked rather pale and upset. Olivia gave him a knowing smile, which made him look wary and reach for the sword that was no more there. "...I want my sword."

"But you won't get it," Dumbledore said. Glancing at the one still unconscious man, he then said, "By the way, what will we do with him? According to what you said, Olivia, I'm not sure it'd be wise to set him free."

"Well, we could try something," Harry Lovegood said. Stepping forward and glancing somewhere towards the ceiling, he said, "Hey, Author? I don't know if you really have use for that guy, but although he does look interesting, by Olivia's descriptions I'd rather not have him around. So, unless he really is required here right now, would you be as kind as to take him away, assuming that it's not too much trouble? Pretty please?"

For a moment there was complete silence, during which the young man began to feel rather foolish. Then, however, the unmoving form of Sesshoumaru wavered and finally popped out of existence within their reality.

Everybody stared at the now empty spot on the floor, then at Harry Lovegood. After some moments of silence Dark Severus muttered, "Well, what do you know? There actually is a Potter in existence who has a functioning brain!"

Just then, however, Severus Malfoy swayed a bit, then doubled over as if in pain. Just a moment later, he lost consciousness, Lucius Snape catching him just before he hit the ground. "I'll kill that bitch," muttered the blond while holding his husband. "Caroline's now gone too far! My sister, she is," he then added as an explanation. "She just came to our house and started casting paternity charms on our kids, trying to prove that Severus had cheated on me!"

Cane Lucius sighed, shaking his head as he heard his clone's explanation. "I pity you," he muttered. "My sister was certainly bad enough when she lived, but at least she never accused Draco of not being mine."

"Well, Draco probably at least looks like you," Lucius Snape sighed. "It's not that our kids had no resemblance to me; no, half of them even have the Malfoy eyes. However, not one of them is blond -- half of them have black hair, while the other half are redheads! Severus' biological mother was in fact a Weasley, you see."

"...When did you learn that?" asked Sirius Lupin, only to be ignored. That is because just then, Cane Lucius and his companions were updated. Of course, everybody was again curious -- well, except for Inuyasha, who was bored.

Cane Lucius, however, ignored all their questions, stepping to his husband's side and wrapping his arms around the lithe werewolf. "Are you all right now, love?" he asked quietly, his chin resting on top of the greying head.

"Yes, I am," Remus Malfoy replied calmly, although he did sound a bit exhausted. "Really, Lucius. There's no need to worry about me." He did, however, lean back against his husband's chest, seemingly appreciating the support.

"Er... pardon me, but why wouldn't he be okay?" asked Sango, who looked rather hesitant to even talk with all these strange people and their seemingly endless variations. "Has something bad happened?"

"You could say that, yeah," Harry Malfoy sighed. "Somebody sabotaged the Wolfsbane stocks, the final result being that Remus had to spend a full moon without his potion. The transformation is hard on him even with it, never mind without. Remus, like all his counterparts, is a werewolf," he then explained to Sango, Shippou, Inuyasha, and Kouga, who looked rather confused. "That means that he turns into a wolf every full moon."

Now, Inuyasha's ears twitched a bit. "D'you mean he's a hanyou?" he asked curiously.

"No, he's not. He's just a human, with some magic mixed in," Olivia replied as nobody else seemed to understand just what the dog-boy had been asking. "There's nothing demonic in Dad -- well, not much, anyway."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence," sighed Remus Malfoy, although he did seem a bit amused at his daughter's comment. "Now, I really don't think you should worry about me. And, if I remember right, our meal was interrupted."

However, they did not get back to eating. The reason for this were people suddenly appearing -- people they knew.

"That's Remy!" exclaimed Teddy, seeing one of his counterparts lying on the floor. "And the others of his universe, too! Does this mean that the Author has decided to continue working on their story?"

"I do think so, yes," Dumbledore admitted. "And not only that, but, as you can see, they are all very much alive. Enervate!" he then announced, waving his wand over the unconscious people.

"And we're here again, I see," muttered Severus Potter, shaking his head as I to clear it as he sat up. "Very well. I guess we can't really help the situation, so better just get used to it." He then glanced at the newest additions. "Who're you?"

Once introductions had been made, everybody started to question the newly returned. "How has your world changed? Or has it?" asked Sirius Lupin. "I know that our worlds had changed very much during the short time we were away!"

"Well, not much has happened since the last update that caused us to disappear," sighed Sirius Snape. "Voldemort has now been defeated, yes, and even though there are still some stray Death Eaters about, in general it's peaceful. It's summer holiday, and we and the kids are all staying at the Snape Manor -- Harry included," he added, nodding towards the young man. "Oh, and although Remus is alive, he is still in a coma." Now, he nodded towards his friend, who truly appeared to be out of it. Laugher muttered something, then calmly picked the unconscious werewolf up and started to carry him towards the "hospital room" for Father Remus to look over. Nobody protested at this.

Then, however, Lucius Snape, along with those of his universe, swayed again. By now they were receiving rather envious glances from most clones, who hadn't got updates anywhere near as frequently. As the others then became to ask questions, as always, Lucius Snape just sighed. "Severus will live," was about all he said.

Further questions were forgotten as Remus Potter and Father Harry swayed. And, at the same moment, something fell to the ground, this time much slower than the usual person appearances. The first thing anybody noticed was that the person was a Severus. The next notion they made was that his stomach was huge.

"Severus Baby-Shacklebolt!" Carer Sirius exclaimed. "Does this mean that he's not dead after all?"

"Apparently, he never was," Remus Potter said softly. "When a few Death Eaters attacked him, he immediately raised his defences, but knew that they were not enough. Knowing that he would soon die, Severus decided to spend his last moments with his children -- and went inside himself. That made him leave the material reality altogether."

"I probably shouldn't be amazed," muttered Remus Pettigrew, "but I am. Is there anything a Severus can't do?"

"See," Blind Severus said immediately, followed soon by comments of, "Eat!", "Touch silver," "Talk" -- this one coming from Cuddler's mouth --, and several others. Chuckling, Remus Pettigrew raised his hands in defeat.

"Okay, okay, I'll admit that combined you Severuses have quite a lot of disabilities or other problems," he said. "What I meant is that despite your disadvantages you are able to contain and use incredible amounts of magic, cast spells and charms most people wouldn't even dream of, brew even the most difficult potions, and generally live on despite your problems. For example, being blind most certainly hasn't prevented Blind Severus from almost completing his Animagus transformation, something that most seeing wizards will never accomplish."

"Well, we are survivors by nature," Batty said, shrugging a bit. "I guess that a harsh life teaches you things."

Now, the Japanese people all swayed at an update. "WHAT!" exclaimed Kouga then, charging at Inuyasha. "How dare you leave her alone, without protection! The next demon she comes across will kill her!"

"She refused to believe that Miroku is alive!" replied Inuyasha just as heatedly. "I couldn't stay near that wench!"

"Aww, how cute!" squealed Olivia, interrupting the beginning fight. "Inu's so in love! I just hope the Author brings Miroku back soon so that they can get together and everything will be well again!"

"W-what?" Inuyasha stammered, turning towards her. "You think that this -- this Author thingy can bring him back?" It looked like he had completely missed the comment about him being in love; otherwise he would have attacked her.

"I don't only think so, I know so," the girl replied happily. "After all, she just took Sesshoumaru away from here, right? That's because she controls this reality. Just as well she can control your universe!"

This explanation got no further. The reason for this was that suddenly, Sirius Lupin -- the only one of his universe present, the rest being at the "patient room" -- swayed, and disappeared. For a moment they stared at the spot he had been at. Then Dumbledore smiled. "Well, well," he said. "Now I do know that their story was finished."

"And happily so, if the previous experiences of endings are any indication," Remus Malfoy said. "Well, some of us do seem more lucky than the others." At this, he glanced at some of his clones, whose lives were far from happy.

Now, Severus Potter's universe was updated. No sooner than they had managed to tell that nothing significant had happened did Wheelchair Lucius's universe receive the same treat. And now, something had indeed happened.

"Now, what did I say about Severuses being able to do anything?" moaned Remus Pettigrew. "Guess what? Severus here," he pointed at Blind Severus, who smirked, "is going to represent Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament!"

"WHAT?" came from several mouths at the same time as everybody stared at the blind teen. Sure, they all knew that no Severus was to be ignored, but this, especially from a blind one, was truly unexpected.

"That's it," muttered Sev. "The Author is unfair! He gets to be in the Tournament, and we don't get even updated!"

And, as if to prove him wrong, he then swayed, as did Rem and Siri. "It worked!" exclaimed the youngest werewolf as soon as he got over the shock of the update. "We did it, Severus! We're free from them!"

"Calm down, Rem," his friend chuckled. "Yes, it did work. We no more have to go back to that place."

"But -- how are you still alive?" asked Siri, shocked. "You died! It was in the Daily Prophet!"

"Here's a free tip for you, Black," Sev said dryly. "If there is no body, assume them alive -- and even if there is, doubt."

"And, knowing the Author," continued Father Harry, "if it is Snape who's assumed dead, never believe."

"Well, I wouldn't go quite that far," Dumbledore said. However, a smile was tugging at his lips.

*